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Note 31 - Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]
31
. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
The Company has identified the following related party transactions for the years ended
December 31, 2020
,
2019
, and
2018
. The transactions are listed by related party and, unless otherwise noted in the text of the description, the amounts are disclosed in the tables at the end of this section.
 
A. The Bancorp, Inc. (“TBBK”)
 
TBBK is identified as a related party because Daniel G. Cohen is the chairman of TBBK. 
   
As part of the Company's broker-dealer operations, the Company from time to time purchases securities from
third
parties and sells those securities to TBBK. The Company
may
purchase securities from TBBK and ultimately sell those securities to
third
parties. In either of the cases listed above, the Company includes the trading revenue earned (i.e. the gain or loss realized, commission or interest earned) by the Company for the entire transaction in the amounts disclosed as part of net trading in the table at the end of this section.
 
From time to time, the Company will enter into repo agreements with TBBK as its counterparty.  As of
December 31, 2020
, and
2019
, the Company had
no
repo agreements with TBBK as the counterparty therefore,
no
interest expense was incurred related to repo agreement with TBBK as it counterparty for the years ended
December 31, 2020
and
2019.
  The Company incurred interest expense related to repo agreements with TBBK as its counterparty in the amount of
$1,708
 for the year ended 
2018.
  This amount is included as a component of net trading revenue in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and is
not
disclosed in the table at the end this section.
 
B. Daniel G. Cohen/Cohen Bros. Financial, LLC (“CBF”)/ EBC
2013
Family Trust (“EBC”)
 
On
December 30, 2019,
Daniel G.  Cohen contributed
370,881
common shares of IMXI to the Operating LLC.  In exchange for these shares, the Operating LLC issued
12,549,273
newly issued units of membership interests in the Operating LLC and
12,549,273
shares of newly issued Series F Preferred Stock.  The Company included the value of the IMXI shares in other investments at fair value. See notes
4
and
21.
In connection with the IMXI share contribution, the Company paid
$6
for legal fees on behalf of Daniel G. Cohen, which is
not
included in the table at the end of this section.
 
In
December 2019,
the Company acquired a
45%
interest in CK Capital Partners B.V. ("CK Capital"). The Company purchased this interest for
$18
(of which
$17
was paid to an entity controlled by Daniel G. Cohen).  CK Capital is a private company incorporated in the Netherlands and provides asset and investment advisory services relating to real estate holdings.  In addition, the Company also acquired a
10%
interest in Amerisfoot Office Investment I Cooperatief U.A. ("AOI"), a real estate holding company, for
$1
from entities controlled by Daniel G. Cohen.  See notes
4
and
12.
 
CBF has been identified as a related party because (i) CBF is a non-controlling interest holder of the Company and (ii) CBF is wholly owned by Daniel G. Cohen. On
September 29, 2017,
CBF also invested
$8,000
of the initial
$10,000
total investment in the Company's Redeemable Financial Instrument – DGC Trust / CBF pursuant to the CBF Investment Agreement.  The Company incurred interest expense on this instrument, which is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the table at the end of this section.  In
October 2020
and
2019,
payments of
$2,500
and
$1,500
were made by the Company to CBF, which reduced the redeemable financial instrument balance to
$4,000.
  See notes
19
and
20.
 
EBC has been identified as a related party because Daniel G. Cohen is a trustee of EBC and has sole voting power with respect to all shares of the Company held by EBC. In
September 2013,
EBC, as an assignee of CBF, made a
$4,000
investment in the Company. The Company issued
$2,400
in principal amount of the
2013
Convertible Notes and
$1,600
of the Common Stock to EBC. On
September 25, 2019,
the
2013
Convertible Notes were amended and restated and, subsequent to this amendment, are referred to as the
2019
Senior Notes.  On
September 25, 2020
the
2019
Senior Notes were amended again to extend their maturity date until
September 25, 2021.
See note
20.
  The Company incurred interest expense on this debt, which is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the table at the end of this section.
 
