Prospectus
Supplement No. 1
(to
Prospectus dated November 14, 2024) |
|
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
No. 333-281694
|
BENEFICIENT
203,212,927
Shares of Class A Common Stock
This
prospectus supplement updates and supplements the prospectus of Beneficient, a Nevada corporation (the “Company,” “we,”
“us” or “our”), dated November 14, 2024, which forms a part of our Registration Statement on Form S-1,
as amended (Registration No. 333-281694) (the “Prospectus”). This prospectus supplement is being filed to update and supplement
the information in the Prospectus with the information contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 14, 2024. Accordingly, we have attached the Form 10-Q to this prospectus supplement.
This
prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. This prospectus supplement updates and supplements the information
in the Prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in the Prospectuses and this prospectus supplement, you should
rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.
Our
Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A common stock”), is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under
the symbol “BENF,” and the warrants, with each warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock and one share of
Series A preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, at an exercise price of $11.50 (the “Warrants”), are listed on The
Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BENFW”. On November 14, 2024, the last reported sales price of the Class A
common stock was $1.25 per share, and the last reported sales price of our Warrants was $0.0095 per Warrant. We are an
“emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws
and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this and future filings. Certain holders
of our Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B common stock”), have entered into a stockholders agreement
concerning the election of directors of the Company, and holders of Class B common stock have the right to elect a majority of the Company’s
directors. As a result, the Company is a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and may elect
not to comply with certain corporate governance standards.
Investing
in our securities involves risk. See the sections entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of the Prospectus and under
similar headings in any further amendments or supplements to the Prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying our
securities.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined
if any Prospectus or this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus supplement is November 15, 2024.
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended September 30,
2024
or
☐
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from _____ to _____
Commission
File Number: 001-41715
Beneficient
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Nevada |
| 72-1573705 |
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization) |
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.) |
325
North St. Paul Street, Suite 4850
Dallas,
TX 75201
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(214)
445-4700
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title
of each class |
| Trading
Symbol(s) |
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Name
of each exchange
on
which registered |
Class
A common stock, par value $0.001 per share |
| BENF |
|
Nasdaq
Stock Market LLC |
Warrants,
each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and one share of Series A convertible
preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share |
| BENFW |
|
Nasdaq
Stock Market LLC |
Securities
registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes
☐ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant
to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit and post such files). ☒ Yes
☐ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company,
or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller
reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large
accelerated filer |
☐ |
| Accelerated
filer |
☐ |
Non-accelerated
filer |
☒ |
| Smaller
reporting company |
☒ |
|
|
| Emerging
growth company |
☒ |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐
Yes ☒ No
As
of November 8, 2024, Beneficient had 4,841,350
shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 239,256
shares of Class B common stock outstanding.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
The
number of outstanding units, weighted average number of outstanding units, loss per common unit, equity-based compensation and other financial
amounts previously expressed on the basis of common units have been retroactively restated on the basis of Common Stock (as defined below)
to reflect the conversion of the BCG (as defined below) common units to Common Stock. This “Explanatory Note” details the
series of transactions necessitating the retroactive restatement. For further information, see Note 4, De-SPAC Merger Transaction, to
the consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of the conversion
of certain BCG equity instruments to Common Stock.
On
June 6, 2023, the registrant converted from a Delaware limited partnership called The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. (“BCG”)
to a Nevada corporation called “Beneficient” (the “Conversion”) in connection with the closing of its merger with
Avalon Acquisition Inc. (such transaction, the “Business Combination”), a special purpose acquisition vehicle and a Delaware
corporation. References to “BCG,” “Ben,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company”
and similar terms, prior to the effective time of the Conversion, refer to the registrant when it was a Delaware limited partnership and
such references following the effective time of the Conversion, refer to the registrant in its current corporate form as a Nevada corporation
called “Beneficient.”
On
June 6, 2023, immediately prior to the Conversion, BCG was recapitalized (the “BCG Recapitalization”) as follows: (i) the
limited partnership agreement of BCG was amended to create one new subclass of BCG common units, the Class B Common Units (the “BCG
Class B Common Units”), and the existing common units were renamed the Class A Common Units (the “BCG Class A Common Units”);
and (ii) certain holders of the Preferred Series A Subclass 1 Unit Accounts of Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P. (“BCH” and
such units, the “BCH Preferred A.1 Unit Accounts”) entered into conversion and exchange agreements (the “BCG Conversion
and Exchange Agreements”) with BCG and BCH, pursuant to which they converted certain BCH Preferred A.1 Unit Accounts to Class S
Ordinary Units of BCH (“BCH Class S Ordinary Units”), which were then contributed to BCG in exchange for BCG Class A Common
Units.
Prior
to the Conversion, the Company’s outstanding equity interests consisted of common units, one series of preferred units, and noncontrolling
interests. Pursuant to the Conversion, each BCG Class A Common Unit converted into 1.25 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001
per share (“Class A common stock”), each BCG Class B Common Unit converted into 1.25 shares of Class B common stock, par value
$0.001 per share (“Class B common stock” and together with the Class A common stock, the “Common Stock”), and
the capital account balance of the Preferred Series B Subclass 2 Unit Accounts of BCG (“BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts”)
converted into shares of Class A common stock at a rate based on a 20% discount to the $800.00 valuation of the Class A common stock (or
$640.00). As a result, in the Conversion, we issued 1,076,462 shares of Class A common stock with respect to the BCG Class A Common Units,
239,256 shares of Class B common stock with respect to the BCG Class B Common Units and 1,175,632 shares of Class A common stock with
respect to the BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts.
In
order to maintain its listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”), the Company effected a reverse stock split of its
Common Stock at a ratio of eighty (80) to one (1) and a simultaneous proportionate reduction in the authorized shares of each class of
Common Stock as required by Nevada Revised Statues (“NRS”) Section 78.207 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Company’s
Class A common stock commenced trading on a post-reverse stock split basis at market open on April 18, 2024. Proportional adjustments
were made to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of the Company’s equity award, warrants,
and other equity instruments convertible into common stock, as well as the applicable exercise price. All share and per share amounts
of our Common Stock presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements
include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding, but not limited to, our expectations, hopes,
beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations
of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,”
“believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “will,” “would,” and
similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations
and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do
not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Summary
of Risk Factors
The
following is a summary of the principal risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations:
•we
do not have a significant operating history or an established customer base;
•our
fair value estimates of illiquid assets may not accurately estimate prices obtained at the time we enter into any liquidity transaction,
and we cannot provide assurance that the values of the alternative assets underlying the liquidity transactions that we report from time
to time will be realized;
•our
failure to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq could result in our Class A common stock being delisted from Nasdaq;
•the
resulting market price of our Class A common stock following the Reverse Stock Split may not attract new investors, and it is not certain
that the Reverse Stock Split will result in a sustained proportionate increase in the market price of our Class A common stock;
•the
transfer of GWG Holdings Inc.’s (“GWG Holdings” or “GWG”) assets to the GWG Wind Down Trust and the Litigation
Trust (each as defined herein) pursuant to the Second Amended Plan (as defined herein) could create significant uncertainties and risks
for our continued operations and materially and adversely impact our financial operating results;
•future
resales of Class A common stock may cause the market price of Class A common stock to drop significantly;
•the
market price for Class A common stock may be subject to substantial fluctuations, which may make it difficult for stockholders to sell
shares at the volumes, prices, and times desired;
•the
GWG Wind Down Trust historically owned a substantial percentage of the Company and held voting power with respect to those matters on
which our stockholders have the right to vote (as last reported on Schedule 13D filed by the GWG Wind Down Trust on October 8, 2024, the
GWG Wind Down Trust owns less than 8% of our Class A common stock);
•we
may be adversely affected by negative publicity;
•we
have been involved in a now-terminated SEC investigation and may be subject to other regulatory investigations and proceedings;
•a
determination that we are an unregistered investment company would have serious adverse consequences;
•the
Company is currently involved in legal proceedings and government investigations and may be a party to additional claims and litigation
in the future;
•our
liquidity, profitability and business may be adversely affected by concentrations of assets, which are collateralized by a portion of
the cash flows from the exchanged alternative assets (the “Collateral”);
•we
engage in related party transactions, which may result in conflicts of interest involving our senior management;
•Brad
K. Heppner, our founder and CEO, may have financial interests that conflict with the interests of Beneficient and its stockholders;
•usage
of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into Class A common stock as consideration for the Customer ExAlt Trusts’
(as defined herein) investments in alternative assets may create significant volatility in our investment income and the price of our
Class A common stock;
•our
current inability to raise sufficient capital, recurring losses from operations, negative cash flows from operations, and delays in executing
our business plans raises substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. If we are unable to obtain sufficient
additional funding, or do not have access to capital, we may be required to terminate or significantly curtail our operations;
•our
liquidity, profitability and business may be adversely affected by an inability to access, or ability to access only on unfavorable terms,
the capital markets, and we may never obtain the maximum anticipated proceeds contemplated under the current capital raising agreements
such as the SEPA (as defined herein);
•the
due diligence process that we undertake in connection with any liquidity transaction may or may not reveal all facts that may be relevant
in connection with such liquidity transaction;
•poor
performance of our Collateral would cause a decline in our revenue, income and cash flow and could adversely affect our ability to raise
capital for future liquidity transactions;
•we
historically had a substantial amount of goodwill and intangible assets, which we have been, and may in the future be, required to write
down the value of our intangible assets and goodwill due to impairment;
•we
are subject to repayment risk in connection with our liquidity transactions;
•transfer
restrictions applicable to alternative assets may prevent us from being able to attract a sufficient number of Customers (as defined herein)
to achieve our business goals;
•our
operations, products and services may be negatively impacted by changes in economic and market conditions;
•shares
of Class A common stock and Series A and Series B preferred stock issued by Beneficient are structurally subordinated to interests in
BCH, a subsidiary of Beneficient;
•allocations
of write downs in the value of our intangible assets and goodwill due to impairment will result in a decrease in the capital account balance
of the Class A Units of BCH (the “BCH Class A Units”) indirectly held by the Company;
•we
are or will become subject to comprehensive governmental regulation and supervision;
•we
may incur fines, penalties and other negative consequences from regulatory violations;
•we
may be impacted adversely by claims or litigation, including claims or litigation relating to our fiduciary responsibilities;
•if
we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our business could be negatively affected;
•Beneficient’s
board of directors (the “Board”) and management have significant control over Beneficient’s business;
•we
may issue additional shares of authorized Common Stock or preferred stock without stockholder approval subject to the applicable rules
of Nasdaq and Nevada law, which would dilute existing stockholder interests;
•the
holders of Class B common stock have the right to elect a majority of the Board and the ability to vote with Class A common stock in director
elections for the remaining directors, with each share of Class B common stock having 10 votes per share;
•the
Company may engage in transactions that represent a conflict of interest, with the review of such transactions subject to the Nevada statutory
business judgment rule; and
•other
risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on July 9, 2024 (“Annual Report”) and in the “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis” and “Risk Factors” sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as those described
from time to time in our future reports filed with the SEC.
The
foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the
Annual Report or in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize,
or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Many of the important
factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance
on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as otherwise
required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future developments or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which
will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination
of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
BENEFICIENT
Form
10-Q
For
the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
Table
of Contents
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1 — Financial Statements
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
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| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
(Dollars
and shares in thousands) |
(unaudited) |
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ASSETS |
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| |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
$ |
4,482 |
|
| $ |
7,913 |
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Restricted
cash |
314 |
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| 64 |
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Investments,
at fair value: |
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| |
Investments
held by Customer ExAlt Trusts (related party of $20
and $552) |
334,987 |
|
| 329,113 |
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Investments
held by Ben (related party of nil
and $6) |
— |
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| 6 |
|
Other
assets, net |
15,991 |
|
| 14,699 |
|
Intangible
assets |
3,100 |
|
| 3,100 |
|
Goodwill |
9,914 |
|
| 13,606 |
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Total
assets |
$ |
368,788 |
|
| $ |
368,501 |
|
LIABILITIES,
TEMPORARY EQUITY, AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) |
|
| |
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses (related party of $13,921
and $14,143) |
$ |
112,494 |
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| $ |
157,157 |
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Other
liabilities (related party of $14,306
and $9,740) |
19,123 |
|
| 31,727 |
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Warrants
liability |
784 |
|
| 178 |
|
|
|
| |
Convertible
debt |
1,936 |
|
| — |
|
Debt
due to related parties |
122,117 |
|
| 120,505 |
|
Total
liabilities |
256,454 |
|
| 309,567 |
|
|
|
| |
Redeemable
noncontrolling interests |
|
| |
Preferred
Series A Subclass 0 Redeemable Unit Accounts, nonunitized |
125,526 |
|
| 251,052 |
|
|
|
| |
Total
temporary equity |
125,526 |
|
| 251,052 |
|
Shareholder’s
equity (deficit): |
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| |
Preferred
stock, par value $0.001
per share, 250,000
shares authorized |
|
| |
Series
A preferred stock, 0
and 0
shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024 |
— |
|
| — |
|
Series
B preferred stock, 227
and 227
shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024 |
— |
|
| — |
|
Class
A common stock, par value $0.001
per share, 18,750
shares authorized, 4,580
and 3,348
shares issued as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively, and 4,573
and 3,339
shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively |
5 |
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| 3 |
|
Class
B convertible common stock, par value $0.001
per share, 250
shares authorized, 239
and 239
shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024 |
— |
|
| — |
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Additional
paid-in capital |
1,836,492 |
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| 1,848,068 |
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Accumulated
deficit |
(1,998,633) |
|
| (2,059,214) |
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Stock
receivable |
— |
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| (20,038) |
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Treasury
stock, at cost (9
shares as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024) |
(3,444) |
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| (3,444) |
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Accumulated
other comprehensive income |
281 |
|
| 276 |
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Noncontrolling
interests |
152,107 |
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| 42,231 |
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Total equity
(deficit) |
(13,192) |
|
| (192,118) |
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Total liabilities,
temporary equity, and equity (deficit) |
$ |
368,788 |
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| $ |
368,501 |
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See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
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| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
(Dollars
in thousands, except per share amounts) |
2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Revenues |
|
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|
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Investment
income (loss), net |
$ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
(13) |
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| $ |
19,569 |
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| $ |
487 |
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Loss
on financial instruments, net (related party of $(173),
$(41,960),
$(538)
and $(45,526),
respectively) |
(179) |
|
| (42,775) |
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| (1,362) |
|
| (46,236) |
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Interest
and dividend income |
12 |
|
| 114 |
|
| 24 |
|
| 230 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues (related party of $8,
$8,
$15
and $15,
respectively) |
187 |
|
| (87) |
|
| 376 |
|
| 15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total
revenues |
8,561 |
|
| (42,761) |
|
| 18,607 |
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| (45,504) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Operating
expenses |
|
|
|
|
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| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
7,135 |
|
| 15,398 |
|
| 10,985 |
|
| 51,221 |
|
Interest
expense (related party of $3,135,
$2,093,
$6,189
and $2,825,
respectively) |
4,320 |
|
| 5,114 |
|
| 8,608 |
|
| 8,898 |
|
Professional
services |
7,257 |
|
| 6,657 |
|
| 12,801 |
|
| 17,030 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
476 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,000 |
|
| — |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
298 |
|
| 306,684 |
|
| 3,692 |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
— |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses (related party of $694,
$2,105,
$1,388
and $4,221,
respectively) |
2,790 |
|
| 5,150 |
|
| 5,871 |
|
| 12,092 |
|
Total
operating expenses |
22,276 |
|
| 339,003 |
|
| (12,016) |
|
| 1,492,230 |
|
Operating income
(loss) |
(13,715) |
|
| (381,764) |
|
| 30,623 |
|
| (1,537,734) |
|
(Gain)
loss on liability resolution |
(23,462) |
|
| — |
|
| (23,462) |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net
income (loss) before income taxes |
9,747 |
|
| (381,764) |
|
| 54,085 |
|
| (1,537,734) |
|
Income
tax expense |
— |
|
| — |
|
| 28 |
|
| — |
|
Net income (loss) |
9,747 |
|
| (381,764) |
|
| 54,057 |
|
| (1,537,734) |
|
Plus:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - Customer ExAlt Trusts |
4,523 |
|
| 3,592 |
|
| 5,049 |
|
| 17,458 |
|
Plus:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - Ben |
3,067 |
|
| 10,604 |
|
| 10,254 |
|
| 41,290 |
|
Less:
Noncontrolling interest guaranteed payment |
(4,423) |
|
| (4,167) |
|
| (8,779) |
|
| (8,272) |
|
Net income (loss)
attributable to Beneficient common shareholders |
$ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
(371,735) |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
| $ |
(1,487,258) |
|
Other
comprehensive income (loss): |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unrealized
(loss) gain on investments in available-for-sale debt securities |
26 |
|
| (105) |
|
| 5 |
|
| 4,185 |
|
Total comprehensive
income (loss) |
12,940 |
|
| (371,840) |
|
| 60,586 |
|
| (1,483,073) |
|
Less:
comprehensive (loss) gain attributable to noncontrolling interests |
26 |
|
| (105) |
|
| 5 |
|
| 4,185 |
|
Total comprehensive
income (loss) attributable to Beneficient |
$ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
(371,735) |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
| $ |
(1,487,258) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net income (loss)
per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Class
A - basic |
$ |
2.98 |
|
| $ |
(115.95) |
|
| $ |
14.58 |
|
| $ |
(521.17) |
|
Class
B - basic |
$ |
2.69 |
|
| $ |
(113.50) |
|
| $ |
14.80 |
|
| $ |
(454.08) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net income (loss)
per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Class
A - diluted |
$ |
0.03 |
|
| $ |
(115.95) |
|
| $ |
0.18 |
|
| $ |
(521.17) |
|
Class
B - diluted |
$ |
0.03 |
|
| $ |
(113.50) |
|
| $ |
0.18 |
|
| $ |
(454.08) |
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(UNAUDITED)
For
the three months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Series
A preferred stock |
Series
B preferred stock |
Class
A common stock |
Class
B common stock |
APIC |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Stock
Receivable |
Treasury
Stock |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Noncontrolling
interests
(Note
10) |
Total
equity |
Redeemable
noncontrolling interests |
(Dollars
and units in thousands) |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Balance, June 30,
2024 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 227 |
| $ |
— |
| 4,006 |
| $ |
4 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,852,187 |
| $ |
(2,011,547) |
| $ |
(20,038) |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
255 |
| $ |
34,293 |
| $ |
(148,290) |
| $ |
251,052 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 12,914 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (7,590) |
| 5,324 |
| 4,423 |
|
Noncontrolling
interest reclass |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (122) |
| (122) |
| — |
|
Recognition
of share-based compensation cost |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,364 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,364 |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unrealized gain
on available-for-sale debt securities |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 26 |
| — |
| 26 |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Preferred A.0
Unit Accounts guaranteed payment accrual |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (4,423) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Issuance of Class
A common stock to settle liabilities |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 211 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 307 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 307 |
| — |
|
Issuance
of Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 363 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| 672 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 673 |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Termination of
prepaid forward purchase agreement |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (20,038) |
| — |
| 20,038 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass of BCH
Preferred A.0 from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 125,526 |
| 125,526 |
| (125,526) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Balance, September 30,
2024 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 227 |
| $ |
— |
| 4,580 |
| $ |
5 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,836,492 |
| $ |
(1,998,633) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
281 |
| $ |
152,107 |
| $ |
(13,192) |
| $ |
125,526 |
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT) (cont’d)
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Series
A preferred stock |
Series
B preferred stock |
Class
A common stock |
Class
B common stock |
APIC |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Stock
Receivable |
Treasury
Stock |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Noncontrolling
interests
(Note
10) |
Total
equity |
Redeemable
noncontrolling interests |
(Dollars
and units in thousands) |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Balance, June 30,
2023 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| — |
| $ |
— |
| 2,376 |
| $ |
2 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,583,248 |
| $ |
(1,079,091) |
| $ |
(20,038) |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
14,190 |
| $ |
786,080 |
| $ |
1,280,947 |
| $ |
251,052 |
|
Net income (loss) |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (371,735) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (14,196) |
| (385,931) |
| 4,167 |
|
Recognition
of share-based compensation cost |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 8,503 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 8,503 |
| — |
|
Payment
of employee payroll taxes on restricted equity units |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (32) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (32) |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Issuance
of shares in connection with recent financings |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 36 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 6,603 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,193) |
| 3,410 |
| — |
|
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (238) |
| (238) |
| — |
|
Conversion
of Preferred Series C to Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 550 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 205,759 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (205,759) |
| — |
| — |
|
Reclassification
of realized gain upon transfer from available-for-sale debt security to equity interest |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (13,694) |
| — |
| (13,694) |
| — |
|
Settlement
of restricted stock units |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 68 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
Issuance
of Series B-1 preferred stock in connection with recent financings |
— |
| — |
| 3,769 |
| 4 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 36,703 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 942 |
| 37,649 |
| — |
|
Adjustment
to liability assumed at de-SPAC |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 500 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 500 |
| — |
|
Issuance
of shares to settle liability assumed at de-SPAC |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 6 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,250 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,250 |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unrealized gain
on available-for-sale debt securities |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (105) |
| — |
| (105) |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Preferred
Series A.0 Unit Accounts guaranteed payment accrual |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (4,167) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Balance, September 30,
2023 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 3,769 |
| $ |
4 |
| 3,036 |
| $ |
2 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,842,534 |
| $ |
(1,450,826) |
| $ |
(20,038) |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
391 |
| $ |
563,636 |
| $ |
932,259 |
| $ |
251,052 |
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT) (cont’d)
(UNAUDITED)
For
the six months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Series
A preferred stock |
Series
B-1 preferred stock |
Class
A common stock |
Class
B common stock |
APIC |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Stock
Receivable |
Treasury
Stock |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Noncontrolling
interests (Note 10) |
Total
equity |
| Redeemable
noncontrolling interests |
(Dollars
and units in thousands) |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
|
Balance, March 31,
2024 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 227 |
| $ |
— |
| 3,348 |
| $ |
3 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,848,068 |
| $ |
(2,059,214) |
| $ |
(20,038) |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
276 |
| $ |
42,231 |
| $ |
(192,118) |
|
| $ |
251,052 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 60,581 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (15,303) |
| 45,278 |
|
| 8,779 |
|
Noncontrolling
interest reclass |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (347) |
| (347) |
|
| — |
|
Recognition
of share-based compensation cost |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 4,358 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 4,358 |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Issuance
of shares in connection with equity purchase agreement |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 449 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| 2,554 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,555 |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Unrealized
gain on available-for-sale debt securities |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 5 |
| — |
| 5 |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Preferred A.0
guaranteed payment accrual |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
| (8,779) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Issuance
of common shares to settle liability |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 340 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,221 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,221 |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Issuance
of Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 363 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| 672 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 673 |
|
| — |
|
Rounding
adjustment in connection with reverse stock split |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 80 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
|
Equity
issuance costs reclassed to APIC |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (343) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (343) |
|
| — |
|
Termination of
prepaid forward purchase agreement |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (20,038) |
| — |
| 20,038 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
|
Reclass of BCH
Preferred A.0 from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 125,526 |
| 125,526 |
|
| (125,526) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Balance, September 30,
2024 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 227 |
| $ |
— |
| 4,580 |
| $ |
5 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,836,492 |
| $ |
(1,998,633) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
281 |
| $ |
152,107 |
| $ |
(13,192) |
|
| $ |
125,526 |
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
5
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (DEFICIT) (cont’d)
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Series
A preferred stock |
Series
B preferred stock |
Class
A common stock |
Class
B common stock |
APIC |
Accumulated
Deficit |
Stock
Receivable |
Treasury
Stock |
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income |
Noncontrolling
interests
(Note
10) |
Total
equity |
Redeemable
noncontrolling interests |
(Dollars
and units in thousands) |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
Balance, March 31,
2023 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| — |
| $ |
— |
| 2,252 |
| $ |
2 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,579,742 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
9,900 |
| $ |
142,213 |
| $ |
1,728,413 |
| $ |
950,493 |
|
Net income (loss) |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (36,432) |
| (1,450,826) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (58,748) |
| (1,546,006) |
| 8,272 |
|
Recognition
of share-based compensation cost |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 35,504 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 35,504 |
| — |
|
Payment
of employee payroll taxes on restricted equity units |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (116) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (116) |
| — |
|
Issuance
of common and preferred shares upon closing of de-SPAC transaction, net of issuance costs |
2,749 |
| 3 |
| — |
| — |
| 100 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (4,293) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (4,290) |
| — |
|
Conversion
of Series A preferred to Class A common |
(2,749) |
| (3) |
| — |
| — |
| 9 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
Issuance
of shares in connection with recent financings |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 43 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 11,756 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,060) |
| 8,696 |
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (567) |
| (567) |
| — |
|
Conversion
of Class S Ordinary to Class A common |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 5 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,884 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,884) |
| — |
| — |
|
Non-cash
dividend to related party |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (110) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (110) |
| — |
|
Share-based
awards to related party employees |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 110 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 110 |
| — |
|
Conversion
of Preferred Series C to Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 550 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 205,759 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (205,759) |
| — |
| — |
|
Unrealized
gain on available-for-sale debt securities |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 4,185 |
| — |
| 4,185 |
| — |
|
Deemed dividend
for BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts preferred return |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 6,942 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (6,942) |
| — |
| — |
|
Reclassification
of realized gain upon transfer from available-for-sale debt security to equity interest |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (13,694) |
| — |
| (13,694) |
| — |
|
Settlement
of restricted stock units |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 68 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
Issuance
of Series B-1 preferred stock in connection with recent financings |
— |
| — |
| 3,769 |
| 4 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 36,703 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 942 |
| 37,649 |
| — |
|
Redemption of
BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (1,413) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (1,413) |
| — |
|
Preferred
Series A.0 Unit Accounts guaranteed payment accrual |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (8,272) |
|
Issuance
of shares to settle liability assumed at de-SPAC |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 9 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,995 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,995 |
| — |
|
Adjustment
to liability assumed at de-SPAC |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 500 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 500 |
| — |
|
Stock
receivable on prepaid forward purchase |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (20,038) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (20,038) |
| — |
|
Reclass
of BCH Preferred A.1 from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 699,441 |
| 699,441 |
| (699,441) |
|
Balance, September 30,
2023 |
— |
| $ |
— |
| 3,769 |
| $ |
4 |
| 3,036 |
| $ |
2 |
| 239 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
1,842,534 |
| $ |
(1,450,826) |
| $ |
(20,038) |
| $ |
(3,444) |
| $ |
391 |
| $ |
563,636 |
| $ |
932,259 |
| $ |
251,052 |
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
6
BENEFICIENT
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
|
|
|
| |
Cash
flows from operating activities: |
|
|
| |
Net
income (loss) |
| $ |
54,057 |
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
| |
Depreciation
and amortization |
| 805 |
|
| 1,922 |
|
Net
amortization of debt premium and discount (related party of $99
and $(1,835)) |
| 99 |
|
| (1,355) |
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| 3,692 |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net (related party of $(538)
and $(45,526)) |
| 1,362 |
|
| 46,236 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income, net |
| (19,569) |
|
| (487) |
|
Non
cash interest expense (related party of $4,622
and $4,763) |
| 6,584 |
|
| 10,272 |
|
Non
cash interest income |
| — |
|
| (220) |
|
Non
cash share-based compensation |
| 4,358 |
|
| 35,504 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| 1,000 |
|
| — |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
| |
(Gain)
loss on liability resolution |
| (23,462) |
|
| — |
|
Changes
in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
| |
Changes
in other assets |
| 168 |
|
| (987) |
|
Changes
in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
| 6,710 |
|
| 16,591 |
|
Changes
in other liabilities and deferred revenue |
| (90) |
|
| (87) |
|
Net
cash used in operating activities |
| (19,259) |
|
| (27,356) |
|
Cash
flows from investing activities: |
|
|
| |
Return
of investments in alternative assets held by Customer ExAlt Trusts |
| 12,547 |
|
| 26,256 |
|
Purchase
of investments in alternative assets held by Customer ExAlt Trusts |
| (450) |
|
| (529) |
|
Purchase
of premises and equipment |
| (933) |
|
| (955) |
|
Proceeds
from sale of put options by Ben |
| — |
|
| 968 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Net
cash provided by investing activities |
| 11,164 |
|
| 25,740 |
|
Cash
flows from financing activities: |
|
|
| |
Proceeds
from related party debt financings |
| 1,675 |
|
| — |
|
Payments
on related party debt financings |
| (200) |
|
| — |
|
Proceeds
from issuance of convertible debt |
| 1,775 |
|
| — |
|
Payments
on Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable |
| — |
|
| (5,556) |
|
|
|
|
| |
Redemption
of Preferred Series B Subclass 2 Unit Accounts |
| — |
|
| (1,413) |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Proceeds
received from issuance of Class A common shares under equity purchase agreement |
| 2,555 |
|
| — |
|
Payment
of deferred financing costs for equity |
| (1,564) |
|
| (3,153) |
|
|
|
|
| |
Proceeds
from sale of Class A common shares |
| 673 |
|
| — |
|
Payment
of employee income taxes on restricted equity units |
| — |
|
| (116) |
|
Proceeds
from de-SPAC merger |
| — |
|
| 24,761 |
|
Payment
for prepaid forward purchase agreement |
| — |
|
| (20,038) |
|
|
|
|
| |
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
| 4,914 |
|
| (5,515) |
|
Net
decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
| (3,181) |
|
| (7,131) |
|
Cash,
cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| 7,977 |
|
| 9,545 |
|
Cash,
cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period |
| $ |
4,796 |
|
| $ |
2,414 |
|
Refer
to Note 18 for supplemental cash flow disclosures, including reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash used in the
consolidated statement of cash flows.
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
7
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. Overview
of the Business
Legal
Structure
Beneficient,
a Nevada corporation, is a technology-enabled financial services holding company (including its subsidiaries, but excluding its noncontrolling
interest holders, collectively, “Ben,” “our,” “the Company,”
or “we”) that provides simple, rapid, cost-effective liquidity solutions and trust products and services to participants in
the alternative assets industry through its end-to-end online platform, Ben AltAccess (as defined below). Prior to the conversion described
below, Beneficient Management, L.L.C. (“Ben Management”), a Delaware limited liability company, was Ben’s general partner
and Ben was controlled by, and the exclusive and complete authority to manage the operations and affairs of Ben was granted to, Ben Management’s
Board of Directors.
On
June 6, 2023, the Company converted from a Delaware limited partnership to a Nevada corporation and changed its corporate name from “The
Beneficient Company Group, L.P.” (“BCG”) to “Beneficient” (the “Conversion”). BCG, formerly
known as Highland Consolidated Business Holdings, L.P., was formed on September 16, 2003. On June 6, 2023, following the BCG Recapitalization
(as defined in Note 2) and the Conversion, the Company, as the sole member of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (“Ben LLC”),
adopted the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Ben LLC (the “Ben LLC A&R LLCA”). The Ben
LLC A&R LLCA establishes managing member interests and non-managing members interests, referred to as the Class A Units of Ben LLC.
Beneficient is designated as the sole managing member. In addition, certain additional amendments were made that principally focused on
the management of Ben LLC by the managing member. After the adoption of the Ben LLC A&R LLCA, Beneficient contributed to Ben LLC all
of the limited partnership interests and general partnership interests of Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P. (“BCH”) held
by Beneficient (the “Contribution”), and Ben LLC became the general partner of BCH and the holder of 100%
of the outstanding Class A Units of BCH.
On
June 7, 2023, in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement, dated September 21, 2022 and amended April 18, 2023, with Avalon
Acquisition, Inc. (“Avalon”), (the “Business Combination Agreement,” and the transactions contemplated thereby,
collectively, the “Business Combination”), the Company completed its previously announced de-SPAC merger transaction (the
“Transaction”) with Avalon. On June 8, 2023, Beneficient began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market. See Note 4 for additional
disclosures related to the Conversion and Transaction.
BCH
is a Delaware limited partnership formed on July 1, 2010. BCH is primarily a holding company that directly or indirectly receives all
active and passive income of the Company and allocates that income among the partnership interests issued by BCH. As of September 30,
2024, BCH has issued and outstanding general partnership Subclass 1 Class A Units (“BCH Class A Units”), Class
S Ordinary Units of BCH (the “BCH Class S Ordinary Units”),
Class S Preferred
Units of BCH (the “BCH Class S Preferred Units”),
FLP Unit Accounts (Subclass 1, Subclass 2, and Subclass 3), Preferred Series A Subclass 0 Unit Accounts (“BCH Preferred A.0”),
and Preferred Series A Subclass 1 Unit Accounts (“BCH Preferred A.1”).
Business
Overview
Ben
markets an array of liquidity solutions and related trustee, custody and trust administration services to participants in the alternative
asset industry, with a focus on mid-to-high
net worth (“MHNW”) individual investors (generally those with a net worth of $5.0 million to $30.0 million), small-to-midsize
institutional (“STMI”) investors, family offices (“FAMOs”) and fund general partners and sponsors (“GPs”
and together with MHNW individuals, STMI investors and FAMOs, “Customers”). Ben provides Customers seeking an early exit from
their alternative asset investments a suite of bespoke liquidity solutions for their otherwise illiquid alternative asset investments
through a proprietary financing and trust structure, which we implement for our customers (we refer to such trusts collectively as the
“Customer ExAlt Trusts”). We plan to offer comprehensive alternative asset trust and custody services, and novel insurance
products covering risks attendant to owning, managing and transferring alternative assets, and additional broker-dealer services in connection
with our liquidity products and services.
Ben’s
primary operations, which commenced on September 1, 2017, relate to its liquidity and trust administration products and services. Ben
offers or plans to offer its products and services through its operating subsidiaries, which include: (i) Ben AltAccess, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company (“Ben AltAccess”), which offers an online platform designed to provide a digital experience for
Customers seeking liquidity, custody, trust and data services for their alternative assets, (ii) Ben Liquidity, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Liquidity”), which offers liquidity products, (iii) Ben Custody,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Custody”), which provides services
for private fund, trustee, and trust administration, (iv) Ben Data, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited
liability company (“Ben Data”), which provides data analytics and evaluation services, (v) Ben Markets L.L.C., including its
subsidiaries (“Ben Markets”), was recently launched and intends to provide broker-dealer services and transfer agency services
in connection with offering Ben’s products and services, and (vi) Ben Insurance, L.L.C., including its subsidiaries (“Ben
Insurance Services”), which intends to offer insurance products and services covering risks attendant to owning, managing and transferring
alternative assets. Ben serves as trustee of certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which operate for the benefit of the Charities (defined
below) and Economic Growth Zones (defined below).
Ben
Liquidity offers simple, rapid and cost-effective liquidity products to its Customers through the use of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which
facilitate the exchange of a Customer’s alternative assets for consideration using a proprietary financing and trust structure (such
structure and related process, the “ExAlt PlanTM”).
In ExAlt PlanTM
financings, a subsidiary of Ben Liquidity, Beneficient
Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C. (“BFF”), a Kansas based trust company that provides fiduciary financing to fidfin trusts, makes
fiduciary loans (each, an “ExAlt Loan”) to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which in turn employ a portion of the loan
proceeds to acquire and deliver agreed upon consideration to the Customer, in exchange for their alternative assets. BFF is registered
as a chartered Kansas Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (“TEFFI”) under
the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution Act (the “TEFFI Act”) and regulated by the Kansas Office of the State
Bank Commissioner (“OSBC”). Only BFF, our subsidiary, is regulated by the OSBC. The OSBC does not regulate the entirety of
Ben. Ben Liquidity
generates interest and fee income earned in connection with the ExAlt Loans, which are collateralized by a portion of the cash flows from
the exchanged alternative assets, then owned by Customer ExAlt Trusts (the “Collateral”). The ExAlt Loans are
eliminated upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts solely for financial reporting purposes.
Under
the applicable trust and other agreements, certain Texas and Kansas charities are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts
(which we refer to as “Charities” or “Economic Growth Zones” respectively, and collectively, the “Charitable
Beneficiaries”), and their interests are reported as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. The TEFFI
Act requires that two and a half percent (2.5%)
of the cash distributions from alternative assets serving as collateral to Ben Liquidity loans be charitably contributed by certain of
the Customer ExAlt Trusts to a designated Kansas Economic Growth Zone. Accordingly, for ExAlt Loans originated on or after December 7,
2021, Economic Growth Zones are paid $0.025
for every $1.00
received by an ExAlt Trust from the corresponding alternative assets. For ExAlt Loans originated prior to December 7, 2021, in accordance
with the terms of the applicable trust and other agreements, the Charitable Beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts formed prior to
such date, are paid $0.05
for every $0.95
paid to the applicable ExAlt Loan lender.
Ben
Custody currently provides full-service trust and custody administration services to the trustees (including BFF) of certain of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts, which own the exchanged alternative assets following liquidity transactions in exchange for fees payable quarterly.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts’ earnings
on its alternative assets supports the repayment of the ExAlt Loans plus any related interest and fees. Since Ben consolidates the Customer
ExAlt Trusts, Ben Liquidity’s ExAlt Loans and related interest and fee income and provision for credit losses and Ben Custody’s
fee income are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements solely for financial reporting purposes; however,
such amounts directly impact the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders. Likewise, the amounts expensed
by the Customer ExAlt Trusts for interest and fees owed to Ben’s operating subsidiaries are eliminated in the presentation of our
consolidated financial statements, but are recognized for purposes of the allocation of income (loss) to the beneficial owners of the
Customer ExAlt Trusts. Refer to Note 3
for additional information.
Ben’s
existing and planned products and services are designed to be delivered digitally and provide liquidity, trust and custody solutions,
data analytics and news, support the tax and estate planning objectives of its Customers, facilitate asset diversification and provide
administrative management and reporting solutions tailored to the goals of investors of alternative investments. While Ben’s financial
products and services are presently offered through Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody, Ben plans to expand its capabilities under Ben Custody
and provide additional products and services through Ben Insurance Services and Ben Markets in the future. Ben
Insurance Services, through two subsidiaries, PEN Indemnity Insurance Company, Ltd. (“PEN”), which has been chartered as a
Bermuda based insurance company, and Beneficient Insurance Company, L.L.C. (“BIC”), an entity through which the Company has
applied to become a Kansas captive property and casualty insurer, plans to offer to affiliated Customer ExAlt Trusts certain customized
insurance products and services covering risks relating to owning, managing and transferring alternative assets. Ben Markets, through
one of its subsidiaries, Ben Markets Management Holdings, L.P., received regulatory approval to acquire, and subsequently acquired, a
captive registered broker-dealer, Beneficient Securities Company, L.P., an entity that will conduct its activities attendant to offering
a suite of products and services from the Ben family of companies. Ben Markets, through another of its subsidiaries, Beneficient Transfer
& Clearing Company, L.L.C., also received regulatory approval from the SEC
on June 24, 2022 to
operate as a registered transfer agent with respect to its securities, and intends to provide various services for customers transacting
with Ben, including the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
As
discussed further in Note 3, certain of our operating subsidiary products and services involve or are offered to certain of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts, which are consolidated subsidiaries of Ben solely for financial reporting purposes, and therefore transactions between our
operating subsidiaries and the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity
and Going Concern
As
of September 30, 2024, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of
$4.5
million. Besides
the unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, the Company’s principal sources of liquidity available to meet its contractual obligations
are proceeds on ExAlt Loan payments and fee income derived from distributions on investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and potential
access to capital under the Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the “SEPA”) with YA II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”),
however, our ability to access the cash distributions from the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ alternative asset portfolio is limited by
the terms of the ExAlt Loans from Ben Liquidity to the Customer ExAlt Trusts and our ability to access proceeds from SEPA is subject to
market conditions, such as trading volume, price of our Class A Common Stock and other factors beyond our control.
While we generated
net income
of $54.1 million
for the six
months ended September 30, 2024, we have historically generated net losses and, in aggregate, these net losses have resulted in an
accumulated deficit of $2.0 billion
as of September 30, 2024.
As of October 31, 2024, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.5
million. All of these conditions raised substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one
year after the date of issuance.
We
expect the Company will require additional capital to satisfy our obligations and fund our operations for the next twelve months, which
will likely be achieved through the issuance of additional debt or equity, including through the SEPA. Also, we intend to potentially
refinance some or all of our existing borrowings, including approximately $23.5 million
of certain outstanding borrowing that will be maturing in the remainder of fiscal year 2025, with either our current lenders or other
lenders, and continue to seek opportunities to reduce corporate overhead; however, we cannot conclude these are probable of being implemented
or, if probable of being implemented, being in sufficient enough amounts to satisfy our contractual amounts as they presently exist that
are coming due over the next 12 months as of the date of the filing of these financial statements with the SEC.
On
June 27, 2023, we entered into the SEPA, whereby we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Yorkville up to $250.0 million
of shares of the Company’s common stock. On June 20, 2024, the Company obtained stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5635(d) for the issuance of shares of Class A common stock to Yorkville in excess of the Exchange Cap. As a result, the Company may
issue up to an aggregate of approximately $246.1 million
worth of shares of Class A common stock following registration with the SEC. However, the decision regarding future sale of shares, including
those under the SEPA, is subject to market conditions, such as trading volume, price of our Class A common stock and other factors beyond
our control.
As
more fully described in Note 8, on October 19, 2023, we entered into a three-year
$25.0 million
term loan with HH-BDH LLC, which was fully drawn upon closing and, the proceeds of which were used or are intended to be used to repay
certain outstanding obligations, fund development of our products, and provide additional working capital. On August 16, 2024, we entered
into an amendment to the term loan with HH-BDH to add an additional term loan of $1.7 million,
which was used to provide working capital. The HH-BDH Credit Agreement contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including a debt
service coverage ratio. On August 6, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Yorkville, pursuant to which
the Company agreed to issue and sell convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount of up to $4.0
million and warrants to purchase up to 1,325,382
shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at an exercise price of $2.63.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company has issued $2.0
million to Yorkville in aggregate principal amount of the convertible debentures and warrants to purchase up to 662,691
shares of Common Stock. The Company will issue the additional convertible debentures and warrants on or before the first business day
after the date the registration statement registering the resale of the common stock underlying the convertible debentures and warrants
is declared effective by the SEC. The Yorkville securities purchase agreement contains certain covenants. If any of these limitations
of the HH-BDH Credit Agreement or the Purchase Agreement were to materially impede the flow of cash to us, our ability to service and
repay our debt would be materially and adversely affected.
Ben
may not be able to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing on terms favorable to the Company, or at all. To the extent
that Ben or its subsidiaries raise additional capital through the future sale of equity or debt, the ownership interest of our existing
equity holders may be diluted. The terms of these future equity or debt securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely
affect the rights of our existing equity unitholders or involve negative covenants that restrict Ben’s ability to take specific
actions, such as incurring additional debt or making additional investments in growing the operations of the Company. If Ben defaults
on these borrowings, then the Company will be required to either (i) sell participation or other interests in our loans or other of our
assets, or (ii) to raise additional capital through the sale of equity and the ownership interest of our equity holders may be diluted.
We
will utilize our cash flows toward our contractual obligations, to invest in our business, including new product initiatives and growth
strategies, including any potential acquisitions, and, if determined by our Board, to pay dividends to our equity holders, including guaranteed
payments on certain of BCH’s preferred equity securities, and to fund tax distributions for certain noncontrolling interest holders.
Our ability to fund these capital needs will depend on our ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and via the capital markets.
While
we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, our financial statements have been
prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of
business. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification
of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty related
to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Reverse
Stock Split
In
April 2024, the Company's stockholders approved a reverse stock split of its Common Stock at a range of ratios between 1-for-10 to 1-for-100,
and the Company's board of directors approved the implementation of the reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-80 (the “Reverse
Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split was effective as of April 18, 2024, and the Company regained compliance with the minimum
bid price requirement in May 2024.
As
of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, every 80 issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock was automatically
reclassified into one issued and outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock, with no change in the par value per share. No
fractional shares of Common Stock were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and all fractional shares were rounded up to
the nearest whole share with respect to outstanding shares of common stock. All share and per share amounts of the Company's Class A and
Class B common stock presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-80 Reverse
Stock Split, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of Common Stock to additional paid-in capital.
Amendments
to Organizational Documents
In
connection with the Reverse Stock Split, on April 11, 2024, the Company, in its capacity as the sole managing member and the sole non-managing
member of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (“Ben LLC”), entered into and adopted the Second Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Company Agreement of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (the “Ben LLC A&R LLCA”), which became effective on April
18, 2024, simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split. The Ben LLC A&R LLCA provides that, among other things,
in the event that the Company at any time (i) subdivides (by any stock split, dividend, recapitalization or otherwise), the outstanding
shares of the Class A common stock (and Class B common stock, as applicable) of the Company into a greater number of shares, Ben LLC shall
(A) cause the issuance of additional Class A Units of Ben LLC (the “Ben LLC Class A Units”) and (B) cause Beneficient Company
Holdings, L.P. (“BCH”) to issue additional Class A Units of BCH (the “BCH Class A Units”) (and such other limited
partner interests, if any, as determined by Ben LLC in its capacity as general partner of BCH to be appropriate), in both cases to reflect
the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding, and (ii) combines (by combination, reverse split or otherwise)
the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (and Class B common stock, as applicable) of the Company into a smaller number of shares,
Ben LLC shall (A) cause a reduction in the number of Ben LLC Class A Units outstanding and (B) cause BCH to reduce the number of BCH Class
A Units (and such other limited partner interests, if any, as determined by Ben LLC in its capacity as the general partner of BCH to be
appropriate), in both cases to reflect the decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding.
Also
in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, on April 11, 2024, Ben LLC, in its capacity as the sole general partner of BCH, entered into
and adopted the Ninth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BCH (the “Ninth A&R BCH LPA”), which became
effective on April 18, 2024, simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split. The Ninth A&R BCH LPA provides for,
among other things, (i) the combination of certain units of BCH in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and the corresponding reverse
unit split of the Ben LLC Class A Units as well as amendments to the definition of the Preferred Series A Subclass 0 Unit Conversion Price
and Preferred Series A Subclass 1 Unit Conversion Price (each as defined in the Ninth A&R BCH LPA) and (ii) remove references to the
previously authorized Preferred Series C Subclass 1 Unit Accounts (as defined in the Ninth A&R BCH LPA), which are no longer outstanding.
On
September 30, 2024, Amendment No. 1 to the Ninth A&R BCH LPA was adopted to re-designate fifty percent (50%)%
of the aggregate capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 as non-redeemable Preferred A.0 Unit Accounts (such redesignated portion,
the “BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable”) with the remaining fifty percent (50%)%
of the capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 Accounts remaining redeemable (such remaining Preferred A.0 being the “BCH
Preferred A.0 Redeemable”).
The
BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable is identical to the BCH Preferred A.0 Redeemable except that it does not have any cash redemption rights.
Operating
Cost Reduction Plan
On
July 11, 2023, Beneficient’s board of directors (the “Board”) approved certain measures to reduce the operating expenses
of the Company with a view toward focusing resources on areas of current business needs. As part of this plan, we commenced the furlough
of approximately 30
employees, representing approximately 20%
of our workforce as of July 11, 2023. We also implemented a reduction in spending with third-party vendors in certain parts of our business
as part of the plan to reduce operating expenses.
Effective
November 3, 2023, the Board approved additional measures to reduce the operating expenses of the Company, including the termination of
the previously furloughed employees and the layoff of an additional 15
employees, representing approximately an additional 10%
of our workforce as of November 3, 2023. We continue to focus efforts on reducing spending with third-party vendors in certain parts of
our business as part of the plan to further reduce operating expenses.
2. Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements of Ben are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America (“U.S. GAAP”) on a going concern basis, and include the accounts of Ben, its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries
and, certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”), in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. An
enterprise is determined to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it holds a controlling financial interest consistent with Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation
(“ASC 810”), as amended.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts are considered VIEs for which Ben has a variable interest and is considered the primary beneficiary. Thus, Ben is
required to consolidate all of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The entities in which the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold an ownership interest are
investment companies (i.e., funds) under ASC 946, Financial
Services — Investment Companies
(“ASC 946”). Thus, the investments in non-investment companies made by these funds are accounted for in accordance with ASC
946 and are not subject to consolidation or the disclosure requirements of ASC 810. Moreover, further consolidation provisions of ASC
946 are not applicable to Ben since these investment companies do not have an investment in an operating entity that provides services
to the investment company or to Ben.
All
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation, and the portion of income allocated to owners other than
the Company is included in “net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests” in the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income (loss). With the consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, interest and fee income and any related receivable charged
by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody to the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
While these amounts are eliminated solely for financial reporting purposes, such amounts are earned by Ben Liquidity and/or Ben Custody
from the Customer ExAlt Trusts and directly impact the income (loss) allocable to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders as further
discussed in Note 3.
The
accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company do not contain the detail or footnote disclosure concerning
accounting policies and other matters that would be included in full fiscal year consolidated financial statements; therefore, they should
be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s
Annual Report. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, have been made
that were considered necessary to present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows at the interim date and
for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of results
that may be expected for a full year.
Reverse
Stock Split
Following
stockholder approval on April 18, 2024, the Company effected a reverse stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-80 and a simultaneous
proportionate reduction in the authorized shares of each class of Common Stock as required by Nevada Revised Statues Section 78.207. The
Reverse Stock Split was effective as of April 18, 2024. Proportional adjustments were made to the number of shares of common stock issuable
upon exercise or conversion of the Company’s equity award, warrants, and other equity instruments convertible into common stock,
as well as the applicable exercise price. All share and per share amounts of our Class A and Class B common stock presented have been
retroactively adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of common
stock to additional paid in capital.
Initial
Recapitalization and Common Unit Conversion
On
June 6, 2023, immediately prior to the Conversion, BCG was recapitalized, as further described in Note 4. For
the periods prior to the closing, the number of outstanding units, weighted average number of outstanding units, loss per common unit,
equity-based compensation and other financial amounts previously expressed on the basis of common units have been retroactively adjusted
on the basis of Common Stock reflecting the common unit conversion ratio, as described above.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain
estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates
and assumptions are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and could differ from actual
results. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change in the near term relate to the fair value determination of investments
in alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, determination of the allowance for credit losses as an input to the allocation
of income (loss) to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders, the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders,
evaluation of potential loss contingencies principally related to ongoing legal matters, and evaluation of potential impairment of goodwill
and other intangibles.
Significant
accounting policies are detailed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report. Other
than described below, there are no new or revised significant accounting policies as of September 30, 2024.
Warrant
Liability
The
Company determines the accounting classification of warrants it issues as either liability or equity classified by first assessing whether
the warrants meet liability classification in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing
Liabilities from Equity
("ASC 480"), then in accordance with ASC 815 ("ASC 815"), Derivatives
and Hedging.
Under ASC 480, warrants are considered liability classified if the warrants are mandatorily redeemable, obligate the Company to settle
the warrants or the underlying shares by paying cash or other assets, or warrants that must or may require settlement by issuing variable
number of shares. If warrants do not meet liability classification under ASC 480, the Company assesses the requirements under ASC 815,
which states that contracts that require or may require the issuer to settle the contract for cash are liabilities recorded at fair value,
irrespective of the likelihood of the transaction occurring that triggers the net cash settlement feature. If the warrants do not require
liability classification under ASC 815, and in order to conclude equity classification, the Company also assesses whether the warrants
are indexed to its Common Stock and whether the warrants are classified as equity under ASC 815 or other applicable GAAP. After all relevant
assessments, the Company concludes whether the warrants are classified as liability or equity. Liability classified warrants require fair
value accounting at issuance and subsequent to initial issuance with all changes in fair value after the issuance date recorded in the
statements of operations. Equity classified warrants only require fair value accounting at issuance with no changes recognized subsequent
to the issuance date.
