Burford Capital (NYSE: BUR) hit by YPF reversal, posts sharp Q1 2026 loss
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
10-Q
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Burford Capital Limited reported a sharp swing to a large loss for the three months ended March 31, 2026, driven by a reversal in its largest litigation asset. Total revenues were a negative $1,720,374 thousand, compared with positive $118,859 thousand a year earlier, as capital provision income turned into a $2,498,765 thousand loss.
This included a $2.4 billion capital provision loss tied to the YPF Judgment Reversal, which slashed the fair value of YPF-related assets and cut total capital provision assets to $3,120,499 thousand from $5,609,949 thousand at year-end 2025. Net loss attributable to shareholders was $1,632,069 thousand, or $7.46 per basic and diluted share, versus net income of $30,929 thousand, or $0.14 per share, in the prior-year quarter.
Total assets fell to $4,269,593 thousand from $6,641,172 thousand, and Burford Capital Limited equity dropped to $827,926 thousand from $2,448,022 thousand. Despite this, cash and cash equivalents rose to $702,576 thousand, supported by the issuance of $500,000 thousand of 8.50% senior notes due 2034 and the redemption of the 5.000% bonds due 2026, leaving debt payable at $2,401,757 thousand.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- YPF-related write-down: A capital provision loss of $ 2.4 billion from the YPF Judgment Reversal drove total capital provision income to a loss of $ 2,498,765 thousand and significantly reduced capital provision assets and equity.
- Large net loss and equity reduction: Net loss attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders was $ 1,632,069 thousand (basic and diluted loss of $ 7.46 per share), and Burford Capital Limited equity fell from $ 2,448,022 thousand at December 31, 2025 to $ 827,926 thousand at March 31, 2026.
Insights
Massive YPF-related write-down drives a large quarterly loss and reshapes Burford’s balance sheet.
Burford Capital’s Q1 2026 results are dominated by the $2.4 billion capital provision loss from the YPF Judgment Reversal. This pushed capital provision income to a loss of $2,498,765 thousand and turned total revenues to a negative $1,720,374 thousand, compared with positive revenues in Q1 2025.
The write-down cut capital provision assets to $3,120,499 thousand from $5,609,949 thousand at December 31, 2025, and reduced Burford Capital Limited equity to $827,926 thousand. Net loss attributable to shareholders was $1,632,069 thousand, or $7.46 per share, versus prior-year profit, highlighting how concentrated YPF-related exposure was.
Liquidity strengthened through the issuance of $500,000 thousand of 8.50% senior notes due 2034, lifting cash and cash equivalents to $702,576 thousand while redeeming the 5.000% bonds due 2026. Finance costs increased to $49,642 thousand, and operating cash flow swung to a use of cash, indicating that future periods will be important for understanding performance of the remaining portfolio and the ongoing cost of higher-coupon debt.
Key Figures
Total revenues: $ ( 1,720,374 ) thousand
Net income/(loss): $ ( 1,633,147 ) thousand
Capital provision loss from YPF Judgment Reversal: $ 2.4 billion
+5 more
8 metrics
Total revenues
$ ( 1,720,374 ) thousand
Three months ended March 31, 2026
Net income/(loss)
$ ( 1,633,147 ) thousand
Three months ended March 31, 2026
Capital provision loss from YPF Judgment Reversal
$ 2.4 billion
Included in capital provision income/(loss) for Q1 2026
Capital provision assets
$ 3,120,499 thousand
Balance at March 31, 2026
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 702,576 thousand
Balance at March 31, 2026
Debt payable
$ 2,401,757 thousand
Balance at March 31, 2026
Net income/(loss) per share
$ ( 7.46 ) basic and diluted
Three months ended March 31, 2026
Total Burford Capital Limited equity
$ 827,926 thousand
Balance at March 31, 2026
Key Terms
capital provision assets, non-GAAP financial measures, tangible book value, internal rate of return, +2 more
6 terms
capital provision assets financial
"Capital provision assets are financial instruments that relate to the provision of capital in connection with legal finance"
non-GAAP financial measures financial
"In addition to presenting our results on a consolidated basis in accordance with US GAAP, we use Burford-only financial measures, which are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with US GAAP"
Non-GAAP financial measures are numbers companies use to show their financial performance that exclude certain expenses or income. They help investors see how the company might perform without one-time costs or other unusual items, giving a different perspective from official reports. However, since they can be adjusted, they don’t always tell the full story and should be looked at alongside standard financial figures.
tangible book value financial
"Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited is calculated by subtracting intangible assets (such as goodwill) from total Burford Capital Limited equity"
Tangible book value is the accounting measure of a company’s net worth after removing intangible items like goodwill, patents and trademarks, leaving only physical and financial assets minus liabilities. For investors it offers a clearer view of the company’s hard-asset backing per share—like estimating the cash you could get by selling the furniture, machinery and cash in a house—helping gauge downside risk and whether a stock may be cheaply valued.
internal rate of return financial
"Internal rate of return (“IRR”) is a discount rate that makes the net present value of a series of cash flows equal to zero"
A percentage that represents the annualized yield an investment would earn, taking into account the timing and amount of all cash inflows and outflows; mathematically it is the rate that makes the discounted sum of future cash flows equal the initial cost. Investors use it to compare different projects or deals the way they compare interest rates — a higher internal rate of return suggests a stronger potential payoff, but it does not by itself show risk, scale, or timing nuances.
variable interest entities financial
"VIEs are entities that, by design, either (i) lack sufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support"
A variable interest entity (VIE) is a business that a company controls through contracts or special arrangements instead of owning a majority of its shares, like steering a puppet without holding its ticket. Investors care because these arrangements can hide who really bears the financial risks and rewards, affect how assets and liabilities appear on financial statements, and create extra legal or enforcement uncertainty that can change the value and risk of an investment.
fair value hierarchy financial
"US GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework that prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value"
Earnings Snapshot
Total revenues: $ ( 1,720,374 ) thousand
Q1 2026
Total revenues
$ ( 1,720,374 ) thousand
Net income/(loss) attributable to shareholders
$ ( 1,632,069 ) thousand
Net income/(loss) per diluted share
$ ( 7.46 )
Capital provision income/(loss)
$ ( 2,498,765 ) thousand
Table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
FORM 10-Q
_________________________
(Mark one)
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026
OR
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-39511
_________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_________________________
| N/A | ||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. employer identification no.) | |||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) | |||||||
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
___________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Ordinary shares, no par value | BUR | London Stock Exchange AIM | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| x | Accelerated filer | o | ||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of May 1, 2026, there were 219,069,315 ordinary shares, no par value (“ordinary shares”), outstanding.
Table of contents
Table of contents
| Page | |||||
Part I. Financial information | 10 | ||||
Item 1. Financial statements | 10 | ||||
Item 2. Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations | 40 | ||||
Statements of operations and Statements of financial condition | 42 | ||||
Fair value of capital provision assets and Undrawn commitments | 46 | ||||
Segments | 47 | ||||
Liquidity and capital resources and Off-balance sheet arrangements | 61 | ||||
Critical accounting estimates and Reconciliations | 66 | ||||
Item 3. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk | 72 | ||||
Item 4. Controls and procedures | 76 | ||||
Part II. Other information | 76 | ||||
Item 1. Legal proceedings | 76 | ||||
Item 1A. Risk factors | 76 | ||||
Item 2. Unregistered sales of equity securities and use of proceeds | 77 | ||||
Item 3. Defaults upon senior securities | 77 | ||||
Item 4. Mine safety disclosures | 77 | ||||
Item 5. Other information | 77 | ||||
Item 6. Exhibits | 78 | ||||
Signatures | 80 | ||||
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Forward-looking statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2026 (this “Form 10-Q”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under these sections. In some cases, words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “guidance”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “projected”, “should” or “will”, or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future results and events reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis and are expressed in good faith, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from (and be more negative than) future results and events expressed, projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause future results and events to differ include, among others, the following:
▪Adverse litigation outcomes and timing of resolution of litigation matters
▪Our ability to identify and select suitable legal finance assets
▪Improper use or disclosure of, or access to, privileged information, intellectual property or litigation or business strategy due to cybersecurity breaches, unauthorized use or theft
▪Inaccuracy or failure of the probabilistic model and decision science tools, including machine learning technology and generative artificial intelligence (collectively, “AI technologies”), we use to predict the returns on our legal finance assets and in our operations
▪Changes and uncertainty in laws, regulations and rules relating to the legal finance industry, including those relating to privileged information and/or disclosure and enforceability of legal finance arrangements
▪Inadequacies in our due diligence process or unforeseen developments
▪Credit risk and concentration risk relating to our legal finance assets
▪Lack of liquidity of our legal finance assets and commitments in excess of our available capital
▪Our ability to obtain attractive external capital, refinance our outstanding indebtedness or raise capital to meet our liquidity needs
▪Competitive factors and demand for our services and capital
▪Failure of lawyers who prosecute and/or defend claims that we have financed to exercise due skill and care or the misalignment of their interests or those of their clients with ours
▪Poor performance by the commitments we make on behalf of our private funds
▪Negative publicity about or public perception of the legal finance industry or us
▪Valuation uncertainty with respect to the fair value of our capital provision assets
▪Current and future legal, political and economic factors, including uncertainty surrounding the effects, severity and duration of public health threats and/or military actions
▪Developments in AI technologies and expectations relating to environmental, social and governance considerations
▪Potential liability from litigation and legal proceedings against us
▪Our ability to hire and retain key personnel
▪Risks relating to our international operations as a result of differing legal and regulatory requirements, political, social and economic conditions and unforeseeable developments
▪Exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
▪Uncertainty relating to the tax treatment of our financing arrangements
▪Information systems risks or improper functioning of our information systems or those of our third-party service providers
▪Failure of our third-party service providers to fulfill their obligations or misconduct by our third-party service providers
▪Failure by us to maintain the privacy and security of personal information and comply with applicable data privacy and protection laws and regulations
▪Failure by us to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or effective disclosure controls and procedures
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▪Failure by us to comply with the requirements of being a US domestic public company and the costs associated therewith
▪Certain risks relating to our incorporation in Guernsey
▪Other factors discussed under “Risk factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “2025 Form 10-K”)
These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements contained in this Form 10-Q, the 2025 Form 10-K and other periodic and current reports that we file with or furnish to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict, and new factors emerge from time to time. Furthermore, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Glossary
In this Form 10-Q, references to “Burford”, “we”, “us” or “our” refer to Burford Capital Limited and its subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
Certain additional terms used in this Form 10-Q are set forth below:
Advantage Fund
Burford Advantage Master Fund LP, a private fund focused on pre-settlement litigation strategies where litigation risk remains, but where the overall risk return profile is generally lower than assets financed directly by our balance sheet. Investors in the Advantage Fund include third parties as well as Burford’s balance sheet. Assets held by the Advantage Fund are recorded as capital provision assets.
Asset management
Includes our activities administering the private funds we manage for third-party investors.
Asset Management and Other Services segment
One of our two reportable segments. Asset Management and Other Services segment manages legal finance assets on behalf of third-party investors through private funds and provides other services to the legal industry.
Asset recovery
Pursuit of enforcement of an unpaid legal judgment, which may include our financing of the cost of such pursuit and/or judgment enforcement.
BAIF
Burford Alternative Income Fund LP, a private fund focused on post-settlement matters.
BAIF II
Burford Alternative Income Fund II LP, a private fund focused on post-settlement matters.
BCIM
Burford Capital Investment Management LLC, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Burford Capital Limited, serves as the investment adviser to all of our private funds and is registered under the US Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Advisers Act”).
BOF
Burford Opportunity Fund LP, a private fund focused on pre-settlement legal finance matters.
BOF-C
Burford Opportunity Fund C LP, a private fund through which a sovereign wealth fund invests in pre-settlement legal finance matters under the sovereign wealth fund arrangement.
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Burford-only (non-GAAP)
A basis of presentation that refers to assets, liabilities and activities that pertain only to Burford on a proprietary basis, excluding any third-party interests and the portions of jointly owned entities owned by others.
Capital provision assets
Financial instruments that relate to the provision of capital in connection with legal finance.
Claimant or plaintiff
The party asserting a right or title in a legal proceeding.
Colorado
Colorado Investments Limited, an exempted company that was established for the secondary sale of some of our entitlement in the YPF-related Petersen matter.
COLP
BCIM Credit Opportunities, LP, a private fund focused on post-settlement matters.
Consolidated funds
Certain of our private funds in which, because of our investment in and/or control of such private funds, we are required under the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”) to consolidate the minority limited partner’s interests in such private funds and include the full financial results of such private funds within our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, BOF-C and the Advantage Fund are consolidated funds.
Defendant or respondent
The party against whom a civil action is brought in a legal proceeding.
Deployment
Financing provided for an asset or other additions on consolidation, which add to our deployed cost in such asset.
Definitive commitments
Commitments where we are contractually obligated to advance incremental capital and failure to do so would typically result in adverse contractual consequences (such as a dilution in our returns or the loss of our deployed capital in a case).
Discretionary commitments
Commitments where we are not contractually obligated to advance capital and generally would not suffer adverse financial consequences from not doing so.
EP Funds
Eton Park Fund LP, Eton Park Overseas Fund Limited and Eton Park Master Fund Limited are entities that are plaintiffs in the YPF matter and with which we have a variety of relationships and entitlements.
Fair value adjustment
The amount of unrealized gain or loss recognized in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations in the relevant period and added to or subtracted from, as applicable, the asset or liability value in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Group-wide
A basis of presentation that refers to the totality of assets managed by us, which includes assets financed by our balance sheet through our Principal Finance segment and assets funded by third parties through our Asset Management and Other Services segment.
Judgment debtor
A party against whom there is a final adverse court award.
Judgment enforcement
The activity of using legal and financial strategies to force a judgment debtor to pay an adverse award made by a court.
Legal finance
The provision of capital against the underlying value of litigation and legal assets.
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Legal risk management
Relates to matters where we provide some form of legal risk arrangement, such as an indemnity or insurance for adverse legal costs. These services are typically provided in conjunction with the financing of a legal finance asset.
Litigation
We use the term litigation colloquially to refer to any type of matter involved in the litigation, arbitration or regulatory process and the costs and legal fees associated therewith.
LTIP
The Burford Capital 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and renewed from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.
Monetization
The acceleration of a portion of the expected value of a litigation or arbitration matter prior to resolution of such matter, which permits a client to convert an intangible claim or award into tangible cash on a non-recourse basis.
NED Plan
The Burford Capital Limited 2021 Non‐Employee Directors’ Share Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.
Net realized gain or loss
The sum of realized gains and realized losses.
Non-consolidated funds
Certain of our private funds that we are not required to include within our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements but include within group-wide data. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, (i) BCIM Partners II, LP, (ii) BCIM Partners III, LP, (iii) COLP, (iv) BOF, (v) BAIF and (vi) BAIF II and any “sidecar” funds are non-consolidated funds.
NQDC Plan
The Burford Capital Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.
OICP
The Burford Capital Limited 2025 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.
Post-settlement
Includes our financing of legal-related assets in situations where litigation has been resolved, such as financing of settlements and law firm receivables. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, our post settlement activity occurs primarily in COLP, BAIF and BAIF II.
Principal Finance segment
One of our two reportable segments. Principal Finance segment includes the allocation of capital to legal finance assets from our balance sheet, primarily as capital provision assets, and in limited scope through interests in private funds managed by us.
Privileged information
Confidential information that is protected from disclosure due to the application of a legal privilege or other doctrine, including attorney work product, depending on the laws of the relevant jurisdiction.
PSUs
Performance share units awarded to employees under the OICP or the LTIP, as applicable.
Realization
A legal finance asset is realized when the asset is concluded (i.e., when litigation risk has been resolved). A realization will result in us receiving cash or, occasionally, non-cash assets, or recognizing a due from settlement receivable, reflecting what we are owed on the asset.
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Realized gain or loss
Reflects the total amount of gain or loss, relative to cost, generated by a legal finance asset when it is realized, calculated as realized proceeds less deployed cost, without regard for any previously recognized fair value adjustment.
RSUs
Restricted share units awarded to employees under the OICP or the LTIP, as applicable.
Share-based awards
The total of RSUs and PSUs awarded to employees under the OICP or the LTIP, as applicable.
Sovereign wealth fund arrangement
The agreement we have entered into with a sovereign wealth fund pursuant to which it provides financing for a portion of our legal finance assets through BOF-C. Under this agreement, we (in our capacity as the appointed investment adviser) receive reimbursement of expenses from BOF-C up to a certain level before we or the sovereign wealth fund, as applicable, receive a return of capital. After the repayment of capital, we then receive a portion of the return generated from the assets held by BOF-C, which is reported as profit sharing income from private funds.
Total segments
Refers to the sum of our two reportable segments, (i) Principal Finance and (ii) Asset Management and Other Services, and is presented on a Burford-only basis.
Unrealized gain or loss
Represents the fair value of our legal finance assets over or under their deployed cost, as determined in accordance with the requirements of the applicable US GAAP standards, for the relevant financial reporting period (unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations) or cumulatively (unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition).
Vintage
Refers to the calendar year in which a legal finance commitment is initially made.
YPF-related assets
Refers to our Petersen and Eton Park legal finance assets, which are two claims relating to the Republic of Argentina’s nationalization of YPF S.A., the Argentine energy company.
Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs
Non-GAAP financial measures relating to our business structure
US GAAP requires us to present financial statements that consolidate some of the limited partner interests in private funds we manage as well as assets held on our balance sheet where we have a partner or minority investor. See note 12 (Variable interest entities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information. We refer to this presentation as “consolidated”, which refers to assets, liabilities and activities that include those third-party interests, partially owned subsidiaries and special purpose vehicles that we are required to consolidate under US GAAP. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the major entities where there is also a third-party partner in, or owner of, those entities include BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and several other entities in which we hold investments where there is also a third-party partner in, or owner of, those entities.
Additionally, we believe it is useful to provide a view of Burford as a stand-alone business (i.e., eliminating the impact of these private funds) by furnishing information on a non-GAAP basis that eliminates the effect of this consolidation. We refer to this basis of presentation as “Burford-only”. Our segment reporting, which conveys the performance of our business across two reportable segments—Principal Finance and Asset Management and Other Services—is presented on a Burford-only basis. We refer to our segment reporting in the aggregate as “Total segments”. Disclosures labeled as “Total segments (Burford-only)” in this Form 10-Q are synonymous with similar disclosures labeled as “Burford-only” in prior reporting periods.
In addition to presenting our results on a consolidated basis in accordance with US GAAP, we use Burford-only financial measures, which are calculated and presented using methodologies other than in accordance with US GAAP, to supplement analysis and discussion of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Burford-only financial measures exclude the proportional assets, liabilities and operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners in our private funds, partners and minority investors. The presentation of Burford-only financial measures is consistent with how management measures and assesses the performance of our reportable segments. In addition, for deployments and realizations, we use adjusted Burford-only as a financial measure, which is calculated by adjusting Burford-only for certain items.
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Accordingly, we believe that Burford-only and adjusted Burford-only financial measures provide valuable and useful information to investors to aid in understanding our performance in addition to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Reconciliations” for the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP.
KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance
KPIs
This Form 10-Q presents certain unaudited key performance indicators (“KPIs”). The KPIs are presented because (i) we use them to monitor our financial condition and results of operations and/or (ii) we believe they are useful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties. The KPIs, as defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures as presented by other companies due to differences in the way the KPIs are calculated. Even though the KPIs are used to assess our financial condition and results of operations, and these types of measures are commonly used by investors, they have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, or superior to, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations prepared in accordance with US GAAP. Consistent with how management assesses our business, we also present certain of these KPIs on both a segment and a group-wide bases.
The presentation of the KPIs is for informational purposes only and does not purport to present what our actual financial condition or results of operations would have been, nor does it project our financial condition as of any future date or our results of operations for any future period. The presentation of the KPIs is based on information available as of the date of this Form 10-Q and certain assumptions and estimates that we believe are reasonable. Several of the KPIs measure certain performance of our assets to the end of the period and include concluded and partially concluded assets (as defined below).
