Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2021

Contingencies

9. Contingencies

9.

Contingencies

From time to time, the Company is a party to litigation, claims and other contingencies, including environmental, regulatory and employee matters and examinations and investigations by governmental agencies, which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a contingent liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of loss is reasonably estimable in accordance with ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, or other applicable accounting standards. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the nature of the guarantee would be disclosed. The Company’s Exit from Brazil On March 9, 2015, Lakeland Brazil, S.A. changed its legal form to a Limitada and changed its name to Lake Brasil Industria E Comercio de Roupas E Equipamentos de Protecao Individual LTDA (“Lakeland Brazil”). Transfer of Shares Agreement On July 31, 2015, Lakeland and Lakeland Brazil, completed a conditional closing of a Shares Transfer Agreement (the “Shares Transfer Agreement”) with Zap Comércio de Brindes Corporativos Ltda (“Transferee”), a company owned by an existing Lakeland Brazil manager, entered into on June 19, 2015. Pursuant to the Shares Transfer Agreement, the Transferee has acquired all of the shares of Lakeland Brazil owned by the Company. Although the Company formally completed the terms of the “Shares Transfer Agreement”, pursuant to which our entire equity interest in Lakeland Brazil was transferred, during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016, we may continue to be exposed to certain liabilities arising in connection with the operations of Lakeland Brazil, which was shut down in late March 2019. The Company understands that under the laws of Brazil, a parent company may be held liable for the liabilities of a former Brazilian subsidiary in the event of fraud, misconduct, or under various theories. In this respect, as regards labor claims, a parent company could conceivably be held liable for the liabilities of a former Brazilian subsidiary. Although the Company would have the right of adversary system, full defense and due process, in case of potential litigation, there can be no assurance as to the findings of the courts in Brazil.

Labor Claims in Brazil

As disclosed in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we agreed to make certain payments in connection with ongoing labor litigation involving our former Brazilian subsidiary. While the vast majority of these labor suits have been resolved, two significant claims remain; one labor claim and one civil claim filed by separate former officers of our former Brazilian subsidiary. While Lakeland was initially named as a co-defendant in the labor suit, Lakeland was dismissed from the case by the labor judge. Lakeland is a named co-defendant in the civil matter.

In the labor case filed in 2014, the former Brazilian manager was initially awarded USD $100,000 and appealed the award amount. Having recently completed that appeals process, the case has been returned to the initial hearing phase for witness testimony and collection of evidence before the same judge that previously dismissed Lakeland. Currently, Lakeland is not a co-defendant in this case, but that could change should the judge change his prior ruling.

In the civil matter filed five years ago in 2016, a former Lakeland Brazil manager is seeking approximately USD $700,000 he alleges is due to him against an unpaid promissory note. Lakeland has not been served with process and no decision on the merits has been issued in this case yet.

These two cases are the only two cases filed within the last 5 years against the parent company Lakeland Industries, Inc. and represent the majority of the remaining exposure for Lakeland.

Lakeland Brazil may face new labor lawsuits in the short term as a result of the shutdown of its operations in March 2019. The Company has no obligation under the Shares Transfer Agreement to make any additional payments in connection with these potential new labor lawsuits. The Company also understands that under the labor laws of Brazil, a parent company may be held liable for the labor liabilities of a former Brazilian subsidiary in the case of fraud, misconduct, or under various theories.

Although the Company would have the right to due process in case of potential litigation, there can be no assurance as to the findings of the courts of Brazil.

General litigation contingencies

The Company is involved in various litigation proceedings arising during the normal course of business which, in the opinion of the management of the Company, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these matters. As of July 31, 2021, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there were no outstanding claims or litigation, except for the labor contingencies in Brazil described above.