Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Acquisitions

v3.21.2
Acquisitions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisitions

3. ACQUISITIONS

Cortina:

On April 12, 2019, SAMG LLC and SLP entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Cortina Asset Management, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company (“Cortina”), and certain interest holders of Cortina (together, the

“Principals of Cortina”) to acquire, directly or through a designated affiliate, substantially all of the assets of Cortina relating to Cortina’s business of providing investment management, investment advisory, and related services (the “Cortina Acquisition”).

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, SAMG LLC agreed to pay to Cortina an aggregate maximum amount of $44,937, 80% of which was agreed to be paid in cash at closing by SAMG LLC, and 20% of which was agreed to be paid by SLP in the form of issuance and delivery to certain Principals of Cortina at closing of Class B Units in SLP, in each case subject to certain adjustments as described in the Purchase Agreement.

On July 1, 2019, the acquisition was completed pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.  At closing, SAMG LLC paid to Cortina an aggregate principal amount of $33,577 in cash, and SLP paid an additional $8,952, in the form of issuance and delivery to certain Principals of Cortina of 662,713 Class B Units in SLP.  The $33,577 paid in cash represented $35,072 in consideration, partially offset by net closing credits due to SAMG LLC for reimbursable expenses from Cortina.

In addition, the Purchase Agreement provides for up to an additional $26,209 to be paid 80% in cash with certain Principals of Cortina receiving the remaining 20% in the form of Class B Units of SLP in potential earn-out payments over the next four years.  SAMG LLC determined that the preliminary fair value of contingent consideration pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement whereby the sellers of Cortina are potentially entitled to two retention payments and one growth payment contingent upon the achievement of various revenue targets is $13,800.  The estimated fair value of contingent consideration is recognized at the date of acquisition and adjusted for changes in facts and circumstances until the ultimate resolution of the contingency.  Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration are reflected as a component of general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The income approach was used to determine the fair value of these payments, by estimating a range of likely expected outcomes and payouts given these outcomes.  The potential payouts were estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation and discounted back to their present values using a risk-free discount rate adjusted to account for SAMG LLC’s credit or counterparty risk to arrive at the present value of the contingent consideration payments.  The discount rate for the contingent consideration payments was based on the revenue cost of capital for Cortina’s revenue.  

The first retention payment, due if revenue for the 12-month period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 is greater than or equal to 95% of the acquired revenue of $13,027, which represents Cortina’s annual revenue run-rate as of closing (“Acquired Revenue”), is equal to $3,370.  If revenue for the period is equal to 75% or less of the Acquired Revenue, there is no first retention payment, and if revenue for the period is between 75% and 95%, the first retention payment will be determined using linear interpolation between $0 and $3,370.  Cortina’s revenue for the 12-month period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 exceeded 95% of the acquired revenue of $13,027, therefore, a first retention payment of $3,370 is due as of June 30, 2021.  

The second retention payment is based on revenue for the 12-month period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, with a revenue threshold between 85% and 105% of Acquired Revenue and a maximum retention payment of $5,617.  If revenue for the period is equal to 85% or less of the Acquired Revenue, there is no second retention payment, and if revenue for the period is between 85% and 105%, the second retention payment will be determined using linear interpolation between $0 and $5,617.

The growth payment is based on revenue for the 12-month period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, with a revenue threshold between 95% and 140% of Acquired Revenue and a maximum payment of $17,222.  If revenue for the period is equal to 95% or less of the Acquired Revenue, there is no growth payment, and if revenue for the period is between 95% and 140%, the growth payment will be determined using linear interpolation between $0 and $17,222.

A fair value adjustment to contingent purchase price consideration of $1,600 and $3,900 was recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, and $3,800 and ($2,200) was recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively, and is included in general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the quarters then ended.  SAMG LLC has a liability of $19,000 and $15,100 as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, related to earnout payments to be made in conjunction with the Cortina Acquisition which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition for contingent consideration.

In connection with their receipt of the equity consideration, the Principals of Cortina became subject to the rights and obligations set forth in the limited partnership agreement of SLP and are entitled to distributions consistent with SLP’s distribution policy.  In addition, the Principals of Cortina became parties to the exchange agreement between the Company and its principals, which governs the exchange of Class B Units for Class A common stock of the Company (the “Exchange Agreement”), the resale and registration rights agreement between the Company and its principals, which provides the Principals of Cortina with liquidity with respect to shares of Class A common stock of the Company received in exchange for Class B Units (the “Resale and Registration Rights Agreement”), and the TRA of the Company, which entitles the Principals of Cortina to share in a portion of the tax benefit received by the Company upon the exchange of Class B Units for Class A common stock of the Company.

The Purchase Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants.

The strategic acquisition of Cortina, a long-standing innovative and high-caliber growth equity asset management firm, establishes a growth equity capability for the Company.  Furthermore, the Company gains investment professionals that have significant experience and knowledge of the industry and establishes a presence in the Midwest.

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company incurred $13 and $85, respectively, in costs related to the Cortina Acquisition, and has included these in general, administrative and other in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company believes the recorded goodwill is supported by the anticipated revenues and expected synergies of integrating the operations of Cortina into the Company.  Most of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Neosho:

On December 13, 2018, the Company executed an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, SLP, SAMG LLC (the “Buyer”) and Neosho Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Neosho” or the “Seller”), and Christopher K. Richey, Alphonse I. Chan, Robert K. Choi and Vincent G. Pandes, each such individual a principal of Neosho (together, the “Principals of Neosho”), to acquire certain assets of Neosho.  The transaction contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement closed on January 15, 2019 and is referred to herein as the “Neosho Acquisition”.

Pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, SAMG LLC acquired substantially all of the business and assets of the Seller, a provider of investment management and advisory services, including goodwill and the benefit of the amortization of goodwill related to such assets. In consideration of the purchased assets and goodwill, SAMG LLC paid to the Seller and the Principals of Neosho an aggregate purchase price consisting of (1) a cash payment of $399 (net of cash acquired) and (2) Class B units of SLP issued to the Principals of Neosho with a value equal to $20 and an equal number of shares of Class B common stock of the Company, having voting rights but no economic interest. The Company determined that the acquisition-date fair value of the contingent consideration was $1,686, based on the likelihood that the financial and performance targets described in the Asset Purchase Agreement will be achieved.  SAMG LLC will make a payment of $300 to the Principals of Neosho on the first anniversary of the closing date.  SAMG LLC will make earnout payments to the Principals of Neosho as soon as practicable following December 31, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $100 and (ii) the product obtained by multiplying (x) 50% by (y) the revenue of Neosho as of such payment date less the revenue of Neosho as of the immediately preceding payment date for the prior year. Earnout payments will be paid 75% in cash and 25% in equity. The estimated fair value of contingent consideration is recognized at the date of acquisition and adjusted for changes in facts and circumstances until the ultimate resolution of the contingency. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration are reflected as a component of general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The fair value of the contingent consideration was based on discounted cash flow models using projected revenue for each earnout period. The discount rate applied to the projected revenue was determined based on the weighted average cost of capital for the Company and took into account that the overall risk associated with the payments was similar to the overall risks of the Company as there is no target, floor or cap associated the contingent payments.  

The Company has a liability of $928 and $1,028 related to earnout payments to be made in conjunction with the Neosho Acquisition which is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, for contingent consideration.  During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company made contingent purchase price payments to Neosho of $100 and $300, respectively.