XML 21 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.0.1
Overview of the Business
9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Overview of the Business Overview of the Business
Legal Structure
Beneficient, a Nevada corporation, is a technology-enabled financial services holding company (including its subsidiaries, but excluding its noncontrolling interest holders, collectively, “Ben,” “our,” “the Company, or “we”) that provides simple, rapid, cost-effective liquidity solutions and trust products and services to participants in the alternative assets industry through its end-to-end online platform, Ben AltAccess (as defined below). Prior to the conversion described below, Beneficient Management, L.L.C. (“Ben Management”), a Delaware limited liability company, was Ben’s general partner and Ben was controlled by, and the exclusive and complete authority to manage the operations and affairs of Ben was granted to, Ben Management’s Board of Directors.
On June 6, 2023, the Company converted from a Delaware limited partnership to a Nevada corporation and changed its corporate name from “The Beneficient Company Group, L.P.” (“BCG”) to “Beneficient” (the “Conversion”). BCG, formerly known as Highland Consolidated Business Holdings, L.P., was formed on September 16, 2003. On June 6, 2023, following the BCG Recapitalization (as defined in Note 2) and the Conversion, the Company, as the sole member of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (“Ben LLC”), adopted the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Ben LLC (the “Ben LLC A&R LLCA”). The Ben LLC A&R LLCA establishes managing member interests and non-managing members interests, referred to as the Class A Units of Ben LLC. Beneficient is designated as the sole managing member. In addition, certain additional amendments were made that principally focused on the management of Ben LLC by the managing member. After the adoption of the Ben LLC A&R LLCA, Beneficient contributed to Ben LLC all of the limited partnership interests and general partnership interests of Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P. (“BCH”) held by Beneficient (the “Contribution”), and Ben LLC became the general partner of BCH and the holder of 100% of the outstanding Class A Units of BCH.
On June 7, 2023, in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement, dated September 21, 2022 and amended April 18, 2023, with Avalon Acquisition, Inc. (“Avalon”), (the “Business Combination Agreement,” and the transactions contemplated thereby, collectively, the “Business Combination”), the Company completed its previously announced de-SPAC merger transaction (the “Transaction”) with Avalon. On June 8, 2023, Beneficient began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market. See Note 4 for additional disclosures related to the Conversion and Transaction.
BCH is a Delaware limited partnership formed on July 1, 2010. BCH is primarily a holding company that directly or indirectly receives all active and passive income of the Company and allocates that income among the partnership interests issued by BCH. As of December 31, 2024, BCH has issued and outstanding general partnership Subclass 1 Class A Units (“BCH Class A Units”), Class S Ordinary Units of BCH (the “BCH Class S Ordinary Units”), Class S Preferred Units of BCH (the “BCH Class S Preferred Units”), FLP Unit Accounts (Subclass 1, Subclass 2, and Subclass 3), Preferred Series A Subclass 0 Unit Accounts (“BCH Preferred A.0”), and Preferred Series A Subclass 1 Unit Accounts (“BCH Preferred A.1”).
Business Overview
Ben markets an array of liquidity solutions and related trustee, custody and trust administration services to participants in the alternative asset industry, with a focus on mid-to-high net worth (“MHNW”) individual investors (generally those with a net worth of $5.0 million to $30.0 million), small-to-midsize institutional (“STMI”) investors, family offices (“FAMOs”) and fund general partners and sponsors (“GPs” and together with MHNW individuals, STMI investors and FAMOs, “Customers”). Ben provides Customers seeking an early exit from their alternative asset investments a suite of bespoke liquidity solutions for their otherwise illiquid alternative asset investments through a proprietary financing and trust structure, which we implement for our customers (we refer to such trusts collectively as the “Customer ExAlt Trusts”). We plan to offer comprehensive alternative asset trust and custody services, and novel insurance products covering risks attendant to owning, managing and transferring alternative assets, and additional broker-dealer services in connection with our liquidity products and services.
