Uniroyal Holding files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Naugatuck, CT — Uniroyal Holding Inc., a company that traces its roots to one of the nation’s best-known tire manufacturers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it continues to grapple with decades-old liabilities.

The Naugatuck, Conn., debtor listed $10 million to $50 million in assets and $50 million to $100 million in liabilities in its petition filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey on July 31.

Uniroyal Holding is the corporate successor to portions of the former Uniroyal empire, which once stood among the largest tire and rubber manufacturers in the United States. The company’s history stretches back to the late 19th century, and the Uniroyal name became widely recognized through its production of tires, industrial products and chemical materials.

Following a series of reorganizations and asset sales during the 1980s, the company shifted from manufacturing operations to managing legacy assets and liabilities. Over the years, Uniroyal Holding has been involved in extensive litigation involving environmental contamination claims, insurance coverage disputes and other obligations tied to former manufacturing facilities.

Many of the legal disputes stem from operations conducted decades ago, including contamination claims associated with former plants in Indiana, Connecticut and other states. Courts have spent years determining responsibility for cleanup costs and related damages among successor companies, insurers and other parties.

The bankruptcy filing marks another chapter in the long decline of a company that once employed thousands of workers across the country and was synonymous with the American rubber industry.

Court records indicate that the case was filed in the District of New Jersey, one of the nation’s busiest venues for large corporate restructurings. Additional details regarding creditors, restructuring plans and the treatment of outstanding claims were not immediately available.