SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (a) Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. On July 1, 2016 B. Riley Financial, Inc. acquired UOL which is included in the consolidated financial statements for periods after July 1, 2016. The condensed consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of Great American Global Partners, LLC which is controlled by the Company as a result of its ownership of a 50% member interest, appointment of two of the three executive officers and significant influence over the funding of operations. The condensed consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of GA Retail Investments, L.P. which is controlled by the Company as a result of its ownership of a 50% partnership interest, appointment of executive officers and significant influence over the operations, and guarantee of certain amounts under the promissory note. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to interim financial reporting guidelines and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2016. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future periods. (b) Use of Estimates The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Estimates are used when accounting for certain items such as valuation of securities, reserves for accounts receivable and slow moving goods held for sale or auction, the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill, the fair value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests, fair value of share based arrangements, fair value of contingent consideration in business combination’s and accounting for income tax valuation allowances. Estimates are based on historical experience, where applicable, and assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved with estimates, actual results may differ. (c) Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized in accordance with the accounting guidance when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the related services have been provided, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenues in the Capital Markets segment are primarily comprised of (i) fees earned from corporate finance, investment banking, restructuring and wealth management services; and (ii) revenues from sales and trading activities. Fees earned from corporate finance, investment banking and restructuring services are derived from debt, equity and convertible securities offerings in which the Company acted as an underwriter or placement agent and from financial advisory services rendered in connection with client mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, recapitalizations and other strategic transactions. Fees from underwriting activities are recognized in earnings when the services related to the underwriting transaction are completed under the terms of the engagement and when the income was determined and is not subject to any other contingencies. Fees from wealth management services consist primarily of investment management fees that are recognized over the period the services are provided. Investment management fees are primarily comprised of fees for investment management services and are generally based on the dollar amount of the assets being managed. Revenues from sales and trading include (i) commissions resulting from equity securities transactions executed as agent or principal and are recorded on a trade date basis, (ii) related net trading gains and losses from market making activities and from the commitment of capital to facilitate customer orders, (iii) fees paid for equity research and (iv) principal transactions which include realized and unrealized net gains and losses resulting from our principal investments in equity and other securities for the Company’s account. Revenues in the Auction and Liquidation segment are comprised of (i) commissions and fees earned on the sale of goods at auctions and liquidations; (ii) revenues from auction and liquidation services contracts where the Company guarantees a minimum recovery value for goods being sold at auction or liquidation; (iii) revenue from the sale of goods that are purchased by the Company for sale at auction or liquidation sales events; (iv) fees earned from real estate services and the origination of loans; and (v) revenues from contractual reimbursable expenses incurred in connection with auction and liquidation contracts. Commission and fees earned on the sale of goods at auction and liquidation sales are recognized when evidence of an arrangement exists, the sales price has been determined, title has passed to the buyer and the buyer has assumed the risks of ownership, and collection is reasonably assured. The commission and fees earned for these services are included in revenues in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Under these types of arrangements, revenues also include contractual reimbursable costs which totaled $1,607 and $1,921 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $6,450 and $5,910 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Revenues earned from auction and liquidation services contracts where the Company guarantees a minimum recovery value for goods being sold at auction or liquidation are recognized based on proceeds received. The Company records proceeds received from these types of engagements first as a reduction of contractual reimbursable expenses, second as a recovery of its guarantee and thereafter as revenue, subject to such revenue meeting the criteria of having been fixed or determinable. Contractual reimbursable expenses and amounts advanced to customers for minimum guarantees are initially recorded as advances against customer contracts in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. If, during the auction or liquidation sale, the Company determines that the proceeds from the sale will not meet the minimum guaranteed recovery value as defined in the auction or liquidation services contract, the Company accrues a loss on the contract in the period that the loss becomes known. The Company also evaluates revenue from auction and liquidation contracts in accordance with the accounting guidance to determine whether to report Auction and Liquidation segment revenue on a gross or net basis. The Company has determined that it acts as an agent in a substantial majority of its auction and liquidation services contracts and therefore reports the auction and liquidation revenues on a net basis. Revenues from the sale of goods are recorded gross and are recognized in the period in which the sale of goods held for sale or auction are completed, title to the property passes to the purchaser and the Company has fulfilled its obligations with respect to the transaction. These revenues are primarily the result of the Company acquiring title to merchandise with the intent of selling the items at auction or for augmenting liquidation