| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
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.
In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which changes the consolidation analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The Company elected to early adopt this new guidance using the modified retrospective method effective January 1, 2015. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-02, the Company determined that it is no longer the primary beneficiary of certain funds it manages. Therefore, the Company deconsolidated certain funds that had been consolidated under previous guidance effective January 1, 2015. As a result, amounts presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements herein for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been adjusted from amounts previously disclosed for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 to reflect the adoption of this guidance. Restatement of periods prior to January 1, 2015 was not required.
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. Under the new guidance, if (a) fees received by the Company are customary and commensurate with the level of services provided, and (b) 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. Prior to the adoption of the new consolidation guidance, these fees were considered variable interests by the Company.
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. Under the new guidance, 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 (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (b) 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 judgments. 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. Prior to the new guidance, the Company consolidated VOE’s where it was the general partner and as such, was presumed to have control.
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Medley Management Inc. is the sole managing member of Medley LLC and, as such, it operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Medley LLC and, through Medley LLC, conducts its business. Under ASC 810, Medley LLC meets the definition of a VIE because the equity of Medley LLC is not sufficient to permit activities without additional subordinated financial support. Medley Management Inc. has the obligation to absorb expected losses that could be significant to Medley LLC and holds 100 % of the voting power, therefore Medley Management Inc. is considered to be the primary beneficiary of Medley LLC.
As a result, Medley Management Inc. consolidates the financial results of Medley LLC and its subsidiaries and records a non-controlling interest for the economic interest in Medley LLC held by the non-managing members. Medley Management Inc.’s and the non-managing members’ economic interests in Medley LLC are 19.9% and 80.1% , respectively, as of September 30, 2016 and 20.4 % and 79.6 %, respectively, as of December 31, 2015. Net income attributable to the non-controlling interests in Medley LLC on the consolidated statements of operations represents the portion of earnings attributable to the economic interest in Medley LLC held by its non-managing members. Non-controlling interests in Medley LLC on the consolidated balance sheets represents the portion of net assets of Medley LLC attributable to the non-managing members based on total LLC Units of Medley LLC owned by such non-managing members.
As of September 30, 2016, Medley LLC has three majority owned subsidiaries, SIC Advisors LLC, Medley Seed Funding I LLC and STRF Advisors LLC, all of which are consolidated VIEs. Each of these entities was organized as a limited liability company and was legally formed to manage a designated fund and to isolate business risk. As of September 30, 2016, total assets and total liabilities, after eliminating entries, of these VIEs reflected in the consolidated balance sheets were an aggregate of $41.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, Medley had only one majority owned subsidiary, SIC Advisors LLC, which was a consolidated VIE. As of December 31, 2015, total assets and total liabilities, after eliminating entries, of this VIE reflected in the consolidated balance sheets were $31.1 million and $ 21.2 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 for 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.
Deconsolidated Funds
Prior to January 1, 2015, the Company had consolidated Medley Opportunity Fund II LP (“MOF II”) in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC 810-20 as the Company was the general partner and the limited partners lacked kick out rights or participating rights. Under the guidance of ASU 2015-02, which the Company adopted effective as of January 1, 2015, the Company reconsidered the consolidation conclusion for MOF II and, as a result of the new guidance, determined that, although MOF II continues to be a VIE, the Company is no longer considered to be the primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company deconsolidated MOF II at January 1, 2015 and records its investment in the entity under the equity method of accounting. See Note 3, “Investments.”
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 September 30 , 2016, the Company recorded investments, at fair value, attributed to these non-consolidated VIEs of $5.4 million, receivables of $1.8 million included as a component of other assets and a clawback obligation of $7.1 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, 2015, the Company recorded investments, at fair value of $5.9 million, receivables of $0.9 million included as a component of other assets and a clawback obligation of $7.1 million included as a component of accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30 , 2016, the Company’s maximum exposure to losses from these entities is $7.2 million.
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, performance compensation payable and certain accrued liabilities. 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. These interests are adjusted for contributions to and distributions from Medley entities and are allocated income from Medley entities based on their ownership percentages.
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 issuer. These interests are classified in temporary equity.
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 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 other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. 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.
The carrying amounts of equity method investments are reflected in investments in the consolidated statements of financial condition. 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.
Investments also include available-for-sale securities which consist of investments in publicly traded common stock. The Company measures the carrying value of its publicly traded investments in available-for-sale securities at the unadjusted closing price as of the valuation date on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in fair value of available-for-sale securities is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, redeemable non-controlling interests and non-controlling interests in Medley LLC. The cost of investments in available-for-sale securities is determined on a specific identification basis. Realized gains (losses) and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, if any, are reported in other income (expenses), net. The Company evaluates its investments in available-for-sale securities for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs represent direct costs incurred in conjunction with the establishment of credit facilities and debt refinancing. Debt issuance costs, and the related amortization expense, are adjusted when any prepayments of principal are made to the related outstanding debt. These costs are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the term of the related debt.
