20. Goodwill and Asset Impairments

Under the accounting guidance for goodwill, goodwill is not subject to amortization. Rather, goodwill with an indefinite life is subject to an annual assessment for impairment at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are generally determined at one level below the operating segment level; reporting units with similar characteristics are grouped for the purpose of determining the impairment, if any, of goodwill. The goodwill formerly on the company’s balance sheet related to the TECO Guatemala segment and arose from the purchase of multiple entities as a result of the company’s investments in the Alborada (held by TPS GO) and San José (held by TPS SJI) power plants. Since these reporting units were one level below the operating segment level, discrete cash flow information was available, and management regularly reviewed their operating results separately, these were the reporting unit level at which potential impairment was tested.

Prior to the sales (see Note 19), goodwill balances for the TPS GO and TPS SJI reporting units were written down to their implied fair value calculated using the offers from SUR and REIN. Although these were binding quoted prices, the fair value measurements were considered Level 2 measurements since the market was not active as defined by accounting standards (i.e. transactions for these assets were too infrequent to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis). Prior to receiving the offers from REIN and SUR, the fair values of TPS GO’s and TPS SJI’s goodwill amounts were calculated using the discounted cash flows appropriate for the business model of each reporting unit. Discounted cash flows were formerly the best estimates of fair value of the reporting units, since neither a sale nor a similar transaction was readily observed in the marketplace for many years due to an inactive market.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012 are represented in the following table:


(millions)	TPS GO		TPS SJI		Total

Balance as of Jan. 1, 2012		$3.1		$52.3		$55.4
Impairment losses, pretax		(3.1)		(12.1)		(15.2)
Goodwill written off upon sale, pretax		0.0		(40.2)		(40.2)

Balance as of Dec. 31, 2012		$0.0		$0.0		$0.0

The Impairment losses, pretax and Goodwill written off upon sale, pretax amounts from the table above are recorded in the Income (loss) from discontinued operations line item in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Loss (gain) on sales of business/assets, pretax line item in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012.

The company accounts for long-lived asset impairments in accordance with the accounting guidance for long-lived assets, which requires that long-lived assets held and used be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable, and assets held for sale be recorded at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. An asset is considered not recoverable if its carrying value exceeds the sum of its undiscounted expected cash flows. If it is determined that the carrying value is not recoverable and its carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is made and the value of the asset is reduced to its fair value.

Prior to the sale of TGS, the company recorded a long-lived asset pretax impairment charge of $2.0 million. This amount is recorded in the Income (loss) from discontinued operations line item in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Loss (gain) on sales of business/assets, pretax line item in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012. The fair value was calculated using the offer from REIN. Although it was a binding quoted price, the fair value measurement was considered a Level 2 measurement since the market was not active as defined by accounting standards (i.e. transactions for these assets are too infrequent to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis).

Additionally, in November and December of 2012, TECO Coal temporarily closed some of its mines due to the softened coal market. As a result, the company performed an impairment analysis on the mining complexes with closed mines and the coal reserves. All assets were determined to have carrying values that are recoverable; therefore, no impairment charge was deemed necessary. No indicators of potential impairment of assets existed as of Dec. 31, 2011 or 2010.