Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Notes Payable

v3.19.1
Notes Payable
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Notes Payable
Notes Payable

Notes payable consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
Note payable under subsidiary's term loan with bank
$
6,823

 
$

Note payable under subsidiary's revolver with bank
56

 
89

Notes payable to Kestler Financial Group's former shareholders
5,347

 
5,399

Notes payable to Four Seasons Financial Group's former shareholders
342

 
364

6.5% Senior Notes, net of $65 and $67 of unamortized discount in 2019 and 2018, respectively
82,744

 
82,742

7% Senior Notes, net of $44 of unamortized discount in 2019 and 2018
42,476

 
42,475

7.25% Senior Notes
60,000

 
60,000

7.25% December 2018 Notes, net of $6,100 and $6,261 of unamortized discount in 2019 and 2018, respectively
70,250

 
70,089

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs
(6,801
)
 
(7,086
)
Total
$
261,237

 
$
254,072



The Company estimates that the fair value of notes payable was $276,465 at March 31, 2019 and $266,844 at December 31, 2018 based on then current interest rates at which similar amounts of debt could then be borrowed (Level 2 inputs). As of March 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all covenants in its debt agreements.

Senior Notes

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 connection with the offering of Notes, certain members of the Company's management and Board of Directors purchased $10,400 of the Notes offered by the Company. 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. 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. During 2018, the Company sold $6,240 principal amount of 6.5% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering. The Company did not sell any 6.5% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

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 $2,020, including $464 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. 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. During 2018, the Company sold $2,729 principal amount of 7% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering. The Company did not sell any 7% Senior Notes pursuant to the "at the market" offering during the three months ended March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2019, Ladenburg held $1,622 of 7% Senior Notes, which are not included in notes payable.

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 $2,135, including $120 of brokerage commissions earned by employees of Ladenburg, which served as one of the five underwriters in the offering.

Promissory Note - KFG

On August 31, 2018, as part of the consideration paid for the acquisition of Kestler Financial Group ("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.

Promissory Note - FSFG

In November 2018, as part of the consideration paid for the acquisition of Four Seasons Financial Group ("FSFG"), Highland issued two promissory notes (the "FSFG Notes") to the former shareholders of FSFG in the aggregate principal amount of $372, one bearing interest at 3.99% per annum and payable in equal monthly installments beginning on November 1, 2018, with the final installment being due and payable on or before October 1, 2021 and the other bearing interest at 4.75% per annum and payable in equal monthly installments beginning on November 15, 2018, with the final installment being due and payable on or before January 15, 2024. The FSFG Notes may be prepaid in full or in part at any time without premium or penalty. The FSFG Notes 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 FSFG Notes.

Promissory Notes - December 2018 Notes

On December 24, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with its former principal shareholder, Phillip Frost, M.D., and an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost, Frost Nevada Investments Trust (together with Dr. Frost, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to repurchase 50,900,000 shares of its common stock directly from the Sellers (the “Share Repurchase”) in a private transaction at a price of $2.50 per share. The Company funded the Share Repurchase with $50,900 in cash on hand and by issuing $76,350 in aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “December 2018 Notes”) to the Sellers. Also, under the Repurchase Agreement, options to purchase 3,610,000 shares of the Common Stock held by Dr. Frost were cancelled in exchange for $3,000 in cash.

The December 2018 Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The December 2018 Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of the Company’s subsidiaries. The December 2018 Notes bear interest from December 24, 2018 at the rate of 7.25% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on March 31, 2019, and at maturity. The December 2018 Notes mature on September 30, 2028.

The Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, on or after September 30, 2021, redeem the December 2018 Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the redeemed December 2018 Notes.


Bank Loan - Securities America

On February 6, 2019, Securities America Financial Corporation entered into an amendment to its loan agreement with a third-party financial institution to provide for a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $7,000, with interest accruing at the rate of 5.52%. Securities America began monthly payments of principal and interest under the term loan in the amount of $212 on March 6, 2019. The term loan matures on February 6, 2022. The loan is collateralized by Securities America's assets. The loan agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants regarding Securities America's client asset levels and number of financial advisors.Total interest expense related to the term loan was $35 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. At March 31, 2019, $6,823 was outstanding under the term loan.