Note 8 – Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

On May 15 and May 23, 2023, Akerna and all its directors were named in two derivative lawsuits (McCaffrey v. Akerna et al. and Caller v. Akerna et al., Nos. 1:23-cv-01213-PAB and 1:23-cv-01300-KLM, respectively) filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado by stockholders Albert McCaffrey and Israel Caller, respectively, alleging that the disclosures made regarding the pending transactions with Gryphon and MJ Acquisition violate Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The lawsuits contend that the disclosures omit material information regarding the transactions and seek injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. The two actions have both been dismissed without prejudice on October 3, 2023 (Caller) and October 11, 2023 (McCaffrey).

On January 13, 2023, Courier Plus Inc. d/b/a Dutchie (“Dutchie”) filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against Akerna and MJF alleging unfair competition, tortious interference, and unjust enrichment with respect to MJF’s exclusive government contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We filed a preliminary objection alleging serious defects, such as jurisdiction. The parties attended a hearing in July 2023. In October 2023, the courts dismissed the case but left some items available in the complaint for an appeal. Duthie has amended its complaint and filed again. We filed another preliminary objection to their amended complaint.   Before and throughout this dispute, we have worked with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ensure continued compliance with our contract. We intend to continue to defend our position vigorously and, at this time, do not believe an estimate of potential loss, if any, is appropriate.

On April 2, 2021, TreCom Systems Group, Inc. (“TreCom”) filed suit against Akerna and MJF in the federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, seeking recovery of up to approximately $2.0 million for services allegedly provided pursuant to a Subcontractor Agreement between MJF and TreCom. MJF provided a notice of termination of the operative Subcontractor Agreement on August 4, 2020. MJF disputes the validity of TreCom’s claims and the enforceability of the alleged agreement that TreCom submitted to the court. Akerna filed counterclaims against TreCom for breach of contract, a declaratory judgment, commercial disparagement, and defamation. TreCom failed to return Akerna’s intellectual property and issued numerous disparaging statements to one of Akerna’s clients. TreCom subsequently filed a motion to dismiss these counterclaims, which the court denied. Akerna intends to vigorously defend against TreCom’s claims and pursue its own claims. With respect to the TreCom matter, we established a loss contingency of $0.2 million in 2021 which remains outstanding as of September 30, 2023.

As of September 30, 2023, and through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, there were no other legal proceedings requiring recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Other

In connection with the Sale Transaction and the Merger, we have a commitment to compensate our financial advisor for up to three percent of the transaction value in success fees, subject to a minimum of $1.5 million, should the transactions be completed. In addition, we are party to arrangements with our executive officers and certain other administrative employees pursuant to their employment, retention and transaction success agreements that may result in the receipt by such executive officers and employees of cash severance payments and other transaction success bonuses and benefits with a total value of approximately $1.2 million (collectively and not individually), but not including the accelerated vesting of any equity awards held by those officers.

Operating Leases

During the first half of 2022, we began negotiations to terminate the 365 Cannabis office lease in Las Vegas, Nevada. We established an obligation of $0.5 million which is management’s best estimate of the costs to exit the lease. As of September 30, 2023, the lease termination matter remains unresolved.