VOBA And Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

VOBA And Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

VOBA And Other Intangible Assets

11. VOBA and Other Intangible Assets

Information about VOBA is as follows:

		For the Years Ended December 31,
		2011			2010			2009
Beginning balance	$	82,208		$	94,632		$	108,204
Amortization, net of interest accrued		(11,153	)		(12,526	)		(13,890	)
Foreign currency translation and other		(41	)		102			318
Ending balance	$	71,014		$	82,208		$	94,632

As of December 31, 2011, the entire outstanding balance of VOBA is from the Assurant Solutions segment with the majority related to the preneed life insurance business. VOBA in the preneed life insurance business assumes an interest rate ranging from 5.4% to 7.5%.

At December 31, 2011 the estimated amortization of VOBA for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

Year		Amount
2012	$	8,958
2013		8,440
2014		7,990
2015		7,596
2016		7,225
Thereafter		30,805
Total	$	71,014

Information about other intangible assets is as follows:

							As of December 31,
				2011							2010
							Net Other							Net Other
		Carrying		Accumulated			Intangible		Carrying		Accumulated			Intangible
		Value		Amortization			Assets		Value		Amortization			Assets
Contract based intangibles	$	66,047	$	(34,409	)	$	31,638	$	66,047	$	(31,874	)	$	34,173
Customer related intangibles (1)		484,203		(231,473	)		252,730		445,357		(188,090	)		257,267
Marketing related intangibles		45,676		(26,536	)		19,140		37,716		(17,647	)		20,069
Technology based intangibles		360		(36	)		324		0		0			0
Total	$	596,286	$	(292,454	)	$	303,832	$	549,120	$	(237,611	)	$	311,509

(1) Excluded from the 2010 customer related carrying value and accumulated amortization amounts is an impairment charge of $47,612. This impairment charge relates to the Assurant Solutions segment and is related to a fourth quarter 2010 client notification of non- renewal of a block of domestic service contract business effective June 1, 2011.

Other intangible assets that have finite lives, including customer relationships, customer contracts and other intangible assets, are amortized over their useful lives. The estimated amortization of other intangible assets and the amount of indefinite lived intangible assets, which mainly include state licenses, are as follows:

Year		Amount
2012	$	51,968
2013		45,765
2014		41,074
2015		32,949
2016		28,388
Thereafter		100,963
Total other intangible assets with finite lives		301,107
Total other intangible assets with indefinite lives		2,725
Total other intangible assets	$	303,832