Ben’s primary operations, which commenced on September 1, 2017, relate to its liquidity and trust administration products and services. Ben offers or plans to offer its products and services through its operating subsidiaries, which include: (i) Ben AltAccess, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Ben AltAccess”), which offers an online platform designed to provide a digital experience for Customers seeking liquidity, custody, trust and data services for their alternative assets, (ii) Ben Liquidity, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Liquidity”), which offers liquidity products, (iii) Ben Custody, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Ben Custody”), which provides services for private fund, trustee, and trust administration, (iv) Ben Data, L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company (“Ben Data”), which provides data analytics and evaluation services, (v) Ben Markets L.L.C., including its subsidiaries (“Ben Markets”), was recently launched and intends to provide broker-dealer services and transfer agency services in connection with offering Ben’s products and services, and (vi) Ben Insurance, L.L.C., including its subsidiaries (“Ben Insurance Services”), which intends to offer insurance products and services covering risks attendant to owning, managing and transferring alternative assets. Ben serves as trustee of certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which operate for the benefit of the Charities (defined below) and Economic Growth Zones (defined below).
Ben Liquidity offers simple, rapid and cost-effective liquidity products to its Customers through the use of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which facilitate the exchange of a Customer’s alternative assets for consideration using a proprietary financing and trust structure (such structure and related process, the “ExAlt PlanTM”). In ExAlt PlanTM financings, a subsidiary of Ben Liquidity, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C. (“BFF”), a Kansas based trust company that provides fiduciary financing to fidfin trusts, makes fiduciary loans (each, an “ExAlt Loan”) to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which in turn employ a portion of the loan proceeds to acquire and deliver agreed upon consideration to the Customer, in exchange for their alternative assets. BFF is registered as a chartered Kansas Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (“TEFFI”) under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution Act (the “TEFFI Act”) and regulated by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (“OSBC”). Only BFF, our subsidiary, is regulated by the OSBC. The OSBC does not regulate the entirety of Ben. Ben Liquidity generates interest and fee income earned in connection with the ExAlt Loans, which are collateralized by a portion of the cash flows from the exchanged alternative assets, then owned by Customer ExAlt Trusts (the “Collateral”). The ExAlt Loans are eliminated upon consolidation of the Customer ExAlt Trusts solely for financial reporting purposes.
Under the applicable trust and other agreements, certain Texas and Kansas charities are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts (which we refer to as “Charities” or “Economic Growth Zones” respectively, and collectively, the “Charitable Beneficiaries”), and their interests are reported as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. The TEFFI Act requires that two and a half percent (2.5%) of the cash distributions from alternative assets serving as collateral to Ben Liquidity loans be charitably contributed by certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts to a designated Kansas Economic Growth Zone. Accordingly, for ExAlt Loans originated on or after December 7, 2021, Economic Growth Zones are paid $0.025 for every $1.00 received by an ExAlt Trust from the corresponding alternative assets. For ExAlt Loans originated prior to December 7, 2021, in accordance with the terms of the applicable trust and other agreements, the Charitable Beneficiaries of the Customer ExAlt Trusts formed prior to such date, are paid $0.05 for every $0.95 paid to the applicable ExAlt Loan lender.
Ben Custody currently provides full-service trust and custody administration services to the trustees (including BFF) of certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which own the exchanged alternative assets following liquidity transactions in exchange for fees payable quarterly.
The Customer ExAlt Trusts’ earnings on its alternative assets supports the repayment of the ExAlt Loans plus any related interest and fees. Since Ben consolidates the Customer ExAlt Trusts, Ben Liquidity’s ExAlt Loans and related interest and fee income and provision for credit losses and Ben Custody’s fee income are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements solely for financial reporting purposes; however, such amounts directly impact the allocation of income (loss) to Ben’s or BCH’s equity holders. Likewise, the amounts expensed by the Customer ExAlt Trusts for interest and fees owed to Ben’s operating subsidiaries are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements, but are recognized for purposes of the allocation of income (loss) to the beneficial owners of the Customer ExAlt Trusts. Refer to Note 3 for additional information.
Ben’s existing and planned products and services are designed to be delivered digitally and provide liquidity, trust and custody solutions, data analytics and news, support the tax and estate planning objectives of its Customers, facilitate asset diversification and provide administrative management and reporting solutions tailored to the goals of investors of alternative investments. While Ben’s financial products and services are presently offered through Ben Liquidity and Ben Custody, Ben plans to expand its capabilities under Ben Custody and provide additional products and services through Ben Insurance Services and Ben Markets in the future. Ben Insurance Services, through two subsidiaries, PEN Indemnity Insurance Company, Ltd. (“PEN”), which has been chartered as a Bermuda based insurance company, and Beneficient Insurance Company, L.L.C. (“BIC”), an entity through which the Company has applied to become a Kansas captive property and casualty insurer, plans to offer to affiliated Customer ExAlt Trusts certain customized insurance products and services covering risks relating to owning, managing and transferring alternative assets. Ben Markets, through one of its subsidiaries, Ben Markets Management Holdings, L.P., received regulatory approval to acquire, and subsequently acquired, a captive registered broker-dealer, Beneficient Securities Company, L.P., an entity that will conduct its activities attendant to offering a suite of products and services from the Ben family of companies. Ben Markets, through another of its subsidiaries, Beneficient Transfer & Clearing Company, L.L.C., also received regulatory approval from the SEC on June 24, 2022 to operate as a registered transfer agent with respect to its securities, and intends to provide various services for customers transacting with Ben, including the Customer ExAlt Trusts.
