UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction | (I.R.S. Employer | |
of incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
(
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Accelerated filer ☐ | ||
Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company | |
Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
Shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date:
Class | Outstanding as of October 23, 2020 | |
Class A common stock, $.01 par value |
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
Quarter Ended September 30, 2020
| Page No. | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 | 3 | |||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
7 | ||||
8 | ||||
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 25 | |||
41 | ||||
41 | ||||
42 | ||||
43 | ||||
44 | ||||
45 |
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
September 30, | |||||||
2020 | December 31, | ||||||
(Unaudited) | 2019 | ||||||
Assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | |
| | |||
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted |
| |
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Investment securities |
| |
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Receivables: | |||||||
Funds and separate accounts |
| |
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Customers and other |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets |
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Deferred income taxes |
| |
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Other non-current assets |
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Total assets | $ | |
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Liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | |
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Payable to investment companies for securities |
| |
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Payable to third party brokers |
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Payable to customers |
| |
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Short-term notes payable | | — | |||||
Accrued compensation |
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Other current liabilities |
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Total current liabilities |
| |
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Long-term debt |
| — |
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Accrued pension and postretirement costs |
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Other non-current liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
| |
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Redeemable noncontrolling interests | — | | |||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Preferred stock—$ |
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Class A Common stock—$ |
| |
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Additional paid-in capital |
| |
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Retained earnings |
| |
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Cost of |
| ( |
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| ( | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
| |
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Total stockholders’ equity |
| |
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Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity | $ | |
| |
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited, in thousands, except for per share data)
For the three months ended September 30, | For the nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Revenues: |
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Investment management fees | $ | |
| | $ | |
| | |||||
Underwriting and distribution fees |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Shareholder service fees |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Total |
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| | |
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Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||
Distribution |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Compensation and benefits (including share-based compensation of $ |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
General and administrative |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Technology | | | | | |||||||||
Occupancy | | | | | |||||||||
Marketing and advertising | | | | | |||||||||
Depreciation |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Subadvisory fees |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Total |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Operating income |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Investment and other income |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Interest expense |
| ( |
| ( | ( |
| ( | ||||||
Income before provision for income taxes |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Provision for income taxes |
| |
| | |
| | ||||||
Net income | |
| | |
| | |||||||
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | | | | | |||||||||
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. | $ | | | $ | | | |||||||
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted: | $ | | | $ | | | |||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted: |
| | | | |
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited, in thousands)
| For the three months ended September 30, | For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| ||||||
Net income | $ | |
| | $ | |
| | |||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income: | |||||||||||||
Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale investment securities during the period, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $( |
| ( |
|
| |
| |
|
| | |||
Postretirement benefit, net of income tax benefit of $( |
| ( |
|
| ( |
| ( |
|
| ( | |||
Comprehensive income | |
| | |
| | |||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests | | | | | |||||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. | $ | | | $ | | |
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
5
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
(Unaudited, in thousands)
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Redeemable | ||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Total | Non | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-In | Retained | Treasury | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | Controlling | |||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Earnings |
| Stock |
| Income (Loss) |
| Equity |
| Interests | ||
Balance at June 30, 2019 |
| | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | |
Net subscription of redeemable noncontrolling interests in sponsored funds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | |||||||||
Recognition of equity compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | |
Net issuance/forfeiture of nonvested shares |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| — | |
Dividends accrued, $ |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — | ( | — | |||
Repurchase of common stock |
| — | — | — | — | ( | — |
| ( |
| — | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — | |
Balance at September 30, 2019 | | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | ||
| |||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2020 |
| | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | |
Net deconsolidation of redeemable noncontrolling interests in sponsored funds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||
Recognition of equity compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | |
Net issuance/forfeiture of nonvested shares |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| — | |
Dividends accrued, $ |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — | ( | — | |||
Repurchase of common stock |
| — | — | — | — | ( | — |
| ( |
| — | ||||||
Other comprehensive loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
| — | |
Balance at September 30, 2020 | | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| — |
For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Redeemable | ||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | Total | Non | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-In | Retained | Treasury | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | Controlling | |||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Earnings |
| Stock |
| Income (Loss) |
| Equity |
| interest | ||
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
| | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | |
Net subscription of redeemable noncontrolling interests in sponsored funds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | |||||||||
Recognition of equity compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | |
Net issuance/forfeiture of nonvested shares |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — | |
Dividends accrued, $ |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — | ( | — | |||
Repurchase of common stock |
| — | — | — | — | ( | — |
| ( |
| — | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — | |
Balance at September 30, 2019 | | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | ||
| |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
| | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income | — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | ||
Net deconsolidation of redeemable noncontrolling interests in sponsored funds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | |||||||||
Recognition of equity compensation | — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — | ||
Net issuance/forfeiture of nonvested shares | — | — | ( | | — | — | — | ||||||||||
Dividends accrued, $ | — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — | ||
Repurchase of common stock | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( |
| — | ||
Other comprehensive income | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| |
| — | ||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | | $ | |
| |
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| — |
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
6
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, in thousands)
| For the nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
2020 |
| 2019 |
| ||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | |
| | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
|
| | ||
Amortization of deferred sales commissions |
| |
|
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Share-based compensation |
| |
|
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Investments and derivatives loss (gain), net of collateral |
| |
|
| ( | ||
Net purchases, maturities, and sales of trading and equity securities |
| |
|
| ( | ||
Deferred income taxes |
| ( |
|
| | ||
Net change in equity securities and trading debt securities held by consolidated sponsored funds | ( | | |||||
Other | ( | | |||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Customer and other receivables |
| |
|
| | ||
Payable to investment companies for securities and payable to customers |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Receivables from funds and separate accounts |
| |
|
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Other assets |
| |
|
| | ||
Accounts payable and payable to third party brokers |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Other liabilities |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | |
|
| | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Purchases of available for sale and equity method securities | ( | ( | |||||
Proceeds from sales of available for sale and equity method securities |
| |
|
| | ||
Proceeds from maturities of available for sale securities | | | |||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | — | |||||
Additions to property and equipment |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | |
|
| ( | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Dividends paid |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Repurchase of common stock |
| ( |
|
| ( | ||
Net subscriptions (redemptions, distributions and deconsolidations) of redeemable noncontrolling interests in sponsored funds | | | |||||
Other | ( | ( | |||||
Net cash used in financing activities | $ | ( |
|
| ( | ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| |
|
| ( | ||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| |
|
| | ||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $ | |
| |
See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.
7
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. | Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies |
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is a holding company, incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1981, that conducts business through its subsidiaries. Founded in 1937, we are one of the oldest mutual fund complexes in the United States, having introduced the former Waddell & Reed Advisors group of mutual funds (the “Advisors Funds”) in 1940. Over time, we added additional mutual funds: Ivy Funds (the “Ivy Funds”); Ivy Variable Insurance Portfolios, our variable product offering (“Ivy VIP”); InvestEd Portfolios, our 529 college savings plan (“InvestEd”); and the Ivy High Income Opportunities Fund, a closed-end mutual fund (“IVH”) (collectively, Ivy Funds, Ivy VIP, InvestEd and IVH are referred to as the “Funds”). In addition to the Funds, our assets under management (“AUM”) include institutional managed accounts. As of September 30, 2020, we had $
We derive our revenues from providing investment management and advisory services, investment product underwriting and distribution, and shareholder services administration to the Funds and institutional accounts. We also provide wealth management services, primarily to retail clients through Waddell & Reed, Inc. (“W&R”), and independent financial advisors associated with W&R (“Advisors”), who provide financial planning and advice to their clients. Investment management and advisory fees and certain underwriting and distribution revenues are based on the level of AUM and assets under administration (“AUA”) and are affected by sales levels, financial market conditions, redemptions and the composition of assets. Our underwriting and distribution revenues consist of fees earned on fee-based advisory programs, asset-based service and distribution fees promulgated under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Rule 12b-1”), distribution fees on certain variable products, and commissions derived from sales of investment and insurance products. The products sold have various commission structures and the revenues received from those sales vary based on the type and dollar amount sold. Shareholder service fee revenue includes transfer agency fees, custodian fees from retirement plan accounts, portfolio accounting and administration fees, and is earned based on client AUM or number of client accounts. Our major expenses are for distribution of our products, compensation related costs, occupancy, general and administrative, and information technology.
The Company continues to proactively manage business continuity and safety considerations as circumstances of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) evolve. Our leadership team’s priority is on ensuring the health and safety of all employees, clients, Advisors and communities, while also ensuring full continuity of service and access. The Company started transitioning to a work from home environment early in March 2020 and has been following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities’ recommendations on safe practices throughout this process. We have undertaken a number of steps to facilitate safety, security and full continuity of service, including:
● | Our Enterprise Preparedness Team and COVID-19 steering committee continue to meet regularly to assess developments and determine the best action to ensure business continuity and the safety of our employees and partners. |
● | We have adopted interim business practices, including restricting business travel, requiring meetings to take place via remote access tools, adopting safety protocols to limit the potential for exposure, adopting social distancing practices, implementing a clearly-defined approval process for reentry to any worksite, advising personnel on preventive measures and offering remote collaboration and productivity tools and training resources to our employees. |
● | We enhanced monitoring and capabilities of our systems to allow our remote workforce to function efficiently and have continued our educational and monitoring practices to ensure there are no compromises to confidentiality, privacy and cybersecurity requirements. |
● | The Ivy investment management and distribution teams transitioned seamlessly to remote working. Our teams have a strong heritage of active collaboration which has migrated to a virtual environment without compromise. |
8
● | Within our wealth management business, the majority of Advisors are working from temporary locations. We are demonstrating our differentiated service and support model by continuing regular communications with Advisors as well as delivering additional advisor and client focused resources. |
● | We have not initiated any layoffs, furloughs or reduced hours. As we implemented our business continuity plans, we have intentionally maintained the same pay practices for all of our employees based upon their regular work schedule, paid spot bonuses to certain employees, implemented a temporary hourly wage increase to designated client services personnel, increased certain benefit coverages for specific COVID-19 related treatments through December and increased our philanthropic contributions to local organizations to help support the COVID-19 responses in our community. |
Basis of Presentation
We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented. The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (our “2019 Form 10-K”). Certain amounts in the prior year’s financial statements have been reclassified for consistent presentation. Derivative activity was reclassified within operating activities on our consolidated statements of cash flows to provide a comprehensive view of the impact of the economic hedge program for our seed investment portfolio.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared consistent with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2019 Form 10-K with the exception of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment and ASU 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract, all of which became effective January 1, 2020.
