Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

The Company, either by itself or through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a party to Investment Advisory and Administration Agreements with regulated investment companies (RICs) and other investment products which are administered by the Company. These investment products are offered to clients of the Company and its subsidiaries. Under the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreements, the Company receives a fee for providing investment advisory, administrative, and accounting services. The investment advisory and administration fee is a fixed percentage, referred to as basis points, of the average daily net assets, subject to certain limitations. Investment advisory and administration fees received by the Company totaled $380,645, $364,602 and $354,341 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company is also a party to various agreements with several RICs which are advised and/or administered by the Company. The Company receives a fee for providing shareholder, administrative and distribution services pursuant to the provisions of various shareholder service, administrative service, and distribution plans adopted by the RICs. These fees totaled $37,827, $39,017 and $36,007 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. A portion of the transaction costs incurred by the RICs for securities transactions are directed to the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary in its capacity as an introducing broker-dealer. The Company recognized $1,213, $2,772 and $4,875 in commissions during 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.