We caution you that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements are only estimates and predictions, or statements of current intent. Actual results, outcomes or actions that we ultimately undertake, could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties or actual events differing from the assumptions underlying these statements.
We are a financial services company committed to finding new ways of disrupting and transforming the life insurance and related industries through innovative products and services, business processes, financing strategies, and advanced genomic technology. Historically, we have focused on creating opportunities for consumers to obtain significantly more value for their life insurance policies as compared to the traditional options offered by the insurance industry. As part of our business, we create opportunities for investors to receive income and capital appreciation from our various activities in the life insurance and related industries.
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) requires us to make judgments, estimates, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our judgments, estimates, and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. We evaluate our judgments, estimates, and assumptions on a regular basis and make changes accordingly. We believe that the judgments, estimates, and assumptions involved in valuing our investments in life insurance policies have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements and accordingly believe these to be our critical accounting estimates. Below we discuss the critical accounting policies associated with these estimates as well as certain other critical accounting policies.
The fair value of our life insurance policies is determined as the net present value of the life insurance portfolio’s future expected cash flows (policy benefits received and required premium payments) that incorporates current life expectancy estimates and discount rate assumptions.
Unobservable inputs, as discussed below, are a critical component of our estimate for the fair value of our investments in life insurance policies. We currently use a probabilistic method of estimating and valuing the projected cash flows of our portfolio, which we believe to be the preferred and most prevalent valuation method in the industry. In this regard, the most significant assumptions we make are the life expectancy estimates of the insureds and the discount rate applied to the expected future cash flows to be derived from our portfolio.
The Society of Actuaries recently finalized the 2015 Valuation Basic Table (“2015 VBT”). The 2015 VBT is based on a much larger dataset of insured lives, face amount of policies and more current information compared to the dataset underlying the 2008 Valuation Basic Table. The new 2015 VBT dataset includes 266 million policies compared to the 2008 VBT dataset of 75 million. The experience data in the 2015 VBT dataset includes 2.55 million claims on policies from 51 insurance carriers. Life expectancies implied by the 2015 VBT are generally longer for male and female nonsmokers between the ages of 65 and 80, while smokers and insureds of both genders over the age of 85 have significantly lower life expectancies. We adopted the 2015 VBT in our valuation process in June 2016.
During 2016 we identified 46 policies with combined face value of $109.9 million in our portfolio that were subject to COI rate changes. These increased charges resulted in a $6.5 million reduction in the fair value of our portfolio.
We are aware of one additional pending COI increase affecting our portfolio.
The table below provides the discount rate used to estimate the fair value of our portfolio of life insurance policies for the period ending:
The change in the discount rate incorporates current information about discount rates applied by other reporting companies owning portfolios of life insurance policies, discount rates observed by us in the life insurance secondary market, market interest rates, credit exposure to the issuing insurance companies, and our estimate of the risk premium a purchaser would require to receive the future cash flows derived from our portfolio of life insurance policies. The discount rate we choose assumes an orderly and arms-length transaction (i.e., a non-distressed transaction in which neither seller nor buyer is compelled to engage in the transaction), which is consistent with related GAAP guidance. The carrying value of policies acquired during each quarterly reporting period are adjusted to their current fair value using the fair value discount rate applied to the entire portfolio as of that reporting date.
We engaged MAPS to prepare a calculation of our life insurance portfolio. MAPS owns and maintains the portfolio pricing software we use. MAPS processed policy data, future premium data, life expectancy estimate data, and other actuarial information to calculate a net present value for our portfolio using the specified discount rate of 10.96%. MAPS independently calculated the net present value of our portfolio of 690 policies to be $511.2 million and furnished us with a letter documenting its calculation. A copy of such letter is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
Under ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets that are not considered “more likely than not” to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets depends upon having sufficient past or future taxable income in periods to which the deductible temporary differences are expected to be recovered or within any applicable carryback or carryforward periods. After assessing the realization of the net deferred tax assets, we believe that it is “more likely than not” that we will be able to realize all of our deferred tax assets other than those which are expected to result in a capital loss.
● Life Insurance Policy Benefits Realized. We recognize the difference between the face value of the policy benefits and carrying value when an insured event has occurred and determine that settlement and collection of the policy benefits is realizable and reasonably assured. Revenue from a transaction must meet both criteria in order to be recognized. We generally collect the face value of the life insurance policy from the insurance company within 45 days of the insured’s mortality.
