Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Notes Payable

v3.10.0.1
Notes Payable
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Notes Payable
Notes Payable

Notes payable consisted of the following:
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Notes payable to clearing firm under forgivable loans
$

 
$
2,143

Note payable under subsidiary's term loan with bank

 
6,563

Note payable under subsidiary's revolver with bank
121

 
216

Notes payable by subsidiary to certain former shareholders of Highland

 
6,738

Notes payable to KMS' former shareholders, net of $0 and $98 of unamortized discount in 2018 and 2017, respectively

 
1,958

Notes payable to SSN's former shareholders, net of $0 and $326 of unamortized discount in 2018 and 2017, respectively

 
6,074

Notes payable to Kestler Financial Group's former shareholders
5,433

 

6.5% Senior Notes, net of $69 and $0 of unamortized discount in 2018 and 2017, respectively
82,740

 
76,569

7% Senior Notes, net of $46 of unamortized discount in 2018
44,096

 

7.25% Senior Notes
60,000

 

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs
(7,191
)
 
(3,412
)
Total
$
185,199

 
$
96,849



The Company estimates that the fair value of notes payable was $194,131 at September 30, 2018 and $99,129 at December 31, 2017 based on then current interest rates at which similar amounts of debt could then be borrowed (Level 2 inputs). As of September 30, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants in its debt agreements.

In May 2018, five of the Company’s broker-dealers entered into a six-year extension of their clearing agreements with National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”). In connection with the extensions, the Company entered into a termination of the forgivable loan agreement with NFS whereby the remaining balance of the principal and interest (approximately $2,222) on the loan was forgiven.

At September 30, 2018, the Company had $40,000 available under its $40,000 revolving credit agreement with an affiliate of its principal shareholder and former chairman of its board of directors, Phillip Frost, M.D. The revolving credit agreement matures on August 25, 2021.

On April 21, 2017, Securities America Financial Corporation ("SAFC") entered into an amended and restated loan agreement with a financial institution. The loan agreement modified the interest rate for new loans under SAFC's revolving credit facility to prime plus 2.25%. As of September 30, 2018, SAFC had $1,000 of availability under the revolving credit facility. This loan agreement also provides for an additional term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $8,000 subject to certain conditions. This second term loan bore interest at 5.75%, with a maturity date of May 1, 2020. The loans are collateralized by the assets of SAFC and Securities America Advisors, Inc. The term loan was paid in full in July 2018.

On November 21, 2017, the Company sold $72,500 principal amount of its 6.5% senior notes due November 2027 ("6.5% Senior Notes"). Interest on the 6.5% Senior Notes accrues from November 21, 2017 and is paid quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The Company may redeem the 6.5% Senior Notes in whole or in part on or after November 30, 2020, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. On December 12, 2017, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional $4,069 principal amount of the 6.5% Senior Notes, which resulted in total gross proceeds of $76,569, before deducting the underwriting discount paid to unaffiliated underwriters and offering expenses aggregating $3,313, including $1,187 of brokerage commissions earned by employees of Ladenburg, which served as the lead underwriter in the offering. In February 2018, the Company entered into a note distribution agreement under which the Company may sell up to $25,000 principal amount of additional 6.5% Senior Notes from time to time in an "at the market" offering in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company sold $6,240 principal amount of 6.5% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering. Ladenburg is acting as the representative of the agents named in the note distribution agreement in the "at the market" offering and may receive commissions of up to 2% of gross sales.

On May 22, 2018, the Company sold $40,000 principal amount of its 7% senior notes due May 2028 ("7% Senior Notes") pursuant to an underwritten offering. Interest on the 7% Senior Notes accrues from May 30, 2018 and is paid quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The Company may redeem the 7% Senior Notes in whole or in part on or after May 31, 2021, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. On June 22, 2018, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional $1,412 principal amount of the 7% Senior Notes, which resulted in total gross proceeds of $41,412, before deducting the underwriting discount paid to unaffiliated underwriters and offering expenses aggregating $1,656, including $527 of brokerage commissions earned by employees of Ladenburg, which served as the lead underwriter in the offering. In June 2018, the Company entered into a note distribution agreement under which the Company may sell up to $25,000 principal amount of additional 7% Senior Notes from time to time in an "at the market" offering. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company sold $2,729 principal amount of 7% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering. Ladenburg is acting as the representative of the agents named in the note distribution agreement in the "at the market" offering and may receive commissions of up to 2% of gross sales.

On August 9, 2018, the Company sold $60,000 principal amount of its 7.25% senior notes due September 2028 ("7.25% Senior Notes") pursuant to an underwritten offering. Interest on the 7.25% Senior Notes accrues from August 16, 2018 and is paid quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. The Company may redeem the 7.25% Senior Notes in whole or in part on or after September 30, 2021 at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The offering resulted in total gross proceeds of $60,000, before deducting the underwriting discount paid to unaffiliated underwriters and offering expenses aggregating $1,890, including $100 of brokerage commissions earned by employees of Ladenburg, which served as one of the five underwriters in the offering.

In July 2018, the Company and two of its subsidiaries prepaid, without penalty, the remaining loan balances, including accrued interest, in the aggregate amount of $14,978 for the notes payable to the former KMS, SSN and Highland shareholders and to a bank under a subsidiary's term loan.

On August 31, 2018, as part of the consideration paid for the acquisition of KFG, the Company issued a promissory note (the "KFG Note") to the former shareholders of KFG in the aggregate principal amount of $5,450, bearing interest at 4.00% per annum and payable in equal monthly installments beginning on September 15, 2018, with the final installment being due and payable on or before November 15, 2036. The KFG Note may be prepaid in full or in part at any time without premium or penalty. The KFG Note contains customary events of default, which if uncured, entitle the holder to accelerate the due date of the unpaid principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, the KFG Note. Total interest expense on the KFG Note was $18 for the three months ended September 30, 2018.