
	SPECIAL CHARGES

In the fourth quarter 2013, we announced a reorganization in parts of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region to further improve EMEA’s profitability and process standardization while supporting its competitiveness and long-term growth. These actions include the closure of our current sales and distribution operations in The Netherlands, where we will transition to a third-party distributor model to continue to sell the Silvo brand, as well as actions intended to streamline selling, general and administrative activities throughout EMEA, including the centralization of shared service activity across the region into Poland.

We expect to record a total of approximately $27 million of cash and non-cash charges related to this reorganization. For 2013, we recorded $25.0 million of special charges related to this reorganization. We expect to record approximately $2 million of special charges related to this reorganization during 2014 and to complete the actions by 2015. We expect cash expenditures to implement these actions to be approximately $18 million, with the bulk of the spending occurring in 2014, and to realize related annual cost savings of approximately $10 million by 2015. Of the $25.0 million of special charges recognized in 2013, $15.9 million related to employee severance, $6.4 million to asset write-downs, and $2.7 million to other exit costs. The $6.4 million asset write-down in 2013 related to an impairment charge for the reduction in the value of our Silvo brand name in The Netherlands.

The following table outlines the major components of accrual balances relating to the special charges as of November 30, 2013 and May 31, 2014 (in millions):



	Employee severance			Other exit costs			Total
Balance as of November 30, 2013	$	15.9		$	2.7		$	18.6
Amounts utilized	(4.4		)	(1.0		)	(5.4		)
Balance as of May 31, 2014	$	11.5		$	1.7		$	13.2