Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, Hillenbrand is involved in claims, lawsuits, and government proceedings relating to its operations, including environmental, antitrust, patent infringement, business practices, commercial transactions, product and general liability, workers’ compensation, auto liability, employment-related, and other matters.  The ultimate outcome of any claims, lawsuits, and proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty.  An estimated loss from these contingencies is recognized when the Company believes it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated; however, it is difficult to measure the actual loss that might be incurred related to these matters.  If a loss is not considered probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company is required to make a disclosure if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a significant loss may have been incurred.  Legal fees associated with claims and lawsuits are generally expensed as incurred.

Claims covered by insurance have in most instances deductibles and self-funded retentions up to $0.5 per occurrence or per claim, depending upon the type of coverage and policy period.  For auto, workers’ compensation, and general liability claims in the U.S., outside insurance companies and third-party claims administrators generally assist in establishing individual claim reserves. An independent outside actuary often provides estimates of ultimate projected losses, including incurred but not reported claims, which are used to establish reserves for losses.  For all other types of claims, reserves are established when payment is considered probable and are based upon advice from internal and external counsel and historical settlement information for such claims.

The liabilities recorded represent the best estimate of costs that the Company will incur in relation to such exposures, but it is possible that actual costs will differ from those estimates.

At June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the Company had $11.2 and $5.1, respectively, included in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, related to a discrete commercial dispute stemming from a contract entered into with a Molding Technology Solutions’ customer prior to the Company’s acquisition of the Molding Technology Solutions reportable operating segment.