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Restructuring and Asset Related Charges
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]
RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET RELATED CHARGES - NET

DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program
In September and November 2017, DowDuPont and the company approved post-merger restructuring actions under the DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program (the “Synergy Program”), adopted by the DowDuPont Board of Directors. The plan is designed to integrate and optimize the organization following the Merger and in preparation for the Intended Business Separations.  Based on all actions approved to date under the Synergy Program, DuPont expects to record total pre-tax restructuring charges of $430 million to $600 million, comprised of approximately $320 million to $360 million of severance and related benefits costs; $110 million to $140 million of costs related to contract terminations; and up to $100 million of asset related charges. The Synergy Program includes certain asset actions, including strategic decisions regarding the cellulosic biofuel unit reflected in the preliminary fair value measurement of DuPont’s assets as of the merger date. Current estimated total pre-tax restructuring charges could be impacted by future adjustments to the preliminary fair value of DuPont’s assets.

For the period September 1 through December 31, 2017, DuPont recorded a pre-tax charge of $187 million, consisting of severance and related benefit costs of $153 million, contract termination costs of $31 million and asset-related charges of $3 million. The charge for the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 was recognized in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Substantially all of the remaining restructuring charges are expected to be incurred in 2018 and the related actions, including employee separations, associated with this plan are expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2019.

DuPont account balances and activity for the DowDuPont Cost Synergy Program are summarized below:
(In millions)
Severance and Related Benefit Costs
Other Non-Personnel Charges1
Asset-Related Charges
Total
Charges to income from continuing operations for the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 (Successor)
$
153

$
31

$
3

$
187

Payments
(13
)
(3
)
—

(16
)
Asset write-offs
—

—

(3
)
(3
)
Non-cash compensation
(7
)
—

—

(7
)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
133

$
28

$
—

$
161

1.
Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.

2017 Restructuring Program
During the first quarter 2017, DuPont committed to take actions to improve plant productivity and better position its product lines for productivity and growth before and after the anticipated closing of the Merger Transaction (the "2017 restructuring program"). In connection with these actions, the company incurred pre-tax charges of $313 million during the period from January 1 through August 31, 2017 ("Predecessor" period) recognized in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. The charge is comprised of $279 million of asset-related charges and $34 million in severance and related benefit costs. The charges primarily relate to the second quarter closure of the safety and construction product line at the Cooper River manufacturing site located near Charleston, South Carolina. The asset-related charges mainly consist of accelerated depreciation associated with the closure. The actions associated with this plan are substantially complete as of December 31, 2017.

Account balances and activity for the 2017 restructuring program are summarized below:

(In millions)
Severance and Related Benefit Costs
Asset Related Charges1
Total
Charges to income from continuing operations for the period January 1 through August 31, 2017 (Predecessor)
$
34

$
279

$
313

Payments
(8
)
—

(8
)
Asset write-offs
—

(279
)
$
(279
)
Balance as of August 31, 2017
$
26

$
—

$
26

 
 
 
 
Charges to income from continuing operations for the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 (Successor)
$
—

$
—

$
—

Payments
(7
)
—

(7
)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
19

$
—

$
19

1. 
Includes accelerated depreciation related to site closure. Charge for accelerated depreciation represents the difference between the depreciation expense to be recognized over the revised useful life of the site, based upon the anticipated date the site will be closed and depreciation expense as determined utilizing the useful life prior to the restructuring action.

La Porte Plant, La Porte, Texas
In March 2016, DuPont announced its decision to not re-start its insecticide manufacturing facility at the La Porte site located in La Porte, Texas.  The facility manufactured Lannate® and Vydate® insecticides and has been shut down since November 2014.  As a result of this decision, during the year ended December 31, 2016, a pre-tax charge of $68 million was recorded in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations which included $41 million of asset related charges, $16 million of employee severance and related benefit costs, and $11 million of contract termination costs.                                                                                                                                                                             

