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OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 Months Ended
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Feb. 29, 2016
Other Commitments and Contingencies |
Other Commitments and Contingencies | NOTE 13 – OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Indemnity Agreements – Under agreements with customers, licensors and parties from whom we have acquired assets or entered into business combinations, we indemnify these parties against liability associated with our products. Additionally, we are party to a number of agreements under leases where we indemnify the lessor for liabilities attributable to our actions or conduct. The indemnity agreements to which we are a party do not, in general, increase our liability for claims related to our products or actions and have not materially affected our consolidated financial statements. Employment Contracts and Related Matters – Until January 2014, we were party to a restated employment agreement with Gerald J. Rubin, our former Chief Executive Officer and President (the “former CEO”). On January 14, 2014, the Company and the former CEO entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the former CEO ceased serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President and resigned as a director of the Company, effective January 14, 2014, but remained an employee of the Company through February 28, 2014. The former CEO’s employment with the Company was considered a termination without cause under the terms of his employment agreement. As a result of the Separation Agreement, the Company recorded a charge of $16.34 million (after tax) in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, which accrued for liabilities and associated legal and administrative costs as a result of the separation. On November 12, 2015, the Company settled a lawsuit with its former CEO, which resulted in the payment of severance compensation due under his employment and separation agreements. The severance compensation was previously accrued and disclosed in fiscal year 2014 and was paid through the issuance of common shares of the Company on November 17, 2015. The Company also transferred ownership of a life insurance policy on the lives of its former CEO and his spouse as part of the settlement. As a result of the transfer of the policy and other expenses incurred in connection with the settlement, the Company recorded CEO succession costs of $6.71 million ($4.64 million after tax), or $0.16 per fully diluted share, in fiscal year 2016. We have entered into employment contracts with certain officers, including an employment agreement with Mr. Julien Mininberg, the Company’s CEO, that was amended and restated on January 7, 2016. The amended and restated agreement, among other things, extended the term of Mr. Mininberg’s employment agreement from March 1, 2016 through February 28, 2019. These agreements provide for minimum salary levels, potential incentive bonuses, and in some cases, performance based awards. These agreements also specify varying levels of salary continuation and/or severance compensation dependent on certain circumstances such as involuntary termination for other than cause or involuntary termination due to a change of control. In some cases, the expiration dates for these agreements are indefinite, unless terminated by either party. At February 29, 2016, the estimated aggregate commitment for potential future compensation and/or severance pursuant to all continuing employment contracts, was approximately $12.74 million, payable over varying terms up to two years from the date of separation. International Trade – We purchase most of our appliances and a significant portion of other products that we sell from unaffiliated manufacturers located in the Far East, mainly in China. With most of our products being manufactured in the Far East, we are subject to risks associated with trade barriers, currency exchange fluctuations and social, economic and political unrest. In recent years, increasing labor costs, regional labor dislocations driven by new government policies, local inflation, changes in ocean cargo carrier capacity and costs, the impact of energy prices on transportation, and fluctuations in the Chinese Renminbi against the U.S. Dollar have resulted in variability in our cost of goods sold. In the past, certain Chinese suppliers have closed operations due to economic conditions that pressured their profitability. Any future supplier closings could cause periodic disruptions in delivery of certain items that can affect our sales. Although we have multiple sourcing partners for certain products, occasionally we are unable to source certain items on a timely basis due to changes occurring with our suppliers. We believe supplier contraction continues to be a trend in our industry. We also believe that we could source similar products outside China, if necessary, and we