Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges

We recorded pre-tax restructuring and asset impairment charges of $82 million ($67 million after-tax) and $178 million ($152 million after-tax) during the second quarter and first six months of 2019, and $236 million ($197 million after-tax) during the second quarter and first six months of 2018. These charges are included under the caption, “Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges” in the accompanying condensed statements of operations.

Fiscal 2019 Strategic Growth Initiative

On April 25, 2018, the Company announced a multi-year strategic growth initiative. As part of the preliminary phase of this initiative, we committed to a restructuring plan to optimize our operating model and cost structure which will be substantially implemented by the end of 2019. As a result, we recorded pre-tax charges of $53 million ($45 million after-tax) and $111 million ($100 million after-tax) during the second quarter and first six months of 2019. The amounts primarily represent exit-related costs, asset impairment charges and employee severance. We expect to record total after-tax charges of approximately $150 million to $210 million during 2019. Estimated remaining restructuring charges primarily consist of exit-related costs. The reserve balance of $58 million is recorded in other accrued liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018.

Restructuring charges for the preliminary phase of our strategic growth initiative consisted of the following for the second quarter of 2019:



(In millions)	U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions		Medical-Surgical Solutions		Other		Total
Severance and employee-related costs, net	$	—	$	—	$	6	$	6
Exit-related costs ⁽¹⁾	5		5		35		45
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation	—		1		1		2
Total	$	5	$	6	$	42	$	53

(1) Exit-related costs primarily include lease exit costs associated with closures of retail pharmacy stores within our Canadian business.

Restructuring charges for the preliminary phase of our strategic growth initiative consisted of the following for the first six months of 2019:



(In millions)	U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions		Medical-Surgical Solutions		Other		Total
Severance and employee-related costs, net	$	3	$	10	$	7	$	20
Exit-related costs ⁽¹⁾	6		7		56		69
Asset impairments and accelerated depreciation	4		1		17		22
Total	$	13	$	18	$	80	$	111

(1) Exit-related costs primarily include lease exit costs associated with closures of retail pharmacy stores within our Canadian business.

The following table summarizes the activity related to the restructuring liabilities associated with the the preliminary phase of the strategic growth initiative for the first six months of 2019:



(In millions)	U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions			Medical-Surgical Solutions			Other			Total
Balance, March 31, 2018	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Net restructuring charges recognized	13			18			80			111
Non-cash charges	(4		)	(1		)	(17		)	(22		)
Cash payments	(6		)	(7		)	(18		)	(31		)
Balance, September 30, 2018	$	3		$	10		$	45		$	58

Additionally, as part of this multi-year initiative, we continue to perform a review of our operating model and cost structure and commit to achieve operational efficiency through centralization of certain functions and expanded outsourcing. During the second quarter and first six months of 2019, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $22 million ($16 million after-tax) and $33 million ($24 million after-tax) representing employee severance and other restructuring-related costs in corporate expenses.

Other

During the first quarter of 2019, we performed an interim impairment test of long-lived assets primarily for our U.K. retail business due to the previously discussed decline in the estimated future cash flows driven by additional U.K. government reimbursement reductions announced on June 29, 2018. As a result, we recognized a non-cash pre-tax charge of $20 million ($16 million after-tax) to impair the carrying value of certain intangible assets (primarily pharmacy licenses). We utilized a market approach for estimating the fair value of intangible assets. The fair value of the intangible assets is considered a Level 3 fair value measurement due to the significance of unobservable inputs developed using company specific information.

Fiscal 2018 McKesson Europe Plan

On September 29, 2017, we committed to a restructuring plan which primarily consists of the closures of under-performing retail stores in the U.K. and a reduction in workforce. The plan is expected to be substantially implemented in 2019. As part of this plan, we recorded pre-tax restructuring charges of $4 million ($3 million after-tax) and $11 million ($9 million after-tax) in operating expenses in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 within the European Pharmaceutical Solutions segment primarily representing employee severance and lease exit costs. We recorded a pre-tax charge of $47 million ($40 million after-tax) primarily representing severance during the second quarter and first six months of 2018. We made cash payments of $3 million and $16 million, primarily related to employee severance in the second quarter and first six months of 2019. The reserve balances as of September 30, 2018 and March 31, 2018 were $31 million and $42 million, and are recorded in other accrued liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We expect to record total pre-tax restructuring charges of approximately $90 million to $130 million for our European Pharmaceutical Solutions segment, of which $85 million of pre-tax charges were recorded to date. Estimated remaining restructuring charges primarily consist of lease termination and other exit costs.

Fiscal 2016 Cost Alignment Plan

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.

There were no material restructuring charges recorded during the second quarters and first six months of 2019 and 2018. We made cash payments of $5 million and $11 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2019, and $9 million and $23 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2018, primarily related to severance. The reserve balances as of September 30, 2018 and March 31, 2018 were $27 million and $39 million, recorded in other accrued liabilities, and $27 million and $30 million recorded in other noncurrent liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The remaining programs under the Cost Alignment Plan primarily consist of exit-related activities for our European Pharmaceutical Solutions segment.