NOTE 16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

As a consumer goods manufacturer and distributor, the Company faces the risk of product liability and related lawsuits involving claims for substantial money damages, product recall actions and higher than anticipated rates of warranty returns or other returns of goods. The Company is therefore vulnerable to various personal injury and property damage lawsuits relating to its products and incidental to its business.

The Company is involved in various legal disputes and other legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Anticipated costs related to litigation matters are accrued when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Based on currently available information, the Company does not believe that it is reasonably possible that the disposition of any of the legal disputes the Company or its subsidiaries is currently involved in will have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, except for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) matter discussed below. There is a reasonable possibility of loss from contingencies in excess of the amounts accrued by the Company in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets; however, the actual amounts of such possible losses cannot currently be reasonably estimated by the Company at this time. It is possible that, as additional information becomes available, the impact on the Company could have a material effect. See Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.” and Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

In January 2021, Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. (“BDEL”) wrote to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) outlining its new cradle solution for certain models of its avalanche beacon transceivers to prevent such transceivers from switching unexpectedly out of “send” mode. The proposed new cradle solution was designed to improve transceiver safety by locking the transceiver into “send” mode prior to use so that it would not switch unexpectedly out of “send” mode. BDEL also requested approval for the CPSC Fast-Track Program for a voluntary product recall to implement this cradle solution. The CPSC approved the recall and entered into a Corrective Action Plan agreement with BDEL in March 2021. BDEL received a letter from the CPSC, dated October 28, 2021, stating that the CPSC is investigating whether BDEL has timely complied with the reporting requirements of Section 15(b) of the Consumer Protection Safety Act and related regulations regarding certain models of avalanche transceivers switching unexpectedly out of “send” mode.

Separately, on April 21, 2022, BDEL filed a Section 15(b) report and applied for Fast-Track consideration for a voluntary recall, consisting of free repair or replacement of such malfunctioning models of avalanche transceivers, which would not switch from “send” mode to “search” mode due to an electronic malfunction in the reed switch or foil. The CPSC approved the recall and entered into a Corrective Action Plan agreement with BDEL in August 2022. BDEL received a letter from the CPSC, dated January 17, 2023, stating that the CPSC is investigating whether BDEL has timely complied with the reporting requirements of Section 15(b) of the Consumer

Protection Safety Act and related regulations regarding the malfunction in the reed switch or foil in certain models of avalanche transceivers switching out of “search” mode. BDEL responded to the CPSC’s investigation by letter dated March 31, 2023, accompanied with documents responsive to the CPSC’s requests. The CPSC asked for further clarification and documents, and BDEL sent a responsive letter accompanied by additional documents on June 23, 2023. On September 6, 2023, the CPSC requested further clarification and information regarding the reed switch issue, to which BDEL responded on October 6 and 13, 2023.

By letters dated October 12, 2023 and December 18, 2023, BDEL was notified by the CPSC that the agency staff has concluded we failed to timely meet our statutory reporting obligations under the Consumer Product Safety Act with respect to certain models of BDEL’s avalanche transceivers switching unexpectedly out of “send” mode and certain models of BDEL’s avalanche transceivers not switching from “send” mode into “search” mode, that we made a material misrepresentation in a report to the CPSC, and that the agency staff intends to recommend that the CPSC impose substantial civil monetary penalties.

On November 20, 2023 and February 8, 2024, respectively, we submitted a comprehensive response disputing the CPSC’s findings and conclusions in the October 12, 2023 and December 18, 2023 letters, including the amount of any potential penalties. The CPSC may ultimately disagree with our position and the agency staff has recommended substantial civil monetary penalties which the Company intends to strongly contest and vigorously defend against. We cannot assure on what terms this matter will be resolved.

Based on currently available information, the Company cannot estimate the amount of the loss (or range of loss) in connection with this matter. We believe it is reasonably possible that a change in our ability to estimate the amount of loss could occur in the near term and that the change in the estimate could be material. In addition, as this matter is ongoing, the Company is currently unable to predict its duration, resources required or outcome, or the impact it may have on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. A penalty imposed by the CPSC or other regulators could be costly to us and could damage our business and reputation as well as have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, stock price, consolidated financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.