C. The Edward E. Cohen IRA
 

 
 
On
August 
28,
2015,
$4,386
in principal amount of the
2013
Convertible Notes originally issued to Mead Park Capital in
September 2013
was purchased by Pensco Trust Company, Custodian fbo Edward E. Cohenof which Edward E. Cohen is the benefactor.  Edward E. Cohen is the father of Daniel G. Cohen.  On
September 25, 2019,
the
2013
Convertible Notes were amended and restated by the
2019
Senior Notes. See note
20
for a description of amendments related to the
2019
Senior Notes and the
2013
Convertible Notes. On
February 3, 2020,
the
$4,386
of the
2019
Senior Notes, representing all of the Senior Notes held by the Pensco Trust Company, Custodian fbo Edward E. Cohen were fully repaid. The Company incurred interest expense on this debt, which is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the table at the end of this section.  
 
D. JKD Investor

 
The JKD Investor is an entity owned by Jack J. DiMaio, the vice chairman of the board of directors and vice chairman of the Operating LLC's board of managers and his spouse.  On
October 
3,
2016,
JKD Investor invested
$6,000
in the Operating LLC.  Additional investments were made in
January 2017
and
January 2019
in the amounts of
$1,000
and
$1,268,
respectively.  See note
19.
The interest expense on this investment is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the table at end of this section
 
On
January 31, 2020,
JKD Investor purchased
$2,250
of the
2020
Senior Notes.  See note
20.
  The Company incurred interest expense on this debt, which is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the tale at the end of this section.
 
E. DGC Trust
 

 
DGC Trust was established by Daniel G. Cohen, chairman of the Company's board of directors and chairman of the Operating LLC's board of managers. Daniel G. Cohen does
not
have any voting or dispositive control of securities held in the interest of the trust.  The Company considers the DGC Trust a related party because it was established by Daniel G. Cohen.
 
On
December 30, 2019,
the DGC Trust contributed
291,480
shares of IMXI common stock with a fair value of
$3,428
to the Operating LLC.  In exchange for these shares, the Operating LLC issued to the DGC Trust
9,880,268
newly issued units of membership interests in the Operating LLC and the Company issued to the DGC Trust
9,880,268
shares of newly issued Series F Preferred Stock.  The Company included the value of the shares of IMXI common stock in other investments, at fair value. See note
21.
  In
March 2017,
the
2017
Convertible Note was issued to the DGC Trust.  See note
20.
  The Company incurred interest expense on the
2017
Convertible Note, which is disclosed as part of interest expense incurred in the table below.  On
September 29, 2017,
the DGC Trust also invested
$2,000
of the initial
$10,000
total investment in the Company's Redeemable Financial Instrument – DGC Trust / CBF pursuant to the DGC Trust Investment Agreement.  The Company redeemed the DGC Trust Redeemable Financial Instrument in fully by making payment of
$2,000
on
September 30, 2020. 
See note
19.
  Interest incurred on this instrument is disclosed in the table below.  
 
F.  Duane Morris, LLP (“Duane Morris”)

 
Duane Morris is an international law firm and serves as legal counsel to the Company.  Duane Morris is considered a related party because a partner at Duane Morris is a member of the same household as a director of the Company.  Expense incurred by the Company for services provided by Duane Morris is included within professional fees and operating expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and are disclosed in the table below. 

 
G. FinTech Masala, LLC

 
FinTech Masala, LLC (formerly Bezuco Capital, LLC) is a related party because Betsy Cohen, the mother of Daniel G. Cohen, is a member of FinTech Masala, LLC.  Daniel G. Cohen is also a member of Fintech Masala, LLC.    The Company engaged Betsy Cohen as an agent of FinTech Masala, LLC as a consultant to provide certain services related to the Insurance SPAC. The Company agreed to pay a consultant fee of
$1
per month, which commenced
July 1, 2019
and continued through
September 30, 2020. 
Betsy Cohen made a
$2
investment in the Insurance SPAC Sponsor Entities in
March 2019 
which is included as a component of non-controlling interest in the consolidated balance sheets.  The expense incurred by the Company for the consulting services provided by FinTech Masala, LLC are included within professional fees and operating expense in the consolidated income statement and are disclosed in the table below. 
 
