EX-99.1 2 d916933dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

Assets Under Management Increase to a Record $21.7 Billion

Quarterly Net Inflows Total $1.1 Billion

Dallas, TX, April 29, 2015 – Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE: WHG) today reported first quarter 2015 revenues of $29.6 million, a 14% increase compared to revenues of $25.9 million in the first quarter of 2014. First quarter 2015 net income and diluted earnings per share (“Diluted EPS”) were $5.6 million and $0.71, respectively, and included Woodway transaction costs, net of tax, of $0.5 million, which negatively impacted Diluted EPS by approximately $0.06. Net income and Diluted EPS were $5.6 million and $0.72, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014.

First quarter 2015 non-GAAP Economic Earnings and Non-GAAP Economic Earnings per share (“Economic EPS”) were $9.4 million and $1.20, respectively, and included Woodway transaction costs, net of tax, of $0.5 million, which negatively impacted Economic EPS by approximately $0.06. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings and Economic EPS were $9.2 million and $1.18, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014.

Highlights and significant items related to our first quarter 2015 results include:

 

    Revenues increased 14% to $29.6 million compared to the same period last year.

 

    Assets under management (“AUM”) reached a record level of $21.7 billion, with positive quarterly net inflows of $1.1 billion. Assets under advisement, for which we provide portfolio design and oversight, totaled $479 million.

 

    Net inflows into The Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds totaled $456 million, representing an organic growth rate of over 12% from year-end. The Funds now account for approximately 20% of our overall AUM.

 

    Increased diversification in AUM by investment strategy, with 5 strategies individually exceeding $1 billion in AUM.

 

    Our Westwood Global and Emerging Markets team has surpassed $4.5 billion in AUM, less than three years since inception.

 

    Non-US clients represent approximately 20% of AUM, up from 3% in 2009.

On April 1, 2015, Westwood successfully completed the acquisition of Woodway Financial Advisors, which will substantially broaden the geographic reach of our Trust business. Woodway’s financial results will be consolidated into Westwood’s financial results beginning in the second quarter of 2015. Additionally, Woodway’s AUM will be included in Westwood’s AUM at that time.

 

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Brian Casey, Westwood’s President & CEO, commented, “We are pleased with the continued strong demand for our Emerging Markets and Income Opportunity strategies, which drove significant net inflows for the quarter and helped push AUM to a record $21.7 billion. We are also very pleased with the successful closing of the Woodway acquisition and look forward to partnering with the Woodway team to provide exceptional service in the growing Houston market.”

Westwood’s Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per common share, payable on July 1, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 12, 2015. At quarter-end, Westwood had $84 million in cash and investments, stockholders’ equity of $109 million, and no debt.

Economic Earnings and Economic EPS are non-GAAP performance measures and are explained and reconciled with the most comparable GAAP numbers in the attached tables.

Westwood will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2015 results and other business matters at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, dial 877-303-6235 (domestic) or 631-291-4837 (international). The conference call can also be accessed via our Investor Relations page at westwoodgroup.com and will be available for replay through May 6, 2015 by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international) and entering passcode 14287640.

About Westwood

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.7 billion in assets under management (as of March 31, 2015), the firm offers a range of investment strategies including U.S. equities, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Multi-Asset, Global and Emerging Markets equities, and Global Convertible securities portfolios. Access to these strategies is available through separate accounts, commingled funds, the Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds, and UCITS funds. Westwood benefits from significant, broad-based employee ownership and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WHG.” Based in Dallas, Westwood also maintains offices in Toronto, Boston, Omaha and Houston.

For more information on Westwood, please visit www.westwoodgroup.com.

For more information on the Westwood Funds™, please visit www.westwoodfunds.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including without limitation, words such as “anticipate,” “forecast,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “may,” “target,” “designed,” “on track,” “comfortable with,” “optimistic” and other similar expressions,

 

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constitute 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. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry; the composition and market value of our assets under management; competition in the investment management industry; our investments in foreign companies; our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully; our ability to pursue and properly integrate acquired businesses; litigation risks; our ability to retain qualified personnel; our relationships with current and potential customers; our ability to properly address conflicts of interest; our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage; our ability to maintain an effective information systems; our ability to maintain effective cyber security; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures; our relationships with investment consulting firms; the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Westwood’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Westwood is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

# # # #

SOURCE: Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG-G)

CONTACT:

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

Tiffany B. Kice

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(214) 756-6900

 

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2015
    December 31,
2014
    March 31,
2014
 

REVENUES:

      

Advisory fees:

      

Asset based

   $ 23,929      $ 23,132      $ 20,389   

Performance based

     288        —          363   

Trust fees

     5,150        5,064        5,028   

Other, net

     241        69        169   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

  29,608      28,265      25,949   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

