Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually, as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis on the first day of the fourth quarter (on or about August 1) or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. For the Company's latest annual impairment assessment that occurred as of July 31, 2016, the Company identified its reporting units to be its seven operating segments. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the assignment of goodwill resulting from the Acquisition to the Company's reporting units has not been completed. The performance of the test involves a two-step process. The first step of the quantitative impairment test involves comparing the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their aggregate carrying values, including goodwill. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using a weighting of the income and market approaches. Under the income approach, the Company uses a discounted cash flow methodology which requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasted revenues, gross profit margins, operating income margins, working capital cash flow, perpetual growth rates, and long-term discount rates, among others. For the market approach, the Company uses the guideline public company method. Under this method the Company utilizes information from comparable publicly traded companies with similar operating and investment characteristics as the reporting units to create valuation multiples that are applied to the operating performance of the reporting unit being tested in order to obtain their respective fair values. In order to assess the reasonableness of the calculated reporting unit fair values, the Company reconciles the aggregate fair values of its reporting units (determined as described above) to its current market capitalization, allowing for a reasonable control premium. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit, calculated using the above approaches, exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, the Company performs the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of impairment loss. The second step of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that reporting unit. There was no impairment of goodwill in any period presented. The Company's next annual impairment assessment will be performed as of the first day of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. The following table presents the changes in goodwill during the first nine months of fiscal 2017:



	Nine Months Ended
	July 29, 2017
Balance as of October 29, 2016	$	1,679,116
Goodwill related to acquisition of Linear (Note 15)	10,555,688
Goodwill related to other acquisitions (1)	4,851
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,160
Balance as of July 29, 2017	$	12,241,815

(1) Represents goodwill related to acquisitions that were not material to the Company on either an individual or aggregate basis.

Intangible Assets

The Company reviews finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is determined by comparison of their carrying value to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate over their remaining estimated useful lives. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized in earnings equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value determined by either a quoted market price, if any, or a value determined by utilizing a discounted cash flow technique.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis on the first day of the fourth quarter (on or about August 1) or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The impairment test involves a qualitative assessment on the indefinite-lived intangible assets to determine whether it is more likely-than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If it is determined that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than the carrying value, the Company would recognize into earnings the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value. No impairment of intangible assets resulted from the impairment tests in any of the fiscal periods presented.

Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or on an accelerated method of amortization that is expected to reflect the estimated pattern of economic use. In-process research and development (IPR&D) assets are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets until completion or abandonment of the associated research and development (R&D) efforts. Upon completion of the projects, the IPR&D assets are reclassified to technology-based intangible assets and amortized over their estimated useful lives.

As of July 29, 2017 and October 29, 2016, the Company’s intangible assets consisted of the following:



	July 29, 2017				October 29, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization
Customer relationships	$	4,671,288	$	353,735	$	649,159	$	158,979
Technology-based	1,097,049		66,841		38,731		9,958
Trade-name	72,800		4,252		600		60
Backlog	200		150		200		—
IPR&D	24,333		—		29,675		—
Total (1)(2)	$	5,865,670	$	424,978	$	718,365	$	168,997

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(1) Foreign intangible asset carrying amounts are affected by foreign currency translation.

(2) Increases in intangible assets primarily relate to the Acquisition and other acquisitions. See Note 15, Acquisitions, of these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Intangible assets, along with the related accumulated amortization, are removed from the table above at the end of the fiscal year they become fully amortized.

For the three- and nine-month periods ended July 29, 2017, amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $147.2 million and $256.0 million, respectively. For the three- and nine-month periods ended July 30, 2016, amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $18.9 million and $55.7 million, respectively. The remaining amortization expense will be recognized over an estimated weighted average life of approximately 4.8 years.

The Company expects annual amortization expense for intangible assets to be:



Fiscal Year	Amortization Expense
Remainder of fiscal 2017		$147,239
2018		$587,637
2019		$584,448
2020		$584,210
2021		$583,789