Contingencies, Significant Estimates and Concentrations

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies, Significant Estimates and Concentrations

16. Contingencies, Significant Estimates and Concentrations

Personal Injury Actions and Other - Product and general liability claims are made against the Company from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company is generally self-insured for future claims up to $5.0  million per claim. Accordingly, a reserve is maintained for the estimated costs of such claims. At March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, the estimated net liabilities for product and general liability claims totaled $35.3 million and $33.8 million, respectively. There is inherent uncertainty as to the eventual resolution of unsettled claims. Management, however, believes that any losses in excess of established reserves will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Market Risks - The Company was contingently liable under bid, performance and specialty bonds totaling $973.5 million and $721.1 million at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively. Open standby letters of credit issued by the Company’s banks in favor of third parties totaled $25.0 million and $64.4 million at March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively.

Other Matters - The Company is subject to environmental matters and legal proceedings and claims, including patent, antitrust, product liability, warranty and state dealership regulation compliance proceedings, that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the final results of all such matters and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the ultimate resolution of all such matters and claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results could vary, among other things, due to the uncertainties involved in litigation.

Major contracts for military systems are performed over extended periods of time and are subject to changes in scope of work and delivery schedules. Pricing negotiations on changes and settlement of claims often extend over prolonged periods of time. The Company’s ultimate profitability on such contracts may depend on the eventual outcome of an equitable settlement of contractual issues with the Company’s customers.