NOTE 12 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Employment Agreements

The Company has employment agreements in place for certain members of management. These employment agreements which include severance arrangements, are for periods ranging from one to two years and contain certain provisions for severance payments in the event of termination or change of control.

Leases

The Company entered into a ten-year lease in April 2004 for its 17,600-square foot cGMP/cGTP compliant corporate headquarters in Oldsmar, Florida. This facility contains the Company’s executive offices, its conference and training center, its laboratory processing and cryogenic storage facility and its scientific offices. In July 2018, the Company extended the main lease through December 31, 2021 for the 17,600 square foot space. On January 11, 2021, the Company extended the main lease through December 31, 2024 for the 17,600 square foot space. On May 2, 2023, the Company extended this lease through December 31, 2026.

The Company entered into a one-year lease in November 2013 for an additional 800 square feet of office space in Miami, Florida for annual rent of approximately $38,000. The lease commenced during December 2013. In December 2016, the Company extended the lease through December 31, 2019. In April 2021, the Company extended the lease through April 30, 2023.

The Company entered into a one-year lease in July 2023 for an additional 800 square feet of office space in Miami, Florida for annual rent of approximately $48,000. The lease commenced during July 2023.

Rent charged to operations was $400,716 and $346,097 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and is included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Legal Proceedings

On January 6, 2023, a complaint styled Lindsey Lehr v. Cryo-Cell International, Inc., Case No. 50-2023-CA-000091, was filed in the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County, Florida, naming the Company as defendant and asserting claims on behalf of a putative class of individuals who entered agreements with the Company for umbilical cord blood storage services since May 2018. The complaint alleged that the Company’s advertising does not accurately represent the value and efficacy of its services and asserted claims (and sought unspecified damages) under Florida law. On March 14, 2023, the Company removed the case to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Case No. 9:23-cv-80405-AMC), and on March 21, 2023, moved to compel arbitration and stay the case. On October 10, 2023, the Court granted the Company’s motion to compel arbitration and stayed the case. On October 27, 2023, the plaintiff filed a demand for arbitration and statement of claims with the American Arbitration Association, and on January 18, 2024, the plaintiff filed an amended statement of claims dropping her class action allegations against the Company. The Company has not yet responded to the plaintiff’s claims. The Company believes the plaintiff’s claims are unlikely to prevail and intends to contest the action vigorously. The Company believes that the resolution of this matter should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, consolidated financial position or results of operations. It is possible, however, that there could be an unfavorable outcome or resolution of the claims asserted, which could negatively and materially impact the Company’s business, consolidated financial position and results of operations. Litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail. The Company does not include an estimate of legal fees and other related defense costs in its estimate of loss contingencies.

In addition to the above lawsuit, from time to time, the Company is subject to proceedings, lawsuits, contract disputes and other claims in the normal course of its business.