Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
For a description of our business, including descriptions of segments and recent business trends, see the discussion under Business in Item 1 of Part I of this Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference into this Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report. The following discussion should also be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report.
Recent Developments
Dayforce
In the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold the remaining 4.0 million shares of common stock of Dayforce for gross proceeds of $264.0 million. As of December 31, 2024, we no longer have any holdings of Dayforce.
Refer to Note B - Investments and Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Dayforce and other equity securities.
Dun & Bradstreet
On February 8, 2024, April 30, 2024, July 24, 2024, and October 22, 2024, the board of directors of D&B declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.05 per share of D&B common stock. In the year ended December 31, 2024, we received $14.3 million of cash dividends from D&B which are recorded as a reduction to the basis of our recorded asset for D&B.
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As of December 31, 2024, we owned 69.0 million shares of D&B, which represented approximately 15.6% of its outstanding common stock.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in D&B and other equity method investments.
Paysafe
In January 2024, we purchased 1.6 million shares of common stock of Paysafe for $23.4 million. In November 2024, we sold 0.9 million shares of common stock of Paysafe for $16.0 million which we expect will generate tax savings for the Company.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned 2.5 million shares of Paysafe which represented approximately 4.1% of the outstanding common equity of Paysafe.
See Note B - Investments and Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Paysafe and other equity securities.
Alight
On December 3, 2024, we completed the sale of 12.0 million shares of common stock of Alight for aggregate proceeds of $89.0 million.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned 40.5 million shares of Alight, which represented approximately 7.6% of its outstanding common stock.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Alight and other equity method investments.
JANA
On February 21, 2024, we issued 1.85 million shares of common stock of the Company from the Company’s treasury and paid $18.3 million in cash, in the aggregate, to certain partners of JANA in exchange for a 19.99% equity interest in JANA. The transaction is valued at $55.5 million based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on February 21, 2024. Cannae also committed to invest $50 million into JANA funds (the "JANA Fund Commitment"). JANA Partners is an investment manager founded in 2001. We account for our ownership interest in JANA as an unconsolidated affiliate using the equity method of accounting and record our ratable share of JANA's net income or loss on a three-month lag. On December 27, 2024, the Company invested $20.0 million into a JANA fund as part of the JANA Fund Commitment. We account for our investment in the JANA fund as an equity security without a readily determinable fair value.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in JANA and other equity method investments and our accounting for the JANA fund and other equity securities without a readily determinable fair value.
Watkins Holdings
On October 17, 2024, the Company invested approximately $80.0 million for a 52.8% ownership interest in Watkins Holdings, LLC ("Watkins Holdings"), a partnership with KDSA Investment Partners ("KDSA") and Mark Jacobs (the "Watkins Acquisition"). Watkins Holdings concurrently completed the acquisition of The Watkins Company ("Watkins"), a leading producer of high-quality flavoring products. Watkins was founded in 1868 and has grown to be a leading domestic producer of spices, seasonings and extracts. The former majority owner of Watkins, Mark Jacobs, rolled a significant equity stake into Watkins Holdings. We account for our ownership interest in Watkins as an unconsolidated affiliate using the equity method of accounting and record our ratable share of Watkins's net income or loss on a three-month lag.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Watkins Holdings and other equity method investments.
Black Knight Football
In the year ended December 31, 2024, we invested $36.8 million in BKFC and as of December 31, 2024, we held a 47.2% ownership interest.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in BKFC and other equity method investments.
Other Developments
On February 21, 2024, we announced a tender offer to purchase up to $200 million of shares of our common stock at a purchase price of not less than $20.75 per share and not greater than $23.75 per share (the "Tender Offer"). We conducted the Tender Offer through a procedure commonly referred to as a "modified Dutch auction." This procedure allows shareholders to select the price within a price range specified by us at which the shareholders are willing to sell their shares.
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On April 1, 2024, the Tender Offer expired and the Company accepted for purchase an aggregate of 9,672,540 shares of its common stock that were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below a purchase price of $22.95 per share for an aggregate cost of $222.0 million, excluding fees and expenses. Included in the 9,672,540 shares of Cannae common stock we accepted for purchase in the Tender Offer are 957,943 shares that Cannae elected to purchase pursuant to its right to purchase up to an additional 2% of its outstanding common stock.
On February 26, 2024, the Company, Cannae LLC and Trasimene entered into a Third Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement (the "Third Amended MSA"). The Third Amended MSA amends the management services agreement primarily to (i) provide for a termination of the agreement by the Company effective June 30, 2027, (ii) reduce the management fee to a fixed amount of $7.6 million annually effective beginning July 2, 2024 and (iii) provide for payment of the termination fee under the agreement of $20 million to be paid by the Company to Trasimene in installments of $6.7 million annually over the 3-year period ended July 1, 2026. The Third Amended MSA has a termination date of June 30, 2027 unless earlier terminated by the Company or Trasimene.
The following dividends were declared by our Board in 2024:
Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date Dividends Per Share
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the Board declared cash dividends of $0.12 per share, payable on March 31, 2025, to Cannae common shareholders of record as of March 17, 2025.
Related Party Transactions
Our financial statements for all years presented reflect transactions with our Manager and certain members of our Board. See Note O - Related Party Transactions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for further discussion.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. See Note A - Basis of Financial Statements to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for discussion of all our significant accounting policies.
The accounting policies and estimates described below are those we consider critical in preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements. Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures with respect to contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates - applicability of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 323. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are recorded using the equity method of accounting. If an investor does not possess a controlling financial interest over an investee but has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee’s operating and financial policies, the investor must account for such an investment under the equity method of accounting. For investments in common stock or in-substance common stock of an investee, which an investor does not control, the general but rebuttable presumption exists that an ownership of greater than 20% of the outstanding common stock of an investee indicates the investor has significant influence. For investments in partnerships and similar entities for which an investor does not control, equity method of accounting for the investment is generally required unless the investor's interest is so minor that the investor has virtually no influence.
In the ordinary course of our business, we make investments in companies that provide us with varying degrees of control and influence over the underlying investees through our level of ownership of the outstanding equity of the investee, participation in management of the investee, participation on the board of directors of the investee, and/or legal agreements with other investors with control implications. As a result, our analysis of the appropriate accounting for our various ownership interests often requires judgment regarding the level of control, significant influence or lack thereof the Company has over each investee. If we are required to account for certain of our ownership interests in which we have concluded the Company has significant influence resulting in the application of the equity method of accounting at fair value, the impact of such change could significantly impact the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
As of December 31, 2024, we held less than 20% of the outstanding common equity of Dun & Bradstreet but continue to account for our ownership interest under the equity method because (i) we continue to exert significant influence through, and in connection with, our 15.6% ownership and (ii) certain of our senior management and directors serve on Dun & Bradstreet's
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board of directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of our Board, Bill Foley, who is also the chairman of D&B's board of directors.
As of December 31, 2024, the book value of our investment in D&B accounted for under the equity method of accounting is $691.9 million. Based on quoted market prices, the aggregate fair market value of our ownership of Dun & Bradstreet common stock was $860.3 million as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, we held less than 20% of the outstanding common equity of Alight but we account for our ownership under the equity method because we exert significant influence: (i) through, and in connection with, our 7.6% ownership, (ii) because certain of our senior management and directors serve on Alight's board of directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of our Board, Bill Foley, who is also the chairman of Alight's board of directors, and (iii) because we are party to an agreement with Alight pursuant to which we have the ability to appoint or be consulted on the election of certain of the directors of Alight.
As of December 31, 2024, the book value of our investment in Alight accounted for under the equity method of accounting is $374.0 million. Based on quoted market prices, the aggregate fair market value of our ownership of Alight common stock was approximately $280.1 million as of December 31, 2024.
