A Dark Vector Cognition product

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

7K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Government Litigation

As previously disclosed, on January 19, 2024, the Company was notified by the Compliance and Field Operations Division (the “Division”) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) that the Division intended to recommend the imposition of a civil penalty of approximately $32 million for alleged untimely reporting in relation to certain utility bars and miter saws that were subject to voluntary recalls in September 2019 and March 2022, respectively. The Company believes there are defenses to the Division’s claims, and has presented its defenses in a meeting with the Division on February 29, 2024 and in a written submission dated March 29, 2024. On April 1, 2024, the Division informed the Company's counsel that the Division intended to recommend that the CPSC refer the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"). On May 1, 2024, the Company was informed that the CPSC voted to refer the matter to the DOJ. In December 2024, the CPSC requested that the Company reproduce documents previously provided to the CPSC following changes to the agency’s electronic file sharing system, and the Company reproduced the requested documents to the CPSC. Counsel for the Company and DOJ met to discuss the parties' positions. On December 22, 2025, DOJ filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland related to the matter, naming Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc. as a defendant. The Company believes that it took timely and appropriate action and intends to vigorously defend itself against the claims brought by DOJ. The Company does not expect that any sum it may have to pay in connection with this matter, including any reserved amount, will have a materially adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

The Company is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and is continuously focused on ensuring the effectiveness of its policies, procedures, and controls.

Class Action Litigation

As previously disclosed, on March 24, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit titled Naresh Vissa Rammohan v. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00369-KAD (the “Rammohan Class Action”), was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut against the Company and certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors (together, “Defendants”). The complaint was filed on behalf of a purported class consisting of all purchasers of Stanley Black & Decker common stock between October 28, 2021 and July 28, 2022, inclusive. The complaint asserted violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 based on allegedly false and misleading statements related to consumer demand for the Company’s products amid changing COVID-19 trends and macroeconomic conditions. The complaint sought unspecified damages and an award of costs and expenses. On October 13, 2023, Lead Plaintiff General Retirement System of the City of Detroit filed an Amended Complaint that asserted the same claims and seeks the same forms of relief as the original complaint. On December 14, 2023, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint in its entirety. Briefing on that motion concluded on April 5, 2024. Following the recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in City of Hialeah Employees’ Retirement System v. Peloton Interactive, Inc., No. 24-2803 (2d Cir. 2025), Lead Plaintiff informed Defendants that it wished to further amend its complaint. Pursuant to a stipulation between the parties, so ordered by the District Court on September 30, 2025, Lead Plaintiff provided Defendants with a proposed second amended complaint on October 30, 2025, and Defendants consented to its filing. Lead Plaintiff subsequently filed its Second Amended Complaint on November 14, 2025, asserting the same claims on behalf of the same putative class and seeking the same forms of relief as the prior complaints. Defendants filed a renewed motion to dismiss on December 18, 2025. Lead Plaintiff filed its opposition to Defendants’ renewed motion to dismiss on January 29, 2026, and Defendants filed a reply in support of their renewed motion to dismiss on February 19, 2026. The Company intends to vigorously defend this action in all respects. Given the early stage of this litigation, at this time, the Company is not in a position to assess the likelihood of any

potential loss or adverse effect on its financial condition or to estimate the amount or range of potential losses, if any, from this action.

Derivative Actions

As previously disclosed, on August 2, 2023 and September 20, 2023, derivative complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, titled Callahan v. Allan, et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-01028-OAW (the “Callahan Derivative Action”) and Applebaum v. Allan, et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-01234-OAW (the “Applebaum Derivative Action”), respectively, by putative stockholders against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company premised on the same allegations as the Rammohan Class Action. The Callahan and Applebaum Derivative Actions were consolidated by Court order on November 6, 2023, and defendants’ responses to both complaints have been stayed pending the disposition of any motions to dismiss in the Rammohan Class Action. The individual defendants intend to vigorously defend the Callahan and Applebaum Derivative Actions in all respects. However, given the early stage of this litigation, at this time, the Company is not in a position to assess the likelihood of any potential loss or adverse effect on its financial condition or to estimate the amount or range of potential losses, if any, from these actions.

On October 19, 2023, a derivative complaint was filed in Connecticut Superior Court, titled Vladimir Gusinsky Revocable Trust v. Allan, et al., Docket Number HHBCV236082260S, by a putative stockholder against certain current and former directors and officers of the Company. Plaintiff seeks to recover for alleged breach of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment under Connecticut state law premised on the same allegations as the Rammohan Class Action. By Court order on November 11, 2023, the Connecticut Superior Court granted the parties’ motion to stay defendants’ response to the complaint pending the disposition of any motions to dismiss in the Rammohan Class Action. The individual defendants intend to vigorously defend this action in all respects. However, given the early stage of this litigation, at this time, the Company is not in a position to assess the likelihood of any potential loss or adverse effect on its financial condition or to estimate the amount or range of potential losses, if any, from this action.

Other Actions

In addition to the matters above, in the normal course of business, the Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims, including product liability, environmental, intellectual property, contract and commercial, advertising, employment and distributor claims, and administrative proceedings. The Company does not expect that the resolution of these matters occurring in the normal course of business will have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Previous: Item 2. PROPERTIES · Next: Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES