Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

12. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment are as follows:


	Corporate Finance/ Restructuring			Forensic and Litigation Consulting			Economic Consulting			Technology			Strategic Communications			Total
Balance December 31, 2012:
Goodwill		469,050			198,957			247,718			118,035			336,662			1,370,422
Accumulated goodwill impairment		—			—			—			—			(110,387	)		(110,387	)

Goodwill, net December 31, 2012	$	469,050		$	198,957		$	247,718		$	118,035		$	226,275		$	1,260,035

Acquisitions ⁽¹⁾		18,713			10,979			945			—			4,961			35,598
Contingent consideration ⁽²⁾		437			—			14,530			—			—			14,967
Foreign currency translation adjustment and other		(7,019	)		244			281			38			(1,659	)		(8,115	)
Intersegment transfers in/(out)		(31,471	)		31,471			—			—			—			—
Goodwill impairment		—			—			—			—			(83,752	)		(83,752	)

Balance December 31, 2013:
Goodwill		449,710			241,651			263,474			118,073			339,964			1,412,872
Accumulated goodwill impairment		—			—			—			—			(194,139	)		(194,139	)

Goodwill, net December 31, 2013		449,710			241,651			263,474			118,073			145,825			1,218,733

Acquisitions ⁽¹⁾		—			(224	)		7,150			—			—			6,926
Foreign currency translation adjustment and other		(3,644	)		(3,254	)		(727	)		(106	)		(6,239	)		(13,970	)

Balance December 31, 2014:
Goodwill	$	446,066		$	238,173		$	269,897		$	117,967		$	333,725		$	1,405,828
Accumulated goodwill impairment		—			—			—			—			(194,139	)		(194,139	)

Goodwill, net December 31, 2014	$	446,066		$	238,173		$	269,897		$	117,967		$	139,586		$	1,211,689

⁽¹⁾	Includes adjustments during the purchase price allocation period.

⁽²⁾	Contingent consideration is related to business combinations consummated prior to January 1, 2009.

2014 Goodwill Impairment Test

For the 2014 annual goodwill impairment test performed as of October 1, 2014, we utilized the quantitative test for our six reporting units using a combination of appropriately weighted income and market approaches. The cash flows employed in the income approach are based on our most recent budgets, forecasts and business plans, as well as various growth rate assumptions for years beyond the current business plan period, discounted using an estimated weighted average costs of capital. The results of the Step 1 goodwill impairment analysis indicated that the estimated fair value of all of our reporting units exceeded their respective carrying values.

2013 Goodwill Impairment Test

In the third quarter of 2013, in addition to reduced levels of M&A activity, our Strategic Communications segment experienced pricing pressure for certain discretionary communications services, including initial public offering support services where there is volume but also increasing competition. These factors compressed segment margins and contributed to a change in the Company’s near-term outlook for this segment. As a result, we performed an interim impairment analysis with respect to the carrying value of goodwill in our Strategic Communications reporting unit in connection with the preparation of our financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. We concluded that the carrying values of the Strategic Communications reporting unit exceeded its implied fair value, resulting in a $83.8 million goodwill impairment charge.

2012 Annual Goodwill Impairment Test

In connection with our 2012 annual goodwill impairment test, we concluded that the carrying value of the Strategic Communications reporting unit exceeded its implied fair value, resulting in a $110.4 million goodwill impairment charge.

Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We recorded amortization expense of $15.5 million, $23.0 million, and $22.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Based solely on the amortizable intangible assets recorded at December 31, 2014, we estimate amortization expense to be $11.9 million in 2015, $10.7 million in 2016, $9.9 million in 2017, $8.3 million in 2018, $7.6 million in 2019 and an aggregate of $23.0 million in years after 2019. Actual amortization expense to be reported in future periods could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions, changes in useful lives or other relevant factors or changes.


	Useful Life in Years	December 31, 2014				December 31, 2013
		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization


Amortized intangible assets
Customer relationships	1 to 15	$	136,692	$	69,472	$	157,064	$	73,977
Non-competition agreements	1 to 10		9,167		8,275		10,922		9,051
Software	3 to 10		3,594		613		40,095		33,625
Tradenames	1 to 2		378		37		485		365

			149,831		78,397		208,566		117,018
Unamortized intangible assets
Tradenames	Indefinite		5,600		—		5,600		—

		$	155,431	$	78,397	$	214,166	$	117,018

- 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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