10-Q 1 sws-20140331x10q.htm 10-Q 75dc52ad6af54f5

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

[ X ]QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

OR

[    ]TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the transition period from _____ to ______

Commission file number 000-19483

SWS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

75-2040825

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

 

1201 Elm Street, Suite 3500, Dallas, Texas

75270

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (214) 859-1800

 

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     X      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    X       No _____

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer____    

 

Accelerated filer __X__

Non-accelerated filer ____ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company ____

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

   Yes _______            No __X____

 

As of May 2, 2014, there were 33,068,118 shares of the registrant's common stock, $0.10 par value, outstanding

 

 

 

 


 

 

SWS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

 

 

Item 1. Financial Statements 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014 (unaudited) and June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss 

 

 

 

For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

 

 

 

For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 

 

47 

 

and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

 

86 

 

 

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures 

 

86 

 

 

 

 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings 

 

86 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors 

 

87 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 

 

88 

 

 

 

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 

 

88 

 

 

 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure 

 

88 

 

 

 

 

Item 5. Other Information 

 

89 

 

 

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits 

 

89 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES 

 

90 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX 

 

91 

2


 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SWS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013

(In thousands, except par values and share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March

 

June

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$                       87,763 

 

$                        111,046 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 -

 

30,047 

Assets segregated for regulatory purposes

189,961 

 

164,737 

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

1,869,238 

 

1,698,474 

Receivable from clients, net of allowance

264,038 

 

286,446 

Loans, net (including $51,295 of loans measured at fair value at March

 

 

 

31, 2014 and $13,757 at June 30, 2013)

558,041 

 

608,583 

Securities owned, at fair value

288,969 

 

209,633 

Securities held to maturity

13,553 

 

17,423 

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

97,504 

 

51,996 

Goodwill

7,552 

 

7,552 

Securities available for sale

575,679 

 

503,276 

Other assets

97,928 

 

91,160 

 

$                  4,050,226 

 

$                     3,780,373 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

$                       50,000 

 

$                        131,500 

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

1,795,811 

 

1,532,971 

Payable to clients

359,494 

 

335,655 

Deposits

995,601 

 

993,719 

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

69,961 

 

37,012 

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

177,460 

 

134,735 

Drafts payable

30,624 

 

28,889 

Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”)

92,430 

 

97,565 

Long-term debt, net

86,537 

 

83,102 

Stock purchase warrants (“warrants”)

31,033 

 

24,197 

Other liabilities

54,215 

 

65,742 

 

$                  3,743,166 

 

$                     3,465,087 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Preferred stock of $1.00 par value.  Authorized 100,000 shares;

 

 

 

none issued

 -

 

 -

Common stock of $0.10 par value.  Authorized 60,000,000 shares,

 

 

 

issued 33,312,140 and outstanding 32,754,033 shares at March 31,

 

 

 

2014; issued 33,312,140 and outstanding 32,629,213 shares at

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

3,331 

 

3,331 

Additional paid-in capital

324,221 

 

325,030 

Accumulated deficit

(10,134)

 

(3,361)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss – unrealized holding loss, net of

 

 

 

tax of $(4,067) at March 31, 2014 and $(2,963) at June 30, 2013

(7,331)

 

(5,334)

Deferred compensation, net

3,176 

 

3,352 

Treasury stock ( 558,107 shares at March 31, 2014 and 682,927

 

 

 

shares at June 30, 2013, at cost)

(6,203)

 

(7,732)

Total stockholders’ equity

307,060 

 

315,286 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$                  4,050,226 

 

$                     3,780,373 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


 

SWS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three-Months Ended

 

For the Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues from clearing operations

 

$             2,170 

 

$             2,082 

 

$            6,676 

 

$            6,398 

Commissions

 

30,247 

 

31,275 

 

90,558 

 

94,965 

Interest

 

22,273 

 

22,800 

 

65,501 

 

72,696 

Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees

 

9,704 

 

9,196 

 

31,103 

 

31,361 

Net gains on principal transactions

 

8,203 

 

5,511 

 

23,843 

 

25,163 

Other

 

4,891 

 

7,191 

 

19,785 

 

18,953 

Total revenue

 

77,488 

 

78,055 

 

237,466 

 

249,536 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

11,814 

 

11,301 

 

34,311 

 

33,328 

Net revenues

 

65,674 

 

66,754 

 

203,155 

 

216,208 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-interest expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions and other employee compensation

 

48,753 

 

52,077 

 

150,082 

 

158,338 

Occupancy, equipment and computer service costs

 

7,676 

 

7,829 

 

23,157 

 

23,089 

Communications

 

3,384 

 

3,371 

 

10,094 

 

9,925 

Floor brokerage and clearing organization charges

 

1,189 

 

951 

 

3,374 

 

2,913 

Advertising and promotional

 

459 

 

922 

 

1,721 

 

2,327 

Recapture of loan loss

 

(1,578)

 

 -

 

(4,869)

 

(1,450)

Other

 

7,217 

 

7,320 

 

19,507 

 

23,780 

Total non-interest expenses

 

67,100 

 

72,470 

 

203,066 

 

218,922 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on warrants valuation

 

(6,745)

 

(3,840)

 

(6,836)

 

(264)

Loss before income tax expense (benefit)

 

(8,171)

 

(9,556)

 

(6,747)

 

(2,978)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

586 

 

(3,838)

 

27 

 

(1,985)

Net loss

 

(8,757)

 

(5,718)

 

(6,774)

 

(993)

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net losses recognized in other comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    loss net of tax of $(404) and $0 for the three-months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    ended, March 31, 2014, and March 29, 2013,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    respectively, and $(503) and $0 for the nine-months

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    respectively, on cash flow hedging

 

(751)

 

 -

 

(934)

 

 -

Net gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive loss,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    net of tax of $1,513 and $(397) for the  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    three-months ended March 31, 2014 and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    March 29, 2013, respectively, and $(600) and 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    $(692) for the nine-months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    respectively, on available for sale securities

 

2,811 

 

(725)

 

(1,063)

 

(1,260)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) recognized in other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   comprehensive loss

 

2,060 

 

(725)

 

(1,997)

 

(1,260)

Comprehensive loss

 

$            (6,697)

 

$            (6,443)

 

$          (8,771)

 

$          (2,253)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share – basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$              (0.27)

 

$              (0.17)

 

$            (0.21)

 

$            (0.03)

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

 

33,020,499 

 

32,896,805 

 

32,987,933 

 

32,857,860 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share – diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$              (0.27)

 

$              (0.17)

 

$            (0.21)

 

$            (0.03)

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

 

33,020,499 

 

32,896,805 

 

32,987,933 

 

32,857,860 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

4


 

SWS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013

 (In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

  Net loss

 

$                (6,774)

 

$                   (993)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,076 

 

4,103 

Accretion of discount on long-term debt

 

3,435 

 

2,963 

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs

 

369 

 

369 

Increase in fair value of warrants

 

6,836 

 

264 

Amortization of premiums /discounts on loans purchased

 

(22)

 

(92)

Amortization of premiums /discounts on investment securities

 

1,856 

 

1,436 

Amortization of prepayment penalty on advances from FHLB

 

34 

 

22 

Provision for doubtful accounts on receivables from customers

 

720 

 

720 

(Recapture) provision of loan loss and write downs on real estate

 

 

 

 

 owned (“REO”)

 

(4,606)

 

24 

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense

 

(3,547)

 

2,626 

Allowance for deferred tax asset

 

3,325 

 

(256)

Deferred compensation for deferred compensation plan and

 

 

 

 

restricted stock plans

 

(1,759)

 

(1,035)

Gain on sale of loans

 

(558)

 

(1,513)

Loss on fixed assets transactions

 

196 

 

Gain on sale of available for sale investment securities

 

(483)

 

(3,645)

(Gain) loss on sale of REO and other repossessed  assets

 

(569)

 

752 

Gain on issuer’s redemption of investment securities

 

 -

 

(7)

Loss (Gain) on equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures

 

803 

 

(616)

Dividend received on investments

 

(15)

 

(13)

Gain on fair value option of loans

 

(368)

 

 -

Loss on interest rate swaps

 

251 

 

 -

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

  Decrease in restricted cash

 

49 

 

 -

Increase in assets segregated for regulatory purposes

 

(25,224)

 

(743)

Net change in broker, dealer and clearing organization accounts

 

92,076 

 

(56,525)

Net change in client accounts

 

45,527 

 

(5,173)

Increase in securities owned

 

(79,336)

 

(102,101)

Increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

(45,508)

 

(19,372)

Decrease in other assets

 

686 

 

6,475 

Increase in drafts payable

 

1,735 

 

1,706 

Increase in securities sold, not yet purchased

 

42,725 

 

49,077 

Decrease in other liabilities

 

(9,784)

 

(3,691)

       Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

26,146 

 

(125,235)

(continued)

 

 

 

 

 

5


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(continued)

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

Purchase of fixed assets and capitalized improvements on REO

 

