XML 46 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.2
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
U.S. GAAP guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 measurements—Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2 measurements—Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 measurements—Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
As required by U.S. GAAP guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under U.S. GAAP guidance (in thousands):
 As of September 30, 2020
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:    
Marketable securities$121,759 $— $— $121,759 
Nasdaq Forwards— $— $18,959 $18,959 
Loans held for sale, at fair value— 1,537,734 — 1,537,734 
Rate lock commitments— — 45,561 45,561 
Forward sale contracts— — 9,625 9,625 
Total $121,759 $1,537,734 $74,145 $1,733,638 
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration$— $— $31,575 $31,575 
Rate lock commitments— — 1,133 1,133 
Forward sale contracts— — 41,730 41,730 
Total $— $— $74,438 $74,438 
 As of December 31, 2019
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:    
Marketable securities$36,795 $— $— $36,795 
Nasdaq Forwards— — 26,502 26,502 
Loans held for sale, at fair value— 215,290 — 215,290 
Rate lock commitments— — 32,035 32,035 
Forward sale contracts— — 14,389 14,389 
Total $36,795 $215,290 $72,926 $325,011 
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration
$— $— $45,172 $45,172 
Rate lock commitments— — 12,124 12,124 
Forwards sale contracts— — 13,537 13,537 
Total $— $— $70,833 $70,833 
 
There were no transfers among Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
Level 3 Financial Assets and Liabilities: Changes in Level 3 Nasdaq Forwards, rate lock commitments, forward sale contracts and contingent consideration measured at fair value on recurring basis were as follows (in thousands):
 As of September 30, 2020
 Opening
Balance
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
Net income (loss)
IssuancesSettlementsClosing
Balance
Unrealized
gains (losses)
outstanding
as of
September 30,
2020
Assets:      
Rate lock commitments$32,035 $45,561 $— $(32,035)$45,561 $45,561 
Forward sale contracts14,389 9,625 — (14,389)9,625 9,625 
Nasdaq Forwards26,502 (7,543)— — 18,959 18,959 
Total $72,926 $47,643 $— $(46,424)$74,145 $74,145 
 Opening
Balance
Total realized
and unrealized
(gains) losses
included in
Net income (loss)
IssuancesSettlementsClosing
Balance
Unrealized
(gains) losses
outstanding
as of
September 30,
2020
Liabilities:      
Contingent consideration
$45,172 $(12,034)$2,221 $(3,784)$31,575 $145 
Rate lock commitments12,124 1,133 — (12,124)1,133 1,133 
Forward sale contracts13,537 41,730 — (13,537)41,730 41,730 
Total $70,833 $30,829 $2,221 $(29,445)$74,438 $43,008 
 
 As of December 31, 2019
 Opening
Balance
Total realized
and unrealized
gains (losses)
included in
Net income (loss)
IssuancesSettlementsClosing
Balance
Unrealized
gains (losses)
outstanding
as of
December 31,
2019
Assets:      
Rate lock commitments$6,732 $32,035 $— $(6,732)$32,035 $32,035 
Forward sale contracts8,177 14,389 — (8,177)14,389 14,389 
Nasdaq Forwards77,619 (51,117)— — 26,502 26,502 
Total $92,528 $(4,693)$— $(14,909)$72,926 $72,926 
 Opening
Balance
Total realized
and unrealized
(gains) losses
included in
Net income (loss)
IssuancesSettlementsClosing
Balance
Unrealized
(gains) losses
outstanding
as of
December 31,
2019
Liabilities:      
Contingent consideration
$32,551 $2,287 $14,957 $(4,623)$45,172 $2,287 
Rate lock commitments7,470 12,124 — (7,470)12,124 12,124 
Forward sale contracts9,208 13,537 — (9,208)13,537 13,537 
Total $49,229 $27,948 $14,957 $(21,301)$70,833 $27,948 
 
Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by Newmark in the fair value measurement of Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
September 30, 2020
Level 3 assets and liabilitiesAssetsLiabilitiesSignificant Unobservable
Inputs
RangeWeighted
Average
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities:
     
