XML 44 R28.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.1.1.u2
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

20.          Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

The Company’s operations are conducted in leased facilities. Refer to Note 12—Leases for additional information.

Contingencies

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise out of the ordinary course of its business. Although adverse decisions or settlements may occur, the Company, in consultation with legal counsel, believes that the final disposition of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

At April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $15,668,000 and $8,076,000, respectively.

On June 29, 2018, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets and related liabilities of its efficient energy systems business segment (the “EES Business”) to Webasto Charging Systems, Inc. (“Webasto”) pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) between Webasto and the Company.

On February 22, 2019, Webasto filed a lawsuit, which was amended in April 2019, alleging several claims against the Company for breach of contract, indemnity, and bad faith, including allegations regarding inaccuracy of certain diligence disclosures and failure to provide certain consents to contract assignments, and related to a previously announced product recall. Webasto sought to recover the costs of the recall and other damages totaling a minimum of $6,500,000 in addition to attorneys’ fees, costs, and punitive damages. On August 16, 2019, the Company filed a counterclaim against Webasto seeking payment of $6,500,000 in additional cash consideration due under the Purchase

Agreement (the “Holdback”) and declaratory relief regarding Webasto’s cancellation of an assigned contract. Webasto again amended the complaint in May 2021 to include additional claims. On June 2, 2021, the Company filed an answer to Webasto’s second amended complaint filed in May 2021.

In order to avoid the future cost, expense, and distraction of continued litigation, the Company engaged in settlement negotiations with Webasto in May 2021. The Company established a litigation reserve, which reflected the scope of a rejected offer intended to communicate the Company’s serious and good faith intention to attempt to reach a settlement for the stated purposes. The offer did not reflect the Company’s view of the merits of the claims made; however, as a result of the preparation of the good faith offer and the Company’s willingness to pursue settlement for that amount, the Company recorded litigation reserve expenses in the amount of $9,300,000 during the year ended April 30, 2021, recorded in other expense on the consolidated statements of income (loss) and in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. On December 2, 2021, the Company agreed in principle, subject to formal documentation with Webasto, to settle all existing claims related to the sale of its former EES Business for $20,000,000 and Webasto keeping the Holdback. As a result of the agreement in principle to settle the litigation, the Company recorded additional litigation reserve expenses in the amount of $10,000,000 during the three months ended October 30, 2021, in other expense on the consolidated statements of operations and in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company executed a written settlement agreement with Webasto effective December 16, 2021 to officially and fully settle all claims in the lawsuit. Under the terms of the written settlement agreement, the Company’s payment of the settlement amount of $20,000,000 occurred over a 24-month period from the effective date of the settlement agreement, and Webasto retained the Holdback. As of April 30, 2023, the entire settlement amount has been paid.

Contract Cost Audits

Payments to the Company on government cost reimbursable contracts are based on provisional, or estimated indirect rates, which are subject to an annual audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (“DCAA”). The cost audits result in the negotiation and determination of the final indirect cost rates that the Company may use for the period(s) audited. The final rates, if different from the provisional rates, may create an additional receivable or liability for the Company.

For example, during the course of its audits, the DCAA may question the Company’s incurred costs, and if the DCAA believes the Company has accounted for such costs in a manner inconsistent with the requirements under Federal Acquisition Regulations, the DCAA auditor may recommend to the Company’s administrative contracting officer to disallow such costs. Historically, the Company has not experienced material disallowed costs as a result of government audits. However, the Company can provide no assurance that the DCAA or other government audits will not result in material disallowances for incurred costs in the future.

The Company’s revenue recognition policy calls for revenue recognized on all cost reimbursable government contracts to be recorded at actual rates unless collectability is not reasonably assured. At April 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no reserve for open incurred cost claim audits.