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates - impairment monitoring. On an ongoing basis, management monitors the Company's investments in unconsolidated affiliates to determine whether there are indications that the fair value of an investment may be other-than-temporarily below our recorded book value of the investment. Factors considered when determining whether a decline in the fair value of an investment is other-than-temporary include, but are not limited to: the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than book value, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the investee for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value.
As of June 30, 2024, the aggregate fair market value of our ownership of Sightline equity prior to recording impairment was $154.7 million. Based on a valuation using a hybrid discounted cash flow and market comparison approach and adjusted for the risk of a capital shortfall at the business, the aggregate fair market value of our ownership of Sightline equity was approximately $13.7 million as of June 30, 2024 and management determined the decrease in value of our investment in Sightline was other-than-temporary. The fair value measurement is considered a level 3 fair value measure. The primary inputs in the valuation were the forecasted results of operations of Sightline, the discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analysis and the adjustment for the risk of a capital shortfall. The primary significant unobservable input used was the 35% discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analysis and the 50% adjustment for the risk of capital shortfall. As of December 31, 2024, management determined that the remaining investment in Sightline was impaired as a result of the implied valuation of Sightline it would require for it to raise equity funding. Due to the quantum of the decrease in the fair market value of our ownership interest subsequent to our acquisition, declines in the forecasted results of operations and liquidity of Sightline, and the uncertainty of the ability of Sightline to raise new capital, management determined the decrease in value of our investment in Sightline was other-than-temporary. Accordingly, we recorded an impairment of $149.5 million which is included in Recognized (losses) gains, net, on our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of our ownership interest in Alight based on quoted market prices was $280.1 million and the book value of our recorded asset for Alight was $374.0 million. While the fair value of our interest in Alight is below our book value, the fair value was above book value during the second quarter and there are no other indicators that our interest is other-than-temporarily impaired. Alight has consistently produced positive results from operations and cash flows, has reduced its debt, and initiated a dividend in 2024. There are no indications that the book value of our interest will not be recoverable at this time. Due to these factors, we consider the decline in value to be temporary as of December 31, 2024. Though we do not currently believe our interest in Alight is other-than-temporarily impaired, because the fair value is currently below the book value of our interest in Alight, sustained declines in fair value of the interest, deterioration in Alight's actual or forecasted results of operations or adverse changes in the US macroeconomic environment could result in an impairment charge in future periods to record our asset at fair value.
Accounting for Income Taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities and expected benefits of utilizing net operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The impact of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred taxes, if any, is applied to the years during which temporary differences are expected to be settled and reflected in the financial statements in the period enacted.
As of December 31, 2024, we had a net deferred tax asset of $73.9 million, which is primarily attributable to temporary differences for our investments held through partnerships. In the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded an additional valuation allowance of $47.7 million on the Company's federal net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards and certain deferred taxes related to our consolidated partnerships. In 2024, we determined it was uncertain whether we would be able to use the Company's available federal NOL carryforwards and certain other deferred taxes. One of the factors used in assessing the need
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for a valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets is whether a company is in a three-year cumulative book loss position and for the three years ended December 31, 2024, the Company was in a cumulative book loss position. The Company is relying on deferred tax liabilities, and the ability to carry back capital losses, as sources of income to facilitate the recovery of its remaining deferred tax assets. The Company’s prospective investment strategy, fluctuations in the fair market value of its ownership interests prior to any dispositions and other factors may influence the timing of reversals of deferred tax assets and liabilities and their ultimate impact on taxable income or loss, which could have an effect on the recoverability of deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has a federal valuation allowance of $47.7 million representing a full valuation allowance on its federal NOL carryforwards and certain other deferred taxes where it is not more likely than not that the tax benefit will be realized. Additionally, the Company has a state valuation allowance of $5.1 million representing certain state NOLs where it is not more likely than not that the tax benefit of certain state NOLs will be realized before the NOLs in those certain states expire. At this time, we consider it more likely than not that we will have sufficient taxable income and available excess capital gain from prior year periods that will allow us to realize our other deferred tax assets. The Company will continue to monitor the recoverability of deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and may need to record an additional valuation allowance on its net deferred tax asset in future periods.
Refer to Note L - Income Taxes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for further discussion of our accounting for income taxes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). The guidance improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. In addition, the amendments in this ASU enhance interim disclosure requirements, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment, and contain other disclosure requirements. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We have adopted this ASU which resulted in additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements.
Refer to Note E - Segment Information to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 Part II of this Annual Report for further discussion of our segment reporting.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis, though retrospective application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this authoritative guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which requires public business entities to disaggregate specific expenses in a tabular presentation. This includes purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and other relevant expense captions on the face of the income statement. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. The guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis, though retrospective application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this authoritative guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Certain Factors Affecting Comparability
Year ended December 31, 2024. On March 20, 2024, Alight entered into a definitive agreement to sell its professional services segment and its payroll and human capital management outsourcing businesses (the "Payroll & Professional Services Business"). The transaction closed on July 12, 2024. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2024, Alight began accounting for the assets and liabilities of the disposed businesses as held for sale and its operating results as discontinued operations. Accordingly, Alight's results presented for the periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 have been retrospectively revised to reflect the Payroll & Professional Services Business as held for sale and discontinued operations.
Year ended December 31, 2023. In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Restaurant Group undertook a project to renegotiate or terminate leases and close O'Charley's stores with unfavorable store-level cash flow profiles. Through this process they closed 77 O'Charley's stores in the year ended December 31, 2023.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results of Operations
Net earnings. The following table presents certain financial data for the years indicated:
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Revenues:
Operating expenses:
Other operating expenses, including asset impairments 93.3 142.9 153.0
Other income (expense):
Interest, investment and other income 4.6 13.6 2.5
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates (46.6) (194.0) (183.9)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (5.5) (10.7) (1.5)
Revenues
Total revenue decreased $117.5 million in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily driven by a decrease in revenue in the Restaurant Group segment. Total revenue in 2023 decreased $92.1 million compared to 2022, primarily driven by a decrease in revenue in the Restaurant Group segment.
The change in revenues from our segments is discussed in further detail at the segment level below.
Expenses
Our operating expenses consist primarily of cost of restaurant revenue, personnel costs, depreciation and amortization, and other operating expenses.
Cost of restaurant revenue includes cost of food and beverage, primarily the costs of beef, groceries, produce, seafood, poultry and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, net of vendor discounts and rebates, payroll and related costs and expenses directly relating to restaurant level activities, and restaurant operating costs including occupancy and other operating expenses at the restaurant level.
Personnel costs include base salaries, commissions, benefits, stock-based compensation and bonuses paid to employees, and are one of our most significant operating expenses. Personnel costs that are directly attributable to the restaurant-level operations of the Restaurant Group are included in Cost of restaurant revenue.
Depreciation and amortization expense consists of our depreciation related to investments in property and equipment as well as amortization of intangible assets.
Other operating expenses include management fees, carried interest fees, professional fees, advertising costs, travel expenses and impairments of operating assets.
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The change in expenses from our segments is discussed in further detail at the segment level below.
Income tax benefit was $0.4 million, $77.0 million, and $89.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was 0.2%, 37.2%, and 26.8%, respectively. The change in the effective tax rate in all periods is primarily attributable to the varying impact of earnings or losses from unconsolidated affiliates on our consolidated pretax earnings or losses. The fluctuation in income tax benefit as a percentage of loss before income taxes is attributable to our estimate of ultimate income tax liability or benefit and changes in the characteristics of net earnings or loss year to year, such as the weighting of operating income versus investment income. The change in our effective tax rate in the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily attributable to the recording of a valuation allowance in the current period of $47.7 million on our federal net operating loss carryforwards and certain deferred taxes within our consolidated partnerships, the impact to the rate of equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates relative to pre-tax loss and the impairment recorded to our investment in Sightline.
