For the year ended December 31, 2020, we earned $10.6 million in net income, compared to $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of 40.7% that was driven primarily by increased professional fee expenses and equity-based compensation incurred in connection with the IPO.
The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA with net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
We operate primarily in the property & casualty insurance, health insurance and life insurance verticals and generate revenue through the purchase and sale of Consumer Referrals.
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of an allocation of personnel expenses for executive, finance, legal, human resources, and business analytics employees, and includes salaries, wages and benefits, including non-cash equity-based compensation. General and administrative expenses also include professional services and an allocated portion of rent and facilities expenses and depreciation expense.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, sales and marketing expenses increased by $6.7 million, or 48.2%, from $13.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in sales and marketing expense was primarily due to the increase in equity-based compensation expense of $5.2 million, and an increase in personnel-related costs of $2.0 million driven by increased headcount to support current and future business growth, and one-time bonuses paid in connection with the IPO. These costs were partially offset by a decrease in amortization expense of $0.2 million, as certain intangible assets were fully amortized.
We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Regulation S-K.
We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit having a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized.
Additionally, we estimate the amount of TRA Payments expected to be paid within the next 12 months and classify this amount as current on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. This determination is based on our estimate of taxable income for the next fiscal year. To the extent our estimate differs from actual results, we may be required to reclassify portions of our liabilities under the TRA between current and non-current. If all of the remaining Class B-1 unitholders were to exchange all of their LLC Units, the Company would recognize a deferred tax asset of approximately $275 million and a TRA liability of approximately $293 million, assuming (i) that the Class B-1 unitholders redeemed or exchanged all of their Class B-1 Units immediately as of December 31, 2020 at a price of $39.07 per share of its Class A common stock, (ii) no material changes in relevant tax law, (iii) a constant corporate tax rate of 23.7%, (iv) that the Company earns sufficient taxable income in each year to realize on a current basis all tax benefits that are subject to the TRA, and (v) that the attributes from Intermediate Holdco are not limited pursuant to section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The actual amount of deferred tax assets and related liabilities are impacted by the timing of the exchanges, the valuation of Corporation, the price of the Company’s shares of Class A common stock at the time of the exchange, and the tax rates then in effect. The Company may elect to completely terminate the TRA early only with the written approval of each of a majority of its independent directors, although it has no plans to do so at this time. As a result, the Company would be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the TRA.
the amendment and restatement of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Parent Company (the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws) pursuant to which we amended and restated our certificate of incorporation to authorize two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock;
We are monitoring the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial condition. To date, we have not experienced material business disruptions or incurred impairment losses in the carrying values of our assets as result of the pandemic and are not aware of any specific related event or circumstance that would require us to revise the estimates reflected in these consolidated financial statements. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19, the actions taken to contain or treat it, and the duration and intensity of the related effects.
Betterments, renewals, and extraordinary repairs that materially extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized; other repairs and maintenance charges are expensed as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization applicable to assets retired are removed from the accounts, and the gain or loss on disposition is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations for the period.
Holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to receive dividends and will not be entitled to receive any distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Shares of our Class B common stock are issuable only in connection with the corresponding issuance of an equal number of Class B-1 units. Shares of Class B common stock may only be issued to the extent necessary to maintain the one-to-one ratio between the Class B-1 unit held by the non-controlling interest holders and the number of shares of Class B common stock held by the noncontrolling interest holders. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. Each share of our Class B common stock will be redeemed and cancelled by us if the holder exchanges one Class B-1 unit, together with the corresponding share of Class B common stock, for one share of Class A common stock (or, at our election, cash of an equivalent value).
The Company considered these Class A units, subject to possible redemption, in accordance with the guidance in FASB ASC 480. Conditionally redeemable Class A units (including Class A units that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within QLH’s control) are classified as temporary equity. As of December 31, 2019, 284,211 units of the 1,136,842 outstanding Class A units were classified outside of permanent equity.
Upon completion of the September 23, 2020 recapitalization event, QuoteLab, LLC executed a leveraged distribution, borrowing approximately $210 million from its lender and, after satisfying existing indebtedness and transaction related expenses, issued net proceeds to QLH as a dividend. A portion of these debt proceeds were distributed to Senior Executives, certain Legacy Profit Interest Holders, White Mountains, and Insignia as a dividend. The leveraged distribution was distributed to all Legacy Profits Interests Holders, whether vested or unvested, as long as the Participation Threshold was met.
Grantees have made 83(b) election under the Internal Revenue Code; therefore, the QLH Class B-1 Units are subject to gross share settlement.
The Company restricted Class A shares granted to employees are generally subject to a four-year vesting period, whereby the awards become 25% vested on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and then vest ratably on a monthly basis thereafter through the end of the vesting period. The Company restricted Class A shares are equity-classified share-based payments, and the remaining unrecognized cost, which is based on the original grant-date fair value of the QLH Class B profits interests, is recognized utilizing the straight-line method. Grantees have made 83(b) election under the Internal Revenue Code; therefore, the Company Restricted Class A shares are subject to gross share settlement.
In connection with the Reorganization Transactions and the IPO, the Company entered into the TRA, with Insignia, Senior Executives, and White Mountain. The Company expects to obtain an increase in its share of the tax basis in the net assets of QLH as Class B-1 units are redeemed from or exchanged (or, at our election, cash of an equivalent value). The Company intends to treat any redemptions and exchanges of Class B-1 units as direct purchases Class B-1 units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These increases in tax basis may reduce the amounts that it would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities.