In fiscal year 2016, Woodward and GE consummated the formation of the strategic JV to develop, manufacture, and support fuel systems for specified existing and all future GE Aerospace commercial aircraft engines that produce thrust in excess of fifty thousand pounds. Since the split at GE, GE has been acting though GE Aerospace.

Unamortized deferred revenue from material rights in connection with the JV formation included:


	September 30, 2024		September 30, 2023
Accrued liabilities	$	6,580	$	6,147
Other liabilities		232,164		233,997

Amortization of the deferred revenue (material right) recognized as an increase to sales was $6,294 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, $5,020 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and $3,633 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

Woodward and GE Aerospace jointly manage the JV and any significant decisions and/or actions of the JV require the mutual consent of both parties. Neither Woodward nor GE Aerospace has a controlling financial interest in the JV, but both Woodward and GE Aerospace do have the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial decisions of the JV. Therefore, Woodward is accounting for its 50% ownership interest in the JV using the equity method of accounting. The JV is a related party to Woodward. In addition, GE Aerospace will continue to pay contingent consideration to Woodward consisting of fifteen annual payments of $4,894 each, which began on January 4, 2017, subject to certain claw-back conditions. Woodward received its seventh and eighth annual payments of $4,894 during the three-months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, respectively, which were recorded as deferred income and included in net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Neither Woodward nor GE at the time contributed any tangible assets to the JV.

Other income related to Woodward’s equity interest in the earnings of the JV was as follows:


	For the Year Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2022
Other income	$	41,191	$	36,846	$	18,193

Cash distributions to Woodward from the JV, recognized in net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, include:


	Year Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2022
Cash distributions	$	38,000	$	29,000	$	17,000

Net sales to the JV were as follows:


	For the Year Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2022
Net sales1	$	80,708	$	47,607	$	28,100

(1)

Net sales include a reduction of $63,794 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, $49,624 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, and $28,054 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 related to royalties owed to the JV by Woodward on sales by Woodward directly to third party aftermarket customers.

The Consolidated Balance Sheets include “Accounts receivable” related to amounts the JV owed Woodward, “Accounts payable” related to amounts Woodward owed the JV, and “Other assets” related to Woodward’s net investment in the JV, as follows:


	September 30, 2024		September 30, 2023
Accounts receivable	$	5,205	$	3,666
Accounts payable		11,378		6,276
Other assets		19,219		16,028

Woodward records in “Other liabilities” amounts invoiced to the JV for support of the JV’s engineering and development projects as an increase to contract liabilities and records in “Other assets” related incurred expenditures as costs to fulfill a contract. Contract liabilities and costs to fulfill a contract was as follows:


	September 30, 2024		September 30, 2023
Contract liabilities	$	78,226	$	84,059
Costs to fulfill a contract		78,226		84,059

Woodward recognized revenue of $812 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, from contract liabilities, recorded as of September 30, 2023, compared to $870 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, from contract liabilities recorded as of September 30, 2022. Comparatively, Woodward recognized cost of goods sold of $1,236 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, from contract assets, recorded as of September 30, 2023, compared to $870 in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, from contract assets recorded as of September 30, 2022.

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, Woodward recognized a $9,680 reduction in the contract liability and a $9,680 reduction in costs to fulfill a contract related to the termination of a JV engineering and development project previously recognized as a material right. No reductions in costs to fulfill a contract or contract liabilities were recorded during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 as a result of the termination of joint venture engineering and development projects.