$                (3,315)

 

$                (3,091)

Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets and real estate

 

9,305 

 

17,629 

Loan originations and purchases

 

(1,723,683)

 

(4,431,223)

Loan repayments

 

1,769,190 

 

4,603,333 

Purchase of investment securities

 

(177,085)

 

(161,736)

Proceeds from the issuer’s redemption of investment securities

 

 -

 

12,000 

Cash received on investments

 

39,501 

 

36,289 

Proceeds from the sale of loans held for investment

 

6,200 

 

11,580 

Proceeds from the sale of FHLB stock

 

213 

 

744 

Purchases of FHLB stock

 

(45)

 

 -

Proceeds from the sale/ maturity of available for sale securities

 

52,916 

 

29,611 

Cash paid to unwind/ terminate interest rate swap positions

 

(458)

 

 -

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

(300)

 

(180)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

(27,561)

 

114,956 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

Payments on short-term borrowings

 

(1,916,403)

 

(1,779,350)

Cash proceeds from short-term borrowings

 

1,864,903 

 

1,897,850 

Increase (decrease) in deposits

 

1,882 

 

(16,113)

Advances from the FHLB

 

5,540 

 

 -

Payments on advances from the FHLB

 

(10,709)

 

(12,029)

Fee payment for FHLB restructuring

 

 -

 

(166)

Cash proceeds on securities sold under agreements to repurchase

 

32,949 

 

17,336 

Proceeds related to deferred compensation plan

 

258 

 

206 

Purchase of treasury stock related to deferred compensation plan

 

(288)

 

(121)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(21,868)

 

107,613 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(23,283)

 

97,334 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

111,046 

 

81,826 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$               87,763 

 

$             179,160 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

Grants of restricted stock

 

$                 2,071 

 

$                    676 

Foreclosures on loans

 

$                 4,652 

 

$               11,076 

Investments sold not settled

 

$               13,039 

 

$                         - 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$               29,568 

 

$               38,882 

Income taxes

 

$                         - 

 

$                         - 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

6


 

SWS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Three and Nine-Months Ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 

(Unaudited)

 

GENERAL AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The interim consolidated financial statements as of March 31,  2014, and for the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2014 and March 29, 2013, are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, these interim statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 filed on September 6, 2013 on the Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K”).  Amounts as of June 30, 2013 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements filed on the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.  All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SWS Group, Inc. (“SWS Group”) and the consolidated active subsidiaries listed below (collectively with SWS Group, “SWS” or the “Company”).  Each of the subsidiaries listed below are 100% owned.

 

 

 

Southwest Securities, Inc.

"Southwest Securities"

SWS Financial Services, Inc.

"SWS Financial"

Southwest Financial Insurance Agency, Inc.

 

Southwest Insurance Agency, Inc.

collectively, “SWS Insurance”

SWS Banc Holding, Inc.

"SWS Banc"

Southwest Securities, FSB

"Bank"

 

 

Southwest Securities is a New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") member broker/dealer.  Southwest Securities and SWS Financial are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  Southwest Securities and SWS Financial are also registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as broker/dealers under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), and as registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SWS Insurance holds insurance agency licenses in 44 states for the purpose of facilitating the sale of insurance and annuities for Southwest Securities and its correspondents.  The Company retains no underwriting risk related to the insurance and annuity products that SWS Insurance sells. 

 

The Bank is a federally chartered savings bank regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC").  The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) supervises and regulates SWS Group and SWS Banc.  SWS Banc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SWS Group and became the sole shareholder of the Bank in 2004.   

 

Reclassifications.    Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss of $726,000 and $2,350,000 for the three and nine-months ended March 29,  2013 were reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2014 presentation.  In previous periods the amounts were presented in “Net gains on principal transactions” on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

 

Change in Fiscal Year End and Consolidated Financial Statements.  On May 23, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company, acting on the recommendation of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, approved a change to the Company’s fiscal year end from the last Friday of June to June 30th.  This change was effective for the Company’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.   Because the transition period was less than one month, no transition report was filed with the SEC.  

 

Prior to June 30, 2013, the quarterly consolidated financial statements of SWS were prepared as of the last Friday of the month, except for the second fiscal quarter which was prepared as of December 31, 2012, and the Bank’s financial statements were prepared on the last day of the quarter.  Any individually material transactions were reviewed and recorded in the appropriate quarterly period.

 

Merger Agreement.    On March 31, 2014, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with Hilltop Holdings, Inc. (“Hilltop”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hilltop, whereby if the merger contemplated therein is completed, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hilltop.  If the merger is completed, each share of SWS Group common stock will be converted into the right to receive $1.94 of cash and 0.2496 of a share of Hilltop common stock.   It is currently anticipated that the completion of the merger will occur by the end of 2014 subject to the receipt of SWS Group stockholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

During the three-months ended March 31, 2014, the Company incurred expenses of approximately $2,356,000 in legal and professional fees recorded in other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss in connection with the proposed merger with Hilltop.  Additional costs are expected to be incurred until the merger is completed

 

7


 

Regulatory.  The final provisions of the Volcker Rule of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) were issued December 10, 2013, with an effective date of April 1, 2014 and a compliance date of July 21, 2015.  The Volcker Rule provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act require the federal financial regulatory agencies to adopt rules that prohibit banks, bank holding companies, and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring certain unregistered investment companies (including hedge funds and private equity funds), subject to certain exceptions.  The Company’s securities trading and investment activities at the holding company, the broker/dealer and the Bank are subject to these final provisions.    The final rules are highly complex, and many aspects of their application remain uncertain.    

 

Based on management’s interpretation of the final provisions of the rule, the Bank’s equity method investments would be excluded from the definition of a “covered” fund as these investments would meet the definition of “public welfare investment” funds, “designed primarily to promote the public welfare. Currently, the Bank invests in these funds as a cost effective way of meeting its obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”). One of these investments also meets the definition of a small business investment company.    SWS Group’s equity method investment in a venture capital fund would also be excluded from the definition of a “covered fund as this investment meets the definition of a small business investment company.  In addition, at March 31, 2014, the Bank’s investment portfolio does not contain other securities subject to the Volcker Rule such as collateralized loan obligations (CLO’s) or non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO’s).  The Bank’s held to maturity and available for sale investments are all exempt from the Volcker Rule as these securities are investments in U.S. government, agency and municipal obligations, which are permitted under the provisions of the Volcker Rule. 

 

According to the Volcker Rule, proprietary trading involves a short-term intent, usually 60 days or less.  Banking entities are prohibited from engaging in proprietary trading including the purchase or sale of any security, derivative, commodity future or option for the purpose of short-term gain unless certain exemptions apply.  Exempted activities include the following: 1) underwriting; 2) market making; 3) risk mitigating hedging; 4) trading in certain government securities; 5) employee compensation plans and 6) transactions entered into on behalf of clients.     Management has reviewed the processes and procedures in regard to proprietary trading and believes that the Company is currently in compliance with the provisions of the Volcker Rule regarding proprietary trading.

 

Update of Significant Accounting Policies.  A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is included in Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.   Except as discussed herein, there have been no significant accounting changes since June 30, 2013.    

 

Accounting Pronouncements.  The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the SEC recently issued the following accounting pronouncements, which are applicable to SWS.  Any other new accounting pronouncements that are not specifically identified in SWS’s disclosures are not applicable to SWS: 

 

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (“ASU 2013-11”).  In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11 which explicitly states the guidance for the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exits.  This pronouncement clarifies the presentation of the unrecognized tax benefit as there is not currently a standard industry practice.  This pronouncement states an unrecognized tax benefit, or portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to the deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar loss, or a tax credit carryforward.  The presentation is limited if the net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date due to tax law or the entity does not recognize its deferred tax asset.  In addition, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability separate from the deferred tax asset.  The adoption of ASU 2013-11 will not impact the Company’s results of operations or financial position, but will impact the Company’s disclosures about the presentation of the deferred tax liability and asset.  ASU 2013-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013; the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2015.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2013-11 on its financial statements and processes.        

 

ASU 2014-4, “Receivables—Troubled Debt Restructuring by Creditors (“ASU 2014-04”).”  In January 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-04 to clarify that when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs,   a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, the amendments require interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction.  ASU 2014-04 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014; the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2016.  The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2014-04 on its financial statements and processes.        

 

 

8


 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

For the purposes of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, SWS considers cash to include cash on hand and in bank accounts.  In addition, SWS considers funds due from banks and interest bearing deposits in other banks to be cash. Highly liquid debt instruments purchased with maturities of three months or less, when acquired, are considered to be cash equivalents.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures deposit accounts up to $250,000.  At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, cash balances included $70,226,000 and $37,833,000,  respectively, that were not federally insured because they exceeded federal insurance limits.  This at-risk amount is subject to fluctuation on a daily basis, but management does not believe there is significant risk on these deposits.

 

The Bank is required to maintain reserve balances on hand or with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.  At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, these reserve balances amounted to $1,510,000 and $1,649,000, respectively.

