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Legal Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Legal Contingencies Legal Contingencies
There have been no material changes in the status of the legal proceedings previously disclosed in Part II, Item 8, "Note 21 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, except as follows. From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings incidental to their business in the ordinary course, including matters in which damages in various amounts are claimed. Based on information currently available, the Company does not believe that the liabilities (if any) resulting from such legal proceedings will have a material effect on the financial position of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in such matters, ongoing legal expenses or an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could materially and adversely affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in any particular reporting period, as well as its reputation.
As previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, on February 10, 2022, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the "SDNY") approved the settlement agreement of a putative class action lawsuit filed against the Company, its current and former President and Chief Executive Officer and its current and former Chief Financial Officer. The settlement included a total payment covered by the Company's insurance of $7.5 million in exchange for the release of all of the defendants from all alleged claims in the class action suit, without any admission or concession of wrongdoing by the Company or the other defendants.
On June 1, 2022, the Company reached an agreement in principle with the SEC staff to resolve the SEC's investigation with respect to the Company's identification, classification and disclosure of related party transactions; the retirement of certain former officers and directors; and the relationship of the Company and certain of its former officers and directors with a local public official, among other things. On August 16, 2022, the SEC approved the settlement, pursuant to which the Company consented, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, to the entry of an administrative cease-and-desist order for violations of Sections 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B) and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rules 13a-1, 14a-9 and 12b-20 thereunder; and agreed to pay a civil money penalty of $10.0 million and $2.6 million in disgorgement, plus prejudgment interest. On October 6, 2022, the SEC staff informed our Chief Financial Officer that it had concluded its related investigation as to him and does not intend to recommend an enforcement action against him. No additional contingent liabilities were recorded in the third quarter of 2022 in connection with the SEC's approval and public announcement of the settlement.
On August 2, 2022, the Bank reached an agreement in principle with the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB") to resolve the FRB's investigation with respect to the Bank. As previously disclosed, the investigation relates to the Company's identification, classification and disclosure of related party transactions; and the relationship of the Company and certain of its former officers and directors with a local public official, among other things. On August 16, 2022, the FRB approved the settlement, pursuant to which the Company consented, without admitting or denying the FRB's allegations, to the entry of a consent order for violations of Regulation O, 12 C.F.R. §§ 215 et seq., and unsafe and unsound banking practices, due to internal control deficiencies relating to loans involving its former Chief Executive Officer and an inadequate third-party risk management program, in each case from 2015 to 2018, and would pay a civil money penalty of approximately $9.5 million. No additional contingent liabilities were recorded in the third quarter of 2022 in connection with the FRB's approval and public announcement of the settlement.
As previously disclosed, the Company maintains director and officer insurance policies ("D&O Insurance Policies") that provide coverage for the legal defense costs related to certain of the above-described investigations and litigations and those discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. When claims are covered by D&O Insurance Policies, the Company records a corresponding receivable against the incurred legal defense cost expense subject to coverage under the D&O Insurance Policies and then eliminates the receivable and expense when the claim is paid. Since the commencement of the above-described matters in 2018 through September 30, 2022, the Company's D&O Insurance carriers have advanced a number of defense cost claims to the Company and its current and former directors and officers. Subject to any new developments to the above-described investigations and litigations that may occur over the next few months, the Company currently believes there is a possibility that the applicable D&O Insurance Policies may be exhausted as early as the fourth quarter of 2022. Once the D&O Insurance Policies are exhausted, the Company will be responsible for paying the defense costs associated with the above-described investigations and litigations for itself and on behalf of any current and former Officers and Directors entitled to indemnification from the Company. The Company cannot predict with any certainty the amount of defense costs that the Company may incur in the future in connection with currently ongoing and any potential future investigations and legal proceedings, as they are dependent on various factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control.