v3.26.3
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies.  
Commitments and Contingencies

19. Commitments and Contingencies

​

Restricted Cash

​

In connection with certain sale/leaseback agreements, cash of $253.2 million and $352.3 million was required to be restricted as security as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively, which will be released over the lease term. As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company also had bank guarantees backed by security deposits totaling $135.6 million and $193.1 million, respectively, of which $88.4 million and $159.6 million are security for the noted sale/leaseback agreements, respectively, and $47.2 million and $33.5 million are customs-related letters of credit and bank guarantees, respectively.

​

As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had $62.0 million held in escrow related to the potential future power usage of the Texas hydrogen production plant and the Company had $18.1 million and $18.0 million held in escrow, respectively, related to the existing power supply for the Georgia hydrogen production plant.

​

Tariff Refunds

​

In February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President of the United States to impose tariffs, thereby invalidating certain tariffs previously imposed under that Act. Following the ruling, U.S. Customs and Border Protection implemented a refund process for tariffs paid under the invalidated authority. During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company recorded a reduction to inventory of $14.7 million related to refunds of tariffs previously paid on imported goods, all of which the Company received in cash.

​

Litigation

​

Legal matters are handled in the ordinary course of business. The outcome of any such matters, regardless of the merits, is inherently uncertain; therefore, assessing the likelihood of loss and any estimated damages is difficult and subject to considerable judgment. Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. While we are not in a position to accurately predict the outcome of any legal or other proceedings, where there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred, GAAP requires us to disclose an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, if material, or make a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Except as described below, a reasonably possible loss or range of loss associated with any individual legal proceeding cannot be currently estimated.

​

Securities Litigation and Related Stockholder Derivative Litigation

​

2023 Securities Action and Related Derivative Litigation

​

A consolidated action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware asserting claims under the federal securities laws against the Company and certain of its senior officers on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of the Company’s securities, styled In re Plug Power, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 1:23-cv-04090576-JLHMN (the “2023 Securities Action”). The plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on September 28, 2023, in which they assert claims under the federal securities laws against the Company and four of its former and current senior officers, Andrew Marsh, Paul Middleton, Sanjay Shrestha, and former officer David Mindnich, on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between January 19, 2022 and March 1, 2023. The complaint alleges that the defendants made “materially false and/or misleading statements” about the Company’s business and operations, including the Company’s revenue goals for 2022, its ability to effectively manage its supply chain and product manufacturing, and its progress in construction of new hydrogen production capacity. On February 4, 2025, the Court issued an opinion and order dismissing the consolidated complaint, with leave to replead. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on February 25, 2025, in which they no longer name Mr. Mindnich. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint on April 30, 2025. On April 20, 2026, the court issued an opinion and order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss. Defendants filed an answer to the second amended complaint on May 21, 2026. On September 9, 2026, plaintiffs moved for leave to file a third amended complaint, which the Court granted. Defendants moved to dismiss the new allegations in the third amended complaint on October 9, 2026. In the interim, the parties have stipulated that all discovery and other proceedings will be stayed. At this stage, the Company is unable to form a conclusion as to the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or an estimate of the amount or range of any possible loss resulting from the alleged claims.

​

Beginning on September 13, 2023, three separate actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asserting claims derivatively, on behalf of the Company, against certain former and current Company officers and directors based on the allegations and claims in the 2023 Securities Action. Those cases have been consolidated in the District of Delaware under the caption In re Plug Power, Inc. Stockholder Deriv. Litig., No. 1:23-cv-01007-MN (D. Del.). The defendants named in the constituent complaint were Mr. Marsh, Mr. Middleton, Mr. Mindnich, Martin Hull, Maureen Helmer, Gregory Kenausis, George McNamee, Lucas Schneider, Jonathan Silver, Gary Willis, and current or former directors Jean Bua, Kavita Mahtani, and Kyungyeol Song. In an order entered on April 26, 2024, the Court approved the parties’ stipulation to stay all proceedings until further development in the 2023 Securities Action.

​

On February 27, 2026, alleged stockholder Debra Burnett filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims derivatively on behalf of the Company against certain former and current directors and officers based on allegations in the 2023 Securities Action and the 2024 Securities Action (described below). The individual defendants are Mr. Marsh, Mr. Middleton, Mr. McNamee, Ms. Bua, Ms. Helmer, Mr. Kenausis, Ms. Mahtani, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Shrestha, Mr. Silver, Mr. Song, Mr. Willis, Colin Angle, Mark Bonney, and Patrick Joggerst. On March 19, 2026, the court entered an order approving a stipulation to stay all proceedings in this case until motions to dismiss have been resolved.

​

On March 9, 2026, Roberto Medina filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims derivatively on behalf of the Company against certain current and former directors and officers based on allegations in the 2026 Securities Action (described below). On May 4, 2026, the court entered an order approving a stipulation to stay all proceedings in this case pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the 2026 Securities Action.

​

On March 25, 2026, Richard Modjeski filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims derivatively on behalf of the Company against certain current and former officers and directors based on allegations in the 2024 Securities Action (described below). The individual defendants are Mr. Marsh, Mr. Middleton, Mr. Shrestha, Mr. Bonney, Ms. Helmer, Mr. Joggerst, Mr. Kenausis, Ms. Mahtani, Mr. McNamee, Mr. Song, and Mr. Willis. On May 5, 2026, the court entered an order approving a stipulation to stay all proceedings in this case pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the 2026 Securities Action. On October 16, 2026, defendants filed a consent letter requesting an extension of the stay until after the motion for reconsideration in the 2024 Securities Action. The stay request remains pending.

