UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

 

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 001-11981

MMA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

52-1449733

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3600 O’Donnell Street, Suite 600

Baltimore, Maryland

(Address of principal executive offices)

21224

(Zip Code)

 

(443) 263-2900

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class
Common Shares, no par value

Common Stock Purchase Rights

Name of each exchange on which registered
Nasdaq Capital Market

Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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 þ No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files) Yes þNo ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

           
  Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer þ
           
  Non-accelerated filer ¨   Smaller reporting company þ
           
  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 þ

 

There were 5,846,269 shares of common shares outstanding at November 1, 2018.

 

 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

 

Table of Contents

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 2
   
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
         
  Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) 27
         
    (a) Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 27
         
    (b) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 28
         
    (c) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 30
         
    (d) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 31
         
    (e) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 33
         
    (f) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 35
         
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 4
         
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 69
         
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 69
         
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION 70
         
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings 70
       
  Item 1A. Risk Factors 70
       
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 70
         
  Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 70
         
  Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 70
       
  Item 5. Other Information 70
       
  Item 6. Exhibits 71
         
SIGNATURES     S-1

 

 1 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018 (this “Report”) should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (“2017 Annual Report”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), to which reference is hereby made. This Report contains forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements often include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “would,” “could,” and similar words or expressions and are made in connection with discussions of future events and future operating or financial performance.

 

Forward-looking statements reflect our management’s expectations at the date of this Report regarding future conditions, events or results. They are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from what is anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained in this Report. For a discussion of certain of those risks and uncertainties and the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially because of those risks and uncertainties, see Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of our 2017 Annual Report.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this Report or that we may make from time to time, and to consider carefully the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the 2017 Annual Report in evaluating these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as required by law.

 

 2 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

Consolidated Financial Highlights

(Unaudited)

 

 

   As of and for the quarterly period ended 
(in thousands, except per common share data)  3Q18   2Q18   1Q18   4Q17   3Q17 
Selected income statement data                         
Net interest income  $2,603   $3,209   $2,895   $1,666   $1,817 
Non-interest revenue   204    293    220    225    793 
Total revenues, net of interest expense   2,807    3,502    3,115    1,891    2,610 
                          
Operating and other expenses   4,607    4,213    9,279    13,152    20,640 
Net gains (losses) from bonds and other continuing operations   10,533    3,608    3,136    (3,644)   10,058 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes   

8,733

    2,897    (3,028)   (14,905)   (7,972)
                          
Income tax (expense) benefit   (122)   (754)   790    1,977    (384)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax   13    619    20,578    6,939    5,095 
Loss allocable to noncontrolling interests from continuing operations     ─      ─      ─    11,346    12,717 
Loss allocable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations     ─      ─      ─    151    465 
Net income allocable to common shareholders  $

8,624

   $2,762   $18,340   $5,508   $9,921 
Earnings per share data                         
Net income allocable to common shareholders: Basic  $1.49   $0.48   $3.25   $0.94   $1.69 
Diluted   1.41    0.42    3.25    0.89    1.69 
                          
Average shares: Basic   5,804    5,697    5,650    5,838    5,871 
  Diluted   6,087    6,074    5,650    6,223    5,871 
Market and per common share data                         
Market capitalization  $149,981   $150,870   $153,699   $134,274   $143,952 
Common shares at period-end   5,830    5,770    5,746    5,618    5,836 
Share price during period:                         
High   28.00    29.40    30.58    26.60    25.05 
Low   25.18    25.45    23.85    23.70    18.00 
Closing price at period-end   26.18    26.60    27.20    24.30    25.05 
Book value per common share: Basic   33.20    32.35    31.05    24.49    23.26 
Diluted   32.96    32.02    30.82    24.48    23.26 
Selected balance sheet data (period end)                         
Cash and cash equivalents  $15,556   $27,045   $33,444   $35,693   $29,356 
Investments in debt securities (without consolidated funds and ventures ("CFVs")   147,808    162,261    157,824    143,604    142,951 
Investment in partnerships   146,104    128,206    122,432    128,820    119,883 
All other assets (without CFVs)   94,430    99,800    99,666    34,737    40,937 
Assets of discontinued operations     ─      ─      ─    61,220    65,862 
Assets of CFVs     ─      ─      ─    127,812    136,507 
Total assets  $403,898   $417,312   $413,366   $531,886   $535,496 
                          
Debt (without CFVs)  $187,172   $203,087   $205,099   $209,427   $209,233 
All other liabilities (without CFVs)   23,179    27,543    29,854    27,580    25,562 
Liabilities of discontinued operations     ─      ─      ─    17,212    15,603 
Liabilities of CFVs     ─      ─      ─    50,565    48,320 
Noncontrolling interests     ─      ─      ─    89,529    101,052 
Total liabilities and noncontrolling interests   210,351    230,630    234,953    394,313    399,770 
Common shareholders' equity  $193,547   $186,682   $178,413   $137,573   $135,726 
Rollforward of common shareholders' equity                         
Common shareholders' equity - at beginning of period  $186,682   $178,413   $137,573   $135,726   $127,547 
Net income allocable to common shareholders   8,624    2,762    18,340    5,508    9,921 
Other comprehensive income allocable to common shareholders   (3,375)   4,047    9,160    2,154    61 
Common share repurchases   (772)   (3,341)     ─    (5,694)   (1,161)
Common shares issued and options exercised   4,057    5,034    4,125      ─      ─ 
Cumulative change due to change in accounting principles     ─      ─    9,206      ─      ─ 
Other changes in common shareholders' equity   (1,669)   (233)   9    (121)   (642)
Common shareholders' equity - at end of period  $193,547   $186,682   $178,413   $137,573   $135,726 

 3 

 

 

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

INTRODUCTION 

 

 

  

Overview

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC was organized in 1996 as a Delaware limited liability company.  Unless the context otherwise requires, and when used in this Report, the “Company,” “MMA,” “we,” “our” or “us” refers to MMA Capital Management, LLC and its subsidiaries.

 

The Company invests in debt associated with renewable energy infrastructure and real estate. We focus on investments with attractive risk-adjusted returns that generate positive environmental or social impacts. Our investments, other assets and liabilities are organized into three portfolios:

  

·Energy Capital – This portfolio consists primarily of investments that we have made through joint ventures with an institutional capital partner in loans that finance renewable energy projects;

 

·Leveraged Bonds – This portfolio primarily includes tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are leveraged; and

 

·Other Assets and Liabilities – This portfolio includes certain loan receivables, cash, real estate-related investments, subordinated debt and the balance of the Company’s assets and liabilities.

 

Commencing on January 8, 2018, we became externally managed by Hunt Investment Management, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC (our “External Manager”). In conjunction with this change, and as further discussed in the 2017 Annual Report, we completed the sale of the following businesses and assets to Hunt (Hunt Companies, Inc. and/or its affiliates are herein referred to as “Hunt” and this sale transaction is hereinafter referred to as the “Disposition”):

 

·our Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) business;

 

·our international asset and investment management business;

 

·the loan origination, servicing and management components of our Energy Capital business (including certain management, expense reimbursement and other contractual rights that were held by the Company with respect to this business line);

 

·our bond servicing platform; and

 

·certain miscellaneous investments.

 

Given these changes to our business model and effective the first quarter of 2018, we operate as a single reporting segment. As a result, we no longer operate, or present the results of our operations, through three reportable segments that, as of December 31, 2017, included United States (“U.S.”) Operations, International Operations and Corporate Operations.  

 

Proposed Conversion to a Corporation

 

On August 7, 2018, the Board of Directors (“Board”) approved the conversion of our legal form of organization from a limited liability company to a corporation. Since its inception, the Company has followed a corporate form of governance and, in July 2013, elected to be taxed as a corporation. The proposed conversion would conform our legal form of organization to that of our tax and governance attributes.

 

If the conversion is approved by our shareholders, our common shares will be converted on a one-for-one basis from common shares of a limited liability company to common shares of a corporation and our current governance framework, including Board of Directors, will remain in place. Similarly, the measurement of our assets, liabilities and other tax, financial and accounting attributes for financial reporting purposes will be unchanged. However, upon conversion, we will be governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and a new certificate of incorporation instead of by the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “LLC Act”) and our current limited liability company operating agreement.

 

The proposed conversion of the Company’s legal form to that of a corporation is subject to the approval of our shareholders. Accordingly, the Company will hold a special shareholders’ meeting on November 20, 2018 at which shareholders will be provided an opportunity to vote on the Company’s proposed conversion. The Company filed a proxy statement with the SEC on September 28, 2018 that provides more information about the Company’s proposed conversion including the differences between the DGCL and our proposed corporate documents as compared with the LLC Act and our current limited liability company operating agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

Energy Capital Portfolio

 

In our Energy Capital portfolio, we invest in loans that finance renewable energy projects to enable developers, design and build contractors and system owners to develop, build and operate renewable energy systems throughout North America. These loans include late-stage development, construction and permanent loans. We typically invest in these loans directly or through Renewable Energy Lending, LLC (“REL”) with an institutional capital partner in multiple ventures that include: Solar Construction Lending, LLC (“SCL”); Solar Permanent Lending, LLC (“SPL”); and Solar Development Lending, LLC (“SDL”) (REL, SCL, SPL and SDL are collectively referred to hereinafter as, the “Solar Ventures”). Our External Manager provides loan origination, servicing, asset management and other management services to the Solar Ventures.

 

On June 1, 2018, the Company became the sole owner of REL and consolidates this venture for reporting purposes. The Company’s buyout of its prior investment partner’s interest in REL enabled it to increase the amount of equity we are able to deploy into renewable energy investments through the Solar Ventures, provided the Company with full decision-making control over REL and eliminated the preferred return that was payable to our prior investment partner. At September 30, 2018, REL holds a 50% membership interest in each of SCL and SPL that had a carrying value of $101.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

 

Upon the formation of SDL, the Company and its institutional capital partner each agreed to contribute 50% of the initial and incremental capital contributions to the partnership.  However, during the third quarter of 2017, the partners agreed that the Company would fund 10% and our capital partner would fund the remaining 90% for a particular portfolio of loans, thereby causing our ownership interest in SDL to decrease in percentage terms.  At September 30, 2018, the Company’s investment in SDL had a carrying value of $11.5 million, representing approximately a 50% ownership interest in this venture.

 

On July 13, 2018, the Company extended the investment period in SDL, SCL and SPL with our institutional capital partner through July 15, 2023.

 

At September 30, 2018, the loans that were funded through the Solar Ventures had an aggregate UPB of $178.7 million, a weighted-average remaining maturity of five months and a weighted-average coupon of 9.2%. These loans generated origination fees that ranged from 1% to 2% on committed capital and had fixed-rate coupons that ranged from 7.0% to 13.5%.

  

Leveraged Bonds Portfolio

 

In our Leveraged Bonds portfolio, we primarily invest in bonds that finance affordable housing and infrastructure in the U.S.

 

The bonds we hold are fixed rate and unrated. Our bonds are also generally tax-exempt and collateralized by affordable multifamily rental properties. Substantially all of the rental units in these multifamily properties, some of which may be subsidized by the government, have tenant income and rent restrictions.

 

The Company also has two municipal bonds that finance the development of infrastructure (“Infrastructure bonds”) for a mixed-use town center development and are secured by incremental tax revenues generated from the development.

 

The Company has financed its ownership of a majority of its investments in bonds through total return swap (“TRS”) agreements. These financing arrangements enable the Company to retain the economic risks and rewards of the fixed rate bonds that are referenced in such agreements and generally require the Company to pay a variable rate of interest that resets on a weekly basis. The Company also has executed TRS agreements to synthetically acquire the total return of multifamily bonds that it does not own. The Company has hedged a portion of the interest rate risk associated with its TRS agreements and other sources of variable interest rate exposure using various interest rate risk management agreements.

 

Table 1 provides key metrics related to all bonds in which we have an economic interest, including bonds in which we acquired an economic interest through TRS agreements (such bonds and TRS agreements are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Bond Portfolio”). See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 6, “Debt,” and Note 7, “Derivative Instruments,” for more information about how TRS and interest rate risk management agreements are reported in the Company’s financial statements.

 

 5 

 

 

Table 1: Bond Portfolio - Summary

 

   At September 30, 2018 
   Unpaid                      
   Principal             Wtd. Avg.   Number  Number of 
   Balance  Fair  Wtd. Avg.   Wtd. Avg.   Debt Service   of  Multifamily 
(dollars in thousands)  ("UPB")  Value  Coupon   Pay Rate (6)   Coverage (7)   Bonds (8)  Properties (8) 
Multifamily tax-exempt bonds                                 
Performing  $167,687  $176,728   6.42%   6.42%   1.22    21   19 
Non-performing (1)   9,869   12,966   6.45%   3.70%   0.89    1   1 
Subordinated cash flow (2)   9,620   10,674   6.78%   1.98%   N/A     3    ─ 
Total multifamily tax-exempt bonds  $187,176  $200,368   6.42%(5)   6.27%(5)   1.20    25   20 
                                  
Infrastructure bonds (3)  $26,825  $21,576   6.75%   6.75%   0.60    2   N/A 
Total Bond Portfolio (4)  $214,001  $221,944   6.47%(5)   6.33%(5)   1.12    27   20 

 

(1)Includes bond investments that are 30 days or more past due in either principal or interest payments.

 

(2)Coupon interest on these investments is payable only to the extent sufficient cash flows are available for the debtor to make such payments. As a result, debt service coverage is not calculated for these investments.

 

(3)On October 30, 2018, the Company agreed to restructure its two infrastructure bond investments into a single tax-exempt bond with a UPB of $27.2 million, a coupon of 6.30% and a contractual term of 30.1 years. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 17, “Subsequent Events,” for more information on the restructuring.

 

(4)Includes nine bonds with a combined UPB and fair value of $70.3 million and $74.1 million, respectively, that were financed with TRS agreements that had a combined notional amount of $71.6 million and that were accounted for as derivatives at September 30, 2018. The Bond Portfolio also includes eight bonds with a combined UPB and fair value of $81.0 million and $85.5 million, respectively, that were financed with TRS agreements that had a combined notional amount of $81.5 million and where the transfer of underlying bond investments was accounted for as a secured borrowing.

 

(5)Excludes the effects of subordinated cash flow bonds. If the Company had included the effects of subordinated cash flow bonds in the determination of these amounts, the weighted average coupon for total multifamily tax-exempt bonds and for the total bond portfolio would have been 6.44% and 6.48%, respectively, at September 30, 2018, and the weighted-average pay rate for total multifamily tax-exempt bonds and for the total bond portfolio would have been 6.05% and 6.14%, respectively, at September 30, 2018.

 

(6)Reflects cash interest payments collected as a percentage of the average UPB of corresponding bond investments for the preceding 12 months at September 30, 2018.

 

(7)Calculated on a rolling 12-month basis using property level information as of the prior quarter-end for those bonds with must pay coupons that are collateralized by multifamily properties or incremental tax revenues in the case of infrastructure bonds.

 

(8)For comparative purposes, at June 30, 2018, the Bond Portfolio was comprised of 29 bonds, which included 25 multifamily tax-exempt bonds that were collateralized by 20 affordable multifamily rental properties. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company sold its two bond investments that were classified as “Other bonds” that had a UPB and fair value of $14.8 million and $15.3 million, respectively, at June 30, 2018.

 

The fair value of the Bond Portfolio as a percentage of its UPB increased from 103.3% at June 30, 2018 to 103.7% at September 30, 2018, while the weighted-average debt service coverage ratio of the Bond Portfolio was 1.12x at both June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018.

 

The contractual terms of investments in the Bond Portfolio include provisions that permit bonds to be prepaid at par after a specified date that is prior to their stated maturity date.  Table 2 provides information about the UPB and fair value of bonds that were prepayable at par at September 30, 2018, and stratifies such information based upon the periods in which such instruments become prepayable at par.

 

Interest Rate Risk Hedge Positions

 

We use interest rate swaps and caps to hedge interest rate risk associated with this portfolio. The net fair value of these financial instruments was $1.8 million at September 30, 2018.

  

 6 

 

 

Table 2: Stratification of the Bond Portfolio Based Upon Prepayment Features

 

(in thousands)  UPB   Fair Value 
September 30, 2018  $26,825   $21,576 
October 1 through December 31, 2018   1,855    2,113 
2019   5,170    5,222 
2020   18,006    18,685 
2021   55,612    59,864 
2022   81,778    88,493 
Thereafter   24,755    25,991 
Bonds that may not be prepaid    ─     ─ 
Total  $214,001   $221,944 

 

Other Assets and Liabilities Portfolio

 

In our Other Assets and Liabilities portfolio, we manage the Company’s cash, loan receivables, real estate-related investments, subordinated debt and other assets and liabilities of the Company. An overview of the primary assets and liabilities within this portfolio follows.

 

Cash

 

As of September 30, 2018, we had $15.6 million of unrestricted cash and $10.9 million of restricted cash that was primarily pledged as collateral in connection with risk management and financing agreements.

 

Hunt Note

 

As consideration for the Disposition, Hunt agreed to pay the Company $57.0 million and to assume certain liabilities of the Company. The Company provided seller financing to Hunt through a $57.0 million note receivable from Hunt that has a term of seven years, is prepayable at any time and bears interest at the rate of 5% per annum.  The unpaid principal balance on the note will amortize in 20 equal quarterly payments of $2.85 million beginning on March 31, 2020.

 

On October 4, 2018, the Company’s note receivable from Hunt increased to $67.0 million as part of Hunt’s settlement of the MGM Agreements as defined and further discussed below within “Interests in MGM” and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 17, “Subsequent Events.”

 

Real Estate-Related Investments

 

When the Company conveyed its international asset and investment management business to Hunt, it retained an 11.85% ownership interest in the South Africa Workforce Housing Fund (“SAWHF”), along with related financing for that investment and a foreign currency hedge agreement for risk management purposes. SAWHF is a multi-investor fund managed by affiliates of International Housing Solutions S.à r.l. (“IHS”) that began operations in April 2008 and is currently in the process of exiting its investments. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in SAWHF was $10.7 million at September 30, 2018.

 

At September 30, 2018, we owned one direct investment in real estate consisting of a land parcel.  This undeveloped real estate is located just outside the city of Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia and had a carrying value of $3.7 million as of September 30, 2018.

 

At September 30, 2018, we were an equity partner in four real estate-related investments consisting of (i) an 80.0% ownership interest in a mixed-use town center development whose incremental tax revenues secure our infrastructure bond investments and (ii) three limited partner interests in partnerships that owned affordable housing and in which our ownership interest ranged from 74.25% to 74.92%. The carrying value of these four investments was $19.9 million at September 30, 2018.

 

Deferred Tax Assets

 

Deferred taxes arise from differences between assets and liabilities measured for financial reporting versus income tax return purposes.  Deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) are recognized if we assess that it is more likely than not that tax benefits, including net operating losses (“NOLs”) and other tax attributes, will be realized prior to their expiration.  As of December 31, 2017, the carrying value of our DTAs was $140 million, although these assets were fully reserved because management determined that, as of such reporting date, it was not more likely than not that the Company would realize its DTAs. The Company’s DTAs remain fully reserved as of September 30, 2018.

 

 7 

 

 

Debt Obligations

 

This portfolio includes the Company’s subordinated debt, notes payable and other debt.  The carrying value and weighted-average yield of these debt obligations at September 30, 2018 is provided below in Table 21.

 

Interest Rate Risk Hedge Positions

 

We use interest rate swaps and caps to hedge interest rate risk associated with debt obligations in this portfolio. The net fair value of these financial instruments was $5.1 million at September 30, 2018.