In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only a normal and recurring nature) necessary to present fairly our financial position at September 30, 2020 and the results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Assets Held for Sale
Assets held for sale included real property related to our corporate headquarters move and aviation equipment. The nine months ended September 30, 2020 included asset impairment charges of $
Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract
As of September 30, 2020, the Company had $
9
2. | New Accounting Guidance |
Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
In December 2019, the FASB issued
3. | Revenue Recognition |
All revenue recognized in the consolidated statements of income is considered to be revenue from contracts with customers. The vast majority of revenue is determined based on average assets and is earned daily or monthly or is transactional and is earned on the trade date. As such, revenue from remaining performance obligations is not significant. The following table depicts the disaggregation of revenue by product and distribution channel:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
(in thousands) | (in thousands) | |||||||||
Investment management fees: |
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Funds | $ | |
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Institutional |
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| |
| |
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Total investment management fees | $ | |
| |
| |
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Underwriting and distribution fees: | ||||||||||
Unaffiliated | ||||||||||
Service and distribution fees | $ | | | | | |||||
Sales commissions | | | | | ||||||
Other revenues | | | | | ||||||
Total unaffiliated distribution fees | $ | | | | | |||||
Wealth Management | ||||||||||
Advisory fees | $ | | | | | |||||
Service and distribution fees | | | | | ||||||
Sales commissions | | | | | ||||||
Other revenues | | | | | ||||||
Total wealth management distribution fees | | | | | ||||||
Total distribution fees | $ | | | | | |||||
Shareholder service fees: | ||||||||||
Total shareholder service fees | $ | |
| |
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Total revenues | $ | |
| |
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| |
10
4. | Investment Securities |
Investment securities at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Available for sale securities: | ||||||
Commercial paper | $ | | | |||
Corporate bonds | | | ||||
Total available for sale securities |
| | | |||
Trading debt securities: | ||||||
Commercial paper | | | ||||
Corporate bonds |
| | | |||
U.S. Treasury bills | — | | ||||
Mortgage-backed securities |
| | | |||
Term loans | | | ||||
Consolidated sponsored funds |
| — | | |||
Total trading securities |
| | | |||
Equity securities: | ||||||
Common stock |
| | | |||
Sponsored funds | | | ||||
Sponsored privately offered funds |
| | | |||
Total equity securities | | | ||||
Equity method securities: | ||||||
Sponsored funds |
| | | |||
Total securities | $ | | |
Commercial paper and corporate bonds accounted for as available for sale and held as of September 30, 2020 mature as follows:
Amortized | ||||
cost |
| Fair value | ||
| (in thousands) | |||
Within one year | $ | | | |
After one year but within five years | | | ||
$ | | |
Commercial paper, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and term loans accounted for as trading and held as of September 30, 2020 mature as follows:
Fair value | ||||
| (in thousands) | |||
Within one year | $ | | ||
After one year but within five years | | |||
After five years but within 10 years | | |||
$ | |
11
The following is a summary of the gross unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as available for sale at September 30, 2020:
| Amortized |
| Unrealized |
| Unrealized |
|
| |||
cost | gains | losses | Fair value |
| ||||||
|
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
Available for sale securities: | ||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | | | ( | | |||||
Corporate bonds | |
| | — |
| | ||||
$ | |
| |
| ( |
| |
The following is a summary of the gross unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as available for sale at December 31, 2019:
| Amortized |
| Unrealized |
| Unrealized |
|
| |||
cost | gains | losses | Fair value |
| ||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||
Available for sale securities: | ||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | | | — | | |||||
Corporate bonds | |
| | ( |
| | ||||
$ | |
| |
| ( |
| |
A summary of available for sale investment securities with fair values below carrying values at September 30, 2020 is as follows:
Less than 12 months | 12 months or longer | Total | |||||||||||
Unrealized | Unrealized | Unrealized | |||||||||||
| Fair value |
| losses |
| Fair value |
| losses |
| Fair value |
| losses | ||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | | ( | — | — | | ( |
A summary of available for sale investment securities with fair values below carrying values at December 31, 2019 is as follows:
Less than 12 months | 12 months or longer | Total | |||||||||||
Unrealized | Unrealized | Unrealized | |||||||||||
| Fair value |
| losses |
| Fair value |
| losses |
| Fair value |
| losses | ||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | $ | | — | | ( | | ( |
The Company’s investment portfolio included
The Company evaluated available for sale securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2020, including reviewing credit ratings, assessing the extent of losses, and considering the impact of market conditions for each individual security. The Company concluded no allowance for credit losses was necessary as it expects to recover the entire amortized cost basis of each security. The unrealized losses in the Company’s investment portfolio were primarily caused by changes in interest rates. At this time, the Company does not intend to sell, and does not believe it will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost.
For equity securities held at the end of the period, net unrealized gains of $
12
Sponsored Funds
The Company has classified its equity investments in the Funds as equity method investments (when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the fund) or equity securities measured at fair value through net income (when the Company owns less than 20% of the fund). These entities do not meet the criteria of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and are considered to be voting interest entities (“VOE”). The Company has determined the Funds are VOEs because the structure of the investment products is such that the voting rights held by the equity holders provide for equality among equity investors.
Sponsored Privately Offered Funds
The Company holds an interest in a privately offered fund structured in the form of a limited liability company. The members of this entity have the substantive ability to remove the Company as managing member or dissolve the entity upon a simple majority vote. This entity does not meet the criteria of a VIE and is considered to be a VOE.
Consolidated Sponsored Funds
The following table details the balances related to consolidated sponsored funds at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, as well as the Company’s net interest in these funds:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
2020 |
| 2019 | ||||
| (in thousands) | |||||
Cash |
| $ | — | | ||
Investments |
| — |
| | ||
Other assets |
| — |
| | ||
Other liabilities |
| — |
| — | ||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| ( | ||
Net interest in consolidated sponsored funds |
| $ | — | |
During the third quarter of 2020, we deconsolidated one Ivy Fund in which we had provided initial seed capital at the time of the fund’s formation due to no longer having a controlling financial interest in the fund.
Fair Value
Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the asset. Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset. An individual investment’s fair value measurement is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs that are significant to the overall valuation. The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized as follows:
● | Level 1 – Investments are valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. |
● | Level 2 – Investments are valued using other significant observable inputs, including quoted prices in active markets for similar securities. |
● | Level 3 – Investments are valued using significant unobservable inputs, including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. |
13
Assets classified as Level 2 can have a variety of observable inputs. These observable inputs are collected and utilized, primarily by an independent pricing service, in different evaluated pricing approaches depending upon the specific asset to determine a value. The carrying amounts of certificates of deposit and commercial paper are measured at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to the short time between purchase and expected maturity of the investments. Depending on the nature of the inputs, these investments are generally classified as Level 1 or 2 within the fair value hierarchy. U.S. Treasury bills are valued upon quoted market prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets that are not active and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable or corroborated by observable market data. The fair value of corporate bonds is measured using various techniques, which consider recently executed transactions in securities of the issuer or comparable issuers, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads and fundamental data relating to the issuer. Term loans are valued using a price or composite price from one or more brokers or dealers as obtained from an independent pricing service. The fair value of loans is estimated using recently executed transactions, market price quotations, credit/market events, and cross-asset pricing. Inputs are generally observable market inputs obtained from independent sources. Term loans are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, unless key inputs are unobservable in which case they would be categorized as Level 3. The fair value of equity derivatives is measured based on active market broker quotes, evaluated broker quotes and evaluated prices from vendors.
The following tables summarize our investment securities as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 that are recognized in our consolidated balance sheets using fair value measurements based on the differing levels of inputs.