The
Company accounts for its outstanding warrants, which are principally comprised of those assumed in the Transaction (as described in Note
4)
and the warrants issued to Yorkville (as described in Note 7), in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815, Derivatives
and Hedging,
whereby under those accounting requirements, our outstanding warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded
as a liability. Accordingly, the Company classifies our warrant instruments as a liability recorded at fair value and adjusts the instruments
to fair value at each reporting period using quoted market prices, where available, or other appropriate valuation techniques, such as
an option pricing model. The warrant liability is re-measured at each balance sheet date until the warrants are exercised or expire, and
any change in fair value will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Such warrant
classification is also subject to re-evaluation at each reporting period.
Convertible
Debt
The
Company has elected the fair value option to account for the convertible debentures with Yorkville (as described in Note 7). The Company
recorded the convertible debentures at fair value upon issuance. The Company records changes in fair value in the consolidated statements
of comprehensive income (loss), with the exception of changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk which, if present,
will be recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). Interest expense related to the convertible debentures is included
in the changes in fair value. As a result of applying the fair value option, direct costs and fees related to the convertible debentures
were expensed as incurred.
Income
Taxes
On
June 6, 2023, The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. changed both its regulatory and tax status from a Delaware Limited Partnership to a
Nevada Corporation and changed its name from The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. to Beneficient. Beneficient made a tax election to be
treated as a corporation for US tax purposes effective as of this date.
As
a result of this tax election, Beneficient records current tax liabilities or assets through charges or credits to the current tax provision
for the estimated taxes payable or refundable for the current year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those
temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A deferred tax valuation allowance is established if it is more likely
than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A tax position that fails to meet a more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold will result in either reduction of current or deferred tax assets, and/or recording of current or deferred tax liabilities.
Interest and penalties related to income taxes are recorded in the other expense line item of the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income (loss).
Prior
to the restructuring that resulted in Beneficient becoming a corporation, Beneficient was taxed as a Delaware Limited Partnership. In
the event the subsequent entity, Beneficient a corporation, is audited by the taxing authority and assessed additional amounts due to
the underpayment of tax in previous tax years, management intends to make the push-out election allowed by the U.S. Treasury Department.
That election allows Beneficient to notify its partners of their share of imputed underpayment amounts for inclusion in their current
tax returns.
Accounting
Standards Not Yet Adopted
ASU
2023-07, Segment
Reporting,
(Topic 280) was issued in November 2023 and expands public entities’ segment disclosures by requiring disclosure of significant
segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported
measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items, and interim disclosures of a
reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets. All disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities
with a single reportable segment. Additionally, the amendments require disclosure of the title and position of the CODM and an explanation
of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources.
ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December
15, 2024, which will be our fiscal year beginning April 1, 2024 and interim periods beginning April 1, 2025. Early adoption is permitted.
ASU 2023-07 will have no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company is evaluating the impact
to the related segment reporting disclosures.
ASU
2023-09, Income
Taxes, (Topic
740) was issued in December 2023, which expands income tax disclosure requirements to include additional information related to the rate
reconciliation of our effective tax rates to statutory rates as well as additional disaggregation of taxes paid. The amendments in ASU
2023-09 also remove disclosures related to certain unrecognized tax benefits and deferred taxes. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2024, or our fiscal year beginning April 1, 2025. The amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively,
and early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of the requirements on our consolidated financial statements and
disclosures.
ASU
2020-04, Reference
Rate Reform,
(Topic 848) was issued in March 2020. The amendments in Topic 848 provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to
contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. Topic 848 can
be applied by all entities as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, or any date thereafter, and entities
may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. On December 31, 2022, ASU 2022-06, Reference
Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848
was issued, which extends the period of time entities can utilize the reference rate reform relief guidance under ASU 2020-04 from December
31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. We have not utilized the optional expedients and exceptions provided by this standard, and are currently
evaluating the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
3. Understanding
our Financial Statements and the Impact to the Common Shareholder
Ben’s
current products and services, which are offered by the Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody business segments, involve or are principally offered
to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which
are consolidated VIEs solely
for financial reporting purposes, and
are not owned directly or indirectly by Ben or BCH equity holders. Transactions
involving products and services between Ben’s operating subsidiaries and the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation
of our consolidated financial statements. Thus, the
consolidated financial statements reflect the (i) assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, investment income and cash flows of Ben, including
the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which hold the collateral for the ExAlt Loans, on a gross basis, and (ii) a portion of the economic interests
of certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts held by the residual beneficiaries that are attributed to noncontrolling interests in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements.
As
a result, Ben’s primary tangible assets reflected on its consolidated statements of financial condition are investments, mainly
comprised of alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and the primary sources of revenue reflected on our consolidated statements
of comprehensive income (loss) are investment income (loss), net, which represents changes in
the
net asset value (“NAV”) of these investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, and gain (loss) on financial instruments,
net, which represents changes in fair value of equity securities, debt securities, a derivative liability, and put options, primarily
held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Such investment income (loss), net, and gain (loss) on financial instruments that are held by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts is included in the net income (loss) allocated to noncontrolling interests – Customer ExAlt Trusts in the consolidated
statement of comprehensive income (loss). The revenues and expenses recognized in these line items for the activities of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts do not directly impact net income (loss) attributable to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders.
Instead,
the interest and fee income earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody from the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are eliminated in the presentation
of our consolidated financial statements, directly impact the net income (loss) attributable to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
Our Ben Liquidity
and Ben Custody business segments, which relate to our current operating subsidiaries, are owned by the Company’s equity holders
(including those of BCH), and recognize revenue through (i) interest income on ExAlt Loans made to the Customer ExAlt Trusts in connection
with our liquidity transactions for Customers with interest rates between 5.0%
and 14.0%
per annum charged against the outstanding principal balance of the ExAlt Loan, (ii) fee income billed at closing, but recognized as revenue
ratably over the expected life of the alternative asset, for each liquidity transaction with Customers for services including access to
and use of the AltAccess platform, transfer of the alternative assets, and delivery of the consideration to the client, with fee rates
between 1.0%
and 7.0%
of the sum of the NAV and remaining unfunded commitment of the transacted alternative asset, and (iii) recurring fee income recognized
each period for providing services including trustee, custody, and trust administration of the Customer ExAlt Trusts while they hold investments,
with fee rates generally at 2.8%
per annum of the sum of the NAV and remaining unfunded commitment of the alternative assets held. Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody revenue
recognized for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
a.Ben
Liquidity recognized $12.0
million and $13.0
million in interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For
the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, Ben Liquidity recognized interest income of $22.8
million and
$25.0
million, respectively.
b.Ben
Custody recognized $5.4
million and
$6.5 million
in trust services and administration revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, comprised of both
the fee income billed at the closing of the transactions that is being amortized into revenue and the recurring fee income billed during
the periods. For the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, Ben
Custody recognized trust
services and administration revenues of
$10.8
million and $13.1
million, respectively.
In
addition, the Corporate/Other segment, which also relates to Ben or subsidiaries owned by the holders of equity in the Company (including
BCH), may include fee revenue recognized through services provided to Customers or the Customer ExAlt Trusts through business lines not
included within Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody.
Additionally,
Ben Liquidity’s provision for credit losses is eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements but directly
impacts the net income (loss) attributable to the various equity securities of Ben and BCH. Likewise, the amounts expensed by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts for interest and fees owed to Ben’s operating subsidiaries are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial
statements but are recognized for purposes of the allocation of net income (loss) attributable to the beneficial owners of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts.
The
following table presents a reconciliation of operating income (loss) of our reportable segments, excluding the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
to net income (loss) attributable to Beneficient’s common shareholders. This reconciliation serves to provide users of our financial
statements an understanding and visual aide of the reportable segments that impact net income (loss) attributable to the common shareholder
and reiterates that the consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts has no impact on the net income (loss) attributable to Beneficient’s
common shareholders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Operating
income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ben
Liquidity |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
Ben
Custody |
| 4,329 |
|
| (80,847) |
|
| 5,616 |
|
| (270,844) |
|
Corporate
& Other |
| (16,426) |
|
| (25,234) |
|
| 27,665 |
|
| (74,313) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Plus:
Gain on liability resolution |
| 23,462 |
|
| — |
|
| 23,462 |
|
| — |
|
Less:
Income tax expense (allocable to Ben and BCH equity holders) |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (28) |
|
| — |
|
Plus:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - Ben |
| 3,067 |
|
| 10,604 |
|
| 10,254 |
|
| 41,290 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Less:
Noncontrolling interest guaranteed payment |
| (4,423) |
|
| (4,167) |
|
| (8,779) |
|
| (8,272) |
|
Net income (loss)
attributable to common shareholders |
| $ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
(371,735) |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
| $ |
(1,487,258) |
|
Significant
Accounting Policies - Impacting Allocation of Net Income (Loss) to Beneficient’s Equity Holders
As
described above, certain income and expenses involving transactions between Ben and the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated for financial
reporting purposes; however, the income or expenses are important to determine the net income (loss) allocable to Ben’s and BCH’s
equity holders. Significant
accounting policies related
to the significant income and expense items eliminated in our consolidated financial statements, but impacting
the allocation of net income (loss) to Beneficient’s equity holders, are detailed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements
included in the Company’s Annual Report. There are no new or revised significant accounting policies related
to the significant income and expense items eliminated in our consolidated financial statements as
of September 30, 2024 impacting allocation of net income (loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
4. De-SPAC
Merger Transaction
Forward
Purchase Agreement
On
June 5, 2023, BCG entered into a Prepaid Forward Purchase Agreement, by and between BCG and RiverNorth SPAC Arbitrage Fund, L.P. (the
“Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to, among other things, effect certain purchases of shares of Avalon
Class A common stock (“Avalon Class A Common Stock”) that would have been redeemed in connection with the special meeting
of Avalon’s stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) to approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination
Agreement (as amended through June 25, 2023, the “Forward Purchase Agreement”).
Pursuant
to the Forward Purchase Agreement, Purchaser agreed to purchase shares of Avalon Class A Common Stock (the “AVAC FPA Shares”)
at a purchase price per share of $847.04
(for aggregate consideration of $25.0 million
from unaffiliated third-parties). The AVAC FPA Shares were redeemed in connection with the Special Meeting and converted into shares of
Class A common stock and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001
per share, of Beneficient (“Series A preferred stock”) upon consummation of the Business Combination. The Series A preferred
stock converted in accordance with its terms to shares of Class A common stock, and Purchaser held an aggregate of 36,956
shares of Class A common stock following such conversion in respect of the AVAC FPA Shares (such shares of Class A common stock, the “FPA
Shares”).
The
$25.0 million
in proceeds (the “Disbursed Amount”) in respect of the FPA Shares was disbursed from the Avalon trust account following the
consummation of the Business Combination. Specifically, $5.0 million
of the Disbursed Amount was disbursed to Beneficient, with the remaining $20.0 million
(the “Reserve Amount”) disbursed to Purchaser to be held by Purchaser until the Maturity Date (as defined below) or until
its earlier release per the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement. Such Reserve Amount is reflected as a Stock Receivable classified
in equity on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
The
Forward Purchase Agreement provides for two categories of FPA Shares: (i) 13,305
FPA Shares categorized as “Purchased Shares” (the “Purchased Shares”) and (ii) the remaining 23,651
FPA Shares categorized as “Prepaid Forward Shares” (the “Prepaid Forward Shares”).
If
by the 10th
anniversary of the close of the Business Combination, Purchaser has received less than $5.0 million,
in gross proceeds from, and Purchaser has used good faith efforts to sell, the Purchased Shares, Beneficient has agreed to cause BCH to
issue Purchaser an amount of BCH Preferred A.0 (or such other senior most preferred security of Beneficient) as consideration for any
shortfall amounts less than $5.0 million
from the sale of the Purchased Shares. Purchaser has agreed for
the
first six months following the Business Combination not to sell any Purchased Shares below $400.00
per share or to sell more than 10%
of the daily trading volume of the Class A common stock if the volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock is between $400.00
and $640.00
for any such trading day.
Upon
the sales of the Prepaid Forward Shares, the Purchaser will remit $847.04
per share, or such lesser price per share designated by the Company (“Designated Price”) by written notice setting forth the
Designated Price and the number Prepaid Forward Shares that may be sold at such price (“Designated Price Notice”) delivered
to Purchaser prior to any such sales, to the Company. On June 8, 2025 (“Maturity Date”), any Prepaid Forward Shares not sold
by the Purchaser will be returned to the Company and any remaining amounts in respect of the Prepaid Forward Shares will be retained by
the Purchaser, less any amounts still owed to the Company from sales effected prior to the Maturity Date. The Forward Purchase Agreement
permits the Company, in its sole discretion, to lower the Designated Price to a per share amount lower than $847.04
in order to permit the Purchaser to effect additional sales of its Prepaid Forward Shares at a price lower than the prevailing trading
price of the Company’s Class A common stock in exchange for the remitting of a portion of the proceeds of any such sales to the
Company. The Prepaid Forward Shares include an embedded put option, which is accounted for separately and classified as a liability in
the other liabilities line item of the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Prepaid Forward Shares are measured at fair
value each reporting period with the change in fair value recognized in the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net line item of the
consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
The
Purchaser has received at least $5.0 million
in gross proceeds from the sale of some or all of the Purchased Shares and thus, there will be no requirement to issue the Purchaser any
amount of BCH Preferred A.0 as consideration for any shortfall. To the Company’s knowledge, all shares purchased by the Purchaser
in connection with the Forward Purchase Agreement were from unaffiliated third-parties.
No
sales of any of the Prepaid Forward Shares occurred through September 30, 2024. On September 30, 2024, the Company and the Purchaser
entered into an agreement to terminate the Forward Purchase Agreement. In connection with the termination of the Forward Purchase Agreement,
the Purchaser agreed to return the 23,651
Prepaid Forward Shares to the Company.
To
the Company’s knowledge, all shares purchased by the Purchaser in connection with the Forward Purchase Agreement were from unaffiliated
third-parties.
Recapitalization
of BCG
On
June 6, 2023, immediately prior to the Conversion, the BCG was recapitalized (the “BCG Recapitalization”) as follows: (i)
the limited partnership agreement of BCG was amended to create one new subclass of BCG common units, the Class B Common Units (the “BCG
Class B Common Units”), and the existing common units were renamed the Class A Common Units (the “BCG Class A Common Units”);
and (ii) certain holders of the BCH Preferred A.1 entered into conversion and exchange agreements (the “BCG Conversion and Exchange
Agreements”) with BCG and BCH, pursuant to which they converted certain BCH Preferred A.1 to BCH Class S Ordinary Units, which were
then contributed to BCG in exchange for BCG Class A Common Units.
Prior
to the Conversion on June 6, 2023, when the Company was a Delaware limited partnership, the Company’s equity interests consisted
of common units, one series of preferred units, and noncontrolling interests. Pursuant to the Conversion, each BCG Class A Common Unit
converted into 1.25
shares of Class A common stock par value $0.001
per share (“Class A common stock”), each BCG Class B Common Unit converted into 1.25
shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.001
per share (“Class B common stock” and together with the Class A common stock, the “Common Stock”), and the capital
account balance of the Preferred Series B Subclass 2 Unit Accounts of BCG (“BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts”) converted into
shares of Class A common stock at a rate based on a 20%
discount to the $800.00
valuation of the Class A common stock (or $640.00).
As a result, in the Conversion, we issued 1,076,462
shares of Class A common stock with respect to the BCG Class A Common Units, 239,256
shares of Class B common stock with respect to the BCG Class B Units and 1,175,632
shares of Class A common stock with respect to the BCG Preferred B.2 Unit Accounts.
The
following table provides additional information on the securities contributed and exchanged as part of the BCG Recapitalization by each
of BHI, Bruce W. Schnitzer and Hicks Holdings Operating, LLC (dollars and units in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Name |
| Converted
Capital Account Balance of BCH Preferred A.1 |
|
BCH
Class S Ordinary Units Received |
| BCG
Class B Units Received |
BHI |
| $ |
177,195 |
|
| 178 |
|
| 178 |
|
Bruce
W. Schnitzer |
| 988 |
|
| 1 |
|
| 1 |
|
Hicks
Holdings Operating, LLC |
| 13,222 |
|
| 14 |
|
| 14 |
|
Total |
| $ |
191,405 |
|
| 193 |
|
| 193 |
|
The
following table provides additional information on the securities contributed and exchanged as part of the BCG Recapitalization by each
of Bruce W. Schnitzer and Richard W. Fisher (dollars and units in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Name |
| Converted
Capital Account Balance of BCH Preferred A.1 |
|
BCH
Class S Ordinary Units Received |
| BCG
Class A Units Received |
Bruce
W. Schnitzer |
| $ |
734 |
|
| 9 |
|
| 9 |
|
Richard
W. Fisher |
| 1,722 |
|
| 10 |
|
| 10 |
|
Total |
| $ |
2,456 |
|
| 19 |
|
| 19 |
|
As
part of the conversion to BCG Class A Common Units, additional value of approximately $15.0 million
was provided to certain holders who were members of our Board at the time of conversion. The additional value was accounted for as compensation,
which resulted in stock-based compensation expense of $15.0
million during the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Closing
of the Transaction
On
June 7, 2023, the Company completed its previously announced de-SPAC merger transaction with Avalon. Each share of Avalon common stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to that date automatically converted into one
share of Class A common stock and one
share of Series A preferred stock of Beneficient. Additionally, each Avalon Warrant (defined below) automatically converted into a Warrant
(defined below).
Accordingly,
the Company issued (i) an aggregate of 99,649
shares of Class A common stock to the former holders of Avalon Class A Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock of Avalon, par value $0.0001
per share (“Avalon Class B Common Stock”), outstanding immediately prior to June 7, 2023, and (ii) an aggregate of 34,961
shares of Beneficient Series A preferred stock to non-redeeming Avalon Class A stockholders, and the Avalon Warrants converted into an
aggregate of 295,313
redeemable Warrants. At closing, $27.9 million
of cash remained in the trust account of Avalon. There were $26.1 million
in transaction expenses, $20.0 million
of which represented the Reserve Amount under the Forward Purchase Agreement, that were either paid by Avalon prior to closing or offset
against proceeds received by the Company at closing, resulting in $1.8 million
in net proceeds to the Company. Proceeds from the Transaction were used to pay expenses related to the Transaction.
Immediately
after the Business Combination, 2,358,429
shares of Class A common stock were issued and outstanding, 239,256
shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding, 34,962
shares of Beneficient Series A preferred stock were issued and outstanding and 296,969
Warrants were issued and outstanding. Because the Series A preferred stock is not expected to be publicly listed, the Beneficient Series
A preferred stock terms provide that upon its issuance, each share of Series A preferred stock will automatically convert into one-quarter
of a share of Class A common stock of Beneficient, or an aggregate of 8,595
additional shares of Class A common stock. Following such conversion, there are 2,367,244
shares of Class A common stock of Beneficient outstanding following the Business Combination.
The
Transaction was accounted for as a capital transaction in substance and not a business combination under ASC 805, Business
Combinations
(“ASC 805”). As a result, Beneficient was treated as the accounting acquirer and Avalon was treated as the acquired company
for financial reporting purposes per ASC 805. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Transaction was treated similar to an equity contribution
in exchange for the issuance of shares of Common Stock. The financial statements of the combined entity represented a continuation of
the financial statements of Beneficient, and the net assets of Avalon were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible
assets recorded. The equity and net loss per unit attributable to common equity holders of the Company, prior to the closing, have been
retroactively restated as shares reflecting the common unit conversion ratio discussed above.
The
Company and Avalon incurred $21.7 million
and $26.1 million,
respectively, of expenses related to the Transaction. These expenses consisted of underwriting fees, professional services (legal, accounting,
advisory, etc.) and other direct
expenses
associated with the Transaction. As a result of the transaction, the transaction costs incurred by the Company related to the issuance
of shares were recognized in additional paid-in capital as a reduction of proceeds. The expenses incurred by Avalon were either paid by
Avalon prior to closing or netted against proceeds received by the Company at closing.
Common
Stock Warrants
The
Company assumed 15,525,000
publicly-traded Avalon Warrants (“Avalon Public Warrants”), which are exercisable for 194,063
shares of Class A common stock, as adjusted for stock splits, and 8,100,000
private placement Avalon Warrants, which are exercisable for 101,250
shares of Class A common stock, as adjusted for stock splits, (“Avalon Private Warrants” and together with the Avalon Public
Warrants, the “Avalon Warrants”), which were originally issued by Avalon in connection with its initial public offering and,
as a result of the assumption by the Company, became Warrants. The Avalon Public Warrants assumed by Ben are referred to as the “Public
Warrants” and the Avalon Private Warrants assumed by Ben are referred to as the “Private Warrants,” and collectively,
the “Warrants.” The Warrants are included in derivative warrant liabilities on the Company’s consolidated statements
of financial condition. The Warrants entitle the holder to exercise each whole warrant for one
share of Class A common stock and one
share of Series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $920.00
(each a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”).
The
Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares, and will expire on June 7, 2028 (i.e., five
years following the closing), or earlier upon redemption or liquidations. Ben may redeem the outstanding Public Warrants
(i) in whole and not in part; (ii) at a price of $0.80
per warrant; (iii) upon not less than 30
days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and (iv) if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class
A common stock for any 20
trading days within a 30-trading
day period ending three business days before Ben sends the notice of redemption to the warrant
holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $1,440.00
per share. In addition, we have the ability to redeem the outstanding Warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to
their expiration, at a price of $8.00
per Public Warrant if, among other things, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $800.00
per share. If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by Ben, Ben may exercise its redemption right even if Ben is unable to register
or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
During
any period when Ben fails to maintain an effective registration statement registering the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise
of the Warrants, Ben is required to permit holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance
with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or another exemption.
The
Private Warrants, which became transferable, assignable and salable on July 7, 2023 (i.e., 30
days after the closing), are currently held by Avalon Acquisition Holdings, L.L.C (“the Avalon Sponsor”), and are generally
identical to the Public Warrants, except they cannot be redeemed by Ben so long as they are held by the Avalon Sponsor or its permitted
transferees. An Avalon Sponsor, or its permitted transferees, has the option to exercise the Private Warrants on a cashless basis and
have certain registration rights. If the Private Warrants are held by holders other than the Avalon Sponsor or its permitted transferees,
the Private Warrants will become redeemable by Ben in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the
Public Warrants.
As
of September 30, 2024, there were 24,699,725
Warrants outstanding with a fair value of $0.2
million, as reflected in the warrant liability line item on the consolidated statements of financial condition. During the three months
ended September 30,
2024 and 2023,
gains of nominal and $0.2
million, respectively, were recognized in
gain (loss) on
financial instruments, net
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During
the six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023,
gains of nominal and $1.7
million, respectively, were recognized in
gain (loss) on
financial instruments, net
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 6
for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
5. Investments,
at Fair Value
Investments
held by Ben or held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts are comprised of investments in alternative assets, public debt and equity securities,
other equity securities and interests (including those of a related party), and put options. The
composition of investments recorded at fair value by holder is included in the table below (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
| Ben |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Ben |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
Alternative
assets |
$ |
— |
|
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
293,916 |
|
Public
equity securities and option |
— |
|
| 4,885 |
|
| — |
|
| 4,897 |
|
Debt
securities available-for-sale |
— |
|
| 1,969 |
|
| — |
|
| 2,962 |
|
Other equity
securities and interests |
— |
|
| 26,745 |
|
| 6 |
|
| 27,338 |
|
Total
investments, at fair value |
$ |
— |
|
| $ |
334,987 |
|
| $ |
6 |
|
| $ |
329,113 |
|
Investments
in Alternative Assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts
The
investments in alternative assets are held, either through direct ownership or through beneficial interests, by certain of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts and consist primarily of limited partnership interests in various alternative investments, including private equity funds.
These alternative investments are valued using NAV as a practical expedient. Changes in the NAV of these investments are recorded in investment
income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The investments in alternative assets provide the economic
value that ultimately collateralizes the ExAlt Loans that Ben Liquidity originates with the Customer ExAlt Trusts in liquidity transactions
and any associated fees due from the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The increase in investments in alternative assets since March 31, 2024,
was primarily driven by net upward adjustments of NAV as reported by the investment managers or general partners offset by $12.5
million in distributions.
The
NAV calculation reflects the most current report of NAV and other data received from firm/fund sponsors. If no such report has been received,
Ben estimates NAV based upon the last NAV calculation reported by the investment manager and adjusts it for capital calls and distributions
made in the intervening time frame. Ben also considers whether adjustments to the NAV are necessary, in certain circumstances, in which
management is aware of specific material events, changes in market conditions, and other relevant factors that have affected the value
of an investment during the period between the date of the most recent NAV calculation reported by the investment manager or sponsor and
the measurement date. Public equity securities known to be owned within an alternative investment fund, based on the most recent information
reported by the general partners, are marked to market using quoted market prices on the balance sheet reporting date.
The
underlying interests in alternative assets are primarily limited partnership interests. The transfer of the investments in private equity
funds generally requires the consent of the corresponding private equity fund manager, and the transfer of certain fund investments is
subject to rights of first refusal or other preemptive rights, potentially further limiting the ExAlt PlanTM
from transferring an investment in a private equity fund. The investments are not subject to redemption with the funds. Distributions
from funds are received as the underlying investments are liquidated. Timing of liquidation is currently unknown.
Portfolio
Information
Our
portfolio of alternative asset investments, held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts by asset class of each fund as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, is summarized below (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Alternative
Investments Portfolio Summary |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Asset
Class |
| Carrying
Value |
| Unfunded
Commitments |
| Carrying
Value |
| Unfunded
Commitments |
Private
Equity |
| $ |
138,089 |
|
| $ |
37,989 |
|
| $ |
116,462 |
|
| $ |
38,401 |
|
Venture
Capital |
| 128,033 |
|
| 2,344 |
|
| 139,495 |
|
| 2,548 |
|
Natural
Resources |
| 16,815 |
|
| 3,318 |
|
| 17,553 |
|
| 3,340 |
|
Private
Real Estate |
| 8,580 |
|
| 2,884 |
|
| 8,760 |
|
| 2,907 |
|
Hedge Funds |
| 3,539 |
|
| 245 |
|
| 6,095 |
|
| 245 |
|
Other(1) |
| 6,332 |
|
| 383 |
|
| 5,551 |
|
| 382 |
|
Total |
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| $ |
47,163 |
|
| $ |
293,916 |
|
| $ |
47,823 |
|
(1)
“Other”
includes earnouts, escrow, net other assets, and private debt strategies.
As
of September 30,
2024,
the Customer
ExAlt Trusts collectively had exposure to 237
professionally managed alternative asset investment funds, comprised of 797
underlying investments, 92
percent of which are investments in private companies.
Public
Equity Securities
Investment
in public equity securities primarily represents ownership by both Ben and certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts in public companies. These
investments are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted market prices. Any realized gains and losses are recorded on a
trade-date basis. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are recognized in gain (loss) on
financial instruments, net
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, the fair value of
investments in public equity securities was $4.9
million and $4.9
million, respectively. On August 1, 2023, GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization was declared effective, and the Company’s investment
was transferred to equity interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust (as defined herein). The interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust are reflected
as an investment in other equity securities. Refer to Note 6
for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Put
Options
On
April 1, 2022, Ben, through CT Risk Management, L.L.C., (“CT”) made aggregate payments of $5.0 million
to purchase put options in the S&P 500 Index with an aggregate notional amount of $141.3 million.
Half of the notional expires in April 2024, while the other half expires in April 2025. On April 27, 2022, CT sold an equity interest
for $2.4 million
to the third-party involved in a participation loan transaction described in Note 7 and utilized the proceeds to purchase additional put
options similar to the put options purchased on April 1, 2022. These put options were sold in September 2023 for $1.0 million,
resulting in a recognized loss of $0.7 million.
The
put options were designed to protect the NAV of the interests in alternative assets, which generate the collateral to certain of the ExAlt
Loans in Ben Liquidity’s loan portfolio or the loans related to the participation loan transaction and provide for distributions
to the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ ultimate beneficiary, against market risk. The options were carried at fair value, which is determined
using quoted market prices. Any
realized gains and losses are recorded on a trade-date basis. Realized and unrealized gains and losses were recognized in gain (loss)
on financial
instruments, net
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
No
put options were held as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024. For
the three months ended September 30,
2023, Ben
recognized losses of $0.7
million on
the put options, of which approximately $0.3
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction. For the six months ended September 30,
2023, Ben
has recognized losses of $3.0
million on
the put options, of which approximately $2.0
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction. Refer
to Note 6
for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Debt
Securities Available-for-Sale
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, investments in debt securities represent ownership in privately held debt securities.
Investments in debt securities are classified and accounted for as available-for-sale, with unrealized gains and losses presented as a
separate component of equity under the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) line item.
Prior
to August 1, 2023, investments in debt securities also included ownership in corporate debt securities, specifically, L Bonds of GWG Holdings
(“L Bonds”) held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The L Bonds had a maturity date of August 8, 2023. However, upon
the effectiveness of GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization on August 1, 2023, the investments in L Bonds converted to equity interests
in the GWG Wind Down Trust, which are reflected in “other equity securities and interests,” as of September 30, 2024
and March 31, 2024.
The
amortized cost, estimated fair value, and unrealized gains and losses on investments in debt securities classified as available-for-sale
as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024 are summarized as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Amortized
Cost Basis |
| Gross
Unrealized Gains |
| Gross
Unrealized Losses |
| Fair
Value |
Other
debt securities |
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
344 |
|
| $ |
(1,060) |
|
| $ |
1,969 |
|
Total
available-for-sale debt securities |
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
344 |
|
| $ |
(1,060) |
|
| $ |
1,969 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| March
31, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Amortized
Cost Basis |
| Gross
Unrealized Gains |
| Gross
Unrealized Losses |
| Fair
Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
debt securities |
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
1,337 |
|
| $ |
(1,060) |
|
| $ |
2,962 |
|
Total
available-for-sale debt securities |
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
1,337 |
|
| $ |
(1,060) |
|
| $ |
2,962 |
|
The
table below indicates the length of time individual debt securities have been in a continuous loss position as of September 30, 2024
and March 31,
2024:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Fair
Value |
| Unrealized
Losses |
| Fair
Value |
| Unrealized
Losses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
debt securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Less
than twelve months |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Twelve
months or longer |
| 1,969 |
|
| 1,060 |
|
| 1,964 |
|
| 1,060 |
|
Total
available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses |
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| $ |
1,060 |
|
| $ |
1,964 |
|
| $ |
1,060 |
|
The
noncredit-related portion of the net unrealized gains was nominal for the three and six months ended September 30,
2024, and recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The
noncredit-related portion of the net unrealized losses of $0.1
million and gains of $4.2
million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2023,
respectively, was recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized net gains of $13.7
million related
to the Company’s previously classified available-for-sale debt securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive
income and recognized within the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net line item of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income(loss)
during the three
and six months
ended September 30,
2023, respectively.
During
the three and six months ended September 30,
2024, the
Company determined there
was $0.5
million and $1.0
million,
respectively, credit-related
loss on its investment in debt securities available-for-sale. During the three and six months ended September 30, 2023, the Company
determined there was no
credit-related loss on its investment in debt securities available-for-sale.
The
following table is a rollforward of credit-related losses recognized in earnings for the periods presented below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Balance,
beginning of period |
| $ |
31,812 |
|
| $ |
31,290 |
|
| $ |
31,290 |
|
| $ |
31,290 |
|
Credit related
losses not previously recognized |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 522 |
|
| — |
|
Increase in
amounts previously recognized |
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
Balance,
end of period |
| $ |
32,288 |
|
| $ |
31,290 |
|
| $ |
32,288 |
|
| $ |
31,290 |
|
The
contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities as of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Amortized
Cost Basis |
| Fair
Value |
| Amortized
Cost Basis |
| Fair
Value |
Due
in one year or less |
| $ |
1,687 |
|
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| $ |
1,687 |
|
| $ |
1,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
No
fixed maturity |
| 998 |
|
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| 998 |
|
|
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| $ |
2,685 |
|
| $ |
2,962 |
|
Other
Equity Securities and Interests
Ben
and certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in equity securities of private companies measured based on quoted prices for
similar assets in active markets, including those of the GWG Wind Down Trust. On August 1, 2023, GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization
was declared effective and our investments in its common stock and L Bonds (previously accounted for as public equity securities and available-for-sale
debt securities, respectively) were then transferred to an investment in the GWG Holdings Wind Down Trust. The fair value of these equity
interests was nominal and $0.6
million as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively. Refer to Note 6
for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Additionally,
certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value. These equity
securities are measured, using
the measurement alternative for equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values,
at cost, less impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a
similar investment of the same issuer. The value of these equity securities was $26.7
million and $26.8
million as of September 30,
2024 and
March 31, 2024, respectively. Refer to Note 6
for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein, which reflects any upward
or downward adjustments to these equity securities for the periods presented herein.
There were no
impairments to these equity securities during the three and six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023.
6. Fair
Value Measurements
Fair
value is estimated based on a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Observable
inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on
market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s
own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information
available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques into three broad levels whereby
the highest priority is given to Level 1 inputs and the lowest to Level 3 inputs.
•Level
1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets that the reporting entity has the ability to access as of the measurement
date.
•Level
2 - 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 or whose significant value drivers are observable market data.
•Level
3 - Valuations for instruments with inputs that are significant and unobservable, are derived from other valuation methodologies, including
option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and are not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker traded
transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such instruments.
This
hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. A
financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant
to the fair value measurement. Investments that are valued using NAV as a practical expedient are excluded from this hierarchy.
As
of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024,
the fair value of these investments using the NAV per share practical expedient was $301.4
million and $293.9
million, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, a gain of $8.5
million and a nominal loss, respectively, were recognized from changes in NAV, which are recorded within the investment income (loss),
net, line item of our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During the six months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023, a $19.6
million gain and $0.5
million gain, respectively, was recognized from changes in NAV, which is recorded within the investment income (loss), net, line item
of our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
Financial
instruments on a recurring basis
The
Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis, including the level in the fair value hierarchy,
on September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024
are presented below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
As
of September 30,
2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Level
1 |
| Level
2 |
| Level
3 |
| Total |
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Public
equity securities |
| $ |
4,885 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
4,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
equity interests |
| — |
|
| 20 |
|
| — |
|
| 20 |
|
Debt
securities available-for-sale, other |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,969 |
|
| 1,969 |
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Convertible
debt |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,936 |
|
| 1,936 |
|
Warrants
liability |
| 213 |
|
| 571 |
|
| — |
|
| 784 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
As
of March 31,
2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Level
1 |
| Level
2 |
| Level
3 |
| Total |
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Public
equity securities |
| $ |
4,897 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
4,897 |
|
Other
equity interests |
| — |
|
| 558 |
|
| — |
|
| 558 |
|
Debt
securities available-for-sale, other |
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| 1,964 |
|
| 2,962 |
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Warrant
liability |
| 178 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 178 |
|
Prepaid
forward liability |
| 14 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 14 |
|
A
reconciliation of gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein is included in the tables below (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Public
equity securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Related
party equity securities |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(136) |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(3,702) |
|
Other
public equity securities |
| 745 |
|
| (516) |
|
| (12) |
|
| (736) |
|
Put
options |
| — |
|
| (695) |
|
| — |
|
| (3,023) |
|
Loss on initial
issuance of convertible debt and warrant issuance to Yorkville |
| (1,700) |
|
| — |
|
| (1,700) |
|
| — |
|
Convertible
debt |
| 225 |
|
| — |
|
| 225 |
|
| — |
|
Warrants liability |
| 710 |
|
| 214 |
|
| 708 |
|
| 1,699 |
|
Prepaid
forward liability |
| 14 |
|
| 19 |
|
| 14 |
|
| (73) |
|
Derivative
liability |
| — |
|
| 163 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,581 |
|
Other equity
securities and interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Related
party, fair value using quoted market prices of similar assets in active market (1) |
| (173) |
|
| (41,824) |
|
| (538) |
|
| (41,824) |
|
Other,
without a readily determinable fair value |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (59) |
|
| (158) |
|
Gain
(loss) on financial instruments, net |
| $ |
(179) |
|
| $ |
(42,775) |
|
| $ |
(1,362) |
|
| $ |
(46,236) |
|
(1)
Includes realized
net gains of $13.7 million
related to the Company’s previously classified available-for-sale debt securities upon reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive
income during the three and six months ended September 30, 2023.
The
following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Investment
in other equity securities and interests
As
of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024,
the fair value of these equity interests is calculated using quoted
prices for similar instruments observed in the equity capital markets and is classified as a Level 2 investment in the fair value hierarchy.
Investment
in debt securities available-for-sale
Other
debt securities.
The fair value of these debt securities is calculated using the market approach adjusted for the recoverability of the security. The
following table provides quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measure of the Level
3 other debt securities (dollars in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Fair
Value |
| Valuation
Methodology |
| Unobservable
Inputs |
| Range
|
| Weighted
Average |
September
30, 2024 |
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| Market
Approach |
| Enterprise
value-to-revenue multiple |
|
0.2x
- 18.9x |
|
1.80x |
March
31, 2024 |
| $ |
1,964 |
|
| Market
Approach |
| Enterprise
value-to-revenue multiple |
|
0.2x
- 18.9x |
|
1.77x |
The
following table reconciles the beginning and ending fair value of our Level 3 other debt securities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Beginning
balance |
| $ |
1,943 |
|
| $ |
2,183 |
|
| $ |
1,964 |
|
| $ |
2,078 |
|
Gains (losses)
recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(1) |
| 26 |
|
| (104) |
|
| 5 |
|
| 1 |
|
Ending
balance |
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| $ |
2,079 |
|
| $ |
1,969 |
|
| $ |
2,079 |
|
(1)
Recorded in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale debt securities.
Convertible
Debt
The
Company issued convertible debentures to Yorkville as discussed in Note 7 whereby the Company elected to account for convertible debentures
under the fair value option of accounting upon issuance. The Company estimated the fair value of the convertible debentures based on assumptions
used in the Monte Carlo simulation model. This fair value measure is classified as Level 3 and using the following significant inputs
as of the end of the reporting period: expected term (in months) - 4.2;
stock price - $1.23;
discount rate - 21.7%;
expected volatility: 146.4%;
expected dividend rate -
0%;
and risk-free rate: 4.6%.
The
following is a summary of the change in the fair value of the convertible debentures for the three and six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Beginning fair
value |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Addition during
the period |
| 2,160 |
|
| — |
|
| 2,160 |
|
| — |
|
Change in fair
value during the period |
| (224) |
|
| — |
|
| (224) |
|
| — |
|
Ending fair
value |
| $ |
1,936 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
1,936 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
As
the fair value of the freestanding instruments identified with the convertible debentures exceeded the proceeds, a loss on issuance on
convertible debentures was recognized. Refer to Note 7 for further information.
Warrants
As
part of the transaction with Yorkville related to the convertible debentures discussed in Note 7, the Company also issued warrants to
purchase our Class A common stock. These warrants are liability classified and subject to periodic remeasurement. The fair value of these
warrants issued to Yorkville are measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The key inputs used in the valuation as of the
end of the reporting period are: expected terms (in years) - 2.85;
stock price - $1.23;
exercise price: $2.63;
expected volatility: 146.4%;
expected dividend rate - 0%;
and risk-free
rate: 3.34%.
Derivative
liability
The
fair value of the contingent interest feature derivative liability, as discussed in Note 7, is estimated using industry standard valuation
models. Level 3 inputs were utilized to value the expected future cash flows from the portfolio held by the Customer ExAlt Trust and included
the use of present value techniques employing cash flow estimates and incorporated assumptions that marketplace participants would use
in estimating fair values. Specifically, the model includes assumptions related to (i) equity market risk premiums, (ii) alternative asset
beta to public equities, (iii) NAVs, (iv) volatilities, (v), distribution rates, and (vi) market discount rates. These expected future
cash flows were bifurcated between base cash flows and enhanced return cash flows (i.e., the contingent interest) and then the enhanced
cash flows were further discounted to arrive at the fair value for the contingent interest feature derivative liability. In instances
where reliable market information was not available, management used historical market data proxies and assumptions to determine a reasonable
fair value.
The
derivative liability was extinguished along with its related debt on October 18, 2023, as discussed in Note 7.
The
following table reconciles the beginning and ending fair value of our Level 3 derivative liability:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
|
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
| 2023 |
|
|
| 2023 |
Beginning
balance |
|
|
| $ |
2,095 |
|
|
|
| $ |
3,513 |
|
Gains
recognized in earnings(1) |
|
|
| (163) |
|
|
|
| (1,581) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ending
balance |
|
|
| $ |
1,932 |
|
|
|
| $ |
1,932 |
|
(1)
Recorded in (gain) loss on financial instruments, net.
There
have been no transfers between levels for any assets or liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis or any changes in the
valuation techniques used for measuring the fair value as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024,
respectively.
Financial
instruments on a non-recurring basis
Equity
securities without a readily determinable fair value
Certain
of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value. These equity securities
are measured at cost, less impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical
or a similar investment of the same issuer. The Company classifies these assets as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
The
value of these equity securities was $26.7
million and $26.8
million as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024,
respectively.
Additionally,
as of September 30, 2024, one
security has cumulative upward adjustments of $10.8
million based upon observable price changes, which was based on a then recent equity offering and stock to stock transactions.
No
significant adjustments were made during the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Goodwill
During
the first and second quarters of fiscal 2025 and 2024, primarily as a result of a significant, sustained decline in our Class A common
stock price and the Company’s related market capitalization, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of
our reporting units were below their carrying amount and resulted in us performing an interim impairment assessment. As a result, we wrote
the carrying value of each report unit with goodwill down to their estimated fair value and recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment
charge of $0.3
million and $306.7
million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is reflected in loss on impairment of goodwill
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). For the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, a non-cash goodwill
impairment charge of $3.7
million and $1.4
billion, respectively, was recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Prior to the goodwill impairment
recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company had not previously recorded any impairments of goodwill.
For
each interim impairment assessment, the Company computed the fair value of each reporting unit by computing the overall enterprise value
of the Company by valuing its various equity instruments, primarily based on the Class A common stock price per share. The overall enterprise
value was allocated to each reporting units using the discounted cash flow method to estimate the relative value of each reporting unit
based on their future cash flows using a multi-year forecast, and a terminal value calculated using a long-term growth rate that was informed
based on our industry, analyst reports of a public company peer set, current and expected future economic conditions and management expectations.
The discount rate used to discount these future cash flows was determined using a capital asset pricing model based on the market value
of equity of a public company peer set, adjusted for risk characteristics and expectations specific to the reporting unit, combined with
an assessment of the cost of debt.
The
discount rates used in the impairment analysis for each reporting unit ranged from: 24.8%
to 25.6%
for June 30, 2023 and 25.3%
to 26.2%
for September 30, 2023. The discount rates used for each reporting unit ranged from: 28.0%
to 29.3%
for June 30, 2024 and 28.0%
to 29.3%
for September 30,
2024.
The Company applied a terminal year long-term growth rate of 3.0%
for each reporting unit during each of the interim impairment assessments. Remaining goodwill at September 30,
2024
relates to Ben Custody and Ben Markets. Subsequent to the impairment analysis as of September 30,
2024,
there was
no excess of reporting unit fair value over carrying value for Ben Custody and approximately $0.4 million
of reporting unit fair value over carrying value for Ben Markets.
The
change in goodwill at each reporting unit was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| March
31, 2024 |
| Impairment |
| September
30, 2024 |
Ben
Liquidity |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Ben
Custody |
| 10,896 |
|
| (3,427) |
|
| 7,469 |
|
Ben
Insurance |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
Ben
Markets |
| 2,710 |
|
| (265) |
|
| 2,445 |
|
Total
Goodwill |
| $ |
13,606 |
|
| $ |
(3,692) |
|
| $ |
9,914 |
|
There
were no other assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2024
and March 31, 2024.
Carrying
amounts and estimated fair values
The
estimated fair value of financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition, for which
it is practicable to estimate those values, are disclosed below. These fair value estimates are determined based on relevant market information
and information about the financial instruments. Fair value estimates are intended to
represent
the price at which an asset could be sold or the price at which a liability could be transferred. However, our estimates of many of these
fair values are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with
precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimated values. Nonfinancial instruments are excluded from disclosure
requirements.
The
carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not recorded at fair value as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, were as noted in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| As
of September 30, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Level
in Fair Value Hierarchy |
| Carrying
Amount |
| Estimated
Fair Value |
Financial
assets: |
|
|
|
| |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
1 |
| $ |
4,482 |
|
| $ |
4,482 |
|
Restricted
cash |
1 |
| 314 |
|
| 314 |
|
Financial
liabilities: |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Debt
due to related parties, net |
2 |
| 122,117 |
|
| 138,919 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses |
1 |
| 112,494 |
|
| 112,494 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| As
of March 31, 2024 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Level
in Fair Value Hierarchy |
| Carrying
Amount |
| Estimated
Fair Value |
Financial
assets: |
|
|
|
| |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
1 |
| $ |
7,913 |
|
| $ |
7,913 |
|
Restricted
cash |
1 |
| 64 |
|
| 64 |
|
Financial
liabilities: |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Debt
due to related parties, net |
2 |
| 120,505 |
|
| 129,327 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses |
1 |
| 157,157 |
|
| 157,157 |
|
7. Debt
Customer
ExAlt Trust Loan Payable
On
March 24, 2022, Ben Liquidity transferred a $72.5 million
ExAlt Loan to a third-party in return for $72.5 million
of cash. The loan participation transaction resulted in a third party holding the transferred ExAlt Loan, which was previously eliminated
in consolidation against the loan payable issued by a Customer ExAlt Trust for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the loan payable
issued by the Customer ExAlt Trusts is no longer eliminated upon consolidation for financial reporting purposes and is reflected in the
Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable line item on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
The
Customer ExAlt
Trust loan payable does not have scheduled principal or interest payments due prior to its maturity date of December 7, 2033. Prepayment
of the loans, in whole or in part, is permitted without premium or penalty. A pro-rata portion of the cash flows from $352.6 million
of alternative assets acquired by the Customer ExAlt Trusts on December 7, 2021 (the “Acquired Assets”) are the sole source
of cash flows to be used by the Customer ExAlt Trusts to satisfy its obligations under the terms of the loan agreement. The
percentage of the Acquired Assets allocated to supporting the repayment of the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable amounted to approximately
27.8%
(the “Participation Allocation”). Ben
and its subsidiaries have no obligation or other requirements to repay the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable should the pro-rata cash
flows from the $352.6 million
of alternative assets associated with the loan be insufficient to pay all contractual obligations owed under the terms of the loan agreement.
The Customer
ExAlt Trust loan payable bears interest at 12%
per annum.
Termination
of Customer ExAlt Trust Loan Payable
On
October 18, 2023, the applicable Customer ExAlt Trusts distributed, transferred and assigned the Participation Allocation (net of a qualified
charitable distribution) to a subsidiary of the holder of the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable. As a result, all obligations owed under
the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable have been repaid and the related participation interest no longer remains outstanding. As such,
the Customer ExAlt Trusts repaid the entire outstanding principal balance of the ExAlt Trust Loan Payable of $50.9
million including interest paid-in-kind, by transferring $56.7
million of alternative assets. The
payoff
of the Customer ExAlt Trust Loan Payable was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470, Debt.
The
loan agreement included a contingent interest feature whereby additional interest could be owed up to a maximum rate of 21%
under certain circumstances, dependent principally on the cash flows generated by the pro rata portion of the underlying collateral. As
the contingent interest feature was not based on creditworthiness, such feature was not clearly and closely related to the host instrument
and was therefore bifurcated and recognized as a derivative liability with a resulting debt discount at inception. The
change in the fair value of the contingent interest derivative liability resulted in a net gain
of $0.2 million
and $1.6 million
that is reflected
in gain (loss) on financial instruments, net in
the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended September 30,
2023, respectively.
The amortization of the debt discount, which is reflected as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income (loss), was $0.2
million and $0.5
million for the three
and six months
ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
Convertible
Debentures
On
August 6, 2024, the Company, entered into a securities purchase agreement with Yorkville, in connection with the issuance and sale of
convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount of up to $4.0 million
(the “Convertible Debentures”), which will be convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (as converted,
the “Conversion Shares”). The Company issued $2.0 million
in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures upon the signing the Purchase Agreement (the “First Closing”) for
proceeds of approximately $1.8 million.
The Company will issue an additional $2.0 million
in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures for proceeds of approximately $1.8 million
on or before the first business day after the date the registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the Conversion Shares
and the Warrant Shares (as defined below) is declared effective by the SEC (the “Second Closing”). The Second Closing had
not occurred as of September 30, 2024. The Convertible Debentures were or will be issued at an original issue discount of 10%.
The
Convertible Debentures do not bear interest, subject to a potential increase to 18.0%
per annum (or the maximum amount permitted by applicable law) upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Convertible Debentures
will mature on February 6, 2025 (the “Maturity Date”). The Company will be required to make monthly cash payments of principal
in the amount of $1.3 million
(or such lesser amount as may then be outstanding) plus all accrued and unpaid interest as of such payment. Such payments will commence
30 days following the Second Closing and will continue on a monthly basis thereafter until the Convertible Debentures are repaid in full,
subject to certain conditions as described in the Convertible Debenture. The Convertible Debentures are convertible at the option of the
holder into Class A common stock equal to the applicable Conversion Amount (as in the Convertible Debenture) divided by $3.018
(the “Conversion Price”). The maximum amount of shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures is 1,325,382.
The
Convertible Debenture provides the Company, subject to certain conditions, with an optional redemption right pursuant to which the Company,
upon 10
trading days’ prior written notice to Yorkville (the “Redemption Notice”), may redeem in cash, in whole or in part,
all amounts outstanding under the Convertible Debentures prior to the Maturity Date; provided that the volume weighted average price on
the date such Redemption Notice is delivered is less than the Conversion Price at the time of the Redemption Notice. The redemption amount
shall be equal to the outstanding principal balance being redeemed by the Company, plus the redemption premium of 10%
of the principal amount being redeemed, plus all accrued and unpaid interest in respect of such redeemed principal amount.
Additionally,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue the warrants to Yorkville (each a “Yorkville Warrant”
and collectively, the “Yorkville Warrants”) to purchase up to 1,325,382
shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $2.63,
which shall be exercisable into Class A common stock for cash (collectively, the “Warrant Shares”). At the First Closing,
the Company issued a Yorkville Warrant to purchase up to 662,691
shares of Class A common stock, and at the Second Closing, the Company will issue an additional Yorkville Warrant to purchase up to 662,691
shares of Class A common stock.
Contemporaneously
with the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a global guaranty
agreement in favor of Yorkville with respect to the Company’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Debentures
and the Yorkville Warrants.
The
Company elected to account for the Convertible Debenture under the fair value option of accounting upon issuance. The proceeds were allocated
to all freestanding instruments recorded at fair value. As the fair value of the freestanding instruments exceeded the proceeds, an aggregate
loss of $1.7
million
during the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 was recognized in gain (loss) on financial instruments, net in the consolidated
statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30,
2024,
the fair value of the Convertible Debenture was $1.9 million
and
is included in convertible debt in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
The
primary reason for electing the fair value option is for simplification of accounting for the Convertible Debenture at fair value in its
entirety versus bifurcation of the embedded derivatives. The fair value was determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model. Refer to Note
6 for further information on the Convertible Debentures.
The
Yorkville Warrants were required to be classified as a liability and are subject to periodic remeasurement. The fair value at the date
of issuance, measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, was approximately $1.3 million.
The key inputs
used in the valuation as of the initial valuation date were: expected terms (in years) - 3.0;
stock price - $2.63;
exercise price: $2.63
expected volatility: 130.2%;
expected dividend rate: 0%;
and risk-free
rate: 3.58%.
8. Debt
Due to Related Parties
As
of
September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, the Company’s debt due to related parties consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
First
Lien Credit Agreement |
| $ |
21,260 |
|
| $ |
21,264 |
|
Second
Lien Credit Agreement |
| 72,983 |
|
| 72,996 |
|
Term Loan |
| 26,475 |
|
| 25,000 |
|
Other
borrowings |
| 2,235 |
|
| 2,180 |
|
Unamortized
debt discount, net |
| (836) |
|
| (935) |
|
Total
debt due to related parties |
| $ |
122,117 |
|
| $ |
120,505 |
|
First
and Second Lien Credit Agreements
On
August 13, 2020, Ben, through its subsidiary Beneficient Capital Company II, L.L.C. (formerly known as Beneficient Capital Company, L.L.C.)
(“BCC”), executed the Second Amended and Restated First Lien Credit Agreement (“First Lien Credit Agreement”)
and the Second Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement (“Second Lien Credit Agreement”) collectively, (the “Second
A&R Agreements”) with its lender, HCLP Nominees, L.L.C (“HCLP”), to amend its First Lien Credit Agreement and Second
Lien Credit Agreement dated September 1, 2017 and December 28, 2018, respectively. The Second A&R Agreements have been further amended
from time to time to extend the maturity date and defer principal and interest payments, among other things. In connection with the amendments
to the Second A&R Agreements, Ben agreed to pay extension fees on a percentage of the amount outstanding under the credit agreements
as of the date of the respective amendment.
On
March 24, 2022, Ben executed Consents and Amendments No. 4 to the Second A&R Agreements with HCLP, which, among other things, (i)
deferred the payment of accrued and unpaid interest to March 24, 2022, (ii) evidenced the terms agreed to in the December 1, 2021 term
sheet, (iii) extended the maturity date of the loans to August 31, 2023, and (iv) established revised installment payments for each loan
of $5.0 million
due on May 10, 2022, August 10, 2022, December 10, 2022, and March 10, 2023, so long as each payment does not cause the Company to incur
a going concern, and (v) amended the occurrence of an event of default to require notice from HCLP on almost all potential defaults listed
under the Second A&R Agreements. In addition, Ben agreed to pay fees totaling approximately 6.5%
of the outstanding principal before giving effect to the amendments.
On
February 15, 2023, Ben executed those certain Amendment No. 5 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Consent and Amendment
No. 5 to Second Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement with HCLP, pursuant to which, as required by Amendments No. 4, certain
Ben subsidiaries became subsidiary guarantors and entered into those certain Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement (First
Lien) and Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement (Second Lien), that certain first lien Guaranty and that certain second lien
Guaranty.
On
June 5, 2023, BCH, entered into those certain Consent and Amendment No. 6 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which amended
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and Consent and Amendment No. 6 to Second Amended and
Restated
Second Lien Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Sixth Amendments”), which amended the Second Lien Credit Agreement, each
among BCH, HCLP and the other parties thereto. Among other things, the Sixth Amendments (i) allowed for the consummation of the Transactions
pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and effective as June 7, 2023 (ii) amended the definition of “Change of Control”
(as defined therein), and (iii) provided that Beneficient will be the “Parent” thereunder.
On
July 12, 2023, BCH, entered into (a) that certain Amendment No. 7 to the First Lien Amendment, which amended the First Lien Credit Agreement,
and (b) that certain Amendment No. 7 to Second Lien Amendment (together with the First Lien Amendment, the “Seventh Amendments”),
which amended the Second Lien Credit Agreement, each among BCH, HCLP and the other parties thereto. Among other things, the Seventh Amendments
(i) modified the interest rate to a fixed rate of 9.5%,
(ii) extended the maturity dates of the First Lien Amendment and the Second Lien Amendment to September 15, 2024 and September 15, 2027,
respectively, and (iii) agreed to installment payments on the First Lien Amendment of $5.0 million
on each of March 29th,
June 28th,
September 29th,
and December 29th
of each year for so long as the obligations remain outstanding, and so long as such payments do not cause a going concern. No payments
will be made on the Second Lien Amendment until the obligations on the First Lien Amendment have been fully satisfied.
Effective on July 31, 2024, the maturity date of the First Lien Credit Agreement was extended from September 15, 2024 to February 1, 2025,
and certain mandatory prepayment obligations thereunder were waived by HCLP until February 1, 2025. No payments of principal or interest
have been made on the First Lien or Second Lien Credit Agreements since an interest payment made in March 2023. Accrued interest on the
First Lien or Second Lien Credit Agreements of $14.1 million
as of September 30,
2024
and $9.5 million
as of March 31,
2024
is included in other liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial condition.
As
part of the Seventh Amendments, Ben agreed to pay fees totaling approximately $0.1 million.
During the six
months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023,
no
deferred financing costs were paid to HCLP. As of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024, the
unamortized premium related to the Second A&R Agreements was $0.4 million
and $0.5 million,
respectively. Through
September 30, 2024, all required principal and interest payments due under the Second A&R Agreements have been paid.
In
connection with the Second A&R Agreements, Beneficient Holdings, Inc. (“BHI”), which owns a majority of the BCH Class
S Ordinary Units, BCH
Preferred
A.1, and FLP Subclass 1 Unit Accounts issued by BCH, will grant certain tax-related concessions to HCLP as may be mutually agreed upon
between the parties. In exchange for the tax-related concessions, 5.0%
of BHI’s BCH
Preferred
A.1, which will be held by HCLP, may convert to BCH
Preferred
A.0. In addition, recipients of a grant of BCH
Preferred
A.1 from BHI will have the right to put an amount of BCH
Preferred
A.1 to Ben equal to any associated tax liability stemming from any such grant; provided that the aggregated associated tax liability shall
not relate to more than $30.0 million
of grants of BCH
Preferred
A.1 from BHI. No
such liability existed as of September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024.
The
Second A&R Agreements and ancillary documents contain covenants that (i) prevent Ben from issuing any securities senior to the BCH
Preferred
A.0 or BCH
Preferred A.1; (ii) prevent Ben from incurring additional debt or borrowings greater than $10.0 million,
other than trade payables, while the loans are outstanding; and (iii) prevent, without the written consent of HCLP, GWG Holdings from
selling, transferring, or otherwise disposing of any BCH
Preferred
A.1 held as of May 15, 2020, other than to its subsidiary GWG DLP Funding V, LLC. GWG no longer holds any BCH Preferred A.1 Unit Accounts.
Ben obtained consents for the Second A&R Agreements from HCLP in connection with the HH-BDH Credit Agreement (as defined below).
Term
Loan
On
October 19, 2023, Beneficient Financing, L.L.C. (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and BCH, as guarantor
(the “Guarantor” and together with the Borrower, the “Loan Parties”), entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement
(as amended, the “HH-BDH Credit Agreement”) with HH-BDH L.L.C. (the “HH-BDH”), as administrative agent. HH-BDH’s
sole member is Hicks Holdings. The managing member of Hicks Holdings is Mr. Thomas O. Hicks, a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors. HH-BDH funded the amounts under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement with the proceeds of a third-party financing (the “Financing”).
The
HH-BDH Credit Agreement provides for a three-year
term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million
(the “Term Loan”), which was fully drawn on closing. On August 16, 2024, that certain Amendment No. 1 and Waiver No. 1 to
the Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Each Other Loan Document (the “Amendment,” and the Credit Agreement, as amended by the
Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), was executed to add a subsequent term loan of $1.7 million,
which was fully drawn upon the closing of the Amendment (together with the Term Loan, the “Loans”).
The
Amended Credit Agreement also requires the Borrower to prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Loans in the amount of $200 thousand,
$200 thousand,
$200 thousand,
$200 thousand
and $875 thousand
on each of September 7, 2024, October 7, 2024, November 7, 2024, December 7, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Furthermore, on
each Required
Payment
Date (defined in the Amended Credit Agreement as December 31, 2024 and the last business day of each calendar month thereafter), the Borrower
shall prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Loans by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Total Portfolio Net Receipts (as
defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) for the most recently ended period beginning on the 16th day of each month and ending on the
15th day of the immediately following month, and (b) as of each Required Payment Date, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x)(i)
the number of Required Payment Dates occurring on or prior to such Required Payment Date, multiplied by (ii) $500,000,
minus (y) the amount of all Excess Payments (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) made prior to such Required Payment Date. Additionally,
the Amended Credit Agreement requires the Borrower to make certain minimum monthly payments to prepay the balance of the Loans.
Borrowings
under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as amended, bear interest, at the Company’s option, calculated according to a base rate, adjusted
term SOFR rate, or adjusted daily simple SOFR rate, plus an applicable margin, subject to a Maximum Rate determined by applicable law
in the State of New York. The Company elected the adjusted daily simple SOFR rate with a margin of 6.5%
for the first two years and 5.5%
for the third year for the Loans. Accrued and unpaid interest is payable monthly, upon prepayment, and at maturity.
The
Loans will mature on October 19, 2026, and all remaining outstanding principal amounts and accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be
due and payable on such date. As of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024,
the unamortized discount related to the Term Loan was $1.2 million
and $1.5 million,
respectively.
The
Term Loan is secured in part by pledges of: (a) substantially all of the assets of the Borrower, (b) the Guarantor’s equity interests
in the Borrower, (c) 97.5%
of the equity interests held by The EP-00117 Custody Trust, a Delaware statutory trust known as the “Custody Trust,” in certain
entities that hold interests in private investment funds, which, as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024,
represented approximately 39.1%
and 41.5%,
respectively, of all assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and (d) certain deposit accounts.
The
HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as amended, contains customary representations, warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants
which restrict the ability of the Loan Parties, the Custody Trust and certain affiliated entities to, among other things, create liens,
incur additional indebtedness, make certain restricted payments and engage in certain other transactions, in each case subject to certain
customary exceptions. In addition, the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as amended, contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including
a debt service coverage ratio of 2.00
to 1.00 and beginning December 31, 2024, a minimum liquidity requirement of $4.0 million,
measured on the last day of each month.
Additionally,
the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as amended, contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach
of covenants, cross default of material indebtedness, bankruptcy-related defaults, judgment defaults, the occurrence of certain change
of control events, and the Class A common stock being suspended from trading for more than two consecutive days or delisting from Nasdaq.
The occurrence of an event of default may result in the acceleration of repayment obligations with respect to any outstanding principal
amounts and foreclosure on the collateral. As part of the Amendment, certain events of default resulting from the occurrence of the Acknowledged
Defaults (as defined in the Amendment) were waived, provided that in the case of the expense reimbursement default, the Borrower must
cure the expense reimbursement default upon the earlier of (i) November 1, 2024 and (ii) two business days following the effectiveness
of Company’s registration statement for resale of the shares of Class A common stock, underlying the convertible debentures and
warrants described in Note 7.
Hicks
Holdings will receive the following fees and payments in connection with the Loans:
•A
non-refundable fee in an amount equal to 1.0%
of the aggregate commitments under the Term Loan upon execution of the HH-BDH Credit Agreement (the “Closing Date”);
•On
each Payment Date, from and including: (1) from the Closing Date until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, an interest payment
at an interest rate equal to 3.0%
per annum; and (2) from the second anniversary of the Closing Date until the loans are repaid in full, interest payments at an interest
rate equal to 2.0%
per annum (such interest is in included in HH-BDH’s receipt of interest payments as described above);
•If
any amounts under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement are prepaid prior to the scheduled Make Whole Date, including by reason of acceleration,
a make-whole payment equal to the product of the principal amounts being repaid and the applicable interest rate plus 3.0%
and the number of calendar days between the date of such prepayment and the scheduled Make Whole Date, divided by 360; and
•Certain
fees, payments and expenses incurred by Hicks Holdings in connection with the Financing.
Aggregate
maturities of principal on the debt due to related parties for the next five fiscal years ending March 31 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Debt
Due to Related Parties |
2025 |
$ |
23,495 |
|
2026 |
— |
|
2027 |
26,475 |
|
2028 |
72,983 |
|
2029 |
— |
|
9. Share-based
Compensation
As
of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024,
the Company has outstanding share-based awards under the Beneficient Management Partners, L.P. (“BMP”)
Equity Incentive Plan (the “BMP Equity Incentive Plan”), the Beneficient 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2023 Incentive
Plan”), and BCH
Preferred
A.1,
as more fully described below.
Following
stockholder approval on April 18, 2024, the Company effected a reverse stock split of our Class A and Class B common stock at a ratio
of 1-for-80 and a simultaneous proportionate reduction in the authorized shares of each class of Common Stock as required by Nevada Revised
Statues Section 78.207. All outstanding restricted stock units and restricted equity units, as well as the Company’s equity incentive
plans have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-80 Reverse Stock Split.
BMP
Equity Incentive Plan
The
Board of Directors of Ben Management, Ben’s general partner prior to the Conversion, adopted the BMP Equity Incentive Plan in 2019.
Under the BMP Equity Incentive Plan, certain directors and employees of Ben are eligible to receive equity units in BMP, an entity affiliated
with the Board of Directors of Ben Management, in return for their services to Ben. The BMP equity units eligible to be awarded to employees
is comprised of BMP’s Class A Units and/or BMP’s Class B Units (collectively, the “BMP Equity Units”). As of September 30,
2024, the Board has authorized the issuance of up to 119,000,000
units each of the BMP Equity Units. All awards are classified in equity upon issuance.
The
BMP Equity Units include
awards that fully vest upon grant and awards that are subject to service-based vesting of a four-year
period from the date of hire.
Expense associated with the vesting of these awards is based on the fair value of the BMP Equity Units on the date of grant. Compensation
cost is recognized for the granted awards on a straight-line basis using the graded vesting method, and forfeitures are accounted for
at the time that such forfeitures occur. Expense recognized for these awards is specially allocated to certain holders of redeemable noncontrolling
interests.
The
fair value of the BMP Equity Units was determined on the grant-date using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis. This fair
value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement within the fair
value hierarchy. The resultant probability-weighted cash flows are then discounted using a rate that reflects the uncertainty surrounding
the expected outcomes, which the Company believes is appropriate and representative of a market participant assumption, and for lack of
marketability given the underlying units of the awards are not publicly traded.
There
were no BMP Equity Units granted during the six months ended September 30, 2024 or September 30, 2023.
2018
Ben Equity Incentive Plan
The
Ben Equity Incentive Plan was adopted in September 2018 (the “2018 Ben Equity Incentive Plan”). Under the 2018 Ben Equity
Incentive Plan, Ben was permitted to grant equity awards in the form of restricted equity units (“REUs”) up to a maximum of
160,141,
representing ownership interests in BCG Common Units. Effective
as of the Conversion, the Company assumed obligations under the outstanding REUs under the 2018 Ben Equity Incentive Plan and agreed to
issue shares of Class A common stock upon settlement of such outstanding REUs.
Settled awards under the 2018 Ben Equity Incentive Plan dilute BCG’s Common Unitholders. The total number of BCG Common Units that
were issuable under the 2018 Ben Equity Incentive Plan was equivalent to 15%
of the number of fully diluted BCG Common Units outstanding, subject to annual adjustment. All awards were classified in equity upon issuance.
Following
the Business Combination, no additional awards may be issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and all outstanding awards are settleable
at a ratio of 1.25
shares of the Class A common stock for each restricted equity unit.
During
the third calendar quarter of 2020, 6,438
units were granted to a director subject to a performance condition. The performance condition was met upon public listing in June 2023
and expense for vested units was recognized in June of 2023
in
the amount of $5.2 million.
The recognition of the remaining compensation cost will be recognized over the remaining vesting period. Total recognized compensation
cost related to these awards for the three and six months ended September 30,
2024 is nil
and $0.3 million,
respectively. Total recognized compensation cost related to these awards for the three and six months ended September 30, 2023 is approximately
$0.3 million
and $5.5 million,
respectively. The originally granted units were increased at a rate of one-to-1.25
units, or by 1,610
units, upon public listing and effectiveness of the 2023 Incentive Plan. As of September 30, 2024, there is no remaining unrecognized
compensation cost related to this award.
2023
Incentive Plan
On
June 6, 2023, the Company’s Board adopted the 2023 Incentive Plan, which was approved by the Company’s stockholders. Under
the 2023 Incentive Plan, Ben is permitted to grant equity awards in the form of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Subject to
certain adjustments, the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock expected to be issuable under the 2023 Incentive Plan in respect
of awards will be equal to 15%
of the aggregate number of fully diluted shares issued and outstanding, subject to quarterly adjustment. Settled awards under the 2023
Incentive Plan dilute common stockholders. All awards are classified in equity upon issuance.
Awards
are generally subject to service-based vesting over a multi-year period from the recipient’s grant date, though some awards may
fully vest upon grant date, or be subject to performance conditions. While providing services to Ben, if applicable, certain of these
awards are subject to minimum retained ownership rules requiring the award recipient to continuously hold RSUs equal to at least 15%
of their cumulatively granted awards.
During
the quarter ended September 30, 2024, an aggregate of 817,619
RSUs were awarded to employees of the Company, which fully vested on the date of grant. The Company expensed the full grant date fair
value of the RSUs of approximately $2.4 million
in the quarter ended September 30,
2024.
Additionally,
during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the Company granted to a director (i) 100,000
stock options with an exercise price of $1.23
per share of Class A common stock, which vest ratably over two
years, and (ii) 138,212
RSUs, which vest ratably over one
year. The stock options have a grant date fair value of $0.97,
calculated using a Black Scholes option pricing model.
Preferred
Equity
On
April 1, 2022, a certain director was assigned BCH
Preferred
A.1 with a grant date of December 31, 2021 and having an account balance of $5.7 million
(the “Initial Grant”). Further, effective as of April 3, 2022, the director was assigned additional BCH
Preferred
A.1 (the “Additional Grant” and together with the Initial Grant, the “BHI Grants”) with a grant date of December
31, 2021 and having an account balance of $3.8 million.
The Initial Grant is subject to a service condition, which requires compensation cost to be recognized over the explicit, substantive
service vesting period that extends after the grant date. The Additional Grant was fully vested upon issuance.
In
order to provide that certain director with cash to cover any tax liability arising from the BHI Grants, BCH and the director entered
into a Unit Account Redemption Agreement, effective as of April 3, 2022, whereby BCH was required to purchase and redeem from that certain
director all of the BCH
Preferred
A.1 granted to the director pursuant to the BHI Tax Grant for a purchase price of $3.8 million,
in cash. Such redemption occurred in full on June 10, 2022.
Commissions
Certain
of our employees’ commission compensation is in the form of common stock. Such shares granted to employees are subject to service-based
vesting conditions over a multi-year period from the recipient’s grant date. Awards granted through June 8, 2023 were also subject
to a performance condition, which was met on June 8, 2023 when Ben became publicly listed.
The
following table presents the components of share-based compensation expense, included in employee compensation and benefits, recognized
in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income (loss)
for
the three and six
months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
(dollars
in thousands) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
BMP
equity units |
| $ |
144 |
|
| $ |
569 |
|
| $ |
257 |
|
| $ |
1,244 |
|
Restricted
stock units |
| 3,179 |
|
| 7,318 |
|
| 4,011 |
|
| 16,041 |
|
Preferred
equity |
| — |
|
| 286 |
|
| — |
|
| 572 |
|
Other(1) |
| 41 |
|
| 330 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 17,647 |
|
Total
share-based compensation |
| $ |
3,364 |
|
| $ |
8,503 |
|
| $ |
4,358 |
|
| $ |
35,504 |
|
(1)
The year-to-date
period September 30, 2023 includes $15.0
million of compensation recognized related to the BCG Recapitalization and $2.6
million recognized for equity based compensation issued to employees for Ben Liquidity transactions.
Unrecognized
share-based compensation expense totaled $5.1
million as of September 30,
2024, which
we expect to recognize based on scheduled vesting of awards outstanding at September 30,
2024. The
following table presents the share-based compensation expense expected to be recognized over the next five fiscal years ending March 31
for awards outstanding as of September 30,
2024:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(dollars
in thousands) |
BMP |
| RSU |
|
|
| Commissions |
| Total |
Six
months ending 2025 |
$ |
187 |
|
| $ |
1,163 |
|
|
|
| $ |
95 |
|
| $ |
1,445 |
|
2026 |
225 |
| 2,023 |
|
|
| 79 |
| 2,327 |
|
2027 |
14 |
| 913 |
|
|
| — |
| 927 |
|
2028 |
— |
| 384 |
|
|
| — |
| 384 |
|
2029 |
— |
| — |
|
|
| — |
| — |
|
Total |
$ |
426 |
|
| $ |
4,483 |
|
|
|
| $ |
174 |
|
| $ |
5,083 |
|
10. Equity
Below
is a description of the outstanding classes of the equity of the Company, including quasi-equity amounts that are required to be reported
as temporary equity between the liabilities and equity sections on the consolidated statements of financial condition. As of September 30,
2024, the
9th Amended and Restated LPA of BCH (“BCH LPA”), as amended, and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Beneficient,
govern the terms of these equity securities, as applicable. The Company’s governing documents authorize the issuance of additional
classes of equity. All equity interests of BCH are limited partnership interests.
Common
Stock:
Voting.
Each holder
of our Class A common stock is entitled to one
vote per each share of Class A common stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled
to vote, and each holder of our Class B common stock is entitled to 10
votes per share on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote. Holders of shares of common stock vote as a single
class, except for certain matters for which only holders of Class B common stock are entitled to vote.
Dividends.
Subject to
preferences that may apply to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends
that our Board may declare out of funds legally available for that purpose on a non-cumulative basis; provided, however, that in the case
of any dividends in Common Stock, holders of Class A common stock are entitled only to receive Class A common stock and holders of Class
B common stock are entitled only to receive Class B common stock. In no event will the shares of either Class A common stock or Class
B common stock be split, divided, or combined unless the outstanding shares of the other class are proportionally split, divided or combined.
Conversion.
Shares of Class A common stock are not convertible into any other shares of our capital stock. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible
into shares of Class A common stock at any time at the option of the holder or upon any transfer, except for certain transfers described
in our articles of incorporation.
Standby
Equity Purchase Agreement
On
June 27, 2023, the Company entered into the SEPA with Yorkville, whereby the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to sell to
Yorkville up to $250.0 million
of its shares of the Company’s common stock at the Company’s request any time during the 36
months following the execution of the SEPA, subject to certain conditions. The Company expects to use the net proceeds received from this
for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Company paid a structuring fee in cash and a commitment fee in an amount equal
to $1.3 million
by issuing 5,703
shares of Class A common stock in July 2023.
On
September 29, 2023, a resale registration statement on Form S-1 was declared effective by the SEC, thereby permitting sales of Class A
common stock to Yorkville under the SEPA. Subsequent to the effectiveness of this resale registration statement and through September 30,
2024, the
Company sold a total of 498,125
Class A common shares for a total of $3.9 million
in net proceeds, including 449,307
Class A common shares being sold in the current fiscal year for net proceeds of $2.6 million.
The prior resale registration statement on Form S-1 was terminated on September 27, 2024. A new resale registration statement on Form
S-1, registering approximately 200.1
million shares for resale under the SEPA, was declared effective by the SEC on November 12, 2024.
Preferred
Stock:
Under
the terms of our articles of incorporation, our Board is authorized to issue up to 250
million shares of preferred stock in one or more series. As of September 30, 2024, 50
million shares of preferred stock are designated as shares of Series A preferred stock and approximately 4 million
are designated as Series B preferred stock pursuant to a certificates of designation.
Series
A Preferred Stock
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, there were no
shares of
Series A preferred stock issued and outstanding, respectively.
Maturity.
Subject to
the redemption and conversion rights described below, shares of Series A preferred stock are perpetual securities.
Priority.
Shares of
Series A preferred stock rank senior to shares of Common Stock with respect to dividend rights and/or distribution rights upon the liquidation,
winding up or dissolution, as applicable, of Beneficient.
Voting.
Holders of Series A preferred stock are not entitled to vote on any matter, expect as required by law.
Dividends.
Holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that our Board declares and pays on the Common Stock,
on an as-converted basis, when paid to holders of Common Stock. Beneficient may, subject to customary restrictions, but is not required
to, declare or pay any dividends solely on shares of Series A preferred stock.
Liquidation
or Dissolution.
The initial liquidation preference of Series A preferred stock is $0.001
per share, plus any declared but unpaid dividends (the “Liquidation Preference”). In the event of our liquidation, dissolution
or winding up, holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to receive, per share of Series A preferred stock, the Liquidation Preference
or, prior to the Series A Preferred Stock Conversion Date, if a greater amount, the amount such holder would have received had their shares
of Series A preferred stock converted into Class A common stock immediately prior to such liquidation event.
Conversion,
Transferability and Exchange.
Per the terms of the articles of incorporation, because the Series A preferred stock is not expected to be publicly listed, each share
of the Series A preferred stock will automatically convert into one-quarter of a share of Class A common stock upon issuance.
Redemption.
Beneficient may redeem, ratably, in whole or, from time to time in part, the shares of Series A preferred stock of any holder then outstanding
at the Liquidation Preference in cash. Holders of shares of Series A preferred stock do not have the right to require Beneficient to redeem
their shares of Series A preferred stock under any circumstances.
Series
B Preferred Stock:
The
Series B preferred stock has various subclasses, however, the general rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of these equity
securities are described below. Each of the Series B preferred stock has a par value of $0.001
per share. The most significant difference in the various subclasses of the Series B preferred stock pertains to the conversion rate and
the mandatory conversion periods, both of which are described below. During fiscal year 2024, the Company issued Series B preferred stock
comprising subclasses No. 1 through No. 4 in the amounts of 3,768,995;
200,000;
20,000;
and 6,932
shares, respectively. No additional Series B preferred stock has been issued in the current fiscal year.
On
October 3, 2023, 3,768,995
shares of Series B-1 preferred stock converted into 172,574
shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of approximately $218.40.
No other Series B preferred stock has converted through September 30, 2024.
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, there were a total of 226,932
shares of Series B preferred stock, issued and outstanding, respectively.
Maturity.
Subject to
the redemption and conversion rights described below, shares of Series B preferred stock are perpetual securities.
Priority.
Shares of
Series B preferred stock rank, with respect to dividend rights and/or distribution rights upon the liquidation, winding up or dissolution,
as applicable, of Beneficient as: (i) senior to shares of Common Stock; (ii) pari passu with Series A Preferred Stock; (iii) senior, pari
passu or junior with respect to any other series of preferred stock, as set forth in the terms with respect to such preferred stock; and
(iv) junior to all existing and future indebtedness of the Beneficient.
Voting.
Holders of Series B preferred stock are not entitled to vote on any matter, expect as required by law.
Dividends.
Holders of Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that our Board declares and pays on the Common Stock,
on an as-converted basis, when paid to holders of Common Stock. Beneficient may, subject to customary restrictions, but is not required
to, declare or pay any dividends solely on shares of Series B preferred stock.
Liquidation
or Dissolution.
The initial liquidation preference of Series B preferred stock is $10.00
per share, plus any declared but unpaid dividends (the “Series B Liquidation Preference”). In the event of our liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, holders of Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive, per share of Series B preferred stock, the Series
B Liquidation Preference amount such holder would have received had their shares of Series B preferred stock converted into Class A common
stock immediately prior to such liquidation event.
Conversion,
Transferability and Exchange.
In the event of specified extraordinary transactions, as a result of which shares of Class A common stock would be converted into, or
exchanged for, stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof), each share of Series B
preferred stock outstanding immediately prior to such event will, without the consent of the holders of Series B preferred stock, become
convertible into the kind of stock, other securities or other property or assets that such holder would have been entitled to receive
if such holder had converted its shares of Series B preferred stock into shares of Class A common stock immediately prior to such event.
Optional
Conversion. The
conversion price is determined generally based on a volume weighted price of the Class A common stock at the time the Series B preferred
stock is issued. The conversion price for the various subclasses of Series B preferred stock ranged from $5.38
to $436.80
(the “Conversion Price”). Each share of Series B preferred stock is convertible at the option of the holder thereof into a
number of shares of Class A common stock that is equal to $10.00
divided by Conversion Price then in effect as of the date of such notice (the “Conversion Rate”). The Conversion Price shall
be subject to reset on certain dates (generally monthly) following the date of issuance of the Series B preferred stock, subject to adjustment,
including the reset Conversion Price cannot adjust lower than 50%
of the initial Conversion Price or generally, higher than the initial Conversion Price. Based on the shares of Series B preferred stock
outstanding as of September 30, 2024, the maximum number of Class A common shares that can be issued upon conversion of the Series
B preferred stock is 165,037
shares.
Mandatory
Conversion.
Each outstanding share of Series B preferred stock will automatically convert into a number of shares of Class A common stock (the “Mandatory
Conversion”) at the Conversion Rate then in effect on the date that is the earliest to occur of: (a) 210
calendar days (for the Series B-1 preferred stock) and 60
months (for the other Series B preferred stock subclasses) after the Original Issue Date, subject to certain conditions, (b) if the conditions
of clause (a) are not met on the date that is 210
calendar days (for the Series B-1 preferred stock) and 60
months (for the other Series B preferred stock subclasses) following the Original Issue Date, the first date thereafter on which any shares
of Series B-1 preferred stock may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or the Resale Registration Statement has become
effective and, applicable only to the Series B-1 preferred stock, (c) the one
year anniversary of the Original Issue Date. The Series B-1 preferred stock shall not convert into Class A common stock
to the extent such conversion would cause a holder to exceed 9.99%
(the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”) of the number of shares of the Class A common stock outstanding immediately after
giving effect to conversion, while the other subclasses of the Series B preferred stock have a 4.99%
Beneficial Ownership Limitation.
Redeemable
Noncontrolling Interests:
Preferred
Series A Subclass 0 Unit Accounts
The
BCH Preferred
A.0 receives a quarterly guaranteed payment calculated as 6%
of the BCH
Preferred
A.0’s initial capital account balance on an annual basis, or 1.50%
per fiscal quarter. The BCH Preferred A.0 does not receive any allocations of profits, except to recoup losses previously allocated. The
guaranteed payment to BCH
Preferred
A.0 is not subject to available cash and has priority over all other distributions made by BCH. BCH and the holders of the BCH
Preferred
A.0 entered into an agreement to defer the guaranteed payment to November 15, 2024; provided that such a guaranteed payment may be made
prior to November 15, 2024 if the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors determines that making such payment, in part or in full, would
not cause Ben to incur a going concern issue. The guaranteed payment accrual totaled $46.4
million and
$37.7
million as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively, and is included in the accounts payable and accrued expenses
line item of the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Additionally,
the BCH Preferred
A.0 has the ability under the BCH LPA to elect, by a majority of holders of BCH
Preferred
A.0, to receive a full return of capital senior to any other security if an event causing mandatory returns of capital occurs.
The
BCH Preferred
A.0 can be converted into Class S Units at the election of the holder, at a price equal to the average of (i) $840.00,
and (ii) the volume-weighted average closing price of Class A common stock for the twenty (20)
days preceding the applicable exchange date; provided, that from the effectiveness of the BCH LPA through December 31, 2027, such conversion
price shall not be less than $840.00.
Finally,
a holder of BCH
Preferred
A.0, subsequent to January 1, 2023, may elect to require a redemption by BCH of up to 12.5%
of his or her respective initial BCH
Preferred
A.0 capital account for any rolling twelve-month period; provided that such holder shall not be permitted to redeem more than 50%
of such holder’s initial BCH
Preferred
A.0 capital account in the aggregate. Subsequent to January 1, 2023, if a holder of BCH
Preferred
A.0 continues to hold BCH
Preferred
A.1, such
holder
may elect on a quarterly basis to convert additional BCH
Preferred
A.1 held by such holder to BCH
Preferred
A.0 up to an amount equal to 12.5%
of such holder’s initial BCH
Preferred
A.0 capital account; provided that such holder’s post-conversion capital account balance in respect of all BCH
Preferred
A.0 held by such holder does not exceed such holder’s initial BCH
Preferred
A.0 capital account.
On
September 30, 2024, the BCH LPA was amended to re-designate fifty percent (50%)
of the aggregate capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 to the BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable. The remaining fifty percent
(50%)
of the capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 Accounts remain redeemable. As a result of this redesignation, approximately
$125.5 million
of temporary equity was reclassified to permanent equity as of September 30, 2024.
As
of September 30, 2024, the BCH Preferred A.0 Redeemable are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition in the redeemable
noncontrolling interest line item and the BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition
in the noncontrolling interest line item. For periods prior to the September 30, 2024 re-designation, the BCH
Preferred
A.0 are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition in the redeemable noncontrolling interest line item.
Noncontrolling
Interests:
Noncontrolling
interests represent the portion of certain consolidated subsidiaries’ limited partnership interests or interests in the Customer
ExAlt Trusts that are held by third parties. Amounts are adjusted by the noncontrolling interest holder’s proportionate share of
the subsidiaries’ earnings or losses each period and for any distributions that are paid. Equity securities issued by BCH maintain
capital account balances determined pursuant to Section 704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Because federal income tax regulations differ
in certain respects from U.S. GAAP, income or loss allocations to BCH equity securities determined in accordance with tax regulations
may materially differ from that recognized for financial reporting purposes. For example, the losses recognized for financial reporting
purposes arising from the impairment of goodwill are not recognized under tax regulation, and the associated capital account balances
have not been impacted by those losses.
The
following tables present a rollforward of the noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Noncontrolling
Interests |
|
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Trusts |
BCH
Class S Ordinary |
BCH
Class S Preferred |
|
BCH
Preferred Series A.0 Non-Redeemable |
BCH
Preferred Series A.1 |
BCH
Preferred Series C |
Class
A of CT |
Total
Noncontrolling Interests |
Balance, June 30,
2024 |
$ |
(166,463) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
| $ |
200,756 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
34,293 |
|
Net
loss |
(4,523) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| (3,067) |
| — |
| — |
| (7,590) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
(122) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (122) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass of BCH
Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| 125,526 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 125,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Balance, September 30,
2024 |
$ |
(171,108) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
125,526 |
| $ |
197,689 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
152,107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Noncontrolling
Interests |
|
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Trusts |
BCH
Class S Ordinary |
BCH
Class S Preferred |
|
BCH
Preferred Series A.0 Non-Redeemable |
BCH
Preferred A.1 |
BCH
Preferred Series C |
Class
A of CT |
Total
Noncontrolling Interests |
Balance, March 31,
2024 |
$ |
(165,712) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
| $ |
207,943 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
42,231 |
|
Net loss |
(5,049) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| (10,254) |
| — |
| — |
| (15,303) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
(347) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (347) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reclass of BCH
Preferred A.0 from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| 125,526 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 125,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Balance, September 30,
2024 |
$ |
(171,108) |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
125,526 |
| $ |
197,689 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
152,107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Noncontrolling
Interests |
|
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Trusts |
BCH
Class S Ordinary |
BCH
Class S Preferred |
|
BCH
Preferred Series A.1 |
BCH
Preferred Series C |
Class
A of CT |
Total
Noncontrolling Interests |
Balance, June 30,
2023 |
$ |
(132,361) |
| $ |
19,311 |
| $ |
856 |
|
| $ |
691,825 |
| $ |
205,759 |
| $ |
690 |
| $ |
786,080 |
|
Net loss |
(3,591) |
| (9,614) |
| — |
|
| (570) |
| — |
| (421) |
| (14,196) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Reduction
of noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
(3,272) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,272) |
|
Issuance
of noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
79 |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 79 |
|
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
(238) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (238) |
|
Conversion
of Preferred Series C to Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| (205,759) |
| — |
| (205,759) |
|
Issuance
of Series B-1 preferred stock and noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
942 |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 942 |
|
Balance, September 30,
2023 |
$ |
(138,441) |
| $ |
9,697 |
| $ |
856 |
|
| $ |
691,255 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
269 |
| $ |
563,636 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Noncontrolling
Interests |
|
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Trusts |
BCH
Class S Ordinary |
BCH
Class S Preferred |
| BCH
Preferred Series A.1 |
BCH
Preferred Series C |
Class
A of CT |
Total
Noncontrolling Interests |
Balance, March 31,
2023 |
$ |
(118,299) |
| $ |
52,560 |
| $ |
856 |
|
| $ |
— |
| $ |
205,759 |
| $ |
1,337 |
| $ |
142,213 |
|
Net loss |
(17,457) |
| (38,979) |
| — |
|
| (1,244) |
| — |
| (1,068) |
| (58,748) |
|
Reclass
of distributions payable to noncontrolling interest holder |
(567) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (567) |
|
Issuance
of shares in connection with recent financings |
133 |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 133 |
|
Reduction
of noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
(3,272) |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,272) |
|
Issuance
of noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
79 |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 79 |
|
Conversion
of Class S Ordinary to Class A common stock |
— |
| (3,884) |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,884) |
|
Conversion
of Preferred Series C to Class A common stock |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| (205,759) |
| — |
| (205,759) |
|
Deemed
dividend for BCG Preferred Series B.2 Unit Accounts preferred return |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| (6,942) |
| — |
| — |
| (6,942) |
|
Reclass
of BCH Preferred A.1 from temporary to permanent equity |
— |
| — |
| — |
|
| 699,441 |
| — |
| — |
| 699,441 |
|
Issuance
of Series B-1 preferred stock and noncontrolling interest in connection with recent financings |
942 |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 942 |
|
Balance, September 30,
2023 |
$ |
(138,441) |
| $ |
9,697 |
| $ |
856 |
|
| $ |
691,255 |
| $ |
— |
| $ |
269 |
| $ |
563,636 |
|
Preferred
Series A Subclass 1 Unit Accounts
The
BCH Preferred
A.1 unit accounts are issued by BCH and are non-participating and convertible on a dollar basis.
The
weighted average preferred return rate for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately
nil
and nil,
respectively. The weighted average preferred return rate for the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was approximately nil
and 0.46%,
respectively. No amounts have been paid to the BCH
Preferred
A.1 holders related to the preferred return from inception through September 30, 2024, and any amounts earned have been accrued and
are included in the balance of redeemable noncontrolling interests presented on the consolidated statements of financial condition. As
of September 30, 2024, approximately $106.1 million
of preferred return related to the BCH Preferred A.1 has not been allocated to its holders due to insufficient income during those periods
to fully satisfy the preferred return and will be allocable to the BCH Preferred A.1 holders in future quarterly periods to the extent
that sufficient income, if any, is available for such allocation. In accordance with the BCH LPA, the preferred rate was waived and will
not accrue from June 7, 2023 until December 31, 2024, except to the extent of allocations of income to the holders of the BCH Preferred
A.1, in which event distributions may be requested by the holders of the BCH Preferred A.1, and if not requested, such amounts shall be
accrued. In connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, the holders of the BCH Preferred A.1 agreed to significantly
reduce the BCH Preferred A.1 return rate and also agreed to waive and defer the accrual of the preferred return as described above. In
addition, until January 1, 2025, the hypothetical BCH Preferred A.1 capital account will only be
increased
to the extent there are allocations of income during such period. The agreement to waive and not accrue the Quarterly Preferred Series
A.1 Return from the effective date of the BCH LPA until December 31, 2024 does not affect or waive any Quarterly Preferred Series A.1
Returns or hypothetical BCH Preferred A.1 capital account already accrued as of the effective date. Additionally, certain BCH
Preferred
A.1 holders agreed to be specially allocated any income or losses associated with the BMP Equity Incentive Plan, and certain other costs.
Beginning
January 1, 2025, BCH Preferred A.1 may be converted into BCH Class S Ordinary Units at the election of the holder, subject to a 20%
annual conversion limit through December 31, 2029 as set forth in the BCH LPA; provided, that if the conversion price for the BCH Preferred
A.1 equals or exceeds $1,440
after January 1, 2025, the annual conversion limit shall no longer be applicable. Upon conversion, the holder shall be issued BCH Class
S Ordinary Units in an amount equal to the capital account balance associated with the BCH Preferred A.1 being converted divided by a
price equal to the average closing price of Class A common stock for the thirty (30)
days preceding the applicable exchange date; provided, that from the effectiveness of the BCH LPA through December 31, 2027, such conversion
price shall not be less than $840.
The holder of such newly issued BCH Class S Ordinary Units may immediately convert them into Class A common stock.
The
BCH LPA also includes certain limitations of BCH, without the consent of a majority-in-interest of the Preferred Series A Unit Account
holders, to (i) issue any new equity securities, and (ii) except as otherwise provided, incur indebtedness that is senior to or pari passu
with any right of distribution, redemption, repayment, repurchase or other payments relating to the Preferred Series A Unit Accounts or
the Preferred Series B Unit Accounts. Further, BCH cannot, prior to the conversion of all the Preferred Series A Unit Accounts and the
Preferred Series B Unit Accounts, incur any additional long-term debt unless (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of the new long-term
debt on a pro forma basis, the sum of certain preferred stock, existing debt and any new long-term indebtedness would not exceed 55%
of the BCH’s NAV plus cash on hand, and (ii) at the time of incurrence of any new long-term indebtedness, the aggregate balance
of the BCH’s (including controlled subsidiaries) debt plus such new long-term debt does not exceed 40%
of the sum of the NAV of the interests in alternative assets supporting the Collateral underlying the loan portfolio of BCH and its subsidiaries
plus cash on hand at BCG, BCH and its subsidiaries. Upon the effectiveness of the 8th BCH LPA in June 2023, the redemption feature of
the BCH Preferred A.1 was removed, which resulted in the BCH Preferred A.1 no longer being required to be presented in temporary equity.
On
June 6, 2023, in connection with the BCG Recapitalization as described in Note 4, $193.9
million of aggregate capital account balances in BCH
Preferred
A.1 converted to 208,861
units of BCH Class S Ordinary. Those BCH Class S Ordinary units then converted into 17,456
units of BCG Class A common units and 191,405
shares of BCG Class B common units on a one-for-one
basis. As part of the conversion to BCG Class A Units, additional value of approximately $15.0 million
was provided to certain holders who are members of our Board. The additional value was accounted for as compensation, which resulted in
stock-based compensation expense of $15.0
million during the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
The
BCH Preferred
A.1 are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition in the noncontrolling interest line item.
Preferred
Series C Subclass 1 Unit Accounts
On
July 15, 2020, the Company entered into a Preferred Series C Unit Purchase Agreement (“UPA”) with GWG Holdings. Pursuant to
the UPA, on July 10, 2023, the Preferred
Series C Subclass 1 Unit Accounts of BCH (“BCH Preferred C.1”)
automatically converted into 550,510
shares of Class A common stock at approximately $372.80
per share, which represents the volume-weighted average trading price of the Class A common stock for the 20
trading days following the closing of the Business Combination. The BCH Preferred C.1 were recorded in the consolidated statements of
financial condition in the noncontrolling interest line item for periods presented prior to their conversion to Class A common stock.
Class
S Ordinary Units
As
of both September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, BCH, a subsidiary of Ben, had issued 67
thousand BCH Class S Ordinary Units which were all outstanding on each of the respective dates. The BCH Class S Ordinary Units participate
on a pro-rata basis in the share of the profits or losses of BCH and subsidiaries following all other allocations made by BCH and its
subsidiaries. As limited partner interests, these units have limited voting rights and do not entitle participation in the management
of the Company’s business and affairs. At the election of the holder, the BCH Class S Ordinary Units are exchangeable quarterly
for Class A common stock on a one-for-one
basis. Each conversion also results in the issuance to Ben LLC of a BCH Class A Unit for each share of Class A common stock issued.
On
June 8, 2023, 5,057
BCH Class S Ordinary Units ultimately converted into shares of Class A common stock on a one-to-one
basis pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the BCH LPA.
The
BCH Class S Ordinary Units are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition in the noncontrolling interests line item.
Class
S Preferred Units
The
BCH Class S Preferred Units also participate on a pro-rata basis in the share of the profits or losses of BCH and subsidiaries following
all other allocations made by BCH and its subsidiaries. As limited partner interests, these units are generally non-voting and do not
entitle participation in the management of the Company’s business and affairs. The BCH Class S Preferred Units are entitled to a
quarterly preferred return. In accordance with the 8th BCH LPA, the preferred rate was waived and will not accrue from June 7, 2023 until
December 31, 2024, except to the extent of allocations of income to the holders of the BCH Class S Preferred Units. In connection with
the consummation of the Business Combination, the holders of the BCH Preferred A.1 agreed to significantly reduce the BCH Class S Preferred
Units preferred return rate and also agreed to waive and defer the accrual of the preferred return as described above. In addition, until
January 1, 2025, the hypothetical BCH Class S Preferred Units capital account will only be increased to the extent there are allocations
of income during such period. The agreement to waive and not accrue the Quarterly Class S Preferred Return from June 7, 2023 until December
31, 2024 does not affect or waive any Quarterly Class S Preferred Return or hypothetical BCH Class S Preferred capital account already
accrued as of the effective date.
Generally,
on a quarterly basis and at the election of the holder, the BCH Class S Preferred Units are exchangeable for BCH Class S Ordinary Units
on a 1.2-for-1
basis. The BCH Class S Ordinary Units may then be exchanged for Class A common stock as described above. Each conversion into Class A
common stock also results in the issuance to Ben LLC of a BCH Class A Units for each share of Class A common stock issued. Holders of
BCH Class S Preferred Units may elect to convert into BCH Class S Ordinary Units in connection with a sale or dissolution of BCH.
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, a nominal number of shares of BCH Class S Preferred Units have been issued, respectively.
Preferred return earned by the BCH Class S Preferred Units from inception in 2019 through September 30, 2024 is $0.2
million. No amounts have been paid to the BCH Class S Preferred Unit holders related to the preferred return from inception through September 30,
2024
and any amounts
earned have been accrued and are included in the balance of BCH Class S Preferred Units presented on the consolidated statements of financial
condition.
The
BCH Class S Preferred Units are recorded in the consolidated statements of financial condition in the noncontrolling interests line item.
FLP
Unit Accounts (Subclass 1 and Subclass 2)
FLP
Unit Accounts (Subclass 1 and Subclass 2) are non-unitized capital accounts. The FLP Subclass 1 Units (the “FLP-1 Unit Accounts”)
were issued to a Related Entity (as defined in Note 13)
as part of the initial commercial operations of Ben. The FLP Subclass 2 Units (the “FLP-2 Unit Accounts”) are related to the
BMP Equity Incentive Plan. Each subclass of the FLP Unit Accounts, with FLP-1 Unit Accounts (receiving 50.5%)
and the FLP-2 Unit Accounts (receiving 49.5%),
shall be allocated (i) fifteen percent (15%)
of the profits and losses from financing activities of BCH and its subsidiaries and (ii) an amount equal to the lesser of (A) fifty percent
(50%)
of the revenues of BCH and its tax pass-through subsidiaries, excluding financing activities revenues, and (B) that amount of revenues
that will cause the profit margin (as defined in the BCH LPA) to equal twenty percent (20%).
Amounts allocated to the FLP Unit Accounts are reinvested equally in additional BCH
Class
S Ordinary Units and Class S Preferred Units on a quarterly basis at a price equal to the closing price of the units on such exchange
on the date of allocation, thereby creating additional BCH
Class
S Ordinary Units and BCH
Class
S Preferred Units.
During
the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no
income allocated to the FLP Unit Accounts (Subclass 1 and 2). Annually,
a true up of the quarterly allocations is required to match amounts allocated with annual earnings.
In
addition to the above stated amounts, the FLP-1 Unit Accounts and FLP-2 Unit Accounts are entitled to a portion of any upward carrying
value adjustment as calculated pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 704(b).
In
the event of an upward carrying value adjustment, the FLP-1 Unit Accounts and FLP-2 Unit Accounts are entitled to first be allocated gains
associated with such carrying value adjustment equal to 15%
of the value of the capital accounts of all BCH Class A Units and BCH Class S Units, calculated based on the post-adjusted capital accounts
of the then outstanding BCH Class A and BCH
Class
S Units. Immediately
following any such allocation, the amount allocated is converted in BCH Class S Ordinary Units at the then determined value.
Furthermore,
the amount allocated to the FLP-1 Unit Accounts is reduced by the value of any previously allocated amount pursuant to an upward carrying
value adjustment, calculated as the number of BCH
Class
S Units previously received multiplied by the value of those units at the time of any subsequent carrying value adjustment.
As
a result of the consummation of the Business Combination, an adjustment to the carrying value of BCH’s assets of $321.9 million
occurred. Pursuant to the BCH LPA, approximately 402,383
BCH Class
S Ordinary Units would be issuable as a result of the carrying value adjustment. Additionally, subsequent to the Business Combination,
additional carrying value adjustments occurred, and approximately 260,000
BCH Class S Ordinary Units would be issuable through September 30,
2024
as a result of such carrying value adjustments, subject to the Compensation Policy. Under the Compensation Policy,
unless
amended or waived, the number of BCH
Class
S Ordinary Units that may be issued in 2024 or any subsequent year in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination will
be limited and require approval of the Board; provided that any such BCH
Class
S Ordinary Units that may not be issued in 2024 may be issued in subsequent years in accordance with the Compensation Policy. As of September 30,
2024, there has been no allocation of the carrying value adjustment among the holders of the FLP-1 Unit Accounts and the FLP-2 Unit Accounts
and no issuance of any BCH Class S Ordinary Units as a result of such adjustment.
FLP
Unit Accounts (Subclass 3)
The
FLP Subclass 3 Unit Accounts (the “FLP-3 Unit Accounts”) were issued to, and are currently held by, BHI. The FLP-3 Unit Accounts
will be allocated profits from net financing revenues on a quarterly basis equal to the lesser of (i) 5%
of the quarterly net financing revenues, or (ii) 10%
of the average annualized stated interest (to the extent constituting net financing revenue) of the quarterly average of new loans issued
by any subsidiaries of Ben during the previous twelve fiscal quarters.
The
FLP-3 Unit Accounts are entitled to tax and other distributions equal to 100%
of the amount of profits allocated to the FLP-3 Unit Accounts, and such distributions are not subject to available cash. The FLP-3 Unit
Accounts do not have any conversion features or rights.
During
the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there was no
income allocated to the FLP-3 Unit Accounts. The Company has not made any distributions related to income allocated to the FLP-3 Unit
Accounts through September 30, 2024 and has accrued a liability of $0.9
million and included in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item of the consolidated statements of financial condition as of
September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024.
Beneficiaries
of the Customer ExAlt Trusts
The
ultimate beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts are the Charitable Beneficiaries, unrelated third-party charities, that are entitled
to (i) either, depending on the applicable trust agreements, 2.5%
of all distributions received by such Customer ExAlt Trusts or 5.0%
of any amounts paid to Ben as payment on amounts due under each ExAlt Loan, (ii) for certain Customer ExAlt Trusts, approximately 10%
of the amount of excess cash Collateral, if any, following the full repayment of an ExAlt Loan, and (iii) all amounts accrued and held
at the Customer ExAlt Trusts once all amounts due to Ben under the ExAlt Loans and any fees related to Ben’s services to the Customer
ExAlt Trusts are paid. The Charitable Beneficiaries’ account balances with respect to its interest in such Customer ExAlt Trusts
cannot be reduced to below zero. Any losses allocable to the Charitable Beneficiaries in excess of their account balances are reclassified
at each period end to the trusts’ deficit account. Additional Customer ExAlt Trusts are created arising from new liquidity transactions
with customers. These new Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are consolidated by Ben, result in the recognition of additional noncontrolling
interest representing the interests in these new Customer ExAlt Trusts held by the Charitable Beneficiaries. For the three months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, nil
and $1.0
million, respectively, of additional noncontrolling interests were recognized. For the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023,
nil
and $1.2
million, respectively, of additional noncontrolling interests were recognized.
The
interests of the Charitable Beneficiaries in the Customer ExAlt Trusts are recorded on the consolidated statements of financial condition
in the noncontrolling interests line item.
Class
A of CT Risk Management, L.L.C.
On
April 1, 2022, a minority interest in the Class A membership of CT Risk Management, L.L.C. (“CT”), a consolidated VIE of Ben
(as further discussed in Note 14), was sold for $2.4 million
in cash to the third-party involved in the loan participation transaction described in Note 7. As a Class A member of CT, the holder is
entitled to distributions first on a pro rata basis with other Class A members until the initial capital contributions are received and
2.0%
of any amounts in excess of their capital contributions, to the extent such amounts are available. This interest is recorded on the consolidated
statements of financial condition in the noncontrolling interests line item however, for both September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024, the balance is nil.
