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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
The Company does not have any recorded or unrecorded guarantees of the indebtedness of others.
Lawsuits and Legal Claims
The Company is engaged in various legal proceedings, claims, audits and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. These matters may include among others, antitrust/competition claims, intellectual property infringement claims, employment matters and commercial matters. The outcome of all of the matters against the Company is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation.
From time to time, we are involved in litigation in the ordinary course of our business, including claims or contingencies that may arise related to matters occurring prior to our acquisition of businesses. At the present time, primarily because the matters are generally in early stages, we can give no assurance as to the outcome of any pending litigation to which we are currently a party, and we are unable to determine the ultimate resolution of these matters or the effect they may have on us.
Our best estimate of the Company's potential liability for the larger legal claims is approximately $55, which includes estimated legal costs and accrued interest. The recorded probable loss is an estimate and the actual costs arising from our
litigation could be materially lower or higher. We have and will continue to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims. We maintain appropriate levels of insurance, which we expect are likely to provide coverage for some of these liabilities or other losses that may arise from these litigation matters.
Between January and March 2022, three putative securities class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Clarivate and certain of its executives and directors alleging that there were weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and financial reporting procedures that it failed to disclose in violation of federal securities law. The complaints were consolidated into a single proceeding on May 18, 2022. On August 8, 2022, plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint, seeking damages on behalf of a putative class of shareholders who acquired Clarivate securities between July 30, 2020 and February 2, 2022, and/or acquired Clarivate common or preferred shares in connection with offerings on June 10, 2021, or Clarivate common shares in connection with a September 13, 2021 offering. The amended complaint, like the prior complaints, references an error in the accounting treatment of an equity plan included in the Company’s 2020 business combination with CPA Global that was disclosed on December 27, 2021, and related restatements issued on February 3, 2022 of certain of the Company’s previously issued financial statements; the amended complaint also alleges that the Company and certain of its executives and directors made false or misleading statements relating to the Company’s product quality and expected organic revenues and organic growth rate, and that they failed to disclose significant known changes to the Company’s business model. Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint on October 7, 2022. On June 7, 2022, a class action was filed in Pennsylvania state court in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia asserting claims under the Securities Act of 1933, based on substantially similar allegations, with respect to alleged misstatements and omissions in the offering documents for two issuances of Clarivate ordinary shares in June and September 2021. The Company moved to stay this proceeding on August 19, 2022 and filed its preliminary objections to the state court complaint on October 21, 2022. Clarivate does not believe that the claims alleged in the complaints have merit and will vigorously defend against them. Given the early stage of the proceedings, we are unable to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from these matters.
Contingent Liabilities
In conjunction with the acquisition of DRG, the Company agreed to pay up to 2.9 million shares as contingent stock consideration, valued at $58.9 on the closing date of the acquisition. Amounts payable were contingent upon any indemnity losses or claims to indemnity losses occurring within that one-year period. During March 2021, the Company issued 2.9 million shares as per the purchase agreement for the acquisition of DRG for a total of $61.6 which was satisfied. The issuance of these shares represents a non-cash financing activity on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
In conjunction with the acquisition of CPA Global, the Company agreed to pay up to 1.5 million shares as contingent stock consideration, valued at $46.5 on the closing date of the acquisition. The amount was payable 110 days after the acquisition date and was contingent upon any indemnity losses or claims for indemnity losses as defined in the purchase agreement. During January 2021, the Company issued 1.5 million shares as per the purchase agreement for the acquisition of CPA Global related to a hold-back clause for a total of $43.9 which was satisfied. The issuance of these shares represents a non-cash financing activity on the statement of cash flows.
As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding contingent liabilities.