In discussing cash returns and performance of our asset management business, we refer to several key performance indicators as set forth below:
▪Assets under management
Consistent with our status as an SEC-registered investment adviser, we report publicly on our asset management business on the basis of US regulatory assets under management (“AUM”). AUM, as we report it, means the fair value of the capital invested in private funds and individual capital vehicles plus the capital that we are entitled to call from investors in those private funds and vehicles pursuant to the terms of their respective capital commitments to those private funds and vehicles. Our AUM differs from our private funds’ contribution to our group-wide portfolio, which consists of deployed cost, fair value adjustments and undrawn commitments made on the legal finance assets those private funds have financed.
▪Concluded and partially concluded assets
A legal finance asset is “concluded” for our purposes when there is no longer any litigation risk remaining. We use the term to encompass (i) entirely concluded legal finance assets where we have received all proceeds to which we are entitled (net of any entirely concluded losses), (ii) partially concluded legal finance assets where we have received some proceeds (for example, from a settlement with one party in a multi-party case) but where the case is continuing with the possibility of receiving additional proceeds and (iii) legal finance assets where the underlying litigation has been resolved and there is a promise to pay proceeds in the future (for example, in a settlement that is to be paid over time).
▪Deployed cost
Deployed cost is the amount of financing we have provided for an asset at the applicable point in time.
For purposes of calculating returns, we must consider how to allocate the costs associated with an asset in the event of a partial conclusion. Our approach to cost allocation depends on the type of asset:
◦When single case assets have partial resolutions along the way without the entire case being resolved, most commonly because one party settles and the remaining part(y)/(ies) continue to litigate, we report the partial resolution when agreed as a partial realization and allocate a
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portion of the deployed cost to the partial resolution depending on the significance of the settling party to the overall claim.
◦In portfolio assets when a case (or part of a case) resolves or generates cash proceeds, we report the partial resolution when agreed as a partial realization and allocate a portion of the deployed cost to the resolution. The allocation depends on the structure of the individual portfolio arrangement and the significance of the resolution to the overall portfolio, but it is in essence a method that mimics the way an investor would allocate cost basis across a portfolio of security purchases.
▪Commitment
A commitment is the amount of financing we agree to provide for a legal finance asset. Commitments can be definitive (requiring us to provide financing on a schedule or, more often, when certain expenses are incurred) or discretionary (allowing us to provide financing after reviewing and approving a future matter). Commitments for which we have not yet provided financing are unfunded commitments.
▪Internal rate of return
Internal rate of return (“IRR”) is a discount rate that makes the net present value of a series of cash flows equal to zero and is expressed as a percentage figure. We compute IRR on concluded (including partially concluded) legal finance assets by treating that entire portfolio (or, when noted, a subset thereof) as one undifferentiated pool of capital and measuring actual and, if necessary, estimated inflows and outflows from that pool, allocating costs appropriately. IRRs do not include unrealized gains or losses.
▪Return on invested capital
Return on invested capital (“ROIC”) from a concluded asset is the absolute amount of realizations from such asset in excess of the amount of expenditure incurred in financing such asset divided by the amount of expenditure incurred, expressed as a percentage figure. ROIC is a measure of our ability to generate absolute returns on our assets. Some industry participants express returns on a multiple of invested capital (“MOIC”) instead of a ROIC basis. MOIC includes the return of capital and, therefore, is 1x higher than ROIC. In other words, 70% ROIC is the same as 1.70x MOIC.
▪Weighted average life
Weighted average life (“WAL”) of one of our legal finance assets represents the average length of time from deployment and/or cash outlay until we receive a cash realization (actual or, if necessary, estimated) from that asset weighted by the amount of that realization or deployment, as applicable. In other words, WAL is how long our asset is outstanding on average.
Unlike our IRR and ROIC calculations, using the aggregate cash flows from the portfolio in making our portfolio level computations will not readily work with WAL computations because our assets are originated in different timeframes. Instead, in calculating a portfolio WAL, we compute a weighted average of the individual asset WALs. In doing this, we weight the individual WALs by the costs deployed on the asset and also, as a separate calculation, by the amount of realizations on the individual assets.
▪Portfolio
Portfolio is defined as the sum of the fair values of capital provision assets plus the undrawn commitments to capital provision assets.
Non-GAAP financial measures
In addition to these measures of cash returns and performance of our asset management business, we also refer to cash receipts, tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share, which are non-GAAP financial measures:
▪Cash receipts
Cash receipts provide a measure of the cash that our capital provision and other assets generate during a given period as well as cash from certain other fees and income. In particular, cash receipts represent the cash generated from capital provision and other assets, including cash proceeds from realized or concluded assets and any related hedging assets, and cash received from asset management income, services and/or other income, before any deployments into financing existing or new assets.
Cash receipts are a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. The most
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directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP is proceeds from capital provision assets as set forth in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. We believe that cash receipts are an important measure of our operating and financial performance and are useful to management and investors when assessing the performance of our Burford-only capital provision assets. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Reconciliations—Cash receipts reconciliations” for a reconciliation of cash receipts to proceeds from capital provision assets, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP.
▪Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share
Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited is calculated by subtracting intangible assets (such as goodwill) from total Burford Capital Limited equity. Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share is calculated by dividing tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited by the total number of outstanding ordinary shares.
Each of tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. The most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP is total Burford Capital Limited equity as set forth in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. We believe that tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share are important measures of our financial condition and are useful to management and investors when assessing capital adequacy and our ability to generate earnings on tangible equity invested by our shareholders. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Reconciliations—Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share reconciliations” for reconciliations of tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share to total Burford Capital Limited equity, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP.
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Part I. Financial information
Item 1. Financial statements
BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Revenues | ||||||||||||||
| Capital provision income/(loss) | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets | ( | |||||||||||||
| Asset management income/(loss) | ||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities income/(loss) and interest | ||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | ( | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | ||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | ||||||||||||||
| Annual incentive compensation | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | ( | |||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation including accruals | ( | |||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | ||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | ( | |||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ( | |||||||||||||
| Operating income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | ( | |||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | ||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | ( | |||||||||||||
| Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders per ordinary share | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | ($ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | ($ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) (UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income/(loss) | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | ( | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||
| (Plus)/Less: Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | ( | |||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders | ( | |||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | (unaudited) | |||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | ||||||||||||||
| Other assets | ||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax asset | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Debt interest payable | ||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation payable | ||||||||||||||
| Debt payable | ||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liability | ||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 15) | ||||||||||||||
| Shareholders' equity | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; | ||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||
Treasury shares; | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||||||||
| Total Burford Capital Limited equity | ||||||||||||||
| Non-controlling interests | ||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | ||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | ||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Capital provision (income)/loss | ( | |||||||||||||
| (Income)/loss on marketable securities | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Other (income)/loss | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | ( | |||||||||||||
| Deferred tax (benefit)/expense | ( | |||||||||||||
| Other | ||||||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Deployments to capital provision assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from/(funding of) marketable securities | ( | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from/(payments of) other income | ( | |||||||||||||
| (Increase)/decrease in other assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Increase/(decrease) in other liabilities | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) on financial liability to third-party investment | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | ( | |||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisitions of equity method and other investments | ( | |||||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance, including original issue premium | ||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs | ( | |||||||||||||
| Debt extinguishment | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition of ordinary shares held in treasury | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Third-party net capital contribution/(distribution) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | ||||||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | |||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | ||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth supplemental disclosures to our statement of consolidated cash flows.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Cash received from interest and dividend income | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid for debt interest | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Cash received from income tax refund | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | Ordinary shares | Treasury shares | Ordinary shares | Treasury shares | Additional paid-in capital | Retained earnings | Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Total Burford Capital Limited equity | Non-controlling interests | Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | — | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of new ordinary shares to satisfy vested share-based awards | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of ordinary shares held in treasury | — | ( | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transfer of share-based awards and NQDC Plan matching awards on vesting | — | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third-party net capital contribution/(distribution) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of period | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | Ordinary shares | Treasury shares | Ordinary shares | Treasury shares | Additional paid-in capital | Retained earnings | Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Total Burford Capital Limited equity | Non-controlling interests | Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of ordinary shares held in treasury | — | ( | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third-party net capital contribution/(distribution) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of period | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. Organization
Burford Capital Limited (the “Company”) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively with the Company, the “Group”) provide legal finance products and services and are engaged in the asset management business.
The Company was incorporated as a company limited by shares under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008, as amended, on September 11, 2009. The Company has a single class of ordinary shares, which commenced trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange, in October 2009 and on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2020, in each case, under the symbol “BUR”. The Company’s subsidiary has issued unregistered senior notes in private placement transactions pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X as well as in accordance with US GAAP and reflect all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim period. Certain disclosures included in the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 contained in the 2025 Form 10-K have been condensed in, or omitted from, the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 contained in this Form 10-Q. The Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2026 and for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 should be read in conjunction with the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained in the 2025 Form 10-K.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, in each case, as of the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, among others, the valuation of capital provision assets (which requires the use of Level 3 valuation inputs) and other financial instruments, the measurement of deferred tax balances (including valuation allowances) and the accounting for goodwill. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material.
Consolidation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of (i) the Company, (ii) its wholly owned or majority owned subsidiaries, (iii) the consolidated entities that are considered to be variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary and (iv) certain entities that are not considered VIEs but that the Company controls through a majority voting interest.
In connection with private funds and other related entities where the Group does not own 100% of the relevant entity, the Group makes judgments about whether it is required to consolidate such entities by applying the factors set forth in US GAAP for VIEs or voting interest entities under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810—Consolidation.
VIEs are entities that, by design, either (i) lack sufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, (ii) have equity investors that (A) do not have the ability to make significant decisions relating to the entity’s operations through voting rights, (B) do not have the obligation to absorb the expected losses or (C) do not have the right to receive the residual returns of the entity or (iii) have equity investors’ voting rights that are not proportional to the economics, and substantially all of the activities of the entity either involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. An entity is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE if such entity has both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the right to receive benefits from the VIE or the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
In determining whether the Group is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Group considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of its involvement with the VIE, such as its role establishing the VIE and its ongoing rights and responsibilities, the design of the VIE, its economic interests, servicing fees and servicing responsibilities and certain other factors. The Group performs ongoing reassessments to evaluate whether changes in the entity’s capital structure or changes in the nature of the Group’s involvement with the entity result in a change to the VIE designation or a change to the Group’s consolidation conclusion.
The most significant judgments relate to the assessment of the Group’s exposure or rights to variable returns in Burford Opportunity Fund C LP (“BOF-C”), Burford Advantage Master Fund LP (the “Advantage Fund”), Colorado Investments Limited (“Colorado”) and Eton Park Fund LP, Eton Park Overseas Fund Limited and Eton Park Master Fund Limited (collectively, the "EP Funds"). The Group has assessed that its economic interest in the income generated from BOF-C and its investment as a limited partner in the Advantage Fund, coupled with its power over the relevant activities as the fund manager, require the consolidation of BOF-C and the Advantage Fund in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Similarly, the Group has assessed that its shareholding in Colorado and investment in the EP Funds, coupled with its power over the relevant activities of those entities through contractual agreements, require the consolidation of Colorado and the EP Funds in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Group is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in VIEs in which it is the primary beneficiary and in other entities in which it owns more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares and other shareholders do not have substantive rights to participate in management. The assets of these consolidated VIEs are not available to the Company, and the creditors of these consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the Company.
For entities the Group controls but does not wholly own, the Group generally records a non-controlling interest within shareholders’ equity for the portion of the entity’s equity attributed to the non-controlling ownership interests. Accordingly, third-party share of net income or loss relating to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities is treated as a reduction or increase, respectively, of net income or loss in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. With respect to Colorado and the EP Funds, entities the Group controls but does not wholly own, the Group records a financial liability relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets for the portion of Colorado’s and the EP Funds’ equity held by third parties. The third-party share of income or loss is included in third-party interests in capital provision assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. All significant intercompany balances, transactions and unrealized gains and losses on such transactions are eliminated on consolidation.
Third-party interests in capital provision assets
Fair value of financial instruments
The Group’s capital provision assets meet the definition of a financial instrument under ASC 825—Financial instruments. Single case, portfolio, portfolio with equity risk and legal risk management capital provision assets meet the definition of a derivative instrument under ASC 815—Derivatives and hedging and are accounted for at fair value.
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The Group has elected the fair value option for the Group’s equity method investments, marketable securities, due from settlement of capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets to provide a consistent fair value measurement approach for all capital provision related activity. Such election is irrevocable and is applied to financial instruments on an individual basis at initial recognition.
Financial instruments are recorded at fair value. The fair value of a financial instrument is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions.
Fair value hierarchy
US GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework that prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.
Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of fair values as follows:
▪Level 1—quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date
▪Level 2—inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
▪Level 3—unobservable inputs for the asset or liability
All transfers into and out of these levels are recognized as if they have taken place as of the beginning of each reporting period.
Valuation processes
The Group’s senior professionals are responsible for developing the policies and procedures for fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. Following origination and as of each reporting date, the movements in the values of assets and liabilities are required to be reassessed in accordance with the Group’s accounting policies. For this analysis, the reasonableness of material estimates and assumptions underlying the valuation is discussed and the major inputs applied are verified by comparing the information in the valuation computation to contracts, asset status and progress information and other relevant documents.
Valuation methodology for Level 1 assets and liabilities
Level 1 assets and liabilities are comprised of listed instruments, including equities, fixed income securities and investment funds. All Level 1 assets and liabilities are valued at the quoted market price as of the reporting date.
Valuation methodology for Level 2 assets and liabilities
Level 2 assets and liabilities are comprised of debt and equity securities that are not actively traded and are generally valued at the last quoted or traded price as of the reporting date, provided there is evidence that the price is not assessed as significantly stale to warrant a Level 3 classification.
Valuation methodology for Level 3 assets and liabilities
Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants based on unobservable inputs as of the measurement date.
The methods and procedures to determine fair value of assets and liabilities may include, among others, (i) obtaining information provided by third parties when available, (ii) obtaining valuation-related information from the issuers or counterparties (or their respective advisors), (iii) performing comparisons of comparable or similar assets or liabilities, as applicable, (iv) calculating the present value of future cash flows, (v) assessing other analytical data and information relating to the asset or liability, as applicable, that is an
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
indication of value, (vi) evaluating financial information provided by or otherwise available with respect to the counterparties or other relevant entities and (vii) entering into a market transaction with an arm’s-length counterparty.
The material estimates and assumptions used in the analyses of fair value include the status and risk profile of the underlying asset or liability and, as applicable, the timing and expected amount of cash flows based on the structure and agreement of the asset or liability, the appropriateness of any discount rates used and the timing of and estimated minimum proceeds from a favorable outcome. Discount rates and a discounted cash flow basis for estimating fair value are applied to assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as applicable, most notably the Group’s capital provision assets. Significant judgment and estimation go into the assumptions that underlie the analyses, and the actual values realized with respect to assets or liabilities, as applicable, could be materially different from values obtained based on the use of those estimates.
Capital provision assets are fair valued using an income approach. The income approach estimates fair value based on estimated, risk-adjusted future cash flows, using a discount rate to reflect the funding risk of deploying capital for financing capital provision assets. The income approach requires management to make a series of assumptions, such as discount rate, the timing and amount of both expected cash inflows and additional financings and a risk-adjustment factor reflecting the uncertainty inherent in the cash flows primarily driven by litigation risk, which changes as a result of observable litigation events. These assumptions are considered unobservable Level 3 inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the inputs that a market participant would use.
A cash flow forecast is developed for each capital provision asset based on the anticipated financing commitments, damages or settlement estimates and the Group’s contractual entitlement. Cash flow forecasts incorporate management’s assumptions related to creditworthiness of the counterparty and collectability. In cases where cash flows are denominated in a foreign currency, forecasts are developed in the applicable foreign currency and translated to US dollars.
Capital provision assets are recorded at initial fair value, which is equivalent to the initial transaction price for a given capital provision asset, based on an assessment that it is an arm’s-length transaction between independent third parties and an orderly transaction between market participants. Using the cash flow forecast and a discount rate, an appropriate risk-adjustment factor is calculated to be applied to the forecast cash inflows to calibrate the valuation model to the initial transaction price. Each reporting period, the cash flow forecast is updated based on the best available information on damages or settlement estimates, and it is determined whether there has been an objective event in the underlying litigation process that would change the litigation risk and thus the risk-adjustment factor associated with the capital provision asset. The risk-adjustment factor as adjusted for any objective events in the underlying litigation process is referred to as the adjusted risk premium. For example, assume the risk premium at inception is calculated to be 65%, which is held constant until there is a milestone event. Assuming there is a favorable trial court ruling one year later for which the applicable milestone factor is 50%, then the risk premium would be adjusted to 32.5%, effectively releasing 50% of the original 65% risk premium haircut that was applied. Conversely, assuming there is a negative event one year later for which the applicable milestone factor is (50%), then the risk premium would be adjusted to 82.5%, effectively closing the gap between the original risk premium of 65% and 100% by 50%. These objective events could include, among others:
▪A significant positive ruling or other objective event prior to any trial court judgment
▪A favorable trial court judgment
▪A favorable judgment on the first appeal
▪The exhaustion of as-of-right appeals
▪In arbitration cases, where there are limited opportunities for appeal, issuance of a tribunal award
▪An objective negative event at various stages in the litigation process
Each reporting period, the updated risk-adjusted cash flow forecast is discounted at the then current discount rate to measure fair value. See note 11 (Fair value of assets and liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
In a small number of instances, the Group has the benefit of a secondary sale of a portion of an asset or liability. When this occurs, the market evidence is factored into the valuation process to maximize the use of relevant observable inputs. Secondary sales are evaluated for relevance, including whether such transactions
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
are orderly, and weight is attributed to the market price accordingly, which may include calibrating the valuation model to observed market price.
Goodwill
Goodwill arises as a result of the acquisition of subsidiaries and represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the Group’s share of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed on the acquisition date. After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s reporting units that are expected to benefit from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those units. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Group considered the decline in the price of its ordinary shares as a potential indicator of impairment. The Group performed a qualitative assessment in accordance with ASC 350 and concluded that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units is less than their carrying amounts. Accordingly, no impairment charge was recognized for the period.
Recently issued or adopted accounting pronouncements
3. Income taxes
The Company has received an exemption from corporate income tax in Guernsey under the Income Tax (Exempt Bodies) (Guernsey) Ordinance, 1989, as amended, for the year ending December 31, 2026. This tax exemption must be reapplied for with the Guernsey taxing authorities on an annual basis.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries in Australia, Ireland, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States are subject to taxation in such jurisdictions as determined in accordance with relevant tax legislation. In certain cases, an operating subsidiary of the Company may elect a transaction structure that could be subject to income tax in a country related to the transaction creating the capital provision asset.
The Group’s effective tax rate was 0.1 % and 17 % for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The variability in the Group’s effective tax rate from period to period reflects the differing portions of the Group’s overall income and losses reported to each relevant taxing jurisdiction and the differing tax rates in effect for such taxing jurisdictions at which such income and losses are taxed. Another significant factor in the determination of the effective tax rate is the change in the Group’s valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset, largely arising from currently nondeductible interest expense.
The table below sets forth the gross deferred tax assets and liabilities, valuation allowance and net deferred tax liabilities as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Gross deferred tax assets | ||||||||||||||
| Gross deferred tax liabilities | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Net deferred tax liabilities | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
The Group’s valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets primarily relates to interest expense, foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets. The Group, in determining its valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets, has performed an assessment of positive and negative evidence, including the nature, frequency and severity of cumulative financial reporting losses in recent years, and the future reversal of existing temporary differences, predictability of future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences of the character necessary to realize the tax assets, relevant carryforward periods, taxable income in carryback periods if carryback is permitted under applicable tax laws and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that would be implemented, if necessary, to protect against the loss of certain deferred tax assets that would otherwise expire (e.g., net operating losses). Although realization is not assured, based on the Group’s assessment, the Group has concluded that it is more likely than not that
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(UNAUDITED)
the remaining gross deferred tax assets will be realized and, as such, no additional valuation allowance has been provided.
The calculation of the Group’s global tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations and case law in a multitude of taxing jurisdictions across the Group’s global operations. ASC 740—Income Taxes states that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position shall be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. In accordance with the guidelines established by ASC 740—Income Taxes, the Group believes it does not have any uncertain tax positions for the three months ended March 31, 2026 or for any prior tax year that currently remains open under an applicable statute of limitations in the corresponding taxing jurisdiction. The Group continues to monitor its global tax positions and, if necessary, update its position under ASC 740—Income Taxes regarding any uncertain tax positions based on any relevant case law, tax law and regulatory developments in an applicable taxing jurisdiction. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, the Group is subject to audit in New York for the tax years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. Certain affiliates of the Group file a US federal income tax return, along with various state and local income tax returns, which are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authorities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and thereafter.
4. Segment reporting
ASC Subtopic 280-10, “Segment Reporting”, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available. The chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, together.
The CODM assesses the performance of the operating segments based on segment income/(loss) before income taxes, which consists of the significant measures of the reportable segments’ financial performance that includes segment revenues, consisting of capital provision income/(loss) plus/(less) third-party interests in capital provision assets, asset management income/(loss), marketable securities income/(loss) and interest and other income/(loss), less segment operating expenses, consisting of compensation and benefits, general, administrative and other expenses and case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost. The CODM uses this metric to assess operating segment performance for the purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance, which informs the CODM’s allocation of resources. The Group excludes the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners in its private funds, partners and minority investors, as the CODM does not consider them for the purposes of making decisions to allocate resources among operating segments or to assess operating segment performance. Although these amounts are excluded from segment income/(loss) before income taxes, they are included in reported consolidated income/(loss) before income taxes and are included in the reconciliation that follows.
The Group’s computation of segment income/(loss) before income taxes may not be comparable to similarly titled measures computed by other companies because all companies do not calculate segment income/(loss) before income taxes in the same fashion.
Operating revenues directly associated with each segment are included in determining its operating results. Operating and other expenses that are not directly attributable to a particular segment are based upon allocation methodologies, including time estimates and other relevant usage measures. Due to the integrated structure of the Group’s business, certain costs incurred by one segment may benefit the other segment. A segment may use the information produced by another segment without incurring an intersegment charge or intersegment income.
The CODM does not review information regarding total assets on an operating segment basis but rather on a total segments (Burford-only) basis. The accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for the Group as a whole.
The Group has two operating segments that are also its reportable segments and provide legal finance products and services to the Group’s clients: (i) Principal Finance and (ii) Asset Management and Other Services. The Principal Finance segment allocates capital to legal finance assets from the Company’s balance sheet, primarily as capital provision assets, and in limited scope through interests in private funds managed by the Company. The Asset Management and Other Services segment manages legal finance assets on behalf
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(UNAUDITED)
of third-party investors through private funds and provides other services to the legal industry, for both of which it receives fees.
The tables below set forth certain information with respect to the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations by reportable segment for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Total consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision income/(loss) | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset management income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities income/(loss) and interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Total consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision income/(loss) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset management income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities income/(loss) and interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth specified line items with respect to the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition by reportable segment as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Total consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(UNAUDITED)
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Total consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. Capital provision assets
Capital provision assets are financial instruments that relate to the provision of capital in connection with legal finance, which includes the Advantage Fund.
The Group’s largest individual asset was its interest in the proceeds of claims brought by the Petersen and Eton Park entities against the Republic of Argentina and YPF S.A. On September 15, 2023, judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiffs resulting in a substantial increase in the balance sheet fair value of the YPF-related assets, and that value increased further in the year ended December 31, 2024 when the court ordered the turnover of certain YPF S.A.’s shares to plaintiffs. However, on March 27, 2026, that judgment was reversed on appeal (the “YPF Judgment Reversal”) and, as a result, the balance sheet fair value of the YPF-related assets has been significantly reduced.
The table below sets forth the changes in capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of the relevant reporting periods.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Transfers(1) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Deployments | ||||||||||||||
| Realizations | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
Income/(loss) for the period(2) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | ( | |||||||||||||
| End of period | ||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost, end of period | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized fair value, end of period | ||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
1. Relates to certain costs previously included within capital provision assets that did not meet the applicable criteria for inclusion in the fair value of those assets. These amounts have been expensed in the three months ended March 31, 2026 within “Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost”. The impact of this matter was not material to the three months ended March 31, 2026 or any of the prior periods. | ||||||||||||||
2. Includes a capital provision loss of $ | ||||||||||||||
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The table below sets forth the components of the capital provision income/(loss) for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net realized gains/(losses) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) on capital provision assets | ( | |||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) from due from settlement of capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Total capital provision income/(loss) as reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ( | |||||||||||||
6. Due from settlement of capital provision assets
Amounts of due from settlement of capital provision assets relate to the realization of capital provision assets that have successfully concluded and where there is no longer any litigation risk remaining. The settlement terms and timing of realizations vary by capital provision asset. Settlement balances are generally expected to be received within 12 months after the capital provision assets have concluded, and the majority are received shortly after conclusion.
The table below sets forth the changes in due from settlement of capital provision assets and the breakdown between current and non-current due from settlement of capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of the relevant reporting periods.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Transfer of realizations from capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | ( | |||||||||||||
| End of period | ||||||||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||||||||
| Total due from settlement of capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
7. Asset management income
The table below sets forth the components of the asset management income for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Management fee income | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Performance fee income | ||||||||||||||
Total asset management income(1) | ||||||||||||||
| 1. Relates to revenue from contracts with customers for services transferred over time. | ||||||||||||||
8. Long-term incentive compensation payable
The table below sets forth the changes in the long-term incentive compensation payable as of the beginning and end of the relevant reporting periods.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Long-term incentive compensation including accruals(1) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Cash paid | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | ( | |||||||||||||
| End of period | ||||||||||||||
1. Includes the reversal of a $ | ||||||||||||||
9. Other liabilities
The table below sets forth the components of total other liabilities as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| General expenses payable | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Insurance liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| L | ||||||||||||||
| Audit fees payable | ||||||||||||||
| Tax payable | ||||||||||||||
| Payable for capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||
Contingent fees(1) | ||||||||||||||
| Total other liabilities | ||||||||||||||
1. Includes the reversal of a $ | ||||||||||||||
10. Debt
The table below sets forth certain information with respect to the Group’s debt securities outstanding as of the dates indicated. Debt securities denominated in pound sterling have been converted to US dollar using GBP/USD exchange rates of $1.3491 as of December 31, 2025. There were no debt securities denominated in pound sterling as of March 31, 2026.
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(UNAUDITED)
| Outstanding as of | Carrying value (at amortized cost) as of | Fair value(1) as of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burford Capital PLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burford Capital Global Finance LLC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total debt | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. The Group’s debt securities are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. On June 1, 2017, Burford Capital PLC issued £ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3. On January 15, 2026, Burford Capital Global Finance LLC issued $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth the maturities of the Group’s outstanding debt securities and debt interest payable as of the date indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Debt payable | Debt interest payable | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||||||||
| 2029 | ||||||||||||||
| 2030 | ||||||||||||||
| Thereafter | ||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth unamortized issuance costs of the outstanding debt securities as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||||||||
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(UNAUDITED)
The table below sets forth the components of total finance costs of the outstanding indebtedness for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
Debt interest expense(1) | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs incurred as finance costs | ||||||||||||||
| Total finance costs | ||||||||||||||
1. Includes (gains)/losses on debt extinguishment of $ | ||||||||||||||
Description of debt securities
All of the Group’s outstanding debt securities have a fixed interest rate payable semi-annually in arrears and are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the issuer that are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. As of March 31, 2026, the Group was in compliance with the covenants set forth in the respective agreements governing its debt securities.
The Company is required to provide certain information pursuant to the indentures governing the 6.250 % Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), the 6.875 % Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), the 9.250 % Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”), the 7.500 % Senior Notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”) and the 8.50 % Senior Notes due 2034 (the “2034 Notes”). The tables below set forth the total assets and third-party indebtedness as of the dates indicated and total revenues for the periods indicated, in each case, of (i) the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the indentures governing the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2034 Notes, as applicable) and (ii) the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the indentures governing the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2034 Notes, as applicable).
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Third-party indebtedness | ||||||||||||||
| Unrestricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||||||||
| Third-party indebtedness | ||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Unrestricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | ||||||||||||||
Issuance of 2034 Notes
On January 15, 2026, Burford Capital Global Finance LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Issuer”), issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2034 Notes. The 2034 Notes bear interest at a rate of 8.50 % per annum, with interest on the 2034 Notes payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing on July 15, 2026. The 2034 Notes are scheduled to mature on January 15, 2034. The net proceeds from the offering of the 2034 Notes were used for the redemption in full of the 2026 Bonds issued by Burford Capital PLC and the remainder is intended to be used for general corporate purposes, including the potential repayment or retirement of other existing indebtedness.
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
The 2034 Notes were issued under an indenture by and among Burford Capital Global Finance LLC, as issuer, Burford Capital Limited, as parent guarantor, the other guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. The 2034 Notes (i) are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer, (ii) rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Issuer that is not expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 2034 Notes and are senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness of the Issuer expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 2034 Notes and (iii) are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior and unsecured basis by the Company. In the future, each restricted subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuer) that (i) incurs or guarantees any indebtedness under the other notes of the Issuer and certain “Securitization Entities” and “Specified Permitted Services Entities” that were outstanding as of January 15, 2026 or (ii) guarantees other indebtedness for borrowed money of the Issuer or the Company in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $20.0 million will be required to guarantee the 2034 Notes.
The Issuer may redeem all or part of the 2034 Notes on or after January 15, 2029 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2034 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Issuer may redeem all or part of the 2034 Notes at any time before January 15, 2029 at a redemption price equal to 100 % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2034 Notes redeemed, plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, prior to January 15, 2029, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem up to 40 % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2034 Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of additional 2034 Notes) with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at the redemption price set forth in the indenture governing the 2034 Notes, provided that at least 50 % of the aggregate principal amount of the 2034 Notes originally issued (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of additional 2034 Notes) remains outstanding. Furthermore, the Issuer will be required to make an offer to repurchase all the outstanding 2034 Notes upon the occurrence of certain events constituting a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the indenture governing the 2034 Notes) at a price equal to 101 % of the principal amount of the 2034 Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the Issuer sells certain assets and the net cash proceeds are not applied as permitted under the indenture governing the 2034 Notes, the Issuer may be required to use some or all of such proceeds to offer to purchase the 2034 Notes (ratably with any other senior indebtedness with similar requirements) at 100 % of the principal amount of the 2034 Notes repurchased (or, in the case of other senior indebtedness, at the price required thereby, but not to exceed 100 % of the principal amount thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The indenture governing the 2034 Notes contains certain customary covenants, including restrictions on the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, (ii) pay cash dividends or make other cash distributions in respect of, or repurchase or redeem, capital stock or make other restricted payments (including restricted investments), (iii) create or incur certain liens, (iv) merge or consolidate with another company or sell all or substantially all of their assets and (v) enter into transactions with affiliates, in each case, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications set forth in the indenture governing the 2034 Notes. The indenture governing the 2034 Notes and the 2034 Notes are governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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(UNAUDITED)
11. Fair value of assets and liabilities
The tables below set forth the fair value of financial instruments grouped by the fair value level as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative financial assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio with equity risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-derivative financial assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joint ventures and equity method investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case with equity risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets of consolidated investment companies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (BOF-C) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (EP Funds) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Certificates of deposit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative financial assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio with equity risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-derivative financial assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joint ventures and equity method investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case with equity risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets of consolidated investment companies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (BOF-C) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (EP Funds) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Certificates of deposit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Group has elected the fair value option for the Group’s equity method investments, marketable securities, due from settlement of capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets to provide a consistent fair value measurement approach for all capital provision related activity. Realized gains and losses, unrealized gains and losses and interest and dividend income on these assets are recognized as income/(loss) and presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations when they are earned.
The key risk and sensitivity across all the capital provision assets relate to the underlying litigation associated with each case that is underwritten and financed. The sensitivity to this Level 3 input is therefore considered to be similar across the different types of capital provision assets and is expressed as a portfolio-wide stress.
30
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Movements in Level 3 fair value assets and liabilities
The tables below set forth the analysis of the movements in the Level 3 financial assets and liabilities for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Beginning of period | Transfers into Level 3 | Transfers | Deployments | Realizations | Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | End of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio with equity risk | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk management | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joint ventures and equity method investments | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (BOF-C) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (EP Funds) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision assets | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Level 3 assets | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Level 3 liabilities | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Beginning of period | Transfers into Level 3 | Transfers | Deployments | Realizations | Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | End of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Single case | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio with equity risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joint ventures and equity method investments | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Core legal finance (BOF-C) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core legal finance (EP Funds)1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision assets | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Level 3 assets | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Level 3 liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. The restructuring of the EP Funds resulted in the Group being required to consolidate the underlying assets and liabilities of the entities during the three months ended March 31, 2025. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies) for additional information. Prior to consolidation, the Group had a “Single case” capital provision asset with the EP Funds representing its Eton Park interest in the YPF-related assets. This asset is eliminated on consolidation and forms part of the additions to the “Core legal finance (EP Funds)”. Deployments to “Core legal finance (EP Funds)” includes approximately $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All transfers into and out of Level 3 are recognized as if they have taken place as of the beginning of each reporting period. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
Key unobservable inputs for Level 3 valuations
The Group’s valuation policy for capital provision assets provides for ranges of percentages to be applied against the risk-adjustment factor to more than 70 discrete objective litigation events across five principal different types of litigation in order to calculate the adjusted risk premium. The range for each event is ten percentage points. The Company typically marks assets at the middle of that range unless there are specific factors that cause the Group’s valuation committee to select a different point in the range and, on an exceptional basis, the Group’s valuation committee may also select a point outside the range. To decide which percentage to apply to a given asset, the Group’s valuation committee considers the kind and degree of legal, procedural or other investment-specific circumstances that may be present. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) for additional information with respect to the Group’s valuation approach.
The tables below set forth each of the key unobservable inputs used to value the Group’s capital provision assets and the applicable ranges and weighted average by relative fair value for such inputs as of the dates indicated.
32
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Single case, Portfolio, Legal risk management, Joint ventures and equity method investments, Core legal finance (BOF-C)(1), Core legal finance (EP Funds), Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration(2) (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted risk premium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive case milestone factor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant ruling or other objective event prior to trial court judgment | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trial court judgment or tribunal award | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appeal judgment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset freeze | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhaustion of as-of-right appeals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhaustion of all appeals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolios with multiple factors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Negative case milestone factor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant ruling or other objective event prior to trial court judgment | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trial court judgment or tribunal award | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appeal judgment | ( | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolios with multiple factors | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No case milestone: | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YPF-related assets: | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration(2) (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Portfolio with equity risk, Core legal finance (BOF-C)(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resolution timing (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Due from settlement of capital provision assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collection risk | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 3 assets and liabilities, net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Includes the proportional participation in these capital provision assets held by BOF-C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Duration refers to the expected timing of a favorable outcome. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) for additional information with respect to the valuation methodology for Level 3 assets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
| ($ in thousands) | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Single case, Portfolio, Legal risk management, Joint ventures and equity method investments, Core legal finance (BOF-C)(1), Core legal finance (EP Funds), Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration(2) (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted risk premium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positive case milestone factor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant ruling or other objective event prior to trial court judgment | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trial court judgment or tribunal award | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appeal judgment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset freeze | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhaustion of as-of-right appeals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhaustion of all appeals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolios with multiple factors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Negative case milestone factor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant ruling or other objective event prior to trial court judgment | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trial court judgment or tribunal award | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appeal judgment | ( | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portfolios with multiple factors | ( | ( | % | ( | % | ( | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No case milestone: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YPF-related assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Lower risk legal finance (Advantage Fund) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration(2) (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Portfolio with equity risk, Core legal finance (BOF-C)(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resolution timing (years) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Due from settlement of capital provision assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal value technique: | Discounted cash flow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unobservable input: | Cost | Unrealized | Fair value | Minimum | Maximum | Weighted average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collection risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 3 assets and liabilities, net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Includes the proportional participation in these capital provision assets held by BOF-C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. Duration refers to the expected timing of a favorable outcome. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) for additional information with respect to the valuation methodology for Level 3 assets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34
Table of Contents
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Sensitivity of Level 3 valuations
Following origination, the Group engages in a review of each capital provision asset’s fair value in connection with the preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Should the prices of the Level 3 due from settlement of capital provision assets, capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets have been 10% higher or lower, while all other variables remained constant, the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by $320.7 million and $491.1 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
In addition, as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should interest rates have been 50 100
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| +100 bps interest rates | $ | (118,840) | $ | ( | ||||||||||
| +50 bps interest rates | (59,868) | ( | ||||||||||||
| -50 bps interest rates | 63,806 | |||||||||||||
| -100 bps interest rates | 128,689 | |||||||||||||
Furthermore, as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should duration have been or 12
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
+12 months duration(1) | $ | (249,670) | $ | ( | ||||||||||
+6 months duration(1) | (123,865) | ( | ||||||||||||
-6 months duration(1) | 128,937 | |||||||||||||
-12 months duration(1) | 264,167 | |||||||||||||
1. Duration refers to the expected timing of a favorable outcome. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) for additional information with respect to the valuation methodology for Level 3 assets. | ||||||||||||||
The sensitivity impact has been provided on a pre-tax basis for both the Group’s consolidated income and net assets as the Group considers the fluctuation in its effective tax rate from period to period could indicate changes in sensitivity not driven by the valuation that are difficult to follow and detract from the comparability of this information.
Reasonably possible alternative assumptions
The determination of fair value for capital provision assets, due from settlement of capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets involves significant judgments and estimates. While the potential range of outcomes for the assets is wide, the Group’s fair value estimation is its best assessment of the current fair value of each asset or liability, as applicable. Such estimate is inherently subjective, being based largely on an assessment of how individual events have changed the possible outcomes of the asset or liability, as applicable, and their relative probabilities and hence the extent to which the fair value has altered. The aggregate of the fair values selected falls within a wide range of reasonably possible estimates. In the Group’s opinion, there is no useful alternative valuation that would better quantify the market risk inherent in the portfolio and there are no inputs or variables to which the values of the assets are correlated other than interest rates that impact the discount rates applied.
35
Table of Contents
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
12. Variable interest entities
Consolidated VIEs
Pursuant to US GAAP consolidation guidance, the Group consolidates certain VIEs for which it is considered the primary beneficiary, either directly or indirectly, through a consolidated entity or affiliate. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies) to the Group’s consolidated financial statements contained in the 2025 Form 10-K for additional information with respect to the Group’s consolidation.
Consolidated VIEs include entities relating to the Group’s private funds (e.g., BOF-C and the Advantage Fund), the EP Funds, investment vehicles for sale and resale of the participation interests (e.g., Colorado), a partnership entity for the payment of profits interests to employees (Burford Capital 2025 LP) and acquisition of interests in secured promissory notes (e.g., Mellor Investments LLC, formerly known as Forest Hills Investments LLC).
The Group provides revolving credit facilities to certain of its private funds for capital calls as required. These revolving credit facilities are entirely discretionary insofar as the Group is not obligated to fund under the revolving credit facilities. There were no
The table below sets forth assets and liabilities of the consolidated VIEs as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth the total revenues and certain information relating to cash flows of the consolidated VIEs for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Cash flows | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds | ||||||||||||||
| (Funding) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
| Cash balance as of end of period | ||||||||||||||
Unconsolidated VIEs
The Group’s maximum exposure to loss from the unconsolidated VIEs is the sum of capital provision assets, fee receivables, accrued income and loans to the unconsolidated VIEs.
The table below sets forth the Group’s maximum exposure to loss from the unconsolidated VIEs as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| On-balance sheet exposure | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Off-balance sheet exposure - undrawn commitments | ||||||||||||||
| Maximum exposure to loss | ||||||||||||||
36
Table of Contents
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
13. Shareholders ’ equity
Share repurchases
At the annual general meeting held on May 14, 2025, the Company’s shareholders approved a resolution for the purchase of up to 21,942,190 ordinary shares of the Company on the open market, which authority is set to expire the earlier of (i) the close of the Company’s annual general meeting to be held in 2026 and (ii) August 13, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, there were 21,437,963 ordinary shares available for open market repurchases under this authorization.
