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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company provides asset management and placement agent services to unconsolidated funds affiliated with the Company (the “Funds”). In connection with these services, the Funds may bear certain operating costs and expenses which are initially paid by the Company and subsequently reimbursed by the Funds. Management fees from the Funds during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 totaled $150, $1,725 and $6,937, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, amounts due from related parties were $162 and $172, respectively, of which $41 and $172, respectively, were due from the Funds for management fees and other operating expenses.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, amounts due to related parties were $3,404 and $2,480, respectively, of which $2,764 and $2,480, respectively, related to bebe's rent to own stores which are franchised through Freedom VCM and consist of royalty fees, inventory purchases, marketing, and IT services. As of December 31, 2024, $640 were due to certain of the Company's brand investments from Nogin for sales transactions settled by Nogin as part of its e-commerce related services to the Company’s brand investments.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, royalty fees, marketing, and IT services charged to bebe by Freedom VCM totaled $4,852, and inventory purchases by bebe from Freedom VCM totaled $15,319. During the year end December 31, 2024, Nogin recognized revenues of $7,420 from clients that are part of the Company’s brand investments.
In June 2020, the Company entered into an investment advisory services agreement with Whitehawk Capital Partners, L.P. (“Whitehawk”), a limited partnership controlled by Mr. J. Ahn, who is the brother of Phil Ahn, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Whitehawk has agreed to provide investment advisory services for GACP I, L.P. and GACP II, L.P. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, management fees paid for investment advisory services by Whitehawk was $2,272, $1,142, and $1,173, respectively. On February 1, 2024, one of the Company's loans receivable with a principal amount of $4,521 was sold to a fund managed by Whitehawk for $4,584.
The Company periodically participates in loans and financing arrangements for which the Company has an equity ownership and representation on the board of directors (or similar governing body). The Company may also provide consulting services or investment banking services to raise capital for these companies. These transactions can be summarized as follows:
Babcock and Wilcox
One of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries entered into a services agreement with B&W that provided for the President of the Company to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of B&W until November 30, 2020 (the “Executive Consulting Agreement”), unless terminated by either party with thirty days written notice. The agreement was extended through December 31, 2028. Under this agreement, fees for services provided are $750 per annum, paid monthly. In addition, subject to the achievement of certain performance objectives as determined by B&W’s compensation committee of the board, a bonus or bonuses may also be earned and payable to the Company. In March 2022, a $1,000 performance fee was approved in accordance with the Executive Consulting Agreement. On September 20, 2024, Kenny Young resigned from his position as the President of the Company, the Executive Consulting Agreement with B&W was terminated, and concurrently, entered into a one-year consulting agreement (“the Agreement”) to provide services to the Company, pursuant to which he will be paid an annual fee of $250 paid on a monthly basis, subject to deduction of damages, fees and expenses that he owes the Company pursuant to this agreement.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company earned $3,850, zero, and $154, respectively, of underwriting and financial advisory and other fees from B&W in connection with B&W’s capital raising activities.
The Company is also a party to indemnification agreements for the benefit of B&W and the B. Riley Guaranty, each as disclosed above in Note 19 – Commitments and Contingencies.
The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (fka the Maven, Inc.)
The Company had loans receivable due from The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (fka the Maven, Inc.) (“Arena”) included in loans receivable, at fair value of $98,729 as of December 31, 2023. On August 31, 2023, the Arena loan was amended for an additional $6,000 loan receivable with interest payable at 10.0% per annum and a maturity date of December 31, 2026. Two of the Company's members of senior management were members of the board of directors of Arena. On December 1, 2023, the Company sold its equity interest in Arena for $16,576 at a gain of $3,315 and its outstanding loans receivable for $78,796 at a loss of $28,919. Following the completion of the sale, two of the Company's members of senior management resigned from the board of directors of Arena and Arena is no longer a related party.
Interest income on the loan receivable was $10,882 and $7,540, during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
There were no fees earned from Arena by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company earned $2,023 in underwriting and financial advisory and other fees from Arena.
Applied Digital
On May 20, 2023, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Applied Digital (“APLD”). The chief executive officer of APLD was also a member of senior management of the Company. As of December 31, 2023, APLD had paid off its outstanding loan receivable balance with the Company, and the Company had an unfunded loan commitment with APLD of $5,500. Interest income on the loan receivable was $3,150 during the year ended December 31, 2023. On February 5, 2024, the loan was terminated and no commitments remain.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company earned $393, zero and $2,321 in underwriting and financial advisory fees from APLD, respectively.
California Natural Resources Group, LLC.
