Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.22.4
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature Of Operations

Nature of Operations

Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., (the “Company”) is a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents, and carriers. These services encompass distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk management by acting as a wholesale broker and a managing underwriter or a program administrator with delegated authority from insurance carriers. The Company's offerings cover a wide variety of sectors including commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and personal through one operating segment, Ryan Specialty. With the exception of the Company’s equity method investment, the Company does not take on any underwriting risk.

The Company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
IPO And Reorganization

IPO and Reorganization

The Company was formed as a Delaware corporation on March 5, 2021, for the purpose of completing an IPO and related transactions in order to carry on the business of the LLC. On July 26, 2021, the Company completed its IPO of 65,456,020 shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an offering price of $23.50 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $1,448.1 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and other offering costs. The Company's Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RYAN”.

New Ryan Specialty, LLC, or New LLC, was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on April 20, 2021, for the purpose of becoming, subsequent to our IPO, an intermediate holding company between Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., and the LLC. The Company is the sole managing member of New LLC. Pursuant to contribution agreements, on September 30, 2021, the Company, the non-controlling interest LLC Unitholders, and New LLC exchanged equity interests in the LLC for LLC Common Units in New LLC, with the intent that New LLC be the new holding company for the LLC interests. At that time, the LLC adopted the LLC Operating Agreement and New LLC adopted the New LLC Operating Agreement. As a result, the Company is a holding company, with its sole material asset being a controlling equity interest in New LLC, which became a holding company with its sole material asset being a controlling equity interest in the LLC. The Company operates and controls the business and affairs of the LLC through New LLC, and through the LLC, conducts its business. Accordingly, the Company consolidates the financial results of New LLC, and therefore the LLC, and reports the non-controlling interests of New LLC's Common Units on its consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2022, the Company owned 43.3% of the outstanding LLC Common Units of New LLC, and New LLC owned 99.9% of the outstanding LLC Common Units of the LLC. The remaining 0.1% of the outstanding LLC Common Units of the LLC were owned by a subsidiary of the Company. As the LLC is substantively the same as New LLC, for the purpose of this document, we will refer to both New LLC and the LLC as the “LLC”.
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The audited consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and those of all controlled subsidiaries.

Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for all periods presented.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries that it controls due to ownership of a majority voting interest or pursuant to variable interest entity (“VIE”) accounting guidance. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company, through its intermediate holding company New LLC, owns a minority economic interest in, and operates and controls the businesses and affairs of, the LLC. The LLC is a VIE of the Company and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the LLC as the Company has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the LLC’s economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses of, and receive benefits from, the LLC, which could be significant to the Company. Accordingly, the Company has prepared these consolidated financial statements in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). ASC 810 requires that if an entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the VIE should be included in the consolidated financial statements of such entity. The Company's relationship with the LLC results in no recourse to the general credit of the Company and the Company has no contractual requirement to provide financial support to the LLC. The Company shares in the income and losses of the LLC in direct proportion to the Company's ownership percentage.

The Organizational Transactions were considered to be transactions between entities under common control. The historical operations of the LLC are deemed to be those of the Company. Thus, the financial statements included in this report reflect (i) the historical operating results of the LLC prior to the IPO and Organizational Transactions; (ii) the consolidated results of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., and the LLC following the IPO and Organizational Transactions; and (iii) the assets and liabilities of Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., and the LLC at their historical cost. No step-up basis of intangible assets or goodwill was recorded.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto requires management to make estimates, judgements, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and in the notes thereto. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as circumstances change or more information becomes available, which could affect the amounts reported and disclosed herein.
Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

In accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, Ryan Specialty's operations are reported as a single operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker, its Chief Executive Officer, reviews its consolidated operating results for the purpose of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenues primarily through commissions and fees from customers, as well as compensation from insurance and reinsurance companies for services provided to them.

The Company incurs both costs to fulfill contracts, principally in pre-placement activities, and costs to obtain contracts, principally through certain sales commissions paid to employees. For situations in which the renewal period is one year or less and renewal costs are commensurate with the initial contract, the Company applies a practical expedient and recognizes the costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred.

