Nickolas Imports recorded a restructuring charge of $21.6 million during fiscal 2014 related entirely to the closing of its California based operations in San Diego and in Tijuana, Mexico. The company's financial statement footnotes indicated that expected employee separation payments amounted to $16.8 million and that fixed asset write-downs accounted for the remainder. Nickolas had never before incurred restructuring charges. At the end of the year, the company's balance sheet included a restructuring accrual liability of $3,600,000. Calculate the cash flow effect of Nickolas's restructuring during fiscal 2014.

Answer: $13,200,000

Explanation:

Nickolas Import recorded a restructuring charge of $21.6 million.

Of this amount, $16.8 million were for employee separation fees.

When calculating the cash flow effect of the restructuring on Nickolas Imports, the $16.8 million is the relevant account. This is because the Asset write downs that make up the rest of the $21.6 million are not cash items neither can they be accrued like normal expenses or Liabilities so they will not be recorded as an Accrual Liability.

The Net Cashflow effect of Nickolas Imports for the year therefore is,

= 16.8 - 3.6

= $13.2 million.

What this means is that with a restructuring accrual liability of $3,600,000 at the end of the year from an initial Balance of $16.8 million, it means that Nickolas Imports must have settled $13,200,000 during the year to be left with that balance of $3,600,000.