Restructuring and impairment charges

The following tables provide information regarding restructuring and impairment charges recognized by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and April 1, 2018:



Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	Termination benefits		Other costs ₍₁₎		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
2019 Footprint realignment plan	$	12,975	$	—	$	12,975
2018 Footprint realignment plan	$	437	$	574	$	1,011
Other restructuring programs ₍₂₎	126		253		379
Restructuring charges	$	13,538	$	827	$	14,365
Asset impairment charges	—		3,030		3,030
Restructuring and impairment charges	$	13,538	$	3,857	$	17,395



Three Months Ended April 1, 2018
	Termination benefits		Other costs ₍₁₎		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
2016 Footprint realignment plan ₍₃₎	1,955		194		2,149
2014 Footprint realignment plan	116		8		124
Other restructuring programs ₍₄₎	585		205		790
Restructuring charges	$	2,656	$	407	$	3,063


(1)	Other costs include facility closure, contract termination and other exit costs.


(2)	Includes the Vascular Solutions integration program (initiated in 2017) as well as the 2016 and 2014 Footprint realignment plans.

(3) The 2016 Footprint realignment plan involved the relocation of certain manufacturing operations, the relocation and outsourcing of certain distribution operations and a related workforce reduction at certain of the Company's facilities. The program is substantially complete and the Company expects future restructuring expenses associated with the program, if any, to be immaterial.

(4) Includes the Vascular Solutions integration program and the EMEA restructuring program (both initiated in 2017).

2019 Footprint Realignment Plan

In February 2019, the Company initiated a restructuring plan primarily involving the relocation of certain manufacturing operations to existing lower-cost locations and related workforce reductions (the "2019 Footprint realignment plan"). These actions are expected to be substantially completed during 2022. The following table provides a summary of the Company’s cost estimates by major type of expense associated with the 2019 Footprint realignment plan:



Type of expense	Total estimated amount expected to be incurred
Termination benefits	$19 million to $23 million
Other exit costs ₍₁₎	$1 million to $2 million
Restructuring charges	$20 million to $25 million
Restructuring related charges ₍₂₎	$36 million to $45 million
Total restructuring and restructuring related charges	$56 million to $70 million


(1)	Includes facility closure, employee relocation, equipment relocation and outplacement costs.


(2)	Restructuring related charges represent costs that are directly related to the 2019 Footprint realignment plan and principally constitute costs to transfer manufacturing operations to existing lower-cost locations, project management costs and accelerated depreciation. Most of these charges are expected to be recognized in cost of goods sold.

In addition to the restructuring charges shown in the tables above, the Company recorded restructuring related charges with respect to the 2019 Footprint realignment plan of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 within cost of goods sold.

As of March 31, 2019, the Company has a restructuring reserve of $12.5 million in connection with this plan, all of which relate to termination benefits.

2018 Footprint Realignment Plan

On May 1, 2018, the Company initiated a restructuring plan involving the relocation of certain European manufacturing operations to existing lower-cost locations, the outsourcing of certain of the Company’s European distribution operations and related workforce reductions (the “2018 Footprint realignment plan"). These actions are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2024.

In addition to the restructuring charges shown in the tables above, the Company recorded restructuring related charges with respect to the 2018 Footprint realignment plan of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, within cost of goods sold. The majority of these restructuring related charges in both periods constituted costs arising from the transfer of manufacturing operations to new locations.

The Company estimates that is will incur aggregate pre-tax restructuring and restructuring related charges in connection with the 2018 Footprint realignment plan of approximately $102 million to $133 million. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has incurred aggregate restructuring charges in connection with the 2018 Footprint realignment plan of $56.0 million. In addition, as of March 31, 2019, the Company has incurred aggregate restructuring related charges of $4.7 million with respect to the 2018 Footprint realignment plan, consisting of accelerated depreciation and certain other costs that principally resulted from the transfer of manufacturing operations to new locations. The restructuring related charges primarily were included in cost of goods sold. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has a restructuring reserve of $47.5 million in connection with this plan, all of which related to termination benefits.

2014 Footprint Realignment Plan

In 2014, the Company initiated a restructuring plan (“the 2014 Footprint realignment plan”) involving the consolidation of operations and a related reduction in workforce at certain facilities, and the relocation of manufacturing operations from certain higher-cost locations to existing lower-cost locations. These actions commenced in the second quarter 2014 and are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2020.

The Company recorded restructuring related charges with respect to the 2014 Footprint realignment plan of $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, and April 1, 2018, respectively. The majority of these restructuring related charges in both periods constituted costs arising from the transfer of manufacturing operations to new locations.

The Company estimates that it will incur aggregate pre-tax restructuring and restructuring related charges in connection with the 2014 Footprint realignment plan of $47 million to $52 million. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has incurred aggregate restructuring charges of $12.7 million in connection with the 2014 Footprint realignment plan. Additionally, as of March 31, 2019, the Company has incurred aggregate restructuring related charges of $29.8 million in connection with the 2014 Footprint realignment plan, consisting of accelerated depreciation and certain other costs that principally resulted from the transfer of manufacturing operations from the existing locations to new locations. These restructuring related charges primarily were included in cost of goods sold. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has a restructuring reserve of $3.8 million in connection with the plan, all of which related to termination benefits.

As the restructuring programs progress, management will reevaluate the estimated expenses and charges set forth above, and may revise its estimates, as appropriate, consistent with GAAP. For additional information related to the Company's restructuring programs, see Note 5 to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.