Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Goodwill.  Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. As discussed in Note 1, goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and on an interim basis if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We perform our annual goodwill impairment tests as of December 1 each year. The fair value estimates for our reporting units were determined using a combination of the income and market approaches in accordance with the Company’s methodology. Our annual impairment tests as of December 1, 2025, 2024 and 2023 resulted in no impairment of goodwill.

Changes in the amount of goodwill for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, are as follows:  
Workforce Solutions U.S.
Information
Solutions
International Total
(In millions)
Balance, December 31, 2023 $ 2,520.2  $ 2,006.2  $ 2,303.5  $ 6,829.9 
Adjustments to initial purchase price allocation —  —  (68.7) (68.7)
Foreign currency translation (0.4) —  (213.0) (213.4)
Balance, December 31, 2024 2,519.8  2,006.2  2,021.8  6,547.8 
Acquisitions 54.1      54.1 
Foreign currency translation 0.2    143.6  143.8 
Balance, December 31, 2025 $ 2,574.1  $ 2,006.2  $ 2,165.4  $ 6,745.7 

Refer to Note 3 for the acquisitions during the periods presented.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of indefinite-lived reacquired rights representing the value of rights which we had granted to various affiliate credit reporting agencies that were reacquired in the U.S. and Canada. At the time we acquired these agreements, they were considered perpetual in nature under the accounting guidance in place at that time and, therefore, the useful lives are considered indefinite. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized. We are required to test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that there may be an impairment of the asset value. We perform our annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test as of December 1. Our 2025 annual impairment test completed during the fourth quarter of 2025 did not identify any impairment charges.

 As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, indefinite-lived intangible assets were approximately $94.8 million and $94.7 million, respectively.

Purchased Intangible Assets.  Purchased intangible assets, net, recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2025 and 2024 consisted of the following:

  December 31, 2025 December 31, 2024
Gross Accumulated
Amortization
Net Gross Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Definite-lived intangible assets: (In millions)
Purchased data files $ 1,141.2  $ (767.6) $ 373.6  $ 1,111.9  $ (669.5) $ 442.4 
Customer relationships 922.1  (523.2) 398.9  937.7  (484.2) 453.5 
Proprietary database 720.2  (272.6) 447.6  704.9  (227.6) 477.3 
Acquired software and technology 215.9  (139.4) 76.5  217.6  (106.3) 111.3 
Trade names, non-compete agreements and other intangible assets 49.4  (14.7) 34.7  49.7  (13.2) 36.5 
Total definite-lived intangible assets $ 3,048.8  $ (1,717.5) $ 1,331.3  $ 3,021.8  $ (1,500.8) $ 1,521.0 
               
Amortization expense related to purchased intangible assets was $250.2 million, $261.1 million, and $250.7 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
Estimated future amortization expense related to definite-lived purchased intangible assets at December 31, 2025 is as follows:
Years ending December 31, Amount
  (In millions)
2026 $ 239.1 
2027 225.8 
2028 165.1 
2029 150.2 
2030 139.6 
Thereafter 411.5 
  $ 1,331.3