California Natural Resources Group, LLC (“CalNRG”) was a related party as a result of the Company's approximately 25.0% equity ownership. On January 3, 2022, CalNRG repaid the promissory note using proceeds from a new credit facility with a third party bank (the “CalNRG Credit Facility”). Interest income on the loan receivable was $19 during the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had guaranteed CalNRG’s obligations, up to $7,375, under the CalNRG Credit Facility. On May 23, 2024, the Company sold its equity interest in CalNRG for $9,272 resulting in a realized gain of $254, and no commitments remain.
Faze Clan

On March 9, 2022, the Company loaned $10,000 to Faze Clan, Inc. (“Faze”) pursuant to a bridge credit agreement (the “Bridge Agreement”). On April 25, 2022, the Company loaned an additional $10,000 pursuant to the Bridge Agreement. All principal and accrued interest pursuant to the Bridge Agreement was repaid upon closing of Faze’s business combination (the “Business Combination”) with BRPM 150, which following the Business Combination changed its name to Faze Holdings. Interest income was $420 during the period the loans were outstanding in 2022. As a result of the Business Combination, BRPM 150 is no longer a VIE of the Company. On July 19, 2022, in connection with the Business Combination, the Company purchased 5,342,500 shares of Faze Holdings Class A common stock for $10.00 per share. One of the Company's members of senior management was appointed to the board of directors of Faze. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company earned $41,885 of incentive fees for the de-consolidation of BRPM 150 and $9,632 of underwriting and financial advisory fees from Faze and BRPM 150 in connection with the Business Combination and capital raising activities. In September 2023, one of the Company's members of senior management resigned from the board of directors of Faze and Faze is no longer a related party.
Lingo
On May 31, 2022, the Company converted $17,500 of a loan receivable with Lingo Management into equity and the Company's ownership interest in Lingo increased from 40% to 80%. Interest income was $1,478 and $2,878 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Lingo was a related party due to our 40% equity ownership prior to the Company obtaining a controlling ownership of 80% on May 31, 2022, which resulted in Lingo becoming a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company. On February 24, 2023, the Company acquired the remaining 20% ownership in Lingo, increasing the Company's ownership interest to 100%.
Targus
On October 18, 2022, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Targus for total purchase consideration of $247,546 as more fully discussed in Note 3. At the time of the acquisition, the chief executive officer of Targus was also a member of the Company’s board of directors. Upon closing the acquisition, the individual resigned from the Company’s board of directors and continues to serve as the chief executive officer of Targus.
Freedom VCM Holdings, LLC
On May 10, 2023, the Company entered into certain agreements pursuant to which the Company had, among other things, agreed to provide certain equity funding and other support as part of the FRG take-private transaction as previously discussed in Note 2(t). The Company entered into an Equity Commitment Letter with Freedom VCM, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide up to $560,000 in equity financing at or prior to the closing of the FRG take-private transaction. On August 21, 2023, in connection with the completion of the FRG take-private transaction, the Company's obligations pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letter and Limited Guarantee were satisfied. Upon closing the acquisition on August 21, 2023, the Company was paid an equity commitment fee of $16,500 which is included in services and fees revenues. At the time of the Company's equity investment on August 21, 2023, the Company's chief executive officer became a member of the board of directors of Freedom VCM.
On August 21, 2023, the Company purchased an additional equity interest in Freedom VCM for $216,500, which resulted in a total equity interest of $281,144 and a 31% voting interest and representation on the board of directors of Freedom VCM as part of the FRG take-private transaction as previously discussed in Note 2(t). As part of the FRG take-private transaction, certain members of management of Freedom VCM, which are related parties to Freedom VCM, exchanged their equity interest in FRG for a combined 35% voting interest in Freedom VCM, of which Mr. Kahn and his wife and one of Mr. Kahn’s affiliates comprised 32%. The Company has a first priority security interest in a 25% equity interest of Mr. Kahn (who was also CEO and a board member of Freedom VCM) in Freedom VCM to secure the loan to an affiliate of Mr. Kahn as more fully described in Note 2(s). Freedom VCM filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 3, 2024 which impacts the fair value of this equity investment. The change in fair value of the Freedom VCM equity investment was an unrealized loss of $287,043 for the year ended December 31, 2024.
In connection with the FRG take-private transaction, all of the equity interests of BRRII, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, were sold to Freedom VCM Receivables (a subsidiary of Freedom VCM), for a purchase price of $58,872 which resulted in a loss of $78 on August 21, 2023. In connection with the sale, Freedom VCM Receivables assumed the obligations with respect to the Pathlight Credit Agreement as more fully discussed in Note 13 and as consideration for the purchase price, the Company entered into a non-recourse promissory note with another Freedom VCM affiliate in the amount of $58,872, with a stated interest rate of 19.74% and a maturity date of August 21, 2033. Payments of principal and interest on the note are limited solely to the performance of certain receivables held by BRRII. Principal and interest is payable based on the collateral without recourse to Freedom VCM Receivables, which includes the performance of certain consumer credit receivables. This loan receivable was measured at fair value in the amount of $3,913 and $42,183 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Interest income on this loan receivable was $6,035 and $3,427 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On October 9, 2024, the Promissory Note was cancelled and certain of the receivables owned by BRRII were transferred to BRRI, all in accordance with the terms of that certain amended and restated funding agreement, dated December 18, 2023, by and among Freedom VCM Interco Holdings, Inc., Freedom VCM Receivables, Inc., BRRII, the Company and certain other parties thereto.
