Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 1 –Basis of Presentation These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of Heritage Global Inc. (“HGI”) together with its subsidiaries, including Heritage Global Partners, Inc. (“HGP”), Heritage Global LLC (“HG LLC”), Equity Partners HG LLC (“Equity Partners”), National Loan Exchange, Inc. (“NLEX”) and Heritage Global Capital LLC (“HGC”). These entities, collectively, are referred to as the “Company” in these financial statements. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), and include the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of all subsidiaries over which HGI exercises control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The Company began its asset liquidation operations in 2009 with the establishment of HG LLC. The business was subsequently expanded by the acquisitions of Equity Partners, HGP and NLEX in 2011, 2012 and 2014, respectively, and the creation of HGC in 2019. As a result, HGI is positioned to provide an array of value-added capital and financial asset solutions: auction and appraisal services, traditional asset disposition sales, and specialty financing solutions. The Company’s reportable segments consist of the Industrial Assets Division and Financial Assets Division. The Company has prepared the condensed consolidated interim financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods included herein. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are appropriate. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021 (the “Form 10-K”). The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of those operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the entire year ending December 31, 2021. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, contained in the Company’s Form 10-K. COVID-19 The spread of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) had a minor negative impact on the Company’s performance during the first quarter of 2021 due to evolving travel and work restrictions, stimulus payments and credit policies impacting debt sales, and a delay in the sale of certain assets. Going forward, the Company does not believe the COVID-19 pandemic will have material negative impacts on the Company’s financial performance, as its asset liquidation business is highly concentrated in distressed and surplus assets and the Company expects that there will be an increased supply of distressed and surplus assets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and any downward trends in the overall economy, resulting in more potential for principal and fee based deals. The Company believes that the continuing disruptions to the global supply chain, particularly those involving industrial assets, will further increase demand for U.S.-based surplus assets. Further, the Company expects that the COVID-19 pandemic will have the following positive impacts: •continued increase in demand for HGP’s online auctions as a result of ongoing social distancing requirements in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic; •increased activity for NLEX and HGC due to expanding volumes of nonperforming and charged-off consumer loans; •increased funding opportunities for HGC due to tightening underwriting standards at conventional lenders; and •incremental valuation opportunities for our valuation business as a result of greater focus on collateral on bank balance sheets. However, positive expected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company could be offset, at least in part, by negative impacts on certain of its business units relying on nonperforming and charged-off consumer loans. Any continuation of stimulus payments and additional credit policies impacting debt sales may result in delayed revenues depending on the scope and magnitude of such policies.

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 1 –Basis of Presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of Heritage Global Inc. (“HGI”) together with its subsidiaries, including Heritage Global Partners, Inc. (“HGP”), Heritage Global LLC (“HG LLC”), Equity Partners HG LLC (“Equity Partners”), National Loan Exchange, Inc. (“NLEX”) and Heritage Global Capital LLC (“HGC”). These entities, collectively, are referred to as the “Company” in these financial statements. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), and include the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of all subsidiaries over which HGI exercises control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The Company began its asset liquidation operations in 2009 with the establishment of HG LLC. The business was subsequently expanded by the acquisitions of Equity Partners, HGP and NLEX in 2011, 2012 and 2014, respectively, and the creation of HGC in 2019. As a result, HGI is positioned to provide an array of value-added capital and financial asset solutions: auction and appraisal services, traditional asset disposition sales, and specialty financing solutions. The Company’s reportable segments consist of the Industrial Assets Division and Financial Assets Division.

The Company has prepared the condensed consolidated interim financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods included herein. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are appropriate. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021 (the “Form 10-K”).

The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of those operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the entire year ending December 31, 2021. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, contained in the Company’s Form 10-K.

COVID-19

The spread of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) had a minor negative impact on the Company’s performance during the first quarter of 2021 due to evolving travel and work restrictions, stimulus payments and credit policies impacting debt sales, and a delay in the sale of certain assets.

Going forward, the Company does not believe the COVID-19 pandemic will have material negative impacts on the Company’s financial performance, as its asset liquidation business is highly concentrated in distressed and surplus assets and the Company expects that there will be an increased supply of distressed and surplus assets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and any downward trends in the overall economy, resulting in more potential for principal and fee based deals. The Company believes that the continuing disruptions to the global supply chain, particularly those involving industrial assets, will further increase demand for U.S.-based surplus assets. Further, the Company expects that the COVID-19 pandemic will have the following positive impacts:

•continued increase in demand for HGP’s online auctions as a result of ongoing social distancing requirements in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;

•increased activity for NLEX and HGC due to expanding volumes of nonperforming and charged-off consumer loans;

•increased funding opportunities for HGC due to tightening underwriting standards at conventional lenders; and

•incremental valuation opportunities for our valuation business as a result of greater focus on collateral on bank balance sheets.

However, positive expected impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company could be offset, at least in part, by negative impacts on certain of its business units relying on nonperforming and charged-off consumer loans. Any continuation of stimulus payments and additional credit policies impacting debt sales may result in delayed revenues depending on the scope and magnitude of such policies.