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Business Restructuring and Cost Reduction Actions
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Business Restructuring and Cost Reduction Actions [Abstract]  
Business Restructuring and Cost Reduction Actions

5. BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING AND COST REDUCTION ACTIONS

The charges we record for business restructuring and cost reduction actions have been excluded from segment operating income.

Business Realignment and Reorganization

On 18 September 2014, we announced plans to reorganize the Company, including realignment of our businesses in new reporting segments and other organizational changes, effective as of 1 October 2014. Refer to Note 26, Business Segment and Geographic Information, for additional details. As a result of this reorganization, we have incurred ongoing severance and other charges.

In fiscal year 2015, we recognized an expense of $207.7 ($153.2 after-tax, or $.71 per share). Severance and other benefits totaled $151.9 and related to the elimination of approximately 2,000 positions. Asset and associated contract actions totaled $55.8 and related primarily to a plant shutdown in the Corporate and other segment and the exit of product lines within the Industrial Gases – Global and Materials Technologies segments. The 2015 charges related to the segments as follows: $31.7 in Industrial Gases – Americas, $52.2 in Industrial Gases – EMEA, $10.3 in Industrial Gases – Asia, $37.0 in Industrial Gases – Global, $27.6 in Materials Technologies, and $48.9 in Corporate and other.

During the fourth quarter of 2014, an expense of $12.7 ($8.2 after-tax, or $.04 per share) was incurred relating to the elimination of approximately 50 positions. The 2014 charge related to the segments as follows: $2.9 in Industrial Gases – Americas, $3.1 in Industrial Gases – EMEA, $1.5 in Industrial Gases – Asia, $1.5 in Industrial Gases – Global, $1.6 in Materials Technologies, and $2.1 in Corporate and other.

The following table summarizes the carrying amount of the accrual for the business realignment and reorganization at
30 September 2015:
Severance andAsset
Other BenefitsActions/OtherTotal
2014 Charge$12.7$-$12.7
Cash expenditures(2.2)-(2.2)
30 September 2014$10.5$-$10.5
2015 Charge151.955.8207.7
Amount reflected in pension liability(14.0)-(14.0)
Noncash expenses-(47.4)(47.4)
Cash expenditures(113.5)(1.2)(114.7)
Currency translation adjustment(.4)-(.4)
30 September 2015$34.5$7.2$41.7

2013 Plan

During the fourth quarter of 2013, we recorded an expense of $231.6 ($157.9 after-tax, or $.74 per share) reflecting actions to better align our cost structure with current market conditions. The asset and contract actions primarily impacted the Electronics Materials business due to continued weakness in the photovoltaic (PV) and light-emitting diode (LED) markets. The severance and other contractual benefits primarily impacted our Industrial Gases businesses and corporate functions in response to weaker than expected business conditions in Europe and Asia, reorganization of our operations and functional areas, and senior executive changes.

The 2013 charges related to the segments as follows: $26.6 in Industrial Gases – Americas, $26.2 in Industrial Gases – EMEA, $24.1 in Industrial Gases – Asia, $.7 in Industrial Gases – Global, $133.3 in Materials Technologies, and $20.7 in Corporate and other.

The following table summarizes the carrying amount of the accrual for the 2013 plan at 30 September 2015:

Severance andAssetContract
Other BenefitsActionsActions/OtherTotal
2013 Charge$71.9$100.4$59.3$231.6
Amount reflected in pension liability(6.9)--(6.9)
Noncash expenses-(100.4)-(100.4)
Cash expenditures(3.0)-(58.5)(61.5)
Currency translation adjustment.4--.4
30 September 2013$62.4$-$.8$63.2
Cash expenditures(51.7)-(.8)(52.5)
Currency translation adjustment(.6)--(.6)
30 September 2014$10.1$-$-$10.1
Cash expenditures(9.8)--(9.8)
Currency translation adjustment(.3)--(.3)
30 September 2015$-$-$-$-