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Contingencies and Litigation
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12 Months Ended |
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Aug. 31, 2014
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| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Contingencies and Litigation |
Contingencies and Litigation
The Company had outstanding letters of credit of $14.0 million and $10.7 million at August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, the majority of which secure self-insured workers compensation obligations.
The Company is a party to various legal proceedings that have arisen in the normal course of its business. These legal proceedings typically include product liability, environmental, labor, patent claims and divestiture disputes. The Company has recorded reserves for loss contingencies based on the specific circumstances of each case. Such reserves are recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred as of the balance sheet date and can be reasonably estimated. In the opinion of management, the resolution of these contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company remains contingently liable for lease payments under leases of businesses that it previously divested or spun-off, in the event that such businesses are unable to fulfill their future lease payment obligations. The discounted present value of future minimum lease payments for these leases was $20.6 million at August 31, 2014 (including $14.0 million related to the divested Electrical segment).
The Company has facilities in numerous geographic locations that are subject to a range of environmental laws and regulations. Environmental expenditures over the past three years have not been material. Management believes that such costs will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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