MultiPlan Corp

Current report

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Current report

We operate in a litigious environment which may adversely affect our financial results.

Current report

We may, and in the past have, become involved in legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, including litigation regarding employment matters, breach of contract, violations of laws and regulations, and other commercial matters. Further, we are the subject of government investigations from time to time. Due to the inherent uncertainty in the litigation process, the resolution of any particular legal proceeding could result in changes to our products and business practices and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

Current report

Healthcare providers have become more resistant to the use of cost management techniques and are engaging in litigation to avoid application of cost management practices. Litigation brought by healthcare providers as well as client members has challenged insurers' claims adjudication and reimbursement decisions, and healthcare cost management providers, such as MultiPlan, are sometimes made party to such suits or involved in related litigation. Further, MultiPlan may be, and has been in the past, made party to such lawsuits or litigation may be brought independently against MultiPlan under various legal bases, including, breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, antitrust, or violations of ERISA or RICO, and may be made under other legal bases or theories in the future. Such litigation is increasingly brought involving multiple parties, multiple claims or on a class-wide basis. We and our subsidiaries have and may, in the future, become involved in such litigation.

Current report

For example and relating to litigation on the basis of the violation of antitrust laws, the Company has been named in numerous federal lawsuits asserting that, among other things, the Company is conspiring with commercial health insurance payors to suppress out of network reimbursements in violation of applicable antitrust law. These lawsuits have been filed in the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Northern District of California, naming the Company and, in certain cases, certain payors, as defendants. The lawsuits are in the process of being centralized in the Northern District of Illinois pursuant to a transfer order issued by the federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. We believe these lawsuits are without merit and intend to vigorously defend the Company.

Current report

Because we operate in an industry that is highly-regulated and where such regulations are continuously evolving, we cannot assure you that new federal and state laws and regulations or other changes that adversely impact healthcare providers or insurers will not lead to increased litigation risk to us and other cost management providers and insurers. Exacerbating this risk is that many healthcare providers and insurers have greater financial resources than us and other healthcare cost management providers have and may be more willing to engage in, and devote resources to, litigation as a result. In addition, certain of the agreements we enter into include indemnification provisions that may subject us to costs and damages in the event of a claim against an indemnified party.

Current report

We maintain insurance coverage for certain types of claims; however, such insurance coverage may not apply or may be insufficient to cover all losses or all types of claims that may arise. Further, even if we were to prevail in any particular dispute, litigation could be costly and time-consuming and divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations.

Current report

Lawsuits of the types set out above could materially adversely affect our result, especially if they proliferate. In addition, such lawsuits may affect our customers' use of our products and services, especially our cost management products and services.