Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We are required to review goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Goodwill impairment is tested at the reporting unit level (graphite electrodes, needle coke and advanced graphite materials) on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.

Our annual impairment test of goodwill was performed as of December 31, 2014 for all reporting units. The estimated fair values of our reporting units were based on discounted cash flow ("DCF") models derived from internal earnings forecasts and assumptions. The assumptions and estimates used in these valuations incorporated the then current and expected economic environment. Based on these valuations, the fair value for the needle coke reporting unit was below the carrying value resulting in a step two analysis and consequently a goodwill impairment charge of $75.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

We received notice in March, 2015, that the market prices for needle coke were decreasing by an additional 18%, effective for the second quarter of 2015. This decline is further compressing our margins for needle coke products versus our annual plan. We determined that this change, which is driven by over capacity in the market indicated that the needle coke industry is facing a deeper and longer trough than previously expected. As such we considered the additional price change as a triggering event and tested our needle coke goodwill for impairment as of March 31, 2015.

In the first step of the analysis, we compared the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The fair value of the reporting units was determined based on an income approach, using discounted cash flow ("DCF") models from a market participant’s perspective. The DCF model included seventeen years of forecasted cash flows, plus an estimated terminal value. For the first several years in the models, the cash flows were based upon the current operating and capital plans as prepared by management and approved by executive management, adjusted to reflect the perspective of potential market participants.. Beyond the first several years, the DCF model reflects known trends of cycles in the industry and incorporates them in the terminal value. Actual results may differ from those assumed in the Company’s forecast. A discount rate of 10.5% was applied to the forecasted cash-flows and is based on a weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"). Company specific beta and mix of debt to equity are inputs into the determination of the discount rate, which is then qualitatively assessed from the standpoint of potential market participants.

As a result of the step one analysis described earlier, the fair value of the Needle Coke reporting unit was less than its carrying value. Consequently, we performed the second step of the impairment analysis in order to determine the implied fair value of the goodwill associated with the reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the sum of the fair value amounts assigned to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit as if it were to be acquired in a business combination and the current fair value of the reporting unit (as calculated in the first step) was the purchase consideration. The implied fair value of goodwill was then compared to the carrying value of the goodwill to determine the impairment charge. The Needle coke goodwill was fully impaired, resulting in a charge of $35.4 million. The full impairment of the Needle Coke reporting unit‘s goodwill was a result of our reassessment of the estimated future cash-flows, triggered by the pricing decline in the needle coke market effective April 1, 2015. Due to these factors, we decreased the short and mid-term estimates of the cash-flows of the Needle Coke reporting unit that are utilized in assessing goodwill for impairment.

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2015 is as follows:



	Total
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	420,129
Impairment	(35,381		)
Currency translation effect	(312		)
Balance as of March 31, 2015	$	384,436

The following table summarizes acquired intangible assets with determinable useful lives by major category as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015:



	As of December 31, 2014							As of March 31, 2015
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization & Impairment			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization & Impairment			Net Carrying Amount
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Trade name	$	7,900	$	(4,817	)	$	3,083	$	7,900	$	(4,986	)	$	2,914
Technological know-how	43,349		(24,940		)	18,409		43,349		(26,433		)	16,916
Customer –related intangible	110,798		(57,192		)	53,606		110,798		(59,874		)	50,924
Total finite-lived intangible assets	$	162,047	$	(86,949	)	$	75,098	$	162,047	$	(91,293	)	$	70,754

Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets was $4.8 million and $4.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, respectively. Estimated amortization expense will approximate $12.8 million in the remainder of 2015, $13.1 million in 2016, $11.8 million in 2017, $10.7 million in 2018 and $9.2 million in 2019.

- 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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