v3.25.4
Restructuring Charges and Asset Write-Offs
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]  
Restructuring Charges and Asset Write-Offs Restructuring Charges and Asset Write-offs:
Second Half 2024 Restructuring
In July 2024, the Company announced a comprehensive review of its cost and operating structure to proactively respond to ongoing industry headwinds, particularly in the lithium value chain, and to maintain a competitive position. As part of this review, the Company made the decision to stop construction of Kemerton Train 3 in Western Australia, and put Kemerton Train 2 into care and maintenance, as the Company determined the current lithium price environment makes it less economical to expand conversion in Australia. Kemerton Train 1 will continue to operate and activity around it is currently focused on commercialization efforts. Additionally, as part of this restructuring plan, the Company placed the Chengdu, China conversion plant into care and maintenance during the first half of 2025. Production from the Chengdu site has been transferred to another processing facility in China.
The Company’s actions regarding Kemerton are part of a broader effort focused on preserving its world-class resource advantages, optimizing its global conversion network, improving the Company’s cost competitiveness and efficiency by lowering operating costs, reducing capital intensity and enhancing the Company’s financial flexibility. As part of this effort, effective November 1, 2024, the Company transitioned its operating structure to a fully integrated functional model (excluding Ketjen) from a global business unit model. As a result, the Company implemented a global workforce reduction that impacted 6-7% of total headcount during the second half of 2024.
Since inception, the Company has recorded charges for this plan consisting of asset write-offs of $726.0 million, severance and employee benefits of $53.4 million, contract cancellation costs of $38.4 million and other (primarily consisting of the reclassification of the related dedesignated cash flow hedge from Accumulated other comprehensive loss) of $41.1 million. Charges related to Second Half 2024 Restructuring were primarily recorded in the Energy Storage segment, with the exception of severance and employee benefits, which were recorded globally in Corporate and all segments. The Company does not expect any further material costs associated with the Second Half 2024 Restructuring.
First Half 2024 Restructuring
In January 2024, the Company announced measures to unlock near-term cash flow and generate long-term financial flexibility by re-phasing organic growth investments and optimizing its cost structure. As part of these measures, during the second quarter of 2024, the Company indefinitely suspended construction of Kemerton Train 4, as well as deferred spending and investments with respect to certain other capital projects, primarily within the Energy Storage segment. In addition, the Company recorded severance costs for employees in Corporate and each of the businesses as part of these announced measures. As a result, since inception, the Company has recorded charges for this plan consisting of asset write-offs of $280.6 million, severance and employee benefits of $18.9 million, contract cancellation costs of $24.9 million and other (primarily consisting of the reclassification of the related dedesignated cash flow hedge from Accumulated other comprehensive loss) of $5.4 million. No further costs associated with the First Half 2024 Restructuring are expected to be recorded as this restructuring plan was completed in the first half of 2024.
2023 Restructuring
During the year ended December 31, 2023, $9.5 million of separation and other severance costs to employees in Corporate and the Ketjen business were recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs.
Detail of Restructuring Charges and Liabilities
The following table provides details of our restructuring related charges for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2025
Asset Write-offs(a)
Severance and Employee Benefits(b)
Contract Cancellation Costs(c)
Other(d)
Total
Second Half 2024 Restructuring(e)
$(6,878)$2,184 $1,059 $11,528 $7,893 
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Asset Write-offs(a)
Severance and Employee Benefits(b)
Contract Cancellation Costs(c)
Other(d)
Total
First Half 2024 Restructuring(e)
$280,596 $18,856 $24,887 $5,374 $329,713 
Second Half 2024 Restructuring(e)
732,907 51,264 37,370 29,552 851,093 
$1,013,503 $70,120 $62,257 $34,926 $1,180,806 
(a)    In 2025, the Company received proceeds for certain Kemerton equipment and updated its estimates concerning the progress of construction activities and related contractual obligations, resulting in a net favorable adjustment of asset write-offs. In 2024, asset write-offs included $16.5 million recorded in Cost of goods sold, primarily related to work in process inventory with no future value as a result of the decommissioning of Kemerton Train 2 that was placed into care and maintenance. The remainder of the asset write-offs primarily related to property, plant and equipment of the in-construction Kemerton Trains 3 and 4, and Kemerton Train 2 that was placed into care and maintenance. Asset write-off charges not related to inventories and changes in estimates were recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs.
