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Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties  
Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties

Note 19—Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties

Management Agreement. Prior to May 31, 2017, we had a management agreement with ACM, pursuant to which ACM provided us with a variety of professional and advisory services vital to our operations, including underwriting, accounting and treasury, compliance, marketing, information technology and human resources. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, we reimbursed ACM for  its actual costs incurred in connection with managing our business through a base management fee, and, under certain circumstances, an annual incentive fee. In May 2017, we terminated the existing management agreement. We incurred base management fees of  $6.7 million in 2017.

Shared Services Agreement. We have a shared services agreement with ACM where we provide limited support services to ACM and they reimburse us for the costs of performing such services. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, we incurred $2.7 million, $1.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of costs for services provided to ACM, which are included in due from related party on the consolidated balance sheets.

Other Related Party Transactions. Due from related party was $11.3 million and $1.3 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which consisted primarily of amounts due from our affiliated servicing operations related to real estate transactions closing at the end of 2019 and amounts due from ACM for costs incurred in connection with the shared services agreement described above.

Due to related party was $13.1 million at December 31, 2019 and consisted of loan payoffs, holdbacks and escrows to be remitted to our affiliated servicing operations related to real estate transactions.

In certain instances our business requires our executives to charter privately-owned aircraft in furtherance of our business. In October 2019, we entered into an aircraft time sharing agreement with an entity controlled by our chief executive officer that owns a private aircraft. Pursuant to the agreement, we reimburse the aircraft owner for the required costs under Federal Aviation Administration regulations for the flights our executives' charter. During 2019, we reimbursed the aircraft owner $0.1 million for the flights chartered by our executives pursuant the agreement.

In the first quarter of 2019, we, along with ACM, certain executives of ours and a consortium of independent outside investors, formed AMAC III, a multifamily-focused commercial real estate investment fund sponsored and managed by our chief executive officer and one of his immediate family members. We committed to a $30.0 million investment (of which $10.9 million was funded as of December 31, 2019) for an 18% interest in AMAC III. In July 2019, AMAC III originated a $7.0 million mezzanine loan to a borrower which we have an outstanding $34.0 million bridge loan. In connection with the AMAC III mezzanine loan, we entered into an inter-creditor agreement with AMAC III. In addition, we originated a $15.6 million Private Label loan in December 2019 to a borrower which is 100% owned by AMAC III, which bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.735% and matures in January 2030. We received a $0.2 million cash distribution and recorded a $0.2 million loss in 2019 related to this investment. Interest income recorded from our bridge and Private Label loans totaled $3.3 million for 2019.

In November 2018, we originated a $61.2 million bridge loan  on a multifamily property owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 10% of the borrowing entity. The loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.50% with a LIBOR floor of 2.00% and matures in October 2021. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the loan commitment was reduced to $22.6 million (of which $17.4 million was funded as of December 31, 2019) and the related party investors liquidated their equity investment. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.3 million and $0.2 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In October 2018, we originated a $37.5 million bridge loan, which was used to purchase several multifamily properties. In January 2019, an entity owned, in part, by an immediate family member of our chief executive officer, purchased a 23.9% interest in the borrowing entity. The loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.25% with a LIBOR floor of 2.375% and matures in October 2020. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $2.7 million for 2019.

In October 2018, we acquired a $19.5 million bridge loan originated by ACM. The loan was used to purchase several multifamily properties by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 85% of the borrowing entity. The loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.0% with a LIBOR floor of 2.125% and matures in July 2021. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.3 million and $0.3 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In August 2018, we originated a $17.7 million bridge loan to an entity owned, in part, by an immediate family member of our chief executive officer, who owns a 10.8% interest in the borrowing entity. The loan was used to purchase several undeveloped parcels of land. The loan has a fixed interest rate of 10% and is scheduled to mature in February 2020. In September 2019, the borrower made a partial paydown of principal totaling $4.7 million and the remaining balance was paid off in January 2020. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.8 million and $0.8 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In June 2018, we originated a $21.7 million bridge loan on a multifamily property owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 75% in the borrowing entity. The loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.75% with a LIBOR floor of 1.25% and matures in June 2021. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.4 million and $0.6 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In April 2018, we acquired a $9.4 million bridge loan originated by ACM, of which $8.6 million was funded as of December 31, 2019. The loan was used to purchase several multifamily properties by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 75% of the borrowing entity. The loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.0% with a LIBOR floor of 1.25% and matures in January 2021. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $0.6 million and $0.3 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

