Intangible assets are defined as identifiable non-monetary assets that cannot be seen, touched or physically measured. American Capital's intangible assets for the quarter that ended in Sep. 2016 was $0.0 Mil.
American Capital Intangible Assets Historical Data
The historical data trend for American Capital's Intangible Assets can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Intangible assets are defined as identifiable non-monetary assets that cannot be seen, touched or physically measured. Examples of intangible assets include trade secrets, copyrights, patents, trademarks. If a company acquires assets at the prices above the book value, it may carry goodwill on its balance sheet. Goodwill reflects the difference between the price the company paid and the book value of the assets.
American Capital (NAS:ACAS) Intangible Assets Explanation
If a company (company A) received a patent through their own work, though it has value, it does not show up on its balance sheet as an intangible asset. However, if company A sells this patent to company B, it will show up on company B's balance sheet as an intangible asset.
The same applies to brand names, trade secrets etc. For instance, Coca-Cola's brand is extremely valuable, but the brand does not appear on its balance sheet, because the brand was never acquired.
Some intangibles are amortized. Amortization is the depreciation of intangible assets.
Many intangibles are not amortized. They may still be written down when the company decides the asset is impaired.
Whenever you see an increase in goodwill over a number of years, you can assume it's because the company is out buying other businesses above book value. GOOD if buying businesses with durable competitive advantage.
If goodwill stays the same, the company when acquiring other companies is either paying less than book value or not acquiring. Businesses with moats never sell for less than book value.
Intangibles acquired are on balance sheet at fair value.
Internally developed brand names (Coke, Wrigleys, Band-Aid) however are not reflected on the balance sheet.
One of the reasons competitive advantage power can remain hidden for so long.
Be Aware
Companies may change the way intangible assets are amortized, and this will affect their reported earnings.
American Capital Intangible Assets Related Terms
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American Capital (American Capital) Business Description
American Capital Ltd was founded in 1986 and incorporated in Delaware. On August 29, 1997, it completed an initial public offering and became a non-diversified closed end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. It is an asset management and private equity firm. The Company originates, underwrites and manages investments in middle market private equity, leveraged finance, real estate, energy and structured products. It invests in senior and mezzanine debt and equity in buyouts of private companies sponsored by it or sponsored by other private equity funds and provide capital directly to early stage and mature private and small public companies. Its business objectives are to increase its net earnings and net asset value by making investments with attractive current yields and/or potential for equity appreciation and realized gains. Its investments can be divided into the following six business lines: American Capital One Stop Buyouts, Sponsor Finance Investments, Direct and Other Investments, European Capital, Asset Management and Structured Products. The Company competes with strategic buyers, private equity funds, mezzanine debt funds and other buyers and financing sources, including traditional financial services companies such as finance companies, commercial banks, investment banks and other equity and non-equity based investment funds. The Company and its portfolio companies are subject to regulation by laws at the local, state, federal and foreign level, including with respect to securities laws, tax and accounting standards.
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