Commitments and contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments

The Company had capital commitments of $4.3 million with respect to unfunded obligation in private equity funds sponsored by the Company and $16.2 million of commitments related to additional operating leases that have not yet commenced.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no collateralized or uncollateralized letters of credit outstanding.

Contingencies

Many aspects of the Company's business involve substantial risks of liability. In the normal course of business, the Company has been named as defendant or co-defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, creating substantial exposure and periodic expenses. Certain of the actual or threatened legal matters include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. These proceedings arise primarily from securities brokerage, asset management and investment banking activities. The Company is also involved, from time to time, in other reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental and self-regulatory agencies regarding the Company's business, which may result in expenses, adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. The investigations include inquiries from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and various state regulators.

The Company accrues for estimated loss contingencies related to legal and regulatory matters when available information indicates that it is probable a liability had been incurred and the Company can reasonably estimate the amount of that loss. In many proceedings, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even possible or to estimate the amount of any loss. In addition, even where a loss is possible or an exposure to loss exists in excess of the liability already accrued with respect to a previously recognized loss contingency, it is often not possible to reasonably estimate the size of the possible loss or range of loss or possible additional losses or range of additional losses.

For certain legal and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot reasonably estimate such losses, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek substantial, indeterminate or special damages. Counsel may be required to review, analyze and resolve numerous issues, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important factual matters, and by addressing novel or unsettled legal questions relevant to the proceedings in question, before the Company can reasonably estimate a loss or range of loss or additional loss for the proceeding. Even after lengthy review and analysis, the Company, in many legal and regulatory proceedings, may not be able to reasonably estimate possible losses or range of loss.

For certain other legal and regulatory proceedings, the Company can estimate possible losses, or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued, but does not believe, based on current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that such losses individually, or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements as a whole.

For legal and regulatory proceedings where there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss or an additional loss may be incurred, the Company estimates a range of aggregate loss in excess of amounts accrued of $0 to $30.0 million. This estimated aggregate range is based upon currently available information for those legal proceedings in which the Company is involved, where the Company can make an estimate for such losses. For certain cases, the Company does not believe that it can make an estimate. The foregoing aggregate estimate is based on various factors, including the varying stages of the proceedings (including the fact that some are currently in preliminary stages), the numerous yet-unresolved issues in many of the proceedings and the attendant uncertainty of the various potential outcomes of such proceedings. Accordingly, the Company's estimate will change from time to time, and actual losses may be more than the current estimate.

On August 31, 2021, a complaint in a class action entitled 6694 Dawson Blvd, LLC, Individually and on Behalf of a Class of Similarly Situated Persons v. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., James Wallace Woods, Michael J. Mooney, Britt Wright, William V. Conn, Jr., Conn & Co. Tax Practice, LLC, Conn & Company Consulting, LLC and Kathleen Lloyd, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Plaintiff purports to represent a class of investors in Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC (“Horizon”). Horizon is alleged to be a fraudulent scheme and plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages sounding in violations of the Georgia RICO statute, breach of fiduciary duty, procurement of breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, aiding and abetting fraud, unjust enrichment, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Plaintiff does not allege Oppenheimer received any of the funds invested in Horizon, rather that Oppenheimer’s failure to properly supervise its employees allowed the alleged scheme to occur and continue. Oppenheimer believes the claims to be without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against the claims made in this action.

In addition to the class action described in the preceding paragraph Oppenheimer has also been named as a respondent in thirteen arbitrations, many containing multiple claimants, each filed before FINRA, relating to investments made by former Oppenheimer clients who invested in Horizon. Claimants allege many of the causes of action alleged in the class action described in the preceding paragraph. The arbitrations claiming specific monetary damages allege damages of approximately $25.0 million in the aggregate while others claim unspecified damages. Oppenheimer believes these claims to be without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously against these claims.