Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42 )
61
Consolidated Balance Sheets
63
Consolidated Statements of Operations
64
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
65
Consolidated Statements of Equity
66
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
69
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements:
72
1. Business and Organization
72
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
72
3. Business Combinations
86
4. Investments
87
5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
90
6. Restricted Cash, Other Assets and Other Liabilities
91
7. Debt
91
8. Stockholders' Equity
93
9. Noncontrolling Interests
96
10. Fair Value
97
11. Earnings per Share
102
12. Fee Revenue
102
13. Equity-Based Compensation
103
14. Income Taxes
106
15. Variable Interest Entities
108
16. Transactions with Affiliates
109
17. Segment Reporting
111
18. Commitments and Contingencies
113
19. Subsequent Events
114
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 21, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
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Carried interest allocation from Company-sponsored funds
Description of the Matter At December 31, 2024, the carrying value of the Company’s investments totaled $2.5 billion, including principal investments in Company-sponsored funds of $1.4 billion and carried interest allocation of $895 million, of which $218 million was recognized during the year-ended December 31, 2024. As discussed further in Notes 2 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the underlying investments of the Company’s sponsored investment vehicles (“underlying investments”) are reported at fair value as determined by management by applying the valuation techniques and using the significant unobservable inputs described therein, and the Company’s unrealized carried interest allocation is driven primarily by changes in fair value of the underlying investments. Fair value of the underlying investments is typically estimated using unobservable inputs and assumptions that involves significant judgement including, but not limited to, projected financial information of the portfolio company, economic conditions, foreign exchange rates, and comparable transactions in the market, and is therefore subject to inherent uncertainties.
Auditing management’s determination of the fair value of the underlying investments that contribute to the Company’s unrealized carried interest allocation which are valued using significant unobservable inputs is complex and involves a high degree of auditor subjectivity to address the higher estimation uncertainty.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company’s recognition of carried interest allocation, including controls over the Company’s investment valuation process for the underlying investments. This included management’s review controls over the assessment of the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used to estimate the fair value of the underlying investments and management’s evaluation of the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the valuations of the underlying investments.
Our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating changes in fair value of the underlying investments to determine which investments contributed to the change in the Company’s unrealized carried interest allocation, testing the mathematical accuracy of the distribution waterfalls used to determine the Company’s share of income or loss from the underlying funds and agreeing data used in the waterfall calculations to the funds’ accounting records.
For a sample of underlying investments where an increase in fair value contributed to the Company’s unrealized carried interest allocation, we performed procedures to evaluate the appropriateness of the methodology and key inputs and assumptions used in the valuation, including, but not limited to, performing sensitivities on the inputs or assumptions used in the valuation, comparing key inputs and assumptions used in the valuations to source documents or market data, and evaluating the existence of corroborating or contrary evidence obtained through other audit procedures. Our procedures varied based on the nature of each investment selected for testing. For certain investments, we involved our internal valuation specialists to perform corroborative analyses to assess whether the key assumptions used in the valuation and the estimated fair values were supported by observable market data.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2009.
Los Angeles, California
February 21, 2025
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share data)
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 302,154 $ 345,335
Restricted cash 4,144 4,915
Investments ($ 318,941 and $ 572,749 at fair value)
2,492,268 2,476,093
Goodwill 465,602 465,991
Intangible assets 72,460 103,750
Other assets 52,059 78,953
Due from affiliates 124,186 85,815
Assets of discontinued operations 445 1,698
Total assets
$ 3,513,318 $ 3,562,550
Liabilities
Debt $ 296,362 $ 371,783
Other liabilities ($ 54,730 and $ 124,019 at fair value)
725,507 681,451
Liabilities of discontinued operations 259 153
Total liabilities
1,022,128 1,053,387
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
24,356 17,862
Equity
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $ 0.01 par value per share; $ 821,899 liquidation preference; 250,000 shares authorized; 32,876 shares issued and outstanding
794,670 794,670
Common stock, $ 0.01 par value per share
Class A, 237,250 shares authorized; 174,202 and 163,209 shares issued and outstanding
1,742 1,632
Class B, 250 shares authorized; 150 and 166 shares issued and outstanding
2 2
Additional paid-in capital
7,999,165 7,855,842
Accumulated deficit
( 6,837,502 ) ( 6,842,502 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 505 1,411
Total stockholders’ equity 1,958,582 1,811,055
Noncontrolling interests in investment entities
430,528 605,311
Noncontrolling interests in Operating Company
77,724 74,935
Total equity
2,466,834 2,491,301
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
$ 3,513,318 $ 3,562,550
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Revenues
Fee revenue ($ 301,179 , $ 254,429 and $ 167,733 from affiliates)
$ 329,693 $ 264,117 $ 172,673
Carried interest allocation 218,250 363,075 378,342
Principal investment income 30,023 145,448 56,731
Other income ($ 11,886 , $ 10,400 and $ 4,337 from affiliates)
29,062 48,743 87,025
Total revenues 607,028 821,383 694,771
Expenses
Compensation expense—cash and equity-based 181,821 206,892 154,752
Compensation expense—incentive fee and carried interest allocation 144,650 186,030 202,286
Administrative and other expenses 114,985 86,937 117,341
Interest expense 16,438 24,540 42,926
Transaction-related costs 5,265 10,823 10,129
Depreciation and amortization 33,706 36,651 44,271
Total expenses 496,865 551,873 571,705
Other income (loss)
Other gain (loss), net 58,652 96,119 ( 169,747 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 168,815 365,629 ( 46,681 )
Income tax benefit (expense) ( 2,944 ) ( 6 ) ( 13,132 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations 165,871 365,623 ( 59,813 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations ( 18,865 ) ( 320,458 ) ( 510,184 )
Net income (loss) 147,006 45,165 ( 569,997 )
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Redeemable noncontrolling interests 2,458 6,503 ( 26,778 )
Investment entities 73,343 ( 155,756 ) ( 189,053 )
Operating Company 683 9,138 ( 32,369 )
Net income (loss) attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc. 70,522 185,280 ( 321,797 )
Preferred stock dividends 58,641 58,656 61,567
Preferred stock repurchases
— ( 927 ) ( 1,098 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 11,881 $ 127,551 $ ( 382,266 )
Income (loss) per share—basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share—basic $ 0.18 $ 1.13 $ ( 1.23 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share—basic $ 0.07 $ 0.78 $ ( 2.47 )
Income (loss) per share—diluted
Income (Loss) from continuing operations per common share—diluted $ 0.18 $ 1.10 $ ( 1.23 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share—diluted $ 0.07 $ 0.77 $ ( 2.47 )
Weighted average number of shares
Basic 168,437 159,868 154,495
Diluted 168,818 169,720 154,495
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Net income (loss) $ 147,006 $ 45,165 $ ( 569,997 )
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to:
Equity method investments — 318 ( 2,867 )
Available-for-sale debt securities — — ( 6,373 )
Foreign currency translation ( 974 ) 2,279 ( 44,232 )
Cash flow hedges — — ( 8,368 )
Other comprehensive income (loss) ( 974 ) 2,597 ( 61,840 )
Comprehensive income (loss) 146,032 47,762 ( 631,837 )
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Redeemable noncontrolling interests 2,458 6,503 ( 26,778 )
Investment entities 73,343 ( 155,340 ) ( 203,125 )
Operating Company 619 9,365 ( 36,116 )
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ 69,612 $ 187,234 $ ( 365,818 )
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(In thousands, except per share data)
Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Stockholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests in Investment Entities Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Company Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2021
$ 854,232 $ 5,692 $ 7,820,807 $ ( 6,576,180 ) $ 42,383 $ 2,146,934 $ 2,653,173 $ 112,283 $ 4,912,390
Net income (loss) — — — ( 321,797 ) — ( 321,797 ) ( 189,053 ) ( 32,369 ) ( 543,219 )
Other comprehensive income (loss) — — — — ( 44,021 ) ( 44,021 ) ( 14,072 ) ( 3,747 ) ( 61,840 )
Stock repurchases ( 53,877 ) ( 168 ) ( 53,740 ) — — ( 107,785 ) — — ( 107,785 )
Cost of DataBank recapitalization — — ( 13,122 ) — — ( 13,122 ) ( 21,247 ) — ( 34,369 )
DataBank recapitalization (Note 2)
— — 230,238 — — 230,238 ( 230,238 ) — —
Exchange of notes for common stock (Note 7)
— 256 177,562 — — 177,818 — — 177,818
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest and warrants to fair value (Note 9)
— — ( 725,026 ) — — ( 725,026 ) — — ( 725,026 )
Shares issued for redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest (Note 9)
— 577 348,182 — — 348,759 — — 348,759
Transaction costs incurred in connection with redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest — — ( 7,137 ) — — ( 7,137 ) — — ( 7,137 )
Reclassification of carried interest allocated to
redeemable noncontrolling interest to
noncontrolling interest in investment entities
(Note 9)
— — — — — — 4,087 — 4,087
Assumption of deferred tax asset resulting from
redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest
(Note 9)
— — 5,200 — — 5,200 — — 5,200
Deconsolidation of investment entities (Note 2)
— — — — — — ( 376,177 ) — ( 376,177 )
Redemption of OP Units for class A common stock — 4 337 — — 341 — ( 341 ) —
Equity-based compensation — 63 39,933 — — 39,996 12,834 2,498 55,328
Shares canceled for tax withholdings on vested equity awards — ( 27 ) ( 18,212 ) — — ( 18,239 ) — — ( 18,239 )
Acquisition from noncontrolling interests — — — — — — ( 32,076 ) — ( 32,076 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interests — — — — — — 2,613,962 — 2,613,962
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — ( 1,677,297 ) ( 254 ) ( 1,677,551 )
Preferred stock dividends — — — ( 61,401 ) — ( 61,401 ) — — ( 61,401 )
Common stock dividends declared ($ 0.02 per share)
— — — ( 3,235 ) — ( 3,235 ) — — ( 3,235 )
Reallocation of equity (Notes 2 and 9)
— — 13,046 — 129 13,175 — ( 13,175 ) —
Balance at December 31, 2022
$ 800,355 $ 6,397 $ 7,818,068 $ ( 6,962,613 ) $ ( 1,509 ) $ 1,660,698 $ 2,743,896 $ 64,895 $ 4,469,489
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Equity (Continued)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Stockholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests in Investment Entities Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Company Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2022
$ 800,355 $ 6,397 $ 7,818,068 $ ( 6,962,613 ) $ ( 1,509 ) $ 1,660,698 $ 2,743,896 $ 64,895 $ 4,469,489
Net income (loss) — — — 185,280 — 185,280 ( 155,756 ) 9,138 38,662
Other comprehensive income (loss) — — — — 1,954 1,954 416 227 2,597
Stock repurchases ( 5,685 ) — 927 — — ( 4,758 ) — — ( 4,758 )
Changes in common stock par value (Note 8)
— ( 4,862 ) 4,862 — — — — — —
DataBank recapitalization (Note 2)
— — ( 14,791 ) — — ( 14,791 ) 33,001 — 18,210
Vantage SDC expansion capacity funded through equity, net of liability settlement (Note 2)
— — 12,255 — — 12,255 97,307 — 109,562
Deconsolidation of investment entities (Note 2 and Note 10)
— — — — 965 965 ( 2,137,819 ) — ( 2,136,854 )
Redemption of OP Units for class A common stock — 3 981 — — 984 — ( 984 ) —
Equity-based compensation — 122 53,343 — — 53,465 14,010 164 67,639
Shares canceled for tax withholdings on vested equity awards — ( 26 ) ( 18,654 ) — — ( 18,680 ) — — ( 18,680 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interests — — — — — — 115,781 — 115,781
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — ( 104,681 ) ( 497 ) ( 105,178 )
Preferred stock dividends — — — ( 58,656 ) — ( 58,656 ) — — ( 58,656 )
Common stock dividends declared ($ 0.04 per share)
— — — ( 6,513 ) — ( 6,513 ) — — ( 6,513 )
Reallocation of equity (Notes 2 and 9)
— — ( 1,149 ) — 1 ( 1,148 ) ( 844 ) 1,992 —
Balance at December 31, 2023
$ 794,670 $ 1,634 $ 7,855,842 $ ( 6,842,502 ) $ 1,411 $ 1,811,055 $ 605,311 $ 74,935 $ 2,491,301
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Equity (Continued)
(In thousands, except per share data)
Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Deficit Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Stockholders’ Equity Noncontrolling Interests in Investment Entities Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Company Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2023
$ 794,670 $ 1,634 $ 7,855,842 $ ( 6,842,502 ) $ 1,411 $ 1,811,055 $ 605,311 $ 74,935 $ 2,491,301
Net income (loss) — — — 70,522 — 70,522 73,343 683 144,548
Other comprehensive income (loss) — — — — ( 910 ) ( 910 ) — ( 64 ) ( 974 )
Settlement of Wafra contingent consideration (Note 9)
— 10 17,490 — — 17,500 — — 17,500
Reclassification of DBRG stock warrants (Note 10)
— — 33,000 — — 33,000 — — 33,000
Exchange of notes for common stock (Note 7)
— 83 72,634 — — 72,717 — — 72,717
Redemption of OP Units for class A common stock — 5 2,949 — — 2,954 — ( 2,954 ) —
Equity-based compensation — 17 32,538 — — 32,555 — 161 32,716
Shares canceled for tax withholdings on vested stock awards — ( 5 ) ( 9,835 ) — — ( 9,840 ) — — ( 9,840 )
Deconsolidation of sponsored funds (Note 10)
— — — — — — ( 262,970 ) — ( 262,970 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interests — — — — — — 24,588 — 24,588
Distributions to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — ( 9,744 ) ( 486 ) ( 10,230 )
Preferred stock dividends — — — ( 58,641 ) — ( 58,641 ) — — ( 58,641 )
Common stock dividends declared ($ 0.04 per share)
— — — ( 6,881 ) — ( 6,881 ) — — ( 6,881 )
Reallocation of equity (Notes 2 and 9)
— — ( 5,453 ) — 4 ( 5,449 ) — 5,449 —
Balance at December 31, 2024
$ 794,670 $ 1,744 $ 7,999,165 $ ( 6,837,502 ) $ 505 $ 1,958,582 $ 430,528 $ 77,724 $ 2,466,834
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss) $ 147,006 $ 45,165 $ ( 569,997 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Unrealized carried interest allocation, net ( 85,863 ) ( 151,005 ) ( 142,916 )
Unrealized principal investment income ( 11,655 ) ( 145,448 ) ( 56,731 )
Equity-based compensation 34,716 67,639 54,710
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount and premium, net 2,296 21,119 106,410
Loss on debt extinguishment — — 133,173
Depreciation and amortization 33,706 485,551 579,250
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense ( 3,160 ) ( 69 ) 11,572
Other (gain) loss, net ( 37,351 ) ( 101,209 ) 22,245
Other equity method (earnings) losses — 15,188 45,489
Distributions of income from equity investments — 3,776 2,992
Paid-in-kind interest added to loan principal — ( 948 ) ( 7,144 )
Straight-line rent income — ( 10,286 ) ( 25,488 )
Amortization of above- and below-market lease values, net — 1,664 208
Impairment of real estate and intangible assets — — 35,985
Other adjustments, net ( 443 ) 162 ( 997 )
(Increase) decrease in other assets and due from affiliates ( 14,602 ) ( 7,058 ) 35,372
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities and due to affiliates ( 4,528 ) 9,396 38,449
Net cash generated by (used in) operating activities 60,122 233,637 262,582
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Contributions to and acquisition of equity investments ( 170,190 ) ( 584,589 ) ( 570,035 )
Return of capital from equity and debt investments 55,905 79,229 59,248
Proceeds from sale of equity investments 106,398 695,683 522,337
Repayment of loans receivable 1,000 6,804 23,956
Acquisition of loans receivable and debt securities — — ( 164,815 )
Net disbursements on originated loans — — ( 215,918 )
Proceeds from sales of loans receivable and debt securities — — 401,002
Proceeds from paydown and maturity of debt securities — — 573
Purchase of fixed assets
( 3,588 ) — —
Investment deposits — ( 4,140 ) 630
Acquisition of InfraBridge, net of cash acquired (Note 3)
— ( 314,266 ) —
Net receipt (payment) on settlement of derivatives — 3,401 9,352
Acquisition of and additions to real estate, related intangibles and leasing commissions — ( 653,470 ) ( 2,141,237 )
Cash derecognized in deconsolidation of sponsored funds and investment entities ( 745 ) ( 229,183 ) —
Proceeds from DataBank recapitalization
— 21,487 —
Proceeds from sales of real estate investment holding entities — — 162,268
Other investing activities, net — — ( 769 )
Net cash generated by (used in) investing activities ( 11,220 ) ( 979,044 ) ( 1,913,408 )
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings on corporate debt — — 290,000
Repayment or redemption of senior notes ( 5,000 ) ( 200,000 ) ( 304,237 )
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders $ ( 58,641 ) $ ( 58,761 ) $ ( 62,395 )
Dividends paid to common stockholders ( 6,771 ) ( 6,477 ) ( 1,636 )
Shares canceled for tax withholdings on vested equity awards ( 9,840 ) ( 18,680 ) ( 18,239 )
Repurchases of preferred stock — ( 4,758 ) ( 52,779 )
Repurchases of common stock — — ( 55,006 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 28,988 116,081 2,625,612
Distributions to and redemption of noncontrolling interests ( 22,077 ) ( 163,802 ) ( 2,109,229 )
Payment of contingent consideration to Wafra
( 17,500 ) ( 90,000 ) —
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest — — ( 32,076 )
Borrowings from investment level debt
— 1,722,443 872,726
Repayments of investment level debt
— ( 1,199,865 ) ( 210,268 )
Payment of deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties on investment level debt — ( 38,029 ) ( 18,688 )
Net cash generated by (used in) financing activities ( 90,841 ) 58,152 923,785
Effect of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ( 2,013 ) 766 ( 2,465 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ( 43,952 ) ( 686,489 ) ( 729,506 )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—beginning of period
350,250 1,036,739 1,766,245
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—end of period
$ 306,298 $ 350,250 $ 1,036,739
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to consolidated balance sheets
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents $ 345,335 $ 855,564 $ 1,226,897
Restricted cash 4,915 4,854 7,511
Assets of discontinued operations—cash and cash equivalents
— 62,690 375,205
Assets of discontinued operations—restricted cash
— 113,631 156,632
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—beginning of period
$ 350,250 $ 1,036,739 $ 1,766,245
End of period
Cash and cash equivalents $ 302,154 $ 345,335 $ 855,564
Restricted cash 4,144 4,915 4,854
Assets of discontinued operations—cash and cash equivalents
— — 62,690
Assets of discontinued operations—restricted cash
— — 113,631
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—end of period
$ 306,298 $ 350,250 $ 1,036,739
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Cash paid for interest $ 16,270 $ 179,071 $ 219,851
Cash received (paid) for income taxes 5,941 57 11,747
Operating lease payments for corporate offices
9,151 9,096 9,651
Operating lease payments for a formerly warehoused tower portfolio (Note 2)
— — 11,709
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Net cash generated by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations $ ( 11,892 ) $ 233,903 $ 300,482
Net cash generated by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations ( 42 ) ( 600,050 ) ( 1,377,005 )
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities
Dividends and distributions payable $ 16,524 $ 16,477 $ 16,491
Receivables from asset sales — 662 16,824
Contingent consideration for acquisition of InfraBridge — 10,874 —
Redemption of OP Units for common stock 2,954 984 341
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest for common stock — — 348,759
Exchange of notes into shares of class A common stock 72,717 — 60,317
Seller note received in sale of NRF Holdco equity (Note 2)
— — 154,992
Settlement of Wafra contingent consideration through issuance of class A common stock 17,500 — —
Loan receivable relieved in exchange for equity investment acquired — — 20,676
Vantage SDC capacity funded through equity, net of liability settlement (Note 2)
— 109,562 —
Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities established for corporate offices
2,342 15,314 5,837
Assets of investment entities disposed of in sale of equity and/or deconsolidated (1)
— 8,659,140 4,689,188
Liabilities of investment entities disposed of in sale of equity and/or deconsolidated (1)
— 5,941,332 3,948,016
Noncontrolling interests of investment entities disposed of in sale of equity and/or deconsolidated (1)
— 2,398,693 415,098
Assets of sponsored funds deconsolidated (Note 10)
393,612 — —
Liabilities of sponsored funds deconsolidated (Note 10)
189 — —
Noncontrolling interests of sponsored funds deconsolidated (Note 10)
262,970 — —
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2024
1. Business and Organization
DigitalBridge Group, Inc. ("DBRG," and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Company") is a leading global investment manager in digital infrastructure. The Company deploys and manages capital on behalf of its investors and shareholders across the digital infrastructure ecosystem, including but not limited to, data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, small cells, and edge infrastructure. The Company's investment management platform is anchored by its flagship value-add digital infrastructure equity offerings, and has expanded to include offerings in core equity, credit, liquid securities, and mid-market infrastructure equity through InfraBridge.
