During the first quarter of 2018, the Company contributed the net assets of its Uber Russia/CIS operations into a newly formed private limited liability company (“MLU B.V.” or “Yandex.Taxi joint venture”), with Yandex and the Company holding ownership interests in MLU B.V. The Company contributed $345 million of cash, contracts in the region including Rider, Driver, and Eater contracts, and certain employees in the region to MLU B.V. The Company concurrently issued approximately 2 million shares of Uber Technologies, Inc. Class A common stock, with a fair value of $52 million to MLU B.V.’s parent, Yandex. These shares are subject to a put/call feature resulting in Uber Technologies, Inc.’s contingent obligation to buy back these shares at $48 per share. The put/call feature may be exercised at any time by either party from when it became effective in February 2019 through February 2022, at which point, if unexercised, the put/call right expires. Neither the put nor the call had been exercised as of September 30, 2019.

In exchange for consideration contributed, the Company received a seat on MLU B.V.’s board and a 38% equity ownership interest consisting of common stock in MLU B.V. Certain contingent equity issuances of MLU B.V. may dilute the Company’s equity ownership interest to approximately 35%. The investment was determined to be an equity method investment due to the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over MLU B.V. The initial fair value of the Company’s equity method investment in MLU B.V. was estimated using discounted cash flows of MLU B.V. As a result of the loss of control over Uber Russia/CIS resulting from the transaction, the Company derecognized the assets/liabilities of Uber Russia/CIS and recorded a $954 million gain during the first quarter of 2018 recognized in other income (expense), net in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Included in the initial carrying value of $1.4 billion, which represents the fair value on the transaction date, was a basis difference of $908 million related to the difference between the cost of the investment and the Company’s proportionate share of the net assets of MLU B.V. The carrying value of the equity method investments are primarily adjusted for the Company’s share in the losses of MLU B.V. and amortization of basis differences. The carrying value was also adjusted for currency translation adjustments representing fluctuations between the functional currency of the investee, the Ruble and the U.S. Dollar.

As of September 30, 2019, the basis differences between the carrying value of the Company’s investment and its share in the net assets of MLU B.V. amounted to $817 million, including the impact of foreign currency translation, and are comprised primarily of equity method goodwill. Equity method goodwill is not amortized. The Company amortizes the basis difference related to the intangible assets over the estimated useful lives of the assets that gave rise to the difference using the straight-line method. The weighted-average life of the intangible assets is approximately 5.1 years as of September 30, 2019. The investment balance is reviewed for impairment whenever factors indicate that the carrying value of the equity method investment may not be recoverable.