Restructuring Plans

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring, Exit and Other Charges

Restructuring Plans

During fiscal 2018, the Company announced restructuring programs to improve efficiencies primarily related to supply chain and general operations in EMEA. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $7,500, 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 80 employees upon completion. During fiscal 2018, the Company recorded non-cash restructuring charges of $69 and cash charges of $2,260 and an additional $3,104 during fiscal 2019. The Company incurred $1,350 in costs against the accrual in fiscal 2018 and an additional $2,844 in fiscal 2019. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $711 and incurred $594 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with these actions is $1,173. The Company expects to be committed to an additional $1,300 in restructuring charges related to this action, which it expects to complete in fiscal 2021.

During fiscal 2019, the Company announced restructuring programs to improve efficiencies of its operations in EMEA. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $2,500, from charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 35 employees. During fiscal 2019, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $347 and incurred $83 in costs against the accrual. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $507 and incurred $687 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with these actions is $78. The Company expects to complete these actions in fiscal 2021.

During fiscal 2019, the Company announced restructuring programs to improve efficiencies of its operations in the Americas. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $4,100, from cash and non-cash charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 85 employees. During fiscal 2019, the Company recorded cash restructuring charges of $1,970, non-cash charges of $2,095 and incurred $1,480 in costs against the accrual. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company incurred $479 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with this action is $11. The Company expects to complete these actions in fiscal 2020.

During fiscal 2019, the Company announced a restructuring program to improve efficiencies of its operations in Asia and to convert its India operations from mainly reserve power production to motive power production. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $4,400, from cash charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 160 employees and non-cash charges related to the write-off of fixed assets. During fiscal 2019, the Company recorded cash restructuring charges of $2,772 and non-cash charges of $771 and incurred $1,683 in costs against the accrual. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $714, non-cash charges of $130 and incurred $1,847 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with this action is $3. The Company expects to complete this action in fiscal 2020.

During fiscal 2020, the Company announced a restructuring program to improve efficiencies of its operations in EMEA. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $5,500, from cash charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 25 employees. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $4,843 and incurred $1,487 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with this action is $3,321. The Company expects to complete this action in fiscal 2021.

During fiscal 2020, the Company announced a restructuring program to improve efficiencies of its operations in the Americas. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $2,900, from cash charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 50 employees. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $2,451 and incurred $1,720 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with this action is $731. The Company expects to complete this action in fiscal 2020.

During fiscal 2020, the Company announced a restructuring program to improve efficiencies of its operations in Asia. The Company estimates that the total charges for these actions will amount to approximately $600, from cash charges primarily for employee severance-related payments to approximately 30 employees. During the nine months of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded cash restructuring charges of $250, non-cash charges of $55 and incurred $250 in costs against the accrual. As of December 29, 2019, the reserve balance associated with this action is $0. The Company expects to complete this action in fiscal 2020.

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



	Employee Severance			Other			Total
Balance as of March 31, 2019	$	2,356		$	596		$	2,952
Accrued	9,236			240			9,476
Costs incurred	(6,234		)	(830		)	(7,064		)
Foreign currency impact	(44		)	(3		)	(47		)
Balance as of December 29, 2019	$	5,314		$	3		$	5,317

Exit Charges

During fiscal 2019, the Company committed to a plan to close its facility in Targovishte, Bulgaria, which produced diesel-electric submarine batteries. Management determined that the future demand for batteries of diesel-electric submarines was not sufficient given the number of competitors in the market. Of the estimated total charges of $30,000 for all these actions, the Company had recorded charges amounting to $20,242 in fiscal 2019, relating to severance and inventory and fixed asset write-offs. The Company recorded an additional $3,576 relating to cash and non-cash charges during the nine months of fiscal 2020.

In keeping with its strategy of exiting the manufacture of batteries for diesel-electric submarines, during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company also sold certain licenses and assets for $2,031 and recorded a net gain of $892, which is reported in exit charges.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company wrote off $5,441 of assets at its Kentucky and Tennessee plants, as a result of its strategic product mix shift from traditional flooded batteries to maintenance free lead acid and lithium batteries.

During the nine months of fiscal 2019, as part of the aforementioned program to convert its India operations from mainly reserve power production to motive power production, the Company also recorded a non-cash write-off of reserve power inventories of $526, which was reported in cost of goods sold.

Richmond, Kentucky Plant Fire

On September 19, 2019, a fire broke out in the battery formation area of the Company's Richmond, Kentucky motive power production facility. The Company maintains insurance policies for both property damage and business interruption and is in the process of cleanup and repair. The Company estimates that the total claim, including the replacement of inventory and equipment, the cleanup and repairs to the building, as well as the claim for business interruption may exceed $50,000.

As of December 29, 2019, the Company incurred $10,030 of costs associated with the damage caused to its fixed assets and inventories, as well as for cleanup, asset replacement and other ancillary activities directly associated with the fire. The Company also received $12,000 of advances related to its initial claims for recovery from its property and casualty insurance carriers, a substantial portion of which has been reflected as operating cash flows in the accompanying statement of cash flows for the nine months ended December 29, 2019.