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Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
(8)
Commitments and Contingencies
Our business involves risk of product liability, patent infringement and other claims in the ordinary course of business arising from the products that we source from various manufacturers or produce ourselves, as well as from the services we provide. Our exposure to such claims may increase as we seek to increase the geographic scope of our sourcing activities and sales of private label products and to the extent that we expand our manufacturing operations. We maintain insurance policies, including product liability insurance, and in many cases the manufacturers of the products we distribute have indemnified us against such claims. We cannot assure you that our insurance coverage or indemnification agreements with manufacturers will be available in all pending or any future cases brought against us. Furthermore, our ability to recover under any insurance or indemnification arrangements is subject to the financial viability of our insurers, our manufacturers and our manufacturers’ insurers, as well as legal enforcement under the local laws governing the arrangements. In particular, as we seek to expand our sourcing from manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region and other developing locations, we expect that we will increase our exposure to potential defaults under the related indemnification arrangements. Insurance coverage in general or coverage for certain types of liabilities, such as product liability or patent infringement in these developing markets may not be readily available for purchase or cost-effective for us to purchase. Furthermore, insurance for liability relating to asbestos, lead and silica exposure is not available, and we do not maintain insurance for product recalls. Accordingly, we could be subject to uninsured and unindemnified future liabilities, and an unfavorable result in a case for which adequate insurance or indemnification is not available could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are also involved in various disputes, litigation and regulatory matters incidental to our business, including employment matters, commercial disputes, government contract compliance matters, disputes regarding environmental clean-up costs, and other matters arising out of the normal conduct of our business. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in such matters. From time to time, we are named as a defendant in cases as a result of our distribution of laboratory supplies, including litigation resulting from the alleged prior distribution of products containing asbestos by certain of our predecessors or acquired companies. While the impact of these disputes or litigation has historically been immaterial, and we believe the range of reasonably possible loss from current matters continues to be immaterial, there can be no assurance that the impact of the pending and any future claims will not be material to our business, financial condition or results of operations in the future.
Employment Agreements
The employment agreements with our executive officers include non-compete, non-solicitation and non-hire covenants as well as severance provisions. In general, if the executive officer is terminated without “Cause” or resigns for “Good Reason” (as such terms are defined in the respective employment agreements) the executive officer is entitled to one and a half times (two times in the case of our President and Chief Executive Officer) the sum of base salary plus the target bonus for the year in which such termination or resignation occurs and continued health benefits for the 12-month period (18-month period in the case of our President and Chief Executive Officer) following termination or resignation. Salary and bonus payments are payable in equal installments over the 12-month period following such termination or resignation. The aggregate potential payments under these employment agreements for terminations without Cause and resignations for Good Reason, including estimated costs associated with continued health benefits, is approximately $11.4 million as of June 30, 2015.
Registration Rights Agreement
We are party to a registration rights agreement with VWR Holdings that could require us to pay securities registration costs in future periods. Under the registration rights agreement, VWR Holdings is entitled to request that we register (i) any shares of our common stock that it held at October 7, 2014 and (ii) any shares held by Madison Dearborn Partners. Should we register such common stock, we would be required to pay costs related to the registration as well as VWR Holdings’ expenses in connection with its exercise of these rights.
In June 2015, we incurred expenses pursuant to the registration rights agreement. See Note 13.