Note 16 – Contingencies and Litigation

Litigation – In connection with the October 2021 acquisition of BFT, the Company agreed to indemnify the seller for certain claims and lawsuits against the seller that existed at the acquisition date. The claims and lawsuits relate to alleged patent and trademark infringements. Plaintiff alleges that plaintiff has suffered, and is likely to continue to suffer, loss and damage due to breach of the patents by the seller and is seeking damages or in the alternative an account of profits. The seller has filed a cross-claim alleging that the defendant’s two Australian patents are, and always have been, invalid and that they should be revoked. The Court held a trial in December 2020, and on February 14, 2022, the Court issued a decision holding that the plaintiff’s claims of infringement were invalid and that even if they were valid, the seller did not infringe upon these patents and trademarks. In addition, the plaintiff has brought related claims for patent infringement against the seller in the United States District Court for Delaware, and these actions are pending at March 31, 2023. In April 2023, the plaintiff dismissed all claims against the seller in the United States.

The Company is subject to normal and routine litigation brought by former or current employees, customers, franchisees, vendors, landlords or others. The Company intends to defend itself in any such matters. The Company believes that the ultimate determination of liability in connection with legal claims pending against it, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on its business, annual results of operations, liquidity or financial position; however, it is possible that the Company’s business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition could be materially affected in a particular future reporting period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more matters or contingencies during such period. The Company accrued for estimated legal liabilities and has entered into certain settlement agreements to resolve legal disputes and recorded $638 and $464 which is included in accrued expenses in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Contingent consideration from acquisitions – In connection with the 2017 acquisition of Row House, the Company agreed to pay to the sellers 20% of operational or change of control distributions, subject to distribution thresholds, until the date on which a change in control or liquidation of Row House occurs. The Company determines the estimated fair value using a discounted cash flow approach, giving consideration to the market valuation approach, which is a Level 3 measurement. Inputs used in the methodology primarily included sales forecasts, projected future cash flows and discount rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded an increase of $200 to contingent consideration, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expenses. In December 2022, the Company entered into an agreement with the former owner of Row House (see Note 10), which settled the contingent consideration. As a result of the agreement, in December 2022, the Company recorded a reduction to the contingent consideration liability of $1,220 with an offsetting increase in additional paid-in capital.

In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, the Parent merged with and into the Member. The Company recorded contingent consideration equal to the fair value of the shares issued in connection with the Rumble acquisition of $23,100 and $10,600 receivable from shareholder for debt financing provided to the Rumble seller. The shares issued to the Rumble seller are treated as a liability on the Company's balance sheet as they are subject to vesting conditions. The fair value of the contingent consideration is measured at estimated fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation analysis. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded an increase of $15,975 and $9,500 to contingent consideration, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction expense. In November 2022, the contingency related to 1,300 shares of Class A common stock expired and the $27,850 contingent consideration related to those shares was reclassified to additional paid-in capital. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, contingent consideration totals $43,665 and $27,690, respectively, recorded as contingent consideration from acquisitions in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In connection with the October 2021 acquisition of BFT, the Company agreed to pay contingent consideration to the seller consisting of quarterly cash payments based on the sales of the Franchise System and equipment packages in the U.S. and Canada, as well as a percentage of royalties collected by the Company, provided that aggregate minimum payments of $5,000 AUD (approximately $3,694 USD based on the currency exchange rate as of the purchase date) are required to be paid to the seller for the two-year period ending December 31, 2023 and the aggregate amount of such payments for the two-year period ending December 31, 2023 is subject to a maximum of $14,000 AUD (approximately $10,342 USD based on the currency exchange rate as of the purchase date). At the acquisition date, the Company determined that the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration liability was $9,388. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded $49 and $178 of additional contingent consideration, which was recorded as interest expense, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded ($233) and ($154) of additional contingent consideration, which was recorded as acquisition and transaction income, respectively. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid $0 and $589 of contingent consideration. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, contingent consideration was $2,511 and $2,203 recorded as accrued expenses, respectively, and $0 and $492 recorded as contingent consideration from acquisitions, respectively, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In addition, in connection with the October 2021 acquisition of BFT, the Company entered into a Master Franchise Agreement (“MFA”) with an affiliate of the Seller (the “Master Franchisee”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Master Franchisee the master franchise rights for the BFTTM brands in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In exchange, the Company will receive certain fees and royalties, including a percentage of the revenue generated by the Master Franchisee under the MFA. The MFA contains an option for the Company to repurchase the master franchise rights granted under the MFA in either 2023 or 2024 at a purchase price based on the Master Franchisee’s EBITDA. If the Company (or a designee of the Company) does not exercise the option pursuant to the terms of the MFA, then the Company might be required to pay a cancellation fee to the Master Franchisee which might be material to the Company. If the Master Franchisee rejects an offer to repurchase the franchise rights, then the cancellation fee is not required to be paid.

Letter of credit – In July 2022, the Company issued a $750 standby letter of credit to a third-party financing company, who provides loans to the Company's qualified franchisees. The standby letter of credit is contingent upon the failure of franchisees to perform according to the terms of underlying contracts with the third party. The Company deposited cash in a restricted account as collateral for the standby letter of credit. The Company has determined the fair value of these guarantees at inception is not material, and as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no accrual has been recorded for the Company’s potential obligation under its guaranty arrangement.
 

Lease guarantees –The Company has guaranteed lease agreements for certain franchisees. The Company’s maximum obligation, as a result of its guarantees of leases, is approximately $2,811 as of March 31, 2023 and would only require payment upon default by the primary obligor. The Company has determined the fair value of these guarantees at inception is not material, and as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, no accrual has been recorded for the Company’s potential obligation under its guaranty arrangement.