Item 3. Legal Proceedings
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, the Company is a defendant in various legal actions that arise in the ordinary business course. These matters may relate to professional liability, tax, compensation, contract, competitor disputes, and employee-related matters and include individual and class action lawsuits, as well as inquiries and investigations by governmental agencies regarding the Company’s employment and compensation practices. Additionally, some of the Company’s clients may also become subject to claims, governmental inquiries and investigations, and legal actions relating to the Company’s professional services. Depending upon the particular facts and circumstances, the Company may also be subject to indemnification obligations under its contracts with such clients relating to these matters.
As such, the Company is required to assess the likelihood of any adverse outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of losses and possible recoveries. The Company may not be covered by insurance as it pertains to some or all of these matters. A determination of the amount of the provision required for these commitments and contingencies, if any, which would be charged to earnings, is made after careful analysis of each matter. The Company records a liability when management believes an adverse outcome from a loss contingency is both probable and the amount, or a range, can be reasonably estimated. From time to time, the Company must estimate the potential loss even though the party adverse to the Company has not asserted any specific amounts. Significant judgment is required to determine both the probability of loss and the estimated amount. The Company reviews its loss contingencies at least quarterly and it adjusts its accruals and/or disclosures to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, or other new information, as deemed necessary. Once established, a provision may change in the future due to new developments or changes in circumstances. The Company could increase or decrease its earnings in the period that the changes are made.
The Company is exposed to various asserted claims as of December 30, 2023, where the Company believes it has a probability of loss. Additionally, the Company is exposed to other asserted claims whereby an amount of loss has not been declared, and the Company cannot determine the potential loss. Any of these various claims could result in an unfavorable outcome or settlement that exceeds the accrued amounts. However, the Company believes that such matters will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. As of December 30, 2023, the Company has accrued $2.9 million for asserted claims.
In April 2022, a client of the Company’s Industrial Processing Group alleged that a system partially designed by the Company is not operating as intended and that the Company is responsible. The Company has not determined if it has any liability. In the event of liability, the Company believes its damages are contractually limited to an amount no higher than $3.3 million. Furthermore, the Company believes that if it were found liable, any damages would be covered by insurance, subject to a deductible of $0.5 million and maximum coverage of $5.0 million. While the Company attempts to find a mutually agreeable solution, the Company has reserved $0.5 million for this project. The Company can give no assurance that its liability is limited to $3.3 million or that liability over $0.5 million, if any, will be covered by insurance.
The Company is also subject to other pending legal proceedings and claims that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, which may not be covered by insurance.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT ’ S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Shares of the Company’s common stock are traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the Symbol “RCMT.”
Holders
As of February 20, 2024, the approximate number of holders of record of the Company’s Common Stock was 247 and the number of beneficial owners of its Common Stock was approximately 7,650.
Dividends
No dividends were declared in fiscal 2022 or fiscal 2023. All restricted share awards contain a dividend equivalent provision entitling holders to dividends paid between the restricted stock award grant date and ultimate share distribution date. As of December 30, 2023, there were no accrued dividends.
While the Company, at this time, has no plans to issue any future dividends, any future payment of dividends will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant. The Revolving Credit Facility (as discussed in Item 7 hereof) prohibits the payment of any dividends or distributions on account of the Company’s capital stock without the prior consent of the majority of the Company’s lenders.
Stock Repurchase by Issuer
On April 25, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase shares of its common stock up to an amount not to exceed $25.0 million. This program succeeds the Company’s prior repurchase program authorized in November 2021, which was substantially completed in April 2023. The program is designed to provide the Company with enhanced flexibility over the long term to optimize its capital structure. Shares of the Common Stock may be repurchased in the open market or through negotiated transactions. The program may be terminated or suspended at any time at the discretion of the Company. The Company may enter into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan to effect a portion of the authorized purchases if the criteria set forth in the plan are met. Such a plan would enable the Company to repurchase its shares during periods outside of its normal trading windows when the Company typically would not be active in the market.
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