 

Interests in MGM

 

As consideration for the sale of our LIHTC business to Morrison Grove Management, LLC (“MGM”) in 2014, the Company received an option to acquire the LIHTC business of MGM, which primarily manages LIHTC investments on behalf of third party investors and for its own account.  This purchase option was converted on January 8, 2018, into a purchase and sale agreement that required the Company to complete the purchase of MGM subject to certain conditions precedent.  On January 8, 2018, the Company also (i) executed agreements to acquire from an affiliate of MGM certain assets pertaining to a specific LIHTC property and (ii) purchased a $9.0 million senior loan from an MGM affiliate.  This senior loan, which is secured by assets of MGM, bears interest at 11% payable quarterly.  The unpaid principal balance of this loan, which was $9.0 million as of September 30, 2018, is payable in full in June 2020.

 

On October 4, 2018, Hunt exercised its option to take assignment of the Company’s agreements to acquire (i) the LIHTC business of MGM and (ii) certain assets pertaining to a specific LIHTC property from affiliates of MGM (these agreements are collectively referred hereinafter to as the “MGM Agreements”). As a result of the concurrent assignment of the MGM Agreements and Hunt’s closing thereunder, the Company expects to recognize an increase in common shareholders’ equity of approximately $14.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, or approximately $2.35 per share based upon diluted shares outstanding at September 30, 2018.

 

In connection with the closing of the MGM Agreements, the Company executed a series of additional transactions completing the Company’s disposition of MGM and other LIHTC related assets. Those additional transactions included the acquisition by Hunt of (i) the Company’s $9.0 million held for sale loan for $9.4 million of cash that the Company had previously acquired from an affiliate of MGM and (ii) the Company’s remaining general partner interests in two nonconsolidated LIHTC funds. In addition, the Company acquired $10.0 million in Hunt notes from the MGM principals for $5.0 million in cash and $5.0 million in a Company note. This purchase increased the aggregate principal balance of the Company’s existing $57.0 million note from Hunt to $67.0 million. The Company’s $5.0 million note to the MGM principals bears interest at 5.0%, is payable quarterly in arrears and has a varying amortization schedule that fully amortizes the note by its maturity date of January 1, 2026. 

 

Our External Manager

 

In conjunction with the Disposition, we entered into a management agreement with the External Manager (the “Management Agreement”) that took effect on January 8, 2018. At the time of the Disposition, all employees of the Company were hired by the External Manager.  In consideration for the management services being provided by the External Manager, the Company pays the External Manager (i) a base management fee, which is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated as a percentage of the Company’s GAAP common shareholders’ equity, with certain annual true-ups, and (ii) an annual incentive fee equal to 20% of the total annual return of diluted common shareholders’ equity per share in excess of 7%.  However, for the first and second quarters of 2018, the base management fee was fixed at $1 million per quarter.  The Company also agreed to reimburse the External Manager for certain allocable overhead costs including costs associated with an allocable share of the costs of (i) noninvestment personnel of the External Manager who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company’s operations and reporting as a public company (based on their time spent on such matters) and (ii) the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) based on the percentage of their time spent managing the Company. Such reimbursement is, however, subject to a cap of $2.5 million through 2019 and $3.5 million thereafter, until the Company’s GAAP common shareholders’ equity exceeds $500 million.

 

 8 

 

 

SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

 

 

 

Net Worth

 

Common shareholders’ equity increased $6.9 million in the third quarter to $193.5 million at September 30, 2018. This change was driven by $5.3 million in comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders and by $1.6 million of other increases in common shareholders’ equity.

 

Diluted common shareholders’ equity (“Book Value”) per share increased $0.94 per share in the third quarter of 2018 to $32.96 at September 30, 2018.

 

Refer to “Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis” for more information about changes in common shareholders’ equity and other components of our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Comprehensive Income

 

We recognized comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders of $5.3 million in the third quarter of 2018, which consisted of $8.6 million of net income that was allocable to common shareholders and $3.3 million of other comprehensive loss that was allocable to common shareholders. In comparison, we recognized $10.0 million of comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders during the third quarter of 2017, which consisted of $9.9 million of net income that was allocable to common shareholders and $0.1 million of other comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders.

 

Net income that we recognized in the third quarter of 2018 was primarily driven by net interest income, net gains on bonds and equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures. Refer to “Consolidated Results of Operations” for more information about changes in common shareholders’ equity that is attributable to net income allocable to common shareholders.

 

Other comprehensive loss that we reported in the third quarter of 2018 was primarily attributable to the reclassification of unrealized holding gains out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and into our Consolidated Statements of Operations due to the sale of certain bond investments. The impact of this reclassification was partially offset by net unrealized holding gains that we recognized in AOCI during the third quarter in connection with our Bond Portfolio. Refer to “Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis” for more information about other comprehensive income.

 

Other Considerations

 

As further discussed in “Introduction – Overview” in Item 2 of this Report, the Company sold certain business lines and assets to Hunt and converted to an externally managed business model by engaging Hunt to perform management services for the Company. By executing this strategic transaction, the Company no longer recognizes:

 

·asset management fees and expense reimbursement revenues from international operations, LIHTC and renewable energy funds that we previously managed;

 

·investment income associated with conveyed equity co-investments in previously-managed funds;

 

·guarantee revenues or expenses associated with our LIHTC business line;

 

·various legal and other professional fees that are incurred in the normal course to manage the previously managed investment funds;

 

·employee salaries and benefits (other than stock compensation expense associated with unexercised options that were not conveyed and that is reported as a component of “Salaries and benefits” expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations); and

 

·other income and expense associated with conveyed interests and employees.

 

The Disposition also resulted in the deconsolidation from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets on January 8, 2018 of all guaranteed LIHTC funds and derecognition of nearly all other CFVs that were recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017. As a result, the Company will no longer recognize in future reporting periods revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests associated with such CFVs.

 

In place of the aforementioned revenues and expenses, and notwithstanding revenues and expenses associated with assets and liabilities of the Company that were excluded from the sale transaction, the Company recognizes interest income associated with its loan receivable from Hunt and will recognize various costs set forth in the Management Agreement, including base management fees, incentive management fees and reimbursements to the External Manager for certain allocable overhead costs.

 

Information that is provided in this Report’s “Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis” and “Consolidated Results of Operations” should be reviewed in consideration of the aforementioned changes.

 

 9 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS

 

 

  

This section provides an overview of changes in our assets, liabilities and equity and should be read together with our consolidated financial statements, including the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

Table 3 provides a balance sheet summary for the periods presented. For presentation purposes, assets, liabilities and equity that were attributable to noncontrolling interest holders of CFVs are presented in Table 3 as separate line items because the Company generally has a minimal ownership interest in these consolidated entities. For the periods presented, the assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests related to these CFVs were attributable to consolidated property partnerships and certain LIHTC funds in which we guaranteed minimum yields on investment to investors and for which we agreed to indemnify the purchaser of our general partner interest in such funds from investor claims related to those guarantees. However, the Disposition resulted in the deconsolidation from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in the first quarter of 2018 of all guaranteed LIHTC funds and derecognition of nearly all other CFVs that were recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 14, “Discontinued Operations,” and Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information about CFVs.

 

Table 3: Balance Sheet Summary

 

   At   At   At   At     
   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   Change for 
(in thousands, except per share data)  2018   2018   2018   2017   3Q 2018 
Assets                         
Cash and cash equivalents  $15,556   $27,045   $33,444   $35,693   $(11,489)
Restricted cash (without CFVs)   10,944    15,916    15,870    21,271    (4,972)
Investments in debt securities (without CFVs)   147,808    162,261    157,824    143,604    (14,453)
Investments in partnerships (without CFVs)   146,104    128,206    122,432    128,820    17,898 
Loans   67,299    66,299    66,299    736    1,000 
Other assets (without CFVs)   16,187    17,585    17,497    12,730    (1,398)
Assets of discontinued operations    ─     ─     ─    61,220     ─ 
Assets of CFVs (1)    ─     ─     ─    127,812     ─ 
Total assets  $403,898   $417,312   $413,366   $531,886   $(13,414)
                          
Liabilities and Noncontrolling Interests                         
Debt (without CFVs)  $187,172   $203,087   $205,099   $209,427   $(15,915)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   3,166    3,405    4,137    6,098    (239)
Other liabilities (without CFVs) (1), (2)   20,013    24,138    25,717    21,482    (4,125)
Liabilities of discontinued operations    ─     ─     ─    17,212     ─ 
Liabilities of CFVs    ─     ─     ─    50,565     ─ 
Noncontrolling interests related to CFVs    ─     ─     ─    89,529     ─ 
Total liabilities and noncontrolling interests  $210,351   $230,630   $234,953   $394,313   $(20,279)
                          
Common Shareholders' Equity  $193,547   $186,682   $178,413   $137,573   $6,865 
                          
                          
Common shares outstanding   5,830    5,770    5,746    5,618    60 
Common shareholders' equity per common share  $33.20   $32.35   $31.05   $24.49   $0.85 
                          
Diluted common shareholders' equity (3)  $198,978   $196,205   $188,947   $146,915   $2,773 
Diluted common shares outstanding   6,037    6,128    6,130    6,002    (91)
Diluted common shareholders' equity per common share  $32.96   $32.02   $30.82   $24.48   $0.94 

 

(1)Deferred revenue balances associated with financial guarantees that were made by the Company to 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds had been eliminated for reporting purposes in conjunction with prepaid guarantee assets of CFVs because the Company had consolidated such guaranteed LIHTC funds for reporting purposes. The unamortized balances of such deferred revenue and prepaid assets, which are equal and offsetting, were $7.5 million at December 31, 2017. The 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds were deconsolidated as of March 31, 2018, and, as a result, related deferred revenue balances were derecognized from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of such reporting date.

 

 10 

 

 

(2)Includes $14.1 million of deferred revenue associated with the Company’s sale of its LIHTC business as of September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018 and March 31, 2018 and $10.3 million as of December 31, 2017. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 17, “Subsequent Events,” for more information regarding the realization of such deferred revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

(3)Diluted common shareholders’ equity measures common shareholders’ equity assuming that all outstanding employee common share options that are dilutive were exercised in full at September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. In this case, liabilities recognized by the Company in its Consolidated Balance Sheets that relate to options that are dilutive would be reclassified into common shareholders’ equity upon their assumed exercise. These liabilities are measured at fair value and, therefore, are sensitive to changes in the market price for the Company’s common shares. The carrying value of liabilities that relate to all outstanding employee common share options was $5.4 million, $9.5 million, $10.5 million and $9.3 million at September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018, March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

Common Shareholders’ Equity

 

Table 4 summarizes the changes in common shareholders’ equity for the periods presented.

 

Table 4: Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Net income allocable to common shareholders  $8,624   $9,921   $(1,297)  $29,726   $13,894   $15,832 
Other comprehensive (loss) income allocable to common shareholders   (3,375)   61    (3,436)   9,832    1,181    8,651 
Other changes in common shareholders' equity   1,616    (1,803)   3,419    16,416    (4,673)   21,089 
Net change in common shareholders' equity  $6,865   $8,179   $(1,314)  $55,974   $10,402   $45,572 

 

Other Comprehensive Income Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

Table 5 summarizes other comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders for the periods presented.

 

Table 5: Other Comprehensive Income Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Bond related activity:                              
Bond fair value adjustments  $1,025   $(274)  $1,299   $2,143   $(1,135)  $3,278 
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income due to equity in losses from LTPPs    ─    897    (897)    ─    3,104    (3,104)
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (5,080)   (620)   (4,460)   (5,080)   (620)   (4,460)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as OTTI   141    39    102    6    39    (33)
Recognition of unrealized holding gains due to deconsolidation of consolidated LTPPs    ─     ─     ─    9,415     ─    9,415 
Other comprehensive (loss) income related to bond activity   (3,914)   42    (3,956)   6,484    1,388    5,096 
Income tax benefit   14     ─    14     ─     ─     ─ 
Cumulative translation adjustment   525   19    506   3,348    (207)   3,555 
Other comprehensive (loss) income allocable to
common shareholders
  $(3,375)  $61   $(3,436)  $9,832   $1,181   $8,651 

  

 11 

 

 

The other comprehensive loss that was allocable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily a result of the reclassification out of AOCI and into our Consolidated Statements of Operations of $5.1 million of realized gains associated with two bond investments that were sold in the third quarter of 2018. This decline was partially offset by a net increase in unrealized holdings gains that we recognized in the third quarter of 2018 in connection with our bond investments.

 

Other comprehensive income that was allocable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to other comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily as a result of (i) the recognition of net unrealized holding gains associated with bond investments that were no longer eliminated for reporting purposes in the first quarter of 2018 due to the derecognition of corresponding lower tier property partnerships, (ii) net increase in unrealized holding gains that we recognized in the third quarter of 2018 in connection with our bond investments and (iii) the reversal of a $3.4 million cumulative translation adjustment due to the sale of our international asset and investment management business in the first quarter of 2018. These increases were partially offset by the reclassification out of AOCI and into our Consolidated Statements of Operations of $5.1 million of realized gains associated with two bond investments that were sold in the third quarter of 2018.

 

Other Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity

 

Table 6 summarizes other changes in common shareholders’ equity for the periods presented.

 

Table 6: Other Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Common share repurchases  $(772)  $(1,161)  $389   $(4,113)  $(3,913)  $(200)
Common shares issued    ─     ─     ─    8,375     ─    8,375 
Net change due to change in accounting principles    ─     ─     ─    9,206     ─    9,206 
Purchases of shares in a subsidiary (including price adjustments on prior purchases)    ─    (724)   724    (73)   (931)   858 
Director and employee share awards   82    82     ─    246    171    75 
Options exercised   4,057     ─    4,057    4,841     ─    4,841 
Options tendered for payment of withholding taxes   (1,751)    ─    (1,751)   (2,066)    ─    (2,066)
Other changes in common shareholders' equity  $1,616   $(1,803)  $3,419   $16,416   $(4,673)  $21,089 

 

The amount of other changes in common shareholders’ equity for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to that reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017, primarily as a result of (i) the exercise of stock options previously granted to our officers and (ii) the decline in the number of common shares that were repurchased by the Company during the third quarter of 2018 compared to that purchased by the Company in the third quarter of 2017.

 

The amount of other changes in common shareholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to that reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily as a result of (i) a $9.2 million transition adjustment to retained earnings that we recognized in connection with the adoption of new accounting standards on January 1, 2018 (see “Adoption of New Accounting Standards” within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”), (ii) the issuance of 250,000 common shares to Hunt during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 in connection with the Disposition and (iii) the exercise of stock options during 2018 that were previously granted to our officers.

 

 12 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

This section provides a comparative discussion of our Consolidated Results of Operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and should be read in conjunction with our financial statements, including the accompanying notes. See “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for more information concerning the most significant accounting policies and estimates applied in determining our results of operations.

 

For presentation purposes, income (loss) that was attributable to noncontrolling interest holders of CFVs are excluded from our comparative discussion of our results of operations because (i) the Company had a minimal ownership interest in these consolidated entities and (ii) such income (loss) does not affect the measurement of diluted common shareholders’ equity per common share, which is a key metric that is used by management to evaluate the Company’s financial performance. In this regard, the discussion and analysis of consolidated results of operations herein is focused on income (loss) that is allocable to common shareholders. Additionally, income (loss) that was attributable to businesses or assets that were conveyed by the Company in the Disposition was reclassified for all reporting periods and is presented as discontinued operations. The Disposition resulted in the deconsolidation from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in the first quarter of 2018 of all guaranteed LIHTC funds and the derecognition of nearly all other CFVs that were recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information about income (loss) that was attributable to noncontrolling interest holders of CFVs.

 

Net Income Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

Table 7 summarizes net income allocable to common shareholders for the periods presented.

 

Table 7: Net Income Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Net interest income  $2,603   $1,814   $789   $8,707   $6,361   $2,346 
Other income   204    793    (589)   717    1,302    (585)
Operating and other expenses:                              
Other interest expense   (1,166)   (953)   (213)   (3,353)   (3,331)   (22)
Operating expenses   (3,441)   (7,933)   4,492    (14,746)   (16,697)   1,951 
Net gains on bonds, derivatives, real estate sales and operations, loans and debt extinguishment of liabilities   7,260    5,390    1,870    11,622    5,129    6,493 
Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures   3,273    6,531    (3,258)   5,655    11,472    (5,817)
Net loss allocated to common shareholders related to CFVs    ─    (897)   897     ─    (3,094)   3,094 
Net income to common shareholders from continuing operations before income taxes   8,733    4,745    3,988    8,602    1,142    7,460 
Income tax expense   (122)   (384)   262    (86)   (550)   464 
Net income to common shareholders from discontinued operations, net of tax   13    5,095    (5,082)   21,210    11,787    9,423 
Net losses allocable to noncontrolling interests in CFVs related to discontinued operations    ─    465    (465)    ─    1,515    (1,515)
Net income allocable to common shareholders  $8,624   $9,921   $(1,297)  $29,726   $13,894   $15,832 

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income represents interest income earned on our investment in bonds, loans and other interest-earning assets less our cost of funding associated with short-term borrowings and long-term debt that we use to finance such assets.

 

Table 8 summarizes net interest income for the periods presented.

 

 13 

 

 

Table 8: Net Interest Income

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Interest income:                              
Interest on bonds  $2,178   $2,194   $(16)  $7,425   $7,049   $376 
Interest on loans and short-term
investments
   1,055    91    964    3,196    638    2,558 
Total interest income   3,233    2,285    948    10,621    7,687    2,934 
Asset related interest expense:                              
Bond related debt   (630)   (471)   (159)   (1,914)   (1,326)   (588)
Total interest expense   (630)   (471)   (159)   (1,914)   (1,326)   (588)
Net interest income  $2,603   $1,814   $789   $8,707   $6,361   $2,346 

 

Net interest income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to that reported for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to (i) interest income on a $57.0 million note receivable that we recognized during 2018 in connection with the Disposition and (ii) the recognition of interest income on a $9.0 million senior loan during 2018 that we acquired from an affiliate of MGM. The impact associated with these items was partially offset by an increase in interest expense associated with bond related debt that was prompted by the reclassification of notes payable and other debt to bond related debt. The reclassification of such debt obligations was made in connection with the two bond investments that were recognized in the first quarter of 2018 upon the deconsolidation of various CFVs.

 

Other Income

 

Other Income includes asset management fees and reimbursements as well as other miscellaneous income.

 

Table 9 summarizes other income for the periods presented.

 

Table 9: Other Income

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Other income  $204   $793   $(589)  $717   $1,302   $(585)

 

Other income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to that reported for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the recognition of approximately $0.6 million of non-recurring income that was received in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with the reimbursement by MMA Capital TC Fund I, LLC of a mandatory loan that the Company had made to fulfill a guaranteed obligation.

 

Other Interest Expense

 

Other interest expense represents our cost of funding associated with debt obligations that do not finance our interest earning assets.

 

Table 10 summarizes other interest expense for the periods presented.

 

Table 10: Other Interest Expense

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Subordinated debt  $(891)  $(782)  $(109)  $(2,472)  $(3,003)  $531 
Notes payable and other debt   (275)   (171)   (104)   (881)   (328)   (553)
Other interest expense  $(1,166)  $(953)  $(213)  $(3,353)  $(3,331)  $(22)

 

 14 

 

 

Other interest expense for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to that reported for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of (i) the issuance of debt in the third quarter of 2017 that was used to finance our purchase of an 11.85% ownership interest in SAWHF and (ii) an increase in variable interest rates associated with our subordinated debt. The impact of these items was partially offset by a reduction in other interest expense that was attributable to our discounted purchase during the first nine months of 2017 of $26.4 million of the Company’s subordinated debt of which $19.9 million and $6.5 million pertained to purchases during the second and third quarters of 2017, respectively.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses include salaries and benefits, management fees and reimbursable expenses payable to our External Manager, general and administrative expense, professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses.

