Kestrel Group Ltd 10-Q

Item 1. Legal Proceedings Except as noted below, the Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, the Company is subject to routine legal proceedings, including arbitration, arising in the ordinary course of business. These legal proceedings generally relate to claims asserted by or against the Company in the ordinary course of insurance or reinsurance operations. Based on the Company's opinion, the eventual outcome of these legal proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. A putative class action complaint was filed against Maiden Holdings, Arturo M. Raschbaum, Karen L. Schmitt, and John M. Marshaleck in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on February 11, 2019. On February 19, 2020, the Court appointed lead plaintiffs, and on May 1, 2020, lead plaintiffs filed an amended class action complaint (the “Amended Complaint”). The Amended Complaint asserts violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 (and Section 20(a) for control person liability) arising in large part from allegations that Maiden failed to take adequate loss reserves in connection with reinsurance provided to AmTrust. Plaintiffs further claim that certain of Maiden Holdings’ representations concerning its business, underwriting and financial statements were rendered false by the allegedly inadequate loss reserves, that these misrepresentations inflated the price of Maiden Holdings' common stock, and that when the truth about the misrepresentations was revealed, the Company’s stock price fell, causing Plaintiffs to incur losses. On September 11, 2020, a motion to dismiss was filed on behalf of all Defendants. On August 6, 2021, the Court issued an order denying, in part, Defendants’ motion to dismiss, ordering Plaintiffs to file a shorter amended complaint no later than August 20, 2021, and permitting discovery to proceed on a limited basis. On February 7, 2023, the District Court denied Plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration of the District Court’s decision denying Plaintiffs’ objection to the Magistrate Judge’s December 2021 ruling on discovery. On May 26, 2023, the Company filed a Renewed Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint or, in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment, which has been fully briefed. On December 19, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey granted summary judgment on plaintiffs’ claim for securities fraud under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act to Maiden Holdings, Ltd. and individual defendants Arturo Raschbaum, Karen Schmitt, and John Marshaleck. The Court held that the factual record failed to support, as a matter of law, plaintiffs’ allegations that the defendants had made false statements regarding the Company’s loss reserves. The Court also dismissed plaintiffs’ claims that the individual defendants were liable as control persons under Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act for any such alleged false statements. Plaintiffs have appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. On December 26, 2024, WUSO Holding Corporation and 683 Capital Partners filed a lawsuit against Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. and Maiden Holdings in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, captioned WUSO Holding Corporation and 683 Capital Partners, LP v. Maiden Holdings North America, Ltd. and Maiden Holdings, Ltd., Index No. 659861/2024. The complaint alleges that Maiden’s sale of Maiden Reinsurance North America, Inc., which closed approximately six years ago from the date of the complaint, breached a sole provision of Maiden’s indenture governing its 2013 Senior Notes. Plaintiffs allege that principal and interest payable under the 2013 Senior Notes are due currently, rather than upon the stated maturity date of the 2013 Senior Notes. Maiden believes it has substantial procedural and substantive defenses to the asserted claims, and it intends to vigorously defend against these claims. On June 17, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, considered and granted Maiden’s motion to dismiss the complaint filed in this case. Plaintiffs may pursue an appeal of this decision and also stated that they would take steps to comply with the no-action clause requesting the indenture trustee to commence a related action. On August 6, 2025, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal and have six months to perfect their appeal in the Appellate Division. To the extent that plaintiffs do perfect and pursue their appeal of this decision, Maiden will oppose any such action. In addition to filing the notice of appeal, on August 12, 2025, plaintiffs filed a separate complaint against Maiden in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, as opposed to filing an amended complaint in the existing action. In the new complaint, plaintiffs allege that they have standing and authorization to bring suit, contending that they satisfied the no-action clause in the indenture because, on June 10, 2025, they requested, on behalf of holders of at least 25% of the outstanding 2013 Senior Notes, that the indenture trustee commence a related action, accompanied by an offer to indemnify, and the indenture trustee did not institute such proceedings within 60 days of the request. Maiden believes it has substantial procedural and substantive defenses to the asserted claims, and it intends to vigorously defend against these claims. We believe all of the above claims are without merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves. It is possible that additional lawsuits will be filed against the Company, its subsidiaries and its respective officers due to the diminution in value of our securities as a result of our operating results and financial condition. It is currently uncertain as to the effect of such litigation on our business, operating results and financial condition. See also " Part I, Item 1 - Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies " for a summary on legal matters.