Item 1. Business
Overview
We are an alternative asset management firm offering yield solutions to retail and institutional investors. We focus on credit-related investment strategies, primarily originating senior secured loans to private middle market companies in the United States that have revenues between $50 million and $1 billion. We generally hold these loans to maturity. Our national direct origination franchise provides capital to the middle market in the U.S. For over 17 years, we have provided capital to over 400 companies across 35 industries in North America.
We manage three permanent capital vehicles, two of which are Business Development Companies ("BDCs"), and a credit interval fund, as well as long-dated private funds and Separately Managed Accounts ("SMAs"), with a primary focus on senior secured credit. As of December 31, 2018, we had $4.7 billion of AUM in two business development companies, MCC and SIC, as well as private investment vehicles. Our compounded annual AUM growth rate from December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2018 was 21%, and our compounded annual Fee Earning AUM growth rate was 15%, which have both been driven in large part by the growth in our permanent capital vehicles. Typically the investment periods of our institutional commitments range from 18 to 24 months and we expect our Fee Earning AUM to increase as capital commitments included in AUM are invested.
In general, our institutional investors do not have the right to withdraw capital commitments and to date, we have not experienced any withdrawals of capital commitments. For a description of the risk factor associated with capital commitments, see “Risk Factors - Third-party investors in our private funds may not satisfy their contractual obligation to fund capital calls when requested, which could adversely affect a fund's operations and performance.”
The diagram below presents the historical correlation between growth in our AUM, fee earning AUM and management fees.
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(1) Presented on a standalone basis
Direct origination, credit structuring and active monitoring of the loan portfolios we manage are important success factors in our business, which can be adversely affected by difficult market and political conditions, such as the turmoil in the global capital markets from 2007 to 2009 and the ongoing after-effects including market turbulence and volatility. Since our inception in 2006, we have adhered to a disciplined investment process that employs these principles with the goal of delivering strong risk-adjusted investment returns while protecting investor capital. Our focus on protecting investor capital is reflected in our investment strategy; at December 31, 2018, approximately 74% of the combined portfolios investments were in first lien positions. We believe
that our ability to directly originate, structure and lead deals enables us to consistently lend at higher yields with better terms. In addition, the loans we manage generally have a contractual maturity between three and seven years and are typically floating rate (at December 31, 2018, approximately 77% of the loans we manage, based on aggregate principal amount, bore interest at floating rates), which we believe positions our business well for rising interest rates.
Our senior management team has on average over 20 years of experience in credit, including originating, underwriting, principal investing and loan structuring. As of December 31, 2018, we had 76 employees, including 38 investment, origination and credit management professionals, and 38 operations, accounting, legal, compliance and marketing professionals, each with extensive experience in their respective disciplines.
Our Funds
We provide our credit-focused investment strategies through various funds and products that meet the needs of a wide range of retail and institutional investors.
Except as otherwise described herein with respect to our BDCs, our investment funds themselves do not register as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), in reliance on Section 3(c)(1), Section 3(c)(7) or Section 7(d) thereof. Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act exempts from the Investment Company Act’s registration requirements investment funds privately placed in the United States whose securities are owned exclusively by persons who, at the time of acquisition of such securities, are “qualified purchasers” as defined under the Investment Company Act. Section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act exempts from the Investment Company Act’s registration requirements privately placed investment funds whose securities are beneficially owned by not more than 100 persons. In addition, under certain current interpretations of the SEC, Section 7(d) of the Investment Company Act exempts from registration any non-U.S. investment fund all of whose outstanding securities are beneficially owned either by non-U.S. residents or by U.S. residents that are qualified purchasers and purchase their interests in a private placement. Certain subsidiaries of Medley LLC typically serve as an investment adviser for our funds and are registered under the Advisors Act. Our funds’ investment advisers or one of their affiliates are entitled to management fees, performance fees and/or incentive fees from each investment fund to which they serve as investment advisers. For a discussion of the fees to which our funds’ investment advisers are entitled across our various types of funds, please see “Business - Fee Structure.”
Medley Capital Corporation
We launched MCC (NYSE: MCC) (TASE:MCC), our first permanent capital vehicle, in 2011 as a BDC. MCC has grown to become a BDC with approximately $0.7 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2018. MCC has demonstrated a 17% compounded annual growth rate of AUM from inception through December 31, 2018.
Sierra Income Corporation
We launched SIC, our first public non-traded permanent capital vehicle, in 2012 as a BDC. As of December 31, 2018, AUM has grown to $1.2 billion, and has demonstrated an 88% compounded annual growth rate of AUM from inception through December 31, 2018.
Sierra Total Return Fund
We launched STRF (NASDAQ:SRNTX), our first interval fund, in January 2017. STRF is a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end investment management company that is operated as an interval fund. The fund commenced investment operations in June 2017.
Long-Dated Private Funds
We launched MOF I, our first long-dated private fund, in 2006, MOF II, our second long-dated private fund, in 2010, MOF III, our third long-dated private fund, in 2014, MCOF and Aspect, our fourth and fifth long-dated private funds, respectively, in 2016, and MOF III Offshore, our sixth long-dated private fund, in 2017. In 2018, we launched Aspect B. Our long-dated private funds are managed through partnership structures, in which limited partnerships organized by us accept commitments or funds for investment from institutional investors and high net worth individuals, and a general partner makes all policy and investment decisions, including selection of investment advisers. Affiliates of Medley LLC serve as the general partners and investment advisers to our long-dated private funds. The limited partners of our long-dated private funds take no part in the conduct or control of the business of such funds, have no right or authority to act for or bind such funds and have no influence on the voting or disposition of the securities or assets held by such funds, although limited partners often have the right to remove the general partner or cause an early liquidation by super-majority vote. As our long-dated private funds are closed-ended, once an investor makes an investment, the investor is generally not able to withdraw or redeem its interest, except in very limited circumstances.
Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs)
We launched our first SMA in 2010 and currently manage twelve SMAs. In the case of our SMAs, the investor, rather than us, dictates the risk tolerances and target returns of the account. We act as an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act for these accounts. The accounts offer customized solutions for liability driven investors such as insurance companies and typically offer attractive returns on risk based capital.
Fee Structure
We earn management fees at an annual rate of 0.75% to 2.00% and may earn performance fees, which may be in the form of an incentive fee or carried interest, in the event that specified investment returns are achieved by the fund or SMA. Management fees are generally based on a defined percentage of (1) average or total gross assets, including assets acquired with leverage, (2) total commitments, (3) net invested capital (4) NAV, or (5) lower of cost or market value of a fund’s portfolio investments. Management fees are calculated quarterly and are paid in cash in advance or in arrears depending on each specific fund or SMA. We earn incentive fees on our permanent capital vehicles and earn incentive fees on certain of our long-dated private funds. In addition, we may earn additional carried interest performance fees on our long-dated private funds and SMAs that are typically 15% to 20% of the total return over a 6% to 8% annualized preferred return.
Medley Capital Corporation
Pursuant to the investment management agreement between MCC and our affiliate, MCC Advisors LLC, MCC Advisors LLC receives a base management fee and a two-part incentive fee. Effective January 1, 2016, pursuant to a fee waiver executed by MCC Advisors LLC on February 8, 2016, the base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of MCC’s gross assets up to $1.0 billion and 1.50% on MCC's gross assets over $1.0 billion, and is payable quarterly in arrears (the “Reduced Base Management Fee”). The Reduced Base Management Fee is calculated based on the average value of MCC’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters and will be appropriately pro-rated for any partial quarter. Prior to January 1, 2016, the MCC base management fee was calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of MCC's gross assets. The base management fee was calculated based on the average value of MCC's gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters.
The two components of the MCC incentive fee are described below.
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The first component of the MCC incentive fee is the Part I incentive fee. Effective January 1, 2016, the incentive fee based on net investment income is reduced from 20.0% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over a fixed hurdle rate of 2.0% per quarter, to 17.5% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over a fixed hurdle rate of 1.5% per quarter. Moreover, the incentive fee based on net investment income is determined and paid quarterly in arrears at the end of each calendar quarter by reference to our aggregate net investment income, as adjusted, as described below (the “Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income”), from the calendar quarter then ending and the eleven preceding calendar quarters (or if shorter, the number of quarters that have occurred since January 1, 2016). We refer to such period as the “Trailing Twelve Quarters.” The hurdle amount for the Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income is determined on a quarterly basis, and is equal to 1.5% multiplied by MCC’s net assets at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The hurdle amount is calculated after making appropriate adjustments to MCC’s net assets, as determined as of the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter, in order to account for any capital raising or other capital actions as a result of any issuances by MCC of its common stock (including issuances pursuant to MCC’s dividend reinvestment plan), any repurchase by MCC of its own common stock, and any dividends paid by MCC, each as may have occurred during the relevant quarter. Any Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income is paid to MCC Advisors LLC on a quarterly basis, and is based on the amount by which (A) aggregate net investment income (“Ordinary Income”) in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds (B) the hurdle amount for such Trailing Twelve Quarters. The amount of the excess of (A) over (B) described in this paragraph for such Trailing Twelve Quarters is referred to as the “Excess Income Amount.” For the avoidance of doubt, Ordinary Income is net of all fees and expenses, including the Reduced Base Management Fee but excluding any incentive fee on pre-incentive fee net investment income or on MCC’s capital gains.
The Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income for each quarter is determined as follows:
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No incentive fee based on net investment income is payable to MCC Advisors LLC for any calendar quarter for which there is no Excess Income Amount;
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100% of the Ordinary Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle amount, but is less than or equal to an amount, which we refer to as the “Catch-up Amount,” determined as the sum of 1.8182% multiplied by MCC’s net assets at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter, as adjusted as noted above, comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters is included in the calculation of the Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income; and
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17.5% of the Ordinary Income that exceeds the Catch-up Amount is included in the calculation of the Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income.
The amount of the Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income that is paid to MCC Advisors LLC for a particular quarter equals the excess of the incentive fee so calculated minus the aggregate incentive fees based on income that were paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or the portion thereof) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters but not in excess of the Incentive Fee Cap (as described below).
The Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income that is paid to MCC Advisors LLC for a particular quarter is subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”). The Incentive Fee Cap for any quarter is an amount equal to (a) 17.5% of the Cumulative Net Return (as defined below) during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (b) the aggregate incentive fees based on net investment income that was paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or a portion thereof) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters.
“Cumulative Net Return” means (X) the Ordinary Income in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (Y) any Net Capital Loss (as defined below), if any, in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is zero or a negative value, MCC pays no incentive fee based on net investment income to MCC Advisors for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is a positive value but is less than the Reduced Incentive Fee based on Net Investment Income that is payable to MCC Advisors for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, MCC pays a Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income to MCC Advisors equal to the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is equal to or greater than the Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income that is payable to MCC Advisors for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, MCC pays a Reduced Incentive Fee on Net Investment Income to MCC Advisors, calculated as described above, for such quarter without regard to the Incentive Fee Cap.
“Net Capital Loss” in respect of a particular period means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses, whether realized or unrealized, and dilution to MCC’s net assets due to capital raising or capital actions, in such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains, whether realized or unrealized and accretion to MCC’s net assets due to capital raising or capital action, in such period.
Dilution to MCC’s net assets due to capital raising is calculated, in the case of issuances of common stock, as the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted over the transaction price per share, multiplied by the number of shares issued. Accretion to MCC’s net assets due to capital raising is calculated, in the case of issuances of common stock (including issuances pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan), as the excess of the transaction price per share over the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted, multiplied by the number of shares issued. Accretion to MCC's net assets due to other capital action is calculated, in the case of repurchases by MCC of its own common stock, as the excess of the amount by which the net asset value per share was adjusted over the transaction price per share multiplied by the number of shares repurchased by MCC.
The purpose of changing the fee structure was to permanently reduce aggregate fees payable to MCC Advisors by MCC. Beginning January 1, 2016, in order to ensure that MCC pays MCC Advisors aggregate fees on a cumulative basis under the new fee structure that are less than the aggregate fees otherwise due under the management agreement, at the end of each quarter, MCC Advisors calculates aggregate base management fees and incentive fees on net investment income under both the new fee structure and the fee structure under the management agreement, and if, at any time after January 1, 2016, the aggregate fees on a cumulative basis under the new fee structure would be greater than the aggregate fees on a cumulative basis under the fee structure under the management agreement, MCC Advisors is only entitled to the lesser of those two amounts. Since the hurdle rate is fixed, if and as interest rates rise, it would be more likely that we would surpass the hurdle rate and receive an incentive fee based on net investment income.
Prior to January 1, 2016, the Part I incentive fee was payable quarterly in arrears and was 20.0% of MCC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter subject to a 2.0% (which was 8.0% annualized) hurdle rate and a “catch-up” provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. Under the hurdle rate and catch-up provisions, in any calendar quarter, we received no incentive fee until MCC’s net investment income equaled the hurdle rate of 2.0%, but then received, as a “catch-up”, 100% of MCC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeded the hurdle rate but was less than 2.5%. The effect of this provision was that, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeded 2.5% in any calendar quarter, MCC Advisors LLC would receive 20.0% of MCC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply. For this purpose, pre-incentive fee net investment income meant interest income, dividend income and any other income including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, due diligence and consulting fees or other fees that MCC received from portfolio companies accrued during the calendar quarter, minus MCC’s operating expenses for the quarter including the base management fee, expenses payable to MCC Advisors LLC, and any interest expense and any dividends paid on any issued
and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee. Pre-incentive fee net investment income included, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we had not yet received in cash.
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The second component of the MCC incentive fee, the Part II incentive fee, is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment management agreement as of the termination date), and equals 20.0% of MCC’s cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less cumulative realized capital losses, unrealized capital depreciation (unrealized depreciation on a gross investment-by-investment basis at the end of each calendar year) and all capital gains upon which prior performance-based capital gains incentive fee payments were previously made to MCC Advisors LLC.
Entities controlled by former employees held limited liability company interests in MCC Advisors LLC that entitled them to approximately 4.86% of the net incentive fee income through October 29, 2015 and an additional 5.75% of the net incentive fee income through August 20, 2016 from MCC Advisors LLC. Since August 20, 2016 and going forward, we are entitled to all of the management fees paid to MCC Advisors LLC. We may have similar arrangements with respect to the ownership of the entities that advise our BDCs in the future.
Sierra Income Corporation
Pursuant to the investment management agreement between SIC and our affiliate, SIC Advisors LLC, SIC Advisors LLC receives a base management fee and a two-part incentive fee. The SIC base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of SIC’s gross assets at the end of each completed calendar quarter and is payable quarterly in arrears.
The two components of the SIC incentive fee are as follows.
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The first, the Part I incentive fee (which is also referred to as a subordinated incentive fee), payable quarterly in arrears, is 20.0% of SIC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter subject to a 1.75% (which is 7.0% annualized) hurdle rate and a “catch-up” provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. Under the hurdle rate and catch-up provisions, in any calendar quarter, SIC Advisors LLC receives no incentive fee until SIC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 1.75%, but then receives, as a “catch-up”, 100% of SIC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.1875%. The effect of this provision is that, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter, SIC Advisors LLC will receive 20.0% of SIC’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply. For this purpose, pre-incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, due diligence and consulting fees or other fees that SIC receives from portfolio companies accrued during the calendar quarter, minus SIC’s operating expenses for the quarter including the base management fee, expenses payable to SIC Advisors LLC or to us, and any interest expense and any dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee. Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that SIC has not yet received in cash. Since the hurdle rate is fixed, if interest rates rise, it will be easier for us to surpass the hurdle rate and receive an incentive fee based on pre-incentive fee net investment income.
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The second, the Part II incentive fee, is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment management agreement as of the termination date), and equals 20.0% of SIC’s cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less cumulative realized capital losses, unrealized capital depreciation (unrealized depreciation on a gross investment-by-investment basis at the end of each calendar year) and all capital gains upon which prior performance-based capital gains incentive fee payments were previously made to SIC Advisors LLC.
Strategic Capital Advisory Services, LLC owned 20% of SIC Advisors LLC through July 31, 2018 and was entitled to receive distributions of up to 20% of the gross cash proceeds received by SIC Advisors LLC from the management and incentive fees paid by SIC to SIC Advisors LLC, net of certain expenses, as well as 20% of the returns of the investments held at SIC Advisors LLC. We may have similar arrangements with respect to the ownership of the entities that advise our BDCs in the future.
Sierra Total Return Fund
Pursuant to the investment management agreement between STRF and our affiliate, STRF Advisors LLC, STRF Advisors LLC will be entitled to a base management fee and an incentive fee. The STRF base management fee will be calculated and payable monthly in arrears at an annual rate of 1.50% of STRF's average daily total assets during such period.
The incentive fee will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears in an amount equal to 15.0% of the Fund's pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding quarter, and will be subject to a hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the Fund's adjusted capital, equal to 1.50% per quarter, subject to a “catch-up” feature, which will allow STRF Advisors LLC to recover foregone incentive fees that were previously limited by the hurdle rate. Under the hurdle rate and catch-up provisions, in any calendar quarter, STRF Advisors LLC will not receive any incentive fee until STRF's pre-incentive fee net investment income equals the hurdle rate of 1.50%, but then will receive, as a “catch-up,” 100% of STRF's pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 1.76%. The effect of this provision is that, if pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 1.76% in any calendar quarter, STRF Advisors LLC will receive 15.0% of SIC's pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply. For this purpose, pre-incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income accrued during the calendar quarter, minus STRF's operating expenses for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses reimbursed to STRF Advisors LLC and any interest expenses and distributions paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the inventive fee). For this purpose, adjusted capital means the cumulative gross proceeds received by STRF from the sale of shares (including pursuant to STRF's distribution reinvestment plan), reduced by amounts paid in connection with purchases of shares pursuant to STRF's mandatory repurchases and discretionary repurchases. There is no accumulation of amounts on the hurdle rate from quarter to quarter, and accordingly there is no clawback of amounts previously paid to STRF Advisors LLC if subsequent quarters are below the quarterly hurdle rate, and there is no delay of payment to STRF Advisors LLC if prior quarters are below the quarterly hurdle rate.
Long-Dated Private Funds and SMAs
Pursuant to the respective underlying agreements of our long-dated private funds and SMAs, we receive an annual management fee and may earn incentive or performance fees. In general, management fees are calculated at an annual rate of 0.75% to 2.00% calculated on the value of the capital accounts or the value of the investments held by each limited partner, fund or account. We may also receive transaction and advisory fees from a funds' underlying portfolio investment. In certain circumstances, we are required to offset our management fees earned by 50% to 100% of transaction and advisory fees earned. In addition, we receive performance fees or carried interest in an amount equal to 15.0% to 20.0% of the realized cash derived from an investment, subject to a cumulative annualized preferred return to the investor of 6.0% to 8.0%, which is in turn subject to a 50% to 100% catch-up allocation to us.
For certain long-dated private funds, we may also earn a two-part incentive fee. The first, the Part I incentive fee, is calculated and payable quarterly in an amount equal to 15.0% to 20.0% of the net investment income, subject to a hurdle rate equal to 1.5% to 2.0% per quarter, which is in turn subject to a 50% to 100% catch-up provision measured as of the end of each calendar quarter. The second, the Part II incentive fee, is calculated and payable annually in an amount equal to 15.0% to 20.0% of cumulative realized capital gains.
In order to align the interests of our senior professionals and the other individuals who manage our long-dated private funds with our own interests and with those of the investors in such funds, such individuals may be allocated directly a portion of the performance fees in such funds. These interests entitle the holders to share the performance fees earned from MOF II. We may make similar arrangements with respect to allocation of performance or incentive fees with respect to MOF III, MCOF, Aspect or other long-dated private funds that we may advise in the future.
As noted above, in connection with raising new funds or securing additional investments in existing funds, we negotiate terms for such funds and investments with existing and potential investors. The outcome of such negotiations could result in our agreement to terms that are materially less favorable to us than for prior funds we have advised or funds advised by our competitors. See “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business and Industry - We may not be able to maintain our current fee structure as a result of industry pressure from fund investors to reduce fees, which could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.”
Investor Relations
Our fundraising efforts historically have been spread across distribution channels and have not been dependent on the success of any single channel. We distribute our investment products through two primary channels: (1) permanent capital vehicles and (2) long-dated private funds and SMAs. We believe that each of these channels offers unique advantages to investors and allows us to continue to raise and deploy capital opportunistically in varying market environments.
Permanent Capital Vehicles
We distribute our permanent capital vehicles through three sub-channels:
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MCC is our publicly traded vehicle. It offers retail and institutional investors liquid access to an otherwise illiquid asset class (middle market credit). In addition to equity capital, MCC also raises debt capital in the private and public markets which is an alternative source of capital in challenging operating environments.
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SIC is our non-traded public vehicle. It offers retail and institutional investors access to an otherwise illiquid asset class (middle market credit) without exposure to public market trading volatility. It allows us to continue to raise capital continually during more challenging operating environments when publicly listed vehicles may be trading below net asset value (“NAV”), which we believe is valuable during times of market volatility. We believe this is a competitive advantage allowing us to make opportunistic investments, while peers may be more limited during times of market volatility.
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STRF is our non-traded interval vehicle. It offers retail and institutional investors investments in the debt and equity of fixed-income and fixed-income related securities. STRF is a continuously offered, non-diversified, closed-end investment management company that is operated as an interval fund.
Long-Dated Private Funds and SMAs
We distribute our long-dated private funds and SMAs through two sub-channels:
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Long-dated private funds: Our long-dated private funds offer institutional investors attractive risk-adjusted returns. We believe this channel is an important element of our capital raising efforts given institutional investors are more likely to remain engaged in higher yielding private credit assets during periods of market turbulence.
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Separately managed accounts: Our SMAs provide investors with customized investment solutions. This is particularly attractive for liability driven investors such as insurance companies that invest over long time horizons.
We believe that our deep and long-standing investor relationships, founded on our strong performance, disciplined management of our investors’ capital and diverse product offering, have facilitated the growth of our existing business and will assist us with the development of additional strategies and products, thereby increasing our fee earning AUM in the future. We have dedicated in-house capital markets, investor relations and marketing specialists. We have frequent discussions with our investors and are committed to providing them with the highest quality service. We believe our service levels, as well as our emphasis on transparency, inspire loyalty and support our efforts to continue to attract investors across our investment platform.
Investment Process
Direct Origination. We focus on lending directly to companies that are underserved by the traditional banking system and generally seek to avoid broadly marketed investment opportunities. We source investment opportunities primarily through financial sponsors, as well as through direct relationships with companies, financial intermediaries such as national, regional and local bankers, accountants, lawyers and consultants. Historically, as much as half of our annual origination volume has been derived from either repeat or referred borrowers or repeat sponsors. The other half of our annual origination volume has been sourced through a variety of channels including direct relationships with companies, financial intermediaries such as national, regional and local bankers, accountants, lawyers and consultants, as well as through other financial sponsors. Medley investments are well diversified across 35 industries. As of December 31, 2018, our industry exposures in excess of 10% were 12.8% in healthcare and pharmaceuticals and 12.1% in business services. Medley has a highly selective, three step underwriting process that is governed by an investment committee. This comprehensive process narrows down the investment opportunities from generally over 1,000 a year to approximately 1% to 3% originated borrowers in a year. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we sourced 970 investment opportunities across 31 borrowers and approximately $500.0 million of invested capital. As of December 31, 2018, our funds had 445 investments across 147 borrowers.
Disciplined Underwriting. We perform thorough due diligence and focus on several key criteria in our underwriting process, including strong underlying business fundamentals, a meaningful equity cushion, experienced management, conservative valuation and the ability to deleverage through cash flows. We are often the agent for the loans we originate and accordingly control the loan documentation and negotiation of covenants, which allows us to maintain consistent underwriting standards. We invest across a broad range of industries and our disciplined underwriting process also involves engagement of industry experts and third-party consultants. This disciplined underwriting process is essential as our funds have historically invested primarily in privately held companies, for which public financial information is generally unavailable. Since our inception, we have experienced annualized realized losses for 0.2% of that capital through December 31, 2018. We believe our disciplined underwriting culture is a key factor to our success and our ability to expand our product offerings.
Prior to making an investment, the investment team subjects each potential borrower to an extensive credit review process, which typically begins with an analysis of the market opportunity, business fundamentals, company operating metrics and historical and projected financial analysis. We also compare liquidity, operating margin trends, leverage, free cash flow and fixed charge coverage ratios for each potential investment to industry metrics. Areas of additional underwriting focus include management or
sponsor (typically a private equity firm) experience, management compensation, competitive landscape, regulatory environment, pricing power, defensibility of market share and tangible asset values. Background checks are conducted and tax compliance information may also be requested on management teams and key employees. In addition, the investment team contacts customers, suppliers and competitors and performs on-site visits as part of a routine business due diligence process.
Our disciplined underwriting process also involves the engagement of industry experts and third-party consultants. The investment team routinely uses third-party consultants and market studies to corroborate valuation and industry specific due diligence, as well as provide quality of earnings analysis. Experienced legal counsel is engaged to evaluate and mitigate regulatory, insurance, tax or other company-specific risks.
After the investment team completes its final due diligence, each proposed investment is presented to our investment committee and subjected to extensive discussion and follow-up analysis, if necessary. A formal memorandum for each investment opportunity typically includes the results of business due diligence, multi-scenario financial analysis, risk-management assessment, results of third-party consulting work, background checks (where applicable) and structuring proposals. Our investment committee requires a majority vote to approve any investment.
Active Credit Management. We employ active credit management. Our process includes frequent interaction with management, monthly or quarterly reviews of financial information and, typically, attendance at board of directors’ meetings as observers. Investment professionals with deep restructuring and workout experience support our credit management effort. The investment team also evaluates financial reporting packages provided by portfolio companies that detail operational and financial performance. Data is entered in Black Mountain, an investment management software program. Black Mountain creates a centralized, dynamic electronic repository for all of our portfolio company data and generates comprehensive, standardized reports and dashboards which aggregate operational updates, portfolio company financial performance, asset valuations, macro trends, management call notes and account history.
Investment Operations and Information Technology
In addition to our investment team, we have a finance, accounting and operations team that supports our public and private vehicles team by providing infrastructure and administrative support in the areas of accounting/finance, valuation, capital markets and treasury functions, operations/information technology, strategy and business development, legal/compliance and human resources.
Regulatory and Compliance Matters
Our business, as well as the financial services industry generally, is subject to extensive regulation in the United States and elsewhere. The SEC and other regulators around the world have in recent years significantly increased their regulatory activities with respect to alternative asset management firms. Our business is subject to compliance with laws and regulations of United States federal and state governments, their respective agencies and/or various self-regulatory organizations or exchanges, and any failure to comply with these regulations could expose us to liability and/or reputational damage. Our business has been operated for a number of years within a legal framework that requires our being able to monitor and comply with a broad range of legal and regulatory developments that affect our activities. However, additional legislation, changes in rules promulgated by regulators or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or elsewhere, may directly affect our mode of operation and profitability.
Certain of our subsidiaries are registered as investment advisers with the SEC. Registered investment advisers are subject to the requirements and regulations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Advisers Act”). Such requirements relate to, among other things, fiduciary duties to advisory clients, maintaining an effective compliance program, solicitation agreements, conflicts of interest, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, disclosure requirements, limitations on agency cross and principal transactions between an advisor and advisory clients and general anti-fraud prohibitions. The SEC requires investment advisers registered or required to register with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act that advise one or more private funds and have at least $150.0 million in private fund assets under management to periodically file reports on Form PF. We have filed, and will continue to file, quarterly reports on Form PF, which has resulted in increased administrative costs and requires a significant amount of attention and time to be spent by our personnel. In addition, our investment advisers are subject to routine periodic examinations by the staff of the SEC. Our investment advisers also have not been subject to any regulatory or disciplinary actions by the SEC.
MCC and SIC are BDCs. A BDC is a special category of investment company under the Investment Company Act that was added by Congress to facilitate the flow of capital to private companies and small public companies based in the United States that do not have efficient or cost-effective access to public capital markets or other conventional forms of corporate financing. BDCs make investments in private or thinly traded public companies in the form of long-term debt and/or equity capital, with the goal of generating current income or capital growth.
BDCs are closed-end funds that elect to be regulated as BDCs under the Investment Company Act. As such, BDCs are subject to only certain provisions of the Investment Company Act, as well as the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. BDCs are provided greater flexibility under the Investment Company Act than are other investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act in dealing with their portfolio companies, issuing securities, and compensating their managers. BDCs can be internally or externally managed and may qualify to elect to be taxed as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations thereunder, for federal tax purposes. The Investment Company Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to transactions between BDCs and their affiliates, principal underwriters, and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters. The Investment Company Act requires that a majority of a BDC’s directors be persons other than “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act. In addition, the Investment Company Act provides that a BDC may not change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or withdraw its election to be regulated as a BDC unless approved by a majority of its outstanding voting securities. The Investment Company Act defines “a majority of the outstanding voting securities” as the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy or (2) more than 50% of its voting securities.
Generally, BDCs are prohibited under the Investment Company Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with their affiliates without the prior approval of their board of directors who are not interested persons and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC. The SEC has interpreted the prohibition on transactions with affiliates broadly to prohibit “joint transactions” among entities that share a common investment adviser.
On November 25, 2013, we received an amended order from the SEC that expanded our ability to negotiate the terms of co-investment transactions among our BDCs and other funds managed by us (the “Exemptive Order”), subject to the conditions included therein. In situations where co-investment with other funds managed by us is not permitted or appropriate, such as when there is an opportunity to invest in different securities of the same issuer or where the different investments could be expected to result in a conflict between our interests and those of our other clients, we will need to decide which client will proceed with the investment. We will make these determinations based on our policies and procedures, which generally require that such opportunities be offered to eligible accounts on an alternating basis that will be fair and equitable over time. Moreover, except in certain circumstances, our BDCs will be unable to invest in any issuer in which another of our funds holds an existing investment. Similar restrictions limit our BDCs’ ability to transact business with our officers or directors or their affiliates.
Under the terms of the Exemptive Order, a “required majority” (as defined in Section 57(o) of the Investment Company Act) of the independent directors of our BDCs must make certain conclusions in connection with a co-investment transaction, including that (1) the terms of the proposed transaction are reasonable and fair to the applicable BDC and such BDC’s stockholders and do not involve overreaching of such BDC or its stockholders on the part of any person concerned and (2) the transaction is consistent with the interests of the BDC’s stockholders and is consistent with its investment strategies and policies.
Our BDCs have elected to be treated as RICs under Subchapter M of the Code. As RICs, the BDCs generally do not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any income that is distributed to its stockholders from its tax earnings and profits. To maintain qualification as a RIC, our BDCs must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). In addition, in order to obtain and maintain RIC tax treatment, the BDCs must distribute to their stockholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of their “investment company taxable income,” which is generally its net ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of realized net short-term capital gains over realized net long-term capital losses.
In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, imposes significant regulations on nearly every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry, including oversight and regulation of systemic market risk (including the power to liquidate certain institutions); authorizing the Federal Reserve to regulate nonbank institutions that are deemed systemically important; generally prohibiting insured banks or thrifts, any bank holding company or savings and loan holding company, any non-U.S. bank with a U.S. branch, agency or commercial lending company and any subsidiaries and affiliates of any of these types of entities, regardless of geographic location, from conducting proprietary trading or investing in or sponsoring a “covered fund,” which includes private equity funds and hedge funds (i.e., the Volcker Rule); and imposing new registration, recordkeeping and reporting requirements on private fund investment advisers. Importantly, while several key aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act have been defined through final rules, some aspects still remain to be implemented by various regulatory bodies.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC, the SEC and other regulatory authorities to promulgate certain rules relating to the regulation of the derivatives market. Such rules require or will require the registration of certain market participants, the clearing of certain derivatives contracts through central counterparties, the execution of certain derivatives contracts on electronic platforms, as well as reporting and recordkeeping of derivatives transactions. Certain of our funds may from time to time, directly or indirectly, invest in instruments that meet the definition of a “swap” under the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC’s rules promulgated thereunder. As a result, such funds may qualify as commodity pools, and the operators of such funds may need to register as
commodity pool operators (“CPOs”) unless an exemption applies. Additionally, pursuant to a rule finalized by the CFTC in December 2012, certain classes of interest rate swaps and certain classes of index credit default swaps have also been subject to mandatory clearing, unless an exemption applies. Since February 2014, many of these interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps have also been subject to mandatory trading on designated contract markets or swap execution facilities. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides expanded enforcement authority to the CFTC and SEC. While certain rules have been promulgated and are already in effect, the rulemaking and implementation process is still ongoing. In particular, the CFTC has finalized most of its rules under the Dodd-Frank Act, and the SEC has proposed several rules regarding security-based swaps but has only finalized a small number of these rules.
Competition
The investment management industry is intensely competitive, and we expect it to remain so. We face competition both in the pursuit of outside investors for our funds and in acquiring investments in attractive investee companies and making other investments. We compete for outside investors based on a variety of factors, including:
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investment performance;
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investor perception of investment managers’ drive, focus and alignment of interest;
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quality of service provided to and duration of relationship with investors;
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business reputation; and
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the level of fees and expenses charged for services.
We face competition in our lending and other investment activities primarily from other credit-focused funds, specialized funds, BDCs, real estate funds, hedge fund sponsors, other financial institutions and other parties. Many of these competitors in some of our business are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than are available to us. Many of these competitors have similar investment objectives to us, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities. Some of these competitors may also have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create competitive disadvantages for us with respect to investment opportunities. In addition, some of these competitors may have higher risk tolerances, different risk assessments or lower return thresholds, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and to bid more aggressively than us for investments that we want to make. Lastly, institutional and individual investors are allocating increasing amounts of capital to alternative investment strategies. Several large institutional investors have announced a desire to consolidate their investments in a more limited number of managers. We expect that this will cause competition in our industry to intensify and could lead to a reduction in the size and duration of pricing inefficiencies.