● Change in Fair Value of Life Insurance Policies. We value our portfolio investments for each reporting period in accordance with the fair value principles discussed herein, which reflects the expected payment of premiums for future periods as shown in our consolidated financial statements net premium costs.
● Interest and Dividends. We recognize and record interest expenses associated with the costs of financing our life insurance portfolio for the current period. These expenses include interest paid to our senior lender under our senior credit facilities, interest paid on our L Bonds and other outstanding indebtedness such as our Series I Secured Notes. When we issue debt, we amortize the financing costs associated with such indebtedness over the outstanding term of the financing, and classify it as interest expense.
(2) The increase was due to the increase in the average debt and preferred stock outstanding from approximately $332.8 million in 2015 to approximately $471.4 million in 2016.
Deferred Income Taxes. Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance may be established for any portion of deferred tax assets that is not considered “more likely than not” to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets depends upon having sufficient past or future taxable income in periods to which the deductible temporary differences are expected to be recovered or within any applicable carryback or carryforward periods. After assessing the realization of net deferred tax assets, we believe that it is “more likely than not” that we will be able to realize all of our deferred tax assets other than those which are expected to result in a capital loss.
Income Tax Expense. We incurred income tax expense of $0.3 million in 2016 and realized income tax benefits of $3.5 million in 2015. The effective tax rate for the 12 months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, was 46% and 39.7%, respectively, compared to a statutory rate of 34%.
We finance our business through a combination of life insurance policy benefit receipts, origination fees, equity offerings, debt offerings, and our senior credit facilities. We have used our debt offerings and our senior credit facilities primarily for policy acquisition, policy servicing, and portfolio-related financing expenditures including paying principal and interest.
In September 2011, we concluded a private placement offering of Series A, having received an aggregate $24.6 million in subscriptions for our Series A. These subscriptions consisted of $14.0 million in conversions of outstanding Series I Secured Notes and $10.6 million of new investments. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had approximately $19.7 million and $20.8 million of Series A outstanding.
In January 2015, we began publicly offering up to $1.0 billion of L Bonds as a follow-on to our earlier $250.0 million public debt offering. Through December 31, 2016, the total amount of these L Bonds sold, including renewals, was $669.2 million. As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, we had approximately $387.1 million and $282.2 million in principal amount of L Bonds outstanding.
Future contractual maturities of Series I Secured Notes and L Bonds at December 31, 2016 are:
We maintain a $105 million senior credit facility with Autobahn/DZ Bank through DLP III. The senior credit facility is used to pay the premium expenses related to our portfolio of life insurance policies. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had approximately $0 million and $65.0 million, respectively, outstanding under the senior credit facility, and maintained an available borrowing base surplus of $0 million and $40 million, respectively. On September 14, 2016, we paid off the senior credit facility in full with funds received from a new senior credit facility with LNV Corporation as described in Note 6.
On September 14, 2016, we entered into a $172 million senior credit facility with LNV Corporation through DLP IV. We intend to use the proceeds from this facility to grow and maintain our portfolio of life insurance policies, for liquidity and for general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2016 we had approximately $162.7 million outstanding under the senior credit facility.
The table below reconciles the face amount of our outstanding debt to the carrying value shown on our balance sheet:
At December 31, 2016, the fair value of our investments in life insurance policies of $511.2 million plus our cash balance of $78.5 million and our restricted cash balance of $37.8 million, plus matured policy benefits receivable of $5.3 million, totaled $632.9 million representing an excess of portfolio assets over secured indebtedness of $66.4 million. At December 31, 2015, the fair value of our investments in life insurance policies of $356.6 million plus our cash balance of $34.4 million and our restricted cash balance of $2.3 million, totaled $393.3 million, representing an excess of portfolio assets over secured indebtedness of $22.5 million.
Effective September 14, 2016, DLP IV entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with LNV Corporation, as lender, and CLMG Corp., as the administrative agent on behalf of the lenders under the agreement. The Loan and Security Agreement makes available a total of up to $172,300,000 in credit to DLP IV with a maturity date of September 14, 2026. Interest will accrue on amounts borrowed under the agreement at an annual interest rate, determined as of each date of borrowing or quarterly if there is no borrowing, equal to (A) the greater of LIBOR or the federal funds rate (as defined in the agreement) plus one-half of one percent per annum, plus (B) 5.75% per annum.
