XML 51 R10.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill. The table below presents changes to the carrying amount of goodwill by segment during the two-year period ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands).
 
Research
 
Conferences
 
Consulting
 
Other
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 (1)
$
2,619,677

 
$
187,920

 
$
97,798

 
$
81,899

 
$
2,987,294

Divestitures (2)
(2,500
)
 
—

 
—

 
(90,078
)
 
(92,578
)
Foreign currency translation impact and other (3)
21,241

 
(266
)
 
(734
)
 
8,179

 
28,420

Balance at December 31, 2018
2,638,418

 
187,654

 
97,064

 
—

 
2,923,136

Additions due to an acquisition (4)
17,557

 
1,736

 
—

 
—

 
19,293

Foreign currency translation impact
(4,915
)
 
251

 
(39
)
 
—

 
(4,703
)
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
2,651,060

 
$
189,641

 
$
97,025

 
$
—

 
$
2,937,726

 
(1)
The Company does not have any accumulated goodwill impairment losses. The goodwill balance at December 31, 2017 excludes certain amounts related to held-for-sale operations.
(2)
Represents amounts related to divested businesses. See Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.
(3)
Includes the foreign currency translation impact and certain measurement period adjustments related to the acquisition of CEB. See Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.
(4)
The 2019 additions are due to the acquisition of TOPO. See Note 2 – Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.

Finite-lived intangible assets. Changes in finite-lived intangible assets during the two-year period ended December 31, 2019 are presented in the tables below (in thousands).
December 31, 2019
 
Customer
Relationships
 
Software
 
Content
 
Other
 
Total
Gross cost at December 31, 2018
 
$
1,131,656

 
$
110,701

 
$
98,842

 
$
51,662

 
$
1,392,861

Additions due to an acquisition (1)
 
3,600

 
—

 
1,200

 
450

 
5,250

Intangible assets fully amortized
 
—

 
—

 
(85,900
)
 
(21,358
)
 
(107,258
)
Foreign currency translation impact
 
9,853

 
332

 
(2
)
 
84

 
10,267

Gross cost
 
1,145,109

 
111,033

 
14,140

 
30,838

 
1,301,120

Accumulated amortization (2)
 
(283,369
)
 
(61,564
)
 
(11,225
)
 
(19,875
)
 
(376,033
)
Balance at December 31, 2019
 
$
861,740

 
$
49,469

 
$
2,915

 
$
10,963

 
$
925,087


December 31, 2018
 
Customer
Relationships
 
Software
 
Content
 
Other
 
Total
Gross cost at December 31, 2017 (3)
 
$
1,200,316

 
$
123,424

 
$
104,313

 
$
54,929

 
$
1,482,982

Intangible assets fully amortized
 
(303
)
 
(11,715
)
 
(669
)
 
(3,311
)
 
(15,998
)
Divestitures (4)
 
(45,175
)
 
(321
)
 
(473
)
 
(160
)
 
(46,129
)
Foreign currency translation impact and other (5)
 
(23,182
)
 
(687
)
 
(4,329
)
 
204

 
(27,994
)
Gross cost
 
1,131,656

 
110,701

 
98,842

 
51,662

 
1,392,861

Accumulated amortization (2)
 
(184,918
)
 
(38,901
)
 
(92,717
)
 
(33,760
)
 
(350,296
)
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
946,738

 
$
71,800

 
$
6,125

 
$
17,902

 
$
1,042,565

 
(1)
The 2019 additions are due to the acquisition of TOPO. See Note 2 – Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.
(2)
Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the following periods: Customer relationships—4 to 13 years; Software—3 to 7 years; Content—1.5 to 4 years; and Other —2 to 11 years.
(3)
Excludes certain amounts related to held-for-sale operations.
(4)
Represents amounts related to divested businesses. See Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.
(5)
Includes the foreign currency translation impact and certain other adjustments.

Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $129.7 million, $187.0 million and $176.3 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense by year for finite-lived intangible assets is presented in the table below (in thousands).
2020
$
126,081

2021
105,007

2022
95,194

2023
95,179

2024
89,863

2025 and thereafter
413,763

 
$
925,087