Identifiable Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Identifiable Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Identifiable Intangible Assets

H. Identifiable Intangible Assets

As a result of becoming the advisor to the Gabelli Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund and the associated consideration paid, the Company maintains an identifiable intangible asset of $1.9 million within other assets on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition at March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015. The investment advisory agreement is subject to annual renewal by the fund's Board of Directors, which the Company expects to be renewed, and the Company does not expect to incur additional expense as a result, which is consistent with other investment advisory agreements entered into by the Company.  The advisory contract is next up for renewal in February 2017. On November 1, 2015, as a result of becoming the advisor to the Bancroft Fund Ltd. and the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. and the associated consideration paid, the Company maintains an identifiable intangible asset of $1.6 million within other assets on the condensed consolidated statement of financial condition at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  The advisory contracts for the Bancroft Fund Ltd. and the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. are both next up for renewal in November 2017. The Company assesses the recoverability of this intangible asset at least annually, or more often should events warrant. There were no indicators of impairment for the three months ended March 31, 2016 or March 31, 2015, and as such there was no impairment analysis performed or charge recorded.