8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant To Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2016

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State of incorporation)   001-09305
(Commission File Number)   43-1273600
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)  

One Financial Plaza
501 North BroadwaySt. Louis, Missouri 63102-2102
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (314) 342-2000

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On December 8, 2016, Stifel Financial Corp. announced that it and its subsidiary, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, have reached a settlement of two civil lawsuits that relate to the sale of collateralized debt obligations investments to five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts in 2006.  These settlements resolve all pending litigation related to this subject matter.

A copy of the press release is filed as exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in Item 8.01 of this Report, including the information contained in Exhibit 99.1, shall be deemed “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing. `

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press release dated December 8, 2016.

SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Date:  December 8, 2016	By:   /s/  James M. Zemlyak
	Name:James M. Zemlyak
	Title:President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press release dated December 8, 2016.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STIFEL ANNOUNCES GLOBAL SETTLEMENT REGARDING

WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICT LITIGATION MATTERS

ST. LOUIS, December 8, 2016 – Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today announced that it and its subsidiary, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel Nicolaus”), have reached a settlement of two civil lawsuits that relate to the sale of collateralized debt obligations investments to five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts in 2006.  These settlements resolve all pending litigation related to this subject matter.

The first matter is a civil lawsuit filed against Stifel Nicolaus by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on August 10, 2011.  The second matter is a civil lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, filed on September 29, 2008, between Royal Bank of Canada Europe Ltd., on the one hand, and Stifel Financial, Stifel Nicolaus and the five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts, on the other hand.   In early 2012, Stifel and the school districts previously reached a settlement that resolved the school districts’ direct claims against Stifel.

“We are very pleased to have these issues, which relate to 2006 transactions, behind us,” stated Ronald Kruszewski, Chairman & CEO of Stifel.  “We are also pleased that the resolution of these cases will benefit the five Southeastern Wisconsin school districts with whom we have continued to partner in recent years.”

Stifel does not anticipate the settlement will have an impact on its pre-tax results in the fourth quarter of 2016, as Stifel has adequately reserved for the cost of settlement.  However, as disclosed in Stifel’s third quarter 2016 10-Q filing, the settlement with the SEC is not deductible for tax purposes and we anticipate Stifel’s provision for income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2016 to be negatively impacted by approximately $9 million.

Stifel Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated; Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; Century Securities Associates, Inc.; and Eaton Partners, LLC, and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank & Trust offers a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s web site at www.stifel.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained in this press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this report not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on various assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this report are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Material factors and assumptions could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations

Joel Jeffrey, (212) 271-3610

investorrelations@stifel.com