3. SPECIAL CHARGES

In the fourth quarter of 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, with the 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 certain shared service activity across parts of the region into Poland.

In 2014, we recorded $2.1 million of charges associated with this previously announced EMEA reorganization, with $1.1 million related to employee severance and $1.0 million for other exit costs. For 2013, we recorded $25.0 million of charges related to this reorganization. For both years, these charges have been included on a separate line in the consolidated income statement. 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.

These reorganization actions in the EMEA region are expected to generate annual cost savings of approximately $10 million when completed in 2015. Total cash expenditures for the EMEA reorganization were $10.7 million in 2014 and are expected to be approximately $10 million in 2015. Of the $2.1 million of special charges recognized with respect to this reorganization in 2014, all have been recorded in the consumer business segment. Of the $25.0 million of special charges recognized in 2013, $22.2 million were recorded in the consumer business segment and $2.8 million were recorded in the industrial business segment.

The $6.4 million asset write-down included in the $25.0 million special charge for 2013 relates to an impairment charge for the reduction in the value of our Silvo brand name in The Netherlands. Our decision to transition to a third-party distributor model to continue to sell the Silvo brand led us to conclude an impairment indicator to the Silvo brand was present. We calculated the fair value of the Silvo brand using the relief-from-royalty method and determined that it was lower than its carrying value. Consequently, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $6.4 million as part of the $22.2 million in special charges included in our consumer business segment during the fourth quarter of 2013. The carrying value of the Silvo brand name as of November 30, 2014 is not significant.

The following table outlines the major components of accrual balances relating to the special charges associated with this EMEA reorganization as of November 30, 2013 and November 30, 2014 (in millions):



	Employee severance			Other exit costs			Total
Balance as of November 30, 2013	$	15.9		$	2.7		$	18.6
Special charges	1.1			1.0			2.1
Amounts utilized	(7.7		)	(3.0		)	(10.7		)
Balance as of November 30, 2014	$	9.3		$	0.7		$	10.0

In 2014, we continued to evaluate changes to our organizational structure to enable us to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness. In addition to the $2.1 million of special charges recognized in 2014 related to the previously announced EMEA reorganization, we also undertook reorganization actions in the U.S. and Australian businesses in 2014 and recognized an additional $3.1 million of special charges, consisting of the following: (1) During the third quarter of 2014, we recorded special charges in the amount of $1.3 million, principally related to employee severance, to realign certain manufacturing operations in the U.S. industrial business. Cash expenditures in 2014 associated with this action totaled $0.4 million. We expect that this action will be completed by 2015 and, upon completion, generate annual savings of approximately $2.3 million. (2) During the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded special charges in the Australian business in the amount of $0.7 million, all related to the consumer segment business, consisting of employee severance and related expenses, to streamline costs through the elimination of certain manufacturing and administrative positions. Cash expenditures in 2014 associated with this reorganization totaled $0.2 million. We expect that this reorganization will be completed in 2015 and, upon completion, generate annual savings of approximately $0.8 million. (3) During the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded special charges of $1.1 million, consisting of employee severance and related expenses, to eliminate certain administrative positions in the U.S. business. Of the $1.1 million in special charges, $0.9 million and $0.2 million related to the consumer business segment and industrial business segment, respectively. Cash expenditures in 2014 associated with this action totaled $0.2 million. We expect that this action will be completed in 2015 and, upon completion, generate annual savings of approximately $1.2 million.