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Commitments, Contingencies and Litigation | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments, Contingencies and Litigation | Commitments, Contingencies and Litigation Litigation and Other Legal Matters In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are routinely defendants in or parties to pending and threatened legal actions and proceedings, including actions brought on behalf of various classes of claimants. These actions and proceedings are generally based on alleged violations of environmental, anticompetition, employment, contract and other laws. In some of these actions and proceedings, claims for substantial monetary damages are asserted against the Company and its subsidiaries. In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to regulatory and governmental examinations, information gathering requests, inquiries, investigations, and threatened legal actions and proceedings. In connection with formal and informal inquiries by federal, state, local and foreign agencies, the Company and its subsidiaries receive numerous requests, subpoenas and orders for documents, testimony and information in connection with various aspects of their activities. European Competition Investigations Certain of the Company’s European subsidiaries had received subpoenas and requests for documents and, in some cases, interviews from, and have had on-site inspections conducted by the competition authorities of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands relating to conduct and anticompetitive practices of certain industrial battery participants. The Company settled the Belgian regulatory proceeding in February 2016 by acknowledging certain anticompetitive practices and conduct and agreeing to pay a fine of $1,962, which was paid in March 2016. During fiscal 2019, the Company paid $2,402 towards certain aspects of this matter, which are under appeal. As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the Company had a reserve balance of $0 and $2,326, respectively. In June 2017, the Company settled a portion of its previously disclosed proceeding involving the German competition authority relating to conduct involving the Company's motive power battery business and agreed to pay a fine of $14,811, which was paid in July 2017. Also in June 2017, the German competition authority issued a fining decision related to the Company's reserve power battery business, which constitutes the remaining portion of the previously disclosed German proceeding. The Company had appealed this decision. In March 2019, the Company settled this matter by agreeing to pay $7,258, which was paid in April 2019. As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the Company had a reserve balance of $7,258 and $0, respectively. In July 2017, the Company settled the Dutch regulatory proceeding and agreed to pay a fine of $11,229, which was paid in August 2017. As of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the Company had a total reserve balance of $7,258 and $2,326, respectively, in connection with these investigations and other related legal matters, included in accrued expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The foregoing estimate of losses is based upon currently available information for these proceedings. However, the precise scope, timing and time period at issue, as well as the final outcome of the investigations or customer claims, remain uncertain. Accordingly, the Company’s estimate may change from time to time, and actual losses could vary. EnerSys Sarl Litigation One of the parties to a litigation related to a 1999 fire in a French hotel under construction involving the Company’s French subsidiary, EnerSys Sarl, which was acquired by the Company in 2002, that was adverse to the Company, appealed the ruling by the Court of Appeal of Lyon on June 11, 2013, which ruled in the Company’s favor, entitling the Company to a refund of the monies paid of €2,000, or $2,756 to the French Supreme Court, which appeal was denied in January 2015. During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company and the adverse party settled this final item with the Company receiving a refund, including interest, from the adverse party of €2,500, or $2,843, for monies paid. The Company believes that it has no further liability with respect to this matter. Environmental Issues As a result of its operations, the Company is subject to various federal, state and local, as well as international environmental laws and regulations and is exposed to the costs and risks of registering, handling, processing, storing, transporting, and disposing of hazardous substances, especially lead and acid. The Company’s operations are also subject to federal, state, local and international occupational safety and health regulations, including laws and regulations relating to exposure to lead in the workplace. The Company is responsible for certain cleanup obligations at the former Yuasa battery facility in Sumter, South Carolina that predates its ownership of this facility. This manufacturing facility was closed in 2001 and the Company established a reserve for this facility which was $1,081 and $1,109 as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Based on current information, the Company’s management believes this reserve is adequate to satisfy the Company’s environmental liabilities at this facility. This facility is separate from the Company’s current metal fabrication facility in Sumter. Collective Bargaining At March 31, 2019, the Company had approximately 11,000 employees. Of these employees, approximately 27% were covered by collective bargaining agreements. Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements that expire in the next twelve months were approximately 10% of the total workforce. The average term of these agreements is 2 years, with the longest term being 3 years. The Company considers its employee relations to be good and did not experience any significant labor unrest or disruption of production during fiscal 2019. Lead and Foreign Currency Forward Contracts To stabilize its lead costs and reduce volatility from currency movements, the Company enters into contracts with financial institutions. The vast majority of such contracts are for a period not extending beyond one year. Please refer to Note 12 - Derivative Financial Instruments for more details. Other The Company has various purchase and capital commitments incidental to the ordinary conduct of business. In the aggregate, such commitments are not at prices in excess of current market.

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