Restructuring and Asset Related Charges, Net
Restructuring and asset related charges, net were $180 million, $29 million, $20 million and $8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, the year ended December 31, 2018, the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 and the period January 1 through August 31, 2017, respectively. Restructuring costs consist of restructuring programs and other asset related charges, which include other asset impairments.
The activity for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes $20 million of charges related to the 2019 Restructuring Program, $97 million of charges related to the Synergy Program and a $63 million asset impairment charge related to an equity method investment. Charges for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 were primarily related to the Synergy Program.
See Note 7 to the Annual N&B Combined Financial Statements for additional information.
Goodwill Impairment Charge
During the second quarter of 2019, N&B recorded a pre-tax, non-cash impairment charge of $674 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 impacting the Health & Biosciences segment. There was no goodwill impairment charge recognized during the year ended December 31, 2018, the period September 1 through December 31, 2017, or the period January 1 through August 31, 2017. See Note 14 to the Annual N&B Combined Financial Statements for additional information on the impairment charge.
Integration and Separation Costs
Integration and separation costs include an allocation of costs incurred by Parent to prepare for and close the DWDP Merger, post-merger integration and separation expenses, and beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019, costs directly related to the separation of N&B. These costs have primarily consisted of financial advisory, information technology, legal, accounting, consulting, and other professional advisory fees associated with the preparation and execution of these activities. Integration and separation costs were $264 million, $136 million, $42 million and $57 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, the year ended December 31, 2018, the period September 1 through December 31, 2017, and the period January 1 through August 31, 2017, respectively.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net includes a variety of income and expense items such as gains on sale of businesses and other assets, net exchange gains and losses, interest expense, non-operating pension and other post-employment benefit credits or costs, equity in earnings or losses of nonconsolidated affiliates and miscellaneous income or expenses. Other income, net was $6 million, $10 million, $10 million, and $113 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, the year ended December 31, 2018, the period September 1, 2017, and the period January 1 through August 31, 2017, respectively.
The year ended December 31, 2019 included a net gain on sales of businesses and other assets of $13 million offset by net exchange losses of $7 million and non-operating pension and other post-employment benefits of $2 million.
The year ended December 31, 2018 included non-operating pension and other post-employment benefits of $17 million and miscellaneous income, net of $5 million. These balances were partially offset by net exchange losses of $9 million.
The period September 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 included non-operating pension and other post-employment benefits of $6 million and net exchange gains of $5 million.
The period January 1, 2017 through August 31, 2017 included a net gain on sale of businesses and other assets of $160 million. This amount includes a pre-tax gain of $162 million ($86 million net of tax) related to the sale of
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