Restructuring

The Company announced restructuring actions in its Medical Devices segment to better serve the needs of patients and customers in today’s evolving healthcare marketplace. The Company is undertaking actions to strengthen its go-to-market model, accelerate the pace of innovation, further prioritize key platforms and geographies, and streamline operations while maintaining high quality standards.

The Company estimates that, in connection with its plans, it will record pre-tax restructuring related charges of approximately $2.0 billion to $2.4 billion. In 2017, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $760 million, of which $88 million was included in cost of products sold and $363 million was included in other (income) expense. See table below for additional details. Total project costs of $2.0 billion have been recorded since the restructuring has been announced.

Additionally, as part of the plan, the Company expects that the restructuring actions will result in position eliminations of approximately 4 to 6 percent of the Medical Devices segment’s global workforce over the next 15 months. Approximately 2,400 positions have been eliminated of which 1,700 received separation payments since the restructuring announcement.

The Company estimates that approximately one-half of the cumulative pre-tax costs will result in cash outlays, including approximately $400 million of employee severance. Approximately one half of the cumulative pre-tax costs are non-cash, relating primarily to facility rationalization, inventory write-offs and intangible asset write-offs.

The following table summarizes the severance charges and the associated spending under this initiative through the fiscal year ended 2017:



(Dollars in Millions)	Severance			Asset Write-offs		Other**		Total
2015 restructuring charge	$	484		86		20		590

2015 activity				(86	)	(3	)	(89	)

Reserve balance, January 3, 2016	484			—		17		501

2016 activity	(104		)	—		(16	)	(120	)

Reserve balance, January 1, 2017	380			—		1		381

Current year activity:
Charges				194		656		850
Cash payments	(61		)			(619	)	(680	)
Settled non cash				(194	)			(194	)
Accrual adjustment	(90		)					(90	)

Reserve balance, December 31, 2017*	$	229		—		38		267

*Cash outlays for severance are expected to be substantially paid out over the next 18 months in accordance with the Company's plans and local laws.

**Other includes project expense such as salaries for employees supporting the initiative and consulting expenses.