BOSTON BEER CO INC
For the period ended Dec 30, 2023. Filed Feb 27, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Feb 27, 2024
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Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is party to legal proceedings and claims, including class action claims, where significant damages are asserted against it. Given the inherent uncertainty of litigation, it is possible that the Company could incur liabilities as a consequence of these claims, which may or may not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or the results of its operations. The Company accrues loss contingencies if, in the opinion of management and its legal counsel, the risk of loss is probable and able to be estimated. Material pending legal proceedings are discussed below.
Securities Litigation. On September 14, 2021, a purported class action lawsuit was filed by an individual shareholder in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and three of its officers. The complaint alleged claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between April 22, 2021 and September 8, 2021. The plaintiff claimed that defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements or failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. On October 8, 2021, a nearly identical complaint was filed against the Company by an individual shareholder in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Court consolidated the two actions and on December 14, 2021 appointed a lead plaintiff, who filed an amended complaint on January 13, 2022. The Company’s Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint was granted by the Court on December 5, 2022. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on January 5, 2023. After briefing and oral argument on the appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal on November 22, 2023. The Mandate of the United States Court of Appeals was issued and transmitted to the District Court on December 15, 2023.
Supplier Dispute. On December 31, 2022, Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. (“Ardagh”) filed an action against the Company alleging, among other things, that the Company had failed to purchase contractual minimum volumes of certain aluminum beverage can containers in 2021 and 2022. The Company denies that it breached the terms of the parties’ contract and intends to defend against the Ardagh claims vigorously. On February 23, 2023 and April 4, 2023, Ardagh and the Company engaged in mediation sessions with a neutral, third-party mediator, but were not able to resolve the matter and the litigation will proceed. On May 5, 2023, the Company filed an Answer in response to the Complaint, and Counterclaims against Ardagh. On June 26, 2023, Ardagh filed a Motion to Dismiss Certain Counterclaims and a Motion to Strike Certain Affirmative Defenses, to which the Company filed Oppositions on July 24, 2023. On November 9, 2023, Ardagh filed a Notice of Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on Count II of the Complaint, to which the Company filed an Opposition on November 22, 2023. The parties are currently engaged in the fact discovery phase of the matter and the range of potential outcomes cannot be estimated at this time.
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