Net Commissions and Policy Fees

Net commissions and policy fees revenue is primarily based on a percentage of premiums or fees received for an agreed-upon level of service. The Company’s customers for this revenue stream are agents of the insured. The net commissions and policy fees are recognized at the point in time when an insurance policy is bound and issued, which occurs on the later of the policy effective date of the associated policies or the date the Company receives a request to bind coverage from the customer. Most insurance premiums are subject to cancellations; therefore, commission revenue is considered to be variable consideration at the contract effective date and is recognized net of

a constraint for estimated policy cancellations. Estimated policy cancellations are based upon the Company's historical cancellations. Any endorsement made to a contract is treated as a new contract with revenue recognized on the later of the endorsement effective date or the date the Company receives a request to bind coverage from the customer.

Supplemental and Contingent Commissions

Supplemental and contingent commissions are additional revenues paid to the Company based on the volume and/or underwriting profitability of the eligible insurance contracts placed. The Company’s performance obligation is satisfied and revenue is recognized over time using the output method as the Company places eligible or profitable policies. For this revenue stream, the customer is the carrier as the carrier is the entity that will ultimately pay the Company additional revenues once certain volume and profitability targets are achieved by the carrier. Because of the limited visibility into the satisfaction of performance indicators outlined in the contracts, the Company constrains such revenues until the time that the carrier provides explicit confirmation of amounts owed to the Company to avoid a significant reversal of revenue in a future period. The uncertainty regarding the ultimate transaction price for contingent commissions is principally the profitability of the underlying insurance policies placed as determined by the development of loss ratios maintained by the carriers. The uncertainty is resolved over the contractual term as actual results are achieved.

Loss Mitigation Fees

Loss mitigation fees, or mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) fees, consist of revenue earned from the review of due diligence and other relevant information in underwriting a risk. The customer of this revenue stream is the agent of the insured. The performance obligation is the production of an Expense Agreement (“EA”) or Letter of Intent (“LOI”). As the M&A fees are not dependent on the outcome of the risk being insured, the Company recognizes these fees at the point in time when control transfers to the customer, which occurs on the effective date of an executed EA or LOI.

Disaggregation of Revenue

Wholesale Brokerage revenue primarily includes insurance commissions and fees for services rendered to retail agents and brokers, as well as supplemental and contingent commissions from carriers. Wholesale Brokerage distributes a wide range and diversified mix of specialty property, casualty, professional lines, and workers’ compensation insurance products from insurance carriers to retail brokerage firms.

Binding Authority revenue primarily includes insurance commissions for services rendered, as well as supplemental and contingent commissions from carriers. The Company’s binding authorities receive underwriting authority from a variety of carriers for both Admitted and non-admitted business for small to mid-size risks. Wholesale binding authorities generally have authority to bind coverage on behalf of an insurance carrier for a specific type of risk, subject to agreed-upon guidelines and limits. Wholesale binding authorities receive submissions for insurance directly from retail brokers, evaluate price, make underwriting decisions regarding these submissions, and bind and issue policies on behalf of insurance carriers. Wholesale binding authorities are typically created to handle large volumes of small-premium policies across commercial and personal lines within strictly defined underwriting criteria. Binding authorities allow the insured to access additional capital and the carrier to efficiently aggregate its distribution.

Underwriting Management revenue primarily includes insurance commissions for services rendered, including contingent commissions for placing profitable business with carrier partners, as well as loss mitigation fees. Underwriting Management offers insurance carriers cost-effective specialty market expertise in distinct and complex market niches underserved in today’s marketplace through MGUs, which act on behalf of insurance carriers that have given the Company the authority to underwrite and bind coverage for specific risks, and programs that offer commercial and personal insurance for specific product lines or industry classes.

Contract Balances

Contract assets, which arise primarily from the Company’s volume-based commissions, are included within Commissions and fees receivable – net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These assets relate to the unbilled

amounts of services for which the Company recognizes revenue over time. Payment related to contract assets is typically due within one year of the completed performance obligation. Occasionally, the Company receives cash payments from customers in advance of the Company’s performance obligation being satisfied, which represent a contract liability. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied.
Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in demand deposits accounts and short-term investments, consisting principally of money market demand accounts, having original maturities of 90 days or less.