Under the Loan and Security Agreement, DLP IV has granted the administrative agent, for the benefit of the lenders under the agreement, a security interest in all of DLP IV’s assets. As with prior collateral arrangements relating to the senior secured debt of GWG Holdings and its subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), GWG Holdings’ equity ownership in DLP IV continues to serve as collateral for the obligations of GWG Holdings under the L Bonds (although the life insurance assets owned by DLP IV will not themselves serve directly as collateral for those obligations).
The Loan and Security Agreement, among other things, requires the borrower to maintain a reserve account to pay anticipated servicing fees for maintaining the borrower’s pledged policies, debt service and reasonable administrative and third-party expenses identified under the agreement for 12 months. The approximate amount set aside in the reserve account as of December 31, 2016 is $27 million.
The payment of premiums and servicing costs to maintain life insurance policies represents our most significant requirement for cash disbursement. When a policy is purchased, we are able to calculate the minimum premium payments required to maintain the policy in-force. Over time as the insured ages, premium payments will increase. Nevertheless, the probability of actually needing to pay the premiums decreases since mortality becomes more likely. These scheduled premiums and associated probabilities are factored into our expected internal rate of return and cash-flow modeling. Beyond premiums, we incur policy servicing costs, including annual trustee, tracking costs, and debt servicing costs, including principal and interest payments all of which are excluded from our internal rate of return calculations. Until we receive a sufficient amount of proceeds from the policy benefits, we intend to pay these costs from our senior credit facilities, when permitted, and through the issuance of debt securities, including the L Bonds, and equity securities including our preferred stock.
Our anticipated premium expenses are subject to the risk of increased COI charges (i.e., premium charges) for the universal life insurance policies we own. In this regard, we are aware of one insurer that has notified us of its intent to increase COI charges on certain life insurance policies. As a result, we expect that our premium expense will increase and the fair value of our portfolio will be negatively impacted once the insurer has specified and implemented the proposed increases. Except as noted above, we are not aware of COI increases by other insurers, but we are aware that COI increases have become more prevalent in the industry. Thus, we expect that we may see additional insurers implementing COI increases in the future. See also the Risk Factor section of this report (“Cost-of-insurance (premium) increases could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and our profitability.”).
The life insurance policies owned by DLP III is subject to a collateral arrangement with the agent to the revolving credit lender, as described in Note 5. Under this arrangement, collection and escrow accounts are used to fund purchases and premiums of the insurance policies and to pay interest and other charges under our senior credit facilities. The lender and its agent must authorize all disbursements from these accounts, including any distributions to GWG Life or GWG Holdings. If the facility advance rate exceeds 50%, the distributions are limited to an amount that would result in the borrowers (DLP III, GWG Life, and GWG Holdings) realizing an annualized rate of return on the equity funded amount for such assets of not more than 18%, as determined by the agent. After such amount is reached, the credit agreement requires that excess funds be used to fund repayments or a reserve account in a certain amount before any additional distributions may be made. In the future, these arrangements may restrict the cash flows available for payment of principal and interest on our debt obligations.
Changes in inflation do not necessarily correlate with changes in interest rates. We presently do not foresee any material impact of inflation on our results of operations in the periods presented in our consolidated financial statements.
We are party to an office lease with U.S. Bank National Association as the landlord. On September 1, 2015, we entered into an amendment that expanded the leased space to 17,687 square feet and extended the term through August 31, 2025 (see Note 17).
Our senior credit facilities are floating-rate financing. In addition, our ability to offer interest and dividend rates that attract capital (including in our continuous offering of L Bonds, RPS and RPS 2) is generally impacted by prevailing interest rates. Furthermore, while our L Bond, RPS and RPS 2 offerings provide us with fixed-rate debt and equity financing, our debt coverage ratio is calculated in relation to our total cost of debt financing. Therefore, fluctuations in interest rates impact our business by increasing our borrowing costs, and reducing availability under our debt financing arrangements. Furthermore, we calculate our portfolio earnings based upon the spread generated between the return on our life insurance portfolio and the cost of our financing. As a result, increases in interest rates will also reduce the earnings we expect to achieve from our investments in life insurance policies.