For a detailed breakout of our effective tax rate and further discussion on changes in our taxes, see Note L - Income Taxes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report.
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for the periods indicated consisted of the following:
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Dun & Bradstreet (1) $ (13.7) $ (17.1) $ (8.8)
_____________________________________
(1) Equity in losses for D&B includes $8.6 million of loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, related to amortization of Cannae's basis difference between the book value of its ownership interest and ratable portion of the underlying equity in net assets of D&B.
(2) Equity in losses for Sightline includes $2.9 million and $7.3 million of loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to amortization of Cannae's basis difference between the book value of its ownership interest and ratable portion of the underlying equity in net assets of Sightline.
(3) The amount for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes the Company's equity in losses of Paysafe which was no longer accounted for under the equity method of accounting beginning December 31, 2023.
Net Loss
Net loss attributable to Cannae decreased $8.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 2023. Total net loss attributable to Cannae decreased $114.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022.
The change in net loss is attributable to the factors discussed above and net loss from the segments is discussed in further detail at the segment level below.
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Segment Results of Operations
Restaurant Group
The following table presents the results from operations of our Restaurant Group segment:
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)
Revenues:
Operating expenses:
Other operating expenses, including asset impairments 26.5 75.9 36.5
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (5.7) (6.1) (4.2)
Total revenues for the Restaurant Group segment decreased $116.4 million, or 21.7%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 from 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to approximately $100.3 million of incremental revenue included in the year ended December 31, 2023 associated with 99 Restaurants and O'Charley's stores that were closed prior to December 31, 2024 and a decline in comparable store sales.
Total revenues for the Restaurant Group segment decreased $94.6 million, or 15.0%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 from 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to approximately $79.6 million of incremental revenue included in the year ended December 31, 2022 associated with stores that were closed prior to December 31, 2023 and a decline in comparable store sales.
Comparable Store Sales. One method we use in evaluating the performance of our restaurants is to compare sales results for restaurants period over period. A new restaurant is included in our comparable store sales figures starting in the first period following the restaurant's first seventy-eight weeks of operations. Changes in comparable store sales reflect changes in sales for the comparable store group of restaurants over a specified period of time. This measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants, as the impact of new restaurant openings is excluded. Comparable store sales for our 99 Restaurants brand changed (2.2)%, (2.1)%, and 7.5% in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from the prior fiscal years. The decrease in 2024 is primarily attributable to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in the average amount spent by customers each visit. The decrease in 2023 is primarily attributable to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in the average amount spent by customers each visit. Comparable store sales for our O'Charley's brand changed (8.5)%, (3.4)% and (5.8)% in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, from the prior fiscal years. The decrease in 2024 is primarily attributable to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in the average amount spent by customers each visit. The decrease in 2023 is primarily attributable to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in the average amount spent by customers each visit.
Cost of restaurant revenue decreased $103.7 million, or 21.8%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 from 2023. Cost of restaurant revenue decreased $96.5 million, or 16.9%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 from 2022. Cost of restaurant revenue as a percentage of restaurant revenue was approximately 88.5%, 88.6%, and 90.6% in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change in cost of restaurant revenue as a percentage of restaurant revenue in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily attributable to an easing of inflation in the cost of labor, food and supplies relative to customary increases in menu pricing.
Other operating expenses decreased by $49.4 million, or 65.1%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 from 2023. Other operating expenses increased by $39.4 million, or 107.9%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 from 2022. The change in both periods is primarily attributable to $36.8 million of impairment recorded to the Restaurant Group's property and equipment, lease assets and other intangible assets in the year ended December 31, 2023.
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Recognized gains, net, decreased $17.4 million, or 48.3%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 from 2023 and increased $28.2 million, or 361.5%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 from 2022. The changes in both periods is primarily attributable to $30.2 million of gains recorded upon derecognition of O'Charley's lease liabilities associated with stores closed in 2023 and upon conversion of certain stores from a failed sale lease back in previous years to operating leases in 2023. The change in the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was partially offset by a gain of $12.5 million recorded in 2024 related to the termination of the lease for the Restaurant Group's corporate headquarters.
Dun & Bradstreet
As of December 31, 2024, we owned approximately 15.6% of the outstanding common stock of Dun & Bradstreet. We account for our ownership interest in D&B under the equity method of accounting; therefore, its results of operations do not consolidate into ours.
Summarized financial information for Dun & Bradstreet for the relevant dates and time periods included in Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Operations is presented below.
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 4.1 3.3 6.4
Net loss attributable to Dun & Bradstreet (28.6) (47.0) (2.3)
Details relating to the results of operations of Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: "DNB") can be found in its periodic reports filed with the SEC.
Alight
As of December 31, 2024, we owned approximately 7.6% of the outstanding common stock of Alight. We account for our ownership of Alight under the equity method of accounting; therefore, its results of operations do not consolidate into ours.
Summarized financial information for Alight for the relevant dates and time periods included in Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Operations is presented below.
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations (19.0) (45.0) 68.0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (2.0) (17.0) (10.0)
Details relating to the results of operations of Alight (NYSE: "ALIT") can be found in its periodic reports filed with the SEC.
Black Knight Football
As of December 31, 2024, we owned approximately 47.2% of the ownership interest of BKFC. We account for our ownership of BKFC under the equity method of accounting and report our equity in the earnings or loss of BKFC on a three-month lag; therefore, its results do not consolidate into ours. Accordingly, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 includes our equity in BKFC’s losses for the year ended September 30, 2024 and for the period from December 13, 2022 (the date we acquired our initial interest in BKFC) through September 30, 2023, respectively.
Summarized financial information for BKFC for the relevant dates and time periods included in Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Operations is presented below.
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(In millions)
(Losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (7.1) (5.3)
Net loss attributable to BKFC (122.6) (103.8)
Black Knight Football's total revenue is primarily attributable to Premier League media rights, matchday and sponsorship revenue earned by AFCB. Total revenues for Black Knight Football increased $62.1 million, or 41.7%, in the year ended September 30, 2024, compared to the period from December 13, 2022 through September 30, 2023. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to the 2023 period including nine and a half months rather than twelve and an increase in matchday and sponsorship revenue.
Personnel costs were $185.7 million and $112.1 million in the year ended September 30, 2024 and the period from December 13, 2022 to September 30, 2023, respectively, an increase of $73.6 million, or 65.7%. The increase was attributable to the acquisition of new players at AFC Bournemouth and the 2023 period including nine and a half months rather than twelve.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $114.0 million and $99.8 million, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2024 and the period from December 13, 2022 to September 20, 2023, respectively, an increase of $14.2 million, or 14%. The increase was attributable to inclusion of a full year of expense in the 2024 period.
Other income increased $16.4 million in the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to the corresponding period from December 13, 2022 to September 20, 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to increased gain on sale of players by AFCB, partially offset by a non-cash impairment charge of $12.0 million to BKFC's investment in FC Lorient resulting from the club's relegation to Ligue 2.
Corporate and Other
The Corporate and Other segment consists of our share in the operations of certain controlled businesses and other equity investments, activity of the corporate holding company and certain intercompany eliminations and taxes.
The following table presents the results from operations of our Corporate and Other segment:
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Revenues:
Operating expenses:
Depreciation and amortization 2.8 2.0 2.3
Other income (expense):
Interest, investment and other income 4.6 13.6 2.5
Personnel costs in our corporate and other segment increased $29.3 million, or 101.4%, in the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023, and decreased $6.4 million, or 18.1%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022. The increase in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily attributable to increased non-cash stock-based compensation granted in 2024. The decrease in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily driven by a decrease in investment success bonuses paid related to our sales of shares of Dayforce.
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Other operating expenses decreased $49.5 million, or 42.5%, in the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022. The decrease is primarily attributable to $49.3 million of carried interest expense attributable to our sale of Optimal Blue in 2022, of which $31.8 million was paid in D&B stock.