continuously explore expanding sourcing alternatives in other countries. However, the relocation of any production capacity could require substantial time and increased costs. Customer Incentives – We regularly enter into arrangements with customers whereby we offer various incentives, including incentives in the form of volume rebates. Our estimate of the liability for such incentives is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets on the line entitled “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities,” and in Note (8) to these consolidated financial statements included in the lines entitled “Accrued sales returns, discounts and allowances” and “Accrued advertising” and are based on incentives applicable to sales occurring up to the respective balance sheet dates. Thermometer Patent Litigation – On January 22, 2016, a jury ruled against the Company in a case that involved claims by Exergen Corporation, headquartered in Watertown, MA. The case deals with the alleged patent infringement related to two forehead thermometer models sold by our subsidiary, Kaz USA, Inc., in the United States. Exergen was awarded damages of $14.6 million with respect to a period of approximately seven years of sales. The Company could be liable for payment of royalties on any future sales of the two products. As a result of the jury verdict, the Company recorded a fourth quarter charge, including legal fees and other related expenses of $17.83 million ($17.79 million, after tax). The outcome of the case is not yet final and the Company disagrees with the verdict, which will be subject to certain post-trial motions and a possible appeal. The forehead thermometers involved in this case represent less than 1 percent of consolidated net sales for fiscal year 2016. Other Matters – We are involved in various legal claims and proceedings in the normal course of operations. We believe the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments – Our contractual obligations and commercial commitments at the end of fiscal year 2016 were: PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD - TWELVE MONTHS ENDED THE LAST DAY OF FEBRUARY: (in thousands)
|  |  |  |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | After
|  | Total |  | 1 year |  | 2 years |  | 3 years |  | 4 years |  | 5 years |  | 5 years
Fixed rate debt |  | $ | 40,000 |  | $ | 20,000 |  | $ | 20,000 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | -
Floating rate debt |  |  | 583,907 |  |  | 3,800 |  |  | 5,700 |  |  | 1,900 |  |  | 552,000 |  |  | 1,900 |  |  | 18,607
Long-term incentive plan payouts |  |  | 14,285 |  |  | 6,378 |  |  | 5,125 |  |  | 2,782 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
Interest on fixed rate debt |  |  | 2,132 |  |  | 1,456 |  |  | 676 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
Interest on floating rate debt (1) |  |  | 36,806 |  |  | 9,327 |  |  | 9,216 |  |  | 9,179 |  |  | 8,112 |  |  | 361 |  |  | 611
Open purchase orders |  |  | 181,953 |  |  | 181,953 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
Long-term purchase commitments |  |  | 1,654 |  |  | 745 |  |  | 606 |  |  | 303 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
Minimum royalty payments |  |  | 66,572 |  |  | 12,725 |  |  | 12,271 |  |  | 12,253 |  |  | 8,938 |  |  | 8,998 |  |  | 11,387
Advertising and promotional |  |  | 47,921 |  |  | 8,569 |  |  | 6,382 |  |  | 6,462 |  |  | 6,683 |  |  | 7,099 |  |  | 12,726
Operating leases |  |  | 35,861 |  |  | 5,886 |  |  | 5,287 |  |  | 4,766 |  |  | 3,351 |  |  | 3,054 |  |  | 13,517
Capital spending commitments |  |  | 3,490 |  |  | 3,490 |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | - |  |  | -
Total contractual obligations (2) |  | $ | 1,014,581 |  | $ | 254,329 |  | $ | 65,263 |  | $ | 37,645 |  | $ | 579,084 |  | $ | 21,412 |  | $ | 56,848
| (1) |  | We estimate our future obligations for interest on our floating rate debt by assuming the weighted average interest rates in effect on each floating rate debt obligation at February 29, 2016 remain constant into the future. This is an estimate, as actual rates will vary over time. In addition, for the Credit Agreement, we assume that the balance outstanding as of February 29, 2016 remains the same for the remaining term of the agreement. The actual balance outstanding under our Credit Agreement may fluctuate significantly in future periods, depending on the availability of cash flow from operations and future investing and financing considerations.
| (2) |  | In addition to the contractual obligations and commercial commitments in the table above, as of February 29, 2016, we have recorded a provision for uncertain tax positions of $8.74 million. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of most of the future payments, if any, related to uncertain tax positions; therefore, we have excluded these tax liabilities from the table above.

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