Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Productivity, Integration and Restructuring Initiatives

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Productivity, Integration and Restructuring Initiatives
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2014
PRODUCTIVITY INTEGRATION AND RESTRUCTURING INITIATIVES [Abstract]  
Productivity, Integration and Restructuring Initiatives
PRODUCTIVITY, INTEGRATION AND RESTRUCTURING INITIATIVES
Productivity and Reinvestment
In February 2012, the Company announced a four-year productivity and reinvestment program designed to further enable our efforts to strengthen our brands and reinvest our resources to drive long-term profitable growth. This program is focused on the following initiatives: global supply chain optimization; global marketing and innovation effectiveness; operating expense leverage and operational excellence; data and information technology systems standardization; and further integration of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.'s former North America business.
In February 2014, the Company announced that we are expanding our productivity and reinvestment program to drive an incremental $1 billion in productivity by 2016 that will primarily be redirected into increased media investments. Our incremental productivity goal consists of two relatively equal components. First, expanded savings through global supply chain optimization, data and information technology system standardization, and resource and cost reallocation. These savings will be reinvested in global brand-building initiatives, with an emphasis on increased media spending. Second, we will be increasing the effectiveness of our marketing investments by transforming our marketing and commercial model to redeploy resources into more consumer-facing marketing investments to accelerate growth.
As of March 28, 2014, the Company has incurred total pretax expenses of $850 million related to our productivity and reinvestment program since the plan commenced. These expenses were recorded in the line item other operating charges in our condensed consolidated statements of income. Refer to Note 15 for the impact these charges had on our operating segments. Outside services reported in the table below primarily relate to expenses in connection with legal, outplacement and consulting activities. Other direct costs reported in the table below include, among other items, internal and external costs associated with the development, communication, administration and implementation of these initiatives; accelerated depreciation on certain fixed assets; losses on disposal of certain assets; contract termination fees; and relocation costs.
The following table summarizes the balance of accrued expenses related to these productivity and reinvestment initiatives and the changes in the accrued amounts as of and for the three months ended March 28, 2014 (in millions):
 
Accrued
Balance
December 31,
2013

Costs
Incurred
Three Months Ended
March 28, 2014

Payments

Noncash
and
Exchange

Accrued
Balance
March 28, 2014

Severance pay and benefits
$
88

$
6

$
(27
)
$
1

$
68

Outside services
6

9

(9
)
—

6

Other direct costs
18

71

(56
)
(17
)
16

Total
$
112

$
86

$
(92
)
$
(16
)
$
90


Integration of Our German Bottling and Distribution Operations
In 2008, the Company began an integration initiative related to the 18 German bottling and distribution operations acquired in 2007. The Company incurred expenses of $42 million related to this initiative during the three months ended March 28, 2014, and has incurred total pretax expenses of $669 million related to this initiative since it commenced. These charges were recorded in the line item other operating charges in our condensed consolidated statements of income and impacted the Bottling Investments operating segment. The expenses recorded in connection with these integration activities have been primarily due to involuntary terminations. The Company had $124 million and $127 million accrued related to these integration costs as of March 28, 2014, and December 31, 2013, respectively.
The Company announced further plans in April 2014 which will result in future charges of approximately $50 million. We are currently reviewing additional restructuring opportunities within the German bottling and distribution operations, including integration costs related to information technology and other initiatives. If implemented, these initiatives will result in additional charges in future periods. However, as of March 28, 2014, the Company has not finalized any additional plans.