Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020
Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]    
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]
(i) Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment upon certain triggering events. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives ("indefinite-lived intangible assets") are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually. Our annual impairment assessment of our indefinite-lived intangible assets is performed during the fourth quarter of each year and more frequently if events and circumstances indicated that the asset might be impaired.

QVC utilizes a qualitative assessment for determining whether step one of the goodwill impairment analysis is necessary. The accounting guidance permits entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform step one of the goodwill impairment test. In evaluating goodwill on a qualitative basis, QVC reviews the business performance of each reporting unit and evaluates other relevant factors as identified in the relevant accounting guidance to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indicated impairment exists for any of its reporting units. A reporting unit is defined in accounting guidance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP" or "GAAP") as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component. The Company considers QVC's reporting units to align with its operating segments. Refer to note 16 for additional information. The Company considers whether there were any negative macroeconomic conditions, industry specific conditions, market changes, increased competition, increased costs in doing business, management challenges and the legal environments, and how these factors might impact country specific performance in future periods.
If a step one test is considered necessary based on the qualitative factors, the Company compares the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value. Developing estimates of fair value requires significant judgments, including making assumptions about appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, relevant comparable market multiples, public trading prices and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. The cash flows employed in the Company's valuation analysis are based on management's best estimates considering current marketplace factors and risks as well as assumptions of growth rates in future years. There is no assurance that actual results in the future will approximate these forecasts. Any excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit over the fair value is recorded as an impairment charge.
QVC also utilizes a qualitative assessment to evaluate the risk of impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets. The accounting guidance permits entities to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If deemed necessary based on qualitative factors, a quantitative test is used to determine if the carrying value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value. An impairment loss would be recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeded the asset's fair value in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 350. Refer to note 6 for additional information.
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment (note 16) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
(in millions) QxH QVC-International Total
Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 5,112  859  5,971 
Exchange rate fluctuations —  63  63 
Balance as of December 31, 2020 5,112  922  6,034 
Exchange rate fluctuations —  (66) (66)
Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 5,112  856  5,968 
 
Intangible Assets Disclosure  
(6) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment (note 16) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
(in millions) QxH QVC-International Total
Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 5,112  859  5,971 
Exchange rate fluctuations —  63  63 
Balance as of December 31, 2020 5,112  922  6,034 
Exchange rate fluctuations —  (66) (66)
Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 5,112  856  5,968 
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, QVC performed a qualitative assessment for its QxH and QVC-International reporting units as it was more likely than not that the fair values exceeded the carrying values for each of the reporting units. There was no goodwill impairment recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 or 2019.
Other intangible assets consisted of the following:
December 31,
2021 2020 Weighted average remaining life (years)
(in millions) Gross
cost
Accumulated
amortization
Other intangible assets, net Gross
cost
Accumulated
amortization
Other intangible assets, net
Purchased and internally developed software $ 945  (659) 286  952  (663) 289  2.4
Affiliate and customer relationships 2,832  (2,598) 234  2,845  (2,564) 281  5.0
Debt origination fees —  10  (4) 4.8
Tradenames (indefinite life) 2,878  —  2,878  2,878  —  2,878  N/A
$ 6,664  (3,257) 3,407  6,685  (3,231) 3,454 
N/A - Not applicable.
Disposal of assets reduced gross other intangible assets by $116 million and $48 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Amortization expense for other intangible assets was $163 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $149 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
For 2021, the Company utilized a qualitative impairment assessment for both the QVC and HSN tradenames and there were no impairment losses recorded during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. For 2019, the company utilized a qualitative impairment assessment for the QVC tradename and a quantitative assessment for the HSN tradename. The company utilizes a relief from royalty method to determine the fair value. As of December 31, 2019, the HSN tradename within the QxH segment, with a carrying amount of $597 million, was written down to its fair value of $450 million resulting in an impairment charge of $147 million, which is reflected in impairment loss in the consolidated statement of operations. These fair value measurements are Level 3 fair value measurements based on unobservable inputs. Accumulated impairment loss as of December 31, 2021 is $177 million.
As of December 31, 2021, the related amortization and interest expense for each of the next five years ending December 31 was as follows (in millions):
2022 $ 179 
2023 149 
2024 104 
2025 49 
2026 48