Goodwill and other intangible assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2012, were as follows:



	Balance as of January 1, 2012		*	Goodwill Acquired During the Year		**	Balance as of December 31, 2012		*
	(In thousands)
Natural gas distribution	$	345,736		$	—		$	345,736
Pipeline and energy services	9,737			—			9,737
Construction materials and contracting	176,290			—			176,290
Construction services	103,168			1,108			104,276
Total	$	634,931		$	1,108		$	636,039

* Balance is presented net of accumulated impairment of $12.3 million at the pipeline and energy services segment, which occurred in prior periods.

** Includes contingent consideration that was not material related to an acquisition in a prior period.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2011, were as follows:



	Balance as of January 1, 2011		*	Goodwill Acquired During the Year		**	Balance as of December 31, 2011		*
	(In thousands)
Natural gas distribution	$	345,736		$	—		$	345,736
Pipeline and energy services	9,737			—			9,737
Construction materials and contracting	176,290			—			176,290
Construction services	102,870			298			103,168
Total	$	634,633		$	298		$	634,931

* Balance is presented net of accumulated impairment of $12.3 million at the pipeline and energy services segment, which occurred in prior periods.

** Includes contingent consideration that was not material related to an acquisition in a prior period.

Other amortizable intangible assets at December 31 were as follows:



	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Customer relationships	$	21,310		$	21,702
Accumulated amortization	(11,701		)	(10,392		)
	9,609			11,310
Noncompete agreements	7,236			7,685
Accumulated amortization	(5,326		)	(5,371		)
	1,910			2,314
Other	10,979			11,442
Accumulated amortization	(5,369		)	(4,223		)
	5,610			7,219
Total	$	17,129		$	20,843

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, was $3.8 million, $3.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets is $3.7 million in 2013, $3.5 million in 2014, $2.6 million in 2015, $2.2 million in 2016, $1.9 million in 2017 and $3.2 million thereafter.

- 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