Interest, investment and other income decreased $9.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 and increased $11.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to 2022. The change in both periods was primarily attributable to the change in interest income on our cash and short term investments resulting from changes in our cash balance and market interest rates.
Recognized losses, net in our Corporate and Other segment consists of the following:
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Dayforce fair value adjustments $ (4.5) $ 28.3 $ (374.1)
Sightline impairment (149.5) (70.2) —
Paysafe fair value adjustments 12.3 — (236.0)
Alight loss on sale (22.5) — —
QOMPLX impairment — (9.0) (32.8)
Dun & Bradstreet (loss) gain on partial sales (6.0) — 19.3
Optimal Blue gain on sale — — 313.0
AmeriLife fair value adjustment (1) — — 67.3
AmeriLife gain on partial sales — — 176.4
Other fair value adjustments, net 15.3 — (23.5)
_____________________________________
(1) Represents the gain recorded upon the revaluation of our investment to fair value on November 15, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Requirements.Our current cash requirements include our corporate operating expenses and funding needs of our Restaurant Group. There are no restrictions on our retained earnings regarding our ability to pay dividends to stockholders. The declaration of any future dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Additional uses of cash flow may include payment of dividends on our common stock, stock repurchases, acquisitions, additional investment in current investees, and debt repayments.
As of December 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $131.5 million, of which $113.2 million was cash held by the corporate holding company, $6.2 million of short term investments, and $49.0 of immediate capacity under our existing holding company credit facilities with the ability to add an additional $500 million of borrowing capacity by amending our 2020 Margin Facility. As of December 31, 2024, we were committed under letters of credit totaling $6.2 million issued primarily in connection with casualty insurance programs for our Restaurant Group employees.
We continually assess our capital allocation strategy, including decisions relating to repurchasing our stock, paying dividends, reducing debt, and/or conserving cash. We believe that all anticipated cash requirements for current operations will be met from internally generated funds, cash dividends or distributions from subsidiaries and holdings, cash generated from short-term investments, potential sales of non-strategic assets, and borrowings on existing credit facilities. Our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements are monitored regularly to ensure that we can meet our cash requirements. We forecast the Company's liquidity needs and periodically review the short-term and long-term projected sources and uses of funds, as well as the asset, liability, investment and cash flow assumptions underlying such forecasts. As part of such forecasting, we actively manage the impact of rising interest rates on both our idle cash and our outstanding debt.
The Company believes the holding company's balances of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, marketable equity securities, cash generated by its investments and capacity under its credit agreements, will be sufficient to satisfy its cash requirements over the next 12 months and beyond.
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We are focused on evaluating our assets and investments as potential vehicles for creating liquidity. Our intent is to use that liquidity for general corporate purposes, including, funding future investments, other strategic initiatives and/or conserving cash.
Operating Cash Flows. Our cash flows used in operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $90.1 million, $87.8 million and $205.1 million, respectively. The increase in cash used in operations of $2.3 million from 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily attributable to lower tax payments and lower cash expenses incurred with our Manager. The decrease in cash used in operations of $117.3 million from 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily attributable to decreased tax payments and no carried interest expense incurred with our Manager in 2023.
Investing Cash Flows. Our cash flows provided by investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $298.3 million, $53.1 million and $521.2 million, respectively. The increase in cash provided by investing activities of $245.2 million from 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily attributable to proceeds from sales of Dayforce, D&B and Alight in 2024, partially offset by an increase in purchases of new investments. The decrease in cash provided by investing activities of $468.1 million from 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily attributable to primarily attributable to higher proceeds from sales of Dayforce, AmeriLife, Optimal Blue, D&B and CorroHealth in the 2022 period compared to lower proceeds from sales of Dayforce in 2023 period, partially offset by increased proceeds from distributions from unconsolidated affiliates in the 2023 period and the investment in System1 in the 2022 period. See our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for a detailed breakout of cash flows from purchases and sales of investments.
Capital Expenditures. Total capital expenditures for property and equipment and other intangible assets were $7.0 million, $10.0 million and $14.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Capital expenditures in all years primarily consisted of purchases of equipment and leasehold improvements in our Restaurant Group segment and property improvements at our real estate operations.
Financing Cash Flows. Our cash flows used in financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $182.9 million, $106.8 million and $154.2 million, respectively. The increase in cash used in financing activities of $76.1 million from 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily attributable to the Tender Offer, partial repayment of the FNF Revolver and dividends paid in 2024. The decrease in cash used in financing activities of $47.4 million from 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily attributable to a reduction in treasury stock repurchases in 2023 compared to 2022 and lower proceeds from debt, net of repayments.
Financing Arrangements. For a description of our financing arrangements see Note K - Notes Payable to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report.
Contractual Obligations. Our long-term contractual obligations generally include our credit agreements and debt facilities, lease payments and financing obligations on certain of our premises and equipment, purchase obligations of the Restaurant Group and payments to our Manager.
See Note G - Leases to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report for further discussion of our leasing arrangements.
On February 26, 2024, the Company, Cannae LLC and Trasimene entered into a Third Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement (the "Third Amended MSA"). The Third Amended MSA amends the management services agreement primarily to (i) provide for a termination of the agreement by the Company effective June 30, 2027, (ii) reduce the management fee to a fixed amount of $7.6 million annually effective beginning July 2, 2024 and (iii) provide for payment of the termination fee under the agreement of $20 million to be paid by the Company to Trasimene in installments of $6.7 million annually over the three-year period ended July 1, 2026. The Third Amended MSA has a termination date of June 30, 2027 unless earlier terminated by the Company or Trasimene.
Purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable, are legally binding and specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. The Restaurant Group has unconditional purchase obligations with various vendors, primarily related to food and beverage obligations with fixed commitments in regard to the time period of the contract and the quantities purchased with annual price adjustments that can fluctuate. Future purchase obligations are estimated by assuming historical purchase activity over the remaining, non-cancellable terms of the various agreements. For agreements with minimum purchase obligations, at least the minimum amounts we are legally required to purchase are included. These agreements do not include fixed delivery terms. We used both historical and projected volume and pricing as of December 31, 2024 to determine the amount of the obligations.
Restaurant Group financing obligations include its agreements to lease certain O'Charley's restaurant locations that are accounted for as failed sale and leaseback transactions.
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As of December 31, 2024, our required annual payments relating to these contractual obligations were as follows:
(In millions)
Unconditional purchase obligations $ 46.9 $ 7.2 $ 4.0 $ 2.1 $ — $ — $ 60.2
Restaurant Group financing obligations 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 — 1.3
Capital Stock Transactions.For information on our 2022 Repurchase Program, 2023 Repurchase Program and the Tender Offer, see discussion under the header Purchases of Equity Securitiesby the Issuer included in Item 5 of Part II of this Annual Report.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Equity Price Risk
We are exposed to market price fluctuations associated with the Company's equity securities holdings. Equity price risk is the risk that we will incur economic losses due to adverse changes in equity prices. At December 31, 2024, we held $56.2 million in equity securities which are recorded at fair value. The carrying values of equity securities subject to equity price risks are directly derived from quoted market prices. See Note C - Fair Value Measurements to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our fair value measurements for equity securities. Market prices are subject to fluctuation and, consequently, the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of a security may result from perceived changes in the underlying economic characteristics of the investee, the relative price of alternative investments and general market conditions. Furthermore, amounts realized in the sale of a particular security may be affected by the relative quantity of the security being sold.
For purposes of this Annual Report, we perform a sensitivity analysis to determine the book effects that market risk exposures may have on the fair values of our equity securities. At December 31, 2024, a 20% increase (decrease) in market prices, with all other variables held constant, would result in an increase (decrease) in the fair value of our equity securities of $11.2 million.