Competition is also intense for the attraction and retention of qualified employees. Our ability to continue to compete effectively in our business will depend upon our ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate our existing employees.
For additional information concerning the competitive risks that we face, see “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business and Industry - The investment management business is competitive.”
Employees
As of December 31, 2018, we employed 76 individuals, including 38 investment, origination and credit management professionals, located in our New York office.
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On August 9, 2018, MDLY entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sierra Income Corporation ("Sierra" or "SIC"), pursuant to which MDLY will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the MDLY Merger Agreement, merge with and into Sierra Management Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra (“Merger Sub”), and Medley Management Inc.'s existing asset management business will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra.
As a condition to closing, Sierra’s common stock will be listed to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SRA" and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, with such listings expected to be effective as the closing date of the mergers. The mergers are cross conditioned upon each other and are subject to approval by the stockholders of MDLY, MCC and Sierra, receipt of an exemptive order from the SEC, an exemptive application for which has been filed by MDLY, Sierra, MCC and certain of their subsidiaries, and other customary closing conditions and third party consents. Accordingly, the Company can provide no assurance that any closing conditions will be satisfied or waived, the mergers will be completed, that the mergers will not be further delayed
or that the terms of the mergers will not change. For additional information, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations- Overview- Agreement and Plan of Merger."
Corporate Information
Medley LLC was formed on October 27, 2010 and is the operating company of Medley Management Inc., a public company traded under the symbol “MDLY.” Medley Management Inc. is the sole managing member of Medley LLC. Medley Management Inc. was incorporated on June 13, 2014, and commenced operations on September 29, 2014 upon completion of its IPO of its Class A common stock. Medley Management Inc.'s sole operating asset is its investment in Medley LLC. Medley Management Inc. is controlled by the pre-IPO owners. Our principal executive office is located at 280 Park Avenue, 6th Floor East, New York, New York 10017. Our telephone number is (212) 759-0777.
Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website at http://www.mdly.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. You may also read and copy any filed document at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about public reference rooms.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully read the risks and uncertainties described below, together with the other information included in this Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The risks described below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties we are not presently aware of or that we currently believe are immaterial could also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Difficult market and political conditions may adversely affect our business in many ways, including by reducing the value or hampering the performance of the investments made by our funds, each of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business is materially affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economic and political conditions throughout the world, such as interest rates, availability and cost of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws (including laws relating to our taxation, taxation of our investors, the possibility of changes to tax laws in either the United States or any non-U.S. jurisdiction and regulations on asset managers), trade barriers including tariffs, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and controls and national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts and security operations). These factors are outside of our control and may affect the level and volatility of asset prices and the liquidity and value of investments, and we may not be able to or may choose not to manage our exposure to these conditions. Ongoing developments in the U.S. and global financial markets following the unprecedented turmoil in the global capital markets and the financial services industry in late 2008 and early 2009, and ongoing after-effects including market turbulence and volatility, continue to illustrate that the current environment is still one of uncertainty and instability for investment management business. More recently, global financial markets have experienced heightened volatility, including the June 2016 “Brexit” referendum in the United Kingdom in favor of exiting the EU and subsequent uncertainty regarding the timing and terms of the exit, the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential and 2016 and 2018 congressional elections and resulting uncertainty regarding actual and potential shifts in U.S. and foreign trade, economic and other policies, and, more recently, concerns over increasing interest rates (particularly short-term rates), uncertainty regarding the short- and long-term effects of tax reform in the United States and uncertainty regarding trade policies and tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. For example, in February 2018, global equity markets experienced a widespread sell-off, and bonds have also declined in value. Any of the foregoing could have a significant impact on the markets in which we operate and a material adverse impact on our business prospects and financial condition.
A number of factors have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on credit markets in particular. In addition following a sustained period of historically low interest rate levels, in the United States, short-term interest rates have risen by 150 to 200 basis points since the U.S. presidential election in November 2016 with 75 to 125 bps of such amount attributable to increases seen between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. Changes in and uncertainty surrounding interest rates may have a material effect on our business, particularly with respect to the cost and availability of financing for significant acquisition and disposition transactions. Furthermore, some of the provisions under the recently enacted tax law in the United States, Public Law No. 115-97 (the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) could have a negative impact on the cost of financing and dampen the attractiveness of credit. There has been a corresponding meaningful increase in the uncertainty surrounding interest rates, foreign exchange rates, trade volume,
and fiscal and economic policies, which has heightened volatility in the U.S. and global markets and could persist for an extended period.
These and other conditions in the global financial markets and the global economy may result in adverse consequences for our funds and their respective investee companies, which could restrict such funds’ investment activities and impede such funds’ ability to effectively achieve their investment objectives. In addition, because the fees we earn under our investment management agreements are based in part on the market value of our AUM and in part on investment performance, if any of these factors cause a decline in our AUM or result in non-performance of loans by investee companies, it would result in lower fees earned, which could in turn materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Recently enacted laws, such as Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or regulations and future changes in the U.S. taxation of businesses may impact our effective tax rate or may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which significantly changed the Code, including a reduction in the federal statutory corporate income tax rate to 21%, a new limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense, restrictions on the use of net operating loss carryforwards arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and dramatic changes to the taxation of income earned from foreign sources and foreign subsidiaries. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also authorizes the Treasury Department to issue regulations with respect to the new provisions. We cannot predict how the changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, regulations, or other guidance issued under it or conforming or non-conforming state tax rules might affect us or our business. In addition, there can be no assurance that U.S. tax laws, including the corporate income tax rate, would not undergo significant changes in the near future.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from funds managed pursuant to advisory agreements that may be terminated or fund partnership agreements that permit fund investors to remove us as the general partner.
With respect to our permanent capital vehicles, each fund’s investment management agreement must be approved annually by such fund’s board of directors or by the vote of a majority of the stockholders and the majority of the independent members of such fund’s board of directors and, in certain cases, by its stockholders, as required by law. In addition, as required by the Investment Company Act, both MCC and SIC have the right to terminate their respective management agreements without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to their respective advisers. Termination of these agreements would reduce the fees we earn from the relevant funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, our investment advisory relationships with MCC and SIC represented approximately 69.0%, 74.4% and 80.3%, respectively, of our total management fees. These investment advisory relationships also represented, in the aggregate, 40.6% of our AUM at December 31, 2018. There can be no assurance that our investment management agreements with respect to MCC and SIC will remain in place.
With respect to our long-dated private funds, insofar as we control the general partner of such funds, the risk of termination of the investment management agreement for such funds is limited, subject to our fiduciary or contractual duties as general partner. However, the applicable fund partnership agreements may permit the limited partners of each respective fund to remove us as general partner by a majority or, in certain circumstances, a super majority vote. In addition, the partnership agreements provide for dissolution of the partnership upon certain changes of control.
Our SMAs are governed by investment management agreements that may be terminated by investors at any time for cause under the applicable agreement and “cause” may include the departure of specified members of our senior management team. Absent cause, the investment management agreements that govern our SMAs are generally not terminable during the specified investment period or following the specified investment period, prior to the scheduled maturities or disposition of the subject AUM.
Termination of these agreements would negatively affect the fees we earn from the relevant funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may not be able to maintain our current fee structure as a result of industry pressure from fund investors to reduce fees, which could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.
We may not be able to maintain our current fee structure as a result of industry pressure from fund investors to reduce fees. Although our investment management fees vary among and within asset classes, historically we have competed primarily on the basis of our performance and not on the level of our investment management fees relative to those of our competitors. In recent years, however, there has been a general trend toward lower fees in the investment management industry. In September 2009, the Institutional Limited Partners Association published a set of Private Equity Principles (the “Principles”), which were revised in January 2011. The Principles were developed to encourage discussion between limited partners and general partners regarding private equity fund partnership terms. Certain of the Principles call for enhanced “alignment of interests” between general partners and limited partners through modifications of some of the terms of fund arrangements, including proposed guidelines for fees and
performance income structures. Although we have no obligation to modify any of our fees with respect to our existing funds, we may experience pressure to do so in our funds. More recently institutional investors have been allocating increasing amounts of capital to alternative investment strategies as well as attempting to reduce management and investment fees to external managers, whether through direct reductions, deferrals or rebates. We cannot assure you that we will succeed in providing investment returns and service that will allow us to maintain our current fee structure. For example, on December 3, 2015, we agreed to reduce our fees from MCC and beginning January 1, 2016, the base management fee from MCC was reduced to 1.50% on gross assets above $1 billion. In addition, we reduced our incentive fee from MCC from 20% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over an 8% hurdle, to 17.5% on pre-incentive fee net investment income over a 6% hurdle and introduced a netting mechanism and incentive fee income will be subject to a rolling three-year look back. Under no circumstances will our recently implemented fee structure result in higher fees from MCC than fees under the current investment management agreement. Fee reductions on existing or future new business could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations. For more information about our fees, see “Business - Fee Structure."
A change of control of us or Medley Management Inc. could result in termination of our investment advisory agreements.
Pursuant to the Investment Company Act, each of the investment advisory agreements for the BDCs that we advise automatically terminates upon its deemed “assignment” and a BDC’s board and shareholders must approve a new agreement in order for us to continue to act as its investment adviser. In addition, pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act, each of our investment advisory agreements for the separate accounts we manage may not be “assigned” without the consent of the client. A sale of a controlling block of our or Medley Management Inc.'s voting securities and certain other transactions would be deemed an “assignment” pursuant to both the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. Such an assignment may be deemed to occur in the event that our pre-IPO owners dispose of enough of their interests in us such that they no longer own a controlling interest in us. If such a deemed assignment occurs, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary consents from clients whose funds are managed pursuant to separate accounts or the necessary approvals from the boards and shareholders of the SEC-registered BDCs that we advise. An assignment, actual or constructive, would trigger these termination and consent provisions and, unless the necessary approvals and consents are obtained, could adversely affect our ability to continue managing client accounts, resulting in the loss of assets under management and a corresponding loss of revenue.
The historical returns attributable to our funds should not be considered as indicative of the future results of our funds or of our future results.
The historical performance of our funds is relevant to us primarily insofar as it is indicative of fees we have earned in the past and may earn in the future and our reputation and ability to raise new funds. Poor performance of the funds we advise could cause a decline in our revenues and could therefore have a negative effect on our operating results. Also, there is no assurance that projections in respect of our funds or unrealized valuations will be realized.
Moreover, the historical returns of our funds should not be considered indicative of the future returns of these funds or from any future funds we may raise, in part because:
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market conditions during previous periods may have been significantly more favorable for generating positive performance than the market conditions we may experience in the future;
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our funds’ rates of returns, which are calculated on the basis of NAV of the funds’ investments, including unrealized gains, which may never be realized;
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our funds’ returns have previously benefited from investment opportunities and general market conditions that may not recur, and our funds may not be able to achieve the same returns or profitable investment opportunities or deploy capital as quickly;
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the historical returns that we present in this Form 10-K derive largely from the performance of our earlier funds, whereas future fund returns will depend increasingly on the performance of our newer funds or funds not yet formed, which may have little or no realized investment track record;
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in recent years, there has been increased competition for investment opportunities resulting from the increased amount of capital invested in alternative funds and high liquidity in debt markets, and the increased competition for investments may reduce our returns in the future; and
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our newly established funds may generate lower returns during the period that they take to deploy their capital.
The future internal rate of return for any current or future fund may vary considerably from the historical internal rate of return generated by any particular fund, or for our funds as a whole. Future returns will also be affected by the risks described in this Form 10-K, including risks of the industries and business in which a particular fund invests.
If we are unable to consummate or successfully integrate development opportunities, acquisitions or joint ventures, we may not be able to implement our growth strategy successfully.
Our growth strategy may include the selective development or acquisition of other asset management businesses, advisory businesses or other businesses or financial products complementary to our business where we think we can add substantial value or generate substantial returns. The success of this strategy will depend on, among other things: (a) the availability of suitable opportunities, (b) the level of competition from other companies that may have greater financial resources, (c) our ability to value potential development or acquisition opportunities accurately and negotiate acceptable terms for those opportunities, (d) our ability to obtain requisite approvals and licenses from the relevant governmental authorities and to comply with applicable laws and regulations without incurring undue costs and delays, (e) our ability to identify and enter into mutually beneficial relationships with venture partners and (f) our ability to properly manage conflicts of interest. Moreover, even if we are able to identify and successfully complete an acquisition, we may encounter unexpected difficulties or incur unexpected costs associated with integrating and overseeing the operations of the new business or activities. If we are not successful in implementing our growth strategy, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We depend on third-party distribution sources to market our investment strategies.
Our ability to grow our AUM, particularly with respect to our BDCs, is dependent on access to third-party intermediaries, including investment banks, broker dealers and RIAs. We cannot assure you that these intermediaries will continue to be accessible to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. In addition, pension fund consultants may review and evaluate our institutional products and our firm from time to time. Poor reviews or evaluations of either a particular product, or of us, may result in institutional client withdrawals or may impair our ability to attract new assets through these consultants.
An investment strategy focused primarily on privately held companies presents certain challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies.
Our funds have historically invested primarily in privately held companies. Investments in private companies pose certain incremental risks as compared to investments in public companies including that private companies:
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have reduced access to the capital markets, resulting in diminished capital resources and ability to withstand financial distress;
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may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under debt that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of us realizing any guarantees we may have obtained in connection with our investment;
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may have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger business, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and changing market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;
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are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our investee company and, in turn, on us; and
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generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing business with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. In addition, our executive officers, directors or employees may, in the ordinary course of business, be named as defendants in litigation arising from our funds’ investments in investee companies.
Finally, limited public information generally exists about private companies and these companies may not have third-party debt ratings or audited financial statements. We must therefore rely on the ability of our funds’ advisors to obtain adequate information through due diligence to evaluate the creditworthiness and potential returns from investing in these companies. Additionally, these companies and their financial information will not generally be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules that govern public companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, our funds may lose money on such investments.
Our funds’ investments in investee companies may be risky, and our funds could lose all or part of their investments.
Our funds pursue strategies focused on investing primarily in the debt of privately owned U.S. companies.
Senior Secured Debt and Second Lien Secured Debt. When our funds invest in senior secured term debt and second lien secured debt, our funds will generally take a security interest in the available assets of these investee companies, including the equity interests of their subsidiaries. There is a risk that the collateral securing such investments may decrease in value over time or lose its entire value, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the investee company to raise
additional capital. Also, in some circumstances, our security interest could be subordinated to claims of other creditors. In addition, deterioration in an investee company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the debt. Consequently, the fact that debt is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the investment terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the investment should we be forced to enforce our remedies.
Senior Unsecured Debt. Our funds may also make unsecured debt investments in investee companies, meaning that such investments will not benefit from any interest in collateral of such companies.
Subordinated Debt. Our subordinated debt investments will generally be subordinated to senior debt and will generally be unsecured. This may result in a heightened level of risk and volatility or a loss of principal, which could lead to the loss of the entire investment. These investments may involve additional risks that could adversely affect our investment returns. To the extent interest payments associated with such debt are deferred, such debt may be subject to greater fluctuations in valuations, and such debt could subject our funds to non-cash income. Since the applicable fund would not receive any principal repayments prior to the maturity of some of our subordinated debt investments, such investments will be of greater risk than amortizing loans.
Equity Investments. Certain of our funds make selected equity investments. In addition, when our funds invest in senior and subordinated debt, they may acquire warrants or options to purchase equity securities or benefit from other types of equity participation. Our goal is ultimately to dispose of these equity interests and realize gains upon our disposition of such interests. However, the equity interests our funds receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, our funds may not be able to realize gains from such equity interests, and any gains that our funds do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses our funds experience.
Most loans in which our funds invest will not be rated by any rating agency and, if they were rated, they would be rated as below investment grade quality. Loans rated below investment grade quality are generally regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics and may carry a greater risk with respect to a borrower’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. From time to time, our funds, in the past, and may in the future, lose some or all of their investment in an investee company.
Prepayments of debt investments by our investee companies could adversely impact our results of operations.
We are subject to the risk that the investments our funds make in investee companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, our BDCs will generally use such proceeds to reduce their existing borrowings and our private funds will generally return such capital to its investors, which capital may be recalled at a later date pursuant to such fund’s governing documents. With respect to our SMAs, if such event occurs after the investment period, such capital will be returned to investors. Any future investment in a new investee company may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, the results of operations of the affected fund could be materially adversely affected if one or more investee companies elect to prepay amounts owed to such fund, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our funds’ investee companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our funds’ investments in such companies.
Our funds pursue a strategy focused on investing primarily in the debt of privately owned U.S. companies. Our funds’ investee companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt in which our funds invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which our funds invest. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of an investee company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our funds’ investment in that investee company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any distribution. After repaying such senior creditors, such investee company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to our funds. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which our funds invest, our funds would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant investee company.
Subordinated liens on collateral securing loans that our funds make to their investee companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and our funds.
Certain debt investments that our funds make in investee companies are secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing senior secured debt of such companies. The first priority liens on the collateral will secure the investee company’s obligations under any outstanding senior debt and may secure certain other future debt that may be permitted to be incurred by the company under the agreements governing the debt. The holders of obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral will generally control the liquidation of and be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of the collateral to repay their obligations in full before our funds. In addition, the value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from the sale or sales of all of the collateral would be sufficient to satisfy the debt obligations secured by the second priority liens after payment in full of all obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral. If such proceeds are not sufficient to repay amounts outstanding under the debt obligations secured by the second priority liens, then our funds, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, will only have an unsecured claim against the investee company’s remaining assets, if any.
Our funds may also make unsecured debt investments in investee companies, meaning that such investments will not benefit from any interest in collateral of such companies. Liens on such investee companies’ collateral, if any, will secure the investee company’s obligations under its outstanding secured debt and may secure certain future debt that is permitted to be incurred by the investee company under its secured debt agreements. The holders of obligations secured by such liens will generally control the liquidation of, and be entitled to receive proceeds from, any realization of such collateral to repay their obligations in full before us. In addition, the value of such collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from sales of such collateral would be sufficient to satisfy our unsecured debt obligations after payment in full of all secured debt obligations. If such proceeds were not sufficient to repay the outstanding secured debt obligations, then our unsecured claims would rank equally with the unpaid portion of such secured creditors’ claims against the investee company’s remaining assets, if any.
The rights our funds may have with respect to the collateral securing the debt investments our funds make in their investee companies with senior debt outstanding may also be limited pursuant to the terms of one or more intercreditor agreements that our funds enter into with the holders of senior secured debt. Under such an intercreditor agreement, at any time that obligations that have the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any of the following actions that may be taken in respect of the collateral will be at the discretion of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens: the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against the collateral; the ability to control the conduct of such proceedings; the approval of amendments to collateral documents; releases of liens on the collateral; and waivers of past defaults under collateral documents. Our funds may not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if their rights are adversely affected.
There may be circumstances where our funds’ debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or our funds could be subject to lender liability claims.
If one of our investee companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which our funds actually provided managerial assistance to that investee company or a representative of us sat on the board of directors of such investee company, a bankruptcy court might recharacterize our funds’ debt investment and subordinate all or a portion of our funds’ claim to that of other creditors. In situations where a bankruptcy carries a high degree of political significance, our funds’ legal rights may be subordinated to other creditors.
In addition, lenders in certain cases can be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by them when they become too involved in the borrower’s business or exercise control over a borrower. It is possible that we or our funds could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken if we or our funds render significant managerial assistance to, or exercise control or influence over the board of directors of, the borrower.
Our funds may not have the resources or ability to make additional investments in our investee companies.
After an initial investment in an investee company, our funds may be called upon from time to time to provide additional funds to such company or have the opportunity to increase their investment through the exercise of a warrant or other right to purchase common stock. There is no assurance that the applicable fund will make, or will have sufficient resources to make, follow-on investments. Even if such fund has sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our level of risk, we prefer other opportunities or we are limited in our ability to do so by compliance with BDC requirements or maintaining RIC status, if applicable. Any decisions not to make a follow-on investment or any inability on our part to make such an investment may have a negative impact on an investee company in need
of such an investment, may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation or may reduce the expected return on the investment.
Economic recessions or downturns could impair our investee companies and harm our operating results.
Many of our investee companies are susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our funds’ debt investments during these periods. Therefore, our funds’ non-performing assets are likely to increase, and the value of our funds’ portfolios are likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of any collateral securing our senior secured or second lien secured debt. A severe recession may further decrease the value of such collateral and result in losses of value in such portfolios. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us on terms we deem acceptable. Occurrence of any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
A covenant breach by our investee companies may harm our operating results.
An investee company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its debt and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize an investee company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity instruments that our funds hold. Our funds may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants, with a defaulting investee company. To the extent our funds incur additional costs and/or do not recover their investments in investee companies, we may earn reduced management and incentive fees, which may adversely affect our results of operations.
The investment management business is competitive.
The investment management business is competitive, with competition based on a variety of factors, including investment performance, business relationships, quality of service provided to investors, investor liquidity and willingness to invest, fund terms (including fees), brand recognition and business reputation. We compete for investors with a number of other investment managers, public and private funds, BDCs, small business investment companies and others. Numerous factors increase our competitive risks, including:
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a number of our competitors have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources and more personnel than we do;
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some of our funds may not perform as well as competitors’ funds or other available investment products;
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several of our competitors have raised significant amounts of capital, and many of them have similar investment objectives to ours, which may create additional competition for investment opportunities and may reduce the size and duration of pricing inefficiencies that otherwise could be exploited;
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some of our competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us, which may create competitive disadvantages for us with respect to our funds;
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some of our competitors may be subject to less regulation and, accordingly, may have more flexibility to undertake and execute certain business or investments than we do and/or bear less compliance expense than we do;
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some of our competitors may have more flexibility than we have in raising certain types of funds under the investment management contracts they have negotiated with their investors;
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some of our competitors may have better expertise or be regarded by investors as having better expertise in a specific asset class or geographic region than we do; and
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other industry participants may, from time to time, seek to recruit our investment professionals and other employees away from us.
In addition, the attractiveness of our funds relative to investments in other investment products could decrease depending on economic conditions. This competitive pressure could adversely affect our ability to make successful investments and limit our ability to raise future funds, either of which would adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our funds operate in a competitive market for lending that has recently intensified, and competition may limit our funds’ ability to originate or acquire desirable loans and investments and could also affect the yields of these assets and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our funds operate in a competitive market for lending that has recently intensified. Our profitability depends, in large part, on our funds’ ability to originate or acquire credit investments on attractive terms. In originating or acquiring our target credit
investments, we compete with a variety of institutional lenders and investors, including specialty finance companies, public and private funds, commercial and investment banks, BDCs, small business investment companies, REITs, commercial finance and insurance companies and others. Some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us, such as the U.S. government. Many of our competitors or their funds are not subject to the operating constraints associated with qualifying as a RIC under subchapter M of the Code or compliance with the Investment Company Act. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments, offer more attractive pricing, transaction structures, covenants or other terms and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, competition for originations of and investments in our target assets may lead to the yields of such assets decreasing, which may further limit our ability to generate satisfactory returns. Also, as a result of this competition, desirable loans and investments may be limited in the future and our funds may not be able to take advantage of attractive lending and investment opportunities from time to time, thereby limiting their ability to identify and originate loans or make investments that are consistent with their investment objectives. We cannot assure you that the competitive pressures our funds face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on leverage by certain of our funds and by our funds’ investee companies subjects us to volatility and contractions in the debt financing markets and could adversely affect our ability to achieve attractive rates of return on those investments.
MCC, SIC and our funds’ investee companies rely on the use of leverage, and our ability to achieve attractive rates of return on investments will depend on our ability to access sufficient sources of indebtedness at attractive rates. While our permanent capital vehicles, MCC and SIC, are our only funds that currently rely on the use of leverage, certain of our other funds may in the future rely on the use of leverage. If our funds or the companies in which our funds invest raise capital in the structured credit, leveraged loan and high yield bond markets, the results of their operations may suffer if such markets experience dislocations, contractions or volatility. Any such events could adversely impact the availability of credit to business generally and could lead to an overall weakening of the U.S. and global economies. Any economic downturn could adversely affect the financial resources of our funds and their investments (in particular those investments that depend on credit from third parties or that otherwise participate in the credit markets) and their ability to make principal and interest payments on, or refinance, outstanding debt when due. Moreover, these events could affect the terms of available debt financing with, for example, higher rates, higher equity requirements and/or more restrictive covenants.
The absence of available sources of sufficient debt financing for extended periods of time or an increase in either the general levels of interest rates or in the risk spread demanded by sources of indebtedness would make it more expensive to finance those investments. Certain investments may also be financed through borrowings on fund-level debt facilities, which may or may not be available for a refinancing at the end of their respective terms. Finally, the interest payments on the indebtedness used to finance our funds’ investments are generally deductible expenses for income tax purposes, subject to limitations under applicable tax law and policy. Any change in such tax law or policy to eliminate or substantially limit these income tax deductions, as has been discussed from time to time in various jurisdictions, would reduce the after-tax rates of return on the affected investments, which may have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.
Similarly, our funds’ investee companies regularly utilize the corporate debt markets to obtain additional financing for their operations. Our investee companies are typically highly leveraged. Those that have credit ratings are typically non-investment grade and those that do not have credit ratings would likely be non-investment grade if they were rated. If the credit markets render such financing difficult to obtain or more expensive, this may negatively impact the operating performance of those investee companies and, therefore, the investment returns of our funds. In addition, if the markets make it difficult or impossible to refinance debt that is maturing in the near term, some of our investee companies may be unable to repay such debt at maturity and may be forced to sell assets, undergo a recapitalization or seek bankruptcy protection. Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our funds may choose to use leverage as part of their respective investment programs. As of December 31, 2018, MCC and SIC were our only funds that relied on leverage. As of December 31, 2018, MCC had a NAV of $305.7 million, $0.7 billion of AUM and an asset coverage ratio of 212%. As of December 31, 2018, SIC had a NAV of $661.5 million, $1.2 billion of AUM and an asset coverage ratio of 265%. The use of leverage poses a significant degree of risk and enhances the possibility of a significant loss to investors. A fund may borrow money from time to time to make investments or may enter into derivative transactions with counterparties that have embedded leverage. The interest expense and other costs incurred in connection with such borrowing may not be recovered by returns on such investments and may be lost, and the timing and magnitude of such losses may be accelerated or exacerbated, in the event of a decline in the market value of such investments. Gains realized with borrowed funds may cause the fund’s NAV to increase at a faster rate than would be the case without borrowings. However, if investment results fail to cover the cost of borrowings, the fund’s NAV could also decrease faster than if there had been no borrowings. In addition, as BDCs registered under the Investment Company Act, MCC and SIC are each permitted to issue senior securities in amounts such that
its asset coverage ratio equals at least 200% after each issuance of senior securities. Each of MCC’s and SIC’s ability to pay dividends will be restricted if its asset coverage ratio falls below at least 200% and any amounts that it uses to service its indebtedness are not available for dividends to its common stockholders. An increase in interest rates could also decrease the value of fixed-rate debt investments that our funds make. Any of the foregoing circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Some of our funds may invest in companies that are highly leveraged, which may increase the risk of loss associated with those investments.
Some of our funds may invest in companies whose capital structures involve significant leverage. For example, in many non-distressed private equity investments, indebtedness may be as much as 75% or more of an investee company’s total debt and equity capitalization, including debt that may be incurred in connection with the investment, whether incurred at or above the investment-level entity. In distressed situations, indebtedness may exceed 100% or more of an investee company’s capitalization. Additionally, the debt positions originated or acquired by our funds may be the most junior in what could be a complex capital structure, and thus subject us to the greatest risk of loss.
Investments in highly leveraged entities are also inherently more sensitive to declines in revenues, increases in expenses and interest rates and adverse economic, market and industry developments.
Furthermore, the incurrence of a significant amount of indebtedness by an entity could, among other things:
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subject the entity to a number of restrictive covenants, terms and conditions, any violation of which could be viewed by creditors as an event of default and could materially impact our funds’ ability to realize value from the investment;
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allow even moderate reductions in operating cash flow to render the entity unable to service its indebtedness, leading to a bankruptcy or other reorganization of the entity and a loss of part or all of our funds’ equity investment in it;
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give rise to an obligation to make mandatory prepayments of debt using excess cash flow, which might limit the entity’s ability to respond to changing industry conditions if additional cash is needed for the response, to make unplanned but necessary capital expenditures or to take advantage of growth opportunities;
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limit the entity’s ability to adjust to changing market conditions, thereby placing it at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that have relatively less debt;
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limit the entity’s ability to engage in strategic acquisitions that might be necessary to generate attractive returns or further growth; and
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limit the entity’s ability to obtain additional financing or increase the cost of obtaining such financing, including for capital expenditures, working capital or other general corporate purposes.
As a result, the risk of loss associated with a leveraged entity is generally greater than for companies with comparatively less debt. For example, a number of investments consummated by private equity sponsors during 2005, 2006 and 2007 that utilized significant amounts of leverage subsequently experienced severe economic stress and, in certain cases, defaulted on their debt obligations due to a decrease in revenues and cash flows precipitated by the subsequent economic downturn during 2008 and 2009.
We generally do not control the business operations of our investee companies and, due to the illiquid nature of our investments, may not be able to dispose of such investments.
Investments by our funds generally consist of debt instruments and equity securities of companies that we do not control. We do not expect to control most of our investee companies, even though we may have board representation or board observation rights, and our debt agreements may impose certain restrictive covenants on our borrowers. As a result, we are subject to the risk that an investee company in which our funds invest may make business decisions with which we disagree and the management of such company, as representatives of the holders of their common equity, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve our interests as debt investors. Due to the lack of liquidity for our investments in private companies, we may not be able to dispose of our interests in our investee companies as readily as we would like or at an appropriate valuation. As a result, an investee company may make decisions that could decrease the value of our investment holdings.
A substantial portion of our investments may be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our respective funds’ boards of directors or similar bodies and, as a result, there may be uncertainty regarding the value of our funds’ investments.
The debt and equity instruments in which our funds invest for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of such fund’s board of directors or similar body. Most, if not all, of our funds' investments (other than cash and cash equivalents) are classified as Level III under Accounting Standards
Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820 - Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This means that our funds’ portfolio valuations will be based on unobservable inputs and our funds’ assumptions about how market participants would price the asset or liability in question. We expect that inputs into the determination of fair value of our funds’ portfolio investments will require significant management judgment or estimation. Even if observable market data were available, such information may be the result of consensus pricing information or broker quotes, which include a disclaimer that the broker would not be held to such a price in an actual transaction. The non-binding nature of consensus pricing and/or quotes accompanied by disclaimers materially reduces the reliability of such information. Our funds retain the services of an independent service provider to review the valuation of these loans and securities.
The types of factors that the board of directors, general partner or similar body may take into account in determining the fair value of a fund’s investments generally include, as appropriate, comparison to publicly traded securities including such factors as yield, maturity and measures of credit quality, the enterprise value of an investee company, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the investee company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the investee company does business and other relevant factors. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these loans and securities existed. Our funds’ NAV could be adversely affected if determinations regarding the fair value of such funds’ investments were materially higher than the values that such funds’ ultimately realize upon the disposal of such loans and securities.
We may need to pay “clawback” obligations if and when they are triggered under the governing agreements with respect to certain of our funds and SMAs.
Generally, if at the termination of a fund (and sometimes at interim points in the life of a fund), the fund has not achieved investment returns that (in most cases) exceed the preferred return threshold or (in all cases) the general partner receives net profits over the life of the fund in excess of its allocable share under the applicable partnership agreement, we will be obligated to repay an amount equal to the extent to which carried interest that was previously distributed to us exceeds the amounts to which we are ultimately entitled. This obligation is known as a “clawback” obligation. Medley did not receive any carried interest distributions through December 31, 2018, other than tax distributions, a portion of which is subject to clawback. As of December 31, 2018, we recorded a $7.2 million clawback obligation that would need to be paid if the funds were liquidated at fair value as of the end of the reporting period. Had we assumed all existing investments were worthless as of December 31, 2018, there would be no additional amounts subject to clawback.
Although a clawback obligation is several to each person who received a distribution, and not a joint obligation, the governing agreements of our funds generally provide that, if a recipient does not fund his or her respective share, we may have to fund such additional amounts beyond the amount of carried interest we retained, although we generally will retain the right to pursue remedies against those carried interest recipients who fail to fund their obligations. We may need to use or reserve cash to repay such clawback obligations instead of using the cash for other purposes. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Contingent Obligations.”
Our funds may face risks relating to undiversified investments.
While diversification is generally an objective of our funds, there can be no assurance as to the degree of diversification, if any, that will be achieved in any fund investments. Difficult market conditions or slowdowns affecting a particular asset class, geographic region or other category of investment could have a significant adverse impact on a fund if its investments are concentrated in that area, which would result in lower investment returns. This lack of diversification may expose a fund to losses disproportionate to economic conditions or market declines in general if there are disproportionately greater adverse movements in the particular investments. If a fund holds investments concentrated in a particular issuer, security, asset class or geographic region, such fund may be more susceptible than a more widely diversified investment portfolio to the negative consequences of a single corporate, economic, political or regulatory event. Accordingly, a lack of diversification on the part of a fund could adversely affect a fund’s performance and, as a result, our results of operations and financial condition.
Third-party investors in our private funds may not satisfy their contractual obligation to fund capital calls when requested, which could adversely affect a fund’s operations and performance.