The Company engaged Betsy Cohen on behalf of FinTech Masala, LLC as a consultant to provide certain services related to the Insurance SPAC II. The Company agreed to pay a consultant fee of
$1
per month, which commenced on
October 1, 2020,
and continues through (i) the date that is
thirty
days following the closing of the Insurance SPAC II 's Initial Business Combination and (ii) the date on which the Company or Betsy Cohen terminates the consulting agreement.  Betsy Cohen made a
$1
 investment in the Insurance SPAC II Sponsor Entities  which is included as a component of non-controlling interest in the consolidated balance sheet.  The expense incurred by the Company for the consulting services provided by FinTech Masala, LLC is included within professional fees and operating expense in the consolidated income statement and are disclosed in the table below. 
 
The Company has a sublease agreement for certain office space with FinTech Masala, LLC.  The Company received payments under this sublease agreement which payments are recorded as a reduction in rent expenses.  This sublease agreement commenced on
August 1, 2018
and has a term that automatically renews for
one
year periods if
not
cancelled by either party upon
90
days' notice prior to the end of the then-existing term.  The income earned pursuant to this sublease agreement is included as a reduction in rent expense in the consolidated statements of income and is disclosed in the table below.
 

 H
.  Investment Vehicle and Other

 
CK Capital and AOI

 
CK Capital and AOI are related parties as they are equity method investments of the Company.  In
December 2019,
the Company acquired a
45%
interest in CK Capital.  The Company purchased this interest for
$18
(of which
$17
was paid to an entity controlled by Daniel G. Cohen).  In addition, in
December 2019,
the Company also acquired a
10%
interest in AOI, a real estate holding company, for
$1
from entities controlled by Daniel G. Cohen.  Income earned, or loss incurred by the Company on the equity method investments in CK Capital and AOI is included in the tables below.  In accordance with the CK Capital shareholders agreement, the Company
may
receive fees for consulting services provided by the Company to CK Capital.  Any fees earned for such consulting services are included in principal transactions and other income in the table below. See Notes
4
and
12.
 
 
Insurance SPAC
 
 
 Prior to
October 13, 2020,
the date of the Insurance SPAC Merger, the Insurance SPAC was considered a related party as it was an equity method investment of the Company. The Operating LLC was the manager of the Insurance SPAC Sponsor Entities and the Company consolidated the Insurance SPAC Sponsor Entities. Prior to the Insurance SPAC Merger, the Company owned
26.5%
of the equity in the Insurance SPAC. Income earned or losses incurred on equity method investment in the Insurance SPAC is included in the tables below. The Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC entered into an administrative services agreement, dated
March 
19,
2019,
pursuant to which the Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC agreed that, commencing on the date that the Insurance SPAC's securities were
first
listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market through the earlier of the Insurance SPAC's consummation of a business combination and its liquidation, the Insurance SPAC would pay the Operating LLC
$10
per month for certain office space, utilities, secretarial support, and administrative services.  Revenue earned by the Company from such administrative services agreement is included as part of principal transactions and other income in the tables below.  The Company also agreed to lend the Insurance SPAC
$750
for operating and acquisition related expenses, of which
$650
was borrowed by the Insurance SPAC from the Company. On
October 13, 2020
in connection with the Insurance SPAC Merger, the Insurance SPAC made a payment of
$650
to the Company extinguishing the loan balance in full.  See notes
4.
 
