Note 3. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is, from time to time involved in litigation, including environmental claims, in the normal course of business. While it is not possible at this time to establish the ultimate amount of liability with respect to contingent liabilities, including those related to legal proceedings, management is of the opinion that the aggregate amount of any such liabilities, for which provision has not been made, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company recognizes a provision if it is probable that an outflow of cash or other economic resources that can be reliably measured will be required to settle the provision. In determining the likelihood and timing of potential cash outflows, management needs to make estimates, the assessment of which is based in part on internal and

external financial and legal guidance and other related factors. For contingencies, the Company is required to exercise significant judgment to determine whether the risk of loss is possible but not probable. Contingencies involve inherent uncertainties including, but not limited to, negotiations between affected parties, among other factors, and the amount of actual loss may be significantly more or less than what was provided for.

As previously disclosed, the Company was notified by one of its customers that certain fasteners manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, H&L Tool Company, may not have conformed to customer specifications. These fasteners become part of an assembly that is used in the braking system of certain vehicles manufactured by our customer’s OEM customer. Based on discussions with our customer and the Company’s own internal analysis, we recorded a contingent liability of $243,000 in our financial statements for the three month period ended March 31, 2024, and we further noted at that time that discussions with our customer and our internal review process were ongoing, and that the ultimate amount of any liability may be more than the amount reflected in our financial statements for the first quarter of 2024.

Since that time, the Company engaged in discussions with its customer to quantify costs and determine responsibility for such costs. Based on those discussions, on December 16, 2024, an agreement was reached with our customer to resolve the matter. Under the terms of the agreement, and in exchange for a full release of any further potential liability, the Company agreed to pay an aggregate of $1,100,000 in substantially equal installments over a five (5) year period, with the final payment due by January 31, 2029. This aggregate amount includes the $243,000 amount previously reserved as a contingent liability in the first quarter of 2024.
 

At March 31, 2025, the Company's remaining accrued balance was $220,000 recorded in Other Accrued Liabilities and $660,000 recorded in Other Long-Term Liabilities within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The first installment of $177,000 was paid in January 2025.