September 30, 2020 |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Other Assets Held at Net Asset Value | Total |
| ||
(in thousands) |
| |||||||||||
Cash equivalents: (1) | ||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | | — | — | — | | ||||||
Commercial paper | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Total cash equivalents | $ | | | — | — | | ||||||
Available for sale securities: | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | — | | — | — | | ||||||
Corporate bonds | $ | — | | — | — | | ||||||
Trading debt securities: | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Corporate bonds | — | | — | | ||||||||
Mortgage-backed securities |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — | | |||
Term loans |
| — |
| |
| |
| — | | |||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||
Common stock | | — | — | — | | |||||||
Sponsored funds | | — | — | — | | |||||||
Sponsored privately offered funds measured at net asset value (2) | — | — | — | | | |||||||
Equity method securities: (3) | ||||||||||||
Sponsored funds | | — | — | — | | |||||||
Total investment securities | $ | | | | | |
14
December 31, 2019 |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Other Assets Held at Net Asset Value | Total |
| ||
(in thousands) |
| |||||||||||
Cash equivalents: (1) | ||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | | — | — | — | | ||||||
Commercial paper | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Total cash equivalents | $ | | | — | — | | ||||||
Available for sale securities: | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | — | | — | — | | ||||||
Corporate bonds | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Trading debt securities: | ||||||||||||
Commercial paper | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Corporate bonds | — | | — | | ||||||||
U.S. Treasury bills | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Mortgage-backed securities |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — | | |||
Term loans | — | | | — | | |||||||
Consolidated sponsored funds | — | | — | — | | |||||||
Equity securities: | ||||||||||||
Common stock |
| |
| — |
| |
| — | | |||
Sponsored funds |
| |
| — |
| — |
| — | | |||
Sponsored privately offered funds measured at net asset value (2) | — | — | — | | | |||||||
Equity method securities: (3) | ||||||||||||
Sponsored funds | | — | — | — | | |||||||
Total investment securities | $ | | | | | |
(1) | Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Cash investments in actively traded money market funds are measured at net asset value and are classified as Level 1. Cash investments in commercial paper are measured at cost, which approximates fair value because of the short time between purchase of the instrument and its expected realization and are classified as Level 2. |
(2) | Certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets. |
(3) | The Company’s equity method investments are investment companies that record their underlying investments at fair value. |
15
The following table summarizes the activity of investments categorized as Level 3 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:
| For the nine months ended | ||
September 30, 2020 | |||
(in thousands) | |||
Level 3 assets at December 31, 2019 | $ | | |
Additions |
| | |
Transfers in to level 3 | | ||
Transfers out of level 3 | ( | ||
| ( | ||
Redemptions/Paydowns | ( | ||
Level 3 assets at September 30, 2020 | $ | | |
Change in unrealized losses for Level 3 assets held at | $ | ( |
5. | Derivative Financial Instruments |
The Company has in place an economic hedge program that uses total return swap contracts to hedge market risk related to its investments in certain sponsored funds. Certain of the consolidated sponsored funds may utilize derivative financial instruments within their portfolios in pursuit of their stated investment objectives. We do not hedge for speculative purposes.
The Company was party to
The counterparties of the total return swap contracts posted $
The following table presents the fair value of the derivative financial instruments as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and is calculated based on Level 2 inputs:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
Balance sheet | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
| location |
| Fair value |
| Fair value | |||
| (in thousands) | |||||||
Total return swap contracts |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | | — | |||
Total return swap contracts | Other current liabilities | — | | |||||
Net total return swap asset (liability) |
| $ | | ( |
The following is a summary of net (losses) gains recognized in income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||
Income statement | September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||
| location |
| 2020 | 2019 |
| 2020 | 2019 | ||||
| (in thousands) | (in thousands) | |||||||||
Total return swap contracts |
| Investment and other income |
| $ | ( | | $ | ( | ( |
16
6. | Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets |
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets of an acquired business. Our goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment assessment during the second quarter of each year and identified
September 30, | December 31, |
| ||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Goodwill |
| $ | |
| |
|
Mutual fund management advisory contracts |
| |
| | ||
Other |
| |
| | ||
Total identifiable intangible assets |
| |
| | ||
Total | $ | |
| |
7. | Indebtedness |
Debt is reported at its carrying amount in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value, calculated based on Level 2 inputs, of the Company’s senior unsecured notes maturing January 13, 2021 was $
On October 20, 2020, we entered into a 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”) with various lenders, which initially provides for borrowings of up to $
8. | Income Tax Uncertainties |
In the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, unrecognized tax benefits that are not expected to be settled within the next 12 months are included in other liabilities; unrecognized tax benefits that are expected to be settled within the next 12 months are included in other current liabilities; unrecognized tax benefits that reduce a net operating loss, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward are presented as a reduction to non-current deferred income taxes. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets included unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, of $
In the ordinary course of business, many transactions occur for which the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. In addition, respective tax authorities periodically audit our income tax returns. These audits examine our significant tax filing positions, including the timing and amounts of deductions and the allocation of income among tax jurisdictions. The Company does not expect the resolution or settlement of any open audits, federal or state, to materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
Our 2016-2019 federal income tax returns are open tax years that remain subject to potential future audit. Our state income tax returns for all years after 2015 and, in certain states, income tax returns for 2015, are subject to potential future audit by tax authorities in the Company’s major state tax jurisdictions.
17
9. | Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pension |
Benefits payable under our noncontributory retirement plan that covers substantially all employees and certain vested employees of our former parent company (the “Pension Plan”) were based on employees’ years of service and compensation during the final
In connection with the termination of the Pension Plan, in July 2020, the Company contributed $
We also sponsor an unfunded defined benefit postretirement medical plan that previously covered substantially all employees, as well as Advisors. The medical plan is contributory with participant contributions adjusted annually. The medical plan does not provide for benefits after age
The components of net periodic pension costs and other postretirement costs related to these plans are reflected in the table below. Net periodic pension costs are recorded in investment and other income on the Company’s consolidated statements of income.
Other | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pension Benefits | Postretirement Benefits | Pension Benefits | Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||
Three months ended September 30, | Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Components of net periodic benefit cost: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Interest cost | $ | |
| | $ | |
| | $ | |
| |
| $ | |
| | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
| ( |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
|
| — |
| — | ||||
Actuarial gain amortization |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
|
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Settlement loss | | — | — | — | | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | | ( | $ | ( | ( | $ | | ( | $ | ( | ( |
18
10. | Stockholders’ Equity |
Earnings per Share
The components of basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. |
| $ | |
| |
| $ | |
| |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
| | |
| | | |||||
Earnings per share, basic and diluted | $ | | | $ | | |
Dividends
During the quarter, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on our Class A common stock in the amount of $
Common Stock Repurchases
The Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of our Class A common stock in the open market and/or private purchases. The acquired shares may be used for corporate purposes, including issuing shares to employees in our stock-based compensation programs.
There were
19
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The following tables summarize accumulated other comprehensive income activity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||
Total | |||||||
Unrealized | Postretirement | accumulated | |||||
gains (losses) on | benefits | other | |||||
AFS investment | unrealized | comprehensive | |||||
securities | gains (losses) | income (loss) | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Balance at June 30, 2020 |
| $ | |
| |
| |
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification |
|
| ( | — |
| ( | |
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
| ( | ( |
| ( | |
Net current period other comprehensive loss |
|
| ( | ( |
| ( | |
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | |
| |
| | |
Balance at June 30, 2019 |
| $ | |
| |
| |
Other comprehensive income before reclassification |
|
| |
| — |
| |
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
| | ( |
| | |
Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | |
| |
| |
For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
Total | |||||||
Unrealized | Postretirement | accumulated | |||||
gains (losses) | benefits | other | |||||
on investment | unrealized | comprehensive | |||||
securities | gains (losses) | income (loss) | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
| $ | |
| |
| |
Other comprehensive income before reclassification |
| |
| — |
| | |
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) |
| | ( |
| | ||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | |
| |
| | |
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
| $ | ( |
| |
| |
Other comprehensive income before reclassification | | — | | ||||
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
| ( | ( |
| ( | ||
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) |
| | ( |
| | ||
Balance at September 30, 2019 | $ | |
| |
| |
Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and included in net income are summarized in the tables that follow.
Tax | |||||||||
For the three months ended September 30, 2020 | Pre-tax | expense | Net of tax | Statement of income line item | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Reclassifications included in net income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gains on available for sale debt securities | $ | |
| ( | |
| Investment and other income | ||
Amortization of postretirement benefits | |
| ( |
| |
| Compensation and benefits | ||
Total | $ | |
| ( |
| |
20
Tax | |||||||||
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 | Pre-tax | expense | Net of tax | Statement of income line item | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Reclassifications included in net income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gains on available for sale debt securities | $ | |
| ( | |
| Investment and other income | ||
Amortization of postretirement benefits | $ | |
| ( |
| |
| Compensation and benefits | |
Total | $ | |
| ( |
| |
Tax | |||||||||
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 | Pre-tax | expense | Net of tax | Statement of income line item | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Reclassifications included in net income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gains on available for sale debt securities | $ | |
| ( |
| |
| Investment and other income | |
Amortization of postretirement benefits | |
| ( |
| |
| Compensation and benefits | ||
Total | $ | |
| ( |
| |
Tax | |||||||||
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 | Pre-tax | expense | Net of tax | Statement of income line item | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Reclassifications included in net income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Gains on available for sale debt securities | $ | |
| ( |
| |
| Investment and other income | |
Amortization of postretirement benefits |
| |
| ( |
| |
| Compensation and benefits | |
Total | $ | |
| ( |
| |
11. | Leases |
The Company has operating and finance leases for corporate office space and equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of less than
Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date (or the effective date of ASU 2016-02, Leases) based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date (or the effective date of ASU 2016-02, Leases) in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which we have elected not to separate.
During January 2020, we signed a
21
The components of lease expense were as follows:
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Operating Lease Cost | $ | |
| $ | | |
Finance Lease Cost: | ||||||
Amortization of ROU assets | $ | |
| $ | | |
Interest on lease liabilities | |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Operating Lease Cost | $ | |
| $ | | |
Finance Lease Cost: | ||||||
Amortization of ROU assets | $ | |
| $ | | |
Interest on lease liabilities | |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | |
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | |
| $ | | |
Operating cash flows from finance leases |
| |
|
| | |
Financing cash flows from finance leases | | | ||||
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: | ||||||
Operating leases | | | ||||
Finance leases | | |
22
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
September 30, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||
(in thousands, except lease term and discount rate) | ||||||
Operating Leases: |
|
|
|
| ||
$ | |
| $ | | ||
$ | | $ | | |||
| | |||||
Total operating lease liabilities | $ | | $ | | ||
Finance Leases: | ||||||
Property and equipment, gross | $ | | $ | | ||
Accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | ||||
$ | | $ | | |||
$ | | $ | | |||
| | |||||
Total finance lease liabilities | $ | | $ | | ||
Weighted average remaining lease term: | ||||||
Operating leases | ||||||
Finance leases | ||||||
Weighted average discount rate: | ||||||
Operating leases | ||||||
Finance leases |
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
Operating | Finance | |||||
Leases | Leases | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Year ended December 31, | ||||||
2020 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2020) |
| $ | |
| | |
2021 | | | ||||
2022 |
| |
| | ||
2023 |
| |
| — | ||
2024 | | — | ||||
Thereafter |
| |
| — | ||
Total lease payments |
| |
| | ||
Less imputed interest | ( | ( | ||||
Total | $ | |
| |
12. | Contingencies |
The Company is involved from time to time in various legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and claims incident to the normal conduct of business, which may include proceedings that are specific to us and others generally applicable to business practices within the industries in which we operate. A substantial legal liability or a significant regulatory action against us could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and on the results of operations in a particular quarter or year.
