Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	$	1,216,581		$	96,871		$	138,276		$	1,451,728
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—			(120,811		)	(120,811		)
Subtotal	1,216,581			96,871			17,465			1,330,917
Goodwill acquired	46,475			27			6,669			53,171
Goodwill impairment	—			—			(9,246		)	(9,246		)
Foreign translation adjustment	(5,176		)	(28		)	—			(5,204		)
Other (1)	(1,408		)	—			—			(1,408		)
Balance as of September 30, 2014
Goodwill	1,256,472			96,870			144,945			1,498,287
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—			(130,057		)	(130,057		)
Subtotal	$	1,256,472		$	96,870		$	14,888		$	1,368,230

 ____________________________

⁽¹⁾  "Other" primarily includes immaterial measurement period adjustments and an immaterial write-off related to the sale of an animal hospital.

Other Intangible Assets

Our acquisition related amortizable intangible assets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2014							As of December 31, 2013
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	98,904	$	(50,033	)	$	48,871	$	109,842	$	(41,895	)	$	67,947
Covenants not-to-compete	9,170		(4,383		)	4,787		8,843		(4,661		)	4,182
Favorable lease assets	9,591		(4,844		)	4,747		7,458		(4,373		)	3,085
Trademarks	13,104		(4,608		)	8,496		13,115		(4,194		)	8,921
Contracts	460		(363		)	97		608		(305		)	303
Technology	2,913		(1,613		)	1,300		5,240		(3,015		)	2,225
Client lists	—		—			—		50		(42		)	8
Franchise rights	10,400		(87		)	10,313		—		—			—
Total	$	144,542	$	(65,931	)	$	78,611	$	145,156	$	(58,485	)	$	86,671

Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets

The following table summarizes our aggregate amortization expense related to acquisition related intangible assets (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014		2013		2014		2013
Aggregate amortization expense	$	5,231	$	5,588	$	15,605	$	16,153

The estimated amortization expense related to acquisition related intangible assets for the remainder of 2014 and each of the succeeding years thereafter, as of September 30, 2014, is as follows (in thousands):

Definite-lived intangible assets:
Remainder of 2014	$	5,147
2015	19,232
2016	16,321
2017	10,114
2018	6,677
Thereafter	20,250
Total	$	77,741
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trademarks	870
Total intangible assets	$	78,611

Estimated amortization expense related to indefinite intangible assets

The estimated amortization expense related to acquisition related intangible assets for the remainder of 2014 and each of the succeeding years thereafter, as of September 30, 2014, is as follows (in thousands):

Definite-lived intangible assets:
Remainder of 2014	$	5,147
2015	19,232
2016	16,321
2017	10,114
2018	6,677
Thereafter	20,250
Total	$	77,741
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trademarks	870
Total intangible assets	$	78,611