 

RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Restricted cash and cash equivalents represents funds received from Hilltop and Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P. (“OHCP”) and Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P. (collectively with OHCP, “Oak Hill”) upon completion of the $100,000,000,  five year, unsecured credit agreement from Hilltop and Oak Hill (the “Credit Agreement”) that was entered into on July 29, 2011. The Company is required to keep these funds in a restricted account until the Company’s Board of Directors, Hilltop and Oak Hill determine the amount(s) to be distributed to the Company’s subsidiaries.  See additional discussion in, “Debt Issued with Stock Purchase Warrants”.  Upon approval of the Board of Directors, Hilltop and Oak Hill, SWS Group contributed $20,000,000 of this cash in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 to the Bank as capital, loaned Southwest Securities $20,000,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 to use in general operations by reducing Southwest Securities’ use of short-term borrowings for the financing of its day-to-day cash management needs, reduced its intercompany payable to Southwest Securities by $20,000,000 and contributed $10,000,000 in capital to Southwest Securities in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.  On March 28, 2013, the $20,000,000 loan from SWS Group to Southwest Securities was repaid and the Company’s Board of Directors, Hilltop and Oak Hill approved a $20,000,000 capital contribution to Southwest Securities.  The remaining $30,000,000 was loaned to Southwest Securities to use in general operations by reducing Southwest Securities’ use of short-term borrowings for the financing of its day-to-day cash management needs in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.   Restricted cash and cash equivalents are excluded from cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.  The Company held restricted cash and cash equivalents in money market funds.

 

ASSETS SEGREGATED FOR REGULATORY PURPOSES

At March 31,  2014, SWS held cash of approximately $189,961,000 segregated in special reserve bank accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers under Rule 15c3-3 of the Exchange Act.    SWS had no reserve deposits in special reserve bank accounts for the Proprietary Accounts of Introducing Brokers (the "PAIB") at March 31,  2014.  

 

At June 30, 2013, SWS held cash of approximately $164,737,000 segregated in special reserve bank accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers under Rule 15c3-3 of the Exchange Act.  SWS had no reserve deposits in special reserve bank accounts for the PAIB at June 30, 2013.  

 

RECEIVABLE FROM AND PAYABLE TO BROKERS, DEALERS AND CLEARING ORGANIZATIONS

At March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, SWS had receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations related to the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Receivable:

 

 

 

 

Securities failed to deliver

$             22,508 

 

$                9,708 

 

Securities borrowed

1,779,143 

 

1,546,376 

 

Correspondent broker/dealers

22,076 

 

45,435 

 

Clearing organizations

38,772 

 

25,285 

 

Other

6,739 

 

71,670 

 

 

$        1,869,238 

 

$         1,698,474 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payable:

 

 

 

 

Securities failed to receive

$             28,213 

 

$              39,024 

 

Securities loaned

1,711,638 

 

1,471,319 

 

Correspondent broker/dealers

13,662 

 

16,352 

 

Other

42,298 

 

6,276 

 

 

$        1,795,811 

 

$         1,532,971 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9


 

SWS participates in the securities borrowing and lending business by borrowing and lending securities other than those of its clients.  SWS obtains or releases collateral as prices of the underlying securities fluctuate.  Both of these activities are reported on a gross basis by counterparty.  The following table provides information about these receivables and related collateral amounts at  March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts not offset in the statement of financial position

Description

Gross amounts
of recognized
assets/
liabilities

 

Gross amounts
offset in the
statement of
financial position

 

Net amounts of
assets presented in the statement of
financial position

 

Financial instruments

Cash collateral

Net amount

Securities Borrowed

$              1,779,143 

 

$                              - 

 

$                   1,779,143 

 

$     (1,778,243)

$                - 

$            900 

Securities Loaned (1)

1,711,638 

 

 -

 

1,711,638 

 

(1,711,638)

 -

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts not offset in the statement of financial position

Description

Gross amounts
of recognized
assets/
liabilities

 

Gross amounts
offset in the
statement of
financial position

 

Net amounts of
assets presented in the statement of
financial position

 

Financial instruments

Cash collateral

Net amount

Securities Borrowed

$              1,546,376 

 

$                              - 

 

$                   1,546,376 

 

$     (1,546,376)

$                - 

$                - 

Securities Loaned (1)

1,471,319 

 

 -

 

1,471,319 

 

(1,471,319)

 -

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

____________________

(1)  Under securities lending agreements, SWS had repledged $1,679,444,000 and $1,452,911,000 at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.

 

LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR PROBABLE LOAN LOSSES

The Bank grants loans to customers primarily within Texas and New Mexico.  Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its portfolio is dependent upon the general economic conditions in Texas and New Mexico.

 

Loans receivable at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 are summarized as follows and include unamortized discounts and premiums and deferred loan fees and costs of $579,000 and $997,000 at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

Loans measured at fair value:

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$                9,897 

 

$                2,662 

Multifamily

41,398 

 

11,095 

 

51,295 

 

13,757 

Other loans receivable:

 

 

 

Residential construction

785 

 

1,367 

Lot and land development

5,955 

 

8,988 

1-4 family

164,979 

 

233,947 

Commercial real estate

178,444 

 

213,452 

Multifamily

92,300 

 

88,738 

Commercial loans

69,709 

 

58,718 

Consumer loans

2,666 

 

1,959 

 

514,838 

 

607,169 

 

566,133 

 

620,926 

Allowance for probable loan losses

(8,092)

 

(12,343)

 

$            558,041 

 

$            608,583 

10


 

At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the 1-4 family loans included $72,546,000 and $174,037,000, respectively, of purchased mortgage loans held for investment.  The loans, which are subject to policies and procedures governing credit underwriting standards and funding requirements, consisted of participations in newly originated residential loans from various mortgage bankers nationwide purchased at par.

 

The Bank’s liquidity has increased due to lower mortgage purchase program volumesBecause the volumes have not been replaced with current loan originations, the Bank made two loan purchases in the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The loans purchased were all single family residence mortgages and totaled approximately $40,000,000.

 

 

11


 

The analysis of the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2014 and 2013 and the recorded investment in loans receivable at March 31,  2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

Residential Construction

Lot and
Land Development

1-4 Family

Commercial Real Estate

Multifamily

Commercial

Consumer

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

$                    6 

$                124 

$           1,319 

$             3,069 

$           2,893 

$             2,018 

$               19 

$         9,448 

Charge-offs

 -

 -

(189)

 -

 -

 -

 -

(189)

Recoveries

14 
102 
26 
266 

 -

 -

411 

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

14 
102 
(163)
266 

 -

 -

222 

(Recapture) provision charged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to operations

(19)
(178)
715 
(1,453)
(409)
(229)
(5)
(1,578)

Balance at end of period

$                    1 

$                  48 

$           1,871 

$             1,882 

$           2,484 

$             1,792 

$               14 

$         8,092 

Ending balance: individually

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                    - 

$                    - 

$             177 

$               129 

$                   - 

$                149 

$                  - 

$            455 

Ending balance: collectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                    1 

$                  48 

$           1,694 

$             1,753 

$           2,484 

$             1,643 

$               14 

$         7,637 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

$                785 

$             5,955 

$       164,979 

$         178,444 

$         92,300 

$           69,709 

$          2,666 

$     514,838 

Ending balance: individually

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                564 

$                930 

$           6,552 

$             7,687 

$                   - 

$             4,347 

$                  - 

$       20,080 

Ending balance: collectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                221 

$             5,025 

$       158,427 

$         170,757 

$         92,300 

$           65,362 

$          2,666 

$     494,758 

 

12


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Residential Construction

Lot and
Land Development

1-4 Family

Commercial Real Estate

Multifamily

Commercial

Consumer

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

$                135 

$                674 

$            2,759 

$             7,768 

$             1,831 

$            5,464 

$                6 

$             18,637 

Charge-offs

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

(51)

 -

(51)

Recoveries

19 
109 

 -

34 
180 

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

19 
109 

 -

(17)
129 

(Recapture) provision charged to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

operations

(24)
(157)
(1,090)
(2,607)
5,445 
(1,563)
(4)

 -

Balance at end of period

$                119 

$                522 

$            1,688 

$             5,270 

$             7,276 

$            3,884 

$                7 

$             18,766 

Ending balance:  individually

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                  23 

$                254 

$               383 

$             1,159 

$                    - 

$            2,090 

$                 - 

$               3,909 

Ending balance:  collectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                  96 

$                268 

$            1,305 

$             4,111 

$             7,276 

$            1,794 

$                7 

$             14,857 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

$             2,167 

$           10,221 

$        265,631 

$         242,721 

$           75,468 

$          62,887 

$         1,602 

$           660,697 

Ending balance:  individually

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$                619 

$             2,761 

$          10,611 

$           14,049 

$                    - 

$            4,619 

$                 - 

$             32,659 

Ending balance:  collectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

evaluated for impairment

$             1,548 

$             7,460 

$        255,020 

$         228,672 

$           75,468 

$          58,268 

$         1,602 

$           628,038 

 