Dividends
On February 25, 2026, the Board of Directors declared, subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting to be held on May 13, 2026, a final dividend of 6.25 ¢ per ordinary share to be paid on June 12, 2026 to shareholders of record on May 22, 2026. There were no dividend payments during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
14. Earnings per ordinary share
Basic earnings/(loss) per ordinary share is calculated by dividing net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings/(loss) per ordinary share is calculated using the treasury stock method, which reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary shares.
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Group reported a net loss and, accordingly, all potentially dilutive ordinary shares were anti-dilutive. As a result, diluted loss per share is equal to basic loss per share. Potential ordinary shares of 6,950,913 related to share-based awards and awards under the NQDC Plan were excluded from diluted weighted-average ordinary shares as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, potential ordinary shares of 291,763 related to share-based awards and awards under the NQDC Plan were excluded from diluted weighted-average ordinary shares as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
The table below sets forth the computation for basic and diluted net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders per ordinary share: | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | ($ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | ($ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | ||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of share-based awards and awards under the NQDC Plan | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | ||||||||||||||
15. Financial commitments and contingent liabilities
Commitments to financing arrangements
As a normal part of its business, the Group routinely enters into financing agreements that may require continuing financing over time, whereas other financing agreements provide for immediate financing of the total commitment. The terms of the former type of financing agreements vary widely. For example, in cases of discretionary commitments, the Group is not contractually obligated to advance capital and generally
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
would not suffer adverse financial consequences from not doing so and, therefore, has broad discretion as to each incremental financing of a continuing capital provision asset, while in cases of definitive commitments, the Group is contractually obligated to advance incremental capital and failure to do so would typically result in adverse contractual consequences (such as a dilution in the Group’s returns or the loss of the Group’s deployed capital in a case).
The Group’s commitments are generally capped at a fixed amount in its financing agreements. In addition, as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Group had exposure to assets where the Group provided some form of legal risk arrangement pursuant to which the Group does not generally expect to deploy the full committed capital unless there is a failure of the claim, such as providing an indemnity for adverse legal costs. The table below sets forth the components of undrawn commitments as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Definitive | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Discretionary | ||||||||||||||
| Legal risk (definitive) | ||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision undrawn commitments | ||||||||||||||
Legal proceedings
From time to time, the Group may be involved in various legal (including judicial, regulatory, administrative or arbitration) proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. Some of these proceedings, lawsuits or claims may be material and involve highly complex issues that are subject to substantial uncertainties and could result in damages, fines, penalties, non-monetary sanctions or relief. In addition, the Group’s business and operations are subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against the Group.
As of the date of this Form 10-Q, having considered the legal merits of any relevant proceedings, lawsuits or claims and having received relevant legal advice (including any legal advice from outside counsel), the Group considers there to be no material contingent liability in respect of any such proceedings, lawsuits or claims requiring disclosure in the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. However, given the potentially large and/or indeterminate relief that may be sought and the inherent unpredictability of legal proceedings, lawsuits or claims, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity in any future period. In addition, there can be no assurance that material losses will not be incurred from claims that have not yet been asserted or those where potential losses have not yet been determined to be probable or possible and reasonably estimable.
16. Related party transactions
The Group has interests in joint ventures and equity method investments. See note 16 (Joint ventures and equity method investments) to the Group’s audited consolidated financial statements contained in the 2025 Form 10-K for additional information with respect to the balances held with joint ventures and equity method investments.
The table below sets forth the fundings of, and proceeds from, joint ventures and equity method investments for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Fundings of joint ventures and equity method investments | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from joint ventures and equity method investments | ||||||||||||||
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NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
17. Credit risk from financial instruments
The Group is exposed to credit risk in various asset structures that are set forth in note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies), most of which involve financing sums recoverable only from successful capital provision assets with a concomitant risk of loss of deployed cost. Upon becoming contractually entitled to proceeds, depending on the structure of the particular capital provision asset, the Group could be a creditor of, and subject to direct or indirect credit risk from, a claimant, a defendant and/or other parties, or a combination thereof. Moreover, the Group may be indirectly subject to credit risk to the extent a defendant does not pay a claimant immediately, notwithstanding successful adjudication of a claim in the claimant’s favor. The Group’s credit risk is uncertain given that its entitlement pursuant to its assets is generally not established until a successful resolution of claims, and its potential credit risk is mitigated by the parties and indirect creditors, and due to a judgment creditor (in contrast to a conventional debtholder and in the absence of an actual bankruptcy of the counterparty) having immediate and unfettered rights of action to, for example, seize assets and garnish cash flows. The Group is also exposed to credit risk relating to cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The credit risk of the cash and cash equivalents is mitigated as all cash is placed with reputable banks with a sound credit rating. Marketable securities primarily consist of government securities, investment grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mutual funds and certificates of deposit, all of which can be redeemed on short notice or be sold on an active trading market.
The maximum credit risk exposure for cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, due from settlement of capital provision assets and capital provision assets is as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
In addition, the Group is exposed to credit risk on financial assets and receivables in other assets, all of which are held at amortized cost. The maximum credit exposure for such amounts was the carrying value of $25.9 million and $21.8 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The Group reviews the lifetime expected credit loss based on historical collection performance, the specific provisions of any settlement agreement and a forward-looking assessment of macroeconomic factors. Based on this review, the Group has not identified any material expected credit loss relating to the financial assets held at amortized cost. The Group recognized no
The Group is not exposed to concentration of credit risk from a particular region or customer.
18. Subsequent events
There have been no events since March 31, 2026 to the date of this Form 10-Q that require recognition or disclosure in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Item 2. Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is intended to convey management’s perspective with respect to our operating and financial performance for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. It should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained in the 2025 Form 10-K.
The following discussion and analysis also contains a discussion of certain unaudited non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs that are used by management to monitor our financial condition and results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs are supplemental and should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, or superior to, our consolidated financial condition or results of operations as reported under US GAAP. See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs” and “—Reconciliations” for additional information with respect to non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs and the applicable reconciliations.
In addition, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those identified below and those discussed under “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q and the 2025 Form 10-K.
Company overview
We are the world’s largest dedicated provider of capital, based on portfolio size, against the underlying value of litigation and legal assets, which we colloquially call legal finance. We are a global firm that serves the legal industry by providing an array of financial products and services. Our largest business is providing capital to clients engaged in ongoing legal disputes, which they can use both to pay the legal fees and expenses associated with disputes and to monetize the expected future value of disputes. Our focus is on large, complex disputes, not on small-scale litigation typically pursued by consumers or small businesses.
YPF-related assets
Our largest individual asset was our interest in the proceeds of claims brought by the Petersen and Eton Park entities against the Republic of Argentina and YPF S.A. that have been the subject of extensive disclosure in prior reports. On September 15, 2023, judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiffs resulting in a substantial increase in the balance sheet fair value of the YPF-related assets, and that value increased further in the year ended December 31, 2024 when the court ordered the turnover of certain YPF S.A.’s shares to plaintiffs. However, on March 27, 2026, that judgment was reversed on appeal (the “YPF Judgment Reversal”) and, as a result, the balance sheet fair value of the YPF-related assets has been significantly reduced. Further proceedings with respect to the YPF-related assets are ongoing in the US courts and the plaintiffs are also likely to pursue relief through international arbitration proceedings.
Economic and market conditions
Our portfolio returns are driven by judicial activity, and we believe these returns are generally uncorrelated to market conditions or the performance of the overall economy. The most direct impact of economic and market conditions on our business relates to our cost of debt and ease of access to corporate debt capital markets, as well as movements in market rates that cause adjustments to the discount rates applied in the fair value of our assets and that impact our quarterly revenue recognition in accordance with US GAAP. Overall, we believe our business model is particularly resilient to economic and market cycles due to the nature of the assets that drive our revenues and cash flow.
More broadly, economic conditions can have an impact on the volume and type of litigation that we may consider financing. For example, increased rates of corporate insolvencies can lead to opportunities to finance litigation relating to or arising out of insolvencies and bankruptcies; higher interest rates or other forms of economic stress can cause businesses to act illegally (such as to conspire to fix prices) leading to financeable claims; and pressure from shareholders and markets can lead to the commission of securities fraud and other similar acts, again resulting in financeable claims.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, military action in the Middle East, geopolitical tensions and ongoing disruption to global trade drove significant volatility in global financial markets. We do not expect this volatility to have a significant impact on the performance of our legal finance portfolio or our financial results. More generally, tighter financial conditions and a weakening of gross domestic product would
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typically cause the incidence of corporate disputes and associated litigation to increase, although it is usual for this to occur with a lag.
See “Risk factors—Risks relating to our business and industry—We are subject to credit risk relating to our various legal finance assets that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity” and “Risk factors—Risks relating to our business and industry—Legal, political and economic uncertainty surrounding the effects, severity and duration of public health threats could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity” in the 2025 Form 10-K.
Covid-19
Court systems and other forms of adjudication have returned to functionality in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In general, courts have continued to work through the case backlog caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and, during the three months ended March 31, 2026, we have observed continuing portfolio activity. Nevertheless, some court systems continue to face backlogs, delaying adjudication. Inevitably, some of our matters (and thus our cash realizations from them) in jurisdictions impacted by court backlogs have been slowed by these dynamics, and we saw impact from that in our financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025 as extensions of expected duration reduced the fair value of certain assets. In some cases, we are protected on duration risk, because some of our assets have time-based terms that increase our absolute returns as time passes. We have not seen the discontinuance of any matters. Of our concluded matters since June 2021, we have observed a higher incidence of pre-adjudication settlements as a proportion of aggregate realizations in comparison to the period from our inception to June 2021. We do not yet know whether this is an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic or a lasting trend.
See “Risk factors—Risks relating to our business and industry—Legal, political and economic uncertainty surrounding the effects, severity and duration of public health threats could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity” in the 2025 Form 10-K.
Inflation
The effect of inflation on our revenues is mitigated to a significant extent by a number of factors, including the high returns generated by capital provision assets and their relatively short weighted average lives. Furthermore, inflationary increases in legal case fees and expenses can increase the size of commitments, deployments and damages sought. Because returns on most of our assets are at least partially based upon a multiple of those fees and expenses, our returns on successful cases should also increase in such circumstances. To the degree that inflation drives higher interest rates and to the extent that pre- and post-judgment interest rates in a particular jurisdiction are tied to market interest rates, higher inflation would result in increases in awards by the relevant courts. The effect of inflation on our expenses would predominantly be through employee costs, which represent the majority of our operating expenses, although a significant portion of compensation-related expenses are performance-based. Our Principal Finance costs include interest expenses associated with our outstanding debt securities, although these are fixed coupon and non-adjustable, regardless of the rate of inflation.
Party solvency
Litigation outcomes stand apart from the remainder of the conventional credit universe because they do not arise as a result of a contractual relationship between the judgment debtor and creditor, unlike essentially all other forms of credit obligation. Thus, for example, a debtholder seeking recovery on a defaulted debt must take many steps, typically involving notice, a cure period and usually a subsequent judicial or insolvency proceeding that will generally sweep in other creditors, resulting in a meaningful risk of the debt being impaired or compromised. By contrast, a judgment creditor has immediate and unfettered rights of action, for example, to seize assets and garnish cash flows, meaning that a judgment creditor often has substantial leverage and ability to secure payment of a judgment against even a financially distressed judgment debtor as long as the judgment debtor does not seek protection from creditors in a formal insolvency proceeding.
To the extent that the claimant in a matter we are financing becomes insolvent, insolvency proceedings typically provide for the continued prosecution of claims given that the claim is a valuable contingent asset, the recovery of which is in the best interests of the claimant’s stakeholders, and we are often a secured creditor with respect to the litigation we are financing. Nevertheless, a claimant’s insolvency may delay the underlying litigation while the insolvency process unfolds. Judgment creditors are typically unsecured creditors, and should the defendant in a matter we are financing become insolvent, the risk to our recovery is dependent on the financial condition of the judgment debtor and the availability of assets for unsecured creditors.
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Other items
There were no material developments with respect to, or changes from, our disclosure in the 2025 Form 10-K relating to the international sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals.
Results of operations and financial condition
Set forth below is a discussion of our unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, in each case, on a consolidated basis, unless otherwise noted.
In this section, any references to 2026 refer to the three months ended March 31, 2026, and any references to 2025 refer to the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025
Overview
The table below sets forth a summary of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | (1,720,374) | $ | 118,859 | $ | (1,839,233) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (150,096) | 41,101 | (191,197) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income/(loss) | (1,570,278) | 77,758 | (1,648,036) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 65,286 | 33,280 | 32,006 | 96 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | (1,635,564) | 44,478 | (1,680,042) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | (2,417) | 7,568 | (9,985) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | (1,633,147) | 36,910 | (1,670,057) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | (1,078) | 5,981 | (7,059) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders | (1,632,069) | 30,929 | (1,662,998) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: “NM” denotes not meaningful. Changes from negative to positive amounts and positive to negative amounts, increases or decreases from zero and changes greater than 700% are not considered meaningful. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026, partially offset by a decrease in total operating expenses. The decrease in both total revenues and total operating expenses was primarily due to the YPF Judgment Reversal, which resulted in (i) with respect to total revenues, a capital provision loss, net of third-party interest, of $1.7 billion and (ii) with respect to total operating expenses, a decrease in long-term incentive compensation including accruals of $124.8 million and a decrease in case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost of $66.2 million. In addition, total revenues decreased, mainly due to a decrease in capital provision income, arising mostly from lower fair value adjustments, and total operating expenses decreased, mainly due to decreases in fair value driven compensation-related accruals, partially offset by an increase in case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost. The net result was $1.6 billion in net loss attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as compared to net income of $30.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
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Revenues
The table below sets forth the components of our total revenues for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision income/(loss) | $ | (2,498,765) | $ | 131,516 | $ | (2,630,281) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets | 771,895 | (20,796) | 792,691 | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset management income/(loss) | 284 | 1,538 | (1,254) | (82) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities income/(loss) and interest | 6,412 | 6,787 | (375) | (6) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | (200) | (186) | (14) | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | (1,720,374) | 118,859 | (1,839,233) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital provision income/(loss)
The table below sets forth the components of our capital provision income for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains/(losses) | $ | 32,170 | $ | 67,619 | $ | (35,449) | (52) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses) | (2,531,420) | 57,949 | (2,589,369) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | (3,333) | 5,410 | (8,743) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,818 | 538 | 3,280 | 610 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision income/(loss) | (2,498,765) | 131,516 | (2,630,281) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, net realized gains were $32.2 million, comprising $49.2 million of gross realized gains, offset by gross realized losses of $17.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net realized gains were $67.6 million, comprising $84.0 million of gross realized gains, offset by gross realized losses of $16.4 million. The decrease in net realized gains was due to fewer assets concluding in 2026 as compared to 2025, a variability which is characteristic of our business. Overall, net realized gains resulted from $101.3 million in realizations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to $288.8 million in realizations for the three months ended March 31, 2025, in light of the absence of a single large realization in the current period.
Fair value adjustments during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses), were affected by a number of factors, including changes in discount rate, duration and litigation risk premium, the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) upon conclusion of a matter and their transfer to realized gains/(losses) and actual performance of matters as they pass through milestones. All of those factors contributed to the net reduction in fair value of $2.5 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2026, of which $2.4 billion was attributable to the YPF-related assets, primarily due to the impact of the YPF Judgment Reversal.
As part of our fair value methodology, we discount the expected future cash flows. If discount rates had remained unchanged from December 31, 2025, applying those same rates to the portfolio as of March 31, 2026, fair value would have been approximately $49.6 million higher than as reported. The weighted average discount rate across the portfolio increased to 6.6% as of March 31, 2026 from 6.1% as of December 31, 2025, and interest sensitivities of the portfolio to assumed basis point changes in interest rates at each period end are disclosed in note 11 (Fair value of assets and liabilities ) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q. Fair value is also impacted by changes in the adjusted risk premium, which was up at 47.8% as of March 31, 2026 from 31.1% as of December 31, 2025. Contributing to the higher risk premium during the period was the addition of newly acquired or originated capital provision assets (as capital provision assets generally have higher risk premiums at their outset) and the negative milestone for the YPF-related assets.
Plus/(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets
Third-party interests in capital provision assets reduced capital provision loss by $0.8 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to a reduction of $20.8 million to capital provision income for the three months ended March 31, 2025, of which $0.8 billion was for the YPF-related assets for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
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Operating expenses
The table below sets forth the components of our total operating expenses for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | $ | 13,164 | $ | 12,395 | $ | 769 | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Annual incentive compensation | 5,423 | 4,245 | 1,178 | 28 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | (5,225) | 2,799 | (8,024) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation including accruals | (129,694) | 6,875 | (136,569) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total compensation and benefits | (116,332) | 26,314 | (142,646) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | 8,588 | 10,210 | (1,622) | (16) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | (42,352) | 4,577 | (46,929) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (150,096) | 41,101 | (191,197) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses decreased to a credit of $150.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to lower fair value driven compensation-related accruals and lower case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost.
Fair value driven compensation-related accruals decreased, primarily due to a $124.8 million credit to long-term incentive compensation including accruals as a result of the YPF Judgment Reversal.
Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost decreased, primarily due to a $66.2 million credit as a result of the YPF Judgment Reversal, partially offset by an increase in other costs as described further below.
These expenditures include costs associated with ongoing capital provision assets that are not eligible for inclusion in the fair value of those assets and are therefore expensed as incurred. Examples of the incurrence of such expenses include situations where we are effectively the claimant in a litigation matter due to the acquisition of assets or the assignment of a claim. As of March 31, 2026, we have deployed a cumulative $28.8 million of such costs in respect of capital provision assets that remain ongoing. The total expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was a credit of $42.7 million primarily as a result of the $66.2 million credit associated with the YPF Judgment Reversal related to accrued contingent fee arrangements associated with the EP Funds. The main offset to this credit is an increase in this line item in 2026 of $23.0 million relating to the correction of certain costs that had been previously included within capital provision assets but that did not meet the applicable criteria for inclusion in the fair value of those assets. The impact of this correction was not material to 2026 or any prior periods. Compared to 2025, there was $4.3 million of such expenditures. While we report these costs as expenses for accounting purposes, we treat them for purposes of return and performance metrics as part of the asset’s cost basis in the same way that we treat traditional legal finance arrangements.
Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost also include fees paid to third parties when we have sought our own legal advice or expert opinion with respect to matters related to a capital provision asset. These expenses are expected to fluctuate period-over-period and accounted for $0.3 million and $0.3 million of total case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Other expenses
The table below sets forth the components of our total other expenses for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | 49,642 | 33,880 | 15,762 | 47 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | 15,644 | (600) | 16,244 | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 65,286 | 33,280 | 32,006 | 96 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Finance costs
Finance costs increased 47% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to higher interest expense related to the issuance of the 2033 Notes in July 2025 and the 2034 Notes in January 2026, partially offset by the repayment at scheduled maturity of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 6.125%
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bonds due 2025 in August 2025 and the early redemption of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2026 Bonds in January 2026.
Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses
Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses were losses of $15.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The period-over-period change was primarily driven by the realization, upon the redemption of the 2026 Bonds, of accumulated foreign currency losses previously recorded in other comprehensive income.
