Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying value of goodwill:



	GSG		CIG			Total
	(in thousands)
Balance at October 2, 2016	$	357,050	$	360,938		$	717,988
Acquisition activity	—		7,055			7,055
Translation and other	4,711		11,132			15,843
Balance at October 1, 2017	361,761		379,125			740,886
Acquisition activity	27,526		58,353			85,879
Divestiture activity	—		(12,160		)	(12,160		)
Translation and other	454		(16,239		)	(15,785		)
Balance at September 30, 2018	$	389,741	$	409,079		$	798,820

We perform our annual goodwill impairment review at the beginning of our fiscal fourth quarter. Our last review at July 2, 2018 (i.e. the first day of our fourth quarter in fiscal 2018), indicated that we had no impairment of goodwill, and all of our reporting units had estimated fair values that were in excess of their carrying values, including goodwill. All of our reporting units had estimated fair values that exceeded their carrying values by more than 30%. In addition, we regularly evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that may indicate a potential change in the recoverability of goodwill. We perform interim goodwill impairment reviews between our annual reviews if certain events and circumstances have occurred, such as a deterioration in general economic conditions; an increase in the competitive environment; a change in management, key personnel, strategy or customers; negative or declining cash flows; or a decline in actual or planned revenue or earnings compared with actual and projected results of relevant prior periods.

Our fourth quarter 2018 and 2017 goodwill impairment reviews indicated that we had no impairment of goodwill, and all of our other reporting units had estimated fair values that were in excess of their carrying values, including goodwill. Although we believe that our estimates of fair value for these reporting units are reasonable, if financial performance for these reporting units falls significantly below our expectations or market prices for similar business decline, the goodwill for these reporting units could become impaired.

Foreign exchange translation relates to our foreign subsidiaries with functional currencies that are different than our reporting currency. The gross amounts of goodwill for GSG were $407.4 million and $379.5 million at September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, respectively, excluding $17.7 million of accumulated impairment. The gross amounts of goodwill for CIG were $507.0 million and $477.0 million at September 30, 2018 and October 1, 2017, respectively, excluding $97.9 million of accumulated impairment.

The gross amount and accumulated amortization of our acquired identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives included in "Intangible assets – net" on the consolidated balance sheets, were as follows:



	Fiscal Year Ended
	September 30, 2018						October 1, 2017
	Weighted- Average Remaining Life (in years)	Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Gross Amount		Accumulated Amortization
	($ in thousands)
Non-compete agreements	0.0	$	83	$	(83	)	$	495	$	(493	)
Client relations	2.6	54,639		(46,449		)	90,297		(75,074		)
Backlog	0.5	23,371		(20,007		)	21,518		(13,301		)
Technology and trade names	3.2	8,144		(3,575		)	6,685		(3,439		)
Total		$	86,237	$	(70,114	)	$	118,995	$	(92,307	)

Foreign currency translation adjustments reduced net identifiable intangible assets by $0.9 million and $0.1 million in fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amortization expense for the identifiable intangible assets for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $18.2 million, $22.8 million and $22.1 million, respectively.

Estimated amortization expense for the succeeding five years and beyond is as follows:



	Amount
	(in thousands)
2019	$	9,016
2020	3,366
2021	2,271
2022	1,037
2023	433
Total	$	16,123