13


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

Residential Construction

Lot and
Land Development

1-4 Family

Commercial Real Estate

Multifamily

Commercial

Consumer

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

$                  49 

$                374 

$           1,528 

$             3,290 

$           3,567 

$             3,530 

$                 5 

$       12,343 

Charge-offs

 -

(4)
(286)
(51)

 -

(67)

 -

(408)

Recoveries

77 
112 
87 
705 

 -

45 

 -

1,026 

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

77 
108 
(199)
654 

 -

(22)

 -

618 

(Recapture) provision charged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to operations

(125)
(434)
542 
(2,062)
(1,083)
(1,716)
(4,869)

Balance at end of period

$                    1 

$                  48 

$           1,871 

$             1,882 

$           2,484 

$             1,792 

$               14 

$         8,092 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Residential Construction

Lot and
Land Development

1-4 Family

Commercial Real Estate

Multifamily

Commercial

Consumer

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for credit losses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of period

$                350 

$             1,310 

$            3,235 

$           10,628 

$             2,866 

$            4,004 

$                9 

$             22,402 

Charge-offs

 -

(182)
(163)
(1,113)

 -

(1,659)

 -

(3,117)

Recoveries

44 
192 
88 
192 

 -

405 
10 
931 

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

44 
10 
(75)
(921)

 -

(1,254)
10 
(2,186)

(Recapture) provision charged to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

operations

(275)
(798)
(1,472)
(4,437)
4,410 
1,134 
(12)
(1,450)

Balance at end of period

$                119 

$                522 

$            1,688 

$             5,270 

$             7,276 

$            3,884 

$                7 

$             18,766 

 

 

14


 

As of March 31, 2014 and 2013, the ratio of loan loss allowance to ending loan balance, excluding purchased mortgage loans held for investment and loans measured at fair value, was 1.83% and 4.07%, respectively.  There was no loan loss allowance for purchased mortgage loans held for investment because they are held on average for 25 days or less, which substantially reduces credit risk.

 

Loans receivable on non-accrual status as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

Residential construction

$                  560 

 

$                601 

Lot and land development

927 

 

2,418 

1-4 family

5,724 

 

7,792 

Commercial real estate

3,303 

 

7,611 

Commercial loans

3,874 

 

4,024 

 

$             14,388 

 

$           22,446 

 

Loans are classified as non-performing when they are 90 days or more past due as to principal or interest or when reasonable doubt exists as to timely collectibility.  The Bank uses a standardized review process to determine which loans should be placed on non-accrual status.  At the time a loan is placed on non-accrual status, previously accrued and uncollected interest is reversed against interest income.  Interest income on non-accrual loans is subsequently recognized to the extent cash payments are received for loans where full collection is likely.  For loans where full collection is not likely, interest payments are applied to the outstanding principal and interest income is only recognized if full payment is made.  The average recorded investment in non-accrual loans for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and the twelve-months ended June 30, 2013 was approximately $17,211,000 and $25,516,000, respectively.  There was $2,000 and $31,000 of  interest income recorded on the non-accrual loans, prior to being placed on non-accrual status, in the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and approximately $7,000 and $39,000 of interest income for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013.    

 

The following tables highlight the Bank’s recorded investment and unpaid principal balance for impaired loans by type as well as the related allowance, average recorded investment and interest income recognized as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded Investment(1)

 

Unpaid Principal Balance(1)

 

Related Allowance

 

Average Recorded Investment(2)

 

Interest Income Recognized(3)

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With no related allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$               564 

 

$               742 

 

$                    - 

 

$               460 

 

$                    - 

Lot and land development

930 

 

1,200 

 

 -

 

139 

 

 -

1-4 family     

5,197 

 

6,975 

 

 -

 

5,509 

 

Commercial real estate

5,017 

 

5,136 

 

 -

 

6,244 

 

182 

Commercial loans

3,933 

 

3,984 

 

 -

 

4,141 

 

 

15,641 

 

18,037 

 

 -

 

16,493 

 

196 

 

15


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded Investment(1)

 

Unpaid Principal Balance(1)

 

Related Allowance

 

Average Recorded Investment(2)

 

Interest Income Recognized(3)

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$                   - 

 

$                   - 

 

$                   - 

 

$              119 

 

$                   - 

Lot and land development

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,247 

 

 -

1-4 family     

1,355 

 

1,429 

 

177 

 

2,330 

 

28 

Commercial real estate

2,670 

 

3,757 

 

129 

 

2,052 

 

 -

Commercial loans

414 

 

488 

 

149 

 

2,191 

 

16 

 

4,439 

 

5,674 

 

455 

 

7,939 

 

44 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$               564 

 

$               742 

 

$                    - 

 

$               579 

 

$                    - 

Lot and land development

930 

 

1,200 

 

 -

 

1,386 

 

 -

1-4 family     

6,552 

 

8,404 

 

177 

 

7,839 

 

34 

Commercial real estate

7,687 

 

8,893 

 

129 

 

8,296 

 

182 

Commercial loans

4,347 

 

4,472 

 

149 

 

6,332 

 

24 

 

$          20,080 

 

$          23,711 

 

$               455 

 

$          24,432 

 

$               240 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With no related allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$               383 

 

$               471 

 

$                    - 

 

$               438 

 

$                    - 

Lot and land development

102 

 

324 

 

 -

 

807 

 

 -

1-4 family     

5,818 

 

7,712 

 

 -

 

7,674 

 

17 

Commercial real estate

9,006 

 

12,239 

 

 -

 

7,785 

 

167 

Commercial loans

4,430 

 

5,092 

 

 -

 

1,582 

 

26 

 

19,739 

 

25,838 

 

 -

 

18,286 

 

210 

 

16


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recorded Investment(1)

 

Unpaid Principal Balance(1)

 

Related Allowance

 

Average Recorded Investment(2)

 

Interest Income Recognized(3)

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With an allowance recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$               222 

 

$               283 

 

$                 23 

 

$               191 

 

$                    - 

Lot and land development

2,326 

 

2,543 

 

233 

 

1,879 

 

 -

1-4 family     

3,543 

 

3,870 

 

178 

 

6,398 

 

67 

Commercial real estate

3,265 

 

4,188 

 

105 

 

10,048 

 

15 

Commercial loans

3,037 

 

3,032 

 

2,090 

 

2,288 

 

129 

 

12,393 

 

13,916 

 

2,629 

 

20,804 

 

211 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

$               605 

 

$               754 

 

$                 23 

 

$               629 

 

$                    - 

Lot and land development

2,428 

 

2,867 

 

233 

 

2,686 

 

 -

1-4 family     

9,361 

 

11,582 

 

178 

 

14,072 

 

84 

Commercial real estate

12,271 

 

16,427 

 

105 

 

17,833 

 

182 

Commercial loans

7,467 

 

8,124 

 

2,090 

 

3,870 

 

155 

 

$          32,132 

 

$          39,754 

 

$            2,629 

 

$          39,090 

 

$               421 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

____________________

(1)

The difference between the unpaid principal balance and the recorded investment of impaired loans with no related allowance recorded is primarily comprised of partial charge-offs that were previously recognized.

(2)

Represents the average recorded investment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and the twelve-months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

(3)

Represents interest income recognized on impaired loans for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and the twelve-months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

 

17


 

The Bank prepares a criticized and classified loan report that it uses to assist in calculating an adequate allowance for loan losses.  The following tables summarize this report and highlight the overall quality of the Bank’s financing receivables as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pass

 

Special Mention(1)

 

Substandard(2)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$           9,897 

 

$                   - 

 

$                     - 

 

$             9,897 

Multifamily

41,398 

 

 -

 

 -

 

41,398 

 

51,295 

 

 -

 

 -

 

51,295 

Other loans receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

225 

 

 -

 

560 

 

785 

Lot and land development

4,711 

 

 -

 

1,244 

 

5,955 

1-4 family     

158,990 

 

 -

 

5,989 

 

164,979 

Commercial real estate

150,756 

 

4,540 

 

23,148 

 

178,444 

Multifamily

92,300 

 

 -

 

 -

 

92,300 

Commercial loans

62,826 

 

2,782 

 

4,101 

 

69,709 

Consumer loans

2,666 

 

 -

 

 -

 

2,666 

 

472,474 

 

7,322 

 

35,042 

 

514,838 

 

$       523,769 

 

$           7,322 

 

$           35,042 

 

$         566,133 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pass

 

Special Mention(1)

 

Substandard(2)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$           2,662 

 

$                   - 

 

$                     - 

 

$             2,662 

Multifamily

11,095 

 

 -

 

 -

 

11,095 

 

13,757 

 

 -

 

 -

 

13,757 

Other loans receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

766 

 

 -

 

601 

 

1,367 

Lot and land development

5,605 

 

 -

 

3,383 

 

8,988 

1-4 family     

225,434 

 

234 

 

8,279 

 

233,947 

Commercial real estate

171,085 

 

7,631 

 

34,736 

 

213,452 

Multifamily

88,046 

 

 -

 

692 

 

88,738 

Commercial loans

47,680 

 

1,324 

 

9,714 

 

58,718 

Consumer loans

1,959 

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,959 

 

540,575 

 

9,189 

 

57,405 

 

607,169 

 

$       554,332 

 

$           9,189 

 

$           57,405 

 

$         620,926 

 

____________________

(1)

These loans are currently protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor, but have a potential weakness that would create a higher credit risk.

