9. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company has entered into operating leases for its corporate headquarters and company owned and operated restaurants. For the Successor period, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, rent expense under these leases was approximately $1,020,000 and $2,752,000, respectively. For the Predecessor period, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, rent expense for these leases was approximately $881,000 and $2,196,000, respectively. These lease agreements expire on various dates through 2032 and have renewal options. Approximate future minimum payments on these operating leases as of September 30, 2021 are as follows (in thousands):

Sale Commitment

In February 2020, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with an unrelated third party for the sale of substantially all of the assets of one of our corporate owned restaurants for an aggregate purchase price of $1,299,000. During January 2020 to April 2020, the Company received three cash deposits totaling $906,500 in connection with this transaction. The closing of this transaction has been delayed due to additional negotiation that has been on-going through the filing date of this report. In the event the transaction is terminated, the Company will begin operating the restaurant, and return the $906,500 to the unrelated third-party purchaser. Assets used in the operations of such restaurant totaling $732,000 have been classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 condensed consolidated balance sheets, respectively.

Contingencies

BurgerFi International, LLC filed a lawsuit against a franchisee and its principals seeking declaratory judgments and damages in an amount to be proven at trial for various breaches of the applicable franchise agreements resulting from the defendants’ closure of a restaurant, their failure to open a second restaurant, and their operational defaults at the closed restaurant. In April 2016, the defendants filed a counterclaim, asserting that they had no responsibility for their losses, and instead, alleged that the Company engaged in breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, conversion in connection with the operation of the restaurant, and various other allegations, seeking damages of over $5 million. The case is pending before the court. On December 30, 2016, the court stayed the case pending the resolution of bankruptcy filings made by some of the defendants. No further action has occurred. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the action at this time. As a result, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss for this action and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action. The Company does not believe this claim will result in a material unfavorable outcome.

On December 1, 2019, a complaint was filed by a former officer of the Company (“Plaintiff”) against BurgerFi International, LLC for certain alleged breaches of an employment agreement. BurgerFi International, LLC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on February 13, 2020. On May 20, 2020, the motion to dismiss was heard being granted in part and denied in part. The portion of the complaint not dismissed was answered by BurgerFi International, LLC with affirmative defenses raised on July 7, 2020. Plaintiff served various discovery requests (including notices of non-party subpoenas) on July 9, 2020 as well as a motion to strike BurgerFi International, LLC’s affirmative defenses on July 16, 2020. BurgerFi International, LLC filed objections to the non-party subpoenas on July 20, 2020. On September 11, 2020, a motion to dismiss was heard by the court and certain claims were dismissed. The complaint now involves claims for alleged Breach of Contract (Count I) and alleged Action for Equitable Relief Including an Accounting and Constructive Lien (Count II). Mediation was held on June 15, 2021, but the parties were not able to come to an agreement. Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint on August 31. BurgerFi International, LLC filed an Answer and Affirmative Defense to the Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint on September 30, 2021 and discovery is ongoing between the parties. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the action at this time. As a result, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss for this action and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action. The Company does not believe this claim will result in a material unfavorable outcome.

On July 8, 2020, the Company received a letter from an attorney hired on behalf of a former employee of the Company. This former employee was terminated for cause on May 5, 2020. This letter claims that the former employee was terminated wrongfully by the Company. The Company has reported the claim to its insurance carrier and outside counsel has been retained. Our counsel sent a letter to this former employee’s attorney denying all claims and the parties met for mediation on September 4, 2020 but were unable to resolve this matter. On June 28, 2021, the Company was advised that this former employee filed suit, and on August 2, 2021, the Company accepted service of this lawsuit. On September 24, 2021, the Company moved to dismiss former employee’s complaint for failing to state a claim. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the action at this time. As a result, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss for this action and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action. The Company does not believe this claim will result in a material unfavorable outcome.

On March 22, 2021, the Company received a letter from an attorney representing the franchisee that is in the process of purchasing a BurgerFi restaurant. The letter was sent in response to the Company’s demand letter to the franchisee requesting that he pays the balance of the purchase price and execute the franchise agreement that permits the operation of the restaurant. The franchisee has refused to do both and is now claiming that the purchase price was verbally lowered. In addition, the franchisee attorney’s letter claims that the Company owes his client monies resulting from the franchisees’ purchase of equipment in reliance on the Company’s supposed verbal representation to use the franchisees’ marketing services. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the action at this time. As a result, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss for this action and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action. The Company does not believe this claim will result in a material unfavorable outcome.

In June 2021, the Company received a letter from a shareholder claiming a breach of a registration rights agreement.  The shareholder claims that the Company violated the terms of the agreement and that this caused it to incur damages, including lost profits. The Company has denied any breach or liability. The Company intends to defend the case vigorously if a resolution cannot be reached and the shareholder initiates litigation. At this preliminary stage, it is difficult to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or a reasonable estimate of the amount or range of potential loss, and accordingly the Company has not accrued any liability associated with this action.

The Company is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise during the normal course of business. Management believes that any liability, in excess of applicable insurance coverages or accruals, which may result from these claims, would not be significant to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.