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes
The table below sets forth our provision for/(benefit from) income taxes for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | $ | (2,417) | $ | 7,568 | $ | (9,985) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
Benefit from income taxes was $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as compared to provision for income taxes of $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The period-over-period change was primarily due to a reduction in overall taxable income for 2026. Cash taxes paid were $0.9 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
The table below sets forth our net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests: | $ | (1,078) | $ | 5,981 | $ | (7,059) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
We consolidate certain entities that have other shareholders and/or investors, including the Advantage Fund and BOF-C. The Advantage Fund does not have a traditional management and performance fee structure, but instead we retain any excess returns after the first 10% of annual simple returns are remitted to the Advantage Fund’s investors. With respect to BOF-C, under the co-investing arrangement with the sovereign wealth fund, we (in our capacity as the appointed investment adviser) receive reimbursement of expenses from BOF-C up to a certain level before we or the sovereign wealth fund, as applicable, receive a return of capital. After the repayment of capital, we then receive a portion of the return generated from the assets held by BOF-C. We include 100% of the Advantage Fund’s and BOF-C’s income and expenses in the applicable line items in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations (for example, 100% of the income on the Advantage Fund’s and BOF-C’s capital provision assets is included in capital provision income in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations), and the net amount of those income and expense line items that relate to third-party interests is included in net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests. In turn, this net amount is deducted from net income/(loss) to arrive at net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests does not include Colorado and the EP Funds. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Consolidation) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to our consolidation policies.
Net income/(loss) attributable to non-controlling interests decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026, reflecting non-controlling interests’ share of the decrease in capital provision income period-over-period. See “Capital provision income/(loss)” above for additional information with respect to the period-over-period change in the different components of capital provision income.
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025
The table below sets forth specified line items from our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of the dates indicated.
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| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 702,576 | $ | 566,437 | $ | 136,139 | 24 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 52,104 | 89,486 | (37,382) | (42) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 77,823 | 73,743 | 4,080 | 6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | 180,041 | 164,804 | 15,237 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 3,120,499 | 5,609,949 | (2,489,450) | (44) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities
Cash and cash equivalents increased 24% and marketable securities decreased 42%, in each case, as of March 31, 2026. The net increase in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities primarily reflects the issuance of the 2034 Notes, the proceeds received from capital provision assets and the impact from third-party net capital contributions, partially offset by (i) the redemption of the 2026 Bonds and (ii) the funding of capital provision assets.
Other assets
Other assets increased 6% as of March 31, 2026, primarily due to the acquisitions of equity method and other investments and from higher receivables.
Due from settlement of capital provision assets
Due from settlement of capital provision assets increased 9% as of March 31, 2026, primarily due to the relative level of new realizations, offset by the collection of receivables, during the three months ended March 31, 2026. Of the $164.8 million of due from settlement of capital provision assets receivables outstanding as of December 31, 2025, 39% was collected in cash during 2026.
Capital provision assets
Capital provision assets decreased 44% as of March 31, 2026, primarily due to the YPF Judgment Reversal and the impact of realizations, partially offset by continued deployments into capital provision assets.
Fair value of capital provision assets
Valuation policy
See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for a description of our valuation policy for capital provision assets.
Fair value of capital provision assets
The table below sets forth the fair value of capital provision assets, comprised of deployed cost and unrealized gains, for the YPF-related assets and other assets as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third-party | segments | Third-party | segments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | interests | (Burford-only) | Consolidated | interests | (Burford-only) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | 3,120,499 | $ | (890,517) | $ | 2,229,982 | $ | 5,609,949 | $ | (1,697,755) | $ | 3,912,194 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost | 2,543,047 | (674,940) | 1,868,107 | 2,498,463 | (640,630) | 1,857,833 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost on YPF-related assets | 197,348 | (75,987) | 121,361 | 193,564 | (75,987) | 117,577 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost on non-YPF-related assets | 2,345,699 | (598,953) | 1,746,746 | 2,304,899 | (564,643) | 1,740,256 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains/(losses) | 577,452 | (215,577) | 361,875 | 3,111,486 | (1,057,125) | 2,054,361 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains/(losses) on YPF-related assets | (47,235) | 18,422 | (28,813) | 2,390,155 | (818,374) | 1,571,781 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gains/(losses) on non-YPF-related assets | 624,687 | (233,999) | 390,688 | 721,331 | (238,751) | 482,580 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On a consolidated basis, the aggregate fair value of our capital provision assets was $3.1 billion, the aggregate deployed cost was $2.5 billion and the aggregate unrealized gains were $0.6 billion, in each case,
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as of March 31, 2026. The increase of $44.6 million in deployed cost resulted from deployments during 2026, offset by the return of capital from realizations. See “—Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025—Revenues” above for additional information with respect to the change in unrealized gains, which was driven by this period’s fair value adjustment, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses).
Within total segments (Burford-only), the aggregate fair value of our capital provision assets was $2.2 billion, the aggregate deployed cost was $1.9 billion and the aggregate unrealized gains were $0.4 billion, in each case, as of March 31, 2026. The increase of $10.3 million in deployed cost resulted from deployments during 2026, offset by the return of capital from realizations. See “—Segments—Principal Finance segment—Gains from capital provision asset portfolio” for additional information with respect to the change in unrealized gains, which was driven by this period’s fair value adjustment, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses).
Fair value of YPF-related assets
The determination of the fair value of the YPF-related assets is based on the same methodology that we use to value all our other capital provision assets. On a consolidated basis, the fair value of the YPF-related assets (both Petersen and Eton Park combined) was $150.1 million as of March 31, 2026. Our cost basis increased $3.8 million to $197.3 million and the unrealized gains decreased $2.4 billion to an unrealized loss of $47.2 million, during 2026. The increase in the cost basis was due to continued deployments, while the decrease in unrealized gains was driven by the impact of the YPF Judgment Reversal.
Within total segments (Burford-only), the fair value of the YPF-related assets (both Petersen and Eton Park combined) was $92.5 million as of March 31, 2026. Our cost basis increased $3.8 million to $121.4 million and the unrealized gains decreased $1.6 billion to an unrealized loss of $28.8 million, during 2026. The increase in the cost basis was due to continued deployments, while the decrease in unrealized gains was driven by the impact of the YPF Judgment Reversal.
Given the much-reduced value of the YPF-related assets, we no longer intend to provide YPF-specific financial information unless the YPF-related assets again become individually financially significant, nor will we continue to provide financial information about our business on an ex-YPF basis other than as needed to understand historical financial information.
Undrawn commitments
Undrawn commitments are unfunded commitments, which are attributable to our capital provision asset portfolio and can be divided into two categories: definitive and discretionary.
▪Definitive commitments are those where we are contractually obligated to advance incremental capital and failure to do so would typically result in adverse contractual consequences (such as a dilution in our returns or the loss of our deployed capital in a case).
▪Discretionary commitments are those where we retain a considerable degree of discretion over whether to advance capital and generally would not suffer an adverse financial consequence from not doing so.
The table below sets forth the components of our total capital provision undrawn commitments as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Definitive | $ | 1,264,107 | $ | 1,269,708 | $ | (5,601) | — | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Discretionary | 768,372 | 793,533 | (25,161) | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk (definitive) | 46,474 | 47,235 | (761) | (2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision undrawn commitments | 2,078,953 | 2,110,476 | (31,523) | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, approximately 63% of our legal finance undrawn commitments related to definitive commitments and approximately 37% related to discretionary commitments.
Segments
We have two reportable segments through which we provide legal finance products and services to our clients: (i) Principal Finance and (ii) Asset Management and Other Services.
Our Principal Finance segment funds capital to legal finance assets from our balance sheet, primarily as capital provision assets, and in limited scope through interests in private funds managed by us. These capital
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provision assets and private fund interests generate our capital provision income, which is the most significant driver of our total revenues.
Our Asset Management and Other Services segment manages legal finance assets on behalf of third-party investors through private funds and provides other services to the legal industry, for both of which we receive fees. These fees are primarily reflected as asset management income, which is a secondary contributor to our total revenues. As of March 31, 2026, we operated eight private funds and three “sidecar” funds as an investment adviser registered with and regulated by the SEC.
The Asset Management and Other Services segment may also reflect the financial impact of new initiatives in the legal services space, including initial diligence and start-up costs, which may impact segment-level profitability.
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our income/(loss) before income taxes by segment for the periods indicated.
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | (1,662,765) | $ | 5,082 | $ | (1,657,683) | $ | (62,691) | $ | (1,720,374) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (96,884) | 8,405 | (88,479) | (61,617) | (150,096) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 65,825 | (543) | 65,282 | 4 | 65,286 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | (1,631,706) | (2,780) | (1,634,486) | (1,078) | (1,635,564) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 97,650 | 13,651 | 111,301 | 7,558 | 118,859 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 32,463 | 7,060 | 39,523 | 1,578 | 41,101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 33,281 | — | 33,281 | (1) | 33,280 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | 31,906 | 6,591 | 38,497 | 5,981 | 44,478 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | (1,760,415) | (8,569) | (1,768,984) | (70,249) | (1,839,233) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (129,347) | 1,345 | (128,002) | (63,195) | (191,197) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 32,544 | (543) | 32,001 | 5 | 32,006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | (1,663,612) | (9,371) | (1,672,983) | (7,059) | (1,680,042) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues and total operating expenses decreased, both primarily due to the YPF Judgment Reversal, which was the main driver of the decrease in income/(loss) before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025 on both consolidated and total segments (Burford-only) bases. In addition, on both consolidated and total segments (Burford-only) bases, total revenues decreased, mainly due to a decrease in capital provision income, arising mostly from lower fair value adjustments, and total operating expenses decreased, mainly due to lower fair value driven compensation-related accruals, partially offset by an increase in case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost.
Refer to the specific segment sections below for the period-over-period discussion of each of the reportable segments.
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Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition by segment as of the dates indicated.
| Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Principal Finance | Asset Management and Other Services | Total segments (Burford-only) | Reconciling items(1) | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 723,941 | $ | 16,325 | $ | 740,266 | $ | 14,414 | $ | 754,680 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | 29,659 | $ | 171,007 | $ | 200,666 | $ | (122,843) | $ | 77,823 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | $ | 180,041 | $ | — | $ | 180,041 | $ | — | $ | 180,041 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | 2,229,982 | $ | — | $ | 2,229,982 | $ | 890,517 | $ | 3,120,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,275,173 | $ | 212,332 | $ | 3,487,505 | $ | 782,088 | $ | 4,269,593 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 599,011 | $ | 21,666 | $ | 620,677 | $ | 35,246 | $ | 655,923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | 24,348 | $ | 167,309 | $ | 191,657 | $ | (117,914) | $ | 73,743 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | $ | 164,804 | $ | — | $ | 164,804 | $ | — | $ | 164,804 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | 3,912,194 | $ | — | $ | 3,912,194 | $ | 1,697,755 | $ | 5,609,949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 4,811,081 | $ | 215,004 | $ | 5,026,085 | $ | 1,615,087 | $ | 6,641,172 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 124,930 | $ | (5,341) | $ | 119,589 | $ | (20,832) | $ | 98,757 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | 5,311 | $ | 3,698 | $ | 9,009 | $ | (4,929) | $ | 4,080 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | $ | 15,237 | $ | — | $ | 15,237 | $ | — | $ | 15,237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | $ | (1,682,212) | $ | — | $ | (1,682,212) | $ | (807,238) | $ | (2,489,450) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | (1,535,908) | $ | (2,672) | $ | (1,538,580) | $ | (832,999) | $ | (2,371,579) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Reconciling items include the proportional operating results that are attributable to third-party limited partners and minority investors in consolidated entities, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2026, total assets decreased $2.4 billion on a consolidated basis and decreased $1.5 billion on a total segments (Burford-only) basis. In each case, the decrease in total assets was mainly attributable to a decrease in capital provision assets. See “—Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025” above for additional information on the components of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Refer to the specific segment sections below for the period-over-period discussion of each of the reportable segments.
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Group-wide portfolio
Group-wide portfolio refers to the totality of assets managed by us, which includes assets financed by our balance sheet through our Principal Finance segment and assets funded by third parties through our Asset Management and Other Services segment. The table below sets forth the components of our portfolio by segment as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets - Principal Finance segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | $ | 2,229,982 | $ | 3,912,194 | $ | (1,682,212) | (43) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 1,764,315 | 1,783,320 | (19,005) | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio value - Principal Finance segment | 3,994,297 | 5,695,514 | (1,701,217) | (30) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets (funded by third parties) - Asset Management and Other Services segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | 1,010,967 | 1,151,341 | (140,374) | (12) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 396,761 | 410,339 | (13,578) | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,407,728 | 1,561,680 | (153,952) | (10) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Post-settlement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | 200,201 | 200,206 | (5) | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 19,586 | 20,005 | (419) | (2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 219,787 | 220,211 | (424) | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio value - Asset Management and Other Services segment | 1,627,515 | 1,781,891 | (154,376) | (9) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets - group-wide portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | 3,441,150 | 5,263,741 | (1,822,591) | (35) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 2,180,662 | 2,213,664 | (33,002) | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total group-wide portfolio | 5,621,812 | 7,477,405 | (1,855,593) | (24.8) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Refer to the specific segment sections below for the period-over-period discussion of each of the reportable segments.
Group-wide new definitive commitments
New definitive commitments serve as one indicator of new business activity and reflect new contractual financing agreements, which are inflows to the portfolio or transfers of existing discretionary commitments. Discretionary commitments, which are also included in undrawn commitments as a component of the portfolio, are not included within new definitive commitments. When referring to new definitive commitments for our combined business segments, we use the term “group-wide”, as opposed to total segments (Burford-only) which we use for our financial results, due to the third-party nature of the capital in our asset management business. The table below sets forth the components of our group-wide new definitive commitments of capital provision assets by segment for periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal Finance segment (Burford-only) | $ | 132,533 | $ | 158,500 | $ | (25,967) | (16) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Asset Management and Other Services segment (funded by third parties) | 20,215 | 41,533 | (21,318) | (51) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Group-wide new definitive commitments | 152,748 | 200,033 | (47,285) | (24) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Group-wide new definitive commitments decreased 24% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily as a result of a lower number of large new definitive commitments originated during 2026.
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Principal Finance segment
Our Principal Finance segment allocates capital to legal finance assets from our balance sheet, primarily as capital provision assets, and in limited scope through interests in private funds managed by us. These capital provision assets and private fund interests generate capital provision income, which is the most significant driver of our total revenues.
Given the direct balance sheet exposure in our Principal Finance segment, we generate capital provision income directly from the gross returns of the portfolio, which are driven by the outcomes of litigation and related legal activity. Recognition of capital provision income is based on our fair value methodology, see note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q, for each asset in the portfolio, which we apply quarterly, and the resulting change in fair value across the Principal Finance segment portfolio.
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our income/(loss) before income taxes for our Principal Finance segment for the periods indicated.
| Principal Finance segment | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision income/(loss) | $ | (1,669,083) | $ | 90,950 | $ | (1,760,033) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities income/(loss) and interest | 6,318 | 6,700 | (382) | (6) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | (1,662,765) | 97,650 | (1,760,415) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | (123,009) | 21,062 | (144,071) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | 6,835 | 8,312 | (1,477) | (18) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | 19,290 | 3,089 | 16,201 | 524 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (96,884) | 32,463 | (129,347) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finance costs | 49,642 | 33,880 | 15,762 | 47 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | 16,183 | (599) | 16,782 | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | 65,825 | 33,281 | 32,544 | 98 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | (1,631,706) | 31,906 | (1,663,612) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026, partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses. The decrease in both total revenues and operating expenses was primarily due to the YPF Judgment Reversal, which resulted in (i) with respect to total revenues, a capital provision loss, net of third-party interest, of $1.6 billion and (ii) with respect to operating expenses, a decrease in long-term incentive compensation including accruals of $124.8 million.
In addition, total revenues decreased, mainly due to a decrease in capital provision income, arising mostly from lower fair value adjustments, and total operating expenses decreased, mainly due to a decrease in fair value driven compensation-related accruals, mainly related to lower capital provision income in 2026 as compared to 2025. The decrease in total operating expenses was partially offset by an increase in case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost. Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost include costs associated with ongoing capital provision assets that are not eligible for inclusion in the fair value of those assets and are therefore expensed as incurred. As of March 31, 2026, the Company has recognized a cumulative $23.8 million of such costs in respect of capital provision assets that remain ongoing. The increase in this line item in 2026 is mainly related to $17.8 million arising from the correction in 2026 of certain costs that had been previously included within capital provision assets but which did not meet the applicable criteria for inclusion in the fair value of those assets. The impact of this correction was not material to 2026 or any prior periods.
Total other expenses increased 98% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to higher interest expense related to the issuance of the 2033 Notes in July 2025 and the 2034 Notes in January 2026,
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partially offset by the repayment at scheduled maturity of the aggregate principal amount of the 6.125% bonds due 2025 in August 2025 and the early redemption of the 2026 Bonds in January 2026. In addition, the increase in other expenses was also primarily driven by the realization, upon the redemption of the 2026 Bonds, of accumulated foreign currency losses previously recorded in other comprehensive income.
As a result of the factors described above, income/(loss) before income taxes decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Gains from capital provision asset portfolio
The table below sets forth the components of our total capital provision income for the periods indicated.
| Principal Finance segment | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains/(losses) | $ | 28,394 | $ | 34,584 | $ | (6,190) | (18) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses) | (1,698,073) | 50,765 | (1,748,838) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | (3,222) | 5,063 | (8,285) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,818 | 538 | 3,280 | 610 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision income | (1,669,083) | 90,950 | (1,760,033) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Realized gains
Net realized gains on capital provision assets decreased 18% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, which were comprised of $39.9 million in gross realized gains, offset by $11.5 million in gross realized losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net realized gains on capital provision assets were comprised of $46.4 million in gross realized gains, offset by $11.8 million in gross realized losses. The decrease in net realized gains was in large part due to lower case realizations relating to the Advantage Fund given the fund is in wind down during the three months ended March 31, 2026. As a percentage of average capital provision assets at cost during the three months ended March 31, 2026, gross realized losses represented 2.5% (annualized) as compared to 3.1% for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Net change in unrealized gains
Net change in unrealized gains consist of fair value adjustments during the period, which may be offset by the transfer of unrealized gains/(losses) to realized gains/(losses) upon realization of an asset. Fair value adjustments, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains, on capital provision assets decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026, with the YPF Judgment Reversal having the largest impact from an individual matter during the period.
See “—Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025—Revenues—Capital provision income/(loss)” above for additional information with respect to the period-over-period change of fair value adjustment, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses).
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition for our Principal Finance segment as of the dates indicated.
| Principal Finance segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 723,941 | $ | 599,011 | $ | 124,930 | 21 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | 180,041 | 164,804 | 15,237 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 2,229,982 | 3,912,194 | (1,682,212) | (43) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 3,275,173 | 4,811,081 | (1,535,908) | (32) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets decreased 32% as of March 31, 2026, primarily due to a decrease in capital provision assets. See “—Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025” above for additional information.
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Portfolio value – Principal Finance segment
The table below sets forth the components of our portfolio for our Principal Finance segment as of the dates indicated.
| Principal Finance segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | $ | 2,229,982 | $ | 3,912,194 | $ | (1,682,212) | (43) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 1,764,315 | 1,783,320 | (19,005) | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio | 3,994,297 | 5,695,514 | (1,701,217) | (30) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total portfolio decreased 30% as of March 31, 2026, driven by decreases in fair value of capital provision assets, primarily resulting from the YPF Judgment Reversal. Capital provision assets include our investment in the Advantage Fund which makes up less than 1% of the total portfolio as of March 31, 2026.
The table below sets forth our deployments and realizations for our Principal Finance segment for the periods indicated.
| Principal Finance segment | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployments | $ | 113,149 | $ | 125,818 | $ | (12,669) | (10) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Realizations | 95,779 | 162,905 | (67,126) | (41) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
The table below sets forth our deployments and realizations, for the periods indicated, adjusted primarily to (i) include case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost for our deployments and (ii) include (a) realizations arising from income on due from settlement of capital provision assets and (b) in cases where our interest is held through a private fund, adjust to reflect realizations based on the timing of occurrence with the capital provision asset and not when distributed out by the private fund for our realizations. See “—Reconciliations—Deployments reconciliations” and “—Reconciliations—Realizations reconciliations” for additional information with respect to the difference between the Principal Finance segment and the Burford-only basis tables.
| Adjusted Burford-only | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployments | $ | 107,684 | $ | 129,911 | $ | (22,227) | (17) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Realizations | 97,137 | 163,148 | (66,011) | (40) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
For both the Principal Finance segment and the adjusted Burford-only basis, total deployments decreased by 10% and 17%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The decrease in deployments for both the Principal Finance segment and the adjusted Burford-only basis was largely due to the absence in 2026 of the $38.0 million that was deployed in 2025 associated with the restructuring of the Eton Park liquidation.
