Contingencies and Significant Estimates

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies and Significant Estimates

Contingencies and Significant Estimates

As of June 30, 2013, the company held reserves for environmental matters related to Enodis locations of approximately $0.4 million.  At certain of the company’s other facilities, the company has identified potential contaminants in soil and groundwater.  The ultimate cost of any remediation required will depend upon the results of future investigation.  Based upon available information, the company does not expect the ultimate costs at any of these locations will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows individually and in the aggregate.

The company believes that it has obtained and is in substantial compliance with those material environmental permits and approvals necessary to conduct its various businesses.  Based on the facts presently known, the company does not expect environmental compliance costs to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

As of June 30, 2013, various product-related lawsuits were pending.  To the extent permitted under applicable law, all of these are insured with self-insurance retention levels.  The company’s self-insurance retention levels vary by business, and have fluctuated over the last five years.  The range of the company’s self-insured retention levels is $0.1 million to $3.0 million per occurrence.  The high-end of the company’s self-insurance retention level is a legacy product liability insurance program inherited in the Grove acquisition for cranes manufactured in the United States for occurrences from January 2000 through October 2002.  As of June 30, 2013, the largest self-insured retention level for new occurrences currently maintained by the company is $2.0 million per occurrence and applies to product liability claims for cranes manufactured in the United States.

Product liability reserves in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were $28.6 million and $27.9 million, respectively; $7.7 million and $6.3 million, respectively, was reserved specifically for actual cases and $20.9 million and $21.6 million, respectively, for claims incurred but not reported, which were estimated using actuarial methods.  Based on the company’s experience in defending product liability claims, management believes the current reserves are adequate for estimated case resolutions on aggregate self-insured claims and insured claims.  Any recoveries from insurance carriers are dependent upon the legal sufficiency of claims and solvency of insurance carriers.

As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the company had reserved $100.5 million and $101.4 million, respectively, for warranty claims included in product warranties and other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Certain of these warranties and other related claims involve matters in dispute that ultimately are resolved by negotiation, arbitration, or litigation.

It is reasonably possible that the estimates for environmental remediation, product liability and warranty costs may change in the near future based upon new information that may arise or matters that are beyond the scope of the company’s historical experience.  Presently, there are no reliable methods to estimate the amount of any such potential changes.

The company is involved in numerous lawsuits involving asbestos-related claims in which the company is one of numerous defendants.  After taking into consideration legal counsel’s evaluation of such actions, the current political environment with respect to asbestos related claims, and the liabilities accrued with respect to such matters, in the opinion of management, ultimate resolution is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the company.

The company is also involved in various legal actions arising out of the normal course of business, which, taking into account the liabilities accrued and legal counsel’s evaluation of such actions, in the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution, individually and in the aggregate, is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.