Restructuring

On March 14, 2016, we committed to a restructuring plan to lower our operating costs (the “Cost Alignment Plan”). The Cost Alignment Plan primarily consists of a reduction in workforce, and business process initiatives that will be substantially implemented prior to the end of 2019. Business process initiatives primarily include plans to reduce operating costs of our distribution and pharmacy operations, administrative support functions, and technology platforms, as well as the disposal and abandonment of certain non-core businesses. As a result of the Cost Alignment Plan, we expect to record total pre-tax charges of approximately $270 million to $290 million, of which $229 million of pre-tax charges were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2016. Estimated remaining charges primarily consist of exit-related costs and accelerated depreciation and amortization, which are largely attributed to our Distribution Solutions segment.

Restructuring charges for our Cost Alignment Plan during the fourth quarter of 2016 consisted of the following:



(In millions)	Distribution Solutions		Technology Solutions		Corporate		Total
Severance and employee-related costs, net ⁽¹⁾	$	147	$	44	$	16	$	207
Exit-related costs	3		1		1		5
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation and amortization ⁽²⁾	11		6		—		17
Total	$	161	$	51	$	17	$	229

Cost of Sales	$	5	$	21	$	—	$	26
Operating Expenses	156		30		17		203
Total	$	161	$	51	$	17	$	229


(1)	Severance and employee-related costs, net, include charges of $117 million and $90 million, for a total of $207 million, for a reduction in workforce and business process initiatives.


(2)	Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation and amortization charges primarily include impairments for capitalized software projects and software licenses due to abandonments.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the restructuring liabilities associated with the Cost Alignment Plan for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2016:



			Quarter and Year Ended March 31, 2016
(In millions)	Balance March 31, 2015		Net restructuring charges recognized		Non-cash charges			Cash Payments			Other			Balance March 31, 2016 ⁽¹⁾
2016 Cost Alignment Plan
Distribution Solutions	$	—	$	161	$	(4	)	$	(1	)	$	—		$	156
Technology Solutions	—		51		(3		)	—			(3		)	45
Corporate	—		17		5			—			(1		)	21
Total 2016 Cost Alignment Plan	$	—	$	229	$	(2	)	$	(1	)	$	(4	)	$	222


(1)	The reserve balances as of March 31, 2016 include $172 million recorded in other accrued liabilities and $50 million recorded in other noncurrent liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet.