XML 45 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.2
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 23.  Commitments and contingencies

Woodward enters into unconditional purchase obligation arrangements (i.e. issuance of purchase orders, obligations to transfer funds in the future for fixed or minimum quantities of goods or services at fixed or minimum prices, such as "take-or-pay" contracts) in the normal course of business to ensure that adequate levels of sourced product are available to Woodward.  Future minimum unconditional purchase obligations are as follows:

 

Year Ending September 30,

 

 

 

 

2021

 

$

343,480

 

2022

 

 

49,457

 

2023

 

 

6,389

 

2024

 

 

27,308

 

2025

 

 

1,859

 

Thereafter

 

 

1,811

 

Total

 

$

430,304

 

 

The U.S. Government, and other governments, may terminate any of Woodward’s government contracts (and, in general, subcontracts) at their convenience, as well as for default based on specified performance measurements.  If any of Woodward’s government contracts were to be terminated for convenience, the Company generally would be entitled to receive payment for work completed and allowable termination or cancellation costs.  If any of Woodward’s government contracts were to be terminated for Woodward’s default, the U.S. Government generally would pay only for the work accepted, and could require Woodward to pay the difference between the original contract price and the cost to re-procure the contract items, net of the work accepted from the original contract.  The U.S. Government could also hold Woodward liable for damages resulting from the default.

Woodward is currently involved in claims, pending or threatened litigation or other legal proceedings, investigations and/or regulatory proceedings arising in the normal course of business, including, among others, those relating to product liability claims, employment matters, worker’s compensation claims, contractual disputes, product warranty claims and alleged violations of various laws and regulations.  Woodward accrues for known individual matters using estimates of the most likely amount of loss where it believes that it is probable the matter will result in a loss when ultimately resolved and such loss is reasonably estimable.  

Legal costs are expensed as incurred and are classified in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Woodward is partially self-insured in the United States for healthcare and worker’s compensation up to predetermined amounts, above which third party insurance applies.  Management regularly reviews the probable outcome of related claims and proceedings, the expenses expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of the insurance coverage, and the established accruals for liabilities.

While the outcome of pending claims, legal and regulatory proceedings, and investigations cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that any liabilities that may result from these claims, proceedings and investigations will not have a material effect on Woodward’s liquidity, financial condition, or results of operations.

In the event of a change in control of Woodward, as defined in change-in-control agreements with its current corporate officers, Woodward may be required to pay termination benefits to any such officer if such officer’s employment is terminated within two years following the change of control.

On April 9, 2019, Senvion, a German wind turbine manufacturer and a significant customer of Woodward’s renewables business, announced that it filed for self-administration insolvency proceedings and declared it would be exploring options for the sale or partial liquidation of the company.  On September 16, 2019, Senvion agreed on exclusive talks with Siemens Gamesa over the sale of a substantial part of its business consisting of certain services and onshore assets in Europe.  Concurrent with this announcement, Woodward management concluded that the remainder of the Senvion business would not emerge from insolvency and therefore, in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, Woodward impaired all of its accounts receivable from Senvion as well as inventory and certain other current assets held specifically for Senvion programs. The total amount of the impairment charged to both selling, general and administrative and cost of goods sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 was $12,601.