Restructuring Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

In 2023, Abbott management approved plans to restructure various operations in order to reduce costs in its medical devices, diagnostic, and established pharmaceutical businesses. Abbott recorded employee related severance and other charges of approximately $144 million of which approximately $56 million was recorded in Cost of products sold, approximately $22 million was recorded in Research and development and approximately $66 million was recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Payments related to these actions totaled $65 million in 2023 and the remaining liability totaled $79 million at December 31, 2023. In addition, Abbott recognized fixed asset impairment and inventory related charges of approximately $31 million related to these restructuring plans.

In 2022, Abbott management approved plans to streamline operations in order to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in its medical devices, nutritional, diagnostic, and established pharmaceutical businesses. Abbott recorded employee related severance and other charges of approximately $234 million of which approximately $59 million was recorded in Cost of products sold, approximately $36 million was recorded in Research and development and approximately $139 million was recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, Abbott recognized inventory related charges of approximately $23 million and fixed assets impairment charges of approximately $4 million related to these restructuring plans.

The following summarizes the activity related to the 2022 restructuring actions and the status of the related accruals as of December 31, 2023:


(in millions)
Restructuring charges in 2022	$	234
Payments and other adjustments	(6)
Accrued balance at December 31, 2022	228
Payments and other adjustments	(170)
Accrued balance at December 31, 2023	$	58

In 2021, Abbott management approved a restructuring plan related to its Diagnostic Products segment to align its manufacturing network for COVID-19 diagnostic tests with changes in the second quarter of 2021 in projected testing demand driven by several factors, including significant reductions in cases in the U.S. and other major developed countries, the accelerated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines globally and the U.S. health authority’s updated guidance on testing for fully vaccinated individuals. Charges under this plan were recorded in Cost of products sold and totaled $441 million in 2021.

The following summarizes the activity related to this restructuring action and the status of the related accruals as of December 31, 2023:


(in millions)	Inventory- Related Charges		Fixed Asset Write-Downs		Other Exit Costs		Total
Restructuring charges recorded in 2021	$	248	$	80	$	113	$	441
Payments	—		—		(90)		(90)
Other non-cash	(248)		(80)		—		(328)
Accrued balance at December 31, 2021	—		—		23		23
Payments and other adjustments	—		—		(10)		(10)
Accrued balance at December 31, 2022	—		—		13		13
Payments and other adjustments	—		—		(13)		(13)
Accrued balance at December 31, 2023	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

In 2021, Abbott management approved plans to streamline operations in order to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in its diagnostic, established pharmaceutical, nutritional, and medical device businesses. Abbott recorded employee related severance and other charges of approximately $68 million of which approximately $16 million was recorded in Cost of products sold, approximately $4 million was recorded in Research and development and approximately $48 million was recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Restructuring activities under the 2021 plans have been completed and there are no remaining liabilities under these plans as of December 31, 2023.