Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

The Corporation utilizes letters of credit and surety bonds in the amount of $18 million to back certain insurance policies and payment obligations.  The Corporation utilizes trade letters of credit and banker's acceptances in the amount of $4 million to guarantee certain payments to overseas suppliers. The letters of credit, bonds and banker's acceptances reflect fair value as a condition of their underlying purpose and are subject to competitively determined fees.

The Corporation has contingent liabilities which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business, including liabilities relating to pending litigation, environmental remediation, taxes and other claims.  It is the Corporation's opinion that liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation's financial condition, cash flows or on the Corporation's quarterly or annual operating results when resolved in a future period.

Withdrawal Liability From Multi-employer Pension

On February 2, 2017, the Corporation was notified of a withdrawal liability from a multi-employer pension fund associated with a business sold by the Corporation as a going concern in 2013. The business subsequently ceased operations, triggering the liability for which it was responsible. The trustee of the pension fund has asserted a claim against the Corporation as a prior indirect owner of the business. The Corporation has not recorded any liability associated with this claim because it believes the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is neither probable nor remote. The Corporation believes it has strong legal and factual defenses, and intends to vigorously defend itself against this claim.