Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

We are subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business.

 

Sinotau Litigation – NAV4694

 

On August 31, 2015, Hainan Sinotau Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Sinotau”) filed a suit for damages, specific performance, and injunctive relief against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts alleging breach of a letter of intent for licensing to Sinotau of the Company’s NAV4694 product candidate and technology. The Company believed the suit was without merit and filed a motion to dismiss the action. In September 2016, the Court denied the motion to dismiss. The Company filed its answer to the complaint and the case is currently in the discovery phase. At this time it is not possible to determine with any degree of certainty the ultimate outcome of this legal proceeding, including making a determination of liability. The Company intends to vigorously defend the case.

 

CRG Litigation

 

During the course of 2016, CRG alleged multiple claims of default on the CRG Loan Agreement, and filed suit in the District Court of Harris County, Texas. On June 22, 2016, CRG exercised control over one of the Company’s primary bank accounts and took possession of $4.1 million that was on deposit, applying $3.9 million of the cash to various fees, including collection fees, a prepayment premium and an end-of-term fee. The remaining $189,000 was applied to the principal balance of the debt. Multiple motions, actions and hearings followed over the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.

 

On March 3, 2017, the Company entered into a Global Settlement Agreement with MT, CRG, and Cardinal Health 414 to effectuate the terms of a settlement previously entered into by the parties on February 22, 2017. In accordance with the Global Settlement Agreement, on March 3, 2017, the Company repaid the $59 million Deposit Amount of its alleged indebtedness and other obligations outstanding under the CRG Term Loan. Concurrently with payment of the Deposit Amount, CRG released all liens and security interests granted under the CRG Loan Documents and the CRG Loan Documents were terminated and are of no further force or effect; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and CRG agreed to continue with their proceeding pending in The District Court of Harris County, Texas to fully and finally determine the Final Payoff Amount. The Company and CRG further agreed that the Final Payoff Amount would be no less than $47 million and no more than $66 million. In addition, concurrently with the payment of the Deposit Amount and closing of the Asset Sale, (i) Cardinal Health 414 posted a $7 million letter of credit in favor of CRG (at the Company’s cost and expense to be deducted from the closing proceeds due to the Company, and subject to Cardinal Health 414’s indemnification rights under the Purchase Agreement) as security for the amount by which the High Payoff Amount exceeds the Deposit Amount in the event the Company is unable to pay all or a portion of such amount, and (ii) CRG posted a $12 million letter of credit in favor of the Company as security for the amount by which the Deposit Amount exceeds the Low Payoff Amount. If, on the one hand, it is finally determined by the Texas Court that the amount the Company owes to CRG under the Loan Documents exceeds the Deposit Amount, the Company will pay such excess amount, plus the costs incurred by CRG in obtaining CRG’s letter of credit, to CRG and if, on the other hand, it is finally determined by the Texas Court that the amount the Company owes to CRG under the Loan Documents is less than the Deposit Amount, CRG will pay such difference to the Company and reimburse Cardinal Health 414 for the costs incurred by Cardinal Health 414 in obtaining its letter of credit. Any payments owing to CRG arising from a final determination that the Final Payoff Amount is in excess of $59 million shall first be paid by the Company without resort to the letter of credit posted by Cardinal Health 414, and such letter of credit shall only be a secondary resource in the event of failure of the Company to make payment to CRG. The Company will indemnify Cardinal Health 414 for any costs it incurs in payment to CRG under the settlement, and the Company and Cardinal Health 414 further agree that Cardinal Health 414 can pursue all possible remedies, including offset against earnout payments (guaranteed or otherwise) under the Purchase Agreement, warrant exercise, or any other payments owed by Cardinal Health 414, or any of its affiliates, to the Company, or any of its affiliates, if Cardinal Health 414 incurs any cost associated with payment to CRG under the settlement. The $2 million being held in escrow pursuant to court order in the Ohio case and the $3 million being held in escrow pursuant to court order in the Texas case were released to the Company at closing of the Asset Sale. The Texas hearing is currently set for July 3, 2017. See Notes 2 and 10.

 

Former CEO Arbitration

 

On May 12, 2016 the Company received a demand for arbitration through the American Arbitration Association, Columbus, Ohio, from Ricardo J. Gonzalez, the Company’s then Chief Executive Officer, claiming that he was terminated without cause and, alternatively, that he resigned in accordance with Section 4G of his Employment Agreement pursuant to a notice received by the Company on May 9, 2016. On May 13, 2016, the Company notified Mr. Gonzalez that his failure to undertake responsibilities assigned to him by the Board of Directors and otherwise work after being ordered to do so on multiple occasions constituted an effective resignation, and the Company accepted that resignation. The Company rejected the resignation of Mr. Gonzalez pursuant to Section 4G of his Employment Agreement. Also, the Company notified Mr. Gonzalez that, alternatively, his failure to return to work after the expiration of the cure period provided in his Employment Agreement constituted cause for his termination under his Employment Agreement. Mr. Gonzalez is seeking severance and other amounts claimed to be owed to him under his Employment Agreement. In addition, the Company filed counterclaims against Mr. Gonzalez alleging malfeasance by Mr. Gonzalez in his role as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gonzalez has withdrawn his claim for additional severance pursuant to Section 4G of his Employment Agreement, and the Company has withdrawn its counterclaims. An arbitration hearing took place April 3-4, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio, and we are currently awaiting a decision.

 

FTI Consulting, Inc. Litigation

 

On October 11, 2016, FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”) commenced an action against the Company in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, seeking damages in excess of $782,600 comprised of: (i) $730,264 for investigative and consulting services FTI alleges to have provided to the Company pursuant to an Engagement Agreement, and (ii) in excess of $52,337 for purported interest due on unpaid invoices, plus attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses.  On November 14, 2016, the Company filed an Answer and Counterclaim denying the allegations of the Complaint and seeking damages on its Counterclaim, in an amount to be determined at trial, for intentional overbilling by FTI. On February 7, 2017, a preliminary conference was held by the Court at which time a scheduling order governing discovery was issued. The Court set August 31, 2017 as the deadline for FTI to file a Note of Issue and Certificate of Readiness for trial. The Company intends to vigorously defend the action.

 

Sinotau Litigation – Tc 99m Tilmanocept

 

On February 1, 2017, Navidea filed suit against Sinotau in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Company's complaint included claims seeking a declaration of the rights and obligations of the parties to an agreement regarding rights for the Tc 99m tilmanocept product in China and other claims. The complaint sought a temporary restraining order ("TRO") and preliminary injunction to prevent Sinotau from interfering with the Company’s Asset Sale to Cardinal Health 414. On February 3, 2017, the Court granted the TRO and extended it until March 6, 2017. The Asset Sale closed on March 3, 2017. On March 6, the Court dissolved the TRO as moot. The Ohio case remains open because all issues raised in the complaint have not been resolved.

 

Sinotau also filed a suit against the Company and Cardinal Health 414 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on February 2, 2017. On February 18, 2017, the Company and Cardinal Health 414 moved to stay the case pending the outcome of the Ohio case. The Court granted the motion on March 1, 2017, and the stay remains in effect.

 

In accordance with ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, we make a provision for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In the case of the CRG litigation, we could still be required to pay up to an additional $7 million to CRG depending upon the outcome of the Texas litigation, which would have a material negative impact on our financial position. Although the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, in our opinion, the amount of ultimate liability, if any, with respect to any of these actions other than CRG will not materially affect our financial position.