GENERAL ITC Holdings and its subsidiaries are engaged in the transmission of electricity in the United States. Through our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries, we own and operate high-voltage systems in Michigans Lower Peninsula and portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma that transmit electricity from generating stations to local distribution facilities connected to our systems. Our business strategy is to own, operate, maintain and invest in transmission infrastructure in order to enhance system integrity and reliability, reduce transmission constraints and support new generating resources to interconnect to our transmission systems. We also are pursuing transmission development projects not within our existing systems, which are also intended to improve overall grid reliability, reduce transmission constraints and facilitate interconnections of new generating resources, as well as enhance competitive wholesale electricity markets. Our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries are independent electric transmission utilities, with rates regulated by the FERC and established on a cost-of-service model. ITCTransmissions service area is located in southeastern Michigan, while METCs service area covers approximately two-thirds of Michigans Lower Peninsula and is contiguous with ITCTransmissions service area. ITC Midwests service area is located in portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri and ITC Great Plains currently owns assets located in Kansas and Oklahoma. MISO bills and collects revenues from the MISO Regulated Operating Subsidiaries customers. SPP bills and collects revenue from ITC Great Plains customers. ITC Interconnection currently owns assets in Michigan and earns revenues based on its facilities reimbursement agreement with a merchant generating company. The Merger On February 9, 2016, ITC Holdings entered into the Merger Agreement with Fortis, FortisUS and Merger Sub. On April 20, 2016, Fortis reached a definitive agreement with GIC for GIC to acquire an indirect 19.9% equity interest in ITC Holdings upon completion of the Merger. On October 14, 2016 , ITC Holdings and Fortis completed the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement. On the same date, the common shares of ITC Holdings were delisted from the NYSE. Due to the delisting of ITC Holdings common shares, there is limited share data, and no per share data, presented in this Form 10-K. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we expensed approximately $5 million related to the Merger for internal labor and associated costs. For the year ended December 31, 2016, expenses related to the Merger for internal labor and associated costs were approximately $58 million and external legal, advisory and financial services fees were approximately $55 million . For the year ended December 31, 2016, the internal labor and associated costs included approximately $41 million of expense that was recognized due to the accelerated vesting of the share-based awards described in Note 15 . The majority of these Merger-related costs were recorded within general and administrative expenses. The external and internal costs related to the Merger were recorded at ITC Holdings and have not been included as components of revenue requirement at our Regulated Operating Subsidiaries.