The Trust invests in two types of derivative financial instruments. Equity index futures are used as strategic substitutions to cost effectively replicate the underlying index of its domestic equity investment fund. At June 30, 1999, the fair value of these instruments was approximately $3.6 million and was included in non-JM investments available-for-sale on the statement of net claimants’ equity. Foreign currency forwards are utilized for both currency translation purposes and to hedge against the currency risk inherent in foreign bond issues. At June 30, 1999, the Trust held at market value approximately $151.9 million in sell currency forward contracts offset by approximately $150.0 million in buy currency forward contracts. The unrealized gains on these outstanding currency forward contracts of approximately $1.9 million is principally offset by corresponding unrealized losses due to currency exchange on the underlying securities being hedged. These amounts are recorded in the statement of changes in net claimants’ equity at June 30, 1999.

The cost of non-income producing assets that will be exhausted during the life of the Trust and are not available for satisfying claims are expensed as incurred.
Since inception  these costs, net of  disposals, include:

These items have not been recorded as assets, but rather as direct deductions to net claimants’ equity in the accompanying financial statements. The cost of fixed assets, net of proceeds on disposals, that were expensed during the three and six months ended June 30, 1999 was approximately $43,400 and $105,700, respectively.

Depreciation expense related to asset acquisitions using generally accepted accounting principles would have been approximately $47,500 and $46,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 1999, respectively.

Beginning in August 1996, the JM Board of Directors has declared regular quarterly dividends, the first time such dividends were declared since 1982.   JM dividends are reported as additions to net claimants' equity.

During March 1999, the Trust and the Maritime Asbestosis Legal Clinic (MALC) reached a settlement agreement in the litigation brought by MALC against the Trust in response to the Trust’s disqualifying approximately 27,000 of MALC’s claims due to inadequate documentation and lacking credibility and reliability. The settlements terms are confidential, but provided that certain MALC claims would be paid and others would have to be refiled.

In December 1997, the Trust filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the Court) against seven tobacco companies to recover reimbursements for all past sums paid by the Trust to individuals whose asbestos disease or illness was caused in whole or in part, or was increased in severity, by the smoking-related illness which the tobacco defendants caused. The defendants have filed answers denying the allegations in the complaint. This case is in the early stages of discovery and it is too early to estimate the amount, if any, of any recovery.

In September 1998, the Trust was sued by certain claimants who allege that the Trust violated the terms of the Trust Distribution Process with respect to certain medical audit procedures.  A settlement between the parties was agreed to on April 9, 1999 and approved by the Court on May 20, 1999.  The settlement terminates the previous medical audit procedures, provides for payment of certain claims at their pre-medical audit values and provides for new medical audit procedures for those claims filed through April 9, 1999.  Claims filed after this date are subject to medical audit procedures that still have to be negotiated.  The Court dismissed the claims against the Trustees and Trust employees.

(4)    UNPAID CLAIMS

The Trust distinguishes between claims that were resolved prior to the filing of the class action complaint on November 19, 1990 and claims resolved after the filing of that complaint. Claims resolved prior to the complaint (Pre-Class Action Claims) were resolved under various payment plans, all of which called for 100% payment of the full liquidated amount without interest over some period of time. However, between July 1990 and February 1995, payments on all claims except qualified exigent health and hardship claims were stayed by the Courts. By Order of the Courts on July 22, 1993 (which became final on January 11, 1994), a plan submitted by the Trust was approved to immediately pay, subject to claimant approval, a discounted amount on Pre-Class Action Claims, in full satisfaction of these claims. The discount amount taken, based on the claimants who accepted the Trust’s discounted offer, was approximately $135 million.

The unpaid liability for the Post-Class Action claims represents outstanding offers made in First-in, First-out (FIFO) order to claimants eligible for settlement after November 19, 1990. Under the TDP (Note 6), claimants receive an initial pro rata payment equal to 10% of the liquidated value of their claim. The Trust remains liable for the unpaid portion of the liquidated amount only to the extent that assets will be available after paying all claimants the established pro rata share of their claims. The Trust makes these offers in the form of a check made payable to the claimant and/or claimant’s counsel. If the offer is accepted, the check is deposited, a Trust release is completed and the claim is recorded as settled. An unpaid claim liability is recorded once an offer is made. The unpaid claim liability remains on the Trust’s books until accepted or expiration of the offer after 180 days. A claimant may request that an offer be extended for an additional 180 days.

Pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement, the Trust is obligated to pay approximately $63 million plus investment earnings on funds set aside for contribution and indemnity claims occurring before July 25, 1994. To date the Trust has paid approximately $59.3 million under this obligation.

(5) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In September 1993, the Trust executed a 5-year lease through December 1998 for its offices in Fairfax, Virginia. The lease was extended for an additional 5 years beginning at the expiration of the current lease during 1997. Effective January 1, 1999, the Trust assigned its rights under the lease to CRMC conditioned upon the Trust’s guarantee of future lease payments.

