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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds
Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds
a.
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Securities owned, at fair value are held by the Company and are considered held for trading. Substantially all equity securities, which are not part of the Company's self clearing securities finance activities, are pledged to external clearing brokers under terms which permit the external clearing broker to sell or re-pledge the securities to others subject to certain limitations.
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, securities owned, at fair value consisted of the following:
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Common stock (b)
$
472,299

 
$
640,065

Preferred stock (b)
5,617

 
9,604

Warrants and rights (b)
7,990

 
9,604

U.S. Government securities (a)
13,398

 
2,807

Corporate bonds (d)
13,041

 
4,909

Convertible bonds (c)
3,000

 
282

Trade claims
5,543

 
5,950

 
$
520,888

 
$
673,221

(a)
As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from April 2019 to August 2019 with an interest rate of 0%. As of December 31, 2017, maturities ranged from February 2018 to June 2018 with an interest rate of 0%.
(b)
The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in securities of preferred and common stock with a fair value of $2.9 million and $7.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018 and $6.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company elected the fair value option for investments in warrants and rights with a fair value of $1.1 million and $2.4 million.
(c)
As of December 31, 2018, the maturity was June 2020 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2017, maturities ranged from February 2018 to March 2018 and interest rates ranged from 5% to 12%.
(d)
As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from April 2019 to April 2049 and interest rates ranged from 2% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2017, maturities ranged from October 2018 to May 2040 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 10.75%.
Receivable on and Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
The Company's direct involvement with derivative financial instruments includes total return swaps, futures, currency forwards, equity swaps, credit default swaps and options. The Company's derivatives trading activities exposes the Company to certain risks, such as price and interest rate fluctuations, volatility risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, foreign currency movements and changes in the liquidity of markets.
Upon issuance of the Company's 3% cash convertible senior notes due 2019 in March 2014 ("2019 Convertible Notes") (see Note 23), the Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at fair value of $35.7 million which is valued at an immaterial amount as of December 31, 2018. The Company has partially repurchased and extinguished most of the 2019 Convertible Notes (See Note 23).
Also, on the date of issuance of the 2019 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into a separate cash convertible note economic hedge transaction (the "Hedge Transaction") with a counterparty (the “Option Counterparty”) whereby, the Company purchased a cash settled option contract with terms identical to the conversion option embedded in the 2019 Convertible Notes and simultaneously sold an equity settled warrant with a higher strike price. The Hedge Transaction was expected to reduce the Company’s exposure to potential cash payments in excess of the principal amount of converted notes that the Company may be required to make upon conversion of the 2019 Convertible Notes. The Company paid a premium of $35.7 million for the option under the Hedge Transaction and received a premium of $15.2 million for the equity settled warrant transaction, for a net cost of $20.5 million. During January 2018, the Company terminated the Hedge Transaction for a loss of $0.6 million.
The Company's long and short exposure to derivatives is as follows:
 
 
Receivable on derivative contracts
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Futures
$
42,288

 
$
334

 
$
3,819

 
$
58

Currency forwards
$
395

 
1

 
$
233

 
5

Swaps
$
13,702

 
917

 
$
164,664

 
10,942

Options other (a)
654,506

 
23,130

 
283,112

 
58,172

Pay to hold
$

 
743

 
$

 

 
 
 
$
25,125

 
 
 
$
69,177

(a) Includes index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.
 
 
Payable for derivative contracts
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Futures
$

 
$

 
$
16,796

 
$
242

Currency forwards
$
96,406

 
709

 
$
62,439

 
874

Swaps
$
52,905

 
2,162

 
$
11,595

 
71

Options other (a)
90,730

 
13,211

 
57,043

 
41,563

 
 
 
$
16,082

 
 
 
$
42,750


(a) Includes index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.
The following tables present the gross and net derivative positions and the related offsetting amount, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. This table does not include the impact of over collateralization.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
 
Gross amounts offset on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (a)
 
Net amounts included on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash Collateral pledged (b)
 
Net amounts
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
$
25,125

 
$

 
$
25,125

 
$

 
$
1,662

 
$
23,463

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
16,082

 

 
16,082

 

 
2,871

 
13,211

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
$
69,177

 
$

 
$
69,177

 
$

 
$
10,948

 
$
58,229

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
42,750

 

 
42,750

 

