DISPOSITION AND HELD FOR SALE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets [Abstract]

DISPOSITION AND HELD FOR SALE

DISPOSITION AND HELD FOR SALE

Contribution of Clinical Trials Business    

On March 30, 2015, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc.

to form a global clinical trials central laboratory services joint venture, Q² Solutions. The transaction closed on July 1, 2015. In connection with the transaction, the Company contributed certain assets of its clinical trials testing business ("Clinical Trials") and $37 million of cash to the newly formed joint venture in exchange for a non-controlling, 40% ownership interest. The assets of Clinical Trials contributed to the joint venture, principally consisting of property, plant and equipment and goodwill, were classified as non-current assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2015 and were contributed to Q² Solutions upon closing of the transaction. Subsequent to closing, the Company's ownership interest in the the joint venture is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting. At September 30, 2015, the investment in Q² Solutions had a carrying value of $422 million.

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $334 million based on the difference between the fair value of the Company's equity interest in the newly formed joint venture over the carrying value of the assets contributed. The fair value of the Company's equity interest was determined using discounted cash flows. In connection with the gain, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $145 million. Upon formation, the Company's investment in Q² Solutions exceeded its equity in the underlying net assets by approximately $219 million. This basis difference is attributable to finite-lived assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill of the joint venture. The basis difference associated with the finite-lived assets of $75 million is being amortized over a weighted average useful life of 8 years as a reduction to the carrying value of the investment in equity method investees and corresponding reduction in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes.

Assets Held for Sale

During the third quarter of 2015, the Company classified certain non-core assets as held for sale. The assets consist of $113 million of goodwill, with the remainder consisting of property, plant and equipment, inventories and intangible assets and are classified as current assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet as at September 30, 2015.

Clinical Trials, prior to July 1, 2015, and the non-core assets held for sale are included in all other operating segments and have not been classified as discontinued operations. For further details regarding business segment information, see Note 14.