 

Table 11 summarizes operating expenses for the periods presented.

 

Table 11: Operating Expenses

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Salaries and benefits  $(33)  $(4,204)  $4,171   $(1,128)   (9,471)  $8,343 
External management fees and reimbursable expenses   (1,059)    ─    (1,059)   (5,762)    ─    (5,762)
General and administrative   (328)   (411)   83    (1,032)   (1,184)   152 
Professional fees   (1,230)   (2,077)   847    (5,031)   (4,408)   (623)
Other expenses   (791)   (1,241)   450    (1,793)   (1,634)   (159)
Operating expenses  $(3,441)  $(7,933)  $4,492   $(14,746)  $(16,697)  $1,951 

 

Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to those reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to (i) a decrease in employee-related compensation and other overhead costs that stemmed from the Company’s conversion to an externally managed business model upon settlement of the Disposition, (ii) a non-recurring $0.9 million other-than-temporary impairment charge recognized in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with one of our investments in infrastructure bonds and (iii) non-recurring professional fees that were incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily associated with the Disposition. The impact of these items was partially offset by (i) the incurrence in 2018 of external management fees and reimbursable expenses payable to our External Manager and (ii) $0.6 million of foreign currency losses associated with the remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities to U.S. dollars during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to those reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due a reduction in (i) employee-related compensation and other overhead costs that stemmed from the Company’s conversion to an externally managed business model upon settlement of the Disposition and (ii) stock compensation-related expense that was attributable to decreases in the volume of outstanding stock options driven by the exercise thereof in 2018 by our officers. The impact of these items was partially offset by (i) the incurrence in 2018 of external management fees and reimbursable expenses payable to our External Manager, (ii) an increase in non-recurring professional fees during the first quarter of 2018 that were largely driven by the Disposition and (iii) $0.5 million of foreign currency losses associated with the remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities to U.S. dollars during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Net Gains (Losses) Relating to Bonds, Derivatives, Real Estate-Related Investments, Loans and Extinguishment of Liabilities

 

Net gains (losses) relating to bonds, derivatives, real estate-related investments, loans and extinguishment of liabilities (“Net gains”) includes net realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with loans and derivative instruments, as well as includes gains that are realized by the Company in connection with the extinguishment of its recognized debt obligations.

 

 15 

 

 

Table 12 summarizes Net gains for the periods presented.

 

Table 12: Net Gains

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Net gains on bonds  $5,080   $620   $4,460   $5,080   $620   $4,460 
Net gains on derivatives   1,102    1,430    (328)   5,464    2,501    2,963 
Net gains on real estate-related investments   1,092    1,526    (434)   1,092    1,700    (608)
Net gains (losses) on loans    ─    805    (805)    ─    (4,530)   4,530 
Net (losses) gains on extinguishment of liabilities   (14)   1,009    (1,023)   (14)   4,838    (4,852)
Total net gains  $7,260   $5,390   $1,870   $11,622   $5,129   $6,493 

 

Net gains for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to those reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the recognition of $5.1 million of realized gains associated with two bond investments that were sold in the third quarter of 2018. The impact of this item was partially offset by decreases that were attributable to (i) non-recurring extinguishment gains that were recognized in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with the discounted purchase of $6.5 million of subordinated debt and (ii) an $0.8 million loan recovery that was received in connection with the settlement of a third-party guaranty in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Net gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to those reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to (i) $5.3 million of non-recurring fair value losses that we recognized in the first quarter of 2017 associated with a subordinated loan that the Company made to a residential solar power provider that filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2017, (ii) $5.1 million of realized gains associated with two bond investments that were sold in the third quarter of 2018 and (iii) an increase in net gains on derivatives that primarily related to derivative instruments that we use to hedge interest rate risk. The impact of these items was partially offset by non-recurring extinguishment gains of $4.8 million that were recognized during the first nine months of 2017 in connection with discounted purchases of debt obligations that were made by the Company during such reporting period.

 

Equity in Income from Unconsolidated Funds and Ventures

 

Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures includes our portion of the income associated with certain funds and ventures in which we have an equity interest.

 

Table 13 summarizes equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures for the periods presented.

 

Table 13: Equity in Income from Unconsolidated Funds and Ventures

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
U.S. real estate partnerships  $1,770   $3,908   $(2,138)  $1,996   $4,053   $(2,057)
Solar Ventures   2,032    2,160    (128)   4,004    6,956    (2,952)
SAWHF   (529)   463    (992)   (345)   463    (808)
Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures  $3,273   $6,531   $(3,258)  $5,655   $11,472   $(5,817)

 

Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures for the three months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to that reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to (i) a non-recurring $3.8 million gain that was recognized in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with the sale of the underlying real estate by the partnership in which the Company held a 33% limited partner interest and (ii) a decline in the net income attributable to the Company from its SAWHF investment primarily the result of unrealized investment gains being recognized in the 2017 reporting periods by the fund as compared to unrealized investment losses recognized in the 2018 reporting periods. This decline was partially offset by additional income recognized in the third quarter of 2018 related to three limited partner interests in affordable housing partnerships that were acquired in the first quarter of 2018.

 

 16 

 

 

Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to that reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to the factors identified in the preceding paragraph, coupled with a decrease in interest income earned by our Solar Ventures that was attributable to uninvested capital during the first six months of 2018 and an increase in the preferred return earned by our previous institutional capital partner during 2018.

 

Net Income to Common Shareholders from Discontinued Operations

 

Net income from discontinued operations primarily includes income and expenses associated with businesses and assets that were sold by the Company in connection with the Disposition.

 

Table 14 summarizes our income from discontinued operations, net of tax related to the sale of certain businesses and assets.

 

Table 14: Net Income to Common Shareholders from Discontinued Operations

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Income from discontinued operations  $13   $4,844   $(4,831)  $790    11,536   $(10,746)
Net gain from disposal of business    ─    251    (251)   20,420    251    20,169 
Total net gain from discontinued operations   13    5,095    (5,082)   21,210    11,787    9,423 
Loss from discontinued operations allocable to noncontrolling interests    ─    465    (465)    ─    1,515    (1,515)
Net income to common shareholders from discontinued operations  $13   $5,560   $(5,547)  $21,210   $13,302   $7,908 

 

Net income to common shareholders from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 declined compared to that reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017 because of the derecognition in the first quarter of 2018 of various businesses and assets that were conveyed to Hunt in connection with the Disposition.

 

Net income to common shareholders from discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased compared to that reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to a net gain of $20.4 million that we recognized in the first quarter of 2018 in connection with the Disposition. The impact of this net gain was partially offset by a decline in income from discontinued operations that was primarily driven by (i) the short duration of the Company’s ownership in the first quarter of 2018 of the businesses and assets that were conveyed in the Disposition, while corresponding amounts reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 reflect ownership of such items for a full reporting period and (ii) the derecognition upon settlement of the Disposition of noncontrolling interests associated with previously consolidated property partnerships. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 14, “Discontinued Operations,” for more information.

 

Net Loss from CFVs Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

Table 15 allocates the net loss from CFVs to noncontrolling interests in CFVs and common shareholders for the periods presented.

 

Table 15: Net Loss from CFVs Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Interest on loans and short-term investments  $  ─   $3   $(3)  $ ─   $8   $(8)
Other income     ─      ─      ─      ─    239    (239)
Interest expense     ─    (121)   121      ─    (307)   307 
Professional fees     ─    (487)   487      ─    (589)   589 
Impairment     ─    (9,671)   9,671      ─    (21,071)   21,071 
Asset management fee expense     ─    (1,016)   1,016      ─    (3,206)   3,206 
Other expenses     ─    (459)   459      ─    (1,370)   1,370 
Equity in losses from LTPPs of CFVs     ─    (1,863)   1,863      ─    (9,125)   9,125 
Net loss from CFVs     ─    (13,614)   13,614      ─    (35,421)   35,421 
Net loss from CFVs allocable to noncontrolling interest in CFVs from continuing operations     ─    12,717    (12,717)     ─    32,327    (32,327)
Net loss from CFVs allocable to common shareholders from continuing operations  $  ─   $(897)  $897   $ ─   $(3,094)  $3,094 

 

 

 17 

 

 

Table 16 further attributes the reported net loss from CFVs that was allocable to common shareholders for the periods presented.

 

Table 16: Net Loss from CFVs Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

   For the three months ended       For the nine months ended     
   September 30,       September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change   2018   2017   Change 
Equity in losses from LTPPs  $  ─   $(897)   897   $  ─   $(3,104)  $3,104 
Equity in income from consolidated property partnerships     ─      ─      ─      ─    10    (10)
Net loss from CFVs allocable to common shareholders from continuing operations  $ ─   $(897)  $897   $  ─   $(3,094)  $3,094 

 

 

The sale of our LIHTC business line and certain assets to Hunt on January 8, 2018 resulted in the deconsolidation from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in the first quarter of 2018 of all guaranteed LIHTC funds and derecognition of nearly all other CFVs that were recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017. As a result, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company did not recognize any revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities or noncontrolling interests associated with such CFVs or an allocation to common shareholders during such reporting periods.

 

 18 

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

Liquidity

 

Our principal sources of liquidity include: (i) cash and cash equivalents; (ii) cash flows from operating activities; and (iii) cash flows from investing activities.

 

Summary of Cash Flows

 

For purposes of presenting the Company’s summary of cash flows and changes thereto, Tables 17 – 20 of this Report have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the Company’s adoption on January 1, 2018, of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” This guidance requires the Company to include amounts that are deemed to be restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents together with its cash and cash equivalent balances for purposes of preparing its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

Table 17 provides a consolidated view of the change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of the Company for the periods presented, though changes in such balances that were attributable to CFVs are separately identified in such tabular disclosure. However, changes in net cash flows that are reported in Tables 18, 19 and 20 are exclusive of changes in restricted cash of CFVs. At September 30, 2018, and September 30, 2017, $10.9 million and $42.7 million, respectively, of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as presented below in Table 17 represents restricted cash.

 

As a result of the Disposition, $19.7 million and $19.1 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as “Assets of discontinued operations” at December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

We believe that cash generated from operating and investing activities, along with available cash and cash equivalents has been, and will continue to be, sufficient to fund our normal operating needs and meet our obligations as they become due.

 

Table 17: Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

 

   For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 
(in thousands)  MMA   CFVs   Total 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period  $75,632   $24,554   $100,186 
Net cash used in:               
Operating activities   (3,994)     ─    (3,994)
Investing activities   (41,814)   (24,554)   (66,368)
Financing activities   (3,324)     ─    (3,324)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (49,132)   (24,554)   (73,686)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period  $26,500    $  ─   $26,500 

 

   For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 
(in thousands)  MMA   CFVs   Total 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period  $79,445   $23,584   $103,029 
Net cash provided by (used in):               
Operating activities   5,872    (2,176)   3,696 
Investing activities   (1,229)   2,208    979 
Financing activities   (16,444)   (79)   (16,523)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (11,801)   (47)   (11,848)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period  $67,644   $23,537   $91,181 

 

 19 

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Table 18 provides information about net cash flows provided by, or used in, operating activities for the periods presented. Cash flows from operating activities include, but are not limited to, interest income on our investments and asset management fees.

 

Table 18: Net Cash Flows Associated With Operating Activities

 

   For the nine months ended     
   September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change 
Interest income  $12,135   $11,618   $517 
Distributions received from investments in partnerships   7,810    4,517    3,293 
Asset management fees received   1,017    12,248    (11,231)
Other income   183    987    (804)
Salaries and benefits   (176)   (13,666)   13,490 
(Advances on) and proceeds received on loans held for sale   (9,000)   805    (9,805)
Interest paid   (5,547)   (5,568)   21 
Professional fees   (5,396)   (4,751)   (645)
External management fees and reimbursable expenses   (4,703)    ─    (4,703)
General and administrative   (1,015)   (2,022)   1,007 
Other expenses   (431)   (220)   (211)
Other   1,129    1,924    (795)
Net cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities  $(3,994)  $5,872   $(9,866)

 

Net cash flows used in operating activities increased by $9.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This net increase was primarily driven by the following: (i) an $11.2 million decrease in asset management fees received as a result of the Disposition; (ii) the purchase of a $9.0 million senior loan from an MGM affiliate that we designated as held for sale; and (iii) $4.7 million of external management fees and reimbursable expenses incurred as a result of the Company’s conversion to an externally managed business model in the first quarter of 2018 in connection with the Disposition. The effects of these items were partially offset by (i) a $13.5 million decrease in cash flows used for salaries and benefits that stemmed from the Company’s conversion to an externally managed business model upon settlement of the Disposition and (ii) a $3.3 million increase in distributions received from the Company’s investments in partnerships and ventures primarily driven by distributions from the affordable housing partnerships in which we acquired limited partner interests in during the first quarter of 2018.

 

Investing Activities

 

Table 19 provides information about net cash flows provided by, or used in, investing activities for the periods presented. Cash flows from investing activities include, but are not limited to, principal payments and sales proceeds received on bonds and proceeds from the sale of real estate and other investments.

 

Table 19: Net Cash Flows Associated With Investing Activities

 

   For the nine months ended     
   September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change 
Principal payments and sales proceeds received on bonds and loans  $7,466   $23,828   $(16,362)
Proceeds from the sale of real estate and other investments   1,678    5,887    (4,209)
Cash and restricted cash derecognized in the Disposition   (21,942)    ─    (21,942)
Capital distributions received from investments in partnerships   21,595    10,681    10,914 
Investments in property partnerships and real estate   (49,611)   (26,097)   (23,514)
Advances on and originations of loans held for investment   (1,000)   (15,528)   14,528 
Net cash flows used in investing activities  $(41,814)  $(1,229)  $(40,585)

 

 20 

 

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased by $40.6 million as compared to amounts used during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This net increase was primarily driven by the following: (i) a $23.5 million increase in contributions to the Company’s investments in partnerships primarily related to the Solar Ventures; (ii) the derecognition of $21.9 million of cash and restricted cash upon settlement of the Disposition; and (iii) a decline in the pace of redemption of bonds and loans. The effects of these items were partially offset by (i) a $14.5 million decrease in loan originations and advances, primarily due to the portfolio of taxable senior mortgage loans the Company acquired in the first quarter of 2017 and (ii) a $10.9 million increase in capital distributions received from the Company’s investments in partnerships, primarily related to the Solar Ventures.

 

Financing Activities

 

Table 20 provides information about net cash flows provided by, or used in, financing activities for the periods presented.

 

Table 20: Net Cash Flows Associated With Financing Activities

 

   For the nine months ended     
   September 30,     
(in thousands)  2018   2017   Change 
Proceeds from borrowing activity  $12,189   $15,248   $(3,059)
Repayment of borrowings   (17,708)   (26,426)   8,718 
Purchase of common shares   (4,113)   (3,913)   (200)
Options tendered for payment of withholding taxes   (2,067)    ─    (2,067)
Issuance of common shares   8,375     ─    8,375 
Other    ─    (1,353)   1,353 
Net cash flows used in financing activities  $(3,324)  $(16,444)  $13,120 

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased by $13.1 million as compared to amounts used during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This decrease in net cash flows used for such activities was primarily attributable to (i) an $8.4 million increase in net cash flows provided from the private placement of 250,000 of the Company’s common shares to Hunt; and (ii) an $8.7 million decrease in the amount of net cash flows used to repay borrowings. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company used $21.8 million of cash to execute discounted purchases of the Company’s fixed rate subordinated debt while the Company used $16.3 million of cash in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 to terminate a total return swap that financed one of our leveraged bond investments. The effects of these items were partially offset by a decline in the Company’s borrowing activity.

 

Capital Resources

 

Our debt obligations primarily include liabilities that we recognized in connection with the execution of TRS agreements that we use to finance a portion of our investments in bonds, as well as subordinated debentures and other notes payable.  Each of the major types of our debt obligations is further discussed below.

 

 21 

 

 

Table 21 summarizes the carrying values and weighted-average effective interest rates of the Company’s debt obligations that were outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 6, “Debt,” for more information about these contractual commitments.

 

Table 21: Asset Related Debt and Other Debt

 

   At   At 
   September 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
       Weighted-Average       Weighted-Average 
   Carrying   Effective Interest   Carrying   Effective Interest 
(dollars in thousands)  Value   Rate   Value   Rate 
Asset Related Debt (1)                    
Notes payable and other debt – bond related  $81,414    3.0%  $83,838    3.1%
                     
Other Debt (2)                    
Subordinated debt   98,285    3.5    99,997    2.6 
Notes payable and other debt   7,473    14.7    25,592    6.7 
Total other debt   105,758    4.3    125,589    3.5 
                     
Total asset related debt and other debt   187,172    3.7    209,427    3.3 
                     
Debt related to CFVs (3)    ─     ─    6,712    6.5 
                     
Total debt  $187,172    3.7%  $216,139    3.4%

 

(1)Asset related debt is debt that finances interest-bearing assets. The interest expense from this debt is included in “Net interest income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Other debt is debt that does not finance interest-bearing assets. The interest expense from this debt is included in “Interest expense” under “Operating and other expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(3)See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information about CFVs.

 

Notes Payable and Other Debt – Bond Related

 

These debt obligations pertain to bonds that are classified as available-for-sale and that were financed by the Company through TRS agreements. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 6, “Debt,” for more information.

 

Subordinated Debt

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had subordinated debt with a UPB of $90.3 million and $91.6 million, respectively. The carrying value and weighted-average yield of this debt at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is provided above in Table 21. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 6, “Debt,” for more information.

 

Notes Payable and Other Debt

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had notes payable and other debt with a UPB of $7.8 million and $26.0 million, respectively. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 6, “Debt,” for more information.

 

Debt Related to CFVs

 

The Disposition resulted in the derecognition from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets of nearly all CFVs. As a result, all debt obligations associated with CFVs were derecognized upon the settlement of the Disposition. Consequently, the Company had no recognized debt related to CFVs as of September 30, 2018.

 

At December 31, 2017, the $6.7 million of debt related to CFVs consisted of debt obligations associated with one of the guaranteed LIHTC funds that we consolidated for reporting purposes. At December 31, 2017, the carrying value of this debt, which was due on demand, equaled its UPB and its weighted-average effective interest rate was 6.5%.

 

 22 

 

 

Covenant Compliance and Debt Maturities

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under its debt arrangements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company had guaranteed minimum yields to investors in 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds that were consolidated for reporting purposes. The Company also had agreed to make mandatory loans to MMA Capital TC Fund I for distribution to the fund investor in the event of certain tax credit shortfalls covered by a tax credit guarantee provided by the Company. Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 9, “Guarantees and Collateral,” for more information about our guarantees and certain other contingent arrangements.

 

The Company’s guarantee obligations to investors in 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds were assumed by Hunt in connection with the Disposition and, consequently, such guaranteed LIHTC funds were deconsolidated from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in the first quarter of 2018.

 

Other Contractual Commitments

 

The Company is committed to make additional capital contributions to certain of its investments in partnerships and ventures. Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 3, “Investments in Partnerships,” for information about these commitments.

 

The Company had no unfunded loan commitments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 4, “Loans Held for Investment (“HFI”) and Loans Held for Sale (“HFS”),” for more information.

 

The Company uses derivative instruments for various purposes. These instruments contingently obligate the Company in most cases to make payments to its counterparties. Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - Note 7, “Derivative Instruments,” for more information about these instruments.

