GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill were as follows:



	Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls			Epoxy			Total
	($ in millions)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	747.1		$	—		$	747.1
Acquisition activity	1,130.8			296.7			1,427.5
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(0.4		)	(0.1		)	(0.5		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	1,877.5			296.6			2,174.1
Acquisition activity	(45.3		)	(9.7		)	(55.0		)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(0.9		)	(0.2		)	(1.1		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	1,831.3		$	286.7		$	2,118.0

The decrease in goodwill during 2016 was a result of measurement period adjustments from the preliminary valuation of the Acquisition and the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments. We finalized our purchase price allocation of the Acquisition during the third quarter of 2016. The increase in goodwill during 2015 was a result of the Acquisition and was based upon the preliminary valuation partially offset by the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments.

Intangible assets consisted of the following:



		December 31,
		2016							2015
	Useful Lives	Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
		($ in millions)
Customers, customer contracts and relationships	(10-15 years)	$	667.8	$	(112.9	)	$	554.9	$	641.0	$	(64.0	)	$	577.0
Trade name	(5 years)	17.8		(12.7		)	5.1		17.9		—			17.9
Acquired technology	(7 years)	84.2		(15.0		)	69.2		84.7		(2.7		)	82.0
Other	(4-10 years)	2.3		(1.9		)	0.4		2.3		(1.7		)	0.6
Total intangible assets		$	772.1	$	(142.5	)	$	629.6	$	745.9	$	(68.4	)	$	677.5

In conjunction with the Acquisition, we obtained intangible assets with a fair value of $612.6 million as of October 5, 2015. In connection with the integration of the Acquired Business, in the first quarter of 2016, the K.A. Steel Chemicals Inc. (KA Steel) trade name was changed from an indefinite life intangible asset to an intangible asset with a finite useful life of one year. Amortization expense of $10.9 million was recognized within cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the change in useful life.

Amortization expense relating to intangible assets was $73.8 million, $25.8 million and $14.6 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We estimate that amortization expense will be approximately $62.8 million in 2017, 2018 and 2019, approximately $62.3 million in 2020 and approximately $61.4 million in 2021. Intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment when circumstances or other events indicate that impairment may have occurred.

- 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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