94 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AEGON N.V.  NOTE 2.5 - 2.8 Includes impairments (reversals) on available-for-sale debt  securities and impairments on shares including the effect of  deferred policyholder acquisition costs and mortgage and  loan portfolios on amortized cost and associates. Other income or charges is used to report any items which  cannot be directly allocated to a specific line of business.  Also items that are outside the normal course of business  are included under this heading. Other charges include restructuring charges that are  considered other charges for segment reporting purposes  because these are outside the normal course of business.  In the IFRS financial statements, these charges are included  in commissions and expenses or impairment charges.  Includes results of business units where management has  decided to exit the market and to run-off the existing block  of business. Currently, this line includes the run-off of the  institutional spread-based business and structured settlements  blocks of business in the United States. AEGON has other blocks  of businesses for which sales have been discontinued of which  the earnings are included in underlying earnings. Earnings from the Company’s associates in insurance  companies in Spain, India, Brazil and Mexico are reported on  an underlying earnings basis. Other associates are included  on a net income basis. Financial assets and liabilities are offset in the balance sheet  when the Group has a legally enforceable right to offset and  has the intention to settle the asset and liability on a net basis  or simultaneously.  Goodwill is recognized as an intangible asset for interests in  subsidiaries and joint ventures acquired after January 1, 2004  and is measured as the positive difference between the  acquisition cost and the Group’s interest in the net fair value  of the entity’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent  liabilities. Subsequently, goodwill is carried at cost less  accumulated impairment charges. It is derecognized when  the interest in the subsidiary or joint venture is disposed of. Software and other intangible assets are recognized to the  extent that the assets can be identified, are controlled by the  Group, are expected to provide future economic benefits and  can be measured reliably. The Group does not recognize  internally generated intangible assets arising from research  or internally generated goodwill, brands, customer lists and  similar items. The present value of the future servicing rights is amortized  over the servicing period as the fees from services emerge and  is subject to impairment testing. It is derecognized when the  related contracts are settled or disposed of. On the acquisition of a portfolio of investment contracts  without discretionary participation features under which  AEGON will render investment management services, the  present value of future servicing rights is recognized as an  intangible asset. Future servicing rights can also be recognized  on the sale of a loan portfolio or the acquisition of insurance  agency activities. When unrealized gains or losses arise on available-for-sale  assets, VOBA is adjusted to equal the effect that the realization  of the gains or losses (through a sale or impairment) would  have had on VOBA. The adjustment is recognized directly in  shareholders’ equity. VOBA is derecognized when the related  contracts are settled or disposed of.  VOBA is amortized over the useful life of the acquired  contracts, based on either the expected future premiums or  the expected gross profit margins. The amortization period and  pattern are reviewed at each reporting date; any change in  estimates is recorded in the income statement. For all products,  VOBA, in conjunction with DPAC where appropriate, is assessed  for recoverability at least annually on a country-by-country  basis and the portion determined not to be recoverable is  charged to the income statement. VOBA is considered in the  liability adequacy test for each reporting period.  When a portfolio of insurance contracts is acquired, whether  directly from another insurance company or as part of a  business combination, the difference between the fair value and  the carrying amount of the insurance liabilities is recognized as  value of business acquired (VOBA). The Group also recognizes  VOBA when it acquires a portfolio of investment contracts with  discretionary participation features.  Impairment charges / (reversals) Other income or charges  B. VALUE OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED  Run-off businesses Share in earnings of associates  C. FUTURE SERVICING RIGHTS NOTE 2.6 OFFSETTING OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES NOTE 2.7  INTANGIBLE ASSETS A. GOODWILL D. SOFTWARE AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS