Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Note F. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Cabot had goodwill balances of $154 million and $152 million at September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each reportable segment with goodwill balances and the changes in those balances during the period ended September 30, 2017 are as follows:

	Reinforcement Materials		Performance Chemicals		Purification Solutions		Total
	(In millions)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	52	$	9	$	91	$	152
Foreign currency impact		1		—		1		2
Balance at September 30, 2017	$	53	$	9	$	92	$	154

	Reinforcement Materials		Performance Chemicals		Purification Solutions			Total
	(In millions)
Accumulated impairment losses at September 30, 2016	$	—	$	—	$	(352	)	$	(352	)
Accumulated impairment losses at September 30, 2017	$	—	$	—	$	(352	)	$	(352	)

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s intangible assets:

	September 30, 2017							September 30, 2016
	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Intangible Assets
	(In millions)
Intangible assets with finite lives
Developed technologies	$	49	$	(7	)	$	42	$	48	$	(4	)	$	44
Trademarks		16		(1	)		15		16		(1	)		15
Customer relationships		94		(14	)		80		90		(9	)		81
Total intangible assets	$	159	$	(22	)	$	137	$	154	$	(14	)	$	140

Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which range from fourteen to twenty-five years, with a weighted average amortization period of approximately 19 years. Amortization expense for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $8 million, $7 million and $14 million, respectively, and is included in Cost of sales and Selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Total amortization expense is estimated to be approximately $8 million each year for the next five fiscal years.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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