Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS We believe that our acquisitions of businesses and other assets enhance our existing businesses by either expanding our geographic range and customer base or expanding our existing product lines. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we paid an aggregate of $3.5 million in cash and amounts payable to acquire the assets of a veterinary reference laboratory testing business. We preliminarily allocated the purchase price and recognized customer related amortizable intangible assets and goodwill. The fair value of the fixed assets acquired was immaterial. Goodwill is calculated as the consideration in excess of net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded from the business acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with this acquisition were assigned to our CAG segment. Pro forma information has not been presented for this business acquisition because such information is not material to the financial statements. We expect the purchase price allocation will be completed in the first quarter of 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid an aggregate of $7.5 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $3.2 million to acquire the assets of two reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting businesses, each accounted for as a separate business combination. As part of these business acquisitions, we recognized $5.2 million in customer list amortizable intangible assets, $5.0 million in goodwill, $1.1 million in working capital, $0.3 million in fixed assets and a deferred tax liability of $0.9 million. The customer lists were each assigned useful lives of 15 years. Goodwill is calculated as the consideration in excess of net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded from these business acquisitions is not deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business acquisitions were assigned to our CAG segment. One of the businesses acquired is located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we paid an aggregate of $24.9 million, to acquire seven businesses, each accounted for as separate business combinations as described below. We paid an aggregate of $18.7 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $4.2 million upon the acquisition of substantially all outstanding shares of a business and the assets of two other businesses, all of which comprise cloud-based veterinary practice software. As part of the business acquisitions, we recorded $11.7 million in amortizable intangible assets and $12.4 million in goodwill. Amortizable intangible assets primarily consisted of customer lists and software which were assigned weighted average useful lives of 16.4 years and 7.0 years, respectively. The weighted average useful life of all recognized amortizable intangible assets was 11.4 years. Of the total goodwill and amortizable assets acquired, $5.6 million of amortizable intangible assets are deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business combinations were assigned to our CAG segment. Two out of three businesses acquired are located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses and assets have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements. We paid an aggregate of $6.2 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $1.5 million upon the acquisition of all outstanding shares of two veterinary reference laboratory testing businesses and to acquire the assets of two veterinary reference laboratory testing businesses. The purchase price in these business acquisitions was allocated primarily to customer list intangible assets, which were assigned a weighted average useful life of 13.3 years. $4.9 million of amortizable intangible assets associated with these acquisitions are deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business acquisitions were assigned to our CAG segment. Certain of these business acquisitions were of businesses located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements.

NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS

We believe that our acquisitions of businesses and other assets enhance our existing businesses by either expanding our geographic range and customer base or expanding our existing product lines.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we paid an aggregate of $3.5 million in cash and amounts payable to acquire the assets of a veterinary reference laboratory testing business. We preliminarily allocated the purchase price and recognized customer related amortizable intangible assets and goodwill. The fair value of the fixed assets acquired was immaterial. Goodwill is calculated as the consideration in excess of net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded from the business acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with this acquisition were assigned to our CAG segment. Pro forma information has not been presented for this business acquisition because such information is not material to the financial statements. We expect the purchase price allocation will be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid an aggregate of $7.5 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $3.2 million to acquire the assets of two reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting businesses, each accounted for as a separate business combination. As part of these business acquisitions, we recognized $5.2 million in customer list amortizable intangible assets, $5.0 million in goodwill, $1.1 million in working capital, $0.3 million in fixed assets and a deferred tax liability of $0.9 million. The customer lists were each assigned useful lives of 15 years. Goodwill is calculated as the consideration in excess of net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded from these business acquisitions is not deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business acquisitions were assigned to our CAG segment. One of the businesses acquired is located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, we paid an aggregate of $24.9 million, to acquire seven businesses, each accounted for as separate business combinations as described below.

We paid an aggregate of $18.7 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $4.2 million upon the acquisition of substantially all outstanding shares of a business and the assets of two other businesses, all of which comprise cloud-based veterinary practice software. As part of the business acquisitions, we recorded $11.7 million in amortizable intangible assets and $12.4 million in goodwill. Amortizable intangible assets primarily consisted of customer lists and software which were assigned weighted average useful lives of 16.4 years and 7.0 years, respectively. The weighted average useful life of all recognized amortizable intangible assets was 11.4 years. Of the total goodwill and amortizable assets acquired, $5.6 million of amortizable intangible assets are deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business combinations were assigned to our CAG segment. Two out of three businesses acquired are located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses and assets have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements.

We paid an aggregate of $6.2 million in cash and recorded contingent consideration of $1.5 million upon the acquisition of all outstanding shares of two veterinary reference laboratory testing businesses and to acquire the assets of two veterinary reference laboratory testing businesses. The purchase price in these business acquisitions was allocated primarily to customer list intangible assets, which were assigned a weighted average useful life of 13.3 years. $4.9 million of amortizable intangible assets associated with these acquisitions are deductible for income tax purposes. All assets acquired in connection with these business acquisitions were assigned to our CAG segment. Certain of these business acquisitions were of businesses located outside of the U.S. and, as such, the assets and liabilities recorded are subject to impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The results of operations of these acquired businesses have been included since the acquisition date. Pro forma information has not been presented for these business acquisitions because such information is not material to the financial statements.