The Company establishes reserves for litigation and similar matters when those matters present material loss contingencies that management determines to be both probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with ASC 450, “Contingencies.” These amounts are not reduced by amounts that may be recovered under insurance or claims against
23
third parties, but undiscounted receivables from insurers or other third parties may be accrued separately. The Company regularly revises such accruals in light of new information. The Company discloses the nature of the contingency when management believes it is reasonably possible the outcome may be significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and, where feasible, an estimate of the possible loss. For purposes of our litigation contingency disclosures, “significant” includes material matters as well as other items that management believes should be disclosed. Management’s judgment is required related to contingent liabilities because the outcomes are difficult to predict.
24
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires all references to the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “is” refer to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the current views and assumptions of management with respect to future events regarding our business and industry in general. These forward-looking statements include all statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, including statements with respect to revenues and earnings, the amount and composition of AUM and AUA, distribution sources, expense levels, redemption rates, stock repurchases and the financial markets and other conditions. These statements are generally identified by the use of such words as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “outlook,” “will,” “potential” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking information provided by us or on our behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic conditions, as well as the factors discussed below. If one or more events related to these or other risks, contingencies or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those forecasted or expected. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which include, without limitation:
● | The loss of existing distribution relationships or inability to access new distribution relationships; |
● | A reduction in our AUM on short notice, through increased redemptions in our distribution channels or our Funds, particularly those Funds with a high concentration of assets, or investors terminating their relationship with us or shifting their funds to other types of accounts with different rate structures; |
● | The adverse ruling or resolution of any litigation, regulatory investigations and proceedings, or securities arbitrations by a federal or state court or regulatory body; |
● | Changes in our business model, operations and procedures, including our methods of distributing our proprietary products, as a result of evolving fiduciary standards; |
● | The introduction of legislative or regulatory proposals or judicial rulings that change the independent contractor classification of our financial advisors at the federal or state level for employment tax or other employee benefit purposes; |
● | A decline in the securities markets or in the relative investment performance of our Funds and other investment portfolios and products as compared to competing funds; |
● | Our inability to reduce expenses rapidly enough to align with declines in our revenues due to various factors, including fee pressure, the level of our AUM or our business environment; |
● | Non-compliance with applicable laws or regulations and changes in current legal, regulatory, accounting, tax or compliance requirements or governmental policies; |
● | Our inability to attract and retain senior executive management and other key personnel to conduct our business; |
● | A failure in, or breach of, our operational or security systems or our technology infrastructure, or those of third parties on which we rely; and |
● | Our inability to implement new information technology and systems, or our inability to complete such implementation in a timely or cost effective manner. |
25
The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with other cautionary statements included in this and other reports and filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the information in Item 1 “Business” and Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part I and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of Part II to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and as updated in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the year ending December 31, 2020. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.
Overview
We are one of the oldest mutual fund and asset management firms in the country, with expertise in a broad range of investment styles and across a variety of market environments. Our earnings and cash flows are heavily dependent on financial market conditions and client activity. Significant increases or decreases in the various securities markets can have a material impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our products are distributed through our unaffiliated channel, or through our wealth management channel by Advisors. Through our institutional channel, we distribute an array of investment styles to a variety of clients.
Through our unaffiliated channel, we distribute mutual funds through broker-dealers, retirement platforms and registered investment advisers through a team of external and internal wholesalers.
In our wealth management channel, we had 921 Advisors and 392 licensed advisor associates as of September 30, 2020, for a total of 1,313 licensed individuals associated with W&R who operate out of offices located throughout the United States and provide financial advice for retirement, education funding, estate planning and other financial needs for clients.
We manage assets in a variety of investment styles in our institutional channel. Most of the clients in this channel are other asset managers that hire us to act as a subadviser for their branded products; they are typically domestic and foreign distributors of investment products who lack scale or the track record to manage internally, or choose to market multi-manager styles. Our diverse client list also includes pension funds, Taft Hartley plans and endowments.
Operating Results
● | Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. for the third quarter of 2020 was $30.5 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to $33.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2019. The third quarter of 2019 included $3.1 million in severance expense related to the outsourcing of our transfer agency transactional processing operations. Excluding the severance expense, adjusted net income1 for the third quarter of 2019 was $35.4 million and adjusted net income per diluted share1 was $0.49. |
● | Revenues of $267.7 million during the third quarter of 2020 decreased 1% compared to the third quarter of 2019. Operating expenses of $230.0 million during the third quarter of 2020 held steady compared to the same quarter in 2019. The operating margin was 14.1% during the third quarter of 2020, compared to 14.8% during the third quarter of 2019. Excluding severance expense related to the outsourcing of our transfer agency transactional processing operations during the third quarter of 2019, adjusted operating expenses1 were $227.6 million and the adjusted operating margin1 was 15.9%. |
______________
1 Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted operating expenses and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures on pages 40 and 41.
26
● | Continued execution of strategic initiatives in Asset Management |
o | Both sales and redemptions improved vs. the same quarter in 2019, particularly in institutional and unaffiliated |
o | Continued progress in strategic pricing evaluation, with 75% of AUM at or better than competitor median fees |
o | AUM ended the quarter at $67.9 billion, a decrease of 1% compared to the third quarter of 2019 due to net outflows partially offset by market appreciation. |
● | Successful quarter for Wealth Management recruiting and asset growth |
o | AUA ended the quarter at $62.7 billion, a 10% increase compared to the third quarter of 2019 primarily due to market appreciation and growth in net new Advisory AUA, partially offset by an ongoing migration away from Non-advisory AUA |
o | Net new AUA continue to improve, and net new Advisory AUA were positive for the 7th consecutive quarter |
o | Since January 1, 2020, 32 Advisors have affiliated with W&R with combined prior firm AUA totaling over $1.9 billion |
o | $474 thousand average trailing 12-month productivity per Advisor for the third quarter of 2020 improved 12% compared to the third quarter of 2019 |
● | Robust balance sheet continued to support investment in strategic growth and meaningful capital return |
o | $744.6 million in cash and investments at the end of the third quarter of 2020, excluding restricted cash |
o | $56.3 million was returned to shareholders in the third quarter of 2020, including $40.1 million of share repurchases |
● | Hired two executives focused on strategic growth – one to lead the technology teams dedicated to leveraging technology as a strategic asset across the organization, and one to develop and lead strategies in support of best-in-class client and Advisor experience processes and procedures. |
Vision and Growth Strategy
We remain committed to steadily executing on our long-term vision and growth strategy, which consists of six key, strategic focus areas: (1) competitive products and pricing; (2) continued focus on strong core processes and performance metrics; (3) the ability to leverage technology and analytics as a strategic asset across the organization; (4) having a growth culture and a more agile organization; (5) sharpening our brand awareness in the marketplace; and finally, (6) effectively allocating capital through internal investment initiatives, as well as taking advantage of potential dislocations and acquisition opportunities in the asset management and wealth management industries. Over the quarter, we made progress on these key focus areas as outlined below.
Within product and pricing, we introduced a series of enhancements to our InvestEd products, increasing the number of portfolios (including age-based and static options) and adding two ETFs and three Ivy Funds as underlying investments in those options, all designed to provide flexibility and best meet investor needs as they save for education. Additionally, effective October 1, we reduced load fees on all Class A shares for the Ivy Funds. These reductions, which include various breakpoints on all funds at certain purchase levels, are a further illustration of our desire to maintain competitive pricing across our lineup.
Within core processes and performance, we continue to streamline processes as we incorporate ongoing efficiencies. In our asset management business, our institutional distribution model has benefited from new technology that brings a more seamless client experience to further support sales and retention efforts and leverage data analytics insights. In our wealth management business, we appointed an industry veteran to lead our Advisor & Client Experience initiatives. This role will collaborate with key stakeholders across the business to improve Advisor and client journeys, creating new, innovative experiences, increasing loyalty and driving advocacy. This role will also work to develop and lead strategies in support of best-in-class client and Advisor experience processes and procedures while acting on opportunities for innovative investment, growth and expansion.
Within technology & analytics, we appointed a new Chief Technology Officer, who is a member of our executive leadership team and is leading efforts to leverage technology as a strategic asset across the organization, overseeing areas
27
including enterprise technology architecture and infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, data integration, and service delivery management. In our asset management business, we continue to progress on our data strategy, with the rollout of an RIA targeting and segmentation tool. We have also continued with our wealth management and asset management technology platform initiatives with the long-term objectives of improved Advisor and client experiences, enhanced sales enablement and improved internal operations. Specifically, within our wealth management business, we are expanding the capabilities of our WaddellOne digital platform with the introduction of OnePath, a digital account opening and maintenance tool that will reduce the time required to open an account through a data-driven, dynamic workflow process. We plan to launch a pilot program for OnePath during the fourth quarter of 2020, with full implementation by early 2021. OnePath is designed to simplify and enhance workflow for Advisors serving their clients by accelerating straight through processing, reducing clicks, improving e-signature capabilities and providing transparency for Advisors into the status of work in-progress.
