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Restructuring and Other Charges
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring and Other Charges

D. Restructuring and Other Charges – In the first quarter of 2015, Alcoa recorded Restructuring and other charges of $177 ($158 after-tax and noncontrolling interest), which were comprised of the following components: $149 ($142 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) related to the March 2015 divestiture of a rolling mill in Russia and post-closing adjustments associated with three December 2014 divestitures (see Note E); $16 ($11 after-tax) for the separation of approximately 680 employees (Primary Metals segment) and supplier contract-related costs associated with the decision to temporarily curtail the remaining capacity (74,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the São Luís smelter in Brazil; $13 ($8 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for layoff costs, including the separation of approximately 210 employees (130 in the Engineered Products and Solutions segment, 30 in the Global Rolled Products segment, and 50 in Corporate); a net charge of $6 ($3 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for other miscellaneous items; and $7 ($6 after-tax) for the reversal of a number of small layoff reserves related to prior periods.

In the first quarter of 2014, Alcoa recorded Restructuring and other charges of $461 ($274 after-tax and noncontrolling interests), which were comprised of the following components: $336 ($189 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for exit costs related to decisions to permanently shut down and demolish two smelters and two rolling mills (see below); $70 ($46 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the temporary curtailment of two smelters and a related production slowdown at one refinery (see below); $33 ($26 after-tax) for asset impairments related to prior capitalized costs for a modernization project at a smelter in Canada that is no longer being pursued; $13 ($8 after-tax) for layoff costs, including the separation of approximately 170 employees (110 in the Engineered Products and Solutions segment and 60 in Corporate); a net charge of $15 ($9 after-tax) for other miscellaneous items; and $6 ($4 after-tax and noncontrolling interests) for the reversal of a number of small layoff reserves related to prior periods.

In the 2014 first quarter, management approved the permanent shutdown and demolition of the remaining capacity (84,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the Massena East smelter in New York and the full capacity (190,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the Point Henry smelter in Australia. The capacity at Massena East was fully shut down by the end of the first quarter of 2014 and the Point Henry smelter was fully shut down in August 2014. Demolition and remediation activities related to both the Massena East and Point Henry smelters began in late 2014 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and 2018, respectively.

The decisions on the Massena East and Point Henry smelters were part of a 15-month review of 460,000 metric tons of smelting capacity initiated by management in May 2013 for possible curtailment. Through this review, management determined that the remaining capacity of the Massena East smelter was no longer competitive and the Point Henry smelter had no prospect of becoming financially viable. Management also initiated the temporary curtailment of the remaining capacity (62,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the Poços de Caldas smelter and additional capacity (85,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the São Luís smelter, both in Brazil. These curtailments were completed by the end of May 2014. As a result of these curtailments, 200,000 metric-tons-per-year of production at the Poços de Caldas refinery was reduced by the end of June 2014.

Also in the 2014 first quarter, management approved the permanent shutdown of Alcoa’s two rolling mills in Australia, Point Henry and Yennora. This decision was made due to the significant impact of excess can sheet capacity in both Australia and Asia. The two rolling mills had a combined can sheet capacity of 200,000 metric-tons-per-year and were closed by the end of 2014. Demolition and remediation activities related to the two rolling mills will begin in mid 2015 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

In the first quarter of 2014, costs related to the shutdown and curtailment actions included $133 for the layoff of approximately 1,830 employees (1,230 in the Primary Metals segment, 470 in the Global Rolled Products segment, 90 in the Alumina segment, and 40 in Corporate); asset impairments of $91 representing the write-off of the remaining book value of all related properties, plants, and equipment; accelerated depreciation of $59 related to the three facilities in Australia as they continued to operate during 2014; and $123 in other exit costs. Additionally, remaining inventories, mostly operating supplies and raw materials, were written down to their net realizable value, resulting in a charge of $34 ($20 after-tax and noncontrolling interest), which was recorded in Cost of goods sold on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations. The other exit costs of $123 represent $55 in asset retirement obligations and $38 in environmental remediation, both of which were triggered by the decisions to permanently shut down and demolish the aforementioned structures in the United States and Australia, and $30 in supplier and customer contract-related costs.

Alcoa does not include Restructuring and other charges in the results of its reportable segments. The pretax impact of allocating such charges to segment results would have been as follows:

 

     First quarter ended
March 31,
 
     2015      2014  

Alumina

   $ 7       $ 7   

Primary Metals

     25         331   

Global Rolled Products

     135         90   

Engineered Products and Solutions

     5         4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Segment total

  172      432   

Corporate

  5      29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total restructuring and other charges

$ 177    $ 461   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2015, approximately 90 of the 890 employees associated with 2015 restructuring programs, approximately 2,320 of the 2,870 employees (previously 2,910 - updated to reflect employees accepting other positions within Alcoa and natural attrition) associated with 2014 restructuring programs, and 1,460 of the 1,530 employees associated with 2013 restructuring programs were separated. The remaining separations for the 2015, 2014, and 2013 restructuring programs are expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

In the 2015 first quarter, cash payments of $1, $50, and $3 were made against the layoff reserves related to the 2015, 2014, and 2013 restructuring programs, respectively.

Activity and reserve balances for restructuring charges were as follows:

 

     Layoff
costs
     Other
exit costs
     Total  

Reserve balances at December 31, 2013

   $ 96       $ 42       $ 138   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

2014:

Cash payments

  (191   (22   (213

Restructuring charges

  259      194      453   

Other*

  (66   (180   (246
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserve balances at December 31, 2014

  98      34      132   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

2015:

Cash payments

  (54   (3   (57

Restructuring charges

  24      6      30   

Other*

  (13   (6   (19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserve balances at March 31, 2015

$ 55    $ 31    $ 86   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Other includes reversals of previously recorded restructuring charges and the effects of foreign currency translation. In the 2015 three-month period, Other for layoff costs also included a reclassification of $3 in pension costs, as this obligation was included in Alcoa’s separate liability for pension obligations (see Note M). In 2014, Other for layoff costs also included a reclassification of $26 in pension costs, as this obligation was included in Alcoa’s separate liability for pension obligations. Additionally in 2014, Other for other exit costs also included a reclassification of the following restructuring charges: $95 in asset retirement and $47 in environmental obligations, as these liabilities were included in Alcoa’s separate reserves for asset retirement obligations and environmental remediation.

The remaining reserves are expected to be paid in cash during 2015, with the exception of approximately $15 to $20, which is expected to be paid over the next several years for lease termination costs, ongoing site remediation work, and special separation benefit payments.