Marcus & Millichap, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

10.	Fair Value Measurements

U.S. GAAP defines the fair value of a financial instrument as the amount that would be received from the sale of an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company is responsible for the determination of fair value and the supporting methodologies and assumptions. The Company uses various pricing sources and third parties to provide and validate the values utilized.

The degree of judgment used in measuring the fair value of financial instruments is generally inversely correlated with the level of observable valuation inputs. Financial instruments with quoted prices in active markets generally have more pricing observability and less judgment is used in measuring fair value. Financial instruments for which no quoted prices are available have less observability and are measured at fair value using valuation models or other pricing techniques that require more judgment.

Assets recorded at fair value are measured and classified in accordance with a fair value hierarchy consisting of the three “levels” based on the observability of inputs available in the marketplace used to measure the fair values as discussed below:

•

Level 1:

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

•

Level 2:

Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; or

•

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model. Management estimates include certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company values its investments including commercial paper and floating net asset value money market funds recorded in cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable debt securities,

available-for-sale,

assets held in the rabbi trust, deferred compensation liability and contingent consideration at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair values for investments included in cash and cash equivalents and marketable debt securities,

available-for-sale

were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio and all these securities are Level 1 or 2 measurements as appropriate.

Fair values for assets held in the rabbi trust and related deferred compensation liability were determined based on the cash surrender value of the company owned variable life insurance policies and underlying investments in the trust, and are Level 2 and Level 1 measurements, respectively.

Contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions, is carried at fair value and determined on a

contract-by-contract

basis, calculated using a probability weighted discounted cash flow model based on the probability of achieving EBITDA and other performance and service requirements, and is a Level 3 measurement. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company considered the economic impact of

COVID-19

and current and future interest rates in its determination of fair value for the contingent consideration. The Company is uncertain to the extent of the volatility in the unobservable inputs in the foreseeable future.

Assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following (in thousands):


	March 31, 2020								December 31, 2019
	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trust	$	7,992	$	—	$	7,992	$	—	$	9,452	$	—	$	9,452	$	—

Cash equivalents (1) :
Commercial paper and other	$	9,498	$	—	$	9,498	$	—	$	5,087	$	—	$	5,087	$	—
Money market funds		146,769		146,769		—		—		185,513		185,513		—		—

	$	156,267	$	146,769	$	9,498	$	—	$	190,600	$	185,513	$	5,087	$	—

Marketable debt securities, available-for-sale:
Short-term investments:
U.S. treasuries	$	114,720	$	114,720	$	—	$	—	$	124,580	$	124,580	$	—	$	—
U.S. government sponsored entities		9,137		—		9,137		—		—		—		—		—
Corporate debt		19,711		—		19,711		—		26,172		—		26,172		—
ABS and other		296		—		296		—		—		—		—		—

	$	143,864	$	114,720	$	29,144	$	—	$	150,752	$	124,580	$	26,172	$	—

Long-term investments:
U.S. treasuries	$	10,510	$	10,510	$	—	$	—	$	24,423	$	24,423	$	—	$	—
U.S. government sponsored entities		1,328		—		1,328		—		1,355		—		1,355		—
Corporate debt		25,606		—		25,606		—		26,471		—		26,471		—
ABS and other		7,766		—		7,766		—		8,560		—		8,560		—

	$	45,210	$	10,510	$	34,700	$	—	$	60,809	$	24,423	$	36,386	$	—

Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	$	3,162	$	—	$	—	$	3,162	$	3,387	$	—	$	—	$	3,387

Deferred compensation liability	$	7,244	$	7,244	$	—	$	—	$	8,241	$	8,241	$	—	$	—

(1)	Included in cash and cash equivalents on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

There were no transfers in or out of Level 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, contingent consideration has a maximum undiscounted payment of $7.0 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Assuming the achievement of the applicable performance criteria and/or service and time requirements, the Company anticipates these

earn-out

payments will be made over the next one to seven-year period. Changes in fair value are included in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of net and comprehensive income. A reconciliation of contingent consideration measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
Beginning balance (1)	$	3,387		$	2,875
Contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions (2)		—			—
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(225	)		48
Payments of contingent consideration		—			—

Ending balance	$	3,162		$	2,923

(1)	Beginning balance for 2020 reflects the reclassification of $1,401 from contingent consideration related to deferred consideration. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data – Other Liabilities” for additional information.