11. Net
Income (Loss) per Share
Basic
net income (loss) attributable to Beneficient per common share for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024
and 2023,
is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
9,747 |
|
| $ |
(381,764) |
|
| $ |
54,057 |
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
Plus:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
7,590 |
| 14,196 |
| 15,303 |
| 58,748 |
Less:
Noncontrolling interest guaranteed payment |
(4,423) |
| (4,167) |
| (8,779) |
| (8,272) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net income (loss)
attributable to Beneficient common shareholders |
$ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
(371,735) |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
| $ |
(1,487,258) |
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to Class A common shareholders |
12,270 |
|
| (344,580) |
|
| 57,040 |
|
| (1,378,616) |
|
Net
income (loss) attributable to Class B common shareholders |
644 |
|
| (27,155) |
|
| 3,541 |
|
| (108,642) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Basic weighted
average of common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Class
A |
4,122,438 |
|
| 2,971,767 |
|
| 3,910,871 |
|
| 2,645,234 |
|
Class
B |
239,256 |
|
| 239,256 |
|
| 239,256 |
|
| 239,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Basic net income
(loss) attributable to Beneficient per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Class
A |
$ |
2.98 |
|
| $ |
(115.95) |
|
| $ |
14.58 |
|
| $ |
(521.17) |
|
Class
B |
$ |
2.69 |
|
| $ |
(113.50) |
|
| $ |
14.80 |
|
| $ |
(454.08) |
|
Diluted
net income attributable to Beneficient per common share for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
|
| |
Diluted
income per share |
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
Net
income attributable to Beneficient common shareholders - Basic |
$ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
Less:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - Ben |
(3,067) |
|
| (10,254) |
|
Plus:
Noncontrolling interest guaranteed payment |
4,423 |
|
| 8,779 |
|
Net
income attributable to Beneficient common shareholders - Diluted |
$ |
14,270 |
|
| $ |
59,106 |
|
|
|
| |
Basic weighted
average of common shares outstanding (Class A and Class B) |
4,361,694 |
|
| 4,150,127 |
|
Dilutive effect
of: |
|
| |
Series
B Preferred Stock |
165,036 |
|
| 165,036 |
|
Class
S Ordinary |
66,982 |
|
| 66,982 |
|
Class
S Preferred |
605 |
|
| 605 |
|
Preferred
Series A Subclass 0 |
102,832,018 |
|
| 77,582,588 |
|
Preferred
Series A Subclass 1 |
330,926,963 |
|
| 249,670,975 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Restricted
Stock Units |
561,766 |
|
| 296,608 |
|
Diluted weighted
average of common shares outstanding (Class A and Class B) |
438,915,064 |
|
| 331,932,921 |
|
|
|
| |
Diluted net
income attributable to Beneficient per common share (Class A and Class B) |
$ |
0.03 |
|
| $ |
0.18 |
|
|
|
| |
For
the three and six months ended September 30, 2023, as the Company was in a net loss position, the diluted EPS calculation for the
Beneficient common shareholders is the same as basic EPS per common share disclosed above for that period. Diluted EPS for the Class A
shareholders is $(115.95)
and diluted EPS for the Class B shareholders is $(113.50)
for the three months ended September 30, 2023. Diluted EPS for the Class A shareholders is $(521.17)
and diluted EPS for the Class B shareholders is $(454.08)
for the six months ended September 30, 2023.
In
computing diluted net loss per share, we considered potentially dilutive shares. Anti-dilutive shares not recognized in the diluted net
loss per share calculation for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Shares |
| Shares |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Class
S Ordinary |
— |
|
| 66,982 |
|
| — |
|
| 67,936 |
|
Class
S Preferred |
— |
|
| 605 |
|
| — |
|
| 605 |
|
Preferred
Series A Subclass 0 |
— |
|
| 90,445,956 |
|
| — |
|
| 32,916,204 |
|
Preferred
Series A Subclass 1 |
— |
|
| 291,066,987 |
|
| — |
|
| 110,618,486 |
|
Preferred
Series C Subclass 1 |
— |
|
| 29,919 |
|
| — |
|
| 151,917 |
|
Restricted
Stock Units |
121,721 |
|
| 127,742 |
|
| 122,098 |
|
| 123,536 |
|
Convertible
Debt |
396,174 |
|
| — |
|
| 199,169 |
|
| — |
|
Warrants |
31,270,860 |
|
| 30,669,850 |
|
| 31,073,825 |
|
| 24,708,118 |
|
Total
anti-dilutive shares |
31,788,755 |
|
| 412,550,601 |
|
| 31,395,092 |
|
| 168,595,329 |
|
Conversion
of BCH Preferred C-1 Unit Accounts
Pursuant
to the UPA, on July 10, 2023, the BCH Preferred C-1 Unit Accounts automatically converted into 550,510
shares of Class A common stock at approximately $372.80
per share, which represents the volume-weighted average trading price of the Class A common stock for the 20
trading days following the closing of the Business Combination.
Conversion
of Series B-1 Preferred Stock
On
October 3, 2023, 3,768,995
shares of Series B-1 preferred stock converted into 172,574
shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of approximately $218.40.
Warrants
The
disclosed amount of anti-dilutive securities for the warrants does not consider the assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method as
the exercise price was greater than the average market price of the Class A common stock, which results in negative incremental shares,
that would be anti-dilutive.
12. Income
Taxes
The
components of income tax expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024
and 2023,
were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Current expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Federal |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
28 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Deferred
expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Federal |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
Income
tax expense |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
28 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
13. Related
Parties
The
Company considers its employees and directors to be related parties. A “Related Entity” or “Related Entities”
include certain trusts that are directly or indirectly controlled by, or operate for the benefit of, Mr. Heppner or his family, and those
entities directly or indirectly held by, or that are under common control with, such trusts, and in which he and his family
members
are among classes of economic beneficiaries, whether or not Mr. Heppner is entitled to economic distributions from such trusts. Mr. Heppner
is a beneficiary of the trust that is the sole shareholder of BHI (such trust, the “Related Entity Trust”).
Relationship
with Beneficient Management Counselors, L.L.C.
For
periods prior to the conversion of BCG to a Nevada corporation, Ben Management was the general partner of Ben and Ben Management was governed
by a board of directors. The governing document of Ben Management provided that Beneficient Management Counselors, L.L.C. (“BMC”),
wholly owned by one of several Related Entities, determined the directors of Ben Management who filled 49%
of the Board seats. BMC was also entitled to select (a) 50%
of the membership of the Ben Management’s Nominating Committee and Executive Committee and appoint the chair of each of these committees,
and (b) 50%
of the membership of the Community Reinvestment Committee (the “CRC”) and the CRC’s chairperson and lead committee member.
Certain decisions
with respect to Ben’s charitable
giving program were delegated to the CRC, including certain decisions on behalf of BFF as a Kansas TEFFI. Decisions regarding appointment
and removal of Ben Management’s directors, other than directors appointed by BMC, were delegated, with certain exceptions, to the
Nominating Committee of Ben Management of which our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman was a member and Chairman. In the event of a
tie vote of the Nominating Committee on a vote for the appointment or removal of a director, the majority of the then total number of
directors serving on the board of directors would break the tie; provided that upon and following a “trigger event” (as defined
in Ben Management’s governing document) the chair of the Nominating Committee may cast the tie-breaking vote. Subsequent to the
conversion of BCG to a Nevada corporation, Beneficient is governed by a board of directors and Beneficient’s common equity holders
are entitled to vote on all
matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote as described in Note 10, Equity.
Services
Agreement with Bradley Capital Company, L.L.C.
BCG
and BCH entered into an agreement with Bradley
Capital Company, L.L.C. (“Bradley Capital”) and BMC effective June 1, 2017 (the “Bradley Capital Agreement”),
which was then amended and restated effective January 1, 2022 (the “A&R Bradley Capital Agreement”). Bradley Capital is
a Related Entity. Under the Bradley Capital Agreement and the A&R Bradley Capital Agreement, Bradley Capital is entitled to a current
base fee of $0.4 million
per quarter for executive level services provided by an executive of Bradley Capital, who, prior to BCG’s conversion to a Nevada
corporation on June 7, 2023, was our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ben Management’s Board of Directors and currently is
our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board, together with a current supplemental fee of $0.2 million
per quarter for administrative and financial analysis, with both the base fee and supplemental fee, subject to an annual inflation adjustment.
The base fee may be increased by the provider up to two
times the initial base fee per quarter to cover increases in the cost of providing the services, or in the event of an expansion of the
scope of the services, with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Board of Ben Management prior to June 7, 2023 and the Executive
Committee of our Board subsequent to June 7, 2023, of which our CEO & Chairman is a member and Chairman. Our CEO and Chairman receives
an annual salary from the Company of $0.2 million
and both he and other employees of Bradley Capital can participate in equity incentive plans sponsored by the Company. The Bradley Capital
Agreement and the A&R Bradley Capital Agreement also includes a payment from Ben of $0.2 million
per year, paid in equal quarterly installments, to cover on-going employee costs for retired and/or departed employees of predecessor
entities prior to September 1, 2017, which on-going costs were assumed by Bradley Capital, as well as a further payment to Bradley Capital
in respect of the cost of health and retirement benefits for current employees of Bradley Capital all of which are reimbursed by Ben.
The
Bradley Capital Agreement and the A&R Bradley Capital Agreement requires Ben to reimburse Bradley Capital or its affiliates for taxes,
fees, and expenses, including legal fees and related costs, relating to the contributions by affiliates of Bradley Capital of equity or
debt interests in Ben to public charitable trusts in connection with the 2017-18 Exchange Trusts, as well as the contribution of beneficial
interests in customer trusts administered by Ben. The A&R Bradley Capital Agreement further requires that Ben indemnify and hold Bradley
Capital harmless against any and all losses, damages, costs, fees and any other expenses incurred by Bradley Capital as air travel expenses
owed in connection with the operation of the aircraft identified in the Aircraft Sublease (as defined below) for periods prior to January
1, 2022. Additionally, the Company provides office space and access to needed technology systems and telephone services. Payments by Ben
to Bradley Capital and its affiliates are guaranteed and subject to enforcement by the state courts in Delaware in the event of default.
The A&R Bradley Capital Agreement extended through December 31, 2022, with an automatic annual one-year
renewal provision thereafter. Prior to June 7, 2023, the A&R Bradley Capital Agreement could have been terminated by the mutual agreement
of the parties, by the unanimous approval of the Executive Committee of the Board of Ben Management of which an executive of a Related
Entity is a member, or without such approval if the Related Entity no longer holds the lesser of $10.0 million
of Ben’s securities or 1%
of the aggregate fair market value of Ben on both December 31, 2022, or any applicable extension date, and the date of termination.
On
June 7, 2023 BCG’s existing Bradley Capital Agreement, was replaced by a Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement (the “Second
A&R Bradley Capital Agreement”) with the Company as a party. The Second A&R Bradley Capital Agreement is substantially similar
to the existing Bradley Capital Agreement, subject to certain changes as follows. The Executive Committee (as defined in the Second A&R
Bradley Capital Agreement) reference was revised to refer to the Executive Committee of the Board, and the Second A&R Bradley Capital
Agreement expressly states that it shall in no way limit the authority of Board to appoint and remove officers of the Company, including
its chief executive officer. The term of the Second A&R Bradley Capital Agreement extends through December 31, 2023, with an annual
one-year
renewal provision thereafter. The termination provision was revised so that the agreement may be terminated upon the approval of all members
of the Executive Committee, excluding Brad K. Heppner if he is then serving on the Executive Committee. The base fee was increased to
$0.5
million per quarter and the supplemental fee was increased to $0.2
million per quarter, with each fee remaining subject to an annual inflation adjustment. In addition, revisions were made to the limitation
of liability and indemnification provisions to reflect the applicability of the corporation laws of Nevada to Beneficient.
During
the three months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023,
the Company recognized expenses totaling $0.7
million and $0.7
million related to this services agreement, respectively. During the six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023,
the Company recognized expenses totaling $1.4
million and $1.4
million related to this services agreement, respectively. As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, $3.1
million and
$2.7
million, respectively, was owed to Bradley Capital related to the ongoing aspects of this services agreement. In addition, prior to the
Aircraft Sublease with Bradley Capital discussed below, we also reimbursed Bradley Capital for certain costs, including private travel,
for our chief executive officer, including family members. As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024,
we have nil
and $0.7 million
accrued related to these reimbursements originating prior to the Aircraft Sublease. These
amounts are reflected in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item on the consolidated statements of financial condition. During
the three and six
months ended September 30,
2024, the Company paid $0.4
million and $1.6
million, respectively,
related to accrued amounts owed under this services agreement.
In
addition to the above, the Company incurred legal fees on behalf of Mr. Heppner under certain indemnification provisions. During the three
months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023, these legal fees totaled approximately $1.4 million
and $1.2 million,
respectively. During the six
months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023, these legal fees totaled approximately $2.6 million
and $2.3 million,
respectively. Substantially,
all of these legal fees have or are expected to be eligible for reimbursement by the directors and officers insurance carriers.
Aircraft
Sublease with Bradley Capital
Effective
January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023, The Beneficient Company
Group (USA), L.L.C. (“Beneficient USA”),
a subsidiary of BCH, as sublessee, Bradley Capital, as sublessor, and BCG, solely as it relates to the guarantee it makes to Bradley Capital
as set forth therein, entered into an Aircraft Sublease Agreement (the “Aircraft Sublease”). Pursuant to the Aircraft Sublease,
Bradley Capital subleases the aircraft described therein, without a crew, to Beneficient USA for discrete periods of use. Beneficient
USA is required to pay a quarterly rental of $1.4 million
plus direct operating expenses incurred for Ben’s use of the aircraft. Bradley Capital is required to pay any other fixed and variable
costs of operating the aircraft. Beneficient USA is also required to provide its own pilot(s) and crew, and Beneficient USA has entered
into a separate Flight Crew Services Agreement with an unrelated third-party to provide the qualified flight crew. The term of the Aircraft
Sublease is one (1) year and may be terminated by either party upon three
(3) days prior written notice and will automatically terminate upon the sale or similar disposition of the aircraft or the termination
of the underlying lease agreement. Additionally, BCG agrees to unconditionally guarantee, for the benefit of Bradley Capital, all of the
obligations of Beneficient USA to Bradley Capital under the Aircraft Sublease. The Aircraft Sublease expired on January 1, 2024.
During
the three and six months ended September 30, 2023, BCH expensed $1.4
million and $2.9
million, respectively, in lease and direct operating expenses related to this agreement. No amounts have been paid to Bradley Capital
related to the aircraft sublease through September 30, 2024. As of each of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, $10.8
million of accrued costs related to the sublease is reflected in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item on the consolidated
statements of financial condition.
As
discussed below, BHI, a Related Entity, entered into a Contribution Agreement with BCH and BCG pursuant to which BHI has agreed to reimburse
BCG for a significant portion of the costs incurred by Beneficient USA under the Aircraft Sublease.
Relationship
with Beneficient Holdings, Inc.
Beneficient
USA, a subsidiary of BCH, entered into with BHI, a Related Entity, a Services Agreement effective July 1, 2017 (the “BHI Services
Agreement”). BHI pays an annual fee of $30,000
to Ben for the provision of trust administration services for Related Entities and all trusts affiliated with its family trustee as that
term is defined in the governing documents for a Related Entity. Beneficient
USA also is required to provide any other services requested by BHI, subject to any restrictions in
the
operating agreement of BHI, at cost. The
term of the BHI Services Agreement extends for the longer of (i) five
years past the expiration or termination of the Bradley Capital Agreement, or (ii) seven
years after the family trustee of the Related Entity is no longer a primary beneficiary of any trust affiliated with the
family trustee. The Company recognized nominal income during the three and six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023,
respectively, in accordance with the BHI Services Agreement.
In
conjunction with the execution of the Aircraft Sublease, BHI, a Related Entity, BCH, and BCG entered into a Contribution Agreement effective
as of January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023 (the “Contribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, BHI agrees
to pay to BCH, on the last business day of each calendar quarter, any amounts paid by BCH during the quarter for the use of an aircraft
under the Aircraft Sublease, or any similar lease or sublease, which would include the quarterly rental under the Aircraft Sublease. In
addition, BHI agrees to pay to BCH any amounts paid related to fixed monthly or quarterly costs incurred in connection with such aircraft
lease or sublease in an amount not to exceed $250,000
per year. This additional payment is intended to partially cover flight crew costs and other related costs. Each contribution is conditioned
upon (i) the effectiveness of the Aircraft Sublease, and (ii) BCH’s timely payment to BHI of the guaranteed payment to be made to
holders of BCH Preferred A.0 for the respective quarter in which such contribution is to be paid (whether or not waived in accordance
with the terms of the BCH LPA); provided, that if such guaranteed payment is not timely paid, or is only paid in part, for any given quarter,
then any contributions contemplated under the Contribution Agreement for such quarter will not be owed. In the event such guaranteed payment
is subsequently paid in full, then any previously unfunded contributions for the applicable quarter under the Contribution Agreement will
become immediately due and payable on the last business day of the calendar quarter in which such guaranteed payment is paid in full.
All payments made by BHI to BCH pursuant to the Contribution Agreement shall be treated as capital contributions, as defined in the BCH
LPA, by BHI to BCH and shall be added to BHI’s sub-capital account related to its BCH Class S Ordinary Units. BCH further agrees
to specially allocate to BHI’s sub-capital account related to its BCH Class S Ordinary Units any expenses or deductions derived
from amounts paid or accrued by BCH for use of the aircraft to the extent such expenditures are offset by the contributions made by BHI
pursuant to the Contribution Agreement. There have been no contributions from BHI related to this agreement, which is expected and will
continue to occur until the guaranteed payments to BCH Preferred A.0 holders are no longer deferred.
BHI
owns the majority of the Company’s Class B common stock, and the BCH
Class S Ordinary
Units, BCH
Class S Preferred
Units, BCH
Preferred
A.0, BCH Preferred
A.1, and FLP
Subclass 1 and Subclass 3 Unit Accounts issued by BCH.
HCLP
Nominees, L.L.C.
HCLP
is an indirect subsidiary of Highland Consolidated, L.L.C. (“Highland”). Ben’s Chairman and CEO is a beneficiary and
trust investment advisor of the trusts that control, and are the partners of, Highland. Loans to and investments with or in the Related
Entities have been and may be made by Highland, or its affiliates, as applicable, using proceeds from loan repayments made by Ben to HCLP
in its capacity as lender to Ben. Ben is not a party to these transactions between Highland and the Related Entities.
A
long-standing lending and investment relationship of 26
years exists between Highland (and its affiliates or related parties), on the one hand, and Related Entities, on the other. From time
to time, Highland or its affiliates have advanced funds under various lending and investing arrangements to Related Entities, and such
Related Entities have made repayments to Highland or its affiliates, as applicable, both in cash and in kind.
As
of June 30, 2021, Highland and the applicable Related
Entity mutually
agreed to satisfy all obligations under all outstanding loans among Highland and the Related
Entity via
full payment and satisfaction of the existing loan balances (the “Loan Balances”) by in-kind real property transfers (the
“In-Kind Property Payment”) from certain of the Related
Entities to
Highland. The terms of the In-Kind Property Payment grant Highland the right to transfer the real property that was transferred pursuant
to the In-Kind Property Payment back to certain of the Related
Entities,
in exchange for a BCH Preferred A.1 capital account balance in BCH in an amount equal to the Loan Balances, with such exchange to be satisfied
from existing BCH Preferred A.1 that are held by such Related
Entities.
Since
June 30, 2021, additional net advances have been made by Highland to a Related Entity. As of September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024, Highland Consolidated, L.P. had outstanding loans in the principal amount of $10.8
million and $11.5
million, respectively, with a Related Entity. Ben is not a party to these loans, nor has it secured or guaranteed the loans.
The
Company incurred legal fees of approximately $0.5 million
and $0.5 million
on behalf of HCLP pursuant to the indemnification obligations under the HCLP credit agreements during the three
months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023, respectively. During the six
months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023, these legal fees totaled approximately $1.0 million
and $0.6 million,
respectively.
Relationship
with The Heppner Endowment for Research Organizations, L.L.C. (“HERO”) and Research Ranch Operating Company, L.L.C (“RROC”).
HERO
and RROC are indirectly owned by The Highland Investment Holdings Trust, The Highland Great Plains Trust and The Highland Partner Holdings
Trust. Mr. Heppner is a permissible beneficiary of The Highland Investment Holdings Trust and The Highland Partner Holdings Trust, but
he is not a beneficiary of The Highland Great Plains Trust. Mr. Heppner’s family members are potential beneficiaries of each of
these three
trusts. HERO was created to (i) to serve as an advisor to National Philanthropic Trust (“NPT”), an unrelated third-party charitable
organization, regarding the disbursement of grants to qualifying organizations, and (ii) to serve as an advisor to NPT regarding the administration
of charitable contributions made for the benefit of such qualifying organizations. Although HERO can advise on these matters, NPT possessed
all final decision-making authority on charitable contributions and complete control over the proceeds received by the charitable organizations.
The charitable accounts administered by NPT (“Charitable Accounts”), the beneficiaries of which have historically been multiple
Texas universities, have historically received proceeds from certain trusts settled and funded by customers of Ben, in support of their
charitable initiatives. HERO does not receive any proceeds from trusts settled and funded by customers of Ben.
RROC’s
purpose is to provide funding and operational support for the research activities conducted by the qualified charities. The funding received
by RROC, from proceeds of trusts settled and funded by customers of Ben, may be used, in RROC’s discretion, to (i) provide appropriate
facilities and properties for the charitable organizations to utilize as part of their charitable initiatives (those properties and facilities
being owned by a Related Entity), and (ii) provide fee revenue to RROC. RROC is granted such rights and authority pursuant to trust instruments
entered into between a customer and subsidiaries of Ben as well as an agreement with NPT. Ben’s subsidiaries provide financing to
the Customer ExAlt Trusts and Ben is paid as an agent of the trustees for administrative services it provides to the trusts. Ben has certain
outstanding payables, including accrued interest, to RROC and the Charitable Accounts (for the benefit of the Texas universities as discussed
above) of $2.2
million and $2.2 million
as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.
There were no
payments made during the three and six months ended September 30,
2024 and 2023. Due
to changes in the Customer ExAlt Trust agreements, no incremental amounts are expected to be allocated to RROC or the Charitable Accounts
other than those amounts already provided by certain prior trust agreements. During the three and six months ended September 30,
2023, the
trust advisor to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts reassigned the beneficial interest held at NPT to the Kansas TEFFI Economic Growth
Trust.
Beneficient
Heartland Foundation, Inc.; Initial Charitable Initiative
In
connection with each of Ben’s liquidity transactions following the adoption of the TEFFI legislation and BFF’s receipt of
a fully-operational trust company charter under the Kansas TEFFI Act, pursuant to Section 28 of the TEFFI Act, a “Qualified Distribution”
is made for the benefit of certain economic growth zones and rural communities in the State of Kansas (each, a “Charitable Distribution”).
In January 2022, Ben announced its initial $15.4 million
Charitable Distribution. The Charitable Distribution was allocated as follows: $2.7 million
of cash for the benefit of, and to be received by, the Kansas Department of Commerce to be used at the department’s discretion for
development projects and the promotion and growth of the TEFFI industry in Kansas; $0.2 million
of cash and assets for the benefit of public charities dedicated to economic development within Mr. Heppner’s hometown of Hesston,
Kansas, and surrounding Harvey County, Kansas, as outlined in the TEFFI Act; and $12.5 million
in cash and assets to the Beneficient Heartland Foundation, Inc. (“BHF”) as described below. Mr. Heppner’s hometown
is Hesston, Kansas and certain of his family members continue to live and/or work in Hesston and other areas of Harvey County, Kansas
and may be considered to be direct and indirect beneficiaries of the portions of the initial Charitable Distribution provided to Hesston
and Harvey County and to BHF.
On
January 20, 2022, BHF was formed as a Kansas nonprofit corporation to receive economic growth contributions pursuant to the TEFFI legislation.
BHF is currently governed by an eight-member
board of directors, six
of whom are community leaders within the Hesston, Kansas community and two
of whom are Ben employees or individuals otherwise affiliated with Ben. BHF is organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational
purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its purpose is to provide grants and other support to benefit
growth, development and expansion of opportunities in rural Kansas communities with populations of 5,000
residents or less, including job and income growth, main street revitalization, educational facility improvements, construction and development,
healthcare facility enhancements, senior facility improvements, and support for post-secondary institutions. BHF
has the exclusive decision-making authority over all of the economic growth contributions it receives.
BFF
is the sole member of BHF and has the right to appoint up to eleven
members of BHF’s Board of Directors. The remaining two
board members are appointed by BMC. Pursuant to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, BFF’s governing documents prohibit
any of BHF’s assets or earnings from inuring to the benefit of BFF, BMC, or any director, officer or other private individual.
The
Kansas TEFFI Economic Growth Trust
The
Kansas Economic Growth Trust (the “EGT”) is a common law trust formed on December 7, 2021 by and between an individual as
independent trustee, Ben Custody as administrator, and BCH as advisor. The purpose of the EGT is to receive the proceeds of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts that are allocable to the Charitable Beneficiaries and to allocate such proceeds between the Kansas Department of Commerce
and qualified charitable organizations (including the Beneficient Heartland Foundation, Inc.) in accordance with the requirements of the
TEFFI legislation. The proceeds received by the EGT are dedicated exclusively to charitable purposes and the trust agreement prohibits
any of the EGT’s assets or earnings from inuring to the benefit of Ben Custody, BCH, any director, officer or other private individual.
As noted above, Ben Custody provides administrative and accounting services to the EGT, and BCH serves as advisor to the trustee with
respect to the administration and distribution of the trust. Neither Ben Custody nor BCH charges a fee for these services. During
the year ended
March 31, 2023,
the trust advisor to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts reassigned the beneficial interest held at NPT to the EGT.
Ben
has an outstanding payable to EGT of nil
and $0.1
million as
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024,
respectively.
Ben paid $0.1
million and $0.3
million during
the three and six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $0.3
million and
$0.7
million for the same periods of
2023, respectively, related to allocable proceeds to Charitable Beneficiaries. Additionally, during the year ended March 31, 2023,
Ben sold its Kansas properties to the EGT in exchange for a $1.4 million
promissory note, which is in the other assets line items on the consolidated statements of financial condition as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024. The EGT made a prepayment on the promissory note of $0.2
million during
the three
months ended September 30,
2024, principally in return for the promissory note being extended by two
years, until September 30, 2028.
Hicks
Holdings, L.L.C.
Hicks
Holdings, L.L.C., an entity associated with one of Ben’s current directors, is one of the owners and serves as the manager of a
limited liability company (“SPV”). A Related Entity also has ownership in the SPV. The SPV holds BCH Preferred A.0 and BCH
Preferred A.1 among its investment holdings. Hicks Holdings, L.L.C. is also the sole member of HH-BDH, the lender on outstanding term
loans with a subsidiary of Ben.
Hicks
Holdings Operating, LLC (“Hicks Holdings”), an entity associated with one of Ben’s current directors, has historically
held BCH Preferred
A.0, BCH Preferred
A.1,
BCH Class
S Ordinary Units, BCH Class S Preferred Units and Class B common stock of Beneficient. Hicks Holdings was granted its BCH
Preferred A.1
and BCH Class
S Ordinary Units as compensation for services provided in 2018. Hicks Holdings was granted its BCH
Preferred
A.0 when a portion of the existing BCH
Preferred
A.1 converted to BCH
Preferred
A.0 in 2021. Hicks Holdings converted a portion of its existing BCH Preferred A.1 to BCG
Class B Common
Units in June 2023 in connection with the recapitalization
of BCG described in Note 4. In connection with the letter agreement described below, in October 2023, Hicks Holdings assigned the BCH
Preferred A.0, BCH Preferred A.1, BCH Class S Ordinary Units, and BCH Class S Preferred Units to HH-BDH. The
total preferred equity of BCH, BCH
Class S Preferred
Units and BCH
Class S Ordinary
Units balance as of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024, was $26.6
million and $27.5
million, respectively (amounts disclosed here are based on their GAAP capital accounts). Hicks Holdings held 16,528
shares of Class B common stock as of September 30,
2024 and March 31,
2024. Additionally, during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, Mr. Hicks and an entity controlled by Mr. Hicks purchased a total of
100,000
shares of Class A common stock for a purchase price of approximately $0.2 million.
The
Company has outstanding payable amounts to Hicks Holdings related to the HH-BDH
Credit Agreement totaling
approximately
$0.3 million
as of September 30,
2024. No
such amount was outstanding as of March 31, 2024.
Letter
Agreement with Hicks Holdings
In
connection with the HH-BDH Credit Agreement and the Financing, on October 19, 2023, the Guarantor, Ben LLC, and Hicks Holdings entered
into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”). In connection with the Financing, Hicks Holdings agreed to assign to HH-BDH
(which is wholly-owned by Hicks Holdings) all of its rights, title and interest in and to the following partnership interests of the Guarantor:
BCH Preferred A.0 with a capital account balance of $15.3
million as of June 30, 2023, BCH Preferred A.1 with a capital account balance of $48.1
million as of June 30, 2023, 1
BCH Class S Preferred Units and 3,640
BCH Class S Ordinary Units held by HH-BDH (the “Pledged Guarantor Interests”). Hicks Holdings’ membership interest in
HH-BDH (collectively with the Pledged Guarantor Interests, the “Pledged Equity Interests”) and the Pledged Guarantor Interests
serve as collateral for the Financing (together, the “Lender Pledge”).
Pursuant
to the terms of the Letter Agreement, the parties thereto agreed that if the Borrower and/or Guarantor default under the HH-BDH Credit
Agreement and such default results in a foreclosure on, or other forfeiture of, the Pledged Equity Interests, the Guarantor will promptly
issue to Hicks Holdings, BCH Preferred A.0 with a capital account balance of $15.3
million, BCH Preferred A.1 with a capital account balance of $48.1
million, 1
BCH Class S Preferred Units and 3,640
BCH Class S Ordinary Units (subject to a tax gross-up as provided in the Letter Agreement), or, in the discretion of Hicks
Holdings,
equivalent securities of equal fair market value to the value of the security interests at the time of the applicable foreclosure or other
loss (such newly issued equity interests referred to as the “Replacement Equity Interests”); provided, however that, if less
than all Pledged Equity Interests have been foreclosed on or forfeited, the foregoing capital account balances and numbers of units comprising
the Replacement Equity Interests shall be reduced on a class-by-class and subclass-by-subclass basis, as applicable, to the extent necessary
to ensure that Hicks Holdings and its affiliates do not receive additional value relative to the value held by Hicks Holdings and its
affiliates immediately prior to the foreclosure or forfeiture. Furthermore, Ben LLC shall cause a Ben LLC Unit (as defined in the BCH
LPA) to be issued for each BCH Class A Unit issued to the Hicks Holdings pursuant to the Letter Agreement. Additionally, the Guarantor
agreed to indemnify Hicks Holdings and its affiliates and hold each of them harmless against any and all losses which may arise directly
or indirectly in connection with, among other things, the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, the Term Loan, the Financing and the Lender Pledge.
Shared
Services Agreement with GWG Holdings
On
May 27, 2020, Ben and GWG Holdings (acting through a then constituted special committee of the Board of Directors of GWG Holdings) entered
into a shared services agreement effective as of January 1, 2020 (the “Shared Services Agreement”). The term of the Shared
Services Agreement had an initial term of one
year from the effective date and renewed automatically for successive one-year
terms. Due to the filing by GWG Holdings for reorganization under the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code in April 2022, neither party was authorized
to terminate the Shared Services Agreement. The Shared Services Agreement terminated upon the effective of GWG Holdings’ bankruptcy
plan on August 1, 2023. Pursuant to the Shared Services Agreement, GWG Holdings paid a quarterly fee to Ben for the provision of accounting
and finance, general and administrative, human resources, sales administration and marketing, underwriting and risk management, information
technology and legal services for GWG Holdings and its direct or wholly-owned subsidiaries. The total service fee for each quarter was
determined in good faith by Ben on the final day of such quarter in accordance with the cost allocation methodology maintained on Ben’s
books and records, which provided that, to the extent the Services were eligible for the “services cost method,” as defined
in Treasury Regulation §1.482-9(b), the Service Fee shall be equal to the total costs incurred by Ben during each quarter in connection
with Ben’s provision of the Services to GWG Holdings or its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, and that the Service Fee
for Services that are not eligible for the services cost method shall be determined by reference to the “cost of services plus method,”
as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.482-9(e).
During
the three and six
months ended September 30,
2023, GWG Holdings paid approximately $0.1
million and $1.4
million, respectively, to Ben under the Shared Services Agreement. Concurrent with the termination of the Shared Services Agreement on
August 1, 2023, all receivables and the related allowance pertaining to amounts owed under the Shared Services Agreement were written
off.
Consulting
agreements with certain board members
During
fiscal 2024, the Company entered into consulting agreements with certain non-management board members. Pursuant to the consulting agreements,
Thomas O. Hicks, Richard W. Fisher and Bruce W. Schnitzer agreed to mentor, advise and support Beneficient and its related entities regarding
its business of providing services, insurance, liquidity and financing for alternative asset holders and each receive an annual cash fee
of $150,000
per year. Such consulting fee is in addition to the annual cash retainer these board members receive under the director compensation program.
The consulting agreements have an initial term of one (1) year and automatically renew for
successive one (1) year terms unless sooner terminated in accordance with their terms. In the
event the initial or any renewal term is terminated before it expires due to a removal or because Messrs. Hicks, Fisher and Schnitzer
is not re-elected or re- appointed, in each case without cause (as defined in the consulting agreement), the annual consulting fee will
continue to be paid through the end of the initial or renewal term, as applicable. For each consulting agreement, the associated expense
is recognized ratably each month over the annual term.
Mr.
Fisher retired from our Board effective March 15, 2024 and thus his above referenced consulting agreement terminated during fiscal 2024.
Following his resignation, Mr. Fisher has agreed to continue to serve as a consultant to the Company. In connection with such role, Mr.
Fisher will receive an annual payment of $50,000,
with such amount to be paid in the Company’s Class A common stock.
Subscription
agreements with an entity associated with a certain board member
During
the three months ended September 30,
2024,
an entity associated with Peter T. Cangany, Jr., a member of our board of directors, purchased a total of 262,500
shares of Class A common stock from the Company for
an aggregate purchase price of approximately $0.5 million.
14. Variable
Interest Entities
In
accordance with ASC 810, an enterprise is determined to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE if it holds a controlling financial interest.
A controlling financial interest is defined as (a) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s
economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could
potentially be significant to the VIE. The consolidation guidance requires an analysis to determine (a) whether an entity in which Ben
holds a variable interest is a VIE and (b) whether Ben’s involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the entity
or contractually through other variable interests (for example, management and performance-related fees), would give it a controlling
financial interest. The performance of that analysis requires the exercise of judgment. Based on management’s analysis, there are
no VIEs that require consolidation, other than those described below.
VIEs
for Which the Company is the Primary Beneficiary
CT
Risk Management, L.L.C.
CT,
a Delaware limited liability company, is currently governed by the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement entered
into on April 27, 2022. CT was created to reduce the impact of a potential market downturn on the interests in alternative assets held
by the Customer ExAlt Trusts that collateralize the loans receivable from the Customer ExAlt Trusts held by BFF,
or other Ben entities (such loans receivable are eliminated solely for
financial reporting purposes in
our consolidated financial statements) by distributing any potential profits to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts thereby offsetting
any reduction in the value of the alternative assets.
CT
is considered a VIE as the at-risk equity holder, BFF, does not have all of the characteristics of a controlling financial interest due
to BFF’s receipt of returns being limited to its initial investment in CT. The Company concluded that BFF is the primary beneficiary
of CT as BFF has the power to direct the most significant activities and has an obligation to absorb potential losses of CT. Accordingly,
the results of CT are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024, the
consolidated statements of financial condition include assets of this consolidated VIE with a carrying value of nil.
For three months ended September 30,
2023, the
Company recorded losses of $0.7 million,
of which approximately $0.3
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction. The Company recorded losses of $3.0
million during the six
months ended September 30,
2023, of which
approximately $2.0
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction. The amounts are reported in the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net line item of the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income (loss), for the three and six months ended September 30,
2023. No options
were held as of and during the three and six months ended September 30, 2024.
Customer
ExAlt Trusts
The
Company determined that all of the Customer ExAlt Trusts used in connection with its operations are VIEs of which Ben is the primary beneficiary
as defined under ASC 810. The Company concluded that it is the primary beneficiary of the Customer ExAlt Trusts as it has the power to
direct the most significant activities and has an obligation to absorb potential losses of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Accordingly, the
results of the Customer ExAlt Trusts are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Although the Company is deemed
to be the primary beneficiary of the Customer ExAlt Trusts for purposes of ASC 810, it is neither designated as a beneficiary under the
trust agreements nor recognized as a beneficiary of such trusts under applicable state trust law. The assets of the Customer ExAlt Trusts
may only be used to settle obligations of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Other than potentially funding capital calls above the related reserve
(refer to Note 17), there is no recourse to the Company for the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ liabilities. The cash flows generated by
these VIEs are included within the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows.
The
consolidated statements of financial condition include the following amounts from these consolidated VIEs as of the dates presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Assets: |
|
| |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
$ |
1,008 |
|
| $ |
963 |
|
Restricted
cash |
314 |
|
| 64 |
|
Investments,
at fair value |
334,987 |
|
| 329,113 |
|
Other
assets |
32 |
|
| 30 |
|
Total
Assets of VIEs |
$ |
336,341 |
|
| $ |
330,170 |
|
|
|
| |
Liabilities: |
|
| |
Accounts
payable and accrued expense |
$ |
2,316 |
|
| $ |
1,670 |
|
Other
liabilities |
19 |
|
| 109 |
|
|
|
| |
Total
Liabilities of VIEs |
$ |
2,335 |
|
| $ |
1,779 |
|
|
|
| |
Equity: |
|
| |
Treasury
stock |
$ |
(3,444) |
|
| $ |
(3,444) |
|
Noncontrolling
interests |
(171,110) |
|
| (165,712) |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income |
281 |
|
| 276 |
|
Total
Equity of VIEs |
$ |
(174,273) |
|
| $ |
(168,880) |
|
The
consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented include the following amounts from these consolidated
VIEs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
(Dollars
in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income (loss), net |
$ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
Gain
(loss) on financial instruments, net |
572 |
|
| (41,875) |
|
| (603) |
|
| (43,679) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
— |
|
| 2 |
|
| — |
|
| 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Total
revenues |
9,113 |
|
| (41,886) |
|
| 18,966 |
|
| (43,182) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
— |
|
| 1,794 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,668 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
476 |
|
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| — |
|
Professional
services |
571 |
|
| 884 |
|
| 1,193 |
|
| 2,145 |
|
Other
expenses |
189 |
|
| 26 |
|
| 309 |
|
| 383 |
|
Total
operating expenses |
1,236 |
|
| 2,704 |
|
| 2,500 |
|
| 6,196 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net
income (loss) |
$ |
7,877 |
|
| $ |
(44,590) |
|
| $ |
16,466 |
|
| $ |
(49,378) |
|
Net loss attributable
to noncontrolling interests |
$ |
(4,523) |
|
| $ |
(3,592) |
|
| $ |
(5,049) |
|
| $ |
(17,458) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
15. Segment
Reporting
The
Company has three
reportable segments consisting of Ben Liquidity, Ben Custody and Customer ExAlt Trusts. As additional products and services are offered
in the future, we expect to have additional reportable segments, including Ben Insurance Services and Ben Markets.
As
the central operating hub of the company, Ben Liquidity is responsible for offering Ben’s fiduciary alternative asset liquidity
and financing products through AltAccess. Ben Custody delivers products that address the administrative and regulatory burden of holding
alternative assets by offering full service bespoke custody and trust administration services, and specialized document custodian services
to Customers. Certain of Ben’s operating subsidiary products and services involve or are offered to certain of the Customer ExAlt
Trusts. Certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold interests in alternative assets and therefore recognize changes in such assets’
net asset value in earnings. Certain other Customer ExAlt Trusts pay interest on the ExAlt Loans to Ben Liquidity and transaction fees
to Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody in connection with the liquidity transactions, and pay fees to Ben Custody for providing full-service
trust administration services to the trustees of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The amounts paid to Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody are eliminated
solely for
financial reporting purposes in
our consolidated financial statements but directly impact the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
The
Corporate & Other category includes the following items, among others:
•Equity-based
compensation;
•Gains
(losses) on changes in the fair value of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust (or common stock and L Bonds of GWG Holdings, as applicable)
held by Ben;
•Interest
expense incurred on the corporate related debt transactions; and
•Operations
of Ben Insurance Services and Ben Markets that are not considered reportable segments as they do not meet the quantitative criteria to
be separately reported.
The
Corporate & Other category also consists of unallocated corporate overhead and administrative costs.
These
segments are differentiated by the products and services they offer as well as by the information used by the Company’s chief operating
decision maker to determine allocation of resources and assess performance. Operating income (loss) is the measure of profitability used
by management to assess the performance of its segments and allocate resources. Performance is measured by the Company’s chief operating
decision maker on an unconsolidated basis because management makes operating decisions and assesses the performance of each of the Company’s
business segments based on financial and operating metrics and data that exclude the effects of consolidation of any of the Customer ExAlt
Trusts.
The
following tables include the results of each of the Company’s reportable segments reconciled to the consolidated financial statements
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
External
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income, net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
8,541 |
|
Gain
(loss) on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 571 |
|
| (750) |
|
| — |
|
| (179) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 12 |
|
| — |
|
| 12 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 187 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 11,978 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (11,978) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 5,199 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (5,199) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 11,978 |
|
| 5,386 |
|
| 9,112 |
|
| (738) |
|
| (17,177) |
|
| 8,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 361 |
|
| 542 |
|
| — |
|
| 6,232 |
|
| — |
|
| 7,135 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 3,163 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,157 |
|
| — |
|
| 4,320 |
|
Professional
services |
| 395 |
|
| 30 |
|
| 545 |
|
| 6,287 |
|
| — |
|
| 7,257 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 476 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
expenses |
| 402 |
|
| 187 |
|
| 189 |
|
| 2,012 |
|
| — |
|
| 2,790 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 36,049 |
|
| — |
|
| (36,049) |
|
| — |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| 4,752 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (4,752) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,402 |
|
| — |
|
| (3,402) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 9,073 |
|
| 1,057 |
|
| 40,661 |
|
| 15,688 |
|
| (44,203) |
|
| 22,276 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
4,329 |
|
| $ |
(31,549) |
|
| $ |
(16,426) |
|
| $ |
27,026 |
|
| $ |
(13,715) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
External
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
loss, net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (41,875) |
|
| (900) |
|
| — |
|
| (42,775) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2 |
|
| 112 |
|
| — |
|
| 114 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 8 |
|
| — |
|
| (95) |
|
| — |
|
| (87) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 13,022 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (13,022) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 6,482 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (6,482) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 13,022 |
|
| 6,490 |
|
| (41,886) |
|
| (883) |
|
| (19,504) |
|
| (42,761) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 1,482 |
|
| 545 |
|
| — |
|
| 13,371 |
|
| — |
|
| 15,398 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 2,120 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,794 |
|
| 1,200 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,114 |
|
Professional
services |
| 264 |
|
| 89 |
|
| 884 |
|
| 5,420 |
|
| — |
|
| 6,657 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| 220,212 |
|
| 86,472 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 306,684 |
|
Other
expenses |
| 533 |
|
| 231 |
|
| 26 |
|
| 4,360 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 29,835 |
|
| — |
|
| (29,835) |
|
| — |
|
Provision
for loan losses |
| 60,502 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (60,502) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,850 |
|
| — |
|
| (3,850) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 285,113 |
|
| 87,337 |
|
| 36,389 |
|
| 24,351 |
|
| (94,187) |
|
| 339,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
(80,847) |
|
| $ |
(78,275) |
|
| $ |
(25,234) |
|
| $ |
74,683 |
|
| $ |
(381,764) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
External
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income, net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (604) |
|
| (758) |
|
| — |
|
| (1,362) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 24 |
|
| — |
|
| 24 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 376 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 376 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 22,827 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (22,827) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 10,392 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (10,392) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 22,827 |
|
| 10,768 |
|
| 18,965 |
|
| (734) |
|
| (33,219) |
|
| 18,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 791 |
|
| 898 |
|
| — |
|
| 9,296 |
|
| — |
|
| 10,985 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 6,244 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2,364 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,608 |
|
Professional
services |
| 869 |
|
| 426 |
|
| 1,167 |
|
| 10,339 |
|
| — |
|
| 12,801 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| 2 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,000 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| 3,427 |
|
| — |
|
| 265 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,692 |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
Other
expenses |
| 853 |
|
| 401 |
|
| 309 |
|
| 4,308 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 70,848 |
|
| — |
|
| (70,848) |
|
| — |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| 11,679 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (11,679) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 6,821 |
|
| — |
|
| (6,821) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 20,436 |
|
| 5,152 |
|
| 80,143 |
|
| (28,399) |
|
| (89,348) |
|
| (12,016) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating income
(loss) |
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
5,616 |
|
| $ |
(61,178) |
|
| $ |
27,665 |
|
| $ |
56,129 |
|
| $ |
30,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
External
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income, net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (43,679) |
|
| (2,557) |
|
| — |
|
| (46,236) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 10 |
|
| 220 |
|
| — |
|
| 230 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 15 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 25,028 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (25,028) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 13,050 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (13,050) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 25,028 |
|
| 13,065 |
|
| (43,182) |
|
| (2,337) |
|
| (38,078) |
|
| (45,504) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 3,975 |
|
| 1,105 |
|
| — |
|
| 46,141 |
|
| — |
|
| 51,221 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 2,878 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,668 |
|
| 2,352 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,898 |
|
Professional
services |
| 897 |
|
| 589 |
|
| 2,145 |
|
| 13,399 |
|
| — |
|
| 17,030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| 1,121,212 |
|
| 281,777 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Other
expenses |
| 1,187 |
|
| 438 |
|
| 383 |
|
| 10,084 |
|
| — |
|
| 12,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 59,615 |
|
| — |
|
| (59,615) |
|
| — |
|
Provision
for loan losses |
| 69,998 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (69,998) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 7,694 |
|
| — |
|
| (7,694) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 1,200,147 |
|
| 283,909 |
|
| 73,505 |
|
| 71,976 |
|
| (137,307) |
|
| 1,492,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
| $ |
(270,844) |
|
| $ |
(116,687) |
|
| $ |
(74,313) |
|
| $ |
99,229 |
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| As
of September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
Loans
to Customer ExAlt Trusts, net |
| $ |
260,686 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(260,686) |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Investments,
at fair value |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 334,987 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 334,987 |
|
Other
assets |
| 1,609 |
|
| 21,909 |
|
| 18,025 |
|
| 14,392 |
|
| (35,148) |
|
| 20,787 |
|
Goodwill
and intangible assets, net |
| — |
|
| 7,469 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,545 |
|
| — |
|
| 13,014 |
|
Total
Assets |
| $ |
262,295 |
|
| $ |
29,378 |
|
| $ |
353,012 |
|
| $ |
19,937 |
|
| $ |
(295,834) |
|
| $ |
368,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| As
of March 31, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
| Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate
& Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Total |
Loans
to Customer ExAlt Trusts, net |
| $ |
256,184 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(256,184) |
|
| $ |
— |
|
Investments,
at fair value |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 329,113 |
|
| 6 |
|
| — |
|
| 329,119 |
|
Other
assets |
| 5,814 |
|
| 20,398 |
|
| 19,467 |
|
| 12,510 |
|
| (35,513) |
|
| 22,676 |
|
Goodwill
and intangible assets, net |
| — |
|
| 10,896 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,810 |
|
| — |
|
| 16,706 |
|
Total
Assets |
| $ |
261,998 |
|
| $ |
31,294 |
|
| $ |
348,580 |
|
| $ |
18,326 |
|
| $ |
(291,697) |
|
| $ |
368,501 |
|
16. Risks
and Uncertainties
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in alternative assets, public and private equity securities, and debt securities that are exposed
to market risk, credit risk, currency risk, and interest rate risk. Currently, these investments, whose
cash flows serve as collateral to the ExAlt Loans,
primarily are comprised of alternative assets consisting of private equity limited partnership interests, which are primarily denominated
in the U.S. dollar, Euro, and Canadian dollar. The financial statements risks, stemming from such investments, are those associated with
the determination of estimated fair values, the diminished ability to monetize certain investments in times of strained market conditions,
the recognition of income and recognition of impairments on certain investments.
The
portfolio of alternative assets covers the following industry sectors and geographic regions for the periods shown below (dollar amounts
in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Industry
Sector |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
Food
and staples retailing |
| $ |
66,517 |
|
| 22.1 |
% |
| $ |
41,721 |
|
| 14.2 |
% |
Software
and services |
| 44,683 |
|
| 14.8 |
|
| 42,908 |
|
| 14.6 |
|
Diversified
financials |
| 30,222 |
|
| 10.0 |
|
| 30,297 |
|
| 10.3 |
|
Utilities |
| 29,693 |
|
| 9.9 |
|
| 28,768 |
|
| 9.8 |
|
Energy |
| 17,151 |
|
| 5.7 |
|
| 19,930 |
|
| 6.8 |
|
Capital
goods |
| 15,733 |
|
| 5.2 |
|
| 23,146 |
|
| 7.9 |
|
Semiconductors
and Semiconductor Equipment |
| 14,797 |
|
| 4.9 |
|
| 16,144 |
|
| 5.5 |
|
Health
care equipment and services |
| 14,441 |
|
| 4.8 |
|
| 16,520 |
|
| 5.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other(1) |
| 68,151 |
|
| 22.6 |
|
| 74,482 |
|
| 25.3 |
|
Total |
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
| $ |
293,916 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| (1) |
Industries
in this category each comprise less than 5 percent. Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment and Health Care Equipment and Services
is shown separately as it comprised greater than 5 percent in the prior period. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Geography |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
North
America |
| $ |
150,864 |
|
| 50.1 |
% |
| $ |
164,205 |
|
| 55.9 |
% |
South
America |
| 68,166 |
|
| 22.6 |
|
| 43,543 |
|
| 14.8 |
|
Asia |
| 46,342 |
|
| 15.4 |
|
| 49,385 |
|
| 16.8 |
|
Europe |
| 35,337 |
|
| 11.7 |
|
| 35,870 |
|
| 12.2 |
|
Africa |
| 679 |
|
| 0.2 |
|
| 913 |
|
| 0.3 |
|
Total |
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
| $ |
293,916 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
The
ExAlt Loans, which are eliminated upon consolidation solely for
financial reporting purposes,
are collateralized by the cash flows originating from the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments in alternative assets, public and private
equity securities, and debt securities, without recourse to the customer. These ExAlt Loans are a key determinant in income (loss) allocable
to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders. Ben has
underwriting and due diligence procedures and utilizes market rates. Finally,
the Customer
ExAlt Trusts
provide for excess cash flows from a collective pool of alternative assets, public and private equity securities, and debt securities,
to be utilized to repay the ExAlt Loans to Ben from the Customer ExAlt Trusts when cash flows from the customer’s original alternative
assets are not sufficient to repay the outstanding principal, interest, and fees. Excess cash flows from the collective pool of alternative
assets, public and private equity securities, and debt securities, above those needed to satisfy the outstanding principal interest and
fees of the ExAlt Loans are available to pay contingent interest to Ben on the ExAlt Loans up to a specified contingent interest rate.
As
discussed in Note 1, Ben received a charter from the state of Kansas and established an office in the state of Kansas. If we are unable
to maintain the Kansas charter or obtain a charter from another state if we no longer hold the Kansas charter, our ability to affect parts
of our business plan, as currently constituted, may be compromised.
In
October 2023, following a series of attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilian and military targets, Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza. In
February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine and
as
a result, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel-Hamas conflict could have a negative impact on the economy and business activity globally
(including in the countries in which the Customer ExAlt Trusts currently holds investments or may hold investments in the future), and
therefore, could adversely affect the performance of the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments.