Contingent consideration$— $31,575 Discount rate
0.3% - 10.4%
(1)
7.3%
 Probability of meeting earnout and contingencies
0% - 100%
(1)
98.5%
 Financial forecast information
Derivative assets and liabilities:
Nasdaq Forwards$18,959 $— Implied volatility
37.9% - 42.2%
(2)
41.9%
Forward sale contracts$9,625 $41,730 Counterparty credit riskN/AN/A
Rate lock commitments$45,561 $1,133 Counterparty credit riskN/AN/A
December 31, 2019
Level 3 assets and liabilitiesAssetsLiabilitiesSignificant Unobservable
Inputs
RangeWeighted
Average
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities:
     
Contingent consideration$— $45,172 Discount rate
0.3% - 10.4%
8.6%
 Probability of meeting earnout and contingencies
90% - 100%
(1)
98.1%
 Financial forecast information
Derivative assets and liabilities:
Nasdaq Forwards$26,502 $— Implied volatility
25.7% - 34.8%
(2)
32.2%
Forward sale contracts$14,389 $13,537 Counterparty credit riskN/AN/A
Rate lock commitments$32,035 $12,124 Counterparty credit riskN/AN/A
(1)Newmark’s estimate of contingent consideration as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was based on the acquired business’ projected future financial performance, including revenues.
(2)The volatility of Newmark’s Nasdaq Forwards is primarily based on the volatility of the underlying Nasdaq stock price.

Valuation Processes - Level 3 Measurements
Both the rate lock commitments to borrowers and the forward sale contracts to investors are derivatives and, accordingly, are marked to fair value on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of Newmark’s rate lock commitments to borrowers and loans held for sale and the related input levels includes, as applicable:
The assumed gain loss of the expected loan sale to the investor, net of employee benefits;
The expected net future cash flows associated with servicing the loan;
The effects of interest rate movements between the date of the rate lock and the balance sheet date; and
The nonperformance risk of both the counterparty and Newmark.
The fair value of Newmark’s forward sales contracts to investors considers effects of interest rate movements between the trade date and the balance sheet date. The market price changes are multiplied by the notional amount of the forward sales contracts to measure the fair value.

The fair value of Newmark’s rate lock commitments and forward sale contracts is adjusted to reflect the risk that the agreement will not be fulfilled. Newmark’s exposure to nonperformance in rate lock and forward sale contracts is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Given the credit quality of Newmark’s counterparties, the short duration of rate lock commitments and forward sales contracts, and Newmark’s historical experience with the agreements, management does not believe the risk of nonperformance by Newmark’s counterparties to be significant.
The Nasdaq Forwards are derivatives and, accordingly, are marked to fair value on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the Nasdaq Forwards are determined utilizing the following inputs, as applicable:
The underlying number of shares and the related strike price;
The maturity date; and
The implied volatility of Nasdaq’s stock price.
The fair value of Newmark’s Nasdaq Forwards considers the effects of Nasdaq’s stock price volatility between the balance sheet date and the maturity date. The fair value is determined by the use of a Black-Scholes put option valuation model.

Information About Uncertainty of Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value of Newmark’s contingent consideration are the discount rate and forecasted financial information. Significant increases (decreases) in the discount rate would have resulted in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant increases (decreases) in the forecasted financial information would have resulted in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the present value of expected payments related to Newmark’s contingent consideration was $31.6 million and $45.2 million, respectively (see Note 31 — “Commitments and Contingencies”). As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the undiscounted value of the payments, assuming that all contingencies are met, would be $60.6 million and $66.4 million, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements on a Non-Recurring Basis
Equity investments carried under the measurement alternative are remeasured at fair value on a non-recurring basis to reflect observable transactions which occurred during the period. Newmark applied the measurement alternative to equity securities with the fair value of $67.3 million and $94.1 million, which were included in “Other assets” on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. These investments are classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, because their estimated fair value is based on valuation methods using the observable transaction price at the transaction date.