Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill for our funeral and cemetery reporting units are as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Years Ended December 31, | | 2018 | | 2017 | | Funeral | | Cemetery | | Total | | Funeral | | Cemetery | | Total | | (In thousands) | Beginning balance--Goodwill | $ | 1,499,741 |
| | $ | 306,240 |
| | $ | 1,805,981 |
| | $ | 1,493,655 |
| | $ | 305,426 |
| | $ | 1,799,081 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions | 38,976 |
| | 29,219 |
| | 68,195 |
| | 8,013 |
| | 1,215 |
| | 9,228 |
| Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures | (2,183 | ) | | (24 | ) | | (2,207 | ) | | (8,495 | ) | | (401 | ) | | (8,896 | ) | Effect of foreign currency | (8,127 | ) | | — |
| | (8,127 | ) | | 6,568 |
| | — |
| | 6,568 |
| Activity | 28,666 |
| | 29,195 |
| | 57,861 |
| | 6,086 |
| | 814 |
| | 6,900 |
| Ending balance--Goodwill | $ | 1,528,407 |
| | $ | 335,435 |
| | $ | 1,863,842 |
| | $ | 1,499,741 |
| | $ | 306,240 |
| | $ | 1,805,981 |
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The components of intangible assets at December 31 were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Useful Life | | | | | | Minimum | | Maximum | | 2018 | | 2017 | | (Years) | | (In thousands) | Amortizing intangibles: | | | | | | | | Covenants-not-to-compete | 2 | - | 20 | | $ | 215,424 |
| | $ | 214,628 |
| Customer relationships | 10 | - | 20 | | 158,347 |
| | 129,516 |
| Tradenames | 5 | - | 89 | | 16,150 |
| | 9,150 |
| Other | 5 | - | 89 | | 25,103 |
| | 11,927 |
| | | | | | 415,024 |
| | 365,221 |
| Less: accumulated amortization:
| | | | | | | | Covenants-not-to-compete | | | | | 195,536 |
| | 192,296 |
| Customer relationships | | | | | 75,199 |
| | 61,321 |
| Tradenames | | | | | 9,194 |
| | 7,320 |
| Other | | | | | 5,504 |
| | 4,830 |
| | | | | | 285,433 |
| | 265,767 |
| | | | | | | | | Amortizing intangibles, net | | | | | 129,591 |
| | 99,454 |
| | | | | | | | | Non-amortizing intangibles: | | | | | | | | Tradenames | | | Indefinite | | 293,474 |
| | 263,880 |
| Other | | | Indefinite | | 10,765 |
| | 10,765 |
| Non-amortizing intangibles | | | | | 304,239 |
| | 274,645 |
| | | | | | | | | Intangible assets, net - included in Deferred charges and other assets | | $ | 433,830 |
| | $ | 374,099 |
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As part of our annual recoverability testing process during 2018, we recognized $2.4 million of impairment on tradenames. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $26.2 million, $27.7 million, and $31.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The following is estimated amortization expense, excluding certain intangibles for which we are unable to provide an estimate because they are amortized based on specific identification in the fulfillment of performance obligation on our preneed contracts, for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2018 (in thousands): | | | | | 2019 | $ | 8,167 |
| 2020 | 7,076 |
| 2021 | 6,966 |
| 2022 | 5,801 |
| 2023 | 5,410 |
| Total estimated amortization expense | $ | 33,420 |
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