AUM: $1.34 billion at September 30, 2024 Book Value per share ended the quarter at $42.02 Returned $45.9 million to shareholders through dividends declared and share repurchases in the third quarter Approved $0.20 per share shareholder designated charitable contribution for registered shareholders, bringing total to $42 million since our spin-off in 2015 GREENWICH, Conn., Nov. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associated Capital Group, Inc. ("AC” or the "Company”), a diversified financial services company, today reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024.

Financial Highlights

($ in 000's except AUM and per share data)

(Unaudited) Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended   September 30,  September 30,   2024  2023  2024  2023 AUM - end of period (in millions) $1,340  $1,588  $1,340  $1,588 AUM - average (in millions)  1,349   1,580   1,450   1,686                  Revenues  2,415   2,200   8,021   7,047 Operating loss before management fee (Non-GAAP)  (3,604)  (3,533)  (9,824)  (9,050)Investment and other non-operating income/(loss), net  37,239   3,794   67,116   37,140 Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interests  30,323   273   51,556   25,015                  Net income/(loss)  23,242   (16)  40,048   21,109 Net income/(loss) per share - basic and diluted  1.09   0.00   1.87   0.97                  Class A shares outstanding (000's)  2,297   2,672   2,297   2,672 Class B "             "  18,951   18,951   18,951   18,951 Total     "             "  21,248   21,623   21,248   21,623 Book value per share $42.02  $41.43  $42.02  $41.43                                    Giving Back to Society - (Y)our "S" in ESG

AC seeks to be a good corporate citizen by supporting our community through sponsoring local organizations. On August 7, 2024, the Board of Directors approved up to a $4.3 million, or $0.20 per share, shareholder designated charitable contribution ("SDCC”) for registered shareholders as of October 18, 2024. Based on the program created by Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway, our corporate charitable giving is unique in that the recipients of AC's charitable contributions are chosen directly by our shareholders, rather than by our corporate officers. Since our spin off as a public company, the shareholders of AC have donated approximately $42 million, including the most recent SDCC, to over 190 501(c)(3) organizations across the United States.

 Third Quarter Financial Data

Assets under management ended the quarter at $1.34 billion versus $1.59 billion at September 30, 2023. Book value was $42.02 per share (ex- $2 per share dividend) compared to $41.43 per share at September 30, 2023. Third Quarter Results

Total revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were $2.4 million compared to $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. Revenues generated by the GAMCO International SICAV - GAMCO Merger Arbitrage (the "SICAV”) were $1.1 million versus $0.8 million in the prior year period. All other revenues were $1.3 million compared to $1.4 million in the year ago quarter.

Starting in December 2023, the Company recognized 100% of the merger arbitrage SICAV revenues received by Gabelli Funds, LLC. In turn, AC pays the marketing expenses of the SICAV previously paid by Gabelli Funds, and remits an administrative fee to Gabelli Funds for administrative services provided. This change better aligns the financial arrangements with the services rendered by each party. The net effect of this change had no material impact on our operating results.

Total operating expenses, excluding management fee, were $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase is primarily attributed to the $0.5 million of marketing expenses on the merger arbitrage SICAV, offset partially by lower variable based compensation expenses.

Net investment and other non-operating income was $37.2 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. The primary drivers of this quarter's results included gains from our merger arbitrage partnerships, a $2 per share special dividend declared on our holdings of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and interest income. 

For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the management fee was $3.3 million versus none in the year ago quarter.

The effective tax rate applied to our pre-tax income for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was 22.9%. In the year ago quarter, the effective tax rate was 60.8% due to the deferred tax expense from a foreign investment.

Assets Under Management (AUM)

Assets under management at September 30, 2024 were $1.34 billion, $251 million lower than year-end 2023, the result of net outflows of $288 million and the impact of currency fluctuations in non-US dollar denominated classes of investment funds of $4 million, offset partially by market appreciation of $41 million.

            September 30,  December 31,  September 30,   2024  2023  2023 ($ in millions)         Merger Arbitrage(a) $1,095  $1,312  $1,322 Long/Short Value(b)  208   244   233 Other  37   35   33 Total AUM $1,340  $1,591  $1,588               (a) Includes $431, $621, and $613 of sub-advisory AUM related to GAMCO International SICAV - GAMCO Merger Arbitrage, and $68, $69, and $67 of sub-advisory AUM related to Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust Plc at September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

(b) Includes $201, $237 and $226 for which Associated Capital receives only performance fees, less expenses of $25, $25, and $24 at September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

Alternative Investment Management

The alternative investment strategy offerings center around our merger arbitrage strategy, which has an absolute return focus of generating returns independent of the broad equity and fixed income markets. We also offer strategies utilizing fundamental, active, event-driven and special situations investments.

