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EX-10.1 - FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT - PIPER SANDLER COMPANIESpjc2017ex101.htm
EX-32.1 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION - PIPER SANDLER COMPANIESpjc2017ex321.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - PIPER SANDLER COMPANIESpjc2017ex312.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - PIPER SANDLER COMPANIESpjc2017ex311.htm
EX-10.2 - SECOND AMENDMENT TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT - PIPER SANDLER COMPANIESpjc2017ex102.htm
 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
 
þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2017
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 No. 001-31720
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
 
30-0168701
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1000
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
55402
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(612) 303-6000
 
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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. Yes  þ No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes  þ No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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.
Large accelerated filer
þ
 
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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 in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  ¨ No  þ

As of May 3, 2017, the registrant had 15,052,049 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 




Piper Jaffray Companies
Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 2.
 
ITEM 3.
 
ITEM 4.
 
 
 
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.
 
ITEM 1A.
 
ITEM 2.
 
ITEM 6.
 
 
 





PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
18,879

 
$
41,359

Cash and cash equivalents segregated for regulatory purposes
53,022

 
29,015

Receivables:
 
 
 
Customers
23,488

 
31,917

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
194,286

 
212,730

Securities purchased under agreements to resell
227,011

 
159,697

 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
567,210

 
464,610

Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and pledged as collateral
451,083

 
594,361

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
1,018,293

 
1,058,971

 
 
 
 
Fixed assets (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $57,859 and $58,308, respectively)
25,402

 
25,343

Goodwill
196,218

 
196,218

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $73,839 and $70,017, respectively)
33,412

 
37,234

Investments
159,675

 
168,057

Other assets
163,471

 
164,962

Total assets
$
2,113,157

 
$
2,125,503

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Short-term financing
$
297,146

 
$
418,832

Senior notes
175,000

 
175,000

Payables:
 
 
 
Customers
41,594

 
29,352

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
204,063

 
40,842

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
10,457

 
15,046

Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
404,539

 
299,357

Accrued compensation
117,821

 
288,255

Other liabilities and accrued expenses
40,581

 
42,553

Total liabilities
1,291,201

 
1,309,237

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
 
 
 
Shares authorized: 100,000,000 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016;
 
 
 
Shares issued: 19,509,951 at March 31, 2017 and 19,535,307 at December 31, 2016;
 
 
 
Shares outstanding: 12,784,865 at March 31, 2017 and 12,391,970 at December 31, 2016
195

 
195

Additional paid-in capital
784,739

 
788,927

Retained earnings
272,706

 
257,188

Less common stock held in treasury, at cost: 6,725,086 at March 31, 2017 and 7,143,337 shares at December 31, 2016
(277,099
)
 
(284,461
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2,376
)
 
(2,599
)
Total common shareholders’ equity
778,165

 
759,250

 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
43,791

 
57,016

Total shareholders’ equity
821,956

 
816,266

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
2,113,157

 
$
2,125,503

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

3

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2017
 
2016
Revenues:
 
 
 
Investment banking
$
132,250

 
$
103,938

Institutional brokerage
39,136

 
32,049

Asset management
16,007

 
13,848

Interest
7,719

 
8,829

Investment income
10,375

 
937

 
 
 
 
Total revenues
205,487

 
159,601

 
 
 
 
Interest expense
4,958

 
6,045

 
 
 
 
Net revenues
200,529

 
153,556

 
 
 
 
Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
134,378

 
104,436

Outside services
10,328

 
8,451

Occupancy and equipment
8,462

 
7,718

Communications
7,616

 
7,330

Marketing and business development
7,547

 
7,004

Trade execution and clearance
1,811

 
1,762

Restructuring and integration costs

 
6,773

Intangible asset amortization expense
3,822

 
3,296

Back office conversion costs
866

 

Other operating expenses
2,890

 
3,344

 
 
 
 
Total non-interest expenses
177,720

 
150,114

 
 
 
 
Income before income tax expense/(benefit)
22,809

 
3,442

 
 
 
 
Income tax expense/(benefit)
(395
)
 
256

 
 
 
 
Net income
23,204

 
3,186

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests
2,929

 
749

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
20,275

 
$
2,437

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders
$
16,828

 
$
2,124

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.33

 
$
0.16

Diluted
$
1.31

 
$
0.16

 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
$
0.31

 
$

 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
 
 
 
Basic
12,594

 
13,160

Diluted
12,922

 
13,172


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

4

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Net income
$
23,204

 
$
3,186

 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
223

 
(403
)
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
23,427

 
2,783

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income applicable to noncontrolling interests
2,929

 
749

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
20,498

 
$
2,034


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


5

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
23,204

 
$
3,186

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets
1,703

 
1,458

Deferred income taxes
13,916

 
6,436

Stock-based and deferred compensation
4,676

 
10,064

Amortization of intangible assets
3,822

 
3,296

Amortization of forgivable loans
1,820

 
2,051

Decrease/(increase) in operating assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents segregated for regulatory purposes
(24,007
)
 
33,980

Receivables:
 
 
 
Customers
8,428

 
12,748

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
18,444

 
(36,899
)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
(71,423
)
 
17,899

Net financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
145,860

 
(85,486
)
Investments
8,382

 
(12,878
)
Other assets
(14,170
)
 
(12,732
)
Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities:
 
 
 
Payables:
 
 
 
Customers
12,242

 
7,277

Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
163,221

 
122,800

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
(480
)
 
2,809

Accrued compensation
(153,843
)
 
(133,238
)
Other liabilities and accrued expenses
(1,993
)
 
(17,075
)
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
139,802

 
(74,304
)
 
 
 
 
Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 
(70,230
)
Purchases of fixed assets, net
(1,756
)
 
(1,331
)
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,756
)
 
(71,561
)
 
 
 
 
Continued on next page

6

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Continued
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Increase/(decrease) in short-term financing
$
(121,686
)
 
$
12,853

Increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase

 
5,416

Payment of cash dividend
(4,746
)
 

Increase/(decrease) in noncontrolling interests
(16,154
)
 
7,262

Repurchase of common stock
(19,788
)
 
(19,445
)
Reduced tax benefit from stock-based compensation

 
(895
)
Proceeds from stock option exercises
1,703

 

 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
(160,671
)
 
5,191

 
 
 
 
Currency adjustment:
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
145

 
(96
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(22,480
)
 
(140,770
)
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
41,359

 
189,910

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
18,879

 
$
49,140

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information –
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Interest
$
4,464

 
$
6,067

Income taxes
$
7,710

 
$
19,827

 
 
 
 
Non-cash investing activities –
 
 
 
Issuance of common stock related to the acquisition of Simmons & Company International:
 
 
 
25,525 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2016
$

 
$
1,074

 
 
 
 
Non-cash financing activities –
 
 
 
Issuance of restricted common stock for annual equity award:
 
 
 
198,981 shares and 843,889 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively
$
16,187

 
$
35,089


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


7

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)


Index
Note 1
 
Note 2
 
Note 3
 
Note 4
 
Note 5
 
Note 6
 
Note 7
 
Note 8
 
Note 9
 
Note 10
 
Note 11
 
Note 12
 
Note 13
 
Note 14
 
Note 15
 
Note 16
 
Note 17
 
Note 18
 
Note 19
 
Note 20
 


8

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 1 Organization and Basis of Presentation

Organization

Piper Jaffray Companies is the parent company of Piper Jaffray & Co. ("Piper Jaffray"), a securities broker dealer and investment banking firm; Piper Jaffray Ltd., a firm providing securities brokerage and mergers and acquisitions services in Europe headquartered in London, England; Simmons & Company International Limited ("SCIL"), a firm providing mergers and acquisitions services to the energy industry headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland; Advisory Research, Inc. ("ARI"), which provides asset management services to separately managed accounts, closed-end and open-end funds and partnerships; Piper Jaffray Investment Group Inc., which consists of entities providing alternative asset management services; Piper Jaffray Financial Products Inc. and Piper Jaffray Financial Products II Inc., entities that facilitate derivative transactions; and other immaterial subsidiaries. Piper Jaffray Companies and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") operate in two reporting segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. A summary of the activities of each of the Company’s business segments is as follows:

Capital Markets

The Capital Markets segment provides investment banking services and institutional sales, trading and research services. Investment banking services include management of and participation in underwritings, financial advisory services and public finance activities. Revenues are generated through the receipt of advisory and financing fees. Institutional sales, trading and research services focus on the trading of equity and fixed income products with institutions, government and non-profit entities. Revenues are generated through commissions and sales credits earned on equity and fixed income institutional sales activities, net interest revenues on trading securities held in inventory, and profits and losses from trading these securities. Also, the Company generates revenue through strategic trading and investing activities, which focus on investments in municipal bonds, U.S. government agency securities, and merchant banking activities involving equity or debt investments in late stage private companies. The Company has created alternative asset management funds in merchant banking, energy and senior living in order to invest firm capital and to manage capital from outside investors. The Company receives management and performance fees for managing these funds.

Asset Management

The Asset Management segment provides traditional asset management services with product offerings in equity securities and master limited partnerships to institutions and individuals. Revenues are generated in the form of management and performance fees. Revenues are also generated through investments in the partnerships and funds that the Company manages.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Pursuant to this guidance, certain information and disclosures have been omitted that are included within complete annual financial statements. Except as disclosed herein, there have been no material changes in the information reported in the financial statements and related disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Piper Jaffray Companies, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Noncontrolling interests represent equity interests in consolidated entities that are not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to Piper Jaffray Companies. Noncontrolling interests include the minority equity holders’ proportionate share of the equity in the Company's alternative asset management funds. All material intercompany balances have been eliminated.

Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates and assumptions are based on the best information available, actual results could differ from those estimates.


9

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 2 Accounting Policies and Pronouncements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a full description of the Company's significant accounting policies. Changes to the Company's significant accounting policies are described below.

Stock-Based Compensation

Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, "Compensation — Stock Compensation," ("ASC 718") requires all stock-based compensation to be expensed on the consolidated statements of operations based on the grant date fair value of the award. Compensation expense related to stock-based awards that do not require future service are recognized in the year in which the awards were deemed to be earned. Stock-based awards that require future service are amortized over the relevant service period. Forfeitures of awards with service conditions are accounted for when they occur. See Note 16 for additional information on the Company's accounting for stock-based compensation.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Stock-Based Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, "Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 made targeted amendments to the accounting for share-based payments to employees. It became effective for the Company as of January 1, 2017. There was no impact to the Company’s retained earnings upon adoption of ASU 2016-09.

Under ASU 2016-09, the Company recognizes the income tax effects of stock awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. In the first quarter of 2017, this accounting change resulted in the recording of a $7.0 million tax benefit for stock awards vesting during the period. Prior to the adoption of this ASU, this amount would have been recorded directly to additional paid-in capital. In addition, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures of awards with service conditions as they occur. This will result in dividends originally charged against retained earnings for forfeited, unvested stock-based payment awards to be reclassified to compensation expense in the period in which the forfeiture occurs. Furthermore, tax impacts from the vesting of stock-based compensation are presented as an operating activity on the consolidated statements of cash flows on a prospective basis.

Future Adoption of New Applicable Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," ("ASU 2014-09") which supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including most industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services, and also requires additional disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The FASB has subsequently issued various ASUs which amend specific areas of guidance in ASU 2014-09. The Company’s implementation efforts include the identification of revenue within the scope of the guidance, and the potential impact on its consolidated results of operations and disclosures. The current broker dealer industry treatment of netting deal expenses with investment banking revenues, the timing of performance fee recognition related to consolidated alternative asset management entities, and fees received for equity research may be impacted by the new guidance. The Company is also evaluating whether certain asset management contract costs can be capitalized on the consolidated statements of financial position. The Company will adopt this guidance effective as of January 1, 2018. The two permitted transition methods under ASU 2014-09 are the full retrospective method, in which case the standard would be applied to each prior reporting period presented, or the modified retrospective method, under which the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is in the process of determining its method of adoption, which depends, in part, upon the completion of further analysis.


10

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, "Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("ASU 2016-01"). The amendments in ASU 2016-01 address certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Except for the early application guidance outlined in ASU 2016-01, early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position, but may impact the Company's disclosures.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the consolidated statements of financial position and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately 65 operating leases for office space with aggregate minimum lease commitments of $78.4 million. The Company is evaluating other service contracts which may include embedded leases. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, the Company does not expect material changes to the recognition of rent expense in its consolidated statements of operations. The impact of the new guidance on Piper Jaffray’s net capital is expected to be minimal.

Financial Instruments Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" ("ASU 2016-13"). The new guidance requires an entity to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts as opposed to delaying recognition until the loss was probable of occurring. ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-13 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments" ("ASU 2016-15"). ASU 2016-15 clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-15 are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 31, 2017 and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that only a limited number of amendments will impact the presentation of its consolidated statements of cash flows.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash" ("ASU 2016-18"). Under ASU 2016-18, restricted cash will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the consolidated statements of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted.

Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" ("ASU 2017-04"). ASU 2017-04 eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for the Company’s annual and any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and should be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017.


11

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 3 Acquisition of Simmons & Company International

On February 26, 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Simmons & Company International ("Simmons"), an employee-owned investment bank and broker dealer focused on the energy industry. The economic value of the acquisition was approximately $140.0 million.

The Company acquired net assets with a fair value of $119.3 million. As part of the purchase price, the Company issued 1,149,340 restricted shares valued at $48.2 million as equity consideration on the acquisition date. Employees must fulfill service requirements in exchange for the rights to the shares. Compensation expense will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of one or three years (a weighted average service period of 2.7 years). The fair value of the restricted stock was determined using the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of the acquisition.

The Company also entered into acquisition-related compensation arrangements with certain employees of $20.6 million which consisted of cash ($9.0 million) and restricted stock ($11.6 million) for retention purposes. Compensation expense related to these arrangements will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of three years. Additional cash compensation may be available to certain investment banking employees subject to exceeding an investment banking revenue threshold during the three year post-acquisition period to the extent they are employed by the Company at the time of payment. Amounts estimated to be payable related to this performance award plan will be recorded as compensation expense on the consolidated statements of operations over the requisite performance period of three years. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had accrued $5.6 million related to this performance award plan.

The acquisition was accounted for pursuant to FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, "Business Combinations." Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the acquired assets and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired was allocated between goodwill and intangible assets within the Capital Markets segment. The Company recorded $60.7 million of goodwill on its consolidated statements of financial condition, of which $59.4 million is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. In management's opinion, the goodwill represents the reputation and operating expertise of Simmons.

Identifiable intangible assets purchased by the Company consisted of customer relationships and the Simmons trade name with acquisition-date fair values of $17.5 million and $9.1 million, respectively. Transaction costs of $0.5 million were incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and are included in restructuring and integration costs on the consolidated statements of operations.

Simmons’ results of operations have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements prospectively beginning on the date of acquisition. The acquisition has been fully integrated with the Company's existing operations. Accordingly, post-acquisition revenues and net income are not discernible. The following unaudited pro forma financial data assumes the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2015, the beginning of the prior annual period in which the acquisition occurred. Pro forma results have been prepared by adjusting the Company's historical results to include Simmons' results of operations adjusted for the following changes: amortization expense was adjusted to account for the acquisition-date fair value of intangible assets; compensation and benefits expenses were adjusted to reflect such expenses based on the Company’s compensation arrangements and the restricted stock issued as equity consideration; and the income tax effect of applying the Company's statutory tax rates to Simmons’ results of operations. The Company's unaudited pro forma information presented does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would have resulted had the acquisition been completed at the beginning of the applicable period presented, does not contemplate anticipated operational efficiencies of the combined entities, nor does it indicate the results of operations in future periods.
 
 
Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31, 2016
Net revenues
 
$
161,353

Net loss applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
 
(656
)



12

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 4 Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned and Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Sold, but Not Yet Purchased

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
45,160

 
$
6,363

Convertible securities
53,781

 
103,486

Fixed income securities
36,882

 
21,018

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
Taxable securities
66,284

 
63,090

Tax-exempt securities
380,799

 
559,329

Short-term securities
62,163

 
35,175

Mortgage-backed securities
5,492

 
5,638

U.S. government agency securities
342,669

 
205,685

U.S. government securities
521

 
29,970

Derivative contracts
24,542

 
29,217

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
1,018,293

 
1,058,971

 
 
 
 
Less noncontrolling interests (1)

 
(57,700
)
 
$
1,018,293

 
$
1,001,271

 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
81,707

 
$
89,453

Fixed income securities
22,508

 
17,324

U.S. government agency securities
21,790

 
6,723

U.S. government securities
273,030

 
180,650

Derivative contracts
5,504

 
5,207

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
404,539

 
299,357

 
 
 
 
Less noncontrolling interests (2)

 
(631
)
 
$
404,539

 
$
298,726

(1)
Noncontrolling interests attributable to third party ownership in a consolidated municipal bond fund consist of $1.3 million of taxable municipal securities, $55.2 million of tax-exempt municipal securities, and $1.2 million of derivative contracts as of December 31, 2016
(2)
Noncontrolling interests attributable to third party ownership in a consolidated municipal bond fund consist of U.S. government securities as of December 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, financial instruments and other inventory positions owned in the amount of $451.1 million and $594.4 million, respectively, had been pledged as collateral for short-term financings and repurchase agreements.

Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased represent obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price, thereby creating a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. The Company is obligated to acquire the securities sold short at prevailing market prices, which may exceed the amount reflected on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company economically hedges changes in the market value of its financial instruments and other inventory positions owned using inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased, interest rate derivatives, credit default swap index contracts, U.S. treasury bond futures and exchange traded options.


13

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Derivative Contract Financial Instruments

The Company uses interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, credit default swap index contracts, U.S. treasury bond futures and equity option contracts as a means to manage risk in certain inventory positions. The Company also enters into interest rate swaps to facilitate customer transactions. The following describes the Company’s derivatives by the type of transaction or security the instruments are economically hedging.

Customer matched-book derivatives: The Company enters into interest rate derivative contracts in a principal capacity as a dealer to satisfy the financial needs of its customers. The Company simultaneously enters into an interest rate derivative contract with a third party for the same notional amount to hedge the interest rate and credit risk of the initial client interest rate derivative contract. In certain limited instances, the Company has only hedged interest rate risk with a third party, and retains uncollateralized credit risk as described below. The instruments use interest rates based upon either the London Interbank Offer Rate ("LIBOR") index or the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association ("SIFMA") index.

Trading securities derivatives: The Company enters into interest rate derivative contracts and uses U.S. treasury bond futures to hedge interest rate and market value risks associated with its fixed income securities. These instruments use interest rates based upon either the Municipal Market Data ("MMD") index, LIBOR or the SIFMA index. The Company also enters into credit default swap index contracts to hedge credit risk associated with its taxable fixed income securities and option contracts to hedge market value risk associated with its convertible securities.

Derivatives are reported on a net basis by counterparty (i.e., the net payable or receivable for derivative assets and liabilities for a given counterparty) when a legal right of offset exists and on a net basis by cross product when applicable provisions are stated in master netting agreements. Cash collateral received or paid is netted on a counterparty basis, provided a legal right of offset exists. The total absolute notional contract amount, representing the absolute value of the sum of gross long and short derivative contracts, provides an indication of the volume of the Company's derivative activity and does not represent gains and losses. The following table presents the gross fair market value and the total absolute notional contract amount of the Company's outstanding derivative instruments, prior to counterparty netting, by asset or liability position:
 
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Derivative
 
Derivative
 
Notional
 
Derivative
 
Derivative
 
Notional
Derivative Category
 
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)
 
Amount
 
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)
 
Amount
Interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer matched-book
 
$
276,781

 
$
261,052

 
$
3,314,630

 
$
288,955

 
$
272,819

 
$
3,330,207

Trading securities
 
1,633

 
4,011

 
402,650

 
13,952

 
1,707

 
423,550

Credit default swap index
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading securities
 

 

 

 

 
127

 
7,470

 
 
$
278,414

 
$
265,063

 
$
3,717,280

 
$
302,907

 
$
274,653

 
$
3,761,227

(1)
Derivative assets are included within financial instruments and other inventory positions owned on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
(2)
Derivative liabilities are included within financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Company’s derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, therefore, unrealized gains and losses are recorded on the consolidated statements of operations. The gains and losses on the related economically hedged inventory positions are not disclosed below as they are not in qualifying hedging relationships. The following table presents the Company’s unrealized gains/(losses) on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
March 31,
Derivative Category               
 
Operations Category
 
2017
 
2016
Interest rate derivative contract
 
Investment banking
 
$
(292
)
 
$
(1,172
)
Interest rate derivative contract
 
Institutional brokerage
 
(14,738
)
 
1,744

Credit default swap index contract
 
Institutional brokerage
 
255

 
389

Futures and equity option derivative contracts
 
Institutional brokerage
 

 
29

 
 
 
 
$
(14,775
)
 
$
990


14

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Credit risk associated with the Company’s derivatives is the risk that a derivative counterparty will not perform in accordance with the terms of the applicable derivative contract. Credit exposure associated with the Company’s derivatives is driven by uncollateralized market movements in the fair value of the contracts with counterparties and is monitored regularly by the Company’s financial risk committee. The Company considers counterparty credit risk in determining derivative contract fair value. The majority of the Company’s derivative contracts are substantially collateralized by its counterparties, who are major financial institutions. The Company has a limited number of counterparties who are not required to post collateral. Based on market movements, the uncollateralized amounts representing the fair value of the derivative contract can become material, exposing the Company to the credit risk of these counterparties. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had $22.1 million of uncollateralized credit exposure with these counterparties (notional contract amount of $183.1 million), including $15.1 million of uncollateralized credit exposure with one counterparty.

Note 5 Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Based on the nature of the Company’s business and its role as a "dealer" in the securities industry or as a manager of alternative asset management funds, the fair values of its financial instruments are determined internally. The Company’s processes are designed to ensure that the fair values used for financial reporting are based on observable inputs wherever possible. In the event that observable inputs are not available, unobservable inputs are developed based on an evaluation of all relevant empirical market data, including prices evidenced by market transactions, interest rates, credit spreads, volatilities and correlations and other security-specific information. Valuation adjustments related to illiquidity or counterparty credit risk are also considered. In estimating fair value, the Company may utilize information provided by third party pricing vendors to corroborate internally-developed fair value estimates.

The Company employs specific control processes to determine the reasonableness of the fair value of its financial instruments. The Company’s processes are designed to ensure that the internally-estimated fair values are accurately recorded and that the data inputs and the valuation techniques used are appropriate, consistently applied, and that the assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the objective of determining fair value. Individuals outside of the trading departments perform independent pricing verification reviews as of each reporting date. The Company has established parameters which set forth when the fair value of securities are independently verified. The selection parameters are generally based upon the type of security, the level of estimation risk of a security, the materiality of the security to the Company’s financial statements, changes in fair value from period to period, and other specific facts and circumstances of the Company’s securities portfolio. In evaluating the initial internally-estimated fair values made by the Company’s traders, the nature and complexity of securities involved (e.g., term, coupon, collateral, and other key drivers of value), level of market activity for securities, and availability of market data are considered. The independent price verification procedures include, but are not limited to, analysis of trade data (both internal and external where available), corroboration to the valuation of positions with similar characteristics, risks and components, or comparison to an alternative pricing source, such as a discounted cash flow model. The Company’s valuation committee, comprised of members of senior management and risk management, provides oversight and overall responsibility for the internal control processes and procedures related to fair value measurements.

The following is a description of the valuation techniques used to measure fair value.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Actively traded money market funds are measured at their net asset value and classified as Level I.

Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned

The Company records financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial condition with unrealized gains and losses reflected on the consolidated statements of operations.


15

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Equity securities – Exchange traded equity securities are valued based on quoted prices from the exchange for identical assets or liabilities as of the period-end date. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized as Level I. Non-exchange traded equity securities (principally hybrid preferred securities) are measured primarily using broker quotations, prices observed for recently executed market transactions and internally-developed fair value estimates based on observable inputs and are categorized within Level II of the fair value hierarchy.

Convertible securities – Convertible securities are valued based on observable trades, when available. Accordingly, these convertible securities are categorized as Level II.

Corporate fixed income securities – Fixed income securities include corporate bonds which are valued based on recently executed market transactions of comparable size, internally-developed fair value estimates based on observable inputs, or broker quotations. Accordingly, these corporate bonds are categorized as Level II.

Taxable municipal securities – Taxable municipal securities are valued using recently executed observable trades or market price quotations and therefore are generally categorized as Level II. Certain illiquid taxable municipal securities are valued using market data for comparable securities (maturity and sector) and management judgment to infer an appropriate current yield or other model-based valuation techniques deemed appropriate by management based on the specific nature of the individual security and are therefore categorized as Level III.

Tax-exempt municipal securities – Tax-exempt municipal securities are valued using recently executed observable trades or market price quotations and therefore are generally categorized as Level II. Certain illiquid tax-exempt municipal securities are valued using market data for comparable securities (maturity and sector) and management judgment to infer an appropriate current yield or other model-based valuation techniques deemed appropriate by management based on the specific nature of the individual security and are therefore categorized as Level III.

Short-term municipal securities – Short-term municipal securities include auction rate securities, variable rate demand notes, and other short-term municipal securities. Variable rate demand notes and other short-term municipal securities are valued using recently executed observable trades or market price quotations and therefore are generally categorized as Level II. Auction rate securities with limited liquidity are categorized as Level III and are valued using discounted cash flow models with unobservable inputs such as the Company’s expected recovery rate on the securities.

Mortgage-backed securities – Mortgage-backed securities are valued using observable trades, when available. Certain mortgage-backed securities are valued using models where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. These mortgage-backed securities are categorized as Level II. Other mortgage-backed securities, which are principally collateralized by residential mortgages, have experienced low volumes of executed transactions resulting in less observable transaction data. Certain mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages are valued using cash flow models that utilize unobservable inputs including credit default rates, prepayment rates, loss severity and valuation yields. As judgment is used to determine the range of these inputs, these mortgage-backed securities are categorized as Level III.

U.S. government agency securities – U.S. government agency securities include agency debt bonds and mortgage bonds. Agency debt bonds are valued by using either direct price quotes or price quotes for comparable bond securities and are categorized as Level II. Mortgage bonds include bonds secured by mortgages, mortgage pass-through securities, agency collateralized mortgage-obligation ("CMO") securities and agency interest-only securities. Mortgage pass-through securities, CMO securities and interest-only securities are valued using recently executed observable trades or other observable inputs, such as prepayment speeds and therefore are generally categorized as Level II. Mortgage bonds are valued using observable market inputs, such as market yields ranging from 187-573 basis points ("bps") on spreads over U.S. treasury securities, or models based upon prepayment expectations ranging from 0%-21% conditional prepayment rate ("CPR"). These securities are categorized as Level II.

U.S. government securities – U.S. government securities include highly liquid U.S. treasury securities which are generally valued using quoted market prices and therefore categorized as Level I. The Company does not transact in securities of countries other than the U.S. government.


16

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Derivatives – Derivative contracts include interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, credit default swap index contracts, U.S. treasury bond futures and equity option contracts. These instruments derive their value from underlying assets, reference rates, indices or a combination of these factors. The Company's equity option derivative contracts are valued based on quoted prices from the exchange for identical assets or liabilities as of the period-end date. To the extent these contracts are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized as Level I. The Company’s credit default swap index contracts are valued using market price quotations and are classified as Level II. The majority of the Company’s interest rate derivative contracts, including both interest rate swaps and interest rate locks, are valued using market standard pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows. The valuation models used do not involve material subjectivity as the methodologies do not entail significant judgment and the pricing inputs are market observable, including contractual terms, yield curves and measures of volatility. These instruments are classified as Level II within the fair value hierarchy. Certain interest rate locks transact in less active markets and were valued using valuation models that included the previously mentioned observable inputs and certain unobservable inputs that required significant judgment, such as the premium over the MMD curve. These instruments are classified as Level III.

Investments

The Company’s investments valued at fair value include equity investments in private companies and partnerships, investments in registered mutual funds, warrants of public and private companies and private company debt. Investments in registered mutual funds are valued based on quoted prices on active markets and classified as Level I. Company-owned warrants, which have a cashless exercise option, are valued based upon the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and certain unobservable inputs. The Company applies a liquidity discount to the value of its warrants in public and private companies. For warrants in private companies, valuation adjustments, based upon management’s judgment, are made to account for differences between the measured security and the stock volatility factors of comparable companies. Company-owned warrants are reported as Level III assets. Investments in private companies are valued based on an assessment of each underlying security, considering rounds of financing, third party transactions and market-based information, including comparable company transactions, trading multiples (e.g., multiples of revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")) and changes in market outlook, among other factors. These securities are generally categorized as Level III.

Fair Value Option – The fair value option permits the irrevocable fair value option election on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. The fair value option was elected for certain merchant banking and other investments at inception to reflect economic events in earnings on a timely basis. Merchant banking and other equity investments of $13.1 million and $19.7 million, included within investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition, are accounted for at fair value and are classified as Level III assets at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The realized and unrealized net gains from fair value changes included in earnings as a result of electing to apply the fair value option to certain financial assets were $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


17

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s Level III financial instruments as of March 31, 2017:
 
Valuation
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range      
 
Average
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tax-exempt securities
Discounted cash flow
 
Expected recovery rate (% of par) (2)
 
5 - 60%
 
19.4%
Short-term securities
Discounted cash flow
 
Expected recovery rate (% of par) (2)
 
66 - 94%
 
91.0%
Mortgage-backed securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateralized by residential mortgages
Discounted cash flow
 
Credit default rates (3)
 
0 - 6%
 
0.9%
 
 
 
Prepayment rates (4)
 
1 - 35%
 
17.4%
 
 
 
Loss severity (3)
 
0 - 100%
 
21.6%
 
 
 
Valuation yields (3)
 
0 - 7%
 
4.8%
Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate locks
Discounted cash flow
 
Premium over the MMD curve (1)
 
2 - 5 bps
 
3.4 bps
Investments at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities in private companies
Market approach
 
Revenue multiple (2)
 
2 - 5 times
 
4.1 times
 
 
 
EBITDA multiple (2)
 
10 - 15 times
 
12.2 times
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate locks
Discounted cash flow
 
Premium over the MMD curve (1)
 
1 - 49 bps
 
13.3 bps
Sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs:
(1)
Significant increase/(decrease) in the unobservable input in isolation would result in a significantly lower/(higher) fair value measurement.
(2)
Significant increase/(decrease) in the unobservable input in isolation would result in a significantly higher/(lower) fair value measurement.
(3)
Significant changes in any of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly different fair value. Generally, a change in the assumption used for credit default rates is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally inverse change in the assumption for valuation yields.
(4)
The potential impact of changes in prepayment rates on fair value is dependent on other security-specific factors, such as the par value and structure. Changes in the prepayment rates may result in directionally similar or directionally inverse changes in fair value depending on whether the security trades at a premium or discount to the par value.

18

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s financial instruments by pricing observability levels defined in FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurement" ("ASC 820") as of March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Counterparty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
524

 
$
44,636

 
$

 
$

 
$
45,160

Convertible securities

 
53,781

 

 

 
53,781

Fixed income securities

 
36,882

 

 

 
36,882

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities

 
66,284

 

 

 
66,284

Tax-exempt securities

 
379,682

 
1,117

 

 
380,799

Short-term securities

 
61,419

 
744

 

 
62,163

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 
5,492

 

 
5,492

U.S. government agency securities

 
342,669

 

 

 
342,669

U.S. government securities
521

 

 

 

 
521

Derivative contracts

 
276,781

 
1,633

 
(253,872
)
 
24,542

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
1,045

 
1,262,134

 
8,986

 
(253,872
)
 
1,018,293

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
1,058

 

 

 

 
1,058

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
37,087

 

 
110,693

(2)

 
147,780

Total assets
$
39,190

 
$
1,262,134

 
$
119,679

 
$
(253,872
)
 
$
1,167,131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
80,795

 
$
912

 
$

 
$

 
$
81,707

Fixed income securities

 
22,508

 

 

 
22,508

U.S. government agency securities

 
21,790

 

 

 
21,790

U.S. government securities
273,030

 

 

 

 
273,030

Derivative contracts

 
261,157

 
3,906

 
(259,559
)
 
5,504

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
353,825

 
$
306,367

 
$
3,906

 
$
(259,559
)
 
$
404,539

(1)
Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting on a counterparty basis. The Company had no securities posted as collateral to its counterparties.
(2)
Noncontrolling interests of $40.2 million are attributable to third party ownership in consolidated merchant banking and senior living funds.


19

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s financial instruments by pricing observability levels defined in ASC 820 as of December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Counterparty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
82

 
$
6,281

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,363

Convertible securities

 
103,486

 

 

 
103,486

Fixed income securities

 
21,018

 

 

 
21,018

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities

 
60,404

 
2,686

 

 
63,090

Tax-exempt securities

 
558,252

 
1,077

 

 
559,329

Short-term securities

 
34,431

 
744

 

 
35,175

Mortgage-backed securities

 
273

 
5,365

 

 
5,638

U.S. government agency securities

 
205,685

 

 

 
205,685

U.S. government securities
29,970

 

 

 

 
29,970

Derivative contracts

 
288,955

 
13,952

 
(273,690
)
 
29,217

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
30,052

 
1,278,785

 
23,824

 
(273,690
)
 
1,058,971

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
768

 

 

 

 
768

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
32,783

 

 
123,319

(2)

 
156,102

Total assets
$
63,603

 
$
1,278,785

 
$
147,143

 
$
(273,690
)
 
$
1,215,841

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
89,453

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
89,453

Fixed income securities

 
17,324

 

 

 
17,324

U.S. government agency securities

 
6,723

 

 

 
6,723

U.S. government securities
180,650

 

 

 

 
180,650

Derivative contracts

 
273,166

 
1,487

 
(269,446
)
 
5,207

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
270,103

 
$
297,213

 
$
1,487

 
$
(269,446
)
 
$
299,357

(1)
Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting on a counterparty basis. The Company had no securities posted as collateral to its counterparties.
(2)
Noncontrolling interests of $45.1 million are attributable to third party ownership in consolidated merchant banking and senior living funds.

