13. Goodwill Impairment

The steep worldwide oil and gas industry downturn that started in 2014 stabilized somewhat during the third quarter of 2016, though at very low levels of activity. Operators have improved their cost structures and achieved operational efficiencies, reducing the industry’s marginal cost of supply, primarily in the North American land market. While some improvements in offshore operations have been made, many deepwater projects will not be able to achieve an economically competitive cost structure under the current commodity pricing outlook. As a result, the market shift from offshore drilling to land drilling in North America intensified. Announced cancellations of major offshore projects during the quarter, releases of contracted offshore rigs, the number of idle offshore rigs and the number of current newbuilds still to be completed and enter the market all indicate a large over-supply of offshore equipment that will take years to absorb, even as offshore drilling activity recovers. During the third quarter, these factors indicated a more prolonged downturn associated with newbuild offshore drilling rigs, and we reduced our forecast accordingly, which indicated a goodwill impairment in the Rig Offshore reporting unit was possible.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require the company test goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually or more frequently whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that those assets might be impaired.

The first step of the impairment analysis is to compare the reporting unit’s carrying value to the respective fair value. Fair value of the reporting unit is determined in accordance with ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” using significant unobservable inputs, or level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. These inputs are based on internal management estimates, forecasts and judgments, using discounted cash flow.

The discounted cash flow is based on management’s forecast of operating performance for the reporting unit. The two main assumptions used in measuring goodwill impairment, which bear the risk of change and could impact the Company’s goodwill impairment analysis, include the cash flow from operations from each reporting unit and its weighted average cost of capital. The starting point for each of the reporting unit’s cash flow from operations is the detailed annual plan or updated forecast. Cash flows beyond the updated forecasted operating plans were estimated using a terminal value calculation, which incorporated historical and forecasted financial cyclical trends for each reporting unit and considered long-term earnings growth rates. The financial and credit market volatility directly impacts our fair value measurement through our weighted average cost of capital that we use to determine our discount rate. During times of volatility, significant judgment must be applied to determine whether credit changes are a short-term or long-term trend.

Based on the Company’s step one impairment analysis, as of July 1, 2016 the Rig Offshore reporting unit had a calculated fair value below its carrying value, and required a step two analysis, which compares the implied fair value of goodwill of a reporting unit to the carrying value of goodwill for the reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by deducting the fair value of a reporting unit’s identifiable assets and liabilities from the fair value of that reporting unit as a whole. Consistent with the step one analysis, fair value of the assets and liabilities was determined in accordance with ASC Topic 820. Based on the step two analysis performed for the Rig Offshore reporting unit, the Company recorded a $972 million write-down of goodwill during the third quarter. As a result of the goodwill impairment and a reduction in working capital, total assets for Rig Systems were $3.7 billion at September 30, 2016.

Also, to achieve higher efficiencies and reduce costs, the Company combined the operations of the Rig Offshore and Rig Land reporting units during the third quarter of 2016. Generally accepted accounting principles require the Company to test the value of goodwill assets for impairment before and after combining reporting units. As a result we also tested Rig Land before the combination as well as the combined reporting unit, Rig Systems, as of July 1, 2016 for goodwill impairment, in accordance with accounting guidance ASC Topic No. 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other”.

Based on the Company’s step one impairment analysis, the calculated fair value of the Rig Land reporting unit was substantially in excess of its carrying value. Additionally, the goodwill impairment analysis performed subsequent to the combination of the two reporting units into the Rig Systems reporting unit, concluded that the calculated fair value of the Rig Systems reporting unit was substantially in excess of its carrying value. We also considered whether impairment indicators existed that would suggest the goodwill of our other reporting units was more likely than not impaired and concluded there were none. While the outlook for offshore new-builds has declined sharply, higher activity levels in land drilling will benefit our other businesses.

At September 30, 2016, the Company has approximately $6 billion of goodwill, which is identified by segment as follows (in millions):


	Rig Systems			Rig Aftermarket		Wellbore Technologies			Completion & Production Solutions		Total
Gross value before accumulated impairment	$	1,232		$	877	$	4,359		$	1,997	$	8,465
Accumulated impairment		—			—		(1,485	)		—		(1,485	)

Balance at December 31, 2015	$	1,232		$	877	$	2,874		$	1,997	$	6,980

Goodwill acquired and adjusted during period		1			—		(7	)		—		(6	)
Impairment		(972	)		—		—			—		(972	)
Currency translation adjustments and other		—			—		4			9		13


Balance at September 30, 2016	$	261		$	877	$	2,871		$	2,006	$	6,015