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Contingent Liabilities and Other Matters | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingent Liabilities and Other Matters | Contingent Liabilities and Other Matters General Numerous claims, complaints and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business have been asserted or are pending against us or certain of our subsidiaries (collectively, “claims”). These claims relate to litigation matters (e.g., class actions, derivative lawsuits and contracts, intellectual property and competitive claims), environmental matters, claims for contingent consideration on prior acquisitions, product liability matters (which, prior to the Asbestos Portfolio Sale, were predominately associated with alleged exposure to asbestos-containing materials), and other risk management matters (e.g., general liability, automobile, and workers’ compensation claims). Additionally, we may become subject to other claims of which we are currently unaware, which may be significant, or the claims of which we are aware may result in our incurring significantly greater loss than we anticipate. While we (and our subsidiaries) maintain property, cargo, auto, product, general liability, environmental, and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, among other lines of coverage, and have acquired rights under similar policies in connection with acquisitions that we believe cover a significant portion of these claims, this insurance may be insufficient or unavailable (e.g., in the case of insurer insolvency) to protect us against potential loss exposures. Also, while we believe we are entitled to indemnification from third parties for some of these claims, these rights may be insufficient or unavailable to protect us against potential loss exposures. Our recorded liabilities related to these matters, primarily associated with environmental matters, tota led $39.9 and $37.9 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Of these amounts, $32.0 and $29.4 are included in “Other long-term liabilities” within our consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the remainder included in “Accrued expenses.” The liabilities we record for these matters are based on a number of assumptions, including historical claims and payment experience. While we base our assumptions on facts currently known to us, they entail inherently subjective judgments and uncertainties. As a result, our current assumptions for estimating these liabilities may not prove accurate, and we may be required to adjust these liabilities in the future, which could result in charges to earnings. These variances relative to current expectations could have a material impact on our financial position and results of operations in future periods. Claim for Contingent Consideration Related to ULC Acquisition In connection with our acquisition of ULC in September 2020, the seller of ULC was eligible for additional cash consideration of up to $45.0 under an earn-out provision. During the third quarter of 2021, we concluded that none of the milestones for the payment of any of the contingent consideration were achieved. On May 20, 2024, we entered into a settlement agreement with the seller of ULC to resolve a lawsuit that commenced in August 2022 seeking contingent consideration of $15.0, prejudgment interest on that amount, and attorney's fees. The settlement agreement required a payment by us to the seller of ULC of $8.4, which was paid during the second quarter of 2024, with a corresponding charge recorded within “Other operating expense, net” within the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024. We expect this payment to be tax deductible in future periods. Resolution of Dispute with Former Representative On January 18, 2024, a jury ruled that one of our businesses within the Detection and Measurement reportable segment had breached its contract and implied duties of good faith and fair dealing in connection with an agreement entered into with a former representative. On January 26, 2024, we negotiated a settlement requiring a payment to the former representative of $9.0 to resolve all claims related to the matter. This amount was recorded to “Other operating expense, net” within the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 and paid during the first quarter of 2024. Asbestos Matters As indicated in Note 1, we completed the Asbestos Portfolio Sale on November 1, 2022, which resulted in the divestiture of three wholly-owned subsidiaries that hold asbestos liabilities and certain assets, including related insurance assets. As a result of this transaction, all asbestos obligations and liabilities and related insurance assets have been removed from our consolidated balance sheets effective November 12, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, our payments for asbestos-related claims, net of respective insurance recoveries of $31.6, were $20.1. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded charges of $24.2 as a result of changes in estimates associated with the liabilities and assets related to asbestos-related claims. Of these charges, $18.8 were reflected in “Income from continuing operations before income taxes” and $5.4 were reflected in “L oss on disposition of discontinued operations, net of tax.” Large Power Projects in South Africa Overview - Since 2008, DBT had been executing on two large power projects in South Africa (Kusile and Medupi), on which it has completed its scope of work. During that time, the business environment surrounding these projects was difficult, as DBT, along with many other contractors on the projects, experienced delays, cost over-runs, and various other challenges associated with a complex set of contractual relationships among the end customer, prime contractors, various subcontractors (including DBT and its subcontractors), and various suppliers. DBT had asserted claims against the remaining prime contractor, MHI, and MHI had asserted, or issued letters of intent to claim for, alleged damages against DBT. On September 5, 2023, DBT and SPX entered into the Settlement Agreement to resolve all claims between the parties with respect to the two large power projects. The Settlement Agreement provides for full and final settlement and the mutual release of all claims between the parties with respect to the projects, including any claim against SPX Technologies, Inc. as guarantor of DBT’s performance on the projects. Refer to Note 4 for additional details. Claim against Surety - On February 5, 2021, DBT received payment of $6.7 on bonds issued in support of performance by one of DBT’s subcontractors that is currently in liquidation. The subcontractor or liquidator maintain rights to seek recovery o f such amount and, thus, the amount received by DBT has not been reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. Litigation Matters We are subject to other legal matters that arise in the normal course of business. We believe these matters are either without merit or of a kind that should not have a material effect, individually or in the aggregate, on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, we cannot give assurance that these proceedings or claims will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Environmental Matters Our operations and properties are subject to federal, state, local and foreign regulatory requirements relating to environmental protection. It is our policy to comply fully with all applicable requirements. As part of our effort to comply, we have a comprehensive environmental compliance program that includes environmental audits conducted by internal and external independent professionals, as well as regular communications with our operating units regarding environmental compliance requirements and anticipated regulations. Based on current information, we believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, and we are not aware of any violations that could have a material effect, individually or in the aggregate, on our business, financial condition, and results of operations or cash flows. We had liabilities for site investigation and/or remediation at 16 sites, that we own or control, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Our environmental accruals cover anticipated costs, including investigation, remediation, and maintenance of clean-up sites. Our estimates are based primarily on investigations and remediation plans established by independent consultants, regulatory agencies and potentially responsible third parties. Accordingly, our estimates may change based on future developments, including new or changes in existing environmental laws or policies, differences in costs required to complete anticipated actions from estimates provided, future findings of investigation or remediation actions, changes in our allocation of shared remediation costs, or alteration to the expected remediation plans. It is our policy to revise an estimate once it becomes probable and the amount of change can be reasonably estimated. We generally do not discount our environmental accruals and do not reduce them by anticipated insurance, litigation or other recoveries. We take into account third-party indemnification from financially viable parties in determining our accruals where there is no dispute regarding the right to indemnification. In the case of contamination at offsite, third-party disposal sites, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we have been notified that we are potentially responsible and have received other notices of potential liability pursuant to various environmental laws at 9 sites, at which the liability has not been settled, and all of which have been active in the past few years. These laws may impose liability on certain persons that are considered jointly and severally liable for the costs of investigation and remediation of hazardous substances present at these sites, regardless of fault or legality of the original disposal. These persons include the present or former owners or operators of the site and companies that generated, disposed of or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances at the site. We are considered a “de minimis” potentially responsible party at most of the sites. We conduct extensive environmental due diligence with respect to potential acquisitions, including environmental site assessments and such further testing as we may deem warranted. If an environmental matter is identified, we estimate the cost and either establish a liability, purchase insurance or obtain an indemnity from a financially sound seller; however, in connection with our acquisitions or dispositions, we may assume or retain significant environmental liabilities, some of which we may be unaware. The potential costs related to these environmental matters and the possible impact on future operations are uncertain due in part to the complexity of government laws and regulations and their interpretations, the varying costs and effectiveness of various clean-up technologies, the uncertain level of insurance or other types of recovery, and the questionable level of our responsibility. We record a liability when it is both probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. In our opinion, after considering accruals established for such purposes of $27.4 and $24.1 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, the cost of remedial actions for compliance with the present laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment are not expected to have a material impact, individually or in the aggregate, on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. That said, we cannot provide assurance that new matters, developments, laws and regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws and regulations will not materially affect our business or operations in the future. Self-Insured Risk Management Matters We are self-insured for certain of our workers’ compensation, automobile, product and general liability, disability and health costs, and we believe that we maintain adequate accruals to cover our retained liability. Our accruals for risk management matters are determined by us, are based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not yet reported, and are not discounted. We consider a number of factors, including third-party actuarial valuations, when making these determinations. We maintain third-party stop-loss insurance policies to cover certain liability costs in excess of predetermined retained amounts; however, this insurance may be insufficient or unavailable (e.g., because of insurer insolvency) to protect us against potential loss exposures. Executive Agreements The Board of Directors has approved an employment agreement for our President and Chief Executive Officer. This agreement had an initial term through December 31, 2017 and, thereafter, rolling terms of one year, and specifies the executive’s current compensation, benefits and perquisites, severance entitlements, and other employment rights and responsibilities. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has approved severance benefit agreements for our other six executive officers. These agreements cover each executive’s entitlements in the event that the executive’s employment is terminated for other than cause, death or disability, or the executive resigns with good reason. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has also approved change of control agreements for each of our executive officers, which cover each executive’s entitlements following a change of control.

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