Investors in our private funds make capital commitments to those funds that we are entitled to call from those investors at any time during prescribed periods. We depend on investors fulfilling and honoring their commitments when we call capital from them for those funds to consummate investments and otherwise pay their obligations when due. Any investor that did not fund a capital call would be subject to several possible penalties, including having a meaningful amount of its existing investment forfeited in that fund. However, the impact of the penalty is directly correlated to the amount of capital previously invested by the investor in the fund and if an investor has invested little or no capital, for instance early in the life of the fund, then the forfeiture penalty may not be as meaningful. Investors may also negotiate for lesser or reduced penalties at the outset of the fund, thereby limiting
our ability to enforce the funding of a capital call. Third-party investors in private funds often use distributions from prior investments to meet future capital calls. In cases where valuations of existing investments fall and the pace of distributions slows, investors may be unable to make new commitments to third-party managed investment funds such as those advised by us. A failure of investors to honor a significant amount of capital calls for any particular fund or funds could have a material adverse effect on the operation and performance of those funds.
Our funds may be forced to dispose of investments at a disadvantageous time.
Our funds may make investments that they do not advantageously dispose of prior to the date the applicable fund is dissolved, either by expiration of such fund’s term or otherwise. Although we generally expect that investments will be disposed of prior to dissolution or be suitable for in-kind distribution at dissolution, and the general partners of the funds have only a limited ability to extend the term of the fund with the consent of fund investors or the advisory board of the fund, as applicable, our funds may have to sell, distribute or otherwise dispose of investments at a disadvantageous time as a result of dissolution. This would result in a lower than expected return on the investments and, perhaps, on the fund itself.
Hedging strategies may adversely affect the returns on our funds’ investments.
When managing our exposure to market risks, we may (on our own behalf or on behalf of our funds) from time to time use forward contracts, options, swaps (including total return swaps), caps, collars, floors, foreign currency forward contracts, currency swap agreements, currency option contracts or other strategies. The success of any hedging or other derivative transactions generally will depend on our ability to correctly predict market or foreign exchange changes, the degree of correlation between price movements of a derivative instrument and the position being hedged, the creditworthiness of the counterparty and other factors. As a result, while we may enter into a transaction to reduce our or a fund’s exposure to market risks, the transaction may result in poorer overall investment performance than if it had not been executed. Such transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of a hedged position increases.
While such hedging arrangements may reduce certain risks, such arrangements themselves may entail certain other risks. These arrangements may require the posting of cash collateral at a time when we or a fund has insufficient cash or illiquid assets such that the posting of the cash is either impossible or requires the sale of assets at prices that do not reflect their underlying value. Moreover, these hedging arrangements may generate significant transaction costs, including potential tax costs, that may reduce the returns generated by a fund. Finally, the CFTC has made several public statements that it may soon issue a proposal for certain foreign exchange products to be subject to mandatory clearing, which could increase the cost of entering into currency hedges.
Our business depends in large part on our ability to raise capital from investors. If we were unable to raise such capital, we would be unable to collect management fees or deploy such capital into investments, which would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to raise capital from investors depends on a number of factors, including many that are outside our control. Investors may downsize their investment allocations to credit focused private funds or BDCs or to rebalance a disproportionate weighting of their overall investment portfolio among asset classes. Poor performance of our funds could also make it more difficult for us to raise new capital. Our investors and potential investors continually assess our funds’ performance independently and relative to market benchmarks and our competitors, and our ability to raise capital for existing and future funds depends on our funds’ performance. If economic and market conditions deteriorate, we may be unable to raise sufficient amounts of capital to support the investment activities of future funds. If we were unable to successfully raise capital, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be adversely affected.
We depend on our senior management team, senior investment professionals and other key personnel, and our ability to retain them and attract additional qualified personnel is critical to our success and our growth prospects.
We depend on the diligence, skill, judgment, business contacts and personal reputations of our senior management team, including Brook Taube and Seth Taube, our co-Chief Executive Officers, senior investment professionals and other key personnel. Our future success will depend upon our ability to retain our senior professionals and other key personnel and our ability to recruit additional qualified personnel. These individuals possess substantial experience and expertise in investing, are responsible for locating and executing our funds’ investments, have significant relationships with the institutions that are the source of many of our funds’ investment opportunities and, in certain cases, have strong relationships with our investors. Therefore, if any of our senior professionals or other key personnel join competitors or form competing companies, it could result in the loss of significant investment opportunities and certain existing investors.
The departure for any reason of any of our senior professionals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objectives, cause certain of our investors to withdraw capital they invest with us or elect not to commit additional capital to our funds or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and our prospects. The departure of some or all of those individuals could also trigger certain “key man” provisions in the documentation governing certain of our funds, which
would permit the investors in those funds to suspend or terminate such funds’ investment periods or, in the case of certain funds, permit investors to withdraw their capital prior to expiration of the applicable lock-up date. We do not carry any “key man” insurance that would provide us with proceeds in the event of the death or disability of any of our senior professionals, and we do not have a policy that prohibits our senior professionals from traveling together.
We anticipate that it will be necessary for us to add investment professionals both to grow our business and to replace those who depart. However, the market for qualified investment professionals is extremely competitive and we may not succeed in recruiting additional personnel or we may fail to effectively replace current personnel who depart with qualified or effective successors. Our efforts to retain and attract investment professionals may also result in significant additional expenses, which could adversely affect our profitability or result in an increase in the portion of our performance fees that we grant to our investment professionals.
Our failure to appropriately address conflicts of interest could damage our reputation and adversely affect our business.
As we have expanded and as we continue to expand the number and scope of our business, we increasingly confront potential conflicts of interest relating to our funds’ investment activities. Certain of our funds may have overlapping investment objectives, including funds that have different fee structures, and potential conflicts may arise with respect to our decisions regarding how to allocate investment opportunities among those funds. For example, a decision to receive material non-public information about a company while pursuing an investment opportunity for a particular fund gives rise to a potential conflict of interest when it results in our having to restrict the ability of other funds to take any action.
In most cases, Medley is permitted to co-invest among our private funds, our SMAs, our public business development companies and other advisory clients pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. We have adopted an order aggregation and trade allocation policy designed to ensure that all of our clients are treated fairly and to prevent this form of conflict from influencing the allocation of investment opportunities among clients. Allocations will generally be made pro rata principally based on each fund or advisory client's capital available for investment. It is Medley's policy to base its determinations as to the amounts of capital available for investment on such factors as: the amount of cash on hand, existing capital commitments and reserves, if any, the targeted leverage level, the targeted asset mix and diversification requirements and other investment policies and restrictions or otherwise imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations.
We may also cause different funds to invest in a single investee company, for example, where the fund that made an initial investment no longer has capital available to invest. We may also cause different funds that we advise to purchase different classes of investments or securities in the same investee company. For example, certain of our funds hold minority equity interests, or have the right to acquire such equity interests, in some of our investee companies. As a result, we may face conflicts of interests in connection with making business decisions for these investee companies to the extent that such decisions affect the debt and equity holders in these investee companies differently. In addition, we may face conflicts of interests in connection with making investment or other decisions, including granting loan waivers or concessions with respect to these investee companies given that we also manage private funds that may hold equity interests in these investee companies. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist in the valuation of our investments and regarding decisions about the allocation of specific investment opportunities among us and our funds and the allocation of fees and costs among us and our funds. Though we believe we have developed appropriate policies and procedures to resolve these conflicts, our judgment on any particular allocation could be challenged. If we fail to appropriately address any such conflicts, it could negatively impact our reputation and ability to raise additional funds and the willingness of counterparties to do business with us or result in potential litigation against us.
Actions by activist investors relating to our affiliates can be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations and divert the attention of management and our employees. Stockholder activism could create perceived uncertainties, which could result in the loss of potential business opportunities and make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners. Furthermore, stockholder activism could adversely affect our ability to effectively and timely implement strategic plans, including in connection with the proposed mergers.
Rapid growth of our business may be difficult to sustain and may place significant demands on our administrative, operational and financial resources.
Our assets under management have grown significantly in the past and we are pursuing further growth. Our rapid growth has placed, and planned growth, if successful, will continue to place, significant demands on our legal, compliance, accounting and operational infrastructure, and has increased expenses associated with all of the foregoing. In addition, we are required to continuously develop our systems and infrastructure in response to the increasing sophistication of the investment management market and legal, accounting, regulatory and tax developments. Our future growth will depend in part on our ability to maintain an operating platform and management system sufficient to address our growth and will require us to incur significant additional expenses and to commit additional senior management and operational resources. As a result, we face significant challenges:
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in maintaining adequate financial, regulatory (legal, tax and compliance) and business controls;
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in implementing new or updated information and financial systems and procedures; and
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in training, managing and appropriately sizing our work force and other components of our business on a timely and cost-effective basis.
We may not be able to manage our expanding operations effectively or be able to continue to grow, and any failure to do so could adversely affect our ability to generate revenue and control our expenses.
We may enter into new lines of business and expand into new investment strategies, geographic markets and business, each of which may result in additional risks and uncertainties in our businesses.
We intend to grow our business by increasing assets under management in existing business and, if market conditions warrant, by expanding into complementary investment strategies, geographic markets and businesses. Accordingly, we may pursue growth through acquisitions of other investment management companies, acquisitions of critical business partners or other strategic initiatives, which may include entering into new lines of business. Attempts to expand our business involve a number of special risks, including some or all of the following:
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the required investment of capital and other resources;
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the assumption of liabilities in any acquired business;
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the disruption of our ongoing business;
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entry into markets or lines of business in which we may have limited or no experience;
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increasing demands on our operational and management systems and controls;
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compliance with additional regulatory requirements;
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potential increase in investor concentration; and
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the broadening of our geographic footprint, increasing the risks associated with conducting operations in certain foreign jurisdictions where we currently have no presence.
Entry into certain lines of business may subject us to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, or from which we are currently exempt, and may lead to increased litigation and regulatory risk. If a new business does not generate sufficient revenues or if we are unable to efficiently manage our expanded operations, our results of operations will be adversely affected. Our strategic initiatives may include joint ventures, in which case we will be subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we may be dependent upon, and subject to liability, losses or reputational damage relating to systems, controls and personnel that are not under our control. Because we have not yet identified these potential new investment strategies, geographic markets or lines of business, we cannot identify for you all the risks we may face and the potential adverse consequences on us and your investment that may result from any attempted expansion.
Extensive regulation affects our activities, increases the cost of doing business and creates the potential for significant liabilities and penalties that could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our business is subject to extensive regulation, including periodic examinations by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. The SEC oversees the activities of our subsidiaries that are registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act. In addition, we regularly rely on exemptions from various requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Investment Company Act, the Commodity Exchange Act and the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These exemptions are sometimes highly complex and may in certain circumstances depend on compliance by third parties who we do not control. If for any reason these exemptions were to be revoked or challenged or otherwise become unavailable to us, we could be subject to regulatory action or third-party claims, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The SEC has indicated that investment advisers who receive transaction-based compensation for investment banking or acquisition activities relating to fund investee companies may be required to register as broker-dealers. Specifically, the SEC staff has noted that if a firm receives fees from a fund investee company in connection with the acquisition, disposition or recapitalization of such investee company, such activities could raise broker-dealer concerns under applicable regulations related to broker dealers. If we receive such transaction fees and the SEC takes the position that such activities render us a “broker” under the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act, we could be subject to additional regulation. If receipt of transaction fees from an investee company is determined to require a broker-dealer license, receipt of such transaction fees in the past or in the future during
any time when we did not or do not have a broker-dealer license could subject us to liability for fines, penalties, damages or other remedies.
Since 2010, certain states and other regulatory authorities have begun to require investment managers to register as lobbyists in connection with their solicitation of commitments from governmental entities, including state and municipal pension funds. We have registered as such in a number of jurisdictions, including California and New York. Other states or municipalities may consider similar legislation or adopt regulations or procedures with similar effect. These registration requirements impose significant compliance obligations and restrictions on registered lobbyists and their employers, which may include annual registration fees, periodic disclosure reports and internal recordkeeping, and may also prohibit the payment of contingent fees.
Each of the regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over us has regulatory powers dealing with many aspects of financial services, including the authority to grant, and in specific circumstances to cancel, permissions to carry on particular activities. A failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Investment Advisers Act, including recordkeeping, advertising and operating requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities, could result in investigations, sanctions and reputational damage. We are involved regularly in trading activities that implicate a broad number of U.S. securities law regimes, including laws governing trading on inside information, market manipulation and a broad number of technical trading requirements that implicate fundamental market regulation policies. Violation of these laws could result in severe restrictions on our activities and damage to our reputation.
Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, censure, suspensions of personnel or other sanctions, including revocation of the registration of our relevant subsidiaries as investment advisers or registered broker-dealers. The regulations to which our business is subject are designed primarily to protect investors in our funds and to ensure the integrity of the financial markets. They are not designed to protect our stockholders. Even if a sanction imposed against us, one of our subsidiaries or our personnel by a regulator is for a small monetary amount, the adverse publicity related to the sanction could harm our reputation, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business in a number of ways, making it harder for us to raise new funds and discouraging others from doing business with us.
Failure to comply with “pay to play” regulations implemented by the SEC and certain states, and changes to the “pay to play” regulatory regimes, could adversely affect our business.
In recent years, the SEC and several states have initiated investigations alleging that certain private equity firms and hedge funds or agents acting on their behalf have paid money to current or former government officials or their associates in exchange for improperly soliciting contracts with state pension funds. In June 2010, the SEC approved Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act regarding “pay to play” practices by investment advisers involving campaign contributions and other payments to government officials able to exert influence on potential government entity clients. Among other restrictions, the rule prohibits investment advisers from providing advisory services for compensation to a government entity for two years, subject to very limited exceptions, after the investment adviser, its senior executives or its personnel involved in soliciting investments from government entities make contributions to certain candidates and officials in a position to influence the hiring of an investment adviser by such government entity. Advisers are required to implement compliance policies designed, among other matters, to track contributions by certain of the adviser’s employees and engagements of third parties that solicit government entities and to keep certain records to enable the SEC to determine compliance with the rule. In addition, there have been similar rules on a state level regarding “pay to play” practices by investment advisers.
As a number of public pension plans are investors in our funds, these rules could impose significant economic sanctions on our business if we or one of the other persons covered by the rules make any such contribution or payment, whether or not material or with an intent to secure an investment from a public pension plan. In addition, such investigations may require the attention of senior management and may result in fines or forfeitures of fees paid and an obligation to provide services without payment of fees if any of our funds are deemed to have violated any regulations, thereby imposing additional expenses on us. Any failure on our part to comply with these rules could cause us to lose compensation for our advisory services or expose us to significant penalties and reputational damage.
New or changed laws or regulations governing our funds’ operations and changes in the interpretation thereof could adversely affect our business.
The laws and regulations governing the operations of our funds, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, and new laws and regulations may be enacted. Accordingly, any change in these laws or regulations, changes in their interpretation, or newly enacted laws or regulations and any failure by our funds to comply with these laws or regulations, could require changes to certain of our business practices, negatively impact our operations, assets under management or financial condition, impose additional costs on us or otherwise adversely affect our business. See “Business - Regulatory and Compliance Matters” for a discussion of our regulatory and compliance environment. The following includes the most significant regulatory risks facing our business:
Changes in capital requirements may increase the cost of our financing
If regulatory capital requirements - whether under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), Basel III, or other regulatory action - were to be imposed on our funds, they may be required to limit, or increase the cost of, financing they provide to others. Among other things, this could potentially require our funds to sell assets at an inopportune time or price, which could negatively impact our operations, assets under management or financial condition.
The imposition of additional legal or regulatory requirements could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and adversely affect our profitability
In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, imposes significant regulations on nearly every aspect of the U.S. financial services industry, including new registration, recordkeeping and reporting requirements on private fund investment advisers. Importantly, while several key aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act have been defined through final rules, some aspects still remain to be implemented by various regulatory bodies. While we already have several subsidiaries registered as investment advisers subject to SEC examinations, the imposition of any additional legal or regulatory requirements could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and adversely affect our profitability.
The implementation of the Volcker Rule could have adverse implications on our ability to raise funds from certain entities
In December 2013, the Federal Reserve and other federal regulatory agencies adopted a final rule implementing a section of the Dodd-Frank Act that has become known as the “Volcker Rule.” The Volcker Rule generally prohibits insured banks or thrifts, any bank holding company or savings and loan holding company, any non-U.S. bank with a U.S. branch, agency or commercial lending company and any subsidiaries and affiliates of such entities, regardless of geographic location, from investing in or sponsoring “covered funds,” which include private equity funds or hedge funds and certain other proprietary activities. The Volcker Rule may have the effect of further curtailing various banking activities that in turn could result in uncertainties in the financial markets as well as our business. Although we do not currently anticipate that the Volcker Rule will adversely affect our fundraising to any significant extent, there remains uncertainty regarding the implementation of the Volcker Rule and its practical implications (including as a result of the long-term effects of the Vockler Rule, as well as potential changes to the rule in light of the OCC's August 2017 solicitation of public comments on how the rule should be revised to better accomplish its purpose), and there could be adverse implications on our ability to raise funds from the types of entities mentioned above as a result of this prohibition.
Increased regulation on banks’ leveraged lending activities could negatively affect the terms and availability of credit to our funds and their investee companies
In March 2013, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Department of the Treasury, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation published revised guidance regarding expectations for banks’ leveraged lending activities. This guidance, and related or similar regulations, could further restrict credit availability, as well as potentially restrict certain of our investing activities that rely on banks’ lending activities. This could negatively affect the terms and availability of credit to our funds and their investee companies.
New restrictions on compensation could limit our ability to recruit and retain investment professionals
The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes federal regulatory agencies to review and, in certain cases, prohibit compensation arrangements at financial institutions that give employees incentives to engage in conduct deemed to encourage inappropriate risk-taking by covered financial institutions. Such restrictions could limit our ability to recruit and retain investment professionals and senior management executives.
Regulatory uncertainty could negatively impact our ability to efficiently project, plan and operate our business impacting profitability
In early February 2017, the Trump administration issued an executive order calling for a review of laws and regulations affecting the U.S. financial industry in order to determine their consistency with a set of core principles identified in the executive order. Several bills are pending in Congress that, if enacted, would amend the Dodd-Frank Act, including the Financial CHOICE Act (“CHOICE Act”), which was approved by the House of Representatives. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act was enacted into law in 2018. The Administration has expressed support for such proposals and encouraged the House and Senate to work together to present legislation to the President as quickly as possible. Such enacted and pending legislation legislation, could change the process and criteria for designating systemically important financial institutions, modify the Volcker Rule and make reforms to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, among other amendments to the Dodd-Frank Act. The CHOICE Act would also significantly enhance the SEC’s enforcement capabilities and increase the maximum civil penalties and criminal sanctions under federal securities laws, including under the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act.
It is difficult to determine the full extent of the impact on us of the Financial Choice Act, the Dodd-Frank Act or any other new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed or whether any of the proposals will become law. In addition, as a result of proposed legislation, shifting areas of focus of regulatory enforcement bodies or otherwise, regulatory compliance practices may shift such that formerly accepted industry practices become disfavored or less common. Any changes or other developments in the regulatory framework applicable to our businesses, including the changes described above and changes to formerly accepted industry practices, may impose additional costs on us, require the attention of our senior management or result in limitations on the manner in which we conduct our businesses. Moreover, as calls for additional regulation have increased, there may be a related increase in regulatory investigations of the trading and other investment activities of alternative asset management funds, including our funds. In addition, we may be adversely affected by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules by these governmental authorities and self-regulatory organizations. Compliance with any new laws or regulations could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our businesses and adversely affect our profitability.
Present and future BDCs for which we serve as investment adviser are subject to regulatory complexities that limit the way in which they do business and may subject them to a higher level of regulatory scrutiny.
MCC and SIC, and other BDCs for which we may serve as investment adviser in the future, operate under a complex regulatory environment. Such BDCs require the application of complex tax and securities regulations and may entail a higher level of regulatory scrutiny. In addition, regulations affecting BDCs generally affect their ability to take certain actions. For example, each of MCC and SIC has elected to be treated as a RIC for United States federal income tax purposes. To maintain their status as a RIC, such vehicles must meet, among other things, certain source of income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. If any of our BDCs fails to qualify for RIC tax treatment for any reason and remains or becomes subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could, among other things, substantially reduce such BDC’s net assets.
In addition, MCC and SIC are subject to complex rules under the Investment Company Act, including rules that restrict certain of our funds from engaging in transactions with MCC and SIC. Under the regulatory and business environment in which they operate, MCC and SIC must periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments in excess of their repayments to grow. This results from MCC and SIC each being required to generally distribute to their respective stockholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income to maintain its RIC status, combined with regulations under the Investment Company Act that, subject to certain exceptions, generally prohibit MCC and SIC from issuing and selling their common stock at a price below NAV per share and from incurring indebtedness (including for this purpose, preferred stock), if their asset coverage, as calculated pursuant to the Investment Company Act, equals less than 200% after such incurrence. If our BDCs are found to be in violation of the Investment Company Act, they could lose their status as BDCs. If either of our BDCs fails to continuously qualify as a BDC, such BDC might be subject to regulation as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would significantly decrease its operating flexibility. In addition, failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the 1940 Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against such BDC, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
We are subject to risks in using custodians, counterparties, administrators and other agents.
Some of our funds depend on the services of custodians, counterparties, administrators, prime brokers and other agents to carry out certain financing, securities and derivatives transactions. The terms of these contracts are often customized and complex, and many of these arrangements occur in markets or relate to products that are not subject to regulatory oversight, although the Dodd-Frank Act provides for new regulation of the derivatives market. In particular, some of our funds utilize arrangements with a relatively limited number of counterparties, which has the effect of concentrating the transaction volume (and related counterparty default risk) of such funds with these counterparties.
Our funds are subject to the risk that the counterparty to one or more of these contracts defaults, either voluntarily or involuntarily, on its performance under the contract. Any such default may occur suddenly and without notice to us. Moreover, if a counterparty defaults, we may be unable to take action to cover our exposure, either because we lack contractual recourse or because market conditions make it difficult to take effective action. This inability could occur in times of market stress, which is when defaults are most likely to occur.
In addition, our risk-management process may not accurately anticipate the impact of market stress or counterparty financial condition, and as a result, we may not have taken sufficient action to reduce our risks effectively. Default risk may arise from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect, foresee or evaluate. In addition, concerns about, or a default by, one large participant could lead to significant liquidity problems for other participants, which may in turn expose us to significant losses.
Although we have risk-management processes to ensure that we are not exposed to a single counterparty for significant periods of time, given the large number and size of our funds, we often have large positions with a single counterparty. For example, some of our funds have credit lines. If the lender under one or more of those credit lines were to become insolvent, we may have difficulty replacing the credit line and one or more of our funds may face liquidity problems.
In the event of a counterparty default, particularly a default by a major investment bank or a default by a counterparty to a significant number of our contracts, one or more of our funds may have outstanding trades that they cannot settle or are delayed in settling. As a result, these funds could incur material losses and the resulting market impact of a major counterparty default could harm our business, results of operation and financial condition.
In the event of the insolvency of a prime broker, custodian, counterparty or any other party that is holding assets of our funds as collateral, our funds might not be able to recover equivalent assets in full as they will rank among the prime broker’s, custodian’s or counterparty’s unsecured creditors in relation to the assets held as collateral. In addition, our funds’ cash held with a prime broker, custodian or counterparty generally will not be segregated from the prime broker’s, custodian’s or counterparty’s own cash, and our funds may therefore rank as unsecured creditors in relation thereto. If our derivatives transactions are cleared through a derivatives clearing organization, the CFTC has issued final rules regulating the segregation and protection of collateral posted by customers of cleared and uncleared swaps. The CFTC is also working to provide new guidance regarding prime broker arrangements and intermediation generally with regard to trading on swap execution facilities.
The counterparty risks that we face have increased in complexity and magnitude as a result of disruption in the financial markets in recent years. For example, the consolidation and elimination of counterparties has increased our concentration of counterparty risk and decreased the universe of potential counterparties. Our funds are generally not restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty or from concentrating any or all of their transactions with a single counterparty. In addition, counterparties have generally reacted to recent market volatility by tightening their underwriting standards and increasing their margin requirements for all categories of financing, which has the result of decreasing the overall amount of leverage available and increasing the costs of borrowing.
A portion of our revenue and cash flow is variable, which may impact our ability to achieve steady earnings growth on a quarterly basis.
We believe that base management fees are consistent and predictable. For all periods presented, over 40% of total revenues was derived from base management fees. Due to our investment strategy and the nature of our fees, a portion of our revenue and cash flow is variable, due primarily to the fact that the performance fees from our long-dated private funds and SMAs can vary from quarter to quarter and year to year. For the year ended December 31, 2017, total revenue of $65.0 million included a reversal of performance fees of $2.0 million. For the year ended December 31, 2016, performance fees were 3% of our total revenues. As a result of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018, we did not recognize any performance fees in 2018 as we determined that it was not probable that a significant reversal of such fees would not occur in the future. Additionally, we may also experience fluctuations in our results from quarter to quarter and year to year due to a number of other factors, including changes in the values of our funds’ investments, changes in our operating expenses, the degree to which we encounter competition and general economic and market conditions. Such variability may cause our results for a particular period not to be indicative of our performance in a future period.
We may be subject to litigation risks and may face liabilities and damage to our professional reputation as a result.
In recent years, the volume of claims and amount of damages claimed in litigation and regulatory proceedings against investment managers have been increasing. We make investment decisions on behalf of investors in our funds that could result in substantial losses. This may subject us to the risk of legal liabilities or actions alleging negligent misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty or breach of contract. Further, we may be subject to third-party litigation arising from allegations that we improperly exercised control or influence over portfolio investments. In addition, we and our affiliates that are the investment managers and general partners of our funds, our funds themselves and those of our employees who are our, our subsidiaries’ or the funds’ officers and directors are each exposed to the risks of litigation specific to the funds’ investment activities and investee companies and, in the case where our funds own controlling interests in public companies, to the risk of shareholder litigation by the public companies’ other shareholders. Moreover, we are exposed to risks of litigation or investigation by investors or regulators relating to our having engaged, or our funds having engaged, in transactions that presented conflicts of interest that were not properly addressed.
Legal liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or cause reputational harm to us, which could harm our business. We depend to a large extent on our business relationships and our reputation for integrity and high-caliber professional services to attract and retain investors and to pursue investment opportunities for our funds. As a result, allegations of improper conduct by private litigants or regulators, whether the ultimate outcome is favorable or unfavorable to us, as well as negative publicity and press speculation about us, our investment activities or the investment industry in general, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation, which may be damaging to our business.
Employee misconduct could harm us by impairing our ability to attract and retain investors and subjecting us to significant legal liability, regulatory scrutiny and reputational harm. Fraud and other deceptive practices or other misconduct at our investee companies could similarly subject us to liability and reputational damage and also harm our business.
Our ability to attract and retain investors and to pursue investment opportunities for our funds depends heavily upon the reputation of our professionals, especially our senior professionals. We are subject to a number of obligations and standards arising from our investment management business and our authority over the assets managed by our investment management business. The violation of these obligations and standards by any of our employees could adversely affect investors in our funds and us. Our business often requires that we deal with confidential matters of great significance to companies in which our funds may invest. If our employees were to use or disclose confidential information improperly, we could suffer serious harm to our reputation, financial position and current and future business relationships. It is not always possible to detect or deter employee misconduct, and the extensive precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in all cases. If one or more of our employees were to engage in misconduct or were to be accused of such misconduct, our business and our reputation could be adversely affected and a loss of investor confidence could result, which would adversely impact our ability to raise future funds.
In addition, we could be adversely affected as a result of actual or alleged misconduct by personnel of investee companies in which our funds invest. For example, failures by personnel at our investee companies to comply with anti-bribery, trade sanctions or other legal and regulatory requirements could expose us to litigation or regulatory action and otherwise adversely affect our business and reputation. Such misconduct could undermine our due diligence efforts with respect to such companies and could negatively affect the valuation of a fund’s investments.
Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, our ability to pay our debts or raise additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to operate our business and our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and could divert our cash flow from operations for debt payments.
We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2018, our total indebtedness, excluding unamortized discount, premium, and issuance costs, was approximately $146.6 million. Our substantial debt obligations could have important consequences, including:
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requiring a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations and pursue future business opportunities;
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exposing us to increased interest expense, as our degree of leverage may cause the interest rates of any future indebtedness (whether fixed or floating rate interest) to be higher than they would be otherwise;
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exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates because certain of our indebtedness is at variable rates of interest;
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making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, and any failure to comply with the obligations of any of our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default that accelerates our obligation to repay indebtedness;
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increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic, industry or competitive developments;
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restricting us from making strategic acquisitions or causing us to make non-strategic divestitures;
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limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, product development, satisfaction of debt service requirements, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes; and
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limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who may be better positioned to take advantage of opportunities that our leverage prevents us from exploiting.
Our Revolving Credit Facility imposes significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities.
The credit agreement that governs our Revolving Credit Facility imposes significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions will limit our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things:
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incur additional indebtedness, make guarantees and enter into hedging arrangements;
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create liens on assets;
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
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engage in mergers or consolidations;
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sell assets;
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make fundamental changes;
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pay dividends and distributions or repurchase our capital stock;
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make investments, loans and advances, including acquisitions;
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engage in certain transactions with affiliates;
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make changes in the nature of our business; and
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make prepayments of junior debt.
In addition, the credit agreement governing our Revolving Credit Facility requires us to maintain, with respect to each four quarter period commencing with the four quarter period ending September 30, 2017, a ratio of net debt to Core EBITDA not greater than 5.0 to 1.0, a ratio of total debt to Core EBITDA not greater than 7.0 to 1.0 and a minimum Core EBITDA of not less than $15.0 million. The ratio of net debt to Core EBITDA, total debt to Core EBITDA and minimum Core EBITDA in respect of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities is calculated using our standalone financial results and includes the adjustments made to calculate Core EBITDA. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Debt Instruments.”
As a result of these restrictions, we will be limited as to how we conduct our business and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include more restrictive covenants. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants in the future and, if we fail to do so, that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders and/or amend the covenants.
Our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants described above as well as other terms of our other indebtedness and/or the terms of any future indebtedness from time to time could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in our being required to repay these borrowings before their due date. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms or are unable to refinance these borrowings, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate sufficient cash depends on many factors, some of which are not within our control.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. To a certain extent, this is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt and meet our other commitments, we may need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt, sell material assets or operations or raise additional debt or equity capital. We may not be able to effect any of these actions on a timely basis, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and these actions may not be sufficient to meet our capital requirements. In addition, the terms of our existing or future debt arrangements may restrict us from effecting any of these alternatives.
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may be able to incur substantially more debt and enter into other transactions, which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.
We may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although the credit agreement that governs our Revolving Credit Facility contains restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and entering into certain types of other transactions, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions. Additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also do not prevent us from incurring obligations, such as trade payables, that do not constitute indebtedness as defined under our debt instruments. To the extent new debt is added to our current debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described in the preceding three risk factors would increase.
Operational risks may disrupt our business, result in losses or limit our growth.
Our business relies heavily on financial, accounting and other information systems and technology. We face various security threats, including cyber security attacks to our information technology infrastructure and attempts to gain access to our proprietary information, destroy data or disable, degrade or sabotage our systems. These security threats could originate from a wide variety of sources, including unknown third parties outside of Medley. Although we have not yet been subject to cyber-attacks or other cyber incidents and we utilize various procedures and controls to monitor and mitigate these threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient to prevent disruptions to our systems. If any of these systems do not operate properly or are disabled for any reason or if there is any unauthorized disclosure of data, whether as a result of tampering, a breach of our network security systems, a cyber-incident or attack or otherwise, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our business, liability to our funds, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.
In addition, our information systems and technology may not continue to be able to accommodate our growth, and the cost of maintaining the systems may increase from its current level. Such a failure to accommodate growth, or an increase in costs related to the information systems, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Furthermore, we depend on our office in New York, where a substantial portion of our personnel are located, for the continued operation of our business. An earthquake or other disaster or a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our business, including a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business, or directly affecting our headquarters, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. Although we have disaster recovery programs in place, these may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. In addition, insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all.
Finally, we rely on third-party service providers for certain aspects of our business, including for certain information systems, technology and administration of our funds and compliance matters. Any interruption or deterioration in the performance of these third parties or failures of their information systems and technology could impair the quality of our funds’ operations and could impact our reputation, adversely affect our business and limit our ability to grow.
We are an emerging growth company and intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements.
We are an emerging growth company and, for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we currently intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our registration statements and periodic reports. We could be an emerging growth company until December 31, 2021. We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of: (i) December 31, 2021; (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenues are $1.0 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the aggregate worldwide market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates (or public float) exceeds $700 million as of the last day of our then most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this accommodation allowing for delayed adoption of new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, we will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement.
We are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis and our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. However, our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls in the future. Matters impacting our internal controls may cause us to be unable to report our financial information on a timely basis and thereby subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC or violations of applicable stock exchange listing rules. Confidence in the reliability of our financial statements also would suffer if we or our independent registered public accounting firm were to report a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting.
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for United States federal and state income tax purposes. If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to treat us as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, which would subject us to entity-level taxation, or if we were subjected to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states, then our cash available for payments on our debt obligations could be substantially reduced.
It is possible, in certain circumstances, for us to be taxed as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. Although we do not believe that we are or will be (or should have been) so treated, if we were treated as a “publicly traded partnership,” we might be taxed as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. If we were taxed as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, we would pay United States federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 21%, and would likely pay state and local income tax at varying rates. Therefore, our treatment as a corporation would result in a material reduction in its anticipated cash flow and could materially adversely affect its ability to make payments on our debt obligations. In addition, changes in current state law may subject us to additional entity-level taxation by individual states. Because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. Imposition of any such taxes may substantially reduce our cash available for payments on debt obligations.
Recent legislation could subject us to federal income tax liability.
Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to our federal income tax returns, it may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, our cash available for payments on our debt obligations may be substantially reduced. These rules are not applicable to us for tax years beginning on or prior to December 31, 2017.