(2)

These loans exhibit well-defined weaknesses that could jeopardize the ultimate collection of all or part of the debt.  Substandard loans are inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged.  They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.  Loss potential, while existing in the aggregate for substandard assets, does not have to exist in individual assets classified as “Substandard.” 

18


 

The following tables highlight the age of the Bank’s past due financing receivables as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-59 Days Past Due

 

60-89 Days Past Due

 

90 Days and Greater Past Due

 

Total Past Due

 

Current

 

Total Financing Receivables

 

Recorded Investment > 90 Days and Accruing

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$           - 

 

$         - 

 

$           - 

 

$           - 

 

$      9,897 

 

$           9,897 

 

$                  - 

Multifamily

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

41,398 

 

41,398 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

51,295 

 

51,295 

 

 -

Other loans receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

785 

 

785 

 

 -

Lot and land development

16 

 

112 

 

14 

 

142 

 

5,813 

 

5,955 

 

 -

1-4 family     

2,308 

 

 -

 

816 

 

3,124 

 

161,855 

 

164,979 

 

 -

Commercial real estate

5,005 

 

907 

 

523 

 

6,435 

 

172,009 

 

178,444 

 

 -

Multifamily

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

92,300 

 

92,300 

 

 -

Commercial loans

394 

 

 -

 

3,676 

 

4,070 

 

65,639 

 

69,709 

 

 -

Consumer loans

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

2,663 

 

2,666 

 

 -

 

7,726 

 

1,019 

 

5,029 

 

13,774 

 

501,064 

 

514,838 

 

 -

 

$    7,726 

 

$  1,019 

 

$    5,029 

 

$  13,774 

 

$  552,359 

 

$       566,133 

 

$                  - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30-59 Days Past Due

 

60-89 Days Past Due

 

90 Days and Greater Past Due

 

Total Past Due

 

Current

 

Total Financing Receivables

 

Recorded Investment > 90 Days and Accruing

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$           - 

 

$         - 

 

$           - 

 

$           - 

 

$      2,662 

 

$           2,662 

 

$                  - 

Multifamily

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

11,095 

 

11,095 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

13,757 

 

13,757 

 

 -

Other loans receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,367 

 

1,367 

 

 -

Lot and land development

173 

 

370 

 

80 

 

623 

 

8,365 

 

8,988 

 

 -

1-4 family     

914 

 

234 

 

2,816 

 

3,964 

 

229,983 

 

233,947 

 

 -

Commercial real estate

1,396 

 

1,153 

 

4,826 

 

7,375 

 

206,077 

 

213,452 

 

 -

Multifamily

692 

 

 -

 

 -

 

692 

 

88,046 

 

88,738 

 

 -

Commercial loans

750 

 

3,812 

 

135 

 

4,697 

 

54,021 

 

58,718 

 

 -

Consumer loans

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,959 

 

1,959 

 

 -

 

3,925 

 

5,569 

 

7,857 

 

17,351 

 

589,818 

 

607,169 

 

 -

 

$    3,925 

 

$  5,569 

 

$    7,857 

 

$  17,351 

 

$  603,575 

 

$       620,926 

 

$                  - 

 

In certain circumstances, the Bank modifies the terms of its loans to a troubled borrower.  Modifications may include extending the maturity date, reducing the stated interest rate, rescheduling future cash flows or some combination thereof.  The Bank accounts for the modification as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”). 

 

Loans that have been modified in a TDR continue to be considered restructured until paid in full.  These loans, including loans restructured in the prior 12 months that defaulted during the period, are individually evaluated for impairment taking into consideration payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due.  A specific allowance for an impaired loan that has been modified in a TDR is established when the loan’s fair value is lower than its recorded investment.  In addition, the historical loss rates of loans modified in TDRs, by portfolio segment, are factored into the formula utilized to determine the general allowance for probable loan losses. 

 

 

19


 

The table below presents the recorded investment in loans modified in TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

Residential construction

 

$                        564 

 

$                     605 

Lot and land development

 

916 

 

4,927 

1-4 family

 

5,533 

 

7,690 

Commercial real estate

 

7,104 

 

4,574 

Commercial

 

708 

 

497 

 

 

$                   14,825 

 

$                18,293 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The allowance for loan losses associated with loans modified in TDRs as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, was $445,000 and $447,000, respectively.  The recorded investment includes $5,826,000 and $6,685,000 of loans on accrual status as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  Loans modified in TDRs are placed on accrual status when a reasonable period of payment performance by the borrower demonstrates the ability and capacity to meet the restructured terms.

 

The following table summarizes the financial effects of loan modifications accounted for as TDRs that occurred during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

 

Number of Contracts

 

Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment

 

Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment(1)

 

Number of Contracts

 

Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment

 

Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment(1)

1-4 family

 

 

$                     212 

 

$                    212 

 

 

$                    212 

 

$                    212 

Commercial real estate

 

 

3,991 

 

3,991 

 

 

3,991 

 

3,991 

Commercial

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

168 

 

168 

 

 

 

$                  4,203 

 

$                  4,203 

 

 

$                 4,371 

 

$                  4,371 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Nine-Months End
March 31, 2013

 

 

Number of Contracts

 

Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment

 

Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment(1)

 

Number of Contracts

 

Pre-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment

 

Post-Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment(1)

Residential construction

 

 -

 

$                         - 

 

$                        - 

 

 

$                    648 

 

$                   648 

Lot and land development

 

 

514 

 

514 

 

 

3,742 

 

3,742 

1-4 family

 

 

361 

 

361 

 

 

1,669 

 

1,656 

Commercial real estate

 

 

278 

 

278 

 

 

374 

 

374 

Commercial

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

213 

 

213 

 

 

 

$                 1,153 

 

$                 1,153 

 

25 

 

$                 6,646 

 

$                 6,633 

____________

 (1) Post-modification balances include direct charge-offs recorded at the time of modification.      

 

20


 

The table below summarizes the type of loan modifications made and the post modification outstanding recorded investment for TDRs during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of TDR Loan Modifications

Type of Modification

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

Maturity date extension

 

$                           103 

 

$                           103 

Rescheduled future cash flows

 

3,991 

 

4,159 

Combination of maturity date extension

 

 

 

 

and reduction of the stated interest rate

 

109 

 

109 

 

 

$                        4,203 

 

$                         4,371 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of TDR Loan Modifications

Type of Modification

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

Maturity date extension

 

$                           249 

 

$                           363 

Reduction of the stated interest rate

 

 -

 

60 

Rescheduled future cash flows

 

278 

 

983 

Combination of maturity date extension

 

 

 

 

and rescheduling of future cash flows

 

350 

 

2,996 

Combination of maturity date extension

 

 

 

 

and reduction of the stated interest rate

 

 -

 

26 

Combination of maturity date extension,

 

 

 

 

reduction of the stated interest rate,

 

 

 

 

and rescheduling of future cash flows

 

84 

 

2,013 

Combination of reduction of the stated interest rate

 

 

 

 

and rescheduling of future cash flows

 

192 

 

192 

 

 

$                        1,153 

 

$                         6,633 

 

Loan modifications accounted for as TDRs within the previous 12 months that subsequently defaulted (a payment default is defined as a loan 60 days or more past due) during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the following table (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2014

 

 

Number of Contracts

 

Recorded Investment

 

Number of Contracts

 

Recorded Investment

1-4 family

 

 -

 

$                 -

 

 

$            272

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

Nine-Months Ended
March 31, 2013

 

 

Number of Contracts

 

Recorded Investment

 

Number of Contracts

 

Recorded Investment

1-4 family

 

 

$             658

 

 

$             658

 

The Bank has elected to measure certain loans at fair value.  See discussion in “Note 1(x). Fair Value of Financial Instruments” and “Note 1(g). Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.  The Bank recognized interest income on loans measured at fair value separately from other changes in fair value.  As of March 31, 2014, there were no loans measured at fair value on non-accrual status or 90 days or more past due and still accruing. 

 

 

 

21


 

The following tables summarize the amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and the fair value of loans measured at fair value at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 for the Bank (in thousands): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Cost

 

Gains (1)

 

Losses (1)

 

Value

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$        9,875 

 

$              80 

 

$            (58)

 

$     9,897 

Multifamily

41,197 

 

246 

 

(45)

 

41,398 

 

$      51,072 

 

$            326 

 

$          (103)

 

$   51,295 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Cost

 

Losses (1)

 

Value

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial real estate

$        2,787 

 

$            (125)

 

$      2,662 

Multifamily

11,115 

 

(20)

 

11,095 

 

$      13,902 

 

$            (145)

 

$    13,757 

____________

 (1)  Unrealized gains (losses) are recorded in other revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.

 

SECURITIES OWNED AND SECURITIES SOLD, NOT YET PURCHASED

Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

Securities owned:

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities

 

$                      1,143 

                        

$                      1,520 

Municipal obligations

 

67,719 

 

30,116 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

 

84,670 

 

41,529 

Corporate obligations

 

96,155 

 

127,899 

Other

 

39,282 

 

8,569 

 

 

$                  288,969 

                                                                

$                  209,633 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities sold, not yet purchased:

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities

 

$                            3 

 

$                             - 

Municipal obligations

 

 -

 

10 

U.S. government and government agency obligations 

 

97,949 

 

54,086 

Corporate obligations

 

79,508 

 

80,639 

 

 

$                  177,460 

                                                                

$                  134,735 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased are carried at fair value.  See additional discussion in Fair Value of Financial Instruments”.

 

Some of these securities were pledged as collateral to secure short-term borrowings (see Short-Term Borrowings) and as security deposits at clearing organizations for the Company’s clearing business.  At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, securities pledged as security deposits at clearing organizations were $6,349,000 and $3,000,000, respectively.

 

The Company also enters into “to-be-announced” securities (“TBAs”) in order to assist clients (generally small to mid-size mortgage loan originators) in hedging the interest rate risk associated with the mortgages owned by the clients.  In general, the Company will enter into a TBA purchase agreement with the client and then immediately enter into a TBA sale agreement with

22


 

identical terms and the same settlement date with a separate counter-party.  The Company earns revenue through a commission charged to the customer.  Because the Company has purchased and sold the same security, it is no longer exposed to market movements of the underlying TBA.  At March 31, 2014, the Company had unsettled TBA purchase contracts and offsetting TBA sale agreements in the notional amount of $812,501,000.

 

SECURITIES HELD TO MATURITY

Securities held to maturity consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government National Mortgage

 

 

 

 

Association ("GNMA") Securities

$                     13,553 

 

$                     17,423 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In March 2011, the Bank purchased GNMA securities at a cost of $35,525,000, including a premium of $525,000.  The premium is amortized over the period from the date of purchase to the stated maturity date (15 years) of the GNMA securities using the interest method.  These securities are classified as held to maturity and are accounted for at amortized cost.  The weighted average yield on this investment is expected to be 2.4% and the weighted average maturity is expected to be 2.1 years

 

The Bank recorded $19,000 and $60,000 in amortization of the premiums during the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2014,  respectively.  During the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2014, the Bank received $1,129,000 and $4,154,000 of principal and interest payments, respectively, recording $106,000 and $344,000 in interest, respectively.    

 

The Bank recorded $28,000 and $89,000 in amortization of the premiums during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, respectively.  During the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Bank received $2,344,000 and $6,832,000 of principal and interest payments, respectively, recording $156,000 and $515,000 in interest, respectively. 

 

The amortized cost, estimated fair value and unrecognized holding gain of securities held to maturity at March 31,  2014, by contractual maturity date, are shown below (in thousands).  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or repay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities Held to Maturity

 

Amortized Cost

 

Fair Value

 

Unrecognized Holding gain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due after ten years

$                     13,553 

 

$                     13,899 

 

$                          346 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES PURCHASED/SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO RESELL/REPURCHASE

At March 31,  2014  and June 30, 2013, SWS held reverse repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government and government agency obligations and securities sold under repurchase agreements.  These securities are reported on a gross basis in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. 

 

Securities sold under repurchase agreements, which are secured borrowings, generally mature within one to four days from the transaction date.  Securities sold under repurchase agreements are reflected at the amount of cash received in connection with the transactions.  The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities.  The Company monitors the fair value of the underlying securities on a daily basis.  Interest on these amounts is accrued and is included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition in other liabilities.    

 

23


 

The following table provides information about these instruments and any related collateral amounts at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts not offset in the statement of financial position

Description

Gross amounts
of recognized
assets/
liabilities

 

Gross amounts
offset in the
statement of
financial position

 

Net amounts of
assets presented in the statement of
financial position

 

Financial instruments

Cash collateral

Net amount

Reverse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreements

$                  97,504 

 

$                              - 

 

$                       97,504 

 

$         (97,416)

$                - 

$              88 

Repurchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreements

69,961 

 

 -

 

69,961 

 

(69,628)

 -

333 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts not offset in the statement of financial position

Description

Gross amounts
of recognized
assets/
liabilities

 

Gross amounts
offset in the
statement of
financial position

 

Net amounts of
assets presented in the statement of
financial position

 

Financial instruments

Cash collateral

Net amount

Reverse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreements

$                  51,996 

 

$                              - 

 

$                       51,996 

 

$         (51,808)

$                - 

$            188 

Repurchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreements

37,012 

 

 -

 

37,012 

 

(37,012)

 -

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24


 

SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

SWS Group owns shares of common stock of Westwood Group, Inc. (“Westwood”), which it classifies as securities available for sale.  In addition to the shares of common stock owned by SWS Group, the Bank owns U.S. government and government agency and municipal obligations that are available for sale.  The unrealized holding gains (losses), net of tax, related to these securities are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

The following tables summarize the cost of equity securities, amortized cost of debt securities and market value of these investments at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013 (dollars in thousands): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original/

Gross

Gross

Gross

 

 

Shares

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Realized

Market

 

Held

Cost

Gains

Losses

Losses

Value

March 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westwood common stock

2,219 

$              7 

$           222 

$                 - 

$             (90)

$         139 

Municipal obligations

N/A

44,454 
173 
(678)

 -

43,949 

Continuous unrealized loss less than

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

N/A

507,461 
350 
(10,415)

 -

497,396 

Continuous unrealized loss for 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

months or greater:

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

N/A

35,597 

 -

(1,402)

 -

34,195 

 

 

$   587,519 

$           745 

$      (12,495)

$             (90)

$   575,679 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original/

Gross

Gross

Gross

 

 

Shares

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Realized

Market

 

Held

Cost

Gains

Losses

Losses

Value

June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westwood common stock

3,405 

$              7 

$           170 

$                 - 

$             (31)

$         146 

Continuous unrealized loss less than

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

N/A

479,970 
138 
(9,239)

 -

470,869 

Municipal obligations

N/A

29,289 

 -

(1,065)

 -

28,224 

Continuous unrealized loss for 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

months or greater:

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

N/A

4,127 

 -

(90)

 -

4,037 

 

 

$   513,393 

$           308 

$      (10,394)

$             (31)

$   503,276 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In fiscal 2014 and 2013, the Bank purchased U.S. government and government agency and municipal obligations securities at a cost of $177,085,000 and $319,836,000, including a net premium of $2,335,000 and $6,279,000, respectively.  The premium is amortized over the period from the date of purchase to the stated maturity date (weighted average of 4.39 years at March 31, 2014 and 4.04 years at June 30, 2013) using the interest method.    

 

During the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank recorded $619,000 and $1,796,000, respectively, in amortization of the premium and received $15,233,000 and $45,308,000, respectively, of principal and interest payments, recording $3,764,000 and $9,617,000, respectively, in interest income on these securities.  During the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Bank recorded $439,000 and $1,347,000, respectively, in amortization of the premium and received

25


 

$11,423,000 and $32,579,000, respectively, of principal and interest payments, recording $1,754,000 and $5,347,000, respectively, in interest income on these securities.

 

During the first three quarters of fiscal 2014, U.S. government and municipal obligations of $27,635,000 matured and during the first three quarters of fiscal 2013, municipal obligations of $495,000 matured and the issuer redeemed $12,000,000 of U.S. government agency securities, purchased at a discount, at par, resulting in a gain of $7,000.    

 

During the first three quarters of fiscal 2013, the Company recognized a realized gain of $3,550,000 in net gains on principal transactions and a $2,308,000  (the $3,550,000 net of tax) reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income from the sale of shares of U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (USHS) common stock owned by SWS Group at June 29, 2012.  Also, during the first three quarters of fiscal 2014 and 2013, the Bank sold $37,837,000 and $24,557,000 in securities, recognizing gains of $483,000 and $95,000 in other revenue and a $314,000  (the $483,000 net of tax) and $62,000  (the $95,000 net of tax) reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income, respectively. 

 

INVESTMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Investments. 

SWS has interests in four investment partnerships that it accounts for under the equity method, which approximates fair value.  One is a limited partnership venture capital fund in which SWS has invested $5,000,000.  Based on a review of the fair value of this limited partnership interest, SWS determined that its share of the investments made by the limited partnership should be valued at $530,000 as of March 31, 2014 and $513,000 as of June 30, 2013.  SWS recorded net gains of $13,000 and $17,000 on this investment for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and recorded net gains of $16,000 and $48,000 for the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013, respectively.  In fiscal 2013, SWS received cash distributions of $340,000 from this investment.  The limited partnership venture capital fund has entered into an agreement with the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for a self-liquidation plan.