​

On May 7, 2026, Bernd H. Reimann filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims derivatively on behalf of the Company against certain current and former officers and directors based on allegations in the 2024 Securities Action (described below). On May 26, 2026, counsel for Mr. Reimann and Mr. Modjeski jointly requested that their actions be consolidated under the earlier-filed action brought by Mr. Modjeski. On August 21, 2026, the court granted that request and consolidated the Modjeski and Reimann actions.

​

2024 Securities Litigation

​

On March 22, 2024, Ete Adote filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims under the federal securities laws against the Company, Mr. Marsh, and Mr. Middleton, on behalf of an alleged class of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between May 9, 2023 and January 16, 2024, styled Adote v. Plug Power, Inc. et al., No. 1:24-cv-00406-MAD-DJS (N.D.N.Y.) (the "2024 Securities Action"). The complaint alleges that the defendants made misstatements concerning the Company’s progress in construction of new hydrogen production capacity and its ability to effectively manage its supply chain. On April 30, 2024, a second complaint asserting substantially similar claims against the same defendants, but on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between March 1, 2023 and January 16, 2024, was filed in the Northern District of New York, styled Lee v. Plug Power, et al., No. 1:24-cv-0598-MAD-DJS (N.D.N.Y.). On November 25, 2024, the magistrate judge issued an order consolidating the two cases and appointing lead plaintiffs. Lead plaintiff filed a consolidated complaint on August 25, 2025. All defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint, and briefing was completed on December 23, 2025. On September 28, 2026, the court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motions to dismiss the amended complaint. Defendants filed a motion for reconsideration on October 12, 2026.

​

2026 Securities Litigation

​

On February 2, 2026, Joseph Ortolani filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York asserting claims under the federal securities laws against the Company, Mr. Marsh and Mr. Middleton, on behalf of an alleged class of purchasers of Plug common stock between January 17, 2025 and November 13, 2025, styled Ortolani v. Plug Power Inc., et al., No. 1:26-cv-165-MAD-DJS (the "2026 Securities Action"). The complaint alleges that the defendants made misstatements concerning the Company’s business and operations in connection with a loan from the United States Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office for the construction of facilities that would produce and liquefy zero or low-carbon hydrogen. On May 27, 2026, the court appointed lead plaintiffs. Defendants filed their motion to dismiss on October 9, 2026.

​

Other Litigation

​

On October 23, 2024, a case entitled First Solar, Inc. v. Plug Power Inc., Index No. 655610/2024 was filed in the New York State Supreme Court, New York County, asserting a claim for breach of contract associated with a purchase order for solar panels manufactured by First Solar to be purchased by the Company. The complaint seeks monetary relief

along with pre-judgment interest. On December 22, 2025, First Solar moved for summary judgment. On August 17, 2026, the court granted First Solar’s motion for summary judgment for the full amount sought, $19.8 million, plus interest. The Company has filed a notice of appeal. As of September 30, 2026, the Company accrued $23.4 million related to this litigation, of which $3.6 million was accrued as an estimate for interest payable, which is under dispute, and was recorded to the interest expense financial statement line item in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.

​

Contract Dispute Resolution

​

During the second quarter of 2026, the Company resolved a contract dispute with a customer. Under the terms of the agreement, the customer agreed to provide total consideration of $50.0 million entirely in cash. Upon fulfillment of the agreement and receipt of the consideration on June 6, 2026, in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies (“ASC 450”), the Company derecognized the remaining $13.0 million contract asset balance and recognized a net gain of $37.0 million. The $37.0 million gain was recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. This classification aligns with the presentation of the Company’s historical impairment charges on the contract asset, which were also recorded within the Company's operating expenses. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” for further information.

​

Guarantee

​

On February 24, 2026, our joint venture, AccionaPlug S.L., entered into a subsidy agreement with the European Hydrogen Bank, which is managed by Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía (“IDAE”), a Spanish governing body, to subsidize a renewable hydrogen production project in Spain. In connection with the subsidy agreement, AccionaPlug S.L. is required to meet certain performance targets. The Company has provided a guarantee of €7.5 million which can be called by IDAE if the joint venture fails to meet its performance targets under the subsidy agreement. During the second quarter of 2026, the Company collateralized a portion of the guarantee with €3.7 million of restricted cash. As of September 30, 2026, no payments related to this guarantee have been made by the Company, and the Company did not record a liability for this guarantee as the likelihood of the guarantee being called upon is remote.

​

Unconditional Purchase Obligations

​

The Company has entered into certain off–balance sheet commitments that require the future purchase of goods or services (“unconditional purchase obligations”). The Company’s unconditional purchase obligations primarily consist of supplier arrangements, take or pay contracts and service agreements. For certain vendors, the Company’s unconditional obligation to purchase a minimum quantity of raw materials at an agreed upon price is fixed and determinable; while certain other raw material costs will vary due to product forecasting and future economic conditions.

​

Future payments under non-cancellable unconditional purchase obligations with a remaining term in excess of one year as of September 30, 2026 were as follows (in thousands):

​

​

​

​

Remainder of 2026

​

17,136

2027

​

36,577

2028

​

39,555

2029

​

—

2030

​

—

2031 and thereafter

​

—

Total

​

93,268

​

During 2025, the Company finalized the renegotiation of a supplier arrangement that previously contained minimum purchase requirements. As of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had a remaining liability of $9.9 million and $27.2 million, respectively, which was recorded in contingent consideration, loss accrual for service contracts, and other current liabilities in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the

three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company made payments of $10.0 million and $16.8 million, respectively, to reduce the liability.