We count each of our contractual relationships as an “asset”, although many such relationships are composed of multiple underlying litigation matters that are often cross collateralized rather than reliant on the performance of a single matter. As of March 31, 2026, our Principal Finance portfolio consisted of 237 assets funded directly by our balance sheet and four additional assets held through the Advantage Fund. As of December 31, 2025, our Principal Finance portfolio consisted of 237 assets funded directly by our balance sheet and four additional assets held through the Advantage Fund.
Total realizations decreased by 41% for the Principal Finance segment and by 40% for the adjusted Burford-only basis for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The decrease in realizations was largely due to a single asset that generated $93.8 million in 2025 for both the Principal Finance segment and the adjusted Burford-only basis, that did not recur in 2026.
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Undrawn commitments – Principal Finance segment
The table below sets forth the components of our total capital provision undrawn commitments for our Principal Finance segment by type as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | Definitive | Discretionary | Legal Risk (definitive) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | $ | 773,673 | $ | 817,865 | $ | 41,318 | $ | 1,632,856 | ||||||||||||||||||
| New commitments originated during the period | 102,809 | — | — | 102,809 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New commitments transferred during the period | 55,691 | (55,691) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cancelled or retired | (7,165) | (78,053) | — | (85,218) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployments | (125,818) | — | — | (125,818) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX and other | (5,475) | 8,300 | 1,651 | 4,475 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2025 | 793,714 | 692,421 | 42,969 | 1,529,104 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2025 | 1,108,059 | 628,026 | 47,235 | 1,783,320 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New commitments originated during the period | 109,865 | 5,150 | — | 115,015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New commitments transferred during the period | 22,668 | (22,929) | 261 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cancelled or retired | (7,711) | (5,000) | — | (12,711) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deployments | (113,899) | — | — | (113,899) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX and other | (9,500) | 3,112 | (1,022) | (7,410) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2026 | 1,109,482 | 608,359 | 46,474 | 1,764,315 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2026, undrawn commitments increased 15%, primarily due to higher new definitive commitments originated during the period, partially offset by deployments and retirements.
Portfolio tenor
The timing of realizations is difficult to forecast and is rarely in our control. The reality of litigation is that most cases settle and pay proceeds in a relatively short period of time, and a minority of cases go on to adjudication, which takes longer. Adjudication timing is subject to a myriad of factors, including delaying tactics by litigation opponents and court dockets and schedules, and the Covid-19 pandemic added to this uncertainty. However, we are now seeing the impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic subsiding. We believe that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic delaying trial dates also caused a delay in settlement timing, as an impending trial often can be a catalyst for a settlement. We do not believe there is a correlation between asset life and asset quality and endeavor to structure our asset pricing to compensate us if assets take longer to resolve.
We provide extensive data about the WAL of our concluded portfolio, although this data may not be predictive of the ultimate WAL of our existing portfolio. The WAL of our concluded portfolio may lengthen over time if the longer-tenor assets in our existing portfolio account for a greater share of future concluded cases. Conversely, if our larger, more recently originated cases conclude relatively quickly, the WAL of our concluded portfolio could decrease.
In calculating the WAL of our portfolio, we compute a weighted average of the WALs of individual assets. On that basis, we assess the weighted average lives (beginning at the point of average deployment) of the concluded portfolio, weighted both by deployed cost and realizations. Weighting by deployed cost provides a view on how long a dollar of capital is deployed on average, while weighting by realizations provides a view on how long it takes to recover a dollar of return on average.
The WALs of the 285 concluded assets as of March 31, 2026 were flat as compared to the WALs of the 277 concluded assets as of December 31, 2025. The table below sets forth the WALs, weighted by deployed cost and realizations, of the concluded assets, excluding the impact of our interest in private funds, as of the dates indicated.
| (in years) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| WAL weighted by deployed cost | 2.5 | 2.5 | ||||||||||||
| WAL weighted by realizations | 2.6 | 2.6 | ||||||||||||
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The age of our ongoing portfolio is reflected in the WAL of active deployed capital in the table below. Although we provide information for our portfolio by vintage years, the deployed cost for each vintage are generally financed across multiple years and the WAL of active deployed capital calculates the length of time our deployments have been outstanding based on the date when capital was deployed.
| (in years) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| WAL of active deployed capital | 3.4 | 3.3 | ||||||||||||
Returns on concluded portfolio
The table below sets forth our ROIC, IRR and cumulative realizations on concluded and partially concluded assets in our capital provision portfolio, excluding balance sheet allocations through private funds and post-settlement deals, as of the dates indicated since inception on a Burford-only basis.
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| ROIC | 82 | % | 83 | % | ||||||||||
| IRR | 25 | % | 26 | % | ||||||||||
| Cumulative realizations | $ | 3,842,895 | $ | 3,766,819 | ||||||||||
As our older vintages conclude, we may see IRR decrease as the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic caused delays in settlement timing. In addition to legal finance assets funded directly through our balance sheet, our Principal Finance segment also selectively allocates balance sheet capital through interests in certain private funds, which tend to target a lower overall risk return profile. Returns from these concluded or partially concluded assets invested through private funds and post-settlement deals are not included in the ROICs and IRRs in the table above. For the concluded or partially concluded assets from the balance sheet’s interest in Advantage Fund and post-settlement deals, these assets generated $86.0 million of realizations, resulting in a ROIC of 20% and IRR of 27%.
We do not consider matters to be concluded (and therefore part of these return metrics on our concluded portfolio) until there is no longer any litigation risk remaining. Return metrics on our concluded portfolio do not include fair value adjustments, either positive or negative. As a result, these return metrics do not include the positive or negative impact of developments on matters while they remain pending.
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The table below sets forth the deployments by vintage for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
2009 vintage(1) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
| 2010 vintage | — | 28 | ||||||||||||
| 2011 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
2012 vintage(1) | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2013 vintage | 107 | — | ||||||||||||
| 2014 vintage | — | 60 | ||||||||||||
| 2015 vintage | 4,428 | 1,723 | ||||||||||||
| 2016 vintage | 477 | 1,081 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 vintage | 689 | 375 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 vintage | 1,235 | 3,732 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 vintage | 9,324 | 3,313 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 vintage | 1,300 | 4,829 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 vintage | 4,419 | 8,101 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 vintage | 6,114 | 8,743 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 vintage | 5,743 | 6,009 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 vintage | 10,804 | 26,002 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 vintage | 30,363 | 69,239 | ||||||||||||
| 2026 vintage | 12,681 | — | ||||||||||||
Total deployments2 | 87,684 | 133,235 | ||||||||||||
| 1. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, all assets within this vintage have fully concluded and, as a result, no further activity is expected to occur. | ||||||||||||||
| 2. Do not include assets invested through private funds and post-settlement deals. | ||||||||||||||
Total deployments to capital provision assets were $87.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2026. Of the total capital deployed during 2026, 20% was related to the vintage year 2020 and earlier vintage years.
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The table below sets forth the realizations by vintage for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
2009 vintage(1) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
| 2010 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2011 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
2012 vintage(1) | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2013 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2014 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2015 vintage | 578 | 231 | ||||||||||||
| 2016 vintage | — | — | ||||||||||||
| 2017 vintage | 1,178 | 13,617 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 vintage | 1,225 | 1,111 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 vintage | 973 | 1,008 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 vintage | 28,419 | 19,295 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 vintage | 706 | 1,715 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 vintage | 7,431 | 12,050 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 vintage | 11,756 | 2,025 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 vintage | — | 94,950 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 vintage | 18,973 | 2,861 | ||||||||||||
| 2026 vintage | 4,500 | — | ||||||||||||
Total realizations2 | 75,739 | 148,863 | ||||||||||||
| 1. As of the date of this Form 10-Q, all assets within this vintage have fully concluded and, as a result, no further activity is expected to occur. | ||||||||||||||
| 2. Do not include assets invested through private funds and post-settlement deals. | ||||||||||||||
Total realizations on capital provision assets were $75.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2026. Of the total realizations during 2026, 43% was related to the vintage year 2020 and earlier vintage years.
Asset Management and Other Services segment
Our Asset Management and Other Services segment manages legal finance assets on behalf of third-party investors through private funds and provides other services to the legal industry, for both of which we receive fees. These fees are primarily reflected as asset management income, which is a secondary contributor to our total revenues.
Our internal allocation policy strictly prescribes the allocation of third-party private fund capital by private fund based on the risk/return profile of assets, thus removing any potential allocation conflicts of interest with our Principal Finance segment.
We generally conduct our private fund activities through limited partnerships. Each private fund that is a limited partnership has a Burford-owned general partner that is responsible for the management and operation of the private fund’s affairs and makes all policy and asset selection decisions relating to the conduct of the private fund’s business. Except as required by law or as specified in a private fund’s governing documents, the limited partners of the private funds take no part in the conduct or control of the business of the private funds, have no right or authority to act for or bind the private funds, have limited visibility and input into the actions and decisions of the general partner and have no influence over the voting or disposition of the securities or other assets held by the private funds. Each private fund engages an investment adviser. BCIM serves as the investment adviser for all of our private funds and is registered under the Investment Advisers Act.
In addition, we operate certain “sidecar” funds pertaining to specific assets and had three active “sidecar” funds as of March 31, 2026. A “sidecar” fund is a pooled investment vehicle through which certain investors co-invest directly in specific assets alongside our private funds. Except as required by law or as specified in a
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“sidecar” fund’s governing documents, the investors in the “sidecar” funds take no part in the conduct or control of the business of the “sidecar” funds, have no right or authority to act for or bind the “sidecar” funds, have limited visibility and input into the actions and decisions of the general partner or manager of the “sidecar” funds and have no influence over the voting or disposition of the securities or other assets held by the “sidecar” funds. Our interest in the “sidecar” funds is generally limited to the opportunity to earn incentive fees, if any. The discussion of our private funds ignores “sidecar” funds, unless specifically included, and we collapse fund structures into overall strategies, ignoring, for example, onshore and offshore separations and parallel funds.
Unaudited condensed statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our income/(loss) before income taxes for our Asset Management and Other Services segment for the periods indicated.
| Asset Management and Other Services segment | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset management income/(loss) | $ | 5,282 | $ | 13,837 | $ | (8,555) | (62) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | (200) | (186) | (14) | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 5,082 | 13,651 | (8,569) | (63) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 6,677 | 5,252 | 1,425 | 27 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | 1,728 | 1,808 | (80) | (4) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 8,405 | 7,060 | 1,345 | 19 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses and other expenses | (543) | — | (543) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expenses | (543) | — | (543) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) before income taxes | (2,780) | 6,591 | (9,371) | NM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues decreased 63% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily driven from lower asset management income, reflecting a decrease in capital provision income earned by BOF-C and, therefore, less profit-sharing income from BOF-C contributing to asset management income for 2026. In addition, lower performance fee income from the private funds also contributed to less asset management income in 2026.
Total operating expenses increased for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to an increase in compensation and benefits costs.
As a result of the factors described above, income before income taxes decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Asset management income
Asset management income is generally categorized as either (i) management fees, which are recurring fees paid to Burford for investment management services and typically being a rate of 2% or less charged on the basis of some component of assets under management in each fund, (ii) profit sharing income, which represents income from bespoke profit-sharing agreements with third-party investors, such as our strategic sovereign wealth fund partner or (iii) performance fees, which are fees paid to Burford contingent on satisfying certain performance thresholds as designated by each fund waterfall. The timing of the recognition of performance fees is variable as they are recognized when a reliable estimate of the performance fees can be made, and it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. The maturity and the terms of the applicable distribution waterfall for each of our private funds impacts this timing.
The table below sets forth the components of our asset management income for the periods indicated.
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| Asset Management and Other Services segment | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Management fee income | $ | 284 | $ | 1,538 | $ | (1,254) | (82) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Performance fee income | 1,200 | 4,400 | (3,200) | (73) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Profit sharing income from private funds | 3,798 | 7,899 | (4,101) | (52) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total asset management income | 5,282 | 13,837 | (8,555) | (62) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Asset management income decreased 62% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to lower profit-sharing income from BOF-C, reflecting a decrease in capital provision income earned by BOF-C and due to lower performance fee income from the private funds. Starting December 1, 2025, the management fee rate for the remaining active fund, BOF, dropped from 2.0% to 0.5% per annum.
Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2026 as compared to December 31, 2025
The table below sets forth the components of our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition for our Asset Management and Other Services segment as of the dates indicated.
| Asset Management and Other Services segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 16,325 | $ | 21,666 | $ | (5,341) | (25) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 171,007 | 167,309 | 3,698 | 2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 212,332 | 215,004 | (2,672) | (1) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets were relatively flat at $212.3 million as of March 31, 2026 as compared to $215.0 million as of December 31, 2025.
Portfolio value – Asset Management and Other Services segment
The table below sets forth the components of our portfolio for our Asset Management and Other Services segment as of the dates indicated.
| Asset Management and Other Services segment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | Change | % change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets - funded by third parties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | $ | 1,010,967 | $ | 1,151,341 | $ | (140,374) | (12) | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 396,761 | 410,339 | (13,578) | (3) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1,407,728 | 1,561,680 | (153,952) | (10) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Post-settlement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value | 200,201 | 200,206 | (5) | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Undrawn commitments | 19,586 | 20,005 | (419) | (2) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 219,787 | 220,211 | (424) | — | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total portfolio value | 1,627,515 | 1,781,891 | (154,376) | (9) | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total portfolio value, funded by third parties, decreased 9% as of March 31, 2026. The decrease in our total portfolio was driven by lower fair value adjustments and the impact of realizations in 2026, without offsetting new deployments in certain private funds for which the investment period has ended.
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Private funds
As of March 31, 2026, we operated eight private funds and three “sidecar” funds as an investment adviser registered with, and regulated by, the SEC. The table below sets forth key statistics for each of our private funds as of the date indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investor | Asset | Asset | Fee structure(1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| commitments | commitments | deployments | (management/ | Investment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in millions) | Strategy(6) | closed | to date | to date | AUM | performance) | Waterfall | period (end) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BCIM Partners II, LP(2) | Core legal finance | $ | 260 | $ | 253 | $ | 189 | $ | 126 | Class A: 2%/20%; Class B: 0%/50% | European | 12/15/2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BCIM Partners III, LP | Core legal finance | 412 | 447 | 335 | 359 | 2%/20% | European | 1/1/2020(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burford Opportunity Fund LP & Burford Opportunity Fund B LP (BOF) | Core legal finance | 300 | 408 | 315 | 288 | 0.5%/20% | European | 12/31/2021(4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BCIM Credit Opportunities, LP (COLP) | Post-settlement | 488 | 699 | 695 | 390 | 1% on undrawn/ 2% on funded and 20% incentive | European | 9/30/2019(3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burford Alternative Income Fund LP (BAIF)(2) | Post-settlement | 327 | 678 | 664 | 254 | 1.5%/10% | European | 4/4/2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burford Alternative Income Fund II LP (BAIF II) | Post-settlement | 350 | 380 | 336 | 393 | 1.5%/12.5% | European | 9/11/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Burford Advantage Master Fund LP (Advantage Fund) | Lower risk legal finance | 360 | 370 | 368 | 287 | Profit split(5) | American | 12/24/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burford Opportunity Fund C LP (BOF-C)(2) | Core legal finance | 766 | 1,309 | 862 | 962 | Expense reimbursement + profit share | Hybrid | 12/31/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 3,263 | 4,544 | 3,764 | 3,059 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. Management fees are paid to BCIM for investment management and advisory services provided to our private funds. The management fee rates set forth in the table above are annualized and applied to an asset or commitment base that typically varies between a private fund’s investment period and any subsequent periods in the fund term. We no longer earn any management fees from BCIM Partners II, LP, BCIM Partners III, LP, COLP, BAIF and BAIF II. Performance fees represent carried interest applied to distributions to a private fund’s limited partners after the return of capital contributions and preferred returns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Includes amounts related to “sidecar” funds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Ceased commitments to new legal finance assets in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to capacity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. Ceased commitments to new legal finance assets in the fourth quarter of 2020 due to capacity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. The Advantage Fund does not have a traditional management and performance fee structure, but instead provides the first 10% of annual simple returns to the fund investors while we retain any excess returns. However, if the Advantage Fund produces returns in excess of 18% (which are supranormal for this level of risk), a level of sharing with the fund investors would take effect, but we do not expect that to occur. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. Core legal finance is a pro-rata portion of the balance sheet assets including legacy assets prior to our 2016 acquisition of GKC Holdings, LLC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our total AUM was $3.1 billion and $3.2 billion as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. AUM reflects the fair value of the capital invested in private funds and individual capital vehicles plus the capital that we are entitled to call from investors in those private funds and individual capital vehicles. The total portfolio value shown for our Asset Management and Other Services segment of $1.6 billion reflects the fair value of portfolio assets plus the undrawn commitments to portfolio assets, but excludes the balance sheet’s interest in the Advantage Fund, which is reflected in the portfolio value for our Principal Finance segment.
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Liquidity and capital resources
Overview
The table below sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third-party | segments | Third-party | segments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | interests | (Burford-only) | Consolidated | interests | (Burford-only) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 702,576 | $ | (14,414) | $ | 688,162 | $ | 566,437 | $ | (35,246) | $ | 531,191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 52,104 | — | 52,104 | 89,486 | — | 89,486 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 754,680 | (14,414) | 740,266 | 655,923 | (35,246) | 620,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2026, our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities increased 15% on a consolidated basis and increased 19% on a total segments (Burford-only) basis. The net increase in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities on both the consolidated and total segments (Burford-only) bases primarily reflects the issuance of the 2034 Notes and the proceeds received from capital provision assets, partially offset by (i) the redemption of the 2026 Bonds and (ii) the funding of capital provision assets. On the consolidated basis, the net increase in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities was also impacted by third-party net contributions.
Our marketable securities primarily consist of short-duration and generally investment-grade fixed income assets, the bulk of which are held in separately managed accounts, managed by a third-party asset manager that specializes in short-duration and money market investments.
Debt
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, we issued the 2034 Notes and redeemed in full the remaining 2026 Bonds. As of March 31, 2026, we had five series of debt securities outstanding, all of which were issued through private placement transactions under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act. See note 10 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to our outstanding debt securities. As of March 31, 2026, Moody’s affirmed our credit rating and changed the outlook to negative, while S&P lowered our credit rating but assigned a stable outlook.
We manage our business with appropriate levels of leverage and have laddered debt maturities with an overall weighted average maturity in excess of the expected weighted average life of our legal finance assets. As of March 31, 2026, the weighted average maturity of our outstanding debt securities of 5.5 years continued to be longer than the weighted average life of our concluded assets, weighted by realizations, of 2.6 years.
Going forward, we expect to continue to be an opportunistic issuer of debt securities and may issue new debt securities from time to time to fund our growth, or refinance future debt maturities, among other things. In addition, from time to time, we may acquire our debt securities through open market purchases, redemptions, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, upon such terms and at such prices as we may from time to time determine, for cash or other consideration.
The indentures governing our outstanding debt securities contain certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness (but generally do not limit our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness) or undertake certain other specific actions, such as making restricted payments. These restrictive covenants have many exceptions, referred to as “baskets”, including certain “baskets” that are based on our debt to equity ratio. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, while our debt to equity ratio impairs our use of some “baskets” based on that ratio, we continue to have other “baskets” available to us that are not predicated on our debt to equity ratio that we believe provide us with adequate flexibility to manage our business operations.
We are required to provide certain information pursuant to the indentures governing the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2034 Notes. The tables below set forth the total assets and third-party indebtedness as of the dates indicated and total revenues for the periods indicated, in each case, of (i) us and our Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the indentures governing the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2034 Notes, as applicable) and (ii) our Unrestricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the indentures governing the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2034 Notes, as applicable).
