GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS [Abstract]

5. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

Summarized below are the carrying values of goodwill and any changes to the carrying value of goodwill from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

	North America			Europe		Asia Pacific		Total
Goodwill:
Gross value at December 31, 2011	$	363,953		$	18,856	$	5,304	$	388,113
Accumulated impairment losses		(92,423	)		-		-		(92,423	)
Carrying value at December 31, 2011		271,530			18,856		5,304		295,690
Impact of currency fluctuations		816			826		104		1,746
Carrying value at September 30, 2012	$	272,346		$	19,682	$	5,408	$	297,436

Goodwill is not subject to amortization, but is subject to periodic reviews for impairment.

Other Intangible Assets

Summarized below are the carrying value and accumulated amortization, if applicable, by intangible asset class (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Other intangible assets:
Customer lists	$	65,761	$	(60,432	)	$	5,329	$	65,566	$	(57,682	)	$	7,884
Non-compete agreements		5,738		(5,506	)		232		5,701		(5,063	)		638
Developed technology		1,000		(1,000	)		-		1,000		(1,000	)		-
Other		3,193		(792	)		2,401		2,889		(505	)		2,384
Total other intangible assets	$	75,692	$	(67,730	)	$	7,962	$	75,156	$	(64,250	)	$	10,906

We record fees incurred in connection with our patents and trademarks in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" in our condensed consolidated balance sheets until the patents and trademarks are granted or abandoned. We had $1.1 million of these assets recorded at both September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Other intangible assets are amortized over an estimated useful life between one and 20 years. Estimated annual amortization expense related to our other intangible assets for 2012 through 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

Year	Estimated Annual Amortization Expense

2012	$	3,813
2013	$	1,496
2014	$	1,115
2015	$	1,111
2016	$	851

- 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