Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Note 6 - Restructuring, Impairment and Plant Closing Costs

v3.23.3
Note 6 - Restructuring, Impairment and Plant Closing Costs
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

6. RESTRUCTURING, IMPAIRMENT AND PLANT CLOSING COSTS 

 

As of  September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, accrued restructuring costs by type of cost consisted of the following (dollars in millions):

 

   

Workforce reductions

   

Other restructuring costs

   

Total

 

Accrued liabilities as of January 1, 2023

  $ 76     $     $ 76  

(Credits) charges

    (8 )     8        

Payments

    (40 )     (8 )     (48 )

Accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2023

  $ 28     $     $ 28  

 

Details with respect to our reserves for restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs by segment are provided below (dollars in millions):

 

           

Performance

   

Advanced

   

Corporate

         
   

Polyurethanes

   

Products

   

Materials

   

and other

   

Total

 

Accrued liabilities as of January 1, 2023

  $ 24     $ 5     $ 10     $ 37     $ 76  

(Credits) charges

    (1 )     3       5       (7 )      

Payments

    (14 )     (3 )     (10 )     (21 )     (48 )

Accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2023

  $ 9     $ 5     $ 5     $ 9     $ 28  
                                         

Current portion of restructuring reserves

  $ 9     $ 5     $ 4     $ 9     $ 27  

Long-term portion of restructuring reserves

                1             1  

 

Details with respect to cash and noncash restructuring charges from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are provided below (dollars in millions):

 

   

Three months

   

Nine months

 
   

ended

   

ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Cash charges

  $     $ 13     $     $ 37  

Noncash charges:

                               

Accelerated depreciation

    5             6        

Gain on sale of assets

          (2 )             (2 )

Other noncash charges

    1       1       1       1  

Total restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs

  $ 6     $ 12     $ 7     $ 36  

 

Restructuring Activities

 

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2022, we implemented a restructuring program to further realign our cost structure with additional restructuring in Europe. This program is associated with all of our segments and includes exiting and consolidating certain facilities, workforce relocation to lower cost locations and further personnel rationalization. In connection with this restructuring program, we recorded net restructuring expense of approximately $2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily related to workforce reductions and accelerated depreciation, partially offset by adjustments to restructuring reserves that are no longer required for certain workforce reductions. We expect to record further restructuring expenses of approximately $12 million through the first half of 2025.

 

Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, our Corporate function implemented a restructuring program to optimize our global approach to leveraging shared services capabilities. During the second quarter of 2022, this program was further expanded to include additional geographies. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we evaluated current developments of this program and related anticipated cash costs, and we recorded a net restructuring credit of approximately $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily to adjust restructuring reserves that are no longer required for certain workforce reductions. During the nine months ended  September 30, 2022, we recorded approximately $15 million of net restructuring costs, primarily related to workforce reductions. We expect to record further restructuring expenses of approximately $1 million through the first half of 2024.

 

Beginning in the third quarter of 2020, our Polyurethanes segment implemented a restructuring program to optimize its downstream footprint. During the second quarter of 2022, this optimization program was further expanded to include the entire Polyurethanes business. In connection with this restructuring program, we recorded net restructuring expense of approximately $5 million and $7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily related to workforce reductions. We do not expect to record further significant restructuring expenses.

 

Beginning in the second quarter of 2020, our Advanced Materials segment implemented restructuring programs in connection with the CVC Thermoset Specialties Acquisition, the alignment of the segment’s commercial organization and optimization of the segment’s manufacturing processes. In connection with these restructuring programs, we recorded net restructuring expense of approximately $4 million and $1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily related to a site closure and accelerated depreciation. We expect to record further restructuring expenses of approximately $1 million through the first half of 2024.

 

Beginning in the third quarter of 2022, our Corporate function implemented restructuring programs to optimize our global approaches to leveraging managed services in various information technology functions and to align and optimize our environmental, health and safety processes and systems. In connection with these restructuring programs, we recorded net restructuring expense of approximately $12 million in the three months ended September 30, 2022, primarily related to workforce reductions.