 

Other Capital Resources

 

Common Shares

 

On March 13, 2018, the Board authorized a 2018 share repurchase program (“2018 Plan”) for up to 125,000 common shares, at a maximum price of $30.00 per share. The Company adopted a Rule 10b5-1 plan implementing the Board’s authorization. On August 7, 2018, the Board amended the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 187,500 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $31.50. Furthermore, on November 6, 2018, the Board authorized the amendment of the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 218,750 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $32.96, which represents the Company’s Book Value per share at September 30, 2018.

 

In the second quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased 121,027 common shares at an average price of $27.60. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company repurchased 28,473 common shares at an average price of $27.11. Between October 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018, the Company repurchased 34,350 common shares at an average price of $26.26. After taking into consideration the number of shares purchased through November 1, 2018, the number of shares that remains available for purchase under the amended 2018 Plan is 34,900.

 

In conjunction with the Disposition, the Company agreed to issue, and Hunt agreed to acquire, 250,000 of the Company’s common shares in a private placement at an average purchase price of $33.50 per share. On March 9, 2018, the Company issued 125,000 common shares to Hunt for $4.1 million, representing a price per share of $33.00. On June 26, 2018, the Company issued the remaining 125,000 shares to Hunt for $4.3 million, or $34.00 per share.

 

Dividend Policy

 

The Board makes determinations regarding dividends based on management’s recommendation, which is based on an evaluation of a number of factors, including our common shareholders’ equity, business prospects and available cash. We do not expect to pay a dividend for the foreseeable future.

 

 23 

 

 

Tax Benefits Rights Agreement

 

Effective May 5, 2015, the Company adopted a Tax Benefits Rights Agreement (the “Rights Plan”) designed to help preserve the Company’s NOLs.  In connection with adopting the Rights Plan, the Company declared a distribution of one right per common share to shareholders of record as of May 15, 2015.  The rights do not trade apart from the current common shares until the distribution date, as defined in the Rights Plan. Under the Rights Plan, the acquisition by an investor (or group of related investors) of greater than a 4.9% stake in the Company, could result in all existing shareholders other than the new 4.9% holder having the right to acquire new shares for a nominal cost, thereby significantly diluting the ownership interest of the acquiring person. The Rights Plan runs for five years, or until the Board determines the plan is no longer required, whichever comes first.

 

On January 3, 2018, the Board approved a waiver of the 4.9% ownership limitation with respect to Hunt, increasing such limitation to 9.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares in any rolling 12-month period.

 

At September 30, 2018, we had two shareholders with a greater than a 4.9% stake in the Company. Additionally, as of September 30, 2018, two of the Company’s executive officers, Michael L. Falcone and Gary A. Mentesana could each have a greater than 4.9% stake in the Company for purposes of the Rights Plan following their prospective exercise of their vested option awards. In anticipation of these officers becoming greater than 4.9% shareholders, the Board of Directors has named each of them as an exempted person in accordance with the Rights Plan and determined that the exercise of the options and the required share award purchases will not, in and of themselves, constitute a triggering event for purposes of our Rights Plan.

 

 24 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

 

 

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements is based on the application of U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classification of the amounts in our consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions require us to make difficult, complex and subjective judgments involving matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our accounting estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on judgments that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances known to us at the time. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. We applied our critical accounting policies and estimation methods consistently in all material respects and for all periods presented and have discussed those policies with our Audit Committee.

 

We evaluate our critical accounting estimates and judgments required by our policies on an ongoing basis and update them as necessary based on changing conditions. Management has discussed any significant changes in judgments and assumptions in applying our critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. See “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in our 2017 Annual Report for a discussion of the risks associated with the need for management to make judgments and estimates in applying our accounting policies and methods. We have identified three of our accounting policies as critical because they involve significant judgments and assumptions about highly complex and inherently uncertain matters, and the use of reasonably different estimates and assumptions could have a material impact on our reported results of operations or financial condition. These policies govern:

 

·fair value measurement of financial instruments;
·consolidation; and
·income taxes.

 

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our 2017 Annual Report for a discussion of these critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

 25 

 

 

ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING DEVELOPMENTS

 

 

 

We identify and discuss the expected impact on our consolidated financial statements of recently issued accounting guidance in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”

 

 26 

 

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
   2018   2017 
ASSETS          
Cash and cash equivalents  $15,556   $35,693 
Restricted cash (includes $23,495 related to consolidated funds and ventures ("CFVs") at December 31, 2017)   10,944    44,766 
Investments in debt securities (includes $122,811 and $128,902 pledged as collateral)   147,808    143,604 
Investments in partnerships (includes $99,142 related to CFVs at December 31, 2017)   146,104    227,962 
Loans held for investment   58,299    736 
Loans held for sale   9,000      ─ 
Other assets (includes $5,175 related to CFVs at December 31, 2017)   16,187    17,905 
Assets of discontinued operations     ─    61,220 
Total assets  $403,898   $531,886 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Debt (includes $6,712 related to CFVs at December 31, 2017)  $187,172   $216,139 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   3,166    6,098 
Unfunded equity commitments to lower tier property partnerships related to CFVs     ─    8,003 
Other liabilities (includes $35,850 related to CFVs at December 31, 2017)   20,013    57,332 
Liabilities of discontinued operations     ─    17,212 
Total liabilities  $210,351   $304,784 
           
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 10)          
           
Equity          
Noncontrolling interests in CFVs  $   $89,529 
Common shareholders’ equity:          
Common shares, no par value (5,728,838 and 5,525,687 shares issued and outstanding
and 101,320 and 92,282 non-employee directors' deferred shares issued at
September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
   142,562    96,420 
Accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI")   50,985    41,153 
Total common shareholders’ equity   193,547    137,573 
Total equity   193,547    227,102 
Total liabilities and equity  $403,898   $531,886 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 27 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Interest income                    
Interest on bonds  $2,178   $2,194   $7,425   $7,049 
Interest on loans and short-term investments (includes $3 and $8 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   1,055    94    3,196    646 
Total interest income   3,233    2,288    10,621    7,695 
Interest expense                    
Asset related debt   630    471    1,914    1,326 
Total interest expense   630    471    1,914    1,326 
Net interest income   2,603    1,817    8,707    6,369 
                     
Non-interest revenue                    
Other income (includes $239 related to CFVs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017)   204    793    717    1,541 
Total non-interest revenue   204    793    717    1,541 
Total revenues, net of interest expense   2,807    2,610    9,424    7,910 
                     
Operating and other expenses                    
Interest expense (includes $121 and $307 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   1,166    1,074    3,353    3,638 
Salaries and benefits   33    4,204    1,128    9,471 
External management fees and reimbursable expenses   1,059     ─    5,762     ─ 
General and administrative   328    411    1,032    1,184 
Professional fees (includes $487 and $589 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   1,230    2,564    5,031    4,997 
Impairments (includes $9,671 and $21,071 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)    ─    10,551    388    21,951 
Asset management fee expense (includes $1,016 and $3,206 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   19    1,053    62    3,281 
Other expenses (includes $459 and $1,370 related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   772    783    1,343    2,049 
Total operating and other expenses   4,607    20,640    18,099    46,571 
                     
Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures (includes ($1,863) and ($9,125) related to CFVs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively)   3,273    4,668    5,655    2,347 
Net gains on bonds   5,080    620    5,080    620 
Net gains (losses) on loans    ─    805     ─    (4,530)
Net gains on real estate and other investments   1,092    1,526    1,092    1,700 
Net gains on derivatives   1,102    1,430    5,464    2,501 
Net (losses) gains on extinguishment of liabilities   (14)   1,009    (14)   4,838 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes   8,733    (7,972)   8,602    (31,185)
Income tax expense   (122)   (384)   (86)   (550)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax   13    5,095    21,210    11,787 
Net income (loss)   8,624    (3,261)   29,726    (19,948)
Loss allocable to noncontrolling interests:                    
Net losses allocable to noncontrolling interests in CFVs:                    
Related to continuing operations    ─    12,717     ─    32,327 
Related to discontinued operations    ─    465     ─    1,515 
Net income allocable to common shareholders  $8,624   $9,921   $29,726   $13,894 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 28 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS – (continued)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Basic income per common share:                
Income from continuing operations  $1.48   $0.74   $1.49   $0.10 
Income from discontinued operations   0.01    0.95    3.71    2.26 
Income per common share  $1.49   $1.69   $5.20   $2.36 
                     
Diluted income per common share:                    
Income from continuing operations  $1.41   $0.74   $1.49   $0.10 
Income from discontinued operations       0.95    3.71    2.26 
Income per common share  $1.41   $1.69   $5.20   $2.36 
                     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   5,804    5,871    5,717    5,890 
Diluted   6,087    5,871    5,717    5,890 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 29 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Net income allocable to common shareholders  $8,624   $9,921   $29,726   $13,894 
Net loss allocable to noncontrolling interests    ─    (13,182)    ─    (33,842)
Net income (loss)  $8,624   $(3,261)  $29,726   $(19,948)
                     
Other comprehensive (loss) income allocable to common shareholders                    
Bond related changes:                    
Net unrealized gains  $1,025   $623   $2,143   $1,969 
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (5,080)   (620)   (5,080)   (620)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as other- than-temporary-impairment ("OTTI")   141    39    6    39 
Reinstatement of unrealized bond gains due to deconsolidation of Consolidated Lower Tier Property Partnerships    ─     ─    9,415     ─ 
Net change in other comprehensive income due to bonds   (3,914)   42    6,484    1,388 
Income tax benefit   14     ─     ─     ─ 
Foreign currency translation adjustment   525   19    3,348    (207)
Other comprehensive (loss) income allocable to common shareholders  $(3,375)  $61   $9,832   $1,181 
                     
Comprehensive income to common shareholders  $5,249   $9,982   $39,558   $15,075 
Comprehensive loss to noncontrolling interests    ─    (13,182)    ─    (33,842)
Comprehensive income (loss)  $5,249   $(3,200)  $39,558   $(18,767)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 30 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 
   Common Equity Before
AOCI
   AOCI    Total Common
Shareholders’
Equity
   Noncontrolling
Interest in
CFVs 
   Total Equity  
   Shares   Amount             
Balance, January 1, 2018   5,617   $96,420   $41,153   $137,573   $89,529   $227,102 
Net income    ─    18,340      ─    18,340      ─    18,340 
Other comprehensive income    ─      ─    9,160    9,160      ─    9,160 
Purchase of shares in a subsidiary (including price adjustments on prior purchases)    ─    (73)     ─    (73)     ─    (73)
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   3    82      ─    82      ─    82 
Net change due to deconsolidation    ─      ─      ─      ─    (89,529)   (89,529)
Cumulative change due to change in accounting principles    ─    9,206      ─    9,206      ─    9,206 
Common shares issued   125    4,125      ─    4,125      ─    4,125 
Balance, March 31, 2018   5,745   128,100   50,313   178,413    ─   178,413 
Net income    ─    2,762      ─    2,762      ─    2,762 
Other comprehensive income    ─      ─    4,047    4,047      ─    4,047 
Options exercised   30    784      ─    784      ─    784 
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   3    82      ─    82      ─    82 
Common shares issued   125    4,250      ─    4,250      ─    4,250 
Options tendered for payment of withholding taxes   (13)   (315)     ─    (315)     ─    (315)
Common share repurchases   (121)   (3,341)     ─    (3,341)     ─    (3,341)
Balance, June 30, 2018   5,769   132,322   54,360   186,682    ─   186,682 
Net income    ─    8,624      ─    8,624      ─    8,624 
Other comprehensive loss    ─      ─    (3,375)   (3,375)     ─    (3,375)
Options exercised   158    4,057      ─    4,057      ─    4,057 
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   3    82      ─    82      ─    82 
Options tendered for payment of withholding taxes   (72)   (1,751)     ─    (1,751)     ─    (1,751)
Common share repurchases   (28)   (772)     ─    (772)     ─    (772)
Balance, September 30, 2018   5,830   $142,562   $50,985   $193,547   $ ─   $193,547 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 31 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 
   Common Equity Before
AOCI
   AOCI   Total Common
Shareholders’
Equity 
   Noncontrolling
Interest in
CFVs 
   Total Equity  
   Shares   Amount             
Balance, January 1, 2017   6,007   $87,506   $37,818   $125,324   $134,999   $260,323 
Net loss    ─    (3,444)    ─    (3,444)   (9,137)   (12,581)
Other comprehensive income    ─     ─    352    352     ─    352 
Purchase of shares in a subsidiary (including price adjustments on prior purchases)    ─    (207)    ─    (207)    ─    (207)
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   2    44     ─    44     ─    44 
Common share repurchases   (88)   (1,770)    ─    (1,770)    ─    (1,770)
Balance, March 31, 2017   5,921   82,129   38,170   120,299   125,862   246,161 
Net income (loss)    ─    7,417     ─    7,417    (11,523)   (4,106)
Other comprehensive income    ─     ─    768    768     ─    768 
Distributions    ─     ─     ─     ─    (30)   (30)
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   2    45     ─    45     ─    45 
Common share repurchases   (42)   (982)    ─    (982)    ─    (982)
Balance, June 30, 2017   5,881   88,609   38,938   127,547   114,309   241,856 
Net income (loss)    ─    9,921     ─    9,921    (13,182)   (3,261)
Other comprehensive income    ─     ─    61    61     ─    61 
Distributions    ─     ─     ─     ─    (10)   (10)
Purchase of shares in a subsidiary (including price adjustments on prior purchases)    ─    (724)    ─    (724)   (65)   (789)
Common shares (restricted and deferred) issued under employee and non-employee director share plans   3    82     ─    82     ─    82 
Common share repurchases   (49)   (1,161)    ─    (1,161)    ─    (1,161)
Balance, September 30, 2017   5,835   $96,727   $38,999   $135,726   $101,052   $236,778 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 32 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the nine months ended 
   September 30, 
   2018   2017 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net income (loss)  $29,726   $(19,948)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating
activities:
          
Provisions for credit losses and impairment (1)   388    21,951 
Net equity in income from investments in partnerships   (5,655)   (2,047)
Net gains on bonds   (5,080)   (620)
Net gains on real estate and other investments   (1,157)   (1,962)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations   (20,420)    ─ 
Net losses on loans    ─    4,530 
Net gains on derivatives   (3,208)   (515)
Net losses (gains) on extinguishment of liabilities   14    (4,838)
(Advances on) and proceeds received on loans held for sale   (9,000)   805 
Distributions received from investments in partnerships   7,810    4,487 
Subordinated debt effective yield amortization and interest accruals   (238)   (500)
Depreciation and other amortization (1)   (516)   1,960 
Foreign currency losses   531   132 
Stock-based compensation expense   1,176    2,651 
Decrease (increase) in asset management fees receivable   275    (6,167)
Increase in asset management fees payable    ─    1,269 
Other, net   1,360    2,508 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (3,994)   3,696 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Principal payments and sales proceeds received on bonds and loans held for
investment
   7,466    23,828 
Advances on and originations of loans held for investment   (1,000)   (15,528)
Investments in partnerships and real estate   (49,611)   (26,197)
Proceeds from the sale of real estate and other investments   1,678    6,213 
Cash and restricted cash derecognized in the Disposition   (23,009)    ─ 
Restricted cash related to deconsolidated guaranteed LIHTC funds   (23,487)    ─ 
Capital distributions received from investments in partnerships   21,595    12,663 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (66,368)   979 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from borrowing activity   12,189    15,248 
Repayment of borrowings   (17,709)   (26,495)
Purchase of treasury stock   (4,113)   (3,913)
Options tendered for payment of withholding taxes   (2,066)    ─ 
Issuance of treasury stock   8,375     ─ 
Other, net    ─    (1,363)
Net cash used in financing activities   (3,324)   (16,523)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (73,686)   (11,848)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period (includes $19,727 of assets of discontinued operations as of December 31, 2017)   100,186    103,029 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period  $26,500   $91,181 

 

(1)These amounts primarily relate to CFVs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 33 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – (continued)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   For the nine months ended 
   September 30, 
   2018   2017 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION        
Interest paid  $5,547   $5,804 
Income taxes paid   281    260 
           
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income   9,832    1,181 
Debt and liabilities extinguished through sales and collections on bonds and loans   15,578    1,641 
Increase in common shareholders' equity and decrease in other liabilities due to change in accounting principles   9,206     ─ 
Increase in loans from the Disposition   57,000     ─ 
Increase in investments in debt securities from the Disposition   17,986     ─ 
Increase in other assets from the Disposition   2,142     ─ 
Increase in deferred revenue from the Disposition   (13,000)    ─ 
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income from the Disposition   (9,415)    ─ 
Increase in loans held for investment, interest receivable and other liabilities and decrease in investment in partnerships   6,138     ─ 
Increase in common shareholders' equity and decrease in other liabilities due to stock options exercised   4,841     ─ 
           
Net change in assets, liabilities and equity due to deconsolidation of guaranteed LIHTC funds:          
Net decrease in investment in partnerships   (98,760)    ─ 
Decrease in other assets   (5,174)    ─ 
Decrease in debt   6,712     ─ 
Decrease in unfunded equity commitments to lower tier property partnerships   8,003     ─ 
Decrease in other liabilities   35,850     ─ 
Decrease in noncontrolling interests   83,909     ─ 

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   September 30, 
   2018   2017 
RECONCILIATION OF CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH          
Cash and cash equivalents  $15,556   $29,356 
Restricted cash   10,944    42,723 
Assets of discontinued operations    ─    19,102 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in statement of cash flows  $26,500   $91,181 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

 34 

 

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization

 

MMA Capital Management, LLC was organized in 1996 as a Delaware limited liability company.  Unless the context otherwise requires, and when used in these Notes, the “Company,” “MMA,” “we,” “our” or “us” refers to MMA Capital Management, LLC and its subsidiaries.

 

The Company invests in debt associated with renewable energy infrastructure and real estate. We focus on investments with attractive risk-adjusted returns that generate positive environmental or social impacts. Our investments, other assets and liabilities are organized into three portfolios:

  

·Energy Capital – This portfolio includes investments that we have made directly or through joint ventures with an institutional capital partner in loans that finance renewable energy projects;

 

·Leveraged Bonds – This portfolio primarily includes tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds that are leveraged; and

 

·Other Assets and Liabilities – This portfolio includes certain loan receivables, cash, real estate-related investments, subordinated debt and the balance of the Company’s assets and liabilities.

 

Commencing on January 8, 2018, we became externally managed by Hunt Investment Management, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC (our “External Manager”). In conjunction with this change, and as further discussed in the 2017 Annual Report, we completed the sale of the following businesses and assets to Hunt (Hunt Companies, Inc. and/or its affiliates are herein referred to as “Hunt” and this sale transaction is hereinafter referred to as the “Disposition”):

 

·our Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) business;

 

·our international asset and investment management business;

 

·the loan origination, servicing and management components of our Energy Capital business (including certain management, expense reimbursement and other contractual rights that were held by the Company with respect to this business line);

 

·our bond servicing platform; and

 

·certain miscellaneous investments.

 

Given these changes to our business model and effective the first quarter of 2018, we operate as a single reporting segment. As a result, we no longer operate, or present the results of our operations, through three reportable segments that, as of December 31, 2017, included United States (“U.S.”) Operations, International Operations and Corporate Operations.  

 

Proposed Conversion to a Corporation

 

On August 7, 2018, the Board of Directors (“Board”) approved the conversion of our legal form of organization from a limited liability company to a corporation. Since its inception, the Company has followed a corporate form of governance and, in July 2013, elected to be taxed as a corporation. The proposed conversion would conform our legal form of organization to that of our tax and governance attributes.