sales. For liquidation contracts where we take title to retail goods, our net sales represent gross sales invoiced to customers, less certain related charges for discounts, returns, and other promotional allowances and are recorded net of sales or value added tax. Revenues in the Valuation and Appraisal segment are primarily comprised of fees for valuation and appraisal services. Revenues are recognized upon the delivery of the completed services to the related customers and collection of the fee is reasonably assured. Revenues in the Valuation and Appraisal segment also include contractual reimbursable costs which totaled $673 and $734 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $2,059 and $2,156 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Revenues in the Communications segment are primarily comprised of services revenues, which are derived primarily from fees charged to pay accounts; advertising and other revenues; and products revenues, which are derived primarily from the sale mobile broadband service devices, including the related shipping and handling fees. Service revenues are derived primarily from fees charged to pay accounts and are recognized in the period in which fees are fixed or determinable and the related services are provided to the customer. The Company’s pay accounts generally pay in advance for their services by credit card, PayPal, automated clearinghouse or check, and revenues are then recognized ratably over the service period. Advance payments from pay accounts are recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as deferred revenue. In circumstances where payment is not received in advance, revenues are only recognized if collectibility is reasonably assured. Advertising revenues consist primarily of amounts from the Company’s internet search partner that are generated as a result of users utilizing the partner’s internet search services and amounts generated from display advertisements. The Company recognizes such advertising revenues in the period in which the advertisement is displayed or, for performance-based arrangements, when the related performance criteria are met. In determining whether an arrangement exists, the Company ensures that a written contract is in place, such as a standard insertion order or a customer-specific agreement. The Company assesses whether performance criteria have been met and whether the fees are fixed or determinable based on a reconciliation of the performance criteria and the payment terms associated with the transaction. The reconciliation of the performance criteria generally includes a comparison of the Company’s internally-tracked performance data to the contractual performance obligation and, when available, to third-party or customer-provided performance data. (d) Direct Cost of Services Direct cost of services relate to service and fee revenues in the Valuation and Appraisal, Auction and Liquidation and Communications segments. Direct cost of services for the Valuation and Appraisal segment consist of employee compensation and related payroll benefits, travel expenses, the cost of consultants assigned to revenue-generating activities and direct expenses billable to clients in the Valuation and Appraisal segment. Direct costs of services in the Auction and Liquidation segment include the cost of consultants and other direct expenses related to auction and liquidation contracts pursuant to commission and fee based arrangements and amounts for profit participation under collaborative arrangements in which the Company is a majority participant. Direct cost of services in the C ommunications segment include cost of telecommunications and data center costs, personnel and overhead-related costs associated with operating the Company’s networks and data centers, depreciation of network computers and equipment, third party advertising sales commissions, license fees, costs related to providing customer support, costs related to customer billing and processing of customer credit cards and associated bank fees. (e) Concentration of Risk Revenue from one liquidation engagement represented 24.4% of total revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 15.6% of total revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Revenue from one wholesale auction and liquidation engagement represented 11.7% of total revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and revenues from one liquidation engagement represented 14.0% of total revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Revenues in the Valuation and Appraisal segment and the Auction and Liquidation segment are currently primarily generated in the United States. Revenues in the Capital Markets, Auction and Liquidation, Valuation and Appraisal and Communications segment are primarily generated in the United States, Canada and Europe. The Company’s activities in the Auction and Liquidation segment are executed frequently with, and on behalf of, distressed customers and secured creditors. Concentrations of credit risk can be affected by changes in economic, industry, or geographical factors. The Company seeks to control its credit risk and potential risk concentration through risk management activities that limit the Company’s exposure to losses on any one specific liquidation services contract or concentration within any one specific industry. To mitigate the exposure to losses on any one specific liquidation services contract, the Company sometimes conducts operations with third parties through collaborative arrangements. The Company maintains cash in various federally insured banking institutions. The account balances at each institution periodically exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) insurance coverage, and as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company also has substantial cash balances from proceeds received from auctions and liquidation engagements that are distributed to parties in accordance with the collaborative arrangements. (f) Share-Based Compensation The Company’s share based payment awards principally consist of grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units. Share based payment awards also include grants of membership interests in the Company’s majority owned subsidiaries. The grants of membership interests consist of percentage interests in the Company’s majority owned subsidiaries as determined at the date of grant. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, share based payment awards are classified as either equity or liabilities. For equity-classified awards, the Company measures compensation cost for the grant of membership interests at fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations over the requisite service or performance period the award is expected to vest. The fair value of the liability-classified award will be subsequently remeasured at each reporting date through the settlement date. Change in fair value during the requisite service period will be recognized as compensation cost over that period. (g) Income Taxes The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company estimates the degree to which tax assets and credit carry forwards will result in a benefit based on expected profitability by tax jurisdiction. A valuation allowance for such tax assets and loss carry forwards is provided when it is determined to be more likely than not that the benefit of such deferred tax asset will not be realized in future periods. Tax benefits of operating loss carry forwards are evaluated on an ongoing basis, including a review of historical and projected future operating results, the eligible carry forward period, and other circumstances. If it becomes more likely than not that a tax asset will be used, the related valuation allowance on such assets would be reduced. The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. Once this threshold has been met, the Company's measurement of its expected tax benefits is recognized in its financial statements. The Company accrues interest on unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of income tax expense. (h) Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. (i) Restricted Cash As of September 30, 2016, restricted cash included $76,343 of cash collateral related to a retail liquidation engagement in Australia, $1,119 of cash collateral for letters of credit, $292 of cash collateral for foreign exchange contracts and $533 cash segregated in a special bank accounts for the benefit of customers related to our broker dealer subsidiary and collateral for one of our telecommunication suppliers. As of December 31, 2015, restricted cash included $51 of cash segregated in a special reserve bank account for the benefit of customers related to our broker dealer subsidiary. (j) Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable represents amounts due from the Company’s auction and liquidation, valuation and appraisal, capital markets customers and communication customers primarily from revenues earned from advertising. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. In establishing the required allowance, management utilizes a specific customer identification methodology. Management also considers historical losses adjusted for current market conditions and the customers’ financial condition and the current receivables aging and current payment patterns. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. Bad debt expense and changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are included in Note 3. (k) Advances Against Customer Contracts Advances against customer contracts represent advances of contractually reimbursable expenses incurred prior to, and during the term of the auction and liquidation services contract. These advances are charged to expense in the period that revenue is recognized under the contract. (l) Goods Held for Sale or Auction Goods held for sale or auction are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the specific-identification method, or market. At September 30, 2016, goods held for sale or auction includes retail inventory of $8,600 related to a retail liquidation engagement in the Netherlands, mobile broadband service devices and modems of $509 and aircraft parts and other with a carrying value of $36 (which includes a lower of cost or market adjustment of $1,331). At December 31, 2015, goods held for sale or auction includes aircraft parts and other with a carrying value of $37 (which (m) Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Property and equipment held under capital leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Property and equipment under capital leases are stated at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation and amortization expense was $531 and $102 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $706 and $315 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. (n) Securities Owned and Securities Sold Not Yet Purchased Securities owned consist of marketable securities and investments in partnership interests and other securities recorded at fair value. Securities sold, but not yet purchased represents obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price and thereby create a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. Changes in the value of these securities are reflected currently in the results of operations. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company’s securities owned and securities sold not yet purchased at fair value consisted of the following securities: September 30, December 31, 2016 2015 Securities owned Common stocks $ 1,352 $ 17,586 Corporate bonds 2,302 941 Partnership interests 5,374 7,016 $ 9,028 $ 25,543 Securities sold not yet purchased Corporate bonds $ 370 $ 713 (o) Fair Value Measurements The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments that are highly liquid, observable and actively traded in over-the-counter markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable and can be corroborated by market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The Company’s securities owned and securities sold and not yet purchased are comprised of common stocks, corporate bonds and investments in partnerships. Investments in common stocks are based on quoted prices in active markets which are included in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also holds nonpublic common stocks and warrants for which there is little or no public market and fair value is determined by management on a consistent basis. For investments where little or no public market exists, management’s determination of fair value is based on the best available information which may incorporate management’s own assumptions and involves a significant degree of judgment, taking into consideration various factors including earnings history, financial condition, recent sales prices of the issuer’s securities and liquidity risks. These investments are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Investments in partnership interests include investments in private equity partnerships that primarily invest in equity securities, bonds, and direct lending funds. The Company’s partnership interests are valued based on the Company’s proportionate share of the net assets of the partnership which is derived from the most recent statements received from the general partner which are included in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests is determined based on the issuance of similar interests for cash, references to industry comparables, and relied, in part, on information obtained from appraisal reports and internal valuation models. The following tables present information on the financial assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis at September 30, 2016, Using Quoted prices in Other Significant Fair Value at active markets for observable unobservable September 30, identical assets inputs inputs 2016 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Assets: Securities owned Common stocks $ 1,352 $ 1,077 $ - $ 275 Corporate bonds 2,302 - 2,142 160 Partnership interests 5,374 - 2,973 2,401 Total assets measured at fair value $ 9,028 $ 1,077 $ 5,115 $ 2,836 Liabilities: Securities sold not yet purchased Corporate bonds $ 370 $ - $ 370 $ - Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests issued after November 5, 2003 2,234 - - 2,234 Contingent consideration 1,219 - - 1,219 Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 3,823 $ - $ 370 $ 3,453 Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis at December 31, 2015, Using Quoted prices in Other Significant Fair Value at active markets for observable unobservable December 31, identical assets inputs inputs 2015 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Assets: Securities owned Common stocks $ 17,586 $ 17,296 $ - $ 290 Corporate bonds 941 - 941 - Partnership interests 7,016 - 5,250 1,766 Total assets measured at fair value $ 25,543 $ 17,296 $ 6,191 $ 2,056 Liabilities: Securities sold not yet purchased Corporate bonds $ 713 $ - $ 713 $ - Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests issued after November 5, 2003 $ 2,330 $ - $ - $ 2,330 Contingent consideration $ 2,391 $ - $ - $ 2,391 Total liabilities measured at fair value $ 5,434 $ - $ 713 $ 4,721 The changes in Level 3 fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows: Level 3 Level 3 Changes During the Year Level 3 Balance at Fair Relating to Purchases, Transfer in Balance at Beginning of Value Undistributed Sales and and/or out End of Period Adjustments Earnings Settlements of Level 3 Period Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Common stocks $ 290 $ (15 ) $ - $ - $ - $ 275 Corporate bonds - (409 ) - 569 - 160 Partnership interests 1,766 123 418 94 - 2,401 Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests issued after November 5, 2003 2,330 - (96 ) - - 2,234 Contingent consideration 2,391 78 - (1,250 ) - 1,219 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Common stocks $ 319 $ - $ - $ (293 ) $ - $ 26 Partnership interests - 41 - 1,125 - 1,166 Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests issued after November 5, 2003 2,285 - (7 ) - - 2,278 Contingent consideration - 2,347 - - - 2,347 The amount reported in the table above for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 includes the amount of undistributed earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interests that is distributed on a quarterly basis. The fair value adjustment for contingent consideration in the table above during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes an adjustment for imputed interest of $78. The fair value adjustment for contingent consideration in the table above of $2,347 during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 includes the initial value of contingent consideration of $2,229 and an adjustment for imputed interest of $118. The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements for cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued payroll and related, accrued value added tax, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying amounts of the asset based credit facility approximate fair value because the contractual interest rates or effective yields of such instruments are consistent with current market rates of interest for instruments of comparable credit risk. (p) Contingent Consideration In connection with the acquisition of MK Capital on February 2, 2015, the purchase agreement required the payment of contingent consideration to the former members of MK Capital in the form of future cash payments of $1,250 and issuance of 166,667 shares of common stock on the first anniversary date of the closing (February 2, 2016) and a final cash payment of $1,250 and issuance of 166,666 shares of common stock on the second anniversary date of the closing (February 2, 2017). The contingent cash consideration has been classified as a liability in the condensed balance sheets in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combination” (“ASC 805”). The fair value of the contingent cash consideration has been discounted at 8.0%. The balance of the contingent consideration liability was $1,219 (discount of $31) at September 30, 2016. The balance of the contingent consideration liability was $2,391 (discount of $109) at December 31, 2015 and has been recorded as contingent consideration liability – current portion in the amount of $1,241 and contingent consideration liability, net of current portion in the amount of $1,150 in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Imputed interest expense totaled $23 and $45 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $78 and $118 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The fair value of the contingent stock consideration has been classified as equity in accordance with ASC 805. The contingent cash and stock consideration is payable on the first and second anniversary dates of the closing provided that MK Capital generates a minimum amount of gross revenues as defined in the purchase agreement for the twelve months following the first and second anniversary dates of the closing. MK Capital achieved the minimum amount of revenues for the first anniversary period and the contingent cash consideration in the amount of $1,250 and contingent stock consideration consisting of 166,667 shares of common stock for such first anniversary period was paid and issued on February 2, 2016. (q) Derivative and Foreign Currency Translation The Company periodically uses derivative instruments, which primarily consist of the purchase of forward exchange contracts, for certain auction and liquidation engagements with operations outside the United States. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company’s use of derivatives consisted of the purchase of forward exchange contracts (a) in the amount of $10,200 Canadian dollars that was settled at various periods prior to August 31, 2016, (b) in the amount of $20,000 Australian dollars to be settled on December 30, 2016, and (c) 5,600 Euro’s to be settled on December 30, 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company’s use of derivatives consisted of the purchase of forward exchange contracts totaling $16,870 Canadian dollars that were settled prior to November 30, 2015. The net loss from the foreign exchange contracts was $76 and $115 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and the net gain from the foreign exchange contracts was $68 and $28 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. These amounts are reported as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated fi |