Goodwill And Other Intangibles

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Goodwill And Other Intangibles [Abstract]

(6) Goodwill and Other Intangibles:

The activity in our goodwill from January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016 is as follows:



($ in millions)		Goodwill

Balance at January 1, 2016	$	7,166
Verizon Acquisition (Note 3)		2,341
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	9,507

The components of other intangibles are as follows:


	September 30, 2016						December 31, 2015
	Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Net Carrying		Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Net Carrying
($ in millions)	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amount		Amortization		Amount

Other Intangibles:
Customer base	$	5,068	$	(2,425)	$	2,643	$	2,998	$	(1,977)	$	1,021
Trade name		122		-		122		122		-		122
Royalty agreement		119		(12)		107		-		-		-
Total other intangibles	$	5,309	$	(2,437)	$	2,872	$	3,120	$	(1,977)	$	1,143

Amortization expense was as follows:


	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
($ in millions)	2016		2015		2016		2015

Amortization expense	$	255	$	80	$	460	$	260

Amortization expense represents the amortization of our customer lists acquired as a result of the Verizon Acquisition, the Connecticut Acquisition and the acquisition of certain Verizon properties in 2010 with each based on a useful life of 8 to 12 years on an accelerated method.

- 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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