As discussed further in Note 3, certain of our operating subsidiary products and services involve or are offered to certain of the Customer ExAlt Trusts, which are consolidated subsidiaries of Ben solely for financial reporting purposes, and therefore transactions between our operating subsidiaries and the Customer ExAlt Trusts are eliminated in the presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2024, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $4.1 million. Besides the unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, the Company’s principal sources of liquidity available to meet its contractual obligations are proceeds on ExAlt Loan payments and fee income derived from distributions on investments held by the Customer ExAlt Trusts and potential access to capital under the Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the “SEPA”) with YA II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”), however, our ability to access the cash distributions from the Customer ExAlt Trusts’ alternative asset portfolio is limited by the terms of the ExAlt Loans from Ben Liquidity to the Customer ExAlt Trusts and our ability to access proceeds from SEPA is subject to market conditions, such as trading volume, price of our Class A Common Stock and other factors beyond our control. While we generated net income of $43.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, we have historically generated net losses and, in aggregate, these net losses have resulted in an accumulated deficit of $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2024. As of January 31, 2025, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $6.7 million. All of these conditions raised substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date of issuance.
We expect the Company will require additional capital to satisfy our obligations and fund our operations for the next twelve months, which will likely be achieved through the issuance of additional debt or equity, including through the SEPA. Also, we intend to potentially refinance some or all of our existing borrowings, including approximately $23.5 million of certain outstanding borrowing that will be maturing in the remainder of fiscal year 2025, with either our current lenders or other lenders, and continue to seek opportunities to reduce corporate overhead; however, we cannot conclude these are probable of being implemented or, if probable of being implemented, being in sufficient enough amounts to satisfy our contractual amounts as they presently exist that are coming due over the next 12 months as of the date of the filing of these financial statements with the SEC. Of the $23.5 million of outstanding borrowings scheduled to mature in the remainder of fiscal year 2025, a borrowing of approximately $21.3 million has a maturity date of February 15, 2025. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are in the process of negotiating a further extension to the February 15, 2025 maturity date for this borrowing.
On June 27, 2023, we entered into the SEPA, whereby we have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Yorkville up to $250.0 million of shares of the Company’s common stock. On June 20, 2024, the Company obtained stockholder approval pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) for the issuance of shares of Class A common stock to Yorkville in excess of the Exchange Cap. As a result, the Company could issue up to an aggregate of approximately $246.1 million worth of shares of Class A common stock following registration with the SEC, which occurred on November 12, 2024. As of February 7, 2025, approximately $241.0 million worth of shares of Class A common stock remains available under the terms of the SEPA. However, the decision regarding future sale of shares, including those under the SEPA, is subject to market conditions, such as trading volume, price of our Class A common stock and other factors beyond our control.
As more fully described in Note 8, on October 19, 2023, we entered into a three-year $25.0 million term loan with HH-BDH LLC, which was fully drawn upon closing and, the proceeds of which were used to repay certain outstanding obligations, fund development of our products, and provide additional working capital. On August 16, 2024, we entered into an amendment to the term loan with HH-BDH to add an additional term loan of $1.7 million, which was used to provide working capital. The HH-BDH Credit Agreement contains certain financial maintenance covenants, including a debt service coverage ratio. On August 6, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Yorkville, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell convertible debentures in an aggregate principal amount of up to $4.0 million and warrants to purchase up to 1,325,382 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at an exercise price of $2.63. On August 6, 2024, the Company issued $2.0 million to Yorkville in aggregate principal amount of the convertible debentures and warrants to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Common Stock. Also, on November 13, 2024, the Company issued an additional $2.0 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures and warrants to purchase up to 662,691 shares of Class A common stock.