We use non-GAAP financial measures for maintaining compliance with covenants contained in our borrowing agreement with Autobahn/DZ Bank and for planning and forecasting purposes. The application of current GAAP standards during a period of significant growth in our business, in which period we are building a large and actuarially diverse portfolio of life insurance, results in current period operating performance that may not be reflective of our long-term earnings potential. Management believes that our non-GAAP financial measures permit investors to better focus on this long-term earnings performance without regard to the volatility in GAAP financial results that can and has occurred during this phase of growth.
In addition, the Indenture governing our L Bonds and the note issuance and security agreement governing our Series I Secured Notes require us to maintain a “debt coverage ratio” designed to ensure that the expected cash flows from our portfolio of life insurance policies is able to adequately service our total outstanding indebtedness. This ratio is calculated using non-GAAP measures in the method described below, again without regard to GAAP-based fair value measures.
Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income. We calculate the adjusted net income by recognizing the actuarial gain accruing within our life insurance policies at the expected internal rate of return of the policies we own without regard to fair value. We net this actuarial gain against our costs during the same period to calculate our net income on a non-GAAP basis. Our senior credit facility with Autobahn/DZ Bank requires us to maintain a positive net income calculated on an adjusted non-GAAP basis.
(2) Adjusted cost basis is increased to include interest, premiums and servicing fees which are not capitalized under GAAP (non-GAAP investment cost basis).
Adjusted Non-GAAP Tangible Net Worth. We calculate the adjusted tangible net worth by recognizing the actuarial gain accruing within our life insurance policies at the expected internal rate of return of the policies we own without regard to fair value. We net this actuarial gain against our costs during the same period to calculate our tangible net worth on a non-GAAP basis. Our senior credit facility with Autobahn/DZ Bank requires us to maintain a tangible net worth in excess of $45 million calculated on an adjusted non-GAAP basis.
(4) Accrual of cumulative actuarial gain at expected internal rate of return based on the non-GAAP investment cost basis.
(3) Represents the weighted-average interest rate paid on all interest-bearing indebtedness as of the measurement date, determined as follows:
(4) Calculated as the weighted average expected IRR (1) minus the weighted-average interest rate on interest-bearing indebtedness (3).
As of December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with the debt coverage ratio.
We have in the past reported non-GAAP net asset value among our other non-GAAP financial measures. We have determined, however, to cease reporting this measure primarily because we do not believe that it is sufficiently additive to our existing non-GAAP measures in aiding users of our financial statements and disclosures to measure and evaluate our financial condition or operating results. Moreover, we are not aware of other reporting companies in our industry that use this measure to evaluate their financial condition or operating results.
The effects of these corrections on each of the quarters and periods during 2016 as previously reported by us are presented below:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GWG Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. We also have audited GWG Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2013 framework). The company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of GWG Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the results of their operations and cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, GWG Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2013 framework).
Nature of Business - We are a financial services company committed to finding new ways of disrupting and transforming the life insurance and related industries through innovative products and services, business processes, financing strategies, and advanced epigenetic technology. Historically, we have focused on creating opportunities for consumers to obtain significantly more value for their life insurance policies as compared to the traditional options offered by the insurance industry. As part of our business, we create opportunities for investors to receive income and capital appreciation from our various activities in the life insurance and related industries. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, GWG Holdings, Inc. owns a portfolio of life insurance policies. As of the date of this report, our portfolio had an aggregate fair value of $511.2 million. We earn income from changes in the fair value of our portfolio and through the benefits we receive upon the mortality of insureds.
On August 25, 2016, GWG Holdings formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Actüa Life & Annuity Ltd. to engage in various life insurance related businesses and activities.
Use of Estimates - The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue during the reporting period. We regularly evaluate estimates and assumptions, which are based on current facts, historical experience, and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The actual results that we experience may differ materially and adversely from our estimates. The most significant estimates with regard to these consolidated financial statements relate to (1) the determination of the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of our investments in life insurance policies, and (2) the value of our deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Life Insurance Policies - ASC 325-30 permits a reporting entity to account for its investments in life insurance policies using either the investment method or the fair value method. We elected to use the fair value method to account for our life insurance policies. Under the fair value method we recognize our initial investment at the purchase price. At each subsequent reporting period, we re-measure the investment at fair value in its entirety and recognize the change in fair value as revenue in the current period net of premiums paid.
