TABLE OF CONTENTS
The holders of New Class A Units, including us, will generally incur U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on their proportionate share of any net taxable income of D&P Acquisitions. Net profits and net losses of D&P Acquisitions generally are allocated to its members pro rata in accordance with the percentages of their respective New Class A Units, though certain non pro rata adjustments will be made to reflect tax depreciation, amortization and other allocations. The LLC Agreement provides for cash distributions to its members if the taxable income of D&P Acquisitions gives rise to taxable income for its members. In accordance with the LLC Agreement, D&P Acquisitions makes cash distributions to the holders of its New Class A Units for purposes of funding their tax obligations in respect of the income of D&P Acquisitions that is allocated to them. Generally, these tax distributions are computed based on our estimate of the net taxable income of D&P Acquisitions allocable to such holder of New Class A Units multiplied by an assumed tax rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporate resident in New York, New York (taking into account the nondeductibility of certain expenses and the character of our income).
The LLC Agreement provides that at any time we issue a share of our Class A common stock other than pursuant to a stock incentive plan, the net proceeds received by us with respect to such share, if any, shall be concurrently transferred to D&P Acquisitions and the D&P Acquisitions shall issue to us one New Class A Unit. Conversely, if at any time, any shares of our Class A common stock are redeemed by us for cash, D&P Acquisitions shall, immediately prior to such redemption of our Class A common stock, redeem an equal number of New Class A Units held by us, upon the same terms and for the same price, as the shares of our Class A common stock are redeemed.
Shinsei Investment
On September 1, 2007, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with Shinsei pursuant to which we issued to Shinsei 3,375,000 shares of our Class A common stock for approximately $54.2 million, or at a purchase price equal to $16.07 per share. Upon consummation of the initial public offering, Shinsei’s equity interest in Duff & Phelps Corporation equaled 9.9% of the equity capital of the Company on a fully diluted basis.
Any shares of Class A common stock owned by Shinsei are subject to restrictions on transfer until September 5, 2009. Shinsei may sell up to 50% of its Class A common stock on or after September 5, 2008, 75% of its Class A common stock on or after March 5, 2009 and 100% of its Class A common stock on or after September 5, 2009. In addition, Shinsei is restricted from purchasing any additional Class A common stock until March 5, 2009.
Upon consummation of the sale of Class A common stock to Shinsei, we entered into a stockholders agreement with Shinsei. The stockholders agreement provides Shinsei with the right to designate a non-voting observer to attend our board of director’s meetings.
In connection with the Shinsei Investment, Lehman Brothers provided investment advice to us. One of our independent directors, Harvey Krueger, is Vice Chairman Emeritus of Lehman Brothers. We paid Lehman Brothers $1.6 million in fees in connection with the Shinsei Investment.
Other Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to certain agreements, D&P Acquisitions paid professional services fees to Vestar Capital Partners and Duff & Phelps Holdings, LLC, totaling $646,000 in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2007. Upon the consummation of the initial public offering on October 3, 2007, we ceased paying these professional services fees.
Shinsei engaged the Company to provide certain consulting services, and the Company recorded $225,000 in revenues resulting from such engagement during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. The Company believes this transaction was performed on an arms-length basis.
Statement Regarding Transactions with Related Parties
We have adopted a policy regarding transactions with Related Parties that requires a Related Party (defined as any person described in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) to promptly disclose to our general counsel any Related Party transaction in which we are to be a participant and the amount involved