287 / 330
9
9
FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING INFORMATION
3. Compagnie de Saint-Gobain annual financial statements (parent company)
287
SAINT-GOBAIN
- REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2016
Environmental related litigation
20.3
PFOA matters in the United States
Bennington (Vermont) in the United States. PFOA and PTFE
contained traces of PFOA.
purchases from third party suppliers and which in the past
these plants. SG PPL is a processor of PTFE which it
(polytetrafluorethylene) have never been manufactured by
private wells near current Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
advisories have been found in municipal water systems and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state health
Levels of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) in excess of U.S.
(New Hampshire), and two former facilities in North
(SG PPL) facilities in Hoosick Falls (New York) and Merrimack
Bennington areas, and installed carbon filtration systems on
residents and businesses in the Hoosick Falls and North
communities, installed point-of-entry treatment systems to
SG PPL has voluntarily provided bottled water in all three
the municipal water supply in Hoosick Falls. In addition, it has
communities in the Merrimack area. The investigations are
voluntarily committed to fund water line extensions in certain
is expected to be shared with other parties as regards in
these sites has not yet been established. Responsibility, if any,
from environmental remediation and clean-up obligations at
on-going and the scope of responsibility for SG PPL arising
particular the Hoosick Falls’ site.
additional litigation will be brought against SG PPL.
the timing or outcome of any such litigation, or whether any
in the form of proposed class actions. It is difficult to predict
New York, New Hampshire and Vermont, some of which are
economic damages claims have been filed in civil courts in
PFOA-related lawsuits alleging both health-related and
and various costs.
in the amount of USD 23 million in connection with defense
On December 31, 2016, the Company established a provision
Other proceedings and disputes
20.4
authorities. Apart from the proceedings and litigation
other claims made by their employees or by the tax
Some of the Group’s companies may also be the subject of
Company and/or the Group might be threatened) which
(including pending proceedings or proceedings where the
other government, court or arbitration proceedings exist
described above, to the best of the Company’s knowledge no
Company and/or Group.
significant impact on the financial or profit position of the
could have or which has had, in the last twelve months, a
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
NOTE 21
No material events have occurred since the balance sheet date.