● risks relating to the validity and enforceability of the life insurance policies we purchase;
● in accordance with the Master Exchange Agreement, and based on the net asset value of alternative asset financings as of the Final Closing Date, effective as of the Initial Transfer Date, (i) the principal amount of the Commercial Loan was reduced to $182.0 million, (ii) the principal amount of the Exchangeable Note was reduced to $148.2 million, and (iii) the principal amount of the Seller Trust L Bonds was reduced to $366,.9 million;
In adopting the Longest Life Expectancy methodology as described above, we preserved the general methodology historically used to calculate the fair value discount rate and have made important enhancements. We also improved the reliability and relevancy of the competitive sales estimates we use to measure the discount rates (on a Longest Life Expectancy basis) observed in the life insurance secondary market. We continue to use fixed income market interest rates, credit exposure to the issuing insurance companies, and our estimate of the operational risk yield premium a purchaser would apply to the future cash flows derived from our portfolio of life insurance policies in our methodology. To the extent we limit or cease acquiring insurance policies, we may not have reliable access to the market-based factors described above and will be required to find suitable alternative proxies.
The increase in legal and professional fees in 2019 compared to 2018 is the result of higher non-capitalizable professional service fees, primarily legal and consulting fees, associated with the Investment and Exchange Agreements and the investment in InsurTech Holdings, in addition to legal, consulting and fees related to our move from Minneapolis to Dallas in 2019.
Effective November 1, 2019, DLP IV entered into a second amended and restated senior credit facility with LNV Corporation. The second amended and restated senior credit facility makes available a total of up to $300.0 million in credit to DLP IV with a maturity date of September 27, 2029. Subject to available borrowing base capacity, additional advances are available under the second amended and restated senior credit facility at the LIBOR rate described below. Such advances are available to pay premiums and servicing costs of pledged life insurance policies as such amounts become due. Interest will accrue on amounts borrowed under the second amended and restated senior credit facility at an annual interest rate, determined as of each date of borrowing or quarterly if there is no borrowing, equal to (a) 12-month LIBOR, plus (b) 7.50% per annum. The effective rate at December 31, 2019 was 9.54%. Interest payments are made on a quarterly basis.
● in accordance with the Master Exchange Agreement, and based on the net asset value of alternative asset financings as of the Final Closing Date, effective as of the Initial Transfer Date, (i) the principal amount of the Commercial Loan was reduced to $182.0 million, (ii) the principal amount of the Exchangeable Note was reduced to $148.2 million, and (iii) the principal amount of the Seller Trust L Bonds was reduced to $366.9 million;
After the second anniversary of the Final Closing Date, the holders of the Seller Trust L Bonds will have the right to cause GWG to repurchase, in whole but not in part, the Seller Trust L Bonds held by such holder. The repurchase may be paid, at GWG’s option, in the form of cash, a pro rata portion of (i) the outstanding principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest under the Commercial Loan, and (ii) Ben LP common units, or a combination of cash and such property.
The Exchangeable Note accrued interest at a rate of 12.4% per year, compounded annually. Interest was payable in cash on the earlier to occur of the maturity date or the Final Closing Date; provided that Beneficient had the option to add to the outstanding principal balance under the Commercial Loan the accrued interest in lieu of payment in cash of such accrued interest thereon at the Final Closing Date. At the Final Closing date, the principal amount of the Exchangeable Note was exchanged for 14,822,843 common units of Ben LP, and the accrued interest on the Exchangeable Note was added to the principal balance of the Commercial Loan.
Other Assets - Other assets consist of fixed assets, intangible assets, prepaid expenses, operating lease right-of-use assets, and other receivables. At December 31, 2019, other assets also includes the fair values of Beneficient’s other assets, net of intercompany eliminations.
(2) Calculated as 41,505,279 Common Units owned by GWG Holdings prior to the change in control multiplied by the $15.00 per unit derived from the enterprise valuation of Beneficient, with a nominal rounding adjustment.
The carrying value of the second amended and restated senior credit facility with LNV Corporation reflects interest charged at 12-month LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The margin represents our credit risk, and the strength of the portfolio of life insurance policies collateralizing the debt. The overall rate reflects the current interest rate market, and the carrying value of the facility approximates fair value.
On August 10, 2018, in connection with the Initial Transfer of the Exchange Transaction, GWG Life, as lender, and Ben LP, as borrower, entered into the Commercial Loan Agreement. On December 28, 2018, the Final Closing Date of the Exchange Transaction, the agreement was amended to adjust the principal to $192.5 million. The principal amount under the Commercial Loan is due on August 9, 2023, but is extendable for two five-year terms under certain circumstances. Repayment of the Commercial Loan is subordinated in right of payment to other Beneficient obligations. Ben LP’s obligations under the Commercial Loan Agreement are unsecured.
Beneficient has additional borrowings maturing in 2023 and 2024 with an aggregate principal balance outstanding, including accrued interest, of $2.5 million.
The limited partnership agreement of BCH allows it to issue Class S Preferred Units. The Class S Preferred Units are entitled to a quarterly preferred return that is limited by the quarterly preferred return rate cap described above for Preferred Series A Subclass 1 except for when annualized revenues exceed $140 million, the Class S Preferred return is based on a fraction (i) the numerator of which is (A) the positive percentage rate change, if any, to the seasonally adjusted CPI-U covering the period from the date of the last allocation of profits to such holders, plus (B) 0.75 percent, and (ii) the denominator of which is one minus the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate in effect as of the beginning of the fiscal quarter for which such determination is being made for an individual resident in New York City, New York, assuming (1) that the aggregate gross income allocable with respect to the quarterly preferred return for such fiscal year will consist of the same relative proportion of each type or character (e.g., long term or short term capital gain or ordinary or exempt income) of gross income item included in the aggregate gross income actually allocated in respect of the quarterly preferred return for the fiscal year reflected in the Ben Group Partnership’s most recently filed IRS Form 1065 and (2) any state and local income taxes are not deductible against U.S. federal income tax. The Class S Preferred Units also participate on an as-converted basis pro-rata in the share of the profits or losses of BCH and subsidiaries following all other allocations made by BCH and its subsidiaries. As limited partner interests, these units are generally non-voting and do not entitle participation in the management of the Company’s business and affairs. Generally, the Class S Preferred Units are exchangeable for Common Units in Ben LP on a 1.2-for-1 basis, subject to customary conversion rate adjustments for splits, distributions and reclassifications, as well as compliance with any applicable vesting and transfer restrictions. Each conversion also results in the issuance to Ben LP of a Class A Unit for each Common Unit issued. Holders of Class S Preferred Units may elect to convert into Class S Ordinary Units in connection with a sale or dissolution of BCH.
The computations of basic and diluted income (loss) attributable to common shareholders per share for 2019 and 2018 are as follows (in thousands, except share data and per share data):
RPS and RPS 2 (as described in Note 15) and restricted stock units and stock options (as described in Note 16) were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2019. Options to purchase 437,266 shares of common stock were outstanding during 2019 but were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their effects were anti-dilutive. RPS, RPS 2, restricted stock units and stock options were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2018 because we recorded a net loss during that period and the effects were anti-dilutive.