13. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS

The Company is contingently liable under terms of repurchase agreements with financial institutions providing inventory financing for certain dealers of certain of its RV products. These arrangements, which are customary in the RV industry, provide for the repurchase of products sold to dealers in the event of default by the dealer on their agreement to pay the financial institution. The repurchase price is generally determined by the original sales price of the product and pre-defined curtailment arrangements. The Company typically resells the repurchased product at a discount from its repurchase price. The risk of loss from these agreements is spread over numerous dealers. In addition to the guarantee under these repurchase agreements, the Company may also be required to repurchase inventory relative to dealer terminations in certain states in accordance with state laws or regulatory requirements. The repurchase activity related to dealer terminations in certain states has historically been insignificant in relation to our repurchase obligation with financial institutions.

The Company’s total commercial commitments under standby repurchase obligations on dealer inventory financing as of July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016 were $2,200,544 and $1,898,307, respectively. The commitment term is generally up to eighteen months.

The Company accounts for the guarantee under repurchase agreements of dealers’ financing by deferring a portion of the related product sale that represents the estimated fair value of the guarantee at inception. The estimated fair value takes into account an estimate of the losses that may be incurred upon resale of any repurchases. This estimate is based on recent historical experience supplemented by the Company’s assessment of current economic and other conditions affecting its dealers. This deferred amount is included in the repurchase and guarantee reserve balances of $6,345 and $6,068 as of July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016, respectively, which are included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table reflects losses incurred related to repurchase agreements that were settled in the past three fiscal years. The Company believes that any future losses under these agreements will not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows:


	2017		2016		2015
Cost of units repurchased	$	4,453	$	4,650	$	7,171
Realization of units resold		4,151		3,832		5,906

Losses due to repurchase	$	302	$	818	$	1,265

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in certain litigation arising out of its operations in the normal course of its business, most of which is based upon state “lemon laws”, warranty claims and vehicle accidents (for which the Company carries insurance above a specified self-insured retention or deductible amount). The outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company are subject to significant uncertainty. There is significant judgment required in assessing both the probability of an adverse outcome and the determination as to whether an exposure can be reasonably estimated. In management’s opinion, the ultimate disposition of any current legal proceedings or claims against the Company will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, operating results or cash flows. Litigation is, however, inherently uncertain and an adverse outcome from such litigation could have a material effect on the operating results of a particular reporting period.