Goodwill

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill

GOODWILL:

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and for the year ended December 31, 2016 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	North American Operations		Australian Operations		U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance as of January 1, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	$	632,937	$	339,865	$	167,276		$	1,140,078
Accumulated impairment losses	—		—		(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	632,937	$	339,865	$	152,794		$	1,125,596
Changes during the period:
Goodwill acquired	4,083		—		11,849			15,932
Acquisition accounting adjustments	42		—		—			42
Currency translation adjustment	1,690		28,772		15,157			45,619
Balance as of September 30, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	$	638,752	$	368,637	$	194,282		$	1,201,671
Accumulated impairment losses	—		—		(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	638,752	$	368,637	$	179,800		$	1,187,189

	North American Operations		Australian Operations			U.K./European Operations			Total Operations
Balance as of January 1, 2016	$	605,234	$	39,312		$	182,029		$	826,575
Changes during the period:
Goodwill acquired	26,969		308,267			—			335,236
Acquisition accounting adjustments	176		168			9,736			10,080
Goodwill impairment	—		—			(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Currency translation adjustment	558		(7,882		)	(24,489		)	(31,813		)
Balance as of December 31, 2016:
Goodwill, gross	$	632,937	$	339,865		$	167,276		$	1,140,078
Accumulated impairment losses	—		—			(14,482		)	(14,482		)
Goodwill	$	632,937	$	339,865		$	152,794		$	1,125,596

The acquired goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was related to the acquisitions of Pentalver in our U.K./European Operations segment and HOG in our North American Operations segment. The acquired goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2016 was related to the acquisitions of P&W in our North American Operations segment and GRail in our Australian Operations segment. See Note 2, Changes in Operations, for additional information regarding the P&W, GRail, Pentalver and HOG acquisitions.

The goodwill impairment recorded for the year ended December 31, 2016 resulted from the write-off of goodwill ascribed to the Company's ERS business within its U.K./European Operations segment. See Note 2, Changes in Operations, for additional information regarding ERS.