v3.7.0.1
Restructuring Plans and Other Exit Charges
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring Plans and Other Exit Charges Restructuring and Other Exit Charges

Restructuring Plans

During fiscal 2013, the Company announced a restructuring related to improving the efficiency of its manufacturing operations in EMEA. This program was completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Total charges for this program were $6,895, primarily for cash expenses of $5,496 for employee severance-related payments of approximately 140 employees and non-cash expenses of $1,399 associated with the write-off of certain fixed assets and inventory. The Company incurred $5,207 of costs against the accrual through fiscal 2015, and incurred $271 in costs against the accrual during fiscal 2016.

During fiscal 2014, the Company announced further restructuring programs to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing, sales and engineering operations in EMEA including the restructuring of its manufacturing operations in Bulgaria. The restructuring of the Bulgaria operations was announced during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and consisted of the transfer of motive power and a portion of reserve power battery manufacturing to the Company's facilities in Western Europe. This program was completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Total charges for this program were $22,930 primarily for cash expenses of $11,996 for employee severance-related payments of approximately 500 employees and other charges and non-cash expenses of $10,934 associated with the write-off of certain fixed assets and inventory. The Company recorded restructuring charges of $22,115 through fiscal 2015, consisting of non-cash charges of $10,934 and cash charges of $11,181 and recorded an additional $1,229 in cash charges and a favorable accrual adjustment of $414 during fiscal 2016. The Company incurred $9,737 of costs against the accrual through fiscal 2015, and incurred $2,068 in costs against the accrual during fiscal 2016.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company announced a restructuring related to its manufacturing facility located in Jiangdu, the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), pursuant to which the Company completed the transfer of the manufacturing at that location to its other facilities in PRC, as part of the closure of the Jiangdu facility in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. This program was completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Total charges for this program were $5,291 primarily for cash expenses of $4,893 for employee severance-related payments of approximately 300 employees and other charges and non-cash expenses of $398. The Company recorded cash restructuring charges of $3,870 during fiscal 2015 and recorded an additional $1,023 in cash charges and $398 in non-cash charges during fiscal 2016. The Company incurred $1,874 of costs against the accrual through fiscal 2015, and incurred $2,970 in costs against the accrual during fiscal 2016.

During fiscal 2015, the Company announced a restructuring primarily related to a portion of its sales and engineering organizations in Europe to improve efficiencies. This program was completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Total charges for this program were $804 for cash expenses for employee severance-related payments of approximately 15 employees. The Company recorded cash restructuring charges of $450 during fiscal 2015 and recorded an additional $354 during fiscal 2016. The Company incurred $193 of costs against the accrual through fiscal 2015, and incurred $698 in costs against the accrual during fiscal 2016.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company completed a restructuring related to a reduction of two executives associated with one of Americas’ recent acquisitions to improve efficiencies. The Company recorded total severance-related charges of $570, all of which was paid during the first quarter of fiscal 2016, primarily per the terms of a pre-existing employee agreement.

During fiscal 2016, the Company announced restructurings to improve efficiencies primarily related to its motive power assembly and distribution center in Italy and its sales and administration organizations in EMEA. In addition, the Company announced a further restructuring related to its manufacturing operations in Europe. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $6,700, primarily from cash charges for employee severance-related payments and other charges. The Company estimates that these actions will result in the reduction of approximately 135 employees upon completion. In fiscal 2016, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $5,232 and recorded an additional $1,251 during fiscal 2017. The Company incurred $2,993 in costs against the accrual in fiscal 2016 and incurred an additional $3,037 against the accrual during fiscal 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the reserve balance associated with these actions is $393. The Company expects to be committed to an additional $200 of restructuring charges related to these actions during fiscal 2018, and expects to complete the program during fiscal 2018.

During fiscal 2016, the Company announced a restructuring related to improving the efficiency of its manufacturing operations in the Americas. The program, which was completed during the first quarter of fiscal 2017, consisted of closing its Cleveland, Ohio charger manufacturing facility and the transfer of charger production to other Americas manufacturing facilities. The total charges for all actions associated with this program amounted to $2,379, primarily from cash charges for employee severance-related payments and other charges of $1,043, along with a pension curtailment charge of $313 and non-cash charges related to
the accelerated depreciation of fixed assets of $1,023. The program resulted in the reduction of approximately 100 employees at its Cleveland facility. In fiscal 2016, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $1,488 including a pension curtailment charge of $313 and non-cash charges of $305 and recorded an additional $174 in cash charges and $718 in non-cash charges during the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The Company incurred $119 in costs against the accrual in fiscal 2016 and incurred an additional $924 against the accrual during the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

During fiscal 2017, the Company announced restructuring programs to improve efficiencies primarily related to its motive power production in EMEA. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $5,000, primarily from cash charges for employee severance-related payments and other charges. The Company estimates that these actions will result in the reduction of approximately 45 employees upon completion. During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $3,104 and incurred $749 in costs against the accrual. As of March 31, 2017, the reserve balance associated with these actions is $2,290. The Company expects to be committed to an additional $1,900 in restructuring charges related to this action in fiscal 2018, when it expects to complete this program.

During fiscal 2017, the Company announced restructurings primarily to complete the transfer of equipment and clean-up of its manufacturing facility located in Jiangdu, the People’s Republic of China, which stopped production during the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The Company estimates that the total cash charges for these actions will amount to $779. During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded charges of $779 and incurred $648 in costs against the accrual. As of March 31, 2017, the reserve balance associated with these actions is $129. The Company expects no further charges related to this action in fiscal 2018, when it expects to complete this program.

A roll-forward of the restructuring reserve is as follows:
 
 
 
Employee
Severance
 

Other
 
Total
Balance at March 31, 2014
 
$
7,312

 
$
1,102

 
$
8,414

Accrued
 
6,140

 
843

 
6,983

Costs incurred
 
(10,378
)
 
(803
)
 
(11,181
)
Foreign currency impact and other
 
(108
)
 
(288
)
 
(396
)
Balance at March 31, 2015
 
$
2,966

 
$
854

 
$
3,820

Accrued
 
8,859

 
419

 
9,278

Accrual adjustments
 

 
(414
)
 
(414
)
Costs incurred
 
(8,817
)
 
(872
)
 
(9,689
)
Foreign currency impact and other
 
(44
)
 
38

 
(6
)
Balance at March 31, 2016
 
$
2,964

 
$
25

 
$
2,989

Accrued
 
4,566

 
742

 
5,308

Costs incurred
 
(4,754
)
 
(604
)
 
(5,358
)
Foreign currency impact and other
 
(108
)
 
(19
)
 
(127
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
 
$
2,668

 
$
144

 
$
2,812



Other Exit Charges

During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded additional exit charges of $3,292 related to the South Africa joint venture, consisting of cash charges of $2,575 primarily relating to severance and non-cash charges of $717. Included in the non-cash charges are $2,157 relating to the inventory adjustment which is reported in cost of goods sold, partially offset by a credit of $1,099 relating to a change in estimate of contract losses and a $341 gain on deconsolidation of the joint venture. Weakening of the general economic environment in South Africa, reflecting the limited growth in the mining industry, affected the joint venture’s ability to compete effectively in the marketplace and consequently, the Company initiated an exit plan in consultation with its joint venture partner in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The joint venture is currently under liquidation resulting in a loss of control and deconsolidation of the joint venture. The impact of the deconsolidation has been reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income and was deemed not material.

During fiscal 2016, the Company recorded exit charges of $3,098 related to certain operations in Europe.