 

If the conversion is approved by our shareholders, our common shares will be converted on a one-for-one basis from common shares of a limited liability company to common shares of a corporation and our current governance framework, including Board of Directors, will remain in place. Similarly, the measurement of our assets, liabilities and other tax, financial and accounting attributes for financial reporting purposes will be unchanged. However, upon conversion, we will be governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and a new certificate of incorporation instead of by the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “LLC Act”) and our current limited liability company operating agreement.

 

The proposed conversion of the Company’s legal form to that of a corporation is subject to the approval of our shareholders. Accordingly, the Company will hold a special shareholders’ meeting on November 20, 2018 at which shareholders will be provided an opportunity to vote on the Company’s proposed conversion. The Company filed a proxy statement with the SEC on September 28, 2018 that provides more information about the Company’s proposed conversion including the differences between the DGCL and our proposed corporate documents as compared with the LLC Act and our current limited liability company operating agreement.

 

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Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the U.S.

 

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of, and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2017 Annual Report.

 

The Company evaluates subsequent events through the date of filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Changes in Presentation

 

We have revised the presentation of our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations for all reporting periods presented as a result of certain discontinued operations occurring in the first quarter of 2018 as a result of the Disposition. We have also made certain reclassifications to the prior year’s financial statements to enhance comparability with the current year’s financial statements.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, commitments and contingencies, and revenues and expenses. Management has made estimates in certain areas, including the determination of fair values for bonds, derivative instruments, guarantee obligations, and in prior periods certain assets and liabilities of CFVs. Management has also made estimates in the determination of impairment on bonds and real estate investments. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and of entities that are considered to be variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary, as well as those entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest, including wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Equity investments in unconsolidated entities where the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operations of the entity, but is not considered the primary beneficiary, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

 

New Accounting Guidance

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

Accounting for Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” as modified by subsequently issued ASUs 2015-14, 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12 and 2016-20 (collectively “Topic 606”). Topic 606 superseded existing revenue recognition standards with a single model unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. The revenue recognition principle in Topic 606 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

 

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Only our asset management fee revenue is subject to Topic 606, which represents an insignificant portion of the Company’s total revenue. The adoption of Topic 606 did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Equity or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of the adoption date or for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Accounting for Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets

 

In February 2017, ASU No. 2017-05, “Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Topic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets” was issued. This guidance clarifies that the derecognition of all businesses should be accounted for in accordance with the derecognition and deconsolidation guidance of Topic 810-10 – Consolidations. In addition, this guidance eliminates the scope exception in authoritative literature that governs transfers of financial assets related to transfers of investments (including equity method investments) in real estate entities and supersedes guidance related to the exchange of a nonfinancial asset for a noncontrolling ownership interest as set forth in Topic 845 – Nonmonetary Transactions. The effective date of ASU 2017-05 is aligned with Topic 606. We adopted ASU No. 2017-05 in conjunction with our adoption of Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 and we recognized a cumulative effect adjustment of $9.2 million to retained earnings on January 1, 2018.

 

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Statement of Cash Flows

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230). The objective of this update was to provide additional guidance and reduce diversity in practice when classifying certain transactions within the statement of cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This new standard requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The Company adopted these new accounting standards on their effective date of January 1, 2018 utilizing the retrospective transition method. These new standards resulted in presentation changes of restricted cash within our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and in certain tables within our “Liquidity and Capital Resources” discussion in Item 2 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

Accounting for Business Combinations

 

In January 2017, ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business” was issued. This guidance clarifies the definition of a business and provides guidance to assist reporting entities in the evaluation as to whether a transaction should be accounted for as an asset acquisition or business combination. We adopted this new guidance on its effective date of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Equity or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of the adoption date or for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Accounting for Stock Compensation

 

In May 2017, ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting” was issued. This guidance amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. We adopted this new guidance on its effective date of January 1, 2018. The adoption of Topic 718 did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Equity or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of the adoption date or for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Accounting for Financial Instruments

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-03, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This guidance makes technical corrections to certain aspects of ASU 2016-01. We adopted this new guidance on its effective date of June 30, 2018. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Equity or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as of the adoption date.

 

Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

 

Accounting for Financial Instruments

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Improvements.” This guidance is intended to reduce the complexity of U.S. GAAP by decreasing the number of credit impairment models that entities use to account for debt instruments. This guidance establishes an impairment methodology that reflects lifetime expected credit losses rather than incurred losses. This guidance requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. This new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This guidance eliminates certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements, requires public entities to disclose certain new information and modifies some disclosure requirements. This new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements

 

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Accounting for Income Taxes

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” This new guidance permits companies to reclassify stranded tax effects caused by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) from AOCI to retained earnings. This new guidance, which also requires new disclosures, is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounting for Stock Compensation

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” This guidance expands the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 to include all share-based payment arrangements related to the acquisition of goods and services from both nonemployees and employees. This new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 2—Investments in Debt Securities

 

The Company’s investments in debt securities primarily consist of multifamily tax-exempt bonds and other real estate-related bond investments. These investments are classified as available for sale for reporting purposes and are measured on a fair value basis in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Multifamily tax-exempt bonds are issued by state and local governments or their agencies or authorities to finance affordable multifamily rental housing. Generally, the only source of security on these bonds is either a first mortgage or a subordinate mortgage on the underlying properties.

 

The Company’s investments in other real estate-related bonds consists of municipal bonds that finance the development of infrastructure for a mixed-use town center development and are secured by incremental tax revenues generated from the development.

 

The weighted-average pay rate on the Company’s bond portfolio was 6.4% and 6.2% at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Weighted-average pay rate represents the cash interest payments collected on the bonds (excluding subordinated cash flow bonds) as a percentage of the bonds’ average unpaid principal balance (“UPB”) for the preceding 12 months for the population of bonds at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

The following tables provide information about the UPB, amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value (“FV”) associated with the Company’s investments in bonds that are classified as available-for-sale:

 

   At 
   September 30, 2018 
           Gross   Gross         
       Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized       FV as a % 
(in thousands)  UPB   Cost (1)   Gains   Losses (2)   FV   of UPB 
Multifamily tax-exempt bonds  $116,870   $75,976   $50,256   $ ─   $126,232    108%
Other real estate-related bond investments   26,825    20,889    750    (63)   21,576    80%
Total  $143,695   $96,865   $51,006   $(63)  $147,808    103%

 

   At 
   December 31, 2017 
           Gross   Gross         
       Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized       FV as a % 
(in thousands)  UPB   Cost (1)   Gains   Losses (2)   FV   of UPB 
Multifamily tax-exempt bonds  $105,472   $67,982   $43,587   $ ─   $111,569    106%
Other real estate-related bond investments   37,050    31,163    1,203    (331)   32,035    86%
Total  $142,522   $99,145   $44,790   $(331)  $143,604    101%

 

(1)Amortized cost consists of the UPB, unamortized premiums, discounts and other cost basis adjustments, as well as net OTTI recognized in “Impairments” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Includes one bond that was in a gross unrealized loss position for more than 12 consecutive months and that had a fair value of $15.0 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

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See Note 8, “Fair Value,” which describes factors that contributed to the $4.2 million increase in the reported fair value of the Company’s bond portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Maturity

 

Principal payments on the Company’s investments in bonds are based on contractual terms that are set forth in the contractual documents governing such investments. If principal payments are not required to be made prior to the contractual maturity of a bond, its UPB is required to be paid in a lump sum payment at contractual maturity or at such earlier time as may be provided under the governing documents. At September 30, 2018, the majority of the Company’s bond investments amortize on a scheduled basis and have stated maturity dates between March 2032 and March 2049. The Company also had four non-amortizing bonds with principal due in full between November 2044 and August 2048 (the total cost basis and fair value of these bonds were $3.1 million and $17.0 million, respectively, at September 30, 2018).

 

Investments in Debt Securities with Prepayment Features

 

The contractual terms of all of the Company’s investments in bonds include provisions that permit such instruments to be prepaid at par after a specified date that is prior to their stated maturity date.  The following table provides information about the UPB, amortized cost and fair value of the Company’s investments in bonds that were prepayable at par at September 30, 2018 and stratifies such information for the remainder of the Company’s investments based upon the periods in which such instruments become prepayable at par:

 

(in thousands)  UPB   Amortized Cost   Fair Value 
September 30, 2018  $26,825   $20,889   $21,576 
October 1 through December 31, 2018   1,855    262    2,113 
2019   5,170    4,080    5,222 
2020   12,045    8,485    12,496 
2021   46,001    27,140    49,715 
2022   51,799    36,009    56,686 
Thereafter    ─     ─     ─ 
Bonds that may not be prepaid    ─     ─     ─ 
Total  $143,695   $96,865   $147,808 

 

The weighted-average expected maturity of the Company’s investments in bonds that were not currently prepayable at par at September 30, 2018 was 3.0 years.

 

Bond Aging Analysis

 

The following table provides information about the fair value of the Company’s investments in bonds that are classified as available-for-sale and that were current with respect to principal and interest payments, as well as information about the fair value of bonds that were past due with respect to principal or interest payments:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total current (1)  $134,842   $135,571 
30-59 days past due    ─     ─ 
60-89 days past due    ─     ─ 
90 days or greater   12,966    8,033 
Total  $147,808   $143,604 

 

(1)Includes one bond that was placed on non-accrual during the second quarter of 2018, as collection of principal and interest was not reasonably assured, that had a fair value of $6.6 million at September 30, 2018.

 

Troubled Debt Restructurings

 

The Company may periodically agree to modify the contractual terms of its investments in debt securities in the interest of attempting to obtain more cash or other value from a debtor than it otherwise would, or to increase the probability of receipt, by granting a concession to a borrower. If the Company makes an economic concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulty, the Company will typically assess a modification or other form of concession to represent a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) for financial reporting purposes.

 

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On August 27, 2018, the Company agreed to extend the scheduled payment date associated with one of its infrastructure bonds, which had a UPB of $10.7 million at September 30, 2018, from September 1, 2018 to November 1, 2018. This extension provided the debtor and the Company more time to negotiate a comprehensive restructuring of both of the Company’s infrastructure bond investments, which was completed on October 30, 2018. Refer to Note 17, “Subsequent Events,” for additional information.

 

There were no TDRs completed during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Non-Accrual Bonds

 

The fair value of the Company’s investments in bonds that were on non-accrual status was $19.5 million and $8.0 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  The Company recognized interest income on a cash basis of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, and $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively. Interest income not recognized on bonds that were on non-accrual status was $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.8 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

Bond Sales and Redemptions

 

The Company recognized cash proceeds in connection with sales or full redemptions of its investments in bonds of $0.5 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and $7.4 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

The following table provides information about gains or losses that were recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in connection with the Company’s investments in bonds:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
OTTI losses recognized on bonds held at each period-end  $ ─   $(880)  $(6)  $(880)
Gains recognized at time of sale or redemption   5,080    620    5,080    620 
Total net gains (losses) on bonds  $5,080   $(260)  $5,074   $(260)

 

Note 3—Investments in Partnerships

 

The following table provides information about the carrying value of the Company’s investments in partnerships and ventures:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Investments in U.S. real estate partnerships (includes $928 and $1,046 related to variable interest entities ("VIEs")) (1)  $19,878   $19,114 
Investment in SAWHF   10,703    12,695 
Investment in Solar Ventures   115,523    97,011 
Investments in Lower Tier Property Partnerships ("LTPPs") related to CFVs (2)     ─    99,142 
Total investments in partnerships  $146,104   $227,962 

 

(1)We do not consolidate any of the investees that were assessed to meet the definition of a VIE because the Company was deemed not to be the primary beneficiary.

 

(2)See Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information.

 

Investments in U.S. Real Estate Partnerships

 

At September 30, 2018, $18.9 million of the reported carrying value of investments in U.S. real estate partnerships relates to an equity investment made by the Company in a real estate venture to develop a mixed-use town center development. The Company made an initial capital contribution of $8.8 million, which represented 80% of the real estate venture’s initial capital. The Company has the right to a preferred return on its capital contribution, as well as the right to share in excess cash flows of the real estate venture. As of September 30, 2018, the Company held a 71.2% economic interest based upon the partnership’s distribution waterfall. This entity was determined not to be a VIE and because decision-making rights are shared equally among its members, the Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting.

 

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During the first quarter of 2018, the Company acquired three limited partner interests in three affordable housing partnerships in which our ownership interest ranged from 74.25% to 74.92% for $3.3 million. While these entities were deemed to be VIEs, the Company was not deemed to be their primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company did not consolidate these entities and accounts for these investments using the equity method of accounting. At September 30, 2018, the carrying value of these investments was $0.9 million.

 

At September 30, 2018, four of the U.S. real estate partnerships in which we have investments were determined to be VIEs while, at December 31, 2017, two of the U.S. real estate partnerships in which we had investments were determined to be VIEs. The carrying value of the equity investments in these partnerships was $0.9 million and $1.0 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. For one of the Company’s VIEs, because the underlying real estate was sold during the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company does not expect to make additional contributions to that investment. Our maximum exposure to loss due to our involvement with these VIEs was $0.9 million and $1.0 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Because we are unable to quantify the maximum amount of additional capital contributions that we may be required to fund in the future associated with our proportionate share of one of the VIEs, we measure our maximum exposure to loss based upon the carrying value of these investments.

 

The following table provides information about the total assets, debt and other liabilities of the U.S. real estate partnerships in which the Company held an equity investment:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total assets  $56,883   $57,712 
Debt   5,863    7,037 
Other liabilities   32,538    22,030 

 

The following table provides information about the gross revenue, operating expenses and net (loss) income of U.S. real estate partnerships in which the Company had an equity investment:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Gross revenue  $543   $12,017   $1,722   $13,469 
Operating expenses   487    317    1,377    1,425 
Net (loss) income and net (loss) income attributable to the entity   (582)   11,028    (1,300)   10,150 

 

Investment in SAWHF

 

At September 30, 2018, the carrying value of the Company’s 11.85% equity investment in SAWHF was $10.7 million. As SAWHF was determined not to be a VIE, the Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting.

 

The following table provides information about the carrying value of total assets, debt and other liabilities of SAWHF:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total assets  $90,621   $123,187 
Debt    ─    15,712 
Other liabilities   69    100 

 

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The following table provides information about the gross revenue, operating expenses and net (loss) income of SAWHF:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Gross revenue  $1,693   $(2,238)  $3,998   $4,626 
Operating expenses   376    (1,591)   1,927    6,412 
Net (loss) income and net (loss) income attributable to the entity   (4,463)   2,021    (2,896)   5,092 

 

Investment in Solar Ventures

 

The carrying value of the Company’s equity investments in Solar Construction Lending, LLC (“SCL”), Solar Permanent Lending, LLC (“SPL”) and Solar Development Lending, LLC (“SDL”) was $101.1 million, $2.9 million and $11.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2018. None of these investees were assessed to constitute VIEs and the Company accounts for all of these investments using the equity method of accounting. At December 31, 2017, the Company accounted for its equity investment in Renewable Energy Lending (“REL”) pursuant to the equity method of accounting. However, by acquiring its investment partner’s ownership interest in REL and becoming the sole owner of such investee on June 1, 2018, the Company began to consolidate REL for reporting purposes in the second quarter of 2018.

 

The following table provides information about the carrying amount of total assets, other liabilities and noncontrolling interests of all investees for which the Company had an equity method investment:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total assets  $226,416   $399,758 
Other liabilities   3,546    5,111 
Noncontrolling interests    ─    87,699 

 

The following table provides information about the gross revenue, operating expenses and net income of all investees for which the Company had an equity method investment:

  

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Gross revenue  $6,118   $8,493   $18,639   $19,257 
Operating expenses   1,290    1,194    4,107    4,022 
Net income   4,755    7,208    14,974    15,604 
Net income attributable to the entity   4,755    5,404    14,974    10,253 

 

Note 4—Loans Held for Investment (“HFI”) and Loans Held for Sale (“HFS”)

 

The following table provides information about the carrying value of the Company’s loans:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Loans HFI  $58,299   $736 
Loans HFS   9,000     ─ 
Total loans  $67,299   $736 

 

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Loans HFI

 

We report the carrying value of HFI loans at their UPB, net of unamortized premiums, discounts and other cost basis adjustments and related allowance for loan losses. However, such loans are reported at fair value to the extent the Company has elected the fair value option (“FVO”) for such instruments and, as a result, such assets are subsequently measured on a fair value basis in our Consolidated Statement of Operations as a component of “Net gains (losses) on loans.”

 

The following table provides information about the UPB and cost basis adjustments that were recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets related to loans that it classified as HFI:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
UPB  $59,140   $1,487 
Cost basis adjustments, net   (841)   (751)
Loans HFI, net  $58,299   $736 

 

The following table provides information about the UPB and amortized cost of loans that are current with respect to principal and interest payments, as well as information about the UPB of loans that are past due with respect to principal or interest payments:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
   2018   2017 
(in thousands)  UPB   Carrying value   UPB   Carrying value 
Total current  $58,090   $58,000   $437   $437 
30-59 days past due    ─     ─     ─     ─ 
60-89 days past due    ─     ─     ─     ─ 
90 days or greater   1,050    299    1,050    299 
Total  $59,140   $58,299   $1,487   $736 

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company did not have any loans for which it elected the FVO.

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the UPB of HFI loans that were placed on non-accrual status was $1.1 million while the carrying value of these loans was $0.3 million as of such reporting dates.

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no HFI loans that were 90 days or more past due in scheduled principal or interest payments were still accruing interest.

 

Loans HFS

 

We report the carrying value of HFS loans at the lower of cost or fair value. In this regard, if a loan’s amortized cost exceeds its fair value at a reporting date, the Company will establish a valuation allowance and recognize a related provision for loan loss in our Consolidated Statement of Operations as a component of “Net gains (losses) on loans.” Subsequent increases in the fair value of an HFS loan for which a valuation allowance was established will be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a reduction of “Net gains (losses) on loans” up to the amount of previously recognized losses.

 

The cost basis for HFS loans was $15.0 million and $6.0 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with $9.0 million and zero carrying value at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company did not recognize any lower of cost or market adjustments associated with any HFS loans that were recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Refer to Note 17, “Subsequent Events,” for additional information.

 

Unfunded Loan Commitments

 

There were no unfunded loan commitments at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

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Note 5—Other Assets

 

The following table provides information related to the carrying value of the Company’s other assets:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Other assets:          
Derivative assets  $9,653   $6,865 
Real estate owned   3,719    3,447 
Accrued interest receivable   1,928    1,558 
Other assets   887    860 
Other assets held by CFVs (1)    ─    5,175 
Total other assets  $16,187   $17,905 

 

(1)See Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information.

 

Derivative Assets

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had $9.7 million and $6.9 million, respectively, of derivative assets. See Note 7, “Derivative Instruments,” for more information.

 

Real Estate Owned (“REO”)

 

The following table provides information about the carrying value of the Company’s REO held for use, net:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Building, furniture, fixtures and land improvement  $1,100   $828 
Land   2,619    2,619 
Total  $3,719   $3,447 

 

Buildings are depreciated over a period of 40 years. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over a period of six to seven years and land improvements are depreciated over a period of 15 years. The Company’s Other Assets and Other Liabilities portfolio includes the Company’s REO that represents a parcel of land that is currently in the process of being developed. As a result, no depreciation expense was recognized in connection with this land investment for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. Additionally, the Company did not recognize any impairment losses for such reporting periods.