See discussion of our accounting for interests in unconsolidated affiliates under the header Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Item 7 of this Annual Report for further discussion of the potential impact of the Company's monitoring of impairment of its interests in unconsolidated affiliates, including those with fair values based on quoted market prices.
Commodity Price Risk
In our Restaurant Group segment, we are exposed to market price fluctuations in beef, seafood, produce and other food product prices. Given the historical volatility of beef, seafood, produce and other food product prices, these fluctuations can materially impact the food and beverage costs incurred in our Restaurant Group segment. While our Restaurant Group companies have taken steps to qualify multiple suppliers who meet our standards as suppliers for our restaurants and have entered into agreements with suppliers for some of the commodities used in our restaurant operations, there can be no assurance that future supplies and costs for such commodities will not fluctuate due to weather and other market conditions outside of our control. Consequently, such commodities can be subject to unforeseen supply and cost fluctuations. Dairy costs can also fluctuate due to government regulation. Because we typically set our menu prices in advance of our food product prices, our menu prices cannot immediately incorporate changing costs of food items. To the extent that we are unable to pass the increased costs on to our guests through price increases, our results of operations would be adversely affected. We do not use financial instruments to hedge our risk to market price fluctuations in beef, seafood, produce and other food product prices at this time.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page Number
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 46
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 51
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Cannae Holdings, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Cannae Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, of the Company and our report dated February 27, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
February 27, 2025
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Cannae Holdings, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cannae Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive earnings, 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 "financial statements"). In our opinion, based on our audits and the reports of KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also 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 the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. ("Dun & Bradstreet") or Alight, Inc. ("Alight"), the Company’s investments in which are accounted for by use of the equity method. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include its equity investment in Dun & Bradstreet of $691.9 million and $827.7 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and its equity in losses of Dun & Bradstreet of $13.7 million, $17.1 million, and $8.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include its equity investment in Alight of $374.0 million and $507.2 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and its equity in losses of Alight of $15.5 million, $35.1 million, and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The financial statements of Dun & Bradstreet and Alight were audited by KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP, respectively, whose reports have been furnished to us. We have applied auditing procedures to the adjustments to reflect the Company’s equity investment and equity earnings in Dun & Bradstreet and Alight, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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 and the reports of KPMG LLP and Ernst & Young LLP 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 critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the 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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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates in Alight — Other-than-temporary impairment — Refer to Note B to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
As of December 31, 2024, the Company owns approximately 7.6% of the common equity of Alight, Inc. ("Alight") and accounts for it using the equity method of accounting. On an ongoing basis, management monitors the investment to determine whether there are indications that it may be other-than-temporarily impaired. As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company’s ownership interest in Alight, based on quoted market prices, was $280.1 million, and the book value was $374.0 million.
The determination by management that the Company’s investment in Alight is not other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2024 required significant judgment in determining whether the decline in fair value of the investment below its book value is recoverable as of December 31, 2024.
Therefore, auditing management’s judgment that no other-than-temporary impairment was present in relation to the Company’s investment in Alight involved a higher degree of auditor judgment and subjectivity as well as an increased level of audit effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to management’s judgment in determining that the Company’s investment in Alight is not other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2024, included the following:
•We tested the effectiveness of the controls over the Company’s determination that its investment in Alight is not other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2024.
•We evaluated management’s other-than-temporary impairment analysis by:
◦Searching for potential indications of other-than-temporary impairment, including adverse market conditions and/or evidence of negative or deteriorating financial condition and operating performance.
◦Discussing with management the Company’s investment strategy with regards to its intent and ability to retain its investment in Alight.
◦Analyzing the length of time the fair value of the Company’s investment in Alight has been below its book value.
◦Comparing the projections included in Alight’s forecasted operating cash flows to Alight’s historical results and external market sources.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Las Vegas, Nevada
February 27, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Alight, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Alight, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' 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") (not presented separately herein). 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.
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 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (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 Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters 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 matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Goodwill Impairment Assessment
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Measurement of the Tax Receivable Agreement Liability
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
Chicago, Illinois
February 27, 2025
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions, except share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 131.5 $ 106.2
Short-term investments 6.2 15.6
Income taxes receivable 35.7 26.0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates 1,456.8 1,718.8
Equity securities, at fair value 56.2 290.9
Property and equipment, net 61.8 58.7
Other intangible assets, net 15.1 16.8
Other long-term investments and non-current assets 178.8 145.3
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities, current $ 54.8 $ 74.2
Lease liabilities, current 14.5 13.9
Notes payable, current 61.0 2.5
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities, long-term 12.5 25.3
Commitments and contingencies - see Note M
Equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (19.2) (19.9)
Noncontrolling interests (21.2) (15.3)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31,
(In millions, except per share data)
Revenues:
Operating expenses:
Other operating expenses, including asset impairments 93.3 142.9 153.0
Other income (expense):
Interest, investment and other income 4.6 13.6 2.5
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates (46.6) (194.0) (183.9)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (5.5) (10.7) (1.5)
Earnings per share
Net loss per share - basic $ (4.73) $ (4.27) $ (5.25)
Net loss per share - diluted $ (4.73) $ (4.27) $ (5.25)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings, net of tax:
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) 0.7 (1.8) (10.9)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Cannae $ (303.9) $ (315.2) $ (439.0)
_____________________________________
(1)Net of income tax benefit of $0.6 million, $0.8 million and $3.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)Net of income tax benefit of $0.8 million, $0.3 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Shares $ Shares $
(In millions)
Treasury stock repurchases — — — — — 10.7 (225.4) — (225.4)
Issuance of restricted stock 0.1 — — — — — — — —
Stock-based compensation, consolidated subsidiaries — — 1.5 — — — — — 1.5
Stock-based compensation, unconsolidated affiliates — — 46.4 — — — — — 46.4
Subsidiary dividends paid to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (8.2) (8.2)
Treasury stock repurchases — — — — — 6.1 (119.7) — (119.7)
Issuance of restricted stock 0.3 — — — — — — — —
Payment for shares withheld for taxes and in treasury — — — — — — (0.2) — (0.2)
Stock-based compensation, consolidated subsidiaries — — 3.5 — — — — — 3.5
Stock-based compensation, unconsolidated affiliates — — 37.3 — — — — — 37.3
Subsidiary dividends paid to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (0.7) (0.7)
Treasury stock repurchases — — — — — 10.0 (231.2) — (231.2)
Treasury shares issued for investment in JANA — — — (6.8) — (1.9) 44.0 — 37.2
Issuance of restricted stock and shares held in trust 1.5 — — — — 1.2 — — —
Stock-based compensation, consolidated subsidiaries — — 19.0 — — — — — 19.0
Stock-based compensation, unconsolidated affiliates — — 17.3 — — — — — 17.3
Subsidiary dividends paid to noncontrolling interests — — — — — — — (0.4) (0.4)
Dividends declared — — — (22.8) — — — — (22.8)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates 46.6 194.0 183.9
Distributions from investments in unconsolidated affiliates 3.8 0.2 14.7
Recognized losses and impairments of assets, net 154.9 130.9 183.9
Non-cash carried interest expense — — 31.8
Stock-based compensation cost 19.0 3.5 1.5
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
Net decrease (increase) in other assets 3.1 (9.5) 8.6
Net decrease in lease liabilities (14.1) (20.2) (17.5)
Net change in income taxes (1.7) (81.5) (190.3)
Net cash used in operating activities (90.1) (87.8) (205.1)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from partial sale of D&B shares 100.9 — 127.2
