(14)	*Special Charges*—The following is a summary of the components of the special charges:


	Three months ended October 31,					Nine months ended October 31,
	2011			2010		2011		2010
Employee severance and related costs	$	1,227		$	1,191	$	3,581	$	4,640
Excess leased facility costs		(173	)		302		281		804
Other costs		110			85		3,526		2,608

Total special charges	$	1,164		$	1,578	$	7,388	$	8,052

Special charges primarily consist of costs incurred for employee terminations due to a reduction of personnel resources driven by modifications of business strategy or business emphasis. Special charges may also include expenses incurred related to acquisitions, excess facility costs, and asset related charges.

Employee severance and related costs of $3,581 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011 included severance benefits, notice pay, and outplacement services. The total rebalance charge represents the aggregate of numerous unrelated rebalance plans which impacted several employee groups, none of which was individually material to our financial position or results of operations. We determined termination benefit amounts based on employee status, years of service, and local statutory requirements. We communicated termination benefits to the affected employees prior to the end of the quarter in which we recorded the charge. Approximately 67% of these costs were paid during the nine months ended October 31, 2011. We expect to pay the remainder during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2012. There have been no significant modifications to the amount of these charges.

Excess leased facility costs of $281 for the nine months ended October 31, 2011 were primarily due to the abandonment of leased facilities.

Other special charges for the nine months ended October 31, 2011 included costs of $3,967 related to consulting fees associated with our fiscal 2012 proxy contest, $(545) representing adjustments to earn-outs and other costs related to acquisitions, and other costs of $104.

Employee severance and related costs of $4,640 for the nine months ended October 31, 2010 included severance benefits, notice pay, and outplacement services. The total rebalance charge represents the aggregate of numerous unrelated rebalance plans which impacted several employee groups, none of which was individually material to our financial position or results of operations. We determined termination benefit amounts based on employee status, years of service, and local statutory requirements. We communicated termination benefits to the affected employees prior to the end of the quarter in which we recorded the charge. Substantially all of these costs were paid during the fiscal year ending January 31, 2011. There have been no significant modifications to the amount of these charges.

Excess leased facility costs of $804 for the nine months ended October 31, 2010 were primarily due to the abandonment of leased facilities and changes in the estimate of sublease income for previously abandoned leased facilities.

Other special charges for the nine months ended October 31, 2010 included costs of $2,083 related to advisory fees, a recovery related to a casualty loss of $(566), and other costs of $1,091.

Accrued special charges are included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The following table shows changes in accrued special charges during the nine months ended October 31, 2011:


	Accrued special charges as of January 31, 2011		Charges during the nine months ended October 31, 2011		Payments during the nine months ended October 31, 2011			Accrued special charges as of October 31, 2011 ⁽¹⁾
Employee severence and related costs	$	2,664	$	3,581	$	(4,603	)	$	1,642
Excess leased facility costs		1,930		281		(597	)		1,614
Other costs		2,336		3,526		(4,514	)		1,348

Total accrued special charges	$	6,930	$	7,388	$	(9,714	)	$	4,604

⁽¹⁾

Of the $4,604 total accrued special charges as of October 31, 2011, $1,095 represented the long-term portion of accrued lease termination fees and other facility costs, net of sublease income. The remaining balance of $3,509 represented the short-term portion of accrued special charges.