Ben may not be able to refinance our indebtedness or obtain additional financing on terms favorable to the Company, or at all. To the extent that Ben or its subsidiaries raise additional capital through the future sale of equity or debt, the ownership interest of our existing equity holders may be diluted. The terms of these future equity or debt securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our existing equity unitholders or involve negative covenants that restrict Ben’s ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt or making additional investments in growing the operations of the Company. If Ben defaults on these borrowings, then the Company will be
required to either (i) sell participation or other interests in our loans or other of our assets, or (ii) to raise additional capital through the sale of equity and the ownership interest of our equity holders may be diluted.
We will utilize our cash flows toward our contractual obligations, to invest in our business, including new product initiatives and growth strategies, including any potential acquisitions, and, if determined by our Board, to pay dividends to our equity holders, including guaranteed payments on certain of BCH’s preferred equity securities, and to fund tax distributions for certain noncontrolling interest holders. Our ability to fund these capital needs will depend on our ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and via the capital markets.
While we have concluded that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, our financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Reverse Stock Split
In April 2024, the Company's stockholders approved a reverse stock split of its Common Stock at a range of ratios between 1-for-10 to 1-for-100, and the Company's board of directors approved the implementation of the reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-80 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split was effective as of April 18, 2024, and the Company regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement in May 2024.
As of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, every 80 issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock was automatically reclassified into one issued and outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock, with no change in the par value per share. No fractional shares of Common Stock were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and all fractional shares were rounded up to the nearest whole share with respect to outstanding shares of common stock. All share and per share amounts of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-80 Reverse Stock Split, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of Common Stock to additional paid-in capital.
Amendments to Organizational Documents
In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, on April 11, 2024, the Company, in its capacity as the sole managing member and the sole non-managing member of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (“Ben LLC”), entered into and adopted the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Beneficient Company Group, L.L.C. (the “Ben LLC A&R LLCA”), which became effective on April 18, 2024, simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split. The Ben LLC A&R LLCA provides that, among other things, in the event that the Company at any time (i) subdivides (by any stock split, dividend, recapitalization or otherwise), the outstanding shares of the Class A common stock (and Class B common stock, as applicable) of the Company into a greater number of shares, Ben LLC shall (A) cause the issuance of additional Class A Units of Ben LLC (the “Ben LLC Class A Units”) and (B) cause Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P. (“BCH”) to issue additional Class A Units of BCH (the “BCH Class A Units”) (and such other limited partner interests, if any, as determined by Ben LLC in its capacity as general partner of BCH to be appropriate), in both cases to reflect the increase in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding, and (ii) combines (by combination, reverse split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (and Class B common stock, as applicable) of the Company into a smaller number of shares, Ben LLC shall (A) cause a reduction in the number of Ben LLC Class A Units outstanding and (B) cause BCH to reduce the number of BCH Class A Units (and such other limited partner interests, if any, as determined by Ben LLC in its capacity as the general partner of BCH to be appropriate), in both cases to reflect the decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding.
Also in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, on April 11, 2024, Ben LLC, in its capacity as the sole general partner of BCH, entered into and adopted the Ninth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BCH (the “Ninth A&R BCH LPA”), which became effective on April 18, 2024, simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split. The Ninth A&R BCH LPA provides for, among other things, (i) the combination of certain units of BCH in connection with the Reverse Stock Split and the corresponding reverse unit split of the Ben LLC Class A Units as well as amendments to the definition of the Preferred Series A Subclass 0 Unit Conversion Price and Preferred Series A Subclass 1 Unit Conversion Price (each as defined in the Ninth A&R BCH LPA) and (ii) remove references to the previously authorized Preferred Series C Subclass 1 Unit Accounts (as defined in the Ninth A&R BCH LPA), which are no longer outstanding.
On September 30, 2024, Amendment No. 1 to the Ninth A&R BCH LPA was adopted to re-designate fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 as non-redeemable Preferred A.0 Unit Accounts (such redesignated portion, the “BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable”) with the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the capital account balances in the BCH Preferred A.0 Accounts remaining redeemable (such remaining Preferred A.0 being the “BCH
Preferred A.0 Redeemable”). As a result of this redesignation, approximately $125.5 million of temporary equity was reclassified to permanent equity as of September 30, 2024. Also, on November 21, 2024, an additional $35.0 million of the BCH Preferred A.0 was redesignated to BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable.
