Restructuring

During 2018, the first and fourth quarters of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded restructuring costs as part of restructuring initiatives that support the implementation of key strategic efforts designed to facilitate long-term, sustainable growth through cost reduction actions, primarily consisting of employee reductions and facility rationalization. The costs incurred related to these initiatives were included in Restructuring expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations while the related accruals were included in Accrued expenses in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Severance costs primarily consisted of severance benefits through payroll continuation, COBRA subsidies, outplacement services, conditional separation costs and employer tax liabilities, while exit costs primarily consisted of asset disposals or impairments and lease exit and contract termination costs.

2018 Initiative

During 2018, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses totaling $12.1 million related to the 2018 restructuring initiative. These expenses consisted of employee severance related to employee reductions across various functional areas as well as facility rationalization and contract termination costs. Severance payments will be substantially paid by the end of 2019 using cash from operations.

Pre-tax restructuring expenses by segment for the 2018 initiative were as follows:



	Severance Costs		Exit Costs		Total
	(In thousands)
Fluid & Metering Technologies	$	2,305	$	153	$	2,458
Health & Science Technologies	5,454		450		5,904
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products	2,184		—		2,184
Corporate/Other	1,537		—		1,537
Total restructuring costs	$	11,480	$	603	$	12,083

2017 Initiative

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses totaling $3.7 million related to the 2017 restructuring initiative. These expenses consisted of employee severance related to employee reductions across various functional areas as well as facility rationalization and contract termination costs. Severance payments were fully paid by the end of 2018 using cash from operations.

Pre-tax restructuring expenses by segment for the 2017 initiative were as follows:



	Severance Costs		Exit Costs		Total Restructuring Costs
	(In thousands)
Fluid & Metering Technologies	$	1,375	$	433	$	1,808
Health & Science Technologies	1,510		158		1,668
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products	182		—		182
Corporate/Other	—		—		—
Total restructuring costs	$	3,067	$	591	$	3,658

2016 Initiative

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses totaling $4.8 million related to the 2016 restructuring initiative. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring expenses totaling $3.7 million related to the 2016 restructuring initiative. These expenses consisted of employee severance related to employee reductions across various functional areas as well as facility rationalization costs. Severance payments were substantially paid by the end of 2017 using cash from operations.

Pre-tax restructuring expenses by segment for the 2016 initiative were as follows:



	2017						2016
	Severance Costs		Exit Costs		Total Restructuring Costs		Total Restructuring Costs
	(In thousands)
Fluid & Metering Technologies	$	1,566	$	—	$	1,566	$	932
Health & Science Technologies	2,470		558		3,028		1,117
Fire & Safety/Diversified Products	73		—		73		1,425
Corporate/Other	130		—		130		200
Total restructuring costs	$	4,239	$	558	$	4,797	$	3,674

Restructuring accruals of $6.2 million and $4.2 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, are reflected in Accrued expenses in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:



	Restructuring Initiatives
	(In thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2017	$	3,893
Restructuring expenses	8,455
Payments, utilization and other	(8,168		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	4,180
Restructuring expenses	12,083
Payments, utilization and other	(10,093		)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	6,170