EnPro, Equitas Reach Agreement on Asbestos Dispute

EnPro Industries of Charlotte, N.C., and London-based Equitas announced they have reached a comprehensive agreement to settle the current and future insurance claims of EnPro subsidiaries against certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London reinsured by Equitas.

As a result of the agreement, Equitas will pay a total of $118 million to EnPro and to an asbestos trust that has been established to resolve asbestos-related claims made against certain EnPro subsidiaries under policies subscribed by Lloyd’s Underwriters and reinsured by Equitas.

The settlement resolves all claims made against Lloyd’s Underwriters by EnPro and its subsidiaries. EnPro will receive $30 million of the total settlement amount relating to outstanding amounts for asbestos claims that EnPro asserted were owed to its subsidiaries by Lloyd’s Underwriters. The balance of the total will be contributed to the asbestos trust.

EnPro’s claims against its London Market Company Insurers are not affected by the settlement.

“This agreement provides significant benefits to EnPro,” said Ernie Schaub, president and chief executive officer. “Resolution of the dispute brings our insurance reimbursements from Equitas up to date, while establishment of the trust ensures we will continue to receive cash payments of the Equitas portion of our remaining insurance in a timely and efficient manner.”

Simon Wright, Equitas’ head of Asbestos Pollution and Health Hazard Claims, said, “We are pleased to have reached this comprehensive resolution of asbestos and pollution related claims with EnPro following many months of negotiations. This settlement again demonstrates our commitment to resolve claims, including the largest liabilities that we face, at what we consider to be a fair price for the exposures that we face. We continue to discuss comprehensive settlements with a number of policyholders and remain willing to have similar discussions with any other assureds, large or small, so long as they are genuinely interested in reaching a realistic commercial settlement.”

EnPro Industries Inc. provides sealing products, metal polymer and filament wound bearings, compressor systems, diesel and dual-fuel engines and other engineered products for use in critical applications by industries worldwide.