Asset Impairment, Restructuring, and Other Special Charges

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Asset Impairment, Restructuring, And Other Special Charges

Asset Impairment, Restructuring, and Other Special Charges

The components of the charges included in asset impairment, restructuring, and other special charges in our consolidated statements of operations are described below:

	2020		2019		2018
Severance	$	151.2	$	77.8	$	127.8
Asset impairment (gain) and other special charges	(20.0)		497.8		139.1
Total asset impairment, restructuring, and other special charges	$	131.2	$	575.6	$	266.9

Severance costs recognized during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were incurred as a result of actions taken worldwide to reduce our cost structure. Substantially all of the severance costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2020 are expected to be paid in the next 12 months.

Asset impairment and other special charges recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019 resulted primarily from $400.7 million of other special charges related to the acquisition of Loxo, substantially all of which is associated with the accelerated vesting of Loxo employee equity awards.

Asset impairment and other special charges recognized during the year ended December 31, 2018 resulted primarily from asset impairment and other special charges related to the sale of the Posilac® (rbST) brand and the associated Augusta, Georgia manufacturing site.