As more fully described in Note 2(s), the Company also has a related party loan receivable with a fair value of approximately $2,169 and $20,624 at December 31, 2024 and 2023 from home-furnishing retailer W.S. Badcock Corporation (“Badcock”) that is collateralized by consumer finance receivables of Badcock. These consumer finance receivables were acquired from Badcock in multiple purchases beginning in December 2021. On December 18, 2023, Badcock was sold by Freedom VCM to Conn’s and the Company loaned Conn’s $108,000 pursuant to the Conn’s Term Loan which bears interest at an aggregate rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Rate (as defined in the Conn’s Term Loan), subject to a 4.80% floor, plus a margin of 8.00% and matures on February 20, 2027. On February 14, 2024, the Company collected $15,000 of principal payments which reduced the loan balance to $93,000. Badcock now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Conn’s. For the year ended December 31, 2024 interest income on these loans totaled $7,538. The commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases constitutes an event of default that accelerated the obligations under the Conn’s Term Loan. As of the date of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, $93,000 in outstanding borrowings existed under the Conn’s Term Loan. Any efforts to enforce payment obligations under the Conn’s Term Loan are automatically stayed as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and the Company’s rights of enforcement in respect of the Conn’s Term Loan are subject to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. These loan receivables are reported as related party loan receivables due to the Company’s related party relationship with Freedom VCM and Freedom VCM’s ability to exercise influence over Conn’s as a result of the equity consideration Freedom VCM received from the sale of Badcock to Conn’s on December 18, 2023.
On June 27, 2024, Conn’s entered into a Consulting Agreement, as subsequently amended on July 19, 2024 (the “Consulting Agreement”), with an affiliate of the Company. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Conn’s engaged the Company to sell merchandise and furniture, fixtures, & equipment (“FF&E”) as well as additional goods at Conn’s and Badcock stores, headquarters, distribution centers, and cross-dock locations. The Company will receive a fee of 1.75% of the gross proceeds of merchandise sold where the gross recovery on cost thresholds is below 105% of cost, 2.0% of the gross proceeds of merchandise sold where the gross recovery on cost thresholds is between 105.1% of cost and 109.9% of
cost, and 2.25% of the gross proceeds of merchandise sold where the gross recovery on cost thresholds is 110% of cost or more. The Company will also receive a fee equal to 15% of the gross proceeds of FF&E sales and 92.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of additional goods. In connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, the Consulting Agreement was assumed by the Conn’s debtors on an interim basis, and on August 22, 2024, the Consulting Agreement was assumed by the Conn’s debtors on a final basis. Included in discontinued operations for Great American Group, see Note 4, revenues from services and fees earned from the Conn’s consulting agreement for the period through November 15, 2024 was $26,106.
Vintage Capital Management - Brian Kahn
Simultaneously with the completion of the FRG take-private transaction, one of our subsidiaries and VCM, an affiliate of Brian Kahn, amended and restated a promissory note (the “Amended and Restated Note”), pursuant to which VCM owes our subsidiary the aggregate principal amount of $200,506 and bears interest at the rate of 12% per annum payable-in-kind with a maturity date of December 31, 2027. The Amended and Restated Note requires repayments prior to the maturity date from certain proceeds received by VCM, Mr. Kahn, or his affiliates from, among other proceeds, distributions or dividends paid by Freedom VCM in amount equal to the greater of (i) 80% of the net after-tax proceeds, and (ii) 50% of gross proceeds. The obligations under the Amended and Restated Note are primarily secured by a first priority perfected security interest in Freedom VCM equity interests owned by Mr. Kahn and his spouse with a value (based on the transaction price in the FRG take-private transaction) of $227,296 as of August 21, 2023. Interest income was $15,573 and $8,889 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The fair value of the Freedom VCM equity interest owned by Mr. Kahn and his spouse was zero and $232,065 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On November 3, 2024, Freedom VCM filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code which impacts the collateral for this loan receivable. The fair value of the loan was $2,057 at December 31, 2024 which was determined based on the underlying collateral for this loan which is primarily comprised of other securities. The fair value adjustment on the VCM loan receivable was a decrease of $(222,911) for the year ended December 31, 2024. The fair value of the underlying collateral for this loan decreased to a fair value of $1,284 at September 16, 2025. The $1,284 is comprised of other public securities. In light of the Company’s determination that the repayment of the Amended and Restated Note will be paid primarily from the cash distributions from Freedom VCM or foreclosure on the underlying collateral provided by Mr. Kahn and his spouse being in Freedom VCM equity interests, the Company has determined that both VCM and Mr. Kahn are related parties as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Torticity, LLC
On November 2, 2023, the Company agreed to lend up to $15,369 to Torticity, LLC, of which $6,690 was drawn upon with $8,679 remaining, with interest payable of 15.0% per annum and a maturity date of November 2, 2026. Interest income was $1,952 and $165 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. One of the Company's members of senior management is on the board of directors of Torticity. The loan receivable had a fair value of zero and $6,791 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is included in the Company's loans receivable, at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.
