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Restructuring | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] |
Restructuring | Restructuring In early 2019, Merck approved a new global restructuring program (Restructuring Program) as part of a worldwide initiative focused on further optimizing the Company’s manufacturing and supply network, as well as reducing its global real estate footprint. This program is a continuation of the Company’s plant rationalization, builds on prior restructuring programs and does not include any actions associated with the planned spin-off of Organon. As the Company continues to evaluate its global footprint and overall operating model, it subsequently identified additional actions under the Restructuring Program, and could identify further actions over time. The actions currently contemplated under the Restructuring Program are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2023, with the cumulative pretax costs to be incurred by the Company to implement the program now estimated to be approximately $3.0 billion. The Company estimates that approximately 70% of the cumulative pretax costs will result in cash outlays, primarily related to employee separation expense and facility shut-down costs. Approximately 30% of the cumulative pretax costs will be non-cash, relating primarily to the accelerated depreciation of facilities to be closed or divested. The Company expects to record charges of approximately $700 million in 2021 related to the Restructuring Program. Actions under previous global restructuring programs have been substantially completed. The Company recorded total pretax costs of $883 million in 2020, $927 million in 2019 and $658 million in 2018 related to restructuring program activities. Since inception of the Restructuring Program through December 31, 2020, Merck has recorded total pretax accumulated costs of approximately $1.8 billion. For segment reporting, restructuring charges are unallocated expenses. The following table summarizes the charges related to restructuring program activities by type of cost:
| Separation Costs |  | Accelerated Depreciation |  | Other |  | Total
Year Ended December 31, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | $ | — |  |  | $ | 143 |  |  | $ | 32 |  |  | $ | 175 |
Selling, general and administrative | — |  |  | 44 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 47 |
Research and development | — |  |  | 81 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 83 |
Restructuring costs | 385 |  |  | — |  |  | 193 |  |  | 578 |
| $ | 385 |  |  | $ | 268 |  |  | $ | 230 |  |  | $ | 883 |
Year Ended December 31, 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | $ | — |  |  | $ | 198 |  |  | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 251 |
Selling, general and administrative | — |  |  | 33 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 34 |
Research and development | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 4 |
Restructuring costs | 572 |  |  | — |  |  | 66 |  |  | 638 |
| $ | 572 |  |  | $ | 233 |  |  | $ | 122 |  |  | $ | 927 |
Year Ended December 31, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | $ | — |  |  | $ | 10 |  |  | $ | 11 |  |  | $ | 21 |
Selling, general and administrative | — |  |  | 2 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 3 |
Research and development | — |  |  | (13) |  |  | 15 |  |  | 2 |
Restructuring costs | 473 |  |  | — |  |  | 159 |  |  | 632 |
| $ | 473 |  |  | $ | (1) |  |  | $ | 186 |  |  | $ | 658 |
Separation costs are associated with actual headcount reductions, as well as those headcount reductions which were probable and could be reasonably estimated. Accelerated depreciation costs primarily relate to manufacturing, research and administrative facilities and equipment to be sold or closed as part of the programs. Accelerated depreciation costs represent the difference between the depreciation expense to be recognized over the revised useful life of the asset, based upon the anticipated date the site will be closed or divested or the equipment disposed of, and depreciation expense as determined utilizing the useful life prior to the restructuring actions. All the sites have and will continue to operate up through the respective closure dates and, since future undiscounted cash flows are sufficient to recover the respective book values, Merck is recording accelerated depreciation over the revised useful life of the site assets. Anticipated site closure dates, particularly related to manufacturing locations, have been and may continue to be adjusted to reflect changes resulting from regulatory or other factors. Other activity in 2020, 2019 and 2018 includes asset abandonment, facility shut-down and other related costs, as well as pretax gains and losses resulting from the sales of facilities and related assets. Additionally, other activity includes certain employee-related costs associated with pension and other postretirement benefit plans (see Note 13) and share-based compensation. The following table summarizes the charges and spending relating to restructuring program activities:
| Separation Costs |  | Accelerated Depreciation |  | Other |  | Total
Restructuring reserves January 1, 2019 | $ | 443 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 91 |  |  | $ | 534 |
Expenses | 572 |  |  | 233 |  |  | 122 |  |  | 927 |
(Payments) receipts, net | (325) |  |  | — |  |  | (136) |  |  | (461) |
Non-cash activity | — |  |  | (233) |  |  | (8) |  |  | (241) |
Restructuring reserves December 31, 2019 | 690 |  |  | — |  |  | 69 |  |  | 759 |
Expenses | 385 |  |  | 268 |  |  | 230 |  |  | 883 |
(Payments) receipts, net | (508) |  |  | — |  |  | (301) |  |  | (809) |
Non-cash activity | — |  |  | (268) |  |  | 38 |  |  | (230) |
Restructuring reserves December 31, 2020 (1) | $ | 567 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 36 |  |  | $ | 603 |
(1) The remaining cash outlays are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2023.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2175745 + Details
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