COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds

We use letters of credit and surety bonds to secure certain commitments related to insurance programs and for other purposes. As of April 30, 2024, these letters of credit totaled $57.9 million and surety bonds and surety-backed letters of credit totaled $814.2 million.

Guarantees

In some instances, we offer clients guaranteed energy savings under certain energy savings contracts. At April 30, 2024, total guarantees were $233.9 million and extend through 2043. We include the estimated costs of guarantees in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of our anticipated performance and all information (historical, current, and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us. Historically, we have not incurred any material losses in connection with these guarantees.

Sales Taxes

We collect sales tax from clients and remit those collections to the applicable states. In some cases when clients fail to pay their invoices, including the amount of any sales tax that we paid on their behalf, we may be entitled to seek a refund of that amount of sales tax from the applicable state.

Sales tax laws and regulations enacted by the various states are subject to interpretation, and our compliance with such laws is routinely subject to audit and review by such states. Audit risk is concentrated in several states that are conducting ongoing audits. The outcomes of ongoing and any future audits and changes in the states’ interpretation of the sales tax laws and regulations could materially adversely impact our results of operations.

Legal Matters

We are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees.

At April 30, 2024, the total amount accrued for probable litigation losses where a reasonable estimate of the loss could be made was $14.0 million. We do not accrue for contingent losses that, in our judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible but not probable. The estimation of reasonably possible losses also requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. Our management currently estimates the range of loss for all reasonably possible losses for which a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made is between zero and $5.1 million. Factors underlying this estimated range of loss may change from time to time, and actual results may vary significantly from this estimate.

Litigation outcomes are difficult to predict, and the estimation of probable losses requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties. If one or more matters are resolved in a particular period in an amount in excess of or in a manner different than what we anticipated, this could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In some cases, although a loss is probable or reasonably possible, we cannot reasonably estimate the maximum potential losses for probable matters or the range of losses for reasonably possible matters. Therefore, our accrual for probable losses and our estimated range of loss for reasonably possible losses do not represent our maximum possible exposure.

In determining whether to include any particular lawsuit or other proceeding in our disclosure, we consider both quantitative and qualitative factors. These factors include, but are not limited to: the amount of damages and the nature of any other relief sought in the proceeding; if such damages and other relief are specified, our view of the merits of the claims; whether the action is or purports to be a class action, and our view of the likelihood that a class will be certified by the court; the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending; and the potential impact of the proceeding on our reputation.

We are currently not a party to any material legal proceedings, and we are not aware of filings of any pending or contemplated litigation, claims, or assessments. There can be no assurance that future legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.