Kanaci Technologies, LLC
On November 21, 2023, the Company agreed to lend up to $10,000 to Kanaci Technologies, LLC (“Kanaci”), of which $4,000 was drawn upon with $6,000 remaining, with interest payable of 15.0% per annum and a maturity date of June 30, 2026. Interest income was $2,088 and $51 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In June 2023, one of the Company's members of senior management was appointed to the board of directors of Kanaci. The loan receivable in the amount of $11,453 was converted to equity on September 30, 2024. At December 31, 2023, the loan receivable with a fair value of $3,904 is included in loans receivable, at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.
Great American Holdings, LLC (“GA Holdings”)
GA Holdings is a related party as a result of B. Riley’s representation on the Board of Directors and 44.2% equity ownership of common equity as part of the Great American Transaction on November 15, 2024 (as discussed in more detail in Note 4 - Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale). Upon closing the Great American Transaction on November 15, 2024, the Company had loans receivable outstanding for three retail liquidation engagements from GA Holdings in the amount of $15,000. The three loans receivable are due and payable upon completion of the retail liquidation engagements and do not accrue interest on the outstanding balance. Two of the loans receivable were paid in full prior to December 31, 2024 and the Company collected principal payments of $13,661 and one of the loans remains outstanding with a balance of $1,339 at December 31, 2024.
The Company also provided GA Holdings with a $25,000 secured revolving credit facility upon closing the Great American Transaction on November 15, 2024 which had an initial outstanding balance of $1,698. The secured revolving credit facility is secured by all of the assets of GA Holdings and accrues interest at the annual rate of SOFR plus 4.75% (9.27% at December 31, 2024). Interest income recorded on the loan receivable was $21 during the period November 15, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The loan matures on November 15, 2025. The outstanding balance on the secured revolving credit facility was $1,698 at December 31, 2024.
During the period November 15, 2024 to December 31, 2024, the Company provided services to GA Holdings in accordance with a transition services agreement for accounting, information technology and other administration services and recorded fee revenues for these services in the amount of $598. At December 31, 2024, amounts due from GA Holdings for these services totaled $121.
Other
On March 2, 2021, the Company purchased a $2,400 minority equity interest in Dash Medical Holdings, LLC ("Dash") and one of the Company's board of directors was appointed to the board of directors of Dash. On June 13, 2024, the Company sold its equity interest in Dash for $2,760, resulting in a realized gain of $360. In December 2024, the Company earned an advisory fee of $2,650 for services in connection with sale of Q-mation, Inc. where one of the board of directors of the Company is the president of Q-mation, Inc.
On March 10, 2023, the Company sold a loan receivable including accrued interest in the amount of $7,600 to two related parties. BRC Partners Opportunity Fund, LP (“BRCPOF”) purchased $3,519 of the loan receivable including accrued interest, and 272 Capital L.P. (“272LP”) purchased $4,081 of the loan receivable including accrued interest; both of the partnerships are private equity funds managed at the time of the transaction by one of the Company’s subsidiaries. Our executive officers and members of our board of directors have a 58.2% financial interest, which includes a financial interest of Bryant Riley, our Co-Chief Executive Officer, of 24.9% in the BRCPOF as of December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, all equity balances in the BRCPOF were distributed, pro-rata, to BRC Partners Opportunity Trust, LP, a liquidating trust. As of December 31, 2024, our board of directors have a 58.2% financial interest, which includes a financial interest of Bryant Riley, our Co-Chief Executive Officer, of 24.9% in BRC Partners Opportunity Trust, LP as of December 31, 2024. Our executive officers and members of our board of directors had a zero and 15.3% financial interest in the 272LP as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On February 5, 2024, the Company sold its interest in 272LP and 272 Advisors, LLC for a promissory note of $2,000 plus additional revenue sharing up to $4,100, which is based on future management fees earned.
The Company often provides consulting or investment banking services to raise capital for companies in which the Company has significant influence through equity ownership, representation on the board of directors (or similar governing body), or both. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company earned $4,491, $3,278, and $4,968, respectively, of fees related to these services.