XML 173 R26.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.25.3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Aug. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | NOTE 17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES In the ordinary course of conducting its business, the Company becomes involved in litigation, administrative proceedings and governmental investigations, including environmental matters. Legal Proceedings On October 30, 2020, plaintiff Pacific Steel Group ("PSG") filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the "Northern District Court") alleging that CMC, CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc. and CMC Steel US, LLC violated the federal and California state antitrust laws and California common law by entering into an exclusivity agreement for certain steel mill equipment manufactured by one of the Company’s equipment suppliers. On November 5, 2024, a jury returned a verdict in favor of PSG in the amount of $110.0 million, which the Northern District Court, in entering its judgment on the verdict, subsequently trebled as a matter of law. PSG is also entitled to petition for and recover its attorneys' fees, costs and post-judgment interest. On December 20, 2024, CMC, CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc. and CMC Steel US, LLC filed a motion with the Northern District Court challenging the jury’s verdict and requesting a new trial. On September 29, 2025, the Northern District Court denied this post-trial motion, upholding the jury’s verdict. The Company is confident it conducted its business appropriately and intends to vigorously pursue all reasonably available avenues to have the verdict and judgment overturned, including by filing an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit within the statutory period. In the meantime, as a trial judgment in favor of PSG was rendered, it was determined that there was a probable and reasonably estimable loss, which was recorded as an expense within the consolidated financial statements. In the year ended August 31, 2025, the Company reported $362.3 million of litigation expense in the consolidated statements of earnings, which represents the Company's estimate based on its understanding of the PSG judgment, PSG's attorneys' fees and other related costs, including post-judgment interest. This amount was classified as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2025 because the timing of the potential payment is uncertain. All other legal expenses for the year ended August 31, 2025 and 2024 are reported within SG&A expenses. If the verdict and judgment are overturned through the appeals process, the expenses and related liability will be reversed in the same period the verdict and judgment are overturned. The Company's litigation defense costs are expensed as incurred. Although the Company is vigorously pursuing a reversal of the jury’s verdict and the judgment, the ultimate resolution is uncertain. Unless the verdict and judgment are overturned or the judgment is significantly reduced, the losses incurred in connection with this litigation would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and financial condition. On March 13, 2022, PSG filed a second suit in the San Diego County Superior Court of California alleging that CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc., CMC Steel US, LLC, and CMC Rebar West (which later merged into CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc.) violated California state antitrust and unfair competition laws by bidding below their costs for rebar furnish-and-install projects in California to hamper PSG's ability to win jobs and reduce PSG’s profitability. These allegations were initially brought in PSG's lawsuit in the Northern District Court, but were dismissed without prejudice by the Northern District Court for lack of jurisdiction. This second lawsuit was later removed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (the "Southern District Court"). There, PSG seeks, among other things, a jury trial on its claims in addition to injunctive relief, compensatory damages of approximately $29 million for alleged lost profits, pre-judgment interest, fees and costs. Fact and expert discovery are substantially complete. On November 12, 2024, CMC Steel Fabricators, Inc., CMC Steel US, LLC and CMC Rebar West filed a mot ion for summary judgment, which was subsequently denied on September 29, 2025. This ruling does not represent a determination on the merits of the case. As of the date of this Annual Report, no trial has been scheduled. The Company is confident it conducted its business appropriately, believes it has substantial defenses and intends to vigorously defend against PSG's claims. The Company has not recorded any liability for this matter as it does not believe a loss is probable, and it cannot estimate any reasonably possible loss or range of possible loss. It is possible that an unfavorable resolution to this matter could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Other Matters At August 31, 2025 and 2024, the amounts accrued for cleanup and remediation costs at certain sites in response to notices, actions and agreements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") and analogous state and local statutes were immaterial. Total accrued environmental liabilities, including CERCLA sites, were $3.4 million as of both August 31, 2025 and 2024, of which $1.9 million was classified as other noncurrent liabilities at both August 31, 2025 and 2024. These amounts have not been discounted to present value. Due to evolving remediation technology, changing regulations, possible third-party contributions, the inherent uncertainties of the estimation process and other factors, amounts accrued could vary significantly from amounts paid.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 405 -SubTopic 30 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/405-30/tableOfContent Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482648/440-10-50-4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 450 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/450/tableOfContent Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 954 -SubTopic 440 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478522/954-440-50-1 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482648/440-10-50-4 Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 440 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org/440/tableOfContent + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration