Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various investigations, lawsuits, claims, demands, environmental compliance programs and other legal proceedings arising out of or incidental to the conduct of our business. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these matters, we do not believe that their ultimate disposition will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Litigation has been pending in Brazil brought by employees seeking to recover additional amounts under certain wage increase provisions applicable in 1989 and 1990 under collective bargaining agreements to which employers in the Bahia region of Brazil were a party (including our subsidiary in Brazil), plus interest thereon. Prior to October 1, 2015, we were not party to such litigation. Companies in Brazil have recently settled claims arising out of these provisions and, in May 2015, the litigation was remanded, in favor of the employees, by the Brazil Supreme Court to the lower courts for further proceedings which included procedural aspects of the case, such as admissibility of instruments filed by the parties. We cannot predict the outcome of such litigation. On October 1, 2015, an action was filed by current and former employees against our subsidiary in Brazil to recover amounts under such provisions, plus interest thereon, which amounts together with interest could be material to us. We intend to vigorously defend such action.

Product Warranties

We generally sell products with a limited warranty. We accrue for known warranty claims if a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. We also accrue for estimated warranty claims incurred based on a historical claims charge analysis. Product warranties were not impacted by purchase price accounting adjustments. Claims accrued but not yet paid and the related activity within the reserve for 2015 and 2016 are as follows:



	(Dollars in Thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	520
Product warranty charges/adjustments	346
Payments and settlements	(69		)
Balance as of August 14, 2015	$	797


Balance as of August 15, 2015	$	797
Product warranty charges/adjustments	(324		)
Payments and settlements	(85		)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	388
Product warranty charges/adjustments	1,285
Payments and settlements	(704		)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	969