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To implement the
new standards, an independent appraisal
firm was engaged to help management
estimate the fair values of Protection
One’s and Protection One Europe’s goodwill
and customer accounts. Based on this
analysis, we recorded a charge in the
first quarter of 2002 of approximately
$749.3 million (net of tax benefit and
minority interests), of which $555.4
million was related to goodwill and
$193.9 million was related to customer
accounts.
The impairment
charge for goodwill recorded in the
first quarter of 2002 is reflected in
our consolidated statement of income
as a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle. The impairment
charge for customer accounts is reflected
in our consolidated statement of income
as an operating expense. These impairment
charges reduce the recorded value of
these assets to their estimated fair
values at January 1, 2002.
Protection One
completed an additional impairment test
of goodwill as of December 31, 2002.
We recorded an impairment charge of
$79.7 million, net of tax benefit and
minority interests, in the fourth quarter
of 2002 to reflect the impairment of
all remaining goodwill of Protection
One’s North America segment, which is
reflected in our consolidated statement
of income as an operating expense.
We solicited and
received indications of value for Protection
One Europe from potential buyers. These
indications of value are within a range
we would be willing to accept. They
indicated the recorded goodwill of Protection
One Europe had no value. Accordingly,
we recorded a $36 million impairment
charge in the fourth quarter of 2002
to reflect the impairment of all remaining
goodwill at Protection One Europe, which
is reflected in our consolidated statement
of income as an operating expense. We
are willing to accept offers in the
indicated range due to our ability to
use the tax loss on this sale to offset
the taxes that would otherwise be due
from our sale of other investments.
We will recognize a $58 million tax
benefit in the first quarter of 2003
when Protection One Europe is classified
as a discontinued operation.
These charges
for the year ended December 31, 2002
are detailed as follows:
The investment at cost in customer accounts
at December 31, 2002 was $1.1 billion and at December 31, 2001 was
approximately $1.4 billion. Accumulated amortization of the investment
in customer accounts at December 31, 2002 was $678.9 million and
at December 31, 2001 was $614.5 million. We recorded approximately
$83.3 million of customer account
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amortization expense during the year ended
December 31, 2002, $148.0 million during the same period of 2001
and $158.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2000. Customer
account amortization expense is reduced primarily as a result of
the impairment charge that reduced our customer account balance.
The table below reflects the estimated aggregate customer account
amortization expense for 2003 and each of the four succeeding fiscal
years.
We are required
to perform impairment tests for long-lived
assets prospectively for our monitored
services segment as long as it continues
to incur recurring losses or for other
matters that may negatively impact its
businesses. Goodwill will be required
to be tested upon certain triggering
events, which include recurring operating
losses, adverse business conditions,
adverse regulatory rulings, declines
in market values and other matters that
negatively impact value. Given the potentially
negative implications from the KCC’s
December 23, 2002 order, and the subsequent
decline in Protection One’s stock price,
Protection One tested its goodwill for
impairment at December 31, 2002, which
resulted in the additional impairment
charge discussed above. If future impairment
tests for either goodwill or customer
accounts indicate fair value is less
than book value, we will be required
to recognize additional impairment charges
on these assets in the future. Any such
impairment charges could be material.
Change in Estimate
of Customer Life
During the first
quarter of 2002, Protection One evaluated
the estimated life and amortization
rates for customer accounts, based on
the results of a lifing study performed
by a third party appraisal firm in the
first quarter of 2002. The report showed
Protection One’s North America customer
pool can expect a declining revenue
stream over the next 30 years with an
estimated average remaining life of
9 years. Protection One’s Multifamily
pool can expect a declining revenue
stream over the next 30 years with an
estimated average remaining life of
10 years. Taking into account the results
of the lifing study and the inherent
expected declining revenue streams for
the North America and Multifamily customer
pools, in particular the first five
years, Protection One adjusted the rate
of amortization on customer accounts
for its North America and Multifamily
customer pools to better match the rate
and period of amortization expense with
the expected decline in revenues. In
the first quarter of 2002, Protection
One changed its amortization rate for
its North America pool to a 10-year
135% declining balance method from a
10-year 130% declining balance method.
For the Multifamily pool, Protection
One will continue to amortize on a straight-line
basis utilizing a shorter nine year
life. Protection One accounted for these
amortization changes prospectively beginning
January 1, 2002, as a change in estimate.
These changes in estimates increased
amortization expense for the year ended
December 31, 2002 by approximately $0.8
million, net of $0.5 million tax.
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