XML 27 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.23.3
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
LEGAL CLAIMS
The Company is subject to litigation, claims, investigations and audits arising from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Although legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, the Company believes that it has valid defenses with respect to any matters currently pending against the Company and intends to defend itself vigorously. The outcome of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's cash flows, results of operations, or financial position.
On December 7, 2021, counsel for National Technical Systems, Inc. (“NTS”) sent the Company an environmental demand letter pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21E, Section 4A, and CERCLA 42 U.S.C. Section 9601, related to a site that NTS formerly owned at 533 Main Street, Acton, Massachusetts. NTS received a Notice of Responsibility from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”) alleging trichloroethene, freon and 1,4-dioxane contamination in the groundwater emanating from NTS’s former site. NTS alleges in its demand letter that the operations of a predecessor company to the Company that was acquired in the Company's acquisition of the Microsemi Carve-Out Business that once owned and operated a facility at 531 Main Street, Acton, Massachusetts contributed to the groundwater contamination. NTS is seeking payment from the Company of NTS’s costs for any required environmental remediation. In April 2022, the Company engaged in a meet and confer session with NTS pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21E, Section 4A to discuss the status of the environmental review performed by NTS and its licensed site professional. In addition, in November 2021, the Company responded to a request for information from MassDEP regarding the detection of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroakyl substances) in the Acton, Massachusetts Water District’s Conant public water supply wells near the former facility at 531 Main Street, Acton, Massachusetts at a level above standard that MassDEP published for PFAS in October 2020. The Company has not been contacted by NTS or MassDEP since the dates discussed above. It is too early to determine what responsibility, if any, the Company may have for these environmental matters.
On June 19, 2023, the Board of Directors received notice of the Company's former CEO’s resignation from the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board accepted the resignation effective June 24, 2023. In the notice, the former CEO claimed entitlement to certain benefits, including equity vesting, severance, and other benefits, under the change in control severance agreement (the “CIC Agreement”) because the former CEO had resigned with good reason during a potential change in control period. The Company disputes these claims and maintains that the former CEO resigned without good reason. On September 19, 2023, the former CEO filed for binding arbitration under the employment rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The Company responded and asserted its counterclaims in a filing with the AAA on November 1, 2023. The response by the former CEO is due in mid-November 2023, with further proceedings to be scheduled during 2024. The Company intends to contest vigorously the claims under the CIC Agreement and believes that the Company has strong arguments that the former CEO’s claims lack merit. If the arbitrator rules in the Company's favor, the Company may still need to pay the former CEO’s reasonable legal fees and compensation during the dispute. If instead the arbitrator rules for the former CEO, the Company could be liable for up to approximately $12,900, based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on June 26, 2023, plus legal fees and expenses and compensation during dispute, for accelerated equity vesting, severance, and other benefits under the CIC Agreement. The Company categorically denies any wrongdoing or liability under the CIC Agreement, but the outcome of potential arbitration is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that the Company will incur a liability in this matter, and the Company estimates the potential range of exposure from $0 to $12,900, plus costs and attorneys’ fees and compensation to our former CEO during the dispute.
INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS
The Company’s standard product sales and license agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business typically contain an indemnification provision pursuant to which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless, and agrees to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party in connection with any patent, copyright or other intellectual property infringement claim by any third party with respect to the Company’s products. Such provisions generally survive termination or expiration of the agreements. The potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is, in some instances, unlimited.
PURCHASE COMMITMENTS
As of September 29, 2023, the Company has entered into non-cancelable purchase commitments for certain inventory components and services used in its normal operations. The purchase commitments covered by these agreements are for less than one year and aggregate to $128,696.
OTHER
As part of the Company's strategy for growth, the Company continues to explore acquisitions or strategic alliances. The associated acquisition costs incurred in the form of professional fees and services may be material to the future periods in which they occur, regardless of whether the acquisition is ultimately completed.
The Company may elect from time to time to purchase and subsequently retire shares of common stock in order to settle employees’ tax liabilities associated with vesting of a restricted stock award or exercise of stock options. These transactions would be treated as a use of cash in financing activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.