Proceeds from partial sale of Alight shares 89.1 — —
Proceeds from sale of AmeriLife — — 250.0
Proceeds from Optimal Blue Disposition, cash portion — — 144.5
Proceeds from sale of CorroHealth — — 78.7
Distributions from investments in unconsolidated affiliates 18.8 52.7 7.9
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment 6.8 7.3 9.2
Collections of notes receivable — — 0.9
Investment in System1 — — (246.5)
Purchases of investments in unconsolidated affiliates (135.2) (162.0) (143.1)
Purchase of other long-term investments (66.5) (17.5) —
Purchases of short-term investment securities (64.6) (151.9) (34.9)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of short-term investment securities 74.0 171.1 —
Other acquisitions/disposals of businesses, net of cash acquired/disposed — — —
Net cash provided by investing activities 298.3 53.1 521.2
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment for shares withheld for taxes and in treasury (3.6) (0.2) —
Dividend paid (22.4) — —
Net cash used in financing activities (182.9) (106.8) (154.2)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 25.3 (141.5) 161.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 106.2 247.7 85.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 131.5 $ 106.2 $ 247.7
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note A. Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The following describes the significant accounting policies of Cannae Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, "we," "us," "our," "Cannae," "CNNE" or the "Company"), which have been followed in preparing the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
Description of Business
We primarily acquire interests in operating companies and are engaged in actively managing and operating a core group of those companies, which we are committed to supporting for the long-term. From time to time, we also seek to take meaningful equity ownership stakes where we have the ability to control or significantly influence quality companies, and we bring the strength of our operational expertise to each of our subsidiaries. We are a long-term owner that secures control and governance rights of other companies primarily to engage in their lines of business and we have no preset time constraints dictating when we sell or dispose of our businesses. We believe that our long-term ownership and active involvement in the management and operations of companies helps maximize the value of those businesses for our shareholders. Our primary assets as of December 31, 2024 include our ownership interests in Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. ("Dun & Bradstreet" or "D&B"); Alight, Inc. ("Alight"); Paysafe Limited ("Paysafe"); Sightline Payments Holdings, LLC ("Sightline"); System1, Inc. ("System1"); Black Knight Football Club US, LP ("Black Knight Football" or "BKFC", formerly known as Black Knight Football and Entertainment, LP); Computer Services, Inc. ("CSI"); Watkins Holdings, LLC ("Watkins Holdings"); JANA Partners Capital, LLC and JANA Partners Management, LP (together, "JANA" or "JANA Partners"); High Sierra Distillery, LP ("Minden Mill"); AmeriLife Group, LLC ("AmeriLife"); O'Charley's Holdings, LLC ("O'Charley's"); 99 Restaurants Holdings, LLC ("99 Restaurants"); and various other controlled subsidiary companies and minority equity ownership interests.
See Note E - Segment Information for further discussion of the businesses comprising our reportable segments.
We conduct our business through our wholly-owned subsidiary Cannae Holdings, LLC ("Cannae LLC"), a Nevada limited liability company. Our board of directors ("Board") oversees the management of the Company, Cannae LLC and its businesses, and the performance of our external manager, Trasimene Capital Management, LLC ("Trasimene" or our "Manager").
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and include the historical accounts as well as wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature.
All intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated. Our ownership interests in non-majority-owned partnerships and affiliates are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or as equity securities. Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests are recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Operations represents the portion of our majority-owned subsidiaries' net earnings or loss that is owned by noncontrolling shareholders of such subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interest recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets represents the portion of equity owned by noncontrolling shareholders in our consolidated subsidiaries.
Management Estimates
The preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates made by management include nonrecurring fair value measurements in accounting for certain equity investments (Note B - Investments) and accounting for income taxes (Note L - Income Taxes). Actual results could differ from estimates.
Recent Developments
Dayforce
In the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold the remaining 4.0 million shares of common stock of Dayforce for gross proceeds of $264.0 million. As of December 31, 2024, we no longer have any holdings of Dayforce.
Refer to Note B - Investments and Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Dayforce and other equity securities.
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Dun & Bradstreet
On February 8, 2024, April 30, 2024, July 24, 2024, and October 22, 2024, the board of directors of D&B declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.05 per share of D&B common stock. In the year ended December 31, 2024, we received $14.3 million of cash dividends from D&B which are recorded as a reduction to the basis of our recorded asset for D&B.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned 69.0 million shares of D&B, which represented approximately 15.6% of its outstanding common stock.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in D&B and other equity method investments.
Paysafe
In January 2024, we purchased 1.6 million shares of common stock of Paysafe for $23.4 million. In November 2024, we sold 0.9 million shares of common stock of Paysafe for $16.0 million which will generate expected tax savings for the Company.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned 2.5 million shares of Paysafe which represented approximately 4.1% of the outstanding common equity of Paysafe.
See Note B - Investments and Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Paysafe and other equity securities.
Alight
On December 3, 2024, we completed the sale of 12.0 million shares of common stock of Alight for aggregate proceeds of $89.0 million.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned 40.5 million shares of Alight, which represented approximately 7.6% of its outstanding common stock.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Alight and other equity method investments.
JANA
On February 21, 2024, we issued 1.85 million shares of common stock of the Company from the Company’s treasury and paid $18.3 million in cash, in the aggregate, to certain partners of JANA in exchange for a 19.99% equity interest in JANA. The transaction is valued at $55.5 million based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on February 21, 2024. Cannae also committed to invest $50 million into JANA funds (the "JANA Fund Commitment"). JANA Partners is an investment manager founded in 2001. We account for our ownership interest in JANA as an unconsolidated affiliate using the equity method of accounting and record our ratable share of JANA's net income or loss on a three-month lag. On December 27, 2024, the Company invested $20.0 million into a separate JANA fund as part of the JANA Fund Commitment. We account for our investment in the JANA fund as an equity security without a readily determinable fair value.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in JANA and other equity method investments and our accounting for the JANA fund and other equity securities without a readily determinable fair value.
Watkins Holdings
On October 17, 2024, the Company invested approximately $80.0 million for a 52.8% ownership interest in Watkins Holdings, LLC ("Watkins Holdings"), a partnership with KDSA Investment Partners ("KDSA") and Mark Jacobs (the "Watkins Acquisition"). Watkins Holdings concurrently completed the acquisition of The Watkins Company ("Watkins"), a leading producer of high-quality flavoring products. Watkins was founded in 1868 and has grown to be a leading domestic producer of spices, seasonings and extracts. The former majority owner of Watkins, Mark Jacobs, rolled a significant equity stake into Watkins Holdings. We account for our ownership interest in Watkins as an unconsolidated affiliate using the equity method of accounting and record our ratable share of Watkins net income or loss on a three-month lag.
See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in Watkins Holdings and other equity method investments.
Black Knight Football
In the year ended December 31, 2024, we invested $36.8 million in BKFC and as of December 31, 2024, we held a 47.2% ownership interest.
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See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for our ownership interest in BKFC and other equity method investments.
Other Developments
On February 21, 2024, we announced a tender offer to purchase up to $200 million of shares of our common stock at a purchase price of not less than $20.75 per share and not greater than $23.75 per share (the "Tender Offer"). We conducted the Tender Offer through a procedure commonly referred to as a "modified Dutch auction." This procedure allows shareholders to select the price within a price range specified by us at which the shareholders are willing to sell their shares.
On April 1, 2024, the Tender Offer expired and the Company accepted for purchase an aggregate of 9,672,540 shares of its common stock that were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below a purchase price of $22.95 per share for an aggregate cost of $222.0 million, excluding fees and expenses. Included in the 9,672,540 shares of Cannae common stock we accepted for purchase in the Tender Offer are 957,943 shares that Cannae elected to purchase pursuant to its right to purchase up to an additional 2% of its outstanding common stock.
On February 26, 2024, the Company, Cannae LLC and Trasimene entered into a Third Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement (the "Third Amended MSA"). The Third Amended MSA amends the management services agreement primarily to (i) provide for a termination of the agreement by the Company effective June 30, 2027, (ii) reduce the management fee to a fixed amount of $7.6 million annually effective beginning July 2, 2024 and (iii) provide for payment of the termination fee under the agreement of $20 million to be paid by the Company to Trasimene in installments of $6.7 million annually over the three-year period ended July 1, 2026. The Third Amended MSA has a termination date of June 30, 2027 unless earlier terminated by the Company or Trasimene.
The following dividends were declared by our Board in 2024:
Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date Dividends Per Share
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the Board declared cash dividends of $0.12 per share, payable on March 31, 2025, to Cannae common shareholders of record as of March 17, 2025.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Highly liquid instruments, including money market instruments and certificates of deposit, purchased as part of cash management with original maturities of three months or less, and certain amounts in transit from credit and debit card processors, are considered cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for these instruments approximate their fair value.
Investments
Short term investments consist of highly liquid instruments, primarily certificates of deposit and corporate debt securities with high credit quality, purchased as part of cash management that have an original maturity of between three months and four months and are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Equity securities include our investment in Paysafe (and prior to our complete exit in September 2024, Dayforce) and are carried at fair value. Recognized gains and losses on equity securities are determined on the basis of the fair value of the securities at the balance sheet date or on a trade date basis.
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are recorded using the equity method of accounting. Recognized gains and losses on the sale of investments accounted for under the equity method are determined on the basis of the book value of the specific investments sold and are credited or charged to income on a trade date basis.
See Note B - Investments and Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further discussion of our accounting for equity securities and investments in unconsolidated affiliates.
Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of trade receivables, inventory, prepaid operating expenses, the current portion of notes receivable, deposits and other miscellaneous current assets.
Trade receivables are primarily for the Restaurant Group and consist primarily of business to business gift card sales, insurance-related reimbursements, rebates, tenant improvement allowances, and billings to franchisees for royalties, initial and
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renewal fees, equipment sales and rent. Trade receivables are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses related to existing receivables. The carrying values reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for trade receivables approximate their fair value.
Inventory primarily consists of food, beverages, packaging and supplies in our Restaurant Group segment and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first in, first out method for restaurant inventory.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of financial instruments presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements are estimates of the fair value at a specific point in time using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Estimates that use unobservable inputs are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and significant judgment in the interpretation of current market data. We do not necessarily intend to dispose of or liquidate such instruments prior to maturity. See Note C - Fair Value Measurements for further details.
Distributions from Unconsolidated Affiliates
We classify distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows using the cumulative earnings approach. Under the cumulative earnings approach, distributions are considered returns on investment and classified as cash inflows from operating activities unless the Company’s cumulative distributions from an investee received in prior periods exceed the cumulative equity in earnings of such investee. When cumulative distributions from an investee exceed cumulative equity in earnings of the investee, such excess is considered a return of investment and is classified as a cash inflow from investing activities.
Other Long-Term Investments and Non-Current Assets
Other long-term investments consist primarily of investments in equity securities without a readily determinable fair value. See Note B - Investments for further discussion of our accounting for equity securities without a readily determinable fair value.
Other non-current assets also include other miscellaneous non-current assets.
Leases
Refer to Note G - Leases.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of identifiable net assets acquired and assumed in business combinations. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate potential impairment, through a comparison of fair value to the carrying amount. We have the option to first assess goodwill for impairment based on a review of qualitative factors to determine if events and circumstances exist that will lead to a determination that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, prior to performing a full fair-value assessment. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the quantitative impairment test is unnecessary. However, if the Company concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the quantitative impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing the fair value with the carrying amount of the reporting unit. Goodwill impairment, if any, is measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we did not have any impairment of goodwill.
Other Intangible Assets
We have other intangible assets, not including goodwill, which consist primarily of customer relationships and contracts, trademarks and tradenames that are generally recorded in connection with acquisitions at their fair value, franchise rights, the fair value of purchased software and capitalized software development costs. Intangible assets with estimable lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In general, customer relationships are amortized over their estimated useful lives using an accelerated method, which takes into consideration expected customer attrition rates. Contractual relationships are generally amortized over their respective contractual lives. Useful lives of computer software range from three to ten years. The useful lives of our tradenames for all of our restaurant brands is fifteen years. Capitalized software development costs and purchased software are recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful life. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2022, we did not have any impairment of other intangible assets. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded impairments of $4.2 million to tradename asset for our O'Charley's brand in our Restaurant Group segment.
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Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net is recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed primarily using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets: thirty to forty years for buildings and three to twenty-five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the term of the applicable lease or the estimated useful lives of such assets. The majority of our Property and equipment relate to our Restaurant Group.
In our Restaurant Group, all direct external costs associated with obtaining the land, building and equipment for each new restaurant, as well as construction period interest, are capitalized. Direct external costs associated with obtaining the dining room and kitchen equipment, signage and other assets and equipment are also capitalized. In addition, for each new restaurant and re-branded restaurant, a portion of the internal direct costs of its real estate and construction department are also capitalized.
Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.
In the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 we recorded $1.0 million, $8.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively, of impairment to Property and equipment. The impairments relate primarily to our Restaurant Group for O'Charley's stores that have closed. All such impairments are included in Other operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Insurance Reserves
Our Restaurant Group companies are currently self-insured for a portion of its workers' compensation, general liability, and liquor liability losses (collectively, casualty losses) as well as certain other insurable risks. To mitigate the cost of the Restaurant Group's exposures for certain property and casualty losses, we make annual decisions to either retain the risks of loss up to a certain maximum per occurrence, aggregate loss limits negotiated with its insurance carriers, or fully insure those risks. Our Restaurant Group companies are also self-insured for healthcare claims for eligible participating employees subject to certain deductibles and limitations. We have accounted for such retained liabilities for casualty losses and healthcare claims, including reported and incurred but not reported claims, based on information provided by third-party actuaries. As of December 31, 2024, we were committed under letters of credit totaling $6.2 million issued primarily in connection with casualty insurance programs for our Restaurant Group employees.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities and expected benefits of utilizing net operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The impact of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred taxes, if any, is applied to the years during which temporary differences are expected to be settled and reflected in the financial statements in the period enacted.
We recognize the benefits of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements only after determining a more likely than not probability that the uncertain tax positions will withstand challenge, if any, from taxing authorities. When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the financial statements as appropriate. Uncertain tax positions are accounted for by determining the minimum recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. This determination requires the use of judgment in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items. Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized and measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of income tax expense.
Revenue Recognition
Refer to Note F - Revenue Recognition.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising and marketing costs as incurred, except for certain advertising production costs that are initially capitalized and subsequently expensed the first time the advertising takes place. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred $12.3 million, $17.5 million, and $17.0 million of advertising and marketing costs, respectively, related to advertising in our Restaurant Group and in our real estate operations. These costs are included in Other operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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Comprehensive Earnings
We report comprehensive earnings in accordance with GAAP on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings. Total comprehensive earnings are defined as all changes in shareholders' equity during a period, other than those resulting from investments by and distributions to shareholders. While total comprehensive earnings is the activity in a period and is largely driven by net earnings in that period, accumulated other comprehensive earnings or loss represents the cumulative balance of other comprehensive earnings, net of tax, as of the balance sheet date. Amounts reclassified to net earnings relate to realized losses and are included in Recognized (losses) gains, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Our policy is to release income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income at such time as the earnings or loss of the related activity are recognized in earnings (e.g., upon sale of an investment). As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 our entire balance of Accumulated other comprehensive losses relates to unrealized gains and losses of investments in unconsolidated affiliates and all amounts reclassified to net earnings in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 relate to recognition of gains and losses of investments in unconsolidated affiliates upon disposition.
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Stock-based compensation expense includes restricted stock awards and restricted stock units granted in Cannae common stock to directors and certain members of management. We account for stock-based compensation plans using the fair value method. Under the fair value method of accounting, compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the award at the grant date, using quoted market prices of the underlying stock, and recognized over the service period.