Organization
The Company operates as a taxable C Corporation and conducts all of its activities and holds substantially all of its assets and liabilities through its operating subsidiary, DigitalBridge Operating Company, LLC (the "Operating Company" or the "OP") . At December 31, 2024, the Company owned 94 % of the OP , as its sole managing member. The remaining 6 % is owned by certain current and former employees of the Company as noncontrolling interests.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The significant accounting policies of the Company are described below.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The portions of equity, net income or loss and other comprehensive income or loss of consolidated subsidiaries that are not attributable to the parent are presented separately as amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements. Noncontrolling interests represents predominantly carried interest allocation to certain senior executives of the Company, limited partners of consolidated funds, and membership interests in OP primarily held by certain current and former employees of the Company.
To the extent the Company consolidates a subsidiary that is subject to industry-specific guidance, such as investment company accounting applied by the Company's sponsored funds that are consolidated, the Company retains the industry-specific guidance applied by that subsidiary in its consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
Principles of Consolidation
The Company consolidates entities in which it has a controlling financial interest by first considering if an entity meets the definition of a variable interest entity ("VIE") for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, or if the Company has the power to control an entity through a majority of voting interest or through other arrangements.
Variable Interest Entities —A VIE is an entity that either (i) lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties; (ii) whose equity holders lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest; and/or (iii) is established with non-substantive voting rights. A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party who has a controlling financial interest in the VIE through (a) power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance, and (b) obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. This assessment may involve subjectivity in the determination of which activities most significantly affect the VIE’s performance, and estimates about current and future fair value of the assets held by the VIE and financial performance of the VIE. In assessing its interests in the VIE, the Company also considers interests held by its related parties, including de facto agents. Additionally, the Company assesses whether it is a member of a related party group that collectively meets the power and benefits criteria and, if so, whether the Company is most closely associated with the VIE. In performing the related party analysis, the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors, including, but not limited to: the characteristics and size of its investment relative to the related party; the Company’s and the related party's ability to control or significantly influence
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key decisions of the VIE including consideration of involvement by de facto agents; the obligation or likelihood for the Company or the related party to fund operating losses of the VIE; and the similarity and significance of the VIE’s business activities to those of the Company and the related party. The determination of whether an entity is a VIE, and whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, may involve significant judgment, and depends upon facts and circumstances specific to an entity at the time of the assessment.
Voting Interest Entities —Unlike VIEs, voting interest entities have sufficient equity to finance their activities and equity investors exhibit the characteristics of a controlling financial interest through their voting rights. The Company consolidates such entities when it has the power to control these entities through ownership of a majority of the entities' voting interests or through other arrangements.
At each reporting period, the Company reassesses whether changes in facts and circumstances cause a change in the status of an entity as a VIE or voting interest entity, and/or a change in the Company's consolidation assessment. Changes in consolidation status are applied prospectively. An entity may be consolidated as a result of this reassessment, in which case, the assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interest in the entity are recorded at fair value upon initial consolidation. Any existing equity interest held by the Company in the entity prior to the Company obtaining control will be remeasured at fair value, which may result in a gain or loss recognized upon initial consolidation. However, if the consolidation represents an asset acquisition of a voting interest entity, the Company's existing interest in the acquired assets, if any, is not remeasured to fair value but continues to be carried at historical cost. The Company may also deconsolidate a subsidiary as a result of this reassessment, which may result in a gain or loss recognized upon deconsolidation depending on the carrying values of deconsolidated assets and liabilities compared to the fair value of any interests retained.
Noncontrolling Interests
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests —This represents noncontrolling interests in sponsored open-end funds in the Liquid Strategies that are consolidated by the Company. The limited partners of these funds have the ability to withdraw all or a portion of their interests from the funds in cash with advance notice.
Redeemable noncontrolling interests is presented outside of permanent equity. Allocation of net income or loss to redeemable noncontrolling interests is based upon their ownership percentage during the period. The carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests is adjusted to its redemption value at the end of each reporting period to an amount not less than its initial carrying value, except for amounts contingently redeemable which will be adjusted to redemption value only when redemption is probable. Such adjustments will be recognized in additional paid-in capital.
Prior to full redemption in May 2022, there was also redeemable noncontrolling interests in the Company's investment management business, as discussed in Note 9.
Noncontrolling Interests in Investment Entities —This represents (i) carried interest allocations to certain senior executives of the Company and a third party investor (Note 16); (ii) equity interests held by current and former employees and a third party investor in general partner entities of the Company's sponsored funds; and (iii) limited partners of consolidated closed-end funds. Excluding carried interests, allocation of net income or loss is generally based upon relative ownership interests.
Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Company —This represents membership interests in OP held by certain current and former employees of the Company. Noncontrolling interests in OP are allocated a share of net income or loss in OP based upon their weighted average ownership interest in OP during the period. Noncontrolling interests in OP have the right to require OP to redeem part or all of such member’s membership units in OP ("OP Units") for cash based on the market value of an equivalent number of shares of class A common stock of the Company at the time of redemption, or at the Company's election as managing member of OP, through issuance of shares of class A common stock (registered or unregistered) on a one -for-one basis. At the end of each reporting period, noncontrolling interests in OP is adjusted to reflect their ownership percentage in OP at the end of the period, through a reallocation between controlling and noncontrolling interests in OP, as applicable.
Foreign Currency
Assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency for which the functional currency is a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date and the corresponding results of operations for such entities are translated using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in stockholders’ equity. Upon sale, complete or substantially complete liquidation of a foreign subsidiary, or upon partial sale of a foreign equity method investment, the translation adjustment associated with the foreign subsidiary or investment, or
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a proportionate share related to the portion of equity method investment sold, is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss into earnings.
Financial assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency for which the functional currency is the U.S. dollar are remeasured using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, whereas non-financial assets and liabilities are remeasured using the exchange rate on the date the item was initially recognized (i.e., the historical rate), and the corresponding results of operations for such entities are remeasured using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. The resulting foreign currency remeasurement adjustments are recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. Disclosures of non-U.S. dollar amounts to be recorded in the future are translated using exchange rates in effect at the date of the most recent balance sheet presented.
Fair Value Measurement
Fair value is based on an exit price, defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Where appropriate, the Company makes adjustments to estimated fair values to appropriately reflect counterparty credit risk as well as the Company's own credit-worthiness.
The estimated fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities are categorized into a three tier hierarchy, prioritized based on the level of transparency in inputs used in the valuation techniques, as follows:
Level 1 —Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 —Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in non-active markets, or valuation techniques utilizing inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable data directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 —At least one assumption or input is unobservable and it is significant to the fair value measurement, requiring significant management judgment or estimate.
Where the inputs used to measure the fair value of a financial instrument falls into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the financial instrument is categorized within the hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to its fair value measurement.
Due to the inherently judgmental nature of Level 3 fair value, changes in assumptions or inputs applied as of reporting date could result in a higher or lower fair value, and realized value may differ from the estimated unrealized fair value.
Fair Value Option
The fair value option provides an option to elect fair value as a measurement alternative for selected financial instruments. The fair value option may be elected only upon the occurrence of certain specified events, including when the Company enters into an eligible firm commitment, at initial recognition of the financial instrument, as well as upon a business combination or consolidation of a subsidiary. The election is irrevocable unless a new election event occurs.
The Company has elected fair value option to account for certain equity method investments.
Business Combinations
Definition of a Business —The Company evaluates each purchase transaction to determine whether the acquired assets meet the definition of a business. If substantially all of the fair value of gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets, then the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. For an acquisition to be considered a business, it would have to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs (i.e., there is a continuation of revenue before and after the transaction). A substantive process is not ancillary or minor, cannot be replaced without significant costs, effort or delay or is otherwise considered unique or scarce. To qualify as a business without outputs, the acquired assets would require an organized workforce with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to perform a substantive process.
Business Combinations —The Company accounts for acquisitions that qualify as business combinations by applying the acquisition method. Transaction costs related to acquisition of a business are expensed as incurred and excluded from the fair value of consideration transferred. The identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests in an acquired entity are recognized and measured at their estimated fair values, except for contract assets and contract liabilities as discussed below. The excess of the consideration transferred over the value of identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests in an acquired entity, net of fair value of any previously held interest in the acquired entity, is recorded as goodwill. Such valuations require management to make significant estimates and assumptions.
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With respect to contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination, these are not accounted for under the fair value basis at the time of acquisition. Instead, the Company determines the value of these revenue contracts as if it had originated the acquired contracts by evaluating the associated performance obligations, transaction price and relative stand-alone selling price at the original contract inception date or subsequent modification dates.
The estimated fair values and allocation of consideration are subject to adjustments during the measurement period, not to exceed one year, based upon new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at time of acquisition.
Contingent Consideration —Contingent consideration is classified as a liability or equity, as applicable. Contingent consideration in connection with the acquisition of a business or a VIE is measured at fair value on acquisition date, and unless classified as equity, is remeasured at fair value each reporting period thereafter until the consideration is settled, with changes in fair value included in earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company's cash and cash equivalents are held with major financial institutions and may at times exceed federally insured limits.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash consists predominantly of cash reserves maintained pursuant to the governing agreement of the securitized debt of the Company.
Investments
Equity Investments
A noncontrolling, unconsolidated ownership interest in an entity may be accounted for using one of: (i) equity method where applicable; (ii) fair value option if elected; (iii) fair value through earnings if fair value is readily determinable, including election of net asset value ("NAV") practical expedient where applicable; or (iv) for equity investments without readily determinable fair values, the measurement alternative to measure at cost adjusted for any impairment and observable price changes, as applicable.
Marketable equity securities are recorded as of trade date. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date and is included in other income.
The Company's share of earnings (losses) from equity method investments in its sponsored funds and fair value changes of equity method investments under the fair value option are recorded in principal investment income (loss). Fair value changes of other equity investments, including adjustments for observable price changes under the measurement alternative, are recorded in other gain (loss).
Equity Method Investments —The Company accounts for investments under the equity method of accounting if it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an entity, but does not have a controlling financial interest. The equity method investment is initially recorded at cost and adjusted each period for capital contributions, distributions and the Company's share of the entity’s net income or loss and where applicable, other comprehensive income or loss. The Company's share of net income or loss may differ from the stated ownership percentage interest in an entity if the governing documents prescribe a substantive non-proportionate earnings allocation formula or a preferred return to certain investors. Distributions of operating profits from equity method investments are reported as operating activities, while distributions in excess of operating profits are reported as investing activities in the statement of cash flows under the cumulative earnings approach.
The Company's equity method investments are composed primarily of its interests in investment vehicles that it sponsors, reported as principal investments, as the Company exerts significant influence in its role as general partner. The Company recognizes earnings based upon its proportionate share of net income (loss) from these investment vehicles, primarily unrealized gain (loss) from changes in fair value of the underlying fund investments, and any distributions of income, including from realization events, recorded in principal investment income on the consolidated statements of operations. As general partner, the Company is also entitled to a disproportionate allocation of returns based upon the extent to which cumulative performance of the investment vehicles exceed minimum return hurdles pursuant to terms of their respective governing agreements or carried interests (Note 4).
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Impairment —Evaluation of impairment applies to equity method investments for which fair value option has not been elected and equity investments under the measurement alternative. Impairment loss is recorded in other gain (loss).
If indicators of impairment exist, the Company will first estimate the fair value of its investment. In assessing fair value, the Company generally considers, among others, the estimated enterprise value of the investee or fair value of the investee's underlying net assets, including net cash flows to be generated by the investee as applicable.
For investments under the measurement alternative, if carrying value of the investment exceeds its fair value, an impairment is deemed to have occurred.
For equity method investments, further consideration is made if a decrease in value of the investment is other-than-temporary to determine if impairment loss should be recognized. Assessment of other-than-temporary impairment involves management judgment, including, but not limited to, consideration of the investee’s financial condition, operating results, business prospects and creditworthiness, the Company's ability and intent to hold the investment until recovery of its carrying value, or a significant and prolonged decline in traded price of the investee’s equity security. If management is unable to reasonably assert that an impairment is temporary or believes that the Company may not fully recover the carrying value of its investment, then the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary. Investments that are other-than-temporarily impaired are written down to their estimated fair value.
With respect to the Company's interests in its sponsored investment vehicles, the carrying value of these equity method investments are deemed to approximate fair value as the Company's share of income (loss) recorded each quarter reflects the fair value changes of the underlying investments held by these vehicles.
Debt Securities
Debt securities are recorded as of the trade date. Debt securities designated as available-for-sale (“AFS”) are reported at fair value and subject to impairment assessment, with unrealized gains or losses included as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). Upon disposition of AFS debt securities, the cumulative gains or losses in other comprehensive income (loss) that are realized are recognized in other gain (loss) on the statement of operations based on specific identification.
Interest Income —Interest income from debt securities, including stated coupon interest payments and amortization of purchase premiums or discounts, is recognized using the effective interest method over the expected life of the debt securities.
For beneficial interests in debt securities that are not of high credit quality (generally credit rating below AA) or that can be contractually settled such that the Company would not recover substantially all of its recorded investment, interest income is recognized as the accretable yield over the life of the securities using the effective yield method. The accretable yield is the excess of current expected cash flows to be collected over the net investment in the security, including the yield accreted to date. The Company evaluates estimated future cash flows expected to be collected on a quarterly basis, starting with the first full quarter after acquisition, or earlier if conditions indicating impairment are present. If the cash flows expected to be collected cannot be reasonably estimated, either at acquisition or in subsequent evaluation, the Company may consider placing the securities on nonaccrual, with interest income recognized using the cost recovery method.
Impairment —The Company performs an assessment, at least quarterly, to determine whether its AFS debt securities are considered to be impaired; that is, if their fair value is less than their amortized cost basis.
If the Company intends to sell the impaired debt security or is more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost, the entire impairment amount is recognized in earnings within other gain (loss) as a write-off of the amortized cost basis of the debt security.
If the Company does not intend to sell or is not more likely than not required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost, the credit component of the loss is recognized in earnings within other gain (loss) as an allowance for credit loss, which may be subject to reversal for subsequent recoveries in fair value. The non-credit loss component is recognized in other comprehensive income or loss ("OCI"). The allowance is charged off against the amortized cost basis of the security if in a subsequent period, the Company intends to or more likely than not will be required to sell the security, or if the Company deems the security to be uncollectible.
In assessing impairment and estimating future expected cash flows, factors considered include, but are not limited to, credit rating of the security, financial condition of the issuer, defaults for similar securities, performance and value of assets underlying an asset-backed security.
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Goodwill
Goodwill is an unidentifiable intangible asset and is recognized as a residual, generally measured as the excess of consideration transferred in a business combination over the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests in the acquiree. Goodwill is assigned to reporting units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination.
Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting units to which it is assigned at least on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances occur that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value, including goodwill. The assessment of goodwill for impairment may initially be performed based on qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill is assigned is less than its carrying value, including goodwill. If so, a quantitative assessment is performed to identify both the existence of impairment and the amount of impairment loss. The Company may bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing a quantitative assessment to compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. Impairment is measured as the excess of carrying value over fair value of the reporting unit, with the loss recognized limited to the amount of goodwill assigned to that reporting unit.
An impairment establishes a new basis for goodwill and any impairment loss recognized is not subject to subsequent reversal. Goodwill impairment tests require judgment, including identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of each reporting unit.
Identifiable Intangibles
In a business combination or asset acquisition, the Company may recognize identifiable intangibles that meet either or both the contractual legal criterion or the separability criterion. An indefinite-lived intangible is not subject to amortization until such time that its useful life is determined to no longer be indefinite, at which point, it will be assessed for impairment and its adjusted carrying amount amortized over its remaining useful life. Finite-lived intangibles are amortized over their useful life in a manner that reflects the pattern in which the intangible is being consumed if readily determinable, for example, based upon expected cash flows; otherwise they are amortized on a straight-line basis. The useful life of all identified intangibles will be periodically reassessed and if useful life changes, the carrying amount of the intangible will be amortized prospectively over the revised useful life.
The Company's identifiable intangible assets are generally valued under the income approach, using an estimate of future net cash flows, discounted based upon risk-adjusted returns for similar underlying assets.
Identifiable intangibles recognized in acquisition of an investment management business generally include management contracts and investor relationships. Management contracts represent contractual rights to future fee revenue from in-place management contracts that are amortized based upon expected cash flows over the remaining term of the contracts. Investor relationships represent potential fee revenue generated from future reinvestment by existing investors that is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life.
Other intangible assets include trade names, which are recognized as a separate identifiable intangible asset to the extent the Company intends to continue using the trade name post-acquisition. Trade names are valued as the savings from royalty fees that would have otherwise been incurred, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life, or not amortized if they are determined to have an indefinite useful life.
Impairment
Identifiable intangible assets are reviewed periodically to determine if circumstances exist which may indicate a potential impairment. If such circumstances are considered to exist, the Company evaluates if carrying value of the intangible asset is recoverable based upon an undiscounted cash flow analysis. Impairment loss is recognized for the excess, if any, of carrying value over estimated fair value of the intangible asset. An impairment establishes a new basis for the intangible asset and any impairment loss recognized is not subject to subsequent reversal.
In evaluating investment management intangibles for impairment, such as management contracts and investor relationships, the Company considers various factors that may affect future fee revenue, including but not limited to, changes in fee basis, amendments to contractual fee terms, and projected capital raising for future investment vehicles. Indefinite life trade names are impaired if the Company determines that it no longer intends to use the trade name.
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Accounts Receivable and Related Allowance
Cost Reimbursements and Recoverable Expenses —The Company is entitled to reimbursements and/or recovers certain costs paid on behalf of investment vehicles sponsored by the Company, which include: (i) organization and offering costs associated with the formation and capital raising of the investment vehicles up to specified thresholds; (ii) costs incurred in performing investment due diligence; and (iii) direct and indirect operating costs associated with managing the operations of certain investment vehicles. Indirect operating costs are recorded as expenses of the Company when incurred and amounts allocated and reimbursable are recorded as other income in the consolidated statements of operations on a gross basis to the extent the Company determines that it acts in the capacity of a principal in the incurrence of such costs. The Company facilitates the payments of organization and offering costs, due diligence costs to the extent the related investments are consummated and direct operating costs, all of which are recorded as due from affiliates on the consolidated balance sheets, until such amounts are repaid. Due diligence costs related to unconsummated investments that are borne by the Company are expensed as transaction-related costs in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company assesses the collectability of such receivables and establishes an allowance for any balances considered not collectable.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets of the Company are presented within other assets and carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Major replacements and betterments which improve or extend the life of assets are capitalized and depreciated over their useful life. Depreciation and amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the assets, which range between 3 and 7 years for furniture, fixtures, equipment and capitalized software, and over the shorter of the lease term or useful life for leasehold improvements.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company may use derivative instruments to manage its interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. All derivative instruments are recorded at fair value, with the accounting for changes in fair value depending upon whether the derivative has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.
Changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as accounting hedges are recorded in the statement of operations in other gain (loss).
For designated accounting hedges, if it is determined that a derivative is not expected to be or has ceased to be highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued.
Cash Flow Hedges —The Company may use interest rate caps and swaps to hedge its exposure to interest rate fluctuations in forecasted interest payments on floating rate debt and may designate as cash flow hedges. Changes in fair value of the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or "AOCI," and reclassified into earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. If the derivative in a cash flow hedge is terminated or the hedge designation is removed, related amounts in AOCI are reclassified into earnings when the hedged item affects earnings.
Net Investment Hedges —The Company may use foreign currency hedges to protect the value of its net investments in foreign subsidiaries. Changes in fair value of derivatives used as hedges of net investment in foreign operations are recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment account within AOCI. At the end of each period, the Company reassesses the effectiveness of its net investment hedges and as appropriate, dedesignates the portion of the derivative notional that is in excess of the beginning balance of its net investments as undesignated hedges. Release of amounts in AOCI related to net investment hedges occurs upon losing a controlling financial interest in an investment. Upon sale, complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign subsidiary, the gain or loss on the related net investment hedge is reclassified from AOCI to earnings.
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The Company did not engage in derivative transactions in 2024 and had no outstanding derivatives at December 31, 2023. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments in prior years were recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statement of operations as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2023 2022
Foreign currency contracts:
Designated contracts
Realized gain (loss) transferred from AOCI to earnings (1)
$ — $ 17,334
Non-designated contracts
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) in earnings (2)
4,053 17,092
Interest rate contracts:
Non-designated contracts
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) in earnings — 11,533
__________
(1) Represents a net investment hedge of a foreign subsidiary, for which the warehoused foreign investment was transferred to a sponsored fund and deconsolidated in 2022.
(2) Represents foreign currency contract entered into on behalf of a sponsored fund, which had no net impact to the Company's earnings (Note 16).
Leases
The Company's leasing arrangements are composed of operating leases for its corporate offices.
As lessee, the Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease and determines the classification of a leasing arrangement at its inception. A lease is classified as a finance lease, which represents a financed purchase of the leased asset, if the lease meets any of the following criteria: (a) asset ownership is transferred to lessee by end of lease term; (b) option to purchase asset is reasonably certain to be exercised by lessee; (c) the lease term is for a major part of the remaining economic life of the asset; (d) the present value of lease payments equals or exceeds substantially the fair value of the asset; or (e) the asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use at end of lease term. A lease is classified as an operating lease when none of the criteria are met. The Company also made the accounting policy election to treat lease and nonlease components in a lease contract as a single component.
Short-term leases are not recorded on the balance sheet, with lease payments expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term leases are defined as leases which at commencement date, have a lease term of 12 months or less and do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.
For leases with terms greater than 12 months, a lessee's rights to use the leased asset and obligation to make future lease payments are recognized on balance sheet at lease commencement date as a right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset and a lease liability, respectively. The lease liability is measured based upon the present value of future lease payments over the lease term, discounted at the incremental borrowing rate. Variable lease payments are excluded and are recognized as lease expense as incurred. Lease renewal or termination options are taken into account only if it is reasonably certain that the option would be exercised. As an implicit rate is not readily determinable in most leases, an estimated incremental borrowing rate is applied, which is the interest rate that the Company or its subsidiary, where applicable, would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments, on a collateralized basis over the lease term. In estimating incremental borrowing rates, consideration is given to recent debt financing transactions by the Company or its subsidiaries as well as publicly available data for debt instruments with similar characteristics, adjusted for the lease term. The ROU lease asset is measured based upon the corresponding lease liability, reduced by any lease incentives and adjusted to include capitalized initial direct leasing costs.
The Company's ROU lease asset is presented within other assets and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of its useful life or remaining lease term. The Company's lease liability is presented within accrued and other liabilities. The lease liability is (a) reduced by lease payments made during the period; and (b) accreted to the balance as of the beginning of the period based upon the discount rate used at lease commencement. For finance leases, periodic lease payments are allocated between (i) interest expense, calculated based upon the incremental borrowing rate determined at commencement, to produce a constant periodic interest rate on the remaining balance of the lease liability, and (ii) reduction of lease liability. The combination of periodic interest expense and amortization expense on the ROU lease asset effectively reflects installment purchases on the financed leased asset, and results in a front-loaded expense recognition. Higher interest expense is recorded in the early periods as a constant interest rate is applied to the finance lease liability and the liability decreases over the lease term as cash payments are made. For operating leases, fixed
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lease expense is recognized over the lease term on a straight-line basis and variable lease expense is recognized in the period incurred.
A lease that is terminated before expiration of its lease term would result in a derecognition of the lease liability and ROU lease asset, with the difference recorded in the income statement, reflected as other gain (loss). If a plan has been committed to abandon an ROU lease asset at a future date before the end of its lease term, amortization of the ROU lease asset is accelerated based on its revised useful life. If an ROU lease asset is abandoned with immediate effect and the carrying value of the ROU lease asset is determined to be unrecoverable, an impairment loss is recognized on the ROU lease asset.
Financing Costs
Debt discounts and premiums as well as debt issuance costs (except for revolving credit arrangements) are presented net against the associated debt on the balance sheet and amortized into interest expense using the effective interest method over the contractual term or expected life of the debt instrument. Costs incurred in connection with revolving credit arrangements are recorded as deferred financing costs in other assets, and amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the credit facility.
Fee Revenue
Fee revenue consists primarily of the following:
Management Fees —The Company earns management fees for providing investment management services to its sponsored private funds and other investment vehicles, portfolio companies and managed accounts, which constitute a series of distinct services satisfied over time. In cases where the investment vehicle is determined to be the customer, management fees are recognized over the life of the investment vehicle as services are provided. When the investor is determined to be the customer, management fees are recognized over the investor's expected investment holding period.
The governing documents of the investment vehicles may provide for certain fee credits or offsets to management fees. Such amounts include primarily termination or similar fees paid in connection with unconsummated investments that are reimbursable by the funds, and directors' fees paid by portfolio companies to employees of the Company in their capacity as non-management directors. These fee credits or offsets represent a component of the transaction price for the Company's provision of investment management services and are applied to reduce management fees payable to the Company.
Pursuant to the governing documents of the funds, the Company may be required to bear organizational costs of the funds in excess of prescribed thresholds. The excess organizational costs represent a liability to the Company and if such costs are paid by the funds, the liability is relieved when the Company receives management fees from the funds net of the excess organizational costs.
Incentive Fees —The Company is entitled to incentive fees from sub-advisory accounts in its Liquid Strategies. Incentive fees are determined based upon the performance of the respective accounts, subject to the achievement of specified return thresholds in accordance with the terms set out in their respective governing agreements. Incentive fees take the form of a contractual fee arrangement, and unlike carried interests, do not represent an allocation of returns among equity holders of an investment vehicle. Incentive fees are a form of variable consideration and are recognized when it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative revenue will not occur, which is generally at the end of the performance measurement period.
Management fees and incentive fees earned from consolidated funds and other investment vehicles are eliminated in consolidation. However, because the fees are funded by and earned from third party investors in these consolidated vehicles who represent noncontrolling interests, the Company's allocated share of net income from the consolidated funds and other vehicles is increased by the amount of fees that are eliminated. Accordingly, the elimination of these fees does not affect net income (loss) attributable to DBRG.
Other Income
Other income includes primarily the following:
Cost Reimbursements from Affiliates —For various services provided to certain affiliates, including managed investment vehicles, the Company is entitled to receive reimbursements of expenses incurred, generally based on expenses that are directly attributable to providing those services and/or a portion of overhead costs. To the extent the Company determines that it acts in the capacity of a principal in the incurrence of such costs on behalf of the managed investment vehicle, the cost reimbursement is presented on a gross basis in other income and the expense in administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations in the period the costs are incurred. To the extent the
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Company determines that it acts in the capacity of an agent, the cost reimbursement is presented on a net basis in the consolidated statements of operations.
Property Operating Income —2022 included lease income from a foreign tower portfolio, acquired and consolidated in June 2022 as a warehoused investment and transferred to a core equity fund in December 2022.
Compensation
Compensation comprises salaries, bonus including discretionary awards and contractual amounts for certain senior executives, benefits, severance payments, incentive fee and carried interest compensation, and equity-based compensation. Bonus is accrued over the employment period to which it relates.
Incentive Fee and Carried Interest Compensation —This represents a portion of incentive fees and carried interest earned by the Company that are allocated to senior management, investment professionals and certain other employees of the Company. Incentive fees and carried interest compensation is generally recorded as the related incentive fees and carried interest are recognized in earnings. Carried interest compensation amounts may be reversed if there is a decline in the cumulative carried interest amounts previously recognized. Incentive fee and carried interest compensation are generally not paid to management or other employees until the related incentive fees and carried interest amounts are distributed by the investment vehicles to the Company.
If the related carried interest distributions received by the Company are subject to clawback, the previously distributed carried interest compensation would be similarly subject to clawback from employees. The Company generally withholds a portion of the distribution of carried interest compensation to employees to satisfy their potential clawback obligation. The amount withheld resides in entities outside of the Company.
Equity-Based Compensation —Equity-classified stock awards granted to employees and non-employees that have a service condition and/or a market or performance condition are measured at fair value at date of grant.
A modification in the terms or conditions of an award, unless the change is non-substantive, represents an exchange of the original award for a new award. The modified award is revalued and incremental compensation cost is recognized for the excess, if any, between fair value of the award upon modification and fair value of the award immediately prior to modification. Total compensation cost recognized for a modified award, however, cannot be less than its grant date fair value, unless at the time of modification, the service or performance condition of the original award was not expected to be satisfied. An award that is probable of vesting both before and after modification will result in incremental compensation cost only if terms affecting its estimate of fair value have been modified.
Liability-classified stock awards are remeasured at fair value at the end of each reporting period until the award is fully vested.
Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each award, with the amount of compensation expense recognized at the end of a reporting period at least equal the portion of fair value of the respective award at grant date or modification date, as applicable, that has vested through that date. For awards with a performance condition, compensation expense is recognized only if and when it becomes probable that the performance condition will be met, with a cumulative adjustment from service inception date, and conversely, compensation cost is reversed to the extent it is no longer probable that the performance condition will be met. For awards with a market condition, compensation cost is not reversed if a market condition is not met so long as the requisite service has been rendered, as a market condition does not represent a vesting condition. Compensation expense is adjusted for actual forfeitures upon occurrence.
Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes consists of a current and deferred component. Current income taxes represent income tax to be paid or refunded for the current period. The Company uses the asset and liability method to provide for income taxes, which requires that the Company's income tax provision reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities for financial reporting versus for income tax purposes. Accordingly, a deferred tax asset or liability for each temporary difference is determined based on enacted tax rates that the Company expects to be in effect upon realization of the underlying amounts when they become deductible or taxable and the differences reverse. A deferred tax asset is also recognized for net operating losses ("NOL"), capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is established if the Company believes it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized based upon the weight of all available positive and negative evidence. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted earnings and prudent and
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feasible tax planning strategies. An established valuation allowance may be reversed in a future period if the Company subsequently determines it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax asset will become realizable.
Uncertain Tax Positions
Income tax benefits are recognized for uncertain tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained based solely on their technical merits. Such uncertain tax positions are measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return results in an unrecognized tax benefit. The Company evaluates on a quarterly basis whether it is more likely than not that its uncertain tax positions would be sustained upon examination by a tax authority for all open tax years, as defined by the statute of limitations. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based upon various factors including, but not limited to, changes in tax law, measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, new audit activity, and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position.
Income tax related interests and penalties, if any, are included as a component of income tax benefit (expense).
Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates basic earnings per share ("EPS") using the two-class method which defines unvested stock based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends as participating securities. The two-class method is an allocation formula that determines EPS for each share of common stock and participating securities according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, all earnings (distributed and undistributed) are allocated to common shares and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends. EPS is calculated by dividing earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted-average number of common shares and the effect of potentially dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common share equivalents represent the assumed issuance of common shares in settlement of certain arrangements if determined to be dilutive, generally based upon the more dilutive of the two-class method or the treasury stock method, or based upon the if-converted method for the assumed conversion of convertible debt. The earnings allocated to common stockholders is adjusted to add back the income or loss associated with the potentially dilutive instruments that are assumed to result in the issuance of common shares if determined to be dilutive, such as interest expense on convertible debt.
In circumstances where discontinued operations is reported, income from continuing operations is used as the benchmark to determine whether including potential common shares in diluted EPS computation would be antidilutive. Accordingly, if there is a loss from continuing operations and potential common shares would be antidilutive due to the loss, but there is net income after adjusting for discontinued operations, the potential common shares would be excluded from diluted EPS computation even though the effect on net income would be dilutive, because income from continuing operations is used as the benchmark.
Discontinued Operations
If the disposition of a component, being an operating or reportable segment, business unit, subsidiary or asset group, represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, the operating profits or losses of the component when classified as held for sale, and the gain or loss upon disposition of the component, are presented as discontinued operations in the statements of operations.
A business or asset group acquired in connection with a business combination that meets the criteria to be accounted for as held for sale at the date of acquisition is reported as discontinued operations, regardless of whether it meets the strategic shift criterion.
The Company's discontinued operations in the periods presented herein represent the following:
• In all periods presented, residual activities from the Company's former real estate investments along with an adjacent investment management business, which have predominantly been disposed as part of the Company's transformation into an investment manager with a digital infrastructure focus.