2016 Global Cost Savings and Restructuring Plan
In December 2015, DuPont committed to take structural actions across all product lines and staff functions globally to operate more efficiently by further consolidating product lines and aligning staff functions more closely with them as part of a 2016 global cost savings and restructuring plan. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2015, a pre-tax charge of $783 million was recorded, consisting of $778 million of restructuring and asset related charges - net and $5 million in sundry income - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations. The charges consisted of $641 million in severance and related benefit costs, $109 million in asset related charges, and $33 million in contract termination charges.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, in connection with the restructuring actions, the company recorded a net pre-tax benefit to earnings of $(81) million, consisting of $(84) million in restructuring and asset related charges - net and $3 million in sundry income - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations. The net benefit was comprised of a reduction of $(150) million in severance and related benefit costs, offset by $53 million of asset related charges, and $16 million of contract termination costs. This was primarily due to a reduction in severance and related benefit costs partially offset by the identification of additional projects. The reduction in severance and related benefit costs was driven by elimination of positions at a lower cost than expected as a result of redeployments and attrition as well as lower than estimated individual severance costs.

The company incurred pre-tax charges of $10 million during the period January 1 through August 31, 2017, recognized in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. This was due to additional severance payments owed to previously terminated executives that became probable during the period. The company incurred a pre-tax benefit of $(5) million for the period from September 1 through December 31, 2017. The reduction in severance and related benefit costs was driven by the elimination of positions at a lower cost than expected.

Account balances and activity for the restructuring program are summarized below:
(In millions)
Severance and Related Benefit Costs
Other Non-Personnel Charges1
Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 (Predecessor)
$
100

$
22

$
122

Payments
(76
)
(11
)
(87
)
Net translation adjustment
2

—

2

  Other adjustments
10

—

10

Balance as of August 31, 2017
$
36

$
11

$
47

 
 
 
 
Balance at September 1, 2017 (Successor)
$
36

$
11

$
47

Payments
(18
)
(2
)
(20
)
Other adjustments
(5
)
—

(5
)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
$
13

$
9

$
22

1.
Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.

2014 Restructuring Program
In June 2014, DuPont announced its global, multi-year initiative to redesign its global organization and operating model to reduce costs and improve productivity and agility across all product lines and functions. During the period from September 1 through December 31, 2017, and the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, benefits of $(2) million, $(21) million and $(21) million were recorded, respectively, in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statements of Operations to reduce the accrual for severance costs associated with this program.

Asset Impairment
In the fourth quarter 2015, the company elected to defer further testing and deployment of a multi-year, phased implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system; which had not been placed in service as of year-end.  At December 31, 2016, the company had capitalized costs associated with the ERP system of $435 million.  In connection with IT strategy reviews conducted during the fourth quarter of 2016, the company reviewed considerations around the timing of restarting testing and deployment of the ERP system.  As a result, the company concluded it intended to complete and place in service the ERP system, however, given the uncertainties related to implementation timing as well as potential developments and changes to technologies in the market place at the time of restart, use of this ERP system could no longer be considered probable. As a result, due to the specificity of the design related to the ERP system, the company determined that the uncompleted ERP system had a fair value of zero and recorded a pre-tax charge of $435 million in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2016. 

The company recognized a $158 million pre-tax impairment charge in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to indefinite-lived intangible trade names. In connection with the company's strategy reviews and brand realignment conducted during the third quarter 2016, the company decided to phase out the use of certain acquired trade names resulting in a change from an indefinite life to a finite useful life for these assets. As a result of these changes, the carrying value of the trade name assets exceeded the fair value.

The basis of the fair value for the charges was calculated utilizing an income approach (relief from royalty method) using Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy, as described in Note 1. The key assumptions used in the calculation included projected revenue, royalty rates and discount rates. These key assumptions involve management judgment and estimates relating to future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual cash flows. After the recognition of the impairment charge, the remaining net book value of the trade names was $28 million, which represented fair value.

During the first quarter 2015, a $38 million pre-tax impairment charge was recorded in restructuring and asset related charges - net in the company's Consolidated Statement of Operations. The majority relates to a cost basis investment in which the assessment resulted from the venture's revised operating plan reflecting underperformance of its European wheat based ethanol facility and deteriorating European ethanol market conditions. One of the primary investors communicated that they would not fund the revised operating plan of the investee. As a result, the carrying value of DuPont's 6 percent cost basis investment in this venture exceeds its fair value by $37 million, such that an impairment charge was recorded.