The BCH Preferred A.0 Non-Redeemable is identical to the BCH Preferred A.0 Redeemable except that it does not have any cash redemption rights.
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
On October 2, 2024, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock from 18,750,000 to 5,000,000,000. The increase in the number of authorized shares was approved by the Company’s stockholders on October 2, 2024.
Purchase Agreement with Mercantile Bank International Corp.
On December 4, 2024, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Beneficient Capital Company Holdings, L.P., a subsidiary of the Company (“BCC Holdings”), Mercantile Bank International Corp. (“MBI”) and Mercantile Global Holdings, Inc., (“MGH” and, together with MBI, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which, BCC Holdings agreed to purchase from MGH all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of MBI (the “MBI Shares”) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement (such transaction, the “Acquisition”). As consideration for the Acquisition, the Company will issue at closing of the Acquisition (the “Closing”) to Galaxy Digital Ventures LLC (“Galaxy”), pursuant to the Galaxy Release (as defined and described below), consideration equal to $1.5 million consisting of a combination of up to approximately 1.65 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (such shares, the “Consideration Shares”) and cash.
The obligations of the parties to consummate the Acquisition are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, including, among other things, (i) the Company and BCC Holdings having received all required authorizations, consents, and approvals of all required Governmental Entities (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and (ii) the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico providing final written approval of the Acquisition such that BCC Holdings may operate the Business (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) following the Closing.
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, on December 4, 2024, the Company also entered into a services agreement (the “Services Agreement”), pursuant to which MGH, as an independent contractor, agreed to provide certain services to BCC Holdings, including, among other things, provision of professional, managerial, and administrative staffing, office services, and other administrative support. In exchange for such services, the Company will make certain cash payments and issue shares of its Class A common stock (such shares, the “Services Agreement Shares”). The issuance of the Consideration Shares and the Services Agreement Shares is subject to the terms and conditions of both the Galaxy Release and the Services Agreement including a 19.99% issuance cap, such that no more than approximately an aggregate of 2.1 million shares of Class A common stock are issuable under the Purchase Agreement, the Services Agreement and the Galaxy Release.
On December 4, 2024, the Company also entered into a Security & Guarantee Release Agreement (the “Galaxy Release”), by and among the Company, the Sellers, and Galaxy, which provides that, conditioned and effective upon the Closing, Galaxy has agreed that, among other things, MBI will automatically be released and discharged from any liability arising out of or related in any way to the Galaxy Loan and the Galaxy Debt Documents (each as defined in the Galaxy Release) or otherwise existing immediately prior to the Closing (the “Debt Obligations”), (ii) Galaxy will not look to the Company, BCC Holdings, or MBI to fulfill, satisfy, or pay the Debt Obligations, and none of the parties will be subject to any liability in connection with the Debt Obligations.
The Galaxy Release also provides for (i) customary registration rights with respect to the Consideration Shares, subject to certain conditions and limitations, and (ii) execution and delivery of a lock-up agreement, pursuant to which Galaxy will be restricted from selling or transferring the Consideration Shares until, with respect to fifty percent (50%) of the Consideration Shares, on the date that is 180 days following the Closing and, with respect to the remaining fifty percent (50%), on the date that is 360 days following the Closing, subject to certain conditions.
Proposed Transactions to Revise BCH Liquidation Priority
On December 22, 2024, the Company entered into a Master Agreement, by and among the Company, BCH, Ben LLC, BMP and BHI (the “Master Agreement”), pursuant to which the holders of preferred equity of BCH agreed, among other things, to amend the governing documents of BCH to allow the Company’s public company stockholders to share in the liquidation priority currently reserved only for the Preferred Equity.
Closing of the proposed transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement is subject to, among other things, (i) execution and delivery of each of the transaction documents specified in the Master Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction
Documents”), (ii) approval from the Company’s stockholders of an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation (the “Charter” and such amendment, the “Charter Amendment”) to increase the number of authorized shares of Class B common stock and approval, for purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, of the issuance of Class B common stock pursuant to the Transaction Documents, (iii) approval of the partners of BCH as necessary with respect to the proposed transactions and the Transaction Documents and (iv) the Company’s submission of a Listing of Additional Shares Notification Form with Nasdaq with respect to the additional shares of Class A common stock issuable with respect to the Subclass 4 FLP Unit Accounts of BCH (“FLP-4 Unit Accounts”) and Class B common stock issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and Nasdaq shall not have objected to such issuances.