Although the Notes are listed on the NYSE, an active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit the market price of the Notes or your ability to sell them.
Although the Notes are listed on the NYSE, we cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop or be sustained for the Notes or that you will be able to sell your Notes. The market price of the Notes may decline depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. We cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop or be sustained for the Notes, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be harmed.
A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or the Notes, if any, or change in the debt markets could cause the liquidity or market value of the Notes to decline significantly.
Any credit ratings assigned by a rating agency to us are an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the Notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the Notes. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization in its sole discretion. Neither we nor any agent undertakes any obligation to maintain any credit ratings assigned to us or the Notes or to advise holders of Notes of any changes in our credit ratings. The conditions of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the Notes.
Risks Relating to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
On August 9, 2018 MDLY entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sierra Income Corporation ("Sierra" or "SIC"), pursuant to which MDLY will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the MDLY Merger Agreement, merge with and into Sierra Management, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra (“Merger Sub”), with Merger Sub as the surviving company, and Medley Management Inc.'s existing asset management business will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra.
As a condition to closing, Sierra’s common stock will be listed to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SRA” and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, with such listings expected to be effective as of the closing date of the mergers. The mergers are cross conditioned upon each other and are subject to approval by the stockholders of MDLY, MCC and Sierra, the receipt of an exemptive order from the SEC, an exemptive application for which has been filed by MDLY, Sierra, MCC and certain of their subsidiaries, and other customary closing conditions and third party consents. Accordingly, the Company can provide no assurance that any closing conditions will be satisfied or waived, the mergers will be completed, that the mergers will not be delayed or that the terms of the mergers will not change. For additional information, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Overview - Agreement and Plan of Merger."
Because forward-looking statements, such as the time frame in which the parties expect the proposed transactions to be completed and the expectation that the proposed transactions will provide improved liquidity for Sierra, MCC, and MDLY stockholders and will be accretive to net investment income for both Sierra and MCC, include risks and uncertainties, actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied and include, but are not limited to, those discussed in each of Sierra’s, MCC’s and MDLY's filings with the SEC, and (i) the satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions relating to the proposed transactions described herein, including, but not limited to, the requisite approvals of the stockholders of each of Sierra, MCC, and MDLY; Sierra successfully taking all actions reasonably required with respect to certain outstanding indebtedness of MCC and MDLY to prevent any material adverse effect relating thereto; and certain required approvals of the SEC and the Small Business Administration, the necessary consents of certain third-party advisory clients of MDLY, (ii) the parties’ ability to successfully consummate the proposed transactions, and the timing thereof, (iii) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals related to the proposed transactions will be made and, if made, could be successful, and (iv) the possibility that stockholder activism related to or arising out of the proposed transactions could impede the parties' ability to close the transactions. Additional risks and uncertainties specific to Sierra, MCC and MDLY include, but are not limited to, (i) the costs and expenses that Sierra, MCC and MDLY have, and may incur, in connection with the proposed transactions (whether or not they are consummated), (ii) the impact that litigation relating to the proposed transactions may have on any of Sierra, MCC and MDLY, (iii) that projections with respect to dividends may prove to be incorrect, (iv) Sierra’s ability to invest its portfolio of cash in a timely manner following the closing of the proposed transactions, (v) the market performance of the combined portfolio, (vi) the ability of portfolio companies to pay interest and principal in the future, (vii) the ability of MLDY to grow its fee earning assets under management, (viii) whether Sierra, as the surviving company, will trade with more volume and perform better than MCC and MDLY prior to the proposed transactions, and (ix) negative effects of entering into the proposed transactions on the trading volume and market price of the MCC’s or MDLY’s common stock.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
Our principal executive offices are located in leased office space at 280 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10017. As discussed in Item 9B, below, during the first quarter of 2018, we initiated the consolidation of our operations to New York. We consider these facilities to be suitable and adequate for the management and operation of our business. We do not own any real property.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. Its business is also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against it. Except as described below, the Company is not currently party to any material legal proceedings.
One of the Company's subsidiaries, MCC Advisors LLC, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit on May 29, 2015, by Moshe Barkat and Modern VideoFilm Holdings, LLC (“MVF Holdings”) against MCC, MOF II, MCC Advisors LLC, Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP A/K/A Deloitte ERG (“Deloitte”), Scott Avila (“Avila”), Charles Sweet, and Modern VideoFilm, Inc. (“MVF”). The lawsuit is pending in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Central District, as Case No. BC 583437. The lawsuit was filed after MCC, as agent for the lender group, exercised remedies following a series of defaults by MVF and MVF Holdings on a secured loan with an outstanding balance at the time in excess of $65 million. The lawsuit sought damages in excess of $100 million. Deloitte and Avila have settled the claims against them in exchange for payment of $1.5 million. On June 6, 2016, the court granted the Medley defendants’ demurrers on several counts and dismissed Mr. Barkat’s claims with prejudice except with respect to his claim for intentional interference with contract. On March 18, 2018, the court granted the Medley defendants’ motion for summary adjudication with respect to Mr. Barkat’s sole remaining claim against the Medley Defendants for intentional interference. Now that the trial court has ruled in favor of the Medley defendants on all counts, the only remaining claims in the Barkat litigation are MCC and MOF II’s affirmative counterclaims against Mr. Barkat and MVF Holdings, which MCC and MOF II are diligently prosecuting.
On August 29, 2016, MVF Holdings filed another lawsuit in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Central District, as Case No. BC 631888 (the “Derivative Action”), naming MCC Advisors LLC and certain of Medley’s employees as defendants, among others. The plaintiff in the Derivative Action, asserts claims against the defendants for breach of fiduciary duty,
aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, interference with prospective economic advantage, fraud, and declaratory relief. MCC Advisors LLC and the other defendants believe the causes of action asserted in the Derivative Action are without merit and all defendants intend to continue to assert a vigorous defense. All proceedings in the Derivative Action have been stayed as a result of the chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of MVF, which were commenced on May 16, 2018.
Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube were named as defendants, along with other various parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned as Royce Solomon, Jodi Belleci, Michael Littlejohn, and Giulianna Lomaglio v. American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Mark Curry, MacFarlane Group, Inc., Sol Partners, Medley Opportunity Fund, II, LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, Seth Taube, DHI Computing Service, Inc., Middlemarch Partners, and John Does 1-100, filed on December 15, 2017 and amended on March 9, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, as Case No. 4:17-cv-145 (hereinafter, “Class Action 1”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation were also named as defendants, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned George Hengle and Lula Williams v. Mark Curry, American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Red Stone, Inc., Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, and Medley Capital Corporation, filed February 13, 2018, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, as Case No. 3:18-cv-100 (“Class Action 2”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation were also named as defendants, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned John Glatt, Sonji Grandy, Heather Ball, Dashawn Hunter, and Michael Corona v. Mark Curry, American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Red Stone, Inc., Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, and Medley Capital Corporation, filed August 9, 2018 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, as Case No. 4:18-cv-101 (“Class Action 3”) (together with Class Action 1 and Class Action 2, the “Virginia Class Actions”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP was also named as a defendant, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned Christina Williams and Michael Stermel v. Red Stone, Inc. (as successor in interest to MacFarlane Group, Inc.), Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Mark Curry, Brian McGowan, Vincent Ney, and John Doe entities and individuals, filed June 29, 2018 and amended July 26, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as Case No. 2:18-cv-2747 (the “Pennsylvania Class Action”) (together with the Virginia Class Actions, the “Class Action Complaints”). The plaintiffs in the Class Action Complaints filed their putative class actions alleging claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and various other claims arising out of the alleged payday lending activities of American Web Loan. The claims against Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube (in Class Action 1, as amended); Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation (in Class Action 2 and Class Action 3); and Medley Opportunity Fund II LP (in the Pennsylvania Class Action), allege that those defendants in each respective action exercised control over, or improperly derived income from, and/or obtained an improper interest in, American Web Loan’s payday lending activities as a result of a loan to American Web Loan. The loan was made by Medley Opportunity Fund II LP in 2011. American Web Loan repaid the loan from Medley Opportunity Fund II LP in full in February of 2015, more than 1 year and 10 months prior to any of the loans allegedly made by American Web Loan to the alleged class plaintiff representatives in Class Action 1. In Class Action 2, the alleged class plaintiff representatives have not alleged when they received any loans from American Web Loan. In Class Action 3, the alleged class plaintiff representatives claim to have received loans from American Web Loan at various times from February 2015 through April 2018. In the Pennsylvania Class Action, the alleged class plaintiff representatives claim to have received loans from American Web Loan in 2017. By orders dated August 7, 2018 and September 17, 2018, the Court presiding over the Virginia Class Actions consolidated those cases for all purposes. On October 12, 2018, Plaintiffs in Class Action 3 filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of their claims, without prejudice, against Medley Opportunity Fund II, LP and Medley Capital Corporation. On October 22, 2018, the parties to Class Action 2 settled. On October 29, 2018, the plaintiffs in Class Action 2 stipulated to the dismissal of their claims against all defendants in Class Action 2 (including Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation), with prejudice. Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management, Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube never made any loans or provided financing to, or had any other relationship with, American Web Loan. Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, Seth Taube are seeking indemnification from American Web Loan, various affiliates, and other parties with respect to the claims in the Class Action Complaints. Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management, Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube believe the alleged claims in the Class Action Complaints are without merit and they intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously.
On February 11, 2019, a purported stockholder class action was commenced in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and FrontFour Master Fund, Ltd., captioned FrontFour Capital Group LLC, et al. v. Brook Taube, et al., Case No. 2019-0100 (the “Delaware Action”), against defendants Brook Taube, Seth Taube, Jeff Tonkel, Mark Lerdal, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, John E. Mack, Arthur S. Ainsberg, Medley Management Inc. (“MDLY”), Sierra Income Corporation (“Sierra”), Medley Capital Corporation (“MCC”), MCC Advisors LLC (“MCC Advisors”), Medley Group LLC (“Medley Group”), and
Medley LLC. The complaint, as amended on February 12, 2019, alleged that the individuals named as defendants breached their fiduciary duties to MCC stockholders in connection with the proposed merger of MCC with Sierra, and that MDLY, Sierra, MCC Advisors, Medley Group, and Medley LLC aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaint sought to enjoin the vote of MCC stockholders on the proposed merger and enjoin enforcement of certain provisions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2018, by and between MCC and Sierra (the “MCC Merger Agreement”). The Court held a trial on the plaintiffs’ claims on March 6-7, 2019 and issued a Memorandum Opinion (the “Decision”) on March 11, 2019. The Court denied the plaintiffs’ requests to (i) permanently enjoin the proposed merger and (ii) require MCC to conduct a “shopping process” for MCC on terms proposed by the plaintiffs in their complaint. The Court held that MCC’s directors breached their fiduciary duties in entering into the proposed merger, but rejected the plaintiffs’ claim that Sierra aided and abetted those breaches of fiduciary duties. The Court ordered the defendants to issue corrective disclosures consistent with the Decision, and enjoined a vote of MCC stockholders on the proposed merger until such disclosures have been made and stockholders have had the opportunity to assimilate this information. The Company is considering all available options, including appeal, with respect to the Decision.
On January 25, 2019, two purported class actions were commenced in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, by alleged stockholders of Medley Capital Corporation, captioned, respectively, Helene Lax v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650503/2019, and Richard Dicristino, et al. v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650510/2019 (together with the Lax Action, the “New York Actions”). Named as defendants in each complaint are Brook Taube, Seth Taube, Jeffrey Tonkel, Arthur S. Ainsberg, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, John E. Mack, Mark Lerdal, Richard T. Allorto, Jr., Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Sierra Income Corporation, and Sierra Management, Inc. The complaints in each of the New York Actions allege that the individuals named as defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed merger of MCC with and into Sierra, and that the other defendants aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Compensatory damages in unspecified amounts are sought. On February 27, 2019, the Court entered a stipulated scheduling order requiring that defendants respond to the complaints 45 days following the later of (a) the stockholder vote on the proposed merger and (b) plaintiffs’ filing of a consolidated, amended complaint. A preliminary conference is scheduled to take place on April 16, 2019. The defendants believe the claims asserted in the New York Actions are without merit and they intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously. At this time, we are unable to determine whether an unfavorable outcome from these matters is probable or remote or to estimate the amount or range of potential loss, if any.
MARILYN S. ADLER, v. MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC et. al. (Supreme Court of New York, March 2019). Marilyn Adler, a former employee who served as a Managing Director of Medley Capital LLC, has filed suit in the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Part, against Medley Capital LLC, MCC Advisors, Medley SBIC GP, LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., as well as Brook Taube, and Seth Taube, individually. Ms. Adler alleges that she is due in excess of $6.5 million in compensation based upon her role with Medley’s SBIC Fund. Her claims are for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, conversion, tortious interference, as well as a claim for an accounting of funds maintained by the defendants. The lawsuit was filed on March 1, 2019 and is in its very initial stages. The Company believes the claims are without merit, intends to vigorously defend them, and is contemplating counterclaims against Ms. Adler.
In the opinion of management, after consulting with legal counsel, the liabilities, if any, resulting from these matters should not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. It is the policy of management to disclose the amount or range of reasonably possible losses in excess of recorded amounts.
Item 3A. Executive Officers of the Registrant
Medley Management Inc. (the “Manager”) is the managing member of Medley LLC. The Manager was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 13, 2014, and its sole asset is a controlling equity interest in Medley LLC. The Manager's day-to day operations are conducted by the officers of the Company.
The following table sets forth certain information about our executive officers as of April 1, 2019.
Brook Taube, 49, co-founded Medley in 2006 and has served as our Co-Chief Executive Officer since then and as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medley Management Inc. since its formation. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medley Capital Corporation since 2011, has served on the Board of Directors of Sierra
Income Corporation since its inception in 2012 and the Board of Trustees of Sierra Total Return Fund since its inception in 2016. Prior to forming Medley, Mr. Taube was a Partner with CN Opportunity Fund, T3 Group, a principal and advisory firm focused on distressed asset and credit investments, and Griphon Capital Management. Mr. Taube began his career at Bankers Trust in leveraged finance in 1992. Mr. Taube received a B.A. from Harvard University.
Seth Taube, 49, co-founded Medley in 2006 and has served as our Co-Chief Executive Officer since then and as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medley Management Inc. since its formation. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sierra Income Corporation since its inception in 2012, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sierra Total Return Fund since its inception in 2016 and on the Board of Directors of Medley Capital Corporation since its inception in 2011. Prior to forming Medley, Mr. Taube was a Partner with CN Opportunity Fund, T3 Group, a principal and advisory firm focused on distressed asset and credit investments, and Griphon Capital Management. Mr. Taube previously worked with Tiger Management and held positions with Morgan Stanley & Co. in the Investment Banking and Institutional Equity Divisions. Mr. Taube received a B.A. from Harvard University, an M. Litt. in Economics from St. Andrew’s University in Great Britain, where he was a Rotary Foundation Fellow, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jeffrey Tonkel, 48, joined Medley in 2011 and has served as President and as a member of the Board of Directors of Medley Management Inc. since its formation. He has also served as President of Sierra Income Corporation since July 2013, President of Sierra Total Return fund since 2016 and as a member of the Board of Directors of Medley Capital Corporation since February 2014. Prior to joining Medley, Mr. Tonkel was a Managing Director with JPMorgan from January 2010 to November 2011, where he was Chief Financial Officer of a global financing and markets business. Prior to JPMorgan, Mr. Tonkel was a Managing Director, Principal Investments, with Friedman Billings Ramsey, where he focused on merchant banking and corporate development investments in diversified industrials, energy, real estate and specialty finance. Mr. Tonkel began his investment career with Summit Partners. Mr. Tonkel received a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Richard T. Allorto, Jr., 47, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2010. Mr. Allorto has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Medley Capital Corporation since January 2011. Mr. Allorto also served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Sierra Income Corporation from April 2012 until November 2016. Prior to joining Medley, Mr. Allorto held various positions at GSC Group, Inc., a registered investment adviser, including, Chief Financial Officer of GSC Investment Corp, a business development company that was externally managed by GSC Group. Mr. Allorto began his career at Arthur Andersen in public accounting in 1994. Mr. Allorto is a licensed CPA and received a B.S. in Accounting from Seton Hall University.
John D. Fredericks, 55, has served as our General Counsel since June 2013. Mr. Fredericks has also served as the Chief Compliance Officer of Medley Capital Corporation and Sierra Income Corporation since February 2014 and as the Chief Compliance Officer of Sierra Total Return Fund since 2016. Prior to joining Medley, Mr. Fredericks was a partner with Winston & Strawn, LLP from February 2003 to May 2013, where he was a member of the firm’s restructuring and insolvency and corporate lending groups. Before joining Winston & Strawn, LLP, from 2000 to 2003, Mr. Fredericks was a partner with Murphy Sheneman Julian & Rogers and, from 1993 to 2000, an associate at Murphy, Weir & Butler. Mr. Fredericks was admitted to the California State Bar in 1993. Mr. Fredericks received a B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz and a J.D. from University of San Francisco.
Family Relationships of Directors and Executive Officers
Messrs. Brook and Seth Taube, each a Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, are brothers. There are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
PART II.
Item 5.
Item 5. Market For Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
There is no established public trading market for any class of our equity. Medley Management Inc. owns 100% of the voting equity interests in Medley LLC and 19.0% of the issued and outstanding LLC Units of Medley LLC. The remaining LLC Units (81.0%) are held by the Senior Management Owners. The LLC Units do not have voting rights.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected consolidated financial data presents selected data on the financial condition and results of operations of Medley LLC, and for periods prior to September 29, 2014, the financial condition and results of operations of Medley LLC and Medley GP Holdings. Medley LLC, Medley GP Holdings and their subsidiaries are considered the predecessor of Medley LLC for accounting purposes. During fiscal year 2015, we adopted new consolidation guidance which resulted in the deconsolidation of our Consolidated Funds, effective January 1, 2015. Prior to January 1, 2015, we consolidated certain funds in our consolidated financial statements which had a significant gross-up effect on our assets, liabilities and cash flows but no effect on the net income attributable to Medley LLC. This financial data should be read together with “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes thereto included in this Form 10-K.
We derived the following selected consolidated financial data of Medley LLC as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 from the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. The following selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the selected financial condition data as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this report and were included in our prospectus dated February 16, 2017, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on February 17, 2017 (the “Prospectus”).
For periods prior to the reorganization and IPO of Medley Management Inc. on September 29, 2014, all payments made to our senior professionals who are members of Medley LLC, including guaranteed payments, were reflected as distributions from members' capital. Subsequent to the reorganization and IPO of Medley Management Inc., all guaranteed payments made to our senior professionals who are members of Medley LLC are recognized as compensation expense.
Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 included in this Form 10-K.
Overview
We are an alternative asset management firm offering yield solutions to retail and institutional investors. We focus on credit-related investment strategies, primarily originating senior secured loans to private middle market companies in the U.S. that have revenues between $50 million and $1 billion. We generally hold these loans to maturity. Our national direct origination franchise provides capital to the middle market in the U.S. Over the past 17 years, we have provided capital to over 400 companies across 35 industries in North America.
We manage three permanent capital vehicles, two of which are Business Development Companies ("BDCs") and one interval fund, as well as long-dated private funds and Separately Managed Accounts ("SMAs"), focusing on senior secured credit.
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Permanent capital vehicles: MCC, SIC and STRF, have a total AUM of $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2018.
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Long-dated private funds and SMAs: MOF II, MOF III, MOF III Offshore, MCOF, Aspect, Aspect B, MCC JV, SIC JV and SMAs, have a total AUM of $2.8 billion as of December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2018, we had $4.7 billion of AUM, $1.9 billion in permanent capital vehicles and $2.8 billion in long-dated private funds and SMAs. Our AUM as of December 31, 2018 declined by 9% year over year which was driven primarily by MCC, due to voluntarily satisfying and terminating its commitments under its revolving credit facility with ING Capital LLC in accordance with its terms, along with changes in fund values. Our compounded annual AUM growth rate from December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2018 was 21% and our compounded annual Fee Earning AUM growth rate was 15%, both of which have been driven in large part by the growth in our permanent capital vehicles. As of December 31, 2018, we had $2.8 billion of Fee Earning AUM which consisted of $1.8 billion in permanent capital vehicles and $1.0 billion in long-dated private funds and SMAs. Typically the investment periods of our institutional commitments range from 18 to 24 months and we expect our Fee Earning AUM to increase as capital commitments included in AUM are invested.
In general, our institutional investors do not have the right to withdraw capital commitments and, to date, we have not experienced any withdrawals of capital commitments. For a description of the risk factor associated with capital commitments, see “Risk Factors - Third-party investors in our private funds may not satisfy their contractual obligation to fund capital calls when requested, which could adversely affect a fund’s operations and performance” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Direct origination, careful structuring and active monitoring of the loan portfolios we manage are important success factors in our business, which can be adversely affected by difficult market and political conditions. Since our inception in 2006, we have adhered to a disciplined investment process that employs these principles with the goal of delivering strong risk-adjusted investment returns while protecting investor capital. We believe that our ability to directly originate, structure and lead deals enables us to achieve these goals. In addition, the loans we manage generally have a contractual maturity of between three and seven years and are typically floating rate, which we believe positions our business well for rising interest rates.
The significant majority of our revenue is derived from management fees, which include base management fees earned on all of our investment products as well as Part I incentive fees earned from our permanent capital vehicles and certain of our long-dated private funds. Our base management fees are generally calculated based upon fee earning assets and paid quarterly in cash. Our Part I incentive fees are typically calculated based upon net investment income, subject to a hurdle rate, and are also paid quarterly in cash.
We also may earn carried interest from our long-dated funds and contractual performance fees from our SMAs. Typically, these fees are 15.0% to 20.0% of the total return above a hurdle rate. Carried interest represent fees that are a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager, are accrued quarterly and paid after the return of all invested capital and an amount sufficient to achieve the hurdle rate of return.
We also may receive incentive fees related to realized capital gains in our permanent capital vehicles and certain of our long-dated private funds that we refer to as Part II incentive fees. Part II incentive fees are payable annually and are calculated at the end of each applicable year by subtracting (i) the sum of cumulative realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation from (ii) cumulative aggregate realized capital gains. If the amount calculated is positive, then the Part II incentive fee for such year is equal to 20% of such amount, less the aggregate amount of Part II incentive fees paid in all prior years. If such amount is negative, then no Part II incentive fee will be payable for such year. As our investment strategy is focused on generating yield from senior secured credit, historically we have not generated Part II incentive fees.
For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, 84%, 90% and 86%, respectively, of our revenues were generated from management fees and carried interest derived primarily from net interest income on senior secured loans.
Our primary expenses are compensation to our employees and general, administrative and other expenses. Compensation includes salaries, discretionary bonuses, stock-based compensation and benefits paid and payable to our employees. Performance fee compensation includes compensation related to performance fees and carried interest, generally consisting of profit interests that we grant to certain of our employees. General and administrative expenses include costs primarily related to professional
services, office rent and related expenses, depreciation and amortization, travel and related expenses, information technology, communication and information services, placement fees and third-party marketing expenses and other general operating items.
Registered Public Offering of Medley LLC Notes
On August 9, 2016, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of an aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million of 6.875% senior notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") at a public offering price of 100% of the principal amount. On October 18, 2016, Medley LLC completed a public offering of an additional $28.6 million in aggregate principal amount of 2026 Notes at a public offering price of $24.45 for each $25.00 principal amount of notes. The notes mature on August 15, 2026 and interest is payable quarterly. The notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at our option on or after August 15, 2019 at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. We used the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Company's Term Loan Facility. The 2026 Notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade thereon under the trading symbol “MDLX.”
On January 18, 2017, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of an aggregate principal amount of $34.5 million of 7.25% senior notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) at a public offering price of 100% of the principal amount. On February 22, 2017, Medley LLC completed a public offering of an additional $34.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes at a public offering price of $25.25 for each $25.00 principal amount of notes. The 2024 Notes mature on January 30, 2024 and interest is payable quarterly commencing on April 30, 2017. The notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at our option on or after January 30, 2020 at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. We used the net proceeds from the offering to repay the remaining outstanding indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility.
Reorganization and Initial Public Offering
In connection with the initial public offering (“IPO”) of Medley Management Inc., Medley LLC amended and restated its limited liability agreement to modify its capital structure by reclassifying the 23,333,333 interests held by the pre-IPO members into a single new class of units. The pre-IPO members also entered into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees thereof) have the right, subject to the terms of the exchange agreement, to exchange their LLC Units for shares of Medley Management Inc.’s Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. In addition, pursuant to the amended and restated limited liability agreement, Medley Management Inc. became the sole managing member of Medley LLC. Medley Management Inc. is controlled by the pre-IPO owners who are subject to limited exceptions, prohibited from transferring any LLC Units held by them or any shares of Class A common stock received upon exchange of such LLC Units, until the third anniversary of the date of the closing of the IPO of Medley Management Inc. without the consent of the managing member. Thereafter and prior to the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the closing of the IPO of Medley Management Inc., such holders may not transfer more than 33 1/3% and 66 2/3%, respectively, of the number of LLC Units held by them, together with the number of any shares of Class A common stock received by them upon exchange therefore, without the consent of the managing member.
Our Structure
Medley LLC is a partially owned subsidiary of Medley Management Inc., a holding company whose sole material asset is its controlling equity interest in Medley LLC. Medley Management Inc. operates and controls all of the business and affairs and consolidates the financial results of Medley LLC and its subsidiaries. Medley Management Inc. owns 100% of the voting interests in Medley LLC and 18.9% of the issued and outstanding LLC Units of Medley LLC. The remaining LLC Units (81.1%) are held by Brook Taube, Seth Taube and other members of senior management ("Senior Management Owners"). The LLC Units do not have voting rights. Medley Management Inc. and the Senior Management Owners have also entered into an exchange agreement under which the Senior Management Owners (or certain permitted transferees) have the right (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement), to exchange their equity interest in Medley LLC for shares of Medley Management Inc.'s Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications.
Medley Group LLC, an entity wholly-owned by the pre-IPO owners, holds all 100 issued and outstanding shares of Medley Management Inc.'s Class B common stock. For so long as the pre-IPO owners and then-current Medley personnel hold at least 10% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and LLC Units (excluding those LLC Units held by Medley Management Inc.), which we refer to as the “Substantial Ownership Requirement,” the Class B common stock entitles Medley Group LLC, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by it, to a number of votes that is equal to 10 times the aggregate number of LLC Units held by all non-managing members of Medley LLC that do not themselves hold shares of Class B common stock and entitle each other holder of Class B common stock, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such other holder, to a number of votes that is equal to 10 times the number of LLC Units held by such holder. For purposes of calculating the Substantial Ownership Requirement, (1) shares of Class A common stock deliverable to the pre-IPO owners and then-current Medley personnel pursuant to outstanding equity awards will be deemed then outstanding and (2) shares of Class A common stock and LLC Units held by any estate, trust, partnership or limited liability company or other similar entity of which any pre-IPO owner or then-current Medley personnel, or any immediate family member thereof, is a trustee,
partner, member or similar party will be considered held by such pre-IPO owner or other then-current Medley personnel. From and after the time that the Substantial Ownership Requirement is no longer satisfied, the Class B common stock will entitle Medley Group LLC, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by it, to a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of LLC Units held by all non-managing members of Medley LLC that do not themselves hold shares of Class B common stock and entitle each other holder of Class B common stock, without regard to the number of shares of Class B common stock held by such other holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the number of LLC Units held by such holder. At the completion of Medley Management Inc.'s IPO, the pre-IPO owners were comprised of all of the non-managing members of Medley LLC. However, Medley LLC may in the future admit additional non-managing members that would not constitute pre-IPO owners. If at any time the ratio at which LLC Units are exchangeable for shares of Medley Management Inc.'s Class A common stock changes from one-for-one as set forth in the Exchange Agreement, the number of votes to which Class B common stockholders are entitled will be adjusted accordingly. Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock as a single class on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, except as otherwise required by law.
Holders of equity interests in Medley LLC (other than Medley Management Inc.), are, subject to limited exceptions, prohibited from transferring any LLC Units held by them as of September 23, 2014 (the date of consummation of the IPO of Medley Management Inc.), or any shares of Medley Management Inc.'s Class A common stock received upon exchange of such LLC Units, until September 23, 2017 without Medley Management Inc.'s consent. Thereafter and prior to September 23, 2018 and September 23, 2019, such holders may not transfer more than 33 1/3% and 66 2/3%, respectively, of the number of any shares of Medley LLC's equity interests held by them as of September 23, 2014 (the date of consummation of the IPO of Medley Management Inc.), together with the number of any shares of Medley Management Inc.'s Class A common stock received by them upon exchange therefor, without the consent of Medley Management Inc. While this agreement could be amended or waived by Medley Management Inc., the holders of the equity interests in Medley LLC (other than Medley Management Inc.) have advised us that they do not intend to seek any waivers of these restrictions.
The diagram below depicts our organizational structure (excluding those operating subsidiaries with no material operations or assets) as of March 25, 2019:
(1)
The Class B common stock provides Medley Group LLC with a number of votes that is equal to 10 times the aggregate number of LLC Units held by all non-managing members of Medley LLC. From and after the time that the Substantial Ownership Requirement is no longer satisfied, the Class B common stock will provide Medley Group LLC with a number of votes that is equal to the aggregate number of LLC Units held by all non-managing members of Medley LLC that do not themselves hold shares of Class B common stock.
(2)
If our pre-IPO owners exchanged all of their vested and unvested LLC Units for shares of Class A common stock, they would hold 81.0% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, entitling them to an equivalent percentage of economic interests and voting power in Medley Management Inc., Medley Group LLC would hold no voting power or economic interests in Medley Management Inc. and Medley Management Inc. would hold 100% of outstanding LLC Units and 100% of the voting power in Medley LLC.
(3)
Medley LLC holds 96.5% of the Class B economic interests in Medley (Aspect) Management LLC.
(4)
Medley LLC holds 100% of the outstanding Common Interest, and DB MED Investor I LLC holds 100% of the outstanding Preferred Interest in each of Medley Seed Funding I LLC and Medley Seed Funding II LLC.
(5)
Medley Seed Funding III LLC holds 100% of the senior preferred interest, Strategic Capital Advisory Services, LLC holds 100% of the junior preferred interest, and Medley LLC holds 100% of the common interest in STRF Advisors LLC.
(6)
Medley LLC holds 95.5% of the Class B economic interests in MCOF Management LLC.
(7)
Medley LLC holds 100% of the outstanding Common Interest, and DB MED Investor II LLC holds 100% of the outstanding Preferred Interest in Medley Seed Funding III LLC.
(8)
Medley GP Holdings LLC holds 95.5% of the Class B economic interests in MCOF GP LLC.
(9)
Certain employees, former employees and former members of Medley LLC hold approximately 40% of the limited liability company interests in MOF II GP LLC, the entity that serves as general partner of MOF II, entitling the holders to share the carried interest earned from MOF II.
(10)
Medley GP Holdings LLC holds 96.5% of the Class B economic interests in Medley (Aspect) GP LLC.
(11)
Certain employees of Medley LLC hold approximately 70.1% of the limited liability company interests in Medley Caddo Investors LLC, entitling the holders to share the carried earned from Caddo Investors Holdings I LLC.
(12)
Certain employees of Medley LLC hold approximately 69.9% of the limited liability company interests in Medley Real D Investors LLC, entitling the holders to share the carried earned from Medley Real D (Annuity) LLC.
(13)
Certain employees of Medley LLC hold approximately 70.2% of the limited liability company interests in Medley Avantor Investors LLC, entitling the holders to share the carried earned from Medley Tactical Opportunity LLC.
(14)
Certain employees of Medley LLC hold approximately 70.1% of the limited liability company interests in Medley Cloverleaf Investors LLC, entitling the holders to share the carried earned from Medley Chiller Holdings LLC.
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On August 9, 2018, MDLY entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sierra Income Corporation (“Sierra”), pursuant to which MDLY will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the MDLY Merger Agreement, merge with and into Sierra Management, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra (“Merger Sub”), with Merger Sub as the surviving company in the merger (the “MDLY Merger”), and our existing asset management business will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra. In the MDLY Merger, Medley LLC unitholders will convert their units into shares of MDLY Class A common stock and, each share of MDLY Class A common stock, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the MDLY Merger effective time, other than Dissenting Shares (as defined in the MDLY Merger Agreement) and shares of MDLY Class A common stock held by MDLY, Sierra or their respective wholly owned subsidiaries, will be converted into the right to receive (i) 0.3836 shares of Sierra’s common stock, plus (ii) cash in an amount equal to$3.44 per share. In addition, MDLY’s stockholders will have the right to receive certain dividends and/or other payments. Each share of Class B common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger will be canceled without consideration therefor.
Simultaneously, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2018, by and between Medley Capital Corporation ("MCC") and Sierra (the “MCC Merger Agreement”), MCC will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the MCC Merger Agreement merge with and into Sierra, with Sierra as the surviving entity in the merger (the “MCC Merger” together with the MDLY Merger, the “Mergers”). In the MCC Merger, each share of MCC’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the MCC merger effective time, other than the shares of MCC’s common stock held by MCC, Sierra or their respective wholly owned subsidiaries, will be converted into the right to receive 0.8050 shares of the Sierra’s common stock.
As a condition to closing, Sierra’s common stock will be listed to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SRA” and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, with such listings expected to be effective as of the closing date of the Mergers. The Mergers are cross conditioned upon each other and are subject to approval by our shareholders, MCC and Sierra, the receipt of an exemptive order from the SEC, an exemptive application for which has been filed by MDLY, Sierra, MCC and certain of their subsidiaries, and other customary closing conditions and third party consents. While there can be no assurances as to the exact timing, or that the merger will be completed at all, the Company expects the merger to be completed as early as the first half of 2019.
