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Restructuring and Other Charges
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring and Other Charges

D. Restructuring and Other Charges – In the third quarter and nine-month period of 2015, Alcoa recorded Restructuring and other charges of $66 ($30 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) and $460 ($329 after-tax and noncontrolling interest), respectively.

Restructuring and other charges in the 2015 third quarter included $42 ($20 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for charges related to the decision to curtail the remaining capacity (887,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the refinery in Suriname; $33 ($29 after-tax) for layoff costs, including the separation of approximately 370 employees (355 in the Transportation and Construction Solutions segment and a combined 15 in three other segments and Corporate); an $18 ($13 after-tax) gain on the sale of land related to one of the rolling mills in Australia that was permanently closed in December 2014; $11 ($5 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for exit costs related to the decision to permanently shut down and demolish a power station (see below); a net charge of $2 (a net credit of $9 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for other miscellaneous items; and $4 ($2 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the reversal of a few layoff reserves related to prior periods.

In the 2015 nine-month period, Restructuring and other charges included $190 ($120 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for exit costs related to decisions to permanently shut down and demolish a smelter and a power station (see below); $161 ($151 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); $80 ($43 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the separation of approximately 800 employees (680 in the Primary Metals segment and 120 in the Alumina segment), supplier contract-related costs, and other charges associated with the decisions to curtail the remaining capacity at both the refinery in Suriname (1,330,000 metric-tons-per-year) and the São Luís smelter (74,000 metric-tons-per-year); $62 ($50 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for layoff costs, including the separation of approximately 970 employees (410 in the Transportation and Construction Solutions segment, 275 in the Engineered Products and Solutions segment, 165 in the Primary Metals segment, 70 in the Global Rolled Products segment, and 50 in Corporate); the previously mentioned $18 ($13 after-tax) gain on a land sale; a net credit of $3 ($13 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for other miscellaneous items; and $12 ($9 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the reversal of a number of small layoff reserves related to prior periods.

In the second quarter of 2015, management approved the permanent shutdown and demolition of the Poços de Caldas smelter (capacity of 96,000 metric-tons-per-year) in Brazil and the Anglesea power station (includes the closure of a related coal mine) in Australia. The entire capacity at Poços de Caldas had been temporarily idled since May 2014 and the Anglesea power station was shut down at the end of August 2015. Demolition and remediation activities related to the Poços de Caldas smelter and the Anglesea power station will begin in late 2015 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and 2020, respectively.

The decision on the Poços de Caldas smelter was due to management’s conclusion that the smelter was no longer competitive as a result of challenging global market conditions for primary aluminum, which led to the initial curtailment, that have not dissipated and higher costs. For the Anglesea power station, the decision was made because a sale process did not result in a sale and there would have been imminent operating costs and financial constraints related to this site in the remainder of 2015 and beyond, including significant costs to source coal from available resources, necessary maintenance costs, and a depressed outlook for forward electricity prices. The Anglesea power station previously supplied approximately 40 percent of the power needs for the Point Henry smelter, which was closed in August 2014.

In the 2015 nine-month period, costs related to the shutdown actions included asset impairments of $86, representing the write-off of the remaining book value of all related properties, plants, and equipment; $22 ($11 in the 2015 third quarter) for the layoff of approximately 90 employees (Primary Metals segment), including $11 in pension costs (see Note M); and $82 in other exit costs. Additionally in the 2015 nine-month period, remaining inventories, mostly operating supplies and raw materials, were written down to their net realizable value, resulting in a charge of $4 ($2 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 $82 represent $45 in asset retirement obligations and $29 in environmental remediation, both of which were triggered by the decisions to permanently shut down and demolish the aforementioned structures in Brazil and Australia (includes the rehabilitation of a related coal mine), and $8 in other related costs, including supplier and customer contract-related costs.

In the third quarter and nine-month period of 2014, Alcoa recorded Restructuring and other charges of $209 ($175 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) and $780 ($503 after-tax and noncontrolling interest), respectively.

 

Restructuring and other charges in the 2014 third quarter included $220 ($186 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); $5 ($4 after-tax) for a gain on the sale of assets related to a previously shutdown location; a charge of $4 ($2 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for other miscellaneous items; and $10 ($9 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the reversal of a number of layoff reserves related to prior periods, including those associated with a smelter in Italy due to changes in facts and circumstances (see below).