The
extent and impact of any sanctions imposed in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict may cause financial market volatility and impact
the global economy. Volatility and disruption in the equity and credit markets can adversely affect the portfolio companies underlying
the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and adversely affect the investment performance. Our ability to manage exposure to market
conditions is limited. Market deterioration could cause the Company to experience reduced liquidity, earnings and cash flow, recognize
impairment charges, or face challenges in raising capital, and making investments on attractive terms. Adverse market conditions can also
affect the ability of investment funds held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts to liquidate positions in a timely and efficient manner. As a
result, this presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
even though the Customer ExAlt Trusts do not hold any investments with material operations in Russia, Ukraine, or Israel. The cash flows
from the investment held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts serve as the collateral to the ExAlt Loans and the fees that are paid by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts to Ben for administering these trusts, both of which are key determinants in the income allocated to BCG’s and BCH’s
equity holders.
Further,
these events may result in reduced opportunities for future liquidity solution transactions with our customers and make it more difficult
for the Customer ExAlt Trusts to exit and realize value from its existing investments, potentially resulting in a decline in the value
of the investments held in the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Such a decline could cause our revenue and net income to decline, including the
revenues and net income allocated to BCG’s and BCH’s equity holders.
The
Company continues to evaluate the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas conflict and other items, such as inflation
and rising interest rates, and assess the impact on financial markets and the Company’s business. The Company’s future results
may be adversely affected by slowdowns in fundraising activity and the pace of new liquidity transactions with our customers. Management
is continuing to evaluate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict and has concluded that while it is reasonably
possible that such conflicts could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position and/or results of its operations,
the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these consolidated financial statements. Consequently, the consolidated
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
17. Commitments
and Contingencies
In
the normal course of business, we have various outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities that are not reflected in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements. There are no significant commitments and contingencies other than those disclosed below. Ben is a party
to legal actions incidental to the business. Based on the opinion of legal counsel, management has concluded with regard to all commitments
and contingencies disclosed below that either the outcome is not probable or the potential liability cannot be reasonably estimated, or
both.
Lease
Commitments
The
Company operates on a month-to-month rental basis for its office premises. The Company also subleased an aircraft under the Aircraft Sublease,
which expired on January 1, 2024, with Bradley Capital as discussed in Note 13. Rental expense for our premises and for the Aircraft Sublease
for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, totaled $0.2
million and $1.6
million, respectively. Rental expense for our premises and for the Aircraft Sublease for the six months ended September 30, 2024
and 2023, totaled $0.3
million and $3.3
million, respectively.
Unfunded
Capital Commitments
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts had $47.2
million and $47.8
million of potential gross capital commitments as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively, representing potential
limited partner capital funding commitments on the interests in alternative asset funds. The Customer ExAlt Trusts holding the interest
in the limited partnership for the alternative asset fund is required to fund these limited partner capital commitments per the terms
of the limited partnership agreement. Capital funding commitment reserves are maintained by certain of the associated trusts within the
ExAlt PlanTM
or affiliated entities. To the extent that the associated Customer ExAlt Trust or their affiliated entities cannot pay the capital funding
commitment, Ben is obligated to lend sufficient funds to meet the commitment. Any amounts advanced by Ben to the Customer ExAlt Trusts
for these limited partner capital funding commitments above the associated capital funding commitment reserves, if any, held by the associated
Customer ExAlt Trusts or their affiliated entities are added to the ExAlt Loan balance between Ben and the Customer ExAlt Trusts and are
expected to be recouped through the cash distributions from the alternative asset fund that collateralizes such ExAlt Loan.
Capital
commitments generally originate from limited partner agreements having fixed or expiring expiration dates. The total limited partner capital
funding commitment amounts may not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The majority, or 90%,
of our portfolio with an unfunded commitment has a vintage of 2012 and prior. As the vintages continue to age, a cash requirement becomes
less likely. We consider the creditworthiness of the investment on a case-by-case basis. At September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024, there were no reserves for losses on unused commitments to fund potential limited partner capital funding commitments.
Legal
Proceedings
Paul
Capital Advisors Lawsuit
On
February 18, 2022, Paul Capital Advisors (“PCA”) filed a lawsuit against MHT, Ben, and two
trust advisors (the “Trust Advisors”), Murray Holland (part-owner of MHT and who served as the President and CEO of GWG Holdings
beginning in mid-2019 through November 2022) and James Turvey (an employee of Ben). While Ben was named as a defendant, PCA did not assert
claims against or seek relief from Ben but instead only sought the removal and replacement of the Trust Advisors. The lawsuit concerns
a set of transactions that utilized a trust structure with MHT as the sole beneficiary.
On
April 18, 2022, PCA amended its original complaint. The amended complaint asserted six
new causes of action arising out of the same set of transactions, including, (i) purported breaches of contract against Ben, MHT, and
the Trust Advisors; (ii) purported fraud against MHT, Ben and certain officers of Ben; and (iii) promissory estoppel against MHT, Ben,
and the Trust Advisors. The amended complaint also sought additional relief in the form of (x) damages “in an amount to be proven
at trial” and (y) an order granting rescission of an amendment to one of the transaction agreements or a holding declaring it invalid.
On
October 3, 2022, the Court entered an order dismissing count I of PCA’s complaint in accordance with its memorandum opinion and
count II in light of the parties’ agreement that it should also be dismissed. On November 1, 2022, defendants filed their opening
briefs in support of their motions to dismiss the remaining counts. On December 20, 2022, PCA filed its answering brief in opposition
to defendants’ motions to dismiss the remaining counts. In accordance with the parties’ stipulated briefing schedule, defendants’
reply briefs were due by January 24, 2023. Oral argument on the motions to dismiss was held on May 8, 2023. On August 29, 2023, the Court
issued a letter opinion that denied defendants’ motions to dismiss with respect to most of the remaining counts, explaining that
the Court was unwilling to determine the parties’ rights under the various agreements at the pleadings stage and that discovery
may make these issues ripe for summary judgment. The Court did, however, grant defendants’ motions to dismiss as to one of PCA’s
promissory estoppel claims and its claim for equitable fraud. On October 25, 2023, defendants filed their respective answers to PCA’s
second amended complaint.
On
November 9, 2023, defendants filed a motion to bifurcate, requesting that the Court of Chancery first resolve the threshold issue of PCA’s
standing under the CVR Contract and Exchange Trust Agreements before proceeding on the merits. On November 29, 2023, PCA filed its opposition
to defendants’ motion to bifurcate, and on December 8, 2023, defendants filed their reply brief. On June 24, 2024, the Court of
Chancery heard oral argument and issued its ruling granting defendants’ motion to bifurcate. In its ruling, the Court of Chancery
ordered the parties to promptly conduct limited standing-related discovery to allow final resolution of the standing issue on summary
judgment by January 2025.
Defendants
intend to vigorously defend against each and every cause of action asserted against them in the second amended complaint. Due to the inherent
uncertainties of litigation, we cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this matter. Given the uncertainty of litigation and
the preliminary stage of this claim, we are currently unable to estimate the probability of the outcome of these actions or the range
of reasonably possible losses, if any, or the impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows; however, the maximum
exposure of the litigation with PCA could be up to $350 million
plus costs and expenses.
Equity
Awards Arbitration
On
December 16, 2022, a former member of the Board of Directors of Beneficient Management, LLC (the “Claimant”) initiated a private
arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, challenging the termination of certain
equity awards under two
incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. The Claimant sought total damages of $36.3 million
plus attorney’s fees and punitive damages. On
April 23, 2024, the sole arbitrator held that in terminating the Claimant’s equity awards, the Company had breached its contractual
obligations, and as a result, awarded the Claimant $55.3 million
in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment interest, plus post-judgment interest (the “Arbitration Award”). Neither attorneys’
fees nor punitive damages were awarded to the Claimant. The Company was also asked to pay arbitration-related costs in the amount of approximately
$0.1 million.
The Company recorded a loss related to the Arbitration Award in the year ended March 31, 2024 consolidated statement of comprehensive
income (loss) in the amount of $55.0 million.
The liability associated with the Arbitration Award was reflected in the accounts payable and accrued expenses line item in the March
31, 2024
consolidated statement of financial condition.
On
July 29, 2024, the Texas State District Court, Dallas County 134th Judicial District (the “Texas District Court”) entered
an order vacating the Arbitration Award in its entirety. The Texas District Court directed the parties to file motions requesting any
further relief that may be available within twenty
days of the order. On August 2, 2024, the Claimant filed an appeal to challenge the order vacating the Arbitration Award
in the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals.
The
Company intends to vigorously defend itself in connection with the appeal.
As
a result of the order, during the three-months ended June 30,
2024, the Company released the liability associated with the Arbitration Award, which resulted in the release of the previously recognized
loss contingency accrual in the amount of
$55.0 million
being reflected in the six months ended September 30, 2024 consolidated statement
of comprehensive income (loss).
GWG
Holdings Reorganization and Other Litigation
On
April 20, 2022 and October 31, 2022, GWG Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions
for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code thereby commencing those certain chapter 11 cases (the “Chapter
11 Cases”). As part of the Chapter 11 reorganization process, it is possible that claims or causes of action arising from prior
transactions with GWG Holdings could be advanced against BCG as part of the Chapter 11 Cases or in separate litigation. Such claims and
causes of action could include (i) a request to avoid some or all of such transactions, including the transaction whereby GWG Holdings
released its right to appoint a majority of the members of Ben Management’s board of directors, (ii) challenges to the reasonableness
of the value received by the Debtors in such transactions, and (iii) efforts to recover the value of any transfers to BCG. A mediator
has been appointed to oversee the mediation of certain matters between BCG, GWG Holdings and its debtor-affiliates, and certain other
constituencies. The mediation commenced on January 30, 2023 and is still ongoing. We estimate that the maximum potential negative impact
of any Retained Causes of Action to be between approximately $155 million
and $382 million.
Further,
the Official Committee of Bondholders (the “OBC”) in the Chapter 11 Cases has also filed a motion seeking standing to prosecute
causes of actions on behalf of the Debtors’ estate. The OBC’s motion was deemed to be withdrawn upon the effective date of
the Debtors’ bankruptcy plan, which occurred on August 1, 2023. The OBC’s motion set forth causes of action related to certain
past transactions between the Debtors and Ben, including its directors. The OBC’s motion stated the proposed claims could add a
maximum exposure of up to $500 million
worth of additional value to the Debtors’ estate. Ben and its CEO filed motions to object to the OBC’s motion that refutes
the allegations. The Debtors have indicated they oppose the OBC’s motion for standing and intend to address such alleged claims,
if any, as part of a global plan of reorganization, including a possible mediated resolution. Ben intends to vigorously defend itself
against any claims, should they be brought by the Litigation Trust.
Scura
Action
On
March 30, 2023, David Scura and Clifford Day, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit
in the United States District Court for Northern District of Texas against Ben, certain members of its board of directors (Brad K. Heppner,
Peter T. Cangany, Richard W. Fisher, Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, and Bruce W. Schnitzer), certain past members of the board of
directors of GWG Holdings (Jon R. Sabes and Steven F. Sabes), FOXO Technologies Inc. (“FOXO”), and Emerson Equity LLC (“Emerson”)
(the “Scura Action”). The suit alleges that the defendants defrauded GWG Holdings’ investors, and it asserts claims
on behalf of a putative class consisting of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired GWG Holdings’ L Bonds or
preferred stock of GWG Holdings between December 23, 2017, and April 20, 2022. The suit alleges that (i) BCG, the individual defendants,
and FOXO violated Sections 10(b) of the Exchange Act and SEC Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, (ii) that the individual defendants violated
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and (iii) that Emerson violated Section 15(c)(1)(A) of the Exchange Act. The complaint does not allege
the total amount of damages sought by the plaintiffs.
Bayati
Action
On
May 3, 2023, Thomas Horton and Frank Moore, in their capacities as the Lead Plaintiffs in the Bayati Action (the “Lead Plaintiffs”),
filed a motion to lift the automatic stay in the Chapter 11 Cases in order to file a motion in the Northern District of Texas seeking
to consolidate the Bayati and Scura Actions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. On June 8, 2023, the plaintiffs in the
Scura Action filed a voluntary notice of dismissal without prejudice.
On
August 16, 2023, Thomas Horton and Frank Moore, in their capacities as the Lead Plaintiffs in the Bayati Action, filed a notice regarding
the confirmation of the Debtors’ Chapter 11 plan in the GWG bankruptcy, a motion seeking to lift the bankruptcy stay and a motion
to consolidate the Bayati and Horton Actions. On September 12, 2023, the court entered an order consolidating the Bayati and Horton Actions.
The court ordered that the consolidated action shall bear the caption “In re GWG Holdings, Inc. Securities Litigation.” The
court lifted the bankruptcy stay and ordered the Lead Plaintiffs to file a new consolidated complaint within 20
days.
On
October 2, 2023, the Lead Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint against the Company, Brad K. Heppner, Peter T. Cangany,
Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer, Murray T. Holland, Timothy L. Evans, David H. de Weese, Roy W. Bailey, David
F. Chavenson, and Whitley Penn LLP, alleging Securities Act violations arising out of the Offering. The complaint alleges that the individual
defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act, and further alleges that the Company violated Section 15 of the
Securities Act. The Company, Brad K. Heppner, Peter T. Cangany, Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, and Bruce W. Schnitzer (the
“Ben Individual Defendants”) filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on November 7, 2023. On January 4, 2024, defendants Murray
Holland, Tim Evans, Roy Bailey, Whitley Penn, David Chavenson and David H. de Weese filed motions to dismiss. The Lead Plaintiffs’
responded to the various motions to dismiss on February 20, 2024, and the defendants (other than Whitley Penn) filed replies in support
of the motions to dismiss on March 21, 2024. The Company and the Ben Individual Defendants intend to vigorously defend themselves in the
litigation.
On
October 27, 2023, David Scura filed a petition in Dallas County District Court against
Brad K. Heppner,
Jon R. Sabes, Steven F. Sabes, Peter T. Cangany, Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer, the Company and FOXO, alleging
violation of the Texas Securities Act, common law fraud, unjust enrichment, and civil conspiracy to defraud and seeking compensatory damages,
costs and expenses. The same day, Clifford Day and Carla Monahan filed a petition in Dallas County District Court against the same defendants,
alleging the same claims. The parties agreed to move the defendants’ deadline to respond to the petition to February 19, 2024. On
April 10, 2024, the plaintiffs and Ben parties entered into a twelve-month tolling agreement, and the plaintiffs filed motions to nonsuit
their claims that the courts granted on April 12, 2024 and April 16, 2024, respectively. The Company and the Ben Individual Defendants
intend to vigorously defend themselves in the litigation.
This
litigation can subject us and certain of our directors to substantial costs and divert resources and the attention of management from
our business. If these claims are successful, our business could be seriously harmed. Even if the claims do not result in protracted litigation
or are resolved in our favor and the favor of our directors, the time and resources needed to resolve such claims could divert our management’s
resources and adversely affect our business.
GWG
Litigation Trust Adversary Proceedings
On
April 19, 2024, the Litigation Trustee filed a complaint (the “LT Complaint”) as an Adversary Proceeding in the bankruptcy
of GWG Holdings, Inc. currently pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas against Ben Management,
the Company, BCH, Beneficient Capital Company II, L.L.C., f/k/a Beneficient Capital Company, L.L.C. (together with New BCC, defined herein,
“BCC”), Beneficient Capital Company, L.L.C. (“New BCC”), Beneficient Holdings, Inc. (“BHI”), various
current or former officers and directors of the Company, HCLP and certain of its affiliates, former officers and directors of the Company’s
former parent company, trustees of certain trusts that are directly or indirectly controlled by, or operate for the benefit of, Ben’s
CEO and founder or his family, entities directly or indirectly held by, or that are under common control with, such trusts, and in which
Ben’s CEO and his family members are among classes of economic beneficiaries, whether or not Ben’s CEO is entitled to economic
distributions from such trusts, and others. The LT Complaint alleges causes of action that include (i) actual or constructive fraudulent
transfer for certain transactions between GWG and the Company or its affiliates, (ii) breaches of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting
breaches of fiduciary duty, and civil conspiracy, (iii) unjust enrichment, (iv) avoidance of any purported releases of the defendants,
and (v) disallowance of the claims filed by certain defendants, including the Company, in the GWG bankruptcy case.
More
specifically, such challenged transactions relate to (i) GWG’s purchase of $10 million
of equity in the Company on June 12, 2019, (ii) GWG’s commitment on May 31, 2019 to loan trusts affiliated with the Company $65 million
that GWG funded in two tranches ($50 million
on June 3, 2019 and $15 million
on November 22, 2019) and the repayment of such loan, (iii) GWG’s capital contribution to the Company of $79 million
on December 31, 2019, (iv) approximately $145 million
in capital contributions by GWG to the Company pursuant to a Preferred Series C Unit Purchase Agreement, and (v) the Company’s ultimate
decoupling from GWG. Additionally, the LT Complaint seeks to void the debts owed by the Company to HCLP. The LT Complaint seeks to, among
other things, void certain of the transactions and/or recover damages, attorney’s fees and expenses, pre-judgment and post-judgment
interest. The LT Complaint does not purport to estimate the damages sought. The Company, its affiliates and its officers and directors
intend to vigorously defend themselves against these claims.
Wells
Notice
On
June 29, 2023, the Company received a “Wells Notice” from the Staff of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, stating that
the Staff has made a preliminary determination to recommend that the SEC file a civil enforcement action against the Company alleging
violations of certain provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The staff’s allegations appeared to relate to, among
other things, the Company’s association with an amendment to the debt coverage ratio calculation approved by certain holders of
GWG Holdings issued debt in 2019 under an indenture and related disclosures by GWG, the December 31, 2019 valuation of the Company’s
goodwill by a third-party valuation agent, potential contractual
rights
concerning an amendment to the Company’s governing documents, and other items in the historical disclosures of GWG.
On
July 1, 2024, the Company received a termination letter from the SEC advising the Company that the SEC’s investigation related to
the Company had concluded and that the Staff does not intend to recommend any enforcement actions by the SEC. The termination letter was
provided to the Company under the guidelines of the final paragraph of Securities Act Release No. 5310 which states, among other things,
that “[such notice] must in no way be construed as indicating that the party has been exonerated or that no action may ultimately
result from the staff’s investigation of that particular matter.” While there have been no further actions to date, there
can be no assurance that there will not be any further action on this or other matters by the SEC.
18. Supplemental
Cash Flow Information
Cash
paid for taxes for the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was de minimis. Cash paid for interest for the six months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, was $1.5
million and nil,
respectively.
Supplemental
disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities include:
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024:
–$125.5
million reclass of BCH Preferred A.0 from temporary equity to permanent equity.
–$8.8
million accrual for BCH Preferred A.0 guaranteed payment.
–$1.2
million settlement of liability for issuance of Class A common stock.
–$0.3
million of distributions payable to the Charitable Beneficiaries.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2023:
–$793.4
million conversion of BCG Class A common units for Class A common stock.
–$791.9
million conversion of BCG Preferred B.2 for Class A common stock.
–$205.8
million conversion of BCH Preferred C for Class A common stock.
–$193.9
million exchange of BCH Preferred A.1 for Class A common stock and Class B common stock in BCG Recapitalization.
–$37.6
million issuance of Issuance of Series B-1 preferred stock in connection with recent financings.
–$8.3
million accrual for BCH Preferred A.0 guaranteed payment.
–$6.9
million deemed dividend from BCH Preferred A.1 to BCG Preferred B.2 for accrual of preferred return.
–$5.3
million issuance of Class A common for transactions closing post de-SPAC.
–$4.0
million settlement of liability for issuance of Class A common stock.
–$3.9
million conversion of BCH Class S Ordinary to Class A common stock.
–$1.1
million of noncash issuance of noncontrolling interest.
–$0.6
million of distributions payable to the Charitable Beneficiaries.
The
following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated statements of
financial condition and that are shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
| $ |
4,482 |
|
| $ |
7,913 |
|
Restricted
cash |
| 314 |
|
| 64 |
|
Total
cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| $ |
4,796 |
|
| $ |
7,977 |
|
19. Subsequent
Events
The
Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and determined that there
have been no events, other than those disclosed below, that have occurred that would require adjustments to our disclosures in the consolidated
financial statements.
Amendment
to Articles of Incorporation
On
October 2, 2024, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Nevada to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock from 18,750,000
to 5,000,000,000.
The increase in the number of authorized shares was approved by the Company’s stockholders on October 2, 2024.
Potential
Future Goodwill Impairment
Through
the date of this report, the Company has not experienced any further significant sustained decline in the price of its common stock from
the values at September 30, 2024 of $1.23.
Significant sustained declines in our common stock and related market capitalization have in the past been triggering events requiring
interim goodwill impairment testing. In the future, should we experience a significant sustained decrease in the Company’s common
stock from the September 30, 2024 values, this may be a potential indicator that a portion of our remaining goodwill is impaired
and may require a quantitative impairment assessment of the Company’s assets, including goodwill and intangible assets, which may
result in an additional impairment charge in a future period. While management cannot predict if or when additional future goodwill impairments
may occur, additional goodwill impairments could have material adverse effects on the Company’s financial condition, operating income,
net assets, and/or the Company’s cost of, or access to, capital.
Convertible
Debentures Second Closing
On
November 13,
2024, the Second Closing under the securities purchase agreement with Yorkville occurred whereby the Company issued an additional $2.0 million
in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures for proceeds of approximately $1.8 million
and issued an additional Yorkville Warrant to purchase up to 662,691
shares of Class A common stock. The terms for the Convertible Debentures and Yorkville Warrants issued as part of the Second Closing are
consistent with those described in Note 7 under the Convertible Debentures heading.
ITEM
2 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,”
and the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of Beneficient (f/k/a The Beneficient Company Group, L.P.) set
forth in Part I, Item I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our March 31, 2024 audited consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July
9, 2024 (“Annual Report”). This discussion and analysis is based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions
made by, and information currently available to, our management.
Except
as otherwise required by the context, references to the “Company,” “Ben,” “we,” “us,”
“our,” and “our operating subsidiaries,” are to Beneficient, a Nevada corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries
(but excluding the Customer ExAlt Trusts as defined below). References to “BCG,” “Ben,” “we,” “us,”
“our,” and similar terms, prior to the effective time of the Conversion, refer to the registrant when it was a Delaware limited
partnership and such references following the effective time of the Conversion, refer to the registrant in its current corporate form
as a Nevada corporation called “Beneficient.” All references to “Beneficient” refer solely to Beneficient, a Nevada
corporation, “BCG” refer solely to The Beneficient Company Group, L.P., and all references to “BCH” refer solely
to Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., a subsidiary of BCG.
Risk
Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This
discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our
operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not strictly relate to
historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,”
“estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,”
“predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” the negative version of these
words, or other comparable words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. In particular,
these include statements relating to future actions, statements regarding future performance or results and anticipated services or products,
sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies, trends in operations and financial results. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. See “—Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We
are a technology-enabled financial services company that provides simple, rapid, and cost-effective liquidity solutions and related trustee,
custody, and trust administration services to participants in the alternative assets industry. Through our business line operating subsidiaries
(each a “Ben Business Unit” and collectively, the “Ben Business Units”), Ben Liquidity, Ben Custody, and Ben Markets,
we seek to provide solutions in the alternative asset investment market for individual and institutional investors, general partners and
sponsors (“GPs”) and the alternative asset funds they manage (“Customers”). Following receipt of regulatory approval,
our Ben Business Units are expected to include an additional business line, Ben Insurance Services. Our products and services are designed
to meet the unmet needs of mid-to-high net worth (“MHNW”) individual investors, small-to-midsize institutional (“STMI”)
investors, family offices (“FAMOs”) and GPs, which collectively are our Customers.
Currently,
our primary operations relate to our liquidity, primary capital, trustee, custody and alternative asset trust administration products
and services through Ben Liquidity, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Liquidity”) and Ben Custody, L.L.C. and
its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Custody”), respectively.
Through
Ben Liquidity, we finance liquidity and primary capital transactions for our Customers using a proprietary trust structure we implement
for our Customers (we refer to such trusts collectively as the “Customer ExAlt Trusts”). The Customer ExAlt Trusts facilitate
the exchange of a Customer’s alternative assets or to fulfill a Customer’s primary capital needs for consideration using a
proprietary financing structure (such structure and related process, the “ExAlt PlanTM”).
In the ExAlt PlanTM
financings, a subsidiary of Ben Liquidity, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C. (“BFF”), a Kansas based trust company that
provides fiduciary financing to fidfin trusts, makes loans (each, an “ExAlt Loan”) to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
which in turn employ a portion of the loan proceeds to acquire and deliver agreed upon consideration to the Customer in exchange for their
alternative assets or to fulfill their primary capital needs. Since
becoming a public company, we have also offered shares of our Class A common stock or convertible preferred stock in financings as consideration
for the Customer ExAlt Trusts to meet capital calls or make other capital contributions in alternative asset funds. BFF
is chartered as a Kansas Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (“TEFFI”) under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary
Financial Institution Act (the “TEFFI Act”) and regulated by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (the “OSBC”).
Only BFF, our subsidiary, is regulated by the OSBC. The OSBC does not regulate the entirety of Ben. Ben Liquidity generates interest and
fee income earned in connection with the ExAlt Loans, which are collateralized by a portion of the cash flows from the exchanged alternative
assets (the “Collateral”). While the
ExAlt Loans and the related
interest
and fee income and provision for credit losses are
eliminated upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts solely for financial reporting purposes, such amounts directly impact the allocation
of income (loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
Through
Ben Custody, we currently provide an extensive line of trustee and custody services, alternative asset trust administration and data management
services to the trustees of the Customer ExAlt Trusts and other Customers through BFF, and other of our subsidiaries, for fees payable
quarterly.
Through
Ben Markets, we provide broker-dealer services through our subsidiary, AltAccess Securities Company, L.P. (“AltAccess Securities”),
a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered
broker-dealer, and transfer agent services through our subsidiary, Beneficient Transfer and Clearing Company, L.L.C. (“Beneficient
Transfer”), an SEC registered transfer agent, each in connection with offering our liquidity products.
While
Ben’s financial products and services are presently primarily offered through Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody, Ben plans to expand
its capabilities under Ben Custody and provide additional products and services through Ben
Insurance, L.L.C. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Insurance Services”)
and Ben Markets L.L.C., including its subsidiaries (“Ben Markets”) in the future. Ben Insurance Services plans to
provide insurance products and services to certain “affiliates” (as defined in the Kansas Captive Insurance Act), including
the Customer ExAlt Trusts, custody accounts and other trusts for which BFF serves as trustee or custodian, to cover risks attendant to
the ownership, management and transfer of alternative assets and financings related to alternative asset transactions. Our subsidiary,
Beneficient Insurance Company, L.L.C. (“BIC”), has filed an application for an insurance charter with the Commissioner of
Insurance of the State of Kansas. Additionally, BIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, PEN Indemnity Insurance Company, LTD. (“PEN”)
has been registered and licensed as a Class 3 insurer with the Bermuda Monetary Authority under the Bermuda Insurance Act of 1978, and
Ben Insurance Services plans to seek approval from the Bermuda authorities for PEN to become operational. Pending approval from the Bermuda
authorities, PEN would advise on, retrocede and re-insure policies consistent with those policies underwritten domestically by BIC.
Each
of our liquidity, primary capital, custody, trustee, trust administration, transfer agent and broker-dealer products and services are
structured to be deliverable to our Customers through our online digital platform, AltAccess. AltAccess serves as the centralizing hub
of our business and is an interactive, secure, end-to-end portal through which Customers select among our products and services and complete
transactions in a regulated environment. Our internal technology team developed Ben’s AltAccess enterprise software systems and
managed services, which consist of an integrated array of proprietary and third-party software solutions curated together to power the
AltAccess platform enabling our Customers to access our products and services, select those that fit their specific needs and close transactions
with Ben. The AltAccess platform is designed to ultimately be provided through a software as a service (“SaaS”) model to multiple
intermediaries, including commercial lenders, and to be accessed through an application programming interface (“API”) for
these intermediaries to deploy in their businesses.
AltAccess
is designed to operate seamlessly across the Ben Business Units, each of which are subject to regulation by various state and federal
regulatory agencies. We believe Ben’s utilization of a centralized portal as a core capability and tool for our Customer’s
seamless access to a range of alternative assets products and services is unique in the industry. In conducting its trustee, custodial,
fiduciary financing and other authorized operations, BFF is regulated by the OSBC (the OSBC does not regulate the entirety of Beneficient).
As a result, our AltAccess platform is periodically examined by the OSBC, and is further assessed by a third-party organization to ensure
System and Organizational Controls (“SOC”) 2 type 2 and SOC 3 compliance for the benefit of our Customer users.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts’ earnings on alternative assets support the repayment of the ExAlt Loans plus any related interest and fees.
For financial reporting purposes, even though they are not legally owned by Ben, the Customer ExAlt Trusts are required to be consolidated
subsidiaries of Ben under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). As
a result, Ben Liquidity’s ExAlt Loans and related interest and fee income and provision for credit losses and Ben Custody’s
fee income are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements solely for financial reporting purposes; however,
such amounts directly impact the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders.
Under
the applicable trust and other agreements, certain Texas and Kansas charities are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Customer
ExAlt Trusts
(which we refer to as “Charities” or “Economic Growth Zones” respectively, and collectively, the “Charitable
Beneficiaries”), and their interests are reported as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. The TEFFI
Act requires that two and a half percent (2.5%) of the cash distributions from alternative assets serving as collateral to Ben Liquidity
loans be charitably contributed by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts to a designated Kansas Economic Growth Zone. Accordingly, for
ExAlt Loans originated on or after December 7, 2021, Economic Growth Zones are paid $0.025 for every $1.00 received by an ExAlt Trust
from the corresponding alternative assets. For ExAlt Loans originated prior to December 7, 2021, in accordance with the terms of the applicable
trust and other agreements, the
Charitable
Beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts formed prior to such date, are paid $0.05 for every $0.95 paid to the applicable ExAlt Loan
lender. To facilitate the payments to the Economic Growth Zones and Charities, we engage in an effort to deploy assets and cash and may
experience costs as a result. As our business expands, we expect that these costs could grow.
Business
Units
We
offer our products and services through our principal business units, which generally align with our operating subsidiaries, including
Ben Liquidity, Ben Custody, and Ben Markets.
•Ben
Liquidity
is our primary
business line and offers Ben’s alternative asset liquidity and fiduciary financing products and primary capital products through
Ben AltAccess.
•Ben
Custody addresses
the administrative and regulatory burden of holding alternative assets by offering trustee, custody and alternative asset trust administration
support services to trustees of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, including BFF, and also offers document custodian services to Customers.
•Ben
Markets provides
broker-dealer and transfer agency services in connection with offering certain of our liquidity products and services.
In
connection with our principal business units, we offer products and services through the following business units and operating subsidiaries.
•Ben
AltAccess
is our primary,
customer-facing application serving as the access point through which a Customer accesses our suite of products and services.
•Ben
Data provides
the Customer ExAlt Trusts with certain data collection, evaluation, and analytics products and services.
In
the future, we plan to offer additional products and services through Ben Insurance Services. Through Ben Insurance Services, we plan
to provide insurance services to certain affiliates (as defined in the Kansas Captive Insurance Laws), including the Customer ExAlt Trusts
and other trusts for which BFF serves as the trustee or custodian, to cover risks related to ownership, management, and transfer of alternative
assets and the financing related to alternative asset purchases.
Certain
of our operating subsidiary products and services involve or are offered to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which, while not legally
owned by Ben, are consolidated subsidiaries of Ben for financial reporting purposes, and therefore transactions between our operating
subsidiaries and the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements. However, such
amounts are earned by Ben’s business lines from the Customer ExAlt Trusts and directly impact the income (loss) allocable to Ben’s
and BCH’s equity holders. Accordingly, the elimination in consolidation of amounts charged by Ben to the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
such as interest income and certain fee revenue, has no effect on the net income (loss) attributable to Ben, BCH or to Ben’s and
BCH’s equity holders.
Business
Segments
Under
U.S. GAAP, we have three reportable business segments: Ben Liquidity, Ben Custody and Customer ExAlt Trusts. Our Ben Liquidity and Ben
AltAccess business units comprise the Ben Liquidity operating segment. Our Ben Custody and Ben Data business lines comprise the Ben Custody
operating segment.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts, which hold interests in alternative assets and pay interest and principal to Ben Liquidity, transaction fees to
Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody in connection with liquidity transactions and fees to Ben Custody for providing full-service trust administration
services to the trustees of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, comprise the Customer ExAlt Trusts segment. Such amounts paid to Ben Liquidity
and Ben Custody are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements but directly impact the allocation of income
(loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders. The elimination of intercompany transactions are included in “Consolidating
Eliminations.”
The
Corporate/Other category includes unallocated corporate overhead and administrative costs, gains (losses) on changes in the fair value
of GWG Holdings, Inc. (“GWG Holdings” or “GWG”) common stock and, following the emergence from bankruptcy, interests
in the GWG Wind Down Trust (the “GWG Wind Down Trust”) held by Ben, interest expenses incurred on corporate-related debt transactions,
and the operations of Ben Insurance Services and Ben Markets, which are not considered reportable segments as they do not meet the quantitative
criteria to be separately reported.
We
have allocated certain expenses to our operating segments, such as salaries, legal expenses, other general operating expenses. We have
not allocated certain other expenses, including equity compensation and interest expense for certain debt agreements, to our operating
segments. We may in the future determine to allocate certain additional expenses to the
operating
segments, which could have a material impact on the presentation of the results of our operating segments in any future segment presentation.
How
We Generate Revenue
On
a consolidated basis with the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and not owned directly
or indirectly by our equity holders, we primarily recognize revenue through increases or decreases in the fair value of investments held
by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The changes in the fair value of these investments are also the primary source of revenue recognized by
the Customer ExAlt Trusts business segment.
Our
Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody business segments, which relate to our current operating subsidiaries that are owned by the holders of equity
in the Company (including BCH), recognize revenue through (i) interest income on ExAlt Loans made to the Customer ExAlt Trusts in connection
with our liquidity transactions for Customers, (ii) fee income billed at closing, but recognized as revenue ratably over the expected
life of the alternative asset, for each liquidity transaction with Customers for services including access to and use of the AltAccess
platform, transfer of the alternative assets, and delivery of the consideration to the client, and (iii) recurring fee income recognized
each period for providing services including trustee, custody, and trust administration of the Customer ExAlt Trusts while they hold investments.
Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody revenue recognized for the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
a.Ben
Liquidity recognized $12.0 million and $13.0 million in interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
For the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, Ben Liquidity recognized interest income of $22.8 million and $25.0 million,
respectively.
b.Ben
Custody recognized $5.4 million and $6.5 million in trust services and administration revenues during the three months ended September
30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, comprised of both the fee income billed at the closing of the transactions that is being amortized into
revenue and the recurring fee income billed during the periods. For the six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, Ben Custody
recognized trust services and administration revenues of $10.8 million and $13.1
million, respectively,
comprised of both the fee income billed at the closing of the transactions that is being amortized into revenue and the recurring fee
income billed during the periods.
Such
revenues earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements; however,
the cash flows received upon repayment of the ExAlt Loans and in payment of Ben Custody fees are allocable to our and BCH’s equity
holders and not the beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
In
addition, Corporate/Other, which also relates to Ben or subsidiaries owned by the holders of equity in the Company (including BCH), may
include fee revenue recognized through services provided to Customers or the Customer ExAlt Trusts through business lines not included
within Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody.
The
following table presents a reconciliation of operating income (loss) of our reportable segments, excluding the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
to net income (loss) attributable to Beneficient common shareholders. This reconciliation serves to provide users of our financial statements
an understanding and visual aide of the reportable segments that impact net income (loss) attributable to the common shareholder and reiterates
that the consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts has no impact on the net income (loss) attributable to Beneficient common shareholders.
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Operating income
(loss)* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ben
Liquidity |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
Ben
Custody |
| 4,329 |
|
| (80,847) |
|
| 5,616 |
|
| (270,844) |
|
Corporate
& Other |
| (16,426) |
|
| (25,234) |
|
| 27,665 |
|
| (74,313) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Plus:
Gain on liability resolution |
| 23,462 |
|
| — |
|
| 23,462 |
|
| — |
|
Less:
Income tax expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (28) |
|
| — |
|
Plus:
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests – Ben |
| 3,067 |
|
| 10,604 |
|
| 10,254 |
|
| 41,290 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Less:
Noncontrolling interest guaranteed payment |
| (4,423) |
|
| (4,167) |
|
| (8,779) |
|
| (8,272) |
|
Net income (loss)
attributable to common shareholders |
| $ |
12,914 |
|
| $ |
(371,735) |
|
| $ |
60,581 |
|
| $ |
(1,487,258) |
|
*Includes
amounts eliminated in consolidation.
For
information concerning the noncontrolling interests in the Customer ExAlt Trusts and in our subsidiary, BCH, see “—Basis
of Presentation – Noncontrolling Interests.”
Basis
of Presentation
Elimination
of Fee and Interest Income in Consolidation
Certain
of our operating subsidiary products and services involve or are offered to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are consolidated
subsidiaries of Ben solely for financial reporting purposes, and therefore transactions between our operating subsidiaries and the Customer
ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
As
a result, Ben’s primary tangible assets reflected on our consolidated statements of financial condition are investments, mainly
comprised of alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and the primary sources of revenue reflected on our consolidated statements
of comprehensive income (loss) are investment income (loss), net, which represents changes in the net asset value (“NAV”)
of these investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, and gain (loss) on financial instruments, net, which represents changes in fair
value of equity securities, debt securities, a derivative liability, and put options, primarily held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Such
investment income (loss), net, and gain (loss) on financial instruments that are held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, including interests
in the GWG Wind Down Trust (formerly debt and equity securities issued by GWG Holdings), is included in the net income (loss) allocated
to noncontrolling interests – Customer ExAlt Trusts in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The revenues
and expenses recognized in these line items for the activities of the Customer ExAlt Trusts do not directly impact net income (loss) attributable
to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders.
Instead,
the interest and fee income earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody from the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are eliminated in the presentation
of our consolidated financial statements, directly impact the share of net income (loss) attributable to Ben’s and BCH’s equity
holders. First, such eliminated amounts are earned from, and funded by, the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are a noncontrolling interest.
As a result, the eliminated amounts earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody from the Customer ExAlt Trusts serve to increase the attributable
share of net income (loss) to Ben and BCH equity holders. Second, the terms of the Amended and Restated LPA of BCH (the “BCH A&R
LPA”) (references to the “BCH A&R LPA” refer to the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BCH currently
in effect unless otherwise indicated) provide that certain BCH income constituting the Excluded Amounts (as defined in the BCH A&R
LPA) are allocated to certain BCH equity holders that are noncontrolling interests. Excluded Amounts are directly impacted by the interest
and/or fee income earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody from the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are eliminated in the presentation of
our consolidated financial statements. Such allocation to these noncontrolling interest holders is expected to grow as we expand our operations.
Additionally,
Ben Liquidity’s and Ben Custody’s provision for credit losses is eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial
statements but directly impacts the net income (loss) attributable to the various equity securities of Ben and BCH. Likewise, the amounts
expensed by the Customer ExAlt Trusts for interest and fees owed to Ben’s operating subsidiaries are eliminated in the presentation
of our consolidated financial statements but are recognized for purposes of the allocation of net income (loss) attributable to the beneficial
owners of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Noncontrolling
Interests
The
consolidated financial statements of Ben include the accounts of Ben, its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, certain VIEs,
in which the Company is the primary beneficiary, and certain noncontrolling interests. The noncontrolling interests reflected in our consolidated
financial statements represent the portion of BCH’s limited partnership interests or interests in the Customer ExAlt Trusts that
are held by third parties. Amounts are adjusted by the noncontrolling interest holder’s proportionate share of the subsidiaries’
earnings or losses each period and for any distributions that are paid. The portion of income allocated to owners other than the Company
is included in “net attributable to noncontrolling interests” in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
Our primary noncontrolling interests are described in Part II, Item 7 to our Annual Report.
Recent
Developments
Amendment
to Articles of Incorporation
On
October 2, 2024, the Company received stockholder approval of a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation
with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock from 18,750,000
to 5,000,000,000.
First
Amendment to the Ninth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BCH
On
September 30, 2024, Ben LLC in its capacity as the sole general partner of BCH, entered into and adopted the First Amendment to the BCH
A&R LPA in order to, among other things, effect (i) the redesignation of fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital account balances
in the BCH Preferred Series A Subclass 0 Unit Accounts as non-redeemable Preferred A.0
Accounts
(such redesignated portion, the “Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable Accounts”) and (ii) the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the
capital account balances in the Preferred A.0 Accounts to remain redeemable (such remaining Preferred A.0 Accounts being the “Preferred
A.0 Redeemable Accounts”), with the amendment and redesignation being applicable to all holders of the Preferred A.0 Accounts (the
foregoing being referred to as the “Redesignation”). As a result of the Redesignation, approximately $125.5 million of temporary
equity was reclassified to permanent equity as of September 30, 2024.
Standby
Equity Purchase Agreement
On
June 27, 2023, the Company entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the “SEPA”) with YA II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”).
Pursuant to the SEPA, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Yorkville up to $250.0 million of Class A common
stock at the Company’s request any time during the commitment period commencing on June 27, 2023 (the “Effective Date”)
and terminating on the 36-month anniversary of the Effective Date. Each issuance and sale by the Company to Yorkville under the SEPA (an
“Advance”) is subject to a maximum limit equal to the greater of: (i) an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate volume traded
of the Company’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) for the five trading days immediately
preceding an Advance Notice (as defined in the SEPA), or (ii) $10,000,000, which amount may be increased upon mutual consent. The Company
shall not affect any sales under the SEPA and Yorkville shall not have any obligation to purchase shares of Class A common stock under
the SEPA to the extent that after giving effect to such purchase and sale the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock issued
under the SEPA together with any shares of Class A common stock issued in connection with any other related transactions that may be considered
part of the same series of transactions, where the average price of such sales would be less than $219.20 and the number of shares issued
would exceed 19.9% of the outstanding voting Common Stock as of the date of the SEPA (the “Exchange Cap”). On June 20, 2024,
the Company obtained stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) for the issuance of shares of Class A common stock to
Yorkville in excess of the Exchange Cap.
The
Company paid a structuring fee in cash and a commitment fee in an amount equal to $1.3 million (the “Commitment Fee”)
by issuing 5,703 shares of Class A common stock. The Class A common stock was issued to Yorkville in July 2023.
On
various dates starting on October 2, 2023 through September 30, 2024, Yorkville purchased a total of 498,125 shares of Class A common
stock for at a weighted average price of $7.77 per share pursuant to the terms of the SEPA. Total sales proceeds from entry into the SEPA
through September 30, 2024, were approximately $3.9 million under the terms of the SEPA. During the six months ended September 30,
2024, the Company sold 449,125 shares of Class A common stock for approximately $2.6 million.
Such issuances were in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”) and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder.
As
of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company had
offered and sold 503,827
shares on Class A common stock to Yorkville pursuant to the SEPA, including the shares issued for the Commitment Fee.
Recent
Debt Financings
On
October 19, 2023, Beneficient Financing, L.L.C. (the “Borrower”), a wholly owned subsidiary the Company, and BCH, as guarantor
(the “Guarantor” and together with the Borrower, the “Loan Parties”), entered into a Credit and Guaranty Agreement
(as amended, the “HH-BDH Credit Agreement”) with HH-BDH LLC (the “HH-BDH”), as administrative agent. All capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the HH-BDH Credit Agreement.
HH-BDH’s
sole member is Hicks Holdings. The managing member of Hicks Holdings is Mr. Thomas O. Hicks, a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”). HH-BDH will receive customary fees and expenses in its capacity as a lender and as the administrative
agent under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as further described below. Hicks Holdings and Mr. Hicks may be deemed to have a direct or indirect
material financial interest with respect to the transactions contemplated by the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as described below. HH-BDH funded
the amounts under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement with the proceeds of a third-party financing (the “Financing”).
The
HH-BDH Credit Agreement provides for a three-year term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million (the “Term Loan”),
which was fully drawn on closing.
Borrowings
under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, calculated according to a base rate, adjusted term secured
overnight financing rate (“SOFR”), or adjusted daily simple SOFR, plus an applicable margin, subject to a Maximum Rate determined
by applicable law in the State of New York. The Company elected the adjusted daily simple SOFR with a margin of 6.5% for the first two
years and 5.5% for the third year. Accrued and unpaid interest is payable monthly, upon prepayment, and at maturity. The Term Loan will
mature on October 19, 2026, and all outstanding principal amounts and accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable on
such date.
On
August 16, 2024, the Borrower, the Guarantor and HH-BDH entered into that certain Amendment No. 1 and Waiver No. 1 to the Credit and Guaranty
Agreement and Each Other Loan Document (the “Amendment,” and the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Amendment, the “Amended
Credit Agreement”), to, among other things, (i) add a subsequent term loan of up to $1,675,000, which was fully drawn upon closing
of the Amendment (together with the Term Loan, the “Loans”), and (ii) waive certain events of default resulting from the occurrence
of the Acknowledged Defaults (as defined in the Amendment), provided that in the case of the expense reimbursement default, the Borrower
must cure the expense reimbursement default upon the earlier of (x) November 1, 2024 and (y) two business days following the effectiveness
of Company’s registration statement for resale of the shares of Class A common stock, underlying the convertible debentures and
warrants issuable pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 6, 2024, by and between the Company and Yorkville
(the “Purchase Agreement”).
The
Amended Credit Agreement also requires the Borrower to prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Loans in the amount of $200 thousand,
$200 thousand, $200 thousand, $200 thousand and $875 thousand on each of September 7, 2024, October 7, 2024, November 7, 2024, December
7, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Furthermore, on each Required Payment Date (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement),
the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Loans by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Total Portfolio Net
Receipts (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) for the most recently ended period beginning on the 16th day of each month and ending
on the 15th day of the immediately following month, and (b) as of each Required Payment Date, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of
(x)(i) the number of Required Payment Dates occurring on or prior to such Required Payment Date, multiplied by (ii) $500,000, minus (y)
the amount of all Excess Payments (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) made prior to such Required Payment Date. Additionally,
the Amended Credit Agreement requires the Borrower to make certain minimum monthly payments to prepay the balance of the Loans.
The
Amended Credit Agreement also includes, among other things, (i) updates to conditions precedent for the Lender to make the subsequent
term loan to the Borrower, (ii) updates to certain representations and warranties, (iii) additional certain affirmative and negative covenants
including a minimum liquidity financial covenant of $4.0 million and (iv) additional events that the occurrence of which would constitute
an Event of Default (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). Except as modified by the Amendment, the terms of the HH-BDH Credit
Agreement remain the same.
Recent
Financings
On
February 6, 2024, Ben Liquidity entered into agreements to finance liquidity transactions with respect to alternative assets with a NAV
of $2.0 million. Pursuant to such transaction, the Customer ExAlt Trusts acquired the alternative assets, and in exchange for such interest,
the customer received 200,000 shares of the Company’s Series B-2 Resettable Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the “Series B-2 preferred stock”), with such Series B-2 preferred stock being convertible into shares of the Company’s
Class A common stock. Each share of the Series B-2 preferred stock is convertible at the election of the holder into shares of the Class
A common stock initially at a conversion price of $3.20 per share (the “B-2 Conversion Price”). The B-2 Conversion Price is
subject to reset from time to time and a floor price of $1.60 per share. A maximum of 125,000 shares of Class A common stock may be issued
upon conversion of the Series B-2 preferred stock.
Recent
Equity Issuances
On
April 9, 2024 and June 21, 2024, respectively, the Company issued 11,354 shares and 3,431 shares of Class A common stock of the Company
to a consultant of the Company. The issuance of the Class A common stock pursuant to these transactions was not registered under the Securities
Act and each was issued in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated
thereunder.
On
May 9, 2024, the Company issued 114,343 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to a vendor of the Company. The issuance of the
Class A common stock pursuant to this transaction was not registered under the Securities Act and was issued in reliance upon the exemption
provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
On
each of October 2, 2023; October 4, 2023; February 26, 2024; March 11,2024; May 3, 2024; May 6, 2024; May 7, 2024; May 13, 2024 and June
12, 2024; Yorkville purchased 250; 6,250; 8,938; 33,379; 200,000; 74,260; 14,053; 60,994 and 100,000 shares of Class A common stock for
prices of $191.41; $101.24; $15.52; $14.90; $7.18; $5.82; $5.82; $4.85 and $3.09 per share, respectively, pursuant to the terms of the
SEPA. Sales proceeds for these equity sales under the terms of the SEPA were approximately $3.9 million. Such issuances were in reliance
upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder.
On
August 20, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Cangany Capital Management, LLC (“Cangany Capital Management”),
a limited liability company controlled by Peter T. Cangany, Jr., a member of the Company’s board of directors, pursuant to which
Cangany Capital Management purchased 47,500 shares of Class A common
stock
at a price per share of $2.33. The shares of Class A common stock issued pursuant to such subscription agreement are exempt from registration
pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
August 27, 2024, the Company entered into an additional subscription agreement with Cangany Capital Management, pursuant to which Cangany
Capital Management purchased 65,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.97. The shares of Class A common stock issued
pursuant to such subscription agreement are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Also
on August 27, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Thomas O. Hicks, a member of the Company’s board of directors,
and a subscription agreement with CFH Ventures, Ltd., a limited partnership controlled by Mr. Hicks, pursuant to which each of Mr. Hicks
and CFH Ventures, Ltd. purchased 50,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.97. The shares of Class A common stock
issued pursuant to such subscription agreements are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
September 6, 2024 and October 9, 2024, the Company issued 9,623 shares and 4,175 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to a consultant
of the Company. The issuances of the Class A common stock pursuant to these transactions were not registered under the Securities Act
and each was issued in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
On
September 11, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Cangany Capital Management, pursuant to which Cangany Capital
Management purchased 150,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.58. The shares of Class A common
stock issued pursuant to such subscription agreement are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
September 17, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Mendota Financial Company, LLC (“Mendota”), pursuant
to which the Company issued 201,482 shares in satisfaction of its outstanding obligations to the Vendor pursuant to that certain Consulting
Agreement by and between Mendota and The Beneficient Company Group (USA), L.L.C. effective as of September 9, 2021, as amended from time
to time thereafter, pursuant to which Mendota provided financial consulting services to the Company. The shares of Class A common stock
issued pursuant to such subscription agreement are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Equity
Awards Arbitration
On
December 16, 2022, a former member of the Board of Directors of Beneficient Management, LLC (the “Claimant”) initiated a private
arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, challenging the termination of certain
equity awards under two incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. The Claimant sought total damages of $36.3 million
plus attorney’s fees and punitive damages. On
April 23, 2024, the sole arbitrator held that in terminating the Claimant’s equity awards, the Company had breached its contractual
obligations, and as a result, awarded the Claimant $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment interest, plus post-judgment
interest (the “Arbitration Award”). Neither attorneys’ fees nor punitive damages were awarded to the Claimant. The Company
was also asked to pay arbitration-related costs in the amount of approximately $128,850. The Company recorded a loss related to the Arbitration
Award in the year ended March 31, 2024 statement of comprehensive income (loss) in the amount of $55.0 million.
On
July 29, 2024, the Texas District Court entered an order vacating the Arbitration Award in its entirety. The Texas District Court directed
the parties to file motions requesting any further relief that may be available within twenty days of the order. On August 2, 2024, the
Claimant filed an appeal to challenge the order vacating the Arbitration Award in the Texas Fifty Court of Appeals. The Company intends
to vigorously defend itself in connection with the appeal.