The Company’s Level III assets were $119.7 million and $147.1 million, or 10.3 percent and 12.1 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The value of transfers between levels are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period. There were no significant transfers between Level I, Level II or Level III for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
 

20

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following tables summarize the changes in fair value associated with Level III financial instruments held at the beginning or end of the periods presented:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(losses) for assets/
 
Balance at
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized
 
Unrealized
 
Balance at
 
liabilities held at
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
gains/
 
gains/
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2016
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
in
 
out
 
(losses) (1)
 
(losses) (1)
 
2017
 
2017 (1)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities
$
2,686

 
$

 
$
(2,703
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
716

 
$
(699
)
 
$

 
$

Tax-exempt securities
1,077

 

 

 

 

 

 
40

 
1,117

 
40

Short-term securities
744

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
744

 

Mortgage-backed securities
5,365

 
996

 
(790
)
 

 

 
314

 
(393
)
 
5,492

 
(71
)
Derivative contracts
13,952

 
240

 
(10,885
)
 

 

 
10,645

 
(12,319
)
 
1,633

 
(347
)
Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
23,824

 
1,236

 
(14,378
)
 

 

 
11,675

 
(13,371
)
 
8,986

 
(378
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
123,319

 
6,587

 
(24,469
)
 

 

 
8,656

 
(3,400
)
 
110,693

 
6,493

Total assets
$
147,143

 
$
7,823

 
$
(38,847
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
20,331

 
$
(16,771
)
 
$
119,679

 
$
6,115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts
$
1,487

 
$
(719
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
719

 
$
2,419

 
$
3,906

 
$
3,061

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
1,487

 
$
(719
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
719

 
$
2,419

 
$
3,906

 
$
3,061

(1)
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to financial instruments, with the exception of customer matched-book derivatives, are reported in institutional brokerage on the consolidated statements of operations. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to customer matched-book derivatives are reported in investment banking. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to investments are reported in investment banking revenues or investment income on the consolidated statements of operations.

21

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(losses) for assets/
 
Balance at
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized
 
Unrealized
 
Balance at
 
liabilities held at
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
gains/
 
gains/
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2015
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
in
 
out
 
(losses) (1)
 
(losses) (1)
 
2016
 
2016 (1)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities
$
5,816

 
$

 
$
(611
)
 
$

 
$
(5,216
)
 
$
11

 
$

 
$

 
$

Tax-exempt securities
1,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
1,177

 

Short-term securities
720

 

 

 

 

 

 
28

 
748

 
28

Mortgage-backed securities
121,124

 
26,519

 
(27,213
)
 

 

 
1,067

 
(3,606
)
 
117,891

 
(730
)
Derivative contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 
5

 
5

 
5

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
128,837

 
26,519

 
(27,824
)
 

 
(5,216
)
 
1,078

 
(3,573
)
 
119,821

 
(697
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
109,444

 
14,131

 

 

 
(9,088
)
 

 
2,354

 
116,841

 
2,354

Total assets
$
238,281

 
$
40,650

 
$
(27,824
)
 
$

 
$
(14,304
)
 
$
1,078

 
$
(1,219
)
 
$
236,662

 
$
1,657

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts
$
7,148

 
$

 
$
(9,882
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
9,882

 
$
(1,740
)
 
$
5,408

 
$
4,534

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
7,148

 
$

 
$
(9,882
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
9,882

 
$
(1,740
)
 
$
5,408

 
$
4,534

(1)
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to financial instruments, with the exception of customer matched-book derivatives, are reported in institutional brokerage on the consolidated statements of operations. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to customer matched-book derivatives are reported in investment banking. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to investments are reported in investment banking revenues or investment income on the consolidated statements of operations.

The carrying values of the Company’s cash, securities either purchased or sold under agreements to resell, receivables and payables either from or to customers and brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and short-term financings approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature.


22

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 6 Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs")

The Company has investments in and/or acts as the managing partner of various partnerships, limited liability companies, and registered mutual funds. These entities were established for the purpose of investing in securities of public or private companies, or municipal debt obligations, or providing financing to senior living facilities, and were initially financed through the capital commitments or seed investments of the members.

VIEs are entities in which equity investors lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities. The determination as to whether an entity is a VIE is based on the structure and nature of each entity. The Company also considers other characteristics such as the power through voting rights or similar rights to direct the activities of an entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and how the entity is financed.

The Company is required to consolidate all VIEs for which it is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The determination as to whether the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary is based on whether the Company has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Consolidated VIEs

The Company’s consolidated VIEs at March 31, 2017 include certain alternative asset management funds in which the Company has an investment and, as the managing partner, is deemed to have both the power to direct the most significant activities of the funds and the right to receive benefits (or the obligation to absorb losses) that could potentially be significant to these funds.

The following table presents information about the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs which are consolidated by the Company and included on the consolidated statements of financial condition at March 31, 2017. The assets can only be used to settle the liabilities of the respective VIE, and the creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. The assets and liabilities are presented prior to consolidation, and thus a portion of these assets and liabilities are eliminated in consolidation.

 
 
Alternative Asset
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Management Funds
Assets:
 
 
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
 
$
59,509

Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and pledged as collateral
 
194,621

Investments
 
94,082

Other assets
 
6,584

Total assets
 
$
354,796

 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
Short-term financing
 
$
101,281

Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
 
106,751

Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
 
20,051

Other liabilities and accrued expenses
 
8,785

Total liabilities
 
$
236,868


The Company has investments in a grantor trust which was established as part of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the grantor trust. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the grantor trust are consolidated by the Company on the consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 16 for additional information on the nonqualified deferred compensation plan.

23

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs and accordingly does not consolidate them. These VIEs had net assets approximating $0.7 billion and $0.8 billion at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company’s exposure to loss from these VIEs is $6.6 million, which is the carrying value of its capital contributions recorded in investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition at March 31, 2017. The Company had no liabilities related to these VIEs at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Furthermore, the Company has not provided financial or other support to these VIEs that it was not previously contractually required to provide as of March 31, 2017.

Note 7 Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Receivable arising from unsettled securities transactions
$
59,509

 
$
132,724

Deposits paid for securities borrowed
38,096

 
27,573

Receivable from clearing organizations
25,600

 
3,293

Deposits with clearing organizations
48,636

 
35,713

Securities failed to deliver
7,494

 
975

Other
14,951

 
12,452

Total receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
$
194,286

 
$
212,730


 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Payable arising from unsettled securities transactions
$
201,114

 
$
13,948

Payable to clearing organizations
25

 
15,893

Securities failed to receive
1,214

 
3,043

Other
1,710

 
7,958

Total payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
$
204,063

 
$
40,842


Deposits paid for securities borrowed approximate the market value of the securities. Securities failed to deliver and receive represent the contract value of securities that have not been delivered or received by the Company on settlement date.

Note 8 Collateralized Securities Transactions

The Company’s financing and customer securities activities involve the Company using securities as collateral. In the event that the counterparty does not meet its contractual obligation to return securities used as collateral (e.g., pursuant to the terms of a repurchase agreement), or customers do not deposit additional securities or cash for margin when required, the Company may be exposed to the risk of reacquiring the securities or selling the securities at unfavorable market prices in order to satisfy its obligations to its customers or counterparties. The Company seeks to control this risk by monitoring the market value of securities pledged or used as collateral on a daily basis and requiring adjustments in the event of excess market exposure. The Company also uses unaffiliated third party custodians to administer the underlying collateral for the majority of its short-term financing to mitigate risk.

In a reverse repurchase agreement the Company purchases financial instruments from a seller, typically in exchange for cash, and agrees to resell the same or substantially the same financial instruments to the seller at a stated price plus accrued interest in the future. In a repurchase agreement, the Company sells financial instruments to a buyer, typically for cash, and agrees to repurchase the same or substantially the same financial instruments from the buyer at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date. Even though repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements involve the legal transfer of ownership of financial instruments, they are accounted for as financing arrangements because they require the financial instruments to be repurchased or resold at maturity of the agreement.

In a securities borrowed transaction, the Company borrows securities from a counterparty in exchange for cash. When the Company returns the securities, the counterparty returns the cash. Interest is generally paid periodically over the life of the transaction.

24

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

In the normal course of business, the Company obtains securities purchased under agreements to resell, securities borrowed and margin agreements on terms that permit it to repledge or resell the securities to others, typically pursuant to repurchase agreements. The Company obtained securities with a fair value of approximately $273.6 million and $192.2 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, of which $260.1 million and $185.2 million, respectively, had been pledged or otherwise transferred to satisfy its commitments under financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased.

The following is a summary of the Company’s securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("Repurchase Liabilities"), the fair market value of collateral pledged and the interest rate charged by the Company’s counterparty, which is based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin, as of March 31, 2017:
 
Repurchase
 
Fair Market
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Liabilities
 
Value
 
Interest Rate
On demand maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government agency securities
$
5,986

 
$
6,249

 
1.30 - 1.40%
U.S. government securities
10,457

 
10,141

 
0.50%
 
$
16,443

 
$
16,390

 
 

Reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements and securities borrowed and loaned are reported on a net basis by counterparty when a legal right of offset exists. The following table provides information about the offsetting of these instruments and related collateral amounts at March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
Gross Amount
 
Net Amounts
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offset on the
 
Presented on the
 
on the Consolidated Statements
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Consolidated
 
Consolidated
 
of Financial Condition
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Recognized
 
 Statements of
 
 Statements of
 
Financial
 
Collateral
 
Net
Description
 
Assets
 
Financial Condition
 
Financial Condition
 
 Instruments
 
Received (1)
 
Amount
Reverse repurchase agreements
 
$
232,997

 
$
(5,986
)
 
$
227,011

 
$

 
$
(227,011
)
 
$

Securities borrowed (3)
 
38,096

 

 
38,096

 

 
(38,096
)
 

 
 
 
 
Gross Amount
 
Net Amount
 
Gross Amount Not Offset
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offset on the
 
Presented on the
 
on the Consolidated Statements
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Consolidated
 
Consolidated
 
of Financial Condition
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Recognized
 
 Statements of
 
 Statements of
 
Financial
 
Collateral
 
Net
Description
 
Liabilities
 
Financial Condition
 
Financial Condition
 
 Instruments
 
Pledged (2)
 
Amount
Repurchase agreements
 
$
16,443

 
$
(5,986
)
 
$
10,457

 
$

 
$
(10,457
)
 
$

(1)
Includes securities received by the Company from the counterparty. These securities are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless there is an event of default.
(2)
Includes the fair value of securities pledged by the Company to the counterparty. These securities are included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless the Company defaults.
(3)
Deposits paid for securities borrowed are included in receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 7 for additional information on receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations.

25

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table provides information about the offsetting of these instruments and related collateral amounts at December 31, 2016:
 
 
 
 
Gross Amount
 
Net Amounts
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offset on the
 
Presented on the
 
on the Consolidated Statements
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Consolidated
 
Consolidated
 
of Financial Condition
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Recognized
 
 Statements of
 
 Statements of
 
Financial
 
Collateral
 
Net
Description
 
Assets
 
Financial Condition
 
Financial Condition
 
 Instruments
 
Received (1)
 
Amount
Reverse repurchase agreements
 
$
161,574

 
$
(1,877
)
 
$
159,697

 
$

 
$
(159,697
)
 
$

Securities borrowed (3)
 
27,573

 

 
27,573

 

 
(27,573
)
 

 
 
 
 
Gross Amount
 
Net Amount
 
Gross Amount Not Offset
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offset on the
 
Presented on the
 
on the Consolidated Statements
 
 
 
 
Gross
 
Consolidated
 
Consolidated
 
of Financial Condition
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Recognized
 
 Statements of
 
 Statements of
 
Financial
 
Collateral
 
Net
Description
 
Liabilities
 
Financial Condition
 
Financial Condition
 
 Instruments
 
Pledged (2)
 
Amount
Repurchase agreements
 
$
16,923

 
$
(1,877
)
 
$
15,046

 
$

 
$
(15,046
)
 
$

(1)
Includes securities received by the Company from the counterparty. These securities are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless there is an event of default.
(2)
Includes the fair value of securities pledged by the Company to the counterparty. These securities are included on the consolidated statements of financial condition unless the Company defaults.
(3)
Deposits paid for securities borrowed are included in receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 7 for additional information on receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations.

The Company had no outstanding securities lending arrangements as of March 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016. See Note 4 for information related to the Company's offsetting of derivative contracts. 

Note 9 Investments

The Company’s investments include investments in private companies and partnerships, registered mutual funds, warrants of public and private companies and private company debt.
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Investments at fair value
$
147,780

 
$
156,102

Investments at cost
2,205

 
2,755

Investments accounted for under the equity method
9,690

 
9,200

Total investments
159,675

 
168,057

 
 
 
 
Less investments attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)
(40,222
)
 
(45,123
)
 
$
119,453

 
$
122,934

(1)
Noncontrolling interests are attributable to third party ownership in consolidated merchant banking and senior living funds.

At March 31, 2017, investments carried on a cost basis had an estimated fair market value of $3.8 million. Because valuation estimates were based upon management’s judgment, investments carried at cost would be categorized as Level III assets in the fair value hierarchy, if they were carried at fair value.

Investments accounted for under the equity method include general and limited partnership interests. The carrying value of these investments is based on the investment vehicle’s net asset value. The net assets of investment partnerships consist of investments in both marketable and non-marketable securities. The underlying investments held by such partnerships are valued based on the estimated fair value determined by management in the Company's capacity as general partner or investor and, in the case of investments in unaffiliated investment partnerships, are based on financial statements prepared by the unaffiliated general partners.

26

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 10 Other Assets

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Net deferred income tax assets
$
83,917

 
$
97,833

Income tax receivables
20,712

 

Fee receivables
17,107

 
22,840

Accrued interest receivables
7,669

 
9,259

Forgivable loans, net
10,707

 
9,307

Prepaid expenses
5,976

 
6,363

Secured loan receivables
2,975

 
6,236

Other
14,408

 
13,124

Total other assets
$
163,471

 
$
164,962


Note 11 Short-Term Financing

 
Outstanding Balance            
 
Weighted Average Interest Rate
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Commercial paper (secured)
$
124,865

 
$
147,021

 
2.49
%
 
2.12
%
Prime broker arrangements
101,281

 
271,811

 
1.72
%
 
1.49
%
Bank lines (secured)
71,000

 

 
1.82
%
 
N/A

Total short-term financing
$
297,146

 
$
418,832

 
 
 
 

The Company issues secured commercial paper to fund a portion of its securities inventory. The commercial paper notes ("CP Notes") can be issued with maturities of 27 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are issued under three separate programs, CP Series A, CP Series II A and CP Series III A, and are secured by different inventory classes. As of March 31, 2017, the weighted average maturity of CP Series A, CP Series II A and CP Series III A was 25 days, 9 days and 15 days, respectively. The CP Notes are interest bearing or sold at a discount to par with an interest rate based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin. CP Series III A includes a covenant that requires the Company’s U.S. broker dealer subsidiary to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

The Company has established arrangements to obtain financing with prime brokers related to its municipal bond fund and convertible securities. Financing under these arrangements is primarily secured by municipal securities, and collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under the arrangements. Prime broker financing activities are recorded net of receivables from trading activity. The funding is at the discretion of the prime brokers subject to a notice period.

The Company has committed short-term bank line financing available on a secured basis and uncommitted short-term bank line financing available on both a secured and unsecured basis. The Company uses these credit facilities in the ordinary course of business to fund a portion of its daily operations and the amount borrowed under these credit facilities varies daily based on the Company’s funding needs.

The Company’s committed short-term bank line financing at March 31, 2017 consisted of a one-year $200 million committed revolving credit facility with U.S. Bank, N.A., which was renewed in December 2016. Advances under this facility are secured by certain marketable securities. The facility includes a covenant that requires the Company’s U.S. broker dealer subsidiary to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million, and the unpaid principal amount of all advances under this facility will be due on December 16, 2017. The Company pays a nonrefundable commitment fee on the unused portion of the facility on a quarterly basis. At March 31, 2017, the Company had $46.0 million in advances against this line of credit.

The Company’s uncommitted secured lines at March 31, 2017 totaled $185 million with two banks and are dependent on having appropriate collateral, as determined by the bank agreement, to secure an advance under the line. The availability of the Company’s uncommitted lines are subject to approval by the individual banks each time an advance is requested and may be denied. At March 31, 2017, the Company had $25.0 million in advances against these lines of credit.

27

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 12 Senior Notes

The Company has entered into variable and fixed rate senior notes with certain entities advised by Pacific Investment Management Company ("PIMCO"). The following table presents the outstanding balance by note class:

 
Outstanding Balance
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Class A Notes
$
50,000

 
$
50,000

Class C Notes
125,000

 
125,000

Total senior notes
$
175,000

 
$
175,000


On October 8, 2015, the Company entered into a second amended and restated note purchase agreement ("Second Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement") under which the Company issued $125 million of fixed rate Class C Notes. The Class C Notes bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 5.06 percent, payable semi-annually and mature on October 9, 2018. The variable rate Class A Notes bear interest at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.00 percent, adjusted and payable quarterly and mature on May 31, 2017. The unpaid principal amounts are due in full on the respective maturity dates and may not be prepaid by the Company.

