Commitment and Contingencies |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2021 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies The following represent the material commitments and contingencies of the Company as of June 30, 2021:
Legal and regulatory. From time to time, the Company may be subject to liability under laws and government regulations and various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. 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 April 13, 2020, the Company announced that it had elected not to renew the Management Agreement with PRCM Advisers. Subsequently, 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, PRCM Advisers filed an amended complaint, or the Federal Complaint, on September 4, 2020. 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 PRCM Advisers in pursuing the action. On September 25, 2020, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the Federal Complaint. PRCM Advisers thereafter filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss on October 16, 2020, and on October 26, 2020, the Company filed its reply.
On June 23, 2021, the Court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss. The Court dismissed PRCM Advisers’ claims challenging the termination of the Management Agreement, including PRCM Advisers’ claims for breach of contract with respect to Sections 13(a) and 15 of the Management Agreement and for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, as well as certain of PRCM Advisers’ other claims. 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.
Separately, the staff of the SEC is conducting a non-public investigation in connection with the Company's decisions not to renew its Management Agreement with PRCM Advisers on the basis of unfair compensation payable to PRCM Advisers in accordance with Section 13(a)(ii) of the Management Agreement and to terminate its Management Agreement with PRCM Advisers for “cause” in accordance with Section 15 of the Management Agreement. The Company is cooperating with the SEC. The Company cannot predict the duration or outcome of the SEC investigation or the extent of any impact it may have on the Company.
As of June 30, 2021, the Company’s condensed 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 or the SEC investigation 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 or the SEC investigation include that both matters are in early stages and no amount of damages has been specified. If and when management believes losses associated with the Federal Complaint or the SEC investigation 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and therefore no accrual is required as of June 30, 2021.
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