GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Our goodwill and intangible assets have resulted from acquisitions. Upon acquisition, the purchase price is first allocated to identifiable assets and liabilities, including trademarks and customer-related intangible assets, with any remaining purchase price recorded as goodwill. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives. Determining the expected life of an intangible asset is based on a number of factors including the competitive environment, history and anticipated future support.

We conduct impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually in the fourth quarter and on an interim basis when circumstances arise that indicate a possible impairment. We evaluate goodwill at the reporting unit level.

In evaluating goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment, we may elect to utilize a qualitative assessment to evaluate whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If our qualitative assessment indicates that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, we perform a quantitative assessment to determine whether goodwill is impaired and to measure the amount of goodwill impairment to be recognized, if any. Under the accounting guidance, we also have an option at any time to bypass the qualitative assessment and immediately perform a quantitative step one assessment to estimate the fair value of our reporting unit and identify any potential impairment of goodwill. As our last step one analysis was performed in the fourth quarter of 2014, we completed a step one goodwill impairment analysis for our single reporting unit during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to evaluate goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. We estimate fair value using widely acceptable valuation techniques including discounted cash flows and market multiples analysis with respect to our goodwill reporting unit, and the relief-from-royalty method with respect to our indefinite-lived trademarks. These valuation approaches are dependent upon a number of factors, including estimates of future growth and trends, royalty rates in the category of intellectual property, discount rates and other variables. Assumptions used in our valuations were consistent with our internal projections and operating plans, as well as other factors and assumptions, and utilized unobservable inputs (Level 3, as defined in Note 10) and significant management judgment. Additionally, under the market approach analysis, we used significant other observable inputs (Level 2, as defined in Note 10) including various guideline company comparisons. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Changes in these estimates or assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value and the conclusions of the step one analysis for our reporting unit.

For purposes of the step one goodwill impairment analysis, we estimated the fair value of our reporting unit using an equal weighting of the income approach that analyzed projected discounted cash flows and a market approach that considered other comparable companies. Both approaches resulted in a fair value estimate for our reporting unit that significantly exceeded its carrying amount. Accordingly, we were not required to perform step two of the impairment analysis, and we did not recognize any impairment charges related to goodwill during 2017.

Additionally, based on the results of our annual impairment testing of our indefinite-lived trademarks completed during the fourth quarter of 2017, we did not record any impairment charges.

As of December 31, 2017, the gross carrying value of goodwill was $2.24 billion and accumulated goodwill impairment was $2.08 billion. We recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $2.08 billion in 2011 with no goodwill impairment charges in subsequent years.

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2017 were as follows (in thousands):



Balance at December 31, 2015	$	86,841
Acquisitions (Note 2)	67,271
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	154,112
Acquisitions (Note 2)	13,423
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	167,535

We evaluate our finite-lived intangible assets for impairment upon a significant change in the operating environment or whenever circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If an evaluation of the undiscounted cash flows indicates impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value, which is generally based on discounted future cash flows.

Prior to 2015, certain of our trademarks were not amortized as our intent was to continue to use these intangible assets indefinitely. During the first quarter of 2015, we approved the launch of DairyPure^®, our national white milk brand. In connection with the approval of the launch of DairyPure^®, we re-evaluated our indefinite-lived trademarks and determined them to be finite-lived, with remaining useful lives of 5 years. The launch of DairyPure^® resulted in a triggering event for impairment testing purposes. Based upon our testing, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $109.9 million and related income tax benefit of $41.2 million in the first quarter of 2015. The impairment charge is reported in the impairment of intangible and long-lived assets line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In the first quarter of 2016, we further evaluated the remaining useful life of our finite-lived trademarks in conjunction with our newly approved strategy around our ice cream brands. Based on our evaluation, we extended the useful lives of certain of our finite-lived trademarks. Our finite-lived trademarks will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their remaining useful lives, which range from approximately 3 to 8 years, with a weighted-average remaining useful life of approximately 5 years.

The net carrying amounts of our intangible assets other than goodwill as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:



	December 31, 2017										December 31, 2016
	Acquisition Costs(1)		Impairment			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Acquisition Costs		Impairment			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	(In thousands)
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trademarks	$	58,600	$	—		$	—		$	58,600	$	52,000	$	—		$	—		$	52,000
Intangible assets with finite lives:
Customer-related and other	$	80,685	$	—		$	(41,398	)	$	39,287	$	78,925	$	—		$	(37,050	)	$	41,875
Trademarks	230,709		(109,910		)	(58,189		)	62,610		229,777		(109,910		)	(41,824		)	78,043
Total	$	369,994	$	(109,910	)	$	(99,587	)	$	160,497	$	360,702	$	(109,910	)	$	(78,874	)	$	171,918

(1)

The increase in the gross amount of intangible assets from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017 is related in part to an indefinite-lived trademark of $6.6 million and a finite-lived customer-related intangible of $1.8 million we recorded as a part of the Uncle Matt's acquisition. See Note 2. Additionally, we acquired a finite-lived trademark of a regional artisan ice cream brand for $0.9 million during the period.

Amortization expense on intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $20.7 million, $20.8 million and $21.7 million, respectively. The amortization of intangible assets is reported on a separate line item in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Estimated aggregate intangible asset amortization expense for the next five years is as follows (in millions):



2018	$	20.3
2019	20.3
2020	12.2
2021	10.5
2022	7.8