In the 2014 nine-month period, Restructuring and other charges included $663 ($426 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for exit costs related to decisions to permanently shut down and demolish three smelters and two rolling mills (see below); $67 ($44 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; $18 ($11 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for layoff costs, including the separation of approximately 245 employees (65 in the Engineered Products and Solutions segment, 50 in the Transportation and Construction Solutions segment, 30 in the Global Rolled Products segment,10 in the Alumina and Primary Metals segments combined, and 90 in Corporate); a charge of $16 ($9 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for other miscellaneous items; and $17 ($13 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) for the reversal of a number of layoff reserves related to prior periods, including those associated with a smelter in Italy due to changes in facts and circumstances (see below).

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 March 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 at the end of 2014. Demolition and remediation activities related to the two rolling mills began in mid 2015 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

In the 2014 third quarter, management approved the permanent shutdown and demolition of the capacity (150,000 metric-tons-per-year) at the Portovesme smelter in Italy, which had been idle since November 2012. This decision was made because the fundamental reasons that made the Portovesme smelter uncompetitive remain unchanged, including the lack of a viable long-term power solution. Demolition and remediation activities related to the Portovesme smelter will begin in 2016 (delayed due to discussions with the Italian government and other stakeholders) and are expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

In the third quarter and nine-month period of 2014, costs related to the shutdown and curtailment actions included $60 and $197, respectively, for the layoff of approximately 1,780 employees (1,200 in the Primary Metals segment, 470 in the Global Rolled Products segment, 80 in the Alumina segment, and 30 in Corporate), including $18 in pension costs (see Note M); accelerated depreciation of $40 and $190, respectively, related to the three facilities in Australia as they continued to operate during 2014 (the smelter operated for one month in the 2014 third quarter); asset impairments of $74 and $165, respectively, representing the write-off of the remaining book value of all related properties, plants, and equipment; and $45 and $178, respectively, in other exit costs (see below). Additionally in the third quarter and nine-month period of 2014, remaining inventories, mostly operating supplies and raw materials, were written down to their net realizable value, resulting in a charge of $33 ($27 after-tax and noncontrolling interest) and $67 ($47 after-tax and noncontrolling interest), respectively, which was recorded in Cost of goods sold on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Operations. The other exit costs in the 2014 third quarter and nine-month period represent $40 and $95, respectively, in asset retirement obligations and $4 and $42, respectively, in environmental remediation, both of which were triggered by the decisions to permanently shut down and demolish the aforementioned structures in the United States, Australia, and Italy, and $1 and $41, respectively, in other related costs, including 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:

 

     Third quarter ended
September 30,
     Nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2015      2014      2015      2014  

Alumina

   $ 38       $ 1       $ 55       $ 8   

Primary Metals

     11         193         209         608   

Global Rolled Products

     (17      13         119         126   

Engineered Products and Solutions

     22         —           33         1   

Transportation and Construction Solutions

     3         —           6         3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Segment total

     57         207         422         746   

Corporate

     9         2         38         34   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total restructuring and other charges

   $ 66       $ 209       $ 460       $ 780   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2015, approximately 1,240 of the 1,860 employees associated with 2015 restructuring programs, approximately 2,500 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 approximately 1,480 of the 1,530 employees associated with 2013 restructuring programs were separated. Most of the remaining separations for the 2015 restructuring programs and all of the remaining separations for the 2014 and 2013 restructuring programs are expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

In the 2015 third quarter and nine-month period, cash payments of $19 and $34, respectively, were made against the layoff reserves related to the 2015 restructuring programs, $4 and $60, respectively, were made against the layoff reserves related to the 2014 restructuring programs, and $1 and $6, respectively, were made against the layoff reserves related to the 2013 restructuring programs.

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

     (100      (9      (109

Restructuring charges

     111         89         200   

Other*

     (52      (90      (142
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserve balances at September 30, 2015

   $ 57       $ 24       $ 81   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Other includes reversals of previously recorded restructuring charges and the effects of foreign currency translation. In the 2015 nine-month period, Other for layoff costs also included a reclassification of $28 in pension and other postretirement benefits costs, as this obligation was included in Alcoa’s separate liability for pension and other postretirement benefit obligations (see Note M). Additionally in the 2015 nine-month period, Other for other exit costs also included a reclassification of the following restructuring charges: $45 in asset retirement and $29 in environmental obligations, as these liabilities were included in Alcoa’s separate reserves for asset retirement obligations and environmental remediation (see Note G). 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 the remainder of 2015, with the exception of approximately $50 to $55, which is expected to be paid over the next several years for special separation benefit payments, ongoing site remediation work, and lease termination costs.