Note 7 - Other Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2014

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

7.    OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

			As of
			February 28, 2014							May 31, 2013
	Weighted Average Life (years)		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Cost		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
Customer relationships		20	$	470,876		(57,860	)		413,016		465,909		(40,392	)		425,517
Existing technology / trade names		11		291,250		(64,804	)		226,446		291,250		(44,526	)		246,724
Corporate trade name		15		40,000		(6,754	)		33,246		40,000		(4,754	)		35,246
Below market leasehold interests		8		1,200		(401	)		799		1,200		(313	)		887
Deferred licensing costs		6		199		(33	)		166		99		(20	)		79
Total amortizable assets				803,525		(129,852	)		673,673		798,458		(90,005	)		708,453
Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
In-process research and development				6,000		-			6,000		6,150		-			6,150
Total non-amortizable assets				6,000		-			6,000		6,150		-			6,150
Other intangible assets, net			$	809,525		(129,852	)		679,673		804,608		(90,005	)		714,603

A portion of the Company’s customer relationships is held in functional currencies outside the U.S. Therefore, the stated cost as well as the accumulated amortization is affected by the fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates.

The weighted average life for below market leasehold interests has changed from 6 to 8 years as of August 31, 2013 as a result of the renewal of certain lease agreements which extended the lease terms of existing leases. The costs associated with the new leases were treated as operating expenses as incurred.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, it was determined that an in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) project related to our transplant and molecular diagnostics business was no longer economically feasible. The project was therefore abandoned and its costs were fully written-off. As a result, a loss of $0.2 million was recorded and included in impairment loss on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.     

Amortization expense related to these intangible assets for the three months and nine months ended February 28, 2014 was $13.2 million and $39.6 million, and for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2013 was $12.4 million and $37.2 million, respectively. Expected amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal 2014 and for each of the five succeeding years is as follows (in thousands):

2014	$	13,292
2015		53,160
2016		53,125
2017		52,968
2018		52,919
2019		48,997