Company Restructuring

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

13. Company Restructuring

The Company undertakes various programs to reduce expenses. These programs generally involve a reduction in staffing levels, and in certain cases, office closures. Restructuring and related charges include employee termination and relocation benefits, and post-exit rent expenses in connection with these programs, and non-cash charges resulting from pension benefit payments made to agents in connection with the 1999 reorganization of Allstate's multiple agency programs to a single exclusive agency program. The expenses related to these activities are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as restructuring and related charges, and totaled $34 million, $44 million and $30 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table presents changes in the restructuring liability in 2012.

($ in millions)	Employee costs			Exit costs			Total liability

Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	5		$	5		$	10
Expense incurred		10			5			15
Adjustments to liability		—			—			—
Payments applied against liability		(9	)		(7	)		(16	)

Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	6		$	3		$	9

The payments applied against the liability for employee costs primarily reflect severance costs, and the payments for exit costs generally consist of post-exit rent expenses and contract termination penalties. As of December 31, 2012, the cumulative amount incurred to date for active programs totaled $85 million for employee costs and $50 million for exit costs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled.

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