Certain entities are the legal obligor, or owner, for certain asbestos obligations including long-term asbestos insurance assets, long-term asbestos insurance receivables, accrued asbestos liabilities, long-term asbestos liabilities, asbestos indemnity expenses, asbestos-related defense costs and asbestos insurance recoveries related to the asbestos obligations of the Company’s legacy industrial businesses. As a result, the Company holds certain asbestos-related contingencies and insurance coverages.

These subsidiaries are each one of many defendants in a large number of lawsuits that claim personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos from products manufactured or used with components that are alleged to have contained asbestos. Such components were acquired from third-party suppliers, and were not manufactured by any of the Company’s subsidiaries, nor were the subsidiaries producers or direct suppliers of asbestos. The manufactured products that are alleged to have contained or used asbestos generally were provided to meet the specifications of the subsidiaries’ customers, including the U.S. Navy. The subsidiaries settle asbestos claims for amounts the Company considers reasonable given the facts and circumstances of each claim. The annual average settlement payment per asbestos claimant has fluctuated during the past several years while the number of cases has remained substantially even versus prior year. The Company expects such settlement value fluctuations to continue in the future based upon, among other things, the number and type of claims settled in a particular period and the jurisdictions in which such claims arise. To date, the majority of settled claims have been dismissed for no payment to plaintiffs.

The Company has projected each subsidiary’s future asbestos-related liability costs with regard to pending and future unasserted claims based upon the Nicholson methodology. The Nicholson methodology is a standard approach used by experts and has been accepted by numerous courts. It is ESAB’s policy to record a liability for asbestos-related liability costs for the longest period of time that ESAB management can reasonably estimate.

The Company believes that it can reasonably estimate the asbestos-related liability for pending and future claims that will be resolved in the next 15 years and has recorded that liability at its best estimate. While it is reasonably possible that the subsidiaries will incur costs after this period, the Company does not believe the reasonably possible loss or a range of reasonably possible losses is estimable at the current time. Accordingly, no accrual has been recorded for any costs that may be paid after the next 15 years. Defense costs associated with asbestos-related liabilities as well as costs incurred related to efforts to recover insurance from the subsidiaries’ insurers are expensed as incurred.

Each subsidiary has separate insurance coverage that was acquired prior to Company ownership. The Company estimates the insurance assets for each subsidiary based upon the applicable policy language, expected recoveries and allocation methodologies, and law pertaining to the affected subsidiary’s insurance policies.


	July 4, 2025		December 31, 2024
	(In thousands)

Long-term asbestos insurance asset(1)	$	214,306	$	234,951
Long-term asbestos insurance receivable(1)	18,072		16,691
Accrued asbestos liability(2)	41,966		40,779
Long-term asbestos liability(3)	231,075		253,287

(2) Represents current accruals for probable and reasonably estimable asbestos-related liability costs that the Company believes the subsidiaries will pay and unpaid legal costs related to defending themselves against asbestos-related liability claims and legal action against the Company’s insurers, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated and Condensed Balance Sheets.

Management’s analyses are based on currently known facts and assumptions. Projecting future events, such as new claims to be filed each year, the average cost of resolving each claim, coverage issues among layers of insurers, the method in which losses will be allocated to the various insurance policies, interpretation of the effect on coverage of various policy terms and limits and their interrelationships, the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, the amount of remaining insurance available, as well as the numerous uncertainties inherent in asbestos litigation could cause the actual liabilities and insurance recoveries to be higher or lower than those projected or recorded that could materially affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flow. From time to time, other asbestos allegations related to the Company’s legacy industrial businesses are brought against the Company. Management currently believes no loss is probable or estimable for these other matters.

The Company is involved in various pending legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of the Company’s business. None of these legal proceedings is expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flow of the Company. With respect to these proceedings, and the litigation and claims described in the preceding paragraphs, management of the Company believes that it will either prevail, has adequate insurance coverage or has established appropriate accruals to cover potential liabilities. Legal costs related to proceedings or claims are recorded when incurred. Other costs that management estimates may be paid related to the claims are accrued when the liability is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. There can be no assurance, however, as to the ultimate outcome of any of these matters, and if all or substantially all of these legal proceedings were to be determined adverse to the Company, there could be a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flow of the Company.