The Master Agreement provides for the adoption of the Tenth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of BCH (the “Tenth A&R BCH LPA”), which would provide for, among other things, (i) amendments to the liquidation provisions to provide the Company’s public company stockholders, through the Company’s indirect interest in BCH, would receive preferential treatment in the event of a liquidation of BCH in an amount equal to 10% of the first $100 million distributed to equity holders of BCH and 33.3333% of the net asset value (the “Closing NAV”) of up to $5 billion of alternative assets added to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet on or after December 22, 2024, in connection with the Company’s ordinary course liquidity business, (ii) modifications to the existing limitations on the conversion of BCH Preferred A.1 held by BHI through December 31, 2027 such that (a) on the date that is 60 days following the closing of the proposed transactions, BHI would have the right to convert a portion of its BCH Preferred A.1 in an amount up to $10 million, less the amount of any Conditional Payment (as defined below), and (b) after the Closing NAV of the certain transactions by the ExchangeTrust (the “ExchangeTrust Transactions”) exceeds $100 million, BHI would have the ability to convert additional BCH Preferred A.1 subject to certain limitations and the Company’s right to pay cash in the amount of the BCH Preferred A.1 to be converted in lieu of such conversion, (iii) the establishment and issuance of the Subclass FLP-4 Unit Accounts of BCH (“FLP-4 Unit Accounts”) in connection with the BFF Customer Transactions (as defined below) with the effect that BHI, as the holder of Subclass 1 FLP Unit Accounts of BCH (“FLP-1 Unit Accounts”), and BMP, as the holder of the Subclass 2 FLP Unit Accounts of BCH (“FLP-2 Unit Accounts”), would forego the right to receive up to $400 million of equity in BCH that is exchangeable into shares of the common stock of the Company for the benefit of certain Customers (as defined below), (iv) certain amendments to conform to the amendments to the Compensation Policy (as defined below) and the terms of the FLP-1 Account Side Letter (as defined below) and address accrued but unallocated returns with respect to the FLP-1 Unit Accounts and the FLP-2 Unit Accounts, (v) a requirement that no new general partner may be admitted to BCH and that Ben LLC may not transfer its units in BCH or otherwise withdraw from being the general partner of BCH without the prior approval on a class by class basis of the holders of at least 51% of the capital account balances of each of the BCH Class A Units; the BCH Class S Ordinary Units and the BCH Class S Preferred Units voting together as a single class (together with the Class S Ordinary Units, the “BCH Class S Units”), and the BCH Preferred A.0 and BCH Preferred A.1, voting together as a single class and (vi) certain amendments with respect to the exchange of Class S Ordinary Units. Additionally, the Tenth A&R BCH LPA would require BCH to make a payment on amounts contractually or otherwise currently owed to BHI or its affiliates in an amount equal to $5 million (the “Conditional Payment”) if, on the date that is 60 days following the closing of the proposed transactions, the Audit Committee of the Board determines that the Conditional Payment would not be materially adverse to the assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a “going concern” for financial reporting purposes.
In exchange for entering into the Master Agreement and consenting to the Tenth A&R BCH LPA, BHI, Hicks Holdings Operating, LLC and Bruce W. Schnitzer (collectively, the “Class B Holders”) would execute a consent agreement and would receive, subject to the consummation of the proposed transactions, shares of Class B common stock in an amount such that, immediately following the issuance, the Class B Holders would hold, collectively, 42.67% of the total combined voting power (on a fully diluted basis with respect to securities of the Company) of the Class A common stock and Class B Common Stock. Additionally, following the consummation of the proposed transactions and until the Closing NAV equals $3 billion, the Class B Holders will be entitled to additional securities in connection with the closing of ExchangeTrust Transactions in which the Company issues voting securities, or securities convertible into voting securities (such shares, the “Subsequent Class B Shares” and together with the Initial Class B Shares, the “Restricted Class B Shares”). The Restricted Class B Shares would carry full voting rights but would be subject to mandatory redemption by the Company at $0.001 per share upon any liquidation of the Company, immediately prior to any transfer of beneficial ownership of such Restricted Class B Shares by the holder thereof (other than to permitted estate planning transferees who agree to the same restrictions), immediately prior to any conversion of the Restricted Class B Shares, immediately prior to the sale, merger, or other liquidity event involving the Company or substantially all of its business. Further, the Class B Holders shall each irrevocably waive and disclaim of the right to receive dividends, distributions, or other economic benefits of any kind with respect to the Restricted Class B Shares, whether such dividends or distributions are paid in cash, property, or stock.
