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Restructuring | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] |
Restructuring | Restructuring In order to contain costs and mitigate the impact of current and expected future economic conditions, as well as continued focus on process improvements, we have initiated various restructuring plans over the last several years. The plans that are currently active with a remaining liability are further described below. The charges for each restructuring plan are classified as selling and general expenses within the consolidated statements of income and the reserves are included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. In certain circumstances, reserves are no longer needed because of efficiencies in carrying out the plans or because employees previously identified for separation resigned from the Company and did not receive severance or were reassigned due to circumstances not foreseen when the original plans were initiated. In these cases, we reverse reserves through the consolidated statements of income when it is determined they are no longer needed. As part of the definitive agreement to sell MHE to investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC, described further in Note 2 – Growth and Value Plan & Discontinued Operations, we will retain MHE's restructuring liabilities. Therefore the remaining reserves described below include MHE's restructuring liability, however, the charge associated with the reserve has been bifurcated between continuing and discontinued operations. During the second half of 2012, we continued to identify opportunities for cost savings through workforce reductions and other restructuring activities as part of our Growth and Value Plan, which includes creating two independent companies with focused cost structures. Approximately 45% of the headcount reduction related to our finance & accounting, human resource, information technology, and other support services within our shared service center as we transition various work to selected outsource providers. We recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $68 million, consisting of employee severance costs related to a company-wide workforce reduction of approximately 670 positions. This charge consisted of $15 million for S&P Ratings, $19 million for S&P Capital IQ, $1 million for S&P DJ Indices, $12 million for C&C and $21 million for our corporate segment. The total reserve, including MHE, was $107 million. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we have reduced the reserve by $15 million for cash payments for employee severance costs. The remaining reserve as of December 31, 2012 is $92 million. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we initiated a restructuring plan to create a flatter and more agile organization as part of our Growth and Value Plan. We recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $32 million, consisting primarily of facility exit costs and employee severance costs related to a company-wide workforce reduction of approximately 250 positions. This charge consisted of $9 million for S&P Ratings, $6 million for C&C and $17 million for our corporate segment. The total reserve, including MHE, was $66 million. In the second quarter of 2012 we recorded an additional pre-tax restructuring charge of $5 million primarily for employee severance costs as part of the Growth and Value Plan. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we have reduced the reserve by $47 million and $4 million, respectively, primarily relating to cash payments for employee severance costs. The remaining reserve as of December 31, 2012 is $20 million. As of December 31, 2012, our 2006 restructuring initiative still has a remaining reserve relating to facilities costs of $2 million.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747 + Details
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