Litigation
On November 5, 2019, Black Knight Servicing Technologies, LLC (“Black Knight”), now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), filed a Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial in the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in and for Duval County, Florida (the “Florida State Court”), captioned Black Knight Servicing Technologies, LLC v. PennyMac Loan Services, LLC (“PLS”), Case No. 2019-CA-007908, alleging breach of contract and misappropriation of MSP® System trade secrets. On November 6, 2019, PLS filed unlawful monopolization claims against Black Knight pursuant to the Sherman Act and Clayton Act seeking injunctive relief. On March 30, 2020, the Florida State Court granted a motion to compel arbitration filed by the Company, after which all claims of the Company and Black Knight were consolidated into a binding arbitration.
On November 28, 2023, the arbitrator issued an interim award (the “Interim Award”) granting in part and denying in part Black Knight’s breach of contract claim. The arbitrator’s Interim Award also denied in full Black Knight’s claim of trade secrets misappropriation. The Interim Award granted Black Knight monetary damages in the amount of $155.2 million, plus prejudgment interest and reasonable attorneys’ fees, and it denied in full all of Black Knight’s claims for injunctive and declaratory relief.
The Interim Award also granted PLS’ claim that Black Knight violated federal antitrust laws, specifically unlawful monopolization in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, and granted PLS’ claim for injunctive relief under the Sherman Act and Clayton Act, as well as its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The parties subsequently agreed not to seek attorneys’ fees or costs on any claims.
As a result of the Interim Award, PLS’ loan servicing technology, known as Servicing Systems Environment, or SSE, and all related intellectual property and software developed by or on behalf of PLS, remain the proprietary technology of PLS, free and clear of any restrictions on use. To this end, the arbitrator expressly enjoined Black Knight from claiming ownership to any portion of SSE or preventing the Company from commercializing SSE. Black Knight is also enjoined from enforcing any of its contract clauses requiring that its clients process their loans exclusively on the MSP platform.
On January 12, 2024, the arbitrator issued the final award (the “Final Award”), reducing Black Knight’s monetary damages to $150.2 million, plus interest. As a result of the Final Award, the Company reported a pretax expense accrual of $158.4 million in its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. On February 14, 2024, the Company paid in full and Black Knight accepted payment of all damages and accrued interest due under the Final Award.
On March 15, 2024, the Florida State Court confirmed the Final Award, giving the rulings and remedies therein preclusive effect.
Note 19—Stockholders’ Equity
The Company has a common stock repurchase program in the amount of $2 billion before transaction costs and excise tax.
Following is a summary of activity under the stock repurchase program:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter ended June 30, | | Six months ended June 30, | | Cumulative |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2024 | | 2023 | | total (1) |
|
| | (in thousands) |
Shares of common stock repurchased | | | — | | | 433 | | | — | | | 1,201 | | | 34,063 |
Cost of shares of common stock repurchased | | $ | — | | $ | 26,214 | | $ | — | | $ | 71,575 | | $ | 1,788,198 |
(1) | Amounts represent the total shares of common stock repurchased under the stock repurchase program from inception through June 30, 2024. Cumulative total cost of common stock repurchased includes $537,000 of transaction fees as of June 30, 2024. |