Goodwill and other intangible assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2014, were as follows:



	Balance at January 1, 2014		*	Goodwill Acquired During the Year/Other			Balance at December 31, 2014		*
	(In thousands)
Natural gas distribution	$	345,736		$	—		$	345,736
Pipeline and energy services	9,737			—			9,737
Construction materials and contracting	176,290			—			176,290
Construction services	104,276			(835		)	103,441
Total	$	636,039		$	(835	)	$	635,204


*	Balance is presented net of accumulated impairment of $12.3 million at the pipeline and energy services segment, which occurred in prior periods.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2013, were as follows:



	Balance at January 1, 2013		*	Goodwill Acquired During the Year		Balance at December 31, 2013		*
	(In thousands)
Natural gas distribution	$	345,736		$	—	$	345,736
Pipeline and energy services	9,737			—		9,737
Construction materials and contracting	176,290			—		176,290
Construction services	104,276			—		104,276
Total	$	636,039		$	—	$	636,039


*	Balance is presented net of accumulated impairment of $12.3 million at the pipeline and energy services segment, which occurred in prior periods.

Other amortizable intangible assets at December 31 were as follows:



	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Customer relationships	$	21,310		$	21,310
Accumulated amortization	(15,556		)	(13,726		)
	5,754			7,584
Noncompete agreements	5,080			6,186
Accumulated amortization	(4,098		)	(4,840		)
	982			1,346
Other	10,921			10,995
Accumulated amortization	(7,817		)	(6,826		)
	3,104			4,169
Total	$	9,840		$	13,099

Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, was $3.2 million, $4.0 million and $3.8 million, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets is $2.5 million in 2015, $2.1 million in 2016, $1.9 million in 2017, $1.0 million in 2018, $900,000 in 2019 and $1.4 million thereafter.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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