Environmental and Regulatory

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]

Environmental and Regulatory

Environmental and Regulatory

Government Regulation and Environmental Matters – The operations of Energizer are subject to various federal, state, foreign and local laws and regulations intended to protect the public health and the environment. These regulations relate primarily to worker safety, air and water quality, underground fuel storage tanks and waste handling, collection, recycling and disposal. In connection with some sites, Energizer has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and may be required to share in the cost of cleanup with respect to certain federal “Superfund” sites. Energizer may also be required to share in the cost of cleanup with respect to state-designated sites or other sites outside of the U.S.

Accrued environmental costs at September 30, 2024 were $10.3, of which $3.1 is expected to be spent during fiscal 2025. It is difficult to quantify with certainty the cost of environmental matters, particularly remediation and future capital expenditures for environmental control equipment. Environmental spending estimates could be modified as a result of changes in legal requirements or the enforcement or interpretation of existing requirements.

Legal Proceedings – In 2023, three purported class action lawsuits were filed against the Company and Wal-Mart Inc. in the Northern District of California alleging that the defendants conspired to inflate the prices of certain Energizer battery and lighting products (the “Products”) charged by the Company to other retailers and to prevent other retailers from charging consumers prices below Wal-Mart’s pricing, in violation of antitrust and consumer protection laws. The matters were filed on behalf of putative classes of entities that purchased the Products directly from Energizer, persons who purchased the Products directly from a Wal-Mart brick-and-mortar store, and persons who indirectly purchased the Products (other than for resale). All three lawsuits have been consolidated. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, monetary damages, costs and disbursements, reasonable attorneys’ fees, as well as injunctive relief. The Company has not recorded any accruals in its consolidated financial statements as the likelihood of a loss from these cases is not probable nor estimable at this time. The Company believes that it has substantial defenses against the claims and intends to vigorously defend against them.

In November 2021, Varta Microbattery GmbH filed a lawsuit against the Company alleging breach of a supply agreement related to zinc-air hearing aid batteries. On September 3, 2024, the Commercial Court of the Canton of Zurich issued a $13.7 judgment against the Company. On October 3, 2024, the Company appealed the judgment with the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. The appeal is pending. The Company has recorded the amount of the judgment within Other current liabilities on

the Consolidated Balance Sheet and in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income.

In addition to the above, the Company and its affiliates are subject to a number of legal proceedings in various jurisdictions arising out of its operations. Many of these legal matters are in preliminary stages and involve complex issues of law and fact, and may proceed for protracted periods of time. The amount of liability, if any, from these proceedings cannot be determined with certainty. The Company and its affiliates are a party to legal proceedings and claims that arise during the ordinary course of business. The Company reviews its legal proceedings and claims, regulatory reviews and inspections on an ongoing basis and follows appropriate accounting guidance when making accrual and disclosure decisions. The Company establishes accruals for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated, and discloses the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for our financial statements to not be misleading. The Company does not record liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable, but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated. Based upon present information, the Company believes that its liability, if any, arising from such pending legal proceedings, asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are likely to be asserted, is not reasonably likely to be material to the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities.