Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of June 30, 2024. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commissions’ rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on such evaluations, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2024, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because of the material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting discussed below and described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023. Notwithstanding the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, management believes and has concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company is committed to remediating the above noted material weakness and has actively implemented measures designed to help ensure the material weakness is remediated as soon as possible. The Company’s remediation plan includes, among other things, the following:
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engaging security specialists to assist in the review, assessment and remediation of the Company's IT controls;
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additional strengthening of access requirements and unauthorized access detection to the Company's financial reporting systems; and
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implementing additional procedures to facilitate more effective backup and recovery of the Company's financial reporting systems.
As of June 30, 2024, the Company completed the design and implementation of most controls necessary to remediate the material weakness. The remediation plan is subject to oversight by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the identified material weakness will not be considered remediated until the remediation plan has been fully implemented, the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time, and the Company has concluded that newly implemented controls are operating effectively.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Gumm v. Molinaroli, et al.
In May 2024, stockholders of Johnson Controls, Inc., filed a putative class action Complaint against Johnson Controls, Inc., certain former officers and directors of Johnson Controls, Inc., and two related entities (Jagara Merger Sub LLC and Johnson Controls International plc) in Wisconsin state court relating to the 2016 merger of Johnson Controls and Tyco (Gumm et al. v. Molinaroli et al., Case No. 30106, filed May 23, 2024 in the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin). The filing of the state court Complaint follows the dismissal of a related lawsuit filed in federal court, which dismissal was affirmed on appeal in
November 2023. The 12-count state court Complaint asserts claims for (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty; (3); unjust enrichment; (4) violations of Wisconsin Business Corporation Law §§ 180.1101-.1103; (5) breach of JCI’s Articles of Incorporation; (6) conversion; (7) violations of Wisconsin Securities Act §§ 551.501 and 551.509; (8) breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (9) promissory estoppel; (10) tortious interference with contract; (11) negligent or intentional misrepresentation/equitable fraud; and (12) statutory fraud. Defendants’ response to the Complaint is due September 13, 2024. No other case deadlines have been set at this time.
Refer to Note 21, "Commitments and Contingencies," of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of environmental, asbestos, self-insured liabilities and other litigation matters, which is incorporated by reference herein and is considered an integral part of Part II, Item 1, "Legal Proceedings."
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