(b)    In 2024, severance and employee benefit charges included $3.8 million recorded in Cost of goods sold. All other severance and employee benefit charges for global employees terminated during the various restructuring programs were recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs.
(c)    Includes cancellation fees for contractors and required payments under take or pay contracts. All contract cancellation costs and favorable adjustments were recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs.
(d)    Other includes costs to put Kemerton Train 2 and the Chengdu, China conversion plant into care and maintenance and similar restructuring costs, and are recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs. In addition, Other also includes the reclassification of the related dedesignated cash flow hedge from Accumulated other comprehensive loss. A loss of $20.7 million was recorded in Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to the Second Half 2024 Restructuring and a loss of $5.4 million was recorded in Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to the First Half 2024 Restructuring.
(e)    Severance and employee benefits related to Corporate and all segments. All other restructuring costs were primarily recorded in the Energy Storage segment.
Restructuring charges related to severance and employee benefits of $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 were recorded in Restructuring charges and asset write-offs and are reported in Corporate and the Ketjen segment.
The following tables summarize the changes in restructuring liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2025 (in thousands):
Second Half 2024 RestructuringAsset Write-offsSeverance and Employee BenefitsContract Cancellation CostsOtherTotal
Beginning balance at December 31, 2024$— $15,867 $32,479 $8,811 $57,157 
2025 charges2,142 5,398 1,000 11,528 20,068 
Change in estimate(a)
(9,020)(3,214)59 — (12,175)
Cash payments— (16,657)(17,212)(3,968)(37,837)
Asset write-off/hedge dedesignation6,878 — — (11,528)(4,650)
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other— (279)(168)— (447)
Ending balance at December 31, 2025(b)
$— $1,115 $16,158 $4,843 $22,116 
First Half 2024 RestructuringAsset Write-offsSeverance and Employee BenefitsContract Cancellation CostsOtherTotal
Beginning balance at December 31, 2024$— $— $2,767 $— $2,767 
Cash payments— — (1,742)— (1,742)
Other— — (1,025)— (1,025)
Ending balance at December 31, 2025$— $— $— $— $— 
(a)    In 2025, the Company received proceeds for certain Kemerton equipment and updated its estimates concerning the progress of construction activities and related contractual obligation, as well as updated estimates of severance charges in the U.S., resulting in a favorable adjustment of asset write-offs and severance and employee benefits. Additionally, the Company negotiated revised contract cancellation costs with key suppliers, which resulted in adjustments of the restructuring related charges.
(b)    Approximately $15.9 million of the remaining balance is expected to be paid in the next twelve months and are recorded in Accrued expenses as of December 31, 2025. $6.2 million of the liability is recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities as of December 31, 2025, and relates to certain take or pay liabilities that will be paid in line with the terms of the original contract through 2027.
Subsequent Event
In connection with the Company’s ongoing review of its cost and operating structure, in February 2026 the Company determined it will put the Kemerton Train 1 into care and maintenance. As a result, the Company expects to record cash-related charges primarily in 2026 in the range of approximately $150 million to $225 million, of which approximately $75 million to $90 million consists of decommissioning costs and approximately $20 million to $30 million of asset disposal costs, with the remainder related to contract cancellation costs, severance and other associated charges resulting from placing Kemerton Train 1 into care and maintenance (the “Cost Actions”). The Company’s estimated range of the charges for these Cost Actions takes into account initial estimates for these activities and could change as the actions progress. The majority of the Cost Actions associated with these charges are expected to be completed in 2026, with the remainder expected to be completed in 2027.