From time to time, the Company is subject to lawsuits, claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. These matters may involve personnel and employment issues, personal injury, contracts and other proceedings. Based upon information presently known, the Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of such matters will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, although the final resolution of such matters could have a material effect on its results of operations or cash flows in the period of resolution.

Liabilities related to legal proceedings are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the associated amount can be reasonably estimated. Where the estimated amount of loss is within a range of amounts and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the low end of the range is accrued. As additional information becomes available, the potential liabilities related to these matters are reassessed and the estimates revised, if necessary. These accrued liabilities are subject to change in the future based on new developments in each matter, or changes in circumstances, which could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

In December 2020, the Company asserted claims for indemnification against the sellers under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired Voortman (the “Agreement”). The claims arose out of alleged breaches by the sellers of certain representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Agreement relating to periods prior to the closing of the acquisition. The Company also submitted claims relating to these alleged breaches under the representation and warranty insurance policy (“RWI”) it purchased in connection with the acquisition. In June 2022, the RWI insurers agreed to pay the Company $42.5 million CAD (the RWI coverage limit) (the “Proceeds”) related to these breaches. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received the Proceeds and recognized a gain of $42.5 million CAD ($33.0 million) in other expense (income) on its consolidated statement of operations. Per agreement with the RWI insurers, under no circumstances will the Company be required to return the Proceeds.

On November 3, 2022, pursuant to the agreement with the RWI insurer, Voortman brought claims in the Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice (the “Claim”), related to the breaches against certain of the sellers from whom Voortman was acquired. The Claim alleges the seller defendants made certain non-disclosures and misrepresentations to induce the Company to overpay for Voortman. The Company is seeking damages of $109 million CAD representing the amount of the aggregate liability of the sellers for indemnification under the Agreement, $5.0 million CAD in punitive or aggravated damages, interest, proceedings fees and any other relief the presiding court deems appropriate. A portion of any recovery will be shared with the RWI insurers. Although the Company strongly believes that its Claim against the sellers is meritorious, no assurance can be given as to whether the Company will recover all, or any part, of the amounts it is pursuing.

As of December 31, 2022 the Company has leases outstanding for certain office spaces, its Burlington, Ontario bakery and its primary distribution center under noncancellable operating lease arrangements. The future minimum lease payments under these agreements as of December 31, 2022 are shown below.

The Company entered into bond and lease agreements with Clark County, Arkansas on October 4, 2022. The bond-lease transaction required the Company to exchange its property to the taxing jurisdiction for tax-exempt bonds issued in the name of the Company and not to exceed $160 million. The Company has used $11.5 million through December 31, 2022. As the holder of the bonds, the Company is not required to make lease payments as the Company’s obligation to pay rent is equal to the county’s obligation to pay debt service on the bonds. Also on October 4, 2022, the Company entered into agreements for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) with Clark County, Arkansas, whereby the county granted ad valorem tax savings with respect to certain real and personal property in Arkadelphia, Arkansas through 2052. In accordance with the PILOT agreements, the Company will owe 35% of the ad valorem taxes on the Arkadelphia, Arkansas property that would have otherwise been due. The Company has elected to use the right of offset under ASC 210-20 to net the asset and the liability.

The Company entered into a bond-lease agreement with the Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia on December 1, 2013, which was amended in December 2016. The bond-lease transaction required the Company to exchange its property to the taxing jurisdiction for tax-exempt bonds issued in the name of the Company not to exceed $18 million. As the issuer and holder of the bonds, the Company is not required to make lease payments as the Company’s obligation to pay rent is equal to the county’s obligation to pay debt service on the bonds. On December 16, 2013, the Company received an ad valorem tax agreement from the Columbus, Georgia Board of Tax Assessors granting tax abatement for the real and personal property located at the Company’s Columbus, Georgia bakery through 2023. The Company has elected to use the right of offset under ASC 210-20 to net the asset and the liability.


(In thousands)	Year Ended December 31, 2022		Year Ended December 31, 2021		Year Ended December 31, 2020


Operating lease expense	6,372		6,420		5,722
Short-term lease expense	3,032		1,945		2,633
Variable lease expense	1,564		1,450		1,763
	$	10,968	$	9,815	$	10,118

For short-term leases, the Company records rent expense in its consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments, which primarily include taxes, insurance and common area maintenance, are expensed as incurred. Lease expenses are classified as operating activities within the consolidated statements of cash flows. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company amended the existing lease for its Burlington, Ontario bakery. The amendment extended the lease term through October 2030 and provided for two five-year extensions, at the Company’s option.

The Company is a party to various long-term arrangements through advance purchase contracts to lock in prices for certain high-volume raw materials and packaging components for normal product production requirements. These advance purchase arrangements are contractual agreements and can only be canceled with a termination penalty that is based upon the current market price of the commodity at the time of cancellation. These agreements qualify for the “normal purchase” exception under accounting standards; and the purchases under these contracts are included as a component of cost of goods sold.

The Company is a party to Letter of Credit arrangements to provide for the issuance of standby letters of credit in the amount of $5.9 million and $6.0 million for the years ended 2022 and 2021, respectively. The arrangements support the collateral requirements for insurance. The Letters of Credit are 100% secured through our Revolver.