In January 2018, we paid $50.0 million in full satisfaction of the related party financing we entered into with ACM to finance a portion of the Acquisition purchase price. We incurred interest expense related to this financing of $0.3 million and $3.8 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In December 2017, we acquired a $32.8 million bridge loan originated by ACM. The loan was used to purchase several multifamily properties by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 90% of the borrowing entity. The loan had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.0% with a LIBOR floor of 1.13% and was scheduled to mature in June 2020. In October 2019, the borrower repaid this loan in full.Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.7 million, $2.4 million and $0.1 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we originated two bridge loans totaling $28.0 million on two multifamily properties owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns 45% of the borrowing entity. The loans had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.25% with LIBOR floors ranging from 1.24% to 1.54% and was scheduled to mature in the fourth quarter of 2020. The borrower refinanced these loans with a $31.1 million bridge loan we originated in November 2019 with an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.0%, a LIBOR floor of 1.80% and a maturity date in October 2021. Interest income recorded from these loans totaled $2.2 million, $2.1 million and $0.2 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In July 2017, we originated a $36.0 million bridge loan on a multifamily property owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns a 95% interest in the borrowing entity.  The loan had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.5% with a LIBOR floor of 1% and was scheduled to mature in July 2020. This loan was repaid in full in August 2018. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $1.9 million and $0.9 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In May 2017, we originated a $46.9 million Fannie Mae loan on a multifamily property owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers) which owns a 17.6% interest in the borrowing entity. We carry a maximum loss-sharing obligation with Fannie Mae on this loan of up to 5% of the original UPB. Servicing revenue recorded from this loan was $0.1 million ,  $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In March 2017, a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, our chief executive officer and ACM) invested $2.0 million for a 26.1% ownership interest in two portfolios of multifamily properties which has two bridge loans totaling $14.8 million originated by us in 2016. The loans had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.25% with a LIBOR floor of 0.5% and were scheduled to mature in November 2018. One of the loans was repaid in full in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the remaining loan paid off in June 2018. Interest income recorded from these loans totaled $0.3 million and $1.0 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In January 2017, we modified a $5.0 million preferred equity investment, subsequently increasing our balance to $15.0 million, with a commitment to fund an additional $5.0 million. This investment had a fixed interest rate of 11% that was scheduled to mature in January 2020. We also entered into an agreement with a consortium of investors (which include, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which admitted them as a member to fund the remaining $5.0 million preferred equity investment, which was generally subordinate to our investment. The principal balance was repaid in full in the fourth quarter of 2017.  Interest income recorded from our investment totaled $1.1 million for 2017.

In January 2017, Ginkgo Investment Company LLC (“Ginkgo”), of which one of our directors is a 33% managing member, purchased a multifamily apartment complex which assumed an existing $8.3 million Fannie Mae loan that we service. Ginkgo subsequently sold the majority of its interest in this property and owned a 3.6% interest at December 31, 2019. We carry a maximum loss-sharing obligation with Fannie Mae on this loan of up to 20% of the original UPB.  Upon the sale, we received a 1% loan assumption fee which was governed by existing loan agreements that were in place when the loan was originated in 2015, prior to such purchase. Servicing revenue recorded from this loan was $0.1 million for all periods presented.

In  2016, we originated $48.0 million of bridge loans on six multifamily properties owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns interests ranging from 10.5% to 12.0% in the borrowing entities. The loans have an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.5% with a LIBOR floor of 0.25% and were scheduled to mature in September 2019. In 2017, a $6.8 million loan on one property paid off in full and in 2018 four additional loans totaling $28.3 million paid off in full. In January 2019, $10.9 million of the $12.9 million remaining bridge loan paid off, with the $2.0 million remaining UPB converting to a mezzanine loan with a fixed interest rate of 10.0% and a January 2024 maturity. Interest income recorded from these loans totaled $0.3 million, $1.9 million and $2.7 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In 2016, we originated a $12.7 million bridge loan and a $5.2 million preferred equity investment on two multifamily properties owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns a 50% interest in the borrowing entity.  The bridge loan has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.5% with a LIBOR floor of 0.25% and the preferred equity investment has a fixed interest rate of 10%. The bridge loan and the preferred equity investment paid off in full in May 2019. Interest income recorded from these loans totaled $0.6 million, $1.4 million and $1.3 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In  2016, we originated a $19.0 million bridge loan on a multifamily property owned in part by a consortium of investors (which includes, among other unaffiliated investors, certain of our officers and our chief executive officer) which owns a 7.5% interest in the borrowing entity.  The loan had an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.5% with a LIBOR floor of 0.25% and was scheduled to mature in January 2019. In January 2018, this loan paid off in full. Interest income recorded from this loan totaled $0.3 million and $1.1 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