Transaction expenses, primarily consisting of professional fees, related to the proposed MDLY Merger are included in general, administrative and other expenses were approximately $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
For additional information related to the Mergers, please refer to our transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3/A filed with the SEC on December 21, 2018 and the Registration Statement on Form N-14 that includes a joint proxy statement/Prospectus of Sierra, MCC, and MDLY and, with respect to Sierra, constitutes a prospectus, which was filed with the SEC on December 21, 2018.
Trends Affecting Our Business
Our results of operations, including the fair value of our AUM, are affected by a variety of factors, including conditions in the global financial markets as well as economic and political environments, particularly in the U.S.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the domestic economy exhibited continued growth. Coincident with improving economic growth, LIBOR rates have increased, while credit spreads have tightened. Across the lending spectrum, year over year loan issuance has increased, driven by several factors, including robust merger and acquisition activity, as well as significant refinance activity. Our platform provides us the ability to lend across the capital structure and at varying interest rates providing our firm access to a larger borrower subset over time.
In addition to these macroeconomic trends and market factors, our future performance is dependent on our ability to attract new capital. We believe the following factors will influence our future performance:
•
The extent to which investors favor directly originated private credit investments. Our ability to attract additional capital is dependent on investors’ views of directly originated private credit investments relative to traditional assets. We believe fundraising efforts will continue to be impacted by certain fundamental asset management trends that
include: (i) the increasing importance of directly originated private credit investment strategies for institutional investors; (ii) increasing demand for directly originated private credit investments from retail investors; (iii) recognition by the consultant channel, which serves endowment and pension fund investors, that directly originated private credit is an important component of asset allocation; (iv) increasing demand from insurance companies seeking alternatives to investing in the liquid credit markets; and (v) de-leveraging of the global banking system, bank consolidation and increased bank regulatory requirements.
•
Our ability to generate strong, stable returns and retain investor capital throughout market cycles. The capital we are able to attract and retain drives the growth of our AUM, fee earning AUM and management fees. We believe we are well positioned to invest through market cycles given our AUM is in either permanent capital vehicles or long-dated private funds and SMAs.
•
Our ability to source investments with attractive risk-adjusted returns. Our ability to grow our revenue is dependent on our continued ability to source attractive investments and deploy the capital that we have raised. We believe that the current economic environment provides attractive investment opportunities. Our ability to identify attractive investments and execute on those investments is dependent on a number of factors, including the general macroeconomic environment, valuation, size and the liquidity of these investment opportunities. A significant decrease in the quality or quantity of investment opportunities in the directly originated private credit market, a substantial increase in corporate default rates, an increase in competition from new entrants providing capital to the private debt market and a decrease in recovery rates of directly originated private credit could adversely affect our ability to source investments with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
•
The attractiveness of our product offering to investors. We believe defined contribution plans, retail investors, public institutional investors, pension funds, endowments, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies are increasing exposure to directly originated private credit investment products to seek differentiated returns and current yield. Our permanent capital vehicles and long-dated private funds and SMAs benefit from this demand by offering institutional and retail investors the ability to invest in our private credit investment strategy. We believe that the breadth, diversity and number of investment vehicles we offer allow us to maximize our reach with investors.
•
The strength of our investment process, operating platform and client servicing capabilities. Following the most recent financial crisis, investors in alternative investments, including those managed by us, have heightened their focus on matters such as manager due diligence, reporting transparency and compliance infrastructure. Since inception, we have invested heavily in our investment monitoring systems, compliance and enterprise risk management systems to proactively address investor expectations and the evolving regulatory landscape. We believe these investments in operating infrastructure will continue to support our growth in AUM.
Components of Our Results of Operations
Revenues
Management Fees. Management fees include both base management fees as well as Part I incentive fees.
•
Base Management Fees. Base management fees are generally based on a defined percentage of (i) average or total gross assets, including assets acquired with leverage, (ii) total commitments, (iii) net invested capital, (iv) NAV or (v) lower of cost or market value of a fund’s portfolio investments. These fees are calculated quarterly and are paid in cash in advance or in arrears. Base management fees are recognized as revenue in the period advisory services are rendered, subject to our assessment of collectability.
In addition, we also receive non asset-based management fees that may include special fees such as origination fees, transaction fees and similar fees paid to us in connection with portfolio investments of our funds. These fees are specific to particular transactions and the contractual terms of the portfolio investments, and are recognized when earned.
•
Part I Incentive Fees. We also include Part I incentive fees that we receive from our permanent capital vehicles and certain of our long-dated private funds in management fees. Part I incentive fees are paid quarterly, in cash, and are driven primarily by net interest income on senior secured loans. As it relates to MCC, these fees are subject to netting against realized and unrealized losses. We are primarily an asset manager of yield-oriented products and our incentive fees are primarily derived from spread income rather than trading or capital gains. In addition, we also carefully manage interest rate risk. We are generally positioned to benefit from a raising rate environment, which should benefit fees paid to us from our vehicles and funds.
Performance Fees. Performance fees are contractual fees which do not represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager that are earned based on the performance of certain funds, typically our separately managed accounts.
Performance fees are earned based on the fund performance during the period, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s investment management agreement.
Prior to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018, we accounted for contractual based performance fees under Method 2 of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, for revenue based on a formula. Under this method, performance fees for any period were based upon an assumed liquidation of the underlying fund's net assets on the reporting date and were subject to reversal to the extent that cumulative previously recognized performance fees exceeded the amount due to the general partner or investment manager based on a fund's cumulative investment returns. Effective January 1, 2018, we account for such performance fees in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and will only recognize contractual based performance fees when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur in the future.
The timing and amount of performance fees generated by our funds is uncertain. If we were to have a realization event in a particular quarter or year, it may have a significant impact on our results for that particular quarter or year that may not be replicated in subsequent periods. Refer to “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business and Industry” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
•
Part II Incentive Fees. For our permanent capital vehicles and certain of our long-dated private funds, Part II incentive fees generally represent 20.0% of each fund’s cumulative realized capital gains (net of realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation). We have not received these fees historically, and do not expect such fees to be material in the future given our focus on senior secured lending.
Other Revenues and Fees. We provide administrative services to certain of our vehicles that are reported as other revenues and fees. Such fees are recognized as revenue in the period that administrative services are rendered. These fees are generally based on expense reimbursements for the portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by certain professionals directly attributable to each respective fund. We also act as the administrative agent on certain deals for which we may earn loan administration fees and transaction fees. We may also earn consulting fees for providing non-advisory services related to our managed funds. Additionally, this line item includes reimbursable origination and deal expenses as well as reimbursable entity formation and organizational expenses.
Carried Interest. Carried interest are performance based fees that represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager. Carried interest is allocated to us based on cumulative fund performance to date, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s governing documents.
Prior to January 1, 2018, we accounted for carried interest under Method 2 of ASC 605, as previously described above. Upon adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, we reassessed our accounting policy for carried interest, and determined that carried interest is within the scope of the accounting for equity method investments, and, as such, is not within the scope of the new revenue recognition guidance. Under the equity method of accounting, we will record carried interest in a consistent manner as we historically had which is based upon an assumed liquidation of that fund's net assets as of the reporting date, regardless of whether such amounts have been realized. For any given period, carried interest on our consolidated statements of operations may include reversals of previously recognized carried interest due to a decrease in the value of a particular fund that results in a decrease of cumulative carried interest earned to date. Since fund return hurdles are cumulative, previously recognized fees also may be reversed in a period of appreciation that is lower than the particular fund's hurdle rate.
Carried interest received in prior periods may be required to be returned by us in future periods if the funds’ investment performance declines below certain levels. Each fund is considered separately in this regard and, for a given fund, carried interest can never be negative over the life of a fund. If upon a hypothetical liquidation of a fund’s investments, at their then current fair values, previously recognized and distributed carried interest would be required to be returned, a liability is established for the potential clawback obligation. As of December 31, 2018, we have not received any carried interest distributions, except for tax distributions related to our allocation of net income, which included an allocation of carried interest. Pursuant to the organizational documents of each respective fund, a portion of these tax distributions may be subject to clawback. As of December 31, 2018, we have accrued $7.2 million for clawback obligations that would need to be paid if the funds were liquidated at fair value as of the end of the reporting period. Our actual obligation, however, would not become payable or realized until the end of a fund’s life.
Other Investment income. Other investment income is comprised of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in fair value of our equity method investments in addition to the income/expense allocations from such investments.
In certain cases, the entities that receive management and incentive fees from our funds are owned by Medley LLC together with other persons. See “Critical Accounting Policies” and Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information regarding the manner in which management fees, performance fees, investment income and other fees are generated.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits. Compensation and benefits consists primarily of salaries, discretionary bonuses and benefits paid and payable to our employees and stock-based compensation associated with the grants of equity-based awards to our employees. Compensation expense relating to equity based awards are measured at fair value as of the grant date, reduced for actual forfeitures when they occur, and expensed over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. Bonuses are accrued over the service period to which they relate.
Guaranteed payments made to our senior professionals who are members of Medley LLC are recognized as compensation expense. The guaranteed payments to our Co-Chief Executive Officers are performance based and periodically set subject to maximums based on our total assets under management. Such maximums aggregated to $2.5 million for each of the Co-Chief Executive Officers for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, neither of our Co-Chief Executive Officers received any guaranteed payments.
Performance Fee Compensation. Performance fee compensation includes compensation related to performance fees and carried interest, which generally consists of profit interests that we grant to certain of our employees. Depending on the nature of each fund, the performance fee participation is generally structured as a fixed percentage or as an annual award. The liability is recorded subject to the vesting of the profit interests granted and is calculated based upon the net present value of the projected performance fees or carried interest to be received. Payments to profit interest holders are payable when the performance fees or carried interest are paid to Medley LLC by the respective fund. It is possible that we may record performance fee compensation during a period in which we do not record any performance fee related revenue or we have a reversal of previously recognized performance fee related revenue.
General, Administrative and Other Expenses. General and administrative expenses include costs primarily related to professional services, office rent, depreciation and amortization, general insurance, recruiting, travel and related expenses, information technology, communication and information services and other general operating items.
Other Income (Expense)
Dividend Income. Dividend income consists of dividends associated with our investments in SIC and MCC. Dividends are recognized on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are declared and expected to be collected.
Interest Expense. Interest expense consists primarily of interest expense relating to debt incurred by us.
Other Income (Expenses), Net. Other income (expenses), net consists primarily of expenses associated with our revenue share payable and unrealized gains (losses) from our investment in MCC.
Provision for Income Taxes. We are treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and are therefore not subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes. The Company is subject to New York City unincorporated business tax attributable to taxable income allocable to New York City.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. To the extent it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be recognized, a valuation allowance is provided to offset their benefit.
We recognize the benefit of an income tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, based solely on the technical merits of the tax position. Otherwise, no benefit is recognized. The tax benefits recognized are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters are recognized as a component of the provision for income taxes.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act includes significant changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system including: a federal corporate rate reduction from 34% to 21%; limitations on the deductibility of interest expense and executive compensation; and the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a modified territorial tax system. Changes under the Tax Act were effective for us as of January 1, 2018.
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests and Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries. Net income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests and non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries represents the ownership interests that third parties hold in certain consolidated subsidiaries.
Our private funds are closed-end funds, and accordingly do not permit investors to redeem their interests other than in limited circumstances that are beyond our control, such as instances in which retaining the limited partnership interest could cause the limited partner to violate a law, regulation or rule. In addition, SMAs for a single investor may allow such investor to terminate
the investment management agreement at the discretion of the investor pursuant to the terms of the applicable documents. We manage assets for MCC and SIC, both of which are BDCs. The capital managed by MCC and SIC is permanently committed to these funds and cannot be redeemed by investors.
Managing Business Performance
Non-GAAP Financial Information
In addition to analyzing our results on a GAAP basis, management also makes operating decisions and assesses business performance based on the financial and operating metrics and data that are presented without the consolidation of any fund(s). Core Net Income and Core EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that are used by management to assess the performance of our business. There are limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as compared to the use of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure and these measures supplement and should be considered in addition to and not in lieu of the results of operations discussed further under "Results of Operations,’’ which are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, such measures may be inconsistent with measures presented by other companies. For a reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable measure in accordance with U.S. GAAP, see "Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Performance Measures to Consolidated U.S. GAAP Financial Measures.’’
Core Net Income. Core Net Income is an income measure that is used by management to assess the performance of our business through the removal of non-core items, as well as non-recurring expenses associated with strategic initiatives and the IPO of Medley Management Inc. It is calculated by adjusting net income attributable to Medley LLC to exclude reimbursable expenses associated with the launch of funds, expenses associated with strategic initiatives, such as our pending merger with Sierra, and amortization of stock-based compensation expense associated with grants of restricted stock units at the time of Medley Management Inc.'s IPO, other non-core items and the income tax impact of these adjustments.
Core Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Core EBITDA). Core EBITDA is an income measure also used by management to assess the performance of our business. Core EBITDA is calculated as Core Net Income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.
Key Performance Indicators
When we review our performance we focus on the indicators described below:
AUM
AUM refers to the assets of our funds. We view AUM as a metric to measure our investment and fundraising performance as it reflects assets generally at fair value plus available uncalled capital. For our funds, our AUM equals the sum of the following:
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Gross asset values or NAV of such funds;
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the drawn and undrawn debt (at the fund-level, including amounts subject to restrictions); and
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uncalled committed capital (including commitments to funds that have yet to commence their investment periods).
The table below provides the roll forward of AUM from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2018.
(1)
With respect to permanent capital vehicles, represents decreases during the period through debt repayments offset, in part, by
equity offerings. With respect to long-dated private funds and SMAs, represents new commitments or gross inflows, respectively, as well as any increases in available undrawn borrowings.
(2)
Represents the permanent reduction in equity or leverage during the period.
(3)
With respect to permanent capital vehicles, represents distributions of income and return of capital. With respect to long-dated private funds and SMAs, represents return of capital, given our funds’ stage in their respective life cycle and the prioritization of capital distributions.
(4)
Includes interest income, realized and unrealized gains (losses), fees and/or expenses.
AUM was $4.7 billion as of December 31, 2018 compared to $5.2 billion of AUM as of December 31, 2017. Our permanent capital vehicles decreased by $420.0 million as of December 31, 2018, primarily due to MCC voluntarily satisfying and terminating its commitments under its revolving credit facility with ING Capital LLC in accordance with its terms, along with distributions and changes in fund values. Our long-dated private funds and SMAs decreased AUM by $66.0 million.
AUM was $5.2 billion as of December 31, 2017 compared to $5.3 billion of AUM as of December 31, 2016. Our permanent capital vehicles decreased by $190.0 million as of December 31, 2017, primarily due to distributions and realized and unrealized losses. Our long-dated private funds and SMAs increased AUM by $53.0 million, or 2%, primarily associated with new debt commitments, partly offset by distributions as some of our vehicles are no longer in the investment period.
AUM increased by $556.0 million, or 12%, to $5.3 billion as of December 31, 2016 compared to AUM of $4.8 billion as of December 31, 2015. Our permanent capital vehicles remained consistent at $2.5 billion as of December 31, 2016. Our long-dated private funds and SMAs increased AUM by $575.0 million, or 26%, primarily associated with new capital commitments from our long-dated private funds and SMAs, partly offset by distributions by our long dated private funds and SMAs as some of our vehicles are no longer in the investment period.
Fee Earning AUM
Fee earning AUM refers to assets under management on which we directly earn base management fees. We view fee earning AUM as a metric to measure changes in the assets from which we earn management fees. Our fee earning AUM is the sum of all the individual fee earning assets of our funds that contribute directly to our management fees and generally equals the sum of:
•
for our permanent capital vehicles, the average or total gross asset value, including assets acquired with the proceeds of leverage (see “Fee earning AUM based on gross asset value” in the “Components of Fee Earning AUM” table below for the amount of this component of fee earning AUM as of each period);
•
for certain funds within the investment period in the long-dated private funds, the amount of limited partner capital commitments (see “Fee earning AUM based on capital commitments” in the “Components of Fee Earning AUM” table below for the amount of this component of fee earning AUM as of each period); and
•
for the aforementioned funds beyond the investment period and certain managed accounts within their investment period, the amount of limited partner invested capital or the NAV of the fund (see “Fee earning AUM based on invested capital or NAV” in the “Components of Fee Earning AUM” table below for the amount of this component of fee earning AUM as of each period).
Our calculations of fee earning AUM and AUM may differ from the calculations of other asset managers and, as a result, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures presented by others. In addition, our calculations of fee earning AUM and AUM may not be based on any definition of fee earning AUM or AUM that is set forth in the agreements governing the investment funds that we advise.
Components of Fee Earning AUM
As of December 31, 2018, fee earning AUM based on gross asset value decreased by $347.0 million, compared to December 31, 2017. The decrease in fee earning AUM based on gross asset value was primarily due to a decrease in the gross asset fair values of our permanent capital vehicles.
As of December 31, 2018, fee earning AUM based on capital commitments decreased $106.0 million, compared to December 31, 2017. The decrease in fee earning AUM based on capital commitments was due to one of our long-dated funds, whose fee earning AUM was based on its capital commitments during its investment period, exiting its investment period.
As of December 31, 2018, fee earning AUM based on invested capital or NAV increased by $80.0 million, compared to December 31, 2017. The increase in fee earning AUM based on invested capital or NAV was primarily due to one of our long-dated funds, whose fee earning AUM was previously based on its capital commitments during its investment period, but which is now based on invested capital.
The table below presents the roll forward of fee earning AUM from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2018.
(1)
With respect to permanent capital vehicles, represents increases or temporary reductions during the period through equity and debt offerings, as well as any increases in capital commitments. With respect to long-dated private funds and SMAs, represents new commitments or gross inflows, respectively.
(2)
Represents the permanent reduction in equity or leverage during the period.
(3)
Represents distributions of income, return of capital and return of portfolio investment capital to the fund.
(4)
Includes interest income, realized and unrealized gains (losses), fees and/or expenses.
Total fee earning AUM decreased by $373.0 million, or 12%, to $2.8 billion as of December 31, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017, primarily due to changes in fund value and distributions, partially offset by capital deployment by our private funds and SMAs.
Total fee earning AUM decreased by $32.0 million, or 1%, to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016, primarily due to distributions from all permanent capital vehicles and private funds and SMAs and realized and unrealized losses within our fund portfolios, partly offset by capital deployment by our private funds and SMAs.
Total fee earning AUM decreased by $112.0 million, or 3%, to $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2016 compared to total fee earning AUM as of December 31, 2015, primarily due to distributions of income and return of capital by our long-dated private funds and SMAs as some of our vehicles are no longer in the investment period.
Returns
The following section sets forth historical performance for our active funds.
Sierra Income Corporation (SIC)
We launched SIC, our first public non-traded permanent capital vehicle, in April 2012. SIC primarily focuses on direct lending to middle market borrowers in the United States. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 397 investments and have invested a total of $2.3 billion. As of December 31, 2018, its fee earning AUM was $1.0 billion. The performance for SIC as of December 31, 2018 is summarized below:
Medley Capital Corporation (MCC)
We launched MCC, our first permanent capital vehicle in January 2011. MCC primarily focuses on direct lending to private middle market borrowers in the United States. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 231 investments and have invested a total of $2.2 billion. As of December 31, 2018, excluding Medley SBIC LP, its fee earning AUM was $502 million. The performance for MCC as of December 31, 2018 is summarized below:
Medley SBIC LP (Medley SBIC)
We launched Medley SBIC in March 2013 as a wholly owned subsidiary of MCC. Medley SBIC lends to smaller middle market private borrowers that we otherwise would not target in our other funds, primarily due to size. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 51 investments and have invested a total of $499 million. As of December 31, 2018, its fee earning AUM was $212 million. The performance for Medley SBIC fund as of December 31, 2018 is summarized below:
Medley Opportunity Fund II LP (MOF II)
MOF II is a long-dated private investment fund that we launched in December 2010. MOF II lends to middle market private borrowers, with a focus on providing senior secured loans. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 86 investments and have invested a total of $971 million. As of December 31, 2018, its fee earning AUM was $226 million. MOF II is currently fully invested and actively managing its assets. The performance for MOF II as of December 31, 2018, is summarized below:
Medley Opportunity Fund III LP (MOF III)
MOF III is a long-dated private investment fund that we launched in December 2014. MOF III lends to middle market private borrowers in the U.S., with a focus on providing senior secured loans. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 47 investments and have invested a total of $206 million. As of December 31, 2018, its fee earning AUM was $112 million. The performance for MOF III as of December 31, 2018 is summarized below:
Other Long-Dated Private Funds and Permanent Capital Vehicles
We launched Sierra Total Return Fund (“STRF”), a public non-traded permanent capital vehicle, in June 2017. The Fund seeks to provide a total return through a combination of current income and long-term capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of debt securities and fixed-income related equity securities.
We launched Medley Opportunity Fund Offshore III LP (“MOF III Offshore”) in May 2017. MOF III Offshore invests in senior secured loans made to middle market private borrowers in the US.
We launched Aspect-Medley Investment Platform A LP (“Aspect”) in November 2016 and Aspect-Medley Investment Platform B LP (“Aspect-B”) in May 2018 to meet the current demand for equity capital solutions in the traditional corporate debt-backed collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) market. Its investment objective is to generate current income, and also to generate capital appreciation through investing in CLO equity, as well as, equity and junior debt tranches trading in the secondary market.
We launched Medley Credit Opportunity Fund (“MCOF”) in July 2016 to meet the current demand for equity capital solutions in the traditional corporate debt-backed collateralized loan obligation (“CLO”) market. Its investment objective is to generate current income, and also to generate capital appreciation through investing in CLO equity, as well as, equity and junior debt tranches trading in the secondary market.
The performance of STRF, MOF III Offshore, Aspect, and MCOF as of December 31, 2018 is not meaningful given the funds' limited operations and capital invested to date.
Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs)
In the case of our separately managed accounts, the investor, rather than us, may control the assets or investment vehicle that holds or has custody of the related investments. Certain subsidiaries of Medley LLC serve as the investment adviser for our SMAs. Since inception, we have provided capital for a total of 219 investments and have invested a total of $1.2 billion. As of December 31, 2018, the fee earning AUM in our SMAs was $584 million. The aggregate performance of our SMAs as of December 31, 2018, is summarized below:
(1)
Annualized Net Total Return for SIC represents the annualized return assuming an investment at the initial public offering price, reinvestments of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under SIC’s dividend reinvestment plan and selling at the NAV as of the measurement date.
(2)
Annual Net Total Return for MCC, including Medley SBIC, represents the annualized return assuming an investment at the initial public offering price, reinvestments of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under MCC's dividend reinvestment plan and selling at NAV as of the measurement date.
(3)
Average Recovery includes only those realized investments in which we experience a loss of principal on a cumulative cash flow basis and is calculated by dividing the total actual cash inflows for each respective investment, including all interest, principal and fee note repayments, dividends and transactions fees, if applicable, by the total actual cash outflows for each respective investment.
(4)
For Medley SBIC, MOF II, MOF III, and SMAs, the Gross Internal Rate of Return represents the cumulative investment performance from inception of each respective fund through December 31, 2018. The Gross Internal Rate of Return includes both realized and unrealized investments and excludes the impact of base management fees, incentive fees and other fund related expenses. For realized investments, the investment returns were calculated based on the actual cash outflows and inflows for each respective investment and include all interest, principal and fee note repayments, dividends and transactions fees, if applicable. For unrealized investments, the investment returns were calculated based on the actual cash outflows and inflows for each respective investment and include all interest, principal and fee note repayments, dividends and transactions fees, if applicable. The investment return assumes that the remaining unrealized portion of the investment is realized at the investment’s most recent fair value, as calculated in accordance with GAAP. There can be no assurance that the investments will be realized at these fair values and actual results may differ significantly.
(5)
Earnings from Medley SBIC are paid to MCC. The Net Internal Rate of Return for Medley SBIC was calculated based upon i) the actual cash contribution and distributions to/from MCC and Medley SBIC ii) an allocable portion of MCC’s management and incentive fees and general fund related expenses and iii) assumes the NAV as of the measurement date is distributed to MCC. As of December 31, 2018, Medley SBIC Net Internal Rate of Return as described above assuming only the inclusion of management fees was 13.6%.
(6)
Net Internal Rate of Return for MOF II and MOF III was calculated net of all management fees and carried interest allocation since inception and was computed based on the actual dates of capital contributions and the ending aggregate partners’ capital at the end of the period.
(7)
Net Internal Rate of Return for our SMAs was calculated using the Gross Internal Rate of Return, as described in note 4, and includes the actual management fees, incentive fees and general fund related expenses.
Results of Operations
The following table and discussion sets forth information regarding our consolidated results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. The audited consolidated financial statements of Medley have been prepared on substantially the same basis for all historical periods presented.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Revenues
Management Fees. Total management fees decreased by $11.0 million, or 19%, to $47.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Our management fees from permanent capital vehicles decreased by $10.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to lower base management fees from both SIC and MCC as a result of a decrease in fee earning assets under management, as well as a $4.7 million decrease in Part 1 incentive fees from SIC.
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Our management fees from long-dated private funds and SMAs decreased by $0.3 million to $14.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017.
Performance Fees. We did not recognize any performance fees during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a reversal of performance fees of $2.0 million during the same period 2017. As a result of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018, we did not recognize any performance fees during 2018 as we determined that it was not probable that a significant reversal of such fees would not occur in the future.
Other Revenues and Fees. Other revenues and fees increased by $1.3 million to $10.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The increase was due primarily to reimbursable origination and deal related expenses which were recognized in 2018 as a result of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. Depending on whether the Company is acting as the principal or as an agent, certain reimbursable expenses that were previously recorded net are now presented on a gross basis on the Company's consolidated statements of operations (See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements).
Investment Income. Investment income decreased by approximately $0.8 million to a loss of $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to losses from our equity method investments and lower carried interest from our long dated private funds.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits. Compensation and benefits increased by $3.7 million, or 14% to $31.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The variance was primarily due to a $2.7 million increase in stock based compensation and a $1.5 million increase in severance expense associated with the consolidation of our business activities to our New York office. These increases were partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in salaries expense.
Performance Fee Compensation. Performance fee compensation expense amounted to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a reversal of performance fee compensation of $0.9 million during 2017. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we granted equity awards to certain key employees of one of our business units. The equity awards were in the form of limited liability interests in certain subsidiaries which were formed for the object and purpose of receiving carried interest from certain funds managed by us. The grant date fair value of the awards was $0.6 million and was immediately recognized as performance fee compensation expense as the awards were fully vested on the date of grant.
General, Administrative and Other Expenses. General, administrative and other expenses increased by $6.3 million to $19.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The increase was due primarily to a $4.7 million increase in professional fees related to strategic initiatives, including fees associated with our pending merger with SIC. The remaining increase was due primarily to reimbursable origination and deal related expenses which were recognized in 2018 as a result of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. Depending on whether the Company is acting as the principal or as an agent, certain reimbursable expenses that were previously recorded net are now presented on a gross basis on the Company's consolidated statements of operations (See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements).
Other Income (Expense)
Dividend Income. Dividend income remained constant at $4.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased by $1.0 million, or 9%, to $10.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease in interest expense in 2018 was due primarily to the 2017 impact of the acceleration of amortization of debt issuance costs and discount relating to prepayments made on our Term Loan Facility as a result of the refinancing of our indebtedness from the issuance of senior unsecured debt. In addition, our average debt outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $135.4 million and $127.8 million, respectively.
Other Income (Expenses), net. Other income (expenses), net decreased by $21.6 million to a loss of $20.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a $19.9 million unrealized loss incurred during the year ended December 31, 2018 related to our investment in shares of MCC. Of the $19.9 million of unrealized losses, $16.3 million was allocated to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries which did not have any impact on the net income attributed to Medley LLC. During 2017, any unrealized gains or losses attributed to our investment in shares of MCC were recorded in other comprehensive income and not part of other income (expense).
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate was 1.4% and 3.1% for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as permanent differences and income allocated to certain redeemable non-controlling interests which are not subject to New York City's unincorporated business tax. The decrease in our effective tax rate from 2017 is attributed primarily to losses allocated to redeemable non-controlling interests that are not subject to income taxes which result in no tax benefit being recorded in our tax provision. Such impact was partly offset by an increase in the effective tax rate used to calculate deferred taxes as we expect a future increase in the apportionment of taxable income to New York City resulting from consolidating of our business activities to New York.
Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries
Net (loss) income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries decreased by $17.8 million to a loss of $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to the allocation of unrealized loss in shares of MCC to DB MED Investor I LLC, a third party, based on its preferred ownership interests held in one of our consolidated subsidiaries.
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
Management Fees. Total management fees decreased by $7.4 million, or 11%, to $58.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.
•
Our management fees from permanent capital vehicles decreased by $9.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in Part I incentive fees of $4.6 million from SIC and $4.9 million from MCC, offset in part, by an increase in base management fees from SIC.
•
Our management fees from long-dated private funds and SMAs increased by $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in base management fees from our SMAs.
Performance Fees. There was a reversal of performance fees of $2.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to an accrual of performance fees revenue of $2.4 million in 2016. The variance was primarily attributed to reversals of previously recognized performance fees as a result of declines in the underlying fund values of our SMAs.
Other Revenues and Fees. Other revenues and fees increased by $1.1 million, or 13%, to $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in loan administrative and transaction fees as well as administrative fees from our permanent capital vehicles and other private funds.
Investment Income. Investment income decreased by approximately $0.2 million to a loss of $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The decrease was primarily due to losses from our equity method investments offset by higher carried interest from our private long dated funds.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits. Compensation and benefits decreased by $0.4 million, or 1% to $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The variance was primarily due to a decrease in stock compensation expense of $1.1 million as a result of forfeited RSUs as well as lower discretionary compensation accruals of $0.3 million, partly offset by an increase in severance charges of $1.0 million.
Performance Fee Compensation. There was a reversal in performance fee compensation of $0.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to a reversal of performance fee compensation of $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The variance in performance fee compensation was primarily due to changes in projected future payments of $0.9 million.
General, Administrative and Other Expenses. General, administrative and other expenses decreased by $15.5 million to $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a $16.1 million decrease in expense support agreement expenses related to SIC and a $0.5 million decrease in professional fees. The expense support agreement with SIC expired on December 31, 2016 and, as such, we are no longer responsible for expenses under the expense support agreement relating to SIC. The decreases in these expenses were offset, in part, by expenses related to our consolidated fund, STRF.
Other Income (Expense)
Dividend Income. Dividend income increased by $3.0 million to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The increase was primarily due to dividend income from our investment in available for sale securities attributed to additional purchases made during 2017.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $2.6 million, or 28%, to $11.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an acceleration of amortization of debt issuance costs and discount relating to prepayments made on our Term Loan Facility as a result of the refinancing of our indebtedness from the issuance of senior unsecured debt. In addition, our average debt outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $127.8 million and $106.0 million, respectively.
Other Income (Expenses), net. Other income (expenses), net increased by $2.3 million to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016. The increase was primarily due to the impact of revaluation of our revenue share payable and a nonrecurring impairment charge taken during the year ended December 31, 2016 on our investment in CK Pearl Fund LLC.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rate was 3.1% and 4.2% for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as permanent differences and income allocated to certain redeemable non-controlling interests which is not subject to New York City's unincorporated business tax. The decrease in the effective tax rate during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily attributed to an increase in taxable income allocable to certain redeemable non-controlling interests, which is not subject to New York City unincorporated business tax, partly offset by the impact of discrete items associated with the vesting and forfeiture of RSUs.
Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries
Net income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries increased by $4.2 million to $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. The variance was primarily due to an increase in dividend income earned and allocated to DB MED Investor I LLC, a third party, based on its preferred ownership interests held in one of our consolidated subsidiaries as well as income allocated to SC Distributors LLC for its interests in SIC Advisors.
Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Performance Measures to Consolidated U.S. GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to analyzing our results on a GAAP basis, management also makes operating decisions and assesses business performance based on the financial and operating metrics and data that are presented in the table below. Management believes that these measures provide analysts, investors and management with helpful information regarding our underlying operating performance and our business, as they remove the impact of items management believes are not reflective of underlying operating performance. These non-GAAP measures are also used by management for planning purposes, including the preparation of internal budgets; and for evaluating the effectiveness of operational strategies. Additionally, we believe these non-GAAP measures provide another tool for investors to use in comparing our results with other companies in our industry, many of whom use similar non-GAAP measures. There are limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as compared to the use of the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure and these measures supplement and should be considered in addition to and not in lieu of the results of operations discussed below. Furthermore, such measures may be inconsistent with measures presented by other companies.
Net income attributable to Medley LLC is the U.S. GAAP financial measure most comparable to Core Net Income and Core EBITDA. The following table is a reconciliation of net income attributable to Medley LLC on a consolidated basis to Core Net Income and Core EBITDA.
(1)
For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, these amounts relate to additional interest expense associated with the acceleration of amortization of debt issuance costs and discount relating to prepayments made on our Term Loan Facility as a result of the refinancing of our indebtedness from the issuance of Senior Unsecured Debt.
(2)
For the year ended December 31, 2018, other items consist primarily of expenses related to the consolidation of our business activities to our New York office. For the year ended December 31, 2017, other items consist of less than $0.1 million of expenses related to other expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, other non-core items consist of a $0.5 million impairment loss on our investment in CK Pearl Fund.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary cash flow activities involve: (i) generating cash flow from operations, which largely includes management fees; (ii) making distributions to our members and redeemable non-controlling interests; (iii) borrowings, interest payments and repayments under our debt facilities. As of December 31, 2018, we had $17.0 million in cash and cash equivalents.