• In 2023 and 2022, the operations of digital infrastructure portfolio companies that represented the Company's former Operating segment prior to their full deconsolidation and qualification as discontinued operations on December 31, 2023. The Operating segment was previously composed of balance sheet equity interests in two digital infrastructure portfolio companies, DataBank and Vantage SDC, an edge colocation and a stabilized hyperscale data center business, respectively. These portfolio companies directly held and operated data centers,
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earning rental income from providing use of data center space and/or capacity through leases, services and other tenant arrangements. Prior to deconsolidation and reclassification as discontinued operations, a majority of the assets, liabilities and operating results of DataBank and Vantage SDC were attributed to third party investors, presented as noncontrolling interests in investment entities.
DataBank— During 2022 and 2023, DataBank was partially recapitalized through multiple sales of equity interest to new investors. The Company received its share of net proceeds from the sale totaling $ 425.5 million in 2022 and $ 49.4 million in 2023, including its share of carried interest, net of allocation to employees, totaling $ 20.1 million in 2022 and $ 27.9 million in 2023. In 2022, as the transaction involved a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary, it was accounted for as an equity transaction. The difference between the book value of the Company's interest and its ownership based upon the current value of DataBank resulted in a reallocation from noncontrolling interests in investment entities to additional paid-in capital totaling $ 230.2 million in 2022. In 2023, the completion of the recapitalization further reduced the Company's ownership interest in DataBank, resulting in a deconsolidation of DataBank. In connection therewith, the Company realized a $ 3.7 million gain from the sale of its equity interest in the final closing of the recapitalization, and remeasured its then remaining equity interest in DataBank at a fair value of $ 434.5 million, resulting in an unrealized gain of $ 275.0 million. The total gain of $ 278.7 million was recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statement of operations in 2023.
Vantage SDC— The Company and its co-investors had committed to acquire the future build-out and lease-up of the expanded capacity and existing inventory in Vantage SDC, the costs of which are to be borne by the existing owners of Vantage SDC. The cost of the expansion capacity had been funded by Vantage SDC from borrowings or through cash from operations, except for a $ 122 million payment that was deferred in 2023 and treated as a contribution of assets by the existing owners of Vantage SDC that was funded through equity. On December 31, 2023, there was an accelerated settlement of $ 36 million of the deferred payment through a combination of a reallocation of equity from DBRG and its co-investors to the existing owners and issuance of a note payable to an existing owner. This settlement transaction resulted in a dilution of the ownership held by DBRG and its co-investors in Vantage SDC, and in connection therewith, a dilution of the Company's voting rights in Vantage SDC, resulting in a deconsolidation of Vantage SDC. The Company's interest in Vantage SDC at December 31, 2023 was held through two single asset funds that were consolidated, and which were subsequently deconsolidated in 2024 (Note 10).
Following deconsolidation of DataBank in 2023 and the Vantage SDC funds in 2024, the Company's co-investments in DataBank and Vantage SDC are reflected as principal investments under the equity method .
• In 2023 and 2022, the Company's equity method investment in BrightSpire Capital, Inc. (NYSE: BRSP), which was sold in March 2023 for net proceeds totaling $ 201.6 million, with impairment loss of $ 9.7 million and $ 60.4 million recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively, prior to its disposition. The Company's investment in BRSP qualified as discontinued operations in March 2023.
• In 2022, the Wellness Infrastructure business, which was disposed in February 2022, along with other non-core assets held by a subsidiary, NRF Holdco, LLC ("NRF Holdco"). The equity of NRF Holdco was sold for $ 281 million, in a combination of cash and a $ 155 million unsecured promissory note. The promissory note was fully written down in March 2023. The disposition of NRF Holdco resulted in a write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs on the Wellness Infrastructure debt assumed by the buyer of $ 92.1 million and additional impairment loss based upon final carrying value of the Wellness Infrastructure net assets in 2022.
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Income (Loss) from discontinued operations is summarized as follows.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Revenues $ 7,649 $ 783,121 $ 975,286
Expenses ( 10,669 ) ( 1,089,481 ) ( 1,456,076 )
Other gain (loss) ( 16,035 ) ( 12,517 ) ( 31,807 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes ( 19,055 ) ( 318,877 ) ( 512,597 )
Income tax benefit (expense) 190 ( 1,581 ) 2,413
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations ( 18,865 ) ( 320,458 ) ( 510,184 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Investment entities 1,199 ( 260,120 ) ( 302,072 )
Operating Company ( 1,372 ) ( 4,339 ) ( 15,893 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc. $ ( 18,692 ) $ ( 55,999 ) $ ( 192,219 )
Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations
The Company initially measures assets and liabilities of discontinued operations at the lower of their carrying amounts or fair value less disposal costs. For bulk sale transactions, the unit of account is the disposal group, with any excess of the aggregate carrying value over estimated fair value less costs to sell allocated to the individual assets within the group.
Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations consisted of remaining equity investments excluded from the Company's December 2021 bulk sale of its real estate related investments.
Reclassifications
Investment-related expense in prior periods, which were immaterial to the respective periods, have been combined into administrative and other expenses on the consolidated statements of operations to conform to current period presentation. This reclassification did not affect the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Accounting Policies Related to Real Estate Operations
Accounting policies related to real estate operations were applicable to a warehoused tower portfolio in continuing operations in 2022, and to portfolio companies in the former Operating segment prior to deconsolidation, included in discontinued operatio ns in all prior periods presented.
Lease Income
The Company's lease income was composed of (i) fixed lease income for rents, and for interconnection services and a committed amount of power related to contracted data center leased space; and (ii) variable lease income for tenant reimbursements, installation services of Company-owned data center equipment and additional metered power reimbursements based upon usage by data center tenants at prevailing rates.
Rental income recognition commences when the tenant takes possession of the lease space. Rental income was recognized on a straight-line basis over the noncancelable term of the related lease which includes the effects of minimum rent increases and rent abatements under the lease. Rents received in advance were deferred.
For Company-owned tenant improvements, the amounts funded by or reimbursed from the tenants were recorded as deferred revenue, which was amortized on a straight-line basis as additional rental income over the term of the related lease. When it was determined that the tenant is the owner of tenant improvements, the Company's contribution towards those improvements was recorded as a lease incentive and amortized as a reduction to rental income on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
The Company evaluated collectability of lease payments based upon the creditworthiness of the lessee and recognized lease income only to the extent collection of all amounts due over the life of the lease was determined to be probable. If collection is subsequently determined to no longer be probable, any previously accrued lease income that has not been collected is subject to reversal. If collection is subsequently determined to be probable, lease income and corresponding receivable would be reestablished to an amount that would have been recognized if collection had always been deemed to be probable.
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Data Center Service Revenue
The Company earned data center service revenue, primarily composed of cloud services, data storage, data protection, network services, software licensing, other services related to installation of customer equipment, and other related information technology services, which were recognized as services are provided to data center customers.
The Company periodically evaluated aged receivables and considers the collectability of unbilled receivables. The Company estimated allowance for doubtful accounts for specific accounts receivable balances based upon historical collection trends, age of outstanding accounts receivables and existing economic conditions associated with the receivables.
Real Estate Depreciation
Real estate assets used in the generation of property operating income, other than land, were depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally up to 50 years for buildings, 40 years for site and building improvements, 30 years for data center infrastructure, and 8 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Tenant improvements were amortized over the lesser of the useful life or the remaining term of the lease.
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2024
Reportable Segment Disclosures
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures , which expands the breadth and frequency of segment disclosures to require all annual disclosures on an interim basis and provide for incremental disclosures, including the following:
• Category and amount of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to (even if not regularly reviewed by) the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") and included in each reported segment profit (loss) measure, otherwise the nature of expense information (for example, consolidated, forecasted, budgeted) used by the CODM;
• An amount (without individual quantification) for other segment items (represents difference between segment revenue less segment expense disclosed and reported segment profit (loss) measure), including description of the composition, nature and type of the other segment items;
• Description of how CODM uses each reported segment profit (loss) measure to assess segment performance and determine resource allocation; and
• Title and position of individual or name of group or committee identified as CODM.
The ASU changes current guidance by permitting multiple measures of segment profit (loss) to be reported provided that the measure most consistent with GAAP is reported. The ASU also clarifies that a single reportable segment entity is subject to segment disclosures in its entirety, which would require reporting of segment profit (loss) measure that is not a consolidated GAAP measure and not clearly evident from existing disclosures. The ASU does not change existing guidance around identification of operating segments and determination of reportable segments. The requirements under this ASU are to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented unless impracticable.
The Company adopted this ASU for the 2024 fiscal year with the filing of this Form 10-K. The new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's segment disclosures, included herein in Note 17.
Future Accounting Standards
Income Tax Disclosures
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which enhances existing annual income tax disclosures, primarily disaggregation of: (i) effective tax rate reconciliation using both percentages and amounts into specific categories, with further disaggregation by nature and/or jurisdiction of certain categories that meet the threshold of 5% of expected tax; and (ii) income taxes paid (net of refunds received) between federal, state/local and foreign, with further disaggregation by jurisdiction if 5% or more of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received). The ASU also eliminates existing disclosures related to: (a) reasonably possible significant changes in total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of reporting date; and (b) cumulative amount of each type of temporary difference for which deferred tax liability has not been recognized (due to exception to recognizing deferred taxes related to subsidiaries and corporate joint ventures).
This ASU is effective January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted in the interim or annual periods. Transition is prospective with the option to apply retrospective application. The Company will adopt the ASU on its effective date on a
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prospective basis and does not expect this new guidance to have a material impact on its annual income tax disclosures.
Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, in response to longstanding investor requests for disaggregated information about expenses by nature to supplement income statement expenses presented by function (for example, cost of sales and administrative expenses). The new standard requires tabular disclosure in a footnote, disaggregating each income statement line item that contains any of the following natural expenses: (a) purchases of inventory; (b) employee compensation; (c) depreciation; (d) intangible asset amortization; and (e) depletion. If an expense caption that is presented as a natural expense on the income statement includes more than one of the required expense categories, further disaggregation is required. For example, an expense caption consisting of depreciation and intangible asset amortization would need to be disaggregated to separately disclose each category in the footnotes. An expense caption that consists entirely of one of the required natural expense categories is not required to be disaggregated. Further, certain expenses, gains or losses that are required to be disclosed under US GAAP, if they are recorded within the expense line items that contain any of the prescribed expense categories, are to be separately quantified within the same tabular disclosure. Any remaining amounts in expense line items that contain any of the prescribed expense categories that have not been separately quantified are to be included in the tabular disclosure to reconcile to the corresponding amount on the income statement and to be qualitatively described.
The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2027 and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2028. Early adoption is permitted. Transition is prospective with the option to apply retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this new guidance.
3. Business Combinations
InfraBridge
In February 2023, the Company acquired the global infrastructure equity investment management business of AMP Capital Investors International Holdings Limited, which was rebranded as InfraBridge at closing. Consideration for the acquisition consisted of $ 314.3 million cash consideration (net of cash assumed), subject to customary post-closing working capital adjustments, plus a contingent amount based upon achievement of future fundraising targets for InfraBridge's new global infrastructure funds. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration is subject to remeasurement each reporting period, as discussed in Note 10.
The following table summarizes the total consideration and allocation to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The initial cash consideration was determined, in part, based upon estimated net working capital of the acquired entities at closing. The Company finalized the purchase price allocation in the first quarter of 2024, as presented below.
(In thousands) As Reported
At December 31, 2023 Measurement Period Adjustments Final
Consideration
Cash $ 365,440 $ 365,440
Contingent consideration at fair value 10,874 10,874
$ 376,314 $ 376,314
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash 51,174 51,174
Principal investments 112,310 112,310
Intangible assets 50,800 50,800
Other assets 34,699 16 34,715
Deferred tax liabilities ( 10,198 ) ( 10,198 )
Other liabilities ( 30,214 ) 373 ( 29,841 )
Fair value of net assets acquired 208,571 208,960
Goodwill 167,743 ( 389 ) 167,354
$ 376,314 $ 376,314
• Principal investments represent acquired interests in InfraBridge funds, valued at their most recent NAV at closing.
• The intangible assets of InfraBridge were composed of the following:
• Management contracts were valued based upon estimated net cash flows expected to be generated from the contracts, with remaining term of the contracts ranging between 1 and 4 years, discounted at 8.0 %.
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• Investor relationships represent the fair value of potential future investment management fees, net of operating costs, to be generated from repeat InfraBridge investors in future sponsored vehicles, with a weighted average estimated useful life of 12 years, discounted at 14.0 %.
• Deferred tax liabilities were recognized for the book-to-tax basis difference of identifiable intangible assets acquired, net of deferred tax assets assumed.
• Other assets acquired and liabilities assumed include management fee receivable and compensation payable associated with the pre-acquisition period, amounts due to InfraBridge funds and receivable from seller, all of which have largely been settled or relieved.
• Goodwill is the value of the business acquired that is not already captured in identifiable assets, largely represented by the potential synergies from combining the capital raising resources of DBRG and the mid-market infrastructure specialization of the InfraBridge team.
4. Investments
The Company's equity and debt investments are represented by the following:
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Equity method investments
Principal investments $ 1,391,316 $ 1,194,417
Carried interest allocation 894,553 676,421
Marketable equity securities 242 17,487
Other equity investments 24,612 53,930
CLO subordinated notes 35,122 50,927
2,345,845 1,993,182
Equity investments of consolidated funds
Marketable equity securities 83,269 66,297
Other investments 63,154 416,614
$ 2,492,268 $ 2,476,093
Equity Method Investments
Principal Investments
Principal investments represent investments in the Company's sponsored investment vehicles, accounted for as equity method investments as the Company exerts significant influence in its role as general partner. The Company typically has a small percentage interest in its sponsored funds as general partner or special limited partner. The Company also has additional investment as general partner affiliate alongside the funds' limited partners, primarily with respect to the Company's flagship value-add funds, InfraBridge funds and funds invested in DataBank and Vantage SDC.
The Company's proportionate share of net income (loss) from investments in its sponsored investment vehicles, primarily unrealized gain (loss) from changes in fair value of the underlying fund investments, and any distributions of income, including from realization events, are recorded in principal investment income on the consolidated statements of operations.
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Carried Interest Allocation
Carried interest allocation represents a disproportionate allocation of returns of up to 20 % to the Company, as general partner or special limited partner (which may be paid to the special limited partner entity owned by the Company in place of the general partner entity), based upon the extent to which cumulative performance of a sponsored fund exceeds minimum return hurdles, typically an annual preferred return of 6 % to 8 %. Carried interest allocation generally arises when appreciation in value of the underlying investments of the fund exceeds the minimum return hurdles, after factoring in a return of invested capital and a return of certain costs of the fund pursuant to terms of the governing documents of the fund. The amount of carried interest allocation recognized is based upon the cumulative performance of the fund if it were liquidated as of the reporting date. Unrealized carried interest allocation is driven primarily by changes in fair value of the underlying investments of the fund, which may be affected by various factors, including but not limited to, the projected financial performance of the portfolio company, economic conditions, foreign exchange rates and comparable transactions in the market. For funds that have exceeded the minimum return hurdle but have not returned all capital to the limited partners, unrealized carried interest allocation may be subject to reversal over time as preferred returns continue to accrue on unreturned capital. Realization of carried interest allocation occurs upon disposition of all underlying investments of the fund, or in part with each disposition.
Generally, carried interest allocation is distributed upon profitable disposition of an investment if at the time of distribution, cumulative returns of the fund exceed minimum return hurdles. Depending on the final realized value of all investments at the end of the life of a fund (and, with respect to certain funds, periodically during the life of the fund), if it is determined that cumulative carried interest allocation distributed has exceeded the final carried interest allocation amount earned (or amount earned as of the calculation date), the Company is obligated to return the excess carried interest allocation received. Therefore, carried interest allocation distributed may be subject to clawback if decline in investment values results in cumulative performance of the fund falling below minimum return hurdles in the interim period. If it is determined that the Company has a clawback obligation, a liability would be established based upon a hypothetical liquidation of the net assets of the fund at reporting date. The actual determination and required payment of any clawback obligation would generally occur after final disposition of the investments of the fund or otherwise as set forth in the governing documents of the fund.
Carried interest allocation on the balance sheet date represents unrealized carried interest allocation in connection with sponsored funds that are currently in the early stage of their lifecycle. Carried interest allocation is presented gross of management allocation.
Carried Interest Distributed
There was an immaterial distribution of carried interest during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Carried interest of $ 28.4 million was distributed in 2023 and recognized in carried interest allocations, of which $ 0.8 million of the distributed carried interest was allocated to current and former employees and to Wafra, recorded as either carried interest compensation, other loss, or amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests (Note 16).
Clawback Obligation
The Company did not have a liability for clawback obligations on carried interest distributed as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
With respect to funds that have distributed carried interest, if in the event all of their investments are deemed to have no value, all of the carried interest distributed to-date of $ 181.0 million would be subject to clawback as of December 31, 2024, of which $ 120.7 million would be the responsibility of the employee/former employee recipients and Wafra. For this purpose, a portion of carried interest distributed is generally held back from employees and former employees at the time of distribution. The amount withheld resides in entities outside of the Company. Generally, the Company, through the OP, has guaranteed the clawback obligation of its subsidiaries that act as general partner or special limited partner of its respective sponsored funds, for the benefit of these funds and their limited partners.
Marketable Equity Securities
Marketable equity securities at December 31, 2024 included securities in a healthcare REIT that was non-traded at December 31, 2023 and became publicly traded through an initial public offering in February 2024. The publicly traded securities in the healthcare REIT have been substantially liquidated following expiration of the underwriters' lock-up in August 2024.
Dividends or other distributions from marketable equity securities are recorded in other income, while changes in fair value are recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.
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Other Equity Investments
Other equity investments include investments warehoused potentially for future sponsored funds and an investment in a managed account.
Warehoused investments are generally carried at fair value or under the measurement alternative, which is at cost, adjusted for impairment and observable price changes. Changes in the value of these investments are recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.
