Special Charges

The Company monitors global macroeconomic conditions on an ongoing basis and continues to assess opportunities for improved operational effectiveness and efficiency, as well as a better alignment of expenses with revenues. As a result of these assessments, the Company has undertaken various restructuring actions over the past several years. These actions are described below.

The following tables display the special charges taken for ongoing actions and a roll-forward from November 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 of the employee separation and exit cost accruals established related to these actions.



	Reduction of Operating Costs
Statements of Income	Fiscal 2014
Workforce reductions	$	37,873
Facility closure costs	459
Non-cash impairment charge	433
Change in estimates	(1,443		)
Total Charges	$	37,322



Accrued Restructuring	Reduction of Operating Costs
Balance at November 1, 2014	$	40,503
Facility closure costs	(366		)
Non-cash impairment charge	(433		)
Severance payments	(14,795		)
Effect of foreign currency on accrual	(447		)
Balance at January 31, 2015	$	24,462

Reduction of Operating Costs

During fiscal 2014, the Company recorded special charges of approximately $37.3 million. These special charges included $37.9 million for severance and fringe benefit costs in accordance with the Company's ongoing benefit plan or statutory requirements at foreign locations for 341 manufacturing, engineering and selling, marketing, general and administrative (SMG&A) employees; $0.5 million for lease obligation costs for facilities that the Company ceased using during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014; and $0.4 million for the impairment of assets that have no future use located at closed facilities. The Company reversed approximately $1.4 million of its severance accrual related to charges taken in fiscal 2013 primarily due to severance costs being lower than the Company's estimates. As of January 31, 2015, the Company still employed 61 of the 341 employees included in these cost reduction actions. These employees must continue to be employed by the Company until their employment is involuntarily terminated in order to receive the severance benefit.