UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INCUTI
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC Commitments Disclosure
Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies
Licensing Agreements
We have entered into various licensing agreements with varying expiration dates that give us the right to use certain materials, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, and other intellectual property in connection with the operation of our campuses and the development of our courses. The expense for the license fees under these various agreements totaled $2.5 million, $2.4 million, and $2.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and were recorded in “Educational services and facilities expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations.
Snap-on Tools Product Support Agreement
We have an agreement with Snap-on Industrial (“Snap-on Tools”) that allows UTI to purchase promotional tool kits for its students at a discount from the list price. In addition, UTI earns credits that are redeemable for Snap-on Tools equipment that is utilized in UTI training programs. Credits are earned on UTI’s purchases as well as purchases made by students enrolled in the UTI programs. As part of the agreement, UTI has agreed to grant Snap-on Tools exclusive access to its campuses, to display advertising and primarily use their tools to train UTI students. Additionally, per the agreement, UTI receives a quarterly product donation allowance towards the purchase of tools and equipment which are to be utilized in the UTI training programs at its campuses. The credits and allowances under this agreement may be redeemed in multiple ways. This agreement will expire in December 2027. A net prepaid expense with Snap-on Tools has resulted from an excess of credits earned over credits used of $0.7 million and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, included in “Other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.
UTI students are provided a Career Starter Tool Set Voucher which can be redeemed for a tool set near graduation. The cost of the tool sets, net of the discount, is accrued during the time period in which the UTI students begin attending school until they have progressed to the point that the promotional tool set vouchers are provided. The consolidated balance sheets include a liability in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” for the tool sets that are expected to be redeemed of $4.5 million and $4.8 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Additionally, UTI’s liability to Snap-on Tools for vouchers redeemed by students was $0.7 million and $0.6 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” on our consolidated balance sheets.
Surety Bonds
Each of our campuses must be authorized by the applicable state education agency in which the campus is located to operate and to grant certificates, diplomas or degrees to its students. Our campuses are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. Additionally, our campuses are required to be authorized by the applicable state education agencies of certain other states in which our campuses recruit students. Our insurers issue surety bonds for us on behalf of our campuses and admissions representatives with multiple states to maintain authorization to conduct our business. We are obligated to reimburse our insurers for any surety bonds that are paid by the insurers. As of September 30, 2025, the total face amount of these surety bonds was approximately $29.3 million.
Legal
In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are periodically subject to lawsuits, demands in arbitration, investigations, regulatory proceedings or other claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving current or former students, routine employment matters, business disputes and regulatory demands. When we are aware of a claim or potential claim, we assess the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the loss. When a loss is not both probable and estimable, we do not accrue a liability. Where a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible, including if a loss in excess of an accrued liability is reasonably possible, we determine whether it is possible to provide an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claims. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings, but note that legal proceedings could, generally, have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations or financial condition.
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.