Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Company’s significant accounting policies, which have been consistently applied, are summarized in its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). This standard updates reportable segment disclosure requirements, clarifies circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss and provides new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, with the amendments to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this standard and, at this time, does not anticipate it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740). This standard updates income tax disclosure requirements by requiring disaggregated information about a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this standard and, at this time, does not anticipate it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-01, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards. This standard provides clarity regarding whether profits interest and similar awards are within the scope of Topic 718 of the Accounting Standards Codification. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting this standard and, at this time, does not anticipate it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company's revenues are recognized when a performance obligation is satisfied, which occurs when control of the services is transferred to clients. Investment management fees, distribution and service fees, and administration and shareholder service fees are generally calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the investment portfolios managed. The net asset values from which these fees are calculated are variable in nature and subject to factors outside of the Company's control, such as additional investments, withdrawals and market performance. Because of this, these fees are considered constrained until the end of the contractual measurement period (monthly or quarterly), which is when asset values are generally determinable.

Fair Value Measurements

The following is a discussion of the valuation methodologies used for the Company’s assets measured at fair value:

Cash equivalents represent investments in money market funds. Cash investments in money market funds are valued using published net asset values and are classified as Level 1.

Sponsored funds represent investments in open-end funds and closed-end funds for which the Company acts as the investment manager. The fair values of U.S. retail funds and global funds are determined based on their published net asset values and are categorized as Level 1. The fair value of closed-end funds and ETFs is determined based on the official closing price on the exchange on which they are traded and are categorized as Level 1.

Equity securities represent securities traded on active markets, are valued at the official closing price (typically the last sale or bid) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded and are categorized as Level 1.

Debt securities represent investments in corporate and government bonds and the note securities of collateralized loan obligations. The fair values of corporate and government bonds traded on active markets are valued at the official closing price on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded and are categorized as Level 1. Debt securities for which closing prices are not readily available or are deemed to not reflect readily available market prices, and are valued using an independent pricing service, are categorized as Level 2. The fair values of note securities of collateralized loan obligations ("CLO") are based on valuations received from an independent valuation firm and are categorized as Level 3.

The following table presents a reconciliation of beginning and ending balances of the Company's Level 3 debt securities:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2024		2023		2024		2023
Debt securities, beginning of period	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Purchases (sales), net	24,443		24,339		24,443		24,339
Debt securities, end of period	$	24,443	$	24,339	$	24,443	$	24,339

Nonqualified retirement plan assets represent mutual funds within the Company's nonqualified retirement plan whose fair value is determined based on their published net asset value and are categorized as Level 1.

Contingent consideration represents liabilities associated with contingent payment arrangements made in connection with the Company’s business combinations. In these contingent payment arrangements, the Company agrees to pay additional transaction consideration to the seller based on future performance. Contingent consideration is remeasured at fair value each reporting date using a simulation model with the assistance of an independent valuation firm and approved by management and are categorized as Level 3.

The following is a discussion of the valuation methodologies used for the assets and liabilities of the Company’s CIP measured at fair value:

Level 1 assets represent cash investments in money market funds and debt and equity investments that are valued using published net asset values or the official closing price on the exchange on which the securities are traded.

Level 2 assets represent most debt securities (including bank loans) and certain equity securities (including non-U.S. securities), for which closing prices are not readily available or are deemed to not reflect readily available market prices, and are valued using an independent pricing service. Debt investments, other than bank loans, are valued based on quotations received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. Bank loan investments, which are included as debt investments, are generally priced at the average mid-point of bid and ask quotations obtained from a third-party pricing service. Fair value may also be based upon valuations obtained from independent third-party brokers or dealers utilizing matrix pricing models that consider information regarding securities with similar characteristics.

Level 3 assets include debt and equity securities that are not widely traded, are illiquid or are priced by dealers based on pricing models used by market makers in the security. These securities are valued using unadjusted prices from an independent pricing service.

Level 1 liabilities consist of short sales transactions in which a security is sold that is not owned or is owned but there is no intention to deliver, in anticipation that the price of the security will decline. Short sales are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets within other liabilities of CIP and are classified as Level 1 based on the underlying equity security.

Level 2 liabilities consist of notes payable issued by CLOs and are measured using the measurement alternative in ASU 2014-13. Accordingly, the fair value of CLO liabilities was measured as the fair value of CLO assets less the sum of (i) the fair value of the beneficial interests held by the Company, and (ii) the carrying value of any beneficial interests that represent compensation for services. The fair value of the beneficial interests held by the Company is based on third-party pricing information without adjustment.

Noncontrolling Interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interests represent third-party investments in the Company's CIP and minority interests held in a consolidated affiliate. Minority interests held in the affiliate are subject to holder put rights and Company call rights at pre-established multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and, as such, are considered redeemable at other than fair value. The rights are exercisable at pre-established intervals or upon certain conditions, such as retirement. The put and call rights are not legally detachable or separately exercisable and are deemed to be embedded in the related noncontrolling interests. The Company, in purchasing affiliate equity, has the option to settle in cash or shares of the Company's common stock and is entitled to the cash flow associated with any purchased equity. These minority interests in the affiliate are recorded at estimated redemption value within redeemable noncontrolling interests on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and any changes in the estimated redemption value are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations within noncontrolling interests.

Nonconsolidated VIEs

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The Company serves as the collateral manager for other CLOs that are not consolidated. The assets and liabilities of these CLOs reside in bankruptcy remote, special purpose entities in which the Company has no ownership of, nor holds any notes issued by, the CLOs, and provides neither recourse nor guarantees. The Company has determined that the investment management fees it receives for serving as collateral manager for these CLOs did not represent a variable interest as (i) the fees the Company earns are compensation for services provided and are commensurate with the level of effort required to provide the investment management services, (ii) the Company does not hold other interests in the CLOs that individually, or in the aggregate, would absorb more than an insignificant amount of the CLOs' expected losses or receive more than an insignificant amount of the CLOs' expected residual return, and (iii) the investment management arrangement only includes terms, conditions and amounts that are customarily present in arrangements for similar services negotiated at arm's length.

The Company has interests in certain other VIEs that the Company does not consolidate as it is not the primary beneficiary since its interest in these entities does not provide the Company with the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance.