RESTRUCTURING, GOODWILL IMPAIRMENT AND ASSET RELATED CHARGES - NET

The "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" line in the consolidated statements of income is used to record charges for restructuring programs, goodwill impairments, and other asset related charges, which includes other asset impairments.

DowDuPont Agriculture Division Restructuring Program

During the fourth quarter of 2018 and in connection with the ongoing integration activities, DowDuPont approved restructuring actions to simplify and optimize certain organizational structures within the Agriculture division in preparation for its intended separation as a standalone company ("Agriculture Division Program"). As a result of these actions, the Company expects to record total pretax restructuring charges of $31 million, comprised of $28 million of severance and related benefit costs and $3 million of asset write-downs and write-offs. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded pretax restructuring charges of $25 million, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $24 million and asset write-downs and write-offs of $1 million. The impact of these charges is shown as "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. The Company expects actions related to the Agriculture Division Program to be substantially complete by mid 2019.

The following table summarizes the activities related to the Agriculture Division Program. At December 31, 2018, $23 million was included in "Accrued and other current liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets.



DowDuPont Agriculture Division Program	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Total
In millions	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Total
2018 restructuring charges	$	24		$	1		$	25
Charges against the reserve	—			(1		)	(1		)
Cash payments	(1		)	—			(1		)
Reserve balance at Dec 31, 2018	$	23		$	—		$	23

DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program

In September and November 2017, DowDuPont approved post-merger restructuring actions under the DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program (the "Synergy Program") which is designed to integrate and optimize the organization following the Merger and in preparation for the Intended Business Separations. The Company expects to record total pretax restructuring charges of approximately $1.3 billion, which included initial estimates of approximately $525 million to $575 million of severance and related benefit costs; $400 million to $440 million of asset write-downs and write-offs, and $290 million to $310 million of costs associated with exit and disposal activities.

As a result of the Synergy Program, the Company recorded pretax restructuring charges of $687 million in 2017, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $357 million, asset write-downs and write-offs of $287 million and costs associated with exit and disposal activities of $43 million. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded pretax restructuring charges of $551 million, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $204 million, asset write-downs and write-offs of $226 million and costs associated with exit and disposal activities of $121 million. The impact of these charges is shown as "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. The Company expects to record additional restructuring charges during 2019 and substantially complete the Synergy Program by the end of 2019.

The following table summarizes the activities related to the Synergy Program. At December 31, 2018, $272 million was included in "Accrued and other current liabilities" ($231 million at December 31, 2017) and $55 million was included in "Other noncurrent obligations" ($118 million at December 31, 2017) in the consolidated balance sheets.



DowDuPont Synergy Program	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities			Total
In millions	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities			Total
2017 restructuring charges	$	357		$	287		$	43		$	687
Charges against the reserve	—			(287		)	—			(287		)
Cash payments	(51		)	—			—			(51		)
Reserve balance at Dec 31, 2017	$	306		$	—		$	43		$	349
2018 restructuring charges	204			226			121			551
Charges against the reserve	—			(226		)	—			(226		)
Cash payments	(248		)	—			(99		)	(347		)
Reserve balance at Dec 31, 2018	$	262		$	—		$	65		$	327

Asset Write-downs and Write-offs

The restructuring charges related to the write-down and write-off of assets in 2017 totaled $287 million. Details regarding the write-downs and write-offs are as follows:


•	The Company will close or consolidate several manufacturing, R&D and administrative facilities around the world aligned with seed and crop protection activities, including the write-down of other non-manufacturing assets. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $94 million. These facilities will be shut down or consolidated by the end of 2019.

•

The Company recorded a charge of $83 million for asset write-downs and write-offs aligned with electronics and imaging product lines, including the shutdown of a metalorganic manufacturing facility in Cheonan, South Korea, the write-off of in-process research and development and other intangible assets, and the consolidation of certain R&D facilities. The South Korean facility was shut down in the second quarter of 2018.


•	The Company recorded a charge of $22 million for asset write-downs and write-offs aligned with an energy project, including the write-off of capital projects and other non-manufacturing assets.


•	The Company wrote-off $21 million of assets aligned with safety and construction products, including intangible assets as a result of the Clean Filtration Technologies plant shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2017.


•	The Company recorded a charge of $67 million for other miscellaneous asset write-downs and write-offs, including the shutdown of several small manufacturing facilities and the write-off of non-manufacturing assets, certain corporate facilities and data centers. These manufacturing facilities will be shut down primarily by the end of 2019.

The restructuring charges related to the write-down and write-off of assets in 2018 totaled $226 million. Details regarding the write-downs and write-offs are as follows:


•	The Company recorded a charge of $171 million related primarily to the consolidation or shutdown of manufacturing, R&D and other non-manufacturing facilities and the write-down of inventory aligned with seed and crop protection activities. These facilities will be shut down primarily by the end of the third quarter of 2019.


•	The Company recorded a charge of $27 million for asset write-downs and write-offs aligned with industrial biosciences product lines, including the shutdown of a microbial control manufacturing facility. The manufacturing facility will be shut down by the end of 2019.