 

Two investments are limited partnership equity funds to which the Bank has commitments of $3,000,000 and $2,000,000, respectively, and are considered cost effective ways of meeting its obligations under the CRA.  As of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Bank’s recorded investments in these partnerships were $3,012,000 and $3,782,000, respectively.  During the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank recorded net losses of $1,016,000 and $770,000, respectively, related to these investments.  In comparison, during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Bank recorded a net loss of $418,000 and a net gain of $568,000, respectively, related to these investments.  During the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank received no cash distributions and during the nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Bank received $2,400,000, from these investments. 

 

On January 28, 2009, the Bank executed a $4,500,000 loan agreement with one of the partnerships.  The loan was amended on November 16, 2009 to increase the note amount to $5,000,000.  The loan was renewed on September 26, 2012 with a maturity date of January 2, 2013At December 31, 2012, the loan was paid in full.  Prior to December 31, 2012, for the three and six-months ended December 31, 2012, the Bank earned approximately $55,000 and $111,000 in interest income, respectively   

 

On December 31, 2012, the Bank executed a new $5,000,000 loan agreement with one of the partnerships with a maturity date of December 31, 2015.  At March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance was $3,152,000.  The loan bears interest at a rate of 4.25% per annum and interest is due monthly.  The Bank earned approximately $33,000 and $89,000 in interest income for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and approximately $30,000 in interest income for the three-months ended March 31, 2013 on the loan.    

 

In April 2012, the Bank acquired an interest in a private investment fund to obtain additional credit for its obligations under the CRA.  The Bank has committed to invest $3,000,000 in the fund and to date, has contributed $480,000 in the fund, including $300,000 invested pursuant to capital calls in November 2013 and March 2014.  For the three-months ended March 31, 2014, no amounts were recorded to reflect a change in market value.  For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank recorded net losses of $50,000.  There were no net gains or losses recorded by the Bank for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013.  The recorded investment in this fund was $312,000 and $62,000 at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.

 

Variable Interest Entities. 

The Company’s variable interest entity (“VIE”) policies are discussed in “Note 10. Investments and Variable Interest Entities in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.

 

The loans to commercial borrowers noted in the table below, which have been modified as a troubled debt restructuring, triggering a reconsideration event, meet the definition of a VIE because the legal entities have a total equity investment at risk that is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, leading to the borrowers request for a loan modification.  The Company, however, does not meet the definition of a primary beneficiary of the legal entities even though the Company has customary lender’s rights and remedies, as provided in the related promissory notes and loan agreements.   The Company does not possess the power to direct the activities of the legal entities that most significantly impact the legal entities economic performance nor does the Company have the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses

26


 

or the right to receive potentially significant benefits from the legal entities.  Accordingly, the legal entities are not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements

 

The following table presents the carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss associated with the Company’s variable interests in unconsolidated VIEs as of March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Number of VIEs

Carrying Amount of Assets

Maximum Exposure to Loss

 

Number of VIEs

Carrying Amount of Assets

Maximum Exposure to Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans to commercial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

borrowers

11 

$      5,598 

$        4,277 

 

17 

$    10,639 

$        9,072 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s recorded investment in these loans is included in loans, net of allowance for loan losses in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  See additional discussion in  “Loans and Allowance for Probable Loan Losses for information related to the loans modified in TDRs.

 

REO AND OTHER REPOSSESSED ASSETS

REO and other repossessed assets are valued at the lower of cost or market, less a selling discount and are included in other assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  For those investments where the REO is valued at market, the value is determined by third party appraisals or if the REO is subject to a sales contract, by the accepted sales amount.  In addition, under certain circumstances, the Bank adjusts appraised values to more accurately reflect the economic conditions of the area at the time of valuation or to reflect changes in market value occurring subsequent to the appraisal date.  There were $62,000 and $263,000 of subsequent write-downs required to reflect current fair value for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and $549,000 and $1,475,000 of subsequent write-downs were required for the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2013, respectively.

 

SERVICING ASSETS

During fiscal 2014 and 2013, the Bank sold $5,934,000 of SBA loans resulting in a gain of $493,000 and $17,664,000 of SBA loans resulting in a gain of $2,253,000, respectively.  In addition, during the three-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank, in connection with the fiscal 2014 sales, recorded servicing assets of $116,000.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the servicing assets had a value of $493,000 and $412,000, respectively.  The Bank accounts for its servicing rights in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 860-50, “Servicing Assets and Liabilities,” at amortized cost.  The codification requires that servicing rights acquired through the origination of loans, which are sold with servicing rights retained, are recognized as separate assets.  Servicing assets are recorded as the difference between the contractual servicing fees and adequate compensation for performing the servicing, and are periodically reviewed and adjusted for any impairment.  The amount of impairment recognized, if any, is the amount by which the servicing assets exceed their fair value.  For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank recorded impairment charges of $(17,000) and $16,000, respectivelyThere were no impairment charges for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013.  Fair value of the servicing assets is estimated using discounted cash flows based on current market interest rates.  See Note 1(x). Fair Value of Financial Instruments” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statement in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K and “Fair Value Financial Instruments”.  Servicing rights are amortized in proportion to and over the period of the related net servicing income.

 

INTEREST RATE SWAPS 

The Company’s interest rate swap policies are discussed in Note 1(m). Interest Rate Swaps in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.

 

In fiscal 2013 and the first three-quarters of fiscal 2014,  the Bank entered into forward-start interest rate swaps to mitigate risk from its exposure to variability in interest payments on the Bank’s variable rate deposits.  The Bank’s forward-start interest rate swaps exchange fixed for variable interest payments beginning at a pre-specified date in the future according to the terms of the swap agreements and are designated as cash flow hedgesAs of March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the notional amount of interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedging instruments was $115,000,000 with a net fair value of $653,000, and $100,000,000 with a net fair value of $1,789,000, respectively, included in other assets and other liabilities, on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  During the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Bank recognized net losses of $494,000 and $145,000 in other revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss as a result of the termination of two liability position swaps and cash flow hedging ineffectiveness, with a loss of $286,000 for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 related to the termination of $446,000 of liability position swaps and a loss of $208,000 and gain of $141,000 for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, for hedging ineffectiveness. 

 

In addition, interest rate swaps are used by the Bank to manage interest rate risk on certain fixed rate loans funded with variable rate deposits which exposes the Bank to potential variability in its net interest margin.  These fixed rate loans include terms matching the interest rate swaps and are recorded at fair value under the fair value option election.  See discussion in

27


 

Loans and Allowance for Probable Loan Losses” for information regarding these loans valued at fair value.  As of March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding related to fixed rate loan transactions was $51,071,000 with a net fair value of $50,000, and $13,902,000 with a fair value of $145,000, respectively, included in other assets and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.  During the three-months ended December 31, 2013, the Bank paid its counterparty $12,000 to terminate one interest rate swap.   

 

For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014,  net losses recognized in other revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss as a result of changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps, not designated as cash flow hedges, were $266,000 and $106,000, respectivelyAs the Bank did not invest in interest rate swaps at March 31, 2013, there were no gains or losses recognized for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013.

 

SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS 

 

Brokerage. 

 

Uncommitted lines of credit

Southwest Securities has credit arrangements with commercial banks, which include broker loan lines up to $400,000,000.  These lines of credit are used primarily to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent broker/dealer accounts, receivables in customers’ margin accounts and underwriting activities.  These lines may also be used to release pledged collateral against day loans. These credit arrangements are provided on an “as offered” basis and are not committed lines of credit.  These arrangements can be terminated at any time by the lender.  Any outstanding balance under these credit arrangements is due on demand and bears interest at rates indexed to the federal funds rate (0.06% at March 31, 2014 and 0.07% at June 30, 2013).  The total amount of borrowings available under these lines of credit is reduced by the amount available under the options trading unsecured letter of credit, referenced below.  At March 31,  2014, the amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $50,000,000, which was collateralized by securities held for firm accounts valued at $111,194,000.  At June 30, 2013, the amount outstanding under these secured arrangements was $86,500,000, which was collateralized by securities held for firm accounts valued at $120,568,000

 

At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, Southwest Securities had a $20,000,000 unsecured line of credit that is due on demand and bears interest at rates indexed to the federal funds rate.  This credit arrangement is provided on an “as offered” basis and is not a committed line of credit.  The total amount of borrowings available under this line of credit is reduced by the amount outstanding on the line and under any unsecured letters of credit at the time of borrowing.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, there were no amounts outstanding on this line.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the total amount available for borrowing was $20,000,000.

