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Rationalization Charges
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Rationalization Charges RATIONALIZATION CHARGES
We continually evaluate cost reduction opportunities across each of our businesses, including rationalizations of our existing facilities through plant closings and downsizings. We use a disciplined approach to identify opportunities that generate attractive cash returns. Rationalization charges by business segment for each of the years ended December 31 were as follows:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Metal containers
$
49,425

 
$
5,316

 
$
3,308

Closures
6,562

 
180

 
1,042

Plastic containers
364

 
757

 
1,476

 
$
56,351

 
$
6,253

 
$
5,826


    
In June 2019, we announced a footprint optimization plan for our metal container business, which included the closing of our metal container manufacturing facilities in Mt. Vernon, Missouri and Waupun, Wisconsin in the fourth quarter of 2019. These plant closings, in conjunction with the prior ratification of a new labor agreement at our Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin metal container manufacturing facility that provided for the withdrawal for that facility from the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan, or the Central States Pension Plan, will result in our complete withdrawal from the Central States Pension Plan. We estimate net rationalization charges for this plan of $3.5 million for the plant closings and $62.0 million for the withdrawal from the Central States Pension Plan. We recorded total rationalization charges for this plan of $46.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 largely to recognize the present value of the estimated withdrawal liability related to the Central States Pension Plan. Remaining expenses and cash expenditures for the plant closings are not expected to be significant. Remaining expenses for the accretion of interest for the withdrawal liability related to the Central States Pension Plan are expected to average approximately $1.1 million per year and be recognized annually for the next twenty years, and remaining cash expenditures for the withdrawal liability related to the Central States Pension Plan are expected to be approximately $3.1 million annually for the next twenty years, beginning in 2020. Although the annual payments for such withdrawal liability will be somewhat higher than our annual funding requirements to the Central States Pension Plan prior to our withdrawal, such increase will not be significant.
Rationalization charges for the year ended December 31, 2019 for the closures business were primarily related to the announced shutdown in the first quarter of 2019 of the Torello, Spain metal closures manufacturing facility.
    
Activity in reserves for our rationalization plans was as follows:
 
Employee
Severance
and Benefits
 
Plant
Exit
Costs
 
Non-Cash
Asset
Write-Down
 
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance as of January 1, 2017
$
945

 
$
2,426

 
$
—

 
$
3,371

Charged to expense
1,255

 
1,380

 
3,191

 
5,826

Utilized and currency translation
(2,178
)
 
(1,409
)
 
(3,191
)
 
(6,778
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
22

 
2,397

 
—

 
2,419

Charged to expense
898

 
534

 
4,821

 
6,253

Utilized and currency translation
(790
)
 
(1,449
)
 
(4,821
)
 
(7,060
)
Balance at December 31, 2018
130

 
1,482

 
—

 
1,612

Charged to expense
49,496

 
1,336

 
5,519

 
56,351

Utilized and currency translation
(6,811
)
 
(1,920
)
 
(5,519
)
 
(14,250
)
Balance at December 31, 2019
$
42,815

 
$
898

 
$
—

 
$
43,713



Non-cash asset write-downs were the result of comparing the carrying value of certain production related equipment to their fair value using estimated future discounted cash flows, a Level 3 fair value measurement (see Note 10 for information regarding a Level 3 fair value measurement).
        
Rationalization reserves as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as accrued liabilities of $5.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and as other liabilities of $38.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Exclusive of the footprint optimization plan for our metal container business and the withdrawal from the Central States Pension Plan discussed above, remaining expenses for our rationalization plans of $2.2 million are expected primarily in 2020, and remaining cash expenditures for our rationalization plans of $4.1 million are expected through 2023.