 
1,031

 
41,719

(a)
Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.
(b)
Includes the amount of collateral held or posted.
The realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to derivatives trading activities were $14.3 million, $3.9 million, and $(11.2) million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, and are included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Pursuant to the various derivatives transactions discussed above, except for the cash convertible note hedge (see Note 23), exchange traded derivatives, and certain options, the Company is required to post/receive collateral. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, collateral consisting of $11.2 million and $13.5 million of cash is included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, all derivative contracts were with multiple major financial institutions.
Other investments
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, other investments included the following:
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Portfolio Funds, at fair value (1)
$
141,236

 
$
100,148

Equity method investments (2)
40,171

 
41,099

Lehman claims, at fair value

 
301

 
$
181,407

 
$
141,548










(1) Portfolio Funds, at fair value
The Portfolio Funds, at fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, included the following:
 
As of December 31,

2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund LP (c)(*)
$
32,579

 
$
32,079

Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. (f)
34,099

 
28,243

RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. (g)(*)
4,394

 
8,892

RCG Longview II LP (g) (*)
4,400

 
131

Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (j) (*)
21,717

 

Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (b)
4,412

 
3,428

HealthCare Royalty Partners LP (a)(*)
1,833

 
3,452

Lagunita Biosciences, LLC (d)
3,833

 
2,400

RCG IO Renergys Sarl (j) (*)
6,369

 

Starboard Leaders Fund LP (e)(*)
1,230

 
1,276

Eclipse SPV I, LP (k)(*)
1,447

 

RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP (g) (*)
802

 

RCG Longview Debt Fund VI, LP (g) (*)
1,586

 
1,022

RCG Park Liberty GP Member LLC (g) (*)
1,023

 
750

HealthCare Royalty Partners II LP (a)(*)
1,037

 
873

RCGL PE MPA, LLC (g)(*)
618

 

RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. (h)(*)
296

 
3,493

Quadratic Fund LLC (i)(*)

 
906

Other private investment (l)(*)
15,898

 
10,133

Other affiliated funds (m)(*)
3,663

 
3,070

 
$
141,236

 
$
100,148

* These Portfolio Funds are affiliates of the Company.
The Company has no unfunded commitments regarding the Portfolio Funds held by the Company except as noted in Note 22.
(a)
HealthCare Royalty Partners, L.P. and HealthCare Royalty Partners II, L.P. are private equity funds and therefore distributions will be made when cash flows are received from the underlying investments, typically on a quarterly basis.
(b)
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. is a private equity fund which invests in early stage and growth hardware companies. Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(c)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund LP permits quarterly withdrawals upon 90 days' notice.
(d)
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC, is a healthcare investment company that creates and grows early stage companies to commercialize impactful translational science that addresses significant clinical needs, is a private equity structure and therefore distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(e)
Starboard Leaders Fund LP does not permit withdrawals, but instead allows terminations with respect to capital commitments upon 30 days' prior written notice at any time following the first anniversary of an investors' initial capital contribution.
(f)
Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. is a private equity fund which invests in early stage and growth transformational information and energy technology companies. Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(g)
RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P., RCG Longview II LP, RCG Park Liberty GP Member LLC, RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP, RCGL PE MPA, LLC and RCG Longview Debt Fund VI, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depend on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(h)
RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. is a single purpose entity formed to participate in a joint venture which acquired five multi-unit residential rental properties located in the Pacific Northwest. RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. is a private equity structure and therefore distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(i)
Effective January 31, 2018, the Company is no longer affiliated with Quadratic Capital Management LLC.
(j)
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and RCG IO Renergys Sarl are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from these funds when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights.
(k)
Eclipse SPV I, L.P. is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a private company focused on software-driven automation projects.  Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(l)
Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.
(m)
The majority of these investment funds are affiliates of the Company or are managed by the Company and the investors can redeem from these funds as investments are liquidated.
(2)
Equity method investments
Equity method investments include investments held by the Company in several operating companies whose operations primarily include the day to day management of a number of real estate funds, including the portfolio management and administrative services related to the acquisition, disposition, and active monitoring of the real estate funds' underlying debt and equity investments. The Company's ownership interests in these equity method investments range from 15% to 56%. The Company holds a majority of the outstanding ownership interest (i.e., more than 50%) in RCG Longview Partners II, LLC and 40% in Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC (which is a joint venture in a real estate development project). The operating agreement that governs the management of day-to-day operations and affairs of these entities stipulates that certain decisions require support and approval from other members in addition to the support and approval of the Company. As a result, all operating decisions made in these entities requires the support of both the Company and an affirmative vote of a majority of the other managing members who are not affiliates of the Company. As the Company does not possess control over any of these entities, the presumption of consolidation has been overcome pursuant to current accounting standards and the Company accounts for these investments under the equity method of accounting. Also included in equity method investments are the investments in (a) HealthCare Royalty Partners General Partners and (b) Starboard Value (and certain related parties) which serves as an operating company whose operations primarily include the day to day management (including portfolio management) of several activist investment funds and related managed accounts. As part of its equity method investment in operating companies, the Company incurs certain expenses on behalf of its equity method investees. These expenses reflect direct and indirect costs associated with the respective business and are included in their respective line items in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, the Company incurred $4.2 million, $7.1 million, and $8.5 million of these costs, respectively. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company completed an assessment of the recoverability of the Company's equity method investments and determined that the carrying value of the investment in Surf House Ocean View Holdings, LLC exceeded the estimated fair value of the Company's interest, which was other than temporary. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $7.1 million was recognized to reduce the carrying value of the investment to fair value for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company recorded no other impairment charges in relation to its equity method investments for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
The Company elected to use the cumulative earnings approach for the distributions it receives from its equity method investments. Under the cumulative earnings approach, any distributions received up to the amount of cumulative earnings are treated as return on investment and classified in operating activities within the cash flows. Any excess distributions would be considered as return of investments and classified in investing activities.
The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC
$
7,589

