Loans to and Investments in Associated Companies

A summary of Loans to and investments in associated companies accounted for under the equity method of accounting during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows (in thousands):



	Loans to and investments in associated companies as of January 1,		Income (losses) related to associated companies			Income (losses) related to Jefferies associated companies (1)			Contributions to (distributions from) associated companies, net			Other, including foreign exchange and unrealized gains (losses)			Loans to and investments in associated companies as of March 31,

2018
Jefferies Finance	$	655,467	$	—		$	9,833		$	139,386		$	—		$	804,686
Berkadia	210,594		26,281			—			(17,212		)	(453		)	219,210
FXCM (2)	158,856		(8,224		)	—			—			239			150,871
Garcadia Companies	179,143		11,383			—			(9,727		)	—			180,799
Linkem	192,136		(7,455		)	—			542			8,024			193,247
HomeFed	341,874		11,610			—			—			—			353,484
Golden Queen (3)	105,005		(3,969		)	—			8,444			—			109,480
Other	223,754		2,474			(4,228		)	(2,383		)	1,676			221,293
Total	$	2,066,829	$	32,100		$	5,605		$	119,050		$	9,486		$	2,233,070

2017
Jefferies Finance	$	490,464	$	—		$	24,965		$	—		$	—		$	515,429
Jefferies LoanCore	154,731		—			2,332			(7,760		)	—			149,303
Berkadia	184,443		16,954			—			(1,924		)	102			199,575
FXCM (2)	336,258		(149,900		)	—			—			349			186,707
Garcadia Companies	185,815		13,294			—			(12,588		)	—			186,521
Linkem	154,000		(8,148		)	—			31,996			3,520			181,368
HomeFed	302,231		336			—			31,316			—			333,883
Golden Queen	111,302		(1,297		)	—			—			—			110,005
Other	205,854		187			(1,034		)	54,680			1			259,688
Total	$	2,125,098	$	(128,574	)	$	26,263		$	95,720		$	3,972		$	2,122,479


(1)	Primarily classified in Investment banking revenues and Other revenues.


(2)	As further described in Note 3, our investment in FXCM includes both our equity method investment in FXCM and our term loan with FXCM. Our equity method investment is included as Loans to and investments in associated companies and our term loan is included as Trading assets, at fair value in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.


(3)	At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance reflects $26.9 million and $30.5 million, respectively, related to a noncontrolling interest.

Income (losses) related to associated companies includes the following (in thousands):



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Berkadia	$	26,281		$	16,954
FXCM	(8,224		)	(149,900		)
Garcadia companies	11,383			13,294
Linkem	(7,455		)	(8,148		)
HomeFed	11,610			336
Golden Queen	(3,969		)	(1,297		)
Other	2,474			187
Total	$	32,100		$	(128,574	)

Income (losses) related to Jefferies associated companies (primarily classified in Investment banking revenues and Other revenues) includes the following (in thousands):



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Jefferies Finance	$	9,833		$	24,965
Jefferies LoanCore	—			2,332
Other	(4,228		)	(1,034		)
Total	$	5,605		$	26,263

Jefferies Finance

Through Jefferies, we own 50% of Jefferies Finance LLC ("Jefferies Finance"), our joint venture with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (“MassMutual”). Jefferies Finance is a commercial finance company whose primary focus is the origination and syndication of senior secured debt to middle market and growth companies in the form of term and revolving loans. Loans are originated primarily through the investment banking efforts of Jefferies. Jefferies Finance may also originate other debt products such as second lien term, bridge and mezzanine loans, as well as related equity co-investments. Jefferies Finance also purchases syndicated loans in the secondary market and acts as an investment advisor for various loan funds.

At March 31, 2018, Jefferies and MassMutual each had equity commitments to Jefferies Finance of $750.0 million. At March 31, 2018, $657.4 million of Jefferies commitment was funded. The investment commitment is scheduled to expire on March 1, 2019 with automatic one year extensions absent a 60-day termination notice by either party.

