XML 48 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11
Restructuring and Other Charges
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011
Restructuring and Other Charges  
Restructuring and Other Charges

7) RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES

 

Restructuring and other restructuring plan-related information as of March 31, 2011 was as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2011 Restructuring

 

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring

 

Fiscal 2009 Restructuring

 

Other Restructurings and Reorganization

 

 

Workforce

 

Other

 

Workforce

 

Facilities-related

 

Other

 

Workforce

 

Facilities-related

 

Other

 

Workforce

 

Facilities-related

 

Other

Total

Balances as of March 31, 2008

 $          -

 

 $        -

 

 $          -

 

 $         -

 

 $        -

 

 $          -

 

 $         -

 

 $        -

 

 $          1

 

 $        9

 

 $       4

 

 $      14

 

Charges to operations

             -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

           32

 

           7

 

          2

 

             4

 

         23

 

        12

 

         80

 

Charges settled in cash

             -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

         (24)

 

          (1)

 

           -

 

           (5)

 

          (3)

 

      (13)

 

        (46)

 

Charges settled in non-cash

             -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             -

 

          (1)

 

        (2)

 

             -

 

        (22)

 

           -

 

        (25)

Balances as of March 31, 2009

             -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             8

 

           5

 

           -

 

             -

 

           7

 

          3

 

         23

 

Charges to operations

             -

 

           -

 

           62

 

         22

 

        32

 

             1

 

         13

 

           -

 

             -

 

           3

 

          7

 

       140

 

Charges settled in cash

             -

 

           -

 

         (29)

 

          (2)

 

        (1)

 

           (9)

 

        (11)

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

      (10)

 

        (62)

 

Charges settled in non-cash

             -

 

           -

 

         (25)

 

          (9)

 

      (24)

 

             -

 

          (4)

 

           -

 

             -

 

          (3)

 

           -

 

        (65)

 

Accrual reclassification

             -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             -

 

          (7)

 

           -

 

          (7)

Balances as of March 31, 2010

             -

 

           -

 

             8

 

         11

 

          7

 

             -

 

           3

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

         29

 

Charges to operations

           13

 

      135

 

             -

 

            -

 

        13

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

       161

 

Charges settled in cash

           (8)

 

      (32)

 

           (8)

 

          (6)

 

      (15)

 

             -

 

          (1)

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

        (70)

 

Charges settled in non-cash

           (2)

 

        (2)

 

             -

 

           1

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

             -

 

            -

 

           -

 

          (3)

Balances as of March 31, 2011

 $          3

 

 $   101

 

 $          -

 

 $        6

 

 $       5

 

 $          -

 

 $        2

 

 $        -

 

 $          -

 

 $         -

 

 $        -

 

 $    117

 

Fiscal 2011 Restructuring

 

In fiscal year 2011, we announced a plan focused on the restructuring of certain licensing and developer agreements in an effort to improve the long-term profitability of our packaged goods business. Under this plan, we amended certain licensing and developer agreements. To a much lesser extent, as part of this restructuring we had workforce reductions and facilities closures through March 31, 2011. Substantially all of these exit activities were completed by March 31, 2011.

 

As part of our fiscal 2011 restructuring plan, we amended certain license agreements to terminate certain rights we previously had to use the licensors' intellectual property. However, under these agreements we continue to be obligated to pay the contractual minimum royalty-based commitments set forth in the original agreements. Accordingly, we recognized losses and impairments of $102 million representing (1) the net present value of the estimated payments related to terminating these rights and (2) writing down assets associated with these agreements to their approximate fair value. In addition, for one agreement, the actual amount of the loss is variable and subject to periodic adjustments as it is dependent upon the actual revenue we generate from the games. Because the loss for one agreement will be paid in installments through June 2016, our accrued loss was computed using the effective interest method. We currently estimate recognizing in future periods through June 2016, approximately $21 million for the accretion of interest expense related to this obligation. This interest expense will be included in restructuring and other charges in our Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

In addition, for the development of certain games, we previously entered into publishing agreements with independent software developers. Under these agreements, we were obligated to pay the independent software developers a predetermined amount (a "Minimum Guarantee") upon delivery of a completed product. The independent software developers were thinly capitalized and they financed the development of products through bank borrowings. During fiscal year 2011, in order to more directly influence the development, product quality and product completion, we amended these agreements whereby we agreed to advance a portion of the Minimum Guarantee prior to completion of the product which were used by the independent software developers to repay their bank loans. In addition, we are now committed to advance the remaining portion of the Minimum Guarantee during the remaining development period. As a result, we have now assumed development risk of the products. 