The Master Agreement provides that the Company would adopt an amended and restated Compensation Policy (the “A&R Compensation Policy”) and that Company would enter into a letter agreement with BHI (the “FLP-1 Account Side Letter”). The A&R Compensation Policy together with the FLP-1 Account Side Letter would provide for, among other things,
clarifications relating to the administration of allocations and issuances of BCH Class S Ordinary Units upon carrying value adjustments to holders of FLP-1 Unit Accounts, which is held by BHI, and FLP-2 Unit Accounts, which is held by BMP for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Company and its affiliates. Pursuant to the FLP-1 Account Side Letter and the A&R Compensation Policy, all carrying value adjustments resulting from the Company’s previous business combination and certain other transactions through the closing will result in the issuance of Class S Ordinary Units to the holders of FLP-1 Unit Accounts and FLP-2 Unit Accounts upon the closing of the proposed transactions. Additionally, the A&R Compensation Policy would provide that, going forward, the limitations set forth therein will (i) continue to apply to issuances of BCH Class S Units upon certain allocations to FLP-2 Unit Accounts, and (ii) not apply to issuances of BCH Class S Units upon certain allocations to the FLP-1 Unit Accounts, although all or a portion of the BCH Class S Units issued with respect to the FLP-1 Unit Accounts will be restricted in their conversion rights. The FLP-1 Account Side Letter further clarifies the rights and restrictions of BHI with respect to certain BCH Class S Units held by BHI and certain additional BCH Class S Units that may be issuable to BHI as a result of future adjustments or allocations under the BCH LPA.
Pursuant to the FLP-1 Account Side Letter, the parties thereto would agree that, among other things, (i) BCH would make certain allocations of adjustments under the Tenth A&R BCH LPA and allocations to BMP in the amounts set forth in the FLP-1 Account Side Letter, (ii) BHI would be entitled to receive additional BCH Class S Units in the event that additional allocations are made under the Tenth A&R BCH LPA, (iii) BHI would agree that, without the prior written consent of the Company’s Products and Related Party Transactions Committee, it would only exchange certain unrestricted BCH Class S Units for shares of Class A common stock, and (iv) BHI would be entitled to receive additional unrestricted BCH Class S Units upon the occurrence of certain enumerated events set forth in the FLP-1 Account Side Letter.
The Master Agreement contemplates that in the proposed transactions, BCH would issue newly established FLP-4 Unit Accounts to one or more customers of the Company or its affiliates (the “Customers”) pursuant to the terms of a subscription agreement, by and among the applicable Customer, BCH and Ben LLC (the “Subscription Agreement”), under certain circumstances (the “BFF Customer Transactions), and in the event Customers are offered the FLP-4 Unit Accounts pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and determine to not participate in the BFF Customer Transactions, the FLP-4 Unit Accounts not issued to any Customers will be issued to the Company in lieu of being issued to the applicable Customer. The FLP-4 Unit Accounts would be entitled to receive in accordance with the Tenth A&R BCH LPA, on a pro rata basis, 100% of the carrying value adjustments until the earliest of an amount equal to $400 million had been allocated to the FLP-4 Unit Accounts or the date which is four years following the closing of the proposed transactions. The form Subscription Agreements provide for certain release by the Customers subject to the terms of the applicable Subscription Agreement.
The Master Agreement provides for an amendment to the Stockholders Agreement, dated June 6, 2023, by and among the Company and the Class B Holders, which would revise certain provisions related to the Class B Common Stock designation rights to clarify that Class B Common Stock designees may be appointed, removed and replaced only by the holders of Class B Common Stock.
The Master Agreement also provides for a waiver of the guaranteed payment payable to the holders of the BCH Preferred A.0 and the execution of a waiver of payment agreement to be entered into by and among BHI and BCH, pursuant to which BHI, as the holder of the majority in interest of the BCH Preferred A.0 would waive the right to receive the Guaranteed Series A-0 Payment (as defined in the Tenth A&R BCH LPA) until November 15, 2025; provided that any such Guaranteed Series A-0 Payment may be made prior to November 15, 2025 if the Audit Committee of the Board determines it would not be materially adverse to the Company’s “going concern” financial statement assessment.