Debt Investments
Interest income on debt investments is recorded in other income.
CLO Subordinated Notes
In the third quarter of 2022, bank syndicated loans that the Company previously warehoused were transferred into a
third party warehouse entity at their acquisition price, and securitized through the issuance of securities in a collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") structure. The CLO is sponsored and managed by the third party. The Company acquired all of the subordinated notes of the CLO, which are classified as available-for-sale ("AFS") debt securities.
In October 2024, the secured notes of the CLO were refinanced, with no change in the underlying collateral asset pool. The legal final maturity date, and reinvestment and non-call periods of the CLO were extended by two years . All of the Company’s subordinated notes remain outstanding. The Company received $ 10.4 million of excess net proceeds from the refinance as the subordinated note holder, which was applied as a return of capital in October 2024.
The stated legal final maturity of the CLO has been extended to 2037. Following the end of the non-call period of the CLO, which is now October 2026, the subordinated notes may be redeemed (in whole, not in part) at the option of the collateral manager or the Company with consent of the collateral manager, if there is sufficient proceeds from sale of collateral assets, including payment of expenses therewith. The redemption price for the subordinated notes is equal to the excess interest and principal proceeds payable at the time of redemption.
The balance of the CLO subordinated notes is summarized as follows:
Amortized Cost without Allowance for Credit Loss
Allowance for Credit Loss Gross Cumulative Unrealized
(in thousands) Gains Losses Fair Value
December 31, 2024 $ 35,122 $ — $ — $ — $ 35,122
December 31, 2023 50,927 — — — 50,927
In estimating fair value of the CLO subordinated notes, classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the Company used a benchmarking approach by looking to the implied credit spreads derived from observed prices on recent comparable CLO issuances, and also considering the current size and diversification of the CLO collateral pool, and projected return on the subordinated notes. Based upon these data points, at December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company determined that the issued price of the subordinated notes, net of capital distributions, was a reasonable representation of fair value and that the CLO subordinated notes are not impaired.
Equity Investments of Consolidated Funds
The Company consolidates sponsored funds in which it has more than an insignificant equity interest in the fund as general partner (Note 15). Equity investments of consolidated funds are composed primarily of marketable equity securities held by funds in the liquid securities strategy and equity investments in digital infrastructure portfolio companies held by single asset funds. Equity investments of consolidated funds are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.
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Combined Financial Information of Equity Method Investees
The following tables present selected combined financial information of the Company's equity method investees, which represent the Company's sponsored investment vehicles. Amounts presented represent combined totals at the investee level and not the Company's proportionate share.
Selected Combined Balance Sheet Information
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Total assets $ 46,606,626 $ 38,062,830
Total liabilities 1,436,787 413,270
Owners' equity 45,169,839 37,649,560
Selected Combined Statements of Operations Information
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Total revenues $ 225,825 $ 117,846 $ 23,232
Net income (loss) 1,707,294 2,976,972 2,150,989
5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
The following table presents changes in goodwill.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023
Beginning balance $ 465,991 $ 298,248
Business combination (Note 3)
( 389 ) 167,743
Ending balance (1)
$ 465,602 $ 465,991
__________
(1) Remaining goodwill deductible for income tax purposes was $ 101.2 million at December 31, 2024 and $ 111.8 million at December 31, 2023.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are composed of the following:
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
(In thousands) Carrying Amount (1)(2)
Accumulated Amortization (1)(2)
Net Carrying Amount (1)
Carrying Amount (1)(2)
Accumulated Amortization (1)(2)
Net Carrying Amount (1)
Investment management contracts $ 138,494 $ ( 97,371 ) $ 41,123 $ 150,835 $ ( 84,824 ) $ 66,011
Investor relationships 53,322 ( 24,761 ) 28,561 53,572 ( 19,190 ) 34,382
Trade name 4,300 ( 2,337 ) 1,963 4,300 ( 1,907 ) 2,393
Other (3)
1,518 ( 705 ) 813 1,518 ( 554 ) 964
$ 197,634 $ ( 125,174 ) $ 72,460 $ 210,225 $ ( 106,475 ) $ 103,750
__________
(1) Presented net of impairments and write-offs, if any.
(2) Exclude intangible assets that were fully amortized in prior years.
(3) Represents primarily the value of an acquired domain name.
Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets totaled $ 31.0 million, $ 34.6 million and $ 21.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There was no impairment of identifiable intangible assets in the periods presented.
Future Amortization of Intangible Assets
The following table presents the expected future amortization of finite-lived intangible assets:
Year Ending December 31,
(In thousands) 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 and thereafter Total
Amortization expense $ 25,102 $ 17,589 $ 11,966 $ 7,871 $ 3,061 $ 6,871 $ 72,460
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6. Restricted Cash, Other Assets and Other Liabilities
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash represents principally cash reserves that are maintained pursuant to the governing agreements of the securitized debt of the Company.
Other Assets
The following table summarizes the Company's other assets.
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Prepaid taxes and deferred tax assets, net $ 3,447 $ 14,059
Operating lease right-of-use asset for corporate offices
28,901 33,898
Accounts receivable, net 3,056 8,919
Prepaid expenses 4,531 2,952
Other assets 2,412 11,893
Fixed assets, net (1)
9,712 7,232
Total other assets $ 52,059 $ 78,953
__________
(1) Net of accumulated depreciation of $ 10.0 million at December 31, 2024 and $ 7.3 million at December 31, 2023 .
Other Liabilities
The following table summarizes the Company's other liabilities:
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Deferred investment management fees (1)
$ 9,306 $ 10,250
Interest payable on corporate debt
164 2,293
Common and preferred stock dividends payable 16,524 16,477
Securities sold short—consolidated funds
47,930 38,481
Due to custodians—consolidated funds
9,121 9,415
Current and deferred income tax liability
5,798 8,403
Contingent consideration payable—InfraBridge (Note 10)
6,100 11,338
Contingent consideration payable—Wafra (Note 9)
— 35,000
DBRG stock warrants (Note 10)
700 39,200
Operating lease liability for corporate offices
43,351 49,035
Accrued compensation 54,644 63,761
Accrued incentive fee and carried interest compensation 497,288 356,316
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 26,327 13,844
Due to affiliates (Note 16)
1,675 10,664
Other liabilities 6,579 16,974
Other liabilities $ 725,507 $ 681,451
__________
(1) Deferred investment management fees are expected to be recognized as fee revenue over a weighted average period of 3.2 years and 3.0 years as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Deferred investment management fees recognized as income of $ 3.8 million and $ 3.3 million in the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, pertain to the deferred management fee balance at the beginning of each respective period.
7. Debt
The Company's corporate debt is composed of a securitized financing facility and, prior to their full exchange or redemption in 2024, senior notes issued by the OP that are recourse to the Company, as discussed further below.
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
(In thousands) Principal Deferred Financing Cost Amortized Cost Principal Premium (Discount), net Deferred Financing Cost Amortized Cost
Securitized financing facility $ 300,000 $ ( 3,638 ) $ 296,362 $ 300,000 $ — $ ( 5,733 ) $ 294,267
Exchangeable senior notes — — — 78,422 ( 810 ) ( 96 ) 77,516
$ 300,000 $ ( 3,638 ) $ 296,362 $ 378,422 $ ( 810 ) $ ( 5,829 ) $ 371,783
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Securitized Financing Facility
In July 2021, special-purpose subsidiaries of the OP (the "Co-Issuers") issued Series 2021-1 Secured Fund Fee Revenue Notes, composed of: (i) $ 300 million aggregate principal amount of 3.933 % Secured Fund Fee Revenue Notes, Series 2021-1, Class A-2 (the “Class A-2 Notes”); and (ii) up to $ 300 million (following a $ 100 million increase in April 2022) Secured Fund Fee Revenue Variable Funding Notes, Series 2021-1, Class A-1 (the “VFN” and, together with the Class A-2 Notes, the “Series 2021-1 Notes”). The VFN allow the Co-Issuers to borrow on a revolving basis. The Series 2021-1 Notes were issued under an Indenture dated July 2021, as amended in April 2022, that allows the Co-Issuers to issue additional series of notes in the future, subject to certain conditions.
The Series 2021-1 Notes represent obligations of the Co-Issuers and certain other special-purpose subsidiaries of DBRG, and neither DBRG, the OP nor any of its other subsidiaries are liable for the obligations of the Co-Issuers. The Series 2021-1 Notes are secured by net investment management fees earned by subsidiaries of DBRG, and equity interests in certain sponsored funds and co-investments held by subsidiaries of DBRG, as collateral.
The following table summarizes certain key terms of the securitized financing facility:
($ in thousands) Outstanding Principal Interest Rate
(Per Annum) (1)
Anticipated Repayment Date (2)
Years Remaining to Maturity (2)
Class A-2 Notes
$ 300,000 3.93 % September 2026 1.7
Variable Funding Notes
— Adjusted 1-month Term SOFR + 3 %
September 2025 NA
__________
(1) Adjusted 1-month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") is the equivalent of 1-month Term SOFR plus 0.11448 %. Unused capacity under the VFN facility is subject to a commitment fee of 0.5 % per annum.
(2) The final maturity date of the Class A-2 Notes is in September 2051. In July 2024, the anticipated repayment date of the VFN was extended a year to September 2025. The anticipated repayment date of the VFN is subject to a remaining one-year extension.
The Series 2021-1 Notes may be optionally prepaid, in whole or in part, prior to their anticipated repayment dates. There is no prepayment penalty on the VFN. However, prepayment of the Class A-2 Notes will be subject to additional consideration based upon the difference between the present value of future payments of principal and interest and the outstanding principal of such Class A-2 Note that is being prepaid; or 1 % of the outstanding principal of such Class A-2 Note that is being prepaid in connection with a disposition of collateral.
The Indenture of the Series 2021-1 Notes contains various covenants, including financial covenants that require the maintenance of minimum thresholds for debt service coverage ratio and maximum loan-to-value ratio, as defined. As of the date of this filing, the Co-Issuers are in compliance with all of the financial covenants.
Exchangeable Senior Notes
In 2024, the remaining 5.75 % exchangeable senior notes issued by the OP with outstanding principal of $ 78.4 million was extinguished, of which $ 73.4 million was exchanged for 8.2 million shares of the Company's class A common stock, and $ 5.0 million was redeemed for cash. In connection with the exchange, shares of class A common stock were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended.
In 2022, DBRG and the OP completed separate privately negotiated exchange transactions with certain noteholders of the 5.75 % exchangeable notes. The Company exchanged in aggregate $ 60.3 million of outstanding principal of the 5.75 % exchangeable notes into 6,389,366 shares of the Company's class A common stock and paid $ 13.9 million of cash. The exchanges resulted in a debt extinguishment loss of $ 133.2 million, calculated as the excess of consideration paid over the carrying value of the notes exchanged, and recorded in other loss on the consolidated statement of operations. Consideration was measured at fair value based upon the closing price of the Company's class A common stock on the date of the respective exchanges, and cash paid, net of transaction costs. The exchanges did not qualify as debt conversion and were treated as debt extinguishment as the Company issued less than the number of shares issuable under the stated exchange ratio of 108.696 shares per $1,000 of note principal exchanged.
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8. Stockholders' Equity
The table below summarizes the share activities of the Company's preferred stock and common stock.
Number of Shares
(In thousands) Preferred Stock Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 35,340 142,144 166
Stock repurchases ( 2,229 ) ( 4,195 ) —
Exchange of notes for class A common stock — 6,389 —
Shares issued upon redemption of OP Units — 100 —
Shares issued for redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest (Note 9)
— 14,435 —
Equity awards issued, net of forfeitures — 1,589 —
Shares canceled for tax withholding on vested equity awards — ( 699 ) —
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2022 33,111 159,763 166
Stock repurchases ( 235 ) — —
Shares issued upon redemption of OP Units — 253 —
Equity awards issued, net of forfeitures — 4,835 —
Shares canceled for tax withholding on vested equity awards — ( 1,642 ) —
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 32,876 163,209 166
Exchange of notes for class A common stock — 8,245 —
Shares issued upon redemption of OP Units — 452 —
Conversion of class B to class A common stock — 16 ( 16 )
Settlement of Wafra contingent consideration (Note 9)
— 1,020 —
Equity awards issued, net of forfeitures — 1,772 —
Shares canceled for tax withholding on vested equity awards — ( 512 ) —
Shares outstanding at December 31, 2024 32,876 174,202 150
Preferred Stock
In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, preferred stockholders have priority over common stockholders for payment of dividends and distribution of net assets.
The table below summarizes the preferred stock issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024:
Description Dividend Rate Per Annum Initial Issuance Date Shares Outstanding
(in thousands)
Par Value
(in thousands)
Liquidation Preference
(in thousands)
Earliest Redemption Date
Series H 7.125 % April 2015 8,395 $ 84 $ 209,870 Currently redeemable
Series I 7.15 % June 2017 12,867 129 321,668 Currently redeemable
Series J 7.125 % September 2017 11,614 116 290,361 Currently redeemable
32,876 $ 329 $ 821,899
All series of preferred stock are at parity with respect to dividends and distributions, including distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears in January, April, July and October.
Each series of preferred stock is redeemable on or after the earliest redemption date for that series at $ 25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) prorated to their redemption dates, exclusively at the Company’s option. The redemption period for each series of preferred stock is subject to the Company’s right under limited circumstances to redeem the preferred stock upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the articles supplementary relating to each series of preferred stock).
Preferred stock generally does not have any voting rights, except if the Company fails to pay the preferred dividends for six or more quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive). Under such circumstances, the preferred stock will be entitled to vote, together as a single class with any other series of parity stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to elect two additional directors to the Company’s board of directors, until all unpaid dividends have been paid or declared and set aside for payment. In addition, certain changes to the terms of any series of preferred stock cannot be made without the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each such series of preferred stock voting separately as a class for each series of preferred stock.
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Common Stock
Except with respect to voting rights, class A common stock and class B common stock have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably in dividends and distributions, and are identical in all respects as to all matters. Class A common stock has one vote per share and class B common stock has thirty-six and one-half votes per share. This gives the holders of class B common stock a right to vote that reflects the aggregate outstanding non-voting economic interest in the Company (in the form of OP Units) attributable to class B common stock holders and therefore, does not provide any disproportionate voting rights. Class B common stock was issued as consideration in the Company's acquisition in April 2015 of the investment management business and operations of its former manager, which was previously controlled by the Company's former Executive Chairman. Each share of class B common stock shall convert automatically into one share of class A common stock if the former Executive Chairman or his beneficiaries directly or indirectly transfer beneficial ownership of class B common stock or OP Units held by them, other than to certain qualified transferees, which generally includes affiliates and employees. In addition, each holder of class B common stock has the right, at the holder’s option, to convert all or a portion of such holder’s class B common stock into an equal number of shares of class A common stock.
Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan
The Company's Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan (the “DRIP Plan”) provides existing common stockholders and other investors the opportunity to purchase shares (or additional shares, as applicable) of the Company's class A common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on their shares of the Company's class A common stock or making optional cash purchases within specified parameters. No shares of class A common stock have been acquired under the DRIP Plan in the form of new issuances in the last three years.
Reverse Stock Split
In August 2022, the Company effectuated a one-for-four reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of class A and class B common stock. At that time, t he number of authorized shares of common stock was not concurrently adjusted and p ar value of common stock was proportionately increased from $ 0.01 to $ 0.04 per share. Following stockholder approval in May 2023, the number of authorized shares of class A and class B common stock was proportionally decreased to 237,250,000 shares and 250,000 shares, respectively and p ar value of common stock was proportionately decreased from $ 0.04 to $ 0.01 per share, resulting in approximately $ 4.9 million increase in additional paid-in capital.
Stock Repurchases
The Company does not currently have an authorized stock repurchase program.
Pursuant to a $ 200 million stock repurchase program announced in July 2022 that expired in June 2023:
• In 2023, the Company repurchased 235,223 shares in aggregate across Series H, I and J preferred stock in 2023 for approximately $ 4.7 million, or a weighted average price of $ 20.18 per share.
• In 2022, the company repurchased (i) 2,228,805 in aggregate across Series H, I and J preferred stock for $ 52.6 million, or a weighted average price of $ 23.62 per share; and (ii) 4,195,020 shares of class A common stock for $ 54.9 million, or a weighted average price of $ 13.09 per share.
The excess or deficit of the repurchase price over the carrying value of the preferred stock results in a decrease or increase to net income attributable to common stockholders, respectively.
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables present the changes in each component of AOCI attributable to stockholders and noncontrolling interests in investment entities, net of immaterial tax effect. There were no changes in components of AOCI attributed to noncontrolling interests in investment entities for the year ended December 31, 2024. AOCI attributable to noncontrolling interests in Operating Company is immaterial.
Changes in Components of AOCI—Stockholders
(In thousands)
Company's Share in AOCI of Equity Method Investments Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Debt Securities Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Net Investment Hedges
Total
AOCI at December 31, 2021 $ 2,334 $ 5,861 $ 26,502 $ 7,686 $ 42,383
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications ( 2,429 ) — ( 10,923 ) 8,396 ( 4,956 )
Amounts reclassified from AOCI ( 200 ) ( 5,861 ) ( 16,793 ) ( 16,082 ) ( 38,936 )
AOCI at December 31, 2022 ( 295 ) — ( 1,214 ) — ( 1,509 )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications ( 1 ) — 2,906 — 2,905
Amounts reclassified from AOCI 296 — ( 1,246 ) — ( 950 )
Deconsolidation of investment entities (Note 2)
— — 965 — 965
AOCI at December 31, 2023 — — 1,411 — 1,411
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications — — ( 889 ) — ( 889 )
Amounts reclassified from AOCI — — ( 17 ) — ( 17 )
AOCI at December 31, 2024 $ — $ — $ 505 $ — $ 505
Changes in Components of AOCI—Noncontrolling Interests in Investment Entities
(In thousands) Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)
AOCI at December 31, 2021 $ 11,057
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications ( 4,571 )
Amounts reclassified from AOCI ( 9,501 )
AOCI at December 31, 2022 $ ( 3,015 )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 884
Amounts reclassified from AOCI ( 468 )
Deconsolidation of investment entities (Note 2)
2,550
AOCI at December 31, 2023 $ ( 49 )
Reclassifications out of AOCI—Stockholders
Information about amounts reclassified out of AOCI attributable to stockholders by component is presented below. Such amounts are included in other gain (loss) in continuing and discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of operations, as applicable, except for amounts related to equity method investments, which are included in equity method losses in discontinued operations.
