Restructuring

During 2018 and 2017, we continued to evaluate our cost structure and further identified cost savings associated with streamlining our management structure and our decision to exit non-strategic businesses. Our 2018 and 2017 restructuring plans consisted of a company-wide workforce reduction of approximately 160 and 520 positions, respectively, and are further detailed below. The charges for each restructuring plan are classified as selling and general expenses within the consolidated statements of income and the reserves are included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

In certain circumstances, reserves are no longer needed because of efficiencies in carrying out the plans or because employees previously identified for separation resigned from the Company and did not receive severance or were reassigned due to circumstances not foreseen when the original plans were initiated. In these cases, we reverse reserves through the consolidated statements of income during the period when it is determined they are no longer needed. There were approximately $6 million of reserves from the 2017 restructuring plan that we have reversed in 2018, which offset the initial charge of $44 million recorded for the 2017 restructuring plan. There were approximately $7 million of reserves from the 2016 restructuring plan that we have reversed in 2017, which offset the initial charge of $30 million recorded for the 2016 restructuring plan.

The initial restructuring charge recorded and the ending reserve balance as of December 31, 2018 by segment is as follows:



	2018 Restructuring Plan				2017 Restructuring Plan
(in millions)	Initial Charge Recorded		Ending Reserve Balance		Initial Charge Recorded		Ending Reserve Balance
Ratings	$	8	$	8	$	25	$	7
Market Intelligence	7		7		8		1
Platts	—		—		1		—
Indices	—		—		—		—
Corporate	10		9		10		2
Total	$	25	$	24	$	44	$	10

For the year ended December 31, 2018, we have reduced the reserve for the 2018 restructuring plan by $1 million and for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we have reduced the reserve for the 2017 restructuring plan by $29 million and $5 million, respectively. The reductions primarily related to cash payments for employee severance charges.