Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 3 . Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Regardless of outcome, such proceedings or claims can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of resources and other factors and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained.
Investigations
As previously disclosed, on August 11, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) initiated an investigation of the Company, and requested documents relating to, among other matters, the business combination transaction with Lionheart Acquisition Corporation II consummated on May 23, 2022, certain historical and projected financial results, investor agreements, and data analytic platforms and algorithms. The Company received a subpoena dated March 1, 2023 from the SEC regarding the aforementioned subject matter, and subsequently received a subpoena on May 10, 2023, in connection with the investigation relating to, among other matters, the Company’s projections and the accounting and valuation of certain assets that were the basis for the Company’s determination that its quarterly financial statements for the periods ended June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022 require restatements and should no longer be relied upon, as disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K on April 14, 2023. On August 16, 2023, the Company received an additional subpoena from the SEC regarding certain funding sources of the Company prior to the Business Combination, various statements and disclosures by the Company in connection with, and following, the Business Combination, certain historical and projected financial results, and data analytic platforms and algorithms used to identify potential recoveries. The Company intends to fully cooperate with the SEC in responding to the subpoenas.
In addition, on March 10, 2023, the Company received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in connection with a grand jury investigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida requesting certain information concerning the Company, which subpoena requests documents relating to, among other matters, the Company’s proprietary algorithms and other software used to identify potentially recoverable claims, the drop in the price of the Company’s common stock following the Business Combination, and certain marketing materials and investment agreements presented to potential investors. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, the Department of Justice has not issued any target letters to anyone associated with the Company as a result of this investigation (the United States Attorney’s Manual states that a “target” is a person as to whom the prosecutor or the grand jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defendant).
The Company has cooperated, and will continue to cooperate, fully with these inquiries. In connection with its review of the matters related to the preparation and filing of the 2022 Form 10-K, the Special Committee, along with external advisors retained thereby, also reviewed the subject matter of information requests related to the foregoing subpoenas received prior to June 2023. Based on that review, and the nature of the documents requested in the subsequent subpoena, the Company believes that the investigations will be resolved without any material developments; however, there can be no assurance as to the outcome or future direction thereof.
Cano Health
On July 7, 2023, the Company issued 7,960,001 shares of Class A Common Stock (after giving effect to the Reverse Split) to Cano Health, LLC (“Cano”) as payment for $61.7 million in deferred compensation related to the following agreements, which the Company
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had the option to pay in cash or in stock and has elected to pay in stock, of which (i) 3,225,807 shares of Class A Common Stock were issued as deferred consideration for the assignment of certain claims pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2022, as amended to date, by and between the Company and Cano (“Cano Purchase Agreement”), and (ii) 4,734,194 shares of Class A Common Stock were issued as deferred consideration for the assignment of certain claims pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Claims Recovery and Assignment Agreement effective as of December 31, 2021, as amended to date, by and between the Company and Cano (“Cano CCRA”).
On August 10, 2023, the Company sued Cano in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida for declaratory relief and anticipatory breach of the Cano CCRA, Cano Purchase Agreement, and a Service Agreement (collectively, the “Cano Agreements”) between the parties. On the same day, Cano sued the Company in the same court, alleging fraud in the inducement, breach of contract, tortious interference, and unjust enrichment relating to the Cano Agreements. The Company has a $5.0 million receivable outstanding from Cano; however, due to Cano’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filings for the periods ending June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, which include a substantial doubt about Cano’s ability to continue as a going concern, and Cano’s subsequent filing of voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on February 4, 2024, the Company established a reserve for the balance due under such receivable during 2023. These matters were automatically stayed as a result of the Cano’s bankruptcy filing.
On January 4, 2024, Cano sued Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. (“Simply”) and the Company and affiliated entities seeking a declaratory judgment to determine whether the Cano Purchase Agreement should be rescinded, and whether Cano or the Company have standing to recover on claims assigned to the Company against Simply under the Cano Purchase Agreement. Cano also seeks damages from Simply relating to the claims assigned to the Company under the Cano Purchase Agreement. The Company intends to vigorously assert its position in all Cano related litigation.
Item 4 . Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II