XML 94 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Other Liabilities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Other Liabilities [Abstract]  
Other Liabilities
11.
Other Liabilities

Other accrued liabilities follow (in millions):
 
December 31,
 
2011
 
2010
Current liabilities:
         
Wages and employee benefits
$
373
 
$
458
Income taxes
 
288
   
181
Customer deposits
       
27
Other current liabilities
 
432
   
465
Other accrued liabilities
$
1,093
 
$
1,131
           
Non-current liabilities:
         
Asbestos litigation
$
657
 
$
633
Other non-current liabilities
 
704
   
613
Other liabilities
$
1,361
 
$
1,246

Asbestos Litigation

The proposed resolution of PCC asbestos claims under the Amended PCC Plan would have required Corning to contribute its equity interests in PCC and Pittsburgh Corning Europe N.V. (PCE), a Belgian corporation, and to contribute a fixed series of payments, recorded at present value.  Corning would have had the option to use its shares rather than cash to make these payments, but the liability would have been fixed by dollar value and not the number of shares.  The Amended PCC Plan would, originally, have required Corning to make (1) one payment of $100 million one year from the date the Amended PCC Plan becomes effective and certain conditions are met and (2) five additional payments of $50 million, on each of the five subsequent anniversaries of the first payment, the final payment of which is subject to reduction based on the application of credits under certain circumstances.  Documents were filed with the Bankruptcy Court further modifying the Amended PCC Plan by reducing Corning's initial payment by $30 million and reducing its second and fourth payments by $15 million each.  In return, Corning would relinquish its claim for reimbursement of its payments and contributions under the Amended PCC Plan from the insurance carriers involved in the bankruptcy proceeding with certain exceptions.

The Amended PCC Plan does not include certain non-PCC asbestos claims that may be or have been raised against Corning.  Corning has recorded an additional $150 million for such claims in its estimated asbestos litigation liability.  The liability for non-PCC claims was estimated based upon industry data for asbestos claims since Corning does not have recent claim history due to the injunction issued by the Bankruptcy Court.  The estimated liability represents the undiscounted projection of claims and related legal fees over the next 20 years.  The amount may need to be adjusted in future periods as more data becomes available.
Refer to Note 7 (Investments) to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the asbestos litigation.

Customer Deposits

In 2005 and 2004, several of Corning's customers entered into long-term purchase and supply agreements in which Corning's Display Technologies segment would supply large-size glass substrates to these customers over periods of up to six years.  As part of the agreements, these customers agreed to make advance cash deposits to Corning for a portion of the contracted glass to be purchased.

Upon receipt of the cash deposits made by customers, we recorded a customer deposit liability.  This liability is reduced at the time of future product sales over the life of the agreements.  As product is shipped to a customer, Corning recognized revenue at the selling price and issued credit memoranda for an agreed amount of the customer deposit liability.  The credit memoranda were applied against customer receivables resulting from the sale of product, thus reducing operating cash flows in the periods these credits were applied for cash deposits received in earlier periods.

Between 2004 and 2007, we received a total of $937 million for customer deposit agreements.  In 2007, we received our last deposit of $105 million.  We do not expect to receive additional deposits related to these agreements.  In 2011, 2010 and 2009, we issued $28 million, $83 million, and $253 million, respectively, in credits that were applied to customer receivable balances when payments were due.  As of December 31, 2011, no additional deposits have been received and all amounts previously owed as credits have been applied to customer receivable balances when payments were due.