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Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Contingencies Contingencies
From time to time, we, along with our subsidiaries, are party to various legal proceedings and governmental inquiries arising in the ordinary course of business. We reserve for loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. We regularly monitor developments related to these legal proceedings, and review the adequacy of our legal reserves on a quarterly basis. We do not currently expect these losses to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements if and when
such losses are incurred. Nevertheless, we cannot predict the impact of future developments affecting our claims and lawsuits, and any resolution of a claim or lawsuit or reserve within a particular fiscal period may materially and adversely impact our results of operations for that period. In addition, claims and lawsuits against us may seek injunctive or other relief that requires changes to our business practices or operations and it is possible that any required changes may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations or reputation.
Unclaimed Property. We are subject to unclaimed property audits by states in the ordinary course of business. The property subject to review in the audit process includes unclaimed wages, vendor payments and customer refunds. State escheat laws generally require entities to report and remit abandoned and unclaimed property to the state. Failure to timely report and remit the property can result in assessments that could include interest and penalties, in addition to the payment of the escheat liability itself. We routinely remit escheat payments to states and believe we are in compliance with applicable escheat laws.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Investigation. In December 2020, prior to the execution of the definitive agreement to acquire Acima, Acima received a Civil Investigative Demand dated October 1, 2020 (the “CID”) from the CFPB requesting certain information, documents and data relating to Acima’s products, services and practices for the period from January 1, 2015 to the dates on which responses to the CID are provided in full. The purpose of the CID was to determine whether Acima extends credit, offers leases, or otherwise offers or provides a consumer financial product or service and whether Acima complies with certain consumer financial protection laws. After the original CID, the CFPB issued subsequent CIDs requesting further information, documents and testimony. Acima has completed its responses to all CIDs and has been cooperating with the CFPB throughout their investigation.
On May 16, 2023, in accordance with the CFPB’s Notice and Opportunity to Respond and Advise (“NORA”) process, the CFPB staff notified Acima that the staff may allege that Acima violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010; the Truth in Lending Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation Z; the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation E; and the Fair Credit Reporting Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation V. The CFPB staff further stated that the CFPB’s Office of Enforcement may recommend that the CFPB take legal action against Acima based on these potential allegations, and, in connection therewith, the staff may seek remedies including restitution, disgorgement, damages, injunctive relief, and civil money penalties. On June 20, 2023, Acima submitted its response to the NORA notice, in which Acima asserted that the staff’s potential allegations lacked merit.
As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not yet received the CFPB’s response to Acima's submission in accordance with the NORA process. We are currently unable to predict the CFPB’s response to the NORA process or the ultimate timing or outcome of the CFPB investigation or any legal proceedings arising therefrom.
On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the definitive agreement to acquire Acima, the former owners of Acima agreed to indemnify Upbound Group, Inc. for certain losses arising after the consummation of the transaction with respect to the CID. The indemnification obligations of the former owners of Acima with respect to the CID are limited to the remaining amount of an indemnity holdback which is now approximately $45 million of a $50 million initial holdback escrowed at the closing of the transaction for the CID and other matters and will be Upbound Group, Inc.’s sole recourse against the former owners of Acima with respect to all of the indemnifiable claims under the definitive transaction agreement. On May 19, 2023, in light of the above-referenced NORA notice, we submitted an indemnification claim notice pursuant to the definitive agreement to acquire Acima. As of February 27, 2024, approximately $45 million remains escrowed in respect of the CID.
There can be no assurance that the remaining escrowed amount will be sufficient to address all covered losses or that the CFPB’s ongoing investigation or future exercise of its enforcement, regulatory, discretionary or other powers will not result in findings or alleged violations of consumer financial protection laws that could lead to enforcement actions, proceedings or litigation, whether by the CFPB, other state or federal agencies, or other parties, and the imposition of damages, fines, penalties, restitution, other monetary liabilities, sanctions, settlements or changes to Acima’s business practices or operations that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or reputation.
Multi-state Attorneys' General Investigation. On November 1, 2021, Acima received a letter from the Nebraska Attorney General’s office stating that the Attorney General of Nebraska, along with a coalition of thirty-eight state Attorneys General, initiated a multi-state investigation into the business acts and practices of Acima and that a civil investigative demand(s) and/or subpoena(s) pursuant to respective state consumer protection laws will be forthcoming. Since receiving the letter, we have held multiple discussions with officials at the lead attorneys' general offices and, based on those discussions, it is our understanding that the investigation is looking at business practices within the virtual lease-to-own industry and includes or will include multiple companies. In April 2022, we received a request for information and documents. The multi-state attorneys' general group is currently scheduled to present their findings from their investigation to Acima in March 2024. Pending that meeting,
Acima is continuing to cooperate with the investigation. We are currently unable to predict the eventual scope, timing or outcome of this matter.
New York Attorney General Investigation. The New York Attorney General (the “NYAG”) issued a subpoena to our Acima subsidiary in January 2020 seeking information with respect to various business practices in connection with Acima’s lease-to-own transactions. Acima received additional subpoenas from the NYAG in August 2021 and July 2023. Since receiving the subpoenas, we have cooperated with the NYAG in connection with its investigation. In March 2023, the NYAG provided Acima with an initial proposed assurance of discontinuance alleging violations of certain consumer laws, seeking injunctive relief regarding certain business practices, and seeking payment of unspecified amounts for restitution and civil penalties. Acima is currently discussing resolution of this matter with the NYAG. Absent resolution, the NYAG has indicated an intention to bring an action which is likely to allege violations of certain consumer laws, seek injunctive relief regarding certain business practices, and request restitution and civil penalties. We are currently unable to predict the ultimate timing or outcome of the NYAG investigation, the current settlement negotiations or any legal proceedings arising from this matter.
Former Massachusetts Attorney General Investigation. The Massachusetts Attorney General (the “MAG”) issued a civil investigative demand in 2018 seeking information with respect to certain of our business practices, including regarding account management and certain other business practices in connection with our lease-to-own transactions. Since receiving such demand, we have cooperated with the MAG in connection with its investigation. In November 2023, the parties finalized the settlement of this matter in the form of an assurance of discontinuance that was filed with the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the agreement and in consideration of the final resolution of this matter, we agreed to pay a total of $8.75 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with certain assurances of discontinuance, including implementing (1) certain account management requirements, with a focus on our communications with our customers in default and other account management requirements, and (2) certain compliance requirements including employee training and annual reports to the MAG for a period of time. We did not admit to any violations of law or any wrongdoing and entered into the agreement to avoid the expense, risk and distractions associated with potential protracted litigation. As of December 31, 2023, taking into consideration the assurance of discontinuance entered in November 2023, we reserved the amount of $8.75 million as a loss contingency for this matter in our consolidated financial statements. In accordance with our practices, substantially all of this loss contingency was previously accrued in prior quarterly financial statements taking into account the then current status of the settlement negotiations.