Our material source of cash from our operations is management fees, which are collected quarterly. We primarily use cash flows from operations to pay compensation and benefits, general, administrative and other expenses, debt service costs, income taxes and distributions to our members and redeemable non-controlling interests. Our cash flows, together with the proceeds from debt issuances, are also used to fund investments in limited partnerships, purchase publicly traded securities, purchase fixed assets and other capital items. If cash flows from operations were insufficient to fund distributions, we expect that we would suspend paying such distributions.
Debt Instruments
Senior Unsecured Debt
On August 9, 2016, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2026 at a stated coupon rate of 6.875% (the “2026 Notes”). On October 18, 2016, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of an additional $28.6 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes. The 2026 Notes mature on August 15, 2026.
On January 18, 2017, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of $34.5 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2024 at a stated coupon rate of 7.25% (the “2024 Notes”). On February 22, 2017, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of an additional $34.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes. The 2024 Notes mature on January 30, 2024.
As of December 31, 2018, the outstanding senior unsecured debt balance was $117.6 million, and is reflected net of unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs of $5.0 million.
See Note 7, "Senior Unsecured Debt", to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information on the 2026 Notes and the 2024 Notes.
Revolving Credit Facility
On August 19, 2014, we entered into a $15.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with City National Bank (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Facility”), as administrative agent and collateral agent thereunder, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. On September 22, 2017 we amended the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, extend the maturity date until March 31, 2020 and provide for an incremental facility in an amount up to $10.0 million upon the satisfaction of certain customary conditions. We intend to use any proceeds of borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility for general corporate purposes, including funding our working capital needs. We have not incurred any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility through December 31, 2018.
Interest Rate and Fees
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, either (i) at ABR, plus an applicable margin not to exceed 0.25 percentage points, or (ii) at an adjusted LIBOR plus an applicable margin not to exceed 2.50 percentage points. In addition to paying interest on any outstanding principal under the Revolving Credit Facility, we are required to pay an unused line fee on the first day of the second month following each fiscal quarter in an amount equal to (i) if the average daily balance for the applicable fiscal quarter was less than $9.0 million, 0.50% per annum, or (ii) if the average daily balance for the applicable fiscal quarter was equal to or greater than $9.0 million, 0.25% per annum.
Guarantees and Collateral
Any obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain of Medley LLC’s subsidiaries. In addition, any outstanding borrowings are collateralized by first priority or equivalent security interests in (i) all the capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the borrower and each of the borrower’s and credit agreement guarantors’ direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each of the borrower’s or any subsidiary guarantors’ direct wholly owned first-tier restricted foreign subsidiaries, and (ii) certain tangible and intangible assets of the borrower and the credit agreement guarantors (subject to certain exceptions and qualifications).
None of our non-wholly owned domestic subsidiaries are obligated to guarantee the Revolving Credit Facility.
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
The Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of significant affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. Such covenants, among other things, will limit or restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the ability of the borrower and its restricted subsidiaries to:
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incur additional indebtedness, make guarantees and enter into hedging arrangements;
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create liens on assets;
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
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engage in mergers or consolidations;
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make fundamental changes;
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pay dividends and distributions or repurchase our capital stock;
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make investments, loans and advances, including acquisitions;
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engage in certain transactions with affiliates;
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make changes in the nature of their business; and
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make prepayments of junior debt.
In addition, the credit agreement governing our Revolving Credit Facility contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a Maximum Net Leverage Ratio of not greater than 5.0 to 1.0, a Total Leverage Ratio of not greater than 7.0 to 1.0, and Core EBITDA of not less than $15.0 million. These ratios are calculated on a trailing twelve months basis and are calculated using our standalone financial results and include adjustments to calculate Core EBITDA. In September 2018, we requested and received a waiver from City National Bank that permits us to exclude the Maximum Net Leverage Ratio with respect to the fiscal periods ending on each of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, we were not in compliance with the remaining financial covenants and had obtained a waiver covering the period then ended. Our non compliance was attributed to the impact of costs associated with our pending merger with SIC. As a condition to issuing the waiver, we are restricted to any
borrowing of up to one times Core EBITDA. We are currently in discussions with City National Bank to amend the covenants under the Revovling Credit Facility which would be effective for us commencing in the second quarter of 2019 through the Revolving Credit Facility's maturity date. As of the year ended December 31, 2018, there were no amounts drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Our Revolving Credit Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default. If an event of default occurs, the lender under the Revolving Credit Facility will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of any amounts due under the Revolving Credit Facility and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.
Non-Recourse Promissory Notes
In April 2012, we borrowed $5.0 million under a non-recourse promissory note with a foundation, and $5.0 million under a non-recourse promissory note with a trust. During the first quarter of 2019, the maturity date of these non-recourse promissory notes were extended from March 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019.
See Note 8 "Loans Payable" to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information regarding the promissory notes.
Cash Flows
The significant captions and amounts from our consolidated statements of cash flows are summarized below. Negative amounts represent a net outflow, or use of cash.
Operating Activities
Our net cash flow provided by operating activities was $15.6 million, $12.8 million and $17.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, net cash flow provided by operating activities was attributed to net (loss) income of $(21.0) million, $18.7 million and $10.6 million, respectively, non-cash adjustments of $28.5 million, $7.2 million and $6.5 million, respectively, and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $8.0 million, $(13.1) million and less than $0.1 million, respectively.
Investing Activities
Our investing activities generally reflect cash used to acquire fixed assets, purchase investments, and make capital contributions to our equity method investments. Cash provided by our investing activities generally reflect return of capital distributions received from our equity method investments. Purchases of fixed assets were less than $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Capital contributions to equity method investments represented a use of cash of $1.5 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Excluding the investments held by our consolidated fund, purchases of investments were $35.0 million and $16.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no purchases of investments for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Financing Activities
Distributions to members, non-controlling interests and redeemable non-controlling interests were $32.4 million, $36.7 million and $30.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amounts paid to a former minority interest holder in one of our consolidated subsidiaries was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Amounts distributed to this minority interest holder were included in the distributions to members, non-controlling interests and redeemable non-controlling interests balance for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Capital contributions from non-controlling interests resulted in an inflow of cash of less than $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, as well as an inflow of cash of $23.0 million and $17.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Repurchases of LLC units represented a use of cash from financing activities of $3.6 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no repurchases of LLC units for the year ended December 31, 2018.
On August 9, 2016, Medley LLC completed its first registered public offering of senior unsecured debt and on October 18, 2016, January 18, 2017, and February 22, 2017 Medley LLC completed additional registered public offerings of senior unsecured debt. The proceeds from these offerings, net of offering expenses paid by us, amounted to $116.2 million. The net proceeds from the offerings were used to pay-down the outstanding indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility with the remaining amount to be used for working capital purposes. Repayments of loans payable resulted in an outflow of cash of $44.8 million and $50.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Proceeds from the issuance of debt obligations provided an inflow of cash of $69.1 million and $52.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Debt issuance costs related to the senior unsecured debt represented a use of cash of $2.9 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Sources and Uses of Liquidity
Our sources of liquidity are (i) cash on hand, (ii) net working capital, (iii) cash flows from operations, (iv) realizations on our investments, (v) net proceeds from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and issuances of publicly-registered debt and (vi) other potential financings. We believe that these sources of liquidity will be sufficient to fund our working capital requirements and to meet our commitments in the foreseeable future. We expect that our primary liquidity needs will be comprised of cash to (i) provide capital to facilitate the growth of our existing investment management business, (ii) fund our commitments to funds that we advise, (iii) provide capital to facilitate our expansion into businesses that are complementary to our existing investment management business, (iv) pay operating expenses, including cash compensation to our employees and payments under the TRA, (v) fund capital expenditures, (vi) pay taxes, and (vii) make distributions to our members, non-controlling interests and redeemable non-controlling interests.
We intend to use a portion of our available liquidity to fund distributions to our members, non-controlling interests and redeemable non-controlling interests on a quarterly basis. Our ability to fund distributions is dependent on a myriad of factors, including among others: general economic and business conditions; our strategic plans and prospects; our business and investment opportunities; timing of capital calls by our funds in support of our commitments; our financial condition and operating results; working capital requirements and other anticipated cash needs; contractual restrictions and obligations; legal, tax and regulatory restrictions; restrictions on the payment of distributions by our subsidiaries to us; and other relevant factors.
Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In applying many of these accounting principles, we need to make assumptions, estimates or judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions, estimates or judgments, however, are both subjective and subject to change, and actual results may differ from our assumptions and estimates. If actual amounts are ultimately different from our estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known. We believe the following critical accounting policies could potentially produce materially different results if we were to change underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for a summary of our significant accounting policies.
Principles of Consolidation
In accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation, we consolidate those entities where we have a direct and indirect controlling financial interest based on either a variable interest model or voting interest model. As such, we consolidate entities that we conclude are VIEs, for which we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary and entities in which we hold a majority voting interest or have majority ownership and control over the operational, financial and investing decisions of that entity.
For legal entities evaluated for consolidation, we must determine whether the interests that it holds and fees paid to it qualify as a variable interest in an entity. This includes an evaluation of the management fees and performance fees paid to us when acting
as a decision maker or service provider to the entity being evaluated. Fees received by us that are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and we don’t hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the entity, would not be considered a variable interest. We factor in all economic interests including proportionate interests through related parties, to determine if fees are considered a variable interest.
An entity in which we hold a variable interest is a VIE if any one of the following conditions exist: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, (b) the holders of equity investment at risk have the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the legal entity’s economic performance, (c) the voting rights of some investors are disproportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or rights to receive returns from a legal entity. For limited partnerships and other similar entities, non-controlling investors must have substantive rights to either dissolve the fund or remove the general partner (“kick-out rights”) in order to qualify as a VIE.
For those entities that qualify as a VIE, the primary beneficiary is generally defined as the party who has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. We are generally deemed to have a controlling financial interest if we have the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. We determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time we become initially involved with the VIE and we reconsider that conclusion continuously. The primary beneficiary evaluation is generally performed qualitatively on the basis of all facts and circumstances. However, quantitative information may also be considered in the analysis, as appropriate. These assessments require judgments. Each entity is assessed for consolidation on a case-by-case basis.
For those entities evaluated under the voting interest model, we consolidate the entity if we have a controlling financial interest. We have a controlling financial interest in a voting interest entity (“VOE”) if we own a majority voting interest in the entity.
Performance Fees
Performance fees are contractual fees which do not represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager that are earned based on the performance of certain funds, typically, our separately managed accounts. Performance fees are earned based on the fund performance during the period, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s investment management agreement. We account for performance fees in accordance with the new revenue standard, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and we will only recognize performance fees when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur in the future.
Carried Interest
Carried interest are performance based fees that represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager. Carried interest is allocated to us based on cumulative fund performance to date, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s governing documents.
Effective January 1, 2018, we account for carried interest under, ASC 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Under this standard, we record carried interest in a consistent manner as we historically had which is based upon an assumed liquidation of that fund's net assets as of the reporting date, regardless of whether such amounts have been realized. For any given period, carried interest on our consolidated statements of operations may include reversals of previously recognized carried interest due to a decrease in the value of a particular fund that results in a decrease of cumulative fees earned to date. Since fund return hurdles are cumulative, previously recognized carried interest also may be reversed in a period of appreciation that is lower than the particular fund's hurdle rate.
Carried interest received in prior periods may be required to be returned by us in future periods if the funds’ investment performance declines below certain levels. Each fund is considered separately in this regard and, for a given fund, carried interest can never be negative over the life of a fund. If upon a hypothetical liquidation of a fund’s investments, at their then current fair values, previously recognized and distributed carried interest would be required to be returned, a liability is established for the potential clawback obligation. Our actual obligation, however, would not become payable or realized until the end of a fund’s life.
Income Taxes
We are treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and are therefore not subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes. We are subject to New York City unincorporated business tax attributable to taxable income allocable to New York City.
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. We also recognize a tax benefit from uncertain tax positions only if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based on its technical merits. Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions and other tax matters as a component of income tax expense. For interim periods, we account for income taxes based on our estimate of the effective tax rate for the year. Discrete items and changes in our estimate of the annual effective tax rate are recorded in the period they occur.
We analyze our tax filing positions in all of the U.S. federal, state and local tax jurisdictions where we are required to file income tax returns, as well as for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. If, based on this analysis, we determine that uncertainties in tax positions exist, a liability is established.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Under the fair value recognition provision of this guidance, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period and reduced for actual forfeitures in the period they occur. Stock-based compensation is included as a component of compensation and benefits in our consolidated statements of operations.
Prior to January 1, 2017, stock-based compensation expense was based on awards ultimately expected to vest and was reduced for estimated forfeitures. We estimated our forfeiture rate based on our historical experience and revised our estimate if actual forfeitures differed from our initial estimates. Effective January 1, 2017, we adopted a change in accounting policy as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 to account for forfeitures in the period they occur.
Stock-based compensation expense relating to equity based awards are measured at fair value as of the grant date, reduced for actual forfeitures, and expensed over the vesting period on a straight-line basis as a component of compensation and benefits in our consolidated statements of operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements and their impact on us can be found in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In the normal course of business, we may engage in off-balance sheet arrangements, including transactions in guarantees, commitments, indemnifications and potential contingent repayment obligations.
See Note 11, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for a discussion of our commitments and contingencies.
Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth information relating to our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018.
(1)
We lease office space in New York and San Francisco under non-cancelable lease agreements. The amounts in this table represent the minimum lease payments required over the term of the lease.
(2)
We have included all loans described in Note 8, “Loans Payable,” to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.
(3)
We have included all our obligations described in Note 7, “Senior Unsecured Debt,” to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. In addition to the principal amounts above, the Company is required to make quarterly interest payments of $1.2 million related to our 2024 Notes and $0.9 million related to our 2026 Notes.
(4)
We have included all our obligations described in Note 9, "Due to Former Minority Interest Holder," to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.
(5)
Represents equity commitments by us to certain long-dated private funds managed by us. These amounts are generally due on demand and are therefore presented in the less than one year category.
Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, we enter into contracts that contain indemnities for our affiliates, persons acting on our behalf or such affiliates and third parties. The terms of the indemnities vary from contract to contract and the maximum exposure under these arrangements, if any, cannot be determined and has neither been recorded in our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2018, we have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expect the risk of loss to be remote.
Contingent Obligations
The partnership documents governing our funds generally include a clawback provision that, if triggered, may give rise to a contingent obligation that may require the general partner to return amounts to the fund for distribution to investors. Therefore, carried interest, generally, is subject to reversal in the event that the funds incur future losses. These losses are limited to the extent of the cumulative carried interest recognized in income to date, net of a portion of taxes paid. Due in part to our investment performance and the fact that our carried interest is generally determined on a liquidation basis, as of December 31, 2018, we accrued $7.2 million for clawback obligations that would need to be paid had the funds been liquidated as of that date. There can be no assurance that we will not incur additional clawback obligations in the future. If all of the existing investments were valued at $0, the amount of cumulative carried interest that has been recognized would be reversed. We believe that the possibility of all of the existing investments becoming worthless is remote. At December 31, 2018, had we assumed all existing investments were valued at $0, the net amount of carried interest subject to additional reversal would have been approximately $0.4 million.
Carried interest is also affected by changes in the fair values of the underlying investments in the funds that we advise. Valuations, on an unrealized basis, can be significantly affected by a variety of external factors including, but not limited to, bond yields and industry trading multiples. Under the governing agreements of certain of our funds, we may have to fund additional amounts on account of clawback obligations beyond what we received in performance fee compensation on account of distributions of performance fee payments made to current or former professionals from such funds if they do not fund their respective shares of such clawback obligations. We will generally retain the right to pursue any remedies that we have under such governing agreements against those carried interest recipients who fail to fund their obligations.
Additionally, at the end of the life of the funds, there could be a payment due to a fund by us if we have recognized more carried interest than was ultimately earned. The general partner obligation amount, if any, will depend on final realized values of investments at the end of the life of the fund.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our primary exposure to market risk is related to our role as general partner or investment advisor to our investment funds and the sensitivity to movements in the fair value of their investments, including the effect on management fees, performance fees and investment income.
The market price of investments may significantly fluctuate during the period of investment. Investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of an investment may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to such investment, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.
Effect on Management Fees
Management fees are generally based on a defined percentage of gross asset values, total committed capital, net invested capital and NAV of the investment funds managed by us as well as a percentage of net interest income over a performance hurdle. Management fees calculated based on fair value of assets or net investment income are affected by short-term changes in market values.
The overall impact of a short-term change in market value may be mitigated by fee definitions that are not based on market value including invested capital and committed capital, market value definitions that exclude the impact of realized and/or unrealized gains and losses, market value definitions based on beginning of the period values or a form of average market value including daily, monthly or quarterly averages, as well as monthly or quarterly payment terms.
As such, based on an incremental 10% short-term increase in fair value of the investments in our permanent capital vehicles, long-dated private funds and SMAs as of December 31, 2018, we calculated approximately a $2.8 million increase in management fees for the year ended December 31, 2018. In the case of a 10% short-term decline in fair value of the investments in our permanent capital, long-dated funds and SMAs as of December 31, 2018, we calculated approximately a 3.6 million decrease in management fees for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Effect on Performance Fees
Performance fees are based on certain specific hurdle rates as defined in the funds' applicable investment management or partnership agreements. Performance fees for any period are based upon the probability that there will not be a significant future revenue reversal of such fees in the future. We exercise significant judgments when determining if any performance fees should be recognized in a given period including the below.
•
whether the fund is near final liquidation
•
whether the fair value of the remaining assets in the fund is significantly in excess of the threshold at which the Company would earn an incentive fee
•
the probability of significant fluctuations in the fair value of the remaining assets
•
the SMA’s remaining investments are under contract for sale with contractual purchase prices that would result in no clawback and it is highly likely that the contracts will be consummated
Short-term changes in the fair values of funds' investments usually do not impact accrued performance fees. The overall impact of a short-term change in market value may be mitigated by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the way in which carried interest performance fees are calculated, which is not ultimately dependent on short-term moves in fair market value, but rather realize cumulative performance of the investments through the end of the long-dated private funds, and SMAs lives.
We have not recognized any performance fees for the year ended December 31, 2018. As such, we would not be impacted by an incremental 10% short-term increase or decrease in fair value of the investments in our separately management accounts.
Effect on Part I and Part II Incentive Fees
Incentive fees are based on certain specific hurdle rates as defined in our permanent capital vehicles' applicable investment management agreements. The Part II incentive fees are based upon realized gains netted against cumulative realized and unrealized losses. The Part I incentive fees are not subject to clawbacks as our carried interest performance fees are.
Short-term changes in the fair values of the investments of our permanent capital vehicles may materially impact Part II incentive fees depending on the respective vehicle's performance relative to applicable hurdles to the extent there were realized gains that we would otherwise earn Part II incentive fees on.
As such, based on an incremental 10% short-term increase in fair value of the investments in our permanent capital vehicles as of December 31, 2018, we calculated no change in Part I and II incentive fees for the year ended December 31, 2018. In the case of a 10% short-term decline in fair value of the investments in our permanent capital vehicles as of December 31, 2018, we calculated no change in Part I and II incentive fees for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Effect on Carried Interest
Carried interest are performance based fees that represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager. Carried interest are allocated to the Company based on cumulative fund performance to date, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s governing documents.
Short-term changes in the fair values of funds' investments may materially impact accrued carried interest depending on the respective funds' performance relative to applicable return levels. The overall impact of a short-term change in market value may be mitigated by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the way in which carried interest are calculated, which is not ultimately dependent on short-term moves in fair market value, but rather realized cumulative performance of the investments through the end of the long-dated private funds' lives. However, short-term moves can meaningfully impact our ability to accrue carried interest and receive cash payments in any given period.
As such, based on an incremental 10% short-term increase in fair value of the investments in our long-dated private funds
as of December 31, 2018, we calculated approximately a $7.6 million increase in carried interest for the year ended December 31, 2018. In the case of a 10% short-term decline in fair value of investments in our long-dated private funds as of December 31, 2018, we calculated approximately a $0.3 million decrease in carried interest for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2018, we had $138.9 million of debt outstanding, net of unamortized discount, premium, and issuance costs, presented as loans payable and senior unsecured debt in our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Our debt bears interest at fixed rates, and therefore is not subject to interest rate fluctuation risk.
As credit-oriented investors, we are also subject to interest rate risk through the securities we hold in our funds. A 100 basis point increase in interest rates would be expected to negatively affect prices of securities that accrue interest income at fixed rates and therefore negatively impact net change in unrealized appreciation on the funds' investments. The actual impact is dependent on the average duration of such holdings. Conversely, securities that accrue interest at variable rates would be expected to benefit from a 100 basis points increase in interest rates because these securities would generate higher levels of current income and therefore positively impact interest and dividend income, subject to LIBOR. In the cases where our funds pay management fees based on NAV, we would expect management fees to experience a change in direction and magnitude corresponding to that experienced by the underlying portfolios.
Credit Risk
We are party to agreements providing for various financial services and transactions that contain an element of risk in the event that the counterparties are unable to meet the terms of such agreements. In such agreements, we depend on the respective counterparty to make payment or otherwise perform. We generally endeavor to minimize our risk of exposure by limiting to reputable financial institutions the counterparties with which we enter into financial transactions. In other circumstances, availability of financing from financial institutions may be uncertain due to market events, and we may not be able to access these financing markets.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Members and the Board of Directors of Medley LLC
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Medley LLC and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Changes in Methods of Accounting
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for revenue recognition in 2018 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” as of January 1, 2018. Also as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has elected to change its method of accounting for carried interest in 2018 and retrospectively applied this change as of January 1, 2016.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ RSM US LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2014.
New York, New York
April 1, 2019
F- 1
Medley LLC
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 2
Medley LLC
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 3
Medley LLC
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 4
Medley LLC
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 5
Medley LLC
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 6
Medley LLC
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Medley LLC is an alternative asset management firm offering yield solutions to retail and institutional investors. The Company's national direct origination franchise provides capital to the middle market in the United States of America. Medley LLC provides investment management services to permanent capital vehicles, long-dated private funds and separately managed accounts and serves as the general partner to the private funds, which are generally organized as pass-through entities. Medley LLC is headquartered in New York City.
The Company’s business is currently comprised of only one reportable segment, the investment management segment, and substantially all of the Company operations are conducted through this segment. The investment management segment provides investment management services to permanent capital vehicles, long-dated private funds and separately managed accounts. The Company conducts its investment management business in the U.S., where substantially all its revenues are generated.
Registered Public Offering of Medley LLC Notes
On August 9, 2016, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of $25.0 million of an aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") at a public offering price of 100% of the principal amount. On October 18, 2016, Medley LLC completed a public offering of an additional $28.6 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Notes at a public offering price of $24.45 for each $25.00 principal amount of notes. The notes mature on August 15, 2026 and interest is payable quarterly. The notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at Medley's option on or after August 15, 2019 at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Company's Term Loan Facility. The 2026 Notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades thereon under the trading symbol “MDLX.”
On January 18, 2017, Medley LLC completed a registered public offering of $34.5 million of an aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) at a public offering price of 100% of the principal amount. On February 22, 2017, Medley LLC completed a public offering of an additional $34.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes at a public offering price of $25.25 for each $25.00 principal amount of notes. The 2024 Notes mature on January 30, 2024 and interest is payable quarterly commencing on April 30, 2017. The notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at Medley's option on or after January 30, 2020 at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay the remaining outstanding indebtedness under the Term Loan Facility and for general corporate purposes. The 2024 Notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades thereon
under the trading symbol “MDLQ.”
Medley LLC Reorganization
In connection with the IPO of Medley Management Inc., Medley LLC amended and restated its limited liability agreement to modify its capital structure by reclassifying the 23,333,333 interests held by the pre-IPO members into a single new class of units (“LLC Units”). The pre-IPO members also entered into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees thereof) have the right, subject to the terms of an exchange agreement, to exchange their LLC Units for shares of Medley Management Inc.’s Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications. In addition, pursuant to the amended and restated limited liability agreement, Medley Management Inc. became the sole managing member of Medley LLC.
The pre-IPO owners were, subject to limited exceptions, prohibited from transferring any LLC Units held by them or any shares of Class A common stock received upon exchange of such LLC Units, until September 29, 2017, which was the third anniversary of the date of the closing of the IPO, without the Company’s consent. Thereafter and prior to the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the closing of the IPO, such holders may not transfer more than 33 1/3% and 66 2/3%, respectively, of the number of LLC Units held by them, together with the number of any shares of Class A common stock received by them upon exchange therefore, without the Company’s consent.
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On August 9, 2018 MDLY entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with Sierra Income Corporation ("Sierra" or "SIC"), pursuant to which MDLY will merge with and into Sierra Management Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and MDLY’s existing asset management business will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra. MDLY's Class A stockholders will receive 0.3836 shares of Sierra’s common stock, $3.44 per share of cash consideration and $0.65 per share in special cash dividends for each share of Class A common stock held by them. Medley LLC unitholders will convert their units into shares of Class A common stock and will receive 0.3836 shares of Sierra’s common stock, $3.44 per share of cash consideration and $0.35 per share in a special cash dividend for each share of Class A common stock held by them.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F- 7
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Simultaneously, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Medley Capital Corporation ("MCC") and Sierra, MCC will merge with and into SIC, with SIC as the surviving entity. MCC shareholders will receive 0.805 shares of the Sierra’s common stock for each share of MCC common stock they hold.
As a condition to closing, Sierra’s common stock will be listed to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The mergers are cross conditioned upon each other and are subject to approval by the shareholders of MDLY, MCC and Sierra, regulators, including the SEC, other customary closing conditions and third party consents. While there can be no assurances as to the exact timing, or that the merger will be completed at all, the Company expects the merger to be completed as early as the first half of 2019.
Transaction expenses, primarily consisting of professional fees, related to the pending merger are included in general, administrative and other expenses and were approximately $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of Medley LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Medley” or the “Company”). Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation, the Company consolidates those entities where it has a direct and indirect controlling financial interest based on either a variable interest model or voting interest model. As such, the Company consolidates entities that the Company concludes are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and entities in which it holds a majority voting interest or has majority ownership and control over the operational, financial and investing decisions of that entity.
For legal entities evaluated for consolidation, the Company must determine whether the interests that it holds and fees paid to it qualify as a variable interest in an entity. This includes an evaluation of the management fees and performance fees paid to the Company when acting as a decision maker or service provider to the entity being evaluated. If fees received by the Company are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and the Company does not hold other economic interests in the entity that would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the expected losses or returns of the entity, the interest that the Company holds would not be considered a variable interest. The Company factors in all economic interests including proportionate interests through related parties, to determine if fees are considered a variable interest.
An entity in which the Company holds a variable interest is a VIE if any one of the following conditions exist: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, (b) the holders of equity investment at risk have the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the legal entity’s economic performance, (c) the voting rights of some investors are disproportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or rights to receive returns from a legal entity. For limited partnerships and other similar entities, non-controlling investors must have substantive rights to either dissolve the fund or remove the general partner (“kick-out rights”) in order to not qualify as a VIE.
For those entities that qualify as a VIE, the primary beneficiary is generally defined as the party who has a controlling financial interest in the VIE. The Company is generally deemed to have a controlling financial interest if it has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes initially involved with the VIE and reconsiders that conclusion continuously. The primary beneficiary evaluation is generally performed qualitatively on the basis of all facts and circumstances. However, quantitative information may also be considered in the analysis, as appropriate. These assessments require judgment. Each entity is assessed for consolidation on a case-by-case basis.
For those entities evaluated under the voting interest model, the Company consolidates the entity if it has a controlling financial interest. The Company has a controlling financial interest in a voting interest entity (“VOE”) if it owns a majority voting interest in the entity.
F- 8
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
As of December 31, 2018, Medley LLC had three majority owned subsidiaries, Medley Seed Funding I LLC, Medley Seed Funding II LLC and STRF Advisors LLC, which are consolidated VIEs. Each of these entities were organized as a limited liability company and was legally formed to either manage a designated fund or to strategically invest capital as well as isolate business risk. As of December 31, 2018, total assets and total liabilities, after eliminating entries, of these VIEs reflected in the consolidated balance sheets were $22.2 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, Medley LLC had four majority owned subsidiaries, Medley Seed Funding I LLC, Medley Seed Funding II LLC, STRF Advisors LLC and SIC Advisors LLC, which are consolidated VIEs. As of December 31, 2017, total assets and total liabilities, after eliminating entries, of these VIEs reflected in the consolidated balance sheets were $63.3 million and $13.0 million, respectively. Except to the extent of the assets of these VIEs that are consolidated, the holders of the consolidated VIEs’ liabilities generally do not have recourse to the Company.
Seed Investments
The Company accounts for seed investments through the application of the voting interest model under ASC 810-10-25-1 through 25-14 and consolidates a seed investment when the investment advisor holds a controlling interest, which is, in general, 50% or more of the equity in such investment. For seed investments in which the Company does not hold a controlling interest, the Company accounts for such seed investment under the equity method of accounting, at its ownership percentage of such seed investment’s net asset value.
The Company seed funded $2.1 million to Sierra Total Return Fund ("STRF"), which commenced investment operations in June 2017. Since its inception through December 31, 2018, the Company owned 100% of the equity of STRF and, as such, consolidates STRF in its consolidated financial statements.
The balance sheet of STRF as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 is presented in the table below.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company's consolidated balance sheet reflects the elimination of $0.2 million of other assets, $0.1 million of accrued expenses and other liabilities and $2.1 million of equity as a result of the consolidation of STRF. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's consolidated balance sheet reflects the elimination of $1.0 million of other assets, $1.5 million of accrued expenses and other liabilities and $2.1 million of equity as a result of the consolidation of STRF. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, STRF did not generate any significant income or losses from operations.
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
The Company holds interests in certain VIEs that are not consolidated because the Company is not deemed the primary beneficiary. The Company's interest in these entities is in the form of insignificant equity interests and fee arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss represents the potential loss of assets by the Company relating to these non-consolidated entities.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company recorded investments, at fair value, attributed to these non-consolidated VIEs of $4.2 million, receivables of $1.8 million included as a component of other assets and a clawback obligation of $7.2 million included as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The clawback obligation assumes a hypothetical liquidation of a fund’s investments, at their then current fair values, and a portion of tax distributions relating to performance fees which would need to be returned. As of December 31, 2017, the Company recorded investments, at fair value, attributed to non-consolidated VIEs of $4.8 million, receivables of $2.4 million included as a component of other assets and a clawback obligation of $7.2 million included as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2018, the Company’s maximum exposure to losses from these entities is $5.9 million.
F- 9
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Concentration of Credit and Market Risk
In the normal course of business, the Company's underlying funds encounter significant credit and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of default on investments in debt securities, loans and derivatives that result from a borrower's or derivative counterparty's inability or unwillingness to make required or expected payments. Credit risk is increased in situations where the Company's underlying funds are investing in distressed assets or unsecured or subordinate loans or in securities that are a material part of its respective business. Market risk reflects changes in the value of investments due to changes in interest rates, credit spreads or other market factors. The Company's underlying funds may make investments outside of the United States. These non-U.S. investments are subject to the same risks associated with U.S. investments, as well as additional risks, such as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, heightened risk of political and economic instability, difficulties in managing the investments, potentially adverse tax consequences, and the burden of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions and estimates also require management to exercise judgment in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. Significant estimates and assumptions by management affect the carrying value of investments, certain accrued liabilities and the issuance of non-controlling interests at fair value. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and such differences could be material.
Indemnification
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contractual agreements that provide general indemnifications against losses, costs, claims and liabilities arising from the performance of individual obligations under such agreements. The Company has not experienced any prior claims or payments pursuant to such agreements. The Company’s individual maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on management’s experience, the Company expects the risk of loss to be remote.
Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries represent the component of equity in such consolidated entities held by third-parties or the Company's employees. These interests are adjusted for contributions to and distributions from the respective entities and are allocated income or loss based on their underlying ownership percentages.
Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests
Redeemable non-controlling interests represents interests of certain third parties that are not mandatorily redeemable but redeemable for cash or other assets at a fixed or determinable price or a fixed or determinable date, at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the Company. These interests are classified in the mezzanine section on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include liquid investments in money market funds and demand deposits. The Company had cash balances with financial institutions in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limits during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company monitors the credit standing of these financial institutions and has not experienced, and has no expectations of experiencing, any losses with respect to such balances.
Investments
Investments include equity method investments that are not consolidated but over which the Company exerts significant influence. The Company measures the carrying value of its public non-traded equity method investment at Net Asset Value ("NAV") per share. The Company measures the carrying value of its privately-held equity method investments by recording its share of the underlying income or loss of these entities.
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in fair value of the equity method investments is reflected as a component of investment income in the consolidated statements of operations along with the income and expense allocations from such investments.
F- 10
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The carrying amounts of equity method investments are reflected in Investments, at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. As the underlying entities that the Company manages and invests in are, for U.S. GAAP purposes, primarily investment companies which reflect their investments at estimated fair value, the carrying value of the Company’s equity method investments in such entities approximates fair value. The Company evaluates its equity-method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable.
For presentation in its consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company treats distributions received from certain equity method investments using the cumulative earnings approach. Under the cumulative earnings approach, an investor would compare the distributions received to its cumulative equity-method earnings since inception. Any distributions received up to the amount of cumulative equity earnings would be considered a return on investment and classified in operating activities. Any distributions in excess of cumulative equity earnings would be considered a return of investment and classified in investing activities.
Investments also include publicly traded common stock. The Company measures the fair value of its publicly traded common stock at the quoted market price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Any realized gains (losses) from the sale of investments and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in fair value are recorded in other income (expenses), net.