 

 44 

 

 

Note 6—Debt

 

The table below provides information about the carrying values and weighted-average effective interest rates of the Company’s debt obligations that were outstanding:

 

   At   At 
   September 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
       Weighted-Average       Weighted-Average 
   Carrying   Effective Interest   Carrying   Effective Interest 
(dollars in thousands)  Value   Rate   Value   Rate 
Asset Related Debt                    
Notes payable and other debt – bond related (1)                    
Due within one year  $35,022    2.9%  $41,767    3.2%
Due after one year   46,392    3.0    42,071    2.9 
                     
Total asset related debt   81,414    3.0    83,838    3.1 
                     
Other Debt                    
Subordinated debt (2)                    
Due within one year   2,244    3.5    2,297    2.6 
Due after one year   96,041    3.5    97,700    2.6 
Notes payable and other debt                    
Due within one year    ─     ─    14,733    2.8 
Due after one year   7,473    14.7    10,859    12.1 
                     
Total other debt   105,758    4.3    125,589    3.5 
                     
Total asset related debt and other debt   187,172    3.7    209,427    3.3 
                     
Debt related to CFVs                    
Due within one year    ─     ─    6,712    6.5 
Total debt related to CFVs    ─     ─    6,712    6.5 
                     
Total debt  $187,172    3.7   $216,139    3.4 

 

(1)Included in notes payable and other debt – bond related were unamortized debt issuance costs. The balance at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was de minimis.

 

(2)The subordinated debt balances include net cost basis adjustments of $8.0 million and $8.3 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, that pertain to premiums and debt issuance costs.

 

 45 

 

 

Covenant Compliance and Debt Maturities

 

The following table provides information about scheduled principal payments associated with the Company’s debt agreements that were outstanding at September 30, 2018:

 

   Asset Related Debt 
(in thousands)  and Other Debt 
2018  $35,185 
2019   2,194 
2020   36,720 
2021   20,804 
2022   1,679 
Thereafter   82,906 
Net premium and debt issue costs   7,684 
Total debt  $187,172 

 

At September 30, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under its debt obligations.

 

Asset Related Debt

 

Asset related debt is debt that finances interest-bearing assets. The interest expense associated with this debt is included within “Net interest income” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Notes Payable and Other Debt – Bond Related

 

These debt obligations pertain to bonds that are classified as available-for-sale and that were financed by the Company through total return swap (“TRS”) agreements. In such transactions, the Company conveys its interest in bonds to a counterparty in exchange for cash consideration while simultaneously executing TRS agreements with the same counterparty for purposes of retaining the economic risks and returns of such investments. The conveyance of the Company’s interest in bonds was treated for reporting purposes as a secured borrowing while TRS agreements that were executed simultaneously with such conveyance did not receive financial statement recognition since such derivative instruments caused the conveyance of the Company’s interest in these bonds not to qualify for sale accounting treatment.

 

At September 30, 2018, under the terms of these TRS agreements, the counterparty is required to pay the Company an amount equal to the interest payments received on the underlying bonds (UPB of $76.2 million with a weighted-average pay rate of 6.6% at September 30, 2018). For the majority of the TRS agreements, the Company is required to pay the counterparty a rate that is based upon the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association seven-day municipal swap rate (“SIFMA”) plus a spread (notional amount of $74.2 million with a weighted-average pay rate of 2.9% at September 30, 2018) and for the remaining TRS agreements, the Company is required to pay the counterparty a rate of 1-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a spread (notional amount of $7.2 million with a weighted-average pay rate of 3.7% at September 30, 2018). The Company uses the pay rate on executed TRS agreements to accrue interest on its secured borrowing obligations to its counterparty.

 

Other Debt

 

Other debt is debt that finances non-interest-bearing assets and other business activities of the Company. The interest expense associated with this debt is included within “Interest expense” under “Operating and other expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Subordinated Debt

 

The table below provides information about the key terms of the subordinated debt that was issued by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary MMA Financial Holdings, Inc. (“MFH”) and that was outstanding at September 30, 2018:

 

 46 

 

 

   Net Premium       Interim      
(dollars in thousands)  and Debt   Carrying   Principal      
Issuer  Principal   Issuance Costs   Value   Payments  Maturity Date  Coupon
MFH  $26,659   $2,437   $29,096   Amortizing  March 30, 2035  3-month LIBOR plus 2.0%
MFH   24,241    2,227    26,468   Amortizing  April 30, 2035  3-month LIBOR plus 2.0%
MFH   13,973    1,186    15,159   Amortizing  July 30, 2035  3-month LIBOR plus 2.0%
MFH   25,407    2,155    27,562   Amortizing  July 30, 2035  3-month LIBOR plus 2.0%
Total  $90,280   $8,005   $98,285          

 

Notes Payable and Other Debt

 

At September 30, 2018, the UPB and carrying value was $7.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively, of notes payable and other debt used to finance the Company’s 11.85% ownership interest in SAWHF. Such debt, which is denominated in South African rand, has a contractual maturity date of September 8, 2020 and requires the Company to pay its counterparty a rate that is based upon the Johannesburg Interbank Agreed Rate (“JIBAR”) plus a fixed spread of 5.15%. At September 30, 2018, the JIBAR base rate was 7.03%.

 

Letters of Credit

 

The Company had no letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Note 7—Derivative Instruments

 

The Company uses derivative instruments for various purposes. Pay-fixed interest rate swaps, interest rate basis swaps and interest rate caps are used to manage interest rate risk. TRS agreements are used by the Company to obtain, or retain, the economic risks and rewards associated with tax exempt municipal bonds. Foreign currency forward exchange agreements are used to manage currency risk associated with the financing of our SAWHF equity investment.

 

Derivative instruments that are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are measured on a fair value basis. Because the Company does not designate any of its derivative instruments as fair value or cash flow hedges, changes in fair value of such instruments are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of “Net gains on derivatives.” Derivative assets are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Other assets” and derivative liabilities are presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Other liabilities.”

 

The following table provides information about the carrying value of the Company’s derivative instruments:

 

   Fair Value 
   At   At 
   September 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
(in thousands)  Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities 
Total return swaps  $2,589   $70   $2,347   $46 
Basis swaps   1,112    15    439    26 
Interest rate caps   1,400     ─    788     ─ 
Interest rate swaps   4,376     ─    3,291     ─ 
Foreign currency forward exchange   176     ─     ─    247 
Total derivative instruments  $9,653   $85   $6,865   $319 

 

 47 

 

 

The following table provides information about the notional amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments:

 

   Notional Amounts 
   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total return swaps  $71,616   $72,290 
Basis swaps   84,500    100,500 
Interest rate caps   80,000    80,000 
Interest rate swaps   130,000    140,000 
Foreign currency forward exchange   4,399    4,363 
Total dollar-based derivative instruments  $370,515   $397,153 

 

The following table provides information about the net gains that were recognized by the Company in connection with its derivative instruments:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Total return swaps (1)  $422   $1,522   $2,060   $4,100 
Basis swaps (2)   208    14    715    5 
Interest rate caps   137    (116)   612    (598)
Interest rate swaps (3)   327    (162)   1,722    (1,178)
Foreign currency forward exchange   8    172    355    172 
Total derivative gains  $1,102   $1,430   $5,464   $2,501 

 

(1)The accrual of net interest payments that are made in connection with TRS agreements are reported as derivative instruments and is classified as “Net gains on derivatives” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net cash received was $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. Net cash received was $1.9 million and $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

(2)The accrual of net interest payments that are made in connection with basis swaps is classified as “Net gains on derivatives” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net cash paid was de minimis for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The net cash paid for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $0.1 million.

 

(3)The accrual of net interest payments that are made in connection with interest rate swaps is classified as “Net gains on derivatives” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net cash received was $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company also received $0.3 million to amend two interest rate swaps and recorded $0.3 million through “Other assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amount recorded to “Net gains on derivatives” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations was de minimis. Net cash paid was $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

Note 8—Fair Value

 

We use fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the first table below in this Note. From time to time, we may be required to measure at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis such as certain loans held for investment or investments in partnerships. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve application of lower-of-cost-or-market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

 

The Company measures the fair value of its assets and liabilities based upon their contractual terms and using relevant market information. A description of the methods used by the Company to measure fair value is provided below. Fair value measurements are subjective in nature, involve uncertainties and often require the Company to make significant judgments. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the Company’s measurement of fair value.

 

 48 

 

 

GAAP establishes a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes inputs into the valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value measurements associated with assets and liabilities are categorized into one of the following levels of the hierarchy based upon how observable the valuation inputs are that are used in such measurements.

 

·Level 1: Valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.

 

·Level 2: Valuation is based upon 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 in which significant inputs or significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

 

·Level 3: Valuation is generated from techniques that use significant assumptions that are not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

Recurring Changes in Fair Value

 

The following tables present the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by instrument type and based upon the level of the fair value hierarchy within which fair value measurements of such assets and liabilities are categorized:

 

  

At

September 30,

   Fair Value Measurements 
(in thousands)  2018   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Assets:                
Investments in debt securities  $147,808   $  ─   $   $147,808 
Derivative instruments   9,653      ─    7,064    2,589 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Derivative instruments  $85   $  ─   $15   $70 

 

  

At

December 31,

   Fair Value Measurements 
(in thousands)  2017   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Assets:                
Investments in debt securities  $143,604   $  ─   $  ─   $143,604 
Derivative instruments   6,865      ─    4,518    2,347 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Derivative instruments  $319   $  ─   $273   $46 

  

Changes in Fair Value Levels

 

We monitor the availability of observable market data to assess the appropriate classification of financial instruments within the fair value hierarchy and transfer between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 accordingly. Observable market data includes, but is not limited to, quoted prices and market transactions. Changes in economic conditions or market liquidity generally will drive changes in availability of observable market data. Changes in availability of observable market data, which also may result in changing the valuation technique used, are generally the cause of transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, there were no individually significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2, or between Levels 2 and 3.

 

Changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and that are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy are attributed in the following table to identified activities that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2018:

 

 49 

 

 

(in thousands)  Investments in
Debt Securities
   Derivative
Assets
   Derivative
Liabilities
 
Balance, July 1, 2018  $162,261   $2,747   $(44)
Net losses included in earnings    ─    (158)   (26)
Net change in AOCI (1)   (3,914)    ─     ─ 
Impact from sales/redemptions   (10,364)    ─     ─ 
Impact from settlements (2)    (175)    ─     ─ 
Balance, September 30, 2018  $147,808   $2,589   $(70)

 

(1)This amount includes the reclassification into the Consolidated Statements of Operations of $5.1 million of realized bond gains related to bonds that were sold or redeemed. This decline was partially offset by $1.0 million of net unrealized holding gains recognized during this reporting period, as well as by $0.1 million of realized losses that were reclassified out of AOCI and into the Consolidated Statements of Operations in connection with one of the Company’s bond investments that was assessed as OTTI.

 

(2)This impact considers the effect of principal payments received and amortization of cost basis adjustments.

 

The following table provides information about the amount of realized and unrealized (losses) gains that were reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2018 related to activity presented in the preceding table:

 

(in thousands)  Net gains on
bonds (1)
   Net gains on
derivatives (2)
 
Net change in unrealized losses related to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2018  $         $(184)
Additional realized gains recognized   5,080    605 
Total gains reported in earnings  $5,080   $421 

 

(1)Amounts are classified as “Impairments” and “Net gains on bonds” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Amounts are classified as “Net gains on derivatives” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and that are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy are attributed in the following table to identified activities that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2017:

 

(in thousands)  Investments
in Debt
Securities
   Loans Held
for Investment
   Derivative
Assets
   Derivative
Liabilities
 
Balance, July 1, 2017  $151,662   $3,899   $3,405   $(399)
Net (losses) gains included in earnings   (1,777)     ─    413    399 
Net change in AOCI (1)   42      ─      ─      ─ 
Impact from sales/redemptions   (6,784)   (3,899)     ─      ─ 
Impact from settlements (2)   (192)     ─      ─      ─ 
Balance, September 30, 2017  $142,951   $  ─   $3,818   $  ─ 

 

(1)This amount includes $0.6 million of net unrealized holding gains recognized during this reporting period, an increase of which was mostly offset by the reclassification into the Consolidated Statements of Operations of $0.6 million of realized gains related to bonds that were sold or redeemed during such reporting period.

 

(2)This impact considers the effect of principal payments received and amortization of cost basis adjustments.

 

 50 

 

 

The following table provides information about the amount of realized and unrealized (losses) gains that were reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 related to activity presented in the preceding table:

 

(in thousands)  Net losses on
bonds (1)
   Equity in
Losses from
LTPPs
   Net gains on
loans (2)
   Net gains on
derivatives (3)
 
Change in unrealized (losses) gains related to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2017  $(880)  $(897)  $          ─   $812 
Additional realized gains recognized   620      ─    805    710 
Total (losses) gains reported in earnings  $(260)  $(897)  $805   $1,522 

 

(1)Amounts are classified as “Impairments” and “Net gains on bonds” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Amounts are classified as “Net gains (losses) on loans” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(3)Amounts are classified as “Net gains on derivatives” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and that are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy are attributed in the following table to identified activities that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2018:

 

(in thousands)  Investments in
Debt Securities
   Derivative
Assets
   Derivative
Liabilities
 
Balance, January 1, 2018  $143,604   $2,347   $(46)
Net (losses) gains included in earnings   (6)   242    (24)
Net change in AOCI (1)   (2,931)    ─     ─ 
Impact from deconsolidation   17,997     ─     ─ 
Impact from sales/redemptions   (10,364)    ─     ─ 
Impact from settlements (2)   (492)    ─     ─ 
Balance, September 30, 2018  $147,808   $2,589   $(70)

 

(1)This amount includes the reclassification into the Consolidated Statements of Operations of $5.1 million of net realized gains related to bonds that were sold or redeemed during this reporting period. This decline was partially offset by $2.1 million of net unrealized gains recognized during this reporting period.

 

(2)This impact considers the effect of principal payments received and amortization of cost basis adjustments.

 

The following table provides information about the amount of realized and unrealized (losses) gains that were reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 related to activity presented in the preceding table:

 

(in thousands)  Net gains on
bonds (1)
   Net gains on
derivatives (2)
 
Change in unrealized (losses) gains related to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2018  $(6)  $218 
Additional realized gains recognized   5,080    1,842 
Total gains reported in earnings  $5,074   $2,060 

 

(1)Amounts are classified as “Impairments” and “Net gains on bonds” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Amounts are classified as “Net gains on derivatives” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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Changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and that are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy are attributed in the following table to identified activities that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2017:

 

(in thousands)  Investments
in Debt
Securities
   Loans Held
for Investment
   Derivative
Assets
   Derivative
Liabilities
 
Balance, January 1, 2017  $155,981   $3,835   $2,327   $(372)
Net (losses) gains included in earnings   (3,984)   (5,335)   1,491    372 
Net change in AOCI (1)   1,388      ─      ─      ─ 
Impact from purchases     ─    14,028      ─      ─ 
Impact from loan originations     ─    1,500      ─      ─ 
Impact from sales/redemptions   (6,784)   (14,028)     ─      ─ 
Impact from settlements (2)   (3,650)     ─      ─      ─ 
Balance, September 30, 2017  $142,951   $ ─   $3,818   $  ─ 

 

(1)This amount represents $2.0 million of net unrealized holding gains recognized during the period, an amount of which was partially offset by the reclassification into the Consolidated Statements of Operations of $0.6 million of realized gains related to bonds that were sold or redeemed during this reporting period.

 

(2)This impact considers the effect of principal payments received and amortization of cost basis adjustments.

 

The following table provides information about the amount of realized and unrealized (losses) gains that were reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to activity presented in the preceding table:

 

(in thousands)  Net gains on
bonds (1)
   Equity in
losses from
LTPPs
   Net losses on
loans (2)
   Net gains on
derivatives (3)
 
Change in unrealized (losses) gains related to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2017  $(880)  $(3,104)  $ ─   $1,863 
Change in unrealized losses related to assets and liabilities held at January 1, 2017, but settled during 2017     ─      ─    (5,335)     ─ 
Additional realized gains recognized   620      ─    805    2,237 
Total (losses) gains reported in earnings  $(260)  $(3,104)  $(4,530)  $4,100 

 

(1)Amounts are classified as “Impairments” and “Net gains on bonds” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(2)Amounts are classified as “Net gains (losses) on loans” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

(3)Amounts are classified as “Net gains on derivatives” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Fair Value Measurements of Instruments That Are Classified as Level 3

 

The tables that follow provide quantitative information about the valuation techniques and the range and weighted-average of significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of substantially all of our Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for which we use an internal model to measure fair value. The significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 assets and liabilities that are valued using dealer pricing are not included in the table, as the specific inputs applied are not provided by the dealer.

 

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   Fair Value Measurement at September 30, 2018 
       Significant  Significant        
       Valuation  Unobservable      Weighted 
(dollars in thousands)  Fair Value   Techniques  Inputs (1)  Range (1)   Average (2) 
Recurring Fair Value Measurements:                     
Investments in debt securities:                     
Multifamily tax-exempt bonds                     
Performing  $102,593   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    4.3 - 6.7%   4.8%
Non-performing   12,965   Discounted cash flow   Market yield   8.1     N/A 
            Capitalization rate   6.9     N/A 
            Net operating income ("NOI") annual growth rate   0.1     N/A 
            Property bids  $13,162 - 13,557     $13,404 
            Valuation technique weighting factors    10 - 90 %    N/A%
Subordinated cash flow   10,674   Discounted cash flow   Market yield   7.4     N/A 
            Capitalization rate   6.2 - 6.3      6.3 
           NOI annual growth rate   0.4 - 0.5      0.5 
Infrastructure bonds   21,576   Discounted cash flow   Market yield   7.3 - 9.9      8.4 
           Cash flow probability - future incremental tax revenue growth   75     N/A 
           Cash flow probability - no future incremental tax revenue growth   25     N/A 
Derivative instruments:                     
Total return swaps   2,519   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    4.6 - 5.4      4.8 

 

(1)Unobservable inputs reflect information that is not based upon independent sources that are readily available.  These inputs are based upon assumptions and internally generated data made by the Company, which may include significant judgment that has been developed based upon available information from third party sources or dealers about what a market participant would use in valuing the asset.

 

(2)Weighted-averages are calculated using outstanding UPB for cash instruments, such as loans and securities, and notional amounts for derivative instruments.

 

 53 

 

 

   Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2017 
       Significant  Significant        
       Valuation  Unobservable      Weighted 
(dollars in thousands)  Fair Value   Techniques  Inputs (1)  Range (1)   Average (2) 
Recurring Fair Value Measurements:                     
Investments in debt securities:                     
Multifamily tax-exempt bonds                     
Performing  $90,963   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    4.3 - 6.7 %   5.0%
Non-performing   8,033   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    7.5    7.5 
           Capitalization rate    6.4    6.4 
           NOI annual growth rate    (1.2)   (1.2)
Subordinated cash flow   12,573   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    6.7 - 7.0     6.8 
           Capitalization rate    5.8 - 6.1     5.9 
           NOI annual growth rate    0.6 - 0.9     0.8 
Infrastructure bonds   21,824   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    7.1 - 9.2     8.0 
           Cash flow probability - future incremental tax revenue growth    80    80 
           Cash flow probability - no future incremental tax revenue growth    20    20 
Other bonds   10,211   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    4.2    4.2 
Derivative instruments:                     
Total return swaps   2,301   Discounted cash flow   Market yield    4.1 - 5.3     5.0 

 

 

(1)Unobservable inputs reflect information that is not based upon independent sources that are readily available.  These inputs are based upon assumptions and internally generated data made by the Company, which may include significant judgment that has been developed based upon available information from third party sources or dealers about what a market participant would use in valuing the asset.

 

(2)Weighted-averages are calculated using outstanding UPB for cash instruments, such as loans and securities, and notional amounts for derivative instruments.