 
$
14,179

Starboard Value LP
12,699

 
13,202

RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC
11,000

 
9,284

RCG Longview Management, LLC
1,167

 
1,149

RCG Longview Debt Fund VI Partners LLC
1,254

 

HealthCare Royalty GP, LLC
149

 
281

HealthCare Royalty GP II, LLC
176

 
148

RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC
331

 
331

HealthCare Royalty GP III, LLC
1,573

 
764

Triartisan ES Partners LLC
1,500

 

RCG Kennedy House, LLC
131

 
154

RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC
114

 
114

RCG LPP II GP, LLC
272

 
487

RCG Park Liberty GP Member Manager, LLC
1,248

 
428

Other
968

 
578

 
$
40,171

 
$
41,099


For the period ended December 31, 2018, equity method investments held by the Company in aggregate have met the significance criteria as defined under SEC guidance. As such, the Company is required to present summarized financial information for these significant investees for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, and such information is as follows:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
$
137,419

 
$
159,077

Liabilities
22,019

 
74,393

Equity
$
115,400

 
$
84,684


 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
$
79,870

 
$
136,459

 
$
87,707

Expenses
(35,835
)
 
(32,425
)
 
(34,490
)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)
26,029

 
12,002

 
(6,305
)
Net Income
$
70,064

 
$
116,036

 
$
46,912


As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's share of losses in its equity method investment in RCG Longview Partners II, LLC has exceeded the carrying amount recorded in this investee. These amounts are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, as general partner to a real estate fund, has reversed previously recorded incentive income allocations and has recorded a current clawback obligation to the limited partners in such fund. This obligation is due to a change in unrealized value of the real estate fund on which there have previously been distributed carried interest realizations; however, the settlement of a potential obligation is not due until the end of the life of the respective real estate fund. As the Company is obligated to return previous distributions it received from RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, it has continued to record its share of gains/losses in the investee including reflecting its share of the clawback obligation in the amount of $6.5 million and $6.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The Company's income (loss) from equity method investments was $6.4 million, $21.3 million, and $14.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, and is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value represent obligations of the Company to deliver a specified security at a contracted price and, thereby, create a liability to purchase that security at prevailing prices. The Company's liability for securities to be delivered is measured at their fair value as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. However, these transactions result in off-balance sheet risk, as the Company's ultimate cost to satisfy the delivery of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value may exceed the amount reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. Substantially all equity securities and options are pledged to the clearing broker under terms which permit the clearing broker to sell or re-pledge the securities to others subject to certain limitations. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consisted of the following:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Common stock
$
194,305

 
$
342,328

Corporate bonds (a)
750

 
122

Preferred stock
199

 
77

Warrants and rights
53

 

 
$
195,307

 
$
342,527

(a)
As of December 31, 2018, the maturities ranged from October 2022 to January 2034 with interest rates ranged from 2.25% to 9.38%. As of December 31, 2017, the maturities ranged from July 2025 to January 2026 with interest rates ranged from 3.78% to 5.55%.
Securities lending and borrowing transactions
The following tables present the contractual gross and net securities borrowing and lending agreements and the related offsetting amount as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
 
