Restructuring and Related Impairment Charges

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we incurred the following restructuring and related impairment charges in connection with our profitability initiatives (in thousands):



	2014		2013
Restructuring exit costs	$	4,318	$	23,432
Impairment charges	—		33,514
Restructuring and related impairment charges	$	4,318	$	56,946

The following are the profitability initiatives:

Consolidation of Global Sales, Marketing, General and Administrative Structure

One of our profitability initiatives related to restructuring and consolidation of our global sales, marketing and general and administrative structure. Activities related to this initiative include the consolidation of most of our call centers located outside of the United States and the establishment of brand dedicated sales, marketing and revenue management teams in key priority markets. This resulted in the elimination of approximately 500 shore-side positions in 2013, primarily from our international markets, resulting in the recognition of a liability for one-time termination benefits during the year ended December 31, 2013. Additionally, we incurred contract termination costs and other related costs consisting of legal and consulting fees to implement this initiative.

As a result of these actions, we incurred restructuring exit costs of $1.1 million and $18.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which are reported in Restructuring and related impairment charges in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The costs incurred in 2014 are mainly related to discretionary bonus payments paid to persons whose positions were eliminated as part of our restructuring activities.

In connection with this initiative, we incurred approximately $7.4 million of other costs during 2014 that primarily consisted of call center transition costs and accelerated depreciation on lease hold improvements and were classified within Marketing, selling and administrative expenses and Depreciation and amortization expenses, respectively, in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During 2014, we completed the restructuring activities related to this initiative.

Pullmantur Restructuring

Restructuring Exit Costs

In the fourth quarter of 2013, we moved forward with an initiative related to Pullmantur’s focus on its cruise business and its expansion in Latin America. Activities related to this initiative included the sale of Pullmantur's non-core businesses. This resulted in the elimination of approximately 100 Pullmantur shore-side positions and the recognition of a liability for one-time termination benefits during the fourth quarter of 2013. In the second quarter of 2014, we elected not to execute the dismissal of approximately 30 of the positions which resulted in a partial reversal of the liability. Additionally, we incurred contract termination costs and other related costs consisting of legal and consulting fees to implement this initiative.

As a result of these actions, we incurred restructuring exit costs of $3.2 million and $5.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which are reported in Restructuring and related impairment charges in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

In connection with this initiative, we incurred approximately $8.9 million of other costs during 2014, associated with placing operating management closer to the Latin American market that was classified within Marketing, selling and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During 2014, we completed the restructuring activities related to this initiative.

Sale of Pullmantur Non-core Businesses

As part of our Pullmantur related initiatives, on March 31, 2014, Pullmantur sold the majority of its interest in its non-core businesses. These non-core businesses included Pullmantur’s land-based tour operations, travel agency and 49% interest in its air business. In connection with the sale agreement, we retained a 19% interest in each of the non-core businesses as well as 100% ownership of the aircraft which are being dry leased to Pullmantur Air. Consistent with our Pullmantur two-month lag reporting period, we reported the impact of the sale in the second quarter of 2014. Refer to Note 1. General for information on the basis on which we prepare our consolidated financial statements.

The sale resulted in a gain of $0.6 million recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014, inclusive of the release of cumulative translation adjustment losses, which is classified within Other operating expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As part of the sale, we agreed to maintain commercial and bank guarantees on behalf of the buyer for a maximum period of twelve months and extended a term loan facility to Nautalia due June 30, 2016. We recorded the fair value of the guarantees and a loss reserve for the loan amount drawn, offsetting the gain recognized by $5.5 million. Refer to Note 13. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) for further information on the release of the foreign currency translation losses.

The non-core businesses met the accounting criteria to be classified as held for sale during the fourth quarter of 2013 which resulted in restructuring related impairment charges of $20.0 million in 2013 to adjust the carrying value of assets held for sale to their fair value, less cost to sell. Additionally, the fair value of Pullmantur's aircraft were determined to be less than their carrying value and a restructuring related impairment charge of $13.5 million was also recognized in earnings during the fourth quarter of 2013. These impairment charges were reported within Restructuring and related impairment charges in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2013, assets and liabilities held for sale were not material to our consolidated balance sheet and no longer exist as of December 31, 2014. The businesses did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations reporting as a result of our significant continuing involvement.