As
a result of the order, during the three-months ended June 30,
2024, the Company released the liability associated with the Arbitration Award, which resulted in a release of the previously recognized
loss contingency accrual in the amount of
$55.0 million
being reflected in the six months ended September 30, 2024 statement
of comprehensive income (loss).
ffVC
Transaction
On
March 6, 2024, the Company and BFF entered into three Alternative Asset Purchase Agreements (each an “ffVC Agreement” and
collectively, the “ffVC Agreements”) on substantially similar terms, with each of ff Silver Venture Capital Fund, L.P., ff
Blue Private Equity Fund, L.P. and ff Rose Venture Capital Fund, L.P. (each an “ffVC Seller” and collectively, the “ffVC
Sellers”) to engage in certain liquidity financing transactions with respect to certain designated alternative assets held by each
entity (the “ffVC Transactions”). In connection with the execution of the ffVC Agreements, the parties also entered into exchange
agreements in the forms generally executed by the Company in the ordinary course of business, subject to certain amendments as set forth
in the ffVC Agreements. Pursuant to the ffVC Transactions, the Company’s customized trust vehicles will acquire alternative assets
held by each ffVC Seller, and in exchange for such alternative assets, the respective ffVC Seller will receive shares of the Company’s
Series B Preferred Stock, with such Series B Preferred Stock
being
convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. The number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to be delivered
at the closing of each of the respective ffVC Agreements shall be equal to (i) the applicable discount percentage of the closing NAV under
each ffVC Agreement multiplied by the Participation Percentage (as defined in the ffVC Agreement) of each respective ffVC Seller, divided
by (ii) $10.00. The discount percentages for each transaction are as follows: ff Silver Venture Capital Fund, L.P. – 60%; ff Blue
Private Equity Fund, L.P. – 80%; and ff Rose Venture Capital Fund, L.P – 46%. Pursuant to the ffVC Transactions, the Company
expects to issue up to a maximum of $62 million in stated value of Series B Preferred Stock in the aggregate, subject to participation
levels by limited partners of the ffVC Sellers. Closing of the ffVC Transactions is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders.
There can be no assurance that the ffVC Transactions will be completed or that the Company will issue securities pursuant to the ffVC
Transactions.
Securities
Purchase Agreement
On
August 6, 2024, the Company, entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Yorkville, in connection
with the issuance and sale by the Company of convertible debentures (the “Convertible Debentures”) issuable in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $4 million, which will be convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (as converted,
the “Conversion Shares”). Yorkville purchased and the Company issued $2 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible
Debentures upon the signing the Purchase Agreement (the “First Closing”). Additionally, on November 13, 2024, the Company
issued an additional $2 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures for proceeds of approximately $1.8 million (the
“Second Closing”). Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, certain of the Company’s
subsidiaries entered into a global guaranty agreement in favor of Yorkville with respect to the Company’s obligations under the
Purchase Agreement, the Convertible Debentures and the Yorkville Warrants (as defined below).
The
Convertible Debentures do not bear interest, subject to a potential increase to 18.0% per annum (or the maximum amount permitted by applicable
law) upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Convertible Debentures will mature on February 6, 2025 and will result in gross
proceeds to the Company of approximately $3.6 million. The Convertible Debentures will be issued at an original issue discount of 10%.
The Company will be required to make monthly cash payments of principal in the amount of $1.3 million (or such lesser amount as may then
be outstanding) plus all accrued and unpaid interest as of such payment. Such payments will commence 30 days following the Second Closing
and will continue on a monthly basis thereafter until the Convertible Debentures are repaid in full, subject to certain conditions as
described in the Convertible Debentures.
The
Convertible Debentures are convertible at the option of the holder into Class A common stock equal to the applicable Conversion Amount
(as in the Convertible Debenture) divided by $3.018 (the “Conversion Price”). The maximum amount of shares issuable upon conversion
of the Convertible Debentures is 1,325,382.
The
Convertible Debentures provide the Company, subject to certain conditions, with an optional redemption right pursuant to which the Company,
upon 10 trading days’ prior written notice to Yorkville (the “Redemption Notice”), may redeem in cash, in whole or in
part, all amounts outstanding under the Convertible Debentures prior to the maturity date; provided that the volume weighted average price
on the date such Redemption Notice is delivered is less than the Conversion Price at the time of the Redemption Notice. The redemption
amount shall be equal to the outstanding principal balance being redeemed by the Company, plus the redemption premium of 10% of the principal
amount being redeemed, plus all accrued and unpaid interest in respect of such redeemed principal amount.
Additionally,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to Yorkville warrants (each, a “Yorkville Warrant”
and together, the “Yorkville Warrants”) to purchase up to 1,325,382 shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of
$2.63, which shall be exercisable into Class A common stock for cash (collectively, the “Warrant Shares”). At the First Closing,
the Company issued a Yorkville Warrant to Yorkville to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock, and at the Second Closing,
the Company issued an additional Yorkville Warrant to Yorkville to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock.
In
connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with Yorkville, pursuant to which the
Company is required to, within 30 calendar days of the August 6, 2024, file with the SEC one or more registration statements covering
the resale by Yorkville of all Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares. Pursuant to the Company’s contractual obligations under
the Purchase Agreement, the Company filed a registration statement to register the Warrant Shares and the Conversion Shares, among other
shares of Class A common stock, which was declared effective by the SEC on November 12, 2024.
Nasdaq
Continued Listing Standards
On
July 16, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Nasdaq Staff indicating that it is no longer in compliance with the minimum stockholders’
equity requirement (the “Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market
pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Stockholders’ Equity Notice”). Nasdaq Listing Rule
5550(b)(1)
requires listed companies to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 or meet the alternative compliance standards relating
to the market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations, which the Company does not currently meet.
Pursuant
to the Stockholders’ Equity Notice and the Listing Rules of Nasdaq, Nasdaq provided the Company with 45 calendar days, or until
August 30, 2024, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. On August 30, 2024, the
Company timely submitted a plan to the Staff to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. If the Company’s
plan to regain compliance is accepted, the Staff can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the notice to evidence
compliance. If the Company’s plan to regain compliance is not accepted, or if it is accepted and the Company does not regain compliance
in the timeframe required by Nasdaq, the Nasdaq Staff could provide notice that the Company’s shares of Class A common stock are
subject to delisting. In such an event, the Company would have the right to request a hearing before the Panel. The hearing request would
automatically stay any suspension or delisting action pending the completion of the hearings process. The Stockholders’ Equity Notice
had no immediate impact on the listing of the Class A common stock, which will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol
“BENF,” subject to the Company’s compliance with the other listing requirements of Nasdaq. While we have not yet heard
if the Staff will accept the plan submitted on August 30, 2024, the Company is currently
progressing
under the plan submitted to the Staff to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. Although the Company
intends to use all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement or that the Company will otherwise
be in compliance with other applicable Nasdaq listing criteria.
Additionally,
on July 23, 2024, the Company notified Nasdaq that, following the resignations of Emily B. Hill and Dennis P. Lockhart from the Company’s
Board and Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), the Company currently has a vacancy on the Audit Committee
and intends to rely on the cure period set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rules while it recruits a new Audit Committee member.
On
July 25, 2024, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq (the “Audit Committee Notice”) confirming that the Company was no
longer in compliance with Nasdaq’s audit committee composition requirements as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605, which requires
that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised of at least three “independent directors” (as defined in Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(4), the Company intends to rely on the cure period to reestablish compliance
with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605. The cure period is generally defined as until the earlier of the Company’s next annual meeting of
stockholders or July 21, 2025. If the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders is held before January 15, 2025, then the Company
must evidence compliance no later than January 15, 2025.
On
September 30, 2024, Patrick J. Donegan was appointed to the Board as an independent director and a member of the Audit, Products and Related
Party Transactions, Credit and Enterprise Risk committees of the Board. The Board is in the process of identifying and selecting an additional
member of the Board who qualifies as “independent” and meets the audit committee criteria set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule
5605. The Board intends to comply fully with Nasdaq audit committee requirements by or before the end of the cure period described above,
but there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605 or that the Company will
otherwise be in compliance with other applicable Nasdaq listing criteria. The Audit Committee Notice had no immediate impact on the listing
of the Class A common stock, which will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “BENF,” subject to the
Company’s compliance with the other listing requirements of Nasdaq.
Key
Factors Affecting Our Business
Our
business is affected by a variety of factors, including conditions in the financial markets and economic and political conditions in the
markets in which we operate, as well as changes in global economic conditions and regulatory or other governmental policies or actions,
which can materially affect the values of the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, the cash flows of which collateralize Ben
Liquidity’s ExAlt Loans.
In
addition to these macroeconomic trends and market factors, we believe our future performance will be influenced by the following factors:
–Ability
to execute on existing and new strategies and products and services to attract Customers. We
currently offer or plan to offer a suite of complementary fiduciary and other financial products and services designed to address many
of the challenges alternative asset market participants face in connection with their ownership, management, and transfer of alternative
assets. These products and services are generally not readily available in the marketplace today. We believe that these new products and
services will meet the complex needs of potential Customers on a large scale across our target market.
–The
extent to which future investment allocations of potential Customers favor private markets investments.
Estimates of future performance of our future liquidity solutions business rely in part on the attractiveness of new capital being deployed
by potential Customers to private markets relative to traditional asset classes. We believe that allocation to alternative assets by MHNW
individual investors and STMI investors, along with the turnover rate demanded by MHNW individual investors and STMI investors will continue
to increase, with annual alternative asset liquidity demands increasing due to the overall growth in the alternative asset market.
–Successful
deployment of financing capital into collateral comprised of attractive investments.
The successful identification of attractive investments as collateral to the financing transactions executed in our liquidity solutions
business will impact future performance. We believe we identify specific investments that provide sufficient collateral to our fiduciary
financings and that we have established a repeatable process in order to capitalize on these fiduciary financing opportunities through
our underwriting and risk processes culminating in a qualification determination and proposed fiduciary financing terms for our Customers.
–Volatility
in the price of our Class A common stock. The
price of our Class A common stock may impact our ability to enter into liquidity transactions with our Customers. If our stock price declines,
our potential Customers may be less likely to engage with us and accept our Class A common stock in exchange for their alternative assets.
Furthermore, a significant sustained decrease in our stock price has in the past been an indicator, and in the future may indicate, that
impairment is present and may require a quantitative impairment assessment of our assets including goodwill and intangible assets. Any
such future impairment charges for goodwill may reduce our overall assets and may result in a change in the perceived value of the Company
and ultimately may be reflected as a reduction in the market price of our securities. Additionally, we have begun to enter into financings
in which the Customer ExAlt Trusts use our Class A common stock or convertible preferred stock as consideration to meet capital calls
or make other capital contributions in alternative asset funds, which in turn hold such securities as an investment. Volatility, either
positively or negatively, in the price of our Class A common stock may have a compounding effect on our consolidated investment income
and cause further decreases in our stock price in the event our securities comprise a significant portion of such alternative asset funds’
aggregate assets.
–Our
ability to maintain our data and regulatory advantage relative to competitors. Our
proprietary data and technology platforms, analytical tools and deep industry knowledge allow us to provide our Customers with customized
solutions, including trust custody and administration services, data and analytics products and services, and broker-dealer services in
connection with our core liquidity products and services. Our ability to maintain our data advantage is dependent on a number of factors,
including our continued access to a broad set of private market information and our ability to grow our relationships with potential Customers
and their advisors throughout our distribution network. Additionally, we are or will become subject to extensive regulation under federal,
state and international law. These complex regulatory and tax environments could restrict our operations and subject us to increased compliance
costs and administrative burdens, as well as restrictions on our business activities.
–Our
ability to maintain our competitive position. We
believe we have several competitive and structural advantages that position us as a preferred provider of liquidity and other attendant
services to the MHNW individual investor and STMI investor segments. We expect these advantages will enable us to provide unique products
and services to potential Customers that have traditionally been difficult to access by the MHNW individual investor and STMI investor
segments. Our ability to attract and successfully deploy capital in the future is dependent on maintaining our leading competitive positioning
in our target markets.
–Unpredictable
global macroeconomic conditions.
Global economic conditions, including political environments, financial market performance, interest rates, credit spreads or other conditions
beyond our control, all of which affect the performance of the assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, are unpredictable and could negatively
affect the performance of our portfolio or the ability to raise funds in the future. In addition, the cash flows from these investments,
which collateralize the ExAlt Loans, are exposed to the credit risks of the financial institutions at which they are held. Events involving
limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties,
or the financial services industry generally, could lead to market-wide liquidity problems and jeopardize our ability to access existing
cash, cash equivalents and investments.
–Our
ability to access capital at attractive rates.
Our ability to complete, and the costs associated with, future debt transactions depends primarily upon credit market conditions and our
then perceived creditworthiness. We have no control over market conditions. Our ability to obtain credit depends upon evaluations of our
business practices and plans, including our performance, ability to stagger our debt maturities and to balance our use of debt and equity
capital so that our financial performance and leverage ratios afford us flexibility to withstand any reasonably anticipated adverse changes.
We intend to conduct our business activities in a manner which will afford us
reasonable
access to capital for investment and financing activities. However, as discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the
economic conditions, as well as the impacts of the current, and possibly future, inflationary conditions, increasing interest rates and
a possible recession are uncertain and may have various negative consequences on us and our operations including a decline in financing
availability and increased costs for financing. Further, such conditions could also disrupt the capital markets generally and limit our
access to financing from public sources or on favorable terms, particularly if the global financial markets experience significant disruptions.
Current
Events
In
October 2023, following a series of attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilian and military targets, Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza. In
February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine and as a result, various nations,
including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine
conflict and Israel-Hamas conflict could have a negative impact on the economy and business activity globally (including in the countries
in which the Customer ExAlt Trusts currently holds investments or may hold investments in the future), and therefore, could adversely
affect the performance of the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments.
The
extent and impact of any sanctions imposed in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused and may continue to cause financial
market volatility and impact the global economy. Volatility and disruption in the equity and credit markets can adversely affect the portfolio
companies underlying the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and adversely affect the investment performance. Our ability to
manage exposure to market conditions is limited. Market deterioration could cause the Company to experience reduced liquidity, earnings
and cash flow, recognize impairment charges, or face challenges in raising capital and making investments on attractive terms. Adverse
market conditions can also affect the ability of investment funds held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts to liquidate positions in a timely
and efficient manner. As a result, this presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to the performance of the investments held
by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, even though the Customer ExAlt Trusts do not hold any investments with material operations in Russia, Ukraine,
or Israel. The cash flows from the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts serve as the collateral to the ExAlt Loans and the fees
that are paid by the Customer ExAlt Trusts to Ben for administering these trusts, both of which are key determinants in the income allocated
to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
Further,
uncertainty in the capital markets, generally due to increasing interest rates and inflation and their impact on the economy, may make
it challenging to raise additional capital, and such capital may not be available to us on acceptable terms on a timely basis, or at all.
If adequate funds are not available, or if the terms of potential funding sources are unfavorable, our business would be harmed.
Further,
these events may result in reduced opportunities for future liquidity solution transactions with our customers and make it more difficult
for the Customer ExAlt Trusts to exit and realize value from its existing investments, potentially resulting in a decline in the value
of the investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Such a decline could cause our revenue and net income to decline, including the
revenues and net income allocated to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders.
We
continue to evaluate the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israel-Hamas conflict and other items, such as inflation and rising
interest rates, and assess the impact on financial markets and our business. Our future results may be adversely affected by slowdowns
in fundraising activity and the pace of new liquidity transactions with our customers.
Factors
Affecting the Comparability of Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In
addition to the items mentioned above in the “Recent
Developments”
section, our historical financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented may not be comparable, either from period
to period or going forward, primarily for the following reasons:
–Utilization
of Derivative Instruments to Manage Risk.
From time to time, Ben manages its exposure to market risks by utilizing various forms of derivative instruments to limit exposure to
changes in the relative values of investments that may result from market developments. In September 2023, all put options that were held
by Ben were sold, including the portion of the put options that were attributable to the third party involved in the loan participation
transaction. No additional derivative instruments have been purchased since September 2023. For the three months ended September 30,
2023, Ben
recognized losses of $0.7
million on
the put options, of which approximately $0.3
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction. For the six months ended September 30,
2023, Ben
has recognized losses of $3.0
million on
the put options, of which approximately $2.0
million is
attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation
loan transaction..
As the
Company
did not have any put options or other similar instruments during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, there are no comparable gains
or losses in the current period.
–Bankruptcy
of GWG Holdings.
On August 1, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), the plan of reorganization of GWG Holdings was declared effective. On the Effective
Date, all securities previously issued by GWG Holdings were cancelled and converted to interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. As of September 30,
2024, Ben held 0.8 million interests of Series A1 and 2.5 million interests of Series E of the GWG Wind Down Trust, and the Customer ExAlt
Trusts held 82.0 million,
14.5 million, and 9.8 million interests of Series A1, Series A2, and Series E, respectively, of the GWG Wind Down Trust. These interests
are accounted for at fair value, with unrealized gains (losses) recognized in earnings in the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net
line item of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Fair value is calculated using quoted prices for similar instruments
observed in the equity capital market and is classified as a Level 2 investment in the fair value hierarchy. Since the GWG Wind Down Trust’s
primary asset is its investment in the Class A common stock of Ben, the Company’s Class A common stock quoted market price is the
underlying asset. Prior to the Effective Date, Ben held 2.5 million shares of GWG Holdings common stock and the Customer ExAlt Trusts
held 9.8 million shares of GWG Holdings common stock and L Bonds due 2023 of GWG Life, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned
subsidiary of GWG Holdings (“GWG Life”) with an aggregate principal amount of $94.8 million (“L Bonds”). The investment
in GWG Holdings’ common stock was accounted for at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. The investment
in L Bonds was accounted for as an available-for-sale debt security, with unrealized gains (losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss). During the six
months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company has recognized net losses of nominal
and $1.2 million,
respectively, related to its interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust (or GWG Holdings, as applicable), and the Customer ExAlt Trusts recognized
net losses of $0.5 million and $44.4 million, respectively, related to its interest in the GWG Wind Down Trust (or GWG Holdings, as applicable),
all of which is reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of September 30, 2024, the fair value
of Ben’s interest in the GWG Wind Down Trust was nominal and the fair value of the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ interest in the
GWG Wind Down Trust
was nominal.
On the Effective Date, the shared services agreement by and between Ben and GWG Holdings (the “Shared Services Agreement”)
was terminated and all receivables and related allowances owed to Ben under the Shared Services Agreement were written off.
–Vesting
of performance based awards.
Certain of our restricted equity units were granted with a performance-based condition. The performance condition was met upon public
listing in June 2023 and expense for vested units was recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2023. The recognition of the remaining
compensation cost will be recognized over the remaining vesting period. Total recognized compensation cost related to these awards was
$0.3 million
and $0.8
million for the three
and six
months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $3.4 million and $11.4 million for the same periods of 2023, respectively. Total
unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards was approximately $1.2 million as of September 30, 2024. During the three
and six
months ended September 30, 2024, approximately $2.4 million
of compensation cost, which is the
full grant date fair value of the RSUs,
was recognized for awards to three
employees. The awards do not require continuing employment by the individuals.
–Goodwill
Impairment. Goodwill
is tested for impairment at least annually and, more frequently between annual tests, whenever events or circumstances make it more likely
than not that the fair value of a reporting unit has fallen below its carrying value. Subsequent to the public listing on June 8, 2023,
and through September 30, 2024, the Company has experienced a significant sustained decline in the price of its Class A common stock
and its related market capitalization. We believe that these factors indicated that the fair value of our reporting units had more likely
than not fallen below their carrying values during the relevant periods in fiscal 2024 and in the first two quarters of fiscal 2025. As
a result, during fiscal 2024, we wrote the carrying value of the Ben Liquidity, Ben Custody, Ben Insurance, and Ben Markets reporting
units, as applicable, down to their estimated fair values and recognized cumulatively during fiscal 2024 a non-cash goodwill impairment
charge of $2.4 billion, including $1.1 billion
and $306.7 million
of non-cash goodwill impairment at the Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody reporting units during the quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September
30, 2023, respectively. Further, management performed interim impairment tests of goodwill as of June 30, 2024 and September 30,
2024, and determined on each date that additional non-cash goodwill impairment occurred resulting in $3.4 million
and $0.3 million, respectively, at the Ben Custody and Ben Markets reporting units. Total goodwill remaining as of September 30,
2024 is $9.9
million.
–Termination
of Customer ExAlt Trust Loan Payable. On
October 18, 2023, all obligations owed under the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable were repaid by transferring $56.7 million of alternative
assets. The payoff of the Customer ExAlt Trust Loan Payable was accounted for as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470, Debt,
during
the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The
financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the
three and six months ended September 30,
2023 reflect changes in the fair value of the alternative assets ultimately transferred to settled the ExAlt Trust loan payable as well
as interest expense associated with the ExAlt Trust loan payable whereas current fiscal year financial statements would not have any such
activity associated with the transferred alternative assets or the ExAlt Trust loan payable.
–Resolution
of certain liabilities. During
the three and six
months ended September 30, 2024, the Company released approximately $23.5 million of liabilities based on the execution of letter
agreements with the counterparties releasing the Company of such liabilities. The release of the $23.5 million in liabilities resulted
in the recognition of a gain that is reflected in the (gain) loss on liability resolution line item of the consolidated statements of
comprehensive income (loss) for the three
and six
months ended September 30, 2024. There were no such similar amounts included in the same periods in the prior year. Approximately
$19.2 million of the liabilities released related to a portion of the interest commitments described in Note 9 to the consolidated financial
statements included in our 2024 Form 10-K that the Company has been accruing each period since 2018. On a go-forward basis, since we will
no longer be accruing interest expense on a portion of the interest commitments for which we have been released of such obligation, interest
expense should reduce by approximately $1 million per quarter related to these interest commitments.
Key
Performance Indicators
We
use certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with U.S.
GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted revenue and adjusted operating income (loss). A non-GAAP financial measure is
a numerical measure that departs from U.S. GAAP because it includes or excludes amounts that are required under U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial
measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with U.S. GAAP,
and non-GAAP financial measures as used by Ben may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The presentation
of non-GAAP financial measures provides additional information to investors regarding our results of operations that management believes
is useful for trending, analyzing and benchmarking the performance of our business. See “—Supplemental
Unaudited Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Information,”
below, for a reconciliation of adjusted revenue to revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) to operating income (loss), the most comparable
U.S. GAAP measures, respectively.
In
addition to our U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP financial information, we utilize several key indicators of financial condition and operating performance
to assess the various aspects of our business. We monitor the following operating metrics to help us evaluate our business, identify trends
affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions. We believe the following key metrics are useful in evaluating
our business:
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
(in
thousands) |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Ben
Liquidity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loan
payments received |
| $ |
2,392 |
|
| $ |
9,250 |
|
| $ |
6,638 |
|
| $ |
16,952 |
|
Operating
income (loss) |
| 2,905 |
|
| (272,091) |
|
| 2,391 |
|
| (1,175,119) |
|
Adjusted
operating income (loss)(1) |
| 2,905 |
|
| (4,738) |
|
| 2,396 |
|
| (14,297) |
|
Ben
Custody |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Fee
payments received |
| $ |
2,794 |
|
| $ |
2,409 |
|
| $ |
4,310 |
|
| $ |
4,361 |
|
Operating
income (loss) |
| 4,329 |
|
| (80,847) |
|
| 5,616 |
|
| (270,844) |
|
Adjusted
operating income(1) |
| 4,627 |
|
| 5,625 |
|
| 9,043 |
|
| 10,933 |
|
Consolidated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Revenue |
| $ |
8,561 |
|
| $ |
(42,761) |
|
| $ |
18,607 |
|
| $ |
(45,504) |
|
Adjusted
revenue(1) |
| 8,734 |
|
| (801) |
|
| 19,145 |
|
| 22 |
|
Operating
income (loss) |
| (13,715) |
|
| (381,764) |
|
| 30,623 |
|
| (1,537,734) |
|
Adjusted
operating loss(1) |
| (6,611) |
|
| (21,170) |
|
| (11,337) |
|
| (45,690) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(dollars
in thousands) |
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Ben
Liquidity |
|
|
| |
Loans
to Customer ExAlt Trusts, net |
| $ |
260,686 |
|
| $ |
256,184 |
|
Allowance
to total loans |
| 54.74 |
% |
| 54.23 |
% |
Nonperforming
loans to total loans |
| 42.72 |
% |
| 44.21 |
% |
Ben
Custody |
|
|
| |
Fees
receivable |
| $ |
19,566 |
|
| $ |
18,386 |
|
Deferred
revenue |
| 23,021 |
|
| 28,235 |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
|
|
| |
Investments,
at fair value |
| $ |
334,987 |
|
| $ |
329,113 |
|
Distributions
to Original Loan Balance |
| 0.73 |
x |
| 0.72 |
x |
Total
Value to Original Loan Balance |
| 1.04 |
x |
| 1.03 |
x |
(1)
Adjusted revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) are non-GAAP financial measures. For a definition and reconciliation to comparable
U.S. GAAP metrics, please see the section titled “—Supplemental
Unaudited Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Information.”
Adjusted
revenue. We
define adjusted revenue as revenue adjusted to exclude the effect of mark-to-market adjustments on related party equity securities that
were acquired both prior to and in the Collateral Swap (the “Collateral Swap”), which on August 1, 2023, became interests
in the GWG Wind Down Trust.
Operating
income (loss)
represents total revenues less operating expenses prior to the provision for income taxes.
Adjusted
operating income (loss). We
define adjusted operating income (loss) as operating income (loss), adjusted to exclude the effect of the adjustments to revenue described
above, credit losses on related party available-for-sale debt securities acquired in the Collateral Swap, which on August 1, 2023, became
interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust, and receivables from a related party that filed for bankruptcy and certain notes receivables originated
during our formative transactions, non-cash asset impairment, share-based compensation expense, and legal, professional services, and
public relations costs related to the GWG Holdings bankruptcy, lawsuits, and a defunct product offering and certain employee matters,
including fees and loss contingency accruals (releases) incurred in arbitration with a former director.
Loan
payments received
represents cash received during the respective period from the Customer ExAlt Trusts as payments on the ExAlt Loans.
Fee
payments received represents
cash received during the respective period from the Customer ExAlt Trusts as payments on the fees receivable from the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Loans
to Customer ExAlt Trusts, net represents
the total ExAlt Loan receivable outstanding, net of the allowance for credit
losses. The
ExAlt Loans are
eliminated solely for financial reporting purposes upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Allowance
to Total Loans.
Allowance to total loans is calculated as total allowance for credit
loss divided by total loans.
Nonperforming
Loans to Total Loans.
Nonperforming loans to total loans is calculated as total nonperforming loans divided by total loans.
Fees
receivable, net represents
the transaction fees charged to the Customer ExAlt Trusts in connection with liquidity transactions and fees charged for providing full-service
trust administration services to the trustees of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Such amounts are net of any allowance for credit losses associated
with these balances. Such fees are eliminated solely for financial reporting purposes upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Deferred
revenue represents
fees charged
at the origination of the liquidity transaction that are recognized ratably over the life of the LiquidTrust. Such
amount is eliminated solely for financial reporting purposes upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Investments,
at fair value.
Investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts include investments in alternative assets, investments in the public equity and debt securities
(principally of a related party), and investments in private equity securities. These cash flows from these investments serve as Collateral
to the ExAlt Loans.
Distributions
to Original Loan Balance,
as it relates to the Collateral, is calculated as the total inception-to-date payments from the ExAlt Loans received divided by the initial
loan balances of the ExAlt Loans.
Total
Value to Original Loan Balance
is calculated as the then-current fair value of the Collateral plus the total inception-to-date payments from the ExAlt Loans received,
divided by the initial loan balances of the ExAlt Loans.
Principal
Revenue and Expense Items
During
the three and six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we earned revenues on a consolidated basis from the following primary
sources:
•Investment
Income (Loss), net.
Investment income (loss), net, includes the change in NAV of the alternative assets held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
For
the aforementioned periods, our main components of consolidated expense are summarized below:
•Interest
Expense. Interest
expense includes interest to our senior lender under our amended and restated First Lien Credit Agreement and Second Lien Credit Agreement
(as described under “Liquidity
and Capital Resources — Amended Credit Agreements”),
interest on the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, interest accrued on the ExAlt Trust Loan Payable, and interest accrued on our other debt due
to related parties. When we issue debt, we amortize the financing costs (commissions and other fees) associated with such indebtedness
over the outstanding term of the financing and classify it as interest expense.
•Employee
Compensation and Benefits.
Employee compensation and benefits includes salaries, bonuses and other incentives and costs of employee benefits. Also included are significant
non-cash expenses related to the share-based compensation.
•Professional
Services.
Professional services includes consulting fees, legal fees, audit fees, and other services.
Additional
components of our consolidated net earnings include:
•Gain
(Loss) on Financial Instruments, net.
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net includes the change in fair value of our derivative liability, warrant liability, investments
in public equity securities, private equity securities, options, and convertible debt recorded at fair value. Included in our investment
in private equity securities and interests is our interest in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Fair value is determined using quoted market prices,
where available. Any realized gains and losses are recorded on a trade-date basis.
•Interest
Income. Interest
income includes interest earned on cash held in banks.
•Provision
for Credit Losses. Provision
for credit losses represents the amount charged to earnings each period for credit losses incurred on available-for-sale debt securities
and for allowances taken on financial assets, primarily receivables under the Shared Services Agreement with GWG Holdings and note agreements
with other parties originating during our formative transactions in 2018.
•Other
Expenses.
We recognize and record expenses in our business operations as incurred. Other expenses include software license and maintenance expenses,
IT consulting fees, travel and entertainment expenses, other insurance and tax expense, supplies, costs associated with employee training
and dues, transaction expenses, depreciation and amortization expense, and various other expenses.
•Loss
on impairment of goodwill.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment on an annual basis and whenever events and circumstances indicate
that these assets may be impaired, including as a result of significant sustained declines in the prevailing prices of our Common Stock.
We compare the fair value of each of our reporting units to its respective carrying value, including goodwill. If the respective carrying
value, including goodwill, exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we will recognize an impairment loss for the amount by which
the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, up to the amount of goodwill associated with the reporting unit.
Our
operating subsidiaries, Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody, also earn revenue from interest and fees, which are eliminated in consolidation,
on the ExAlt Loans between Ben Liquidity and the Customer ExAlt Trusts and for providing trust services and administration between Ben
Custody and the Customer ExAlt Trusts. These sources of intersegment revenues, which ultimately impact the net income (loss) attributable
to Ben and BCH equity holders, are summarized below.
•Interest
Income. Interest
income is generally comprised of contractual interest, which is
a computed variable rate or a fixed rate that compounds monthly,
interest recognized on certain of the ExAlt Loans through the effective yield
method, and an amortized discount that is recognized ratably over the life of the ExAlt
Loan. Loans
deemed nonperforming no longer accrue interest income. The
ExAlt Loans have a maturity of twelve years, and all principal and interest due thereon is payable at maturity. Since we began our operations
in 2017, substantially all of our interest income since inception has been non-cash income that has been capitalized onto the outstanding
principal of the ExAlt Loans.
Interest
income earned by Ben from the Customer
ExAlt
Trusts is eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements. However, because the eliminated amounts are earned
from, and funded by, noncontrolling
interests,
on a consolidated basis, our attributable share of the net income from the Customer
ExAlt
Trusts is increased by the amounts eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination in consolidation of interest income and certain fee revenue
(as described below) has no effect on net income (loss) attributable to Ben or BCH or to equity holders of Ben or BCH.
•Trust
Services and Administration Revenues.
Trust services and administration revenues include trust administration fees and upfront fees. Trust administration fees are earned for
providing administrative services to trustees for existing liquidity solution customers. Fees are recognized monthly based upon the beginning
of quarter (in advance) NAV plus any remaining unfunded capital commitments and the applicable fee rate of the account as outlined in
the agreement. Non-refundable upfront fees are earned for setting up and providing the customer access to the ExAlt PlanTM.
Upfront fees are billed at the origination of the liquidity transaction and are based on a percentage of NAV plus any unfunded capital
commitments. Upfront fees are deferred upon receipt and are recognized ratably over the period of benefit, which is generally consistent
with estimated expected life of LiquidTrusts (typically 7 to 10 years). All such fees and related deferred revenue are eliminated in
the presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
As described above, the elimination in consolidation of this fee revenue has no effect
on net income (loss) attributable to Ben or BCH or to equity holders of Ben or BCH.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
— THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 (UNAUDITED)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
External
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income, net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
8,541 |
|
Gain (loss) on
financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 571 |
|
| (750) |
|
| — |
|
| (179) |
|
Interest income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 12 |
|
| — |
|
| 12 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 187 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 11,978 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (11,978) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 5,199 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (5,199) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 11,978 |
|
| 5,386 |
|
| 9,112 |
|
| (738) |
|
| (17,177) |
|
| 8,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 361 |
|
| 542 |
|
| — |
|
| 6,232 |
|
| — |
|
| 7,135 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 3,163 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,157 |
|
| — |
|
| 4,320 |
|
Professional
services |
| 395 |
|
| 30 |
|
| 545 |
|
| 6,287 |
|
| — |
|
| 7,257 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 476 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
expenses |
| 402 |
|
| 187 |
|
| 189 |
|
| 2,012 |
|
| — |
|
| 2,790 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 36,049 |
|
| — |
|
| (36,049) |
|
| — |
|
Provision for
credit
losses |
| 4,752 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (4,752) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,402 |
|
| — |
|
| (3,402) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 9,073 |
|
| 1,057 |
|
| 40,661 |
|
| 15,688 |
|
| (44,203) |
|
| 22,276 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
4,329 |
|
| $ |
(31,549) |
|
| $ |
(16,426) |
|
| $ |
27,026 |
|
| (13,715) |
|
(Gain) loss on
liability resolution |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (23,462) |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| — |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ |
9,747 |
|
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 (UNAUDITED) (cont’d)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
External
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment loss,
net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (41,875) |
|
| (900) |
|
| — |
|
| (42,775) |
|
Interest and
dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2 |
|
| 112 |
|
| — |
|
| 114 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 8 |
|
| — |
|
| (95) |
|
| — |
|
| (87) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 13,022 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (13,022) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 6,482 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (6,482) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 13,022 |
|
| 6,490 |
|
| (41,886) |
|
| (883) |
|
| (19,504) |
|
| (42,761) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 1,482 |
|
| 545 |
|
| — |
|
| 13,371 |
|
| — |
|
| 15,398 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 2,120 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,794 |
|
| 1,200 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,114 |
|
Professional
services |
| 264 |
|
| 89 |
|
| 884 |
|
| 5,420 |
|
| — |
|
| 6,657 |
|
Loss on impairment
of goodwill |
| 220,212 |
|
| 86,472 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 306,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
expenses |
| 533 |
|
| 231 |
|
| 26 |
|
| 4,360 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 29,835 |
|
| — |
|
| (29,835) |
|
| — |
|
Provision for
credit losses |
| 60,502 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (60,502) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,850 |
|
| — |
|
| (3,850) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 285,113 |
|
| 87,337 |
|
| 36,389 |
|
| 24,351 |
|
| (94,187) |
|
| 339,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating loss |
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
(80,847) |
|
| $ |
(78,275) |
|
| $ |
(25,234) |
|
| $ |
74,683 |
|
| $ |
(381,764) |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| — |
|
Net
loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ |
(381,764) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
External
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment income,
net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (604) |
|
| (758) |
|
| — |
|
| (1,362) |
|
Interest income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 24 |
|
| — |
|
| 24 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 376 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 376 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 22,827 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (22,827) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 10,392 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (10,392) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 22,827 |
|
| 10,768 |
|
| 18,965 |
|
| (734) |
|
| (33,219) |
|
| 18,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 791 |
|
| 898 |
|
| — |
|
| 9,296 |
|
| — |
|
| 10,985 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 6,244 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2,364 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,608 |
|
Professional
services |
| 869 |
|
| 426 |
|
| 1,167 |
|
| 10,339 |
|
| — |
|
| 12,801 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| 2 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,000 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| 3,427 |
|
| — |
|
| 265 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,692 |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
Other
expenses |
| 853 |
|
| 401 |
|
| 309 |
|
| 4,308 |
|
| — |
|
| 5,871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 70,848 |
|
| — |
|
| (70,848) |
|
| — |
|
Provision for
credit
losses |
| 11,679 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (11,679) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 6,821 |
|
| — |
|
| (6,821) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 20,436 |
|
| 5,152 |
|
| 80,143 |
|
| (28,399) |
|
| (89,348) |
|
| (12,016) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating income
(loss) |
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
5,616 |
|
| $ |
(61,178) |
|
| $ |
27,665 |
|
| $ |
56,129 |
|
| 30,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Gain) loss on
liability resolution |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (23,462) |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 28 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ |
54,057 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
External
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment income,
net |
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
— |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
Loss on financial
instruments, net |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (43,679) |
|
| (2,557) |
|
| — |
|
| (46,236) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 10 |
|
| 220 |
|
| — |
|
| 230 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 15 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| 25,028 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (25,028) |
|
| — |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| 13,050 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (13,050) |
|
| — |
|
Total
revenues |
| 25,028 |
|
| 13,065 |
|
| (43,182) |
|
| (2,337) |
|
| (38,078) |
|
| (45,504) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
External
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 3,975 |
|
| 1,105 |
|
| — |
|
| 46,141 |
|
| — |
|
| 51,221 |
|
Interest
expense |
| 2,878 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,668 |
|
| 2,352 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,898 |
|
Professional
services |
| 897 |
|
| 589 |
|
| 2,145 |
|
| 13,399 |
|
| — |
|
| 17,030 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss on impairment
of goodwill |
| 1,121,212 |
|
| 281,777 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Other
expenses |
| 1,187 |
|
| 438 |
|
| 383 |
|
| 10,084 |
|
| — |
|
| 12,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Intersegment
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 59,615 |
|
| — |
|
| (59,615) |
|
| — |
|
Provision for
credit
losses |
| 69,998 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (69,998) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 7,694 |
|
| — |
|
| (7,694) |
|
| — |
|
Total
expenses |
| 1,200,147 |
|
| 283,909 |
|
| 73,505 |
|
| 71,976 |
|
| (137,307) |
|
| 1,492,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating loss |
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
| $ |
(270,844) |
|
| $ |
(116,687) |
|
| $ |
(74,313) |
|
| $ |
99,229 |
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| — |
|
Net
loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
CONSOLIDATED
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023, and the
Six Months
Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Revenues
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Investment income
(loss), net |
| $ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| (179) |
|
| (42,775) |
|
| (1,362) |
|
| (46,236) |
|
Interest and
dividend income |
| 12 |
|
| 114 |
|
| 24 |
|
| 230 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| 187 |
|
| (87) |
|
| 376 |
|
| 15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Total
revenues |
| $ |
8,561 |
|
| $ |
(42,761) |
|
| $ |
18,607 |
|
| $ |
(45,504) |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Investment
income (loss), net increased $8.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, driven
by changes in the NAV of investments in alternative assets held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Investment income was $8.5 million
for the three months ended September 30, 2024, which was driven by $4.8 million of upward quoted market price adjustments, $2.3 million
of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s NAV based on updated financial information received from the
funds’ investment manager or sponsor, and $1.5 million of upward adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments
denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Investment loss was nominal for the three months ended September 30, 2023,
which was driven by $3.1 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s NAV based on updated financial
information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor offset by $1.6 million of downward adjustments related to foreign
currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and $1.5 million of downward quoted market price
adjustments.
Loss
on financial instruments, net decreased $42.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period
of 2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period. Loss on financial instruments, net for
the three months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily driven by an $0.2 million decrease in the value of our interests in the GWG
Wind Down Trust and a $0.8 million combined loss in the fair value on the convertible debt, warrants and derivative liability, offset
by a $0.7 million increase in the fair value of public equity securities. Loss
on financial instruments, net for the three months ended September 30, 2023 included a $41.8 million decrease in the value of our
interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Such decrease is net of a $13.7 million gain recognized upon reclassification of unrealized net
gains related to the Company's previously classified available-for-sale debt securities from accumulated other comprehensive income. Additional
drivers included a $0.7 million net decrease in the fair value of public equity securities combined with a $0.7 million decrease to the
fair value of put options held, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in the fair value of a derivative liability and a $0.2 million
decrease in the fair value of warrant liability.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Investment
income (loss), net increased $19.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period of 2023, driven
by changes in the NAV of investments in alternative assets held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Investment income was $19.6 million
for the six months ended September 30, 2024, which was driven by $18.0 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the
respective fund’s NAV based on updated financial information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor, $1.3
million of upward adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar
offset by $1.1 million of downward quoted market price adjustments. Investment income was $0.5 million for the six months ended September 30,
2023, which was driven by $6.2 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s NAV based on updated
financial information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor, $4.7 million of downward quoted market price adjustments,
and $1.0 million of downward adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S.
dollar.
Loss
on financial instruments, net decreased $44.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period of
2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period. Loss on financial instruments, net for
the six months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily driven by a $0.5 million decrease in the value of our interests in the GWG
Wind Down Trust and a $0.8 million decrease in the fair value of on the convertible debt, warrants
and
derivative liability.
Loss on financial
instruments, net for the six months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily driven by a $41.8 million decrease in the value of our
interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Such decrease is net of a $13.7 million gain recognized upon reclassification of unrealized
net gains related to the Company’s previously classified available-for-sale debt securities from accumulated other comprehensive
income. Additional drivers include
a $4.4 million decrease in the fair value of public equity securities combined with a $3.0 million decrease to the fair value of put options
held, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in the fair value of a derivative liability and a $1.7 million decrease in the fair
value of a warrant liability.
Interest
and Operating Expenses (in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| $ |
7,135 |
|
| $ |
15,398 |
|
| $ |
10,985 |
|
| $ |
51,221 |
|
Interest
expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs) |
| 4,320 |
|
| 5,114 |
|
| 8,608 |
|
| 8,898 |
|
Professional
services |
| 7,257 |
|
| 6,657 |
|
| 12,801 |
|
| 17,030 |
|
Provision for
credit losses |
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,000 |
|
| — |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| 298 |
|
| 306,684 |
|
| 3,692 |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Release of loss
contingency related to arbitration award |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| 2,790 |
|
| 5,150 |
|
| 5,871 |
|
| 12,092 |
|
Total
expenses |
| $ |
22,276 |
|
| $ |
339,003 |
|
| $ |
(12,016) |
|
| $ |
1,492,230 |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $8.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The decrease is principally related to a $5.1 million decrease in equity-based compensation as the comparable period included $3.4
million recognized
upon vesting of awards previously subject to a performance condition, which was satisfied by Ben’s public listing in June 2023,
and the comparable period included new grants which were partially vested on the grant date. Additionally, there was a $3.1 million decrease
in payroll and other benefit related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 primarily due to the employees
furloughed and terminated in the latter part of fiscal 2024. With the implementation of our operating cost reduction plan in November
2023, employee compensation and benefits began reflecting the lower expense of approximately $1.0 million per month beginning in November
2023 and such decrease has increased in recent months due to further attrition.
Interest
expense decreased $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due
a $1.8 million decrease in interest expense on the ExAlt Trust Loan Payable, which was extinguished in October 2023, a $0.2 million decrease
in the amortization of deferred financing premium to interest expense offset by $0.8 million
in interest expense and $0.1
million
in deferred financing cost amortization recognized on the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, which did not exist in the comparable period.
Professional
services expenses increased $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily
due to a $1.3 million increase in legal fees offset by a decrease in other professional fees. The increase in legal fees coincides with
higher legal activity. The majority of this legal activity is expected to be eligible for reimbursement from our D&O insurance carriers
and expense in the current period related to such matters reflects our estimate of incurred legal expenses expected to be denied by the
insurance carriers. Also, as previously disclosed, with the implementation of our operating cost reduction plan, as updated during the
three months ended December 31, 2023, professional services and other expenses combined could decrease up to approximately $35.0 million
to $37.5 million on an annualized basis from their levels prior to the implementation of the cost reduction plan.
Provision
for credit losses increased $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Provision
for credit losses during the three months ended September 30, 2024, is comprised of a credit related loss on an available-for-sale
debt security held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. No such losses were recognized in the same period of the prior year.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2024, we completed an interim impairment test for goodwill and as a result, recorded a non-cash
impairment charge of $0.3 million. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information. Similar interim impairment test for goodwill was performed for the quarter ended September 30,
2023 which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $306.7 million.
Other
expenses decreased $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven
by a decrease in travel and entertainment ($1.5 million) and depreciation ($0.6 million). The table below provides additional detail regarding
our other expenses. As mentioned above, with the implementation of our operating cost reduction plan, as updated during the three months
ended December 31, 2023, other expenses were expected to decrease and may decrease further as opportunities arise.
Other
Expenses (in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Other
expenses |
| $ |
1,102 |
|
| $ |
779 |
|
Other
insurance and taxes |
| 673 |
|
| 811 |
|
Software
license and maintenance |
| 399 |
|
| 724 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
| 391 |
|
| 991 |
|
Occupancy
and equipment |
| 164 |
|
| 305 |
|
Travel
and entertainment |
| 61 |
|
| 1,540 |
|
Total
other expenses |
| $ |
2,790 |
|
| $ |
5,150 |
|
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $40.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The decrease is principally related to a $31.1 million decrease in equity-based compensation and a $9.1 million decrease in payroll and
other benefit related costs. The comparable period included equity-based compensation of $11.4
million recognized
upon vesting of awards previously subject to a performance condition, which was satisfied by Ben’s public listing in June 2023,
and $15.0
million in equity-based compensation recognized as
a result of transactions completed as part of the BCG Recapitalization. Additionally, there were additional equity grants in fiscal 2024
that resulted in a higher expenses than the limited grants that occurred in fiscal 2025. Additionally, there was a $9.1 million decrease
in payroll and other benefit related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 primarily due to the employees
furloughed and terminated in the latter part of fiscal 2024. The lower headcount also impacts the equity-based compensation amounts being
recognized. With the implementation of our operating cost reduction plan in November 2023, employee compensation and benefits began reflecting
the lower expense of approximately $1.0 million per month beginning in November 2023 and such decrease has increased in recent months
due to further attribution. This also resulted in adjustment to our accrued annual incentive bonus pool related to the decreased headcount
in the fiscal 2025 year-to-date amounts.
Interest
expense decreased $0.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease was
primarily driven by a $1.7 million decrease in the amortization of deferred financing costs accounted for as a premium combined with a
$1.7 million increase interest expense on all other borrowings including the new HH-BDH Credit Agreement borrowing in October 2023, offset
by a $3.7 million decrease in interest expense on the Customer ExAlt Trust Loan Payable, which was extinguished in October 2023.
Professional
services expenses decreased $4.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023,
primarily due to a decrease in legal fees of $2.3 million due to a higher percentage of legal activity expected to be eligible for reimbursement
from our D&O insurance carriers combined with in other professional fees reflecting our cost reduction efforts and the higher expenses
in fiscal 2024 associated our public listing in June 2023.
Provision
for credit losses increased $1.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Provision
for credit losses for the six months ended September 30, 2024, is comprised of a credit related loss on an available-for-sale debt
security held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. No such losses were recognized in the same period of the prior year.
During
the six months ended September 30, 2024, we completed interim impairment tests for goodwill and as a result, recorded non-cash impairment
charges totaling $3.7 million. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information. Similar interim impairment tests for goodwill was performed for during the six months ended
September 30, 2023 which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge totaling $1.4 billion.
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award recognized
in the current fiscal period relates to the release of a previously recorded loss contingency recorded in the fiscal year ended March
31, 2024 that had been awarded against the Company during arbitration for compensatory damages, including prejudgment interest in a matter
pertaining to a former
director
challenging the termination of certain equity awards under two incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. The release
of the loss contingency was based on a
Texas District Court order vacating the previously recorded and disclosed arbitration award against Beneficient.
Other
expenses decreased $6.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The largest decrease
relates to lower travel and entertainment, which reflects approximately $2.7 million of lower costs associated with an aircraft dry lease
that expired on January 1, 2024. The table below provides additional detail regarding our other expenses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other
Expenses (in thousands) |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Other
expenses |
| $ |
1,943 |
|
| $ |
1,867 |
|
Other
insurance and taxes |
| 1,767 |
|
| 2,871 |
|
Software
license and maintenance |
| 883 |
|
| 1,437 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
| 805 |
|
| 1,922 |
|
Occupancy
and equipment |
| 321 |
|
| 627 |
|
Travel
and entertainment |
| 152 |
|
| 3,368 |
|
Total
other expenses |
| $ |
5,871 |
|
| $ |
12,092 |
|
BEN
LIQUIDITY
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023, and the
Six Months
Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
income |
| $ |
11,978 |
|
| $ |
13,022 |
|
| $ |
22,827 |
|
| $ |
25,028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 361 |
|
| 1,482 |
|
| 791 |
|
| 3,975 |
|
Interest
expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs) |
| 3,163 |
|
| 2,120 |
|
| 6,244 |
|
| 2,878 |
|
Professional
services |
| 395 |
|
| 264 |
|
| 869 |
|
| 897 |
|
Provision
for credit
losses |
| 4,752 |
|
| 60,502 |
|
| 11,679 |
|
| 69,998 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| 220,212 |
|
| — |
|
| 1,121,212 |
|
Other
expenses |
| 402 |
|
| 533 |
|
| 853 |
|
| 1,187 |
|
Total
expenses |
| 9,073 |
|
| 285,113 |
|
| 20,436 |
|
| 1,200,147 |
|
Operating income
(loss) |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Interest
income decreased $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease
was primarily driven by an overall decreases in interest income due to lower carrying value of loan receivables, which is driven by higher
allowance for credit losses, along with a higher percentage of loan being placed on nonaccrual status.
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $1.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period
in 2023. The decrease was driven by payroll and other benefit related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal
2024 primarily due to the employees furloughed and terminated in fiscal 2024 as well as further attrition in our headcounts in the current
fiscal year.
Interest
expense increased $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily
driven by a $0.2 million decrease in the amortization
of deferred financing premium to interest expense combined
with $0.8 million in interest expense and $0.1 million
in deferred financing cost amortization recognized
on the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, which did not exist in the comparable period.
Provision
for credit
losses was $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to $60.5 million as of the same period in
2023.
The provision for the current period reduced over prior period primarily due to improved collateral values and resulting expected cash
flows related to the loan portfolio outpacing the net growth in the amortized cost basis due interest capitalizing at a higher rate than
loan payments. Approximately $47.1 million of the provision for credit losses in in quarter ended September 30, 2023 related to losses
associated with the collateral comprised of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. No amount of the provision for credit losses in the
quarter ended September 30, 2024 related to losses associated with the collateral comprised of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust.
Prior
to the start of fiscal year 2025, all goodwill associated with Ben Liquidity was written off as non-cash
goodwill impairment charges including approximately $220.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Accordingly,
during the three months ended September 30, 2024, while we completed an interim impairment test for goodwill in the current period,
there was no such non-cash goodwill impairment charge for Ben Liquidity. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Interest
income decreased $2.2 million during the six months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease
was primarily driven by an overall decrease in interest income due to lower carrying value of loan receivables, which is driven by higher
allowance for credit losses, along with a higher percentage of loan being placed on nonaccrual status.
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $3.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period
in 2023. The decrease was driven by payroll and other benefit related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal
2024 primarily due to the employees furloughed and terminated in fiscal 2024. With the implementation of our operating cost reduction
plan in November 2023, employee compensation and benefits began reflecting the lower expenses of approximately nearly $1.0 million per
month beginning in November 2023.
Interest
expense, including amortization of deferred financing costs, increased $3.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024,
compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven by a $1.7 million decrease in deferred financing costs accounted for as a premium
and $1.5 million in interest expense and $0.2 million in deferred financing cost amortization recognized on the HH-BDH Credit
Agreement, which did not exist in the comparable period.
Provision
for credit losses was $11.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $70.0 million as of the
same period in 2023, which included $39.6 million in credit
losses driven by a decrease in collateral comprised of collateral
comprised of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust.
The provision for the current period reduced over prior period primarily due to improved collateral values and resulting expected cash
flows related to the loan portfolio outpacing the net growth in the amortized cost basis due interest capitalizing at a higher rate than
loan payments.
