v3.25.2
Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Commitments And Contingencies Abstract  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is involved in various litigation, claims and administrative proceedings, including those related to the bankruptcy proceedings for Aldrich Pump LLC (Aldrich) and Murray and environmental and product liability matters. The Company records accruals for loss contingencies when it is both probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Amounts recorded for identified contingent liabilities are estimates, which are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect additional information when it becomes available. Subject to the uncertainties inherent in estimating future costs for contingent liabilities, except as expressly set forth in this note, management believes that any liability which may result from these legal matters would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or cash flows of the Company.
Asbestos-Related Matters
Certain indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries and former companies of the Company have been named as defendants in asbestos-related lawsuits in state and federal courts. In virtually all of the suits, a large number of other companies have also been named as defendants. The vast majority of those claims were filed against predecessors of Aldrich and Murray and generally allege injury caused by exposure to asbestos contained in certain historical products sold by predecessors of Aldrich or Murray, primarily pumps, boilers and railroad brake shoes. None of the Company's existing or previously-owned businesses were a producer or manufacturer of asbestos.
On June 18, 2020 (Petition Date), Aldrich and Murray filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Bankruptcy Court) to resolve equitably and permanently all current and future asbestos related claims in a manner beneficial to claimants and to Aldrich and Murray. As a result of the Chapter 11 filings, all asbestos-related lawsuits against Aldrich and Murray have been stayed due to the imposition of a statutory automatic stay applicable in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, at the request of Aldrich and Murray, the Bankruptcy Court has entered an order temporarily staying all asbestos-related claims against each of 200 Park, Inc. (200 Park), ClimateLabs LLC (ClimateLabs) and Trane Technologies plc and its other subsidiaries (the Trane Companies) that relate to claims against Aldrich or Murray (except for asbestos-related claims for which the exclusive remedy is provided under workers' compensation statutes or similar laws). On August 23, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered its findings of facts and conclusions of law and order declaring that the automatic stay applies to certain asbestos related claims against the Trane Companies and enjoining such actions. As a result, all asbestos-related lawsuits against Aldrich, Murray and the Trane Companies remain stayed.
The goal of these Chapter 11 filings is to resolve equitably and permanently all current and future asbestos-related claims in a manner beneficial to claimants and to Aldrich and Murray through court approval of a plan of reorganization that would create a trust pursuant to section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Section 524(g) Trust), establish claims resolution procedures for all current and future asbestos-related claims against Aldrich and Murray and channel such claims to the trust for resolution in accordance with those procedures. Aldrich and Murray intend to seek an agreement with representatives of the asbestos claimants on the terms of a plan for the establishment of such a trust.
Prior to the Petition Date, predecessors of each of Aldrich and Murray had been litigating asbestos-related claims brought against them. No such claims have been paid since the Petition Date, and it is not contemplated that any such claims will be paid until the end of the Chapter 11 cases.
From an accounting perspective, the Company no longer has control over Aldrich and Murray as of the Petition Date as their activities are subject to review and oversight by the Bankruptcy Court. Therefore, Aldrich and its wholly-owned subsidiary 200 Park and Murray and its wholly-owned subsidiary ClimateLabs were deconsolidated as of the Petition Date and their respective assets and liabilities were derecognized from the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Amounts derecognized in 2020 primarily related to the legacy asbestos-related liabilities and asbestos-related insurance recoveries and $41.7 million of cash.
Upon deconsolidation in 2020, the Company recorded its retained interest in Aldrich and Murray at fair value within Other noncurrent assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. In determining the fair value of its equity investment, the Company used a market-adjusted multiple of earnings valuation technique. As a result, the Company recorded an aggregate equity investment of $53.6 million as of the Petition Date.
Simultaneously, the Company recognized a liability of $248.8 million within Other noncurrent liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet related to its obligation under certain funding agreements entered into between the Company and Aldrich and Murray. The liability was based on asbestos-related liabilities and insurance-related assets balances previously recorded by the Company prior to the Petition Date.
As a result of the deconsolidation, the Company recognized an aggregate loss of $24.9 million in its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings during the year ended December 31, 2020. A gain of $0.9 million related to Murray and its wholly-owned subsidiary ClimateLabs was recorded within Other income/(expense), net and a loss of $25.8 million related to Aldrich and its wholly-owned subsidiary 200 Park was recorded within Discontinued operations, net of tax. Additionally, the deconsolidation resulted in an investing cash outflow of $41.7 million in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, of which $10.8 million was recorded within continuing operations during the year ended December 31, 2020.
