Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

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, 2015 (in thousands):

	Animal Hospital			Laboratory			All Other			Total
Balance as of December 31, 2014
Goodwill	$	1,305,558		$	97,535		$	142,825		$	1,545,918
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—			(130,057		)	(130,057		)
Subtotal	1,305,558			97,535			12,768			1,415,861
Goodwill acquired	89,473			4,172			255			93,900
Foreign translation adjustment	(18,157		)	(71		)	—			(18,228		)
Other (1)	(1,686		)	(4		)	—			(1,690		)
Balance as of September 30, 2015
Goodwill	1,375,188			101,632			143,080			1,619,900
Accumulated impairment losses	—			—			(130,057		)	(130,057		)
Subtotal	$	1,375,188		$	101,632		$	13,023		$	1,489,843

 ____________________________

⁽¹⁾  "Other" primarily includes write-offs related to the sale of three animal hospitals partially offset by measurement period adjustments.

Other Intangible Assets

Our acquisition related amortizable intangible assets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2015							As of December 31, 2014
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Non-contractual customer relationships	$	117,689	$	(48,249	)	$	69,440	$	101,056	$	(45,295	)	$	55,761
Covenants not-to-compete	12,163		(4,818		)	7,345		10,093		(4,422		)	5,671
Favorable lease assets	9,451		(5,330		)	4,121		9,576		(4,962		)	4,614
Trademarks	12,691		(4,138		)	8,553		13,503		(4,015		)	9,488
Contracts	100		(36		)	64		100		(11		)	89
Technology	1,627		(670		)	957		1,627		(414		)	1,213
Franchise rights	11,730		(1,271		)	10,459		11,730		(391		)	11,339
Total	$	165,451	$	(64,512	)	$	100,939	$	147,685	$	(59,510	)	$	88,175

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,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Aggregate amortization expense	$	5,811	$	5,231	$	17,195	$	15,605

The estimated amortization expense related to acquisition related intangible assets for the remainder of 2015 and each of the succeeding years thereafter, as of September 30, 2015, is as follows (in thousands):

Finite-lived intangible assets:
Remainder of 2015	$	6,092
2016	22,584
2017	16,816
2018	13,421
2019	10,363
Thereafter	30,623
Total	$	99,899
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trademarks	1,040
Total intangible assets	$	100,939

Estimated amortization expense related to indefinite intangible assets

The estimated amortization expense related to acquisition related intangible assets for the remainder of 2015 and each of the succeeding years thereafter, as of September 30, 2015, is as follows (in thousands):

Finite-lived intangible assets:
Remainder of 2015	$	6,092
2016	22,584
2017	16,816
2018	13,421
2019	10,363
Thereafter	30,623
Total	$	99,899
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trademarks	1,040
Total intangible assets	$	100,939