Prior
to the start of fiscal year 2025, all goodwill associated with Ben Liquidity was written off as non-cash
goodwill impairment charges including approximately $1.1 billion during the six months ended September 30, 2023. Accordingly,
during the six months ended September 30, 2024, while we completed interim impairment tests for goodwill in the current fiscal year,
there was no such non-cash goodwill impairment charge for Ben Liquidity. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information.
BEN
CUSTODY
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023, and the
Six Months
Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| $ |
5,386 |
|
| $ |
6,490 |
|
| $ |
10,768 |
|
| $ |
13,065 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 542 |
|
| 545 |
|
| 898 |
|
| 1,105 |
|
Professional
services |
| 30 |
|
| 89 |
|
| 426 |
|
| 589 |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| 298 |
|
| 86,472 |
|
| 3,427 |
|
| 281,777 |
|
Other
expenses |
| 187 |
|
| 231 |
|
| 401 |
|
| 438 |
|
Total
expenses |
| 1,057 |
|
| 87,337 |
|
| 5,152 |
|
| 283,909 |
|
Operating income
(loss) |
| $ |
4,329 |
|
| $ |
(80,847) |
|
| $ |
5,616 |
|
| $ |
(270,844) |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Trust
services and administration revenues decreased $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same
period in 2023 driven by a decrease in the NAV of the alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which is an input into the
calculation of the recurring trust services revenues.
During
the three months ended September 30, 2024, we completed an interim impairment test for goodwill and as a result, recorded a non-cash
impairment charge of $0.3 million for Ben Custody. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information. Similar interim impairment test for goodwill was performed for the quarter ended September 30,
2023 which resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $86.5 million for this reporting unit.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Trust
services and administration revenues decreased $2.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same
period in 2023, driven by a decrease in the NAV of the alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which is an input into the
calculation of the recurring trust services revenues.
During
the six months ended September 30, 2024, we completed interim impairment tests for goodwill and as a result, recorded non-cash impairment
charges totaling $3.4 million for Ben Custody. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information. Similar interim impairment tests for goodwill were performed for during the six months ended
September 30, 2023, which resulted in non-cash impairment charges totaling $281.8 million for this reporting unit.
CUSTOMER
EXALT TRUSTS
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023, and the
Six Months
Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Investment
income (loss), net |
| $ |
8,541 |
|
| $ |
(13) |
|
| $ |
19,569 |
|
| $ |
487 |
|
Gain
(loss) on financial instruments, net |
| 571 |
|
| (41,875) |
|
| (604) |
|
| (43,679) |
|
Interest
and dividend income |
| — |
|
| 2 |
|
| — |
|
| 10 |
|
Total
revenues |
| 9,112 |
|
| (41,886) |
|
| 18,965 |
|
| (43,182) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Interest
expense |
| 36,049 |
|
| 31,629 |
|
| 70,848 |
|
| 63,283 |
|
Professional
services |
| 545 |
|
| 884 |
|
| 1,167 |
|
| 2,145 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| 476 |
|
| — |
|
| 998 |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| 3,591 |
|
| 3,876 |
|
| 7,130 |
|
| 8,077 |
|
Total
expenses |
| 40,661 |
|
| 36,389 |
|
| 80,143 |
|
| 73,505 |
|
Operating
loss |
| $ |
(31,549) |
|
| $ |
(78,275) |
|
| $ |
(61,178) |
|
| $ |
(116,687) |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Investment
income (loss), net increased $8.6 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period of 2023, driven by changes in the NAV of investments in alternative assets held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Investment income was $8.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, which was driven by $4.8 million of upward quoted
market price adjustments, $2.3 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s NAV based on updated
financial information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor, and $1.5 million of upward adjustments related to
foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Investment loss was nominal for the three
months ended September 30, 2023, which was driven by $3.1 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s
NAV based on updated financial information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor offset by $1.6 million of downward
adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and $1.5 million of
downward quoted market price adjustments.
Gain
(loss) on financial instruments, net increased $42.4 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024,
compared to the same period of 2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period. Gain on
financial instruments, net for three months ended September 30, 2024, was primarily driven by a $0.7
million increase in the fair value of public equity securities offset by a
$0.2 million decrease in the value of our interests in the GWG Wind
Down Trust. Loss on financial instruments, net for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily driven by a $41.4
million decrease
in the value of our interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Such decrease is net of a $13.7 million gain recognized upon reclassification
of unrealized net gains related to the Company's previously classified available-for-sale debt securities from accumulated other comprehensive
income. Additional drivers included a $0.7 million decrease to the fair value of public equity securities partially offset by a $0.2 million
decrease in the fair value of a derivative liability.
Interest
expense increased $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period in 2023, which reflects an increase in contractual interest due on the ExAlt Loans, driven by the origination of new
liquidity transactions and the compounding of paid-in-kind interest, partially offset by a $1.8 million decrease in interest expense recognized
on the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable, which was extinguished in October 2023.
Professional
services decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period in 2023, driven by decreases in general professional expenses such as audit, consulting, and other professional fees.
Provision
for credit losses increased $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, Provision
for credit losses during the three months ended September 30, 2024, is comprised of a credit related
loss
on an available-for-sale debt security held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. No such losses were recognized in the same period of the prior
year.
Other
expenses decreased $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due to a decrease
in trust administration fees and other expenses principally driven by a decrease in the NAV of the alternative assets held by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Investment
income (loss), net increased $19.1 million for the six months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period of 2023, driven by changes in the NAV of investments in alternative assets held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
Investment income was $19.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, which was driven by $18.0 million of upward adjustments
to our relative share of the respective fund’s NAV based on updated financial information received from the funds’ investment
manager or sponsor, $1.3 million of upward adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies other
than the U.S. dollar offset by $1.1 million of downward quoted market price adjustments. Investment income was $0.5 million for the six
months ended September 30, 2023, which was driven by $6.2 million of upward adjustments to our relative share of the respective fund’s
NAV based on updated financial information received from the funds’ investment manager or sponsor, $4.7 million of downward quoted
market price adjustments, and $1.0 million of downward adjustments related to foreign currency impacts on investments denominated in currencies
other than the U.S. dollar.
Loss
on financial instruments, net decreased $43.1 million for the six months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period of 2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period. Loss on financial
instruments, net for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily driven by a $0.5 million decrease in the value of our
interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Loss on financial instruments, net for the six months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily
driven by a $41.4 million decrease in the value of our interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust. Such decrease is net of a $13.7 million gain
recognized upon reclassification of unrealized
net gains related to the Company’s previously classified available-for-sale debt securities from accumulated other comprehensive
income. Additional drivers included
a $4.4 million decrease in the fair value of public equity securities partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in the fair value of
a derivative liability.
Interest
expense increased $7.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, which reflects an
increase in contractual interest on the ExAlt Loans, driven by the origination of new liquidity transactions and the compounding of effects
of paid-in-kind interest, slightly offset by a $3.7 million decrease in interest expense recognized on the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable,
which was extinguished in October 2023.
Professional
services decreased $1.0 million for the six months ended September 30,
2024, which
represented decreases in general professional expenses such as audit, consulting, and other professional fees.
Provision
for credit losses increased $1.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Provision
for credit losses for the six months ended September 30, 2024, is comprised of a credit related loss on an available-for-sale debt
security held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts. No such losses were recognized in the same period of the prior year.
Other
expenses decreased $0.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due to a decrease
in trust administration fees and other expenses principally driven by a decrease in the NAV of the alternative assets held by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts.
CORPORATE
AND OTHER
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023, and the
Six Months
Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss
on financial instruments, net |
| $ |
(750) |
|
| $ |
(900) |
|
| $ |
(758) |
|
| $ |
(2,557) |
|
Interest
income |
| 12 |
|
| 112 |
|
| 24 |
|
| 220 |
|
Trust
services and administration revenues |
| — |
|
| (95) |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Total
revenues |
| (738) |
|
| (883) |
|
| (734) |
|
| (2,337) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Employee
compensation and benefits |
| 6,232 |
|
| 13,371 |
|
| 9,296 |
|
| 46,141 |
|
Interest
expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs) |
| 1,157 |
|
| 1,200 |
|
| 2,364 |
|
| 2,352 |
|
Professional
services |
| 6,287 |
|
| 5,420 |
|
| 10,339 |
|
| 13,399 |
|
Provision
for credit losses |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 2 |
|
| — |
|
Loss
on impairment of goodwill |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 265 |
|
| — |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
Other
expenses |
| 2,012 |
|
| 4,360 |
|
| 4,308 |
|
| 10,084 |
|
Total
expenses |
| 15,688 |
|
| 24,351 |
|
| (28,399) |
|
| 71,976 |
|
Operating income
(loss) |
| $ |
(16,426) |
|
| $ |
(25,234) |
|
| $ |
27,665 |
|
| $ |
(74,313) |
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Loss
on financial instruments, net decreased $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30,
2024, compared
to the same period of 2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period.
Loss on financial instruments, net for the three months ended September 30, 2024, included a
$0.8 million combined loss in the fair value on the convertible debt, warrants and derivative liability.
Loss on financial
instruments, net for the three months ended September 30, 2023, included a $0.7 million decrease in the fair value of put options
held, $0.4 million decrease in the fair value of our interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease
in the fair value of a warrant liability.
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The decrease was principally related to a $5.1 million decrease in equity-based compensation as the comparable period included $3.4
million recognized
upon vesting of awards previously subject to a performance condition, which was satisfied by Ben’s public listing in June 2023,
and the comparable period included new grants which were partially vested on the grant date. Additionally, there was a $2.0 million decrease
in payroll and other benefit-related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 primarily due to the employees
furloughed and terminated in latter part of fiscal 2024 as well as continued employee attrition during the current fiscal year.
Professional
services increased $0.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily
due to a increase in legal fees offset partially by lower other professional fees. The increase in legal fees coincides with higher legal
activity. The
majority of this legal activity is expected to be eligible for reimbursement from our D&O insurance carriers and expense in the current
period related to such matters reflects our estimate of incurred legal expenses expected to be denied by the insurance carriers.
Lower professional fees principally related to ongoing efforts to reduce operating expenses.
Other
expenses decreased $2.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily
driven by a decrease in various categories, including travel and entertainment, insurance and taxes, and depreciation. The largest decrease
is driven by the expiration of an aircraft dry lease on January 1, 2024 which resulted in approximately $1.4 million lower expenses in
the current period as compared to the same period in the prior year.
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Loss
on financial instruments, net decreased $1.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period of
2023, driven by the changes in fair value of the financial instruments held during the period. Loss on financial instruments, net for
the six months ended September 30, 2024, includes a $0.8 million decrease in the combined fair value of the convertible debt, warrants
and derivative liability. Loss on investments in securities and options for the six months ended September 30, 2023, included a $3.0
million net decrease to the fair value of put options held, $0.8 million decrease in the fair value of public equity securities, which
consisted of shares of GWG Holdings, partially offset by a $1.7 million decrease in the fair value of a warrant liability.
Employee
compensation and benefits decreased $36.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The decrease was driven by a $31.1 million decrease in equity-based compensation and $5.7 million decrease in payroll and other benefit-related
costs. The comparable period included equity-based compensation of $11.4
million recognized
upon vesting of awards previously subject to a performance condition, which was satisfied by Ben’s public listing in June 2023,
and $15.0
million in equity-based compensation recognized as
a result of transactions completed as part of the BCG Recapitalization. Additionally, there were additional equity grants in fiscal 2024
that resulted in a higher expenses than the limited grants that occurred in fiscal 2025. Additionally, there was a $5.7 million decrease
in payroll and other benefit-related costs due to a lower headcount in fiscal 2025 as compared to fiscal 2024 primarily due to the employees
furloughed and terminated in latter part of fiscal 2024 as well as adjustment to our accrued annual incentive bonus pool related to the
decreased headcount.
Professional
services decreased $3.1 million during the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due
to a decrease in legal fees and other professional fees. The decrease in legal fees is principally related to a higher percentage of current
ongoing legal matters expected to be eligible for reimbursement from our D&O insurance carriers. Lower professional fees principally
related to ongoing efforts to reduce operating expenses along with the comparable period having higher amounts due to transaction related
activity.
During
the six months ended September 30, 2024, we completed interim impairment tests for goodwill and as a result, recorded non-cash impairment
charges totaling $0.3 million related to reporting unit(s) including in this reporting segment. See—Critical
Accounting Estimates
below and Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part 1, Item 1.—Financial Statements” of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for further information. Similar interim impairment tests for goodwill were performed during the six months ended
September 30, 2023, however, no such non-cash goodwill impairment charge was determined to be necessary in that period related to
reporting unit(s) included in this reporting segment.
Release
of loss on arbitration recognized in the current fiscal period relates to the release of a previously recorded loss contingency recorded
in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 that had been awarded against the Company during arbitration for compensatory damages, including
prejudgment interest in a matter pertaining to a former director challenging the termination of certain equity awards under two incentive
plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. The release of the loss contingency was based on a
Texas District Court order vacating the previously recorded and disclosed arbitration award against Beneficient.
Other
expenses decreased $5.8 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily driven
by a decrease in various categories, including travel and entertainment, insurance and taxes, and depreciation. The largest decrease relates
to lower travel and entertainment, which reflects approximately $2.7 million of lower costs associated with an aircraft dry lease that
expired on January 1, 2024.
Supplemental
Unaudited Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Adjusted
revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) are non-GAAP financial measures. We present these non-GAAP financial measures because we
believe it helps investors understand underlying trends in our business and facilitates an understanding of our operating performance
from period to period because it facilitates a comparison of our recurring core business operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures
are intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP. Our
presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring
items. Our computation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other
companies, because all companies may not calculate such items in the same way.
We
define adjusted revenue as revenue adjusted to exclude the effect of mark-to-market adjustments on related party equity securities that
were acquired both prior to and during the Collateral Swap, which on August 1, 2023, became interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust.
We
define adjusted operating income (loss) as operating income (loss), adjusted to exclude the effect of the adjustments to revenue as described
above, credit losses on related party available-for-sale debt securities that were acquired in the Collateral Swap, which on August 1,
2023, became interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust, and receivables from a related party that filed for bankruptcy and certain notes receivables
originated during our formative transactions, non-cash asset impairment, share-based compensation expense, and legal, professional services,
and public relations costs related to the GWG Holdings bankruptcy, lawsuits, a defunct product offering, and certain employee matters,
including fees and loss contingency accruals (releases) incurred in arbitration with a former director.
These
non-GAAP financial measures are not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. They are unaudited
and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, revenue or operating income (loss) as an indicator of our operating
performance. Uses of cash flows that are not reflected in adjusted operating income (loss) include capital expenditures, interest payments,
debt principal repayments, and other expenses, which can be significant. As a result, adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered
as a measure of our liquidity.
Because
of these limitations, adjusted revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
performance measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP
results and using adjusted revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) on a supplemental basis. You should review the reconciliation
of revenue to adjusted revenue and operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss) set forth below and not rely on any single
financial measure to evaluate our business.
The
following tables set forth a reconciliation of adjusted revenue to revenue and adjusted operating income (loss) to operating income (loss),
the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures, using data derived from our consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
Total
revenues |
| $ |
11,978 |
|
| $ |
5,386 |
|
| $ |
9,112 |
|
| $ |
(738) |
|
| $ |
(17,177) |
|
| $ |
8,561 |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 173 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 173 |
|
Adjusted
revenues |
| $ |
11,978 |
|
| $ |
5,386 |
|
| $ |
9,285 |
|
| $ |
(738) |
|
| $ |
(17,177) |
|
| $ |
8,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
4,329 |
|
| $ |
(31,549) |
|
| $ |
(16,426) |
|
| $ |
27,026 |
|
| $ |
(13,715) |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 173 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Goodwill
impairment |
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 298 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Share-based
compensation expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,364 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,364 |
|
Legal and professional
fees(1) |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,269 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted
operating income (loss) |
| $ |
2,905 |
|
| $ |
4,627 |
|
| $ |
(31,376) |
|
| $ |
(9,793) |
|
| $ |
27,026 |
|
| $ |
(6,611) |
|
(1)
Includes legal and professional fees related to lawsuits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
Total
revenues |
| $ |
13,022 |
|
| $ |
6,490 |
|
| $ |
(41,886) |
|
| $ |
(883) |
|
| $ |
(19,504) |
|
| $ |
(42,761) |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 41,523 |
|
| 437 |
|
| — |
|
| 41,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted
revenues |
| $ |
13,022 |
|
| $ |
6,490 |
|
| $ |
(363) |
|
| $ |
(446) |
|
| $ |
(19,504) |
|
| $ |
(801) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
(272,091) |
|
| $ |
(80,847) |
|
| $ |
(78,275) |
|
| $ |
(25,234) |
|
| $ |
74,683 |
|
| $ |
(381,764) |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 41,523 |
|
| 437 |
|
| — |
|
| 41,960 |
|
Intersegment
provision for credit losses on collateral comprised of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| 47,141 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (47,141) |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Goodwill
impairment |
| 220,212 |
|
| 86,472 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 306,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Share-based
compensation expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 8,503 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,503 |
|
Legal and professional
fees(1) |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 3,447 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted
operating income (loss) |
| $ |
(4,738) |
|
| $ |
5,625 |
|
| $ |
(36,752) |
|
| $ |
(12,847) |
|
| $ |
27,542 |
|
| $ |
(21,170) |
|
(1)
Includes legal and professional fees related to GWG Holdings bankruptcy, lawsuits, public relations and employee matters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
Total
revenues |
| $ |
22,827 |
|
| $ |
10,768 |
|
| $ |
18,965 |
|
| $ |
(734) |
|
| $ |
(33,219) |
|
| $ |
18,607 |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 531 |
|
| 7 |
|
| — |
|
| 538 |
|
Adjusted revenues |
| $ |
22,827 |
|
| $ |
10,768 |
|
| $ |
19,496 |
|
| $ |
(727) |
|
| $ |
(33,219) |
|
| $ |
19,145 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
2,391 |
|
| $ |
5,616 |
|
| $ |
(61,178) |
|
| $ |
27,665 |
|
| $ |
56,129 |
|
| $ |
30,623 |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 531 |
|
| 7 |
|
| — |
|
| 538 |
|
Intersegment
provision for credit
losses on collateral comprised of interests in the GWG Down Trust |
| 5 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (5) |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Goodwill impairment |
| — |
|
| 3,427 |
|
| — |
|
| 265 |
|
| — |
|
| 3,692 |
|
Release
of loss contingency related to arbitration award |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
| — |
|
| (54,973) |
|
Share-based
compensation expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 4,358 |
|
| — |
|
| 4,358 |
|
Legal and professional
fees(1) |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 4,425 |
|
| — |
|
| 4,425 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted
operating income (loss) |
| $ |
2,396 |
|
| $ |
9,043 |
|
| $ |
(60,647) |
|
| $ |
(18,253) |
|
| $ |
56,124 |
|
| $ |
(11,337) |
|
(1)
Includes legal and professional fees related to lawsuits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(in
thousands) |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
|
| Ben
Liquidity |
| Ben
Custody |
|
Customer
ExAlt Trusts |
| Corporate/Other |
| Consolidating
Eliminations |
| Consolidated |
Total
revenues |
| $ |
25,028 |
|
| $ |
13,065 |
|
| $ |
(43,182) |
|
| $ |
(2,337) |
|
| $ |
(38,078) |
|
| $ |
(45,504) |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 44,367 |
|
| 1,159 |
|
| — |
|
| 45,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted revenues |
| $ |
25,028 |
|
| $ |
13,065 |
|
| $ |
1,185 |
|
| $ |
(1,178) |
|
| $ |
(38,078) |
|
| $ |
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Operating
income (loss) |
| $ |
(1,175,119) |
|
| $ |
(270,844) |
|
| $ |
(116,687) |
|
| $ |
(74,313) |
|
| $ |
99,229 |
|
| $ |
(1,537,734) |
|
Mark to market
adjustment on interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 44,367 |
|
| 1,159 |
|
| — |
|
| 45,526 |
|
Intersegment
provision for loan losses on collateral comprised of interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust |
| 39,610 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (39,610) |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Goodwill impairment |
| 1,121,212 |
|
| 281,777 |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 1,402,989 |
|
Share-based
compensation expense |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 35,504 |
|
| — |
|
| 35,504 |
|
Legal and professional
fees(1) |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 8,025 |
|
| — |
|
| 8,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Adjusted
operating income (loss) |
| $ |
(14,297) |
|
| $ |
10,933 |
|
| $ |
(72,320) |
|
| $ |
(29,625) |
|
| $ |
59,619 |
|
| $ |
(45,690) |
|
(1)
Includes legal and professional fees related to GWG Holdings bankruptcy, lawsuits, public relations, and employee matters.
Financial
Condition
Ben
Liquidity’s Loan Portfolio and Customer
ExAlt
Trusts’ Investment in Alternative Assets
Our
primary operations currently consist of offering our liquidity and trust administration services to our customers, primarily through certain
of our operating subsidiaries, Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody, respectively. Ben Liquidity offers simple, rapid and cost-effective liquidity
products to its customers using a proprietary financing and trusts structure, the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which facilitate the exchange
of a customer’s alternative assets for consideration using a unique financing structure, the ExAlt PlanTM.
In ExAlt PlanTM
financings, a subsidiary of Ben Liquidity, BFF, makes ExAlt Loans to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which in turn employ a portion
of the loan proceeds to acquire and deliver agreed upon consideration to the customer, in exchange for their alternative assets. Ben Liquidity
generates interest and fee income earned in connection with such ExAlt Loans to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are collateralized
by the cash flows from the exchanged alternative assets, or the “Collateral.” The Collateral held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts
supports the repayment of the loans plus any related interest and fees. In the event that an ExAlt Loan’s principal balance is reduced
to zero dollars ($0), any remaining Collateral supporting such ExAlt Loan effectively cross-collateralizes other ExAlt Loans, as any such
excess cash flows must be applied to pay off the outstanding balances of other ExAlt Loans pursuant to the terms of the trust agreements
governing certain of the ExAlt Trusts.
Ben Custody
provides full-service trust and custody administration services to the trustees of certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, including BFF,
which own the exchanged alternative asset following a liquidity transaction for fees payable quarterly.
As
of September 30, 2024, Ben Liquidity’s loan portfolio consisted of ExAlt Loans to the Customer ExAlt Trusts with an aggregate
principal amount outstanding of $575.9 million,
including accrued interest that has been capitalized on the ExAlt Loans. Ben Liquidity’s ExAlt Loans are structured as loans with
a maturity date of 12 years that bear contractual interest at a variable rate or fixed rate that compounds monthly. The ExAlt Loans made
prior to December 31, 2020 have a variable interest rate established off of a base rate of 14%, and ExAlt Loans made on or after December
31, 2020 have a variable interest rate established off a base rate of 10% or a fixed rate of 5%. Ben Liquidity may make ExAlt Loans in
the future with a variable interest rate established off of different base rates. Since the Customer ExAlt Trusts are consolidated, the
ExAlt Loans and related interest and fee income earned by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody from the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated
in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements; however, such amounts directly impact the income (loss) allocable to Ben’s
or BCH’s equity holders.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments are the source of the Collateral supporting the ExAlt Loans plus any related interest and fees.
These investments, either through direct ownership or through beneficial interests, consist primarily of limited partnership interests
in various alternative assets, including private equity funds. These alternative investments are recorded at fair value using NAV as a
practical expedient. Changes in the fair value (i.e., NAV) of these alternative investments are recorded in investment income (loss),
net in our consolidated statements of operations. The Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments in alternative assets and investments in
equity and debt securities provide the economic value creating the Collateral to the ExAlt Loans made in connection with each liquidity
transaction.
The
underlying interests in alternative assets are primarily limited partnership interests. The transfer of the investments in private equity
funds generally requires the consent of the corresponding private equity fund manager, and the transfer of certain fund investments is
subject to rights of first refusal or other preemptive rights, potentially further limiting the ExAlt PlanTM
from transferring an investment in a private equity fund. Distributions from funds are received as the underlying investments are liquidated.
Timing of liquidation is currently unknown.
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts held interests in alternative assets with a NAV of $301.4 million and $293.9 million as of September 30, 2024
and March 31, 2024, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ portfolio had exposure to 237 professionally
managed alternative investment funds, comprised of 797 underlying investments, 92 percent of which are investments in private companies.
Additionally, the Customer ExAlt Trusts directly hold investments in debt and equity securities. The aggregate value of these investments
was $33.6 million and $35.2 million as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.
The
following sections provide more detailed information for Ben Liquidity’s loan portfolio and related allowance for credit
losses and the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ investments in alternative assets and other equity and debt securities.
Ben
Liquidity
Loans
Receivable
The
following table provides the carrying value of the loan portfolio by collateral type and classification (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Loans
collateralized by interests in alternative assets |
| $ |
477,978 |
|
| $ |
394,328 |
|
Loans
collateralized by debt and equity securities |
| 97,961 |
|
| 165,430 |
|
Total
loans receivable |
| 575,939 |
|
| 559,758 |
|
Allowance for
credit
losses |
| (315,253) |
|
| (303,574) |
|
Total
loans receivable, net |
| $ |
260,686 |
|
| $ |
256,184 |
|
The
following table provides certain information concerning our loan portfolio by collateral type and maturity as of September 30, 2024
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Original
Principal |
| Interest
Accrued |
| Aggregate
Payments |
|
Outstanding
Balance(1) |
| Allowance |
| Carrying
Value |
Loans
collateralized by interests in alternative assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Within
5 Years |
| $ |
374,110 |
|
| $ |
212,886 |
|
| $ |
(341,283) |
|
| $ |
122,697 |
|
| $ |
41,828 |
|
| $ |
80,869 |
|
After
5 Years Within 10 Years |
| 311,103 |
|
| 165,184 |
|
| (82,489) |
|
| 309,588 |
|
| 153,529 |
|
| 156,059 |
|
After
10 Years |
| 46,429 |
|
| 2,576 |
|
| (3,312) |
|
| 45,693 |
|
| 43,790 |
|
| 1,903 |
|
Loans
collateralized by debt and equity securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Within
5 Years |
| 12,564 |
|
| 6,419 |
|
| (11,486) |
|
| 3,028 |
|
| 1,865 |
|
| 1,163 |
|
After
5 Years Within 10 Years |
| 86,173 |
|
| 65,273 |
|
| (556) |
|
| 90,374 |
|
| 73,478 |
|
| 16,896 |
|
After
10 Years |
| 3,903 |
|
| 755 |
|
| (98) |
|
| 4,559 |
|
| 763 |
|
| 3,796 |
|
Total |
| $ |
834,282 |
|
| $ |
453,093 |
|
| $ |
(439,224) |
|
| $ |
575,939 |
|
| $ |
315,253 |
|
| $ |
260,686 |
|
(1)
This balance includes $272.2 million in unamortized discounts as of September 30, 2024.
Loan
to Value Ratio
The
loan to value ratio is calculated as the carrying value of loans receivable after any allowance for credit
losses over the Collateral Value of the loan portfolio. The value of the Collateral (the “Collateral Value”) is defined as
the mutual beneficial interest of the respective Customer ExAlt Trust, which we refer to as the “Collective Trust” that is
owned by the Customer ExAlt Trust, which we refer to as the “Funding Trust,” that borrows from Ben Liquidity’s subsidiary,
BFF. The Collateral Value is derived from the expected cash flows from the various alternative assets held by other trusts included within
the Customer ExAlt Trust structure. The Collateral is valued using industry standard valuation models, which includes assumptions related
to (i) equity market risk premiums, (ii) alternative asset beta to public equities, (iii) NAVs, (iv) volatilities, (v) distribution rates,
and (vi) market discount rates. The fair value of the mutual beneficial interests collateralizing the loan portfolio as of September 30,
2024 and March 31, 2024, was $266.0
million and
$292.7 million, respectively.
The
loan to value ratio for the entire loan portfolio was 0.98 and 0.88 as of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.
The increase in the loan to value ratio from March 31, 2024 to September 30, 2024 was driven by an increase in the allowance
for credit losses,
which is primarily due to lower loan repayments, when compared to accrued interest and fees, resulting in the loan carrying value increasing
by approximately $4.5 million, while the fair value of the collateral declined period over period.
Allowance
for Credit Losses
The
ExAlt Loans’ allowance for credit losses is an input to the allocation
of income (loss) to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders.
On
April 1, 2023, we adopted Accounting
Standards Update (“ASU”)
2016-13, Financial
Instruments, Credit Losses
(Topic 326) (“CECL”), which requires an estimate of the credit losses expected over the life of a loan (or pool of loans).
It replaced the incurred loss approach’s threshold that required the recognition of a credit loss when it was probable that a loss
event was incurred. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from, or added to, the loans’ amortized
cost basis to present the net, lifetime amount expected to be collected on the loans.
Management
estimates the allowance using relevant available information from internal and external sources related to past events, current conditions,
and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected
credit losses. Ben currently does not have adequate historical loss data to provide a basis for the long-term loss information associated
with its loans. As such, Ben uses alternative, long-term historical average credit loss data from Preqin, Ltd. in establishing the loss
history as a proxy.
Adjustments
to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics such as differences in credit concentrations,
collateral values and underwriting standards as well as changes in economic conditions or other relevant factors. Management judgment
is required at each point in the measurement process.
Ben
uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) method to estimate expected credit losses for the loan portfolio. Ben generates cash
flow projections at the loan level wherein payment expectations are adjusted for changes in market risk premiums, risk free rate, NAV
growth rate, and discount rate. The inputs are based on historical data from Preqin, Ltd. and adjusted, if necessary, based on the reasonable
and supportable forecast of economic conditions. To adjust, management utilizes externally developed forward-looking macroeconomic factors
as indicators of future expected cash flows: S&P 500 Index data and US 3-Month Treasury. The economic forecasts are applied over the
cashflow projection period.
The
combination of adjustments for credit expectations (default and loss) and timing expectations (prepayment, curtailment, and time to recovery)
produces an expected cash flow stream at the instrument level. Instrument effective yield is calculated, net of the impacts of prepayment
assumptions, and the instrument expected cash flows are then discounted at that effective yield to produce an instrument-level net present
value of expected cash flows (“NPV”). An allowance for credit loss is established for the difference between the instrument’s
NPV and amortized cost basis.
The
DCF model also considers the need to qualitatively adjust expected loss estimates for information not already captured in the quantitative
loss estimation process. Qualitative considerations include limitations inherent in the quantitative model; trends experienced in nonperforming
loans; changes in value of underlying collateral; changes in underwriting policies and procedures; nature and composition of loans; portfolio
concentrations that may affect loss experience across one or more components or the portfolio; and the effect of external factors such
as competition, legal and regulatory requirements. These qualitative factor adjustments may increase or decrease Ben’s estimate
of expected credit losses so that the allowance for credit loss is reflective of the estimate of lifetime losses that exist in the loan
portfolio at the balance sheet date.
The
following table provides the allowance for credit losses recognized by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody by collateral type and by classification
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Loans
collateralized by interests in alternative assets |
| $ |
239,147 |
|
| $ |
168,089 |
|
Loans
collateralized by interest in debt and equity securities |
| 76,106 |
|
| 135,485 |
|
Total allowance
for credit
losses |
| $ |
315,253 |
|
| $ |
303,574 |
|
The
following table provides a rollforward of the allowance for credit
losses recognized by Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody by collateral type (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
| Three
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
(unaudited) |
| Alternative
Assets |
| Debt
& Equity Securities |
| Alternative
Assets |
| Debt
& Equity Securities |
Beginning
balance |
| $ |
159,190 |
|
| $ |
151,311 |
|
| $ |
101,051 |
|
| $ |
98,664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Provision for
(reversal of) credit
losses |
| 79,957 |
|
| (75,205) |
|
| 13,149 |
|
| 47,353 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ending
balance |
| $ |
239,147 |
|
| $ |
76,106 |
|
| $ |
114,200 |
|
| $ |
146,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 |
| Six
Months Ended September 30, 2023 |
(unaudited) |
| Alternative
Assets |
| Debt
& Equity Securities |
| Alternative
Assets |
| Debt
& Equity Securities |
Beginning
balance |
| $ |
168,089 |
|
| $ |
135,485 |
|
| $ |
32,632 |
|
| $ |
96,497 |
|
Impact
of the adoption of CECL |
| — |
|
| — |
|
| 52,554 |
|
| 8,536 |
|
Provision for
(reversal of) credit
losses |
| 71,058 |
|
| (59,379) |
|
| 29,014 |
|
| 40,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Ending
balance |
| $ |
239,147 |
|
| $ |
76,106 |
|
| $ |
114,200 |
|
| $ |
146,017 |
|
Credit
Quality
The
following table presents certain credit quality metrics (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Loans
collateralized by alternative assets |
|
|
| |
Period-end
loans |
| $ |
477,978 |
|
| $ |
394,328 |
|
Nonperforming
loans |
| $ |
172,337 |
|
| $ |
126,607 |
|
Allowance
for credit
losses |
| $ |
239,147 |
|
| $ |
168,089 |
|
Allowance/loans |
| 50.03 |
% |
| 42.63 |
% |
Nonperforming
loans/loans |
| 36.06 |
% |
| 32.11 |
% |
Allowance
to nonperforming loans |
| 1.39x |
| 1.33x |
|
|
|
| |
Loans
collateralized by debt and equity securities |
|
|
| |
Period-end
loans |
| $ |
97,961 |
|
| $ |
165,430 |
|
Nonperforming
loans(1) |
| $ |
73,678 |
|
| $ |
120,845 |
|
Allowance
for credit
losses |
| $ |
76,106 |
|
| $ |
135,485 |
|
Allowance/loans |
| 77.69 |
% |
| 81.90 |
% |
Nonperforming
loans/loans |
| 75.21 |
% |
| 73.05 |
% |
Allowance
to nonperforming loans(1) |
| 1.03x |
| 1.12x |
|
|
|
| |
Consolidated |
|
|
| |
Period-end
loans |
| $ |
575,939 |
|
| $ |
559,758 |
|
Nonperforming
loans(1) |
| $ |
246,015 |
|
| $ |
247,452 |
|
Allowance
for credit
losses |
| $ |
315,253 |
|
| $ |
303,574 |
|
Allowance/loans |
| 54.74 |
% |
| 54.23 |
% |
Nonperforming
loans/loans |
| 42.72 |
% |
| 44.21 |
% |
Allowance
to nonperforming loans(2) |
| 1.28x |
| 1.23x |
(1)
The nonperforming
loans collateralized by interests in GWG or the GWG Wind Down Trust was $145.9 million as of September 30, 2024 and March 31,
2024.
Customer
ExAlt Trusts — Alternative Asset Portfolio
The
portfolio of alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts covers the following industry sectors and geographic regions for the
periods shown below (dollar amounts in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Industry
Sector |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
Food
and Staples Retailing |
| $ |
66,517 |
|
| 22.1 |
% |
| $ |
41,721 |
|
| 14.2 |
% |
Software
and Services |
| 44,683 |
|
| 14.8 |
|
| 42,908 |
|
| 14.6 |
|
Diversified
Financials |
| 30,222 |
|
| 10.0 |
|
| 30,297 |
|
| 10.3 |
|
Utilities |
| 29,693 |
|
| 9.9 |
|
| 28,768 |
|
| 9.8 |
|
Energy |
| 17,151 |
|
| 5.7 |
|
| 19,930 |
|
| 6.8 |
|
Capital
Goods |
| 15,733 |
|
| 5.2 |
|
| 23,146 |
|
| 7.9 |
|
Semiconductors
and Semiconductor Equipment |
| 14,797 |
|
| 4.9 |
|
| 16,144 |
|
| 5.5 |
|
Health
Care Equipment and Services |
| 14,441 |
|
| 4.8 |
|
| 16,520 |
|
| 5.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Other(1) |
| 68,151 |
|
| 22.6 |
|
| 74,482 |
|
| 25.3 |
|
Total |
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
| $ |
293,916 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
| |
(1) |
Industries
in this category each comprise less than 5 percent. Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment and Health Care Equipment and Services
is shown separately as it comprised greater than 5 percent in the prior period. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| September
30, 2024 |
| March
31, 2024 |
Geography |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
| Value |
| Percent
of Total |
North
America |
| $ |
150,864 |
|
| 50.1 |
% |
| $ |
164,205 |
|
| 55.9 |
% |
South
America |
| 68,166 |
|
| 22.6 |
|
| 43,543 |
|
| 14.8 |
|
Asia |
| 46,342 |
|
| 15.4 |
|
| 49,385 |
|
| 16.8 |
|
Europe |
| 35,337 |
|
| 11.7 |
|
| 35,870 |
|
| 12.2 |
|
Africa |
| 679 |
|
| 0.2 |
|
| 913 |
|
| 0.3 |
|
Total |
| $ |
301,388 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
| $ |
293,916 |
|
| 100.0 |
% |
Assets
in the portfolio consist primarily of interests in alternative investment vehicles (also referred to as “funds”) that are
managed by a group of U.S. and non-U.S. based alternative asset management firms that invest in a variety of financial markets and utilize
a variety of investment strategies. The vintages of the funds in the portfolio as of September 30, 2024 ranged from 1993 to 2024.
As
Ben Liquidity originates additional ExAlt Loans, it monitors the diversity of the portfolio of alternative assets held by the Customer
ExAlt Trusts through the use of concentration guidelines. These guidelines were established, and are periodically updated, through a data
driven approach based on asset type, fund manager, vintage of fund, industry segment and geography to manage portfolio risk. Ben Liquidity
refers to these guidelines when making decisions about new financing opportunities; however, these guidelines do not restrict Ben Liquidity
from entering into financing opportunities that would result in Ben Liquidity having exposure outside of its concentration guidelines.
In addition, changes to the portfolio of alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts may lag changes to the concentration guidelines.
As such, the portfolio of alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts may, at any given time, have exposures that are outside
of Ben Liquidity’s concentration guidelines to reflect, among other things, attractive financing opportunities, limited availability
of assets, or other business reasons. Given our operating history of relatively few transactions at significant NAV, the portfolio as
of September 30, 2024 had exposure to certain alternative investment vehicles and investments in private companies that were outside
of those guidelines.
Classifications
by industry sector, exposure type and geography reflect classification of investments held in funds or companies held directly in the
portfolio. Investments reflect the assets listed by the general partner of a fund as held by the fund and have a positive or negative
NAV. Typical assets include portfolio companies, limited partnership interests in other funds, and net other assets, which are a fund’s
cash and other current assets minus liabilities. The underlying interests in alternative assets are primarily limited partnership interests,
and the limited partnership agreements governing those interests generally include restrictions on disclosure of fund-level information,
including fund names and company names in the funds.
Industry
sector is based on Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) Level 2 classification (also known as “Industry Group”)
of companies held in the portfolio by funds or directly, subject to certain adjustments by us. “Other” classification is not
a GICS® classification. “Other” classification reflects companies in the GICS® classification categories of N/A,
Commercial & Professional Services, Consumer Durables & Apparel, Consumer Services, Food, Beverage & Tobacco, Household &
Personal Products, Insurance, Materials, Media & Entertainment, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences, Real Estate, Retailing,
Technology Hardware & Equipment, Telecommunication Services, and Transportation. “N/A” includes investments assets that
we have determined do not have an applicable GICS® Level 2 classification, such as Net Other Assets and investments that are not
operating companies.
Geography
reflects classifications determined by us based on each underlying investment.
Cash
Flow
The
following table presents a summary of cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for periods presented below (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Six
Months Ended September 30, |
|
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
Net
cash used in operating activities |
| $ |
(19,259) |
|
| $ |
(27,356) |
|
Net
cash provided by investing activities |
| 11,164 |
|
| 25,740 |
|
Net cash provided
by (used in) financing activities |
| 4,914 |
|
| (5,515) |
|
Net
decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
| $ |
(3,181) |
|
| $ |
(7,131) |
|
Six
Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Net
cash used in operating activities was $19.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, largely driven by working capital
requirements, including employee compensation and benefits and professional services. Net cash provided by investing activities was $11.2
million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, primarily driven by $12.5 million of distributions received as return of investments
in alternative assets offset by $0.9 million in purchases of premises and equipment. Net cash provided by financing activities was $4.9
million for the six months ended September 30, 2024 resulting from proceeds received from issuance of Class A common shares under
equity purchase agreement of approximately $2.6 million, a total of $3.5 million in proceeds from debt issuances, and $0.7 million from
other common stock sales offset by approximately $1.6 million in payment of deferred issuance costs.
Net
cash used in operating activities was $27.4 million for the six months ended September 30, 2023, largely driven by working capital
requirements, including employee compensation and benefits and professional services. Net cash provided by investing activities was $25.7
million for the six months ended September 30, 2023, primarily driven by $26.3 million of distributions received as return of investments
in alternative assets and $1.0 million in proceeds received from the sale of put options, slightly offset by $1.0 million in purchases
of premises and equipment. Net cash used in financing activities was $5.5 million for the six months ended September 30, 2023, largely
driven by debt payments, redemptions of preferred equity securities, payments of deferred equity costs, and the net impact of the de-SPAC
merger transaction.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As
of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, we had $4.5 million and $7.9 million, respectively, in combined available unrestricted
cash and cash equivalents.
Our
business is capital intensive, and while we generated net income of $54.1 million for
the six
months ended September 30, 2024, we have historically generated net losses and, in aggregate, these net losses have resulted in an
accumulated deficit of $2.0
billion
as of September 30, 2024.
We
currently finance our business through a combination of cash distributions from the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ alternative asset portfolio,
receipt of fees for performing trust services, dividends and interest on investments, debt offerings, and equity offerings, including
under the SEPA, and sales of loans extended to the Customer ExAlt Trusts. We have traditionally used proceeds from these sources for cash
obligations arising from our initial capitalization and formative transactions, funding liquidity transactions and potential unfunded
capital commitments, working capital, debt service payments, and costs associated with potential future products. BFF is also required
to maintain sufficient regulatory capital due to its Kansas charter, though such amount is not significant.
The
ability of Ben, BCH, and our operating subsidiaries to access the cash distributions from the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ alternative
asset portfolio is limited by the terms of the ExAlt Loans from Ben Liquidity to the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Historically, Ben Liquidity
has elected to capitalize interest that accrues on the ExAlt Loans and only receives payments on the ExAlt Loans, at the discretion of
the applicable trustee, following the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ receipt of cash distributions on their alternative asset portfolio.
The trustee of the Customer ExAlt Trusts intends to make principal payments on the ExAlt Loans out of the proceeds of the distributions
from the alternative assets. To the extent the Customer ExAlt Trusts do not receive distributions, such as if the managers of the professionally
managed funds comprising the alternative assets determine to delay distributions or transactions that would result in the distributions
to its limited partners, the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ ability to repay the ExAlt Loans, and therefore, Ben Liquidity’s ability
to receive principal and interest payments in cash may be adversely impacted. During the six months ended September 30, 2024, largely
as a result of macro-economic conditions, the Customer ExAlt Trusts continued to receive fewer distributions from their alternative assets
than was originally
anticipated,
which adversely impacted the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ ability to repay the ExAlt Loans and our liquidity. Such conditions are expected
to continue throughout the remainder of fiscal year 2025.
We
expect that the Company will require additional capital to satisfy our obligations and fund our operations for the next twelve months,
which will likely be achieved through the issuance of additional debt or equity, including through the SEPA. We continue to explore raising
additional capital through a combination of debt financing and/or equity financing to supplement the Company’s capitalization and
liquidity. If and as we raise additional funds by incurring loans or by issuing debt securities or preferred stock, these forms of financing
have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of holders of our Common Stock. The availability and the terms under which we
are able to raise additional capital could be disadvantageous, and the terms of debt financing and/or equity financing could place significant
restrictions on our operations. Macroeconomic conditions and credit markets are also impacting the availability and cost of potential
future debt financing. As we raise capital through the issuance of additional equity, such sales and issuance has and will continue to
dilute the ownership interests of the existing holders of Common Stock. There can be no assurances that any additional debt and/or equity
financing would be available to us on favorable terms or at all. We expect to continue to incur net losses, comprehensive losses and negative
cash flows from operating activities until we meet a certain scale of operations.
As
of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we believe that our anticipated operating cash flows, proceeds on ExAlt Loan payments
and fee income derived from distributions on investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts or other investments held by Ben, and additional
sources of liquidity, are not sufficient to meet our contractual obligations over the next 12 months. While we may refinance some or all
of the existing borrowings due prior to their maturity, with either our current lenders or other lenders, continue to seek opportunities
to reduce corporate overhead, and intend to raise capital through equity or debt investments in us by third parties, including through
the SEPA, we cannot conclude these are probable of being implemented or, if probable of being implemented, being in sufficient enough
amounts to satisfy our contractual amounts as they presently exist that are coming due over the next 12 months as of the date of filing
this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
As
further discussed in other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, on June 27, 2023, we entered into the SEPA with Yorkville,
whereby we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Yorkville up to $250.0 million of shares of the Company’s Class A
common stock. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company had offered and sold 503,827
shares of
Class A common stock to the Yorkville Investor pursuant to the SEPA for net proceeds of approximately $3.9 million. On June 20, 2024,
the Company obtained stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) for the issuance of shares of Class A common stock to
the Yorkville in excess of the Exchange Cap. As a result, the Company may issue up to an aggregate of approximately $246.1 million worth
of shares of Class A common stock following registration with the SEC, with such registration statement declared effective by the SEC
on November 12, 2024. The issuance of additional shares of Class A common stock under the SEPA will dilute the percentage ownership interest
of all stockholders, could dilute the book value per share of the Class A common stock and will increase the number of the Company’s
outstanding shares, which could cause the market price of our Class A common stock to decrease. Additionally, the decision regarding future
sale of shares, including those under the SEPA, is subject to market conditions, such as trading volume, price of our Class A Common Stock
and other factors beyond our control.
As
further discussed in other sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, on October 19, 2023, we entered into a three-year $25.0 million
term loan with HH-BDH, which was fully drawn upon closing and, the proceeds of which were used to repay certain outstanding obligations,
fund development of our products, and provide additional working capital. On August 16, 2024, an amendment to the term loan with HH-BDH
was executed to add a subsequent term loan of $1.7 million, which was fully drawn upon the closing, and, the proceeds of which used to
provide additional working capital. The HH-BDH Credit Agreement contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including a debt service
coverage ratio and, beginning on December 31, 2024, a minimum liquidity requirement of $4.0 million, measured on the last day of each
month. Additionally, on August 6, 2024, we entered into the Purchase Agreement with Yorkville, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and
sell to Yorkville in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of Convertible Debentures issuable in an aggregate principal
amount of up to $4.0 million, which will be convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. Yorkville purchased and
the Company issued $2,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures at the First Closing. Furthermore, the Company agreed
to issue to the Yorkville Warrants to purchase up to 1,325,382 shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $2.63. At the First
Closing, the Company issued a Yorkville Warrant to Yorkville to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock. Additionally, on
November 13, 2024, the Second Closing under the Purchase Agreement occurred whereby the Company issued an additional $2.0 million in aggregate
principal amount of Convertible Debentures for proceeds of approximately $1.8 million and issued an additional Yorkville Warrant to purchase
up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock. The Convertible Debentures do not bear interest, subject to a potential increase to 18.0%
per annum (or the maximum amount permitted by applicable law) upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Convertible Debentures
will mature on February 6, 2025 and will result in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $3.6 million. The Convertible Debentures
will be issued at an original issue discount of 10%. The
Company
will be required to make monthly cash payments of principal in the amount of $1.3 million (or such lesser amount as may then be outstanding)
plus all accrued and unpaid interest as of such payment. Such payments will commence 30 days following the Second Closing and will continue
on a monthly basis thereafter until the Convertible Debentures are repaid in full, subject to certain conditions as described in the Convertible
Debentures. If any of these limitations of the HH-BDH Credit Agreement or the Purchase Agreement were to materially impede the flow of
cash to us, our ability to service and repay our debt would be materially and adversely affected. Notwithstanding the receipt of the proceeds
of the borrowings made under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as amended, and the Yorkville securities purchase agreement, to the extent the
Company continues to receive cash distributions that are less than previously projected amounts from its alternative assets, the Company
will require additional capital to fund and grow its operations.
We
may not be able to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing on terms favorable to the Company, or at all. To the extent
that Ben or its subsidiaries raise additional capital through the future sale of equity or debt, the ownership interest of our existing
equity holders may be diluted. The terms of these future equity or debt securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely
affect the rights of our existing equity unitholders or involve negative covenants that restrict Ben’s ability to take specific
actions, such as incurring additional debt or making additional investments in growing the operations of the Company. If Ben defaults
on these borrowings, then the Company will be required to either (i) sell participation or other interests in our loans or other of our
assets or (ii) to raise additional capital through the sale of equity and the ownership interest of our equity holders may be diluted.
Further, given the number of shares of Class A common stock eligible for resale as a result of various registration statements we have
filed with the SEC, our stock price may be further depressed as a result of significant sales of our securities, which could adversely
affect our ability to raise equity capital on favorable terms or at all. In addition, because the $920.00 exercise price per share of
the outstanding Warrants substantially exceeds the current trading price per share of our Class A common stock ($1.23
per share as of September 30, 2024), there is no assurance that the Warrants will be in the money prior to their expiration and it
is unlikely that the Warrant holders will be able to exercise such Warrants in the near future, if at all. Accordingly, we are unlikely
to receive any proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants in the near future, if at all, and the Warrants may not provide any additional
capital. Similarly, the Yorkville Warrants have an exercise price ($2.63 per share) that exceeds the current trading price per share of
our Class A common stock. In considering our capital requirements and sources of liquidity, we have not assumed or relied on the receipt
of proceeds from the exercise of Warrants or Yorkville Warrants. As a result of the foregoing, we may require additional capital resources
to execute strategic initiatives to grow our business.
We
will utilize our cash flows toward our contractual obligations, to invest in our business, including new product initiatives and growth
strategies, including any potential acquisitions, and, if determined by our Board, pay dividends to our equity holders, including guaranteed
payments on certain of BCH’s preferred equity securities, and fund tax distributions for certain noncontrolling interest holders.
Our ability to fund these capital needs will depend on our ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and via the capital markets.
We are continuing to evaluate the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas conflict and other items, such as inflation
and rising interest rates, and assess the impact on financial markets and our business. The Company’s future results may be adversely
affected by slowdowns in fundraising activity and the pace of new liquidity transactions with our customers due to such events.
While
we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, our financial statements have been
prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of
business. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification
of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty related
to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Capital
expenditures have historically not been material and we do not anticipate making material capital expenditures through the remainder of
fiscal year 2025.
Recent
Equity Issuances
On
August 20, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Cangany Capital Management, a limited liability company controlled
by Peter T. Cangany, Jr., a member of the Company’s board of directors, pursuant to which Cangany Capital Management purchased 47,500
shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of $2.33.
On
August 27, 2024, the Company entered into additional subscriptions agreement with Cangany Capital Management, pursuant to which Cangany
Capital Management purchased 65,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.97.
Also
on August 27, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Thomas O. Hicks, a member of the Company’s board of directors,
and a subscription agreement with CFH Ventures, Ltd., a limited partnership controlled by Mr.
Hicks,
pursuant to which each of Mr. Hicks and CFH Ventures, Ltd. purchased 50,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.97.
On
September 6, 2024 and October 9, 2024, the Company issued 9,623 shares and 4,175 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to a consultant
of the Company.
On
September 11, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Cangany Capital Management pursuant to which Cangany Capital
Management purchased 150,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price per share of $1.58.
On
September 17, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with Mendota, pursuant to which the Company issued 201,482 shares
in satisfaction of its outstanding obligations to the Vendor pursuant to that certain Consulting Agreement by and between Mendota and
The Beneficient Company Group (USA), L.L.C. effective as of September 9, 2021, as amended from time to time thereafter, pursuant to which
Mendota provided financial consulting services to the Company.
Amended
Credit Agreements
On
August 13, 2020, Ben, through its subsidiary Beneficient Capital Company II, L.L.C. (formerly known as Beneficient Capital Company, L.L.C.)