Within growth culture and a more agile organization, we took additional steps to enhance our culture, including diversity and inclusion initiatives. We have made great strides to ensure we have a true culture of belonging within our organization. In recognition of some of the steps we have taken this year, the Company was recently named a finalist for the Diversity Champions award by InvestmentNews. We were proud to be recognized, along with other firms, for our ability to inspire others from diverse backgrounds to join, flourish and bring their authentic selves to work in the financial services industry.
Within brand awareness, we continue to execute a full brand review that includes all three of our brands across the enterprise. This is a multi-year effort, launched during the second quarter of 2020 and progressing to date, in partnership with a premiere, well respected global brand agency on the assessment and execution strategies.
Within capital allocation, our balance sheet enables us to maintain regular capital return to shareholders by way of dividends and share buybacks, while also positioning us to pursue strategic acquisitions if opportunities arise. Inorganic growth is a key component of our strategy and we continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities across both our wealth management and asset management businesses.
Impact of COVID-19
The market volatility that began in March 2020, as a result of the reaction to COVID-19 and its impact on the global economy, resulted in significant depreciation in the stock markets. In the second and third quarters of 2020, the markets rebounded, benefiting our measures of AUM and AUA for these periods. Both ending and average AUM and AUA increased during the third quarter of 2020, resulting in increased revenue as compared to the prior quarter.
Some of our expenses, particularly certain distribution expenses, are directly correlated with revenue, and we saw increases in these expenses in line with the revenue increases during the third quarter. In regard to controllable expenses, defined as Compensation and benefits, General and administrative, Technology, Occupancy and Marketing and advertising, while the Company took several incremental actions to reduce these expenses through the first nine months of 2020, we continue to take a long-term view and invest in the areas we think will allow us to come out of the pandemic in a stronger position and drive our long-term growth strategy. We expect controllable expenses to be higher in the fourth quarter of 2020 than in the third quarter of 2020 due to strategic project activity and the absence of meeting expense reductions we experienced in the third quarter of 2020. Our continued discipline on controllable expenses, particularly with increases in revenue, provides operating leverage that enables us to continue to invest in growth.
We transitioned most of our workforce and Advisors to a work from home environment early in March 2020. By late March, 98% of our employees were working remotely, with negligible downtime. The remote work environment has continued through the third quarter of 2020. Our steady and proactive response has allowed our asset management and wealth management businesses to maintain full continuity of service and the access that our clients need and expect. With a successful transition to a remote working environment, we plan to closely monitor developments and reintroduce employees to the workplace only when it is safe to do so. The transition of employees to a work from home environment did not result in any material incremental expenses during the first three quarters of 2020, and we do not expect to incur any material incremental expenses in future periods. For additional discussion regarding steps we have taken to facilitate safety, security and full continuity of service, please see Part I – Item 1 – “Financial Statements (unaudited), Note 1 – Description of Business and Accounting Policies”, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet without any significant leverage and ended the quarter with
28
$744.6 million in cash and investments. Our exceptionally strong balance sheet allows us to continue to execute our long-term growth strategies while retaining our focus on controlling expenses.
For additional discussion regarding the risks that can impact our business, results of operations and financial condition due to COVID-19 and the related economic conditions, please see Part II – Item 1A – “Risk Factors”.
Assets Under Management
During the third quarter of 2020, AUM increased 4% to $67.9 billion from $65.0 billion at June 30, 2020 due to market appreciation of $4.7 billion, partially offset by net outflows of $1.8 billion. Sales of $1.8 billion during the current quarter increased 2% compared to the third quarter of 2019. Redemptions decreased 19% compared to the third quarter of 2019.
Change in Assets Under Management (1)
Three months ended September 30, 2020 |
| |||||||||
Wealth |
| |||||||||
| Unaffiliated(2) | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||
Beginning Assets |
| $ | 23,724 |
| 2,997 |
| 38,245 |
| 64,966 | |
Sales (3) |
| 1,127 |
| 59 |
| 634 |
| 1,820 | ||
Redemptions |
| (1,977) |
| (165) |
| (1,488) |
| (3,630) | ||
Net Exchanges |
| 239 |
| — |
| (239) |
| — | ||
Net Flows |
| (611) |
| (106) |
| (1,093) |
| (1,810) | ||
Market Action |
| 1,755 |
| 297 |
| 2,661 |
| 4,713 | ||
Ending Assets |
| $ | 24,868 |
| 3,188 |
| 39,813 |
| 67,869 |
Three months ended September 30, 2019 |
| |||||||||
Wealth |
| |||||||||
| Unaffiliated(2) | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||
Beginning Assets |
| $ | 27,545 |
| 3,887 |
| 40,444 |
| 71,876 | |
Sales (3) |
| 999 | 49 |
| 744 |
| 1,792 | |||
Redemptions |
| (2,684) |
| (230) |
| (1,542) |
| (4,456) | ||
Net Exchanges |
| 334 |
| — |
| (334) |
| — | ||
Net Flows |
| (1,351) |
| (181) |
| (1,132) |
| (2,664) | ||
Market Action |
| (337) |
| (29) |
| (64) |
| (430) | ||
Ending Assets |
| $ | 25,857 |
| 3,677 |
| 39,248 |
| 68,782 |
During the first nine months of 2020, AUM decreased 3% to $67.9 billion from $70.0 billion at December 31, 2019 due to net outflows of $5.5 billion, partially offset by market appreciation of $3.4 billion. Sales of $6.5 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased 2% compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Redemptions during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 decreased 9% compared to the same period of 2019.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020 |
| |||||||||
Wealth |
| |||||||||
| Unaffiliated(2) | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||
Beginning Assets |
| $ | 26,264 |
| 3,096 |
| 40,598 |
| 69,958 | |
Sales (3) |
| 4,197 |
| 153 |
| 2,178 |
| 6,528 | ||
Redemptions |
| (7,175) |
| (546) |
| (4,335) |
| (12,056) | ||
Net Exchanges |
| 770 |
| 22 |
| (792) |
| — | ||
Net Flows |
| (2,208) |
| (371) |
| (2,949) |
| (5,528) | ||
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Market Action |
| 812 |
| 463 |
| 2,164 |
| 3,439 | ||
Ending Assets |
| $ | 24,868 |
| 3,188 |
| 39,813 |
| 67,869 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2019 |
| |||||||||
Wealth |
| |||||||||
| Unaffiliated(2) | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||
Beginning Assets |
| $ | 24,977 |
| 3,655 |
| 37,177 |
| 65,809 | |
Sales (3) |
| 3,883 |
| 244 |
| 2,286 |
| 6,413 | ||
Redemptions |
| (7,431) |
| (1,027) |
| (4,776) |
| (13,234) | ||
Net Exchanges |
| 914 |
| 25 |
| (939) |
| — | ||
Net Flows |
| (2,634) |
| (758) |
| (3,429) |
| (6,821) | ||
Market Action |
| 3,514 |
| 780 |
| 5,500 |
| 9,794 | ||
Ending Assets |
| $ | 25,857 |
| 3,677 |
| 39,248 |
| 68,782 |
(1) | Includes all activity of the Funds and institutional and separate accounts, including money market funds and transactions at net asset value, accounts for which we receive no commissions. |
(2) | Unaffiliated includes National channel (home office and wholesale), Defined Contribution Investment Only, Registered Investment Advisor and Variable Annuity. |
(3) | Sales consists of gross sales and includes net reinvested dividends, capital gains and investment income. |
30
Average Assets Under Management
Average AUM, which are generally more indicative of trends in revenue from investment management services than the change in ending AUM, are presented below.
Three months ended September 30, 2020 |
| ||||||||||
Wealth |
| ||||||||||
| Unaffiliated | Institutional | Management | Total | |||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||
Asset Class: | |||||||||||
Equity |
| $ | 19,849 |
| 3,199 |
| 29,857 |
| $ | 52,905 | |
Fixed Income |
| 4,468 |
| — |
| 8,695 |
| 13,163 | |||
Money Market |
| 147 |
| — |
| 1,731 |
| 1,878 | |||
Total |
| $ | 24,464 |
| 3,199 |
| 40,283 |
| $ | 67,946 |
Three months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||
Wealth | |||||||||||
Unaffiliated | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Asset Class: | |||||||||||
Equity |
| $ | 20,988 |
| 3,808 |
| 29,642 |
| $ | 54,438 | |
Fixed Income |
| 5,210 |
| 3 |
| 9,256 |
| 14,469 | |||
Money Market |
| 97 |
| — |
| 1,523 |
| 1,620 | |||
Total |
| $ | 26,295 |
| 3,811 |
| 40,421 |
| $ | 70,527 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2020 |
| ||||||||||
Wealth |
| ||||||||||
| Unaffiliated | Institutional | Management | Total | |||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||
Asset Class: | |||||||||||
Equity |
| $ | 18,866 |
| 2,977 |
| 28,412 |
| $ | 50,255 | |
Fixed Income |
| 4,542 |
| — |
| 8,647 |
| 13,189 | |||
Money Market |
| 135 |
| — |
| 1,693 |
| 1,828 | |||
Total |
| $ | 23,543 |
| 2,977 |
| 38,752 |
| $ | 65,272 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||||||
Wealth | |||||||||||
Unaffiliated | Institutional | Management | Total | ||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Asset Class: | |||||||||||
Equity |
| $ | 21,237 |
| 3,851 |
| 29,396 |
| $ | 54,484 | |
Fixed Income |
| 5,217 |
| 14 |
| 9,281 |
| 14,512 | |||
Money Market |
| 100 |
| — |
| 1,571 |
| 1,671 | |||
Total |
| $ | 26,554 |
| 3,865 |
| 40,248 |
| $ | 70,667 |
31
Performance
We have seen an increase from the prior quarter in trailing one- and five-year performance, while trailing three-year performance remained consistent as measured by the percentage of funds ranked in the top half of their respective Morningstar universes. As measured by percentage of assets, one-year performance declined slightly while three- and five-year performance improved. Our relative performance across the complex improved during the quarter, but we continue to see opportunities to improve performance in the future. Our commitment to institutional caliber processes means that while we are mindful of short-term market dynamics, we remain focused on the long term and on maintaining discipline and consistency in volatile times such as we have seen throughout 2020.
The following table is a summary of Morningstar rankings and ratings as of September 30, 2020:
MorningStar Fund Rankings1 |
| 1 Year |
| 3 Years |
| 5 Years |
|
Funds ranked in top half |
| 49 | % | 49 | % | 39 | % |
Assets ranked in top half |
| 43 | % | 52 | % | 47 | % |
MorningStar Ratings1 |
| Overall |
| 3 Years |
| 5 Years |
|
Funds with 4/5 stars |
| 26 | % | 28 | % | 19 | % |
Assets with 4/5 stars |
| 40 | % | 42 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Based on class I shares, which reflects the largest concentration of sales and assets.
32
Assets Under Administration
AUA includes both client assets invested in the Funds and in other companies’ products that are distributed through W&R and held in direct to fund accounts, brokerage accounts or within our fee-based advisory programs. AUA as of September 30, 2020 increased 10% as compared to September 30, 2019 primarily due to market appreciation and growth in net new Advisory AUA, partially offset by an ongoing migration away from Non-advisory AUA. Average AUA increased 7% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and increased 5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019. Starting in the second quarter of 2020, we updated our definition of net new AUA to include dividends and interest to be more consistent with peers and have reflected this new definition for all periods presented in the table below. This quarter marked the 7th straight quarter of positive Advisory AUA net flows. We continue to see increased average productivity per Advisor due to our efforts to transform W&R into a fully competitive and profitable aspect of our business model, with a focus on higher producing Advisors.
September 30, 2020 | September 30, 2019 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Ending AUA | |||||||
Advisory AUA | $ | 29,330 | 25,107 | ||||
Non-advisory AUA |
| 33,364 | 32,006 | ||||
Total ending AUA | $ | 62,694 | 57,113 |
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||
(in millions, except percentage data) | ||||||||||||||
Average AUA (1) | ||||||||||||||
Advisory AUA (1) | $ | 28,502 | 24,921 |
| $ | 26,737 | 23,732 | |||||||
Non-advisory AUA (1) |
| 32,898 | 32,490 |
|
| 31,846 | 32,038 | |||||||
Total average AUA (1) | $ | 61,400 | 57,411 | $ | 58,583 | 55,770 | ||||||||
Net new Advisory AUA (2) | $ | 437 | 328 | $ | 1,068 | 977 | ||||||||
Net new Non-advisory AUA (2), (3) |
| (475) | (720) |
|
| (1,479) | (2,240) | |||||||
Total net new AUA (2), (3) | $ | (38) | (392) |
| $ | (411) | (1,263) | |||||||
Annualized Advisory AUA growth (4) | 6.4 | % | 5.3 | % | 5.3 | % | 6.1 | % | ||||||
Annualized AUA growth (4) | (0.3) | % | (2.7) | % | (0.9) | % | (3.3) | % |
September 30, 2020 | September 30, 2019 | |||||
Advisors and advisor associates |
| 1,313 | 1,344 | |||
Average trailing 12-month production per Advisor (5) (in thousands) | $ | 474 | 422 |
(1) | Average AUA are calculated as the average of the beginning of month AUA during each reporting period. |
(2) | Net new AUA are calculated as total client deposits and net transfers less client withdrawals. Client deposits include dividends and interest. |
(3) | Excludes activity related to products held outside of our wealth management platform. These assets represent less than 10% of total AUA. |
(4) | Annualized growth is calculated as annualized total net new AUA divided by beginning AUA. |
(5) | Production per Advisor is calculated as trailing 12-month Total Underwriting and distribution fees less “other” underwriting and distribution fees divided by the average number of Advisors. “Other” underwriting and distribution fees predominantly include fees paid by Advisors for programs and services. |
33
Results of Operations — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 as Compared with Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Total Revenues
Total revenues decreased 1% to $267.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, total revenues decreased $28.8 million, or 4%, compared to the same period in the 2019. For both comparative periods, the decreases were due to a decrease in investment management fees and shareholder service fees, partially offset by increases in underwriting and distribution fees. The decreases in investment management fees were due to lower average AUM and lower effective management fee rates related to targeted fee reductions on certain products made in previous periods and money market fee waivers. The decreases in shareholder service fees were due to a reduction in fund reimbursement revenues related to the outsourcing of our transfer agency transactional processing operations as well as lower assets and number of accounts. The increases in underwriting and distribution fees were due to increases in advisory fees due to higher average Advisory AUA and were partially offset by decreases in service and distribution fees due to lower assets and lower sales commissions.
Three months ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||
(in thousands, except percentage data) | ||||||||
Investment management fees | $ | 106,617 |
| 111,806 |
| (5) | % | |
Underwriting and distribution fees |
| 139,456 |
| 135,787 |
| 3 | % | |
Shareholder service fees |
| 21,597 |
| 23,087 |
| (6) | % | |
Total revenues | $ | 267,670 |
| 270,680 |
| (1) | % |
Nine months ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||
(in thousands, except percentage data) | ||||||||
Investment management fees | $ | 307,660 |
| 334,438 |
| (8) | % | |
Underwriting and distribution fees |
| 400,032 |
| 395,527 |
| 1 | % | |
Shareholder service fees |
| 63,745 |
| 70,279 |
| (9) | % | |
Total revenues | $ | 771,437 |
| 800,244 |
| (4) | % |
Investment Management Fee Revenues
Investment management fee revenues for the third quarter of 2020 decreased $5.2 million, or 5%, from the third quarter of 2019. For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2020, investment management fee revenues decreased $26.8 million, or 8%, compared to the same period in 2019. For both comparative periods, the decrease was due to a decrease in average assets and a lower effective management fee rate, which was primarily due to targeted pricing reductions on certain products made in previous periods and money market fee waivers.
The following tables summarize investment management fee revenues, related average AUM, fee waivers and investment management fee rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||||
(in thousands, except for management fee rate and average assets) | ||||||||||
Investment management fees (net) | $ | 103,443 | 107,926 | (4) | % | |||||
Average assets (in millions) | $ | 64,747 | 66,716 | (3) | % | |||||
Management fee rate (net) |
| 0.6356 | % | 0.6418 | % | |||||
Total fee waivers | $ | 9,171 | 8,154 | 12 | % | |||||
Institutional investment management fees (net) | $ | 3,174 | 3,880 | (18) | % | |||||
Institutional average assets (in millions) | $ | 3,199 |
| 3,811 |
| (16) | % | |||
Institutional management fee rate (net) |
| 0.3945 | % |
| 0.4040 | % |
|
34
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||||
(in thousands, except for management fee rate and average assets) | ||||||||||
Investment management fees (net) | $ | 298,712 | 322,678 | (7) | % | |||||
Average assets (in millions) |
| 62,295 | 66,802 | (7) | % | |||||
Management fee rate (net) |
| 0.6405 | % | 0.6458 | % | |||||
Total fee waivers | $ | 23,804 | 22,127 | 8 | % | |||||
Institutional investment management fees (net) | $ | 8,948 | 11,760 | (24) | % | |||||
Institutional average assets (in millions) |
| 2,977 |
| 3,865 |
| (23) | % | |||
Institutional management fee rate (net) |
| 0.4013 | % |
| 0.4068 | % |
|
Revenues from investment management services provided to our retail mutual funds, which are distributed through the unaffiliated and wealth management channels, decreased 4% in the third quarter of 2020 and decreased 7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019. These decreases were due to decreases in average AUM and a lower effective management fee rate due to pricing reductions. Effective April 1, 2020, new fee reductions were made on our large cap growth and core bond products, which we expect to have a one to two cent annualized impact on earnings per share.
Institutional account revenues in the third quarter of 2020 decreased $0.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, institutional account revenues decreased $2.8 million compared to the same period in 2019. These decreases were due to a decrease in average AUM and a slight decrease in effective management fee rate.
Annualized long-term redemption rates | ||||||||||
(excludes money market redemptions) | ||||||||||
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| ||
Unaffiliated channel |
| 32.3 | % | 40.9 | % | 41.0 | % | 37.8 | % | |
Institutional channel |
| 20.5 | % | 23.9 | % | 24.5 | % | 35.5 | % | |
Wealth Management channel |
| 13.1 | % | 13.4 | % | 13.2 | % | 13.9 | % | |
Total |
| 20.5 | % | 24.3 | % | 23.8 | % | 24.2 | % |
The long-term redemption rate for the three months ended September 30, 2020 decreased in the unaffiliated channel as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019. Redemptions decreased during the quarter, particularly in our International Core Equity and High Income funds. The long-term redemption rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased in the unaffiliated channel as compared to the same period in 2019. Increased market volatility during the first half of 2020 led to more redemptions in this channel, particularly in our International Core Equity and High Income funds. The long-term redemption rate decreased in the institutional channel, primarily due to elevated client redemptions from our Core Equity and Large Cap Growth strategies during the first nine months of 2019. In the wealth management channel, the long-term redemption rate decreased for both comparative periods. Prolonged redemptions in any of our distribution channels could negatively affect revenues in future periods.
The current year-to-date industry average redemption rate, based on data provided by the Investment Company Institute, was 30.8%, versus our rate of 23.8%.