On February 28, 2024, we issued 1.2 million restricted stock units ("RSUs") with a grant date fair value of $24.8 million as compensation to certain employees of the Company and issued 1.2 million shares of the Company's common stock to rabbi trusts that grant the holders of the RSUs pass-through voting rights. The RSUs vest in varying increments over a three-year period and, upon vesting, a number of shares of Company common stock equivalent to the number of vested RSUs will be released from the rabbi trusts to the employee. If the RSUs do not vest, the shares held in the rabbi trusts return to the Company. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the rabbi trusts prior to vesting of the RSUs and accordingly the shares of Company common stock held by the rabbi trusts are treated as treasury stock in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Equity for the year ended December 31, 2024. Compensation cost associated with the RSUs is measured based on their grant-date fair value derived from quoted market prices and is recorded over the service period of the awards.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, $19.0 million, $3.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of stock based compensation expense was recorded in Personnel costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2024, there were 1.3 million unvested restricted stock awards and units and the amount to be recorded for stock-based compensation expense in future years for unvested restricted stock is approximately $25.0 million which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1 year.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share, as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, is computed by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
In periods when earnings are positive, diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the impact of assumed conversions of potentially dilutive securities. For periods when we recognize a net loss, diluted earnings per share is equal to basic earnings per share as the impact of assumed conversions of potentially dilutive securities is considered to be antidilutive. We have granted certain shares of restricted stock, which have been treated as common share equivalents for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share for periods in which positive earnings have been reported.
Instruments that provide the ability to purchase shares of our common stock that are antidilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, shares of restricted stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as inclusion of restricted stock would be anti-dilutive due to net losses.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280). The guidance improves reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. In addition, the amendments in this ASU enhance interim disclosure requirements, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple segment measures of profit or loss, provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment, and contain other disclosure
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requirements. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We have adopted this ASU which resulted in additional disclosures in our Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note E - Segment Information for further discussion of our segment reporting.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), which requires consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis, though retrospective application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this authoritative guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which requires public business entities to disaggregate specific expenses in a tabular presentation. This includes purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and other relevant expense captions on the face of the income statement. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. The guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis, though retrospective application is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this authoritative guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Note B. Investments
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates recorded using the equity method of accounting as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following:
(In millions)
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Dun & Bradstreet (1) $ (13.7) $ (17.1) $ (8.8)
Watkins — — —
JANA 2.4 — —
_____________________________________
(1) Equity in losses for D&B includes $8.6 million of loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and $7.5 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, related to amortization of Cannae's basis difference between the book value of its ownership interest and ratable portion of the underlying equity in net assets of D&B.
(2) Equity in losses for Sightline includes $2.9 million and $7.3 million of loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to amortization of Cannae's basis difference between the book value of its ownership interest and ratable portion of the underlying equity in net assets of Sightline.
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(3) The amount for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes the Company's equity in losses of Paysafe which was no longer accounted for under the equity method of accounting beginning December 31, 2023.
Dun & Bradstreet
Based on quoted market prices, the fair market value of our ownership of Dun & Bradstreet common stock was $860.3 million as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, we held less than 20% of the outstanding common equity of Dun & Bradstreet but account for our ownership interest under the equity method of accounting because we exert significant influence: (i) through our 15.6% ownership and (ii) because certain of our senior management and directors serve on D&B's board of directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of our Board, Bill Foley, who is also the chairman of D&B's board of directors.
As of December 31, 2024, there was a $176.2 million difference between the amount of our recorded ownership interest in D&B and the amount of the Company's ratable portion of the underlying equity in the net assets of D&B. As of December 31, 2024, $116.6 million of such basis difference is allocated to amortizing intangible assets, $59.7 million to indefinite-lived intangible assets, $24.5 million to deferred tax liabilities and the remaining basis difference is allocated to equity method goodwill, which represents the excess of our basis difference over our equity in D&B's net assets that are not attributable to their identifiable net assets. Amortization expense of $8.6 million is included in our equity in losses of D&B for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Summarized financial information for Dun & Bradstreet for the relevant dates and time periods included in Investments in unconsolidated affiliates and Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations, respectively, is presented below.
(In millions)
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 6,916.6 7,361.7
Noncontrolling interest 15.9 12.5
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 4.1 3.3 6.4
Net loss attributable to Dun & Bradstreet (28.6) (47.0) (2.3)
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Alight
Based on quoted market prices, the fair market value of our direct and indirect ownership of Alight common stock was $280.1 million as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, we held less than 20% of the outstanding common equity of Alight but we account for our ownership interest under the equity method of accounting because we exert significant influence: (i) through our 7.6% ownership, and (ii) because certain of our senior management and directors serve on Alight's board of directors, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of our Board, Bill Foley, who is also the chairman of Alight's board of directors.
As of December 31, 2024, there was a $46.2 million difference between the amount of our recorded ownership interest in Alight and the amount of the Company's ratable portion of the underlying equity in net assets of Alight. As of December 31, 2024 the entire basis difference is allocated to equity method goodwill, which represents the excess of our basis difference over our equity in Alight’s net assets that are not attributable to their identifiable net assets.
On March 20, 2024, Alight entered into a definitive agreement to sell its professional services segment and its payroll and human capital management outsourcing businesses (the "Payroll & Professional Services Business"). The transaction closed on July 12, 2024. Beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2024, Alight began accounting for the assets and liabilities of the disposed businesses as held for sale and its operating results as discontinued operations. Accordingly, Alight's results presented for the periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 have been retrospectively revised to reflect the Payroll & Professional Services Business as held for sale and discontinued operations.
Summarized financial information for Alight for the relevant dates and time periods included in Investments in unconsolidated affiliates and Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations, respectively, is presented below.
(In millions)
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 6,067.0 6,348.0
Noncontrolling interests 4.0 280.0
Year ended December 31,
(In millions)
Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations (19.0) (45.0) 68.0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (2.0) (17.0) (10.0)
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Black Knight Football
We acquired our initial interest in BKFC on December 13, 2022. We account for our ownership of BKFC pursuant to the equity method of accounting and report our equity in earnings or loss of BKFC on a three-month lag. Accordingly, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 includes our equity in losses of BKFC for the period from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, and December 13, 2022 through September 30, 2023, respectively.
Summarized financial information for BKFC for the relevant dates and time periods included in Investments in unconsolidated affiliates and Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Statements of Operations, respectively, is presented below.
(In millions)
Total current assets $ 91.7 $ 73.6
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 404.4 353.1
Total liabilities and equity $ 593.6 $ 488.9
(In millions)
(Losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (7.1) (5.3)
Net loss attributable to BKFC (122.6) (103.8)
CSI
We report our equity in earnings or loss of BGPT Catalyst, L.P. ("CSI LP") on a three-month lag. Accordingly, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes our equity in CSI LP’s net loss for the period from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. For the year ended September 30, 2024, CSI LP had net investment loss of $1.1 million, net realized and unrealized gain from investments of $127.3 million, and total net increase in partners' capital from operations of $126.2 million. As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, CSI LP had total assets of $273.3 million and $260.3 million, respectively, and total partners' capital of $273.2 million and $259.9 million, respectively.
Sightline
As of June 30, 2024, the carrying value of our ownership of Sightline equity prior to recording impairment was $154.7 million. Based on a valuation using a hybrid discounted cash flow and market comparison approach and adjusted for the risk of a capital shortfall at the business, the aggregate fair market value of our ownership of Sightline equity was approximately $13.7 million as of June 30, 2024 and management determined the decrease in value of our investment in
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CANNAE HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Sightline was other-than-temporary. The fair value measurement is considered a level 3 fair value measure. The primary inputs in the valuation were the forecasted results of operations of Sightline, the discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analysis and the adjustment for the risk of a capital shortfall. The primary significant unobservable input used was the 35% discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analysis and the 50% adjustment for the risk of capital shortfall.