 
Insurance SPAC II
 
The Insurance SPAC II is a related party as it is an equity method investment of the Company.  The Operating LLC, is the manager of the Insurance SPAC II Sponsor entities and the Company consolidates the Insurance SPAC II Sponsor Entities. As of
December 31, 2020,
the non-controlling interests had invested
$4,550
in Insurance SPAC II Sponsor Entities and owned 
46.1%
of the equity in Insurance SPAC II Sponsor Entities.  Income earned, or loss incurred on the equity method investment in the Insurance SPAC II is included in the table below.  The Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC II entered into an administrative services agreement, dated
September 2, 2020,
pursuant to which the Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC agreed that, commencing on the date that the Insurance SPAC II's securities were
first
listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market through the earlier of the Insurance SPAC II's consummation of a business combination and its liquidation, the Insurance SPAC II would pay the Operating LLC
$20
 per month for certain office space, utilities, secretarial support, and administrative services.  Revenue earned by the Company from such administrative services agreement is included as part of principal transactions and other income in the tables below.  The Company also agreed to lend the Insurance SPAC II
$750
for operating and acquisition related expenses as a sponsor of Insurance SPAC II;
no
amounts have been borrowed as of
December 31, 2020.
See notes 
4
and
12.
 
Insurance SPAC III
 
The Insurance SPAC III is a related party as it is an equity method investment of the Company.  The Operating LLC, is the manager of the Insurance SPAC III Sponsor entities and the Company consolidates the Insurance SPAC III Sponsor Entities. As of
December 31, 2020,
the non-controlling interest invested
$5,775
 in Insurance SPAC III Sponsor Entities and owns
49.5%
of the equity in Insurance SPAC III Sponsor Entities. Income earned, or loss incurred on the equity method investment in the Insurance SPAC III is included in the table below.  The Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC III entered into an administrative services agreement, dated
December 17, 2020,
pursuant to which the Operating LLC and the Insurance SPAC III agreed that, commencing on the date that the Insurance SPAC III's securities were
first
listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market through the earlier of the Insurance SPAC III's consummation of a business combination and its liquidation, the Insurance SPAC III would pay the Operating LLC
$20
 per month for certain office space, utilities, and shared personnel support as
may
be requested by Insurance SPAC III.  Revenue earned by the Company from the administrative services agreement is included as part of principal transactions and other income in the tables below. See notes
4
and
12.
 
SPAC Series Funds
 
The SPAC Series Funds are considered related parties because they are equity method investments of the Company.  As of
December 31, 2020,
the Company owned
7.6%
in SPAC Series Funds.  Income earned or loss incurred on the equity method investment in the SPAC Series Funds is included in the tables below.   
 
Sponsor Entities of Other SPACs
 
In general, a SPAC is initially funded by a sponsor and that sponsor invests in and receives private placement and founders shares of the SPAC.  The sponsor 
may
be organized as a single legal entity or multiple entities under common control.  In either case, the entity or entities is referred in this section as the "sponsor" of the applicable SPAC.  The Company has had the following transactions with various sponsors of SPACs that are related parties and which the Company does
not
consolidate.  
 
Fintech Acquisition Corp. II ("FTAC II") was a SPAC.  The sponsor of FTAC II ("FTAC II Sponsor") is a related party because Daniel G. Cohen is the manager of the FTAC II Sponsor.  In 
July 2017,
the Operating LLC entered into an agreement with FTAC II Sponsor whereby the Company would provide certain accounting and administrative services.  Income earned on this arrangement is disclosed in the tables below.  The agreement terminated in
July 2018.
In
July 2018,
the Operating LLC acquired publicly traded shares of FTAC II from an unrelated
third
-party for a total purchase price of
$2,513.
  In connection with this purchase, the Operating LLC agreed with FTAC II Sponsor to
not
redeem these shares in advance of the merger between FTAC II and Intermex Holdings II, LLC.  In exchange for the agreement to
not
redeem these shares prior to the merger, as well as the outlay of capital to purchase the publicly traded shares of FTAC II, the Operating LLC received unregistered, restricted shares of common stock of FTAC II from FTAC II Sponsor.  In connection with the merger, FTAC II changed its name to International Money Express, Inc. 