We also recognize realized gain (revenue) from a life insurance policy upon one of the two following events: (1) our receipt of notice or verified mortality of the insured; or (2) our sale of the policy, filing of change-of-ownership forms and receipt of payment. In the case of mortality, the gain (or loss) we recognize is the difference between the policy benefits and the carrying values of the policy once we determine that collection of the policy benefits is realizable and reasonably assured. In the case of a policy sale, the gain (or loss) we recognize is the difference between the sale price and the carrying value of the policy on the date of our receipt of sale proceeds.
In a case where our acquisition of a policy is not complete as of a reporting date, but we have nonetheless advanced direct costs and deposits for the acquisition, those costs and deposits are recorded as “other assets” on our balance sheet until the acquisition is complete and we have secured title to the policy. On December 31, 2016 and 2015, a total of $42,000 and $31,000, respectively, of our “other assets” comprised direct costs and deposits that we advanced for policy acquisitions.
Deferred Financing and Issuance Costs - Loans advanced to us under our senior credit facilities, as described in Notes 5 and 6, are reported net of financing costs, which include issuance costs, sales commissions and other direct expenses, which are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the facility. The Series I Secured Notes and L Bonds, as respectively described in Notes 7 and 8, are reported net of financing costs, which are amortized using the interest method over the term of those borrowings. The Series A, as described in Note 9, is reported net of financing costs (including the fair value of warrants issued), all of which were fully amortized using the interest method as of December 31, 2016. Selling and issuance costs of RPS and Series 2 Redeemable Preferred Stock (“RPS 2”), described in Notes 10 and 11, are netted against additional paid-in-capital.
Earnings (loss) per Share - Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders are calculated using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the reported period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share are calculated based on the potential dilutive impact of our outstanding Series A, RPS, warrants and stock options. Due to our net loss for years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there are no dilutive securities.
A summary of our policies, organized according to their estimated life expectancy dates as of the dates indicated, is as follows:
We currently estimate that premium payments and servicing fees required to maintain our current portfolio of life insurance policies in force for the next five years, assuming no mortalities, are as follows:
Management anticipates funding the premium payments estimated above with proceeds from our senior credit facilities, proceeds from additional debt and equity financing, and proceeds from maturities of life insurance policies. The proceeds of these capital sources may also be used for the purchase, financing, and maintenance of additional life insurance policies.
These inputs are then used to estimate the discounted cash flows from the portfolio using the Model Actuarial Pricing System probabilistic portfolio price model, which estimates the cash flows using various mortality probabilities and scenarios. The valuation process includes a review by senior management as of each valuation date. We also engage a third-party expert to independently test the accuracy of the valuations using the inputs we provide on a quarterly basis. See Exhibit 99.1 filed herewith.
In the past, we periodically updated the independent life expectancy estimates on the insured lives in our portfolio, other than insured lives covered under small face amount policies (i.e., $1 million in face value benefits or less), on a continuous rotating three-year cycle, and through that effort attempted to update life expectancies for approximately one-twelfth of our portfolio each quarter. Nevertheless, the terms of our senior credit facility with LNV Corporation currently requires us to attempt to update life expectancies on a rotating two-year cycle.
These assumptions are, by their nature, inherently uncertain and the effect of changes in estimates may be significant. For example, if the life expectancy estimates were increased or decreased by four and eight months on each outstanding policy, and the discount rates were increased or decreased by 1% and 2%, while all other variables were held constant, the fair value of our investment in life insurance policies would increase or (decrease) as summarized below:
Change in Fair Value of the Investment in Life Insurance Policies
GWG MCA participates in the merchant cash advance industry by directly advancing sums to merchants and lending money, on a secured basis, to companies that advance sums to merchants. Each quarter, we review the carrying value of these advances and loans, and determine if an impairment reserve is necessary. At December 31, 2016 one of our secured loans was potentially impaired. The secured loan to Nulook Capital LLC had an outstanding balance of $2,527,000 and a loan loss reserve of $600,000 at December 31, 2016. We deem fair value to be the estimated collectible value on each loan or advance made from GWG MCA. Where we estimate the collectible amount to be less than the outstanding balance, we record a reserve for the difference.
Advances under the facility bear interest at a commercial paper rate of the lender at the time of the advance, or at the lender’s cost of borrowing plus 4.25%. We make interest payments on a monthly basis. The effective rate of interest was 5.42% at September 14, 2016 and 5.58% at December 31, 2015.