 

Because the independent software developers are thinly capitalized, our sole ability to recover the Minimum Guarantee is effectively through publishing the software product in development. We also have exclusive rights to exploit the software product once completed. Therefore, we concluded that the substance of the arrangement is the purchase of research and development that has no alternative future use and was expensed upon acquisition. Accordingly, we recognized a $31 million charge in our Consolidated Statement of Operations during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. In addition, we will recognize the remaining portion of the Minimum Guarantee to be advanced during the development period as research and development expense as the services are incurred.

 

Since the inception of the fiscal 2011 restructuring plan through March 31, 2011, we have incurred charges of $148 million, consisting of (1) $104 million related to the amendment of certain licensing agreements and other intangible asset impairment costs, (2) $31 million related to the amendment of certain developer agreements, and (3) $13 million in employee-related expenses. The $104 million restructuring accrual as of March 31, 2011 related to the fiscal 2011 restructuring is expected to be settled by June 2016. In fiscal year 2012, we anticipate incurring less than $10 million of restructuring and other charges related to the fiscal 2011 restructuring (primarily interest expense accretion).

 

Overall, including $148 million in charges incurred through March 31, 2011, we expect to incur total cash and non-cash charges between $170 million and $180 million by June 2016. These charges will consist primarily of (1) charges, including accretion of interest expense, related to the amendment of certain licensing and developer agreements and other intangible asset impairment costs (approximately $160 million) and (2) employee-related costs (approximately $15 million).

 

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring

 

In fiscal year 2010, we announced a restructuring plan to narrow our product portfolio to provide greater focus on titles with higher margin opportunities. Under this plan, we reduced our workforce by approximately 1,100 employees and have (1) consolidated or closed various facilities, (2) eliminated certain titles, and (3) incurred IT and other costs to assist in reorganizing certain activities. The majority of these exit activities were completed by March 31, 2010.

 

 

Since the inception of the fiscal 2010 restructuring plan through March 31, 2011, we have incurred charges of $129 million, consisting of (1) $62 million in employee-related expenses, (2) $45 million related to intangible asset impairment costs, abandoned rights to intellectual property, and other costs to assist in the reorganization of our business support functions, and (3) $22 million related to the closure of certain of our facilities. The $11 million restructuring accrual as of March 31, 2011 related to the fiscal 2010 restructuring is expected to be settled by September 2013. In fiscal year 2012, we anticipate incurring less than $10 million of restructuring charges related to the fiscal 2010 restructuring.

 

Overall, including charges incurred through March 31, 2011, we expect to incur total cash and non-cash charges of approximately $135 million by March 31, 2012. These charges consist primarily of (1) employee-related costs ($62 million), (2) intangible asset impairment costs, abandoned rights to intellectual property costs, and other costs to assist in the reorganization of our business support functions (approximately $50 million), (3) facilities exit costs ($22 million).

 

Fiscal 2009 Restructuring

 

In fiscal year 2009, we announced a cost reduction plan as a result of our performance combined with the economic environment. This plan included a narrowing of our product portfolio, a reduction in our worldwide workforce of approximately 11 percent, or 1,100 employees, the closure of 10 facilities, and reductions in other variable costs and capital expenditures.

 

Since the inception of the fiscal 2009 restructuring plan through March 31, 2011, we have incurred charges of $55 million, consisting of (1) $33 million in employee-related expenses, (2) $20 million related to the closure of certain of our facilities, and (3) $2 million related to asset impairments. We do not expect to incur any additional restructuring charges under this plan. The restructuring accrual of $2 million as of March 31, 2011 related to the fiscal 2009 restructuring is expected to be settled by September 2016.

 

Other Restructurings and Reorganization

 

We also engaged in various other restructurings and a reorganization based on management decisions made prior to April 1, 2008. From April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2011, $31 million in cash has been paid out under these restructuring plans. $7 million of the accrual as of March 31, 2009 was reclassified during the three months ended June 30, 2009, from accrued and other current liabilities to other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We do not expect to incur any additional charges under these plans.