(2)	Contingent consideration in connections with acquisitions represents a noncash investing activity.

Quantitative information about the valuation technique and significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Company’s Level 3 financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

Fair Value at

March 31, 2020

Valuation Technique

Unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted Average)

(1)

Contingent consideration

3,162

Discounted cash flow

Expected life of cash flows

0.2-5.5

years (2.1 years)

Discount rate

6.7%-6.9%

(6.8%)

Probability of achievement

33.0%-100.0%

(74.0%)

Fair Value at

December 31, 2019

Valuation Technique

Unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted Average)

(1)

Contingent consideration

3,387

Discounted cash flow

Expected life of cash flows

0.4-5.8

years (2.4 years)

Discount rate

3.6%-4.9%

(4.1%)

Probability of achievement

33.0%-100.0%

(74.3%)

(1)	Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, from time to time, the Company measures certain assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The Company reviews the carrying value of MSRs, intangibles, goodwill and other assets for indications of impairment

at least annually

. When indications of potential impairment are identified, the Company may be required to determine the fair value of those assets and record an adjustment for the carrying amount in excess of the fair value determined. Any fair value determination would be based on valuation approaches, which are appropriate under the circumstances and utilize Level 2 and Level 3 measurements as required.

MSRs are recorded at fair value upon acquisition of a servicing contract. The Company has elected the amortization method for the subsequent measurement of MSRs. MSRs are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. MSRs are a Level 3 measurement. The Company’s MSRs do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices. The estimated fair value of the Company’s MSRs were developed using a discounted cash flow model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The model considers contractual provisions and assumptions of market participants including specified servicing fees, prepayment assumptions, delinquency rates, late charges, other ancillary revenue, costs to service and other economic factors. The Company periodically reassesses and adjusts, when necessary, the underlying inputs and assumptions used to reflect observable market conditions and assumptions that a market participant would consider in valuing an MSR asset. Management made revisions to the assumptions used in the determination of fair value for MSRs considering the economic impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic on default rates related to the specific types and underlying collateral of the various serviced loans, interest rates, refinance rates and current government and private sector responses to the pandemic. The fair value of the MSRs approximated the carrying value at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 after consideration of the revisions to the various assumptions. See Note 7 – “Selected Balance Sheet Data – Other Assets – MSRs” for additional information.

As market conditions change, the Company will

re-evaluate

assumptions used in the determination of fair value for MSRs and is uncertain to the extent of the volatility in the unobservable inputs in the foreseeable future.

Quantitative information about the valuation technique and significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of the Company’s Level 3 financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

Fair Value at

March 31, 2020

Valuation Technique

Unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted

Average)

(1)

MSRs

2,125

Discounted cash flow

Constant prepayment rates

0.0%-20.0%

(10.0%)

Constant default rate

1.5%-1.5%

(1.5%)

Loss severity

30.2%-30.2%

(30.2%)

Discount rate

10.0%-10.0%

(10.0%)

Fair Value at

December 31, 2019

Valuation Technique

Unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted

Average)

(1)

MSRs

2,204

Discounted cash flow

Constant prepayment rates

0.0%-20.0%

(10.0%)

Constant default rate

2.0%-2.0%

(2.0%)

Loss severity

40.0%-40.0%

(40.0%)

Discount rate

9.5%-9.7%

(9.7%)

(1)	Weighted average is based on the 10% constant prepayment rate scenario which the Company uses as the reported fair value.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details