35
Underwriting and Distribution Fee Revenues
The following tables summarize the significant components of underwriting and distribution fee revenues by distribution channel:
For the three months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||
|
| Wealth | |||||
| Unaffiliated |
| Management | Total | |||
| (in thousands) | ||||||
Underwriting and distribution fee revenues | |||||||
Advisory fees | $ | — |
| 82,591 |
| 82,591 | |
Service and distribution fees |
| 14,623 |
| 15,305 |
| 29,928 | |
Sales commissions |
| 223 |
| 17,847 |
| 18,070 | |
Other revenues |
| 82 |
| 8,785 |
| 8,867 | |
Total |
| $ | 14,928 |
| 124,528 |
| 139,456 |
For the three months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||
| Wealth | ||||||
Unaffiliated |
| Management | Total | ||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Underwriting and distribution fee revenues | |||||||
Advisory fees |
| $ | — |
| 73,356 |
| 73,356 |
Service and distribution fees |
| 16,286 |
| 16,143 |
| 32,429 | |
Sales commissions |
| 364 |
| 20,544 |
| 20,908 | |
Other revenues |
| 67 |
| 9,027 |
| 9,094 | |
Total |
| $ | 16,717 |
| 119,070 |
| 135,787 |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||
|
| Wealth | |||||
| Unaffiliated |
| Management | Total | |||
| (in thousands) | ||||||
Underwriting and distribution fee revenues | |||||||
Advisory fees |
| — | 232,243 | 232,243 | |||
Service and distribution fees | 43,569 | 43,494 | 87,063 | ||||
Sales commissions | 1,047 | 53,538 | 54,585 | ||||
Other revenues | 308 | 25,833 | 26,141 | ||||
Total |
| 44,924 | 355,108 | 400,032 |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 | |||||||
| Wealth | ||||||
Unaffiliated |
| Management | Total | ||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Underwriting and distribution fee revenues | |||||||
Advisory fees |
| $ | — |
| 208,806 |
| 208,806 |
Service and distribution fees |
| 49,366 |
| 47,589 |
| 96,955 | |
Sales commissions |
| 1,300 |
| 60,959 |
| 62,259 | |
Other revenues |
| 242 |
| 27,265 |
| 27,507 | |
Total |
| $ | 50,908 |
| 344,619 |
| 395,527 |
Underwriting and distribution revenues earned in the third quarter of 2020 increased by $3.7 million, or 3%, compared to the third quarter of 2019. Underwriting and distribution revenues earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased $4.5 million, or 1%, compared to the same period in 2019. For both comparative periods, advisory fees revenues increased due to increases in average Advisory AUA. These increases were offset by lower service and distribution fees due to lower assets and decreases in sales commissions.
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Shareholder Service Fee Revenue
During the third quarter of 2020, shareholder service fee revenue decreased $1.5 million, or 6%, compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, shareholder service fee revenue decreased $6.5 million, or 9% as compared to the same period of 2019. For both comparative periods, the decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the number of accounts and assets on which these fees are based and a reduction in fund reimbursement revenues related to the outsourcing of our transfer agency transactional processing operations which was offset by lower costs.
Total Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were flat compared to the third quarter of 2019, primarily due to increases in distribution and general and administrative expenses offset by decreases in compensation and benefits, technology, occupancy, marketing and advertising and depreciation. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, operating expenses decreased $12.6 million, or 2%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to decreases in compensation and benefits, technology, occupancy, marketing and advertising and depreciation partially offset by increases in distribution and general and administrative expenses. We have been able to successfully reduce controllable expenses compared to the first nine months of 2019 even as we continue to invest in targeted growth areas of our strategy. We expect controllable expenses to be higher in the fourth quarter of 2020 than in the third quarter of 2020 due to strategic project activity and the absence of meeting expense reductions we experienced in the third quarter of 2020.
Three months ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Distribution | $ | 122,195 |
| 117,425 |
| 4 | % | |
Compensation and benefits |
| 62,416 |
| 64,999 |
| (4) | % | |
General and administrative |
| 19,156 |
| 16,680 |
| 15 | % | |
Technology |
| 14,250 |
| 15,019 |
| (5) | % | |
Occupancy |
| 4,160 |
| 5,684 |
| (27) | % | |
Marketing and advertising |
| 1,370 |
| 2,134 |
| (36) | % | |
Depreciation | 2,998 | 4,833 | (38) | % | ||||
Subadvisory fees | 3,490 | 3,882 | (10) | % | ||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 230,035 |
| 230,656 |
| — |
Nine months ended | ||||||||
| September 30, | |||||||
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Variance |
| ||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Distribution | $ | 350,104 |
| 343,696 |
| 2 | % | |
Compensation and benefits |
| 182,704 |
| 191,718 |
| (5) | % | |
General and administrative |
| 58,278 |
| 47,421 |
| 23 | % | |
Technology |
| 41,989 |
| 47,769 |
| (12) | % | |
Occupancy |
| 13,160 |
| 19,100 |
| (31) | % | |
Marketing and advertising | 4,385 | 6,497 | (33) | % | ||||
Depreciation | 9,720 | 16,062 | (39) | % | ||||
Subadvisory fees | 10,444 | 11,154 | (6) | % | ||||
Total operating expenses | $ | 670,784 |
| 683,417 |
| (2) | % |
Distribution expenses for the third quarter of 2020 increased by $4.8 million, or 4%, compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, distribution expenses increased $6.4 million, or 2%, compared to the same period for 2019. For both comparative periods, the increases in expense were due to increases in underwriting and distribution revenue and an increase in the average Advisor payout rate from continued increases in production.
Compensation and benefits during the third quarter of 2020 decreased $2.6 million, or 4% compared to the same period of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compensation and benefits expenses decreased $9.0 million, or 5%. For both comparative periods, decreases were due to lower severance expense primarily related to the
37
outsourcing of our transfer agency transactional processing operations, lower costs from reduced headcount and lower share-based compensation due to previously-issued awards vesting fully, as well as forfeitures. These decreases were partially offset by mark-to-market adjustments on deferred compensation plans.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 increased $2.5 million, or 15%, compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, general and administrative expenses increased $10.9 million, or 23%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. For both comparative periods, the increases were primarily due to the shift of our transfer agency transactional processing operations outsourcing costs from technology expenses to general and administrative expenses and increased strategic project spending, partially offset by lower travel and meeting costs due to restricted travel and a transition to virtual meetings during the pandemic.
Technology expense for the third quarter of 2020 decreased $0.8 million, or 5%, compared to the same period of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, technology expense decreased $5.8 million, or 12%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. For both comparative periods, the decreases were primarily due to costs related to the transfer agency transactional processing operations outsourcing shifting to general and administrative expenses, partially offset by increased consulting and software costs for new technologies.
Occupancy expense decreased $1.5 million, or 27%, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $5.9 million, or 31%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019. For both comparative periods, the decreases are due to the planned transition of field offices from corporate-leased space to Advisor personal branch offices.
Marketing and advertising expense decreased $0.8 million, or 36%, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $2.1 million, or 33%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019. For both comparative periods, the decreases are primarily due to lower sponsorship fees in connection with the shift to virtual industry conferences.
Depreciation expense decreased $1.8 million, or 38%, for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019 and decreased $6.3 million, or 39%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019. The decreases were primarily due to capitalized software development assets becoming fully depreciated.
Investment and Other Income
Investment and other income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased 5%, compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to greater unrealized gains, net of hedging activity, on the seed and corporate investment portfolios in the current period compared to the prior year comparative period, partially offset by a decline in interest income due to lower interest rates and redemptions in our corporate laddered investment portfolio and Pension Plan settlement expenses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, investment and other income decreased $10.8 million compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to lower unrealized gains, net of hedging activity, on the seed and corporate investment portfolios, a decline in interest income and Pension Plan settlement expenses in the current period compared to the prior year comparative period.
Taxes
The following table reconciles the statutory federal income tax rate with our effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019:
| Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||
2020 |
| 2019 | 2020 |
| 2019 | |||||
Statutory federal income tax rate |
| 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | |
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit |
| 3.7 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 2.8 | |||||
Permanent differences | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | ||||||
Share-based compensation | (0.5) | (0.5) | 1.4 | 1.6 | ||||||
Other items |
| (0.6) | (0.5) | (0.4) | (0.1) | |||||
Effective income tax rate |
| 24.8 | % | 23.3 | % | 26.9 | % | 25.8 | % |
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Our effective income tax rate was 24.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 23.3% for the same period in 2019, an increase of 1.5%. Our effective income tax rate was 26.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to 25.8% for the same period in 2019, an increase of 1.1%. Increases in state income tax due to additional state tax filings and non-deductible expenses caused the rate to increase in both comparative periods.
The Company expects continued future volatility in its effective tax rate as the tax effects of share-based compensation will be impacted by market fluctuations in our stock price. The future effective tax rate could also experience volatility from federal and state tax incentives, unanticipated federal and state tax legislative changes, and unanticipated fluctuations in earnings.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Management believes its available cash, marketable securities and expected cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund the Company’s short-term operating and capital requirements. Expected short-term uses of cash include dividend payments, repurchases of our Class A common stock, interest on indebtedness and maturities of outstanding debt in January 2021, income tax payments, seed money for new products, ongoing technology enhancements, Advisor transition loans, capital expenditures, and collateral funding for margin accounts established to support derivative positions, and could include strategic acquisitions.
Expected long-term capital requirements include operating leases and purchase obligations. Other possible long-term discretionary uses of cash could include capital expenditures for enhancement of technology infrastructure, strategic acquisitions, payment of dividends, seed money for new products, and repurchases of our Class A common stock.
Our operations provide much of the cash necessary to fund our priorities, as follows:
● | Pay dividends |
● | Repurchase our stock |
● | Finance growth objectives |
Our existing capital return policy is designed to provide financial flexibility to invest in our business, support ongoing operations and maintain a strong balance sheet, while continuing to provide a very competitive return to stockholders. The components of the capital return policy are described below.