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, Affected Line Item in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Component of AOCI reclassified into earnings 2024 2023 2022
Release of foreign currency cumulative translation adjustments $ 17 $ 1,246 16,793 Other gain (loss), net Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Relief of basis of AFS debt securities — — 5,861 Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Realized gain on net investment hedges — — 16,082 Other gain (loss), net Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Deconsolidation of investment entities (Note 2)
— ( 965 ) — Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Release of AOCI of equity method investments — ( 296 ) 200 Income (loss) from discontinued operations
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9. Noncontrolling Interests
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
The following table presents the activities in redeemable noncontrolling interests in the Company's investment management business prior to its redemption in May 2022 as discussed below, and in open-end funds in the liquid securities strategy consolidated by the Company.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
Beginning balance $ 17,862 $ 100,574 $ 359,223
Contributions 4,400 300 11,650
Distributions paid and payable, including redemptions ( 364 ) ( 89,515 ) ( 20,784 )
Net income (loss) 2,458 6,503 ( 26,778 )
Adjustment of Wafra's interest to redemption value and DBRG stock warrants held by Wafra to fair value — — 725,026
Redemption of Wafra's interest — — ( 862,276 )
Reclassification of DBRG stock warrants held by Wafra to liability in May 2022 — — ( 81,400 )
Reclassification of Wafra's carried interest allocation to noncontrolling interests in investment entities in May 2022 — — ( 4,087 )
Ending balance $ 24,356 $ 17,862 $ 100,574
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest in Investment Management in 2022
On May 23, 2022, the Company redeemed the 31.5 % noncontrolling interest in its investment management business held by a private investment firm, Wafra, pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement ("PSA") entered into in April 2022.
In connection with Wafra's initial investment in the Company's investment management business in July 2020, Wafra had assumed directly and also indirectly through a participation interest $ 124.9 million of the Company's commitments to DBP I, and has a $ 125.0 million commitment to DBP II that has been partially funded to-date. These are the Company's
flagship value-add funds within the DigitalBridge Partners ("DBP") infrastructure equity series. Wafra had also agreed to make commitments to the Company's future funds and investment vehicles on a pro rata basis with the Company based on Wafra's percentage interest in the investment management business, subject to certain caps.
Pursuant to the PSA, Wafra’s entitlement to carried interest in DBP II was reduced from 12.6 % to 7 %, and with certain limited exceptions, Wafra sold or gave up its right to invest in, or receive carried interest from, future investment management products, but except as otherwise provided, retained its investment in and its allocation of carried interest from existing investment management products.
Consideration for the redemption of Wafra's interest consisted of: (i) an upfront payment of $ 388.5 million in cash and 14,435,399 shares of the Company's class A common stock valued at $ 348.8 million based upon the closing price of the Company's class A common stock on May 23, 2022; and (ii) Wafra's right to earn a contingent amount up to $ 125 million if the Company raises fee earning equity under management (as defined in the PSA) up to $ 6 billion during the period from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2023, payable in March 2023 for portion earned in 2022 and March 2024 for any remaining portion earned in 2023, with up to 50 % payable in shares of the Company's class A common stock at the Company's election. The Company paid Wafra in cash $ 90 million of the contingent amount in March 2023 and remaining $ 35 million was paid in March 2024 as $ 17.5 million of cash and $ 17.5 million of shares of the Company's class A common stock.
The carrying value of Wafra's redeemable noncontrolling interest was adjusted to fair value prior to redemption, initially based upon an estimate of consideration payable at March 31, 2022 when redemption was deemed to be probable, including the maximum potential contingent amount of $ 125 million. This adjustment resulted in an allocation from additional paid-in capital to redeemable noncontrolling interests on the consolidated balance sheet.
The unrealized carried interest earnings allocated to Wafra that was retained and no longer subject to redemption was reclassified in May 2022 to permanent equity, included in noncontrolling interests in investment entities.
Additionally, in July 2020, the Company had also issued Wafra five warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5 % of the Company’s class A common stock ( 5 % at the time of the transaction, on a fully-diluted, post-transaction basis), as described further in Note 10. In connection with the redemption, the terms of the warrants were amended, among other things, to provide for net cash settlement upon exercise of the warrants, at election of either the Company or Wafra, if such exercise would result in Wafra beneficially owning in excess of 9.8 % of the issued and outstanding shares of the
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Company's class A common stock. Inclusion of the cash settlement feature changed the classification of the warrants from equity to liability. The warrants were remeasured to fair value prior to reclassification in May 2022, with the increase in value recorded in equity to reduce additional paid-in capital and subsequent changes in fair value recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. In connection with the sale of three of the five warrants by Wafra to a third party in March 2024, the terms of the warrants sold were amended to remove the net cash settlement feature. As a result, three of the warrants were reclassified to equity at their prevailing fair value and are no longer subject to fair value remeasurement (Note 10).
The Company's redemption of Wafra's interest in May 2022 also resulted in the assumption of $ 5.2 million of deferred tax asset.
Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Company
Certain current and former employees of the Company directly or indirectly own interests in OP, presented as noncontrolling interests in the Operating Company. Noncontrolling interests in OP have the right to require OP to redeem part or all of such member’s OP Units for cash based on the market value of an equivalent number of shares of the Company's class A common stock at the time of redemption, or at the Company's election as managing member of OP, through issuance of shares of class A common stock (registered or unregistered) on a one -for-one basis. At the end of each period, noncontrolling interests in OP is adjusted to reflect their ownership percentage in OP at the end of the period, through a reallocation between controlling and noncontrolling interests in OP.
Redemption of OP Units —The Company redeemed OP Units totaling 452,418 in 2024 and 253,084 in 2023 through issuance of an equal number of shares of class A common stock on a one -for-one basis.
10. Fair Value
Recurring Fair Values
Financial assets and financial liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis include financial instruments for which the fair value option is elected, but exclude financial assets under the NAV practical expedient. Fair value is categorized into a three tier hierarchy that is prioritized based upon the level of transparency in inputs used in the valuation techniques.
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Fair Value Measurement Hierarchy
(In thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
December 31, 2024
Assets
Investments (Note 4)
Marketable equity securities $ 242 $ — $ — $ 242
CLO subordinated notes — — 35,122 35,122
Equity investments of consolidated funds 83,269 — 63,154 146,423
Fair Value Option:
Equity method investment — — 137,154 137,154
Liabilities
Other liabilities
InfraBridge contingent consideration
— — 6,100 6,100
DBRG stock warrants
— — 700 700
Securities of consolidated funds sold short
47,930 — — 47,930
December 31, 2023
Assets
Investments (Note 4)
Marketable equity securities $ 17,487 $ — $ — $ 17,487
CLO subordinated notes — — 50,927 50,927
Equity investments of consolidated funds 66,297 — 416,614 482,911
Fair Value Option:
Equity method investment — — 6,700 6,700
Liabilities
Other liabilities
InfraBridge contingent consideration
— — 11,338 11,338
DBRG stock warrants
— — 39,200 39,200
Securities of consolidated funds sold short
38,481 — — 38,481
Equity Investments of Consolidated Funds
Equity investments of consolidated funds include marketable equity securities held by our liquid strategy funds, valued based upon listed prices in active markets, classified as Level 1; and equity investments in digital infrastructure portfolio companies held by single asset funds. The marketable equity securities comprise publicly listed stocks in the U.S. and Europe, and primarily in the digital infrastructure, real estate, technology, media and telecommunications sectors. The
other equity investment, classified as level 3, was valued at December 31, 2024 using a market approach that considers revenue multiples of other comparable companies, and at December 31, 2023, was carried at its recent transacted price. Additionally, at December 31, 2023, fair value of an underlying portfolio company held by two single asset funds, prior to deconsolidation of the funds (Note 2), was determined using a discounted cash flow model based upon projected net operating income of the investee with exit capitalization rate of 5.5 % and discounted at 10.4 %, classified as level 3.
In April 2024, two single asset funds were deconsolidated as the Company no longer holds a controlling financial interest in these funds. The Company's co-investment in Vantage SDC, the portfolio company of the underlying funds, was restructured and is no longer held through the funds, but through a parallel vehicle. The deconsolidation of these funds resulted in a removal of approximately $ 263.0 million of net assets attributed to the limited partners of the funds that had represented noncontrolling interests in investment entities. Subsequent to deconsolidation of the funds, the Company's co-investment in Vantage SDC is reflected as a principal investment under the equity method with the election of fair value option.
Prior to December 31, 2023, equity investments of consolidated funds included equity interests in pooling entities that hold a portfolio of loans, invested alongside other parallel funds within the same credit fund complex. Fair value of the fund's equity interests in the pooling entities was based upon its share of expected cash flows from the loan assets held by the pooling entities, classified as level 3. In estimating fair value of the underlying loans, the pooling entities considered the prevailing market yields at which a third party might expect to receive on equivalent loans with similar credit risk. Based upon a comparison to market yields, it was determined that the transacted price or par value of the loans held by the pooling entities approximated their fair value. In December 2023, following a reorganization of the Company's ownership interest within the fund structure, the credit fund was deconsolidated and the Company's interest in the credit fund was reflected as a principal investment under the equity method.
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Fair Value Option
Equity Method Investments
The Company has elected to account for certain equity method investments under the fair value option. Fair value was determined using a discounted cash flow model based upon projected earnings, with discount rates ranging between 11.0 % and 21.0 % (weighted average discount rate based upon relative fair value of 11.0 %) at December 31, 2024, and using a discount rate of 18.3 %, and also taking into consideration a comparison to market values of similar public companies at December 31, 2023. The fair value is classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and changes in fair value are recorded in principal investment income.
DBRG Stock Warrants
As discussed in Note 9, the Company had previously issued five warrants to Wafra in July 2020. Each warrant entitled Wafra to purchase up to 1,338,000 shares of the Company's class A common stock at staggered strike prices between $ 9.72 and $ 24.00 each, exercisable through July 17, 2026.
Effective May 2022, the five warrants were carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in other gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. In March 2024, three of the five warrants were reclassified to equity at their prevailing fair value following an amendment to the terms of the warrants in connection with a sale of the three warrants by Wafra to a third party. The equity-classified warrants are no longer subject to fair value remeasurement. No warrants have been exercised to-date.
At December 31, 2024, the two liability-classified warrants were carried at fair value, measured using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, applying the following inputs: (a) estimated volatility for DBRG's class A common stock of 34.7 % ( 37.8 % at December 31, 2023); (b) closing stock price of DBRG's class A common stock on the last trading day of the quarter; (c) the strike price for each warrant; (d) remaining term to expiration of the warrants; and (e) risk free rate of 4.21 % per annum ( 4.11 % per annum at December 31, 2023), derived from the daily U.S. Treasury yield curve rates to correspond to the remaining term to expiration of the warrants.
Contingent Consideration
In connection with the acquisition of InfraBridge, contingent consideration is payable if prescribed fundraising targets are met. In measuring the contingent consideration at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company applied a probability-weighted approach to the likelihood of meeting various fundraising targets and discounted the estimated future contingent consideration payment at 7.3 % and 4.9 %, respectively, to derive a present value amount, classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
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Changes in Level 3 Fair Value
The following table presents changes in recurring Level 3 fair value assets held for investment. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are included in other gain (loss).
Level 3 Assets Level 3 Liabilities
Fair Value Option Equity Investment of Consolidated Funds DBRG Stock Warrants InfraBridge Contingent Consideration
(In thousands) Loans Receivable (1)
Equity Method Investments
Fair value at December 31, 2022 $ 133,307 $ — $ 46,770 $ ( 17,700 ) $ —
Contributions — 20,000 85,486 — —
Consolidation of sponsored funds — — 393,614 — —
Business combination — — — — ( 10,874 )
Change in consolidated fund's share of equity investment (2)
— — 1,842 — —
Paydown of underlying loans held by equity investment of consolidated fund
— — ( 8,109 ) — —
Unrealized gain (loss) in earnings, net ( 133,307 ) ( 13,300 ) 2,216 ( 21,500 ) ( 464 )
Deconsolidation of sponsored fund — — ( 105,205 ) — —
Fair value at December 31, 2023 $ — $ 6,700 $ 416,614 $ ( 39,200 ) $ ( 11,338 )
Net unrealized gain (loss) in earnings on instruments held at December 31, 2023 $ ( 133,307 ) $ ( 13,300 ) $ — $ ( 21,500 ) $ ( 464 )
Fair value at December 31, 2023 $ — $ 6,700 $ 416,614 $ ( 39,200 ) $ ( 11,338 )
Election of fair value option — 130,320 — — —
Unrealized gain (loss) in earnings, net — 134 40,154 5,500 5,238
Reclassification to equity — — — 33,000 —
Deconsolidation of sponsored funds — — ( 393,614 ) — —
Fair value at December 31, 2024 $ — $ 137,154 $ 63,154 $ ( 700 ) $ ( 6,100 )
Net unrealized gain (loss) in earnings on instruments held at December 31, 2024 $ — $ 134 $ 40,154 $ 8,400 $ 5,238
__________
(1) In March 2023, an unsecured promissory note that had been issued in connection with the sale of the Company's former Wellness Infrastructure business in 2022 was written off in the amount of $ 133.3 million following a foreclosure by the mezzanine lender of certain assets within the sold Wellness Infrastructure portfolio.
(2) Represents reallocation of investment value when relative ownership of the pooling entity across its fund owners change following additional capital contributions prior to final close of the fund.
Nonrecurring Fair Values
The Company measures fair value of certain assets on a nonrecurring basis: (i) on the acquisition date for business combinations; (ii) when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable; and (iii) upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary for any retained interest. Adjustments to fair value generally result from application of the lower of amortized cost or fair value for assets held for disposition or otherwise, a write-down of asset values due to impairment.
During 2024, certain warehoused investments, previously carried at cost under the measurement alternative, were determined to be impaired and written down to fair value, estimated based upon pricing from a recent funding, or applying a probability-weighted approach to different recovery outcomes, classified as level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. These non-recurring fair values aggregated to $ 15.0 million at September 30, 2024.
There were no assets carried at nonrecurring fair value at December 31, 2023.
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments Reported at Cost
Fair value of financial instruments reported at amortized cost are presented below.
Fair Value Measurements Carrying Value
(In thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
December 31, 2024
Liabilities
Secured fund fee revenue notes $ — $ 285,760 $ — $ 285,760 $ 296,362
December 31, 2023
Liabilities
Secured fund fee revenue notes $ — $ 250,547 $ — $ 250,547 $ 294,267
Exchangeable senior notes 152,296 — 152,296 77,516
Debt —Senior notes and secured fund fee revenue notes were valued based on indicative quotes.
Other —The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, due from and to affiliates, interest payable and accounts payable generally approximate fair value due to their short term nature, and credit risk, if any, is negligible.
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11. Earnings per Share
The following table presents the basic and diluted earnings per common share computations.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands, except per share data) 2024 2023 2022
Net income (loss) allocated to common stockholders
Income (Loss) from continuing operations attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc. $ 89,214 $ 241,279 $ ( 129,578 )
Preferred stock repurchases/redemptions (Note 8)
— 927 1,098
Preferred dividends ( 58,641 ) ( 58,656 ) ( 61,567 )
Income (loss) allocated to participating securities ( 221 ) ( 2,179 ) ( 34 )
Income (Loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders 30,352 181,371 ( 190,081 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders ( 18,692 ) ( 55,999 ) ( 192,219 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders—basic 11,660 125,372 ( 382,300 )
Interest expense attributable to exchangeable notes (1)
— 5,050 —
Net income (loss) allocated to common stockholders—diluted $ 11,660 $ 130,422 $ ( 382,300 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—basic 168,437 159,868 154,495
Weighted average effect of dilutive shares (1)(2)(3)
381 9,852 —
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—diluted 168,818 169,720 154,495
Income (loss) per share—basic
Income (Loss) from continuing operations $ 0.18 $ 1.13 $ ( 1.23 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations ( 0.11 ) ( 0.35 ) ( 1.24 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share—basic $ 0.07 $ 0.78 $ ( 2.47 )
Income (loss) per share—diluted
Income (Loss) from continuing operations $ 0.18 $ 1.10 $ ( 1.23 )
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations ( 0.11 ) ( 0.33 ) ( 1.24 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share—diluted $ 0.07 $ 0.77 $ ( 2.47 )
__________
(1) With respect to the assumed conversion or exchange of the Company's senior notes which are no longer outstanding effective April 2024, the following is excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their inclusion would be antidilutive: for the years ended December 31, 2024 , 2023 and 2022, the effect of adding back $ 0.4 million , $ 3.1 million and $ 16.6 million of interest expense and 2,310,200 , 912,900 and 12,901,700 of weighted average dilutive common share equivalents. Also excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share was $ 133.2 million of debt extinguishment loss (Note 7) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(2) The calculation of diluted earnings per share excludes the effects of the following as their inclusion would be antidilutive: (i) class A common shares that are contingently issuable in relation to performance stock units (Note 13) with weighted average shares of 1,298,900 for the year ended December 31, 2022; and (ii) class A common shares that are issuable to net settle the exercise of warrants (Note 10) with weighted average shares of 752,100 , 667,400 and 1,742,800 for the years ended December 31, 2024 , 2023 and 2022 respectively.
