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Strategies & Market Trends : Fundamental Value Investing -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Spekulatius who wrote (1925)	7/17/2012 2:42:12 AM
From: richardred	Respond to of 4719

CB: I was unaware of the asbestos liabilities with this company. I'll have to dig deeper as to the extent and how much cash, if any is set up in reserves for potential future claims. I however have owned Grace before knowing of that particular liability, that before they settled. In that case they reached a settlement to end liabilities. Leading to a positive stock appreciation as a result. I made out well with that one. If I remember right. Asbestos liability hasn't kept Warren away with regards to risk taking on several fronts. AIG Unloads Asbestos Liabilities; Buffett Gets 'Float' online.wsj.com I believe Crane is coming out of transition right now. IMO headed to more growth than in the recent past, due to some good recent acquisitions. For this contest I think it fits quite nicely with PH, but I guess we will have to see if it makes the cut.

To: Spekulatius who wrote (1925)	7/24/2012 11:32:13 AM
From: richardred	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4719

Well at least Crane raised the dividend 8% on the earnings release which I thought were quite positive. . RE: Asbestos liabilities- Troubling as you pointed out as these things are continuously ongoing. Apparently due to a good percentage outcome of settled and dismissed claims. The company and it's insurers would rather fight claims than reach a general settlement to end all claims. It looks like the company has set up sufficient reserves at least till 2017. Just maybe a potential catalyst if the company and it's insurers can reach an agreement such as Grace did to end all asbestos claims biz.yahoo.com >As a result of its use of asbestos in its products over the past century, Crane is the target of many personal injury claims for asbestos-related health problems. As of December 31, 2007, the company faced 80,999 asbestos liability claims. In 2007, Crane set aside $390 million for predicted asbestos liability costs through 2017, which reflects a $37 million/year expected liability. As asbestos is in many products and asbestos-related health issues only arise many years after exposure, the company remains vulnerable to new claims in the coming years.