RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET RELATED CHARGES - NET (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring and Asset Related Charges - Net

RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET RELATED CHARGES - NET

2020 Restructuring Program

On September 30, 2020, the Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board") approved restructuring actions that were aligned to the structural cost improvement initiatives announced by Dow Inc. in response to the continued economic impact from the pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19"). The restructuring program was designed to reduce structural costs and enable the Corporation to further enhance competitiveness while the COVID-19 economic recovery gained traction. This program included workforce cost reductions and actions to rationalize the Corporation's manufacturing assets. These actions were substantially complete at the end of 2021.

In 2020, the Corporation recorded pretax restructuring charges of $13 million, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $9 million and asset write-downs and write-offs of $4 million. In 2021, the Corporation recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $1 million for additional severance and related benefit costs. The Corporation paid $9 million for severance and related benefit costs in 2021.

At December 31, 2021, $1 million of the reserve balance was included in "Accrued and other current liabilities" ($8 million at December 31, 2020) and zero was included in "Other noncurrent obligations" ($1 million at December 31, 2020) in the consolidated balance sheets.

DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program

In September and November 2017, the Corporation approved restructuring actions that were aligned with DowDuPont's synergy targets. In connection with this program, the Corporation recorded restructuring charges for severance and related benefit costs of $2 million in 2020 and $4 million in 2019. The program was completed in 2020 with cumulative severance and related benefit cost payments of $19 million.

The Corporation expects to incur additional costs in the future related to its restructuring activities. Future costs are expected to include demolition costs related to closed facilities and restructuring plan implementation costs; these costs will be recognized as incurred. The Corporation also expects to incur additional employee-related costs, including involuntary termination benefits, related to its other optimization activities. These costs cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

2019 Asset Related Charges

On August 13, 2019, the Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to sell its acetone derivatives product line to ALTIVIA Ketones & Additives, LLC. As a result of this planned transaction, the Corporation recognized a pretax impairment charge of $75 million in the third quarter of 2019. See Notes 5 and 18 for additional information.