XML 34 R24.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.1
CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
CONTINGENCIES CONTINGENCIES
Litigation Relating to Boiler Installation and Supply Contract

On December 27, 2019, a complaint was filed against Babcock & Wilcox by P.H. Glatfelter Company (“Glatfelter”) in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Case No. 1:19-cv-02215-JPW, alleging claims of breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment (the “Glatfelter Litigation”). The complaint alleges damages in excess of $58.9 million. On March 16, 2020 we filed a motion to dismiss, and on December 14, 2020 the court issued its order dismissing the fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims and finding that, in the event that parties’ contract is found to be valid, Plaintiffs’ claims for damages will be subject to the contractual cap on liability (defined as the $11.7 million purchase price subject to certain adjustments). On January 11, 2021, we filed our answer and a counterclaim for breach of contract, seeking damages in excess of $2.9 million. We intend to continue to vigorously litigate the action. However, given the stage of the litigation, it is too early to determine if the outcome of the Glatfelter Litigation will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Stockholder Derivative and Class Action Litigation

On April 14, 2020, a putative B&W stockholder (“Plaintiff”) filed a derivative and class action complaint against certain of the Company’s directors (current and former), executives and significant stockholders (“Defendants”) and the Company (as a nominal defendant). The action was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery and is captioned Parker v. Avril, et al., C.A. No. 2020-0280-PAF ("Stockholder Litigation"). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants, among other things, did not properly discharge their fiduciary duties in connection with the 2019 rights offering and related transactions. The litigation is currently ongoing and at this time we are unable to determine whether the outcome of the Stockholder Litigation will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, net of any insurance coverage.

Russian Invasion of Ukraine

We do not currently have contracts directly with Russian entities or businesses and we currently do not do business in Russia directly. We believe the Company’s only involvement with Russia or Russian-entities, involves sales of our products in the amount of approximately $3.1 million by a wholly-owned Italian subsidiary of the Company to non-Russian counterparties who may resell our products to Russian entities or perform services in Russia using our products. The economic sanctions and export-control measures and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine could impact our subsidiary’s rights and responsibilities under the contracts and could result in potential losses to the Company.

Other

Due to the nature of our business, we are, from time to time, involved in routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims related to our business activities, including, among other things: performance or warranty-related matters under our customer and supplier contracts and other business arrangements; and workers' compensation, premises liability and other claims. Based on our prior experience, we do not expect that any of these other litigation proceedings, disputes and claims will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.