Commissions and Fees Receivable

Commissions and Fees Receivable

The Company earns commissions and fees through its Wholesale Brokerage, Binding Authority and Underwriting Management Specialties. The Company records a receivable once a performance obligation is satisfied. In some instances, the Company will advance premiums on behalf of clients, or will advance claims payments and refunds to clients on behalf of underwriters. These amounts are reflected within Commissions and fees receivable – net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company’s receivables are shown net of an allowance for credit losses which is estimated based on a combination of factors, including evaluation of historical write-offs, current economic conditions, aging of balances, and other qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Fiduciary Assets, Fiduciary Liabilities, and Related Income

Fiduciary Assets, Fiduciary Liabilities, and Related Income

In its role as an insurance intermediary, the Company collects and remits amounts between insurance agents and brokers and insurance underwriters. Because these amounts are collected on behalf of third parties, they are excluded from the measurement of the transaction price. Similarly, the Company elected to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price surplus lines taxes, as these are assessed by and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company recognizes fiduciary amounts collectible and held on behalf of others, including insurance policyholders, clients, other insurance intermediaries, and insurance carriers, as Fiduciary cash and receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Cash and cash equivalents held in excess of the amount required to meet the Company’s fiduciary obligations are recognized as Cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recognizes premiums, claims payable, and surplus lines taxes as Fiduciary liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company does not have any rights or obligations in connection with these amounts with the exception of segregating these amounts from the Company's operating accounts and liabilities.

Unremitted insurance premiums are held in a fiduciary capacity until disbursement. The Company holds these funds in cash and cash equivalents, including Money Market Mutual Funds registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Interest income is earned on the unremitted funds, which is included in Fiduciary investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Interest earned on fiduciary funds held is not accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired in the acquisition of a business. The Company recognizes goodwill as the amount of consideration transferred which cannot be assigned to other tangible or intangible assets and liabilities.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the reporting unit may not be recoverable. In the performance of the annual evaluation, the Company also considers qualitative and quantitative developments between the date of the goodwill impairment review and the fiscal year end to determine if an impairment should be recognized.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which coincides with the operating segment, Ryan Specialty. The determinations of impairment indicators and the fair value of the reporting unit are

based on estimates and assumptions related to the amount and timing of future cash flows and future interest rates. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes available, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed herein.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets other than goodwill consist primarily of customer relationships. Customer relationships consist of customer-related assets, which are amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from two to fifteen years, in proportion with the realization of their economic benefit. Generally, the Company uses outside valuation specialists to value acquired intangible assets. Intangible assets also include trade names and internally developed software, which are amortized over their estimated lives, typically three years and between five to seven years, respectively. The Company has no indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Equity Method Investment

Equity Method Investment

The Company uses the equity method to account for its investment in a related party for which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control, the investee’s operating and financial policies. The equity method investment in related party is recorded at cost and adjusted to recognize the Company’s proportionate share of the investee’s net income or loss. The Company’s proportionate share of the other comprehensive income or loss from equity method investments is reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company’s equity method investment in a related party is evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If the impairment is determined to be other-than-temporary, the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between the expected realizable value and the carrying value of the investment.

Leases

Leases

The Company evaluates contracts entered into to determine whether the contract involves the use of an asset. The Company then evaluates whether it controls the use of the asset, which is determined by assessing whether it obtains substantially all economic benefits from the use of the asset, and whether it has the right to direct the use of the asset. If these criteria are met and a lease has been identified, the Company accounts for the contract under the requirements of ASC 842, Leases.

The Company's leased assets consist primarily of real estate for occupied offices and office equipment. Certain of these leases have options permitting renewals for additional periods or clauses allowing for early termination, and where those are reasonably certain to be executed, they are recognized as a component of the initial lease term. All of the Company’s real estate leases and most of the office equipment leases are recognized as operating leases, while some leases of office equipment and all IT hardware leases are finance leases. The Company also subleases some real estate properties to third parties, which are classified as operating leases. The Company recognizes lease payments for short-term leases of twelve months or less in the Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

For leases in which an implicit rate is not provided in the contract, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company does not account for separate lease components of a contract and its associated non-lease components as a single lease component. Further, variable expenses related to real estate and equipment leases are expensed as incurred.

