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Intangible Assets Including Goodwill
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Intangible Assets Including Goodwill  
Intangible Assets Including Goodwill

10. Intangible Assets Including Goodwill: 

Intangible Assets

The following table presents the company's intangible asset balances by major asset class.

At March 31, 2021

    

Gross Carrying

    

Accumulated

    

Net Carrying

(Dollars in millions)

Amount

Amortization

Amount*

Intangible asset class:

Capitalized software

$

1,854

$

(837)

$

1,017

Client relationships

 

8,874

 

(2,275)

 

6,599

Completed technology

 

5,972

 

(1,784)

 

4,188

Patents/trademarks

 

2,196

 

(480)

 

1,717

Other**

 

56

 

(41)

 

14

Total

$

18,952

$

(5,417)

$

13,535

At December 31, 2020

    

Gross Carrying

    

Accumulated

    

Net Carrying

(Dollars in millions)

Amount

Amortization

Amount*

Intangible asset class:

Capitalized software

$

1,777

$

(814)

$

963

Client relationships

 

8,838

 

(2,056)

 

6,783

Completed technology

 

5,957

 

(1,671)

 

4,286

Patents/trademarks

 

2,246

 

(499)

 

1,747

Other**

 

56

 

(39)

 

16

Total

$

18,874

$

(5,079)

$

13,796

*  Amounts as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 include a decrease in net intangible asset balances of $137 million and an increase of $279 million, respectively, due to foreign currency translation.

**

Other intangibles are primarily acquired proprietary and non-proprietary business processes, methodologies and systems.

The net carrying amount of intangible assets decreased $261 million during the first three months of 2021, primarily due to intangible asset amortization, partially offset by additions of acquired intangibles and capitalized software. The aggregate intangible amortization expense was $620 million and $622 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In the first three months of 2021, the company retired $256 million of fully amortized intangible assets, impacting both the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by this amount.

The future amortization expense relating to intangible assets currently recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet is estimated to be the following at March 31, 2021:

    

Capitalized

    

Acquired

    

    

(Dollars in millions)

Software

Intangibles

Total

Remainder of 2021

$

469

$

1,379

$

1,848

2022

 

368

 

1,774

 

2,142

2023

 

168

 

1,459

 

1,627

2024

 

12

 

1,408

 

1,420

2025

 

 

1,389

 

1,389

Thereafter

5,109

 

5,109

Goodwill

The changes in the goodwill balances by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:

    

    

    

    

    

    

Foreign

    

    

Currency

Purchase

Translation

(Dollars in millions)

Balance

Goodwill

Price

and Other

Balance

Segment

1/1/2021

Additions

Adjustments

Adjustments*

3/31/2021

Cloud & Cognitive Software

$

43,934

$

245

$

6

$

(249)

$

43,935

Global Business Services

 

6,145

 

501

 

0

 

(61)

 

6,585

Global Technology Services

 

7,245

 

 

 

(70)

 

7,175

Systems

 

2,293

 

 

0

 

(4)

 

2,289

Total

$

59,617

$

746

$

6

$

(384)

$

59,984

    

    

    

    

    

    

Foreign

    

    

Currency

Purchase

Translation

(Dollars in millions)

Balance

Goodwill

Price

and Other

Balance

Segment

1/1/2020

Additions

Adjustments

Adjustments*

12/31/2020

Cloud & Cognitive Software

$

43,037

$

362

$

(139)

$

675

$

43,934

Global Business Services

 

5,775

 

205

 

 

165

 

6,145

Global Technology Services

 

7,141

 

 

 

104

 

7,245

Systems

 

2,270

 

8

 

 

15

 

2,293

Total

$

58,222

$

575

$

(139)

$

960

$

59,617

* Primarily driven by foreign currency translation.

There were no goodwill impairment losses recorded during the first three months of 2021 or full-year 2020 and the company has no accumulated impairment losses. Purchase price adjustments recorded in the first three months of 2021 and full-year 2020 were related to acquisitions that were still subject to the measurement period that ends at the earlier of 12 months from the acquisition date or when information becomes available. Net purchase price adjustments recorded during the first three months of 2021 were not material. In full-year 2020, net purchase price adjustments recorded to noncurrent tax assets and liabilities were related to the Red Hat acquisition.