We have agreed to maintain (i) a positive consolidated net income on a non-GAAP basis (as defined and calculated under the Agreement) for each complete fiscal year, (ii) a tangible net worth on a non-GAAP basis (again, as defined and calculated under the Agreement) of not less than $45 million, and (iii) maintain cash and eligible investments of $15 million or above.
Consolidated non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP tangible net worth as of and for the four quarters ended December 31, 2016, as calculated under the Agreement, was $38,642,000 and $182,514,000, respectively.
The Loan Agreement requires DLP IV to maintain a reserve account in an amount sufficient to pay 12 months of servicing, administrative and third party expenses identified under the Loan Agreement, and 12 months of debt service as calculated under the Loan Agreement. As of December 31, 2016, the amount set aside in the reserve account was $27,500,000.
Total funds available for additional borrowings under the facility at December 31, 2016 was $0.
The Series I were sold with original maturity dates ranging from six months to seven years, and with fixed interest rates varying from 5.65% to 9.55% depending on the term of the note. The Series I have renewal features under which we may elect to permit their renewal, subject to the right of bondholders to elect to receive payment at maturity. Effective September 1, 2016, we no longer renew the Series I.
Future contractual maturities of Series I payable and future amortization of their deferred financing costs at December 31, 2016 are as follows:
At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the weighted-average interest rate of our L Bonds was 7.23% and 7.16%, respectively. The principal amount of L Bonds outstanding was $387,067,000 and $282,171,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The difference between the amount of outstanding L Bonds and the carrying amount on our balance sheets is due to netting of unamortized deferred issuance costs and cash receipts for new issuances in process. Amortization of deferred issuance costs was $7,099,000 and $5,285,000 in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Future expected amortization of deferred financing costs as of December 31, 2016 is $11,636,000 in total over the next eight years.
From July 2011 until September 2012, we privately offered shares of Series A of GWG Holdings at $7.50 per share. In the offering, we sold an aggregate of 3,278,000 shares for gross consideration of $24,582,000. Holders of Series A are entitled to cumulative dividends at the rate of 10% per annum, paid quarterly. Dividends on the Series A are accumulating and are recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. Under certain circumstances described in the Certificate of Designation for the Series A, additional Series A shares may be issued in lieu of cash dividends at the rate of $7.00 per share.
Holders of Series A are entitled to a liquidation preference equal to the stated value of their preferred shares (i.e., $7.50 per share) plus accrued but unpaid dividends. Holders of Series A may presently convert each share of their Series A into 0.75 shares of our common stock at a price of $10.00 per share.
As of December 31, 2016, we issued an aggregate of 473,000 shares of Series A in satisfaction of $3,310,000 in dividends on the Series A, and an aggregate of 696,000 shares of Series A were converted into 522,000 shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2016, we had 2,640,000 Series A shares outstanding with respect to which we incurred aggregate issuance costs of $2,838,000, all of which is included as a component of additional paid-in capital.
Purchasers of Series A in our offering received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 431,954 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.50 per share. The grant date fair value of these warrants was $428,000. As of December 31, 2016, none of these warrants were exercised, 69,000 warrants have expired. The weighted-average remaining life of these warrants was 0.56 and 1.43 years at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Beginning November 30, 2015, we began publicly offering up to 100,000 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock (“RPS”) at $1,000 per share. Holders of RPS are entitled to cumulative dividends at the rate of 7% per annum, paid monthly. Dividends on the RPS are recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. Under certain circumstances described in the Certificate of Designation for the RPS, additional shares of RPS may be issued in lieu of cash dividends.
Holders of RPS may request that we redeem their RPS at a price equal to their stated value plus accrued but unpaid dividends, less an applicable redemption fee, if any. Nevertheless, the Certificate of Designation for RPS permits us complete discretion to grant redemption requests. Subject to certain restrictions and conditions, we may also redeem shares of RPS without a redemption fee upon a holder’s death, total disability or bankruptcy. In addition, after one year from the date of original issuance, we may, at our option, call and redeem shares of RPS at a price equal to their liquidation preference.
As of December 31, 2016, we had sold 59,183 shares of RPS for aggregate gross consideration of $59,025,000, and incurred approximately $4,134,000 of selling costs related to the sale of those shares.
