Commitments and Contingencies (Text Block)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 02, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

For further description of the Company’s litigation and contingencies, reference is made to Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2020 Form 10-K. Since the Company did not retain an interest in the ongoing operations of its divested businesses, the retained asbestos-related activity has been classified in its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes.

Asbestos Contingencies

Asbestos-related claims activity since December 31 is as follows:


	Three Months Ended
	April 2, 2021	April 3, 2020
	(Number of claims)
Claims unresolved, beginning of period	14,809	16,299
Claims filed(1)	1,067	1,043
Claims resolved(2)	(581)	(600)
Claims unresolved, end of period	15,295	16,742

(1) Claims filed include all asbestos claims for which notification has been received or a file has been opened.

(2) Claims resolved include all asbestos claims that have been settled, dismissed or that are in the process of being settled or dismissed based upon agreements or understandings in place with counsel for the claimants.

The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included the following amounts related to asbestos-related litigation:


	April 2, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(In thousands)

Long-term asbestos insurance asset(1)	$	229,879	$	232,712
Long-term asbestos insurance receivable(1)	27,868		31,815
Accrued asbestos liability(2)	42,411		41,626
Long-term asbestos liability(3)	248,669		253,144

(1) Included in Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2) Represents current accruals for probable and reasonably estimable asbestos-related liability costs that the Company believes the subsidiaries will pay, and unpaid legal costs related to defending themselves against asbestos-related liability claims and legal action against the Company’s insurers, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(3) Included in Other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Management’s analyses are based on currently known facts and assumptions. Projecting future events, such as new claims to be filed each year, the average cost of resolving each claim, coverage issues among layers of insurers, the method in which losses will be allocated to the various insurance policies, interpretation of the effect on coverage of various policy terms and limits and their interrelationships, the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, the amount of remaining insurance available, as well as the numerous uncertainties inherent in asbestos litigation could cause the actual liabilities and insurance recoveries to be higher or lower than those projected or recorded which could materially affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

General Litigation

The Company is involved in other pending legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of the Company’s business. None of these legal proceedings are expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flow of the Company. With respect to these proceedings and the litigation and claims described in the preceding paragraphs, management of the Company believes that it will either prevail, has adequate insurance coverage or has established appropriate accruals to cover potential liabilities. Any costs that management estimates may be paid related to these proceedings or claims are accrued when the liability is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. There can be no assurance, however, as to the ultimate outcome of any of these matters, and if all or substantially all of these legal proceedings were to be determined adverse to the Company, there could be a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flow of the Company.