HF Foods Group Inc.HFFG
HF Foods Group Inc. Commitments Disclosure
Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. When the Company becomes aware of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company records loss contingencies in its financial statements only for matters in which losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the minimum estimated liability. If the loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the specific claim if the likelihood of a potential loss is reasonably possible and the amount involved is material. The Company continuously assesses the potential liability related to its pending litigation and revises its estimates when additional information becomes available. Adverse outcomes in some or all of these matters may result in significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against the Company that could adversely affect its ability to conduct business. There also exists the possibility of a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements for the period in which the effect of an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable. Legal costs associated with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.
On June 6, 2024, the SEC announced that it had accepted an Offer of Settlement submitted by the Company in order to resolve the previously disclosed formal, non-public SEC investigation of allegations that the Company and certain of its former directors and officers violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by making allegedly false and misleading statements. Under the settlement, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings in this matter, the Company consented to the entry of an administrative civil cease-and-desist order by the SEC (the “Order”) with respect to violations of Sections 17(a) of the Securities Act, and of Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B), and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-11, 13a-13, 13a-15(a), and 14a-9 thereunder, resulting from the materially false and misleading disclosures and other fraudulent conduct implemented by its former Chairman and CEO Zhou Min Ni and former CFO Jian Ming “Jonathan” Ni. During the quarter ended June 30, 2024 the Company agreed to and paid a civil monetary penalty of $3.9 million, which was recorded in other expense (income), net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The Order states that, in determining to accept the Company’s Offer of Settlement, the SEC considered the numerous remedial actions promptly undertaken by the Company and its cooperation during the investigation. The Company’s resolution follows charges brought by the SEC against the two former executives in a District Court action filed on June 3, 2024. As a result of the SEC’s district court complaint against them, the two former executives agreed to pay civil fines and disgorgement, and agreed to be subject to officer and director bars. Zhou Min Ni also agreed to a conduct-based injunction which enjoins him from directly or indirectly participating in the management of, or otherwise exercising any control of influence over the Company. The Special Litigation Committee of the Board of Directors previously obtained a monetary settlement from the former executives that was ratified by the Delaware Chancery Court.
AnHeart Lease Matter
In connection with lease arrangements relating to properties located at 273 Fifth Avenue and 275 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York, (see Note 6 - Leases for details) the Company previously guaranteed certain obligations of AnHeart, Inc. under those leases. Following AnHeart’s default under the 275 Fifth Avenue lease in 2022, the Company performed under its guaranty and pursued remedies to recover amounts it believes are owed under contractual and related arrangements.
On February 25, 2022, the Company initiated legal proceedings against AnHeart, Inc. and Minsheng Pharmaceutical Group Company, Ltd. (“Minsheng”), who in 2019 executed on behalf of AnHeart, an unconditional guaranty of all liabilities arising from the leases, in favor of the Company. In March 2022, that proceeding was stayed in connection with certain payment commitments being made by AnHeart. After such payment commitments were not satisfied, the Company commenced a new action in New York County Supreme Court on October 25, 2023 against AnHeart and Minsheng seeking recovery of amounts alleged to be due under the relevant arrangements. The parties subsequently entered into a settlement arrangement providing for specified monthly payments through December 2025, after which regular monthly rental payments were to resume in accordance with the applicable lease terms.
The Company continues to evaluate and pursue its rights and remedies with respect to these matters. The ultimate outcome cannot be predicted with certainty. Based on information currently available, management does not believe that the resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Other Commitments
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had additional automobile leases that had not yet commenced which total $0.8 million in future minimum lease payments.
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Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 16, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 17, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Mar 26, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 31, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Jan 31, 2023 | |
| 2020 | Mar 16, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Mar 16, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Apr 1, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Mar 29, 2018 | |
About Commitments Disclosures
Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.
Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.