Merger Arbitrage

For the third quarter of 2024, the longest continuously offered fund in the merger arbitrage strategy generated gross returns of 4.88% (3.80% net of fees). A summary of the performance is as follows:

                                    Full Year         Performance%(a) 3Q '24  3Q '23  YTD '24  YTD '23  2023  2022  2021  2020  5 Year(b)  Since 1985(b)(c) Merger Arb                                        Gross  4.88   2.88   4.82   2.23   5.49   4.47   10.81   9.45   7.66   10.01 Net  3.80   2.33   3.23   1.17   3.56   2.75   7.78   6.70   5.28   7.08                                           (a) Net performance is net of fees and expenses, unless otherwise noted. Performance shown for an actual fund in this strategy. The performance of other funds in this strategy may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

(b) Represents annualized returns through September 30, 2024

(c) Inception Date: February 1985

Global M&A activity totaled $2.3 trillion in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2023. The U.S. continued to lead in dealmaking, accounting for $1.1 trillion, or 48% of global activity, the largest percentage for U.S. dealmaking since 2019. Private Equity-backed buyouts represented 24% of M&A activity, with a total value of $548 billion, marking a 40% increase over 2023 levels and the strongest first nine months for private equity dealmaking since 1980. The Technology sector led in activity with a total volume of $375 billion, accounting for 16% of overall value, followed by Energy & Power at $374 billion or 16% and Financials at $308 billion or 12%. 

The Merger Arbitrage strategy is offered by mandate and client type through partnerships and offshore corporations serving accredited as well as institutional investors. The strategy is also offered in separately managed accounts, a Luxembourg UCITS (an entity organized as an Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferrable Securities) and a London Stock Exchange listed investment company, Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust Plc (GMP-LN).

Acquisitions

Associated Capital Group's plan is to accelerate the use of its capital. We intend to leverage our research and investment capabilities by pursuing acquisitions and alliances that will broaden our product offerings and add new sources of distribution. In addition, we may make direct investments in operating businesses using a variety of techniques and structures to accomplish our objectives.

Gabelli Private Equity Partners was created to launch a private equity business, somewhat akin to the success our predecessor PE firm had in the 1980s. We will continue our outreach initiatives with business owners, corporate management, and various financial sponsors. We are activating our program of buying privately owned, family started businesses, controlled and operated by the founding family.

Shareholder Compensation

On September 19, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share, payable on November 4, 2024 to shareholders of record on October 21, 2024. In addition to this special dividend, on November 8, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.10 per share which is payable on December 19, 2024 to shareholders of record on December 5, 2024.         

During the third quarter, AC repurchased 107,218 Class A shares, totaling $3.4 million, at an average price of $31.80 per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, AC repurchased 290,041 Class A shares, totaling $9.6 million, at an average price of $33.01 per share. Shares may be purchased from time to time in the future, however share repurchase amounts and prices may vary after considering a variety of factors, including the Company's financial position, earnings, other alternative uses of cash, macroeconomic issues, and market conditions.

Since our inception in 2015, AC has returned $181.9 million to shareholders through share repurchases and exchange offers, in addition to dividends of $81.1 million.

At September 30, 2024, there were 21.248 million shares outstanding, consisting of 2.297 million Class A shares and 18.951 million Class B shares outstanding.

About Associated Capital Group, Inc.

Associated Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE:AC), based in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a diversified global financial services company that provides alternative investment management through Gabelli & Company Investment Advisers, Inc. ("GCIA”). We have also earmarked proprietary capital for our direct investment business that invests in new and existing businesses. The direct investment business is developing along several core pillars, including Gabelli Private Equity Partners, LLC ("GPEP”), which was formed in August 2017 with $150 million of authorized capital as a "fund-less” sponsor and Gabelli Principal Strategies Group, LLC ("GPS”), which was formed in December 2015 to pursue strategic operating initiatives.

Operating Loss Before Management Fee

Operating loss before management fee expense represents a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate its business operations. We believe this measure is useful in illustrating the operating results of the Company as management fee expense is based on pre-tax income before management fee expense, which includes non-operating items including investment gains and losses from the Company's proprietary investment portfolio and interest expense.

         Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended   September 30,  September 30, ($ in 000's) 2024  2023  2024  2023                  Operating loss - GAAP $(6,916) $(3,521) $(15,560) $(12,125)                 Add: management fee expense (1)  3,312   (12)  5,736   3,075                  Operating loss before management fee - Non-GAAP $(3,604)