(“BCC”), executed the Second Amended and Restated First Lien Credit Agreement (“First Lien Credit Agreement”)
and the Second Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement (“Second Lien Credit Agreement”) collectively, (the “Second
A&R Agreements” or the “HCLP Loan Agreement”) with its lender, HCLP Nominees, L.L.C (“HCLP”), to amend
its First Lien Credit Agreement and Second Lien Credit Agreement dated September 1, 2017 and December 28, 2018, respectively. The Second
A&R Agreements have been further amended from time to time to extend the maturity date and defer principal and interest payments,
among other things. In connection with the amendments to the Second A&R Agreements, Ben agreed to pay extension fees on a percentage
of the amount outstanding under the credit agreements as of the date of the respective amendment. The interest rate on each loan under
the Second A&R Agreements is 1-month LIBOR plus 8.0%, with a maximum interest rate of 9.5%.
On
February 15, 2023, Ben executed those certain Amendment No. 5 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Consent and Amendment
No. 5 to Second Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement with HCLP, pursuant to which, as required by the prior amendment, certain
Ben subsidiaries became subsidiary guarantors and entered into those certain Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement (First
Lien) and Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement (Second Lien), that certain first lien Guaranty and that certain second lien
Guaranty.
On
June 5, 2023, BCH, entered into those certain Consent and Amendment No. 6 to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which amended
the First Lien Credit Agreement, and Consent and Amendment No. 6 to Second Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement (collectively,
the “Sixth Amendments”), which amended the Second Lien Credit Agreement, each among BCH, HCLP and the other parties thereto.
Among other things, the Sixth Amendments (i) allowed for the consummation of the Transactions pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement,
and effective as June 7, 2023, (ii) amended the definition of “Change of Control” (as defined therein), and (iii) provided
that Beneficient will be the “Parent” thereunder.
On
July 12, 2023, BCH, entered into (a) that certain Amendment No. 7 to the First Lien Amendment, which amended the First Lien Credit Agreement,
and (b) that certain Amendment No. 7 to Second Lien Amendment (together with the First Lien Amendment, the “Seventh Amendments”),
which amended the Second Lien Credit Agreement, each among BCH, HCLP and the other parties thereto. Among other things, the Seventh Amendments
(i) modified the interest rate to a fixed rate of 9.5% (ii) extended the maturity dates of the First Lien Amendment and the Second Lien
Amendment to September 15, 2024 and September 15, 2027, respectively, and (iii) agreed to installment payments on the First Lien Amendment
of $5.0 million on each of March 29th,
June 28th,
September 29th,
and December 29th
of each year for so long as the obligations remain outstanding, and so long as such payments do not cause a going concern. No payments
will be made on the Second Lien Amendment until the obligations on the First Lien Amendment have been fully satisfied. Effective
on July 31, 2024, the maturity date of the First Lien Credit Agreement was extended from September 15, 2024 to February 1, 2025, and certain
mandatory prepayment obligations thereunder were waived by HCLP until February 1, 2025.
As
part of the Seventh Amendments, Ben agreed to pay fees totaling approximately $0.1 million. During the three and six
months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023,
no deferred financing costs were paid to HCLP. No payments of principal or interest have been made on the First Lien or Second Lien Credit
Agreements since the interest payment made in March 2023. Accrued interest on the First Lien or Second Lien Credit Agreements of $14.1 million
as of September 30, 2024 and $9.5 million as of March 31, 2024 is included in other liabilities in the consolidated statement of
financial condition. Through September 30, 2024, all required principal and interest payments due under the Second A&R Agreements
have been paid.
In
connection with the Second A&R Agreements, Beneficient Holdings, Inc. (“BHI”), which is owned by The Highland Business
Holdings Trust, of which Mr. Heppner is the trustee, and Mr. Heppner and his family are the beneficiaries, owns a majority of the BCH
Class S Ordinary Units, Class S Preferred Units of BCH (“BCH Class S Preferred Units”), BCH Preferred A.0, Preferred Series
A Subclass 1 Unit Accounts of BCH (“BCH Preferred A.1”), and Subclass 1 FLP Unit Accounts of BCH (“BCH FLP-1 Unit Accounts”),
and Subclass 3 FLP Unit Accounts of BCH (“BCH FLP-3 Unit Accounts”), will grant certain tax-related concessions to HCLP as
may be mutually agreed upon between the parties. In exchange for the tax-related concessions, 5% of BCH Preferred A.1 held by BHI, which
will be held by HCLP, may convert to BCH Preferred A.0. In addition, recipients of a grant of BCH Preferred A.1 from BHI will have the
right to put an amount of BCH Preferred A.1 to Ben equal to any associated tax liability stemming from any such grant; provided that the
aggregated associated tax liability shall not relate to more than $30.0 million of grants of BCH Preferred A.1 from BHI. No such liability
existed as of September 30, 2024 or March 31, 2024.
The
Second A&R Agreements and ancillary documents contain covenants that (i) prevent Ben from issuing any securities senior to the BCH
Preferred A.0 or BCH Preferred A.1; (ii) prevent Ben from incurring additional debt or borrowings greater than $10.0 million, other than
trade payable, while the loans are outstanding; and (iii) prevent, without the written consent of HCLP, GWG from selling, transferring,
or otherwise disposing of any BCH Preferred A.1 held as of May 15, 2020, other than to its subsidiary GWG DLP Funding V, LLC. GWG no longer
holds any BCH Preferred A.1 Unit Accounts. Ben obtained consents for the Second A&R Agreements from HCLP in connection with the HH-BDH
Credit Agreement (discussed below).
Ben
may be required to pay an additional extension fee to extend the maturity dates of the Second A&R Agreements beyond February 1, 2025
and September 15, 2027.
Recent
Debt Financing
As
discussed above, the Loan Parties are parties to the HH-BDH Credit Agreement. HH-BDH’s sole member is Hicks Holdings. The managing
member of Hicks Holdings is Mr. Thomas O. Hicks, a member of the Company’s Board. HH-BDH will receive customary fees and expenses
in its capacity as a lender and as the administrative agent under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as further described below. Hicks Holdings
and Mr. Hicks may be deemed to have a direct or indirect material financial interest with respect to the transactions contemplated by
the HH-BDH Credit Agreement, as described below. HH-BDH funded the amounts under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement from the Financing.
The
HH-BDH Credit Agreement provides for a three-year Term Loan in the aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million, which was fully drawn
on closing.
Borrowings
under the HH-BDH Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s option, calculated according to a base rate, adjusted term SOFR
rate, or adjusted daily simple SOFR rate, plus an applicable margin, subject to a Maximum Rate determined by applicable law in the State
of New York. The Company elected the adjusted daily simple SOFR rate with a margin of 6.5% for the first two years and 5.5% for the third
year. Accrued and unpaid interest is payable monthly, upon prepayment, and at maturity. The Term Loan will mature on October 19, 2026,
and all outstanding principal amounts and accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable on such date.
On
August 16, 2024, the Borrower, the Guarantor and HH-BDH entered into the Amendment, to, among other things, (i) add a subsequent term
loan of up to $1,675,000, which was fully drawn upon closing of the Amendment, and (ii) waive certain events of default resulting from
the occurrence of the Acknowledged Defaults, provided that in the case of the expense reimbursement default, the Borrower must cure the
expense reimbursement default upon the earlier of (x) November 1, 2024 and (y) two business days following the effectiveness of Company’s
registration statement for resale of the shares of Class A common stock, underlying the convertible debentures and warrants issuable pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement.
The
Amended Credit Agreement also requires the Borrower to prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Loans in the amount of $200 thousand,
$200 thousand, $200 thousand, $200 thousand and $875 thousand on each of September 7, 2024, October 7, 2024, November 7, 2024, December
7, 2024 and December 31, 2024, respectively. Furthermore, on each Required Payment Date, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal
balance of the Loans by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the Total Portfolio Net Receipts for the most recently ended period beginning
on the 16th day of each month and ending on the 15th day of the immediately following month, and (b) as of each Required Payment Date,
an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (x)(i) the number of Required Payment Dates occurring on or prior to such Required Payment Date,
multiplied by (ii) $500,000, minus (y) the amount of all Excess Payments made prior to such Required Payment Date. Additionally, the Amended
Credit Agreement requires the Borrower to make certain minimum monthly payments to prepay the balance of the Loans.
The
Amended Credit Agreement also includes, among other things, (i) updates to conditions precedent for the Lender to make the subsequent
term loan to the Borrower, (ii) updates to certain representations and warranties, (iii) additional certain
affirmative
and negative covenants including a minimum liquidity financial covenant of $4.0 million and (iv) additional events that the occurrence
of which would constitute an Event of Default (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). Except as modified by the Amendment, the terms
of the HH-BDH Credit Agreement remain the same.
Inflation
Changes
in inflation do not necessarily correlate with changes in interest rates. We presently do not foresee any material impact of inflation
on our results of operations in the periods presented in our consolidated financial statements.
Unfunded
Capital Commitments
The
Customer ExAlt Trusts had $47.2 million and $47.8 million of potential gross capital commitments as of September 30, 2024, and March 31,
2024, respectively, representing potential limited partner capital funding commitments on the interests in alternative asset funds. The
trust holding the interest in the limited partnership for the alternative asset fund is required to fund these limited partner capital
commitments per the terms of the limited partnership agreement. Capital funding commitment reserves are maintained by certain of the associated
trusts within the ExAlt PlanTM
or affiliated entities. To the extent that the associated Customer ExAlt Trust or their affiliated entities cannot pay the capital funding
commitment, Ben is obligated to lend sufficient funds to meet the commitment. Any amounts advanced by Ben to the Customer ExAlt Trusts
for these limited partner capital funding commitments above the associated capital funding commitment reserves, if any, held by the associated
Customer ExAlt Trusts or their affiliated entities are added to the ExAlt Loan balance between Ben and the Customer ExAlt Trusts and are
expected to be recouped through the cash distributions from the alternative asset fund that collateralizes such ExAlt Loan.
Capital
commitments generally originate from limited partner agreements having fixed or expiring expiration dates. The total limited partner capital
funding commitment amounts may not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The majority, or 90%, of our portfolio with an unfunded
commitment has a vintage of 2012 and prior. As the vintages continue to age, a cash requirement becomes less likely. We consider the creditworthiness
of the investment on a case-by-case basis. As of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, there were no reserves for losses on
unused commitments to fund potential limited partner capital funding commitments.
Dependence
on Related Party Transactions
In
the ordinary course of business, we depend on certain transactions with related parties. For example, as discussed above, Ben, through
its subsidiaries, is a party to the Second A&R Agreements with HCLP. HCLP is an indirect subsidiary of Highland Consolidated, L.P.
Ben’s CEO is a beneficiary and trust investment advisor of the trusts that control, and are the partners of, Highland Consolidated,
L.P. As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $94.6 million (including an unamortized premium thereon) of debt outstanding
derived from BCH’s secured loans with HCLP. In addition, unpaid interest of $14.1 million
was accrued and
owed as of September 30, 2024.
Additionally,
effective October 19, 2023, Ben, through its subsidiaries, is a party to the $25.0 million HH-BDH Credit Agreement with HH-BDH. HH-BDH’s
sole member is Hicks Holdings whose managing member is a member of our Board. On August 16, 2024, Amendment to the HH-BDH Credit Agreement
was executed to add a subsequent term loan of $1.7 million. As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $25.2 million (including
an unamortized discount thereon) of debt outstanding derived from the term loan with HH-BDH.
Furthermore,
Ben and BCH are parties to a Services Agreement with Bradley Capital Company, L.L.C. (“Bradley Capital”) and Beneficient Management
Counselors, L.L.C. effective June 1, 2017. Effective as of January 1, 2022, the parties entered into the First Amended and Restated Services
Agreement and effective June 7, 2023, the parties entered into the Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement (the “Services
Agreement”). Bradley Capital is an entity associated with Ben’s CEO. During the three months ended September 30, 2024
and 2023, Ben recognized expenses totaling $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively, related to this services agreement. During the
six months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, Ben recognized expenses totaling $1.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related
to this services agreement. As of September 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, $3.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively, was owed
to Bradley Capital related to the Services Agreement.
As
reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed by the GWG Wind Down Trust on October 8, 2024, the GWG Wind Down Trust held approximately 7.6%
of
the Class A common stock, down from approximately 45% of the Class A common stock at the time our June 30, 2024 Form 10-Q was filed on
August 14, 2024.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
We
have identified certain accounting estimates that involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably
likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Actual amounts and values as
of
the balance sheet dates may be materially different than the amounts and values reported due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation
process. Also, future amounts and values could differ materially from those estimates due to changes in values and circumstances after
the balance sheet date. The critical accounting estimates that we believe to be the most critical in preparing our consolidated financial
statements relate to the fair
value determination of investments in alternative assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts,
the determination of the allowance for credit losses, principally relevant as an input to the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s
and BCH’s equity holders, the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s and BCH’s equity holders, evaluation of potential
loss contingencies principally related to ongoing legal matters and evaluation of potential impairment of goodwill and other intangibles.
Since March 31, 2024, there have been no changes in critical accounting estimates, other than those described below, as further described
under “Critical
Accounting Estimates”
in our Annual Report.
Goodwill
and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill
is tested for impairment between annual tests whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting
unit has fallen below its carrying value. Subsequent to the public listing on June 8, 2023, and through the date of this report, the Company
has experienced a significant sustained decline in the price of its Class A common stock and its related market capitalization. We believe
that these factors indicated that the fair value of our reporting units had more likely than not fallen below their carrying values as
of each quarter end starting with the quarter ending as of June 30, 2023. As such, management performed an interim impairment test of
goodwill as of each quarter end starting with June 30, 2023 through the most recent quarter end of September 30, 2024. For the quarter
ended September 30, 2023, this resulted in $306.7 million of non-cash goodwill impairment at the Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody reporting
units. For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, this resulted in $0.3 million of non-cash
goodwill impairment at the Ben Custody reporting unit. For year-to-date September 30,
2023,
non-cash goodwill impairment of $1.4
billion was recorded at the Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody reporting units. For year-to-date September 30, 2024, non-cash goodwill
impairment of $3.7
million was
recorded at the Ben Custody and Ben Markets reporting units.
For
each goodwill impairment test, the Company computed the fair value of each reporting unit by computing the overall enterprise value of
the Company by valuing its various equity instruments, primarily based on the Class A common stock price per share. The overall enterprise
value was allocated to each reporting unit using the discounted cash flow method to estimate the relative value of each reporting unit
based on their future cash flows using a multi-year forecast, and a terminal value calculated using a long-term growth rate that was informed
based on our industry, analyst reports of a public company peer set, current and expected future economic conditions and management expectations.
The discount rate used to discount these future cash flows was determined using a capital asset pricing model based on the market value
of equity of a public company peer set, adjusted for risk characteristics and expectations specific to the reporting unit, combined with
an assessment of the cost of debt.
The
discount rates used for each reporting unit in the June 30, 2023 impairment analysis ranged from 24.8% to 25.6% and in the September 30,
2023 impairment analysis ranged from 25.3% to 26.2%. The Company applied a terminal year long-term growth rate of 3.0% for each reporting
unit in both the June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 impairment analyses.
The
discount rates used for the relevant reporting units in the June 30, 2024 impairment analysis ranged from 28.0%
to 29.3% and in the September 30,
2024
impairment analysis from 28.0% to 29.3%.
The Company applied a terminal year long-term growth rate of 3.0%
for each relevant reporting unit in both the June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 impairment analyses. Remaining goodwill of $9.9
million at September 30, 2024 relates to the Ben Custody and Ben Markets reporting units. Subsequent to the September 30, 2024
impairment, there was no excess of reporting unit fair value over carrying value for Ben Custody and approximately $0.4 million of reporting
unit fair value over carrying value for Ben Markets.
Management
continues to closely monitor the results of the reporting units and comparisons to the key assumptions used in our fair value estimate,
in addition to operational initiatives and macroeconomic conditions, which may impact the results of the reporting units. The performance
of the reporting units and the potential for future developments in the global economic environment, introduces a heightened risk for
additional impairment. If management determines that the reporting units, specifically Ben Custody and Ben Markets, cannot achieve the
growth assumptions noted above, or if there is continued deterioration in the market due to macroeconomic conditions, some or all of the
remaining recorded goodwill could be subject to further impairment. While management cannot predict if or when additional future goodwill
impairments may occur, additional goodwill impairments could have material adverse effects on the Company’s financial condition,
operating income, net assets, and/or the Company’s cost of, or access to, capital.
There
could be further significant sustained declines in the Company’s Common Stock, which may result in a recognition of further goodwill
impairment that could be material to the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM
3 — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
applicable.
ITEM
4 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed
by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to
our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions
regarding required disclosure.
Our
management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of
our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on
this evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective as of September 30, 2024.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange
Act, during the six months ended September 30, 2024, that materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There
have been no material changes in the legal proceedings previously disclosed in response to Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings”
set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on July 9, 2024, except
as set forth below.
On
July 29, 2024, the Texas District Court entered an order vacating the previously disclosed arbitration award against the Company in the
aggregate amount of approximately $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment and post-judgement interest. As previously
disclosed, on December 16, 2022, a former member (the “Claimant”) of the board of directors of Beneficient Management, L.L.C.
initiated a private arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, challenging the termination
of certain equity awards under two incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans. On April 23, 2024, the sole arbitrator
held that in terminating the Claimant’s equity awards, the Company had breached its contractual obligations, and as a result, awarded
the Claimant $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment and post-judgement interest (the “Arbitration Award”).
The order vacated the Arbitration Award in its entirety. The Company was also asked to pay arbitration-related costs in the amount of
approximately $0.1 million.
The
Texas District Court directed the parties to file motions requesting any further relief that may be available within twenty days of the
order. On August 2, 2024, the Claimant filed an appeal to challenge the order vacating the Arbitration Award in the Texas Fifth Court
of Appeals.
The
Company intends to vigorously defend itself in connection with the appeal.
ITEM
1A — RISK FACTORS
There
have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in response to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” set
forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on July 9, 2024, except as
set forth below.
We
have been notified by Nasdaq of our failure to comply with certain continued listing requirements and, if we are unable to regain compliance
with all applicable continued listing requirements and standards of Nasdaq, our Class A common stock could be delisted from Nasdaq.
Our
Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. To maintain our listing, we are required to satisfy continued listing requirements.
There can be no assurance we will continue satisfying such continued listing requirements, which include that the closing bid price of
our common stock be at least $1.00 per share, that we have at least 300 round lot holders and at least 500,000 publicly held shares, that
the market value of our publicly held securities be at least $1 million, and that we meet one of these standards: stockholders’
equity of at least $2.5 million; market value of listed securities of at least $35 million; or net income from continuing operations of
$500,000 in the latest fiscal year or in two of the last fiscal years.
On
November 28, 2023, we received a letter from the Staff of Nasdaq (the “Nasdaq Staff”) notifying the Company that, for the
previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price for the Company’s Class A common stock had been below the minimum $1.00
per share required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Bid Price Requirement”).
In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company was provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until May 28,
2024, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement.
Effective
February 26, 2024, the Company transferred from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market. On March 22, 2024, the Company
received a letter from Nasdaq advising that the Nasdaq Staff had determined that, as of March 21, 2024, the Company’s Class A common
stock had a closing bid price of $0.10 or less for at least ten consecutive trading days. Accordingly, the Company was subject to the
provisions contemplated under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iii). As a result, the Nasdaq Staff determined to delist the Company’s
securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market, unless the Company timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”)
pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5800 Series. The Company requested a hearing, and such hearing was scheduled
for May 21, 2024.
In
order to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement, on April 18, 2024, the Company effected a reverse stock split of its Class
A common stock and Class B common stock at a ratio of eighty (80) to one (1) and a simultaneous proportionate reduction in the authorized
shares of each class of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as required by NRS Section 78.207. On May 2, 2024, the Company
received noticed from the Nasdaq Staff that the Company had regained compliance with the Bid Price Requirement, and that therefore, the
Company was therefore in compliance with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. As a result, the Company’s hearing
before the Panel was cancelled.
On
July 16, 2024, the Company received a notice from the Nasdaq staff indicating that it is no longer in compliance with the minimum stockholders’
equity requirement (the “Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”) for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Stockholders’ Equity Notice”). Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requires
listed companies to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 or meet the alternative compliance standards relating to
the market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations, which the Company does not currently meet.
Pursuant
to the Stockholders’ Equity Notice and the Listing Rules of Nasdaq, Nasdaq provided the Company with 45 calendar days, or until
August 30, 2024, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. If
the Company’s plan to regain compliance is accepted, the Staff can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of
the Stockholders’ Equity Notice to evidence compliance. If the Company’s plan to regain compliance is not accepted, or if
it is accepted and the Company does not regain compliance in the timeframe required by Nasdaq, the Nasdaq Staff could provide notice that
the Company’s shares of Class A common stock are subject to delisting. In such an event, the Company would have the right to request
a hearing before the Panel. The hearing request would automatically stay any suspension or delisting action pending the completion of
the hearings process. The Stockholders’ Equity Notice had no immediate impact on the listing of the Class A common stock, which
will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “BENF,” subject to the Company’s compliance with the
other listing requirements of Nasdaq.
The
Company timely submitted a plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. Although the Company intends
to use all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity Requirement, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Stockholders’ Equity
Additionally,
on July 23, 2024, the Company notified Nasdaq that, following the resignations of Emily B. Hill and Dennis P. Lockhart from the Company’s
Board and Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”). On September 30, 2024, Patrick J. Donegan was appointed to
the Board as an independent director and a member of the Audit, Products and Related Party Transactions, Credit and Enterprise Risk committees
of the Board. The Company currently has a vacancy on the Audit Committee and intends to rely on the cure period set forth in the Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5605 while it recruits a new Audit Committee member.
On
July 25, 2024, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq (the “Audit Committee Notice”) confirming that the Company was no
longer in compliance with Nasdaq’s audit committee composition requirements as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605, which requires
that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised of at least three “independent directors” (as defined in Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(4), the Company intends to rely on the cure period to reestablish compliance
with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605. The cure period is generally defined as until the earlier of the Company’s next annual meeting of
stockholders or July 21, 2025. If the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders is held before January 15, 2025, then the Company
must evidence compliance no later than January 15, 2025. The Board is in the process of identifying and selecting a new member of the
Board who qualifies as “independent” and meets the audit committee criteria set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605. The Board
intends to comply fully with Nasdaq audit committee requirements by or before the end of the cure period described above, but there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605 or that the Company will otherwise be
in compliance with other applicable Nasdaq listing criteria. The Audit Committee Notice had no immediate impact on the listing of the
Class A common stock, which will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “BENF,” subject to the Company’s
compliance with the other listing requirements of Nasdaq..
If
we are delisted from Nasdaq, our securities may be eligible for trading on an over-the-counter market. If we are not able to obtain a
listing on another stock exchange or quotation service for our securities, it may be extremely difficult or impossible for stockholders
to sell their shares. If we are delisted from Nasdaq, but obtain a substitute listing for our securities, it will likely be on a market
with less liquidity, and therefore experience potentially more price volatility than experienced on Nasdaq. Stockholders may not be able
to sell their securities on any such substitute market in the quantities, at the times, or at the prices that could potentially be available
on a more liquid trading market. As a result of these factors, if our securities are delisted from Nasdaq, the value and liquidity of
our securities would likely be significantly adversely affected. A delisting of our securities from Nasdaq could also adversely affect
our ability to obtain financing for our operations and/or result in a loss of confidence by investors, employees and/or business partners.
In
the event of a delisting, we can provide no assurance that any action taken by us to restore compliance with listing requirements would
allow our securities to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our securities, prevent our securities
from dropping below the Nasdaq minimum bid price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with the listing requirements of Nasdaq.
There can be no assurance that we will maintain the compliance of our securities with the Nasdaq listing requirements.
Decisions
made by an individual trustee could materially affect our custody business and the assets held in certain of our trusts.
Historically,
we have been dependent upon the services of John Stahl, an individual who, prior to our receipt of the operating TEFFI charter in Kansas,
served as trustee of most of our Customer ExAlt Trusts, excluding the custody trusts that are Delaware statutory trusts, which are trusts
with the Delaware Trust Company serving as trustee. Mr. Stahl continued to serve as trustee of the Customer ExAlt Trusts established in
our formative transactions until July 7, 2024, at which point BFF began the process of accepting such trusts as successor trustee. BFF
completed the trust acceptance process on September 19, 2024 and November 1, 2024 and, as such, currently serves as successor trustee
of all of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, excluding the custody trusts that are Delaware statutory trusts, for which the Delaware Trust Company
continues to serve as trustee. Previously,
we replaced Mr. Stahl as trustee on certain other trusts, and BFF was appointed as trustee of the Customer ExAlt Trusts following the
receipt of BFF’s TEFFI charter. Accordingly, BFF will be, subject to fiduciary duties and other restrictions included in our trust
agreements and as a matter of law, as a trustee, BFF will have broad discretion and authority to take actions permitted by the trust agreements
and applicable law.
Accordingly,
decisions made by BFF could materially affect our business and the assets held in such trusts. It is impossible to determine how these
decisions may affect the value of the Company and therefore our securities.
The
Company is currently involved in legal proceedings and may be a party to additional claims and litigation in the future.
On
February 18, 2022, Paul Capital Advisors (“PCA”) filed a lawsuit against MHT Financial, L.L.C. (“MHT”), BCG, and
two trust advisors (the “Trust Advisors”), Murray Holland (part-owner of MHT and former Chairman, President and CEO of GWG)
and James Turvey (an employee of BCG) in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court” or the “Court of Chancery”).
While BCG was named as a defendant, PCA did not assert claims against or seek relief from BCG but instead asserted one cause of action
that only sought the removal and replacement of the Trust Advisors. The lawsuit concerns a set of transactions that utilized a trust structure
with MHT as the sole beneficiary. Through this trust structure, PCA sold illiquid investments with a net asset value of approximately
$500 million to MHT in exchange for a contractual right from MHT to receive proceeds derived from an auction of BCG securities held in
certain trusts (the “Trusts”). Pursuant to a separate contingent value right (“CVR”) contract (the “CVR
Contract”) between BCG, affiliates of BCG (collectively, the “BEN CVR Parties”), and MHT, BCG agreed to undertake certain
obligations if consideration from the auction of the BCG securities held in the Trusts resulted in an amount less than the net asset value
of the illiquid investments MHT purchased from PCA (a “Shortfall ET Amount”), and other precedent conditions occurred. These
obligations included, among other things, making quarterly distributions of “Available Cash” to the Trusts until the distributions
equaled the Shortfall ET Amount.
Ultimately,
GWG won the auction of the Company securities with a winning bid comprised of cash, GWG common stock, and L Bonds. While the cash consideration
has been paid to PCA, the GWG stock and L Bonds remain in the Trusts until they are liquidated. The original complaint asserted one cause
of action: that the Trust Advisors had breached their purported fiduciary duties to PCA. The sole relief PCA sought was the removal and
replacement of the Trust Advisors. On March 14, 2022, the defendants moved to dismiss the original complaint, disputing in their briefs
filed on March 28, 2022 that PCA is a beneficiary of any kind to the Trusts, and therefore not owed fiduciary duties by the Trust Advisors,
and that PCA has no right to remove and replace the Trust Advisors. Further, the Company sought to dismiss the original complaint on the
grounds that no claims were asserted against the Company and no relief was sought from it.
On
April 18, 2022, PCA amended its original complaint. The amended complaint asserted six new causes of action arising out of the same set
of transactions, including: (1) purported breaches of contract against BCG, MHT, and the Trust Advisors, including a purported breach
of the CVR Contract; (2) purported fraud by the Company and MHT pertaining to the execution of the Second Amendment to the CVR Contract;
and (3) promissory estoppel against MHT, the Company, and Murray Holland in his capacity as a Trust Advisor. The amended complaint also
sought additional relief in the form of (1) damages “in an amount to be proven at trial” and (2) an order granting rescission
of an amendment to the CVR Contract or a holding declaring it invalid. On April 18, 2022, Mr. Holland and Mr. Turvey resigned as Trust
Advisors to the Trusts that were the subject matter of the complaint. On April 19, 2022, MHT, as the sole beneficiary of the Trusts, appointed
Dr. John Stahl as the new Trust Advisor. On April 28, 2022, the Court found that PCA’s original cause of action to remove Mr. Holland
and Mr. Turvey as Trust Advisors was moot. On May 6, 2022, PCA amended its complaint again to request that Dr. Stahl be removed as Trust
Advisor.
Additionally,
while the second amended complaint maintains the prior causes of action, it retracts PCA’s prior, false statements claiming that
the Company had not supplied PCA’s representative the relevant documents before he signed an amendment to the CVR Contract. PCA
still, however, requests that the Court rescind this amendment which memorialized the parties’ prior agreements regarding certain
definitions negotiated and approved by PCA and its counsel. On August 17, 2022, the Court issued a memorandum opinion that dismissed count
I of PCA’s complaint, which requested Dr. Stahl’s removal, after finding that PCA is not a beneficiary of the Trusts and,
therefore, lacks standing to request the removal of any
Trust
Advisor. Additionally, because the Court held that PCA is not a beneficiary of the Trusts, the parties agreed that count II, which alleged
breach of fiduciary duty against the Trust Advisors, should also be dismissed. On October 3, 2022, the Court entered an order dismissing
count I of PCA’s complaint in accordance with its memorandum opinion and count II in light of the parties’ agreement that
it should also be dismissed.
On
November 1, 2022, defendants filed their opening briefs in support of their motions to dismiss the remaining counts. On December 20, 2022,
PCA filed its answering brief in opposition to defendants’ motions to dismiss the remaining counts. On January 24, 2023, defendants
filed their reply briefs. Oral argument on the motions to dismiss was held on May 8, 2023. On August 29, 2023, the Court issued a letter
opinion that denied defendants’ motions to dismiss with respect to most of the remaining counts, explaining that the Court was unwilling
to determine the parties’ rights under the various agreements at the pleadings stage and that discovery may make these issues ripe
for summary judgment. The Court did, however, grant defendants’ motions to dismiss as to one of PCA’s promissory estoppel
claims and its claim for equitable fraud. On October 25, 2023, defendants filed their respective answers to PCA’s second amended
complaint.
On
November 9, 2023, defendants filed a motion to bifurcate, requesting that the Court of Chancery first resolve the threshold issue of PCA’s
standing under the CVR Contract and Exchange Trust Agreements before proceeding on the merits. On November 29, 2023, PCA filed its opposition
to defendants’ motion to bifurcate, and on December 8, 2023, defendants filed their reply brief. On June 24, 2024, the Court of
Chancery heard oral argument and issued its ruling granting defendants’ motion to bifurcate. In its ruling, the Court of Chancery
ordered the parties to promptly conduct limited standing-related discovery to allow final resolution of the standing issue on summary
judgment by January 2025.
This
litigation can subject us to substantial costs and divert resources and the attention of management from our business. If these claims
are successful, our business could be seriously harmed. Even if the claims do not result in protracted litigation or are resolved in our
favor, the time and resources needed to resolve such claims could divert our management’s resources and adversely affect our business.
The
CVR Contract is an agreement between the BEN CVR Parties, and MHT, which was dated as of September 1, 2017. PCA is not a party to the
CVR Contract nor an intended third-party beneficiary of the CVR Contract. In the CVR Contract, among other things, the Company agreed
to undertake certain obligations if: (1) the consideration from the auction of the Company securities held in the Trusts resulted in an
amount less than the net asset value of the illiquid investments MHT purchased from PCA (a Shortfall ET Amount) and (2) certain other
conditions were not satisfied, resulting in what the CVR Contract referred to as a “Distribution Trigger Event.” Under the
CVR Contract, a Distribution Trigger Event could potentially occur if the BEN CVR Parties failed to undertake an Initial Public Listing
(as defined in the CVR Contract) within 24 months of the auction closing date of the Company securities, which was defined to include
a transaction or event resulting in the listing of the Company’s common units (or any securities into which the common units may
be exchanged in a business combination or similar transaction) on a national stock exchange or quotation in an automated quotation system.
In the event of the occurrence of a Distribution Trigger Event, the BEN CVR Parties potentially would have had to comply with specified
obligations arising in certain circumstances, including making quarterly distributions of “Available Cash” to the Trusts until
the distributions equaled the Shortfall ET Amount, if any (a “Mandatory Distribution Period”).
During
such a Mandatory Distribution Period, the CVR Contract may have also required the BEN CVR Parties to cease certain business activities,
including the financing or acquisition of future private equity or other alternative asset loans unless financed through the issuance
of equity or debt that is subordinate to the obligations under the CVR Contract. Except where the description of the CVR Contract expressly
refers to PCA, the description of the CVR Contract’s terms is as asserted by the Company, and they are currently in dispute and
being litigated in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
As a threshold
matter, the parties disagree about whether PCA is an intended third-party beneficiary of the CVR Contract. PCA asserts it is an intended
third-party beneficiary with standing to enforce the CVR Contract. The BEN CVR Parties disagree with PCA because Section 4.9 of the CVR
Contract expressly disclaims that there are any third-party beneficiaries of CVR Contract other than the Trusts. In addition to the threshold
issue of standing, the parties disagree about (1) whether there is a Shortfall ET Amount under the CVR Contract’s definition of
Net Auction Consideration, (2) whether there was an Initial Public Listing as defined in the CVR Contract, and (3) whether the CVR Contract
terminated under these disputed definitions.
First,
PCA asserts that a Shortfall ET Amount exists because it alleges that the Trusts have not received Net Auction Consideration, which PCA
argues is defined to only include cash, in an amount equal to the net asset value of the illiquid investments MHT purchased from PCA (NAV
of ~$500 million). As a result, PCA claims damages in the amount of $350 million. In contrast, the BEN CVR Parties believe there is no
Shortfall ET Amount because the Trusts have received Net Auction Consideration that PCA’s valuation expert determined had a value
exceeding the NAV of the investments purchased from PCA (valued at ~$550 million), which was comprised of $150 million in cash and approximately
$400 million in GWG L-Bonds and GWG common stock. The BEN CVR Parties disagree that Net Auction Consideration only includes cash received
by the Trusts in light of (1) an acknowledgement in which PCA agreed that “for all purposes Net Auction Consideration included all
Auction Consideration” and that “the fair market value of all Auction Consideration shall be the
fair
market value as reflected [by PCA’s valuation expert]” and (2) an amendment to the CVR Contract that amended the definition
of Net Auction Consideration to include non-cash consideration received by the Trusts and that was signed by a PCA general partner serving
as a Ben director for purposes of approving such an amendment.
Second,
PCA asserts the BEN CVR Parties failed to undertake an Initial Public Listing, alleging the BEN CVR Parties never filed a registration
statement. The BEN CVR Parties disagree because they did exchange common units for GWG common stock, satisfying the CVR Contract’s
definition of an Initial Public Listing. Third, as a result of the disputed terms above, the parties disagree about whether the CVR Contract
terminated. Under the BEN CVR Parties’ view of the disputed terms, the CVR Contract terminated under its terms. But because PCA
asserts that a Shortfall ET Amount exists, PCA disagrees that the CVR Contract has terminated and claims that the amendment to the CVR
Contract was fraudulently induced.
To
date, PCA has not sought any equitable relief with respect to the CVR Contract and instead has only requested monetary damages. If PCA
is successful in its claim that it has standing to enforce the CVR Contract, that the CVR Contract has not terminated on its terms, and
that the Company and its related parties have breached certain obligations under the CVR Contract, PCA may be able to recover substantial
damages from the Company. Such damages could include an award to PCA of monetary damages in an amount of up to $350 million, the alleged
Shortfall ET Amount, plus costs and expenses. Any such recovery against the Company (or Beneficient) could materially affect the ability
of the Company (or Beneficient) to continue its operations.
Additionally,
on December 16, 2022, the Claimant initiated a private arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber
of Commerce, challenging the termination of certain equity awards under two incentive plans by the administrator of the incentive plans.
The Claimant sought total damages of $36.3 million plus attorney’s fees and punitive damages. On April 23, 2024, the sole arbitrator
held that in terminating the Claimant’s equity awards, the Company had breached its contractual obligations, and as a result, awarded
the Claimant $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment interest. Post-judgment interest was also awarded to claimant.
Neither attorneys’ fees nor punitive damages were awarded to the claimant. The Company was also asked to pay arbitration-related
costs in the amount of approximately $0.1 million. On
July 29, 2024, the Texas District Court entered an order vacating the previously Arbitration Award against the Company in the aggregate
amount of approximately $55.3 million in compensatory damages, including pre-judgment and post-judgement interest. The Texas District
Court directed the parties to file motions requesting any further relief that may be available within twenty days of the order. On August
2, 2024, the Claimant filed an appeal to challenge the order vacating the Arbitration Award in the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals. The Company
intends to vigorously defend itself in connection with the appeal.
On
February 18, 2022, Shirin Bayati and Mojan Kamalvand, on behalf of themselves and of all others similarly situated, filed a class action
lawsuit in the United States District Court for Northern District of Texas against GWG, its former President and Chief Executive Officer,
Murray Holland, its former Chief Financial Officer, Timothy Evans, and certain past and present members of the board of directors of GWG
and BCG (Roy Bailey, Peter T. Cangany, Jr., David Chavenson, Brad K. Heppner, Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer,
and David H. de Weese). The suit alleges that the defendants violated Sections 11, 12, and 15 of the Securities Act by issuing materially
misleading statements in a June 3, 2020 registration statement. On April 20, 2022, GWG filed for bankruptcy protection in the Southern
District of Texas. On April 21, 2022, the district court ordered all parties to submit statements by May 5, 2022 on whether the automatic
stay in bankruptcy extends to the non-debtor defendants. On April 25, 2022, the Lead Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Appointment as Lead
Plaintiff and Approval of Their Selection of Lead Counsel. On May 2, 2022, a notice of dismissal was filed, dismissing defendants Peter
T. Cangany, Jr., Brad K. Heppner, Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, and Bruce W. Schnitzer. On May 12, 2022, the district court extended
the bankruptcy stay to all non-debtor defendants, although it permitted a limited
modification
of lifting of the stay to allow the court to consider the pending lead plaintiff motion. On August 5, 2022, the district court entered
an order appointing Thomas Horton and Frank Moore as lead plaintiffs for the putative class. On May 26, 2023, Thomas Horton and Frank
Moore, on behalf of themselves and other similarly situated, filed a second class action lawsuit against the Company, Brad K. Heppner,
Peter T. Cangany, Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer and Whitley Penn LLP, alleging Securities Act violations
arising out of the Offering.
On
March 30, 2023, David Scura and Clifford Day, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit
in the United States District Court for Northern District of Texas against Ben, certain members of the Board (Brad K. Heppner, Peter T.
Cangany, Jr., Richard W. Fisher, Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, and Bruce W. Schnitzer), certain past members of the board of directors
of GWG (Jon R. Sabes and Steven F. Sabes), FOXO and Emerson Equity LLC (“Emerson”) (the “Scura Action”). The suit
alleges that the defendants defrauded GWG investors in connection with the sale of GWG’s L Bonds and preferred stock, and it asserts
claims on behalf of a putative class consisting of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired GWG’s L Bonds or
preferred stock of GWG between December 23, 2017 and April 20, 2022. The suit alleges that (i) the Company, the individual defendants,
and FOXO violated Sections 10(b) of the Exchange Act and SEC Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, (ii) that the individual defendants violated
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and (iii) that Emerson violated Section 15(c)(1)(A) of the Exchange Act. On May 3, 2023, Thomas Horton
and
Frank
Moore, in their capacities as the lead plaintiffs in the Bayati Action, filed a motion to lift the automatic stay in the Chapter 11 Cases
in order to file a motion in the Northern District of Texas seeking to consolidate the Bayati and Scura Actions under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act. On June 8, 2023, the plaintiffs in the Scura Action filed a voluntary notice of dismissal without prejudice.
On
August 16, 2023, Thomas Horton and Frank Moore, in their capacities as the Lead Plaintiffs in the Bayati Action, filed a notice regarding
the confirmation of the Debtors’ Chapter 11 plan in the GWG bankruptcy, a motion seeking to lift the bankruptcy stay and a motion
to consolidate the Bayati and Horton Actions. On September 12, 2023, the court entered an order consolidating the Bayati and Horton Actions.
The court ordered that the consolidated action shall bear the caption In re GWG Holdings, Inc. Securities Litigation. The court lifted
the bankruptcy stay and ordered the Lead Plaintiffs to file a new consolidated complaint within 20 days. On October 2, 2023, the Lead
Plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint against the Company, Brad K. Heppner, Peter T. Cangany, Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis
P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer (the “Ben Individual Defendants”), Murray T. Holland, Timothy L. Evans, David H. de Weese,
Roy W. Bailey, David F. Chavenson, and Whitley Penn LLP, alleging Securities Act violations arising out of the Offering. The complaint
alleges that the individual defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act, and further alleges that the Company
violated Section 15 of the Securities Act. The Company and the Ben Individual Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on November
7, 2023. On January 4, 2024, defendants Murray Holland, Roy Bailey, Tim Evans, Whitley Penn, David Chavenson and David H. de Weese filed
motions to dismiss. The Lead Plaintiffs’ responded to the various motions to dismiss on February 20, 2024, and the defendants (other
than Whitley Penn) filed replies in support of the motions to dismiss on March 21, 2024. The Company and the Ben Individual Defendants
intend to vigorously defend themselves in the litigation.
On
October 27, 2023, David Scura filed a petition in Dallas County District Court against Brad K. Heppner, Jon R. Sabes, Steven F. Sabes,
Peter T. Cangany, Jr., Thomas O. Hicks, Dennis P. Lockhart, Bruce W. Schnitzer, the Company and FOXO, alleging violation of the Texas
Securities Act, common law fraud, unjust enrichment, and civil conspiracy to defraud. Also on October 27, 2023, Clifford Day and Carla
Monahan filed a petition in Dallas County District Court against the same defendants, alleging the same claims. The parties agreed to
move the defendants’ deadline to respond to the petition to February 19, 2024. On April 10, 2024, the plaintiffs and Ben parties
entered into a twelve-month tolling agreement, and the plaintiffs filed motions to nonsuit their claims that the courts granted on April
12, 2024 and April 16, 2024, respectively. The Company and the Ben Individual Defendants intend to vigorously defend themselves in the
litigation.
The
Company may be materially adversely affected by negative publicity.
The
Company has received in the past, and may continue to receive in the future, negative publicity, which could adversely affect our reputation,
operations, and financial condition. For example, we and certain of our officers and directors have been the subject of negative media
coverage in the Wall Street Journal and other outlets regarding alleged self-dealing and the misuse of company funds. On July 28, 2023,
we and certain of our executive officers filed a claim for defamation against Alexander Gladstone, the author of the Wall Street Journal’s
previous media coverage concerning the Company. On May 22, 2024, the court in this case denied Mr. Gladstone’s motion to dismiss,
allowing our claims to proceed. Mr. Gladstone filed an answer on June 19, 2024, and a trial has been set for March 2026. On July 26, 2024,
defamation claims relating to the article authored by Gladstone were filed against Dow Jones & Co. Inc., the Wall Street Journal’s
publisher (“Dow Jones”). On November 6, 2024, Dow Jones filed a motion to dismiss. The Company is currently preparing a response
to such motion.
We
may continue to experience negative attention in the media. Defamation claims by their nature are difficult to win, and we cannot predict
the outcome of this litigation or its impact on us or our business. Such proceedings are time consuming and expensive and, regardless
of the factual basis for the assertions being made or the strength of the claims, can have a negative impact on the Company’s reputation,
on the morale and performance of the Company’s employees and on the Company’s relationships with regulators. Such impacts
could be exacerbated if we do not prevail in the litigation. Regardless of the ultimate outcome of our defamation claim, such litigation
may divert the time and effort of senior management from the management of the Company and may also have an adverse impact on the Company’s
ability to take timely advantage of various business and market opportunities. Additionally, such negative publicity has in the past,
and may continue, to impact the willingness of our customers and other parties to transact business with us. These direct and indirect
effects of negative publicity, and the demands of responding to and addressing it, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
businesses, financial condition and results of operations. Negative publicity also could have the effect of heightening the other risks
described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM
2 — UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Except
as set forth below, there were no sales of unregistered securities during the quarter ended September 30 2024 that were not previously
reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K.
On
September 6, 2024 and October 9, 2024, the Company issued 9,623 shares and 4,175 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to a consultant
of the Company. The issuance of the Class A common stock pursuant to these transactions was not registered under the Securities Act and
each was issued in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
On
September 17, 2024, the Company issued 201,482 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to a vendor of the Company. The issuance
of the Class A common stock pursuant to this transaction was not registered under the Securities Act and was issued in reliance upon the
exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
ITEM
3 — DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM
4 — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5 — OTHER INFORMATION
Securities
Purchase Agreement, Convertible Debentures and Warrants
As
previously disclosed, on August 6, 2024, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement with Yorkville. Upon signing of the Purchase Agreement,
the Company issued $2.0 in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures to Yorkville for proceeds of approximately $1.8 million
and a Yorkville Warrant to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered
into in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company filed a registration statement to register, among other things, the Conversion
Shares and the Yorkville Shares. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on November 12, 2024. On November 13, 2024,
the Company issued an additional $2.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures for proceeds of approximately $1.8
million and issued an additional Yorkville Warrant to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock.
The
Convertible Debentures do not bear interest, subject to a potential increase to 18.0% per annum (or the maximum amount permitted by applicable
law) upon the occurrence of certain events of default. The Convertible Debentures will mature on February 6, 2025 and resulted in gross
proceeds to the Company of approximately $3.6 million. The Convertible Debentures were issued at an original issue discount of 10%. The
Company will be required to make monthly cash payments of principal in the amount of $1.3 million (or such lesser amount as may then be
outstanding) plus all accrued and unpaid interest as of such payment. Such payments will commence 30 days following the Second Closing
and will continue on a monthly basis thereafter until the Convertible Debentures are repaid in full, provided that the Company’s
obligation to make a monthly payment will cease if (i) the daily volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock is greater
than 130% of the Conversion Price at any time immediately preceding the monthly payment date, and (ii) the Equity Conditions (as defined
in the Convertible Debentures) are satisfied, in each case, for each trading day during a period of 10 consecutive trading days. Any such
cessation will only be effective with respect to one monthly payment, and any subsequent cessation shall require the forgoing conditions
to be satisfied for 10 consecutive trading days during the 30 days prior to any subsequent monthly payment date.
The
Convertible Debentures are convertible at the option of the holder into Class A common stock equal to the applicable Conversion Amount
divided by $3.018. The maximum amount of shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures is 1,325,382. The Convertible Debentures
may be converted in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, subject to the Purchase Agreement Exchange Cap (as defined below).
The Conversion Amount with respect to any requested conversion will equal the principal amount requested to be converted plus all accrued
and unpaid interest on the Convertible Debentures as of such conversion (the “Conversion Amount”). In addition, no conversion
will be permitted to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, the holder together with the certain related parties would
beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, subject
to certain adjustments.
The
Company shall not issue any shares of Class A common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures held by Yorkville if the issuance
of such shares underlying the Convertible Debentures would exceed the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that the Company
may issue upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures in compliance with the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations
of Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Purchase Agreement Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap will not apply under certain circumstances,
including if the Company obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market for issuances
of Class A common stock in excess
of
such amount, or if the Company obtains a written opinion from outside counsel to the Company that such stockholder approval is not required.
The
Convertible Debenture provides the Company, subject to certain conditions, with an optional redemption right pursuant to which the Company,
upon 10 trading days’ prior written notice to Yorkville (the “Redemption Notice”), may redeem in cash, in whole or in
part, all amounts outstanding under the Convertible Debentures prior to the Maturity Date; provided that the volume weighted average price
on the date such Redemption Notice is delivered is less than the Conversion Price at the time of the Redemption Notice. The redemption
amount shall be equal to the outstanding principal balance being redeemed by the Company, plus the redemption premium of 10% of the principal
amount being redeemed, plus all accrued and unpaid interest in respect of such redeemed principal amount.
Upon
the occurrence of certain trigger events, the Company will be required to make monthly cash payments of principal in the amount of $1.3
million (or such lesser amount as may then be outstanding) plus all accrued and unpaid interest as of such payment. Such payments will
commence 30 days following the Second Closing and will continue on a monthly basis thereafter until the Convertible Debentures are repaid
in full, provided that the Company’s obligation to make a monthly payment will cease if (i) the daily volume weighted average price
of the Class A common stock is greater than 130% of the Conversion Price at any time immediately preceding the monthly payment date, and
(ii) the Equity Conditions (as defined in the Convertible Debentures) are satisfied, in each case, for each trading day during a period
of 10 consecutive trading days. Any such cessation will only be effective with respect to one monthly payment, and any subsequent cessation
shall require the forgoing conditions to be satisfied for 10 consecutive trading days during the 30 days prior to any subsequent monthly
payment date.
In
lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to Company upon exercise of a Yorkville Warrant, Yorkville may elect
instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Class A common stock determined according
to a formula set forth in the Yorkville Warrants, provided that such cashless exercise shall only be permitted if, at the time of such
exercise, there is no effective registration statement registering the resale of the Warrant Shares or if an Event of Default (as defined
in the Purchase Agreement) has occurred. The Yorkville Warrants are immediately exercisable. The Yorkville Warrants issued at the First
Closing will expire on August 6, 2027, and the Yorkville Warrants issued at the Second Closing will expire on November 13, 2027. The Yorkville
Warrants include customary adjustment provisions for stock splits, combinations and similar events. Prior to obtaining approval of stockholders,
the Company may not issue any Class A common stock that exceed the number of shares that it may issue pursuant to Nasdaq Stock Market
rules under the Yorkville Warrants.
The
issuance of Convertible Debentures, Yorkville Warrants, the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares is exempt from registration pursuant
to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Yorkville represented to the Company that it is an “accredited investor” as defined
in Rule 501 of the Securities Act and that each of the Convertible Debentures, Warrants, the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares
were acquired for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof.
Rule
10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
During
the three months ended September 30, 2024, none
of the Company’s directors or executive officers adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule
10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM
6 — EXHIBITS
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Exhibit |
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3.1.1 |
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3.1.2 |
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3.1.3 |
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3.1.4 |
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3.1.5 |
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3.1.6 |
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3.1.7 |
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3.1.8 |
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3.2 |
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4.1.1 |
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4.1.2 |
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4.2 |
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4.3.1 |
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4.3.2 |
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4.4 |
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4.5 |
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4.6.1 |
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4.6.2 |
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Registration
Rights Agreement with GWG Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, certain trusts related to The Beneficient Company Group, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, and as set forth in the Agreement, dated August 10, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to The Beneficient
Company Group, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-268741) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 9, 2022). |
4.6.3 |
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4.6.4 |
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4.6.5 |
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4.7 |
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4.8.1 |
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4.8.2 |
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4.9 |
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4.10 |
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10.1# |
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10.2 |
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10.3 |
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Amendment
No. 1 and Waiver No. 1 to Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Each Other Loan Document, dated August 16, 2024, by and among Beneficient
Financing, L.L.C., as borrower, Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., as guarantor, and HH-BDH LLC, as the administrative agent party thereto
and lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-41715) filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 21, 2024). |
10.4 |
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31.1* |
| Chief
Executive Officer—Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
31.2* |
| |
32.1** |
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
32.2** |
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
101.INS |
| XBRL
Instance Document. |
101.SCH |
| XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
101.CAL |
| XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
101.DEF |
| XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
101.LAB |
| XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
101.PRE |
| XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
104 |
| Cover
Page Interactive Data File (Formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
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* Filed
herewith.
** The
certifications as Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 are not deemed “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are
not to be incorporated by the reference into any filing of Beneficient under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general
incorporation language contained in such filing.
#
Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of
any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| BENEFICIENT |
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Date: November 14,
2024 |
By: |
/s/
Brad K. Heppner |
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| Chief
Executive Officer |
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| (Principal
Executive Officer and duly authorized officer) |
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Date: November 14,
2024 |
By: |
/s/
Gregory W. Ezell |
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| Chief
Financial Officer |
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| (Principal
Financial Officer and duly authorized officer) |