The RPS 2 ranks senior to our common stock and pari passu with our Series A and RPS, and entitles its holders to a liquidation preference equal to the stated value per share (i.e., $1,000) plus accrued but unpaid dividends. Holders of RPS 2 may, less an applicable conversion discount, if any, convert their RPS 2 into our common stock at a conversion price equal to the volume-weighted average price of our common stock for the 20 trading days immediately prior to the date of conversion, subject to a minimum conversion price of $12.75 and in an aggregate amount limited to 10% of the stated value of RPS 2 originally purchased from us.
( 12 ) GWG MCA Capital, Inc - 9% Preferred Stock
We had a current income tax liability of $0 as of both December 31, 2016 and 2015. The components of deferred income tax expense (benefit) for 2016 and 2015, respectfully, consisted of the following:
We provided a valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset related to a note receivable, which was charged-off for financial reporting purposes, because we believe that, when realized for tax purposes, it will result in a capital loss that will not be utilized because we have no expectation of generating a capital gain within the applicable carryforward period. Therefore, we do not believe that it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will be realized.
The following table provides a reconciliation of our income tax expense (benefit) at the statutory federal tax rate to our actual income tax expense (benefit):
We provide for a valuation allowance when it is not considered “more likely than not” that our deferred tax assets will be realized. At both December 31, 2016 and 2015 based upon all available evidence, we provided a valuation allowance of $2,164,000, against deferred tax assets related to the likelihood of recovering the tax benefit of a capital loss on a note receivable from a related entity and other capital losses. Management believes all other deferred tax assets are recoverable.
ASC 740 requires the reporting of certain tax positions that do not meet a threshold of “more-likely-than-not” to be recorded as uncertain tax benefits. It management's responsibility to determine whether it is “more-likely-than-not” that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based upon the technical merits of the position. Management has reviewed all income tax positions taken or expected to be taken for all open years and determined that the income tax positions are appropriately stated and supported. We do not anticipate that the total unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change prior to December 31, 2016.
Under our accounting policies, interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits, as well as interest received from favorable tax settlements are recognized as components of income tax expense. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
Our income tax returns for tax years ended December 31, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, when filed, remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing jurisdictions. Our tax return for tax year 2012 has now been examined by the IRS (finalized April of 2015) but is open for examination by various state taxing jurisdictions.
Through December 31, 2016, we had issued stock options for 2,048,000 shares of common stock to employees, officers, and directors under the plan. Options for 738,000 shares have vested, and the remaining options are scheduled to vest over three years. The options were issued with an exercise price between $6.35 and $10.18 for those beneficially owning more than 10% of our common stock, and between $6.00 and $10.25 for all others, which is equal to the estimated market price of the shares on the date of grant. The expected annualized volatility used in the Black-Scholes model valuation of options issued during the period was 25.9%. The annual volatility rate is based on the standard deviation of the average continuously compounded rate of return of five selected comparable companies over the previous 52 weeks. A forfeiture rate of 15% is based on historical information and expected future trend. As of December 31, 2016, stock options for 437,000 shares were forfeited and stock options for 28,000 shares were exercised.
A liability for Stock Appreciation Rights - Compensation Expense was recorded on December 31, 2016 in the amount of $4,266 and Compensation Expense was charged for the same amount.
The consolidating financial statements are presented in lieu of separate financial statements and other related disclosures of the subsidiary guarantor and issuer because management does not believe that separate financial statements and related disclosures would be material to investors. There are currently no significant restrictions on the ability of GWG Holdings or GWG Life, the guarantor subsidiary, to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan, except as described in these notes. A majority of insurance policies we own are subject to a collateral arrangement with LNV described in Note 6. Under this arrangement, collection and escrow accounts are used to fund premiums for the insurance policies and to pay interest and other charges under the senior credit facility.
We purchase life insurance policies written by life insurance companies having investment-grade ratings by independent rating agencies. As a result, there may be certain concentrations of policies with life insurance companies. The following summarizes the face value of insurance policies with specific life insurance companies exceeding 10% of the total face value held by us.
* percentage does not exceed 10% of the total face value.
Subsequent to December 31, 2016, eight policies covering seven individuals have matured. The combined insurance benefits of these policies were $15,975,000. We recorded realized gains of $13,956,000 on these seven policies.
Subsequent to December 31, 2016, we have issued approximately an additional $15,318,000 in principal amount of L Bonds.
On February 14, 2017, we began a public offering of up to 150,000 shares of RPS 2 at $1,000 per share. As of the date of this report, we have not sold any shares of RPS 2.