Restructuring (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Recorded Restructuring Activities

Cabot’s restructuring activities were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31				Six Months Ended March 31
	2015		2014		2015		2014
	(Dollars in millions)
Cost of sales	$	1	$	5	$	3	$	9
Selling and administrative expenses		4		11		9		12
Total	$	5	$	16	$	12	$	21

Restructuring Activities and Related Reserves

Details of these restructuring activities and the related reserves during the three months ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

	Severance and Employee Benefits			Environmental Remediation		Other			Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Reserve at December 31, 2014	$	14		$	2	$	1		$	17
Charges		2			1		2			5
Cash paid		(6	)		—		(2	)		(8	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(1	)		—		—			(1	)
Reserve at March 31, 2015	$	9		$	3	$	1		$	13

Details of these restructuring activities and the related reserves during the six months ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

	Severance and Employee Benefits			Environmental Remediation		Asset Impairment and Accelerated Depreciation			Other			Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Reserve at September 30, 2014	$	16		$	2	$	—		$	1		$	19
Charges		5			1		1			5			12
Costs charged against assets / liabilities		—			—		(1	)		—			(1	)
Cash paid		(10	)		—		—			(5	)		(15	)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(2	)		—		—			—			(2	)
Reserve at March 31, 2015	$	9		$	3	$	—		$	1		$	13