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Note 5 Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, the Company is a party to litigation, claims and other contingencies, including environmental 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. As of July 2, 2016 and October 3, 2015, the Company had reserves of $44.4 million and $49.2 million, respectively, for environmental matters, warranty, litigation and other contingencies (excluding reserves for uncertain tax positions) which the Company believes are adequate. However, there can be no assurance that the Company's reserves will be sufficient to settle these contingencies. Such reserves are included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Legal Proceedings

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and administrative orders concerning environmental protection, including those addressing the discharge of pollutants into the environment, the management and handling of hazardous substances, the cleanup of contaminated sites, the materials used in products, and the generation, recycling, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. As of July 2, 2016, the Company had been named in a lawsuit and several administrative orders alleging certain of its current and former sites contributed to groundwater contamination. One such order requires our Canadian subsidiary to remediate certain environmental contamination at a site owned by the subsidiary between 1999 and 2006. As of July 2, 2016, the Company believes it has reserved a sufficient amount to satisfy anticipated future investigation and remediation costs at this site.

In June 2008, the Company was named by the Orange County Water District in a suit alleging that its actions contributed to polluted groundwater managed by the plaintiff. The complaint seeks recovery of compensatory and other damages, as well as declaratory relief, for the payment of costs necessary to investigate, monitor, remediate, abate and contain contamination of groundwater within the plaintiff’s control. In April 2013, all claims against the Company were dismissed. The plaintiff has appealed this dismissal and the Company expects the appeal to be heard in calendar 2016.

Other Matters

Two of the Company’s subsidiaries in Brazil are parties to several administrative and judicial proceedings for claims alleging that these subsidiaries failed to comply with certain bookkeeping and tax rules for certain periods between 2001 and 2011. These claims seek payment of social fund contributions and income and excise taxes allegedly owed by the subsidiaries, as well as fines. The subsidiaries believe they have meritorious positions in these matters and intend to continue to contest the claims, although there can be no assurance that these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in the future.
    
Other Contingencies

One of the Company's most significant risks is the ultimate realization of accounts receivable and customer inventory exposures. This risk is partially mitigated by ongoing credit evaluations of, and frequent contact with, the Company's customers, especially its most significant customers, thus enabling it to monitor changes in business operations and respond accordingly. In the first quarter of 2015, one of the Company’s customers, GT Advanced Technologies ("GTAT"), filed a petition for reorganization under bankruptcy law. GTAT emerged from bankruptcy on March 18, 2016 as a newly reorganized company. As of July 2, 2016 and October 3, 2015, the Company's accounts receivable and inventory exposure of $12.0 million for this customer was fully reserved, including $3.9 million of reserves provided in the first quarter of 2015.

Commitments - Operating Leases

The Company leases certain of its facilities and equipment under non-cancellable operating leases. As of July 2, 2016 and October 3, 2015, the Company had commitments of $87.3 million and $66.1 million, respectively, in connection with these leases.