In 2015, we invested $9.6 million for 50% of ACM’s indirect interest in a joint venture with a third party that was formed to invest in a residential mortgage banking business.  As a result of this transaction, we had an initial indirect interest of 22.5% in this entity.  Since the initial investment, we invested an additional $16.1 million through this joint venture in non-qualified residential mortgages purchased from the mortgage banking business’s origination platform and we received cash distributions totaling $16.9 million (that were classified as returns of capital) as a result of the joint venture selling most of its mortgage assets. We recorded income from these investments of $7.2 million, $0.9 million and a loss of $7.2 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In connection with a litigation settlement related to this investment, we provided a guaranty of up to 50% of any amounts payable in connection with the settlement. ACM has also provided us with a guaranty to pay up to 50% of any amounts we may pay under this guaranty. As of December 31, 2019, our maximum exposure under this guaranty totals $0.4 million. We have not accrued this amount as we do not believe that we will be required to make any nonrefundable payments under this guaranty.

Interest income recorded from loans originated in 2015 or prior years with our affiliates totaled $1.3 million and $5.8 million for 2018 and 2017, respectively.

We, along with an executive officer of ours and a consortium of independent outside investors, hold equity investments in a portfolio of multifamily properties referred to as the “Lexford” portfolio, which is managed by an entity owned primarily by a consortium of affiliated investors, including our chief executive officer and an executive officer of ours. Based on the terms of the management contract, the management company is entitled to 4.75% of gross revenues of the underlying properties, along with the potential to share in the proceeds of a sale or restructuring of the debt. In June 2018, the owners of Lexford restructured part of its debt and we originated twelve bridge loans totaling $280.5 million, which were used to repay in full certain existing mortgage debt and to renovate 72 multifamily properties included in the portfolio. The loans, which we originated in June 2018, have interest rates of LIBOR plus 4.0% and mature in June 2021 (with 2 one-year extension options). During 2019, the borrower made payoffs and partial paydowns of principal totaling $250.0 million. Interest income recorded from these loans totaled $9.6 million and  $10.1 million during 2019 and 2018, respectively. Further, as part of this June 2018 restructuring, $50.0 million in unsecured financing was provided by an unsecured lender to certain parent entities of the property owners. ACM owns slightly less than half of the unsecured lender entity and, therefore, provided slightly less than half of the unsecured lender financing. In addition, in connection with our equity investment, we received distributions totaling $3.5 million, $2.5 million and  $2.5 million during 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which were recorded as income (loss) from equity affiliates. Separate from the loans  we originated in June 2018, we provide limited (“bad boy”) guarantees for certain other debt controlled by Lexford. The bad boy guarantees may become a liability for us upon standard “bad” acts such as fraud or a material misrepresentation by Lexford or us. At December 31, 2019, this debt had an aggregate outstanding balance of $617.9 million and is scheduled to mature between 2020 and 2029.

Several of our executives, including our chief financial officer, general counsel and our chairman, chief executive officer and president, hold similar positions for ACM. Our chief executive officer and his affiliated entities (“the Kaufman Entities”) together beneficially own approximately 31% of the outstanding membership interests of ACM and certain of our employees and directors also hold an ownership interest in ACM. Furthermore, one of our directors serves as the trustee and co-trustee of two of the Kaufman Entities that hold membership interests in ACM. Upon the closing of the Acquisition in 2016, we issued  OP Units, each paired with one share of our special voting preferred shares. At December 31, 2019, ACM holds 4,285,694 shares of our common stock and 14,685,729 OP Units, which represents 14.6% of the voting power of our outstanding stock. Our Board of Directors approved a resolution under our charter allowing our chief executive officer and ACM, (which our chief executive officer has a controlling equity interest in), to own more than the 5% ownership interest limit of our common stock as stated in our amended charter.