v3.25.1
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation Matters

 

The Company is involved in litigation and arbitrations from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Legal fees and other costs associated with such actions are expensed as incurred. In addition, the Company assesses the need to record a liability for litigation and contingencies. The Company reserves for costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable, and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

 

 

Novellus, Inc. v. Sowyrda et al., C.A. No. 2184CV02436-BLS2

 

On October 25, 2021 Novellus, Inc. filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk County, against former Novellus, Inc. employees Paul Sowyrda and John Westman and certain other former investors in Novellus LLC (Novellus, Inc.’s former parent company prior to our acquisition of Novellus, Inc.), alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and civil conspiracy. The Company acquired Novellus, Inc. on July 16, 2021. On May 27, 2022 Novellus, Inc. amended the complaint to withdraw all claims against all defendants except Paul Sowyrda and John Westman. Since 2022, the parties have engaged in legal proceedings relating to alleged conduct that took place before the Company acquired Novellus, Inc., including certain counterclaims against Novellus LLC, Novellus Inc., Factor Bioscience Inc., Christopher Rohde, Matthew Angel and the Company (the “Counterclaim Defendants”).

 

On July 31, 2024, Counterclaim Defendants and Sowyrda informed the Court that they had reached a settlement and requested that all claims pending between them be dismissed with prejudice, and on August 9, 2024, the Court approved the motion for approval of dismissal of all such claims with prejudice. On April 22, 2025, Counterclaim Defendants and Westman reached a confidential settlement with an effective date of April 30, 2025. After the effective date and assuming all of the agreement’s conditions are met, the parties will cooperate to effect the filing of a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice. The Company accrued approximately $0.2 million for this matter as of December 31, 2024 and did not adjust this accrual as of March 31, 2025 because such change was immaterial and will be recorded in Q2 2025.

 

Licensing Agreements

 

On September 24, 2024, the Company entered into the Factor L&C Agreement. See Note 13 for details of this agreement.

 

Retirement Savings Plan

 

The Company established a defined contribution plan, organized under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows employees to defer up to 90% of their pay on a pre-tax basis. The Company matches employees’ contributions at a rate of 100% of the first 3% of the employee’s contribution and 50% of the next 2% of the employee’s contribution, for a maximum Company match of 4%.