 
Fintech Acquisition Corp. III ("FTAC III") was a SPAC.  The sponsor of FTAC III ("FTAC III Sponsor") is a related party because Daniel G. Cohen is the manager of the FTAC II Sponsor.   In
December 2018,
the Operating LLC entered into an agreement with FTAC III Sponsor whereby the Company will provide certain accounting and administrative services and in exchange the Company received
23,300
founders shares of FTAC III.  The revenue earned on this arrangement is disclosed in the tables below.
 
Fintech Acquisition Corp. IV ("FTAC IV") is a SPAC.  The sponsor of Fintech Acquisition Corp. IV ("FTAC IV Sponsor") is a related party as it is an equity method investment of the Company.  The Company made a sponsor investment in FTAC IV Sponsor, receiving an initial allocation of
130,000
founders shares of Fintech Acquisition IV. stock for
$1.
  In addition, on
September 29, 2020,
the Operating LLC entered into a letter agreement with FTAC IV Sponsor whereby the Operating LLC will provide personnel to serve as the chief financial officer as well as other accounting and administrative services to FTAC Olympus Sponsor for a period
not
longer than
24
months.  As consideration for these services, the Company received an allocation of an additional
30,000
founders shares of Fintech Acquisition IV stock to the Operating LLC and recorded an equity method investment of
$40
 for the valuation of these services. The revenue earned from these services is recorded in the table below.
 
Fintech Acquisition Corp. V ("FTAC V") is a SPAC.  The sponsor of Fintech Acquisition Corp. V ("FTAC V Sponsor") is a related party as it is an equity method investment of the Company.  On
December 14, 2020,
the Operating LLC entered into a letter agreement with FTAC V Sponsor whereby the Operating LLC will provide personnel to serve as the chief financial officer as well as other accounting and administrative services to FTAC V Sponsor for a period
not
longer than
24
months.  As consideration for these services, the Company received an allocation of
35,000
founders shares of FTAC V stock to the Operating LLC and recorded an equity method investment of
$40
 for the valuation of these services. The revenue earned from these services is recorded in the table below.
 
FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp ("FTAC Olympus") is a SPAC.  The sponsor of FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp. ("FTAC Olympus Sponsor") is a related party as it is an equity method investment of the Company.  The Company made a sponsor investment in FTAC Olympus Sponsor, receiving an initial allocation of
600,000
founders shares of FTAC Olympus stock for
$2.
  In addition, on
September 8, 2020,
the Operating LLC entered into a letter agreement with FTAC Olympus Sponsor whereby the Operating LLC will provide personnel to serve as the chief financial officer as well as other accounting and administrative services to FTAC Olympus Sponsor for a period
not
longer than
24
months.  As consideration for these services, the Company received an allocation of an additional
30,000
founders shares of FTAC Olympus stock to the Operating LLC and recorded an equity method investment of
$40
 for the valuation of these services. The revenue earned from these services is recorded in the table below.
 
SPAC Fund
 
 The SPAC Fund is considered a related party because it is an equity method investment. The Company has an investment in and a management contract with the SPAC Fund.  Income earned or loss incurred on the investment are included as part of principal transactions and other income.  Revenue earned on the management contract are included as part of asset management in the table below.  As of
December 31, 2020
, the Company owned
1.6%
of the equity of the SPAC Fund.
  
U.S. Insurance JV
 
 
U.S. Insurance JV is considered a related party because it is an equity method investment. The Company has an investment in and a management contract with the U.S. Insurance JV.  Income earned or loss incurred on the investment are included as part of principal transactions and other income.  Revenue earned on the management contract are included as part of asset management in the table below.  As of
December 31, 2020
, the Company owned
4.7%
of the equity of the U.S. Insurance JV.
  
The following tables display the routine transactions recognized in the statements of operations from identified related parties that are described above.
 
