Common use of Asbestos Claims Clause in Contracts

Asbestos Claims. Since approximately 1990, FMC and various subsidiaries have been named as defendants in a large number of lawsuits that claim personal injury either from exposure to asbestos allegedly contained in electrical wire products produced or marketed many years ago or from asbestos contained in buildings and facilities located at properties owned or operated by FMC affiliates, or from alleged asbestos in talc products. Many of these suits involve a large number of codefendants. Based on litigation results to date and facts currently known, FCX believes there is a reasonable possibility that losses may have been incurred related to these matters; however, FCX also believes that the amounts of any such losses, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to its consolidated financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments will not alter this conclusion. Yonkers Site. From 1932 until 1984, FMC owned and operated a cable manufacturing facility on the Xxxxxx River in Yonkers, New York. FMC sold that operation in 1984, and it was subsequently sold to BICC Cables Corporation (BICC). BICC closed the facility in 1996. In 2005, Blackacre Partners OPS, LLC (Blackacre) began environmental cleanup work at the site using funding provided by FMC and BICC. One Point Street, Inc. (OPS), a real estate developer, has current title to the site. On September 9, 2011, OPS filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which it amended on March 1, 2012. The amended complaint alleged that FMC, BICC and Blackacre failed to timely and diligently complete remediation of the site in breach of alleged obligations under CERCLA and New York Environmental Conservation Law, and under the contractual agreements among the parties. In fourth-quarter 2012, this matter was settled, and OPS will be completing the limited remaining cleanup work at the site using funds provided by FMC and BICC.

Asbestos Claims. Since approximately 1990, FMC and various subsidiaries have been named as defendants in a large number of lawsuits that claim personal injury either from exposure to asbestos allegedly contained in electrical wire products produced or marketed many years ago or from asbestos contained in buildings and facilities located at properties owned or operated by FMC affiliates, or from alleged asbestos in talc products. Many of these suits involve a large number of codefendants. Based on litigation results to date and facts currently known, FCX believes there is a reasonable possibility that losses may have been incurred related to these matters; however, FCX also believes that the amounts of any such losses, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to its consolidated financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments will not alter this conclusion. Yonkers Site. From 1932 until 1984, FMC owned and operated a cable manufacturing facility on the Xxxxxx River in Yonkers, New York. FMC sold that operation in 1984, and it was subsequently sold to BICC Cables Corporation (BICC). BICC closed the facility in 1996. In 2005, Blackacre Partners OPS, LLC (Blackacre) began environmental cleanup work at the site using funding provided by FMC and BICC. One Point Street, Inc. (OPS), a real estate developer, has current title to the site. On September 9, 2011, OPS filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which it amended on March 1, 2012. The amended complaint alleged that FMC, BICC and Blackacre failed to timely and diligently complete remediation of the site in breach of alleged obligations under CERCLA and New York Environmental Conservation Law, and under the contractual agreements among the parties. In fourth-quarter 2012, this matter was settled, and OPS will be completing the limited remaining cleanup work at the site using funds provided by FMC and BICC. Columbian Chemicals Company (Columbian) Claims. Columbian, formerly a subsidiary of FMC, has notified FCX of various indemnification claims arising out of the 2005 agreement pursuant to which Columbian was sold. The principal outstanding claims relate to (1) multiple mass tort suits pending against Columbian in West Virginia state court for alleged personal injury and property damage resulting from exposure to carbon black (the Carbon Black claims) and (2) an investigation being conducted by EPA of potential Clean Air Act violations during the period Columbian was owned by FMC (the Clean Air Act matter). In April 2012, Columbian filed suit in New York state court (Columbian Chemicals Company and Columbian Chemicals Acquisition LLC v. Freeport-McMoRan Corporation f/k/a Xxxxxx Dodge Corporation, County of New York, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Index No. 600999/2010), that alleged, among other things, that the Carbon Black claims are the responsibility of FMC, and are not subject to the aggregate cap under the 2005 agreement pursuant to which Columbian was sold. In July 2012, FCX and Columbian reached a settlement pursuant to which the litigation was dismissed with prejudice and all outstanding disputes regarding the extent of FCX’s indemnity obligations to Columbian were fully resolved. Under the terms of the settlement, FCX’s remaining possible exposure is to indemnify Columbian for incurred losses related only to the Carbon Black claims and the Clean Air Act matter. The cap, net of amounts reserved and paid, totaled $122 million at December 31, 2012. FMC cannot estimate Columbian’s exposure, if any, for the Carbon Black claims or the Clean Air Act matter.

Asbestos Claims. Since approximately 1990, FMC and various subsidiaries have been named as defendants in a large number of lawsuits that claim personal injury either from exposure to asbestos allegedly contained in electrical wire products produced or marketed many years ago or from asbestos contained in buildings and facilities located at properties owned or operated by FMC affiliates, or from alleged asbestos in talc products. Many of these suits involve a large number of codefendants. Based on litigation results to date and facts currently known, FCX believes there is a reasonable possibility that losses may have been incurred related to these matters; however, FCX also believes that the amounts of any such losses, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to its consolidated financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments will not alter this conclusion. Yonkers Site. From 1932 until 1984, FMC owned and operated a cable manufacturing facility on the Xxxxxx River in Yonkers, New York. FMC sold that operation in 1984, and it was subsequently sold to BICC Cables Corporation (BICC). BICC closed the facility in 1996. In 2005, Blackacre Partners OPS, LLC (Blackacre) began environmental cleanup work at the site using funding provided by FMC and BICC. One Point Street, Inc. (OPS), a real estate developer, has current title to the site. On September 9, 2011, OPS filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which it amended on March 1, 2012. The amended complaint alleged that FMC, BICC and Blackacre failed to timely and diligently complete remediation of the site in breach of alleged obligations under CERCLA and New York Environmental Conservation Law, and under the contractual agreements among the parties. In fourth-quarter 2012, this matter was settled, and OPS will be completing the limited remaining cleanup work at the site using funds provided by FMC and BICC. Columbian Chemicals Company (Columbian) Claims. Columbian, formerly a subsidiary of FMC, has notified FCX of various indemnification claims arising out of the 2005 agreement pursuant to which Columbian was sold. The principal outstanding claims relate to (1) multiple mass tort suits pending against Columbian in West Virginia state court for alleged personal injury and property damage resulting from exposure to carbon black (the Carbon Black claims) and (2) an investigation being conducted by EPA of potential Clean Air Act violations during the period Columbian was owned by FMC (the Clean Air Act matter). In April 2012, Columbian filed suit in New York state court (Columbian Chemicals Company and Columbian Chemicals Acquisition LLC v. Freeport-McMoRan Corporation f/k/a Phelps Dodge Corporation, County of New York, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Index No. 600999/2010), that alleged, among other things, that the Carbon Black claims are the responsibility of FMC, and are not subject to the aggregate cap under the 2005 agreement pursuant to which Columbian was sold. In July 2012, FCX and Columbian reached a settlement pursuant to which the litigation was dismissed with prejudice and all outstanding disputes regarding the extent of FCX’s indemnity obligations to Columbian were fully resolved. Under the terms of the settlement, FCX’s remaining possible exposure is to indemnify Columbian for incurred losses related only to the Carbon Black claims and the Clean Air Act matter. The cap, net of amounts reserved and paid, totaled $122 million at December 31, 2012. FMC cannot estimate Columbian’s exposure, if any, for the Carbon Black claims or the Clean Air Act matter.