9. RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT AND OTHER CHARGES:

The Company records costs associated with employee terminations and other exit activity in accordance with applicable accounting standards when those costs become probable and are reasonably estimable. The following table summarizes the restructuring activity for the nine months ended December 31, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

	Associate-related reserves			Ongoing contract costs			Total
Balance at March 31, 2013	$	3,689		$	9,021		$	12,710
Payments	(3,347		)	(1,631		)	(4,978		)
Charges and adjustments	4,466			2,378			6,844
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	4,808		$	9,768		$	14,576

The above balances are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

Restructuring Plans

In the nine months ended December 31, 2013 the Company recorded a total of $6.8 million in restructuring charges and adjustments included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations. The expense includes severance and other associate-related charges of $4.6 million, a lease accrual of $2.5 million, and credit adjustments to fiscal 2012 and 2013 restructuring plans of $0.3 million.

The associate-related accruals of $4.6 million relate to the termination of associates in the United States, Australia, China, and Europe. Of the amount accrued, $3.3 million remained accrued as of December 31, 2013. These costs are expected to be paid out in fiscal 2014.

The lease accrual of $2.5 million was evaluated under the accounting standards which govern exit costs. These accounting standards require the Company to make an accrual for the liability for lease costs that will continue to be incurred without economic benefit to the Company upon the date that the Company ceases using the leased property. On or before September 30, 2013, the Company ceased using a portion of a certain leased office facility. The Company intends to attempt to sublease the facility space to the extent possible. The Company established a liability for the fair value of the remaining lease payments, partially offset by the estimated sublease payments to be received over the course of the lease. The fair value of this liability is based on a net present value model using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate. The liability will be paid out over the remainder of the leased property’s term, which continues through November 2021. Actual sublease terms may differ from the estimates originally made by the Company. Any future changes in the estimates or in the actual sublease income could require future adjustments to the liability for this lease, which would impact net income in the period the adjustment is recorded. The remaining amount accrued at December 31, 2013 is $2.3 million.

In fiscal 2013, the Company recorded a total of $2.9 million in restructuring charges and adjustments included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations. The expense included severance and other associate-related payments of $2.8 million and lease accruals of $0.1 million.

The associate-related accruals of $2.8 million relate to the termination of associates in the United States, Australia, and Europe. Of the amount recorded, $0.6 million remained accrued as of December 31, 2013. These costs are expected to be paid out in fiscal 2014. Of the amount accrued for lease costs, less than $0.1 million remained accrued as of December 31, 2013. These costs are expected to be paid out in fiscal 2014.

In fiscal 2012, the Company recorded a total of $12.8 million in restructuring charges and adjustments included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations. The expense included severance and other associate-related payments of $9.9 million, lease accruals of $2.6 million, and adjustments to the fiscal 2011 restructuring plan of $0.3 million.

The associate-related accruals of $9.9 million relate to the termination of associates in the United States, Australia, Europe, and Brazil. Of the amount accrued, $0.9 million remained accrued as of December 31, 2013. These costs are expected to be paid out in fiscal 2014.

The lease accruals of $2.6 million were evaluated under the accounting standards which govern exit costs. These accounting standards require the Company to make an accrual for the liability for lease costs that will continue to be incurred without economic benefit to the Company upon the date that the Company ceases using the leased property. On or before March 31, 2012, the Company ceased using certain leased office facilities. The Company intends to attempt to sublease those facilities to the extent possible. The Company established a liability for the fair value of the remaining lease payments, partially offset by the estimated sublease payments to be received over the course of those leases. The fair value of these liabilities is based on a net present value model using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate. These liabilities will be paid out over the remainder of the leased properties’ terms, of which the longest continues through July 2019. Actual sublease terms may differ from the estimates originally made by the Company. Any future changes in the estimates or in the actual sublease income could require future adjustments to the liability for these leases, which would impact net income in the period the adjustment is recorded. The remaining amount accrued at December 31, 2013 is $1.1 million.

As part of its restructuring plans in fiscal 2008 and 2009, the Company recorded a total of $22.2 million in lease accruals included in gains, losses and other items in the consolidated statement of operations. The lease accruals were evaluated under the accounting standards which govern exit costs. These accounting standards require the Company to make an accrual for the liability for lease costs that will continue to be incurred without economic benefit to the Company upon the date that the Company ceases using the leased property. On or before the date of the restructuring plan, the Company ceased using certain leased office facilities. The Company attempts to sublease those facilities to the extent possible. The Company established a liability for the fair value of the remaining lease payments, partially offset by the estimated sublease payments to be received over the course of those leases. The fair value of these liabilities is based on a net present value model using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate. These liabilities will be paid out over the remainder of the leased properties’ terms, of which the longest continues through November 2021. Actual sublease terms may differ from the estimates originally made by the Company. Any future changes in the estimates or in the actual sublease income could require future adjustments to the liability for these leases, which would impact net income in the period the adjustment is recorded. The remaining amount accrued at December 31, 2013 is $6.3 million.

Gains, Losses and Other Items

Gains, losses and other items for each of the periods presented are as follows (dollars in thousands):

	For the quarter ended December 31					For the nine months ended December 31
	2013		2012			2013		2012
Restructuring plan charges and adjustments	3,657		(126		)	6,844		66
Legal contingencies (see note 10)	1,000		—			4,200		—
	$	4,657	$	(126	)	$	11,044	$	66