PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company may be involved in various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business.
On February 24, 2021, Sheila Baker and Merle W. Bundick purported shareholders of Anworth, filed lawsuits in the California Superior Court, styled Baker v. McAdams, et al., No. 21STCV07569 (the “Baker Action”) and Bundick v. McAdams, et al., No. 21STCV07571 (the “Bundick Action”). On March 2, 2021, Benjamin Gigli, a purported shareholder of Anworth, also filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court, styled Gigli v. McAdams, et al., No. 21STCV08413 (the “Gigli Action,” and together with the Baker Action and the Bundick Action, the “Anworth Merger Actions”). The Anworth Merger Actions were filed against the former members of Anworth’s Board of Directors (the “Anworth Board”). The complaints in the Anworth Merger Actions assert that the Anworth Board breached their fiduciary duties by failing to properly consider acquisition proposals that were purportedly superior to the Merger, agreeing to purportedly unreasonable deal protections in connection with the Merger, and authorizing the issuance of the Form 424B3 filed on February 9, 2021, which allegedly contained materially misleading information. The Anworth Merger Actions seek, among other things, rescissory damages and an award of attorneys’ and experts’ fees. On May 26, 2021, the Anworth Merger Actions were consolidated and restyled In re Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation Stockholder Litigation, Lead Case No. 21STCV07569. A consolidated amended complaint was filed by Sheila Baker, Merle W. Bundick, and Benjamin Gigli (together, the “Plaintiffs”) on June 14, 2021, and the California Superior Court denied Anworth’s Demurrer seeking to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on December 2, 2021. The Anworth Board filed their answer on January 3, 2022.
On December 27, 2022, the parties notified the California Superior Court that they have reached an agreement in principle resolving this action. On June 30, 2023, the California Superior Court entered an Order granting preliminary approval of the settlement, which set a hearing for final approval of the settlement on November 14, 2023.The settlement is subject to final approval by the California Superior Court.
On April 3, 2023, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a complaint, captioned Whitehead v. Ready Capital Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-02773, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint, which was filed as an individual action, named the Company and its directors as defendants and alleged defendants violated Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Form S-4 originally filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Broadmark Merger, and sought to enjoin the Broadmark Merger, as well as damages, costs and attorneys’ and experts’ fees. On May 16, 2023, the Whitehead action was voluntarily dismissed. Six similar complaints, asserting similar claims and seeking similar relief, were filed against Broadmark and its directors in connection with the Broadmark Merger: O’Dell v. Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-02640 (S.D.N.Y., filed Mar. 29, 2023); Wang v. Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-02717 (S.D.N.Y., filed Mar. 31, 2023); Kirkland v. Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-02943 (S.D.N.Y., filed Apr. 7, 2023); Kirsteins v. Broadmark Reality Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-03008 (S.D.N.Y., filed Apr. 10, 2023); Morgan v. Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-03850 (S.D.N.Y., filed May 8, 2023); and Lawrence v. Broadmark Realty Capital Inc., et al., Case No. 23-cv-03921 (S.D.N.Y., filed May 10, 2023). Each of these actions has been voluntarily dismissed.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following represents important updates to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item-1A on the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. You should be aware that these risk factors and other information may not describe every risk facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.