 

We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

For our Level 3 assets and liabilities, we generally use a discounted cash flow valuation technique to measure fair value. This type of valuation technique involves developing a projection of expected future cash flows of an instrument and then discounting such cash flows using discount factors that consider the relative risk of the cash flows and the time value of money. In applying this technique, the rate of return, or discount rate, that is utilized for such purposes reflects specific characteristics of an instrument including, but not limited to the expected term of the instrument, its debt service coverage ratio or credit quality, geographic location, investment size and other attributes:

 

·For performing multifamily bonds and certain TRS derivatives, the Company’s projection of expected future cash flows reflects cash flows that are contractually due over the life of an instrument. Such projected cash flows are discounted based upon the market yield of such instruments. For such instruments, the Company determines market yield by generally utilizing the AAA Municipal Market Data tax-exempt rate (“MMD”) for each instrument’s specific term and applies a market rate risk premium spread that reflects that instrument’s specific credit characteristics, such as size, debt service coverage, state or bond type.

 

·For infrastructure bonds, the Company’s projection of expected future cash flows reflects a probability-weighted assessment of the expected future incremental tax revenues that would be generated through existing and future development of raw land and the mixed-use town center that support the debt service payments on the Company’s bonds. Such projected cash flows are discounted based upon the market yield of such instruments. For such instruments, the Company determines market yield by generally utilizing the AAA MMD tax-exempt rate for each infrastructure bond’s specific term and applies a market rate risk premium spread that reflects each instrument’s specific credit characteristics.

 

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·For non-performing bonds, subordinate cash flow bonds and certain TRS derivatives, the Company’s projection of expected future cash flows reflects internally-generated projections over a 10-year investment period of future NOI from the underlying properties that serve as collateral for our instruments. A terminal value, less estimated costs of sale, is then added to the projected discounted projection to reflect the remaining value that is expected to be generated at the end of the projection period. The Company utilizes geographic and sector specific discount rates that are published by an independent real estate research organization. For purposes of projecting expected future cash flows associated with non-performing bonds, the Company may also consider quotes received from third parties related to underlying properties that serve as collateral for our instruments. In instances where the Company uses more than one valuation technique to measure the fair value of underlying properties, the results (respective indications of fair value) are evaluated and weighted, as appropriate, considering the reasonableness of the range indicated by those results.

 

Significant unobservable inputs presented in the preceding tables are those we consider significant to the fair value of the Level 3 asset or liability. We consider unobservable inputs to be significant if, by their exclusion, the fair value of the Level 3 asset or liability would be impacted by a predetermined percentage change, or based on qualitative factors, such as nature of the instrument, type of valuation technique used and the significance of the unobservable inputs relative to other inputs used within the valuation. Following is a description of the significant unobservable inputs that are referenced in the table:

 

·Market yield – is a market rate of return used to present value the future expected cash flows to arrive at the fair value of an instrument. The market yield typically consists of a benchmark rate component and a risk premium component. The benchmark rate component, for example, MMD or SIFMA, is generally observable within the market and is necessary to appropriately reflect the time value of money. The risk premium component reflects the amount of compensation market participants require due to the uncertainty inherent in the instrument’s cash flows resulting from risks such as credit and liquidity. A significant decrease in this input in isolation would result in a significantly higher fair value measurement.

 

·Capitalization rate – is calculated as the ratio between the NOI produced by a commercial real estate property and the price for such asset. A significant decrease in this input in isolation would result in a significantly higher fair value measurement.

 

·NOI annual growth rate – is the amount of future growth in NOI that the Company projects each property to generate on an annual basis over the 10-year projection period. These annual growth estimates take into account the Company’s expectation about the future increases, or decreases, in rental rates, vacancy rates, bad debt expense, concessions and operating expenses for each property. Generally, an increase in NOI will result in an increase to the fair value of the property.

 

·Cash flow probabilities – represent factors that, in the aggregate, sum to 100% and that are individually applied to two or more cash flow scenarios to arrive at a set of bond cash flows that represents the probability-weighted average of all possible bond cash flows. Changes in probabilities that are assigned to underlying cash flow scenarios could potentially have significant impacts on the fair value measurement of the Company’s investments in infrastructure bonds.

 

·Valuation technique weighting factors – represent factors that, in the aggregate, sum to 100% and that are individually applied to two or more indications of fair value considering the reasonableness of the range indicated by those results.

 

·Property bids – represent the average of bids, net of closing costs, received from third parties in connection with the pending sale of affordable housing properties that secure non-performing bond investments.

 

Non-Recurring Changes in Fair Value

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized $0.4 million of impairment losses associated with certain equity investments based upon the fair value of such instruments. Fair value measurements of these instruments, which were categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy, were completed using a discounted cash flow methodology. There were no non-recurring fair value adjustments recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

Additional Disclosures Related To The Fair Value of Financial Instruments That Are Not Carried On The Consolidated Balance Sheets at Fair Value

 

The tables that follow provide information about the carrying amounts and fair values of those financial instruments of the Company for which fair value is not measured on a recurring basis and organizes such information based upon the level of the fair value hierarchy within which fair value measurements are categorized. Assets and liabilities that do not represent financial instruments (e.g., premises and equipment) are excluded from these disclosures.

 

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   At 
   September 30, 2018 
   Carrying   Fair Value 
(in thousands)  Amount   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents  $15,556   $15,556   $  ─   $  ─ 
Restricted cash   10,944    10,944      ─      ─ 
Asset management fees and reimbursements receivable   288      ─      ─      ─ 
Loans held for investment   58,299      ─      ─    59,399 
Loans held for sale   9,000      ─      ─    9,408 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Notes payable and other debt, bond related   81,414      ─      ─    81,452 
Notes payable and other debt, non-bond related   7,473      ─      ─    7,755 
Subordinated debt issued by MFH   98,285      ─      ─    52,088 

 

   At 
   December 31, 2017 
   Carrying   Fair Value 
(in thousands)  Amount   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents  $35,693   $35,693   $  ─   $  ─ 
Restricted cash   21,271    21,271      ─      ─ 
Restricted cash related to CFVs   23,495    23,495      ─      ─ 
Asset management fee receivable from TC Fund I   116      ─      ─    116 
Loans held for investment   736      ─      ─    1,754 
Loans held for investment related to CFVs   65      ─      ─    497 
                     
Liabilities:                    
Notes payable and other debt, bond related   83,838      ─      ─    83,879 
Notes payable and other debt, non-bond related   25,592      ─      ─    26,014 
Notes payable and other debt related to CFVs   6,712      ─      ─      ─ 
Subordinated debt issued by MFH   99,997      ─      ─    43,256 

 

Valuation Techniques

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash – The carrying value of these assets approximate fair value due to the short-term nature and negligible credit risk inherent in them.

 

Accrued interest and accounts receivable – The carrying value of these assets approximate fair value due to the short-term nature and negligible credit risk inherent in them.

 

Asset management fee receivable – Fair value is measured using a discounted cash flow methodology pursuant to which contractual payments from actual or anticipated residual events are discounted based upon a market yield.

 

Loans held for investment Fair value is measured using a discounted cash flow methodology pursuant to which contractual payments are discounted based upon market yields for similar credit risks.

 

Notes payable and other debt – Fair value is measured by discounting contractual cash flows using a market rate of interest or by estimating the fair value of the collateral supporting the debt arrangement, taking into account credit risk.

 

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Subordinated debt – The Company measures the fair value of the subordinated debt by discounting contractual cash flows based upon its estimated market yield, which was 12.5% and 14.0% at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As outlined in the table above, at September 30, 2018, the aggregate fair value was measured at $52.1 million. At September 30, 2018, the measured fair value of this debt would have been $62.0 million and $44.7 million using a market yield of 10.0% and 15.0%, respectively. The measured fair value of this debt is inherently judgmental and based on management’s assumption of market yields. There can be no assurance that the Company could repurchase the remaining subordinated debt at the measured fair values reflected in the table above or that the debt would trade at that price.

 

Note 9—Guarantees and Collateral

 

Guarantees

 

At September 30, 2018, the Company had one minimum yield guarantee associated with a nonconsolidated guaranteed LIHTC fund that expires on December 31, 2018. In this case, the Company agreed to indemnify the purchaser of the general partner interest in that guaranteed LIHTC fund from investor claims related to that guarantee. This arrangement requires the Company to stand ready to perform under such guarantee of investor yield for losses that result from the recapture of tax credits due to foreclosure or from difficulties in maintaining occupancy levels as mandated by LIHTC compliance regulation with respect to the LTPP in which the guaranteed LIHTC fund is invested. Prior to December 31, 2017, the guaranteed LIHTC fund had delivered all tax credits to its investors resulting in no additional future exposure to the Company as the tax credit recapture risk is not significant enough to reduce the guaranteed LIHTC fund yield below its guaranteed yield for the remaining two LTPPs in which the guaranteed LIHTC fund is invested that are within their tax credit compliance period. As a result, the Company has measured the maximum exposure and the carrying value of this guarantee to be zero at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

The Company also has agreed to indemnify specific investors in non-guaranteed LIHTC funds related to the performance on two LTPPs. If a third party fails to perform on its financial obligation relating to the property’s performance, the Company would be required to indemnify impacted investors. Such indemnities will expire on December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2022. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had a maximum exposure of $0.1 million related to one of these LTPP indemnifications and the remaining LTPP indemnification had no financial limit as the specific guarantee requires the guarantor to unconditionally fund any operating deficits of the LTPP. However, the Company does not believe it will be required to perform under this indemnification or incur any losses based upon the current operations of the LTPP.

 

Based upon the foregoing, the Company has measured the maximum exposure to be $0.1 million and the carrying value of these indemnifications to be zero at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Collateral and Restricted Assets

 

The following tables summarize assets that are either pledged or restricted for the Company’s use at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. For prior periods, these tables also reflect certain assets held by CFVs in order to reconcile to the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

   At 
   September 30, 2018 
       Investments       Total 
   Restricted   in Debt   Investments in   Assets 
(in thousands)  Cash   Securities   Partnerships   Pledged 
Debt and derivatives related to TRS agreements  $4,263   $122,811   $  ─   $127,074 
Notes payable and other debt (1)   6,673      ─    10,703    17,376 
Other   8      ─      ─    8 
Total  $10,944   $122,811   $10,703   $144,458 

 

(1)The majority of this balance represents collateral pledged by the Company in connection with the debt that finances its 11.85% ownership interest in SAWHF.

 

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   At 
   December 31, 2017 
       Investments           Total 
   Restricted   in Debt   Investments in    Other    Assets 
(in thousands)  Cash   Securities   Partnerships    Assets   Pledged 
Debt and derivatives related to TRS agreements  $9,160   $128,902   $  ─   $  ─   $138,062 
Notes payable and other debt (1)   5,991      ─    12,695      ─    18,686 
Other (2)   6,120      ─      ─      ─    6,120 
CFVs   23,495      ─    99,142    5,175    127,812 
Total  $44,766   $128,902   $111,837   $5,175   $290,680 

  

(1)This balance represents collateral pledged by the Company in connection with the debt that finances its 11.85% ownership interest in SAWHF.

 

(2)The majority of this balance represents collateral pledged by the Company in connection with the tax credit guarantee.  

 

Note 10—Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

During the first quarter of 2018, the Company conveyed all its operating lease agreements to Hunt. As a result, the Company had no future rental commitments at September 30, 2018.

 

Litigation and Other Legal Matters

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are named from time to time as defendants in various litigation matters or may have other claims made against them. Such legal proceedings may include claims for substantial or indeterminate compensatory, consequential or punitive damages, or for injunctive or declaratory relief.

 

The Company establishes reserves for litigation matters or other loss contingencies when a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Once established, reserves may be adjusted when new information is obtained. At September 30, 2018, we had no significant litigation matters and we were not aware of any other claims that we believe would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Note 11—Equity

 

Common Share Information

 

The following table provides information about net income to common shareholders as well as provides information that pertains to weighted-average share counts that were used in per share calculations as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Net income from continuing operations  $8,611   $4,361   $8,516   $592 
Net income from discontinued operations   13    5,560    21,210    13,302 
Net income to common shareholders  $8,624   $9,921   $29,726   $13,894 
                     
Basic weighted-average shares (1)   5,804    5,871    5,717    5,890 
Common stock equivalents (2), (3)   283     ─     ─     ─ 
Diluted weighted-average shares   6,087    5,871    5,717    5,890 

 

(1)Includes common shares issued and outstanding, as well as deferred shares of non-employee directors that have vested but are not issued and outstanding.

 

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(2)The weighted average potential dilutive shares outstanding, inclusive of the options exercised during the year based on the exercise date, had a potential dilutive share impact of 282,597 and 348,403 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the adjustment to net income for the awards classified as liabilities caused the common stock equivalents to be anti-dilutive. At September 30, 2018, 222,000 stock options were exercisable and in-the-money.

 

(3)At September 30, 2017, 410,000 stock options were exercisable and in-the-money and had a potential dilutive share impact of 383,299 and 382,088 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the adjustment to net income for the awards classified as liabilities caused the common stock equivalents to be anti-dilutive.

 

Common Shares

 

On March 13, 2018, the Board authorized a 2018 share repurchase program (“2018 Plan”) for up to 125,000 common shares, at a maximum price of $30.00 per share. The Company then adopted a Rule 10b5-1 plan implementing the Board’s authorization. On August 7, 2018, the Board amended the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 187,500 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $31.50. Furthermore, on November 6, 2018, the Board authorized the amendment of the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 218,750 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $32.96, which represents the Company’s diluted common shareholders’ equity per share at September 30, 2018.

  

In the third quarter of 2018, the Company purchased 28,473 common shares at an average price of $27.11. Between October 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018, the Company repurchased 34,350 common shares at an average price of $26.26. After taking into consideration the number of shares purchased through November 1, 2018, the number of shares that remain available for purchase under the amended 2018 Plan is 34,900.

 

On March 9, 2018, the Company issued 125,000 common shares to Hunt for $4.1 million, representing a price per share of $33.00. On June 26, 2018, the Company issued an additional 125,000 shares to Hunt for $4.3 million, or $34.00 per share.

 

Effective May 5, 2015, the Company adopted the Rights Plan to help preserve the Company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”).  In connection with adopting the Rights Plan, the Company declared a distribution of one right per common share to shareholders of record as of May 15, 2015.  The rights do not trade apart from the current common shares until the distribution date, as defined in the Rights Plan. Under the Rights Plan, the acquisition by an investor (or group of related investors) of greater than a 4.9% stake in the Company, could result in all existing shareholders other than the new 4.9% holder having the right to acquire new shares for a nominal cost, thereby significantly diluting the ownership interest of the acquiring person. The Rights Plan will remain in effect the earlier of (i) a period of five years, (ii) or until the Board determines the plan is no longer required.

 

On January 3, 2018, the Board approved a waiver of the 4.9% ownership limitation for Hunt, increasing such limitation to 9.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares in any rolling 12-month period.

 

At September 30, 2018, we had two shareholders with a greater than a 4.9% stake in the Company. Additionally, as of September 30, 2018, two of the Company’s executive officers, Michael L. Falcone and Gary A. Mentesana could each have a greater than 4.9% stake in the Company for purposes of the Rights Plan following their prospective exercise of their vested option awards. In anticipation of these officers becoming greater than 4.9% shareholders, the Board of Directors has named each of them as an exempted person in accordance with the Rights Plan and determined that the exercise of the options and the required share award purchases will not, in and of themselves, constitute a triggering event for purposes of our Rights Plan.

 

Noncontrolling Interests

 

The following table provides information about the noncontrolling interests in CFVs:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Guaranteed LIHTC Funds  $  ─   $83,909 
Consolidated Property Partnerships     ─    5,620 
Total  $  ─   $89,529 

 

Guaranteed LIHTC Funds

 

At September 30, 2018, the Company did not consolidate any guaranteed LIHTC funds for financial reporting purposes. As a result, noncontrolling interests in such funds were not recognized in the Company’s financial statements as of such reporting date.

 

At December 31, 2017, noncontrolling interest holders were comprised of limited and general partners in the 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds that were consolidated for reporting purposes. See Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information.

 

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Consolidated Property Partnerships

 

At September 30, 2018, the Company did not consolidate any property partnerships for financial reporting purposes. As a result, noncontrolling interests in such entities were not recognized in the Company’s financial statements as of such reporting date.

 

At December 31, 2017, noncontrolling interest holders were comprised of limited and general partners of these partnerships. See Note 15, “Consolidated Funds and Ventures,” for more information.

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Allocable to Common Shareholders

 

The following table provides information related to the net change in AOCI that was allocable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2018:

 

   Investments   Income   Foreign     
   in Debt   Tax   Currency     
(in thousands)  Securities   Expense   Translation   AOCI 
Balance, July 1, 2018  $54,857   $(14)  $(483)  $54,360 
Net unrealized gains   1,025      ─    525   1,550 
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (5,080)     ─      ─    (5,080)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as OTTI   141      ─      ─    141 
Income tax benefit     ─    14      ─    14 
Net change in AOCI   (3,914)   14    525   (3,375)
Balance, September 30, 2018  $50,943   $  ─   $42  $50,985 

 

The following table provides information related to the net change in AOCI that was allocable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2017:

 

   Investments   Foreign     
   in Debt   Currency     
(in thousands)  Securities   Translation   AOCI 
Balance, July 1, 2017  $42,344   $(3,406)  $38,938 
Net unrealized gains   623    19    642 
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (620)    ─    (620)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as OTTI   39     ─    39 
Net change in AOCI   42    19    61 
Balance, September 30, 2017  $42,386   $(3,387)  $38,999 

 

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The following table provides information related to the net change in AOCI that was allocable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:

 

   Investments   Foreign     
   in Debt   Currency     
(in thousands)  Securities   Translation   AOCI 
Balance, January 1, 2018  $44,459   $(3,306)  $41,153 
Net unrealized gains   2,143    3,348    4,851 
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (5,080)    ─    (5,080)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as OTTI   6     ─    6 
Recognition of unrealized holding gains on bond investments due to deconsolidation of LTPPs   9,415     ─    9,415 
Income tax expense    ─     ─     ─ 
Net change in AOCI   6,484    3,348    9,832 
Balance, September 30, 2018  $50,943   $42  $50,985 

 

The following table provides information related to the net change in AOCI that was allocable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:

 

   Investments   Foreign     
   in Debt   Currency     
(in thousands)  Securities   Translation   AOCI 
Balance, January 1, 2017  $40,998   $(3,180)  $37,818 
Net unrealized gains (losses)   1,969    (207)   1,762 
Reclassification of realized gains on sold or redeemed bonds into the Consolidated Statements of Operations   (620)    ─    (620)
Reclassification of realized losses to the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to bond investments assessed as OTTI   39     ─    39 
Net change in AOCI   1,388    (207)   1,181 
Balance, September 30, 2017  $42,386   $(3,387)  $38,999 

 

Note 12—Stock-Based Compensation

 

On January 8, 2018, the Company engaged Hunt through the execution of the Management Agreement to externally manage the Company’s operations. All employees of the Company were hired by the External Manager. The Company has stock-based compensation plans (“Plans”) for Non-employee Directors (“Non-employee Directors’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans”) and stock-based incentive compensation plans for its former employees (“Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans”).

 

The following table provides information related to total compensation expense that was recorded for these Plans:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans  $(34)  $902   $930   $2,481 
Non-employee Directors’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans   163    164    491    341 
Total  $129   $1,066   $1,421   $2,822 

 

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Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

At September 30, 2018, there were 466,694 share awards available to be issued under Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans. While each existing Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plan has been approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, not all of the Plans have been approved by the Company’s shareholders. The Plans that have not been approved by the Company’s shareholders are currently restricted to the issuance of only stock options. As a result, of the 466,694 shares available under the plans, 54,505 are available to be issued in the form of either stock options or shares, while the remaining 412,189 shares available for issuance must be issued in the form of stock options.