(3) OP Units may be redeemed for registered or unregistered class A common stock of the Company on a one -for-one basis and are not dilutive. At December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, 11,923,400 , 12,375,800 and 12,628,900 of OP Units, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share in the respective periods presented.
12. Fee Revenue
The following table presents the Company's fee revenue by type.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Management fees
$ 311,210 $ 258,288 $ 169,922
Incentive fees
16,548 3,229 —
Other fees
1,935 2,600 2,751
Total fee revenue $ 329,693 $ 264,117 $ 172,673
Management Fees — Management fees are generally calculated based upon the following per annum contractual rates:
• Commingled equity funds—up to 1.60 % of investors' committed capital during the commitment period, and thereafter, invested capital (subject to certain reductions for NAV write-downs);
• Credit and other equity funds—up to 2.00 % of contributed or invested capital from inception;
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• Co-investment vehicles—up to 1.25 % of contributed or invested capital from inception; and
• Liquid Strategies and InfraBridge co-investment vehicles—up to 1.25 % of NAV or gross asset value, respectively.
Also, co-investment vehicles may charge a one-time fee upfront on committed or invested capital, generally to be paid in tranches, but with recognition of fee revenue over the expected investment holding period. Certain co-investment vehicles may be non fee-bearing.
Incentive Fees —The Company is entitled to incentive fees from sub-advisory accounts in its liquid securities strategy. Incentive fees are determined based upon the performance of the respective accounts, subject to the achievement of specified return thresholds in accordance with the terms set out in their respective governing agreements. A portion of incentive fees earned by the Company is allocable to certain employees and former employees, included in carried interest and incentive fee compensation expense.
Other Fee Revenue —Other fees include advisory fees and loan origination fees from co-investors, which are non-recurring, and service fees for information technology, facilities and operational support provided to certain portfolio companies.
Revenue Concentration
Revenue concentration is defined as a single fund or investment vehicle that generates 10% or more of the Company's total management fees. Four funds met the concentration criteria, aggregating to 70.2 % of total management fees for the year ended December 31, 2024.
13. Equity-Based Compensation
Equity-based awards granted prior to the end of March 2024, including the Company's annual equity awards, were granted under the DigitalBridge Group, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the "2014 Equity Incentive Plan), which expired at the end of March 2024.
At the end of April 2024, the Company's shareholders approved the 2024 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the "2024 Equity Incentive Plan"). The 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, consistent with the previous plan, provides for the grant of restricted stock, performance stock units ("PSUs"), Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") units, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), deferred stock units ("DSUs"), options, warrants or rights to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, cash incentives and other equity-based awards to the Company's officers, directors (including non-employee directors), employees, co-employees, consultants or advisors of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary who provides services to the Company, but excluding employees of portfolio companies. Shares reserved for the issuance of awards under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan are subject to equitable adjustment upon the occurrence of certain corporate events. The number of shares of class A common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan as of its adoption in April 2024 is 5.5 million shares.
Restricted Stock — Restricted stock awards in the Company's class A common stock are granted to senior executives, directors and certain employees, subject to a service condition or a combination of both a service and performance condition, with annual time-based vesting in equal tranches, generally over a three-year period. Vesting of performance-based restricted stock awards occur upon achievement of certain Company-specific metrics over a specified performance measurement period. Restricted stock is entitled to dividends declared and paid on the Company's class A common stock and such dividends are not forfeitable prior to vesting of the award. Restricted stock awards are valued based upon the Company's class A common stock price on grant date and equity-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
Restricted Stock Units — RSUs in the Company's class A common stock are subject to a combination of service and performance conditions. Vesting of performance-based RSUs are dependent on achievement of certain Company-specific metrics over a specified performance measurement period, with annual time-based vesting in equal tranches over a three-year period. Only vested RSUs are entitled to accrued dividends declared and paid on the Company's class A common stock during the time period the RSUs are outstanding. RSUs are initially valued based upon the Company's class A common stock price on grant date and not subsequently remeasured for equity-classified awards, while liability-classified awards are remeasured at fair value at the end of each reporting period until the award is fully vested. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period if and when it is probable that the performance condition will be met, subject to reversal if no longer probable. For liability classified awards that met their performance condition and became fully vested, $ 3.3 million of awards were cash settled in 2023.
Performance Stock Units — PSUs are granted to senior executives, and are subject to a service condition in combination with either a market condition or a performance condition.
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Following the end of the measurement period, the recipients of PSUs who remain employed will vest in, and be issued a number of shares of the Company's class A common stock, generally ranging from 0 % to 200 % of the number of PSUs granted. For market condition awards, this is determined based upon the performance of the Company's class A common stock over a three-year measurement period relative to a specified peer group (such measurement metric the "relative total shareholder return"). With respect to performance condition awards, vesting is determined based upon achievement of three-year cumulative distributable earnings ("DE") per share targets, and the relative total shareholder return metric is then applied to determine the final number of shares vested.
Recipients of PSUs whose employment is terminated after the first anniversary of their PSU grant are eligible to vest in a portion of the PSU award following the end of the measurement period based upon the final number of shares vested for that award. PSUs also contain dividend equivalent rights which entitle the recipients to a payment equal to the amount of dividends that would have been paid on the shares that are ultimately issued at the end of the measurement period.
The relative total shareholder return metric was valued using a Monte Carlo simulation under a risk-neutral premise, applying the following assumptions. This forms the fair value of market condition awards. The fair value of performance condition awards also incorporate, in addition to the relative total shareholder return metric, the probability of achieving the cumulative DE per share targets.
2024 PSU Grants 2023 PSU Grants 2022 PSU Grants
Expected volatility of the Company's class A common stock (1)
44.6 % 41.3 % 32.4 %
Expected annual dividend yield (2)
0.2 % 0.3 % — %
Risk-free rate (per annum) (3)
4.5 % 3.8 % 2.0 %
__________
(1) Based upon the historical volatility of the Company's stock and those of a specified peer group.
(2) Based upon the Company's expected annualized dividends. Expected dividend yield was zero for the March 2022 PSU awards as common dividends were suspended beginning the second quarter of 2020 and reinstated in the third quarter of 2022.
(3) Based upon the continuously compounded zero-coupon U.S. Treasury yield for the term coinciding with the measurement period of the award as of valuation date.
Fair value of PSU awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over their measurement period as compensation expense. With respect to performance condition awards, expense recognition occurs only if and when it is probable that the cumulative DE per share targets will be achieved and subject to reversal if no longer probable. In contrast, expense recognized on market condition awards is not subject to reversal even if the total shareholder return metric is not achieved.
The dividend equivalent right is accounted for as a liability-classified award. The fair value of the dividend equivalent right is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the measurement period, and is subject to adjustment to fair value at each reporting period.
LTIP Units — LTIP units are units in the Operating Company that are designated as profits interests for federal income tax purposes. Unvested LTIP units that are subject to market conditions do not accrue distributions. Each vested LTIP unit is convertible, at the election of the holder (subject to capital account limitation), into one common OP Unit and upon conversion, subject to the redemption terms of OP Units (Note 8).
LTIP units issued have both a service condition and a market condition based upon the Company's class A common stock achieving a target price over a predetermined measurement period, subject to continuous employment to the time of vesting, and valued using a Monte Carlo simulation.
The following assumptions were applied in the Monte Carlo model under a risk-neutral premise:
2022 LTIP Grant
Expected volatility of the Company's class A common stock (1)
34.0 %
Expected dividend yield (2)
0.0 %
Risk-free rate (per annum) (3)
3.6 %
__________
(1) Based upon historical volatility of the Company's stock and those of a specified peer group.
(2) Based upon the Company's most recently issued dividend prior to grant date and closing price of the Company's class A common stock on grant date. Expected dividend yield was zero for the June 2022 award as common dividends were suspended beginning the second quarter of 2020 and reinstated in the third quarter of 2022.
(3) Based upon the continuously compounded zero-coupon US Treasury yield for the term coinciding with the measurement period of the award as of valuation date.
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Equity-based compensation cost on LTIP units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the derived service period, irrespective of whether the market condition is satisfied. The derived service period is a service period that is inferred from the application of the simulation technique used in the valuation of the award, and represents the median of the terms in the simulation in which the market condition is satisfied.
Deferred Stock Units — Certain non-employee directors may elect to defer the receipt of annual base fees and/or restricted stock awards, and in lieu, receive awards of DSUs. DSUs awarded in lieu of annual base fees are fully vested on their grant date, while DSUs awarded in lieu of restricted stock awards vest one year from their grant date. DSUs are entitled to a dividend equivalent, in the form of additional DSUs based on dividends declared and paid on the Company's class A common stock, subject to the same restrictions and vesting conditions, where applicable. Upon separation of service from the Company, vested DSUs will be settled in shares of the Company’s class A common stock. Fair value of DSUs are determined based upon the price of the Company's class A common stock on grant date and recognized immediately if fully vested upon grant, or on a straight-line basis over the vesting period as equity based compensation expense and equity.
Equity-based compensation cost in continuing operations is presented on the consolidated statement of operations, as follows.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2024 2023 2022
Compensation expense $ 35,676 $ 55,597 $ 31,281
Administrative expense — 228 1,422
$ 35,676 $ 55,825 $ 32,703
Changes in unvested equity awards are summarized below.
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted Stock LTIP Units (1)
DSUs RSUs (2)
PSUs (3)
Total PSUs All Other Awards
Unvested shares and units at December 31, 2023
2,813,369 2,625,000 64,099 599,347 1,274,435 7,376,250 $ 21.66 $ 9.80
Granted 1,789,205 — 41,594 39,915 199,069 2,069,783 19.27 17.31
Vested ( 1,289,053 ) — ( 74,874 ) — — ( 1,363,927 ) — 17.04
Forfeited ( 113,694 ) ( 2,500,000 ) — ( 625,957 ) ( 842,247 ) ( 4,081,898 ) 25.11 4.98
Unvested shares and units at December 31, 2024
3,199,827 125,000 30,819 13,305 631,257 4,000,208 16.29 15.68
__________
(1) Represents the number of LTIP units granted subject to vesting upon achievement of market condition. LTIP units that do not meet the market condition within the measurement period are forfeited.
(2) Represents the number of RSUs granted subject to vesting upon achievement of performance condition. RSUs that do not meet the performance condition at the end of the measurement period are forfeited.
(3) Number of PSUs granted does not reflect potential increases or decreases that could result from the final outcome based upon the total shareholder return measured at the end of the performance period. PSUs for which the total shareholder return is not met at the end of the performance period are forfeited. PSUs for which the probability of meeting the DE target changes during the measurement period are reflected as either additional units granted or forfeited.
Fair value of equity awards that vested, determined based upon their respective fair values at vesting date, totaled $ 23.6 million, $ 50.3 million and $ 53.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
At December 31, 2024, aggregate unrecognized compensation cost for all unvested equity awards was $ 29.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
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14. Income Taxes
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
The components of current and deferred tax benefit (expense) are as follows.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Current
Federal $ ( 107 ) $ 167 $ 3,986
State and local 946 1,058 ( 786 )
Foreign ( 6,978 ) ( 1,252 ) ( 1,163 )
Total current tax benefit (expense) ( 6,139 ) ( 27 ) 2,037
Deferred
Federal — ( 1,004 ) ( 13,850 )
State and local — 124 ( 2,419 )
Foreign 3,195 901 1,100
Total deferred tax benefit (expense) 3,195 21 ( 15,169 )
Income tax benefit (expense) on continuing operations $ ( 2,944 ) $ ( 6 ) $ ( 13,132 )
The Company has no income tax benefits recognized for uncertain tax positions as of and during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Deferred Income Tax Asset and Liability
Deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability are presented within other assets, and other liabilities, respectively.
The components of deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability are as follows.
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Deferred tax asset
Capital losses (1)
$ 312,852 $ 366,083
Net operating losses (2)
141,094 146,537
Investment in partnerships 83,123 131,828
Equity-based compensation 10,872 15,104
Intangible assets 1,495 5,013
Deferred income 2,013 2,576
Deferred interest expense 10,663 6,050
Lease liability—corporate offices
12,763 12,507
Other 9,964 4,487
Gross deferred tax asset 584,839 690,185
Valuation allowance ( 559,556 ) ( 664,397 )
Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance 25,283 25,788
Deferred tax liability
Intangible assets 17,639 23,382
ROU lease asset—corporate offices
9,692 8,527
Other 2,712 1,909
Gross deferred tax liability 30,043 33,818
Net deferred tax asset (liability) $ ( 4,760 ) $ ( 8,030 )
__________
(1) At December 31, 2024 and 2023, deferred tax asset was recognized on capital losses of $ 1.34 billion and $ 1.38 billion, respectively, which expire between 2025 and 2028, with full valuation allowance established in both years.
(2) At December 31, 2024 and 2023, deferred tax asset was recognized on NOL of $ 565.2 million and $ 589.7 million, respectively, for which full valuation allowance was established in both years. NOL, which is largely attributable to U.S. federal losses incurred after December 31, 2017, can be carried forward indefinitely.
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Valuation Allowance
Changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance are presented below:
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Beginning balance $ 664,397 $ 679,057 $ 12,766
Addition 1,571 19,483 666,291
Utilization and/or reversal ( 106,412 ) ( 34,143 ) —
Ending balance 559,556 $ 664,397 $ 679,057
Deferred Income Taxes
In 2022, significant deferred tax assets were recognized with an offsetting valuation allowance. As a result of the Company's transition to a taxable C Corporation commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2022, $ 400.2 million of deferred tax asset was recognized as of January 1, 2022 related principally to capital loss carryforwards and outside basis difference in DBRG's interest in the OP, and $ 134.2 million was recorded during 2022 related to changes in DBRG’s interest in the OP that were treated as equity transactions. Outside basis difference in investment in partnerships along with NOL generated by a subsidiary during 2022 further contributed to the deferred tax asset balance in 2022. At December 31, 2022, it was determined that the realizability of these deferred tax assets did not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, and consequently, a full valuation allowance was established against these deferred tax assets. In assessing realizability, the Company determined that there were no prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that the Company could employ to reasonably assure the future realizability of its carryforward losses and other deferred tax assets. In the absence of tax planning strategies and given the Company’s history of cumulative operating losses, which was largely a product of the recent transition in the Company's business, it was difficult to overcome the resulting uncertainties over the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income to realize these deferred tax assets.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 , a full valuation allowance has been maintained as the more-likely-than-not threshold continues to not be met in assessing realizability of deferred tax assets. As a result, income tax expense in 2024 and 2023 primarily reflects the income tax effect of foreign subsidiaries.
In future periods, if the realizability of all or some portion of these deferred tax assets becomes more likely than not, the associated valuation allowance would be reversed as a deferred tax benefit.
Foreign Subsidiary Earnings
The Company has evaluated all unremitted earnings of its foreign subsidiaries, which may be repatriated at the Company’s election, and has not recorded any deferred tax liability as no material taxes are expected to be due if and when these amounts are repatriated.
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Effective Income Tax
Income tax benefit (expense) attributable to continuing operations varied from the amount computed by applying the statutory income tax rate to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes. The effective tax rate is impacted by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in the sources of income or loss during the period and whether such income or loss is taxable to the Company and its subsidiaries. The following table presents a reconciliation of the statutory U.S. income tax to the Company's effective income tax attributable to continuing operations:
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Income (Loss) from continuing operations before income taxes $ 168,815 $ 365,629 $ ( 46,681 )
Federal income tax benefit (expense) at statutory tax rate (21%) ( 35,451 ) ( 76,782 ) 9,802
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit ( 61,053 ) 12,714 5,559
Foreign income tax differential ( 226 ) 36 782
Noncontrolling interests 16,070 ( 27,699 ) ( 44,014 )
Separately taxable subsidiaries of OP ( 2,361 ) 15,213 21,226
Change in ownership of OP, including equity reallocation (Note 2) — — ( 2,838 )
Equity-based compensation ( 3,861 ) 682 1,971
Valuation allowance (1)
84,562 76,087 ( 784 )
Other, net ( 624 ) ( 257 ) ( 4,836 )
Income tax benefit (expense) on continuing operations $ ( 2,944 ) $ ( 6 ) $ ( 13,132 )
__________
(1) 2022 excludes changes in valuation allowance related to the Company's transition to taxable C Corporation as of January 1, 2022 and outside basis difference in changes in DBRG’s interest in the OP that were treated as equity transactions.
Tax Examinations
The Company is no longer subject to new income tax examinations by U.S. and UK tax authorities for years prior to 2021 and 2020, respectively.
15. Variable Interest Entities
A VIE is an entity that either (i) lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties; (ii) has equity holders who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest; and/or (iii) is established with non-substantive voting rights. The following discusses the Company's involvement with VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates the VIEs or where the Company is not the primary beneficiary and does not consolidate the VIEs.
Operating Subsidiary
The Company's operating subsidiary, OP, is a limited liability company that has governing provisions that are the functional equivalent of a limited partnership. The Company holds the majority of membership interest in OP, acts as the managing member of OP and exercises full responsibility, discretion and control over the day-to-day management of OP. The noncontrolling interests in OP do not have substantive liquidation rights, substantive kick-out rights without cause, or substantive participating rights that could be exercised by a simple majority of noncontrolling interest members (including by such a member unilaterally). The absence of such rights, which represent voting rights in a limited partnership equivalent structure, would render OP to be a VIE. The Company, as managing member, has the power to direct the core activities of OP that most significantly affect OP's performance, and through its majority interest in OP, has both the right to receive benefits from and the obligation to absorb losses of OP. Accordingly, the Company is the primary beneficiary of OP and consolidates OP. As the Company conducts its business and holds its assets and liabilities through OP, the total assets and liabilities, earnings (losses), and cash flows of OP represent substantially all of the total consolidated assets and liabilities, earnings (losses), and cash flows of the Company.
