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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 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 three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $6 and $1,392, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 totaled $149 and $2,086, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, amounts due from related parties were $189 and $172, respectively, of which $189 and $172, respectively, were due from the Funds for management fees and other operating expenses.
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, amounts due to related parties were $4,112 and $2,480, respectively, of which $3,553 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 September 30, 2024, $559 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 three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, royalty fees, marketing, and IT services charged to bebe by Freedom VCM totaled $1,176 and $3,701, respectively, and inventory purchases by bebe from Freedom VCM totaled $3,877 and $10,636, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Nogin recognized revenues of $559 and $2,314 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 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 three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, management fees paid for investment advisory services by Whitehawk were zero. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, management fees paid for investment advisory services by Whitehawk were $1,237 and $1,142, 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 and the Executive Consulting Agreement with B&W was terminated. Mr. Young entered into a one-year consulting agreement concurrently to provide services to the Company, pursuant to which he will be paid an annual fee of $250 paid monthly.
During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company earned $1,061 and zero, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company earned $2,778 and zero, 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 17 – 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, 2022. 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 $3,100 and $8,971 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. There were no fees earned from Arena by the Company during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
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. On February 5, 2024, the loan was terminated and no commitments remain.
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 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.
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(i). 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 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(i). 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(h). Subsequent to September 30, 2024, 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 $63,674 and $287,043 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 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 11 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 $9,310 and $42,183 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Interest income on the loan receivable was $1,538 and $5,930 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Interest income on the loan receivable was $1,173 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. 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(h), the Company also has a related party loan receivable with a fair value of approximately $3,141 and $20,624 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 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. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, interest income on these loans totaled zero and $7,538, respectively. The commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases constitute 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.
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 12.00% 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 $3,409 and $15,573 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Interest income was $2,740 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. The fair value of the Freedom VCM equity interest owned by Mr. Kahn and his spouse was zero and $232,065 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 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 $2,250 at September 30, 2024 has been 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 $(54,333) and $(222,718) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The fair value of the underlying collateral for this loan decreased to a fair value of $2,154 at February 7, 2025. The $2,154 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 September 30, 2024 and December 31, 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 $1,281 and $3,746 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, 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 $17,986 and $6,791 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is included in the Company's loans receivable, at fair value in the condensed 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 $1,244 and $2,088 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. 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 condensed consolidated balance sheets.
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 members of senior management 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 September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Our executive officers and members of our board of directors had a 15.3% financial interest in the 272LP as of December 31, 2023. 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 three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company earned $601 and $2,439 of fees related to these services, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company earned $1,325 and $3,253 of fees related to these services, respectively.