XML 67 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2
Long-lived Assets
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Long-lived Assets [Abstract]  
Long-lived Assets Long-lived Assets

Property and Equipment, Net
        
The details of our property and equipment and the related accumulated depreciation are set forth below:
 
Estimated useful life at
December 31, 2019
 
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution systems
3 to 30 years
 
$
19,007.2

 
$
17,845.4

Customer premises equipment
3 to 7 years
 
4,294.7

 
4,191.2

Support equipment, buildings and land
2 to 50 years
 
5,344.3

 
4,933.7

Total property and equipment, gross
 
28,646.2

 
26,970.3

Accumulated depreciation
 
(14,802.8
)
 
(13,091.4
)
Total property and equipment, net
 
$
13,843.4

 
$
13,878.9



Depreciation expense related to our property and equipment was $3,123.5 million, $3,217.1 million and $3,187.4 million during 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

During 2019, 2018 and 2017, we recorded non-cash increases to our property and equipment related to vendor financing arrangements of $1,727.0 million, $2,175.5 million and $2,336.2 million, respectively, which exclude related VAT of $286.1 million, $347.3 million and $387.1 million, respectively, that was also financed by our vendors under these arrangements.

Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill during 2019 are set forth below:
 
January 1,
2019
 
Acquisitions
and related
adjustments
 
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
 
December 31,
2019
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
$
7,671.0

 
$
—

 
$
294.4

 
$
7,965.4

Belgium
2,576.3

 
48.7

 
(48.9
)
 
2,576.1

Switzerland
2,903.9

 
—

 
49.3

 
2,953.2

Central and Eastern Europe
564.6

 
—

 
(7.2
)
 
557.4

Total
$
13,715.8

 
$
48.7

 
$
287.6

 
$
14,052.1



If, among other factors, (i) our equity values were to decline or (ii) the adverse impacts of economic, competitive, regulatory or other factors were to cause our results of operations or cash flows to be worse than anticipated, we could conclude in future periods that impairment charges are required in order to reduce the carrying values of our goodwill and, to a lesser extent, other long-lived assets. Any such impairment charges could be significant.

Changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill during 2018 are set forth below:
 
January 1,
2018
 
Acquisitions
and related
adjustments
 
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
 
December 31,
2018
 
 
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
$
8,134.1

 
$
2.0

 
$
(465.1
)
 
$
7,671.0

Belgium
2,681.7

 
24.9

 
(130.3
)
 
2,576.3

Switzerland
2,931.3

 
(0.3
)
 
(27.1
)
 
2,903.9

Central and Eastern Europe
607.0

 
—

 
(42.4
)
 
564.6

Total
$
14,354.1

 
$
26.6

 
$
(664.9
)
 
$
13,715.8



Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization, Net

The details of our intangible assets subject to amortization, which are included in other assets, net, on our consolidated balance sheets, are set forth below: 
 
Estimated useful life at December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
Gross carrying amount
 
Accumulated amortization
 
Net carrying amount
 
Gross carrying amount
 
Accumulated amortization
 
Net carrying amount
 
 
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships
5 to 10 years
 
$
3,653.9

 
$
(3,363.6
)
 
$
290.3

 
$
3,673.1

 
$
(2,914.2
)
 
$
758.9

Other
2 to 15 years
 
563.7

 
(281.9
)
 
281.8

 
521.3

 
(249.0
)
 
272.3

Total
 
$
4,217.6

 
$
(3,645.5
)
 
$
572.1

 
$
4,194.4

 
$
(3,163.2
)
 
$
1,031.2



Amortization expense related to intangible assets with finite useful lives was $528.7 million, $641.1 million and $603.2 million during 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Based on our amortizable intangible asset balances at December 31, 2019, we expect that amortization expense will be as follows for the next five years and thereafter. The U.S. dollar equivalents of such amortization expense amounts as of December 31, 2019 are presented below (in millions): 
2020
$
178.5

2021
88.9

2022
38.3

2023
32.6

2024
32.4

Thereafter
201.4

Total
$
572.1