In connection with the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance, ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts, on January 1, 2018, the Company reassessed its accounting policy for performance fees earned during the period which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager. As a result of this reassessment the Company has determined that it should account for such performance fees within the scope of ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Accordingly, these performance fees are now classified as carried interest within investment income on the Company's consolidated statements of operations and balances due for such fees are included as a part of equity method investments within Investments, at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company has applied this change in accounting principle on a full retrospective basis, and prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
Investments also include the Company's investment in CK Pearl Fund, L.P. which is measured at cost less impairment. The Company performs a quantitative and qualitative assessment at each reporting date to determine whether the investment is impaired and an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value is recorded within other income (expenses), net on the Company's consolidated statement of operations if an impairment has been determined.
Investments of Consolidated Fund
In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the consolidated fund has categorized its investments carried at fair value, based on the priority of the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as discussed in Note 5. Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of the market participant who holds the financial instrument rather than an entity specific measure. Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at such market quotations, which are generally obtained from an independent pricing service or multiple broker-dealers or market makers. The consolidated fund weighs the use of third-party broker quotations, if any, in determining fair value based on management's understanding of the level of actual transactions used by the broker to develop the quote and whether the quote was an indicative price or binding offer. However, debt investments with remaining maturities within 60 days that are not credit impaired are valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates fair value. Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the consolidated fund’s board of trustees based upon input from management and third party valuation firms. Because these investments are illiquid and because there may not be any directly comparable companies whose financial instruments have observable market values, these loans are valued using a fundamental valuation methodology, consistent with traditional asset pricing standards, that is objective and consistently applied across all loans and through time.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets consist primarily of furniture and fixtures, computer equipment, and leasehold improvements and are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.
The Company calculates depreciation expense for furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life used for the respective assets, which generally ranges from three to seven years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining term of the underlying lease or estimated useful life of the improvement. Useful lives of leasehold improvements range from three to eight years. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized, while minor replacements, maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in Other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
F- 11
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs represent direct costs incurred in obtaining financing and are amortized over the term of the underlying debt using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s revolving credit facility are presented as a deferred charge and are included as a component of other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs associated with the Company’s senior unsecured debt are presented as a direct reduction in the carrying value of such debt, consistent with the presentation of debt discount. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included as a component of interest expense in the Company's consolidated statement of operations.
Revenues
As further described under Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Adopted as of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted new revenue recognition guidance for revenue from contracts with customers, effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of this new guidance did not have an impact on the Company's accounting for management fees, administrative fees and loan administration and transaction fees.
Management Fees
Medley provides investment management services to both public and private investment vehicles. Management fees include base management fees, other management fees, and Part I incentive fees, as described below.
Base management fees are calculated based on either (i) the average or ending gross assets balance for the relevant period, (ii) limited partners’ capital commitments to the funds, (iii) invested capital, (iv) NAV or (v) lower of cost or market value of a fund’s portfolio investments. Depending upon the contracted terms of the investment management agreement, management fees are paid either quarterly in advance or quarterly in arrears, and are recognized as earned over the period the services are provided.
Certain management agreements provide for Medley to receive other management fee revenue derived from up front origination fees paid by the funds' and/or separately managed accounts' underlying portfolio companies. These fees are recognized when the Company becomes entitled to such fees.
Certain management agreements also provide for Medley to receive Part I incentive fee revenue derived from net investment income (excluding gains and losses) above a hurdle rate. As it relates to MCC, these fees are subject to netting against realized and unrealized losses. Part I incentive fees are paid quarterly and are recognized as earned in the period the services are provided.
Performance Fees
Performance fees are contractual fees which do not represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager that are earned based on the performance of certain funds, typically, the Company’s separately managed accounts. Performance fees are earned based on the fund performance during the period, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s investment management agreement.
Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, effective January 1, 2018, the Company accounted for performance fees under Method 2 of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, for revenue based on a formula. Under this method, performance fees for any period were based upon an assumed liquidation of the underlying fund's net assets on the reporting date and were subject to reversal to the extent that cumulative previously recognized performance fees exceeded the amount due to the general partner or investment manager based on a fund's cumulative investment returns. Upon the adoption of ASC 606, the Company accounts for performance fees in accordance with this new standard, and will only recognize performance fees when it is probable that a significant reversal of such fees will not occur in the future.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, the Company did not record any reversals of previously recognized performance fees. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a reversal of $2.6 million of previously recognized performance fees under the previous revenue recognition standard.
Other Revenues and Fees
Medley provides administrative services to certain affiliated funds and is reimbursed for direct and allocated expenses incurred in providing such administrative services, as set forth in the respective underlying agreements. These fees are recognized as revenue in the period administrative services are rendered. Medley also acts as the administrative agent on certain deals for which Medley may earn loan administration fees and transaction fees. Medley may also earn consulting fees for providing non-advisory services related to our managed funds. These fees are recognized as revenue over the period to which the fees directly relate.
F- 12
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Carried Interest
Carried interest are performance based fees that represent a capital allocation of income to the general partner or investment manager. Carried interest are allocated to the Company based on cumulative fund performance to date, subject to the achievement of minimum return levels in accordance with the respective terms set out in each fund’s governing documents.
Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company accounted for carried interest under Method 2 of ASC 605, as previously described above. Upon adoption of ASC 606, the Company reassessed its accounting policy for carried interest and determined that carried interest is within the scope of the accounting for equity method investments, ASC 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures, and, as such, is not within the scope of ASC 606. Under ASC 323, the Company records carried interest in a consistent manner as it historically had which is based upon an assumed liquidation of that fund's net assets as of the reporting date, regardless of whether such amounts have been realized. For any given period, carried interest on the Company's consolidated statements of operations may include reversals of previously recognized carried interest due to a decrease in the value of a particular fund that results in a decrease of cumulative fees earned to date. Since fund return hurdles are cumulative, previously recognized carried interest also may be reversed in a period of appreciation that is lower than the particular fund's hurdle rate.
Carried interest received in prior periods may be required to be returned by the Company in future periods if the funds’ investment performance declines below certain levels. Each fund is considered separately in this regard and, for a given fund, carried interest can never be negative over the life of a fund. If upon a hypothetical liquidation of a fund’s investments, at their then current fair values, previously recognized and distributed carried interest would be required to be returned, a liability is established for the potential clawback obligation. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had not received any carried interest distributions, except for tax distributions related to the Company’s allocation of net income, which included an allocation of carried interest. Pursuant to the organizational documents of each respective fund, a portion of these tax distributions may be subject to clawback. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had accrued $7.2 million for clawback obligations that would need to be paid if the funds were liquidated at fair value as of the end of the reporting period. The Company’s actual obligation, however, would not become payable or realized until the end of a fund’s life.
Other Investment Income (loss)
Other investment income is comprised of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in fair value of the Company's equity method investments in addition to the income and expense allocations from such investments.
Performance Fee Compensation
Performance fee compensation relates to compensation expense arising from either the issuance of profit interests or equity interests in certain subsidiaries to select employees. Such subsidiaries were either setup for the object and purpose of receiving carried interest or as the general partner to certain of our long dated funds.
Profit-sharing arrangements are accounted for under ASC 710, Compensation - General, which requires compensation expense to be measured at fair value at the grant date and expensed over the vesting period, which is usually the period over which the service is provided. The fair value of the profit interests are re-measured at each balance sheet date and adjusted for changes in estimates of cash flows and vesting percentages. The impact of such changes is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as an increase or decrease to performance fee compensation.
The issuance of equity awards are accounted for under ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which requires expense to be measured at fair value at the grant date and expensed over the vesting period. Once vested the Company accounts for such equity awards as non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries on its consolidated financial statements.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense relating to equity based awards are measured at fair value as of the grant date, reduced for actual forfeitures in the period they occur, and expensed over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis as a component of compensation and benefits on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Prior to January 1, 2017, the fair value of equity based awards were amortized on a straight line basis over the requisite service period as stock based compensation expense and was reduced for the impact of estimated forfeitures. The Company estimated forfeitures based on its historical experience and revised its estimate if actual forfeitures differed from its initial estimates. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted a change in accounting policy as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 to account for forfeitures as they occur. As such, stock based compensation expense relating to equity based awards are measured at fair value as of the grant date, reduced for actual forfeitures in the period they occur, and expensed over the requisite service period on a straightline basis as a component of compensation and benefits on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
F- 13
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Income Taxes
The Company is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and is therefore not subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes since all income, gains and losses are passed through to its members. However, a portion of taxable income from Medley LLC and its subsidiaries are subject to New York City’s unincorporated business tax, which is included in the Company’s provision for income taxes.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. The Company also recognizes a tax benefit from uncertain tax positions only if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based on its technical merits. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions and other tax matters as a component of provision for income taxes. For interim periods, the Company accounts for income taxes based on its estimate of the effective tax rate for the year. Discrete items and changes in its estimate of the annual effective tax rate are recorded in the period they occur.
Reclassification of Prior Period Presentation
On January 1, 2018, the Company elected a change in accounting policy to account for performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager under ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. As a result of this change in accounting policy, certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current period presentation. Performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager were reclassified from performance fee revenue to investment income along with capital-based allocations of income and losses from the Company's equity method investments, which were previously classified within other income (expense), net on its consolidated statements of operations. On the Company's consolidated balance sheets, receivable amounts related to such performance fees were reclassified from performance fees receivable to investments, at fair value. There were no changes to the income allocations from the Company's equity method investments, which are included within investments, at fair value. These reclassifications had no net effect on the reported consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheets for any period.
Additionally, the Company has reclassified $0.2 million of cash and cash equivalents of its consolidated fund as of December 31, 2017 to cash and cash equivalents on the Company's consolidated balance sheets to conform to the current year's presentation.
Leases
Certain lease agreements contain escalating payments and rent holiday periods. The related rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the length of the lease term. The difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent. Leasehold improvements made by the lessee and funded by landlord allowances or other incentives are also recorded as deferred rent and are amortized as a reduction in rent expense over the term of the lease. Deferred rent is included as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Adopted as of January 1, 2018
In May 2014, the FASB issued accounting standards update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), and since then, has issued several amendments intended to provide interpretive clarifications and to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the new revenue recognition standard, both at transition and on an ongoing basis. The core principle of this guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for such goods or services. To achieve this, entities will apply a five step approach: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations within the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, each performance obligation is satisfied. The guidance also requires advanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers.
ASC 606 became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 and entities had the option of adopting this guidance using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company adopted ASC 606 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. Under this method, the Company recognized the cumulative-effect of adoption of this guidance as an adjustment to equity as of January 1, 2018, as further described below, but did not restate prior periods presented in its consolidated financial statements.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company’s current policy of recognizing performance fees earned from certain funds and separately managed accounts, which do not represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager changed. Previously such fees were recognized on a hypothetical liquidation basis as of each reporting date (Method 2 of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, for revenue based on a formula). Effective January 1, 2018, the Company will not be able to recognize such fees
F- 14
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
until such time that it is probable that a significant reversal in cumulative performance fees will not occur in the future. For performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager, the Company effected a change in accounting policy and now accounts for them under ASC 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. As such, these types of performance fees are not in the scope of the new revenue recognition standard. The Company expects that the pattern and amount of recognition under this new policy will not differ materially from the Company’s historical recognition of such fees, however the presentation and disclosure of such fees and the income from capital allocations related to these fees were altered. This change in accounting policy for performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager was retrospectively applied.
Additionally, as of January 1, 2018, the Company no longer defers reimbursable organizational, offering and other pre-launch costs associated with a fund’s formation. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company began expensing such costs as incurred until the respective fund commences operations and receives third party committed capital. Reimbursements for these costs will be recognized as a component of other revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations when the respective fund commences operations and receives third party committed capital.
As a result of the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance, the Company recorded a cumulative effect decrease to equity of $3.6 million, net of benefit from income taxes of $0.1 million, as of January 1, 2018, which relates to (1) certain performance fee revenue that would not have met the “probable that significant reversal will not occur” criteria of $3.0 million and (2) the reversal of reimbursable fund formation costs which were deferred on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet of $0.7 million. Also, certain reimbursable costs incurred on behalf of the Company's funds that were previously presented net in the Company's consolidated statements of operations are now presented on a gross basis beginning January 1, 2018. There were no changes from the way the Company previously recognized management fees, administrative fees and loan administration and transaction fees as the result of its adoption of ASU 2014-09 or its change in accounting policy for performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which requires that all investments in equity securities (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting) be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. This guidance eliminates the available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. However, companies may elect to measure equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2018. Under this new guidance, changes in the fair value of available-for-sale securities will no longer be classified in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income but rather as a component of other income (expense), net in its consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the adoption of this ASU, on January 1, 2018, the Company reclassified $11.0 million of cumulative unrealized losses, net of income tax benefit, from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to members' deficit on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Also, on the adoption date, the Company elected the measurement alternative provided under ASC 321, Investments - Equity Securities and will now account for its investment in CK Pearl Fund, L.P. at cost less impairment, adjusted for observable price changes for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. The adoption of this guidance may have a significant impact to the consolidated statements of operations going forward as any changes to the fair value of the Company's publicly traded securities that were previously accounted for as available-for-sale securities will now be reflected within other income (expense) on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Adopted as of July 1, 2018
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2018-03 clarifies certain aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-01. The clarifications in this accounting standards update relate to three classes of financial instruments: (1) equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, (2) financial liabilities for which the fair value option is elected and (3) forward contracts and purchase options on equity securities without a readily determinable fair value for which the measurement alternative is expected to be applied. This new guidance became effective for the Company on July 1, 2018 and the Company adopted such guidance as of that date. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations as it relates to lease assets and lease liabilities. This new guidance became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. The Company adopted this guidance using a modified retrospective approach which was required for adoption for all leases that exist at or commence after the date of initial application with an option to use certain practical expedients. The Company has
F- 15
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
elected to use the practical expedients which would allow the Company to treat lease and non-lease components of its leases as a single component, have the ability to use hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment of right-of-use assets, not to reassess lease classification or whether an arrangement is or contains a lease and not to reassess its initial accounting for direct lease costs.
The Company has evaluated all of its leases and determined that there will not be a material impact on the amount or timing of recording lease expense as a result of adopting ASC 842. The adoption of ASC 842 will, however, result in the establishment of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company currently anticipates that the right-of-use asset and lease liability recognized upon adoption will be approximately $8.2 million and $10.2 million, respectively. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASC 842 will result in significant changes to its internal processes, including its internal control over financial reporting. Additionally, it does not anticipate that the adoption will impact any covenants associated with its financial obligations. The Company adopted this guidance using the transition method that allows it to initially apply Topic 842 at the adoption date of January 1, 2019.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This guidance eliminates certain disclosure requirements related to the fair value hierarchy, modifies existing disclosure requirements related to measurement uncertainty and adds new disclosure requirements. The new disclosure requirements include disclosing the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. This new guidance is effective beginning on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Certain disclosures in the new guidance will need to be applied on a retrospective basis and others on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance and it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The Company does not believe any other recently issued, but not yet effective, revisions to authoritative guidance will have a material effect on its consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.
3. REVENUES FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
The majority of the Company's revenues are derived from investment management and advisory contracts that are accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard, ASC 606.
Performance Obligations
Performance obligations are the unit of account under the new revenue recognition standard and represent the distinct goods or services that are promised to the customer. The majority of the Company's contracts have a single performance obligation to provide asset management, advisory and other related services to permanent capital vehicles, long-dated private funds and separately managed accounts. The Company also has a separate performance obligation to act as an agent for certain third party lenders and provide loan administration services to certain borrowers. These loan administration services also represent a single performance obligation.
The Company primarily provides investment management services to a fund by managing the fund’s investments and maximizing returns on those investments. The Company’s asset management, advisory and other related services are transferred over time to the customer on a day-to-day basis. The contracts with each fund create a distinct performance obligation for each quarter the Company provides the promised services to the customer, from which the customer can benefit from each individual quarter of service. Furthermore, each quarter of the promised services is considered separately identifiable because there is no integration of the promised services between quarters, each quarter does not modify services provided prior to that quarter, and the services provided are not interdependent or interrelated. Most services provided to these funds are provided continuously over the contract period, so the services in the contract generally represents a single performance obligation comprising a series of distinct service periods. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to the series of distinct services that constitute a single performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied.
The management fees earned by the Company are largely dependent on fluctuations in the market and, thus, the determination of such fees is highly susceptible to factors outside the Company's influence. Management fees typically have a large number and broad range of possible consideration amounts and historical experience is generally not indicative of future performance of the market. Hence, the Company is applying the exemption provided under the new revenue recognition guidance as the Company is unable to estimate the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied and the variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation.
The new revenue recognition standard also revises the criteria for determining if an entity is acting as a principal or agent in certain arrangements. Depending on whether the Company is acting as the principal or as an agent, certain reimbursable expenses
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
that were previously recorded net are now presented as an expense on a gross basis on the Company's consolidated statement of operations.
Significant Judgments
The Company's contracts with customers generally include a single performance obligation to provide asset management, advisory and other related services on a quarterly basis. Revenues are recognized as such performance obligation is satisfied and the constraint on the management fees is lifted on a quarterly basis, hence, the Company does not need to exercise significant judgments in regards to management fees. Consideration for management fees is received on a quarterly basis as the performance obligations is satisfied.
With respect to performance fees based on the economic performance of its SMAs, significant judgment is required when determining recognition of revenues. Such judgments include:
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whether the fund is near final liquidation
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whether the fair value of the remaining assets in the fund is significantly in excess of the threshold at which the Company would earn an incentive fee
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the probability of significant fluctuations in the fair value of the remaining assets
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the SMA’s remaining investments are under contract for sale with contractual purchase prices that would result in no clawback and it is highly likely that the contracts will be consummated
As such, the Company will consider the above factors at each reporting period to determine whether there is an amount of the SMA performance fees which should be recognized as revenue because it is probable that there will not be a significant future revenue reversal, hence, the “constraint” on the performance fees has been lifted.
The Company accounts for performance fees which represent capital allocations to the general partner or investment manager pursuant to accounting rules relating to investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting. As such, these types of performance fees are not within the scope of the new revenue recognition standard and the above significant judgments and constraints do not apply to them. Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 4 "Investments" for additional information.
Revenue by Category
The following tables present the Company's revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by type of customer for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Other revenues and fees primarily consist of revenues earned by Medley while providing administrative services to certain affiliated funds. The Other category above includes revenues earned by Medley while serving as loan administrative agent on certain deals, including loan administration and transaction fees. Additionally, this balance includes reimbursable origination and deal expenses, reimbursable entity formation and organizational expenses and consulting fees.
The Company's asset management, advisory and other related services are transferred over time and the Company recognizes these revenues over time as well.
Contract Balances
For certain customers, the Company has a performance obligation to provide loan administration services. The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to such customers or receiving consideration. For the majority of these services cash deposits are received prior to the performance obligation being met. The performance obligation of acting as a loan administrator is satisfied over time, therefore, the Company defers any payments received upfront as deferred revenue and recognizes revenue on a pro-rata basis over time as the loan administrative services are performed.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
These contract liabilities are reported as deferred revenue within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $0.3 million as of December 31, 2018. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the company recognized revenue from amounts included in deferred revenue of $0.7 million and received cash deposits of $0.8 million.
The Company did not have any contract assets as of December 31, 2018.
Comparative Tables
As the Company adopted the new revenue guidance (ASC 606) under the modified retrospective method, the Company is required to present what the Company's revenues would have been under the previous revenue guidance (ASC 605). The following tables present the reconciliation between the financial statement line items reported on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 under ASC 606 to what would have been reported under the previous guidance ASC 605.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following tables present the reconciliation between the Company's reported consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 under ASC 606 to what would have been reported under the previous revenue recognition guidance, ASC 605.
Assets Recognized for the Costs to Obtain or Fulfill a Contract
As part of providing investment management services to a fund, the Company might incur certain placement fees to third parties for obtaining new investors for the fund. The Company determined that placement fees which are paid in cash over time, as fees are earned, do not relate to a new contract at the time the payment is made. These costs do not represent a cost to obtain a new contract but rather a cost to fulfill an existing contract. The Company does not recognize any assets for the incremental costs of obtaining or fulfilling a contract with a customer and expenses placement fees as incurred.
4. INVESTMENTS
Investments consist of the following:
Equity Method Investments
Medley measures the carrying value of its public non-traded equity method investment at NAV per share. Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in NAV per share is reflected as a component of other investment loss on the Company's consolidated statements of operations. The carrying value of the Company’s privately-held equity method investments is determined based on the amounts invested by the Company plus the equity in earnings or losses of the investee allocated based on the respective underlying agreements, less distributions received.
The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. There were no impairment losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s carrying value of its equity method investments was $13.4 million and $14.1 million, respectively. The Company's equity method investment in shares of Sierra Income Corporation (“SIC” or "Sierra"), a related party, were $7.4 million and $8.5 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The remaining balance as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 relates primarily to the Company’s investments in Medley Opportunity Fund II, LP ("MOF II"), Medley Opportunity Fund III LP (“MOF III”), Medley Opportunity Fund Offshore III LP (“MOF III Offshore”) and Aspect-Medley Investment Platform B LP ("Aspect B").
For performance fees earned which represent a capital allocation to the general partner or investment manager, the Company elected a change in accounting policy and, as of January 1, 2018, accounts for such fees under the equity method of accounting. As such, commencing on January 1, 2018, performance fees due to the Company are included as a component of equity method investments within investments, at fair value rather than as a component of performance fees receivable on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the balance due to the Company for such performance fees was $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Revenues associated with these performance fees are classified as carried interest within investment income on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
The entities in which the Company's investments are accounted for under the equity method are considered to be related parties.
Investments in shares of MCC, at fair value
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company held 7,756,938 shares of MCC which are carried at fair value based upon the quoted market price on the exchange on which the shares trade. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized unrealized losses of $19.9 million, which were included as a component of other income (expense), net on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Of that amount, $16.3 million was allocated to net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries and $3.6 million to net loss attributable to Medley LLC.
Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, the Company's investment in shares of MCC were classified as available-for-sale securities, with cumulative unrealized gains (losses) recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded unrealized losses of $11.1 million, respectively, as a component of other comprehensive income.
Investment Held at Cost
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company elected to use the measurement alternative provided under ASC 321, Investments- Equity Securities and measure its investment in CK Pearl at cost less impairment, adjusted for observable price changes for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. The carrying amount of this investment was $0.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2017. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, the Company recorded a $0.1 million and a $0.5 million impairment loss on its investment in CK Pearl Fund, respectively, which is included as a component
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
of other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations. There was no impairment losses recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Prior to January 1, 2018, the Company's investment in CK Pearl was accounted for under the equity method. The carrying value of the Company's investment in CK Pearl was determined based on the financial information provided to the Company by the fund manager and the likelihood of recovering the Company's investment in the fund.
Investments of consolidated fund
Medley measures the carrying value of investments held by its consolidated fund at fair value. As of December 31, 2018, investments of consolidated fund consisted of $0.4 million of equity investments and $1.6 million of senior secured loans. As of December 31, 2017, investments of consolidated fund consisted of $0.4 million of equity investments and $1.6 million of senior secured loans. Refer to Note 5 "Fair Value Measurements" for additional information.
Significant equity method investments
In accordance with Rules 3-09 and 4-08(g) of Regulation S-X, the Company must assess whether any of its equity method investments are significant equity method investments. In evaluating the significance of these investments, the Company performed the income test, the investment test and the asset test described in S-X 3-05 and S-X 1-02(w). Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X requires separate audited financial statements of an equity method investee in an annual report if either the income or investment test exceeds 20%. Rule 4-08(g) of Regulation S-X requires summarized financial information in an annual report if any of the three tests exceeds 10%, or 20% in the case of smaller reporting companies. Under the asset test, the Company’s proportionate share of its equity method investees' aggregated assets exceeded the applicable threshold of 20% for smaller reporting companies, and the Company has determined to hold significant equity method investments and is required to provide summarized financial information for these investees for all periods presented in this Form 10-K. The Company believes that the financial captions below are the most meaningful given that the investees are investment companies.
The following tables provides summarized balance sheet information for the Company's equity method investees, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
The following table provides summarized income statement information for the Company's equity method investees, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Fair value is the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters, or derived from such prices or parameters. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation models are applied. These valuation models involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity. The Company’s fair value analysis includes an analysis of the value of any unfunded loan commitments. Financial investments recorded at fair value in the consolidated financial statements are categorized for disclosure purposes based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs to the valuation of the investment as of the measurement date. Investments which are valued using NAV as a practical expedient are excluded from this hierarchy:
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Level I - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
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Level II - Valuations based on inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level I, which are either directly or indirectly observable at the measurement date. This category includes quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non- active markets including actionable bids from third parties for privately held assets or liabilities, and observable inputs other than quoted prices such as yield curves and forward currency rates that are entered directly into valuation models to determine the value of derivatives or other assets or liabilities.
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Level III - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and where there is little, if any, market activity at the measurement date. The inputs for the determination of fair value may require significant management judgment or estimation and are based upon management’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets and liabilities. These investments include debt and equity investments in private companies or assets valued using the Market or Income Approach and may involve pricing models whose inputs require significant judgment or estimation because of the absence of any meaningful current market data for identical or similar investments. The inputs in these valuations may include, but are not limited to, capitalization and discount rates, beta and EBITDA multiples. The information may also include pricing information or broker quotes which include a disclaimer that the broker would not be held to such a price in an actual transaction. The non-binding nature of consensus pricing and/or quotes accompanied by disclaimer would result in classification as Level III information, assuming no additional corroborating evidence.
The following tables summarize the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial assets measured at fair value:
Included in investments of consolidated fund as of December 31, 2018 are Level I assets of $0.3 million in equity investments and Level III assets of $1.7 million, which consists of senior secured loans and equity investments. Included in investments of consolidated fund as of December 31, 2017 are Level I assets of $0.4 million in equity investments and Level III assets of $1.6 million, which consists of senior secured loans and preferred equity investments. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of Level III assets of the consolidated fund's investments in senior secured loans include market yields. Significant increases or decreases in market yields in isolation would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. There were no significant unrealized gains or losses related to the investments of consolidated fund for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following is a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's financial assets that have been categorized within Level III of the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
A review of the fair value hierarchy classifications is conducted on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification for certain financial assets or liabilities. Reclassifications impacting all levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported as transfers in or out of Level I, II or III category as of the beginning of the quarter during which the reclassifications occur. There were no transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy during the year ended December 31, 2018.
When determining the fair value of publicly traded equity securities, the Company uses the quoted closing market price as of the valuation date on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Our equity method investments for which fair value is measured at NAV per share, or its equivalent, using the practical expedient, are not categorized in the fair value hierarchy.
The Company's investments of consolidated fund are treated as investments at fair value and any realized and unrealized gains and losses from those investments are recorded through the consolidated statement of operations. The Company's treatment is consistent with that of STRF, which is considered an investment company under ASC 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies, for standalone reporting purposes.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6. OTHER ASSETS
Other assets consist of the following:
7. SENIOR UNSECURED DEBT
The carrying value of the Company’s senior unsecured debt consists of the following:
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2026 Notes
On August 9, 2016 and October 18, 2016, the Company issued debt consisting of $53.6 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2026 at a stated coupon rate of 6.875% (the "2026 Notes"). The net proceeds from these offerings were used to pay down a portion of the Company's outstanding indebtedness under its Term Loan Facility. Interest is payable quarterly and interest payments commenced on November 15, 2016. The 2026 Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after August 15, 2019 at a redemption price per security equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. The 2026 notes were recorded net of discount and direct issuance costs of $3.8 million which are being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest rate method. The 2026 Notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades thereon under the trading symbol “MDLX.” The fair value of the 2026 Notes based on their underlying quoted market price was $43.4 million as of December 31, 2018.
Interest expense on the 2026 Notes, including accretion of note discount and amortization of debt issuance costs, was $4.0 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
2024 Notes
On January 18, 2017 and February 22, 2017, the Company issued $69.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2024 at a stated coupon rate of 7.25% (the "2024 Notes"). The net proceeds from these offerings were used to pay down the remaining portion of the Company's outstanding indebtedness under its Term Loan Facility with the remaining to be used for general corporate purposes. Interest is payable quarterly and interest payments commenced on April 30, 2017. The 2024 Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after January 30, 2020 at a redemption price per security equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest payments. The 2024 notes were recorded net of premium and direct issuance costs of $2.8 million which are being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest rate method. The 2024 Notes are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades thereon under the trading symbol “MDLQ.” The fair value of the 2024 Notes based on their underlying quoted market price was $61.1 million as of December 31, 2018.
Interest expense on the 2024 Notes, including amortization of debt premium and debt issuance costs, was $5.4 million and $4.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
8. LOANS PAYABLE
Loans payable consist of the following:
CNB Credit Agreement
On August 19, 2014, the Company entered into a $15.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with City National Bank (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The most recent amendment dated September 22, 2017 extended the Revolving Credit Facility maturity date to March 31, 2020 and provides for an incremental facility in an amount up to $10.0 million upon the fulfillment of certain customary conditions, as well as other changes. The Company intends to use any proceeds from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility for general corporate purposes, including funding of its working capital needs. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at the option of the Company, either (i) at an Alternate Base Rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin not to exceed 0.25% or (ii) at an Adjusted LIBOR plus an applicable margin not to exceed 2.5%. As of the year ended December 31, 2018, there were no amounts drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility. The capitalized terms below are defined in the Revolving Credit Facility, where applicable.
The Revolving Credit Facility also contains financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a Maximum Net Leverage Ratio, as defined, of not greater than 5.0 to 1.0, a Total Leverage Ratio, as defined, of not greater than 7.0 to 1.0 and Core EBITDA, as defined, of not less than $15.0 million. These ratios are calculated on a trailing twelve months basis and are calculated using the Company’s financial results and include adjustments made to calculate Core EBITDA. Non-compliance with any of the financial or non-financial covenants without cure or waiver would constitute an event of default. The Revolving Credit
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Facility also contains customary negative covenants and other customary events of default, including defaults based on events of bankruptcy and insolvency, dissolution, nonpayment of principal, interest or fees when due, breach of specified covenants, change in control and material inaccuracy of representations and warranties. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was not in compliance with its financial covenants due to the impact of the costs associated with its pending merger on Core EBITDA.
On March 28, 2019, the Company entered into Amendment Number Four to Credit Agreement and Waiver ("Amendment Four") with City National Bank ("CNB"). Amendment Four limits the aggregate amount of borrowings at any one time outstanding not to exceed the lesser of (a) the Maximum Revolver Amount, as defined, and (b) Core EBITDA calculated for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the month that is 30 days prior to the date of borrowing; provided, that at no time shall the amount of such lender’s aggregate loans exceed such lender’s revolving credit facility commitment. Also pursuant to Amendment Four, CNB agreed to waive the financial covenants relating to Total Leverage Ratio and Core EBITDA with respect to the period ending December 31, 2018. The Company is currently in discussions with City National Bank to further amend the covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility which would be effective for the second quarter of 2019 through the Revolving Credit Facility's maturity date. There were no amounts drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility since its inception through December 31, 2018.
Amortization of deferred issuance costs associated with the Revolving Credit Facility were $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Credit Suisse Term Loan Facility
On August 14, 2014, the Company entered into a $110.0 million senior secured term loan credit facility (as amended, “Term Loan Facility”) with Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent thereunder, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as bookrunner and lead arranger, and the lenders from time-to-time party thereto, which had an original maturity date of June 15, 2019. In February 2017, borrowings under this facility were paid off using the proceeds from the issuance of senior unsecured debt and the Term Loan Facility was terminated.
During the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016, interest expense under the Term Loan Facility, including accretion of the note discount and amortization of debt issuance costs were $1.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Non-Recourse Promissory Notes
In April 2012, the Company borrowed $10.0 million under two non-recourse promissory notes. Proceeds from the borrowings were used to purchase 1,108,033 shares of common stock of SIC, which were pledged as collateral for the obligations. Interest on the notes is paid monthly and is equal to the dividends received by the Company related to the pledged shares. The Company may prepay the notes in whole or in part at any time without penalty and the lenders may call the notes if certain conditions are met. The Company extended the maturity date from March 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The proceeds from the notes were recorded net of issuance costs of $3.8 million and are being accreted, using the effective interest method, over the term of the non-recourse promissory notes. Total interest expense under these notes, including accretion of the notes discount, was $1.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. The fair value of the outstanding balance of the notes was $10.0 million as of December 31, 2018 and $10.1 million as of December 31, 2017.
On January 31, 2019. the Company entered into a termination agreement with the lenders which will become effective upon the closing of the Company's pending merger with SIC. In accordance with the provisions of the termination agreement, the Company will be required to pay the lenders $6.5 million on or prior to the merger closing date, reimburse the lenders for their out of pocket legal fees and enter into a new $6.5 million promissory note ("New Promissory Note"). The New Promissory Note will bear interest at LIBOR plus 7.0% and maturity will be six months after the closing date. Such consideration would be for the full satisfaction of the two aforementioned non-recourse promissory notes and related agreements, including the Company's revenue share payable, as further described in Note 11.
Contractual Maturities of Loans Payable
As further described above, upon closing of the Company's pending merger with SIC, the Company's two non-recourse promissory and revenue sharing arrangement would be settled for payment of $6.5 million on or prior to the merger closing date and delivery of the New Promissory Note. If the pending merger does not close, $10.0 million of future principal payments will be due, relating to loans payable, during the year ended December 31, 2019.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
9. DUE TO FORMER MINORITY INTEREST HOLDER
In January 2016, the Company executed an amendment to SIC Advisors' operating agreement which provided the Company with the right to redeem membership units owned by the minority interest holder, Strategic Capital Advisory Services, LLC. The Company’s redemption right was triggered by the termination of the dealer manager agreement between SIC and SC Distributors LLC ("DMA Termination"), an affiliate of the minority interest holder. As a result of this redemption feature, the Company reclassified the non-controlling interest in SIC Advisors from the equity section of its consolidated balance sheet to redeemable non-controlling interests in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheet based on its fair value as of the amendment date. On July 31, 2018, a DMA Termination event occurred and, as a result, the Company reclassified the redeemable non-controlling interest in SIC Advisors from redeemable non-controlling in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheet to due to former minority interest holder, a component of total liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, based on its fair value as of that date (See Note 15).
