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Investments, at Fair Value
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Investments [Abstract]  
Investments, at Fair Value Investments, at Fair Value
Investments held by Ben or held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts are comprised of investments in alternative assets, public debt and equity securities, other equity securities (principally of a related party) and put options. The composition of investments recorded at fair value by holder is included in the table below (in thousands):
December 31, 2023March 31, 2023
BenCustomer ExAlt TrustsBenCustomer ExAlt Trusts
Alternative assets$— $302,810 $— $385,851 
Public equity securities and option— 4,210 4,742 8,087 
Debt securities available-for-sale— 3,127 620 76,278 
Other equity securities and interests
38 68,235 — 21,643 
Total investments, at fair value$38 $378,382 $5,362 $491,859 
Investments in Alternative Assets held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts
The investments in alternative assets are held, either through direct ownership or through beneficial interests, by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts and consist primarily of limited partnership interests in various alternative investments, including private equity funds. These alternative investments are valued using NAV as a practical expedient. Changes in the NAV of these investments are recorded in investment income (loss), net in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The investments in alternative assets provide the economic value that ultimately collateralizes the ExAlt Loans that Ben Liquidity originates with the Customer ExAlt Trusts in liquidity transactions and any associated fees due from the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The decrease in investments in alternative assets since March 31, 2023, was primarily driven by the
transfer of $56.7 million in NAV to settle the Customer ExAlt Trust loan payable, as further described in Note 7, combined with $38.4 million in distributions.
The NAV calculation reflects the most current report of NAV and other data received from firm/fund sponsors. If no such report has been received, Ben estimates NAV based upon the last NAV calculation reported by the investment manager and adjusts it for capital calls and distributions made in the intervening time frame. Ben also considers whether adjustments to the NAV are necessary, in certain circumstances, in which management is aware of specific material events, changes in market conditions, and other relevant factors that have affected the value of an investment during the period between the date of the most recent NAV calculation reported by the investment manager or sponsor and the measurement date. Public equity securities known to be owned within an alternative investment fund, based on the most recent information reported by the general partners, are marked to market using quoted market prices on the reporting date.
The underlying interests in alternative assets are primarily limited partnership interests. The transfer of the investments in private equity funds generally requires the consent of the corresponding private equity fund manager, and the transfer of certain fund investments is subject to rights of first refusal or other preemptive rights, potentially further limiting the ExAlt PlanTM from transferring an investment in a private equity fund. The investments are not subject to redemption with the funds. Distributions from funds are received as the underlying investments are liquidated. Timing of liquidation is currently unknown.
Portfolio Information
Our portfolio of alternative asset investments, held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts by asset class of each fund as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, is summarized below (in thousands):
Alternative Investments Portfolio Summary
December 31, 2023March 31, 2023
Asset ClassCarrying ValueUnfunded CommitmentsCarrying ValueUnfunded Commitments
Venture Capital$139,950 $2,366 $165,933 $2,810 
Private Equity123,664 39,949 145,073 47,218 
Natural Resources20,505 3,351 27,756 5,240 
Private Real Estate9,119 3,134 10,391 4,800 
Hedge Funds
6,135 246 24,935 337 
Other(1)
3,437 383 11,763 730 
Total$302,810 $49,429 $385,851 $61,135 
Certain prior year items have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.
(1) “Other” includes earnouts, escrow, net other assets, private debt strategies and infrastructure.
As of December 31, 2023, the Customer ExAlt Trusts collectively had exposure to 247 professionally managed alternative asset investment funds, comprised of 900 underlying investments, 89 percent of which are investments in private companies.
Public Equity Securities
Investment in public equity securities primarily represents ownership by both Ben and certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts in public companies. These investments are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted market prices. Any realized gains and losses are recorded on a trade-date basis. Realized and unrealized gains and losses are recognized in gain (loss) on financial instruments, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the fair value of investments in public equity securities was $4.2 million and $8.8 million, respectively. The balance as of March 31, 2023 included an investment in GWG Holdings’ common stock held by Ben and the Customer ExAlt Trusts of $3.7 million. On August 1, 2023, GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization was declared effective, and the Company’s investment was transferred to equity interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust (as defined herein). The interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust is reflected as an investment in other equity securities. Refer to Note 6 for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Put Options
On April 1, 2022, Ben, through CT Risk Management, L.L.C., (“CT”) made aggregate payments of $5.0 million to purchase additional put options in the S&P 500 Index with an aggregate notional amount of $141.3 million. Half of the notional expires in April 2024, while the other half expires in April 2025. On April 27, 2022, CT sold an equity interest for $2.4 million to the third-party involved in a participation loan transaction described in Note 7 and utilized the proceeds to purchase additional put options similar to the put options purchased on April 1, 2022. These put options were sold in September 2023 for $1.0 million, resulting in a recognized loss of $0.7 million.
