Commitments and Contingencies |
9 Months Ended | ||
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Sep. 28, 2019 | |||
| Commitments and Contingencies | |||
| Commitments and Contingencies |
Legal Proceedings. We are from time to time involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings involving product liability claims, product labeling claims, worker’s compensation and other employee claims, and tort and other general liability claims, as well as trademark, copyright, patent infringement and related claims and legal actions. While we cannot predict with certainty the results of these claims and legal actions in which we are currently, or in the future may be, involved, we do not expect that the ultimate disposition of any currently pending claims or actions will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Environmental. We are subject to environmental laws and regulations in the normal course of business. We did not make any material expenditures during the first three quarters of 2019 or 2018 in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations. Based on our experience to date, management believes that the future cost of compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations (and liability for any known environmental conditions) will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity. However, we cannot predict what environmental or health and safety legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted, nor can we predict the amount of future expenditures that may be required in order to comply with such environmental or health and safety laws or regulations or to respond to such environmental claims. Collective Bargaining Agreements. As of September 28, 2019, approximately 1,840 of our 2,930 employees, or 62.8%, were covered by collective bargaining agreements. Four of our collective bargaining agreements expire in the next twelve months. The collective bargaining agreement covering our Brooklyn facility, which covers approximately 55 employees, is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2019; the collective bargaining agreement covering our Terre Haute facility, which was acquired as part of the Clabber Girl acquisition and covers approximately 100 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 27, 2020; the collective bargaining agreement covering our Roseland facility, which covers approximately 50 employees, is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2020; and the collective bargaining agreement covering our Ankeny facility, which covers approximately 275 employees, is scheduled to expire on April 5, 2020. While we believe that our relations with our union employees are in general good, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement for our Brooklyn, Terre Haute, Roseland or Ankeny facilities on terms satisfactory to us, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. At this time, however, management does not expect that the outcome of these negotiations will have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Severance and Change of Control Agreements. We have employment agreements with each of our executive officers. The agreements generally continue until terminated by the executive or by us, and provide for severance payments under certain circumstances, including termination by us without cause (as defined in the agreements) or as a result of the employee’s death or disability, or termination by us or a deemed termination upon a change of control (as defined in the agreements). Severance benefits generally include payments for salary continuation, continuation of health care and insurance benefits, present value of additional pension credits and, in the case of a change of control, accelerated vesting under compensation plans and, in certain cases, potential gross up payments for excise tax liability. |