v2.4.0.8
Goodwill impairment
9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Goodwill

Opta Minerals performed its annual impairment test for goodwill as at September 30, 2013, and recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment loss of $ 3,552 related to one of its reporting units in the third quarter of 2013. Due to increased competition and reduced demand for industrial minerals in markets along the U.S. east coast, the operating profits and cash flows of the reporting unit were lower than expected in the fourth quarter of 2012 and first three quarters of 2013,reflecting reduced sales volumes, price concessions causing lower gross margins, and lower utilization of plant capacity. The fair value of the reporting unit was estimated based on the expected present value of future cash flows using unobservable (level 3) inputs, which included the following assumptions: (i) an estimated cumulative average operating income growth rate from 2014 to 2017 of 25.7%: (ii) a projected long-term annual operating income growth rate of 2.5%: and (iii) a risk-adjusted discount rate of 14.0%. The goodwill associated with the reporting unit was fully deductible for tax purposes. There was no indication of goodwill impairment related to the other reporting units of Opta Minerals based on the testing done as at September 30, 2013..