 
Related Party Transactions
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
   
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
 
Net trading
     
 
     
 
     
 
TBBK
  $
-
    $
14
    $
43
 
                         
Asset management
     
 
     
 
     
 
EuroDekania    
-
     
236
     
235
 
SPAC Funds
   
2,406
     
331
     
51
 
U.S. Insurance JV
   
368
     
303
     
58
 
    $
2,774
    $
870
    $
344
 
Principal transactions and other income
     
 
     
 
     
 
CK Capital
   
147
     
-
     
-
 
EuroDekania
   
-
     
279
     
709
 
Insurance SPAC
   
95
     
95
     
-
 
Insurance SPAC II
   
80
     
-
     
-
 
Insurance SPAC III
   
20
     
-
     
-
 
FTAC II Sponsor
   
-
     
-
     
17
 
FTAC III Sponsor
   
9
     
10
     
1
 
FTAC IV Sponsor
   
5
     
-
     
-
 
FTAC V Sponsor
   
2
     
-
     
-
 
FTAC Olympus Sponsor
   
7
     
-
     
-
 
SPAC Funds
   
183
     
30
     
(8
)
U.S. Insurance JV
   
222
     
150
     
25
 
    $
770
    $
564
    $
744
 
Income (loss) from equity method affiliates
     
 
     
 
     
 
AOI
   
360
     
-
     
-
 
CK Capital
   
279
     
-
     
-
 
Insurance SPAC
   
(3,138
)    
(553
)    
-
 
Insurance SPAC II
   
(486
)    
-
     
-
 
Insurance SPAC III
   
(34
)    
-
     
-
 
FTAC IV Sponsor
   
(7
)    
-
     
-
 
FTAC V Sponsor
   
(2
)    
-
     
-
 
FTAC Olympus Sponsor
   
(9
)    
-
     
-
 
SPAC Series Funds
   
81
     
-
     
-
 
    $
(2,956
)   $
(553
)   $
-
 
                         
Operating expense (income)
     
 
     
 
     
 
Duane Morris
   
1,194
     
462
     
501
 
Fintech Masala, LLC
   
(44
)    
(34
)    
(10
)
    $
1,150
    $
428
    $
491
 
Interest expense (income)
     
 
     
 
     
 
CBF
   
1,191
     
912
     
470
 
DGC Trust
   
1,804
     
1,725
     
1,562
 
EBC
   
289
     
218
     
228
 
Pensco Trust Company, Custodian fbo Edward E. Cohen
   
47
     
398
     
417
 
JKD Investor
   
2,131
     
699
     
1,968
 
    $
5,462
    $
3,952
    $
4,645
 
 
The following related party transactions are non-routine and are
not
included in the tables above.
 
I.
 
Directors and Employees

 
The Company has entered into employment agreements with Daniel G. Cohen, its chairman, and Joseph W. Pooler, Jr., its chief financial officer.  The Company has entered into its standard indemnification agreement with each of its directors and executive officers.
 
The Company maintains a
401
(k)-savings plan covering substantially all of its employees.  The Company matches
50%
of employee contributions for all participants
not
to exceed
3%
of their salary.  Contributions made to the plan on behalf of the Company were
$270,
$265,
and
$201
 for the years ended
December 31, 2020
,
2019
, and
2018
, respectively.
 
On
November 7, 2019,
the Company purchased
1,000
shares from its chief financial officer for
$5
or a purchase price of
$4.50
per share.
 
On
August 29, 2018,
in privately negotiated transactions, the Company purchased
17,555
shares of Common Stock for
$176,
or
$10.00
per share, from a current member of the board of directors.
 
 The Company leases office space from Zucker and Moore, LLC.  Zucker and Moore, LLC is partially owned by Jack DiMaio, Jr., the vice chairman of the Company's board of directors. The lease agreement expired in
June 2020
and was subsequently amended to extend for a period of
one
year through
June 2021. 
The Company recorded 
$96
of rent expense related to this agreement for each of the 
three
years ended
December 31, 2020
,
2019
, and
2018
, respectively.