•	The Company recorded a charge of $28 million for other miscellaneous asset write-downs and write-offs, including the shutdown of several small manufacturing facilities and the write-off of non-manufacturing assets and certain corporate facilities. These manufacturing facilities will be shut down by the end of the third quarter of 2019.

Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities

The restructuring charges for costs associated with exit and disposal activities, including contract cancellation penalties and environmental remediation liabilities, totaled $43 million in 2017 and $121 million in 2018.

2016 Restructuring

On June 27, 2016, Dow's Board approved a restructuring plan that incorporated actions related to the ownership restructure of Dow Silicones. These actions, aligned with Dow’s value growth and synergy targets, resulted in a global workforce reduction of approximately 2,500 positions, with most of these positions resulting from synergies related to the ownership restructure of Dow Silicones.

As a result of these actions, the Company recorded pretax restructuring charges of $449 million in the second quarter of 2016, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $268 million, asset write-downs and write-offs of $153 million and costs associated with exit and disposal activities of $28 million. The impact of these charges is shown as "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. The 2016 restructuring activities were substantially complete at June 30, 2018, with remaining liabilities for severance and related benefit costs and costs associated with exit and disposal activities to be settled over time.

The following table summarizes the activities related to the Company's 2016 restructuring reserve.



2016 Restructuring Charges	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities			Total
In millions	Severance and Related Benefit Costs			Asset Write-downs and Write-offs			Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities			Total
2016 restructuring charges	$	268		$	153		$	28		$	449
Charges against the reserve	—			(153		)	—			(153		)
Cash payments	(67		)	—			(1		)	(68		)
Reserve balance at Dec 31, 2016	$	201		$	—		$	27		$	228
Adjustments to the reserve ¹	—			—			(7		)	(7		)
Cash payments	(150		)	—			(3		)	(153		)
Reserve balance at Dec 31, 2017	$	51		$	—		$	17		$	68
Adjustments to the reserve ¹	(8		)	—			14			6
Cash payments	(37		)	—			(4		)	(41		)
Reserve balance at Jun 30, 2018	$	6		$	—		$	27		$	33


1.	Included in "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income.

Asset Write-downs and Write-offs

The restructuring charges related to the write-down and write-off of assets in the second quarter of 2016 totaled $153 million. Details regarding the write-downs and write-offs are as follows:


•	The Company recorded a charge of $70 million for asset write-downs and write-offs including the shutdown of a solar manufacturing facility in Midland, Michigan; the write-down of a solar facility in Milpitas, California; and, the write-off of capital projects and in-process research and development. The Midland facility was shut down in the third quarter of 2016.


•	To enhance competitiveness and streamline costs associated with the ownership restructure of Dow Silicones, a silicones manufacturing facility in Yamakita, Japan, was shut down in the fourth quarter of 2018. In addition, an idled facility was shut down in the second quarter of 2016. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $25 million.


•	The Company recorded a charge of $25 million to close and/or consolidate certain corporate facilities and data centers.


•	A decision was made to shut down a small manufacturing facility and to write-down other non-manufacturing assets, including a cost method investment and certain aircraft. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $33 million. The manufacturing facility was shut down in the second quarter of 2016.

Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities

The restructuring charges for costs associated with exit and disposal activities, including contract cancellation penalties, environmental remediation and warranty liabilities, were $28 million in the second quarter of 2016.

Dow expects to incur additional costs in the future related to its restructuring activities. Future costs are expected to include demolition costs related to closed facilities and restructuring plan implementation costs; these costs will be recognized as incurred. The Company also expects to incur additional employee-related costs, including involuntary termination benefits, related to its other optimization activities. These costs cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

Goodwill Impairment

Upon completion of the goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company determined the fair value of the Coatings & Performance Monomers reporting unit was lower than its carrying amount. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $1,491 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, included in “Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net” in the consolidated statements of income. See Note 13 for additional information on the impairment charge.

Asset Related Charges

2018 Charges

In 2018, the Company recognized an additional pretax impairment charge of $34 million related primarily to capital additions made to a biopolymers manufacturing facility in Santa Vitoria, Minas Gerais, Brazil, which was impaired in 2017. The impairment charge was included in “Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net” in the consolidated statements of income.

2017 Charges

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recognized a $622 million pretax impairment charge related to a biopolymers manufacturing facility in Santa Vitoria, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Company determined it would not pursue an expansion of the facility’s ethanol mill into downstream derivative products, primarily as a result of cheaper ethane-based production as well as the Company’s new assets coming online on the U.S. Gulf Coast which can be used to meet growing market demands in Brazil. As a result of this decision, cash flow analysis indicated the carrying amount of the impacted assets was not recoverable. The impairment charge was included in “Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net” in the consolidated statements of income. See Notes 22 and 23 for additional information.

The Company also recognized other pretax impairment charges of $317 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, including charges related to manufacturing assets of $230 million, an equity method investment of $81 million and other assets of $6 million. The impairment charges were included in "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. See Note 22 for additional information.

2016 Charges

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recognized a $143 million pretax impairment charge related to its equity interest in AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (“AFSI”) due to a decline in the market value of AFSI. The impairment charge was included in "Restructuring, goodwill impairment and asset related charges - net" in the consolidated statements of income. See Notes 12, 22 and 23 for additional information.