At the lease commencement for finance and operating leases, the Company recognizes the total lease liability through the lease term as the present value of all remaining payments, discounted by the rate determined at commencement in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Operating leases are included in Lease right-of-use assets, Current Operating lease liabilities, and Non-current Operating lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in Lease right-of-use assets, Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt, and Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In the event the lease liability is remeasured due to a change in the scope of or the consideration for a lease, an adjustment is made to the right-of-use asset. In the instance where the right-of-use asset is impaired, the impairment charge is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income within General and administrative expense, irrespective of its classification of operating or finance lease.

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-Based Compensation

The Company issues equity-based awards to employees in the form of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs"), Stock Options, Restricted Common Units, Restricted LLC Units ("RLUs"), and Class C Incentive Units. Compensation expense for equity awards is measured at the grant date fair value. The grant date fair value of Stock Options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the grant date fair value of the Restricted Common Units and Class C Incentive Units is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation based pricing model. These pricing models require management to make assumptions with respect to the fair value of the equity awards on the grant date, including the expected term of the award, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock based on a period of time generally commensurate with the expected term of the award, risk-free interest rates, and expected dividend yields of the Company’s Class A common stock, among other items including the Company's Class A common stock price and taxable income forecasts. These assumptions reflect the Company’s best estimates, but they involve inherent uncertainties based on market conditions generally outside the control of the Company. As a result, if other assumptions are used, compensation expense could be materially impacted.

The Company accounts for equity-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation- Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). In accordance with ASC 718, compensation expense is measured at estimated fair value of the equity-based awards and is expensed over the vesting period during which an employee provides service in exchange for the award. Compensation expense is recognized using the graded vesting attribution method and forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. Equity-based compensation expense is recorded in Compensation and benefits on the Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 12, Equity-Based Compensation, for additional information on the Company’s equity-based compensation awards.

Earnings (Loss) Per share

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company by the number of weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company by the number of weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding during the period after adjusting for the impact of securities that would have a dilutive effect on earnings (loss) per share. See Note 13, Earnings (Loss) Per Share for additional information on dilutive securities.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company utilizes a derivative, namely an interest rate cap, for interest rate risk management purposes. The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company assesses the effectiveness of qualifying cash flow hedges both at inception and on an on-going basis. For hedging derivatives that qualify as effective cash flow hedges, the Company records the cumulative changes in the fair value of the financial instrument in Other comprehensive income (loss). Amounts recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the hedged cash flow. The Company amortizes the premium paid for the interest rate cap on a straight-line basis over the life of the instrument. The premium amortization is recognized in Interest expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognizes cash flows related to cash flow hedges in the same section of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as the cash flows related to the item being hedged. See Note 14,
Derivatives for further discussion of derivative financial instruments.

Defined Contribution Plan

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company offers a defined contribution retirement benefit plan, the Ryan Specialty Employee Savings Plan (the “Plan”), to all eligible U.S. employees, based on a minimum number of service hours in a year. Under the Plan, eligible employees may contribute a percentage of their compensation, subject to certain limitations. Further, the Plan authorizes the Company to make a discretionary matching contribution, which has historically equaled 50% of each eligible employee’s contribution. The Company makes discretionary matching contributions throughout the year and recognizes expense for the matching contribution in the year where requisite employee service is performed. Any liabilities for matching contributions are recognized as Current Accrued compensation within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company offers a non-qualified deferred compensation plan to certain senior employees and members of management. Under this plan, amounts deferred remain assets of the Company and are subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of insolvency. Amounts deferred are not invested in any funds. However, the liability balance is updated to reflect hypothetical interest, earnings, appreciation, losses, and depreciation that would be accrued or realized if the deferred compensation amounts had been invested in the applicable benchmark investments, and is recognized in Current and Non-current Accrued compensation in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in value on deferred amounts held are recognized within Compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Employee Incentives

Employee Incentives

Employee Retention Incentives

In connection with the acquisition of businesses and recruiting and retaining key talent, the Company issues retention incentives with a claw back feature to employees. Retention incentives are earned by the recipient over the term of the arrangement, as long as the employee continues employment and complies with other certain contractual requirements. Retention incentives are recognized as Prepaid incentives – net within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The expense associated with the earned portion of the prepaid incentives is recorded as Compensation and benefits within the Consolidated Statements of Income over the service period, which is consistent with the term of the arrangements.