The Second Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement includes customary events of default and covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain a minimum consolidated tangible net worth and regulatory net capital, limit the Company's leverage ratio and require the Company to maintain a minimum ratio of operating cash flow to fixed charges. At March 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

The senior notes are recorded at amortized cost. As of March 31, 2017, the carrying value of the variable rate Class A Notes approximated fair value. As of March 31, 2017, the fair value of the fixed rate Class C Notes was approximately $126.2 million.

Note 13 Legal Contingencies

The Company has been named as a defendant in various legal actions, including complaints and litigation and arbitration claims, arising from its business activities. Such actions include claims related to securities brokerage and investment banking activities, and certain class actions that primarily allege violations of securities laws and seek unspecified damages, which could be substantial. Also, the Company is involved from time to time in investigations and proceedings by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations ("SROs") which could result in adverse judgments, settlement, penalties, fines or other relief.

The Company has established reserves for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from pending and potential legal actions, investigations and regulatory proceedings. Reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued at March 31, 2017 are not material. In many cases, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even possible or to estimate the amount or range of any potential loss, particularly where proceedings may be in relatively early stages or where plaintiffs are seeking substantial or indeterminate damages. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can reasonably be estimated.

Given uncertainties regarding the timing, scope, volume and outcome of pending and potential legal actions, investigations and regulatory proceedings and other factors, the amounts of reserves and ranges of reasonably possible losses are difficult to determine and of necessity subject to future revision. Subject to the foregoing, management of the Company believes, based on currently available information, after consultation with outside legal counsel and taking into account its established reserves, that pending legal actions, investigations and regulatory proceedings will be resolved with no material adverse effect on the consolidated statements of financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. However, if during any period a potential adverse contingency should become probable or resolved for an amount in excess of the established reserves, the results of operations and cash flows in that period and the financial condition as of the end of that period could be materially adversely affected. In addition, there can be no assurance that material losses will not be incurred from claims that have not yet been brought to the Company’s attention or are not yet determined to be reasonably possible.


28

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 14 Restructuring

The Company incurred the following pre-tax restructuring charges within the Capital Markets segment primarily in conjunction with the Simmons acquisition discussed in Note 3.
 
Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, 2016
Severance, benefits and outplacement costs
$
5,401

Contract termination costs
604

Total pre-tax restructuring charges
$
6,005


Note 15 Shareholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases

Effective August 14, 2015, the Company's board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million in common shares through September 30, 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company repurchased 27,530 shares at an average price of $72.63 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $2.0 million related to this authorization. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 351,791 shares at an average price of $35.14 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $12.4 million related to this authorization. The Company has $69.8 million remaining under this authorization.

The Company also purchases shares of common stock from restricted stock award recipients upon the award vesting as recipients sell shares to meet their employment tax obligations. The Company purchased 230,097 shares and 169,282 shares, or $17.8 million and $7.1 million of the Company’s common stock for this purpose during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Issuance of Shares

The Company issues common shares out of treasury stock as a result of employee restricted share vesting and exercise transactions as discussed in Note 16. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company issued 650,155 shares and 476,062 shares, respectively, related to these obligations.

Dividends

Beginning in 2017, the Company initiated the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to holders of its common stock. The Company's board of directors determines the declaration and payment of dividends on a quarterly basis, and is free to change the Company's dividend policy at any time.

On February 2, 2017, the board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.3125 per share that was paid on March 13, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 20, 2017.

On April 27, 2017, the board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.3125 per share to be paid on June 15, 2017, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 26, 2017.

Noncontrolling Interests

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Piper Jaffray Companies, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Noncontrolling interests represent equity interests in consolidated entities that are not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to Piper Jaffray Companies. Noncontrolling interests include the minority equity holders’ proportionate share of the equity in a merchant banking fund of $35.8 million and a senior living fund aggregating $8.0 million as of March 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, noncontrolling interests included the minority equity holders’ proportionate share of the equity in a merchant banking fund of $35.0 million, a municipal bond fund with employee investors of $9.2 million and a senior living fund aggregating $12.8 million.


29

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Ownership interests in entities held by parties other than the Company’s common shareholders are presented as noncontrolling interests within shareholders’ equity, separate from the Company’s own equity. Revenues, expenses and net income or loss are reported on the consolidated statements of operations on a consolidated basis, which includes amounts attributable to both the Company’s common shareholders and noncontrolling interests. Net income or loss is then allocated between the Company and noncontrolling interests based upon their relative ownership interests. Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from consolidated net income to determine net income applicable to the Company. There was no other comprehensive income or loss attributed to noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The following table presents the changes in shareholders' equity for the three months ended March 31, 2017:
 
Common
 
Common
 
 
 
Total
 
Shares
 
Shareholders’
 
Noncontrolling
 
Shareholders’
(Amounts in thousands, except share amounts)
Outstanding
 
Equity
 
Interests
 
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
12,391,970

 
$
759,250

 
$
57,016

 
$
816,266

Net income

 
20,275

 
2,929

 
23,204

Dividends

 
(4,757
)
 

 
(4,757
)
Amortization/issuance of restricted stock (1)

 
21,233

 

 
21,233

Issuance of treasury shares for options exercised
26,149

 
1,703

 

 
1,703

Issuance of treasury shares for restricted stock vestings
624,006

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock through share repurchase program
(27,530
)
 
(1,999
)
 

 
(1,999
)
Repurchase of common stock for employee tax withholding
(230,097
)
 
(17,789
)
 

 
(17,789
)
Shares reserved/issued for director compensation
367

 
26

 

 
26

Other comprehensive income

 
223

 

 
223

Fund capital distributions, net

 

 
(16,154
)
 
(16,154
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
12,784,865

 
$
778,165

 
$
43,791

 
$
821,956

(1)
Includes amortization of restricted stock as part of deal consideration for the acquisition of Simmons. See Note 3 for further discussion.


30

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 16 Compensation Plans

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The Company maintains two stock-based compensation plans, the Piper Jaffray Companies Amended and Restated 2003 Annual and Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan") and the 2016 Employment Inducement Award Plan (the "Inducement Plan"). The Company’s equity awards are recognized on the consolidated statements of operations at grant date fair value over the service period of the award less forfeitures.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s outstanding equity awards (in shares or units) as of March 31, 2017:
Incentive Plan
 
Restricted Stock
 
Annual grants
926,894

Sign-on grants
276,193

 
1,203,087

Inducement Plan
 
Restricted Stock
269,491

 
 
Total restricted stock related to compensation
1,472,578

 
 
Simmons Deal Consideration (1)
855,929

 
 
Total restricted stock outstanding
2,328,507

 
 
Incentive Plan
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Leadership grants
410,441

(1)
The Company issued restricted stock with service conditions as part of deal consideration for the acquisition of Simmons. See Note 3 for further discussion.

Incentive Plan

The Incentive Plan permits the grant of equity awards, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and non-qualified stock options, to the Company’s employees and directors for up to 8.2 million shares of common stock (0.9 million shares remained available for future issuance under the Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2017). The Company believes that such awards help align the interests of employees and directors with those of shareholders and serve as an employee retention tool. The Incentive Plan provides for accelerated vesting of awards if there is a severance event, a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Incentive Plan), in the event of a participant’s death, and at the discretion of the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock grants are valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and are amortized over the requisite service period. The Company grants shares of restricted stock to employees as part of year-end compensation ("Annual Grants") and upon initial hiring or as a retention award ("Sign-on Grants").

31

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The Company’s Annual Grants are made each year in February. Annual Grants vest ratably over three years in equal installments. The Annual Grants provide for continued vesting after termination of employment, so long as the employee does not violate certain post-termination restrictions set forth in the award agreement or any agreements entered into upon termination. The Company determined the service inception date precedes the grant date for the Annual Grants, and that the post-termination restrictions do not meet the criteria for an in-substance service condition, as defined by ASC 718. Accordingly, restricted stock granted as part of the Annual Grants is expensed in the one-year period in which those awards are deemed to be earned, which is generally the calendar year preceding the February grant date. For example, the Company recognized compensation expense during fiscal 2016 for its February 2017 Annual Grant. If an equity award related to the Annual Grants is forfeited as a result of violating the post-termination restrictions, the lower of the fair value of the award at grant date or the fair value of the award at the date of forfeiture is recorded within the consolidated statements of operations as a reversal of compensation expense.

Sign-on Grants are used as a recruiting tool for new employees and are issued to current employees as a retention tool. These awards have both cliff and ratable vesting terms, and the employees must fulfill service requirements in exchange for rights to the awards. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis from the grant date over the requisite service period, generally one to five years. Employees forfeit unvested shares upon termination of employment and a reversal of compensation expense is recorded.

Annually, the Company grants stock to its non-employee directors. The stock-based compensation paid to non-employee directors is fully expensed on the grant date and included within outside services expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company grants restricted stock units to its leadership team ("Leadership Grants").

2017 Leadership Grant

Restricted stock units granted in 2017 will vest and convert to shares of common stock at the end of the performance period only if the Company satisfies predetermined performance and/or market conditions over the 36-month performance period from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019. Under the terms of the award, the number of units that will actually vest and convert to shares will be based on the extent to which the Company achieves specified targets during the performance period. The maximum payout leverage under this grant is 150 percent.

Up to 75 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company achieving certain average adjusted return on equity targets, as defined in the terms of the award agreement. The fair value of this portion of the award was based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. If the Company determines that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the 36-month performance period. The probability that the performance condition will be achieved is reevaluated each reporting period with changes in estimated outcomes accounted for using a cumulative effect adjustment to compensation expense. Compensation expense will be recognized only if the performance condition is met. Employees forfeit unvested share units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has determined that the performance condition is probable of achieving 50 percent of the grant award.

Up to 75 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to members of a predetermined peer group. The market condition must be met for the award to vest and compensation cost will be recognized regardless if the market condition is satisfied. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the 36-month requisite service period. Employees forfeit unvested share units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. For this portion of the award, the fair value on the grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:
 
 
Risk-free
 
Expected Stock
Grant Year
 
Interest Rate
 
Price Volatility
2017
 
1.62%
 
35.9%


32

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Because the market condition portion of the award vesting depends on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to a peer group, the valuation modeled the performance of the peer group as well as the correlation between the Company and the peer group. The expected stock price volatility assumption was determined using historical volatility, as correlation coefficients can only be developed through historical volatility. The risk-free interest rate was determined based on the three-year U.S. Treasury bond yield.

Leadership Grants Prior to 2017

Restricted stock units granted prior to 2017 contain market condition criteria and will vest and convert to shares of common stock at the end of each 36-month performance period only if the Company's stock performance satisfies predetermined market conditions over the performance period. Under the terms of the grants, the number of units that will vest and convert to shares will be based on the Company's stock performance achieving specified targets during each performance period. Compensation expense is recognized over each 36-month performance period.

Up to 50 percent of these awards can be earned based on the Company’s total shareholder return relative to members of a predetermined peer group and up to 50 percent of the awards can be earned based on the Company’s total shareholder return. The fair value of the awards on the grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:
 
 
Risk-free
 
Expected Stock
Grant Year
 
Interest Rate
 
Price Volatility
2016
 
0.98%
 
34.9%
2015
 
0.90%
 
29.8%
2014
 
0.82%
 
41.3%

The expected stock price volatility assumptions were determined using historical volatility, as correlation coefficients can only be developed through historical volatility. The risk-free interest rates were determined based on three-year U.S. Treasury bond yields.

Stock Options

The Company previously granted options to purchase Piper Jaffray Companies common stock to employees and non-employee directors in fiscal years 2004 through 2008. Employee and director options were expensed by the Company on a straight-line basis over the required service period, based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. As described above pertaining to the Company’s Annual Grants of restricted shares, stock options granted to employees were expensed in the calendar year preceding the annual February grant date. For example, the Company recognized compensation expense during fiscal 2007 for its February 2008 option grant. The maximum term of the stock options granted to employees and directors was ten years. The Company has not granted stock options since 2008, and all awards have been exercised or expired as of March 31, 2017.

Inducement Plan

The Company established the Inducement Plan in conjunction with the acquisition of Simmons. The Company granted $11.6 million (286,776 shares) in restricted stock under the Inducement Plan on May 15, 2016. These shares cliff vest in three years. Inducement Plan awards are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Employees forfeit unvested Inducement Plan shares upon termination of employment and a reversal of compensation expense is recorded.

Stock-Based Compensation Activity

The Company reduced compensation expense by $0.4 million and recorded compensation expense of $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to employee restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards. Forfeitures were $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The tax benefit related to stock-based compensation totaled $5.9 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


33

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s unvested restricted stock:
 
Unvested
 
Weighted Average
 
Restricted Stock
 
Grant Date
 
(in Shares)
 
Fair Value      
December 31, 2016
2,874,117

 
$
43.12

Granted
203,140

 
81.35

Vested
(623,520
)
 
45.32

Canceled
(125,230
)
 
42.04

March 31, 2017
2,328,507

 
$
45.92


The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s unvested restricted stock units:
 
Unvested
 
Weighted Average
 
Restricted
 
Grant Date
 
Stock Units      
 
Fair Value      
December 31, 2016
374,460

 
$
21.63

Granted
35,981

 
84.10

Vested

 

Canceled

 

March 31, 2017
410,441

 
$
27.11

 
As of March 31, 2017, there was $39.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock and restricted stock units expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s outstanding stock options:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Remaining
 
 
 
Options
 
Average
 
Contractual Term
 
Aggregate
 
Outstanding      
 
Exercise Price     
 
(in Years)
 
Intrinsic Value
December 31, 2016
30,613

 
$
65.86

 
0.3
 
$
203,291

Granted

 

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(26,149
)
 
65.13

 
 
 
 
Canceled

 

 
 
 
 
Expired
(4,464
)
 
70.13

 
 
 
 
March 31, 2017

 
$

 
0.0
 
$


As of March 31, 2017, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options expected to be recognized over future years. The intrinsic value of options exercised was $0.3 million and the resulting tax benefit realized was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. There were no options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2016.


34

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Deferred Compensation Plans

The Company maintains various deferred compensation arrangements for employees.

The nonqualified deferred compensation plan is an unfunded plan which allows certain highly compensated employees, at their election, to defer a percentage of their base salary, commissions and/or cash bonuses. The deferrals vest immediately and are non-forfeitable. The amounts deferred under this plan are held in a grantor trust. The Company invests, as a principal, in investments to economically hedge its obligation under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Investments in the grantor trust, consisting of mutual funds, totaled $28.4 million and $24.4 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and are included in investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The compensation deferred by the employees is expensed in the period earned. The deferred compensation liability was $28.4 million and $24.5 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Changes in the fair value of the investments made by the Company are reported in investment income and changes in the corresponding deferred compensation liability are reflected as compensation and benefits expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

The Piper Jaffray Companies Mutual Fund Restricted Share Investment Plan is a fully funded deferred compensation plan which allows eligible employees to elect to receive a portion of the incentive compensation they would otherwise receive in the form of restricted stock, instead in restricted mutual fund shares ("MFRS Awards") of investment funds. MFRS Awards are awarded to qualifying employees in February of each year, and represent a portion of their compensation for performance in the preceding year similar to the Company's Annual Grants. MFRS Awards vest ratably over three years in equal installments and provide for continued vesting after termination of employment so long as the employee does not violate certain post-termination restrictions set forth in the award agreement or any agreement entered into upon termination. Forfeitures are recorded as a reduction of compensation and benefits expense within the consolidated statements of operations. MFRS Awards are owned by employee recipients (subject to aforementioned vesting restrictions) and as such are not included on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Company has also granted MFRS Awards to new employees as a recruiting tool. Employees must fulfill service requirements in exchange for rights to the awards. Compensation expense from these awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of two to five years.


35

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 17 Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders represents net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies reduced by the allocation of earnings to participating securities. Losses are not allocated to participating securities. All of the Company’s unvested restricted shares are deemed to be participating securities as they are eligible to share in the profits (e.g., receive dividends) of the Company. The Company’s restricted stock units are not participating securities as they are not eligible to receive dividends, or the dividends are forfeitable until vested. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average outstanding shares to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive stock options and restricted stock units.

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2017
 
2016
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
20,275

 
$
2,437

Earnings allocated to participating securities (1)
(3,447
)
 
(313
)
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders (2)
$
16,828

 
$
2,124

 
 
 
 
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
 
 
 
Average shares used in basic computation
12,594

 
13,160

Stock options
1

 
12

Restricted stock units
327

 

Average shares used in diluted computation
12,922

 
13,172

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.33

 
$
0.16

Diluted
$
1.31

 
$
0.16

(1)
Represents the allocation of earnings to participating securities. Losses are not allocated to participating securities. Participating securities include all of the Company’s unvested restricted shares. The weighted average participating shares outstanding were 2,630,742 and 1,938,759 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(2)
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders for diluted and basic EPS may differ under the two-class method as a result of adding the effect of the assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock units to dilutive shares outstanding, which alters the ratio used to allocate earnings to Piper Jaffray Companies’ common shareholders and participating securities for purposes of calculating diluted and basic EPS.