Pay Dividends
We paid quarterly dividends on our Class A common stock that resulted in financing cash outflows of $49.9 million and $56.6 million for the first nine months of 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Board of Directors approved a dividend on our Class A common stock of $0.25 per share with a November 2, 2020 payment date and an October 12, 2020 record date. The total dividend to be paid on November 2, 2020 is $15.6 million.
Repurchase Our Stock
We repurchased 7,892,913 shares and 6,849,238 shares of our Class A common stock in the open market or privately during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, resulting in share repurchases of $112.1 million and $116.7 million, respectively. We continue to engage in an active share repurchase plan as part of our ongoing capital management plan.
Finance Growth Objectives
We use cash to fund growth in our distribution channels. We continue to invest in our wealth management channel by offering home office resources, wholesaling efforts, enhanced technology tools, including the modernization of our wealth management platforms, and Advisor transition loans. Our unaffiliated channel requires cash outlays for wholesaler commissions and commissions to third parties on deferred-load product sales and technology enhancements for asset management and distribution. We also provide seed money for new products to further enhance our product offerings and
39
distribution efforts. As we continue to advance our investment in improved technology, we expect increased costs in this area.
Cash Flows
Cash from operations is our primary source of funds. Cash from operations increased $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase is primarily due to cash inflows during the first nine months of 2020 as compared to cash outflows during first nine months of 2019 related to our net activity in equity and trading debt securities and was partially offset by lower net income.
The payable to investment companies for securities, payable to customers and other receivables accounts can fluctuate significantly based on trading activity at the end of a reporting period. Changes in these accounts resulted in variances within cash from operations on the statement of cash flows; however, there is no impact to the Company’s liquidity and operations due to the variances in these accounts.
Investing activities consist primarily of the seeding and sale of sponsored investment securities, purchases and maturities of investments held in our corporate investment portfolio and capital expenditures.
Financing activities include payment of dividends and repurchases of our Class A common stock. Future financing cash outflows will be affected by the existing capital return policy.
On October 20, 2020, we entered into a 364-day unsecured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”) with various lenders, which initially provides for borrowings of up to $100.0 million and may be expanded to $200.0 million. The New Credit Facility replaced the prior credit facility, which was set to terminate in October 2020. The covenants in the New Credit Facility are consistent with the covenants in the prior credit facility, including the required consolidated leverage ratio and the consolidated interest coverage ratio.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There have been no material changes in the critical accounting policies and estimates disclosed in the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” section of our 2019 Form 10-K.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
“Adjusted net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.,” “adjusted net income per share, basic and diluted,” “adjusted operating expenses,” and “adjusted operating margin” are non-GAAP financial measures that are not presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding charges and gains that are not indicative of our core operating results, and allow management and investors to better evaluate our performance between periods and compared to other companies in our industry.
These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP and you should not rely on non-GAAP financial measures alone as measures of our performance.
A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included in the table below.
40
Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures
(in thousands, except per share and percentage data)
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
2020 |
| 2019 |
| 2020 |
| 2019 | ||||||
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (GAAP) | $ | 30,523 | 33,054 | $ | 77,333 | 99,056 | ||||||
Adjustments |
|
| ||||||||||
Severance |
| — | 3,081 |
| — | 3,081 | ||||||
Tax effect of adjustments |
| — | (739) |
| — | (739) | ||||||
Adjusted net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (non-GAAP) | $ | 30,523 | 35,396 | $ | 77,333 | 101,398 | ||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted |
| 64,240 | 72,387 |
| 65,795 | 74,446 | ||||||
Adjusted net income per share, basic and diluted (non-GAAP): | $ | 0.48 | 0.49 | $ | 1.18 | 1.36 | ||||||
Controllable expenses (GAAP) | $ | 101,352 | 104,516 | $ | 300,516 | 312,505 | ||||||
Adjustments |
|
| ||||||||||
Severance |
| — | (3,081) |
| — | (3,081) | ||||||
Adjusted controllable expenses (non-GAAP) | $ | 101,352 | 101,435 | $ | 300,516 | 309,424 | ||||||
Operating expenses (GAAP) | $ | 230,035 | 230,656 | $ | 670,784 | 683,417 | ||||||
Adjustments |
|
| ||||||||||
Severance |
| — | (3,081) |
| — | (3,081) | ||||||
Adjusted operating expenses (non-GAAP) | $ | 230,035 | 227,575 | $ | 670,784 | 680,336 | ||||||
Operating income (GAAP) | $ | 37,635 | 40,024 | $ | 100,653 | 116,827 | ||||||
Adjustments |
|
| ||||||||||
Severance |
| — | 3,081 |
| — | 3,081 | ||||||
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) | $ | 37,635 | 43,105 | $ | 100,653 | 119,908 | ||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 267,670 | 270,680 | $ | 771,437 | 800,244 | ||||||
Operating margin (GAAP) |
| 14.1 | % | 14.8 | % |
| 13.0 | % | 14.6 | % | ||
Adjusted operating margin (non-GAAP) |
| 14.1 | % | 15.9 | % |
| 13.0 | % | 15.0 | % |
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
We are primarily exposed to market risk associated with unfavorable movements in interest rates and securities prices for both our corporate investments and our AUM and AUA, on which our revenues are based, and credit risk related to collateral on our economic hedge program derivative trading. The Company has had no material changes in its market risk policies or its market risk sensitive instruments and positions since December 31, 2019 other than the changes to the investment and derivative portfolios disclosed in Note 4 and Note 5 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements and changes to AUM and AUA in Part I – Item 2 – "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. As further described in Note 5, the Company has an economic hedge program that uses total return swap contracts to hedge market risk related to its investments in sponsored funds.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
41
required disclosure. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2020, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) is 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. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. However, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.
Part II. | Other Information |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
Except as noted below, there have been no material changes to the Company’s Risk Factors from those previously reported in the Company’s 2019 Form 10-K.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Business, Results of Operations or Financial Condition. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in global financial markets, including significant volatility in the securities markets. Declines in our AUM and AUA negatively impact our future revenues, earnings and growth prospects. In addition, certain of the risk factors set forth in the 2019 Form 10-K could be heightened by the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and related economic conditions resulting in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition, including due to:
● | declines in the securities markets or our Funds’ performance, which could result in decreased sales and increased redemptions; |
● | unprecedented market dislocation and disparate impact on particular businesses and industries; |
● | availability of financing capital; |
● | disruption of worldwide supply chains; |
● | negative impacts to our distribution channels or other financial institutions with which we do business; |
● | a work-from-home environment, which could result in reductions in our operating effectiveness or efficiency, increased operational, compliance and cybersecurity risks, the failure of controls and risk management policies to identify and manage risks, or the failure or breach of our operational or security systems or our technology infrastructure; |
● | the unavailability of key personnel necessary to conduct our business activities and operational challenges and costs associated with the return of employees from their remote working environments to the workplace; |
● | travel and visitation restrictions that limit our ability to engage with management of businesses in which we invest or may invest and with clients and business partners; |
● | the ability of Advisors to interact with clients and access their leased office spaces; |
● | actions and recommendations of federal, state and local governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; or |
● | our inability to reduce the level of our expenses to align with decreases in our revenues. |
We are unable to accurately predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to various uncertainties, including the duration of the outbreak and length of time it will take for the financial markets and economy to recover and for our employees to safely return to the workplace. We closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, continually assessing its potential effects on our business and on the businesses in which we invest. The extent to which our business and financial results are affected by COVID-19 will largely depend on future developments, which cannot be accurately predicted and are uncertain.
For additional discussion regarding the impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition due to COVID-19 and the related economic conditions, please see Part I – Item 2 – "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Impact of COVID-19”.
42
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
The following table sets forth certain information about the shares of Class A common stock we repurchased during the third quarter of 2020.
|
|
| Total Number of |
| Maximum Number (or | ||||
Shares | Approximate Dollar | ||||||||
Purchased as | Value) of Shares That | ||||||||
Total Number | Average | Part of Publicly | May Yet Be | ||||||
of Shares | Price Paid | Announced | Purchased Under The | ||||||
Period | Purchased | per Share | Program (1) | Program (1) | |||||
July 1 - July 31 |
| 75,000 | $ | 14.52 |
| 75,000 |
| n/a | |
August 1 - August 31 |
| 1,316,500 |
| 15.41 |
| 1,316,500 |
| n/a | |
September 1 - September 30 |
| 1,225,608 |
| 15.19 |
| 1,225,608 |
| n/a | |
Total |
| 2,617,108 | $ | 15.28 |
| 2,617,108 |
(1) | In October 2012, our Board of Directors approved a program to repurchase shares of our Class A common stock on the open market. Under the repurchase program, we are authorized to repurchase, in any seven-day period, the greater of (i) 3% of our outstanding Class A common stock or (ii) $50 million of our Class A common stock. We may repurchase our Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions or through the New York Stock Exchange, other national or regional market systems, electronic communication networks or alternative trading systems. Our stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date or an aggregate maximum number or dollar value of shares that may be repurchased. We continue to engage in an active share repurchase plan. |
During the third quarter of 2020, there were no shares purchased in connection with funding employee income tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of restricted shares.
43
Item 6. | Exhibits |
10.1 | ||
31.1* | ||
31.2* | ||
32.1** | ||
32.2** | ||
101* | Materials from the Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) related Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail. | |
104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
44
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, this 30th day of October 2020.
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Philip J. Sanders | |
Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
(Principal Executive Officer) | ||
By: | /s/ Benjamin R. Clouse | |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||
By: | /s/ Michael J. Daley | |
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, Investor Relations and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
45