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| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Burford Capital Limited and its Restricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,562,832 | $ | 5,941,410 | ||||||||||
| Third-party indebtedness | 2,401,757 | 2,127,829 | ||||||||||||
| Unrestricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 706,761 | 699,762 | ||||||||||||
| Third-party indebtedness | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Burford Capital Limited and its Restricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | (1,721,297) | $ | 110,791 | ||||||||||
| Unrestricted Subsidiaries | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 923 | 8,068 | ||||||||||||
Dividends
On February 25, 2026, the Board of Directors has declared, subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting to be held on May 13, 2026, a final dividend of 6.25¢ per ordinary share to be paid on June 12, 2026 to our shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2026.
We have historically paid a total annual dividend of 12.50¢ per ordinary share, payable semi-annually, and have indicated that we do not anticipate regular increases in our dividend per ordinary share level. The Board of Directors may review our dividend policy from time to time. Moreover, any payment of future dividends would be a restricted payment requiring basket capacity under our debt indentures, and there can be no assurance that we will have basket capacity to pay, or that we will determine to continue to pay, regular dividends. See “Risk factors—Risks relating to our ordinary shares—There can be no assurance that we will pay dividends or distributions” in the 2025 Form 10-K for additional information with respect to our declaration and payment of dividends.
Cash flows
We primarily generate revenues and cash flows from our capital provision assets. Based on our historical experience and current expectations, we believe that our existing liquidity, together with cash generated from our business operations, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating expenses, debt service obligations and other working capital requirements for at least the next 12 months.
Over the longer term, we expect to continue to fund our business operations principally through proceeds realized from our capital provision assets, supplemented as appropriate by access to the capital markets and other financing arrangements.
Our expected primary uses of cash over the next 12 months include:
•funding new and existing investments to support the growth of our business;
•paying operating expenses, including compensation and general and administrative costs;
•servicing our indebtedness, including interest payments;
•paying taxes;
•paying cash dividends, as declared; and
•repurchasing ordinary shares.
Our expected primary uses of cash over the longer term include:
•continuing to support the growth of our business and expansion of our portfolio;
•pursuing strategic investment opportunities;
•servicing and repaying outstanding indebtedness;
•paying cash dividends, as declared; and
•repurchasing ordinary shares.
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We believe that the growth of our portfolio will, over time, generate increased revenues and cash flows sufficient to meet our long-term liquidity requirements.
Set forth below is a discussion of our cash flows for the periods indicated on a consolidated basis, unless noted otherwise.
The table below sets forth the components of our cash flows for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | $ | (136,633) | $ | 155,170 | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities | (2,903) | (24) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | 276,016 | (139,170) | ||||||||||||
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 136,480 | 15,976 | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
The table below sets forth the components of our net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities before proceeds from/(funding of) operating activities | $ | (121,947) | $ | 2,835 | ||||||||||
| Net proceeds from/(funding of) marketable securities | 38,912 | (2,243) | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | 86,349 | 371,054 | ||||||||||||
| Funding of capital provision assets | (139,947) | (216,476) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | (136,633) | 155,170 | ||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities was $136.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The period-over-period change in net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities reflects primarily lower proceeds received from capital provision assets.
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The year-over-year change in net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities was primarily due to the acquisitions of equity method and other investments.
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $276.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The period-over-period change in net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities was primarily due to the issuance of the 2034 Notes in 2026 and the impact from third-party net contributions, partially offset by the redemption of the 2026 Bonds.
Cash receipts (non-GAAP financial measure)
Cash receipts represent cash generated during the reporting period from our capital provision assets, asset management income and certain other items, before any deployments into financing existing or new assets. See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance—Non-GAAP financial measures—Cash receipts” for additional information with respect to our cash receipts. See “—Cash flows” for a discussion of our cash flows on a consolidated basis prepared in accordance with US GAAP.
The table below sets forth the components of our cash receipts for the periods indicated on a Burford-only basis.
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| Burford-only (non-GAAP) | Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | $ | 80,819 | $ | 244,904 | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from asset management income | 1,484 | 7,105 | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from other items(1) | 7,450 | 5,707 | ||||||||||||
| Cash receipts | 89,753 | 257,716 | ||||||||||||
1. See “—Reconciliations—Cash receipts reconciliations” for additional information with respect to the components of this line item. | ||||||||||||||
On a Burford-only basis, our cash receipts decreased 65% for the three months ended March 31, 2026, reflecting primarily lower cash receipts from realizations during 2026 as compared to 2025. In addition, during 2026, we had lower collections on the due from settlement of capital provision assets receivable that was outstanding as of December 31, 2025 as compared to our collections in 2025 on the due from settlement of capital provision assets receivable that was outstanding as of December 31, 2024. Of the $164.8 million of due from settlement of capital provision assets receivables as of December 31, 2025, 39% was collected in cash during 2026.
See “—Reconciliations—Cash receipts reconciliations” for a reconciliation of cash receipts to proceeds from capital provision assets, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, we had off-balance sheet arrangements relating to legal finance assets with structured entities that aggregate claims from multiple parties in the amount of $22.7 million and $23.4 million, respectively. See note 12 (Variable interest entities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to structured entities.
Critical accounting estimates
The preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires our management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of capital provision assets. Our management bases these estimates and judgments on available information, historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. However, these estimates, judgments and assumptions are often subjective and may be impacted negatively based on changing circumstances or changes in our analyses. We believe that our critical accounting policies could potentially produce materially different results if we were to change underlying estimates, judgments and/or assumptions.
Set forth below are certain aspects of our critical accounting policy. For a full discussion of this critical accounting policy and other significant accounting policies, see note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q.
Fair value of capital provision assets
The determination of fair value for capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets involves significant estimates and judgments. While the potential range of outcomes for the assets is wide, our fair value estimation is our best assessment of the current fair value of each asset or liability. Such an estimate is inherently subjective, being based largely on management’s estimate of forecasted cash flows, an assigned discount rate and an assessment of how individual events have changed the possible outcomes of the asset and their relative probabilities and hence the extent to which the fair value has altered. The aggregate of the fair values selected falls within a wide range of reasonably possible estimates. In our management’s opinion, there is no useful alternative valuation that would better quantify the market risk inherent in the portfolio and there are no inputs or variables to which the values of the assets are correlated other than interest rates that impact the discount rates applied. See note 11 (Fair value of assets and liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q and “—Fair value of capital provision assets” for additional information with respect to fair value.
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should management’s estimate of the value of those instruments have been 10% higher or lower than provided for in our fair value estimates, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by $320.7 million and $491.1 million, respectively.
Furthermore, as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should interest rates have been 50 or 100 basis points lower or higher than the actual interest rates used in the fair value estimates, while all other variables
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remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets and the Principal Finance segment’s unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by the amounts set forth below.
| Consolidated (GAAP) | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| +100 bps interest rates | $ | (118,840) | $ | (166,466) | ||||||||||
| +50 bps interest rates | (59,868) | (83,662) | ||||||||||||
| -50 bps interest rates | 63,806 | 87,423 | ||||||||||||
| -100 bps interest rates | 128,689 | 175,812 | ||||||||||||
| Principal Finance segment | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| +100 bps interest rates | $ | (98,331) | $ | (124,625) | ||||||||||
| +50 bps interest rates | (49,712) | (62,755) | ||||||||||||
| -50 bps interest rates | 52,540 | 65,276 | ||||||||||||
| -100 bps interest rates | 106,339 | 131,524 | ||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should duration have been six or 12 months lower or higher than the actual duration used in the fair value estimates, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets and the Principal Finance segment’s unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by the amounts set forth below.
| Consolidated (GAAP) | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
+12 months duration(1) | $ | (249,670) | $ | (422,303) | ||||||||||
+6 months duration(1) | (123,865) | (229,491) | ||||||||||||
-6 months duration(1) | 128,937 | 199,038 | ||||||||||||
-12 months duration(1) | 264,167 | 383,172 | ||||||||||||
1. Duration refers to the expected timing of a favorable outcome. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) to the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to the valuation methodology for Level 3 assets. | ||||||||||||||
| Principal Finance segment | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
+12 months duration(1) | $ | (192,061) | $ | (299,693) | ||||||||||
+6 months duration(1) | (95,383) | (161,827) | ||||||||||||
-6 months duration(1) | 101,023 | 143,208 | ||||||||||||
-12 months duration(1) | 208,325 | 278,437 | ||||||||||||
1. Duration refers to the expected timing of a favorable outcome. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments) to the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to the valuation methodology for Level 3 assets. | ||||||||||||||
The sensitivity impact has been provided on a pre-tax basis for both our consolidated income and net assets because the fluctuation in our effective tax rate from period to period could indicate changes in sensitivity not driven by the valuation that we consider difficult to follow and detract from the comparability of this information.
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Reconciliations
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated operating expenses to total segments (Burford-only) operating expenses for the periods indicated and (ii) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition to total segments (Burford-only) unaudited condensed statements of financial condition as of the dates indicated. See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—Non-GAAP financial measures relating to our business structure” for additional information.
The first column in the tables below sets forth our results of operations on a consolidated basis as reported in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP. These results of operations include investments in a number of entities that are not wholly owned subsidiaries of Burford Capital Limited and, therefore, contain third-party capital, including BOF-C, the Advantage Fund, Colorado, the EP Funds and other entities. The presentation of our results of operations on a consolidated basis requires a line-by-line consolidation of 100% of each non-wholly owned entity’s assets and liabilities. The portion of the net assets that is attributable to the third-party interests are then presented separately as single line items within the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. We believe it is helpful to exclude the interests of investors other than Burford in our discussion of our results of operations, and we have therefore, as an alternative presentation, excluded from our presentation of our results of operations the non-Burford portion of the individual assets and liabilities relating to such third-party capital. The reconciliations eliminate the line-by-line consolidation of all the applicable entities’ individual assets and liabilities required by US GAAP to present Burford’s investment in the non-wholly owned entities and Burford’s share of the gain or loss earned on such investment.
Reconciliations of unaudited condensed consolidated operating expenses to total segments (Burford-only) unaudited condensed operating expenses
The table below sets forth the reconciliations of components of the unaudited condensed consolidated operating expenses to total segments (Burford-only) unaudited condensed operating expenses for the periods indicated.
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | $ | 13,164 | $ | — | $ | 13,164 | ||||||||||||||
| Annual incentive compensation | 5,423 | — | 5,423 | |||||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | (5,225) | — | (5,225) | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation including accruals | (129,694) | — | (129,694) | |||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | 8,588 | (25) | 8,563 | |||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | (42,352) | 61,642 | 19,290 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | (150,096) | 61,617 | (88,479) | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | 12,395 | — | 12,395 | |||||||||||||||||
| Annual incentive compensation | 4,245 | — | 4,245 | |||||||||||||||||
| Share-based and deferred compensation | 2,799 | — | 2,799 | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation including accruals | 6,875 | — | 6,875 | |||||||||||||||||
| General, administrative and other | 10,210 | (90) | 10,120 | |||||||||||||||||
| Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | 4,577 | (1,488) | 3,089 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 41,101 | (1,578) | 39,523 | |||||||||||||||||
Reconciliations of unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition to total segments (Burford-only) unaudited condensed statements of financial condition
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition to total segments (Burford-only) unaudited condensed statements of financial condition as of the dates indicated.
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| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 702,576 | $ | (14,414) | $ | 688,162 | ||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 52,104 | — | 52,104 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 77,823 | 122,843 | 200,666 | |||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | 180,041 | — | 180,041 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 3,120,499 | (890,517) | 2,229,982 | |||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 134,000 | — | 134,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax asset | 2,550 | — | 2,550 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 4,269,593 | (782,088) | 3,487,505 | |||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt interest payable | 55,009 | — | 55,009 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 81,487 | (8,676) | 72,811 | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation payable | 85,291 | — | 85,291 | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt payable | 2,401,757 | — | 2,401,757 | |||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | 87,698 | (87,698) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liability | 44,711 | — | 44,711 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 2,755,953 | (96,374) | 2,659,579 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 1,513,640 | (685,714) | 827,926 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 566,437 | $ | (35,246) | $ | 531,191 | ||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 89,486 | — | 89,486 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other assets | 73,743 | 117,914 | 191,657 | |||||||||||||||||
| Due from settlement of capital provision assets | 164,804 | — | 164,804 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 5,609,949 | (1,697,755) | 3,912,194 | |||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill | 134,020 | — | 134,020 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax asset | 2,733 | — | 2,733 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 6,641,172 | (1,615,087) | 5,026,085 | |||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt interest payable | 60,033 | — | 60,033 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other liabilities | 191,606 | (76,888) | 114,718 | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-term incentive compensation payable | 228,366 | — | 228,366 | |||||||||||||||||
| Debt payable | 2,127,829 | — | 2,127,829 | |||||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets | 858,491 | (858,491) | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred tax liability | 47,117 | — | 47,117 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 3,513,442 | (935,379) | 2,578,063 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 3,127,730 | (679,708) | 2,448,022 | |||||||||||||||||
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Reconciliations of capital provision assets
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of components of the consolidated capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of period and deployed cost and unrealized fair value as of the end of period to total segments (Burford-only) capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of period and deployed cost and unrealized fair value as of the end of period, in each case, for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | 5,609,949 | $ | (1,697,755) | $ | 3,912,194 | ||||||||||||||
| Transfers | (23,043) | (1,003) | (24,046) | |||||||||||||||||
| Deployments | 139,947 | (26,798) | 113,149 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realizations | (101,309) | 5,530 | (95,779) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income for the period | (2,499,250) | 829,571 | (1,669,679) | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | (5,795) | (62) | (5,857) | |||||||||||||||||
| End of period | 3,120,499 | (890,517) | 2,229,982 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost, end of period | 2,543,047 | (674,940) | 1,868,107 | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized fair value, end of period | 577,452 | (215,577) | 361,875 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 3,120,499 | (890,517) | 2,229,982 | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | 5,243,917 | $ | (1,672,693) | $ | 3,571,224 | ||||||||||||||
| Deployments | 216,476 | (90,658) | 125,818 | |||||||||||||||||
| Realizations | (288,848) | 125,943 | (162,905) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income for the period | 125,568 | (40,219) | 85,349 | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 7,908 | 9 | 7,917 | |||||||||||||||||
| End of period | 5,305,021 | (1,677,618) | 3,627,403 | |||||||||||||||||
| Deployed cost, end of period | 2,268,825 | (584,856) | 1,683,969 | |||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized fair value, end of period | 3,036,196 | (1,092,762) | 1,943,434 | |||||||||||||||||
| Capital provision assets | 5,305,021 | (1,677,618) | 3,627,403 | |||||||||||||||||
Reconciliations of capital provision income
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of components of the consolidated capital provision income to total segments (Burford-only) capital provision income for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains/(losses) | $ | 32,170 | $ | (3,776) | $ | 28,394 | ||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses) | (2,531,420) | 833,347 | (1,698,073) | |||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) on capital provision assets | (2,499,250) | 829,571 | (1,669,679) | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | (3,333) | 111 | (3,222) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) from due from settlement of capital provision assets | 570 | — | 570 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | 3,248 | — | 3,248 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision income | (2,498,765) | 829,682 | (1,669,083) | |||||||||||||||||
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| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net realized gains/(losses) | $ | 67,619 | $ | (33,035) | $ | 34,584 | ||||||||||||||
| Fair value adjustment during the period, net of previously recognized unrealized gains/(losses) transferred to realized gains/(losses) | 57,949 | (7,184) | 50,765 | |||||||||||||||||
| Income/(loss) on capital provision assets | 125,568 | (40,219) | 85,349 | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 5,410 | (347) | 5,063 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) on due from settlement of capital provision assets | 652 | — | 652 | |||||||||||||||||
| Other income/(loss) | (114) | — | (114) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision income | 131,516 | (40,566) | 90,950 | |||||||||||||||||
Reconciliations of due from settlement of capital provision assets
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of components of the consolidated due from settlement of capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of period to total segments (Burford-only) due from settlement of capital provision assets as of the beginning and end of period for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | 164,804 | $ | — | $ | 164,804 | ||||||||||||||
| Transfer of realizations from capital provision assets | 101,309 | (5,530) | 95,779 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | 570 | — | 570 | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | (86,349) | 5,530 | (80,819) | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | (293) | — | (293) | |||||||||||||||||
| End of period | 180,041 | — | 180,041 | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | $ | 183,858 | $ | (207) | $ | 183,651 | ||||||||||||||
| Transfer of realizations from capital provision assets | 288,848 | (125,943) | 162,905 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net income/(loss) | 652 | — | 652 | |||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from capital provision assets | (371,054) | 126,150 | (244,904) | |||||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 344 | — | 344 | |||||||||||||||||
| End of period | 102,648 | — | 102,648 | |||||||||||||||||
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Reconciliations of capital provision undrawn commitments
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of the consolidated capital provision undrawn commitments to total segments (Burford-only) capital provision undrawn commitments as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Definitive | $ | 1,264,107 | $ | (154,625) | $ | 1,109,482 | ||||||||||||||
| Discretionary | 768,372 | (160,013) | 608,359 | |||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk (definitive) | 46,474 | — | 46,474 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision undrawn commitments | 2,078,953 | (314,638) | 1,764,315 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Definitive | $ | 1,269,708 | $ | (161,649) | $ | 1,108,059 | ||||||||||||||
| Discretionary | 793,533 | (165,507) | 628,026 | |||||||||||||||||
| Legal risk (definitive) | 47,235 | — | 47,235 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total capital provision undrawn commitments | 2,110,476 | (327,156) | 1,783,320 | |||||||||||||||||
Reconciliations of asset management income
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of components of the consolidated asset management income to total segments (Burford-only) asset management income for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Management fee income | $ | 284 | $ | — | $ | 284 | ||||||||||||||
| Performance fee income | — | 1,200 | 1,200 | |||||||||||||||||
| Profit sharing income from funds | — | 3,798 | 3,798 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total asset management income | 284 | 4,998 | 5,282 | |||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Consolidated | Third-party interests | Total segments (Burford-only) | |||||||||||||||||
| Management fee income | $ | 1,538 | $ | — | $ | 1,538 | ||||||||||||||
| Performance fee income | — | 4,400 | 4,400 | |||||||||||||||||
| Profit sharing income from funds | — | 7,899 | 7,899 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total asset management income | 1,538 | 12,299 | 13,837 | |||||||||||||||||
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Deployments reconciliations
The table below sets forth the reconciliations of the components of consolidated deployments to Burford-only deployments for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated deployments | $ | 139,947 | $ | 216,476 | ||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests | (26,798) | (90,658) | ||||||||||||
| Total segments (Burford-only) total deployments | 113,149 | 125,818 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Capital deployed to fund level but not yet invested | (6,593) | 11 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Capital deployed in prior years and invested in the current year | — | 673 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost | 1,128 | 3,409 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Burford-only total deployments | 107,684 | 129,911 | ||||||||||||
See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance—KPIs” and “Glossary” for additional information with respect to certain terms useful for the understanding of our deployments information and “—Segments—Principal Finance segment—Portfolio value—Principal Finance segment” for additional information with respect to our deployments.
Realizations reconciliations
The table below sets forth the reconciliations of the components of consolidated realizations to Burford-only realizations for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated realizations | $ | 101,309 | $ | 288,848 | ||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests | (5,530) | (125,943) | ||||||||||||
| Total segments (Burford-only) total realizations | 95,779 | 162,905 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Realizations from other income on due from settlement of capital provision assets | 570 | 652 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Reported realizations held at joint venture and not yet distributed | 598 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Reported realizations held at fund level and not yet distributed | 190 | 12,818 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Prior period realizations held at fund level and distributed in the current period | — | (13,233) | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Burford-only total realizations | 97,137 | 163,148 | ||||||||||||
See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance—KPIs” and “Glossary” for additional information with respect to certain terms useful for the understanding of our realizations information and “—Segments—Principal Finance segment—Portfolio value—Principal Finance segment” for additional information with respect to our realizations.
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Cash receipts reconciliations
The table below sets forth the reconciliations of Burford-only cash receipts to consolidated cash receipts, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP, for the periods indicated.