The anti-dilutive effects from stock options and restricted stock units were immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


36

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 18 Segment Reporting

Basis for Presentation

The Company structures its segments primarily based upon the nature of the financial products and services provided to customers and the Company’s management organization. The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on segment pre-tax operating income or loss and segment pre-tax operating margin. Revenues and expenses directly associated with each respective segment are included in determining their operating results. Other revenues and expenses that are not directly attributable to a particular segment are allocated based upon the Company’s allocation methodologies, including each segment’s respective net revenues, use of shared resources, headcount or other relevant measures. Segment assets are based on those directly associated with each segment, and include an allocation of certain assets based on the most relevant measures applicable, including headcount and other factors. The substantial majority of the Company's net revenues and long-lived assets are located in the U.S.

Reportable segment financial results are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Capital Markets
 
 
 
Investment banking
 
 
 
Financing
 
 
 
Equities
$
23,382

 
$
6,566

Debt
16,408

 
15,972

Advisory services
92,882

 
81,629

Total investment banking
132,672

 
104,167

 
 
 
 
Institutional sales and trading
 
 
 
Equities
20,106

 
19,669

Fixed income
23,240

 
17,054

Total institutional sales and trading
43,346

 
36,723

 
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
1,997

 
965

 
 
 
 
Investment income
10,508

 
2,086

 
 
 
 
Long-term financing expenses
(2,238
)
 
(2,292
)
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
186,285

 
141,649

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
164,060

 
138,855

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
22,225

 
$
2,794

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
11.9
%
 
2.0
%
 
 
 
 
Continued on next page

37

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
Asset Management
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
 
 
 
Management fees
$
14,010

 
$
12,883

Performance fees

 

Total management and performance fees
14,010

 
12,883

 
 
 
 
Investment income/(loss)
234

 
(976
)
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
14,244

 
11,907

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
13,660

 
11,259

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
584

 
$
648

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
4.1
%
 
5.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
200,529

 
$
153,556

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
177,720

 
150,114

 
 
 
 
Pre-tax operating income
$
22,809

 
$
3,442

 
 
 
 
Pre-tax operating margin
11.4
%
 
2.2
%
(1)Operating expenses include intangible asset amortization expense as set forth in the table below:     
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Capital Markets
$
2,544

 
$
1,909

Asset Management
1,278

 
1,387

Total intangible asset amortization expense
$
3,822

 
$
3,296


Reportable segment assets are as follows:
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Capital Markets
$
1,925,170

 
$
1,934,528

Asset Management
187,987

 
190,975

 
$
2,113,157

 
$
2,125,503





38

Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note 19 Net Capital Requirements and Other Regulatory Matters

Piper Jaffray is registered as a securities broker dealer with the SEC and is a member of various SROs and securities exchanges. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") serves as Piper Jaffray’s primary SRO. Piper Jaffray is subject to the uniform net capital rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of FINRA. Piper Jaffray has elected to use the alternative method permitted by the SEC rule, which requires that it maintain minimum net capital of the greater of $1.0 million or 2 percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, as such term is defined in the SEC rule. Under its rules, FINRA may prohibit a member firm from expanding its business or paying dividends if resulting net capital would be less than 5 percent of aggregate debit balances. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated debt, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals by Piper Jaffray are subject to certain notification and other provisions of SEC and FINRA rules.

At March 31, 2017, net capital calculated under the SEC rule was $208.4 million, and exceeded the minimum net capital required under the SEC rule by $207.4 million.

The Company’s committed short-term credit facility and its senior notes include covenants requiring Piper Jaffray to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million. CP Notes issued under CP Series III A include a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

Piper Jaffray Ltd. and SCIL, broker dealer subsidiaries registered in the United Kingdom, are subject to the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, which is subject to the liquid capital requirements of the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rule promulgated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.

Note 20 Income Taxes

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Income tax expense was reduced by a tax benefit of $7.0 million related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price. See Note 2 regarding the adoption of ASU 2016-09.

The Company had income tax expense of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, resulting in an effective tax rate, excluding noncontrolling interests, of 9.5 percent. The effective tax rate was low due to the impact of tax-exempt municipal interest income representing a larger proportion of pre-tax income.



39


ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes and exhibits included elsewhere in this report. Certain statements in this report may be considered forward-looking. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements other than historical information or statements of current condition and may relate to our future plans and objectives and results, and also may include our belief regarding the effect of various legal proceedings, as set forth under "Legal Proceedings" in Part I, Item 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including those factors discussed below under "External Factors Impacting Our Business" as well as the factors identified under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC and under "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at our Web site at www.piperjaffray.com and at the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have included financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments to exclude (1) revenues and expenses related to noncontrolling interests, (2) amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, (3) compensation and non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements and (4) restructuring and acquisition integration costs. These adjustments affect the following financial measures: net revenues, compensation expenses, non-compensation expenses, net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies, earnings per diluted common share, return on average common shareholders' equity, segment net revenues, segment operating expenses, segment pre-tax operating income and segment pre-tax operating margin. Management believes that presenting these results and measures on an adjusted basis in conjunction with the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures provides the most meaningful basis for comparison of our operating results across periods, and enhances the overall understanding of our current financial performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our core operating results. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.


40


Executive Overview

Our business principally consists of providing investment banking, institutional brokerage, asset management and related financial services to corporations, private equity groups, public entities, non-profit entities and institutional investors in the United States and Europe. We operate through two reportable business segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a full description of our business, including our strategic growth initiatives.
    
Financial Highlights
 
 
Three Months Ended
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Mar. 31,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Percent
 
2017
 
2016
 
Inc/(Dec)
U.S. GAAP
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
 
$
200,529

 
$
153,556

 
30.6
 %
Compensation and benefits expenses
 
134,378

 
104,436

 
28.7

Non-compensation expenses
 
43,342

 
45,678

 
(5.1
)
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
 
20,275

 
2,437

 
732.0

Earnings per diluted common share
 
$
1.31

 
$
0.16

 
718.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net revenues
 
$
196,632

 
$
152,207

 
29.2
 %
Adjusted compensation and benefits expenses
 
126,477

 
101,130

 
25.1

Adjusted non-compensation expenses
 
38,466

 
35,009

 
9.9

Adjusted net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
 
27,481

 
10,609

 
159.0

Adjusted earnings per diluted common share
 
$
1.77

 
$
0.70

 
152.9


For the three months ended March 31, 2017

Net revenues increased 30.6 percent from the year-ago period. Strong performances in our advisory services, equity financing and fixed income institutional brokerage businesses drove revenues in the first quarter of 2017.
Compensation and benefits expenses increased 28.7 percent compared with the prior-year period due to higher compensation expenses arising from increased revenues, as well as higher acquisition-related compensation costs.
Non-compensation expenses were down 5.1 percent compared to the year-ago period. In the first quarter of 2016, non-compensation expenses included $6.8 million of restructuring and integration costs primarily related to the acquisition of Simmons & Company International ("Simmons"), which we acquired on February 26, 2016. Incremental expenses related to our acquisition of Simmons, as well as higher outside services expenses, partially offset the lower restructuring costs in the current quarter.
Our first quarter 2017 results include a $7.0 million tax benefit related to restricted stock vesting at values greater than the grant price. The tax benefit increased earnings per diluted common share by $0.45 in the first quarter of 2017.
For the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, our rolling twelve month return on average common shareholders' equity was a negative 0.5 percent, compared with 4.7 percent for the rolling twelve months ended March 31, 2016. On an adjusted basis, we generated a rolling twelve month return on average common shareholders' equity of 11.5 percent(2) for the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, compared with 7.2 percent(2) for the rolling twelve months ended March 31, 2016.


41


(1)
Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to adjusted non-GAAP financial information
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2017
 
2016
 Net revenues:
 
 
 
Net revenues – U.S. GAAP basis
$
200,529

 
$
153,556

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Revenue related to noncontrolling interests
(3,897
)
 
(1,349
)
Adjusted net revenues
$
196,632

 
$
152,207

 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits – U.S. GAAP basis
$
134,378

 
$
104,436

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
(7,901
)
 
(3,306
)
Adjusted compensation and benefits
$
126,477

 
$
101,130

 
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses:
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses – U.S. GAAP basis
$
43,342

 
$
45,678

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses related to noncontrolling interests
(968
)
 
(600
)
Restructuring and integration costs

 
(6,773
)
Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
(3,822
)
 
(3,296
)
Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
(86
)
 

Adjusted non-compensation expenses
$
38,466

 
$
35,009

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies:
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies – U.S. GAAP basis
$
20,275

 
$
2,437

 Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
4,806

 
2,020

Restructuring and integration costs

 
4,138

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
2,347

 
2,014

Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements

53

 

Adjusted net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
27,481

 
$
10,609

 
 
 
 
Earnings per diluted common share:
 
 
 
 Earnings per diluted common share – U.S. GAAP basis
$
1.31

 
$
0.16

 Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
0.31

 
0.13

Restructuring and integration costs

 
0.27

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
0.15

 
0.13

 Adjusted earnings per diluted common share
$
1.77

 
$
0.70

(2)
Adjusted return on average common shareholders' equity, a non-GAAP financial measure, is computed by dividing adjusted net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies for the last 12 months by average monthly common shareholders' equity. For a detailed explanation of the components of adjusted net income, see "Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to adjusted non-GAAP financial information" in footnote (1).


42


External Factors Impacting Our Business

Performance in the financial services industry in which we operate is highly correlated to the overall strength of economic conditions and financial market activity. Overall market conditions are a product of many factors, which are beyond our control, often unpredictable and at times inherently volatile. These factors may affect the financial decisions made by investors, including their level of participation in the financial markets. In turn, these decisions may affect our business results. With respect to financial market activity, our profitability is sensitive to a variety of factors, including the demand for investment banking services as reflected by the number and size of equity and debt financings and merger and acquisition transactions, the volatility of the equity and fixed income markets, changes in interest rates and credit spreads (especially rapid and extreme changes), overall market liquidity, the level and shape of various yield curves, the volume and value of trading in securities, overall equity valuations, and the demand for active asset management services.

Factors that differentiate our business within the financial services industry also may affect our financial results. For example, our capital markets business focuses on specific industry sectors while serving principally middle-market clientele. If the business environment for our focus sectors is impacted adversely, our business and results of operations could reflect these impacts. In addition, our business, with its specific areas of focus and investment, may not track overall market trends. Given the variability of the capital markets and securities businesses, our earnings may fluctuate significantly from period to period, and results for any individual period should not be considered indicative of future results.

Outlook for the remainder of 2017

The upward momentum in the markets following the U.S. presidential election in November 2016 carried into 2017. Factors contributing to this market dynamic include the belief that administrative and legislative policies, including increased fiscal spending, deregulation and tax reform, may provide catalysts to propel the economy in 2017. However, uncertainty over the details of these policies, their timing, the probability of implementation and their transition, as well as political or economic instability internationally, may inject periods of volatility into the U.S. equity and debt markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve increased short-term interest rates in the first quarter of 2017 on the basis of stronger economic growth. We anticipate that the U.S. Federal Reserve will manage to a gradual and steady path to rate normalization, absent significant shifts in tax and monetary policy. Exogenous conditions, however, may trigger episodes of volatility with respect to interest rates. A rising or volatile interest rate environment may have a mixed impact on certain of our businesses.

We expect the equity markets to be constructive in 2017 as U.S. economic growth results in improving valuations and sustained CEO confidence levels. These conditions favor our equity capital raising and advisory services businesses. Low market volatility led to an increase in the volume of equity capital raising activity in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year period. If the current economic outlook remains in place, we would expect relatively conducive conditions for steady capital raising throughout the year, absent any episodes of heightened volatility or significant declines in equity market valuations. While lower volatility benefits our capital raising business, it adversely impacts our equity sales and trading business. If we experience sustained bouts of higher volatility or material market correction, however, our equity brokerage business may benefit while our equity capital raising and advisory businesses would suffer. We believe our advisory services business will continue to perform well in 2017 on the strength of our market position, recent investments, readily available capital and a combination of high CEO and small business confidence levels. Advisory services revenues for any given quarter are impacted by the timing and size of the deals' closings, which can result in fluctuations in revenues period over period.

While higher interest rates would be favorable to our fixed income institutional brokerage business, the move to higher rates adversely impacts our public finance business in the short-term as the level of refunding activity abates prior to greater economic growth increasing new money issuance volumes. We experienced this dynamic in the first quarter of 2017 as refunding activity declined due to higher interest rates over the past several months relative to the previous historically low rates. We believe that the level of municipal debt underwriting activity will decline in 2017 after record market issuance volumes in 2016. Our geographic range, product capabilities, and industry expertise should serve to mitigate somewhat the impact of less favorable market conditions on the performance of our public finance business.

Increased economic growth and higher valuations will benefit our asset management business. We continue to monitor, however, the trend of investors shifting from active to passive investment vehicles. While it is difficult to anticipate which areas of the market will attract investor interest, we continue to expand our product offerings to broaden our exposure to areas of investor interest.

43


Results of Operations

Financial Summary for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016

The following table provides a summary of the results of our operations on a U.S. GAAP basis and the results of our operations as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a Percentage of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Revenues for the
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
v2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$
132,250

 
$
103,938

 
27.2
 %
 
66.0
 %
 
67.7
%
Institutional brokerage
39,136

 
32,049

 
22.1

 
19.5

 
20.9

Asset management
16,007

 
13,848

 
15.6

 
8.0

 
9.0

Interest
7,719

 
8,829

 
(12.6
)
 
3.8

 
5.7

Investment income
10,375

 
937

 
N/M

 
5.2

 
0.6

Total revenues
205,487

 
159,601

 
28.8

 
102.5

 
103.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
4,958

 
6,045

 
(18.0
)
 
2.5

 
3.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
200,529

 
153,556

 
30.6

 
100.0

 
100.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
134,378

 
104,436

 
28.7

 
67.0

 
68.0

Outside services
10,328

 
8,451

 
22.2

 
5.2

 
5.5

Occupancy and equipment
8,462

 
7,718

 
9.6

 
4.2

 
5.0

Communications
7,616

 
7,330

 
3.9

 
3.8

 
4.8

Marketing and business development
7,547

 
7,004

 
7.8

 
3.8

 
4.6

Trade execution and clearance
1,811

 
1,762

 
2.8

 
0.9

 
1.1

Restructuring and integration costs

 
6,773

 
N/M

 

 
4.4

Intangible asset amortization expense
3,822

 
3,296

 
16.0

 
1.9

 
2.1

Back office conversion costs
866

 

 
N/M

 
0.4

 

Other operating expenses
2,890

 
3,344

 
(13.6
)
 
1.4

 
2.2

Total non-interest expenses
177,720

 
150,114

 
18.4

 
88.6

 
97.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income tax expense/(benefit)
22,809

 
3,442

 
562.7

 
11.4

 
2.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense/(benefit)
(395
)
 
256

 
N/M

 
(0.2
)
 
0.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
23,204

 
3,186

 
628.3

 
11.6

 
2.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests
2,929

 
749

 
291.1

 
1.5

 
0.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
20,275

 
$
2,437

 
732.0
 %
 
10.1
 %
 
1.6
%
N/M – Not meaningful

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recorded net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies of $20.3 million. Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $200.5 million, a 30.6 percent increase compared to $153.6 million in the year-ago period. In the first quarter of 2017, investment banking revenues were $132.3 million, up 27.2 percent compared with $103.9 million in the prior-year period, as higher advisory services and equity financing revenues were partially offset by lower debt financing revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, institutional brokerage revenues increased 22.1 percent to $39.1 million, compared with $32.0 million in the first quarter of 2016, driven by higher fixed income institutional brokerage

44


revenues. In the first quarter of 2017, asset management fees of $16.0 million were up 15.6 percent compared with $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2016 as higher management fees from our master limited partnership ("MLP") product offerings were partially offset by lower management fees from our equity product offerings. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, net interest income was $2.8 million, consistent with the prior-year period. In the first quarter of 2017, investment income was $10.4 million, compared with $0.9 million in the prior-year period, due to higher gains on our investment and the noncontrolling interests in the merchant banking fund that we manage. Also, in the current quarter, we recorded gains on the investments in registered funds that we manage versus losses in the prior-year period. Non-interest expenses were $177.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, up 18.4 percent compared to $150.1 million in the prior-year period, due to increased compensation expenses driven by higher revenues, as well as higher expenses resulting from our acquisition of Simmons at the end of the first quarter of 2016. These increases were partially offset by lower restructuring costs. In the first quarter of 2016, we recorded $6.8 million of restructuring and integration costs primarily related to the acquisition of Simmons.

Consolidated Non-Interest Expenses

Compensation and Benefits – Compensation and benefits expenses, which are the largest component of our expenses, include salaries, incentive compensation, benefits, stock-based compensation, employment taxes, income associated with the forfeiture of stock-based compensation and other employee-related costs. A portion of compensation expense is comprised of variable incentive arrangements, including discretionary incentive compensation, the amount of which fluctuates in proportion to the level of business activity, increasing with higher revenues and operating profits. Other compensation costs, primarily base salaries and benefits, are more fixed in nature. The timing of incentive compensation payments, which generally occur in February, has a greater impact on our cash position and liquidity than is reflected on our consolidated statements of operations. We have granted restricted stock with service conditions as a component of our acquisition deal consideration, which is amortized to compensation expense over the service period.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, compensation and benefits expenses increased to $134.4 million, compared with $104.4 million in the corresponding period of 2016, due to higher revenues as well as higher acquisition-related compensation costs primarily resulting from the Simmons acquisition completed in February 2016. Compensation and benefits expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 67.0 percent in the first quarter of 2017, compared with 68.0 percent in the first quarter of 2016. The decreased compensation ratio was attributable to an increased revenue base, which was partially offset by higher acquisition-related compensation costs.

