Virgin Media 2006 Annual Report Download - page 173

VIRGIN MEDIA INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
13. Employee Benefit Plans (Continued)
Defined Contribution Pension Plans
Our subsidiaries operate defined contribution pension plans in the U.K. The total expense in relation to these plans was
£12.4 million, £9.2 million and £9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
14. Other Charges Including Restructuring Charges
Other charges in 2006 of £62.2 million relate mainly to employee termination and lease exit costs as a result of our
acquisition−related restructuring programs. Other charges in 2005 of £23.7 million mainly related to changes in cash flow estimates
with respect to lease exit costs in connection with properties that have been vacated. Other charges of £22.4 million in 2004 relate to
our announcement to consolidate call centers and include £11.7 million for involuntary employee termination and related costs of
£2.2 million for lease exit costs and £8.5 million for other costs including recruitment and training costs. On April 7, 2004, we
announced the consolidation over 18 months of our 13 U.K. customer service call centers into three equipped to handle anticipated
expansion of our customer base. Following an internal review, three specialist call centers were retained and are supported by four
sales and customer support sites, located throughout the U.K. As part of the consolidation, we made additional investments in
technology and training in order to streamline processes and generate efficiencies. This program was completed as of December 31,
2005 at a total cost of £23.7 million.
The following tables summarize our historical restructuring provisions incurred and utilized in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and the
restructuring provisions resulting from the acquisitions during 2006 (in millions):
Historical Restructuring Provisions
Involuntary
Employee
Termination
and Related
Costs
Lease
Exit
Costs Agreement Modifications Other Total
Balance, December 31, 2003 £ — £ 36.6 £ 0.2 £ — £ 36.8
Released — — — — —
Charged to expense 11.7 2.2 — 8.5 22.4
Utilized (10.1) (12.0) (0.1) (8.5) (30.7)
Balance, December 31, 2004 1.6 26.8 0.1 — 28.5
Released — — (0.1) (0.1) (0.2)
Charged to expense 0.8 23.0 — 0.1 23.9
Utilized (2.4) (7.3) — — (9.7)
Balance, December 31, 2005 — 42.5 — — 42.5
Released — — —
Charged to expense — 3.7 — — 3.7
Utilized — (5.5) — — (5.5)
Balance, December 31, 2006 £ — £ 40.7 £ — £ — £ 40.7
F−94
Source: VIRGIN MEDIA INVESTM, 10−K, March 01, 2007