Adoption of ASU 2015-03
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs , which requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest – Imputation of Interest , which updated ASU 2015-03 guidance to state that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs relating to a line of credit arrangement as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line of credit agreement.
The Company adopted the new guidance and retrospectively presented debt issuance costs related to its long-term debt as a deduction from the carrying amount of the associated debt on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The Company continues to present debt issuance costs related to its revolving credit facility as an asset on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. This change did not affect the Company’s consolidated statements of operations, cash flows or changes in equity.
Revenues
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. For the private funds, Medley receives base management fees during a specified period of time, which is generally ten years from the initial closing date. However, such termination date may be earlier in certain limited circumstances or later if extended for successive one-year periods, typically up to a maximum of two years. 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 portfolio companies of the funds, as well as separately managed accounts. These fees are recognized when Medley becomes entitled to such fees.
Certain management agreements also provide for Medley to receive Part I incentive fee revenue derived from net interest income (excluding gains and losses) above a hurdle rate. Effective January 1, 2016, as it relates to Medley Capital Corporation (“MCC”), these fees are subject to netting against realized and unrealized losses. Part I incentive fees are paid quarterly and are recognized as earned over the period the services are provided.
Performance Fees
Performance fees consist principally of the allocation of profits from certain funds and separately managed accounts, to which Medley provides management services. Medley is generally entitled to an allocation of income as a performance fee after returning the invested capital plus a specified preferred return as set forth in each respective agreement. Medley recognizes revenues attributable to performance fees based upon the amount that would be due pursuant to the respective agreement at each period end as if the funds were terminated at that date. Accordingly, the amount recognized reflects Medley’s share of the gains and losses of the associated funds’ underlying investments measured at their current fair values. Performance fee revenue may include reversals of previously recognized performance fees due to a decrease in the net income of a particular fund that results in a decrease of cumulative performance fees earned to date. Since fund return hurdles are cumulative, previously recognized performance fees also may be reversed in a period of appreciation that is lower than the particular fund’s hurdle rate. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, there was no reversal of previously recognized performance fees. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company reversed $0.4 million of previously recognized performance fees. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company reversed $14.7 million and $18.7 million, respectively, of previously recognized performance fees. As of September 30, 2016, the Company recognized cumulative performance fees of $6.3 million.
Performance fees received in prior periods may be required to be returned by Medley 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, performance fees 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 performance fees would be required to be returned, a liability is established for the potential clawback obligation. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had not received any performance fee distributions, except for tax distributions related to the Company’s allocation of net income, which included an allocation of performance fees. Pursuant to the organizational documents of each respective fund, a portion of these tax distributions is subject to clawback. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had accrued $7.1 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 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 agreement. These fees are recognized as revenue in the period administrative services are rendered.
Performance Fee Compensation
Medley has issued profit interests in certain subsidiaries to select employees. These 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.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation . Under the fair value recognition provision of this guidance, stock-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.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized for the periods presented is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and have been reduced for estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The effect of such change in estimated forfeitures is recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment that is included in the period of the change in estimate.
The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period is included within compensation and benefits on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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 income tax expense. 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.
Medley Management Inc. is subject to U.S. federal, state and local corporate income taxes on its allocable portion of the income of Medley LLC at prevailing corporate tax rates, which are reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Medley LLC and its subsidiaries are not subject to federal, state and local corporate income taxes since all income, gains and losses are passed through to its members. However, 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 analyzes its tax filing positions in all of the U.S. federal, state and local tax jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as for all open tax years in these jurisdictions. If, based on this analysis, the Company determines that uncertainties in tax positions exist, a liability is established.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which provides 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 core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: (1) identify the contracts with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contracts, (3) determine the transaction prices, (4) allocate the transaction prices to the performance obligations in the contracts, and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. 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. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) , which clarified the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing , which clarified the implementation guidance regarding performance obligations and licensing arrangements. The new standard will become effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early application permitted to the effective date of January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs , which requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Under previous accounting standards, such costs were reflected as an asset on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of the costs continues to be reported as interest expense. The Company implemented the provisions of ASU 2015-03 as of January 1, 2016. As a result of the adoption, $1.7 million of debt issuance costs were reclassified from other assets to debt obligations as of December 31, 2015.
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 equity investments (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. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) . This guidance requires an entity to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases, along with additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting . This guidance simplifies and improves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) . This guidance intends to reduce the diversity in practice of how certain cash receipts and cash payments are classified on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its 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. |
