14.
Commitments and Contingencies

Currently and from time to time, the Company is subject to litigation, claims and other disputes, including legal and regulatory proceedings, arising in the normal course of business. The Company records a loss contingency liability when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Although the final outcome of pending legal matters cannot be determined, based on the facts presently known, it is management’s opinion that the final outcome of any pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On October 9, 2023, and October 27, 2023, two putative class actions on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s securities who purchased or otherwise acquired their securities between November 16, 2022, and May 30, 2023, inclusive (the “Class Period”), were commenced against the Company and certain of the Company’s former officers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants made certain false and materially misleading statements during the alleged Class Period in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. These cases were consolidated on February 9, 2024, and the court-appointed lead plaintiff filed a consolidated and amended complaint on April 22, 2024. The consolidated and amended complaint proposes a Class Period of November 16, 2022 to November 15, 2023, and alleges that defendants made false and misleading statements in connection with (a) the Company’s 2023 guidance and (b) certain accounting issues previously disclosed by the Company. On June 21, 2024, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated and amended complaint. On January 23, 2025, the motion to dismiss was granted by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. On February 21, 2025, plaintiffs filed an appeal to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Company strongly disputes the allegations and intends to defend the case vigorously.

On January 17, 2024, February 20, 2024, and February 26, 2024, derivative shareholder complaints were commenced against the Company’s directors and certain former officers alleging derivative liability for the allegations made in the securities class action complaints noted above. On April 9, 2024, the court consolidated these actions and appointed co-lead counsel. On June 10, 2024, the court issued a stay order on the consolidated derivative complaint pending resolution of the motion to dismiss for the underlying securities class action complaint.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2026Feb 13, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 26, 2025
2023Mar 12, 2024
2022Feb 28, 2023
2021Feb 22, 2021
2019Feb 18, 2020
2018Feb 19, 2019
2017Feb 21, 2018
2016Feb 28, 2017

About Commitments Disclosures

Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.

Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.