Jefferies Finance has executed a Secured Revolving Credit Facility with Jefferies and MassMutual, to be funded equally, to support loan underwritings by Jefferies Finance, which bears interest based on the interest rates of the related Jefferies Finance underwritten loans and is secured by the underlying loans funded by the proceeds of the facility. The total Secured Revolving Credit Facility is a committed amount of $500.0 million at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Advances are shared equally between Jefferies and MassMutual. The facility is scheduled to mature on March 1, 2019 with automatic one year extensions absent a 60-day termination notice by either party. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $121.2 million and $0.0 million, respectively, of Jefferies $250.0 million commitment was funded. Jefferies recognized interest income and unfunded commitment fees related to the facility of $1.0 million and $1.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Jefferies engages in debt capital markets transactions with Jefferies Finance related to the originations and syndications of loans by Jefferies Finance. In connection with such services, Jefferies earned fees of $101.4 million and $66.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are recognized in Investment banking revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, Jefferies paid fees to Jefferies Finance in respect of certain loans originated by Jefferies Finance of $18.5 million and $2.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are recognized within Selling, general and other expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Jefferies acts as a placement agent for CLOs managed by Jefferies Finance, for which Jefferies recognized fees of $0.3 million and $2.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are included in Investment banking revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Jefferies held securities issued by CLOs managed by Jefferies Finance, which are included in Trading assets. Additionally, Jefferies has entered into participation agreements and derivative contracts with Jefferies Finance based upon certain securities issued by the CLO. Gains (losses) related to the derivative contracts were not material.

Under a service agreement, Jefferies charged Jefferies Finance $26.1 million and $20.2 million for services provided during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018, Jefferies had a receivable from Jefferies Finance, included in Other assets in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition, of $43.1 million and a payable to Jefferies Finance, included in Payables, expense accruals and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition of $14.1 million. At December 31, 2017, Jefferies had a receivable from Jefferies Finance, included in Other assets in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition, of $34.6 million and a payable to Jefferies Finance, included in Payables, expense accruals and other liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition, of $14.1 million.

Jefferies enters into OTC foreign exchange contracts with Jefferies Finance as to which we had $0.4 million included in Trading liabilities and $1.5 million included in Trading assets in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

Jefferies LoanCore

Jefferies LoanCore, a commercial real estate finance company and a joint venture with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and LoanCore, LLC, originates and purchases commercial real estate loans throughout the U.S. and Europe. On October 31, 2017, Jefferies sold all of its membership interests (which constituted a 48.5% voting interest) in Jefferies LoanCore for approximately $173.1 million, the estimated book value as of October 31, 2017. In addition, Jefferies may be entitled to additional cash consideration over the next five years in the event Jefferies LoanCore's yearly return on equity exceeds certain thresholds.

Berkadia

Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC ("Berkadia") is a commercial mortgage banking and servicing joint venture formed in 2009 with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. We and Berkshire Hathaway each contributed $217.2 million of equity capital to the joint venture and each have a 50% equity interest in Berkadia. Through March 31, 2018, cumulative cash distributions received by Leucadia from this investment aggregated $579.2 million. Berkadia originates commercial/multifamily real estate loans that are sold to U.S. government agencies, and originates and brokers commercial/multifamily mortgage loans which are not part of government agency programs. Berkadia is an investment sales advisor focused on the multifamily industry. Berkadia is a servicer of commercial real estate loans in the U.S., performing primary, master and special servicing functions for U.S. government agency programs, commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions, banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions.

Berkadia uses all of the proceeds from the commercial paper sales of an affiliate of Berkadia to fund new mortgage loans, servicer advances, investments and other working capital requirements. Repayment of the commercial paper is supported by a $1.5 billion surety policy issued by a Berkshire Hathaway insurance subsidiary and corporate guaranty, and we have agreed to reimburse Berkshire Hathaway for one-half of any losses incurred thereunder. As of March 31, 2018, the aggregate amount of commercial paper outstanding was $1.47 billion.

FXCM

As discussed more fully in Note 3, at March 31, 2018, Leucadia has a 50% voting interest in FXCM and a senior secured term loan to FXCM due January 2019. On September 1, 2016, we gained the ability to significantly influence FXCM through our seats on the board of directors. As a result, we classify our equity investment in FXCM in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as Loans to and investments in associated companies. Our term loan remains classified within Trading assets, at fair value. We account for our equity interest in FXCM on a one month lag. We are amortizing our basis difference between the estimated fair value and the underlying book value of FXCM customer relationships, technology, trade name, leases and long-term debt over their respective useful lives.

During February 2017, Global Brokerage Holdings and FXCM's U.S. subsidiary, Forex Capital Markets LLC ("FXCM U.S.") settled complaints filed by the National Futures Association and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") against FXCM U.S. and certain of its principals relating to matters that occurred between 2010 and 2014. As part of the settlements, FXCM U.S. withdrew from business and sold FXCM U.S.'s customer accounts. Based on the above actions, we evaluated in the first quarter of 2017 whether our equity method investment was fully recoverable. We engaged an independent valuation firm to assist management in estimating the fair value of FXCM. Our estimate of fair value was based on a discounted cash flow and comparable public company analysis. The result of our analysis indicated that the estimated fair value of our equity interest in FXCM was lower than our carrying value by $130.2 million. We concluded based on the regulatory actions, FXCM's restructuring plan, investor perception and declines in the trading price of Global Brokerage's common shares and convertible debt, that the decline in fair value of our equity interest was other than temporary. As such, we impaired our equity investment in FXCM in the first quarter of 2017 by $130.2 million.