Future minimum rental commitments under this operating lease, as of December 31, 1998 are as follows:

This obligation has been recorded as a liability at face value in the accompanying financial statements.

(6) NET CLAIMANTS’ EQUITY

A class action complaint was filed on behalf of all Trust beneficiaries on November 19, 1990, seeking to restructure the methods by which the Trust administers and pays claims. On July 25, 1994, the parties signed a Stipulation of Settlement that included a revised Trust Distribution Process (the TDP). The TDP prescribes certain procedures for distributing the Trust’s limited assets, including pro rata payments and initial determination of claim value based on scheduled diseases and values. The Court approved the settlement in an order dated January 19, 1995. Though six appeals were filed with the Court of Appeals, no stay was granted and the Trust implemented the TDP payment procedures effective February 21, 1995. On February 21, 1996, the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision.

Prior to the commencement of the class action in 1990, the Trust filed a motion for a determination that its assets constitute a "limited fund" for purposes of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(b)(1)(B). The Courts adopted the findings of the Special Master that the Trust is a "limited fund". In part, the limited fund finding concludes that there is a substantial probability that estimated future assets of the Trust are and will be insufficient to pay in full all claims that have been and will be asserted against the Trust.

The TDP contains certain procedures for the distribution of the Trust’s limited assets. Under the TDP, the Trust forecasts its anticipated annual sources and uses of cash until the last projected future claim has been paid. A pro rata payment percentage is calculated such that the Trust will have no remaining assets or liabilities after the last future claimant receives his/her pro rata share.

The Trust has conducted its own research and monitored studies prepared by the Courts’ appointee regarding the valuation of Trust assets and liabilities. Based on this valuation, the TDP provides for an initial 10% payment of the liquidated value of current and future claims. Accordingly, the Trust has reported Post-Class Action Claims at 10% of their liquidated value. The 10% pro rata payment represents the Trust’s best estimate of funds available over the life of the Trust to pay claims settled under the TDP. The Trust will continue to monitor this estimate based on changes in settlement practices and changes in future projected values of Trust assets and liabilities and make any necessary changes in the pro rata payment percentage as required under the TDP.

(7) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Trust established a tax-deferred employee savings plan under Section 401 (k) of the Internal Revenue Code, with an effective date of January 1, 1988. The plan allows employees to defer a percentage of their salaries within limits set by the Internal Revenue Code with the Trust matching contributions by employees of up to 6% of their salaries. The total employer contributions and expenses under the plan were approximately $73,000 and $105,900 for the three and six months ended June 30, 1999, respectively.

In order to avoid the high costs of director and officer liability insurance and with the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, the Trust established a segregated security fund of $30,000,000 and, with the additional approval of the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, an escrow fund of $3,000,000 from the assets of the Trust, which are devoted exclusively to securing the obligations of the Trust to indemnify the former and current Trustees and officers, employees, agents and representatives of the Trust. In addition, a $15,000,000 escrow and security fund was established to secure the obligations of the Trust to exclusively indemnify the current Trustees, whose access to the other security funds is subordinated to the former Trustees. Upon the final order in the Class Action litigation (Note 4), the $15,000,000 escrow and security fund was reduced by $5,000,000. Pursuant to Section 5.07 of the plan, Trustees are entitled to a lien on the segregated security and escrow funds to secure the payment of any amounts payable to them through such indemnification. Accordingly, in total $43 million has been transferred from the Trust’s bank accounts to separate escrow accounts and pledge and security agreements have been executed perfecting those interests. The investment earnings on these escrow accounts accrue to the benefit of the Trust and are recorded as unrestricted investments.

Pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement, the Trust funded separate investment accounts for two of the sub-class beneficiaries. During 1996, one of these accounts was fully disbursed and the remaining balance for the other account at June 30, 1999 is $6.5 million. This balance and the $43 million of self-insurance funds described above, have been reported as restricted investments.

For Federal income tax purposes, JM has elected for the qualified assets of the Trust to be taxed as a "Designated Settlement Fund." Income and expenses associated with these qualified assets of the Trust are taxed in accordance with Section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code. JM is obligated to indemnify the Trust for any income tax liability imposed upon the Trust, and accordingly, no liability or income tax provision has been recorded for the Trust. JM is not obligated to pay the federal and state income taxes of CRMC and the provision for income taxes on Exhibit II is the responsibility of CRMC.

To the extent that JM has a residual interest in any assets of the Trust or such assets represent stock or indebtedness of JM, the income and expenses attributable to such assets are taxed as if these assets were in a "Grantor Trust." In addition, for tax purposes the Trust has segregated at times certain non-JM available-for-sale securities that are held in a Grantor Trust Account. Consequently, income and expenses associated with these assets are included in the income tax return of JM (the Grantor) and are not part of the Designated Settlement Fund.

(10) PROOF OF CLAIMS FILED

Proof of claim forms have been filed with the Trust as follows: