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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Environmental Matters

We are subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign government requirements relating to the protection of the environment and accrue costs related to environmental matters when it is probable that we have incurred a liability related to a contaminated site and the amount can be reasonably estimated. We believe that, as a general matter, our policies, practices and procedures are properly designed to prevent unreasonable risk of environmental damage and personal injury and that our handling, manufacture, use and disposal of hazardous substances are in accordance with environmental and safety laws and regulations. We have incurred remedial response and voluntary cleanup costs for site contamination and are a party to claims associated with environmental and safety matters, including products containing hazardous substances. Additional claims and costs involving environmental matters are likely to continue to arise in the future.

Environment-related expenses for sites owned and operated by us are presented within cost of goods sold for operating sites. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, environmental expenses related to these operating sites were not material. Liabilities for environmental costs were $22 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Obligations Payable Under Indemnification Agreements

The Reimbursement Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement (collectively, the “Indemnification Agreements”) are further described below.

Reimbursement Agreement

In connection with the Spin-Off, we entered into the Reimbursement Agreement, pursuant to which we have an obligation to make cash payments to Honeywell in amounts equal to 90% of payments for certain Honeywell environmental-liability payments, which include amounts billed (payments), less 90% of Honeywell’s net insurance receipts relating to such liabilities, and less 90% of the net proceeds received by Honeywell in connection with (i) affirmative claims relating to such liabilities, (ii) contributions by other parties relating to such liabilities and (iii) certain property sales (the recoveries). While the amount payable by us in respect of such liabilities arising in any given year is subject to a cap of $140 million under the Reimbursement Agreement, the estimated liability for resolution of pending and future environmental-related liabilities recorded on our balance sheets are calculated as if we were responsible for 100% of the environmental-liability payments associated with certain sites.

Payments in respect of the liabilities arising in a given year will be made quarterly throughout such year on the basis of an estimate of the liabilities and recoveries provided by Honeywell. Following the end of any such year, Honeywell will provide us with a calculation of the amount of payments and the recoveries actually received.

Payment amounts under the Reimbursement Agreement will be deferred to the extent that a specified event of default has occurred and is continuing under certain indebtedness, including under the A&R Credit Agreement, or the payment thereof causes us not to be compliant with certain financial covenants in certain indebtedness, including the A&R Credit Agreement on a pro forma basis, including the maximum total leverage ratio (ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA, which excludes any amounts owed to Honeywell under the Reimbursement Agreement), and the minimum interest coverage ratio.

The obligations under the Reimbursement Agreement will continue until the earlier of: (1) December 31, 2043; or (2) December 31 of the third consecutive year during which the annual reimbursement obligation (including in respect of deferred payment amounts) has been less than $25 million.

In 2021 and 2020, several amendments were executed with respect to the Reimbursement Agreement. These amendments included modifications of certain covenants in Exhibit G to conform to the amended covenants included in the Credit Agreement First Amendment, deferment of certain payments under the Reimbursement Agreement to later in the year, and amendment of Exhibit G to, among other things, permit a sale and leaseback transaction. An aggregate amount of up to $150 million would be permitted thereunder so long as the same conditions that are applicable under the Credit Agreement are satisfied. On February 12, 2021, the covenants in Exhibit G of the Reimbursement Agreement were amended and
restated in their entirety to substantially conform to the affirmative and negative covenants contained in the A&R Credit Agreement.

Tax Matters Agreement

In connection with the Spin-Off, we entered into the Tax Matters Agreement with Honeywell, pursuant to which we are responsible and will indemnify Honeywell for certain taxes, including certain income taxes, sales taxes, VAT and payroll taxes, relating to the business for all periods, including periods prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off. In addition, the Tax Matters Agreement addresses the allocation of liability for taxes that are incurred as a result of restructuring activities undertaken to effectuate the Spin-Off.

We are required to indemnify Honeywell for any taxes resulting from the failure of the Spin-Off and related internal transactions to qualify for their intended tax treatment under U.S. federal, state and local income tax law, as well as foreign tax law, where such taxes result from our action or omission not permitted by the Separation and Distribution Agreement between Honeywell and Resideo dated as of October 19, 2018 or the Tax Matters Agreement.

The following table summarizes information concerning the Reimbursement and Tax Matter Agreements’ liabilities:

(in millions)Reimbursement AgreementTax Matters AgreementTotal
Beginning balance, January 1, 2022$597 $128 $725 
Accruals for liabilities deemed probable and reasonably estimable (1)
157 (2)155 
Payments to Honeywell(140)(20)(160)
Balance as of December 31, 2022614 106 720 
Accruals for liabilities deemed probable and reasonably estimable (1)
178 (9)$169 
Payments to Honeywell(140)— $(140)
Balance as of December 31, 2023$652 $97 $749 
(1) Reimbursement Agreement liabilities deemed probable and reasonably estimable, however, it is possible we could pay $140 million per year (exclusive of any late payment fees up to 5% per annum) until the earlier of (1) December 31, 2043; or (2) December 31 of the third consecutive year during which the annual reimbursement obligation (including in respect of deferred payment amounts) has been less than $25 million.

The liabilities related to the Reimbursement and Tax Matter Agreements are included in the following balance sheet accounts:

Years Ended December 31,
(in millions)20232022
Accrued liabilities$140 $140 
Obligations payable under Indemnification Agreements609 580 
Total indemnification liabilities$749 $720 

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, net expenses related to the Reimbursement Agreement were $178 million, $157 million, and $146 million respectively, and are recorded in other expense, net.

We do not currently possess sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amounts of indemnification liabilities to be recorded upon future completion of studies, litigation or settlements, and neither the timing nor the amount of the ultimate costs associated with such indemnification liability payments can be determined although they could be material to our consolidated results of operations and operating cash flows in the periods recognized or paid.

Independent of our payments under the Reimbursement Agreement, we will have ongoing liability for certain environmental claims, which are part of our ongoing business.
Trademark Agreement

We entered into a 40-year Trademark Agreement with Honeywell that authorizes our use of the Honeywell Home trademark in the operation of our business for the advertising, sale and distribution of certain licensed products. In exchange, we pay Honeywell a royalty fee of 1.5% based on net revenue related to such licensed products, which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, royalty fees were $18 million, $23 million, and $21 million, respectively.

Other Matters

We are subject to lawsuits, investigations and disputes arising out of the conduct of our business, including matters relating to commercial transactions, government contracts, product liability, acquisitions and divestitures, employee matters, intellectual property, and environmental, health, and safety matters. We recognize a liability for any contingency that is probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable. We continually assess the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes in these matters, as well as potential ranges of possible losses, based on a careful analysis of each matter with the assistance of outside legal counsel and, if applicable, other experts. No such matters are material to our financial statements.

Certain current or former directors and officers were defendants in a consolidated derivative action, In re Resideo Technologies, Inc. Derivative Litigation (the “Consolidated Federal Derivative Action”), which was stayed pending entry of final judgment in the related securities litigation and Delaware Chancery derivative action. An additional suit was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in 2021 and not consolidated with the Consolidated Federal Derivative Action. On November 17, 2022, the parties executed a Confidential Term Sheet summarizing the agreed terms of a global settlement to resolve all of the pending lawsuits and derivative claims. Under the terms of the settlement, we agreed to implement or codify certain corporate governance reforms and reimburse the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees of up to $1.6 million. The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota issued an order granting final approval of the settlement, judgment was entered on January 9, 2024 and the action was dismissed with prejudice. The parties filed a joint stipulation and proposed order of dismissal for the Delaware Chancery action, which the court approved. The settlement liability is included in the other accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, the expected insurance recovery of approximately $0.6 million is included in accounts receivable, net.

On September 16, 2022, Salvatore Badalamenti (“Plaintiff”) filed a putative class action lawsuit (the “Badalamenti Lawsuit”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Honeywell International Inc. and the Company. Plaintiff alleges, among other things, that the Company violated certain consumer protection laws by falsely advertising the Company’s combination-listed single data-bus burglar and fire alarms system control units (the “Products”) as conforming to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (the “UL”) or the National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) standards and/or failing to disclose such nonconformance. Plaintiff further alleges that the Products are defective because they do not conform to the UL and NFPA industry standards. Plaintiff does not allege that he, or anyone else, has experienced any adverse event due to the alleged product defect or that the Products did not work. Plaintiff alleges causes of action for violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of express and implied warranties, violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, unjust enrichment, and violation of the Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty, and Notice Act.

Plaintiff seeks to represent a putative class of other persons in the U.S. who purchased the Products. Plaintiff, on behalf of himself and the putative class, seeks damages in an unknown amount, which he describes as the cost to repair and/or replace the Products and/or the diminution in value of the Products.

We believe we have strong defenses against the allegations and claims asserted in the Badalamenti Lawsuit and our motion to dismiss Plaintiff's complaint was fully briefed on March 3, 2023. We continue to defend the matter vigorously; however, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in such defense. In light of the early stage of the Badalamenti Lawsuit, we are unable to estimate the total costs to defend the matter or the potential liability to us in the event that we are not successful in our defense.

On June 28, 2023, Lisset Tredo, a Company employee, filed a putative class action complaint in the San Diego County Superior Court on behalf of all non-exempt employees in California, in which she alleges violations by the Company of the California Labor Code related to sick leave pay, accurate wage statements, recordkeeping, and pay timing, and on August 28, 2023 she filed a first amended complaint adding a claim under the California Private Attorneys General Act (the “Tredo Lawsuit”). In the Tredo Lawsuit, Tredo seeks alleged unpaid wages, restitution, interest, statutory penalties, civil penalties,
attorneys’ fees and costs in an unknown amount. The Company answered the Tredo Lawsuit in which it asserted a general denial of plaintiff’s allegations and asserted various defenses.

We are investigating the allegations and defenses. At the request of plaintiff’s counsel, the parties have agreed to postpone mediation from January 2024 to May 2024, and to stay formal discovery pending the outcome of the mediation. If the case is not resolved at mediation, we intend to defend the matter vigorously; however, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in such defense. At this stage we are unable to estimate the total costs to defend the matter or the potential liability to us in the event that we are not successful in our defense.
Warranties and Guarantees

In the normal course of business, we issue product warranties and product performance guarantees. We accrue for the estimated cost of product warranties and product performance guarantees based on contract terms and historical experience at the time of sale. Adjustments to initial obligations for warranties and guarantees are made as changes to the obligations become reasonably estimable. Product warranties and product performance guarantees are included in other accrued liabilities.

The following table summarizes information concerning recorded obligations for product warranties and product performance guarantees.

December 31,
(in millions)202320222021
Beginning balance$48 $23 $22 
Accruals for warranties/guarantees issued during the year24 30 22 
Adjustment of pre-existing warranties/guarantees— (2)(3)
Settlement of warranty/guarantee claims(38)(17)(18)
Reserve of acquired company at date of acquisition— 14 — 
Ending balance$34 $48 $23 

Purchase Commitments

Our unconditional purchase obligations include purchase commitments with suppliers and other obligations entered into during the normal course of business regarding the purchase of goods and services. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, purchases related to these obligations were $91 million, $41 million and $22 million, respectively.

Aggregate payments on these obligations at December 31, 2023, follows:

(in millions)Payments
2024$142 
2025113 
202685 
2027
2028 and thereafter— 
Total$342