Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

NOTE C – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization for intangible assets subject to amortization and accumulated write-offs of goodwill are as follows:

	As of March 31, 2021				As of December 31, 2020
(in millions)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization/ Write-offs(1)		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization/ Write-offs
Technology-related	$	11,279	$	(6,325)	$	11,059	$	(6,179)
Patents	499		(397)		511		(407)
Other intangible assets	1,810		(1,252)		1,775		(1,220)
Amortizable intangible assets	$	13,588	$	(7,975)	$	13,345	$	(7,806)
Goodwill	$	20,768	$	(9,900)	$	19,924	$	(9,973)
IPR&D	$	257			$	257
Technology-related	120				120
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	377			$	377

(1)    In the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded goodwill impairment charges of $73 million related to the Specialty Pharmaceuticals business and classified the remaining assets and liabilities as held for sale as of December 31, 2020. On March 1, 2021, we completed the divestiture of the Specialty Pharmaceuticals business. The goodwill impairment charges of $73 million related to the Specialty Pharmaceuticals business are no longer presented within accumulated write-offs above as of March 31, 2021.

The increase in our balance of goodwill and intangible assets is primarily related to our acquisition of Preventice in the first quarter of 2021.

Our technology-related intangible assets consist of technical processes, intellectual property and institutional understanding with respect to products and processes that we intend to leverage in future products or processes and will carry forward from one product generation to the next. We used the multi-period excess earnings method, a form of the income approach, to derive the fair value of the technology-related intangible assets and are amortizing them on a straight-line basis over their assigned estimated useful lives. Our IPR&D represents intangible assets that are used in research and development activities but have not yet reached technological feasibility, regardless of whether they have alternative future use. The primary basis for determining the technological feasibility or completion of these projects is obtaining regulatory approval to market the underlying products in an applicable geographic region.

The following represents our goodwill balance by global reportable segment:

(in millions)	MedSurg		Rhythm and Neuro		Cardiovascular		Total
As of December 31, 2020	$	2,059	$	2,194	$	5,697	$	9,951
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations and other changes in carrying amount	(3)		(1)		(2)		(6)
Goodwill acquired	—		924		—		924
As of March 31, 2021	$	2,056	$	3,117	$	5,695	$	10,868

Prior to the divestiture on March 1, 2021, we presented the Specialty Pharmaceuticals business as a standalone operating segment alongside our reportable segments.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Asset Impairment Testing

We did not record any goodwill impairment charges in the first quarter 2021 or 2020. We did not record any Intangible asset impairment charges in the first quarter 2021 and recorded $198 million of Intangible asset impairment charges in the first quarter of 2020.

We review intangible assets subject to amortization quarterly to determine if any adverse conditions exist or a change in circumstances has occurred that would indicate impairment or a change in the remaining useful life. If we determine it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired based on our qualitative assessment of impairment indicators, we test the intangible asset for recoverability. If the carrying value of the intangible asset or asset group exceeds the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the intangible asset or asset group, we will write the carrying value down to fair value in the period impairment is identified.

The impairment charges recorded in the first quarter of 2020 were primarily associated with amortizable technology-related intangible assets that were initially established following our acquisition of nVision. These charges were recorded as a result of management’s decision to change commercial launch plans or discontinue certain R&D programs based on cost to complete, time to market, overall economic viability or, specific to nVision, our understanding of the clinical evidence necessary to commercialize the technology.

We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually during the third quarter for impairment and reassess their classification as indefinite-lived assets. In addition, we review our indefinite-lived intangible assets for classification and impairment more frequently if impairment indicators exist. We assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that our indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, we then determine the fair value of the intangible asset and perform the quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value with the carrying value in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset, we write the carrying value down to the fair value.

Refer to Note A – Significant Accounting Policies to our audited financial statements contained in Item 8 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of our annual goodwill and intangible asset impairment testing.