Outside Services – Outside services expenses include securities processing expenses, outsourced technology functions, outside legal fees, fund expenses associated with our consolidated alternative asset management funds and other professional fees. Outside services expenses increased 22.2 percent to $10.3 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared with $8.5 million in the corresponding period of 2016. Excluding the portion of expenses from non-controlled equity interests in our consolidated alternative asset management funds, outside services expenses increased 15.3 percent due primarily to higher legal and professional fees.

Occupancy and Equipment – For the three months ended March 31, 2017, occupancy and equipment expenses increased 9.6 percent to $8.5 million, compared with $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily the result of incremental occupancy expenses from our acquisition of Simmons completed during the first quarter of 2016.

Communications – Communication expenses include costs for telecommunication and data communication, primarily consisting of expenses for obtaining third party market data information. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, communication expenses increased 3.9 percent to $7.6 million, compared with $7.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, due to higher communication expenses related to the additional headcount associated with our acquisition of Simmons.

Marketing and Business Development – Marketing and business development expenses include travel and entertainment costs, advertising and third party marketing fees. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, marketing and business development expenses increased 7.8 percent to $7.5 million, compared with $7.0 million in the corresponding period of 2016. The increase was driven by higher travel expenses, partially offset by a decline in other marketing expenses.
 
Trade Execution and Clearance – For the three months ended March 31, 2017, trade execution and clearance expenses were $1.8 million, flat compared with the corresponding period of 2016.

Restructuring and Integration Costs – In the first quarter of 2016, we recorded restructuring and integration costs of $6.8 million primarily related to the acquisition of Simmons. The expenses consisted of $5.4 million of severance, benefits and outplacement costs, $0.8 million of transaction costs, and $0.6 million of contract termination costs.

45


Intangible Asset Amortization Expense – Intangible asset amortization expense includes the amortization of definite-lived intangible assets consisting of customer relationships and the Simmons trade name. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, intangible asset amortization expense was $3.8 million, compared with $3.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase reflects incremental intangible asset amortization expense related to the acquisition of Simmons.

Back Office Conversion Costs – In 2017, we anticipate migrating from a self clearing model to a fully disclosed model. Back office conversion costs include costs incurred to transition to a fully disclosed clearing model, such as contract termination fees, vendor migration fees, other professional fees, and severance benefits for impacted personnel. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we incurred back office conversion costs of $0.9 million. We expect to complete this conversion in the second half of 2017 and incur costs of approximately $3.0 million between 2016 and 2017, of which $0.6 million was incurred in 2016. We anticipate a meaningful reduction in our trade clearing expenses by moving to a fully disclosed model.

Other Operating Expenses – Other operating expenses include insurance costs, license and registration fees, expenses related to our charitable giving program and litigation-related expenses, which consist of the amounts we reserve and/or pay out related to legal and regulatory matters. Other operating expenses were $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared with $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Income Taxes For the three months ended March 31, 2017, our benefit from income taxes was $0.4 million. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded a $7.0 million tax benefit related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price. As discussed in Note 2, "Accounting Policies and Pronouncements" in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, effective as of January 1, 2017, new accounting guidance requires us to recognize the income tax effects of stock-based compensation awards in the income statement when the awards vest, rather than as additional paid-in capital. The amount recognized in the income statement in future periods may vary depending upon, among other things, the number of restricted shares vesting and their change in value since the grant date. We would expect that the impact of this guidance will be more meaningful in the first quarter of each year as the majority of our restricted stock vestings related to our employees' incentive compensation occurs in February. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, our provision for income taxes was $0.3 million equating to an effective tax rate, excluding noncontrolling interests, of 9.5 percent. The effective tax rate was low due to the impact of tax-exempt interest income representing a larger proportion of pre-tax income.

Segment Performance

We measure financial performance by business segment. Our two reportable segments are Capital Markets and Asset Management. We determined these segments based upon the nature of the financial products and services provided to customers and our management organization. Segment pre-tax operating income and segment pre-tax operating margin are used to evaluate and measure segment performance by our chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance in relation to our competitors. Revenues and expenses directly associated with each respective segment are included in determining segment operating results. Revenues and expenses that are not directly attributable to a particular segment are allocated based upon our allocation methodologies, generally based on each segment’s respective net revenues, use of shared resources, headcount or other relevant measures.

Throughout this section, we have presented segment results on both a U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP basis. Management believes that presenting adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin in conjunction with the U.S. GAAP measures provides a more meaningful basis for comparison of its operating results and underlying trends between periods, and enhances the overall understanding of our current financial performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our core operating results. The non-GAAP segment results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the segment results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin exclude (1) revenues and expenses related to noncontrolling interests, (2) amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, (3) compensation and non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements and (4) restructuring and acquisition integration costs. For U.S. GAAP purposes, these items are included in each of their respective line items on the consolidated statements of operations.


46


Capital Markets

The following table sets forth the Capital Markets adjusted segment financial results and adjustments necessary to reconcile to our consolidated U.S. GAAP pre-tax operating income and pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
(Dollars in thousands)
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
 
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
Investment banking
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
$
23,382

 
$

 
$

 
$
23,382

 
$
6,566

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,566

Debt
16,408

 

 

 
16,408

 
15,972

 

 

 
15,972

Advisory services
92,882

 

 

 
92,882

 
81,629

 

 

 
81,629

Total investment banking
132,672

 

 

 
132,672

 
104,167

 

 

 
104,167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Institutional sales and trading
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
20,106

 

 

 
20,106

 
19,669

 

 

 
19,669

Fixed income
23,240

 

 

 
23,240

 
17,054

 

 

 
17,054

Total institutional sales and trading
43,346

 

 

 
43,346

 
36,723

 

 

 
36,723

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
1,997

 

 

 
1,997

 
965

 

 

 
965

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
6,611

 
3,897

 

 
10,508

 
737

 
1,349

 

 
2,086

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term financing expenses
(2,238
)
 

 

 
(2,238
)
 
(2,292
)
 

 

 
(2,292
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
182,388

 
3,897

 

 
186,285

 
140,300

 
1,349

 

 
141,649

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
152,561

 
968

 
10,531

 
164,060

 
126,276

 
600

 
11,979

 
138,855

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
29,827

 
$
2,929

 
$
(10,531
)
 
$
22,225

 
$
14,024

 
$
749

 
$
(11,979
)
 
$
2,794

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
16.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
11.9
%
 
10.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.0
%
(1)
The following is a summary of the adjustments needed to reconcile our consolidated U.S. GAAP segment pre-tax operating income and segment pre-tax operating margin to the adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin:
Noncontrolling interests – The impacts of consolidating noncontrolling interests in our alternative asset management funds are not included in adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin.
Other adjustments – The following table sets forth the items not included in adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
$
7,901

 
$
3,306

Restructuring and integration costs

 
6,764

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
2,544

 
1,909

Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
86

 

 
$
10,531

 
$
11,979


Capital Markets net revenues on a U.S. GAAP basis were $186.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared with $141.6 million in the prior-year period. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, adjusted net revenues were $182.4 million, compared with $140.3 million in the first quarter of 2016. The variance explanations for net revenues and adjusted net revenues are consistent on both a U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP basis.


47


Investment banking revenues comprise all of the revenues generated through equity and debt financing and advisory services activities, which include mergers and acquisitions, equity private placements, debt advisory, and municipal financial advisory transactions. To assess the profitability of investment banking, we aggregate investment banking fees with the net interest income or expense associated with these activities.

In the first quarter of 2017, investment banking revenues increased 27.4 percent to $132.7 million, compared with $104.2 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, advisory services revenues were $92.9 million, up 13.8 percent compared to $81.6 million in the first quarter of 2016. The increase reflects our expansion into the energy sector over the past year, as well as our strong performance in this sector in the first quarter of 2017. We completed 29 transactions with an aggregate enterprise value of $8.4 billion in the first quarter of 2017, compared with 36 transactions with an aggregate enterprise value of $5.9 billion in the first quarter of 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, equity financing revenues were $23.4 million, compared with $6.6 million in the prior-year period. Low market volatility led to an increase in the volume of equity capital raising activity in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the trough in the market cycle we experienced in the first quarter of 2016. Our revenues in the current quarter reflect broad-based contributions across our sectors. During the first quarter of 2017, we completed 27 equity financings, raising $6.2 billion for our clients, compared with 7 equity financings, raising $1.2 billion for our clients in the comparable year-ago period. Debt financing revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $16.4 million, up 2.7 percent compared with $16.0 million in the year-ago period. During the first quarter of 2017, we completed 123 negotiated municipal issues with a total par value of $3.4 billion, compared with 130 negotiated municipal issues with a total par value of $2.9 billion during the prior-year period.

Institutional sales and trading revenues comprise all of the revenues generated through trading activities, which consist of facilitating customer trades, executing competitive municipal underwritings and our strategic trading activities in municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities and U.S. government agency securities. To assess the profitability of institutional brokerage activities, we aggregate institutional brokerage revenues with the net interest income or expense associated with financing, economically hedging and holding long or short inventory positions. Our results may vary from quarter to quarter as a result of changes in trading margins, trading gains and losses, net interest spreads, trading volumes and the timing of transactions based on market opportunities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, institutional brokerage revenues were $43.3 million, an increase of 18.0 percent compared with $36.7 million in the prior-year period, due primarily to higher fixed income institutional brokerage revenues. Equity institutional brokerage revenues were $20.1 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared with $19.7 million in the corresponding period of 2016. Market volumes declined with lower volatility in the first quarter of 2017. Revenues were flat compared to the first quarter of 2016 as our expansion into the energy sector offset the impact of lower trading volumes. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were $23.2 million, up 36.3 percent compared with $17.1 million in the prior-year period, due to higher trading gains. Customer flow activity remained constrained during the quarter due to uncertainties regarding the potential impact of future tax policies, interest rate direction and economic growth. Challenging market conditions in the first quarter of 2016 negatively impacted our trading opportunities, which reduced our revenues.

Management and performance fees include the fees generated from our merchant banking, energy and senior living funds with outside investors. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, management and performance fees were $2.0 million, compared with $1.0 million in the prior-year period, due to higher performance fees from our merchant banking fund.

Investment income includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, including amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests, in our merchant banking fund, senior living fund, and other firm investments. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, investment income was $10.5 million, compared to $2.1 million in the corresponding period of 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, we recorded higher gains from the merchant banking fund that we manage. Excluding the impact of noncontrolling interests, adjusted investment income was $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Long-term financing expenses primarily represent interest paid on our senior notes. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, long-term financing expenses decreased slightly to $2.2 million, from $2.3 million in the prior-year period.


48


Capital Markets segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 11.9 percent, compared with 2.0 percent for the corresponding period of 2016. Pre-tax operating margin was higher in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the prior-year period due to a lower non-compensation ratio driven by an increase in revenues and lower levels of restructuring costs. In the year-ago period, we recorded $6.8 million of restructuring and integration costs primarily related to the acquisition of Simmons. Adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 16.4 percent, compared with 10.0 percent for the corresponding period of 2016. Adjusted pre-tax operating margin was higher compared to the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to operating leverage as a result of higher revenues. Adjusted net revenues increased 30.0 percent and adjusted operating expenses increased 20.8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016, reflecting operating leverage in the business and expense discipline.

Asset Management

The following table sets forth the Asset Management segment financial results and adjustments necessary to reconcile to our consolidated U.S. GAAP pre-tax operating income and pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
(Dollars in thousands)
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
 
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
Management fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
$
6,661

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,661

 
$
7,713

 
$

 
$

 
$
7,713

MLP
7,349

 

 

 
7,349

 
5,170

 

 

 
5,170

Total management fees
14,010

 

 

 
14,010

 
12,883

 

 

 
12,883

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total performance fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total management and performance fees
14,010

 

 

 
14,010

 
12,883

 

 

 
12,883

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income/(loss)
234

 

 

 
234

 
(976
)
 

 

 
(976
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net revenues
14,244

 

 

 
14,244

 
11,907

 

 

 
11,907

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
12,382

 

 
1,278

 
13,660

 
9,863

 

 
1,396

 
11,259

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
1,862

 
$

 
$
(1,278
)
 
$
584

 
$
2,044

 
$

 
$
(1,396
)
 
$
648

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
13.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
4.1
%
 
17.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
5.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin excluding investment income/(loss) (2)
11.6
%
 
 
 
 
 

 
23.4
%
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Other Adjustments – Primarily consists of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(2)
Management believes that presenting adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin excluding investment income/(loss), a non-GAAP measure, provides the most meaningful basis for comparison of Asset Management operating results across periods.

Management and performance fee revenues comprise the revenues generated from management and investment advisory services performed for separately managed accounts, registered funds and partnerships. Client asset inflows and outflows and investment performance have a direct effect on management and performance fee revenues. Management fees are generally based on the level of assets under management ("AUM") measured monthly or quarterly, and an increase or reduction in AUM, due to market price fluctuations or net client asset flows, will result in a corresponding increase or decrease in management fees. Fees vary with the type of assets managed and the vehicle in which they are managed. Performance fees are earned when the investment return on AUM exceeds certain benchmark targets or other performance targets over a specified measurement period. The level of performance fees earned can vary significantly from period to period and these fees may not necessarily be correlated to changes in total AUM. The majority of performance fees, if earned, are generally recorded in the fourth quarter of the applicable year or

49


upon withdrawal of client assets. At March 31, 2017, approximately four percent of our AUM was eligible to earn performance fees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, management fees were $14.0 million, an increase of 8.7 percent, compared with $12.9 million in the prior-year period, as higher management fees from our MLP product offerings were partially offset by lower management fees from our equity product offerings. In the first quarter of 2017, management fees related to our equity strategies were $6.7 million, down 13.6 percent compared to $7.7 million in the corresponding period of 2016, due to lower average AUM, as well as lower average effective revenue yield resulting from changes in our product mix. The average effective revenue yield (total annualized management fees as a percentage of our average month-end AUM) for our equity strategies was 67 basis points for the first quarter of 2017, compared with 73 basis points for the prior-year period. Management fees from our MLP strategies increased 42.1 percent in the first quarter of 2017 to $7.3 million, compared with $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2016. The increase in management fees resulted from higher AUM, driven by net market appreciation.

Investment income/(loss) includes gains and losses from our investments in registered funds and private funds or partnerships that we manage. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, investment income was $0.2 million compared with a loss of $1.0 million for the prior-year period.

Segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 4.1 percent, compared to 5.4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Excluding investment income/(loss) on firm capital invested in our strategies, adjusted operating margin declined from 23.4 percent in the first quarter of 2016 to 11.6 percent in the first quarter of 2017, due to higher non-compensation expenses and an increase in costs related to business expansion as we recently hired a new investment team as part of our ongoing strategy to diversify our product platform.

The following table summarizes the changes in our AUM for the periods presented:
 
 
 
 
 
Twelve
 
Three Months Ended
 
Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
4,115

 
$
4,954

 
$
3,983

Net outflows
(143
)
 
(901
)
 
(573
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
109

 
(70
)
 
671

End of period
$
4,081

 
$
3,983

 
$
4,081

 
 
 
 
 
 
MLP
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
4,616

 
$
3,924

 
$
3,522

Net outflows
(21
)
 
(137
)
 
(170
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
86

 
(265
)
 
1,329

End of period
$
4,681

 
$
3,522

 
$
4,681

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
8,731

 
$
8,878

 
$
7,505

Net outflows
(164
)
 
(1,038
)
 
(743
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
195

 
(335
)
 
2,000

End of period
$
8,762

 
$
7,505

 
$
8,762




50


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements are set forth in Note 2 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our accounting and reporting policies comply with GAAP and conform to practices within the securities industry. The preparation of financial statements in compliance with GAAP and industry practices requires us to make estimates and assumptions that could materially affect amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those policies that we believe to be the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require us to make estimates that are difficult, subjective or complex. Most accounting policies are not considered by us to be critical accounting policies. Several factors are considered in determining whether or not a policy is critical, including whether the estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, the nature of the estimates, the ability to readily validate the estimates with other information (e.g., third party or independent sources), the sensitivity of the estimates to changes in economic conditions and whether alternative accounting methods may be used under GAAP.

We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following are our critical accounting policies:

Valuation of Financial Instruments
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Compensation Plans
Income Taxes

See the "Critical Accounting Policies" section and Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for further information. See also Note 2, "Accounting Policies and Pronouncements" in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for changes to our significant accounting policies, as well as the impact from the adoption of new accounting standards.

Liquidity, Funding and Capital Resources

Liquidity is of critical importance to us given the nature of our business. Insufficient liquidity resulting from adverse circumstances contributes to, and may be the cause of, financial institution failure. Accordingly, we regularly monitor our liquidity position and maintain a liquidity strategy designed to enable our business to continue to operate even under adverse circumstances, although there can be no assurance that our strategy will be successful under all circumstances.

The majority of our tangible assets consist of assets readily convertible into cash. Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned are stated at fair value and are generally readily marketable in most market conditions. Receivables and payables with brokers, dealers and clearing organizations usually settle within a few days. As part of our liquidity strategy, we emphasize diversification of funding sources to the extent possible while considering tenor and cost. Our assets are financed by our cash flows from operations, equity capital, and our funding arrangements. The fluctuations in cash flows from financing activities are directly related to daily operating activities from our various businesses. One of our most important risk management disciplines is our ability to manage the size and composition of our balance sheet. While our asset base changes due to client activity, market fluctuations and business opportunities, the size and composition of our balance sheet reflect our overall risk tolerance, our ability to access stable funding sources and the amount of equity capital we hold.

Certain market conditions can impact the liquidity of our inventory positions, requiring us to hold larger inventory positions for longer than expected or requiring us to take other actions that may adversely impact our results.

A significant component of our employees’ compensation is paid in annual discretionary incentive compensation. The timing of these incentive compensation payments, which generally are made in February, has a significant impact on our cash position and liquidity.

Beginning in 2017, we initiated the payment of a quarterly cash dividend to holders of our common stock. Our board of directors determines the declaration and payment of dividends on a quarterly basis, and is free to change our dividend policy at any time.


51


On February 2, 2017, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.3125 per share that was paid on March 13, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 20, 2017.

On April 27, 2017, our board of directors declared a dividend of $0.3125 per share to be paid on June 15, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 26, 2017.

Effective August 14, 2015, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million in common shares through September 30, 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we repurchased 27,530 shares of our common stock at an average price of $72.63 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $2.0 million related to this authorization. We have $69.8 million remaining under this authorization.

We also purchase shares of common stock from restricted stock award recipients upon the award vesting as recipients sell shares to meet their employment tax obligations. During the first quarter of 2017, we purchased 230,097 shares or $17.8 million of our common shares for this purpose.

Leverage

The following table presents total assets, adjusted assets, total shareholders’ equity and tangible shareholders’ equity with the resulting leverage ratios as of:
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Total assets
$
2,113,157

 
$
2,125,503

Deduct: Goodwill and intangible assets
(229,630
)
 
(233,452
)
Deduct: Assets from noncontrolling interests
(46,364
)
 
(109,179
)
Adjusted assets
$
1,837,163

 
$
1,782,872

 
 
 
 
Total shareholders' equity
$
821,956

 
$
816,266

Deduct: Goodwill and intangible assets
(229,630
)
 
(233,452
)
Deduct: Noncontrolling interests
(43,791
)
 
(57,016
)
Tangible common shareholders' equity
$
548,535

 
$
525,798

 
 
 
 
Leverage ratio (1)
2.6

 
2.6

 
 
 
 
Adjusted leverage ratio (2)
3.3

 
3.4

(1)
Leverage ratio equals total assets divided by total shareholders’ equity.
(2)
Adjusted leverage ratio equals adjusted assets divided by tangible common shareholders’ equity.

Adjusted assets and tangible common shareholders’ equity are non-GAAP financial measures. Goodwill and intangible assets are subtracted from total assets and total shareholders’ equity in determining adjusted assets and tangible common shareholders’ equity, respectively, as we believe that goodwill and intangible assets do not constitute operating assets which can be deployed in a liquid manner. Amounts attributed to noncontrolling interests are subtracted from total assets and total shareholders' equity in determining adjusted assets and tangible common shareholders' equity, respectively, as they represent assets and equity interests in consolidated entities that are not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to Piper Jaffray Companies. We view the resulting measure of adjusted leverage, also a non-GAAP financial measure, as a more relevant measure of financial risk when comparing financial services companies.


52


Funding and Capital Resources

The primary goal of our funding activities is to ensure adequate funding over a wide range of market conditions. Given the mix of our business activities, funding requirements are fulfilled through a diversified range of short-term and long-term financing. We attempt to ensure that the tenor of our borrowing liabilities equals or exceeds the expected holding period of the assets being financed. Our ability to support increases in total assets is largely a function of our ability to obtain funding from external sources. Access to these external sources, as well as the cost of that financing, is dependent upon various factors, including market conditions, the general availability of credit and credit ratings. We currently do not have a credit rating, which could adversely affect our liquidity and competitive position by increasing our financing costs and limiting access to sources of liquidity that require a credit rating as a condition to providing the funds.

Short-term financing

Our day-to-day funding and liquidity is obtained primarily through the use of commercial paper issuance, repurchase agreements, prime broker agreements, and bank lines of credit, and is typically collateralized by our securities inventory. These funding sources are critical to our ability to finance and hold inventory, which is a necessary part of our institutional brokerage business. The majority of our inventory is liquid and is therefore funded by short-term facilities. Certain of these short-term facilities (i.e., committed line and commercial paper) have been established to mitigate changes in the liquidity of our inventory based on changing market conditions. In the case of our committed line, it is available to us regardless of changes in market liquidity conditions through the end of its term, although there may be limitations on the type of securities available to pledge. Our commercial paper program helps mitigate changes in market liquidity conditions given it is not an overnight facility, but provides funding with a term of 27 to 270 days. Our funding sources are also dependent on the types of inventory that our counterparties are willing to accept as collateral and the number of counterparties available. Funding is generally obtained at rates based upon the federal funds rate or the London Interbank Offer Rate.

Commercial Paper Program – Our U.S. broker dealer subsidiary, Piper Jaffray & Co., issues secured commercial paper to fund a portion of its securities inventory. This commercial paper is issued under three separate programs, CP Series A, CP Series II A and CP Series III A, and is secured by different inventory classes, which is reflected in the interest rate paid on the respective program. The programs can issue commercial paper with maturities of 27 to 270 days. CP Series III A includes a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain excess net capital of $120 million. The following table provides information about our commercial paper programs at March 31, 2017:
(Dollars in millions)
 
CP Series A
 
CP Series II A
 
CP Series III A
Maximum amount that may be issued
 
$
300.0

 
$
150.0

 
$
125.0

Amount outstanding
 
40.9

 
20.0

 
64.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average maturity, in days
 
25

 
9

 
15

Weighted average maturity at issuance, in days
 
80

 
39

 
31


Prime Broker Arrangements – We have established an arrangement to obtain overnight financing by a single prime broker related to certain strategic trading activities in municipal securities. Additionally, we have established a second overnight financing arrangement with another broker dealer related to our convertible securities inventories. Financing under these arrangements is secured primarily by securities, and collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under these arrangements. Our prime broker financing activities are recorded net of receivables from trading activity. The funding is at the discretion of the prime brokers and could be denied subject to a notice period. At March 31, 2017, we had $101.3 million of financing outstanding under these prime broker arrangements.

Committed Lines – We elected to decrease our committed line from $250 million to a one-year $200 million revolving secured credit facility in 2016 based on our liquidity needs and the expected back office conversion which will provide us with an additional funding source. We use this credit facility in the ordinary course of business to fund a portion of our daily operations, and the amount borrowed under the facility varies daily based on our funding needs. Advances under this facility are secured by certain marketable securities. The facility includes a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million, and the unpaid principal amount of all advances under the facility will be due on December 16, 2017. This credit facility has been in place since 2008 and we renewed the facility for another one-year term in the fourth quarter of 2016. At March 31, 2017, we had $46.0 million in advances against this line of credit.


53


Uncommitted Lines – We use uncommitted lines in the ordinary course of business to fund a portion of our daily operations, and the amount borrowed under our uncommitted lines varies daily based on our funding needs. Our uncommitted secured lines total $185 million with two banks and are dependent on having appropriate collateral, as determined by the bank agreement, to secure an advance under the line. Collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under these secured lines. We also have an uncommitted unsecured facility with one of these banks. All of these uncommitted lines are discretionary and are not a commitment by the bank to provide an advance under the line. More specifically, these lines are subject to approval by the respective bank each time an advance is requested and advances may be denied, which may be particularly true during times of market stress or market perceptions of our exposures. We manage our relationships with the banks that provide these uncommitted facilities in order to have appropriate levels of funding for our business. At March 31, 2017, we had $25.0 million in advances against these lines of credit.

The following tables present the average balances outstanding for our various short-term funding sources by quarter for 2017 and 2016, respectively.
 
Average Balance for the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in millions)
Mar. 31, 2017
 
Dec. 31, 2016
 
Sept. 30, 2016
 
June 30, 2016
 
Mar. 31, 2016
Funding source:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Repurchase agreements
$

 
$
3.5

 
$
14.8

 
$
28.9

 
$
30.5

Commercial paper
137.7

 
165.8

 
235.8

 
279.7

 
279.2

Prime broker arrangements
127.2

 
225.6

 
200.6

 
169.2

 
159.0

Short-term bank loans
2.5

 
5.3

 

 
6.4

 
0.8

Total
$
267.4

 
$
400.2

 
$
451.2

 
$
484.2

 
$
469.5


The average funding in the first quarter of 2017 decreased to $267.4 million, compared with $469.5 million and $400.2 million during the first and fourth quarters of 2016, respectively, as we continued to use excess cash to reduce funding. Also, a reduction in strategic trading activities in municipal securities decreased financing through prime broker arrangements.

The following table presents the maximum daily funding amount by quarter for 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(Dollars in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
First Quarter
 
$
271.7

 
$
576.4

Second Quarter
 

 
$
669.7

Third Quarter
 

 
$
525.6

Fourth Quarter
 
 
 
$
274.1


Senior Notes

We have entered into variable and fixed rate senior notes with certain entities advised by Pacific Investment Management Company ("PIMCO"). The following table presents the outstanding balance by note class:
 
Outstanding Balance
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Class A Notes
$
50,000

 
$
50,000

Class C Notes
125,000

 
125,000

Total senior notes
$
175,000

 
$
175,000


54


On October 8, 2015, we entered into a second amended and restated note purchase agreement ("Second Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement") under which we issued $125 million of fixed rate Class C Notes. The Class C Notes bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 5.06 percent, payable semi-annually and mature on October 9, 2018. The $50 million of variable rate Class A Notes issued in 2014 bear interest at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.00 percent, adjusted and payable quarterly and mature on May 31, 2017. The unpaid principal amounts of the senior notes are due in full on the respective maturity dates and may not be prepaid.

The Second Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement includes customary events of default and covenants that, among other things, require us to maintain a minimum consolidated tangible net worth and minimum regulatory net capital, limit our leverage ratio and require maintenance of a minimum ratio of operating cash flow to fixed charges. At March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with all covenants.

Our current liquidity position would allow us to retire the Class A Notes at the end of May 2017. We are currently considering various options, including the payoff of the Class A Notes.

Contractual Obligations

Our contractual obligations have not materially changed from those reported in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Capital Requirements

As a registered broker dealer and member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), Piper Jaffray & Co., our U.S. broker dealer subsidiary, is subject to the uniform net capital rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of FINRA. We have elected to use the alternative method permitted by the uniform net capital rule, which requires that we maintain minimum net capital of the greater of $1.0 million or 2 percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, as this is defined in the rule. FINRA may prohibit a member firm from expanding its business or paying dividends if resulting net capital would be less than 5 percent of aggregate debit balances. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated liabilities, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain approvals, notifications and other provisions of the uniform net capital rules. We expect that these provisions will not impact our ability to meet current and future obligations. At March 31, 2017, our net capital under the SEC’s uniform net capital rule was $208.4 million, and exceeded the minimum net capital required under the SEC rule by $207.4 million.

Although we operate with a level of net capital substantially greater than the minimum thresholds established by FINRA and the SEC, a substantial reduction of our capital would curtail many of our Capital Markets revenue producing activities.

Our committed short-term credit facility and our senior notes with PIMCO include covenants requiring Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million. CP Notes issued under CP Series III A include a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

Piper Jaffray Ltd. and Simmons & Company International Limited, our broker dealer subsidiaries registered in the United Kingdom, are subject to the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Financial Services Act of 2012. Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, which is subject to the liquid capital requirements of the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rule promulgated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.


55


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business we enter into various types of off-balance sheet arrangements. The following table summarizes the notional contract value of our off-balance sheet arrangements for the periods presented:
 
Expiration Per Period at December 31,
 
Total Contractual Amount
 

 
 
 
 
 
2020
 
2022
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
- 2021
 
- 2023
 
Later
 
2017
 
2016
Customer matched-book derivative contracts (1) (2)
$
40,950

 
$

 
$
34,650

 
$
42,760

 
$
163,040

 
$
3,033,230

 
$
3,314,630

 
$
3,330,207

Trading securities derivative contracts (2)
365,900

 
7,000

 

 

 

 
29,750

 
402,650

 
423,550

Credit default swap index contracts (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
7,470

Investment commitments (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 
19,156

 
22,776

(1)
Consists of interest rate swaps. We have minimal market risk related to these matched-book derivative contracts; however, we do have counterparty risk with one major financial institution, which is mitigated by collateral deposits. In addition, we have a limited number of counterparties (contractual amount of $183.1 million at March 31, 2017) who are not required to post collateral. The uncollateralized amounts, representing the fair value of the derivative contracts, expose us to the credit risk of these counterparties. At March 31, 2017, we had $22.1 million of credit exposure with these counterparties, including $15.1 million of credit exposure with one counterparty.
(2)
We believe the fair value of these derivative contracts is a more relevant measure of the obligations because we believe the notional or contract amount overstates the expected payout. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net fair value of these derivative contracts approximated $19.0 million and $24.0 million, respectively.
(3)
The investment commitments have no specified call dates. The timing of capital calls is based on market conditions and investment opportunities.

Derivatives

Derivatives’ notional or contract amounts are not reflected as assets or liabilities on our consolidated statements of financial condition. Rather, the fair value of the derivative transactions are reported on the consolidated statements of financial condition as assets or liabilities in financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased, as applicable. For a complete discussion of our activities related to derivative products, see Note 4, "Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned and Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Sold, but Not Yet Purchased," in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Investment Commitments

We have investments, including those made as part of our merchant banking activities, in various limited partnerships that provide financing or make investments in private equity companies. We commit capital and/or act as the managing partner of these entities.

We have committed capital to certain entities and these commitments generally have no specified call dates. We had $19.2 million of commitments outstanding at March 31, 2017, of which $11.9 million relate to an affiliated merchant banking fund and $3.8 million relate to an affiliated fund, which provides financing for senior living facilities.


56


Risk Management

Risk is an inherent part of our business. The principal risks we face in operating our business include: strategic risk, market risk, liquidity risk, credit risk, operational risk, human capital risk, and legal and regulatory risks. The extent to which we properly identify and effectively manage each of these risks is critical to our financial condition and profitability. We have a formal risk management process to identify, assess and monitor each risk and mitigating controls in accordance with defined policies and procedures. The risk management functions are independent of our business lines. Our management takes an active role in the risk management process, and the results are reported to senior management and the Board of Directors.

The audit committee of the Board of Directors oversees management’s processes for identifying and evaluating our major risks, and the policies, procedures and practices employed by management to govern its risk assessment and risk management processes. The nominating and governance committee of the Board of Directors oversees the Board of Directors’ committee structures and functions as they relate to the various committees’ responsibilities with respect to oversight of our major risk exposures. With respect to these major risk exposures, the audit committee is responsible for overseeing management’s monitoring and control of our major risk exposures relating to market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, legal and regulatory risk, operational risk, and human capital risk relating to misconduct, fraud, and legal and compliance matters. Our compensation committee is responsible for overseeing management’s monitoring and control of our major risk exposures relating to compensation, organizational structure, and succession. Our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management’s monitoring and control of our major risk exposures related to our corporate strategy. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer meet with the audit committee on a quarterly basis to discuss our market, liquidity, and legal and regulatory risks, and provide updates to the Board of Directors, audit committee, and compensation committee concerning the other major risk exposures on a regular basis.

We use internal committees to assist in governing risk and ensure that our business activities are properly assessed, monitored and managed. Our financial risk committees manage our market, liquidity and credit risks, and oversee risk management practices related to these risks, including defining acceptable risk tolerances and approving risk management policies. Membership is comprised of senior leadership, including but not limited to, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Treasurer, Head of Market and Credit Risk, Head of Public Finance, Head of Fixed Income Services and Firm Investments and Trading, and Head of Equities. Other committees that help evaluate and monitor risk include underwriting, leadership team and operating committees. These committees help manage risk by ensuring that business activities are properly managed and within a defined scope of activity. Our valuation committee, comprised of members of senior management and risk management, provide oversight and overall responsibility for the internal control processes and procedures related to fair value measurements. Additionally, our operational risk committees address and monitor risk related to information systems and security, legal, regulatory and compliance matters, and third parties such as vendors and service providers.

With respect to market risk and credit risk, the cornerstone of our risk management process is daily communication among traders, trading department management and senior management concerning our inventory positions, including those associated with our strategic trading activities, and overall risk profile. Our risk management functions supplement this communication process by providing their independent perspectives on our market and credit risk profile on a daily basis. The broader objectives of our risk management functions are to understand the risk profile of each trading area, to consolidate risk monitoring company-wide, to assist in implementing effective hedging strategies, to articulate large trading or position risks to senior management, and to ensure accurate fair values of our financial instruments.

