Other Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Other Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Other Commitments and Contingencies

S.  OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation.    The Company is subject to lawsuits and pending or asserted claims with respect to matters generally arising in the ordinary course of business.

As previously disclosed, a lawsuit was brought against the Company and a number of its insulation installation companies alleging that certain of their practices violated provisions of the federal antitrust laws. The case was filed in October 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by Columbus Drywall & Insulation, Inc., Leo Jones Insulation, Inc., Southland Insulators, Inc., Southland Insulators of Maryland, Inc. d/b/a Devere Insulation, Southland Insulators of Delaware LLC d/b/a Delmarva Insulation, and Whitson Insulation Company of Grand Rapids, Inc. against the Company, its subsidiaries Masco Contractors Services Group Corp., Masco Contractor Services Central, Inc. (“MCS Central”) and Masco Contractor Services East, Inc., and several insulation manufacturers (the “Columbus Drywall case”). In February 2009, the court certified a class of 377 insulation contractors. A trial date in this case has been scheduled for July 2012. Another suit filed in March 2003 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by Wilson Insulation Company, Wilson Insulation of Augusta, Inc. and The Wilson Insulation Group, Inc. against the Company, Masco Contractor Services, Inc., and MCS Central that alleged anticompetitive conduct. This case has been removed from the court’s active docket. In March 2007, Albert Von Der Werth and Valerie Good filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company, its subsidiary Masco Contractor Services, and several insulation manufacturers seeking class action status and alleging anticompetitive conduct. This case was subsequently transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and has been administratively stayed by the court. An additional suit, which was filed in September 2005 and alleged anticompetitive conduct, was dismissed with prejudice in December 2006.

The Company is vigorously defending the Columbus Drywall case. Based upon the advice of its outside counsel, the Company believes that the conduct of the Company and its insulation installation companies, which is the subject of the above-described lawsuits, has not violated any antitrust laws. The Company is unable at this time to reliably estimate any potential liability which might occur from an adverse judgment. There cannot be any assurance that the Company will ultimately prevail in these lawsuits, or, if unsuccessful, that the ultimate liability would not be material and would not have a material adverse effect on its businesses or the methods used by its insulation installation companies in doing business.

Warranty.    Certain of the Company’s products and product finishes and services are covered by a warranty to be free from defects in material and workmanship for periods ranging from one year to the life of the product. At the time of sale, the Company accrues a warranty liability for estimated costs to provide products, parts or services to repair or replace products in satisfaction of warranty obligations. The Company’s estimate of costs to service its warranty obligations is based upon historical experience and expectations of future conditions. To the extent that the Company experiences any changes in warranty claim activity or costs associated with servicing those claims, its warranty liability is adjusted accordingly.

Changes in the Company’s warranty liability were as follows, in millions:

	2011			2010
Balance at January 1	$	107		$	109
Accruals for warranties issued during the year		28			42
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties		8			(4	)
Settlements made (in cash or kind) during the year		(38	)		(37	)
Other, net (including currency translation)		(3	)		(3	)
Balance at December 31	$	102		$	107

Investments.    With respect to the Company’s investments in private equity funds, the Company had, at December 31, 2011, commitments to contribute up to $25 million of additional capital to such funds representing the Company’s aggregate capital commitment to such funds less capital contributions made to date. The Company is contractually obligated to make additional capital contributions to certain of its private equity funds upon receipt of a capital call from the private equity fund. The Company has no control over when or if the capital calls will occur. Capital calls are funded in cash and generally result in an increase in the carrying value of the Company’s investment in the private equity fund when paid.

Other Matters.    The Company enters into contracts, which include reasonable and customary indemnifications that are standard for the industries in which it operates. Such indemnifications include customer claims against builders for issues relating to the Company’s products and workmanship. In conjunction with divestitures and other transactions, the Company occasionally provides reasonable and customary indemnifications relating to various items including: the enforceability of trademarks; legal and environmental issues; provisions for sales returns; and asset valuations. The Company has never had to pay a material amount related to these indemnifications and evaluates the probability that amounts may be incurred and appropriately records an estimated liability when probable.