XML 49 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.3
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Oct. 03, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
The Company has capital and other purchase commitments of approximately $6.2 million at October 3, 2025, primarily in connection with commitments for the purchase of raw materials from vendors.
From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are party to various legal actions, proceedings and investigations involving claims incidental to the conduct of their business or otherwise related to the Company, including
actions by customers, employees, acquisition counterparties, government entities and third parties, including under federal, state, international, national, provincial and local employment laws, wage and hour laws, discrimination laws, immigration laws, human health and safety laws, import and export controls and customs laws, environmental laws, false claims or whistleblower statutes, tax codes, antitrust and competition laws, customer protection statutes, procurement regulations, intellectual property laws, supply chain laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, lobbying laws, motor carrier safety laws, data privacy and security laws, or alleging negligence and/or breaches of contractual and other obligations. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, available insurance coverage, established reserves and other resources, except as set forth below with respect to the shareholder class action lawsuits and shareholder derivative action lawsuits, the Company does not believe that any such actions are likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, in the event of unexpected further developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may be materially adverse to the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company is involved with environmental investigation and remediation activities at certain sites that it currently or formerly owned or operated or to which it sent waste for disposal (including sites which were previously owned and/or operated by businesses acquired by the Company or sites to which such businesses sent waste for disposal). The Company initially provides for estimated costs of environmental-related activities relating to its past operations and third-party sites for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs can be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and professional judgment. These estimated costs, which are mostly undiscounted, are determined based on currently available facts regarding each site. If the reasonably estimable costs can only be identified as a range and no specific amount within that range can be determined more likely, the minimum of the range is used. The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for investigation and remediation-related activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated. As of October 3, 2025 and September 27, 2024, the Company has $9.8 million and $6.6 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and $22.2 million and $19.0 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Other Noncurrent Liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation both as an asset and a liability when there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset and the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Company has identified certain conditional asset retirement obligations at various current and closed facilities. These obligations relate primarily to asbestos abatement, underground storage tank closures and restoration of leased properties to the original condition. Using investigative, remediation and disposal methods that are currently available to the Company, the estimated costs of these obligations were accrued. As of October 3, 2025 and September 27, 2024, the Company has $12.0 million and $11.8 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Other Noncurrent Liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On May 13, 2022, Cake Love Co. (“Cake Love”) commenced a putative class action lawsuit against AmeriPride Services, LLC (“AmeriPride”), a subsidiary of Vestis, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit was subsequently updated to add an additional named plaintiff, Q-Mark Manufacturing, Inc. (“Q-Mark” and, together with Cake Love, the “Plaintiffs”). Plaintiffs alleged that the defendants increased certain pricing charged to members of the purported class without the proper notice required by service agreements between AmeriPride and members of the purported class and that AmeriPride breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Plaintiffs sought damages on behalf of the purported class representing the amount of the allegedly improperly noticed price increases along with attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. During fiscal 2024, the parties reached a settlement in principle, which was subject to court approval. The settlement included, among other terms, a monetary component of $3.1 million. On May 6, 2025, the court issued an order granting approval of the settlement. The full amount of the settlement was provided for within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2024 and, during fiscal 2025, all amounts due were paid.
With respect to the below matters, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these legal matters, nor can it predict whether any outcome may be materially adverse to its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters.

On May 17, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis and certain of its officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, captioned Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-02175-SDG. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of Vestis’ common stock between October 2, 2023 and May 1, 2024, inclusive. The complaint alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
based on allegedly false or misleading statements generally related to the Company’s business and operations, pricing practices, and financial results and outlook. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On September 23, 2024, the Court appointed co-lead plaintiffs and on November 22, 2024, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on February 25, 2025. A hearing on the motion to dismiss took place on August 29, 2025. On September 30, 2025, the Court entered an order denying defendants’ motion to dismiss. On October 30, 2025, Defendants filed answers to the amended complaint and fact discovery has commenced.

On June 4, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned O’Neill v. Vestis Corp., Case No. 2024-0600-JTL. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of Vestis’ shareholders. The complaint alleges a single claim for declaratory judgment, seeking to invalidate and void Section II.5(d) of Vestis’ Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective September 29, 2023. On October 7, 2024, the Court granted a stipulation to consolidate multiple related actions involving similar company defendants, including the Vestis action, solely for purposes of adjudicating an omnibus motion to dismiss the complaints in each of those actions. On October 11, 2024, Vestis and the other consolidated defendants filed an omnibus motion to dismiss. The Court held a hearing on the omnibus motion to dismiss on May 14, 2025 and Vestis is awaiting the Court’s decision.

On May 16, 2025 and August 8, 2025, respectively, purported Vestis shareholders commenced derivative actions against certain of Vestis’ current and former directors and former officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The cases are captioned Gribe v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-02726-TWT and Hollin v. Scott, et al., Case No. Case 1:25-cv-04498-TWT. Both complaints seek unspecified damages on behalf of Vestis and certain other relief, such as certain reforms to corporate governance and internal procedures. The complaints (in which Vestis is named as a nominal defendant) contain similar allegations to the parallel securities class action, entitled Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-02175-SDG. The complaints generally allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the oversight of Vestis’ public statements and internal controls, and that Vestis was damaged as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaints also allege, among other things, claims against the individual defendants for unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and claims against Vestis' former officers for contribution under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On June 17, 2025, prior to the filing of the Hollin complaint, the parties to the Gribe action made a joint application to stay the action pending resolution of the motion to dismiss filed in the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., case. On June 18, 2025, the Court granted the parties’ joint application and stayed the action pending further order of the Court. On September 9, 2025, Gribe and Hollin made a motion to consolidate their cases, to appoint lead counsel, and to stay the consolidated derivative action. On September 11, 2025, the Court granted the motion, thereby: (i) consolidating the Gribe and Hollin cases under the caption In re Vestis Corporation Derivative Litigation, Case No. 1:25-cv-02726-TWT, (ii) appointing lead counsel for the consolidated derivative action, and (iii) staying the consolidated derivative action pending further order of the Court. On October 21, 2025, two additional purported Vestis shareholders, Bruce Harms and Thomas Dove, filed their own complaints (see descriptions below) and then subsequently filed a motion to vacate the leadership structure provided by the Court’s September 11, 2025 order. That motion to vacate is currently pending. On October 30, 2025, plaintiff Hollin voluntarily dismissed his case against the Company in the consolidated derivative action, which the court approved on October 31, 2025.

On June 9, 2025, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis and certain of its former officers, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Torres v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-04844. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of Vestis’ common stock between May 2, 2024 and May 6, 2025, inclusive. The complaint alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on allegedly false or misleading statements generally related to our business and operations, pricing practices, and financial results and outlook. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and other relief. Motions for appointment as lead plaintiff and lead counsel were filed with the Court on August 8, 2025. On August 25, 2025, the Court appointed the Board of Trustees of the Police Officers’ Retirement Plan and Trust Fund for the City of Miramar (“City of Miramar”) to serve as lead plaintiff and also appointed lead counsel. The City of Miramar filed a first amended complaint on October 24, 2025. Defendants have 60 days from the filing of the amended complaint to move, answer or otherwise respond to the amended complaint.

On July 29, 2025 and August 5, 2025, respectively, purported Vestis shareholders commenced derivative actions against certain of Vestis’ current and former directors and former officers, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The cases are captioned Gribe v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-06234 and Hollin v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-06414. Both complaints seek unspecified damages on behalf of Vestis and certain other relief, such as certain reforms to corporate governance and internal procedures. The complaints (in which Vestis is named as a nominal
defendant) contain similar allegations to the parallel securities class action pending in the same court, entitled Board of Trustees of the Police Officers’ Retirement Plan and Trust Fund for the City of Miramar v. Vestis Corporation, et al. (formerly Torres v. Vestis Corporation, et al.), Case No. 1:25-cv-04844. The complaints generally allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the oversight of Vestis’ public statements and internal controls, and that Vestis was damaged as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaints also allege, among other things, claims against the individual defendants for violation of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, and claims against Vestis' former officers for contribution under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On August 22, 2025, Gribe and Hollin made a motion to consolidate their cases, to appoint lead counsel, and to stay the consolidated derivative action. On August 26, 2025, the Court granted the motion, thereby: (i) consolidating the Gribe and Hollin cases under the caption In re Vestis Corporate Derivative Litigation, Case No. 1:25-cv-06234-GHW, (ii) appointing lead counsel for the consolidated derivative action, and (iii) staying the consolidated derivative action pending further order of the Court. On October 29, 2025, plaintiff Hollin filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of his case against the Company. On November 13, 2025, the Court entered an order dismissing Hollin’s individual claims from the consolidated derivative action.

On September 10, 2025 and October 6, 2025, respectively, purported Vestis shareholders commenced derivative actions against certain of Vestis’ current and former directors and former officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Those cases are captioned Harms v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-05156-TWT and Dove v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-057331-TWT. Both complaints seek unspecified damages on behalf of Vestis and certain other relief, such as certain reforms to corporate governance and internal procedures. The complaints (in which Vestis is named as a nominal defendant) contain similar allegations to the securities class actions, entitled Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-02175-SDG, also pending in the Northern District of Georgia and Board of Trustees of the Police Officers’ Retirement Plan and Trust Fund for the City of Miramar v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-04844, pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints generally allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the oversight of Vestis’ public statements and internal controls, and that Vestis was damaged as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaints also allege, among other things, claims against the individual defendants for violation of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, and claims against Vestis' former officers for contribution under Sections 10(b) and 21A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In the consolidated derivative action entitled In re Vestis Corporation Derivative Litigation, Case No. 1:25-cv-02726-TWT (described above), Harms and Dove filed a motion to vacate the leadership structure ordered by the court, on September 11, 2025. That motion to vacate is currently pending.