In December, 2018, Medley LLC entered into a Letter Agreement with Strategic Capital Advisory Services, LLC, whereby consideration of $14.0 million was agreed upon for the satisfaction in full of all amounts owed by Medley under the LLC Agreement. The amount due will be paid in sixteen equal installments through August 5, 2022. The Company evaluated this agreement under ASC 470-50, Debt - Modifications and Extinguishments, to determine if modification or extinguishment treatment was necessary. After performing this analysis under ASC 470-50, the Company determined modification treatment was appropriate and a new effective interest rate was established on the modification date.
As of December 31, 2018 future payments due to former minority interest holder are as follows (in thousands):
For the year ending December 31, 2018, amortization of the note discount was less than $0.1 million.
10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following:
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Leases
Medley leases office space in New York City and San Francisco under non-cancelable lease agreements that expire at various times through September 2023. Rent expense amounted to $2.3 million, $2.4 million and $2.5 million for each of the years ending December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
As of December 31, 2018 future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable lease agreements are as follows (in thousands):
On July 21 2018, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with a third party for the sublease of its San Fransisco office. The term of the sublease commenced on August 31, 2018 and expires on January 31, 2021. Sublease income for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $0.1 million and is excluded from the rent expense amounts above. Minimum sublease income for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 will be $0.4 million. Minimum sublease income for the year ended December 31, 2021 will be less than $0.1 million.
Consolidation of Business Activities
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company initiated the consolidation of its business activities to its New York office. The Company believes this will enhance operations by consolidating origination, underwriting and asset management operations and personnel in a single location. During year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $2.7 million in severance costs related to the consolidation of its business activities to its New York office. In addition, the company incurred a $0.2 million loss from subleasing its San Francisco office during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Capital Commitments to Funds
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had aggregate unfunded commitments of $0.3 million to certain long-dated private funds.
Other Commitments
In April 2012, the Company entered into an obligation to pay to a third party a fixed percentage of management and incentive fees received by the Company from SIC. The agreement was entered into contemporaneously with the $10.0 million non-recourse promissory notes that were issued to the same parties (Note 8). The two transactions were deemed to be related freestanding contracts and the $10.0 million of loan proceeds were allocated to the contracts using their relative fair values. At inception, the Company recognized an obligation of $4.4 million representing the present value of the future cash flows expected to be paid under this agreement. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, this obligation amounted to $3.0 million and $3.8 million, respectively, and is recorded as revenue share payable, a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The change in the estimated cash flows for this obligation is recorded in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations.
On January 31, 2019, the Company entered into a termination agreement with the lenders which would become effective upon the closing of the Company's pending merger with SIC. In accordance with the provisions of the termination agreement, the Company would pay the lenders $6.5 million on or prior to the merger closing date, reimburse the lenders for their out of pocket legal fees and enter into a six month $6.5 million promissory note. The promissory note would bear interest at seven percentage points over the LIBOR Rate, as defined in the termination agreement. Such consideration would be for the full satisfaction of the two non-recourse promissory notes disclosed in Note 8 as well as the Company's obligation above.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, lawsuits and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. Its business is also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against it. Except as described below, the Company is not currently party to any material legal proceedings.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
One of the Company's subsidiaries, MCC Advisors LLC, was named as a defendant in a lawsuit on May 29, 2015, by Moshe Barkat and Modern VideoFilm Holdings, LLC (“MVF Holdings”) against MCC, MOF II, MCC Advisors LLC, Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP A/K/A Deloitte ERG (“Deloitte”), Scott Avila (“Avila”), Charles Sweet, and Modern VideoFilm, Inc. (“MVF”). The lawsuit is pending in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Central District, as Case No. BC 583437. The lawsuit was filed after MCC, as agent for the lender group, exercised remedies following a series of defaults by MVF and MVF Holdings on a secured loan with an outstanding balance at the time in excess of $65 million. The lawsuit sought damages in excess of $100 million. Deloitte and Avila have settled the claims against them in exchange for payment of $1.5 million. On June 6, 2016, the court granted the Medley defendants’ demurrers on several counts and dismissed Mr. Barkat’s claims with prejudice except with respect to his claim for intentional interference with contract. On March 18, 2018, the court granted the Medley defendants’ motion for summary adjudication with respect to Mr. Barkat’s sole remaining claim against the Medley Defendants for intentional interference. Now that the trial court has ruled in favor of the Medley defendants on all counts, the only remaining claims in the Barkat litigation are MCC and MOF II’s affirmative counterclaims against Mr. Barkat and MVF Holdings, which MCC and MOF II are diligently prosecuting.
On August 29, 2016, MVF Holdings filed another lawsuit in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Central District, as Case No. BC 631888 (the “Derivative Action”), naming MCC Advisors LLC and certain of Medley’s employees as defendants, among others. The plaintiff in the Derivative Action, asserts claims against the defendants for breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, interference with prospective economic advantage, fraud, and declaratory relief. MCC Advisors LLC and the other defendants believe the causes of action asserted in the Derivative Action are without merit and all defendants intend to continue to assert a vigorous defense. All proceedings in the Derivative Action have been stayed as a result of the chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of MVF, which were commenced on May 16, 2018.
Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube were named as defendants, along with other various parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned as Royce Solomon, Jodi Belleci, Michael Littlejohn, and Giulianna Lomaglio v. American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Mark Curry, MacFarlane Group, Inc., Sol Partners, Medley Opportunity Fund, II, LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, Seth Taube, DHI Computing Service, Inc., Middlemarch Partners, and John Does 1-100, filed on December 15, 2017 and amended on March 9, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, as Case No. 4:17-cv-145 (hereinafter, “Class Action 1”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation were also named as defendants, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned George Hengle and Lula Williams v. Mark Curry, American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Red Stone, Inc., Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, and Medley Capital Corporation, filed February 13, 2018, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, as Case No. 3:18-cv-100 (“Class Action 2”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation were also named as defendants, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned John Glatt, Sonji Grandy, Heather Ball, Dashawn Hunter, and Michael Corona v. Mark Curry, American Web Loan, Inc., AWL, Inc., Red Stone, Inc., Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, and Medley Capital Corporation, filed August 9, 2018 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, as Case No. 4:18-cv-101 (“Class Action 3”) (together with Class Action 1 and Class Action 2, the “Virginia Class Actions”). Medley Opportunity Fund II LP was also named as a defendant, along with various other parties, in a putative class action lawsuit captioned Christina Williams and Michael Stermel v. Red Stone, Inc. (as successor in interest to MacFarlane Group, Inc.), Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Mark Curry, Brian McGowan, Vincent Ney, and John Doe entities and individuals, filed June 29, 2018 and amended July 26, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as Case No. 2:18-cv-2747 (the “Pennsylvania Class Action”) (together with the Virginia Class Actions, the “Class Action Complaints”). The plaintiffs in the Class Action Complaints filed their putative class actions alleging claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and various other claims arising out of the alleged payday lending activities of American Web Loan. The claims against Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube (in Class Action 1, as amended); Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation (in Class Action 2 and Class Action 3); and Medley Opportunity Fund II LP (in the Pennsylvania Class Action), allege that those defendants in each respective action exercised control over, or improperly derived income from, and/or obtained an improper interest in, American Web Loan’s payday lending activities as a result of a loan to American Web Loan. The loan was made by Medley Opportunity Fund II LP in 2011. American Web Loan repaid the loan from Medley Opportunity Fund II LP in full in February of 2015, more than 1 year and 10 months prior to any of the loans allegedly made by American Web Loan to the alleged class plaintiff representatives in Class Action 1. In Class Action 2, the alleged class plaintiff representatives have not alleged when they received any loans from American Web Loan. In Class Action 3, the alleged class plaintiff representatives claim to have received loans from American Web Loan at various times from February 2015 through April 2018. In the Pennsylvania Class Action, the alleged class plaintiff representatives claim to have received loans from American Web Loan in 2017. By orders dated August 7, 2018 and September 17, 2018, the Court presiding
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
over the Virginia Class Actions consolidated those cases for all purposes. On October 12, 2018, Plaintiffs in Class Action 3 filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of their claims, without prejudice, against Medley Opportunity Fund II, LP and Medley Capital Corporation. On October 22, 2018, the parties to Class Action 2 settled. On October 29, 2018, the plaintiffs in Class Action 2 stipulated to the dismissal of their claims against all defendants in Class Action 2 (including Medley Opportunity Fund II LP and Medley Capital Corporation), with prejudice. Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management, Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube never made any loans or provided financing to, or had any other relationship with, American Web Loan. Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, Seth Taube are seeking indemnification from American Web Loan, various affiliates, and other parties with respect to the claims in the Class Action Complaints. Medley Opportunity Fund II LP, Medley LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management, Inc., Medley Group, LLC, Brook Taube, and Seth Taube believe the alleged claims in the Class Action Complaints are without merit and they intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously.
On January 25, 2019, two purported class actions were commenced in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, by alleged stockholders of Medley Capital Corporation, captioned, respectively, Helene Lax v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650503/2019, and Richard Dicristino, et al. v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650510/2019 (together with the Lax Action, the “New York Actions”). Named as defendants in each complaint are Brook Taube, Seth Taube, Jeffrey Tonkel, Arthur S. Ainsberg, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, John E. Mack, Mark Lerdal, Richard T. Allorto, Jr., Medley Capital Corporation (“MCC”), Medley Management Inc., Sierra Income Corporation, and Sierra Management, Inc. (“Sierra”). The complaints in each of the New York Actions allege that the individuals named as defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed merger of MCC with and into Sierra, and that the other defendants aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Compensatory damages in unspecified amounts are sought. The defendants believe the claims asserted in the New York Actions are without merit and they intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously.
On February 11, 2019, a purported stockholder class action was commenced in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and FrontFour Master Fund, Ltd., captioned FrontFour Capital Group LLC, et al. v. Brooke Taub, et al., Case No. 2019-0100 (the “Delaware Action”). Named as defendants in the complaint are Brook Taube, Seth Taube, Jeff Tonkel, Mark Lerdal, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, John E. Mack, Arthur S. Ainsberg, Medley Management Inc. (“Medley Management”), Sierra Income Corporation (“Sierra”), and Medley Capital Corporation (“MCC”). The complaint alleges that the individuals named as defendants breached their fiduciary duties to MCC stockholders in connection with the proposed merger of MCC with and into Sierra, and that Medley Management and Sierra aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaint seeks to enjoin the March 8, 2019 vote of MCC stockholders on the proposed merger and enjoin enforcement of certain provisions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2018, by and between MCC and Sierra. The plaintiffs filed a motion to expedite simultaneously with their complaint, seeking an expedited trial prior to the March 8, 2019 stockholder vote or, in the alternative, a preliminary injunction hearing followed by an expedited trial as soon as the court’s schedule permits. The defendants believe the claims asserted in the Delaware Action are without merit and they intend to defend this lawsuit vigorously.
On January 25, 2019, two purported class actions were commenced in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, by alleged stockholders of Medley Capital Corporation, captioned, respectively, Helene Lax v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650503/2019, and Richard Dicristino, et al. v. Brook Taube, et al., Index No. 650510/2019 (together with the Lax Action, the “New York Actions”). Named as defendants in each complaint are Brook Taube, Seth Taube, Jeffrey Tonkel, Arthur S. Ainsberg, Karin Hirtler-Garvey, John E. Mack, Mark Lerdal, Richard T. Allorto, Jr., Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., Sierra Income Corporation, and Sierra Management, Inc. The complaints in each of the New York Actions allege that the individuals named as defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed merger of MCC with and into Sierra, and that the other defendants aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Compensatory damages in unspecified amounts are sought. On February 27, 2019, the Court entered a stipulated scheduling order requiring that defendants respond to the complaints 45 days following the later of (a) the stockholder vote on the proposed merger and (b) plaintiffs’ filing of a consolidated, amended complaint. A preliminary conference is scheduled to take place on April 16, 2019. The defendants believe the claims asserted in the New York Actions are without merit and they intend to defend these lawsuits vigorously. At this time, we are unable to determine whether an unfavorable outcome from these matters is probable or remote or to estimate the amount or range of potential loss, if any.
MARILYN S. ADLER, v. MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC et. al. (Supreme Court of New York, March 2019). Marilyn Adler, a former employee who served as a Managing Director of Medley Capital LLC, has filed suit in the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Part, against Medley Capital LLC, MCC Advisors, Medley SBIC GP, LLC, Medley Capital Corporation, Medley Management Inc., as well as Brook Taube, and Seth Taube, individually. Ms. Adler alleges that she is due in excess of $6.5 million in compensation based upon her role with Medley’s SBIC Fund. Her claims are for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, conversion, tortious interference, as well as a claim for an accounting of funds maintained by the defendants. The lawsuit was
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
filed on March 1, 2019 and is in its very initial stages. The Company believes the claims are without merit, intends to vigorously defend them, and is contemplating counterclaims against Ms. Adler.
While management currently believes that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or overall trends in consolidated results of operations, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties. The Company reviews relevant information with respect to litigation and regulatory matters on a quarterly and annual basis. The Company establishes liabilities for litigation and regulatory actions when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. For matters where a loss is believed to be reasonably possible, but not probable, no liability is established.
Employment Agreements
In connection with the Company's pending merger with SIC, the pre-IPO owners entered into employment agreements which would become effective upon the successful completion of the merger. Each employment agreement sets forth a base salary, which is subject to change at the discretion of the Board or compensation committee of the post merged entity. The initial term of the employment agreements range from 24 to 30 months. The combined initial base salaries of the pre-IPO members would be $3.0 million. Under the employment agreements, each pre-IPO owner is eligible to receive each year a short-term incentive paid in cash and a long-term incentive in the form of an equity award, each paid after the end of the year. Each employment agreement provides that the post merged entity's Board or compensation committee will establish a target annual bonus for each year of no less than a specified percentage of each pre-IPO owner's base salary and will establish performance and other objectives for the year for such annual bonus, in consultation with management. During their first year of employment, the combined target annual bonuses could amount up to $12.6 million of which $4.7 million would consist of cash and $7.9 million in the form of restricted stock units which would vest over a three year period.
The employment agreements also set forth bonuses for 2018 which the Board or the compensation committee of the post merger company may increase in recognition of performance in excess of performance objectives. The aggregate 2018 bonuses to the pre-IPO owners amount to $12.6 million of which $4.7 million would be payable in cash and $7.9 million in the form of restricted stock units which would vest over a three year period. As the 2018 bonus amounts per the employment agreements are not effective until the closing of the merger they were not accrued for as of December 31, 2018. Actual bonuses to the pre-IPO owners accrued for as of December 31, 2018 were $0.7 million.
The long-term equity incentive will be made in the form of a RSU award, vesting in three equal annual installments. The cash and equity award portions of the annual bonuses paid under the employment agreements will be subject to recoupment by the Combined Company to the extent required by applicable law (including without limitation Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Act) and/or the rules and regulations of the NYSE.
12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Substantially all of Medley’s revenue is earned through agreements with its non-consolidated funds for which it collects management and performance fees for providing asset management, advisory and other related services.
Expense Support and Reimbursement Agreement
From June 2012 through December 2016, Medley was party to an Expense Support and Reimbursement Agreement (“ESA”) with SIC. During the term of the ESA, which expired on December 31, 2016, Medley agreed to pay up to 100% of SIC's operating expenses in order for SIC to achieve a reasonable level of expenses relative to its investment income. Pursuant to the ESA, SIC had a conditional obligation to reimburse Medley for any amounts they funded under the ESA if, within three years of the date on which Medley funded such amounts, SIC met certain financial levels. ESA expenses are recorded within general, administrative, and other expense on the consolidated statements of operations. There was no outstanding balance due to SIC under the ESA agreement as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016 , Medley recorded $16.1 million of ESA expenses under this agreement.
Administration Agreements
In January 2011 and April 2012, Medley entered into administration agreements with MCC (the “MCC Admin Agreement”) and SIC (the “SIC Admin Agreement”), respectively, whereby, as part of its performance obligation to provide asset management, advisory and other related services, Medley agreed to provide administrative services necessary for the operations of MCC and SIC. MCC and SIC agreed to pay Medley for the costs and expenses incurred in providing such administrative services, including an allocable portion of Medley’s overhead expenses and an allocable portion of the cost of MCC and SIC’s officers and their respective staffs.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Additionally, Medley has entered into administration agreements with other entities that it manages (the “Fund Admin Agreements”), whereby Medley agreed to provide administrative services necessary for the operations of these other vehicles. These other entities agreed to pay Medley for the costs and expenses incurred in providing such administrative services, including an allocable portion of Medley’s overhead expenses and an allocable portion of the cost of these other vehicles' officers and their respective staffs.
Medley records these administrative fees as revenue in the period when the performance obligation of providing such administrative services is satisfied and are included in other revenues and fees on the consolidated statements of operations. Amounts due from these agreements are included as a component of other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Total revenues recorded under these agreements for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are reflected in the table below:
Amounts due from related parties under these agreements are reflected in the table below and are included as a component of other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet:
Management fee Waiver
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company voluntarily waived $0.4 million in management fees for MCC.
Reimbursement Agreement
In connection with the amended and restated limited liability agreement of Medley LLC, Medley LLC agreed to, at the sole discretion of the managing member, reimburse Medley Management Inc. for all expenses incurred, other than expenses incurred in connection with its income tax obligations. From time to time, the company may also advance funds to Medley Management Inc. to cover its operating needs. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded reimbursable expenses of $3.9 million, $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, which were recorded as a component of general, administrative and other expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2018, amounts due from Medley Management Inc. were $0.8 million. As of December 31, 2017, amounts due to Medley Management Inc. were $0.6 million, and were recorded as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
Organization Agreement
Pursuant to the organization agreement between Medley Management Inc. and Medley LLC, Medley Management Inc. may from time to time make grants of restricted stock units or other awards providing the holder with the contractual right to receive cash payments pursuant to an equity plan to employees, advisors or other persons, as defined, in respect of Medley LLC and its subsidiaries. These awards may entitle the holder thereof to receive dividends paid with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying such awards as if such holder were a holder of record of the underlying shares of Class A common stock. Medley LLC has agreed that it assumes any obligation to pay such dividend equivalent amounts to the holders of the respective awards. Additionally, pursuant to this agreement, the number of LLC Units held by Medley Management Inc., shall, at all times, equal the
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding and Medley LLC has agreed to issue additional LLC units equal to the number of shares of Medley Management Inc. issued pursuant to its equity plan.
Investments
Refer to Note 4 "Investments" for more information related to the Company's investments in related parties.
Exchange Agreement
Prior to the completion of the Medley Management Inc.'s IPO, Medley LLC's limited liability agreement was restated among other things, to modify its capital structure by reclassifying the interests held by its existing owners (i.e. the members of Medley prior to the IPO) into the LLC Units. Medley’s existing owners also entered into an exchange agreement under which they (or certain permitted transferees thereof) have the right (subject to the terms of the exchange agreement as described therein), to exchange their LLC Units for shares of Medley Management Inc.’s Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis at fair value, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications.
13. INCOME TAXES
The Company is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes and is therefore not subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The Company is subject to New York City unincorporated business tax attributable to the Company's taxable income apportioned to New York City.
The (benefit from) provision for income taxes consist of the following:
Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. These temporary differences result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities included on its consolidated balance sheet are as follows:
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company’s effective tax rate includes a rate benefit attributable to the fact that the Company and its subsidiaries operate as limited liability companies, which are not subject to federal or state income tax. A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate to the effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are as follow:
Interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters are recognized as a component of the provision for income taxes and were not significant during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. As of and during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, there were no uncertain tax positions taken that were not more likely than not to be sustained. The primary jurisdictions in which the Company operates in are the United States, New York, New York City, and California.
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Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
14. COMPENSATION EXPENSE
Compensation generally includes salaries, bonuses, equity and profit sharing awards. Bonuses, equity and profit sharing awards are accrued over the service period to which they relate. Guaranteed payments made to our senior professionals who are members of Medley LLC are recognized as compensation expense. The guaranteed payments to the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers are performance based and are periodically set subject to maximums based on the Company’s total assets under management. Such maximums aggregated to $5.0 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, neither of the Company’s Co-Chief Executive Officers received any guaranteed payments.
Performance Fee Compensation
In October 2010 and January 2014, the Company granted shares of vested profit interests in certain subsidiaries to select employees. These awards are viewed as a profit-sharing arrangement and are accounted for under ASC 710, Compensation - General, which requires compensation expense to be recognized over the vesting period, which is usually the period over which service is provided. The shares were vested at grant date, subject to a divestiture percentage based on percentage of service completed from the award grant date to the employee’s termination date. The Company adjusts the related liability quarterly based on changes in estimated cash flows for the profit interests.
In February 2015 and March 2016, the Company granted incentive cash bonus awards to select employees. These awards entitle employees to receive cash compensation based on distributed carried interest received by the Company from certain institutional funds. Eligibility to receive payments pursuant to these incentive awards is based on continued employment and ceases automatically upon termination of employment. Performance compensation expense is recorded based on the fair value of the incentive awards at the date of grant and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected requisite service period. The performance compensation liability is subject to re-measurement at the end of each reporting period and any changes in the liability are recognized in such reporting period.
On November 12, 2018, the Company's board of directors approved the Medley Tactical Opportunities Carried Interest Allocation Plan (the “CI Plan”), pursuant to which certain key employees involved in and instrumental to the success of the Company’s Tactical Opportunities transactions, were awarded interests in certain subsidiaries that were formed for the object and purpose of receiving carried interest earned on third party capital in connection with each of the Company's four respective Tactical Opportunities funds. Interests awarded under this plan are viewed as equity awards and are accounted for under ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires compensation expense to be recognized over the vesting period, which is usually the period over which service is provided. Once vested the equity awards are than accounted for as non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries on the Company's consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the awards on the date of grant was determined to be $0.6 million and was immediately recognized as performance compensation as the awards were fully vested when issued.
Total performance fee compensation relating to the profit sharing and equity awards for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $0.5 million. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a reversal of performance fee compensation expense of $0.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, total performance fee compensation payable for the awards accounted for under ASC 710 was $0.1 million, and was included as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. There was no performance fee compensation payable for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Retirement Plan
The Company sponsors a defined-contribution 401(k) retirement plan that covers all employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan immediately, and participants are 100% vested from the date of eligibility. The Company makes contributions to the plan of 3% of an employee’s eligible wages, up to a maximum limit as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company also pays all administrative fees related to the plan. The Company's contributions to the plan were $0.5 million, $0.5 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 the Company's outstanding liability to the plan as of each of those dates was $0.5 million.
Stock-Based Compensation
In connection with the IPO of Medley Management Inc.. Medley Management Inc. and Medley LLC adopted the Medley Management Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means through which the Company may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors (and prospective directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors) of the Company can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, Medley Management Inc., or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation
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measured by reference to the value of Medley Management Inc.’s Class A common stock or Medley LLC’s unit interests, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and aligning their interests with those of the Medley Management Inc.'s stockholders. The Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), restricted LLC Units, stock bonuses, other stock-based awards and cash awards. As the grant of these awards are primarily for the benefit of the employees of Medley LLC, stock compensation is recognized in Medley LLC’s separate consolidated financial statements through a corresponding credit to members’ equity (deficit), representing a capital contribution by Medley Management Inc. Stock-based compensation was $5.4 million, $2.8 million, and $3.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
15. REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS
Changes in redeemable non-controlling interests during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are reflected in the table below:
In January 2016, the Company executed an amendment to SIC Advisors' operating agreement which provided the Company with the right to redeem membership units owned by the minority interest holder. The Company’s redemption right is triggered by the termination of the dealer manager agreement between SIC and SC Distributors LLC ("DMA Termination"), an affiliate of the minority interest holder. As a result of this redemption feature, the Company reclassified the non-controlling interest in SIC Advisors from the equity section to redeemable non-controlling interests in the mezzanine section of the consolidated balance sheet based on its fair value as of the amendment date. The fair value of the non-controlling interest was determined to be $12.2 million on the date of the amendment and was adjusted through a charge to members equity.
On July 31, 2018, a DMA Termination event occurred and the membership units owned by the minority interest holder were redeemed by Medley. In connection with the DMA Termination, the Company reclassified SIC Advisors' minority interest balance from redeemable non-controlling interests in the mezzanine section of its consolidated balance sheet to due to former minority interest holder, a component of total liabilities, at its then fair value. The fair value was determined to be $12.3 million on the DMA Termination date and was adjusted through a $1.0 million charge to members equity (refer to Note 9 for further information).
During the year ended December 31, 2018 profits allocated to this non-controlling interest was $2.1 million and distributions paid were $2.3 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017, profits allocated to this non-controlling interest were $4.4 million and distributions paid were $4.3 million. As of December 31, 2018, there was no balance of redeemable non-controlling interest in SIC Advisors LLC. As of December 31, 2017, the balance of the redeemable non-controlling interest in SIC Advisors LLC was $13.5 million.
On June 3, 2016, the Company entered into a Master Investment Agreement with DB MED Investor I LLC and DB MED Investor II LLC (the ‘‘Investors’’) to invest up to $50.0 million in new and existing Medley managed funds (the ‘‘Joint Venture’’). The Company agreed to contribute up to $10.0 million and an interest in STRF Advisors LLC, the investment advisor to Sierra Total Return Fund, in exchange for common equity interests in the Joint Venture. On June 6, 2017, the Company entered into an amendment to its Master Investment Agreement with the Investors, which provided for, among other things, an increase in the Company’s capital contribution to up to $13.8 million and extended the term of the Joint Venture from seven to ten years. The Investors agreed to invest up to $40.0 million in exchange for preferred equity interests in the Joint Venture. As of December 31,
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2017, the Company and the Investors had fully satisfied their capital contributions. On account of the preferred equity interests, the Investors will receive an 8% preferred distribution, 15% of the Joint Venture’s profits, and all of the profits from the contributed interest in STRF Advisors LLC. Medley has the option, subject to certain conditions, to cause the Joint Venture to redeem the Investors’ interest in exchange for repayment of the outstanding investment amount at the time of redemption, plus certain other considerations. The Investors have the right, after ten years, to redeem their interests in the Joint Venture. As such, the Investors’ interest in the Joint Venture is included as a component of redeemable non-controlling interests on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $23.9 million and $40.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total contributions to the Joint Venture amounted to $53.8 million through December 31, 2018 and 2017, and were used to purchase $51.8 million of MCC shares on the open market and seed fund $2.0 million to STRF. During the year ended December 31, 2018, losses allocated to this non-controlling interest were $13.1 million. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, profits allocated to this non-controlling interest were $2.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $3.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively. There were no distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2016.
In October 2016, the Company executed an operating agreement for STRF Advisors LLC which provided the Company with the right to redeem membership units owned by the minority interest holder. The Company’s redemption right is triggered by the termination of the dealer manager agreement between STRF and SC Distributors LLC, an affiliate of the minority interest holder. As a result of this redemption feature, the non-controlling interest in STRF Advisors LLC is classified as in redeemable non-controlling interests in the mezzanine section of the balance sheet. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, net losses allocated to this redeemable non-controlling interest was $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the balance of the redeemable non-controlling interest in STRF Advisors LLC was $(0.7) million and $(0.4) million, respectively.
16. MARKET AND OTHER RISK FACTORS
Due to the nature of the Medley funds’ investment strategy, their portfolio of investments has significant market and credit risk. As a result, the Company is subject to market and other risk factors, including, but not limited to the following:
Market Risk
The market price of investments may significantly fluctuate during the period of investment. Investments may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of an investment may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to such investment, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.
Credit Risk
There are no restrictions on the credit quality of the investments the Company intends to make. Investments may be deemed by nationally recognized rating agencies to have substantial vulnerability to default in payment of interest and/or principal. Some investments may have low-quality ratings or be unrated. Lower rated and unrated investments have major risk exposure to adverse conditions and are considered to be predominantly speculative. Generally, such investments offer a higher return potential than higher rated investments, but involve greater volatility of price and greater risk of loss of income and principal.
In general, the ratings of nationally recognized rating organizations represent the opinions of agencies as to the quality of the securities they rate. Such ratings, however, are relative and subjective; they are not absolute standards of quality and do not evaluate the market value risk of the relevant securities. It is also possible that a rating agency might not change its rating of a particular issue on a timely basis to reflect subsequent events. The Company may use these ratings as initial criteria for the selection of portfolio assets for the Company but is not required to utilize them.
Limited Liquidity of Investments
The funds managed by the Company invest and intend to continue to invest in investments that may not be readily marketable. Illiquid investments may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and, at times there may be no market at all for such investments. Subordinate investments may be less marketable, or in some instances illiquid, because of the absence of registration under federal securities laws, contractual restrictions on transfer, the small size of the market or the small size of the issue (relative to issues of comparable interests). As a result, the funds managed by the Company may encounter difficulty in selling its investments or may, if required to liquidate investments to satisfy redemption requests of its investors or debt service obligations, be compelled to sell such investments at less than fair value.
F- 36
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Counterparty Risk
Some of the markets in which the Company, on behalf of its underlying funds, may affect its transactions are “over-the-counter” or “interdealer” markets. The participants in such markets are typically not subject to credit evaluation and regulatory oversight, unlike members of exchange-based markets. This exposes the Company to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the applicable contract (whether or not such dispute is bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, causing the Company to suffer loss. Such “counterparty risk” is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Company has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties.
17. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
The Company's condensed consolidated unaudited quarterly results of operations for 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
F- 37
Medley LLC
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements included herein. There have been no subsequent events that occurred during such period that would require disclosure in this Form 10-K or would be required to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, except as disclosed below.
F- 38
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports 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 our management, including our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The design of any disclosure controls and procedures 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. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, with the participation of our Co-Chief Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, and subject to the foregoing, our Co-Chief Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended December 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because either conditions change or the degree of compliance with our policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Our management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In making this assessment, management used the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
Consolidation of Business Activities
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company initiated the consolidation of its business activities to its New York office. The Company believes this will enhance operations by consolidating origination, underwriting and asset management operations and personnel in a single location. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $2.0 million in severance costs. In addition, the company incurred a $0.2 million loss from subleasing its San Francisco office for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Amendment No. 4 and Waiver to CNB Revolving Credit Facility
On March 28, 2019, Medley LLC entered into Amendment Number 4 to Credit Agreement and Waiver (“Amendment No. 4”) with respect to Medley LLC’s existing Credit Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), entered into by and among City National Bank, a national banking association, as the administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, the “Agent”), the lenders party thereto and Medley LLC, as borrower. The Credit Agreement has been previously amended by Amendment Number One to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2015, Amendment Number Two to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2016, and Amendment Number Three to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2017, each by and among Medley, the Agent and the lenders party thereto, and has been further modified by the Letter Agreement and the Waiver to Credit Agreement, each dated as of November 14, 2018, and the Waiver Letter dated as of December 18, 2018. The Credit Agreement makes a Revolving Credit Facility available to Medley LLC.
Amendment No. 4 amends Section 2.01(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement to provide that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.01 and Article IV of the Credit Agreement, each lender with a revolving credit facility commitment agrees (severally, not jointly or jointly and severally) to make loans to Medley LLC in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed such lender’s pro rata share of the lesser of (a) the Maximum Revolver Amount (i.e., the aggregate amount of all commitments of all lenders under the Credit Agreement) and (b) Medley LLC’s Core EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) calculated for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the month that is 30 days prior to the date of borrowing; provided, that at no time shall the amount of such lender’s aggregate loans exceed such lender’s revolving credit facility commitment.
Also pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the Agent and the lenders have agreed to waive (a) the financial covenant contained in Section 6.10(b) of the Credit Agreement which provides that Medley LLC and its subsidiaries will not cause nor permit the Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 7.00:1.00 (the “Total Leverage Ratio Covenant”), solely with respect to the fiscal quarter ended on December 31, 2018, (b) the financial covenant contained in Section 6.10(c) of the Credit Agreement which provides that Medley LLC and its subsidiaries will not cause nor permit the Core EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement), measured on a quarter-end-basis to be less than $15,000,000 for the then-ending period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (the “Core EBITDA Covenant”), with respect to the fiscal quarter ended on December 31, 2018, and (c) the financial reporting provisions of Section 5.04(c)(i)(y) of the Credit Agreement, solely with respect to the fiscal quarter ended on December 31, 2018, to the extent it requires the calculation showing compliance of the Total Leverage Ratio and the Core EBITDA to be included in the compliance certificate required to be delivered for the fourth fiscal quarter 2018 reporting period.
A copy of Amendment No. 4 is filed as Exhibit 10.38 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated by reference herein. The above description of Amendment No. 4 does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Amendment No. 4.
PART III.
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
PART IV.
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
† Management contract or compensatory plan in which directors and/or executive officers are eligible to participate
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure 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.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
MEDLEY LLC
(Registrant)
Date: April 1, 2019
By:
/s/ Richard T. Allorto, Jr.
Richard T. Allorto Jr.
Chief Financial Officer of Medley Management Inc.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capabilities indicated on the 1st day of April, 2019.
Signature
Title
/s/ Brook Taube
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Chairman (Co-Principal Executive Officer) of Medley Management Inc., Manager of Registrant
Brook Taube
/s/ Seth Taube
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chariman (Co-Principal Executive Officer) Of Medley Management Inc., Manager of Registrant
Seth Taube
/s/ Richard T. Allorto, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Medley Management Inc., Manager of Registrant
Richard T. Allorto, Jr.
/s/ Jeffrey Tonkel
President of Medley Management Inc., Manager of Registrant
Jeffrey Tonkel