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Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Contingencies  
Contingencies

12.Contingencies

 

The Company is involved from time to time in various legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and claims incident to the normal conduct of business, which may include proceedings that are specific to us and others generally applicable to business practices within the industries in which we operate. A substantial legal liability or a significant regulatory action against us could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and on the results of operations in a particular quarter or year.

The Company establishes reserves for litigation and similar matters when those matters present material loss contingencies that management determines to be both probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with ASC 450, “Contingencies.” These amounts are not reduced by amounts that may be recovered under insurance or claims against third parties, but undiscounted receivables from insurers or other third parties may be accrued separately. The Company regularly revises such accruals in light of new information. The Company discloses the nature of the contingency when management believes it is reasonably possible the outcome may be significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and, where feasible, an estimate of the possible loss. For purposes of our litigation contingency disclosures, “significant” includes material matters as well as other items that management believes should be disclosed. Management’s judgment is required related to contingent liabilities because the outcomes are difficult to predict.

 

401(k) Plan Class Action Litigation

 

In an action filed on June 23, 2017 and amended on June 26, 2017 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Schapker v. Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., et al., (Case No. 17-2365 D. Kan.), Stacy Schapker, a participant in the Company’s 401(k) and Thrift Plan, as amended and restated (the “401(k) Plan”), filed a lawsuit against the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors, the Administrative Committee of the 401(k) Plan, and unnamed Jane and John Doe Defendants 1-25. On August 7, 2017, plaintiff filed a second amended complaint on behalf of the 401(k) Plan and a proposed class of 401(k) Plan participants, alleging claims for breach of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, based on the 401(k) Plan’s offering of investments managed by the Company or its affiliates during a proposed class period of June 23, 2011 to present.  The second amended complaint dismissed the Company’s Board of Directors as a defendant and named as defendants the Company, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Administrative Committee of the 401(k) Plan, and the individuals who served on those committees during the proposed class period.  While the Company and all other defendants deny any and all liability with respect to the claims, the parties to the litigation reached a settlement.  The settlement agreement provides a full release for the benefit of the Company and all other defendants and the payment of $4.875 million (less attorney’s fees and costs, class representative compensation, and administrative expenses) to eligible settlement class members, their beneficiaries or alternate payees.  On April 8, 2019, the court entered an order granting final approval of the settlement, including certification of a class for settlement purposes only, to include 401(k) Plan participants at any time during the approved class period of June 23, 2011 to November 28, 2018.  The settlement is subject to appeal for 30 days following the court’s final approval.  The payments contemplated by the settlement are recoverable to the Company through insurance.  The Company has recorded a liability and offsetting receivable from insurance, as reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.