Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitment and Contingencies

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Commitment and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
The following represent the material commitments and contingencies of the Company as of December 31, 2023:
Legal and regulatory. The Company and its subsidiaries are routinely involved in numerous legal and regulatory proceedings, including but not limited to judicial, arbitration, regulatory and governmental proceedings related to matters that arise in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business. These legal proceedings are at varying stages of adjudication, arbitration or investigation and may consist of a variety of claims, including common law tort and contract claims, consumer protection-related claims and claims under other laws and regulations. Any legal proceedings or actions brought against the Company may result in judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, business improvement orders, consent orders, supervisory agreements, restrictions on business activities, or other results adverse to the Company, which could materially and negatively affect its business. The Company seeks to resolve all litigation and regulatory matters in the manner management believes is in the best interest of the Company and contests liability, allegations of wrongdoing, and, where applicable, the amount of damages or scope of any penalties or other relief sought as appropriate in each pending matter. Under ASC 450, Contingencies, or ASC 450, liabilities are established for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially higher or lower than the amounts established or the range of reasonably possible loss disclosed for those claims.
As previously disclosed, on July 15, 2020, the Company provided PRCM Advisers with a notice of termination of the Management Agreement for “cause” in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Management Agreement. The Company terminated the Management Agreement for “cause” on the basis of certain material breaches and certain events of gross negligence on the part of PRCM Advisers in the performance of its duties under the Management Agreement. On July 21, 2020, PRCM Advisers filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the Court. Subsequently, Pine River Domestic Management L.P. and Pine River Capital Management L.P. were added as plaintiffs to the matter. As amended, the complaint, or the Federal Complaint, alleges, among other things, the misappropriation of trade secrets in violation of both the Defend Trade Secrets Act and New York common law, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unfair competition and business practices, unjust enrichment, conversion, and tortious interference with contract. The Federal Complaint seeks, among other things, an order enjoining the Company from making any use of or disclosing PRCM Advisers’ trade secret, proprietary, or confidential information; damages in an amount to be determined at a hearing and/or trial; disgorgement of the Company’s wrongfully obtained profits; and fees and costs incurred by the plaintiffs in pursuing the action. The Company has filed its answer to the Federal Complaint and made counterclaims against PRCM Advisers and Pine River Capital Management L.P. On May 5, 2022, the plaintiffs filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, seeking judgment in their favor on all but one of the Company’s counterclaims and on one of the Company’s affirmative defenses. The Company opposed the motion for judgment on the pleadings. On August 10, 2023, the motion for judgment on the pleadings was granted in part and denied in part. The discovery period has ended. On November 8, 2023, the Company and the plaintiffs filed motions for summary judgment, seeking judgment in their favor on the pending claims and counterclaims. Each party opposed the other party’s motion for summary judgment. The motions for summary judgment are fully briefed. The Company’s board of directors believes the Federal Complaint is without merit and that the Company has fully complied with the terms of the Management Agreement.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s consolidated financial statements do not recognize a contingency liability or disclose a range of reasonably possible loss under ASC 450 because management does not believe that a loss or expense related to the Federal Complaint is probable or reasonably estimable. The specific factors that limit the Company’s ability to reasonably estimate a loss or expense related to the Federal Complaint are that the matter is not sufficiently advanced and the outcome of litigation is uncertain. If and when management believes losses associated with the Federal Complaint are a probable future event that may result in a loss or expense to the Company and the loss or expense is reasonably estimable, the Company will recognize a contingency liability and resulting loss in such period.
Based on information currently available, management is not aware of any other legal or regulatory claims that would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and therefore no accrual is required as of December 31, 2023.