RATIONALIZATION AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS

The Company recorded net rationalization charges of $8,204 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The charges include $3,479 primarily related to employee severance and $4,881 in asset impairment charges, partially offset by gains of $156 related to sale of assets. A description of each restructuring plan and the related costs follows:

North America Welding Plans:

During 2012, the Company initiated various rationalization plans within the North America Welding segment. Plans for the segment include consolidating its Oceanside, California operations and its Reno, Nevada operations to another facility in Reno, Nevada and consolidating its Baltimore, Maryland manufacturing operations into its current manufacturing operations in Cleveland, Ohio. These actions impacted 72 employees within the North America Welding segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded charges of $1,109, which represent employee severance and other related costs. At September 30, 2013, a liability relating to these actions of $614 was recognized in Other current liabilities, which will be substantially paid in 2013. Additional charges related to the completion of this plan are expected to be immaterial.

Europe Welding Plans:

The Company initiated a rationalization plan within the Europe Welding segment to consolidate certain consumable manufacturing operations. These actions are expected to impact 56 employees within the Europe Welding segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded charges of $1,518 related to these activities which represents employee severance and other related costs. At September 30, 2013, a liability relating to these actions of $1,518 was recognized in Other current liabilities. The Company expects to incur additional charges in the range of $600 to $1,500 related to the completion of this plan.

During 2012, the Company initiated various rationalization plans within the Europe Welding segment. Plans for the segment include the consolidation of manufacturing facilities in Russia, relocation of its Italian machine manufacturing operations to current facilities in Poland and headcount restructuring at various other manufacturing operations within the segment to better align the cost structure and capacity requirements with current economic needs and conditions. These actions impacted 285 employees within the Europe Welding segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded net charges of $146 related to these activities. The amount represents employee severance and other related costs partially offset by a gain on sale of assets. At September 30, 2013, a liability relating to these actions of $1,315 was recognized in Other current liabilities, which will be substantially paid in 2013. Additional charges related to the completion of this plan are expected to be immaterial.

Asia Pacific Welding Plans:

During 2012, the Company initiated various rationalization plans within the Asia Pacific Welding segment. Plans for the segment include the rationalization of its Australian manufacturing operations and headcount restructuring at various other manufacturing operations within the segment to better align the cost structure and capacity requirements with current economic needs and conditions. These actions impacted 268 employees within the Asia Pacific Welding segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded net charges of $756, which represent employee severance and other related costs of $704 and asset impairment charges of $206, partially offset by gains of $154 from the sale of assets. At September 30, 2013, a liability relating to these actions of $461 was recognized in Other current liabilities, which will be substantially paid in 2013. Additional charges related to the completion of this plan are expected to be immaterial.

The Company continues evaluating its cost structure and additional rationalization actions may result in charges in future periods.

In the third quarter 2013, the Company recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $4,675 in Rationalization and asset impairment charges. The charge is the result of the Company removing capacity to align itself with current market conditions and improve operating efficiency.

The following tables summarize the activity related to the rationalization liabilities by segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2013:



	North America Welding			Europe Welding			Asia Pacific Welding			Consolidated
Balance, December 31, 2012	$	—		$	2,013		$	1,044		$	3,057
Payments and other adjustments	(495		)	(846		)	(1,287		)	(2,628		)
Charged to expense	1,109			1,666			704			3,479
Balance, September 30, 2013	$	614		$	2,833		$	461		$	3,908