Better Home & Finance Holding Co 10-Q

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS We are subject to various risks and uncertainties in the course of our business. For a discussion of these risks, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 8, 2024. Other than as stated below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed therein. Our CEO is involved in litigation that could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Vishal Garg, our CEO, is or has been involved in litigation related to prior business activities that includes at least one allegation about Better. In one action, the plaintiff alleged, among other things, that our CEO breached his fiduciary duties to another company he co-founded prior to Better, misappropriated intellectual property and trade secrets, converted corporate funds, and failed to file corporate tax returns. Mr. Garg’s motion for partial summary judgment in that action was granted on April 13, 2023, resulting in the dismissal of certain breach of fiduciary duty claims, among others, including claims that he misappropriated intellectual property and trade secrets for use in his other companies. That dismissal is being appealed, and there is no assurance that the decision to dismiss these claims will be upheld. The remaining claims in that action went to trial in May 2024 and, on May 17, 2024, the jury found Mr. Garg liable for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion. It awarded the plaintiff, Education Investment Finance Corporation, $4.5 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages. Mr. Garg is seeking to overturn the verdict, as well as appealing it. In another action, plaintiff-investors in a prior business venture alleged that they did not receive required accounting documentation, that our CEO misappropriated funds that should have been distributed to the plaintiff-investors, and that such funds could have been invested in Better. These litigations could divert Mr. Garg’s attention from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigations. There has been and will likely continue to be publicity regarding the litigations discussed above, which could negatively affect our reputation. If we were to become involved in the litigations against Mr. Garg, our involvement could impose a significant cost and divert resources and the attention of Mr. Garg and other members of our executive management from our business, regardless of the outcome of such litigations. Such costs, together with the outcome of the actions if resolved unfavorably, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, depending upon the outcome of these litigations, our licenses, which are necessary to conduct our business, could be materially and adversely affected. The ultimate effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price of our Common Stock cannot be predicted with any certainty and may decrease the liquidity of our Common Stock and magnify any decrease in our overall market capitalization. The ultimate effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price of our Common Stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and we cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split will result in any or all of the expected benefits. While the Reverse Stock Split increased the per share trading price of the Company’s Class A common stock to enable the Company to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we can provide no assurances that the Reverse Stock Split will result in any permanent or sustained increase in the market price of our Class A common stock. The market price of our Class A common stock depends on multiple factors, many of which are unrelated to the number of shares outstanding, including our business and financial performance, general market conditions and prospects for future success, any of which could have a counteracting effect to the Reverse Stock Split on the per share price. In addition, the Reverse Stock Split also reduced the total number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock, which may lead to reduced trading for our Common Stock. As a result of a lower number of shares outstanding, the market for our Common Stock may also become more volatile. The Reverse Stock Split will also increase the number of stockholders who own “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of Common Stock. A purchase or sale of less than 100 shares of Common Stock (an “odd lot” transaction) may result in incrementally higher trading costs through certain brokers, particularly “full service” brokers. Therefore, those stockholders who own fewer than 100 shares of our Common Stock following the Reverse Stock Split may be required to pay higher transaction costs if they sell their shares of our Common Stock. Finally, the decline in the per share price of our Common Stock and the decline in our overall market capitalization may be greater following the Reverse Stock Split than would have occurred in the absence of a Reverse Stock Split. Any reduction in our market capitalization may be magnified as a result of the smaller number of total shares of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding following the Reverse Stock Split. 57 Table of Contents Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds None. Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities None. Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures Not applicable.