Gross amounts offset on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (a)
 
Net amounts included on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
Additional Amounts Available
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash Collateral pledged (b)
 
Net amounts
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
$
407,795

 
$

 
$
407,795

 
$

 
$
383,593

 
$

 
$
24,202

Securities loaned
414,852

 

 
414,852

 

 
391,310

 

 
23,542

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
$
443,148

 
$

 
$
443,148

 
$

 
$
414,778

 
$

 
$
28,370

Securities loaned
456,831

 

 
456,831

 

 
439,228

 

 
17,603

(a)
Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.
(b)
Includes the amount of cash collateral held/posted.
The following tables present gross obligations for securities loaned transactions by remaining contractual maturity and class of collateral pledged as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
 
Open and Overnight
 
Up to 30 days
 
31 - 90 days
 
Greater than 90 days
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
414,852

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
414,852

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
456,831

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
456,831


Variable Interest Entities
The total assets and liabilities of the variable interest entities for which the Company has concluded that it holds a variable interest, but for which it is not the primary beneficiary, are $5.1 billion and $157.6 million as of December 31, 2018 and $5.2 billion and $445.6 million as of December 31, 2017, respectively. The carrying value of the Company's exposure to loss for these variable interest entities as of December 31, 2018 was $301.4 million, and as of December 31, 2017 was $471.3 million, all of which is included in other investments, at fair value in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The exposure to loss primarily relates to the Consolidated Funds' investment in their Unconsolidated Master Funds and the Company's investment in unconsolidated investment companies. Additionally, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss for the variable interest entities noted above as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, was $332.4 million and $491.9 million, respectively.  The maximum exposure to loss often differs from the carrying value of exposure to loss of the variable interests. The maximum exposure to loss is dependent on the nature of the variable interests in the VIEs and is limited to the notional amounts of certain commitments and guarantees.
b.
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds consisted of the following:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
     Preferred stock
$
24,314

 
$
50,445

     Common stock
95,565

 
77,702

     U.S. Government securities (a)
38,377

 
34,201

     Corporate bonds (b)
24,098

 

     Warrants and rights
5,279

 
3,568

 
$
187,633

 
$
165,916

(a)
As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from January 2019 to April 2019 and interest rates were 0%. As of December 31, 2017, maturities ranged from January 2018 to April 2022 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 5.75%.
(b)
As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from August 2020 to March 2026 and interest rates ranged from 5.88% to 7.63%.
Receivable on derivative contracts
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards
$
186

 
$
524

Equity swaps
2,477

 
1,754

Options
1,753

 
242

 
$
4,416

 
$
2,520

Payable for derivative contracts
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards
$
96

 
$
11

Equity swaps
713

 
7,042

Options
854

 
77

 
$
1,663

 
$
7,130


Other investments, at fair value
Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investments of Enterprise LP
$
97,656

