Note 4 - Other Recent Business Transactions or Events	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Notes to Financial Statements
Other Events [Text Block]	4. OTHER RECENT BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS OR EVENTS Vellar Opportunities GP, LLC On February 25, 2025, the Operating LLC entered into (i) a Limited Liability Company Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Vellar Purchase Agreement”) with Jason Capone and Solomon Cohen, who is the son of our executive chairman, Daniel G. Cohen; and (ii) a Transition Services Agreement (the “Vellar Transition Services Agreement” and, together with the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the “Vellar Agreements”) with Vellar Opportunities GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vellar GP”). Prior to entering into the Vellar Agreements, the Operating LLC was the managing member and owner of 33.4% of Vellar GP. Pursuant to the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Operating LLC sold all of its 33.4% interest in Vellar GP to each of Solomon Cohen and Jason Capone for an aggregate of $10. As of February 25, 2025 and as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Company no longer had any investment in Vellar GP. Pursuant to the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Operating LLC resigned as the managing member of Vellar GP, effective February 25, 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded a loss on sale of $836, which is included as component of principal transactions and other income in our consolidated statement of operations. Pursuant to the Vellar Transition Services Agreement, in exchange for the Operating LLC’s agreement to provide certain transitional services to Vellar GP, Vellar GP agreed to (i) pay to the Operating LLC certain defined revenue share amounts up to an aggregate of $4,234; and (ii) decrease the amount that the Operating LLC had previously agreed to pay to Vellar GP in connection with the funding of certain Vellar GP litigation expenses from $2,121 to $1,084. Redemption of Redeemable Financial Instrument and Issuance of the 2024* Note* Effective September 1, 2024, the Company entered into the Redemption Agreement, which redeemed the JKD Investment Agreement in its entirety. As of September 1, 2024, the investment balance of the JKD Investment Agreement was $7,719. Pursuant to the Redemption Agreement, the Company (i) paid $2,573 of the investment balance in cash, and (ii) issued a senior promissory note (the “2024 Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $5,146, representing the remaining balance payable under the JKD Investment Agreement. The 2024 Note bears interest at 12% and its principal is to be repaid as follows: (i) $2,573 of the principal amount will be due and payable on August 31, 2025, and (ii) $2,573 will be due and payable on August 31, 2026. The 2024 Note may, with at least 31 days’ prior written notice to the holder of the 2024 Note, be prepaid in whole or in part at any time following January 31, 2025, without penalty or premium. See notes 15. Sale of Management Contracts On March 13, 2025, the Company entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the “MTA”) with an affiliate of Hildene Capital Management, LLC (“Hildene”), an SEC-registered investment adviser based in Stamford, Connecticut. Hildene has been investing in CDOs backed by trust preferred securities ("TruPS") since the 2007-08 financial crisis and has extensive experience with monitoring banks and insurance companies. Pursuant to the MTA, the Company agreed to sell, assign, transfer, and convey to Hildene all of its rights and obligations in and under the Collateral Management Agreements and Collateral Administration Agreements (each a “CDO Agreement” and together, the “CDO Agreements”) for (i) Alesco Preferred Funding III, Ltd., (ii) Alesco Preferred Funding IV, Ltd., (iii) Alesco Preferred Funding V, Ltd., (iv) Alesco Preferred Funding VI, Ltd., and (v) Alesco Preferred Funding VIII, Ltd. (each an “Issuer,” and, collectively, the “Issuers”) and all books and records with respect to each Issuer (collectively with the CDO Agreements, the “Assigned Assets”). The MTA contemplates multiple closings following the date of the MTA (each a “Closing”), with each Closing to occur following the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing for the assignment of each CDO Agreement pursuant to the MTA (each CDO Agreement assigned at any Closing, an “Assigned CDO Agreement” and collectively, the “Assigned CDO Agreements”). Pursuant to the MTA, Hildene has agreed to assume the obligations of the Company under the Assigned CDO Agreements to the extent such liabilities, obligations, and commitments relate to the period from and after the Closing of such Assigned CDO Agreement (collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”). The Company has agreed to retain its liabilities, obligations, and commitments arising under the Assigned CDO Agreements with respect to any period prior to the Closing of such Assigned CDO Agreement (the “Retained Liabilities”). Pursuant to the MTA, the aggregate base purchase price for the Assigned Assets is $3,500 (the “Aggregate Base Purchase Price”). The Aggregate Base Purchase Price has been allocated among the Assigned Assets by CDO Agreement. Pursuant to the MTA, if the Company receives any management fees pursuant to a CDO Agreement during the period from March 1, 2025 through the date of the Closing relating to such CDO Agreement, then the Aggregate Base Purchase Price and allocated purchase price relating to such CDO Agreement will each be reduced, dollar for dollar, by the amount of such management fees so received by the Company. Through March 31, 2025, the Company has recognized $352 in asset management revenue that will ultimately reduce the $3,500 purchase price if all consents are obtained and all closings are effectuated.

Note 4 - Other Recent Business Transactions or Events

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2025

4. OTHER RECENT BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS OR EVENTS

Vellar Opportunities GP, LLC

On February 25, 2025, the Operating LLC entered into (i) a Limited Liability Company Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Vellar Purchase Agreement”) with Jason Capone and Solomon Cohen, who is the son of our executive chairman, Daniel G. Cohen; and (ii) a Transition Services Agreement (the “Vellar Transition Services Agreement” and, together with the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the “Vellar Agreements”) with Vellar Opportunities GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vellar GP”).

Prior to entering into the Vellar Agreements, the Operating LLC was the managing member and owner of 33.4% of Vellar GP.

Pursuant to the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Operating LLC sold all of its 33.4% interest in Vellar GP to each of Solomon Cohen and Jason Capone for an aggregate of $10. As of February 25, 2025 and as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Company no longer had any investment in Vellar GP. Pursuant to the Vellar Purchase Agreement, the Operating LLC resigned as the managing member of Vellar GP, effective February 25, 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded a loss on sale of $836, which is included as component of principal transactions and other income in our consolidated statement of operations.

Pursuant to the Vellar Transition Services Agreement, in exchange for the Operating LLC’s agreement to provide certain transitional services to Vellar GP, Vellar GP agreed to (i) pay to the Operating LLC certain defined revenue share amounts up to an aggregate of $4,234; and (ii) decrease the amount that the Operating LLC had previously agreed to pay to Vellar GP in connection with the funding of certain Vellar GP litigation expenses from $2,121 to $1,084.

Redemption of Redeemable Financial Instrument and Issuance of the 2024 Note

Effective September 1, 2024, the Company entered into the Redemption Agreement, which redeemed the JKD Investment Agreement in its entirety. As of September 1, 2024, the investment balance of the JKD Investment Agreement was $7,719. Pursuant to the Redemption Agreement, the Company (i) paid $2,573 of the investment balance in cash, and (ii) issued a senior promissory note (the “2024 Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $5,146, representing the remaining balance payable under the JKD Investment Agreement. The 2024 Note bears interest at 12% and its principal is to be repaid as follows: (i) $2,573 of the principal amount will be due and payable on August 31, 2025, and (ii) $2,573 will be due and payable on August 31, 2026. The 2024 Note may, with at least 31 days’ prior written notice to the holder of the 2024 Note, be prepaid in whole or in part at any time following January 31, 2025, without penalty or premium. See notes 15.

Sale of Management Contracts

On March 13, 2025, the Company entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the “MTA”) with an affiliate of Hildene Capital Management, LLC (“Hildene”), an SEC-registered investment adviser based in Stamford, Connecticut. Hildene has been investing in CDOs backed by trust preferred securities ("TruPS") since the 2007-08 financial crisis and has extensive experience with monitoring banks and insurance companies.

Pursuant to the MTA, the Company agreed to sell, assign, transfer, and convey to Hildene all of its rights and obligations in and under the Collateral Management Agreements and Collateral Administration Agreements (each a “CDO Agreement” and together, the “CDO Agreements”) for (i) Alesco Preferred Funding III, Ltd., (ii) Alesco Preferred Funding IV, Ltd., (iii) Alesco Preferred Funding V, Ltd., (iv) Alesco Preferred Funding VI, Ltd., and (v) Alesco Preferred Funding VIII, Ltd. (each an “Issuer,” and, collectively, the “Issuers”) and all books and records with respect to each Issuer (collectively with the CDO Agreements, the “Assigned Assets”).

The MTA contemplates multiple closings following the date of the MTA (each a “Closing”), with each Closing to occur following the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing for the assignment of each CDO Agreement pursuant to the MTA (each CDO Agreement assigned at any Closing, an “Assigned CDO Agreement” and collectively, the “Assigned CDO Agreements”).

Pursuant to the MTA, Hildene has agreed to assume the obligations of the Company under the Assigned CDO Agreements to the extent such liabilities, obligations, and commitments relate to the period from and after the Closing of such Assigned CDO Agreement (collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”). The Company has agreed to retain its liabilities, obligations, and commitments arising under the Assigned CDO Agreements with respect to any period prior to the Closing of such Assigned CDO Agreement (the “Retained Liabilities”).

Pursuant to the MTA, the aggregate base purchase price for the Assigned Assets is $3,500 (the “Aggregate Base Purchase Price”). The Aggregate Base Purchase Price has been allocated among the Assigned Assets by CDO Agreement. Pursuant to the MTA, if the Company receives any management fees pursuant to a CDO Agreement during the period from March 1, 2025 through the date of the Closing relating to such CDO Agreement, then the Aggregate Base Purchase Price and allocated purchase price relating to such CDO Agreement will each be reduced, dollar for dollar, by the amount of such management fees so received by the Company. Through March 31, 2025, the Company has recognized $352 in asset management revenue that will ultimately reduce the $3,500 purchase price if all consents are obtained and all closings are effectuated.