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated proceeds from capital provision assets | $ | 86,349 | $ | 371,054 | ||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Third-party interests | (5,530) | (126,150) | ||||||||||||
| Total segments (Burford-only) proceeds from capital provision assets | 80,819 | 244,904 | ||||||||||||
| Consolidated asset management income | 284 | 1,538 | ||||||||||||
| Plus/(Less): Eliminated income from funds | 4,998 | 12,299 | ||||||||||||
| Total segments (Burford-only) asset management income | 5,282 | 13,837 | ||||||||||||
Plus/(Less): Non-cash adjustments(1) | (3,798) | (6,732) | ||||||||||||
| Burford-only proceeds from asset management income | 1,484 | 7,105 | ||||||||||||
| Burford-only proceeds from marketable securities interest and dividends | 6,292 | 4,678 | ||||||||||||
| Burford-only proceeds from other income | 1,158 | 1,029 | ||||||||||||
| Burford-only proceeds from other items | 7,450 | 5,707 | ||||||||||||
| Cash receipts | 89,753 | 257,716 | ||||||||||||
| 1. Adjustments for the change in asset management receivables accrued during the applicable period but not yet received as of the end of such period. | ||||||||||||||
See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance—Non-GAAP financial measures” and “—Liquidity and capital resources—Cash receipts” for additional information with respect to cash receipts.
Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share reconciliations
The table below sets forth the reconciliations of tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share to total Burford Capital Limited equity, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP, as of the dates indicated.
| ($ in thousands, except share data) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Total Burford Capital Limited equity | $ | 827,926 | $ | 2,448,022 | ||||||||||
| Less: Goodwill | (134,000) | (134,020) | ||||||||||||
| Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited | 693,926 | 2,314,002 | ||||||||||||
| Basic ordinary shares outstanding | 219,069,315 | 218,897,440 | ||||||||||||
| Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share | 3.17 | 10.57 | ||||||||||||
See “Non-GAAP financial measures and KPIs—KPIs and non-GAAP financial measures relating to our operating and financial performance—Non-GAAP financial measures” for additional information with respect to tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share.
Item 3. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
Market and asset risk
We are exposed to market and asset risk with respect to our marketable securities, due from settlement of capital provision assets, capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets. With respect to our marketable securities, which primarily consist of government securities, investment grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mutual funds and certificates of deposit, market risk is the risk that the fair value of marketable securities will fluctuate due to changes in
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market variables, such as interest rates, credit risk, security and bond prices and foreign exchange rates. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should the prices of the investments in corporate bonds and investment funds have been 10% higher or lower, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by $5.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively.
We only finance capital provision assets upon undertaking an in-house due diligence process. However, capital provision assets involve a high degree of risk, and there can be no assurance of a particular realization on any individual capital provision asset. Certain of our capital provision assets consist of a portfolio of assets, thereby mitigating the impact of the outcome of any single capital provision asset. While the claims underlying our capital provision assets are generally diverse, we monitor and manage the portfolio for related exposures that finance different clients relative to the same or very similar claims, such that the outcomes on those related exposures are likely to be correlated. Capital provision assets include a portfolio with equity risk where the price of a listed equity security is a determinant of the ultimate amount of the realization upon the resolution of the litigation risk. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should the prices of the due from settlement of capital provision assets, capital provision assets and financial liabilities relating to third-party interests in capital provision assets have been 10% higher or lower, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated income and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by $321.3 million and $491.6 million, respectively.
The sensitivity impacts have been provided on a pre-tax basis for both our consolidated income and net assets as we consider the fluctuation in our effective tax rate from period to period could indicate changes in sensitivity not driven by the valuation that are difficult to follow and detract from the comparability of this information.
Liquidity risk
We are exposed to liquidity risk. Our financing of capital provision assets requires capital to meet commitments, as described in note 15 (Financial commitments and contingent liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q, and for settlement of operating liabilities. Our capital provision assets typically require significant capital contributions with little or no immediate return and no guarantee of return or repayment. To manage liquidity risk, we finance assets with a range of anticipated lives and hold marketable securities that can be readily realized to meet those liabilities and commitments. Marketable securities primarily consist of government securities, investment grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mutual funds and certificates of deposit, all of which can be redeemed on short notice or sold on an active trading market.
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the aggregate principal amount of our debt securities outstanding was $2.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, which were issued primarily for the purpose of raising sufficient capital to help mitigate liquidity risk. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the future interest payments on our outstanding debt securities amounted to $1.1 billion and $859.4 million, respectively, until their respective maturities in April 2028, April 2030, July 2031, July 2033 and January 2034, at which point the respective aggregate principal amounts will be required to be repaid. See note 10 (Debt) and note 15 (Financial commitments and contingent liabilities) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q for additional information with respect to our debt securities, including a schedule of their respective maturities.
Credit risk
We are exposed to credit risk in various asset structures as described in note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q, most of which involve financing sums recoverable only out of successful capital provision assets with a concomitant risk of loss of deployed cost. Upon becoming contractually entitled to proceeds, depending on the structure of the particular capital provision asset, we could be a creditor of, and subject to direct or indirect credit risk from, a claimant, a defendant and/or other parties, or a combination thereof. Moreover, we may be indirectly subject to credit risk to the extent a defendant does not pay a claimant immediately, notwithstanding successful adjudication of a claim in the claimant’s favor. Our credit risk is uncertain given that our entitlement pursuant to our assets is generally not established until a successful resolution of claims, and our potential credit risk is mitigated by the diversity of our counterparties and indirect creditors, and due to a judgment creditor (in contrast to a conventional debtholder and in the absence of an actual bankruptcy of the counterparty) having immediate and unfettered rights of action to, for example, seize assets and garnish cash flows. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
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operations—Economic and market conditions—Party solvency” for additional information with respect to when a claimant or defendant in a matter we are financing becomes insolvent. We are also exposed to credit risk in respect of the marketable securities and cash and cash equivalents. The credit risk of the cash and cash equivalents is mitigated as all cash is placed with reputable banks with a sound credit rating. Marketable securities primarily consist of government securities, investment grade corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mutual funds and certificates of deposit, all of which can be redeemed on short notice or be sold on an active trading market.
The maximum credit risk exposure represented by cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, due from settlement of capital provision assets and capital provision assets is specified in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
In addition, we are exposed to credit risk on financial assets and receivables in other assets, all of which are held at amortized cost. The maximum credit exposure for such amounts was the carrying value of $25.9 million and $21.8 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. We review the lifetime expected credit loss based on historical collection performance, the specific provisions of any settlement agreement and a forward-looking assessment of macroeconomic factors. Based on this review, we have not identified any material expected credit loss relating to the financial assets held at amortized cost. We recognized no impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
Currency risk
We hold assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than US dollar, our functional currency, including pound sterling, euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and Singapore dollar. We are therefore exposed to currency risk, as values of the assets and liabilities denominated in other currencies will fluctuate due to changes in exchange rates. We may use forward exchange contracts from time to time to mitigate currency risk.
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, should pound sterling, euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and Singapore dollar have strengthened or weakened by 10% against US dollar, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated capital provision assets and other assets/(liabilities) would have increased or decreased, as applicable, as set forth in the tables below.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Capital provision assets | Other assets/ (liabilities) | Currency risk exposure of 10 % | |||||||||||||||||
| US dollar | $ | 2,804,437 | $ | (1,612,047) | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Pound sterling | 16,741 | (7,387) | 935 | |||||||||||||||||
| Euro | 261,746 | 12,207 | 27,395 | |||||||||||||||||
| Australian dollar | 22,386 | — | 2,239 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canadian dollar | 12,634 | 216 | 1,285 | |||||||||||||||||
| Singapore dollar | 2,555 | 152 | 271 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 3,120,499 | (1,606,859) | 32,125 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Capital provision assets | Other assets/ (liabilities) | Currency risk exposure of 10 % | |||||||||||||||||
| US dollar | $ | 5,277,044 | $ | (2,348,798) | $ | — | ||||||||||||||
| Pound sterling | 21,172 | (149,342) | (12,817) | |||||||||||||||||
| Euro | 269,939 | 14,475 | 28,441 | |||||||||||||||||
| Australian dollar | 21,524 | — | 2,152 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canadian dollar | 17,747 | 1,339 | 1,909 | |||||||||||||||||
| Singapore dollar | 2,523 | 106 | 263 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 5,609,949 | (2,482,220) | 19,948 | |||||||||||||||||
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Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Our exposure to market risk for changes in floating interest rates relates primarily to our cash and cash equivalents, capital provision assets and certain marketable securities. All cash and cash equivalents bear interest at floating rates. There are certain capital provision assets, due from settlement of capital provision assets and marketable securities that earn interest based on fixed rates, but those assets do not have interest rate risk as they are not exposed to changes in market interest rates. While not interest bearing, the fair value of our capital provision assets is sensitive to changes in interest rates that impact the discount rates applied in measuring fair value. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Critical accounting estimates—Fair value of capital provision assets” for additional information with respect to such interest rate sensitivity. Our outstanding debt securities incur interest at a fixed rate and, therefore, are not exposed to changes in market interest rates.
The interest-bearing floating rate assets and liabilities are denominated in both US dollar and pound sterling. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, if interest rates had increased or decreased by 25 basis points, while all other variables remained constant, our unaudited condensed consolidated net income/(loss) and net assets would have increased or decreased, as applicable, by $1.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively. For fixed rate assets and liabilities, we estimated that there would be no material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated net income/(loss) or net assets. Fixed rate liabilities include our outstanding indebtedness as described in note 10 (Debt) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q.
The tables below set forth respective maturity periods of our floating and fixed rate assets and liabilities as of the dates indicated.
| March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Floating | Fixed | Total | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 3 months | $ | 702,576 | $ | 6,041 | $ | 708,617 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 to 6 months | — | 3,486 | 3,486 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 to 12 months | — | 1,241 | 1,241 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 to 2 years | — | 10,445 | 10,445 | |||||||||||||||||
| Greater than 2 years | — | 577,099 | 577,099 | |||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 to 2 years | — | 400,000 | 400,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Greater than 2 years | — | 2,035,000 | 2,035,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net asset/(liabilities) | 702,576 | (1,836,688) | (1,134,112) | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | Floating | Fixed | Total | |||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 3 months | $ | 566,437 | $ | 45,109 | $ | 611,546 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 to 6 months | — | 27,946 | 27,946 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 to 12 months | — | 24,424 | 24,424 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 to 2 years | — | 189 | 189 | |||||||||||||||||
| Greater than 2 years | — | 554,026 | 554,026 | |||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 to 2 years | — | 218,641 | 218,641 | |||||||||||||||||
| Greater than 2 years | — | 1,935,000 | 1,935,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net asset/(liabilities) | 566,437 | (1,501,947) | (935,510) | |||||||||||||||||
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Item 4. Controls and procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or furnish under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily is required to apply its judgment. The design of our disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Thus, in designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act as of March 31, 2026. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2026.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the three months ended March 31, 2026 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Part II. Other information
Item 1. Legal proceedings
The information with respect to legal proceedings is set forth in note 15 (Financial commitments and contingent liabilities—Legal proceedings) to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk factors
See “Risk Factors” in the 2025 Form 10-K for a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity. We have amended one of those risk factors as set forth below.
The risks and uncertainties disclosed in the 2025 Form 10-K and in this Form 10-Q are not the only risks and uncertainties facing us, and additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity. We may disclose changes to such risks and uncertainties or disclose additional risks and uncertainties from time to time in our future periodic filings with the SEC.
We report our capital provision assets at fair value, which may result in us recognizing non-cash income that may never be realized.
Our capital provision assets are classified as financial instruments and are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated statements of operations in accordance with US GAAP. See note 2 (Summary of significant accounting policies—Fair value of financial instruments), note 5 (Capital provision assets) and note 14 (Fair value of assets and liabilities) to our audited consolidated financial statements contained in the 2025 Form 10-K and “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Results of operations and financial condition—Fair value of capital provision assets” for additional information with respect to our valuation policy and fair value of our capital provision assets. In addition to using a discounted cash flow model that can be sensitive to changes in interest rates, duration and other traditional valuation factors, the valuation policy assigns an updated risk adjustment in prescribed percentages to the forecasted cash inflows based on the type of case (e.g., commercial litigation or patent), geography and case milestone. As a result, when there is an objective event in the underlying litigation that would cause a change in fair value, we reflect the positive or negative impact of such objective event through a fair value adjustment. Due to the illiquid nature of our capital provision assets, there is inherent valuation uncertainty in the assessment of fair value, and our valuation methodologies require us to make significant and complex
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judgments about legal and other matters that are intrinsically difficult to predict. As such, there is a risk that a case underlying one of our capital provision assets could experience a negative event even after a positive event that had previously resulted in a fair value adjustment in accordance with our valuation policy. This later event, in turn, could lower the value of such capital provision asset in our consolidated statements of financial condition and negatively impact related fair value adjustments recognized in our consolidated statements of operations in future periods.
Previously, certain of our individual assets represented a significant portion of the fair value of our capital provision assets. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, one set of exposures to the YPF-related assets accounted for approximately 46% and 42% of the fair value of our capital provision assets. The fair value of the YPF-related assets (both Petersen and Eton Park combined) on our consolidated statements of financial condition was $2.6 billion and $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, with unrealized gains of $2.4 billion and $2.1 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As a result of the YPF Judgment Reversal in March 2026, and consistent with our valuation policy, we recorded a substantial write-down of the fair value of the YPF assets as of March 31, 2026. See “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Results of operations and financial condition—Fair value of capital provision assets—Fair value of YPF-related assets” for additional information with respect to the YPF-related assets.
Accordingly, the application of fair value accounting to our capital provision assets may result in us recognizing non-cash income that may never be realized, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity.
Item 2. Unregistered sales of equity securities and use of proceeds
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025.
The table below sets forth information about purchases by us and our affiliated purchasers during the three months ended March 31, 2026 of equity securities that are registered by us pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
| Period | Total number of ordinary shares purchased | Average price paid per ordinary share(1) | Total number of ordinary shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | Maximum number of ordinary shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs(2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2026 - January 31, 2026 | — | $ | — | — | 21,912,963 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2026 - February 28, 2026 | — | $ | — | — | 21,912,963 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| March 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026 | 475,000 | (3) | $ | 8.28 | 475,000 | 21,437,963 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 475,000 | $ | 8.28 | 475,000 | 21,437,963 | |||||||||||||||||||||
1. Includes broker commissions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. On May 14, 2025, our shareholders approved a resolution for the purchase of up to 21,942,190 ordinary shares on the open market, which authority is set to expire the earlier of (i) the close of our next annual general meeting to be held in 2026 and (ii) August 13, 2026. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Consists of ordinary shares purchased on the open market in the United States between March 10, 2026 and March 12, 2026. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We use a variety of structures, including the purchases of our ordinary shares on the open market, to offset dilution from the issuance of new ordinary shares related to the equity-based or related compensation of our employees and directors.
Item 3. Defaults upon senior securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine safety disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other information
Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements
No “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements
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directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Executive Officers
Appointment of Travis Lenkner as Chief Operating Officer
Travis Lenkner is being appointed as our Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), effective as of May 8, 2026. Mr. Lenkner currently serves as Chief Development Officer. As COO, Mr. Lenkner will be responsible for execution and operating performance across our business units while retaining oversight of global business development and marketing, corporate development, and enterprise initiatives focused on long-term growth. Mr. Lenkner will also join the Commitments Committee of Burford.
Mr. Lenkner’s career has been defined by work across legal finance, complex litigation, and the management of law-related businesses. He entered the market in 2013 as a launch partner in Gerchen Keller Capital LLC. That firm grew to become the leading private fund manager focused on litigation finance before its acquisition by us in 2016, after which Mr. Lenkner served as a Managing Director of Burford. He later co-founded and served as Managing Partner of a premier complex-litigation law firm in the United States, with responsibility for hiring, strategy, and day-to-day management, before returning to Burford in 2024. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lenkner was in-house counsel at The Boeing Company; a litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; and a law clerk to Justice Anthony M. Kennedy at the Supreme Court of the United States and to then-Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Mr. Lenkner has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K other than the information in the section entitled “Related Party Transactions” in the definitive proxy statement relating to the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on May 13, 2026 filed with SEC on April 2, 2026, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Departure of Craig Arnott
Craig Arnott, presently serving as Chief Investment Officer–International, will depart from Burford as of August 31, 2026 (the “Departure Date”). On May 7, 2026, Burford Capital Services Limited (“BCSL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a departure agreement with Mr. Arnott (the “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, Mr. Arnott has agreed to provide transitional services through the Departure Date and, in consideration thereof, he will receive a pro-rated cash bonus based on his most recent annual cash bonus. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, the terms of the employment agreement, dated as of May 18, 2021, by and between BCSL and Mr. Arnott remain in full force and effect, including those terms governing termination of employment.
The foregoing summary of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Quarterly Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
David Perla
David Perla, presently serving as a Vice Chair, will continue serving in that role but is no longer an executive officer of Burford.
Item 6. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
The information required by this Item is set forth below.
| Exhibit No. | Description | ||||
| 3.1 | Memorandum of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement on Form 20-F of Burford Capital Limited (File No. 001-39511) as filed with the SEC on September 11, 2020). | ||||
| 3.2 | Articles of Incorporation, adopted by special resolution dated August 20, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 2024 Form 10-K). | ||||
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| Exhibit No. | Description | ||||
| 4.1 | Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2026, by and among Burford Capital Global Finance LLC, as issuer, Burford Capital Limited, as parent guarantor, the other guarantors party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (including as Exhibit A thereto the Form of 8.50% Senior Notes due 2034) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Burford Capital Limited (File No. 001-39511) as filed with the SEC on January 15, 2026). | ||||
10.1‡† | Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2026, by and between Burford Capital LLC and Aviva Will (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Burford Capital Limited (File No. 001-39511) as filed with the SEC on March 6, 2026). | ||||
| 10.2* | Letter agreement, dated May 7, 2026, by and between Burford Capital Services Limited and Craig Arnott. | ||||
31.1* | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||||
31.2* | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||||
32.1** | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||||
32.2** | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | ||||
| 101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||
| 101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | ||||
| 101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | ||||
| 104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | ||||
| * | Filed herewith. | ||||
| ** | Furnished herewith. | ||||
| ‡ | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which executive officers or directors are eligible to participate. | ||||
| † | Certain portions of the exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K. We agree to furnish supplementally a copy of any redacted portion to the SEC upon request | ||||
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this Form 10-Q are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosures other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BURFORD CAPITAL LIMITED | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ Jordan D. Licht | ||||||||||
| Name: Jordan D. Licht | |||||||||||
| Title: Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer | |||||||||||
Dated: May 8, 2026 | |||||||||||
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FAQ
How did Burford Capital (BUR) perform in the quarter ended March 31, 2026?
Burford Capital reported a net loss of $1,633,147 thousand for the quarter, compared with net income of $36,910 thousand a year earlier. Total revenues turned negative $1,720,374 thousand, mainly due to a large capital provision loss linked to its YPF-related assets.
What is the YPF Judgment Reversal and how did it affect Burford Capital (BUR)?
The YPF Judgment Reversal refers to a March 27, 2026 appellate decision reversing a prior favorable judgment in Burford’s YPF-related matters. This led to a $2.4 billion capital provision loss, sharply reducing the fair value of YPF-related assets and driving the quarter’s overall loss.
How did Burford Capital’s capital provision assets change in Q1 2026?
Capital provision assets fell to $3,120,499 thousand at March 31, 2026 from $5,609,949 thousand at December 31, 2025. The decline reflects realizations, foreign exchange movements, and especially the $2.4 billion capital provision loss tied to the YPF Judgment Reversal impacting YPF-related assets.
How did Burford Capital’s balance sheet and liquidity look at March 31, 2026?
Total assets were $4,269,593 thousand and total shareholders’ equity was $1,513,640 thousand at March 31, 2026. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $702,576 thousand, supported by issuing $500,000 thousand of 8.50% senior notes due 2034 and redeeming the 5.000% bonds due 2026.
What were Burford Capital’s finance costs and debt position in Q1 2026?
Finance costs were $49,642 thousand for the quarter, up from $33,880 thousand a year earlier. Debt payable stood at $2,401,757 thousand, including several series of senior notes maturing between 2028 and 2034, following issuance of $500,000 thousand of 8.50% notes due 2034.