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Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies | CONTINGENCIES We are involved in various claims, suits, investigations and legal proceedings, including the following. While we cannot determine the ultimate outcome of any of these matters, we believe their resolution will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, we cannot give any assurance as to their ultimate outcome. We have not recorded a liability for any of these matters as of September 30, 2014 because we do not believe at this time that any loss is probable or that the amount of any loss can be reasonably estimated. For a description of additional federal securities litigation directly relating to the restatement of our financial statements described in the Explanatory Note immediately preceding Part I, see Note 26. Shareholder derivative litigation — On July 28, 2014, Lawrence Treppel, a purported holder of Class A Non-voting Common Stock, filed a derivative action in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware styled Treppel v. Cohen, et al. (C.A. No. 9962-VCP). The complaint, as originally filed and as amended on September 23, 2014, names as defendants Phillip E. Cohen, the beneficial owner of all of our outstanding Class B Voting Common Stock; several current and former members of our Board of Directors (Joseph J. Beal, Sterling B. Brinkley, John Farrell, Pablo Lagos Espinosa, William C. Love, Thomas C. Roberts and Paul E. Rothamel); three entities controlled by Mr. Cohen (MS Pawn Limited Partnership, the record holder of our Class B Voting Common Stock; MS Pawn Corporation, the general partner of MS Pawn Limited Partnership; and Madison Park LLC); and EZCORP, Inc., as nominal defendant. The amended complaint asserts the following claims:
• | Claims against the current and former Board members for breach of fiduciary duties and waste of corporate assets in connection with the Board’s decision to enter into advisory services agreements with Madison Park from October 2004 to June 2014;
• | Claims against Mr. Cohen and MS Pawn Limited Partnership for aiding and abetting the breaches of fiduciary duties relating to the advisory services agreements with Madison Park; and
• | Claims against Mr. Cohen and Madison Park for unjust enrichment for payments under the advisory services agreements.
The plaintiff seeks (a) a recovery for the Company in the amount of the damages the Company has sustained as a result of the alleged breach of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets and aiding and abetting, (b) disgorgement by Mr. Cohen and Madison Park of the benefits they received as a result of the related party transactions and (c) reimbursement of costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees. On October 13, 2014, motions to dismiss were filed on behalf of each defendant, and on November 12, 2014, the defendants filed their opening briefs in support of the motions to dismiss. Reply and follow-up briefs on the motions to dismiss are expected to be filed by early January 2015. On November 13, 2014, pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, the court dismissed the action as to Mr. Brinkley, Mr. Rothamel and Mr. Lagos. We intend to continue to defend vigorously against the claims asserted in this lawsuit. Although the lawsuit does not seek relief against the Company, we have certain indemnification obligations to the other defendants (including Madison Park and Mr. Cohen), which obligations include the payment of attorney’s fees in advance of the outcome. We cannot predict the outcome of this lawsuit, or the amount of time and expense that will be required to resolve it. Federal securities litigation — On August 22, 2014, Jason Close, a purported holder of Class A Non-voting Common Stock, for himself and on behalf of other similarly situated holders of Class A Non-voting Common Stock, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York styled Close v. EZCORP, Inc., et al. (Case No. 1:14-cv-06834-ALC). The complaint names as defendants EZCORP, Inc., Paul E. Rothamel (our former chief executive officer) and Mark Kuchenrither (our current chief financial officer and our chief financial officer) and asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In general, the complaint alleges that the implementation of certain strategic and growth initiatives were less successful than represented by the defendants, that certain of the Company’s business units and investments were not performing as well as represented by the defendants and that, as a result, the defendants’ disclosures and statements about the Company’s business and operations were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On October 17, 2014, the Automotive Machinists Pension Plan, also purporting to be the holder of Class A Non-voting Common Stock and acting for itself and on behalf of other similarly situated holders of Class A Non-voting Common Stock, filed a lawsuit in the United Stated District Court for the Southern District of New York styled Automotive Machinists Pension Plan v. EZCORP, Inc., et al (Case No. 1:14-cv-8349-ALC). The complaint names EZCORP, Inc., Mr. Rothamel and Mr. Kuchenrither as defendants, but also names Mr. Cohen and MS Pawn Limited Partnership. The complaint likewise asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, alleging generally that (1) EZCORP and the officer defendants (Mr. Rothamel and Mr. Kuchenrither) issued false and misleading statements and omissions concerning the business and prospects, and compliance history, of the Company’s online lending operations in the U.K. and the nature of the Company’s consulting relationship with entities owned by Mr. Cohen and the process the Board of Directors used in agreeing to it, and (2) Mr. Cohen and MS Pawn Limited Partnership, as controlling persons of EZCORP, participated in the preparation and dissemination of the Company’s disclosures and controlled the Company’s business strategy and activities. On October 21, 2014, the plaintiff in the Automotive Machinists Pension Plan action filed a motion to consolidate the Close action and the Automotive Machinists Pension Plan action and to appoint the Automotive Machinists Pension Plan as the lead plaintiff. On November 18, 2014, the court consolidated the lawsuits under the caption In Re EZCORP, Inc. Securities Litigation (Case No. 1:14-cv-06834-ALC) and set a deadline for December 9, 2014 for interested parties to move to be appointed lead plaintiff and lead counsel. We expect that the Close action and the Automotive Machinists Pension Plan action will be consolidated. The consolidated case is at a very early procedural stage. We cannot predict the outcome of the litigation, but we intend to defend vigorously against all allegations and claims. SEC Investigation — On October 23, 2014, we received a notice from the Fort Worth Regional Office of the SEC that it was conducting an investigation into certain matters involving EZCORP, Inc. The notice was accompanied by a subpoena, directing us to produce a variety of documents, including all minutes and materials related to Board of Directors and Board committee meetings since January 1, 2009 and all documents and communications relating to our historical advisory services relationship with Madison Park (the business advisory firm owned by Mr. Cohen) and LPG Limited (a business advisory firm owned by Lachlan P. Given, our current Executive Vice Chairman and a current member of our Board of Directors). The SEC has also issued subpoenas to current and former members of our Board of Directors requesting production of similar documents. We have provided a number of documents in response to the subpoena and are cooperating fully with the SEC in its investigation.

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