Company-Sponsored Funds
The Company sponsors funds and other investment vehicles as general partner for the purpose of providing investment management services in exchange for management fees and carried interest. These funds are established as limited partnerships or equivalent structures. Limited partners of the funds do not have either substantive liquidation rights, or substantive kick-out rights without cause, or substantive participating rights that could be exercised by a simple majority of limited partners or by a single limited partner. Accordingly, the absence of such rights, which represent voting rights in a limited partnership, results in the funds being considered VIEs. The nature of the Company's involvement with its
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sponsored funds comprise fee arrangements and equity interests in its capacity as general partner and general partner affiliate. The fee arrangements are commensurate with the level of management services provided by the Company, and contain terms and conditions that are customary to similar at-market fee arrangements.
Consolidated Company-Sponsored Funds —The Company currently consolidates sponsored funds in which it has more than an insignificant equity interest in the fund as general partner. As a result, the Company is considered to be acting in the capacity of a principal of the sponsored fund and is therefore the primary beneficiary of the fund. The Company’s exposure is limited to its capital account balance in the consolidated funds of $ 79.3 million at December 31, 2024 and $ 200.8 million at December 31, 2023. The liabilities of the consolidated funds may only be settled using assets of the consolidated funds, and the Company, as general partner, is not obligated to provide any financial support to the consolidated funds. The Company does not have unfunded commitments to consolidated funds.
The following table presents the assets and liabilities of the consolidated funds:
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 62,630 $ 69,654
Investments (Note 4)
146,423 482,911
Other assets 724 576
$ 209,777 $ 553,141
Liabilities
Other liabilities
Securities sold short $ 47,930 $ 38,482
Due to custodian 9,121 9,415
Other 697 16,313
$ 57,748 $ 64,210
Unconsolidated Company-Sponsored Funds —The Company does not consolidate its sponsored funds where it has insignificant equity interests in these funds as general partner. As such interests absorb insignificant variability from the fund, the Company is considered to be acting in the capacity of an agent of the fund and is therefore not the primary beneficiary of these funds. The Company accounts for its equity interests in unconsolidated funds under the equity method. The Company's maximum exposure to loss is limited to the outstanding balance of its investment in the unconsolidated funds (Note 4) of $ 2.1 billion at December 31, 2024 and $ 1.86 billion at December 31, 2023. The Company also has receivables from its unconsolidated funds for fee revenue and reimbursable or recoverable costs, as discussed in Note 16. At December 31, 2024, the Company's unfunded commitments to its unconsolidated funds as general partner and general partner affiliate totaled $ 236.8 million (including commitments attributed to the ownership by employees and former employees in the general partner entities). Generally, the timing for funding of these commitments is not known and the commitments are callable on demand at any time prior to their respective expirations.
16. Transactions with Affiliates
Affiliates include (i) investment vehicles that the Company sponsors and/or manages, and in which the Company may have an equity interest; (ii) portfolio companies of sponsored funds; and (iii) directors and employees of the Company.
Amounts due from and due to affiliates consist of the following:
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Due from Affiliates
Investment vehicles and portfolio companies
Fee revenue $ 103,402 $ 71,427
Cost reimbursements and recoverable expenses 19,111 14,388
Employees and other affiliates 1,673 —
$ 124,186 $ 85,815
Due to Affiliates (Note 6)
Investment vehicles—InfraBridge (Note 3)
$ — $ 10,123
Employees and other affiliates 1,675 541
$ 1,675 $ 10,664
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Significant transactions with affiliates include the following:
Fee Revenue —Fee revenue earned from investment vehicles that the Company manages and/or sponsors, and may have an equity interest, are presented in Note 12. Substantially all fee revenue are from affiliates, except for management fees and incentive fee from sub-advisory accounts and generally, other fee revenue.
Cost Reimbursements and Recoverable Expenses— The Company receives reimbursements and recovers certain costs paid on behalf of investment vehicles sponsored by the Company, which include: (i) organization and offering costs related to formation and capital raising of the investment vehicles up to specified thresholds; (ii) professional fees incurred in performing investment due diligence; and (iii) direct and indirect operating costs for managing the operations of certain investment vehicles and their portfolio companies.
To the extent the Company determines it acts in the capacity of principal in the incurrence of such costs, the reimbursements are included in other income, which totaled $ 11.9 million, $ 10.4 million and $ 4.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. To the extent the Company determines that it acts in the capacity of an agent, the costs incurred and related reimbursements are presented on a net basis in the consolidated statements of operations.
Warehoused Investments— The Company may acquire and temporarily warehouse investments on behalf of prospective sponsored investment vehicles that are actively fundraising (Note 4). The warehoused investments are transferred to the investment vehicle when sufficient third party capital, including debt, is raised. The Company is generally paid a fee by the investment vehicle, akin to an interest charge, typically calculated as a percentage of the acquisition price of the investment, to compensate the Company for its cost of holding the investment during the warehouse period. The terms of such arrangements may differ for each sponsored investment vehicle and by investment.
In the second half of 2022, the Company transferred all of its warehoused loans and tower portfolio to its sponsored funds and received an aggregate return of capital of $ 413.2 million, inclusive of holding fees.
Digital Bridge Holdings — Marc Ganzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Ben Jenkins, President and Chief Investment Officer of the Company, were former owners of Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC ("DBH") prior to its merger into the Company in July 2019. Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins had retained their equity investments and general partner interests in the portfolio companies of DBH, which included, but were not limited to, DataBank and Vantage Data Centers ("Vantage"). Vantage SDC, which the Company has a direct investment in, is a carve out of the stabilized data center portfolio of Vantage's North American business.
As a result of the personal investments made by Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins in DataBank and Vantage prior to the Company’s acquisition of DBH, additional investments made by the Company in DataBank and Vantage SDC subsequent to their initial acquisitions may trigger future carried interest payments to Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins upon the occurrence of future realization events. Such investments made by the Company include ongoing payments for the build-out of expansion capacity, including lease-up of the expanded capacity and existing inventory, in Vantage SDC.
With respect to investment vehicles sponsored by the Company for which Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins are invested in their capacity as former owners of DBH, and not in their capacity as employees of the Company, any carried interest entitlement attributed to such investments by Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins as general partner are not subject to continuing vesting provisions and do not represent compensatory arrangements to the Company. Such carried interest allocation to Messrs. Ganzi and Jenkins that are unrealized or distributed but unpaid are included in noncontrolling interests on the balance sheet in the amount of $ 121.1 million at December 31, 2024 and $ 112.2 million at December 31, 2023. Realized and unrealized carried interest allocated are recorded as net income attributable to noncontrolling interests totaling $ 8.9 million, $ 42.5 million and $ 65.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively.
Investment in Managed Investment Vehicles —Subject to the Company's related party policies and procedures, certain employees (who may thereafter become former employees) may invest on a discretionary basis in investment vehicles sponsored by the Company, either directly in the vehicle or indirectly through the Company's general partner entities. These investments are not subject to management fees or carried interest, but otherwise bear their proportionate share of other operating expenses of the investment vehicles. Such investments in consolidated investment vehicles and general partner entities totaled $ 58.0 million at December 31, 2024 and $ 22.7 million at December 31, 2023, reflected in redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests on the balance sheet. The employees' and former employees' share of net income was $ 7.6 million, $ 4.9 million and $ 2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively. Such amounts are reflected in net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests on the consolidated statement of operations and exclude their share of carried interest allocation, which is reflected in incentive fee and carried interest compensation expense.
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Private Aircraft— P ursuant to Mr. Ganzi’s employment agreement, the Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Ganzi for the variable costs of business travel on a chartered or private jet (including any aircraft that Mr. Ganzi may partially or fully own), provided that the Company will not reimburse the allocable share (based on the total number of passengers) of such variable costs for any passenger who is not traveling on Company business. The Company has also agreed to reimburse Mr. Ganzi for the cost of up to 100 hours of personal travel, which is treated as a compensatory arrangement. Additionally, the Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Ganzi for a proportional share of the fixed cash costs of any aircraft partially or fully owned by Mr. Ganzi. The fixed cost reimbursements will be made based on an allocable portion of annual fixed cash operating costs of the aircraft, based on the total number of hours the aircraft is used for Company business and personal hours claimed (up to 100 hours annually) divided by the total hours flown. E xpenses incurred on behalf of Mr. Ganzi and expenses reimbursed or are reimbursable to Mr. Ganzi associated with the use of private aircraft (including both aircraft owned by Mr. Ganzi and third party chartered flights) to taled $ 8.0 million, $ 5.5 million and $ 3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Advancement of Expenses— Effective April 1, 2021, Thomas J. Barrack stepped down as Executive Chairman of the Company and in July 2021, resigned as a member of the Company's Board of Directors. In October 2021, the Company entered into an Agreement Regarding Advancement of Certain Expenses ("Advancement Agreement") with Mr. Barrack, which is generally consistent with the Company’s obligations and Mr. Barrack’s rights regarding advancement of expenses under the terms of a January 2017 Indemnification Agreement between the Company and Mr. Barrack, and under the Company’s Bylaws. The Advancement Agreement (a) memorializes the parties’ agreement as to the Company’s obligations and Mr. Barrack’s rights under the earlier Indemnification Agreement and the Company's Bylaws, and (b) obligates Mr. Barrack to reimburse the Company for such advanced expenses under certain circumstances. Pursuant to the Advancement Agreement , the Company expensed $ 27.6 million in 2022 and an immaterial amount in 2023. The Company has met all of its financial obligations under the Advancement Agreement and no advances were made thereunder in 2024.
17. Segment Reporting
Beginning in 2024, the entirety of the Company's business, inclusive of all income and expense from continuing operations of the Company as a whole, is reported as a single reportable segment. The Company no longer distinguishes income (loss) items and attributes costs between its investment management business and corporate activities. The approach of managing the whole Company as a single business is consistent with the manner in which its Chief Executive Officer, in the role as the Company's chief operating decision maker or CODM, assesses the allocation of resources and performance of the Company.
Prior to December 31, 2023, the Company had conducted its business through two reportable segments, that is, Investment Management and Operating. On December 31, 2023 the Operating segment was discontinued following a deconsolidation of the portfolio companies in the Operating segment, which qualified as discontinued operations (Note 2).
At December 31, 2023, subsequent to the discontinuation of the Operating segment, the Company had conducted its business through one reportable segment of Investment Management, reflecting the Company's investment management business, which bore only operating costs that were directly attributable or otherwise can be subjected to a reasonable and systematic attribution to the investment management business. Remaining unallocated operating costs, along with corporate level financing and transaction activities, as well as income (loss) from the Company's investment in its sponsored funds as general partner affiliate, and warehoused/seed investments were not attributed to the investment management business and previously presented as Corporate and Other.
In 2024, prior to the fourth quarter, the segment earnings measure was net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc., which had remained consistent with prior periods, except that this measure was previously applied to the Investment Management segment, rather than the Company as a whole. Effective the fourth quarter of 2024, the segment earnings measure takes into account the cost of financing through preferred stock to arrive at net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders.
The CODM is provided with significant expense categories that are consistent with those disclosed in the consolidated statements of operations and additionally, budgeted fee revenue, compensation and administrative expenses of the Company. This information, along with the segment earnings measure, is used by the CODM to monitor financial performance from core operations of the business against budget and in making strategic decisions regarding key areas of growth for the business and consequently, investment or divestment of resources. The CODM does not review
disaggregated assets by segment.
Segment information for all prior periods presented have been conformed to current period presentation.
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Segment Results of Operations
The following table presents net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders. for the Company's single reportable segment and is reconciled to the consolidated statement of operations.
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Revenues
Fee revenue $ 329,693 $ 264,117 $ 172,673
Carried interest allocation 218,250 363,075 378,342
Principal investment income 30,023 145,448 56,731
Other income 29,062 48,743 87,025
Total revenues 607,028 821,383 694,771
Expenses
Compensation expense—cash and equity-based 181,821 206,892 154,752
Compensation expense—incentive fee and carried interest allocation 144,650 186,030 202,286
Administrative and other expenses 114,985 86,937 117,341
Interest expense 16,438 24,540 42,926
Transaction-related costs 5,265 10,823 10,129
Depreciation and amortization 33,706 36,651 44,271
Total expenses 496,865 551,873 571,705
Other income (loss)
Other gain (loss), net 58,652 96,119 ( 169,747 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 168,815 365,629 ( 46,681 )
Income tax benefit (expense) ( 2,944 ) ( 6 ) ( 13,132 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations 165,871 365,623 ( 59,813 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Redeemable noncontrolling interests 2,458 6,503 ( 26,778 )
Investment entities 72,144 104,364 113,019
Operating Company 2,055 13,477 ( 16,476 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc. $ 89,214 $ 241,279 $ ( 129,578 )
Preferred stock dividends 58,641 58,656 61,567
Preferred stock repurchases — ( 927 ) ( 1,098 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders $ 30,573 $ 183,550 $ ( 190,047 )
Reconciliation of segment earnings measure to consolidated statement of operations:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders $ 30,573 $ 183,550 $ ( 190,047 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to common stockholders ( 18,692 ) ( 55,999 ) ( 192,219 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 11,881 $ 127,551 $ ( 382,266 )
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Geography
Geographic information about the Company's total revenues from continuing operations and long-lived assets, excluding assets of discontinued operations, are as follows. Geography is generally presented as the location in which income generating services are substantially performed.
Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)
2024 2023 2022
Total revenues by geography:
United States $ 537,665 $ 754,628 $ 643,073
Europe (1)
57,383 56,280 47,196
Other 94 75 165
Total (2)
$ 595,142 $ 810,983 $ 690,434
(In thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Long-lived assets by geography:
United States $ 17,514 $ 22,294
Europe 18,547 17,868
Other 2,551 967
Total (3)
$ 38,612 $ 41,129
__________
(1) Revenues generated in Europe are predominantly U.S. dollar denominated in 2024 and 2023.
(2) Total revenues excludes cost reimbursement income from affiliates (Note 16) that is included within other income, and income from discontinued operations.
(3) Long-lived assets include lease right-of-use assets and fixed assets. Long-lived assets exclude financial instruments, goodwill, intangible assets and assets of discontinued operations.
18. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company may be involved in litigation and other proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2024, the Company is not involved in any other legal proceedings that are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Leases
As lessee, the Company's leasing arrangements are generally limited to operating leases for its corporate offices.
The weighted average remaining lease term based upon outstanding lease liability balances at December 31, 2024 was 5.7 years for operating leases on corporate offices.
The following table summarizes total lease cost for operating leases on corporate offices, which are included in administrative expense.
December 31,
(In thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Fixed lease expense $ 9,028 $ 8,678 $ 7,090
Variable lease expense 2,172 1,713 2,073
Total operating lease cost $ 11,200 $ 10,391 $ 9,163
In 2022, the Company also had operating leases on tower assets that were temporarily warehoused from June to December 2022, with total lease cost, generally fixed, of $ 7.6 million.
Lease Commitments
Operating lease liabilities take into consideration renewal or termination options when such options are deemed reasonably certain to be exercised by the Company and exclude variable lease payments which are expensed as incurred. The Company makes variable lease payments for: (i) leases with rental payments that are adjusted periodically for inflation, and/or (ii) nonlease services, such as common area maintenance.
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The table below presents the Company's future lease commitments for operating leases on corporate offices at December 31, 2024 , determined using a weighted average discount rate of 5.9 %.
Year Ending December 31, (In thousands)
2025 $ 9,855
2026 10,542
2027 9,793
2028 7,056
2029 3,317
2030 and thereafter 11,700
Total lease payments 52,263
Present value discount ( 8,912 )
Operating lease liability on corporate offices
$ 43,351
The Company has sub-leased a portion of certain of its existing office space over the remaining term of the respective leases that expire between 2025 and 2028 , with fixed sub-lease payments expected to be received over the remaining life of the sub-lease contracts totaling $ 3.1 million.
Commitments on Future Leases
At December 31, 2024 , the Company has operating lease commitments on two office spaces, one of which commenced in January 2025 and the other is expected to commence in 2026. The fixed lease payments (undiscounted) total $ 53.3 million over a ten year weighted average lease term. With respect to the new lease commencing in 2026, the Company will be provided with a credit to cover monthly fixed lease payments on an existing lease that expires in September 2026 (included in table above) during the period the two leases overlap, and the Company also expects to sub-lease a portion of this new office space in 2026, which will reduce its future lease obligation.
19. Subsequent Events
No subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the accompanying notes.
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Supplementary Financial Information .
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Presented herein are quarterly periods in 2023 which reflect a reclassification of the operating results of the two portfolio companies previously consolidated in the former Operating segment to discontinued operations. There were no reclassifications to the quarterly periods presented in 2024.
For the three months ended 2023
(In thousands, except per share data)
Dec-31 Sep-30 Jun-30 Mar-31
Statements of Operations Data:
Total revenues $ 350,310 $ 262,703 $ 189,874 $ 18,496
Income (loss) from continuing operations 144,777 359,628 42,954 ( 181,736 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations ( 33,529 ) ( 80,851 ) ( 95,470 ) ( 110,608 )
Net income (loss) 111,248 278,777 ( 52,516 ) ( 292,344 )
Net income (loss) attributable to DigitalBridge Group, Inc. 115,267 276,473 ( 8,663 ) ( 197,797 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders 100,607 261,828 ( 22,411 ) ( 212,473 )
Per Share Data:
Income (loss) from continuing operations per share:
Basic $ 0.67 $ 1.67 $ ( 0.06 ) $ ( 1.20 )
Diluted 0.63 1.58 ( 0.06 ) ( 1.20 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations per share:
Basic ( 0.06 ) ( 0.07 ) ( 0.08 ) ( 0.15 )
Diluted ( 0.05 ) ( 0.07 ) ( 0.08 ) ( 0.15 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per share:
Basic 0.61 1.60 ( 0.14 ) ( 1.35 )
Diluted 0.58 1.51 ( 0.14 ) ( 1.35 )
Dividends per common share 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.