The put options were designed to protect the NAV of the interests in alternative assets, which generate the collateral to certain of the ExAlt Loans in Ben Liquidity’s loan portfolio or the loans related to the participation loan transaction and provide for distributions to the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ ultimate beneficiary, against market risk. The options were carried at fair value, which was determined using quoted market prices. Any realized gains and losses were recorded on a trade-date basis. Realized and unrealized gains and losses were recognized in gain (loss) on financial instruments, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
No options were held as of or during the three months ended December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the fair value of the options was $4.0 million. For the three months ended December 31, 2022, Ben recognized losses of $3.8 million on the put options, of which approximately $2.8 million is attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation loan transaction. For the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Ben recognized losses of $3.0 million and losses of $1.1 million, respectively, on the put options, of which approximately $2.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively, is attributable to Ben or Ben’s loan portfolio, with the remainder attributable principally to the loan involved in the participation loan transaction. Refer to Note 6 for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Debt Securities Available-for-Sale
As of December 31, 2023, investments in debt securities represent ownership in privately held debt securities. Investments in debt securities are classified and accounted for as available-for-sale, with unrealized gains and losses presented as a separate component of equity under the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) line item.
Prior to August 1, 2023, investments in debt securities also included ownership in corporate debt securities, specifically, L Bonds of GWG Holdings (“L Bonds”) held by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. The L Bonds had a maturity date of August 8, 2023. However, upon the effectiveness of GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization on August 1, 2023, the investments in L Bonds converted to equity interests in the GWG Wind Down Trust, which are reflected in “other equity securities and interests”.
The amortized cost, estimated fair value, and unrealized gains and losses on investments in debt securities classified as available-for-sale as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023 are summarized as follows:
December 31, 2023
(Dollars in thousands)Amortized Cost BasisGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesFair Value
Other debt securities$2,685 $1,502 $(1,060)$3,127 
Total available-for-sale debt securities$2,685 $1,502 $(1,060)$3,127 
March 31, 2023
(Dollars in thousands)Amortized Cost BasisGross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesFair Value
Corporate debt securities (L Bonds)$64,313 $17,433 $(7,924)$73,822 
Other debt securities2,685 1,347 (956)3,076 
Total available-for-sale debt securities$66,998 $18,780 $(8,880)$76,898 
The table below indicates the length of time individual debt securities have been in a continuous loss position as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023:
December 31, 2023March 31, 2023
(Dollars in thousands)Fair ValueUnrealized LossesFair ValueUnrealized Losses
Corporate debt securities (L Bonds):
Twelve months or longer$— $— $73,822 $7,924 
Other debt securities:
Less than twelve months— — 2,078 956 
Twelve months or longer2,129 1,060 — — 
Total available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses$2,129 $1,060 $75,900 $8,880 
The noncredit-related portion of the net unrealized gains of $0.1 million and $4.2 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, respectively, was recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The noncredit-related portion of the net unrealized losses of $1.3 million and gains of $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, was recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized net gains of $13.7 million related to the Company’s previously classified available-for-sale debt securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized within the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net line item of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, the Company determined there was no credit-related loss on its investment in debt securities available-for-sale. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2022, the Company determined there was other than temporary impairment of nil and $12.6 million, respectively, on its debt securities available-for-sale, which is recorded in the provision for credit losses on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The Company determined these losses were other-than-temporary as it does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security.
The following table is a rollforward of credit-related losses recognized in earnings for the periods presented below:
(Dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
December 31,
Nine Months Ended December 31,
2023202220232022
Balance, beginning of period$31,290 $31,290 $31,290 $18,669 
Increase in amounts previously recognized
— — — 12,621 
Balance, end of period$31,290 $31,290 $31,290 $31,290 
The contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023 are as follows:
December 31, 2023March 31, 2023
(Dollars in thousands)Amortized Cost BasisFair ValueAmortized Cost BasisFair Value
Due in one year or less$1,687 $2,129 $66,000 $75,900 
No fixed maturity998 998 998 998 
$2,685 $3,127 $66,998 $76,898 
Other Equity Securities and Interests
Ben and certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in equity securities of private companies with a readily determinable fair value, namely the GWG Wind Down Trust. On August 1, 2023, GWG Holdings’ plan of reorganization was declared effective and our investments in its common stock and L Bonds (previously accounted for as public equity securities and available-for-sale debt securities, respectively) were then transferred to an investment in the GWG Holdings Wind Down Trust. The fair value of these equity interests was $3.8 million and $17.4 million as of December 31, 2023 and
August 1, 2023, respectively. Refer to Note 6 for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein.
Additionally, certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts hold investments in equity securities that do not have a readily determinable fair value. These equity securities are measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. The value of these equity securities was $64.5 million and $21.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively. The increase in value is primarily due to new investments held as of December 31, 2023 that were not held as of March 31, 2023. Refer to Note 6 for a reconciliation of the gain (loss) on financial instruments, net for each of the periods presented herein, which reflects any upward or downward adjustments to these equity securities for the periods presented herein. There were no impairments to these equity securities during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.