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Variable Interests
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011
Variable Interests  
Variable Interests  
NOTE 17: VARIABLE INTERESTS
The following is a description of our financial interests in VIEs which we consider significant or where we are the sponsor. For these VIEs we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary and, therefore have not consolidated the VIEs. Prior to implementation of this new guidance we did not consolidate these entities.
McGladrey & Pullen LLP – McGladrey & Pullen LLP (M&P) is a limited liability partnership, owned 100% by certified public accountants (CPAs), which provides attest services to middle market clients.
Under state accountancy regulations, a firm cannot provide attest services unless it is properly licensed which requires that the firm be majority-owned and controlled by licensed CPAs. As such, RSM McGladrey, Inc. (RSM) cannot be a licensed CPA firm and cannot provide attest services. Since 1999, RSM and M&P have operated in what
is known as an "alternative practice structure" (APS). Through the APS, RSM and M&P offer clients a full range of attest and non-attest services in compliance with applicable accountancy regulations.
An administrative services agreement between RSM and M&P obligates RSM to provide M&P with administrative services, information technology, office space, non-professional staff, and other infrastructure in exchange for market rate fees from M&P. In addition, the agreement allows for professional staff to be sub-contracted between RSM and M&P at market rates. During fiscal years 2011 and 2010, we received $4.1 million and $22.6 million, respectively, in management fee revenues from M&P.
All partners of M&P, with the exception of M&P's Managing Partner, are also managing directors employed by RSM. Approximately 84% of RSM's managing directors are also partners in M&P. Certain other personnel are also employed by both M&P and RSM. M&P partners receive distributions of M&P's earnings in their capacity as partners, as well as compensation from RSM in their capacity as managing directors. Distributions to M&P partners are based on the profitability of M&P and are not capped by the APS. The aggregate compensation payable to RSM managing directors by RSM in any given year generally equals 67 percent of the combined profits of M&P and RSM less any amounts paid in their capacity as M&P partners. In practice, this means that variability in the amounts paid to RSM managing directors under these contracts can cause variability in RSM's operating results. RSM is not entitled to any profits or residual interests of M&P, nor is it obligated to fund losses or capital deficiencies of M&P. Managing directors of RSM have historically participated in stock-based compensation plans of H&R Block. Beginning in fiscal 2011, participation in those plans ceased and were replaced by a non-contributory, non-qualified defined contribution plan. RSM is required to pay $60.0 million over five years to fund contributions to the retirement plan. The administrative services agreement with M&P and compensation arrangements between RSM and their managing directors represent a variable interest in M&P.
We have concluded that RSM is not the primary beneficiary of M&P and, therefore, we have not consolidated M&P. RSM does not have an equity interest in M&P, nor does it have the power to direct any activities of M&P and does not receive any of its income. We have no assets or liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets related to our variable interests. We believe RSM's maximum exposure to economic loss, resulting from various agreements with M&P, relates primarily to shared office space from operating leases under the administrative services agreement equal to $94.8 million at April 30, 2011, and variability in our operating results due to the compensation agreements with RSM managing directors. We do not provide any support that is not contractually required.
Securitization Trusts – SCC holds an interest in and is the sponsor (issuer) of 56 REMIC Trusts and 14 NIM Trusts (collectively, "Trusts") related to previously originated mortgage loans that were securitized. These Trusts are variable interest entities. The REMIC Trusts hold static pools of sub-prime residential mortgage loans. The NIM Trusts hold beneficial interests in certain REMIC Trusts. The Trusts were designed to collect and pass through to the beneficial interest holders the cash flows of the underlying mortgage loans. The REMIC Trusts were financed with bonds and equity. The NIM Trusts were financed with notes and equity. All bonds and notes are held by third-party investors.
Our identification of the primary beneficiary of the Trusts was based on a determination that the servicer of the underlying mortgage loans has the power to direct the most significant activities of the Trusts because the servicer handles all of the loss mitigation activities for the mortgage loans.
SCC is not the servicer of the mortgage loans underlying the REMIC Trusts. Therefore, SCC is not the primary beneficiary of the REMIC Trusts because it does not have the power to direct the most significant activities of the REMIC Trusts, which is the servicing of the underlying mortgage loans.
SCC does have the exclusive right to appoint a servicer when certain conditions have been met for specific loans related to two of the NIM Trusts. As of April 30, 2011, those conditions have been met for a minority portion of the loans underlying those Trusts. As this right pertains only to a minority of the loans, we have concluded that SCC does not have the power to direct the most significant activities of these two NIM Trusts, as the servicer has the power to direct significant activities over the majority of the mortgage loans. In the remaining NIM Trusts, SCC has a shared right to appoint a servicer under certain conditions. For these NIM Trusts, we have concluded that SCC is not the primary beneficiary because the power to direct the most significant activities, which is the servicing of the underlying mortgage loans, is shared with other unrelated parties.
At April 30, 2011, we had no significant assets or liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets related to SCC's variable interests in the Trusts. We have a liability, as discussed in note 18, and a deferred tax asset recorded in our consolidated balance sheets related to obligations for representations and warranties SCC made in connection with the transfer of mortgage loans, including mortgage loans held by the securitization trusts. We have no remaining exposure to economic loss arising from impairment of SCC's beneficial interest in the Trusts. If SCC receives cash flows in the future as a holder of beneficial interests we would record gains as other income in our income statement. Neither we nor SCC has liquidity arrangements, guarantees or other commitments for the Trusts, nor has any support been provided that was not contractually required.