Eternit: Ruling on the public lawsuit filed in 2004 by the Public Ministry of the State of Sao Paulo

SAO PAULO, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eternit, (BM&FBOVESPA: ETER3, OTC: ETNTY) founded 73 years ago, market leader in the Brazilian roofing segment, with a significant presence in the bathroom chinaware and metal bathroom fittings segments and a manufacturer of components for construction systems, hereby announces to the market that, the ruling of groundlessness by the Supreme Tribunal with respect to the public lawsuit filed in 2004 (04.043.728-0) by the Public Ministry of the State of Sao Paulo, has been upheld and declared definitive.

The appeal court judges of the 32nd Sao Paulo Justice Tribunal Chamber have ruled that the Company rigorously complied with the legislation with respect to the health and safety of its employees, as determined by Federal Law 9055/95, Decree 2350/97 and the Regulatory Norms of the Ministry for Labour and Employment. This being the case, they denied the request for compensation for any sickness of former employees of the Osasco manufacturing plant in the State of Sao Paulo, the activities of which ceased in 1993, thus ruling against the position held by the Public Ministry that Eternit could be held to account for blame or omission.

On August 23, 2013, the Public Labour Ministry filed a further public lawsuit against the Company, based on the same facts and with a similar objective.

The Company emphasises its belief in Brazilian justice and hopes that the technical and scientific evidence will be considered in the ongoing judgement on this case, with a refusal to succumb to pressure groups in favour of the banning of chrysotile asbestos, based purely on the unsuccessful experience in Europe.

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