On August 26, 2021, the Company announced that Aldrich and Murray reached an agreement in principle with the court-appointed legal representative of future asbestos claimants (the FCR) in the bankruptcy proceedings. The agreement in principle includes the key terms for the permanent resolution of all current and future asbestos claims against Aldrich and Murray pursuant to a plan of reorganization (the Plan). Under the agreed terms, the Plan would create a trust pursuant to section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code and establish claims resolution procedures for all current and future claims against Aldrich and Murray (Asbestos Claims). On the effective date of the Plan, Aldrich and Murray would fund the trust with $545.0 million, comprised of $540.0 million in cash and a promissory note to be issued by Aldrich and Murray to the trust in the principal amount of $5.0 million, and the Asbestos Claims would be channeled to the trust for resolution in accordance with the claims resolution procedures. Following the effective date of the Plan, Aldrich and Murray would have no further obligations with respect to the Asbestos Claims. The FCR has agreed to support such Plan. The agreement in principle with the FCR is subject to final documentation and is conditioned on arrangements acceptable to Aldrich and Murray with respect to their asbestos insurance assets. It is currently contemplated that the asbestos insurance assets of Aldrich and Murray would be contributed to the trust, and that, in consideration of their cash contribution to the trust, Aldrich and Murray would have the exclusive right to pursue, collect and retain all insurance reimbursements available in connection with the resolution of Asbestos Claims by the trust. The committee representing current asbestos claimants (the ACC) is not a party to the agreement in principle. Any settlement and its implementation in a plan of reorganization is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court, and there can be no assurance that the Bankruptcy Court will approve the agreement on the terms proposed.
On September 24, 2021, Aldrich and Murray filed the Plan with the Bankruptcy Court. The Plan is supported by, and reflects the agreement in principle reached with the FCR. On the same date, in connection with the Plan, Aldrich and Murray filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court to create a $270.0 million trust intended to constitute a "qualified settlement fund" within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations under Section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code (QSF). The funds held in the QSF would be available to provide funding for the Section 524(g) Trust upon effectiveness of the Plan.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, in connection with the agreement in principle reached by Aldrich and Murray with the FCR and the motion to create a $270.0 million QSF, the Company recorded a charge of $21.2 million to increase its Funding Agreement liability to $270.0 million. The corresponding charge was bifurcated between Other income/(expense), net of $7.2 million relating to Murray and discontinued operations of $14.0 million relating to Aldrich.
On January 27, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court granted the request to fund the QSF, which was funded on March 2, 2022, resulting in an operating cash outflow of $270.0 million reported in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, of which $91.8 million was allocated to continuing operations and $178.2 million was allocated to discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. On April 18, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order granting Aldrich and Murray's request to seek to estimate their aggregate liability for all current and future asbestos-related personal injury claims. Aldrich and Murray are pursuing discovery and related matters in connection with the estimation proceedings.
On October 18, 2021, the ACC filed a motion seeking standing to pursue and investigate on behalf of the bankruptcy estates of Aldrich and Murray, claims arising from or related to the 2020 Corporate Restructuring. Also on October 18, 2021, the ACC filed a complaint seeking to substantively consolidate the bankruptcy estates of Aldrich and Murray with certain of the Company's subsidiaries. On December 20, 2021, Aldrich, Murray and certain of the Company's subsidiaries filed motions to dismiss the ACC's substantive consolidation complaint. On April 14, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court granted the ACC's standing motion and denied the motions to dismiss the substantive consolidation complaint. On June 18, 2022, the ACC filed complaints against the Company and other related parties asserting various claims and causes of action arising from or related to the 2020 Corporate Restructuring. The Company is vigorously opposing and defending against these claims.
On April 6, 2023, certain individual claimants filed a motion to dismiss the Chapter 11 cases (Claimant Motion to Dismiss). Subsequently, on May 15, 2023, the ACC filed its own motion to dismiss the Chapter 11 cases (ACC Motion to Dismiss, and, together with the Claimant Motion to Dismiss, the Motions to Dismiss). Aldrich, Murray and the FCR filed responses in opposition to the Motions to Dismiss, and the Company filed papers joining in Aldrich and Murray's opposition. A hearing on the Motions to Dismiss was held on July 14, 2023. On December 28, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order denying the Motions to Dismiss. On January 11, 2024, the ACC and the individual claimants filed motions with the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina (the District Court) seeking leave to appeal the order denying the Motions to Dismiss
and to certify the appeals directly to the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. At a hearing on February 9, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court granted the motions to certify direct appeals to the Fourth Circuit. On April 17, 2024, the Fourth Circuit entered an order denying the petitions for direct appeal. On May 1, 2024, the ACC and the individual claimants filed petitions with the Fourth Circuit seeking rehearing en banc. Aldrich and Murray opposed the petitions and the Fourth Circuit denied the petitions by order dated May 15, 2024. On May 28, 2024, Aldrich and Murray filed their response with the District Court in opposition to the Motions for Leave to Appeal. The FCR filed its response to the Motions for Leave to Appeal on May 29, 2024.
On January 23, 2023, an individual claimant filed a motion to lift the automatic order to pursue its asbestos suit against Aldrich and Murray notwithstanding the Chapter 11 cases (the Stay Relief Motion). Aldrich and Murray, the FCR, and certain non-debtor affiliates each opposed the Stay Relief Motion. The Bankruptcy Court denied the Stay Relief Motion after holding a hearing on March 30, 2023. The Bankruptcy Court entered an order memorializing its March oral ruling on November 13, 2024. The individual claimant filed a notice with the Bankruptcy Court appealing the order denying the Stay Relief Motion to the District Court on November 27, 2024. The District Court has entered an order staying all deadlines in the appeal of the order denying the Stay Relief Motion pending the outcome of a separate appeal before the Fourth Circuit in another bankruptcy case pending in the Bankruptcy Court.
It is not possible to predict how the District Court will rule on these pending motions, whether an appellate court will affirm or reverse the Bankruptcy Court orders denying the Motions to Dismiss and the Stay Relief Motion, whether the Bankruptcy Court will approve the terms of the Plan, what the extent of the asbestos liability will be or how long the Chapter 11 cases will last. The ACC and the individual claimants filed their replies in support of the Motions for Leave to Appeal on June 11, 2024. The Chapter 11 cases remain pending as of July 30, 2025.
Furthermore, in connection with the internal corporate restructuring completed in 2020, Aldrich, Murray and their respective subsidiaries entered into several agreements with subsidiaries of the Company to ensure they each have access to services necessary for the effective operation of their respective businesses and access to capital to address any liquidity needs that arise as a result of working capital requirements or timing issues. In addition, the Company regularly transacts business with Aldrich and its wholly-owned subsidiary 200 Park and Murray and its wholly-owned subsidiary ClimateLabs. As of the Petition Date, these entities are considered related parties and post deconsolidation activity between the Company and them are reported as third party transactions and are reflected within the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Since the Petition Date, there were no material transactions between the Company and these entities other than as described above.
Environmental Matters
The Company continues to be dedicated to environmental and sustainability programs to minimize the use of natural resources, reduce the utilization and generation of hazardous materials from our manufacturing processes and remediate identified environmental concerns. As to the latter, the Company is currently engaged in site investigations and remediation activities to address environmental cleanup from past operations at current and former manufacturing facilities.
It is the Company's policy to establish environmental reserves for investigation and remediation activities when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of the liability can be made. Estimated liabilities are determined based upon existing remediation laws and technologies. Inherent uncertainties exist in such evaluations due to unknown environmental conditions, changes in government laws and regulations, and changes in cleanup technologies. The environmental reserves are updated on a routine basis as remediation efforts progress and new information becomes available.
The Company is sometimes a party to environmental lawsuits and claims and has received notices of potential violations of environmental laws and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency and similar state and international authorities. It has also been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) for cleanup costs associated with off-site waste disposal at federal Superfund and state remediation sites. In most instances at multi-party sites, the Company's share of the liability is not material.
In estimating its liability at multi-party sites, the Company has assumed it will not bear the entire cost of remediation of any site to the exclusion of other PRPs who may be jointly and severally liable. The ability of other PRPs to participate has been taken into account, based on the Company's understanding of the parties' financial condition and probable contributions on a per site basis.
Reserves for environmental matters are classified as Accrued expenses and other current liabilities or Other noncurrent liabilities based on their expected term. As of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company has recorded reserves for environmental matters of $51.7 million and $52.4 million, respectively. Of these amounts, $41.0 million and $40.3 million, respectively, relate to investigation and remediation of properties and multi-waste disposal sites related to businesses formerly owned by the Company.
Warranty Liability
Standard product warranty accruals are recorded at the time of sale and are estimated based upon product warranty terms and historical experience. The Company assesses the adequacy of its liabilities and will make adjustments as necessary based on known or anticipated warranty claims, or as new information becomes available.
The changes in the standard product warranty liability for the six months ended June 30 were as follows:
In millions2025
Balance at beginning of period$414.6 
Reductions for payments(96.5)
Accruals for warranties issued during the current period117.7 
Changes to accruals related to preexisting warranties(0.9)
Currency translation
4.7 
Balance at end of period$439.6 
Standard product warranty liabilities are classified as Accrued expenses and other current liabilities or Other noncurrent liabilities based on their expected term. The Company's total current standard product warranty reserve at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $195.6 million and $185.3 million, respectively.
Warranty Deferred Revenue
The Company's extended warranty liability represents the deferred revenue associated with its extended warranty contracts and is amortized into Net revenues on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract, unless another method is more representative of the costs incurred. The Company assesses the adequacy of its liability by evaluating the expected costs under its existing contracts to ensure these expected costs do not exceed the extended warranty liability.
The changes in the extended warranty liability for the six months ended June 30 were as follows:
In millions2025
Balance at beginning of period$410.4 
Amortization of deferred revenue for the period(69.0)
Additions for extended warranties issued during the period105.5 
Changes to accruals related to preexisting warranties1.9 
Currency translation
3.0 
Balance at end of period$451.8 
The extended warranty liability is classified as Accrued expenses and other current liabilities or Other noncurrent liabilities based on the timing of when the deferred revenue is expected to be amortized into Net revenues. The Company's total current extended warranty liability at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $152.6 million and $143.5 million, respectively.