 

Employee Common Stock Options

 

The Company measures the fair value of unvested options with time-based vesting and all vested options (both time-based and performance based) using a lattice model for purposes of recognizing compensation expense.  The Company believes the lattice model provides a better estimate of the fair value of these options as, according to FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “the design of a lattice model more fully reflects the substantive characteristics of a particular employee share option.” Because options granted with stock price targets contain a “market condition” under FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to simulate future stock price movements for the Company.  The Company believes a Monte Carlo simulation provides a better estimate of the fair value for unvested options granted with specific stock price targets as the model’s flexibility allows for the fair value to account for the vesting provisions as well as the different probabilities of stock price outcomes. All options were vested as of September 30, 2018.

 

The following table provides information related to option activity under the Employees’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans:

 

           Weighted-average         
           Remaining         
       Weighted-average   Contractual   Aggregate     
   Number of   Exercise Price   Life per option   Intrinsic   Period End 
(in thousands, except per option data)  Options   per Option   (in years)   Value (1)   Liability (2) 
Outstanding at January 1, 2017   410   $1.56    4.4   $7,149   $7,166 
Forfeited/Expired in 2017    ─                     
Outstanding at December 31, 2017   410    1.56    3.4    9,322    9,342 
Exercised in 2018 (3)   (188)   1.29                
Forfeited/Expired in 2018    ─                     
Outstanding at September 30, 2018   222    1.80    3.5    5,413    5,431 
                          
Number of options that were exercisable at:                         
December 31, 2017   410    1.56    3.4           
September 30, 2018   222    1.80    3.5           

 

(1)Intrinsic value is based on outstanding options.

 

(2)Only options that were amortized based on a vesting schedule have a liability balance. These options were 222,000 at September 30, 2018 and 410,000 at both December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2017.

 

(3)When exercised, stock options were net share settled. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 188,000 stock options were exercised, which resulted in a $4.8 million reduction to Other liabilities at September 30, 2018. Of the 188,000 stock options that were exercised, the Company issued 102,651 common shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, and 85,349 stock options were tendered to the Company by their holders in connection with the payment of related withholding taxes and exercise price.

 

Non-Employee Directors’ Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

The Non-employee Directors’ Stock-based Compensation Plans authorize a total of 1,130,000 shares for issuance, of which 396,720 were available to be issued at September 30, 2018. The Non-employee Directors’ Stock-based Compensation Plans provide for grants of non-qualified common stock options, common shares, restricted shares and deferred shares.

 

On August 3, 2017, the Board adopted an amendment to the Non-employee Directors’ Stock-based Compensation Plans providing for directors to be paid $120,000 per year for their services. In addition, the Chairman receives an additional $20,000 per year, the Audit Committee Chair receives an additional $15,000 per year and the other committee chairs receive an additional $10,000 per year. Under this plan, 50% of such compensation is paid in cash and the remaining sum through common share-based grants.

 

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The table below summarizes non-employee director compensation, including cash, vested options and common and deferred shares, for services rendered for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The directors are fully vested in the deferred shares at the grant date.

 

       Common   Deferred   Weighted-average         
       Shares   Shares   Grant Date   Options   Directors' Fees 
   Cash   Granted   Granted   Share Price   Vested   Expense 
September 30, 2018  $245,625      ─    9,038   $27.18      ─   $491,250 
September 30, 2017   170,625      ─    7,210    23.67      ─    341,250 

 

Note 13—Related Party Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates

 

Transactions with Hunt

 

External Management Fees and Expenses Reimbursement

 

Commencing on January 8, 2018, we became externally managed pursuant to a management agreement between us and the External Manager (the “Management Agreement”). At the time of the Disposition, all employees of the Company were hired by the External Manager.  In consideration for the external management services, the Company agreed to pay the External Manager (i) a base management fee, which is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated as a percentage of the Company’s GAAP common shareholders’ equity, with certain annual true-ups, and (ii) an incentive fee equal to 20% of the total annual return of diluted common shareholders’ equity per share in excess of 7%.  For the first and second quarters of 2018, the base management fee is fixed at $1 million per quarter, with the percentage of GAAP common shareholders’ equity calculation beginning with the third quarter of 2018.  Additionally, pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse the External Manager for certain allocable overhead costs, including certain salaries and benefits, subject to a cap. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized $1.1 million and $5.8 million, respectively, of management fees and expense reimbursements in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. At September 30, 2018, $1.1 million of management fees and expense reimbursements is payable to the External Manager.

 

Loan HFI

 

As consideration for the Disposition (refer to Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for more information), Hunt agreed to pay the Company $57.0 million and to assume certain liabilities of the Company. The Company provided seller financing through a $57.0 million note receivable from Hunt that has a term of seven years, is prepayable at any time and bears interest at the rate of 5% per annum. The unpaid principal balance on the note will amortize in 20 equal quarterly payments of $2.85 million beginning on March 31, 2020. During the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized $0.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of interest income associated with this note receivable in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. At September 30, 2018, $0.7 million of interest remains payable by Hunt.

 

Common Shares

 

In conjunction with the Disposition, the Company agreed to issue, and Hunt agreed to acquire, 250,000 of the Company’s common shares in a private placement at an average purchase price of $33.50 per share. On March 9, 2018, the Company issued 125,000 common shares to Hunt for $4.1 million, representing a price per share of $33.00. On June 26, 2018, the Company issued the remaining 125,000 shares to Hunt for $4.3 million, or $34.00 per share.

 

Note 14—Discontinued Operations

 

On January 8, 2018, the Company entered into a series of material definitive agreements with affiliates of Hunt, in which the Company sold certain business lines and assets to Hunt and converted to an externally managed business model by engaging Hunt to perform management services for the Company.

 

The Company sold the following to Hunt as part of the Disposition: (i) its LIHTC business; (ii) its international asset and investment management business; (iii) the loan origination, servicing and management components of its Energy Capital business; (iv) its bond servicing platform; and (v) certain miscellaneous investments. This sale transaction also included certain management, expense reimbursement and other contractual rights held by the Company with respect to its Energy Capital, LIHTC and International Operations. The 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds that were deconsolidated in connection with the Disposition have been excluded from discontinued operations because such funds were not conveyed to Hunt as part of the Disposition.

 

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As a result of the Disposition, the Company’s continuing operations consist primarily of its: (i) investments in debt securities; (ii) equity investments in renewable energy lending ventures and SAWHF; (iii) the $57.0 million note receivable from Hunt; (iv) derivative financial instruments that are used to hedge interest rate and foreign currency risk of the Company; and (v) other assets and liabilities, including certain real estate-related investments and the Company’s subordinated debt.

 

The table below summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations reported in its Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
ASSETS          
Cash and cash equivalents  $  ─   $3,654 
Restricted cash     ─    16,073 
Investments in debt securities     ─    5,450 
Investments in partnerships     ─    4,456 
Real estate, net     ─    23,944 
Other assets     ─    7,643 
Total assets of discontinued operations  $  ─   $61,220 
           
LIABILITIES          
Debt  $  ─   $8,308 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     ─    3,454 
Other liabilities     ─    5,450 
Total liabilities of discontinued operations  $  ─   $17,212 

 

The table below provides information about income and expenses related to the Company’s discontinued operations reported in its Consolidated Statements of Operations:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Interest on bonds  $ ─   $19   $6   $60 
Interest on loans and short-term investments    ─    110    6    276 
Asset management fee and reimbursements    ─    7,537    842    18,408 
Other income    ─    254    53    835 
Interest expense    ─    (31)    ─    (100)
Salaries and benefits    ─    (2,048)   (53)   (6,072)
General and administrative    ─    (279)   (68)   (875)
Professional fees   (11)   (336)   (31)   (982)
Other expenses    ─    (616)   (29)   (379)
Gains on sales and operations of real estate, net   2    201    63    370 
Equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures    ─    33    1    (5)
Income tax benefit   22     ─     ─     ─ 
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax   13    4,844    790    11,536 
Disposal:                    
Net gain on sale of business    ─    251     ─    251 
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operations    ─     ─    20,420     ─ 
Net income from discontinued operations   13    5,095   $21,210   $11,787 
Loss from discontinued operations allocable to noncontrolling interests    ─    465     ─    1,515 
Net income to common shareholders from discontinued operations  $13   $5,560   $21,210   $13,302 

 

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The table below provides information about operating and investing cash flows related to the Company’s discontinued operations reported in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

 

   For the nine months ended 
   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Depreciation and amortization  $29   $990 
Capital expenditures    ─    (108)
           
Net change in assets, liabilities and equity due to sale of business:          
Decrease in investments in debt securities related to CFVs   (5,450)    ─ 
Decrease in loans   (231)    ─ 
Decrease in other assets ($24,140 related to CFVs)   (35,715)    ─ 
Decrease in debt ($6,144 related to CFVs)   8,308     ─ 
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses   7,201     ─ 
Decrease in other liabilities ($480 related to CFVs)   5,333     ─ 
Decrease in noncontrolling interests in CFVs   5,620     ─ 
Increase in accumulated other comprehensive income   (3,404)    ─ 

 

Note 15—Consolidated Funds and Ventures

 

In instances where the Company had a minimal ownership interest in certain consolidated entities, the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, equity in losses from those entities’ unconsolidated LTPPs and the losses allocated to the noncontrolling interests of the consolidated entities have been separately identified in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations. Third-party ownership in these CFVs is recorded in equity as “Noncontrolling interests in CFVs.”

 

Guaranteed LIHTC Funds

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company consolidated 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds for reporting purposes. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company assigned to Hunt, and Hunt assumed, the Company’s guarantee obligations associated with these 11 guaranteed LIHTC funds in connection with the Disposition. Consequently, the Company deconsolidated these guaranteed LIHTC funds upon settlement of the Disposition.

 

The primary assets of the guaranteed LIHTC funds were equity investments in LTPPs. These investments were accounted for by the guaranteed LIHTC funds using the equity method of accounting.

 

Asset Summary:

 

The following table summarizes the assets of the CFVs:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  $  ─   $23,495 
Investments in LTPPs     ─    99,142 
Other assets     ─    5,175 
Total assets of CFVs  $  ─   $127,812 

 

The assets of the CFVs were restricted for use by the specific owner entity and were not available for the Company’s general use.

 

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Investments in LTPPs

 

The guaranteed LIHTC funds’ limited partner investments in LTPPs were accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The following table summarizes the total amount of assets, debt and other liabilities of LTPPs:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Total assets of the LTPPs (1)  $ ─   $1,085,998 
Total debt of the LTPPs    ─    771,027 
Total other liabilities of the LTPPs    ─    165,500 

 

(1)The assets of the LTPPs are primarily real estate and the liabilities are predominantly mortgage debt.

 

The following table provides information about the gross revenue, operating expenses and net loss of LTPPs related to CFVs:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Gross revenue  $ ─   $37,682   $  ─   $113,047 
Operating expenses    ─    22,062      ─    66,187 
Net loss and net loss attributable to entity    ─    (4,927)     ─    (18,163)

 

Prior to the Disposition, the Company’s exposure to loss related to the guaranteed LIHTC funds and the underlying LTPPs had two elements: (i) exposure to loss associated with our financial guarantees as described above and (ii) exposure to loss related to the Company’s investments in bonds that were dependent upon repayment by certain LTPPs within the guaranteed LIHTC funds.

 

Liability Summary:

 

The following table summarizes the liabilities of the CFVs:

 

   At   At 
   September 30,   December 31, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017 
Debt (1)  $  ─   $6,712 
Unfunded equity commitments to unconsolidated LTPPs     ─    8,003 
Asset management fee payable     ─    31,840 
Other liabilities     ─    4,010 
Total liabilities of CFVs  $  ─   $50,565 

 

(1)At December 31, 2017, $6.7 million of this debt had a UPB equal to its carrying value, a weighted-average effective interest rate of 6.5%, and was due on demand.

 

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Income Statement Summary:

 

The following section provides more information related to the income statement of the CFVs:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Revenue:                
Interest and other income related to CFVs  $  ─   $3   $   $247 
                     
Expenses:                    
Interest expense     ─    121      ─    307 
Professional fees     ─    487      ─    589 
Asset management fee expense     ─    1,016      ─    3,206 
Other expenses     ─    459      ─    1,370 
Impairments     ─    9,671      ─    21,071 
Total expenses related to CFVs     ─    11,754      ─    26,543 
                     
Equity in losses from LTPPs of CFVs     ─    (1,863)     ─    (9,125)
Net loss     ─    (13,614)     ─    (35,421)
Net losses allocable to noncontrolling interests in CFVs from continuing operations     ─    12,717      ─    32,327 
Net loss allocable to the common shareholders related to CFVs from continuing operations  $  ─   $(897)  $  ─   $(3,094)

 

 

The following table provides details of net loss allocable to the common shareholders related to CFVs:

 

   For the three months ended   For the nine months ended 
   September 30,   September 30, 
(in thousands)  2018   2017   2018   2017 
Equity in losses from LTPPs  $  ─   $(897)  $  ─   $(3,104)
Equity in income from Consolidated Property Partnerships     ─      ─      ─    10 
Net loss allocable to the common shareholders related to CFVs from continuing operations  $  ─   $(897)  $  ─   $(3,094)

 

Note 16—Segment Information

 

At September 30, 2018, the Company primarily invests in debt associated with real estate and infrastructure and operates as a single reporting segment. As discussed in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” as a result of the Disposition the Company no longer operates, or present the results of its operations, through three reportable segments that, as of December 31, 2017, included U.S. Operations, International Operations and Corporate Operations. Therefore, all required segment information can be found in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 17—Subsequent Events

 

Assignment of Purchase Agreements

 

On October 4, 2018, Hunt exercised its option as set forth in the Master Transaction Agreement dated January 8, 2018, between the Company and Hunt to take assignment of the Company’s agreements to acquire (i) the LIHTC business of Morrison Grove Management, LLC (“MGM”) and (ii) certain assets pertaining to a specific LIHTC property from affiliates of MGM (these agreements are collectively referred hereinafter to as the “MGM Agreements”). As a result of the assignment of the MGM Agreements and Hunt’s closing thereunder, the Company expects to recognize an increase in common shareholders’ equity of approximately $14.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, or approximately $2.35 per share based upon diluted shares outstanding at September 30, 2018.

 

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In connection with the closing of the MGM Agreements, the Company executed a series of additional transactions completing the Company’s disposition of its MGM and LIHTC related assets. Those additional transactions included the acquisition by Hunt of the Company’s $9.0 million HFS loan for $9.4 million, that the Company had previously acquired from an affiliate of MGM, and the Company’s remaining general partner interests in two nonconsolidated LIHTC funds. In addition, the Company acquired $10.0 million in Hunt notes from the MGM principals for $5.0 million in cash and $5.0 million in a Company note. This purchase increased the aggregate principal balance of the Company’s existing $57.0 million note from Hunt to $67.0 million. The Company’s $5.0 million note to the MGM principals bears interest at 5.0%, is payable quarterly in arrears and has a varying amortization schedule that fully amortizes the note by its maturity date of January 1, 2026. 

 

Restructuring of Infrastructure Bond Investments

 

On October 30, 2018, the Company agreed to restructure two municipal bonds that financed the development of infrastructure for a mixed-use town center development and that are secured by incremental tax revenues generated from the development.  At September 30, 2018, these two bond investments had a combined UPB, amortized cost and fair value of $26.8 million, $20.9 million and $21.6 million, respectively, bore interest at a rate of 6.75% and had a weighted average maturity of 15.4 years.  Under the terms of the restructured bond investment, a single tax-exempt bond was issued, that has a UPB of $27.2 million, bears a coupon of 6.30% and has a contractual term of 30.1 years. 

 

As part of this restructuring transaction, the community development district (“CDD”) in which the mixed-use development is located will assess owners of undeveloped land parcels an undeveloped land license fee that will supplement tax revenues that are generated from the mixed-use town center development, thereby increasing the amount of funds available to the CDD to make principal and interest payments to the Company on its infrastructure bond.  At the time of restructuring, the real estate venture that develops the mixed-use town center development and in which the Company has an 80% ownership interest was the owner of all undeveloped land parcels in the CDD. Members of the venture will make capital contributions in order for the venture to satisfy its financial obligations associated with undeveloped land license fees.  However, through amendments to the real estate venture's operating agreement that effectively reimburse the Company’s venture partner for its share of undeveloped land license fees, the Company bears 100% of the economic burden of incremental license fees associated with land that is owned by the venture.

 

For financial reporting purposes, the restructuring of the Company’s infrastructure bond investments was deemed to be a TDR.  In this regard, the Company will carry forward the amortized cost basis of its infrastructure bond investments as of the date of restructuring and will measure the fair value of its restructured bond investment prospectively based upon its amended terms. Further, in accounting for its equity investment in the real estate venture, the Company will continue to record its share of the development’s net operations as a component of equity in income from unconsolidated funds and ventures, inclusive of 100% of the newly assessed undeveloped land license fees, until such time that the land parcels are sold to third parties.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of the 2017 Annual Report. Our exposures to market risk have not changed materially since December 31, 2017.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our filings and submissions to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Such controls include those designed to ensure that information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

An evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the CEO and CFO, on the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at September 30, 2018.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are not, nor are any of our subsidiaries, a party to any material pending litigation or other legal proceedings. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, we are not party to any threatened litigation or legal proceedings, which, in the opinion of management, individually or in the aggregate, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

For a discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the 2017 Annual Report.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

 

None for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Table 22 provides information on the Company’s purchases of its common shares during the three months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Table 22: Common Shares Repurchases

 

           Number of   Maximum 
           Shares Purchased   Number of Shares 
   Total Number   Average   as Part of   that May Yet be 
   of Shares   Price Paid   Publicly Announced   Purchased Under 
(in thousands, except for per share data)  Purchased   per Share   Plans or Programs   Plans or Programs (1) 
7/1/2018 - 7/31/2018    ─   $ ─     ─    66 
8/1/2018 - 8/31/2018   12    26.58    12    54 
9/1/2018 - 9/30/2018   16    27.50    16    38 
    28    27.11    28    38 

 

(1)On March 13, 2018, the Board approved the 2018 Plan, which authorized the repurchase for up to 125,000 common shares at a maximum price of $30.00 per share. On August 7, 2018, the Board amended the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 187,500 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $31.50. Furthermore, on November 6, 2018, the Board authorized the amendment of the 2018 Plan to increase (i) the total shares authorized for repurchase to 218,750 and (ii) the maximum authorized share repurchase price per share to $32.96, which represents the Company’s diluted common shareholders’ equity per share at September 30, 2018. Between October 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018, the Company repurchased 34,350 common shares at an average price of $26.26. As a result, the maximum number of shares that may be purchased under the amended 2018 Plan after November 1, 2018 is 34,900.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Description   Incorporation by Reference
         
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    
         
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    
         
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    
         
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    
         
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document    
         
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema    
         
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation    
         
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels    
         
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation    
         
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition    

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

    MMA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
       
Dated: November 9, 2018 By: /s/ Michael L. Falcone
    Name:  Michael L. Falcone
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

  By: /s/ Michael L. Falcone   November 9, 2018
  Name:   Michael L. Falcone    
  Title: Chief Executive Officer    
         
         
  By: /s/ David C. Bjarnason   November 9, 2018
  Name: David C. Bjarnason    
  Title: Chief Financial Officer    

 

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