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Contingencies and Accrued Losses | 6 Months Ended
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Nov. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies and Accrued Losses | NOTE 13 — CONTINGENCIES AND ACCRUED LOSSES Product Liability Matters We provide, through our wholly-owned insurance subsidiaries, certain insurance coverage, primarily product liability coverage, to our other subsidiaries. Excess coverage is provided by third-party insurers. Our product liability accruals provide for these potential losses as well as other uninsured claims. Product liability accruals are established based upon actuarial calculations of potential liability using industry experience, actual historical experience and actuarial assumptions developed for similar types of product liability claims, including development factors and lag times. To the extent there is a reasonable possibility that potential losses could exceed the amounts already accrued, we believe that the amount of any such additional loss would be immaterial to our results of operations, liquidity and consolidated financial position. Warranty Matters We also offer warranties on many of our products, as well as long-term warranty programs at certain of our businesses, and have established product warranty liabilities. We review these liabilities for adequacy on a quarterly basis and adjust them as necessary. The primary factors that could affect these liabilities may include changes in performance rates as well as costs of replacement. Provision for estimated warranty costs is recorded at the time of sale and periodically adjusted, as required, to reflect actual experience. It is probable that we will incur future losses related to warranty claims we have received but that have not been fully investigated and related to claims not yet received. While our warranty liabilities represent our best estimates at November 30, 2024, we can provide no assurances that we will not experience material claims in the future or that we will not incur significant costs to resolve such claims beyond the amounts accrued or beyond what we may recover from our suppliers. Based upon the nature of the expense, product warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of sales or within SG&A. Also, due to the nature of our businesses, the amount of claims paid can fluctuate from one period to the next. While our warranty liabilities represent our best estimates of our expected losses at any given time, from time-to-time we may revise our estimates based on our experience relating to factors such as weather conditions, specific circumstances surrounding product installations and other factors. The following table includes the changes in our accrued warranty balances:
|  | Three Months Ended |  |  | Six Months Ended |
|  | November 30, |  | November 30, |  |  | November 30, |  | November 30, |
(In thousands) |  | 2024 |  | 2023 |  |  | 2024 |  | 2023 |
Beginning Balance |  | $ | 11,190 |  | $ | 12,002 |  |  | $ | 11,621 |  | $ | 11,776 |
Deductions (1) |  |  | (8,459 | ) |  | (9,977 | ) |  |  | (14,601 | ) |  | (17,384 | )
Provision charged to expense |  |  | 8,947 |  |  | 10,626 |  |  |  | 14,658 |  |  | 18,259 |
Ending Balance |  | $ | 11,678 |  | $ | 12,651 |  |  | $ | 11,678 |  | $ | 12,651 |
(1) Primarily claims paid during the period. Environmental Matters Like other companies participating in similar lines of business, some of our subsidiaries are involved in environmental remediation matters. It is our policy to accrue remediation costs when the liability is probable and the costs are reasonably estimable, which generally is not later than at completion of a feasibility study or when we have committed to an appropriate plan of action. We also take into consideration the estimated period of time over which payments may be required. The liabilities are reviewed periodically and, as investigation and remediation activities continue, adjustments are made as necessary. Liabilities for losses from environmental remediation obligations do not consider the effects of inflation and anticipated expenditures are not discounted to their present value. The liabilities are not offset by possible recoveries from insurance carriers or other third parties but do reflect anticipated allocations among potentially responsible parties at federal superfund sites or similar state-managed sites, third-party indemnity obligations, and an assessment of the likelihood that such parties will fulfill their obligations at such sites. On December 19, 2024, a subsidiary in our Consumer segment received informal notification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of the agency's intent to issue a civil penalty for alleged violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act Section 6 regulatory standard related to 2021 sales of a consumer product allegedly containing a regulated substance. Based on information currently known, we are not able to estimate the outcome of this matter or a possible range of loss, if any. Other Contingencies One of our former subsidiaries in our SPG reportable segment has been the subject of a proceeding in which one of its former distributors brought suit against the subsidiary for breach of contract. Following a June 2017 trial, a jury determined that the distributor was not entitled to any damages on the distributor’s claims. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial with respect to certain issues. On December 10, 2021, a new jury awarded $6.0 million in damages to the distributor. Per the parties’ contracts, the distributor was also entitled to seek recovery of some portion of its attorneys’ fees and costs. On July 3, 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision rejecting the distributor's arguments and denying all appellate relief to the distributor, which also rendered our cross-appeal moot. On November 15, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued an order awarding the distributor approximately $4.4 million in connection with attorney's fees and costs the distributor allegedly incurred throughout the duration of this legal action. As a result of this order, we increased our accrual to $10.4 million as of November 30, 2023. On December 27, 2023, we paid the $6.0 million judgment, and then decreased our accrual to approximately $4.4 million. However, because we strongly disagree with the District Court's order awarding attorneys’ fees and costs to the distributor, we timely filed an appeal of this order with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which remains pending. This contingency remains a liability of the Company. One of our subsidiaries in our Consumer reportable segment has been the subject of a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in which a former supplier of that subsidiary alleged that the subsidiary breached certain contractual obligations, misappropriated trade secrets, and committed fraud in connection with an Exclusive Sales Agreement and a Mutual Settlement Agreement and Release executed in November 2015 and 2017, respectively. Our subsidiary denied, and continues to deny, these allegations. A jury trial commenced in this matter on September 17, 2024. On September 27, 2024, the jury rendered a verdict against our subsidiary for $190.0 million, consisting of both compensatory and punitive damages. We believe that the jury verdict is not supported by the facts of the case or applicable law, is the result of significant trial error, and there are strong grounds for appeal. The District Court has not yet entered any judgment against our subsidiary in relation to the verdict. Once entered, we intend to vigorously challenge the verdict and judgment through appropriate post-trial motions and appellate processes. As a result, we believe that the likelihood that the amount of the judgment will be affirmed is not probable. We currently estimate a range of possible outcomes between approximately $0.5 million and $190.0 million, and we accrued a liability as of August 31, 2024, at the low end of the range, as no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. This amount is reflected in accrued losses, and selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the six-month period ended November 30, 2024. The ultimate loss to the Company with respect to the litigation matter could be materially different from the amount the Company has accrued. The Company cannot predict or estimate the duration or ultimate outcome of this matter. Gain on Business Interruption Insurance In April 2021, there was a significant plant explosion at a key alkyd resin supplier which caused severe supply chain disruptions. As a result of this disruption, the Consumer segment incurred incremental costs and lost sales during fiscal 2021 and 2022. A claim for these losses was submitted under our business interruption insurance policy. During the first half of fiscal 2024, the Consumer segment recovered $11.1 million from insurance. These proceeds were recorded as a gain of $0.8 million and $11.1 million for the three- and six-month periods ending November 30, 2023, respectively. No such proceeds were received during the first half of fiscal 2025. The insurance gains are recorded as a reduction to SG&A expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income, and the proceeds are included within cash flows from operating activities in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

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