Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Restructuring Costs [Abstract]

Restructuring Costs

RESTRUCTURING AND IMPAIRMENT COSTS

Universal continually reviews its business for opportunities to realize efficiencies, reduce costs, and realign its operations in response to business changes. Restructuring and impairment costs are periodically incurred in connection with those activities.     For the reporting periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, all restructuring costs incurred related to operations that are part of the Other Regions reportable segment of the Company's Flue-Cured and Burley Tobacco Operations.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2015

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment costs totaling $2.4 million related to plans to significantly scale back its operations in Zambia. Those costs included statutory employee termination benefits, impairment charges related to outstanding balances on loans to farmers whose contracts were terminated as a result of the decision, and impairment charges on certain property and equipment. The total restructuring liability related to these costs at December 31, 2015, was $1.1 million, the majority of which the Company expects will be paid before the end of the current fiscal year.

Three andNine Months Ended December 31, 2014

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company announced plans to suspend its operations in Argentina. In connection with that decision, during the quarter ended December 31, 2014, the Company's subsidiary in Argentina incurred costs related to employee terminations, as well as costs related to exiting its business arrangements with a supplier. Substantially all operations in Argentina were discontinued effective December 31, 2014. The Company also initiated and completed a program to downsize certain functions at its operations in Brazil during fiscal year 2015 and recorded employee termination costs in connection with that initiative. Restructuring costs totaled approximately $1.1 million and $4.5 million, respectively, for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2014 on a consolidated basis, all of which was paid by the end of fiscal year 2015.