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New Business
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
New Business [Abstract]  
New Business


4. NEW BUSINESS



New U.S. Insurance JV



On May 16, 2018, the Company committed to invest up to $3,000 in a newly formed joint venture (the “U.S. Insurance JV”) with an outside investor who committed to invest approximately $63,000 of equity in the U.S. Insurance JVThe U.S. Insurance JV was formed for the purposes of investing in debt issued by small and medium sized U.S. and Bermuda insurance and reinsurance companies and is managed by the Company. The Company is required to invest 4.5% of the total equity of the U.S. Insurance JV with an absolute limit of $3,000.  The U.S. Insurance JV may use leverage to grow its assets.

The insurance company debt that will be funded by the U.S. Insurance JV may be originated by the Company and there may be origination fees earned (capped at 1%) in connection with such transactions. The Company will also earn management fees as manager of the U.S. Insurance JV.  The Company is entitled to a quarterly base management fee, an annual incentive fee (if certain return hurdles are met), and an additional incentive fee upon the liquidation of the portfolio (if certain return hurdles are met).

The Company has elected the fair value option in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“FASB ASC 820”) to account for its investment in the U.S. Insurance JV.  The investment is included in other investments at fair value, on the consolidated balance sheet and gains and losses (both realized and unrealized) are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations as a component of principal transactions and other income.  Because the U.S. Insurance JV has the attributes of investment companies as described in FASB ASC 946-15-2, the Company will estimate the fair value of its investment using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) as of the reporting date in accordance with the “practical expedient” provisions related to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) included in FASB ASC 820 for all entities. See note 8.

New SPAC Fund



On August 6, 2018, the Company invested and became the general partner of a newly formed partnership (the “SPAC Fund”) for the purposes of investing in the equity interests of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”).  The Company is the manager of the SPAC Fund.  The Company has invested $600 in the SPAC Fund.  The Company is entitled to a quarterly base management fee based on a percentage of the net asset value of the SPAC Fund and an annual incentive allocation based on the actual returns earned by the SPAC Fund. As of September 30, 2018, the net asset value of the SPAC Fund was $15,331.  

The Company has elected the fair value option in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“FASB ASC 820”) to account for its investment in the SPAC Fund.  The investment is included in other investments at fair value, on the consolidated balance sheet and gains and losses (both realized and unrealized) are recognized in the statement of operations as a component of principal transactions and other revenue.  Because the SPAC Fund has the attributes of investment companies as described in FASB ASC 946-15-2, the Company will estimate the fair value of its investment using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as of the reporting date in accordance with the “practical expedient” provisions related to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) included in FASB ASC 820 for all entities. See note 8.