 
$
87,221

Investments of Merger Fund
88,739

 
286,890

 
$
186,395

 
$
374,111


Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Enterprise LP    
Enterprise LP operates under a “master-feeder” structure, whereby Enterprise Master's shareholders are Enterprise LP and RCG II Intermediate Fund, L.P. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Enterprise LP's investment of $97.7 million and $87.2 million in Enterprise Master as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. On May 12, 2010, the Company announced its intention to close Enterprise Master. Prior to this announcement, strategies utilized by Enterprise Master included merger arbitrage and activist investing, investments in distressed securities, convertible hedging, capital structure arbitrage, equity market neutral, investments in private placements of convertible securities, proprietary mortgages, structured credit investments, investments in mortgage backed securities and other structured finance products, investments in real estate and real property interests, structured private placements and other relative value strategies. Enterprise Master had broad investment powers and maximum flexibility in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Enterprise Master was permitted to invest in equity securities, debt instruments, options, futures, swaps, credit default swaps and other derivatives. As Enterprise Master winds down its positions, it will return capital to its investors. There are no unfunded commitments at Enterprise LP.
Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Merger Fund    
The Merger Fund operates under a “master-feeder” structure, whereby Ramius Merger Master Ltd.'s ("Merger Master") shareholders are Merger Fund and Ramius Merger Fund Ltd. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Merger Fund's investment of $88.7 million and $286.9 million in Merger Master as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Merger Master’s investment objective is to achieve consistent absolute returns while emphasizing the preservation of investor capital. The Merger Master seeks to achieve these objectives by taking a fundamental, research-driven approach to investing, primarily in the securities of issuers engaged in, or subject to, announced (or unannounced but otherwise anticipated) extraordinary corporate transactions, which may include, but are not limited to, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, tender offers, hostile takeover bids, sale processes, exchange offers, and recapitalizations. Merger Master invests in the securities of one or more issuers engaged in or subject to such extraordinary corporate transactions. Merger Master typically seeks to derive a profit by realizing the price differential, or “spread,” between the market price of securities purchased or sold short and the market price or value of securities realized in connection with the completion or termination of the extraordinary corporate transaction, or in connection with the adjustment of market prices in anticipation thereof, while seeking to minimize the market risk associated with the aforementioned investment activities. Merger Master will, depending on market conditions, generally focus the majority of its investment program on announced transactions. If the investment manager of Merger Master considers it necessary, it may either alone or as part of a group, also initiate shareholder actions seeking to maximize value. Such shareholder actions may include, but are not limited to, re-orienting management’s focus or initiating the sale of the company (or one or more of its divisions) to a third party. There are no unfunded commitments at Merger Fund.
Indirect Concentration of the Underlying Investments Held by Consolidated Funds
From time to time, either directly or indirectly through its investments in the Consolidated Funds, the Company may maintain exposure to a particular issue or issuer (both long and/or short) which may account for 5% or more of the Company's equity. Based on information that is available to the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company assessed whether or not its interests in an issuer for which the Company's pro-rata share exceeds 5% of the Company's equity. There was one indirect concentration that exceeded 5% of the Company's equity as of December 31, 2018 and one at December 31, 2017.
Through its investments in a Consolidated Fund and combined with direct Company investments, the Company maintained exposure to a particular investment which accounted for 5% or more of the Company's equity.
 
Investment's percentage of the Company's equity
 
Issuer
 
Security Type
 
Country
 
Industry
 
Percentage of Equity
 
Market Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of December 31, 2018
Linkem
 
Equity
 
Italy
 
Wireless Broadband
 
8.36
%
 
$
66,439

As of December 31, 2017
Linkem
 
Equity
 
Italy
 
Wireless Broadband
 
7.52
%
 
$
56,271


Underlying Investments of Unconsolidated Funds Held by Consolidated Funds
Enterprise Master and Merger Master
Enterprise LP's investment in Enterprise Master represents Enterprise LP's proportionate share of Enterprise Master's net assets; as a result, the investment balances of Enterprise Master reflected below may exceed the net investment which Enterprise LP has recorded. Merger Fund's investment in Merger Master represents Merger Fund's proportionate share of Merger Master's net assets; as a result, the investment balances of Merger Master reflected below may exceed the net investment which Merger Fund has recorded. The following tables present summarized investment information for the underlying investments and derivatives held by Enterprise Master and Merger Master as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Securities owned by Enterprise Master, at fair value
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(dollars in thousands)
Common stock
$
469

 
$
608

 
$
469

 
$
608


Portfolio Funds, owned by Enterprise Master, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Strategy
 
(dollars in thousands)
RCG Special Opportunities Fund, Ltd*
Multi-Strategy
 
$
111,548

 
$
97,345

RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP*
Real Estate
 

 
1,266

RCG Longview Debt Fund IV, LP*
Real Estate
 

 
99

RCG Longview II, LP*
Real Estate
 

 
229

Other Private Investments
Various
 
846

 
937

 
 
 
$
112,394

 
$
99,876

*
Affiliates of the Company.
Merger Master
As of December 31, 2018, Merger Master held common stock and corporate bonds of $162.8 million and $116.5 million, respectively, and common stock, sold not yet purchased, of $9.6 million. As of December 31, 2017, Merger Master held common stock, securities owned, of $483.2 million and common stock, sold not yet purchased, of $171.2 million, respectively.
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Description
(dollars in thousands)
Options
$
3,450

 
$
108,063

Equity swaps
5,320

 
14,488

 
$
8,770

 
$
122,551

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master
 
As of December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Description
(dollars in thousands)
Options
$
1,430

 
$
1,256

Currency forwards
270

 
213

Equity swaps
28

 
1,249

 
$
1,728

 
$
2,718