Risks, Uncertainties, Contingencies and Litigation

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Risks, Uncertainties, Contingencies and Litigation [Abstract]

Risks, Uncertainties, Contingencies and Litigation

Note 18: Risks, Uncertainties, Contingencies and Litigation

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 and the resulting work and travel restrictions, including international border closings, have disrupted, and may continue to disrupt, global supply chains and have negatively impacted the global economy. As a result of this pandemic, the Company experienced significant impacts on its operations.  Local government requirements or customer shutdowns caused the Company to suspend production at many of its manufacturing facilities in March and April 2020.  All of the temporarily-closed facilities reopened in the first or second quarter and have generally returned to more normal production levels. However, since reopening, production at certain of our plants has been negatively affected at times by employee absences due to COVID-19. The Company is continuing to focus on protecting the health and wellbeing of its employees and the communities in which it operates, while also ensuring the continuity of its business operations and timely delivery of quality products and services to its customers. Beginning largely in April 2020 and to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19, the Company took actions including, but not limited to, production staffing adjustments, furloughs, shortened work weeks, and temporary salary reductions at all levels of the organization. As production has generally returned to more normal levels, the Company reduced the extent of furloughs, shortened work weeks and salary reductions during the third quarter of fiscal 2021, yet remains focused on controlling operating and administrative expenses.  Based upon its current expectations, the Company believes that its sources of liquidity will generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations during the next twelve months.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect estimates and assumptions made by management, including assumptions regarding the future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods presented.  For example, assets particularly sensitive to assumptions that could be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic include goodwill and deferred tax assets.  While the Company believes it used appropriate estimates and assumptions to prepare the consolidated financial statements, actual amounts could differ materially and future events or circumstances could have a potential negative effect on the assumptions used.  If the Company, its suppliers, or its customers experience further shutdowns or other significant business disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, its ability to conduct business in the manner and on the timelines presently planned could be materially and negatively impacted, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Environmental

The Company has recorded environmental investigation and remediation accruals related to soil and groundwater contamination at manufacturing facilities in the U.S., one of which the Company currently owns and operates, and at its former manufacturing facility in the Netherlands, along with accruals for lesser environmental matters at certain other facilities in the U.S.  These accruals generally relate to facilities where past operations followed practices and procedures that were considered acceptable under then-existing regulations, or where the Company is a successor to the obligations of prior owners, and current laws and regulations require investigative and/or remedial work to ensure sufficient environmental compliance. The accruals for these environmental matters totaled $18.4 million and $18.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020, respectively.  As additional information becomes available, the Company will re-assess the liabilities related to these matters and revise the estimated accruals, if necessary. Based upon currently available information, the Company believes the ultimate outcome of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position.  However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable outcomes could occur, including significant monetary damages.

Other Litigation

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are named as defendants in various lawsuits and enforcement proceedings by private parties, governmental agencies and/or others in which claims are asserted against Modine.  The Company believes that any additional loss in excess of amounts already accrued would not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, results of operations, and cash flows.  In addition, management expects that the liabilities which may ultimately result from such lawsuits or proceedings, if any, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.