Risk management techniques, processes and strategies may not be fully effective in mitigating our risk exposure in all market environments or against all types of risk, and any risk management failures could expose us to material unanticipated losses.

Strategic Risk

Strategic risk represents the risk associated with executive management failing to develop and execute on the appropriate strategic vision which demonstrates a commitment to our culture, leverages our core competencies, appropriately responds to external factors in the marketplace, and is in the best interests of our clients, employees and shareholders.

Our leadership team is responsible for managing our strategic risks. The Board of Directors oversees the leadership team in setting
and executing our strategic plan.


57


Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of losses, or financial volatility that may result from the change in value of a financial instrument due to fluctuations in its market price. Our exposure to market risk is directly related to our role as a financial intermediary for our clients, to our market-making activities and our strategic trading activities. Market risks are inherent to both cash and derivative financial instruments. The scope of our market risk management policies and procedures includes all market-sensitive financial instruments.

Our different types of market risk include:

Interest Rate Risk — Interest rate risk represents the potential volatility from changes in market interest rates. We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, changes in the slope of the yield curve, changes in credit spreads, and the rate of prepayments on our interest-earning assets (e.g., inventories) and our funding sources (e.g., short-term financing) which finance these assets. Interest rate risk is managed by selling short U.S. government securities, agency securities, corporate debt securities and derivative contracts. See Note 4 of our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information on our derivative contracts. Our interest rate hedging strategies may not work in all market environments and as a result may not be effective in mitigating interest rate risk. Also, we establish limits on the notional level of our fixed income securities inventory and manage net positions within those limits.

Equity Price Risk — Equity price risk represents the potential loss in value due to adverse changes in the level or volatility of equity prices. We are exposed to equity price risk through our trading activities in the U.S. market. We attempt to reduce the risk of loss inherent in our market-making and in our inventory of equity securities by establishing limits on the notional level of our inventory and by managing net position levels within those limits.

Foreign Exchange Risk — Foreign exchange risk represents the potential volatility to earnings or capital arising from movement in foreign exchange rates. A modest portion of our business is conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and changes in foreign exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar can therefore affect the value of non-U.S. dollar net assets, revenues and expenses. A change in the foreign currency rates could create either a foreign currency transaction gain/loss (recorded in our consolidated statements of operations) or a foreign currency translation adjustment (recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income/ (loss) within the shareholders’equity section of our consolidated statements of financial condition and other comprehensive income/ (loss) within the consolidated statements of comprehensive income).

Value-at-Risk ("VaR")

We use the statistical technique known as VaR to measure, monitor and review the market risk exposures in our trading portfolios. VaR is the potential loss in value of our trading positions, excluding noncontrolling interests, due to adverse market movements over a defined time horizon with a specified confidence level. We perform a daily VaR analysis on substantially all of our trading positions, including fixed income, equities, convertible bonds, mortgage-backed securities and all associated economic hedges. These positions encompass both customer-related and strategic trading activities. A VaR model provides a common metric for assessing market risk across business lines and products. Changes in VaR between reporting periods are generally due to changes in levels of risk exposure, volatilities and/or correlations among asset classes and individual securities.

We use a Monte Carlo simulation methodology for VaR calculations. We believe this methodology provides VaR results that properly reflect the risk profile of all our instruments, including those that contain optionality, and also accurately models correlation movements among all of our asset classes. In addition, it provides improved tail results as there are no assumptions of distribution, and can provide additional insight for scenario shock analysis.

Model-based VaR derived from simulation has inherent limitations including: reliance on historical data to predict future market risk; VaR calculated using a one-day time horizon does not fully capture the market risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or offset with hedges within one day; and published VaR results reflect past trading positions while future risk depends on future positions.

The modeling of the market risk characteristics of our trading positions involves a number of assumptions and approximations. While we believe that these assumptions and approximations are reasonable, different assumptions and approximations could produce materially different VaR estimates. When comparing our VaR numbers to those of other firms, it is important to remember that different methodologies, assumptions and approximations could produce significantly different results.


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The following table quantifies the model-based VaR simulated for each component of market risk for the periods presented, which are computed using the past 250 days of historical data. When calculating VaR we use a 95 percent confidence level and a one-day time horizon. This means that, over time, there is a one in 20 chance that daily trading net revenues will fall below the expected daily trading net revenues by an amount at least as large as the reported VaR. Shortfalls on a single day can exceed reported VaR by significant amounts. Shortfalls can also accumulate over a longer time horizon, such as a number of consecutive trading days. Therefore, there can be no assurance that actual losses occurring on any given day arising from changes in market conditions will not exceed the VaR amounts shown below or that such losses will not occur more than once in a 20-day trading period.
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
2016
Interest Rate Risk
$
899

 
$
696

Equity Price Risk
32

 
41

Diversification Effect (1)
(22
)
 
(26
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
909

 
$
711

(1)
Equals the difference between total VaR and the sum of the VaRs for the two risk categories. This effect arises because the two market risk categories are not perfectly correlated.

We view average VaR over a period of time as more representative of trends in the business than VaR at any single point in time. The table below illustrates the daily high, low and average VaR calculated for each component of market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, respectively.
(Dollars in thousands)
High
 
Low
 
Average
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Risk
$
998

 
$
480

 
$
702

Equity Price Risk
171

 
32

 
109

Diversification Effect (1)
 
 
 
 
(68
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
1,061

 
$
506

 
$
743

(Dollars in thousands)
High
 
Low
 
Average
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Risk
$
990

 
$
251

 
$
533

Equity Price Risk
412

 
6

 
150

Diversification Effect (1)
 
 
 
 
(72
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
1,049

 
$
362

 
$
611

(1)
Equals the difference between total VaR and the sum of the VaRs for the two risk categories. This effect arises because the two market risk categories are not perfectly correlated. Because high and low VaR numbers for these risk categories may have occurred on different days, high and low numbers for diversification benefit would not be meaningful.

Trading losses did not exceed our one-day VaR on any occasion during the first quarter of 2017.

The aggregate VaR as of March 31, 2017 was higher than the reported VaR on December 31, 2016. The increase in VaR was due to increased inventory levels in asset classes that are accretive to VaR at the end of the measurement period.

In addition to VaR, we also employ additional measures to monitor and manage market risk exposure including net market position, duration exposure, option sensitivities, and inventory turnover. All metrics are aggregated by asset concentration and are used for monitoring limits and exception approvals. In times of market volatility, we also perform ad hoc stress tests and scenario analysis as market conditions dictate. Unlike our VaR, which measures potential losses within a given confidence level, stress scenarios do not have an associated implied probability. Rather, stress testing is used to estimate the potential loss from market moves outside our VaR confidence levels.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that we are unable to timely access necessary funding sources in order to operate our business, as well as the risk that we are unable to timely divest securities that we hold in connection with our market-making, sales and trading, and strategic trading activities. We are exposed to liquidity risk in our day-to-day funding activities, by holding potentially illiquid inventory positions and in our role as a remarketing agent for variable rate demand notes.


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See the section entitled "Liquidity, Funding and Capital Resources" in Part I, Item 2, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our liquidity and how we manage liquidity risk.

Our inventory positions, including those associated with strategic trading activities, subject us to potential financial losses from the reduction in value of illiquid positions. Market risk can be exacerbated in times of trading illiquidity when market participants refrain from transacting in normal quantities and/or at normal bid-offer spreads. Depending on the specific security, the structure of the financial product, and/or overall market conditions, we may be forced to hold a security for substantially longer than we had planned or forced to liquidate into a challenging market if funding becomes unavailable.

Credit Risk

Credit risk refers to the potential for loss due to the default or deterioration in credit quality of a counterparty, customer, borrower or issuer of securities we hold in our trading inventory. The nature and amount of credit risk depends on the type of transaction, the structure and duration of that transaction and the parties involved. Credit risk also results from an obligor's failure to meet the terms of any contract with us or otherwise fail to perform as agreed. This may be reflected through issues such as settlement obligations or payment collections.

Our different types of credit risk include:

Credit Spread Risk — Credit spread risk arises from the possibility that changes in credit spreads will affect the value of financial instruments. Credit spreads represent the credit risk premiums required by market participants for a given credit quality (e.g., the additional yield that a debt instrument issued by a AA-rated entity must produce over a risk-free alternative). Changes in credit spreads result from potential changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s credit worthiness. We are exposed to credit spread risk with the debt instruments held in our trading inventory, including those held for strategic trading activites. We enter into transactions to hedge our exposure to credit spread risk through the use of derivatives and certain other financial instruments. These hedging strategies may not work in all market environments and as a result may not be effective in mitigating credit spread risk.

Deterioration/Default Risk — Deterioration/default risk represents the risk due to an issuer, counterparty or borrower failing to fulfill its obligations. We are exposed to deterioration/default risk in our role as a trading counterparty to dealers and customers, as a holder of securities and as a member of exchanges and clearing organizations. The risk of default depends on the creditworthiness of the counterparty and/or issuer of the security. We mitigate this risk by establishing and monitoring individual and aggregate position limits for each counterparty relative to potential levels of activity, holding and marking to market collateral on certain transactions and conducting business through clearing organizations, which guarantee performance. Our risk management functions also evaluate the potential risk associated with institutional counterparties with whom we hold repurchase and resale agreement facilities, stock borrow or loan facilities, derivatives, TBAs and other documented institutional counterparty agreements that may give rise to credit exposure.

Collections Risk — Collections risk arises from ineffective management and monitoring of collecting outstanding debts and obligations, including those related to our customer trading activities and margin lending. Our client activities involve the execution, settlement and financing of various transactions. Client activities are transacted on a delivery versus payment, cash or margin basis. Our credit exposure to institutional client business is mitigated by the use of industry-standard delivery versus payment through depositories and clearing banks. Credit exposure associated with our customer margin accounts in the U.S. is monitored daily. Our risk management functions have credit risk policies establishing appropriate credit limits and collateralization thresholds for our customers utilizing margin lending.

Concentration Risk— Concentration risk is the risk due to concentrated exposure to a particular product; individual issuer, borrower or counterparty; financial instrument; or geographic area. We are subject to concentration risk if we hold large individual securities positions, execute large transactions with individual counterparties or groups of related counterparties, or make substantial underwriting commitments. Concentration risk can occur by industry, geographic area or type of client. Securities purchased under agreements to resell consist primarily of securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. The counterparties to these agreements typically are primary dealers of U.S. government securities and major financial institutions. Inventory and investment positions taken and commitments made, including underwritings, may result in exposure to individual issuers and businesses. Potential concentration risk is carefully monitored through review of counterparties and borrowers and is managed through the use of policies and limits established by senior management.


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We have concentrated counterparty credit exposure with five non-publicly rated entities totaling $22.1 million at March 31, 2017. This counterparty credit exposure is part of our matched-book derivative program related to our public finance business, consisting primarily of interest rate swaps. One derivative counterparty represents 68.7 percent, or $15.1 million, of this exposure. Credit exposure associated with our derivative counterparties is driven by uncollateralized market movements in the fair value of the interest rate swap contracts and is monitored regularly by our financial risk committee. We attempt to minimize the credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by senior management.

Operational Risk

Operational risk is the risk of loss, or damage to our reputation, resulting from inadequate or failed processes, people and systems or from external events. We rely on the ability of our employees and our systems, both internal and at computer centers operated by third parties, to process a large number of transactions. Our systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control. In the event of a breakdown or improper operation of our systems or improper action by our employees or third party vendors, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, regulatory sanctions and damage to our reputation. We also face the risk of operational failure or termination of any of the exchanges, clearing houses, fully disclosed clearing firms, or other financial intermediaries we use to facilitate our securities transactions. Any such failure or termination could adversely affect our ability to effect transactions and manage our exposure to risk.

Our operations rely on secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our internal and outsourced computer systems and networks. Our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other malicious code, and other events that could have an information security impact. The occurrence of one or more of these events could jeopardize our or our clients' or counterparties' confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our, our clients', our counterparties' or third parties' operations. We take protective measures and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant.

In order to mitigate and control operational risk, we have developed and continue to enhance policies and procedures that are designed to identify and manage operational risk at appropriate levels throughout the organization. We also have business continuity plans in place that we believe will cover critical processes on a company-wide basis, and redundancies are built into our systems as we have deemed appropriate. These control mechanisms attempt to ensure that operational policies and procedures are being followed and that our various businesses are operating within established corporate policies and limits.

In 2017, we anticipate migrating to a fully disclosed clearing model for all of our currently self clearing operations. The migration process introduces unique risks that could cause disruptions in our business or create other unexpected capital charges or losses. We have preventative measures in place, including a project governance committee comprised of members of senior management, as well as senior management at our third party partner. In order to mitigate and control operational risk inherent in the migration, we have developed procedures specific to the project implementation process, including parallel system operations, mock conversion testing, and ongoing monitoring and reporting to members of the project governance committee. We also have the ability to obtain additional methods of financing from existing creditors in the event unknown capital charges arise.

Human Capital Risk

Our business is a human capital business and our success is dependent upon the skills, expertise and performance of our employees. Human capital risks represent the risks posed if we fail to attract and retain qualified individuals who are motivated to serve the best interests of our clients, thereby serving the best interests of our company. Attracting and retaining employees depends, among other things, on our company's culture, management, work environment, geographic locations and compensation. There are risks associated with the proper recruitment, development and rewards of our employees to ensure quality performance and retention.

Legal and Regulatory Risk

Legal and regulatory risk includes the risk of non-compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and loss to our reputation we may suffer as a result of failure to comply with laws, regulations, rules, related self-regulatory organization standards and codes of conduct applicable to our business activities. We are generally subject to extensive regulation in the various jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. We have established procedures that are designed to ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, such as public company reporting obligations, regulatory net capital requirements, sales and trading practices, potential conflicts of interest, use and safekeeping of customer funds and securities, anti-money laundering, privacy and

61


recordkeeping. We have also established procedures that are designed to require that our policies relating to ethics and business conduct are followed. The legal and regulatory focus on the financial services industry presents a continuing business challenge for us.

Our business also subjects us to the complex income tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we have business operations, and these tax laws may be subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant governmental taxing authorities. We must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws when determining the provision for income taxes.

Effects of Inflation

Because our assets are liquid and generally short-term in nature, they are not significantly affected by inflation. However, the rate of inflation affects our expenses, such as employee compensation, office space leasing costs and communications charges, which may not be readily recoverable in the price of services we offer to our clients. To the extent inflation results in rising interest rates and has adverse effects upon the securities markets, it may adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

The information under the caption "Risk Management" in Part I, Item 2, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

During the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 31, 2017, there was no change in our system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the legal proceedings contained in Part I, Item 3 "Legal Proceedings" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the risk factors contained in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, as updated in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. These risk factors describe various risks and uncertainties to which we are or may become subject. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects in a material and adverse manner. 


62


ITEM 2.    UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Piper Jaffray Companies or any "affiliated purchaser" (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Number of Shares
 
Approximate Dollar
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased as Part of
 
Value of Shares Yet to be
 
 
Total Number of
 
Average Price
 
Publicly Announced
 
Purchased Under the
Period
 
Shares Purchased
 
Paid per Share
 
Plans or Programs
 
Plans or Programs (1)
Month #1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(January 1, 2017 to January 31, 2017)
 

 
$

 

 
$
72

million
Month #2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(February 1, 2017 to February 28, 2017)
 
256,739

(2) 
$
76.86

 
27,530

 
$
70

million
Month #3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(March 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017)
 
888

 
$
63.96

 

 
$
70

million
Total
 
257,627

 
$
76.81

 
27,530

 
$
70

million
(1)
Effective August 14, 2015, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of common stock through September 30, 2017.
(2)
Consists of 27,530 shares of common stock repurchased on the open market pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan established with an independent agent at an average price of $72.63 per share, and 229,209 shares of common stock withheld from recipients of restricted stock to pay taxes upon the vesting of the restricted stock at an average price per share of $77.36.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS.
Exhibit
 
 
 
Method
Number    
 
Description
 
of Filing
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated December 17, 2016, between Piper Jaffray & Co. and U.S. Bank National Association.
 
Filed herewith
10.2
 
Second Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement, dated April 19, 2017, between Piper Jaffray & Co. and SCI JV LP.
 
Filed herewith
31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
 
Filed herewith
31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
 
Filed herewith
32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications.
 
Filed herewith
101
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 Registration S-T: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and (v) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Filed herewith


63



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on May 9, 2017.


PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
 
 
By
 
/s/ Andrew S. Duff
Its
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
By
 
/s/ Debbra L. Schoneman
Its
 
Chief Financial Officer






Exhibit Index
Exhibit
 
 
 
Method
Number    
 
Description
 
of Filing
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated December 17, 2016, between Piper Jaffray & Co. and U.S. Bank National Association.
 
Filed herewith
10.2
 
Second Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement, dated April 19, 2017, between Piper Jaffray & Co. and SCI JV LP.
 
Filed herewith
31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
 
Filed herewith
31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
 
Filed herewith
32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications.
 
Filed herewith
101
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 Registration S-T: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and (v) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Filed herewith