Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are as follows (in millions):




Balance as of January 1, 2017	$	7,410
Goodwill related to current year acquisitions	33
Goodwill related to disposals	—
Goodwill related to prior year acquisitions	(21		)
Foreign currency translation	122
Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	7,544

Other intangible assets by asset class are as follows (in millions):



	March 31, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Tradenames	$	999	$	—	$	999	$	998	$	—	$	998

Intangible assets with finite lives:
Customer related and contract based	2,069		1,253		816		2,023		1,198		825
Technology and other	388		317		71		376		309		67
Total	$	3,456	$	1,570	$	1,886	$	3,397	$	1,507	$	1,890

Amortization expense from finite lived intangible assets was $43 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Amortization expense from finite lived intangible assets was $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

The estimated future amortization for finite lived intangible assets as of March 31, 2017 is as follows (in millions):



			Subsequent Event
	As of March 31, 2017		Estimated Impairment Charge ⁽¹⁾		Estimated Tradename Amortization ⁽²⁾			Revised Estimated Total Future Amortization
Remainder of 2017	$	131	$	400	$	137		$	668
2018	155		—		206			361
2019	137		—		206			343
2020	121		—		68			189
2021	87		—		(1		)	86
Thereafter	256		—		(17		)	239
Total	$	887	$	400	$	599		$	1,886


(1)	In the second quarter of 2017, in connection with the completion of the sale of the Divested Business, the Company expects to recognize a non-cash impairment charge to the associated indefinite lived tradename of approximately $400 million. Refer to Note 3 “Discontinued Operations” for further information.


(2)	Additionally, effective May 1, 2017, consistent with operating as one segment, the Company has implemented a three-year strategy to transition to a unified Aon brand. As a result, Aon commenced amortization of all indefinite lived tradenames and prospectively accelerated amortization of its finite lived tradenames over the three-year period.

- 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.

+ References + Details