INNOVATE Corp. 10-K

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Litigation The Company is subject to claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Such matters are inherently uncertain, and there can be no guarantee that the outcome of any such matter will be decided favorably to the Company or that the resolution of any such matter will not have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company does not believe that any of such pending claims and legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company records a liability in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for these matters when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company reviews these estimates each accounting period as additional information is known and adjusts the loss provision when appropriate. If a matter is both probable to result in a liability and the amounts of loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company estimates and discloses the possible loss or range of loss to the extent necessary for its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements not to be misleading. If the loss is not probable or cannot be reasonably estimated, a liability is not recorded in its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Based on a review of the current facts and circumstances with counsel in each of the matters disclosed, management has provided for what is believed to be a reasonable estimate of loss exposure. While acknowledging the uncertainties of litigation, management believes that the ultimate outcome of litigation will not have a material effect on its financial position and will defend itself vigorously. VAT assessment On February 20, 2017, and on August 15, 2017, the Company's subsidiary, ICS, received notices from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs office in the U.K. (the "HMRC") indicating that it was required to pay certain Value-Added Taxes ("VAT") for the 2015 and 2016 tax years. ICS disagrees with HMRC’s assessments on technical and factual grounds and intends to dispute the assessed liabilities and vigorously defend its interests. We do not believe the assessment to be probable and expect to prevail based on the facts and merits of our existing VAT position. Fair Value Investments Litigation On October 1, 2020, Fair Value Investments Incorporated (“FVI”) filed a putative stockholder class action and derivative complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery against HC2 and certain of DBMG’s current and former officers and directors, including current and former HC2 officers and directors AJ Stahl, Kenneth S. Courtis, Robert V. Leffler, Jr., Philip A. Falcone, Michael J. Sena, and Paul Voigt (together with HC2, the “HC2 Defendants”) styled Fair Value Investments Incorporated v. Roach, et al., C.A. No. 2020-0847-JTL (Del. Ch.) (the “FVI Action”). In the FVI Action, FVI alleges that HC2, in its capacity as DBMG’s controlling stockholder, and DBMG’s current and former officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to DBMG and DBMG’s minority stockholders by approving certain transactions that allegedly provide disproportionate benefits to HC2. FVI challenges the following transactions: (i) DBMG’s payments to HC2 from 2016–present pursuant to a Tax Sharing Agreement between DBMG and HC2; (ii) DBMG acting as a guarantor or providing collateral for loans taken on by HC2; (iii) DBMG’s issuance of dividends to its common and preferred stockholders in 2017–2020; (iv) DBMG’s issuance of preferred stock to HC2 to finance DBMG’s 2018 acquisition of GrayWolf Industrial; and (v) HC2’s appointment of directors to DBMG’s board of directors by written consent in lieu of holding an annual stockholder meeting. On February 23, 2021, FVI filed an Amended Verified Stockholder Class Action Complaint (the "Amended Complaint"). In the Amended Complaint, FVI named two additional defendants: HC2’s Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Barr, and DBMG’s General Counsel, Scott D. Sherman. The Amended Complaint 51 includes additional fact allegations in support of the largely similar claims raised in the original complaint. Defendants expect to file a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint in early April. HC2 believes the allegations in the FVI Amended Complaint are without merit and the HC2-related defendants have filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, which continues to be pending. HC2 intends to vigorously defend this litigation. OSHA Complaint On November 4, 2020, the Company received notice that a complaint was filed on August 27, 2020 with the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") (OSHA Complaint Number 2-4173-20-156), by a former employee of Continental Insurance Group Ltd. alleging retaliatory employment practices in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company submitted a position statement to the DOL denying the material allegations in the complaint. The DOL has not issued a determination. Separation from Philip A. Falcone The Company has engaged in ongoing negotiations with Philip A. Falcone, the former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, regarding his separation. Mr. Falcone rejected the Company’s most recent severance offer, and on December 18, 2020, Mr. Falcone filed a demand for arbitration against the Company with the American Arbitration Association. The Company contends that the claims in Mr. Falcone’s demand are without merit and that the Company has both factual and legal defenses. In addition, Mr. Falcone made two books and records demands of the Company, which the Company has denied, including in light of the fact that Mr. Falcone is no longer a director of the Company. ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES Not applicable. 52 PART II