NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued) (Dollars in millions except per share data) (21) SEGMENT INFORMATION Energizer manufactures and markets dry cell batteries including alkaline, carbon zinc, miniature and specialty batteries, and flash- lights and other lighting products throughout the world. Operations are managed via four major geographic areas – North America (including the United States and Canada), Asia Pacific, Europe,  and South and Central America (including Mexico). This structure is the basis for Energizer’s reportable operating segment information disclosed below. Segment performance is evaluated based on oper- ating profit, exclusive of general corporate expenses, restructuring charges and amortization of goodwill and intangibles. Financial items, such as interest income and expense, are managed on a global basis at the corporate level.  Intersegment sales are generally valued at market-based prices and represent the difference between total sales and external sales as  presented in the table below. Segment profitability includes profit on these intersegment sales. One single mass merchandiser accounted for 15.3%, 13.5% and 11.5% of total net sales in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, primarily in North America.  ENERGIZER 2000 ANNUAL REPOR T 44 2000 1999 1998 Net Sales Total External Total External Total External Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales North America $ 1,226.3 $1,122.0 $1,135.9 $1,035.9 $1,104.3 $ 1,005.4 Asia Pacific 462.9 393.2 430.0 384.8 448.6 396.9 Europe 281.2 272.7 320.3 317.0 369.5 365.7 South and Central America 144.2 126.4 151.2 134.6 179.9 153.8 Total Net Sales $1,914.3 $1,872.3 $ 1,921.8 2000 1999 1998 Operating Profit before Restructuring Charges and Amortization North America $ 311.9 $ 291.4 $ 279.8 Asia Pacific 111.9 89.2 100.3 Europe (0.2) (1.2) 11.3 South and Central America 12.1 14.5 16.9 Total segment profitability 435.7 393.9 408.3 General corporate expenses (37.4) (54.0) (46.2) Research and development expense (49.9) (48.5) (46.6) Operating profit before restructuring charges and amortization 348.4 291.4 315.5 Restructuring charges – (9.9) (21.3) Costs related to spin-off (5.5) – – Loss on disposition of Spanish affiliate (15.7) – – Amortization (24.1) (25.0) (25.9) Interest and other financial items (23.9) (8.3) (5.8) Total Earnings from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes $ 279.2 $ 248.2 $ 262.5 Depreciation North America $ 34.8 $ 45.0 $ 50.1 Asia Pacific 12.4 11.1 10.0 Europe 7.7 10.3 12.4 South and Central America 3.0 2.0 1.6 Total Depreciation Expense $ 57.9 $ 68.4 $ 74.1