Forgivable Notes

Historically the Company offered forgivable notes to certain employees as an incentive, whereby the principal amount of forgivable notes and accrued interest is forgiven by the Company over the term of the notes, so long as the employee continues employment with the Company and complies with certain contractual requirements. These notes were structured as recourse loans and contain non-solicit clauses and have terms that are between three and ten years. In the event of an employee’s termination, whether voluntary or involuntary, the employee must repay the unpaid, unforgiven note balance at termination. The Company has a policy of enforcing the provisions of the unforgiven portion of the forgivable note agreements by pursuing collection through third-party collection agencies and taking legal action. Any balances recognized in the current year relate to forgivable notes issued in prior years as the Company no longer issues new forgivable notes.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation Agreements

The Company has entered into long-term incentive agreements with certain employees whereby the employees are awarded cash according to specified formulas following a certain period. The long-term incentives, which are typically issued in connection with an acquisition, vest based on the achievement of various performance and service conditions. The Company recognizes expense within Compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the service period of these awards based on the estimated expected payout.

Non-Controlling Interests

Non-Controlling Interests

As noted above, the Company consolidates the financial results of the LLC; therefore, it reports non-controlling interests based on the LLC Common Units not owned by the Company on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) is attributed to the non-controlling interests based on the weighted average LLC Common Units outstanding during the period and is presented on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. Refer to Note 11, Stockholders' Equity for more information.

The non-controlling interest holders may, subject to certain exceptions, exchange some or all of their LLC Common Units for, at the Company’s election (determined by a majority of the Company’s directors who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, or cash, only to the extent that the Company has received cash proceeds pursuant to a secondary offering. As any redemption settled in cash would be limited to proceeds received from the sale of new permanent equity securities, the Non-controlling interests are classified as permanent equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Captive Insurance Cells

Through the acquisition of Keystone, the Company has an ownership interest in two entities that hold segregated account protected cell captives. These entities are structured with protected cell captives for each insured (“Captive Cells”) and the core regulated companies (“Core Companies”). The Core Companies are owned and operated by the Company, and are not exposed to the insurance and investment risks that the Captive Cells are designed to create and distribute on behalf of the insureds. The Company has a variable interest in the Core Companies due to the ownership interest, however, as the Core Companies are not exposed to the variability of the Captive Cells, only the activity of the regulated Core Companies is recorded in our consolidated financial statements, including cash and any expenses incurred to operate the Captive Cells.

Litigation and Contingent Liabilities

Litigation and Contingent Liabilities

 

The Company is subject to various legal actions related to claims, lawsuits, and proceedings incident to the nature of the business. The Company records liabilities for loss contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred on or before the Consolidated Balance Sheets date and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Company does not discount such contingent liabilities and recognizes related legal costs, such as fees and expenses of external counsel and other service providers, as period expenses when incurred. Loss contingencies are recorded within Accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Significant management judgment is required to estimate the amounts of such contingent liabilities. The Company records loss recoveries from E&O insurance coverage, up to the amount of the financial statement loss incurred, when the realization of the indemnity for a claim presented under the Company’s E&O insurance coverage is deemed probable. In order to assess the potential liabilities and any recoveries, the Company analyzes the litigation exposure based upon available information, including consultation with counsel handling the defense of these matters. As these liabilities are uncertain by their nature, the recorded amounts may change due to a variety of factors, including new developments or changes in the approach, such as changing the settlement strategy as applicable to a matter.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company assigns functional currencies to its foreign operations, which are generally the currencies of the local operating environment. Balances denominated in non-functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using current exchange rates, and the resulting foreign exchange gains or losses are reflected in earnings. Functional currency balances are then translated into the reporting currency (i.e., USD) using (i) exchange rates at the balance sheet date for items reported as assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) historical rates for items reported in Stockholders' equity other than retained earnings (accumulated deficit), and (iii) average exchange rates for items recorded in earnings and included in retained earnings (accumulated deficit). The resulting change in unrealized translation gains or losses is a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying values of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that it is believed that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, carryback potential if permitted under the tax law, and results of recent operations. A valuation allowance is provided if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The Company evaluates and accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes using a two-step approach. Recognition (step one) occurs when the Company concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustainable upon examination. Measurement (step two) determines

the amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur if the Company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold of being sustained. The Company records interest (and penalties where applicable), net of any applicable related income tax benefit, on potential income tax contingencies as a component of Income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Holders of the LLC Common Units, including the Company, incur U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes on their share of any taxable income of the LLC. The LLC Operating Agreement provides for pro rata cash distributions ("Members' Tax Distributions") to the holders of the LLC Common Units in an amount generally calculated to provide each holder of LLC Common Units with sufficient cash to cover their tax liability in respect of the LLC Common Units. In general, these Members' Tax Distributions are computed based on the LLC's estimated taxable income, multiplied by an assumed tax rate as set forth in the LLC Operating Agreement.
Tax Receivable Agreement (TRA)

Tax Receivable Agreement (TRA)

The Company is party to a TRA with current and certain former LLC Unitholders. The TRA provides for the payment by the Company to the current and certain former LLC Unitholders of 85% of the amount of net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes the Company actually realizes (or, under certain circumstances are deemed to realize) from (i) certain increases in the tax basis of the assets of the LLC resulting from purchases or exchanges of LLC Common Units (“Exchange Tax Attributes”), (ii) certain tax attributes of the LLC that existed prior to the IPO (“Pre-IPO M&A Tax Attributes”), (iii) certain favorable "remedial" partnership tax allocations to which the Company becomes entitled (if any), and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to the Company entering into the TRA, including tax benefits attributable to payments that the Company makes under the TRA (“TRA Payment Tax Attributes”).

The Company accounts for amounts payable under the TRA in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. The amounts payable under the TRA will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of exchanges by the LLC Unitholders, the amount of gain recognized by the LLC Unitholders, the amount and timing of the taxable income the Company generates in the future, and the federal tax rates then applicable. Actual tax benefits realized by the Company may differ from tax benefits calculated under the TRA as a result of the use of certain assumptions in the agreement. Any such changes in these factors or changes in the Company’s determination of the need for a valuation allowance related to the tax benefits acquired under the TRA could adjust the Tax Receivable Agreement liabilities recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company accounts for the effects of the increases in tax basis and associated payments under the TRA arising from exchanges (i) by recording an increase in deferred tax assets for the estimated income tax effects of the increases in tax basis associated with Exchange Tax Attributes and TRA Payment Tax Attributes based on the enacted federal and state tax rates at the date of the exchange, (ii) to the extent it is estimated that the Company will not realize the full benefit represented by the deferred tax asset, based on an analysis that will consider, among other things, our expectation of future earnings, by reducing the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance, (iii) by recording 85% of the estimated realizable tax benefit associated with the Exchange Tax Attributes and TRA Payment Tax Attributes as an increase to the Tax receivable agreement liability and the remaining 15% of the estimated realizable tax benefit as an increase to Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and (iv) by recording 85% of the estimated realizable tax benefit associated with Pre-IPO M&A Tax Attributes as an increase to the Tax receivable agreement liability with a corresponding decrease to Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Subsequent changes to the initial establishment of the increases in deferred tax assets and Tax Receivable Agreement liability between reporting periods will be recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Mezzanine Equity and Stockholders’/Members’ Equity as the exchanges represent transactions among shareholders. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the Tax Receivable Agreement liabilities between reporting periods, as well as any interest accrued on the TRA between the Company's annual tax filing date and the TRA payment date, are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In the unlikely event of an early termination of the TRA, either due to Company default or a change of control, the Company is required to pay to each holder of the TRA an early termination payment equal to the discounted present value of all unpaid TRA payments.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06 Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, but early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2022 with no material impact to the consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

 

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides practical expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. ASU 2020-04 is effective through December 31, 2022. The Company adopted this standard during the second quarter of 2022. The adoption of ASU 2020-04 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements or disclosures. See Note 10, Debt for further information.