FXCM is considered a VIE and our term loan and equity interest are variable interests. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of FXCM because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact FXCM's performance. Therefore, we do not consolidate FXCM.

Garcadia

Garcadia is a joint venture between us and Garff Enterprises, Inc. ("Garff") that owns and operates 28 automobile dealerships comprised of domestic and foreign automobile makers. The Garcadia joint venture agreement specifies that we and Garff shall have equal board representation and equal votes on all matters affecting Garcadia, and that all operating cash flows from Garcadia will be allocated 65% to us and 35% to Garff, with the exception of one dealership from which we receive 83% of all operating cash flows and four other dealerships from which we receive 71% of all operating cash flows. Garcadia’s strategy is to acquire automobile dealerships in primary or secondary market locations meeting its specified return criteria.

In April 2018, Leucadia entered into a letter agreement to sell 100% of its equity interests in Garcadia and its associated real estate to our current partners, the Garff family. At closing, we will receive $435 million in cash and $50 million in senior preferred equity of an entity that will own all of the automobile dealerships associated broadly with the Ken Garff Automotive Group, including all the Garcadia dealerships. At or prior to closing, we will pay approximately $53 million to retire the mortgage debt on the real estate to be sold. In addition, we agreed to pay at closing an amount equal to $5.75 million to the Garff family representing the satisfaction of a pre-existing obligation. The estimated pre-tax gain that will be recognized as a result of this transaction is approximately $220 million. This transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018.

Linkem

We own approximately 42% of the common shares of Linkem, a fixed wireless broadband services provider in Italy. In addition, we own 5% convertible preferred stock, which is automatically convertible to common shares in 2020. If all of our convertible preferred stock was converted, it would increase our ownership to approximately 54% of Linkem’s common equity at March 31, 2018. We have approximately 48% of the total voting securities of Linkem.

HomeFed

At March 31, 2018, we own 10,852,123 shares of HomeFed’s common stock, representing approximately 70% of HomeFed’s outstanding common shares; however, we have contractually agreed to limit our voting rights such that we will not be able to vote more than 45% of HomeFed’s total voting securities voting on any matter, assuming all HomeFed shares not owned by us are voted. HomeFed develops and owns residential and mixed-use real estate properties. HomeFed is a public company traded on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board (Symbol: HOFD). As a result of a 1998 distribution to all of our shareholders, approximately 4.8% of HomeFed is beneficially owned by our Chairman at March 31, 2018. Three of our executives serve on the board of directors of HomeFed, including our Chairman who serves as HomeFed’s Chairman, and our President. Since we do not control HomeFed, our investment in HomeFed is accounted for under the equity method as an investment in an associated company.

Golden Queen Mining Company

Since 2014, we invested $93.0 million, net in cash in a limited liability company (Gauss LLC) to partner with the Clay family and Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., to jointly fund, develop and operate the Soledad Mountain gold and silver mine project. Previously 100% owned by Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd., the project is a fully-permitted, open pit, heap leach gold and silver project located in Kern County, California, which commenced gold and silver production in March 2016. In exchange for a noncontrolling ownership interest in Gauss LLC, the Clay family contributed $34.5 million, net in cash. Gauss LLC invested both our and the Clay family’s net contributions totaling $127.5 million to the joint venture, Golden Queen, in exchange for a 50% ownership interest. Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. contributed the Soledad Mountain project to the joint venture in exchange for the other 50% interest.

As a result of our consolidating Gauss LLC, our Loans to and investments in associated companies reflects Gauss LLC’s net investment of $127.5 million in the joint venture, which includes both the amount we contributed and the amount contributed by the Clay family. The joint venture, Golden Queen, is considered a VIE as the voting rights of the investors are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the expected losses and their rights to receive the expected residual returns, given the provision of services to the joint venture by Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. has entered into an agreement with the joint venture for the provision of executive officers, financial, managerial, administrative and other services, and office space and equipment. We have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the joint venture and are therefore not consolidating its results.

Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with the joint venture is limited to our investment. The excess of Gauss LLC's investment in Golden Queen's underlying book value is being amortized to expense over the estimated life of mine gold and silver sales.

Other

The following table provides summarized data for certain associated companies (Jefferies Finance and Berkadia) (in thousands):



	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
Revenues	$	266,339	$	230,269
Income from continuing operations before extraordinary items	$	99,811	$	78,512
Net income	$	99,811	$	78,512