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ACQUISITION OF AQUARION AND GOODWILL
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
ACQUISITION OF AQUARION AND GOODWILL
ACQUISITION OF AQUARION AND GOODWILL

A.    Acquisition of Aquarion
On December 4, 2017, Eversource acquired Aquarion from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners for $1.675 billion, consisting of approximately $880 million in cash purchase price and $795 million of assumed Aquarion debt. Aquarion is a holding company primarily engaged, through its three separate regulated water utility subsidiaries, in the water collection, treatment and distribution business, and operates in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. These regulated utilities collect, treat and distribute water to residential, commercial and industrial customers, to other utilities for resale, and for private and municipal fire protection. With the acquisition of Aquarion, Eversource is now the only U.S.-based electric utility to also own a water utility.  The transaction was approved by PURA, the DPU, the NHPUC, the Maine PUC, and the Federal Communications Commission. Aquarion and its subsidiaries became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Eversource, and Eversource's consolidated financial information includes Aquarion and its subsidiaries' activity from December 4, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

The approximate $880 million cash purchase price includes the $745 million equity purchase price and a $135 million shareholder loan, paid at closing.

Purchase Price Allocation: The allocation of the total purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed has been determined based on the accounting guidance for fair value measurements, which defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The allocation of the total purchase price includes adjustments to record the fair value of unregulated and regulated long-term debt, non-utility land and buildings, regulatory assets not earning a return, and Aquarion's Homeowners Safety Valve unregulated business.

The fair values of Aquarion's assets and liabilities were determined based on significant estimates and assumptions, including Level 3 inputs, that are judgmental in nature. These estimates and assumptions include the timing and amounts of projected future cash flows and discount rates reflecting risk inherent in future cash flows. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recognized as goodwill.

The preliminary allocation of the cash purchase price is as follows:
(Millions of Dollars)
 
Current Assets
$
41.2

PP&E
1,034.9

Goodwill
907.9

Other Noncurrent Assets, excluding Goodwill
207.6

Current Liabilities
(121.1
)
Noncurrent Liabilities
(421.6
)
Long-Term Debt
(771.2
)
Total Cash Purchase Price
$
877.7



Pro Forma Financial Information: The following unaudited pro forma financial information reflects the pro forma combined results of operations of Eversource and Aquarion and reflects the amortization of purchase price adjustments assuming the acquisition had taken place on January 1, 2016. The unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations that would have been achieved or the future consolidated results of operations of Eversource.
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
(Pro forma amounts in millions, except share amounts)
2017
 
2016
Operating Revenues
$
7,947.7

 
$
7,849.0

Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
1,019.1

 
969.3

Basic EPS
3.21

 
3.05

Diluted EPS
3.20

 
3.04



Aquarion Revenues and Pre-Tax Income: The impact of Aquarion on Eversource's accompanying consolidated statement of income includes operating revenues of $15.9 million and pre-tax income of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

B.    Goodwill
In a business combination, the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
is recognized as goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at least annually and more frequently if indicators of impairment arise. In accordance with the accounting standards, if the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value (including goodwill), the goodwill is tested for impairment. Goodwill is not subject to amortization, however is subject to a fair value based assessment for impairment at least annually and whenever facts or circumstances indicate that there may be an impairment.  A resulting write-down, if any, would be charged to Operating Expenses.   

Eversource completed the acquisition of Aquarion on December 4, 2017, resulting in the addition of $0.9 billion of goodwill. Upon completion of the acquisition, Eversource determined that the reporting units for the purpose of testing goodwill are Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution and Water. The goodwill resulting from the Aquarion acquisition has been entirely allocated to the Water reporting unit. These reporting units are consistent with the operating segments underlying the reportable segments identified in Note 21, "Segment Information," to the financial statements.

Eversource completed its annual goodwill impairment test for Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission and Natural Gas Distribution reporting units as of October 1, 2017 and determined that no impairment existed. There were no events subsequent to October 1, 2017 that indicated impairment of goodwill. The annual goodwill assessment included an evaluation of the Company's share price and credit ratings, analyst reports, financial performance, cost and risk factors, long-term strategy, growth and future projections, as well as macroeconomic, industry and market conditions.  This evaluation required the consideration of several factors that impact the fair value of the reporting units, including conditions and assumptions that affect the future cash flows of the reporting units. Key considerations include discount rates, utility sector market performance and merger transaction multiples, and internal estimates of future cash flows and net income.  

 The following table presents goodwill by reportable segment:
(Billions of Dollars)
Electric
Distribution
 
Electric
Transmission
 
Natural Gas
Distribution
 
Parent and Other
 
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2017

$
2.5

 
$
0.6

 
$
0.4

 
$

 
$
3.5

Acquisition of Aquarion

 

 

 
0.9

 
0.9

Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
2.5

 
$
0.6

 
$
0.4

 
$
0.9

 
$
4.4