Commitments and Contingencies The Company and the companies in which it holds ownership interests are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the current opinion of the Company, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial position or results of operations, however, no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these actions, and one or more adverse rulings could have a material adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial position and results of operations or that of its companies. The Company records costs associated with legal fees as such services are rendered. The Company had outstanding guarantees of $3.8 million at December 31, 2019 which related to one of the Company's private equity holdings. In October 2001, the Company entered into an agreement with a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, to provide for annual payments of $0.65 million per year and certain health care and other benefits for life. The former executive passed away in 2019. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $1.7 million gain in Other income (loss) which also eliminated the remaining projected benefits related to this agreement that were previously included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has agreements with certain employees that provide for severance payments to the employee in the event the employee is terminated without cause or an employee terminates his employment for good reason. The maximum aggregate exposure under severance agreements for remaining employees is approximately $4.0 million at December 31, 2019 . In 2018, the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Company adopted a long-term incentive plan, which was amended in February 2019, the Amended and Restated Safeguard Scientifics Transaction Bonus Plan (the LTIP). The purpose of the LTIP is to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing an additional incentive to employees to maximize the value of the Company in connection with the execution of the business strategy that the Company adopted and announced in January 2018. Under the LTIP, participants have received awards that may result in cash payments in connection with sales of the Companys ownership interests (Sale Transaction(s)). The LTIP provides for a bonus pool corresponding to: (i) specified vesting thresholds or (ii) specified events. In the first case, the bonus pool will range from an amount equal to 1% of received proceeds at the first threshold to 1.333% at higher thresholds and no bonus pool will be created if the transaction consideration is less than certain minimum thresholds. In the second case, a minimum pool will be created and paid under specified circumstances. The bonus pool will be allocated and paid to participants in the LTIP based on the product of (i) the participants applicable bonus pool percentage and (ii) the bonus pool calculated as of the vesting date, minus any previously paid portion of the bonus pool. Any portion of the bonus pool available as of the applicable vesting date that is reserved will be allocated in connection with each vesting date so that the entire bonus pool available as of such vesting date is allocated and payable to participants. Subject to the terms of the LTIP, payments under the LTIP will be paid in cash not later than March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year of the applicable vesting date. All current officers and employees of the Company are eligible to participate in the LTIP. The Board, in its sole discretion, will determine the participants to whom awards are granted under the LTIP. The Company has accrued approximately $0.5 million under the LTIP as of December 31, 2019. In June 2011, Advanced BioHealing, Inc. (ABH) was acquired by Shire plc (Shire). Prior to the expiration of the escrow period in March 2012, Shire filed a claim against all amounts held in escrow related to the sale based principally upon a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) false claims act investigation relating to ABH (the Investigation). In connection with the Investigation, in July 2015 the Company received a Civil Investigation Demand-Documentary Material (CID) from the DOJ regarding ABH and Safeguards relationship with ABH. Pursuant to the CID, the Company provided the requested materials and information. To the Companys knowledge, the CID was related to multiple qui tam (whistleblower) actions, one of which was filed in 2014 by an ex-employee of ABH that named the Company and one of the Companys employees along with other entities and individuals as defendants. At this time, the DOJ has declined to pursue the qui tam action as it relates to the Company and such Company employee. In addition, in connection with the above matters, the Company and other former equity holders in ABH entered into a settlement and release with Shire, which resulted in the release to Shire of all amounts held in escrow related to the sale of ABH. In November 2019, the Company engaged a consultant to assist with certain strategic, operational and financial projects through March 31, 2020. In addition to certain cash compensation, the Company, at its sole discretion, may issue up to 8,000 unrestricted shares to the consultant as bonus compensation.