Employee compensation and benefits

  15,309      13,821      12,852   

Sales and marketing

  395      581      287   

Westwood mutual funds

  827      578      652   

Information technology

  1,037      933      715   

Professional services

  2,072      1,351      1,382   

General and administrative

  1,590      1,526      1,448   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

  21,230      18,790      17,336   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

  8,378      9,475      8,613   

Provision for income taxes

  2,768      3,497      3,051   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

$ 5,610    $ 5,978    $ 5,562   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  (1,388   (374   (354
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

$ 4,222    $ 5,604    $ 5,208   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

Basic

$ 0.74    $ 0.79    $ 0.74   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

$ 0.71    $ 0.77    $ 0.72   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

  7,596,223      7,525,438      7,474,415   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  7,861,090      7,811,770      7,751,243   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Economic Earnings

$ 9,416    $ 9,687    $ 9,169   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Economic EPS

$ 1.20    $ 1.24    $ 1.18   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

$ 0.50    $ 0.50    $ 0.44   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except par value and share amounts)

 

     March 31,
2015
(unaudited)
    December 31,
2014
 

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 19,607      $ 18,131   

Accounts receivable

     14,840        14,540   

Investments, at fair value

     64,039        79,620   

Deferred income taxes

     4,826        4,060   

Other current assets

     2,538        2,413   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  105,850      118,764   

Goodwill

  11,255      11,255   

Deferred income taxes

  3,542      3,792   

Intangible assets, net

  3,340      3,430   

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,847 and $2,720

  2,871      2,633   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 126,858    $ 139,874   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$ 3,694    $ 2,334   

Dividends payable

  4,792      4,868   

Compensation and benefits payable

  5,284      18,504   

Income taxes payable

  2,031      1,498   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  15,801      27,204   

Accrued dividends

  914      1,450   

Deferred rent

  1,216      1,213   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  17,931      29,867   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 9,280,996 and outstanding 8,467,815 shares at March 31, 2015; issued 9,010,255 and outstanding 8,308,460 shares at December 31, 2014

  93      90   

Additional paid-in capital

  125,661      119,859   

Treasury stock, at cost – 813,181 shares at March 31, 2015; 701,795 shares at December 31, 2014

  (35,893   (29,028

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (2,619   (1,231

Retained earnings

  21,685      20,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

  108,927      110,007   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 126,858    $ 139,874   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2015     2014  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 5,610      $ 5,562   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     145        144   

Amortization of intangible assets

     90        90   

Unrealized gains on trading investments

     (119     (57

Stock based compensation expense

     3,678        3,479   

Deferred income taxes

     (570     3,924   

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

     (1,392     (1,893

Net sales of investments – trading securities

     15,700        19,206   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (690     (450

Other assets

     42        338   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     1,285        (189

Compensation and benefits payable

     (12,406     (13,963

Income taxes payable and prepaid income taxes

     2,414        (1,557

Other liabilities

     (6     (37
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  13,781      14,597   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property and equipment

  (288   (121
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (288   (121
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of treasury stock

  (1,289   (669

Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes

  (5,576   (5,170

Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation

  1,392      1,893   

Cash dividends

  (4,855   (3,942
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

  (10,328   (7,888
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of currency rate changes on cash

  (1,689   (78

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

  1,476      6,510   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  18,131      10,864   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 19,607    $ 17,374   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

$ 957    $ 761   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of Net Income to Economic Earnings

(in thousands, except per share data and share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2015
     December 31,
2014
     March 31,
2014
 

Net Income

   $ 5,610       $ 5,978       $ 5,562   

Add: Stock based compensation expense

     3,678         3,582         3,479   

Add: Intangible amortization

     90         89         90   

Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization

     38         38         38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Economic earnings

$ 9,416    $ 9,687    $ 9,169   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares

  7,861,090      7,811,770      7,751,243   

Economic EPS

$ 1.20    $ 1.24    $ 1.18   

As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share (or Economic EPS). We provide these measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income and earnings per share, which are reported on a GAAP basis. Management reviews Economic Earnings and Economic EPS to evaluate Westwood’s ongoing performance, allocate resources, and review dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income or earnings per share, are useful for both management and investors when evaluating Westwood’s underlying operating and financial performance and its available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider these non-GAAP measures without considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We define Economic Earnings as net income plus non-cash equity-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes related to goodwill. Although depreciation on fixed assets is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent an allocation of the decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement. In addition, we do not adjust Economic Earnings for tax deductions related to restricted stock expense or amortization of intangible assets. Economic EPS represents Economic Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

 

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