NOTE 9 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is involved in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that the outcome of all pending legal proceedings in the aggregate is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows, except as otherwise disclosed below. In light of the uncertainties involved in legal proceedings generally, the ultimate outcome of a particular matter could be material to the Company’s operating results for a particular period depending on, among other things, the size of the loss or the nature of the liability imposed and the level of the Company’s income for that particular period. Litigation or other legal proceedings, with or without merit, is unpredictable and generally expensive and time consuming and, even if resolved in our favor, is likely to divert significant resources from our core business, including distracting our management personnel from their normal responsibilities.

Certain conditions may exist as of the date the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company, or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims, as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potential material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed, unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. There can be no assurance that such matters will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations or cash flows.

On February 11, 2021, HC2 Holdings 2 Inc. (now known as Innovate 2) and Continental General Insurance Company (“Continental”), former minority stockholders of 704Games, filed a complaint (the “HC2 and Continental Complaint”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against the Company, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, and the manager of Motorsport Network. The complaint was later amended and added Leo Capital Holdings LLC as an additional plaintiff and the controller of Motorsport Network as an additional individual defendant. The complaint alleges, among other things, purported misrepresentations and omissions concerning 704Games’ financial condition made in connection with the Company’s purchase of these minority shareholders’ interest in 704Games in August and October 2021. The complaint asserts claims under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder; Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act; Section 20A of the Exchange Act; breach of the Company’s obligations under the Stockholders’ Agreement dated August 14, 2018; fraudulent inducement; breach of fiduciary duties; and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, damages from the defendants, jointly and severally, based on the alleged difference between the fair market value of the shares of common stock of 704Games on the date of plaintiffs’ sale and the purchase price that was paid, as well as punitive damages and other relief. In May 2021, the Company, along with the other defendants, filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ complaint. On March 28, 2022, the court entered an order denying the motion to dismiss.

Motorsport Games Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

On January 11, 2023, in connection with the HC2 and Continental Complaint, the Company, along with other defendants, entered into a settlement agreement with one of the plaintiffs, Continental, to settle the claims made by Continental against the defendants and the claims made by the defendants against Continental. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company was obligated to pay the sum of $1.1 million to Continental. The Company paid an initial payment of approximately $0.1 million on January 17, 2023, and was obligated to make payments of no less than approximately $40,000 every 30 days after the initial payment date until the settlement amount of $1.1 million was paid in full. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has recognized a settlement liability of $0.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in other current liabilities as it relates to this case. The Company continues to defend its position with the remaining plaintiffs, the outcome of which is uncertain at this time. Refer to Note 4 – Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities.

On July 28, 2023, Wesco Insurance Company (“Wesco”) filed a complaint in state court in Florida against the Company, as well as the other defendants involved in the litigation related to the HC2 and Continental Complaint (the “Underlying Action”). The Company had previously submitted the Underlying Action for coverage under a management liability policy issued by Hallmark Specialty Insurance Company and an excess policy with Wesco (the “Wesco Policy”). Wesco’s complaint seeks declaratory relief to determine Wesco’s obligations to the defendants under an excess policy of insurance issued to the Company by Wesco for the Underlying Action. Wesco claims that there is no coverage afforded to the defendants for the Underlying Action under the Wesco Policy. The Company disagrees with and disputes Wesco’s position regarding coverage for the Underlying Action under the Wesco Policy and will defend its position. 

Commitments

On January 25, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Le Mans Amendment”) to the Le Mans Esports Series Ltd joint venture agreement, which resulted in an increase of the Company’s ownership interest in the Le Mans Esports Series Ltd joint venture from 45% to 51%. Additionally, through certain multi-year licensing agreements that were entered into in connection with the Le Mans Amendment, the Company secured the rights to be the exclusive video game developer and publisher for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and the FIA World Endurance Championship (the “WEC”), as well as the rights to create and organize esports leagues and events for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual event. In exchange for certain of these license rights, the Company agreed to fund up to €8,000,000 (approximately $8,700,000 USD as of June 30, 2023) as needed for development of the video game products, to be contributed on an as-needed basis during the term of the applicable license.

Epic License Agreement

On August 11, 2020, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with Epic Games International (“Epic”) for worldwide licensing rights to Epic’s proprietary computer program known as the Unreal Engine 4. Pursuant to the agreement, upon payment of the initial license fee described below, the Company was granted a nonexclusive, non-transferable and terminable license to develop, market and sublicense (under limited circumstances and subject to conditions of the agreement) certain products using the Unreal Engine 4 for its next generation of games.

The Company will pay Epic a license fee royalty payment equal to 5% of product revenue, as defined in the licensing agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not pay any royalties to Epic under the agreement.   Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company has the right to actively develop new or existing authorized products during a 5-year period ending on August 11, 2025.

Minimum Royalty Guarantees

The Company is required to make certain minimum royalty guarantee payments to third-party licensors, arising primarily from its NASCAR, INDYCAR and BTCC licenses, Le Mans Video Gaming License and Le Mans Esports License (collectively the “Video Game Licenses”). These minimum royalty guarantee payments apply throughout the duration of the Video Game Licenses’ agreements, which expire between fiscal years ending December 31, 2026 and 2032, and give rise to a minimum royalty guarantee commitment of $17.4 million for the remaining duration of these arrangements as of June 30, 2023. The Company paid an aggregate of $0.4 million to honor its minimum royalty guarantee commitments during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and expects to pay an additional $1.6 million during the remainder of 2023.

In addition to the minimum royalty guarantee payments, the Company is obligated by the Video Game Licenses’ agreements to spend a minimum amount on relevant marketing activities each year, aggregating to $2.35 million across all of the agreements. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has not fulfilled any of its minimum marketing obligation for fiscal year 2023.

Motorsport Games Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements