Goodwill and other intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill, by Reporting Segment

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by reporting segment, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:



	Vascular North America			Anesthesia/Respiratory North America			Surgical North America		EMEA			Asia			All Other			Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	$	459,696		$	167,195		$	250,506	$	373,417		$	136,946		$	298,571		$	1,686,331
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527		)	(107,073		)	—		—			—			(5,528		)	(332,128		)
	240,169			60,122			250,506		373,417			136,946			293,043			1,354,203
Goodwill related to acquisitions	—			—			406					15,986			—			$	16,392
Translation adjustment	—			(681		)	—		(34,388		)	(8,220		)	(3,753		)	(47,042		)
Balance as of December 31, 2014
Goodwill	459,696			166,514			250,912		339,029			144,712			294,818			1,655,681
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527		)	(107,073		)	—		—			—			(5,528		)	(332,128		)
	$	240,169		$	59,441		$	250,912	$	339,029		$	144,712		$	289,290		$	1,323,553



	Vascular North America			Anesthesia/Respiratory North America			Surgical North America		EMEA		Asia			All Other			Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2012
Goodwill	$	407,090		$	167,942		$	245,794	$	353,282	$	139,469		$	257,003		1,570,580
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527		)	(107,073		)	—		—		—			(5,528		)	(332,128		)
	187,563			60,869			245,794		353,282		139,469			251,475			1,238,452
Goodwill related to acquisitions	52,606			—			4,712		17,922		6,394			41,650			123,284
Translation adjustment	—			(747		)	—		2,213		(8,917		)	(82		)	(7,533		)
Balance as of December 31, 2013
Goodwill	459,696			167,195			250,506		373,417		136,946			298,571			1,686,331
Accumulated impairment losses	(219,527		)	(107,073		)	—		—		—			(5,528		)	(332,128		)
	$	240,169		$	60,122		$	250,506	$	373,417	$	136,946		$	293,043		$	1,354,203

Components of Intangible Assets

Intangible assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of the following:



	Gross Carrying Amount				Accumulated Amortization
	2014		2013		2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
Customer lists	$	624,574	$	628,020	$	(192,876	)	$	(168,223	)
In-process research and development	68,694		68,786		—			—
Intellectual property	467,068		435,869		(146,131		)	(118,086		)
Distribution rights	16,101		16,797		(14,243		)	(14,592		)
Trade names	396,269		407,879		(2,764		)	(1,148		)
Noncompete agreements	337		337		(309		)	(42		)
	$	1,573,043	$	1,557,688	$	(356,323	)	$	(302,091	)

Estimated Annual Amortization Expense

Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $60.9 million, $50.6 million, and $44.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
2015	$	55,750
2016	55,400
2017	54,950
2018	54,700
2019	54,500