 

Committed lines of credit

On January 28, 2011, Southwest Securities entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated bank for a $45,000,000 committed revolving credit facility.  The commitment fee is 37.5 basis points per annum, and when drawn, the interest rate is equal to the federal funds rate plus 125 basis points.  The agreement provides that Southwest Securities must maintain a tangible net worth of at least $150,000,000.  The agreement was renewed on January 23, 2014 and has the same terms as the initial agreement.  As of March 31, 2014, there were no outstanding amounts under the committed revolving credit facility and as of June 30, 2013, there was $45,000,000 outstanding.  The secured borrowing was collateralized by securities with a value of $68,605,000 at June 30, 2013.

 

Letters of credit

At June 30, 2013, SWS had an irrevocable letter of credit agreement pledged to support customer open options positions with an options clearing organization.  Until drawn, the letter of credit bears interest at a rate of 0.5% per annum and is renewable semi-annually.  If drawn, the letter of credit bears interest at a rate of 0.5% per annum plus a fee.  At June 30, 2013, the maximum amount available under this letter of credit agreement was $75,000,000At June 30, 2013, the Company had outstanding, undrawn letters of credit of $50,000,000, bearing interest at a rate of 0.5% per annum.  The letter of credit was fully collateralized by marketable securities held in client and non-client margin accounts with a value of $71,035,000 at June 30, 2013The letter of credit was not renewed in the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

 

The Company also pledges customer securities to the Option Clearing Corporation to support open customer positions.  At March 31, 2014, the Company had pledged $81,809,073 to support these open customer positions.

 

In addition to using customer securities to collateralize short-term borrowings, SWS also loans client securities as collateral in conjunction with SWS’s securities lending activities.  At March 31,  2014,  approximately $337,688,000 of client securities under customer margin loans was available to be pledged, of which SWS had pledged $32,194,000 under securities loan agreements.  At June 30, 2013, approximately $329,013,000 of client securities under customer margin loans was available to be pledged, of which SWS had pledged $18,408,000 under securities loan agreements.      

 

 

28


 

Banking

In the second quarter of fiscal 2010, the Bank entered into a secured line of credit agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.  This line of credit is secured by the Bank's commercial loan portfolio.  This line is due on demand and bears interest at a rate equal to the federal funds target rate plus 50 basis points.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the total amount available under this line was $40,479,000 and $28,267,000, respectively.  There was no amount outstanding at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013.

 

DEPOSITS

The Bank’s deposits at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013 consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

Amount

Percent

 

Amount

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noninterest bearing demand accounts

$         58,242 

5.8 

%

 

$         55,221 

5.5 

%

 

Interest bearing demand accounts

8,993 
0.9 

 

 

7,723 
0.8 

 

 

Savings accounts

883,823 
88.8 

 

 

883,229 
88.9 

 

 

Limited access money market accounts

17,461 
1.8 

 

 

17,212 
1.7 

 

 

Certificates of deposit, less than $100,000

16,015 
1.6 

 

 

17,829 
1.8 

 

 

Certificates of deposit, $100,000 and greater

11,067 
1.1 

 

 

12,505 
1.3 

 

 

 

$       995,601 

100.0 

%

 

$       993,719 

100.0 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weighted average interest rate on the Bank’s deposits was approximately 0.04% at both March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively. 

 

At March 31,  2014, scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Year or Less

 

> 1 Year Through 2 Years

 

> 2 Years Through 3 Years

 

> 3 Years Through 4 Years

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Certificates of deposit, less than $100,000

$   13,057 

 

$      1,877 

 

$         379 

 

$         337 

 

$           365 

 

$   16,015 

 

Certificates of deposit, $100,000 and greater

9,159 

 

1,343 

 

463 

 

102 

 

 -

 

11,067 

 

 

$   22,216 

 

$      3,220 

 

$         842 

 

$         439 

 

$           365 

 

$   27,082 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bank is funded primarily by core deposits, with interest- bearing savings accounts from Southwest Securities’ customers making up a significant source of these deposits.

 

ADVANCES FROM THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK

At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, advances from the FHLB were due as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

Maturity:

 

 

 

Due in one year

$               10,127 

 

$            15,486 

Due in two years

4,620 

 

1,859 

Due in five years

52,018 

 

48,956 

Due in seven years

12,195 

 

12,809 

Due in ten years

4,710 

 

8,424 

Due in twenty years

8,858 

 

10,163 

 

92,528 

 

97,697 

Restructuring prepayment penalty

(98)

 

(132)

 

$               92,430 

 

$            97,565 

 

 

 

 

 

29


 

The advances from the FHLB had interest rates ranging from less than 1% to 6% and were collateralized by approximately $193,154,000 in qualifying loans at March 31, 2014 (calculated at December 31, 2013).  The weighted average interest rate was 2.6% at March 31,  2014.  At June 30, 2013 (calculated at March 31, 2013), the advances from the FHLB had interest rates from less than 1% to 6% and were collateralized by approximately $181,000,000 in qualifying loans.  The weighted average interest rate was 2.7% at June 30, 2013.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Bank restructured a portion of its fixed-rate FHLB advances with lower-cost FHLB advances.  Upon restructuring, the Bank incurred a $166,000 prepayment penalty, which is being amortized using the effective interest method over the contractual term of the restructured advances.  Amortization expense for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 was $11,000 and $34,000.  Amortization expense for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013 was $11,000 and $22,000, respectively.  

 

At March 31,  2014, the Bank had net borrowing capacity with the FHLB of $102,149,000.

 

DEBT ISSUED WITH STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS

On March 20, 2011, the Company entered into a Funding Agreement (the “Funding Agreement”) with Hilltop and Oak Hill.  On July 29, 2011, after receipt of stockholder and regulatory approval, the Company completed the following transactions contemplated by the Funding Agreement:

 

·

entered into a $100,000,000,  five year, unsecured credit agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill that accrues interest at a rate of 8% per annum;

·

issued warrants to Hilltop and Oak Hill allowing each to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of the Company’s common stock; and

·

granted Hilltop and Oak Hill certain rights, including certain registration rights, preemptive rights, and the right for each to appoint one person to the Company’s Board of Directors for so long as each owns 9.9% or more of all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or securities convertible into at least 9.9% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

 

On July 29, 2011, in connection with the loans made by Hilltop and Oak Hill under the Credit Agreement, the Company issued a warrant to Hilltop to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of common stock (and in certain cases described below, shares of Non-Voting Perpetual Participating Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), and warrants to Oak Hill to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of common stock (and in certain cases described below, shares of Series A Preferred Stock).  These warrants are exercisable for five years and have a fixed exercise price of $5.75 per share, subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments for extraordinary corporate transactions, such as stock splits, dividends and combinations, the issuance of stock purchase rights, debt or asset distributions (including cash), tender offers or exchange offers and entry into certain business combinations. In addition, the warrants have a weighted average anti-dilution adjustment in the event the Company issues shares of common stock at less than 90% of the market price of the common stock on the date prior to the pricing of such shares. For each of Hilltop and Oak Hill, the warrants represent approximately 17% of the Company’s common stock for each investor as of March  31, 2014 (assuming that the warrants are exercised in full).

 

The warrants provide that the Company would only issue shares of Series A Preferred Stock upon the exercise of warrants if it is necessary to prevent Hilltop or Oak Hill from owning or being deemed to own shares of the Company’s common stock in excess of the “Ownership Limit” provided in the warrants.  The “Ownership Limit” is 24.9% of any class of the securities of the Company or such level that Hilltop or Oak Hill reasonably determines would prevent them from being deemed to control the Company for purposes of the federal banking laws and regulations specified in the warrants.  No shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued or outstanding at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013. For additional discussion concerning the Series A Preferred Stock see the discussion in Preferred Stock.

 

The warrants are recorded as a liability in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at fair value.  Initial and subsequent valuations of the warrants use a binomial valuation model.  At initial valuation, July 29, 2011, the closing stock price was $5.45 per share yielding a fair value of $24,136,000.  At March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013,  the closing stock prices used in the binomial valuation model were $7.48 and $5.45, respectively, and the warrants were valued at $31,033,000 and $24,197,000, respectively.  The change in fair value for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 of $6,745,000 and $6,836,000, respectively, was reflected as an unrealized loss on warrants valuation on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.  The change in fair value for the three and nine-months ended March 29,  2013 of $3,840,000 and $264,000, respectively, was reflected as an unrealized loss on warrants valuation on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.  The warrants are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as disclosed in Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    

 

The loan is recorded as a liability with an 8% interest rate, a five year term and an effective interest rate of 14.9%.  At July 29, 2011, the discount on the loan was initially valued at $24,136,000 and is being accreted using the effective interest method.  For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recorded $1,187,000 and $3,435,000, respectively, in accretion expense on the discount.  In comparison, for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recorded $1,024,000 and $2,963,000, respectively, in accretion expense on the discount.  The resulting long-term debt balance at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 was $86,537,000 and $83,102,000, respectively.  For both the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 

30


 

March 29, 2013,  the cash portion of the interest expense paid on the loan to Hilltop and Oak Hill was $2,000,000 and $6,000,000, respectively.

 

At July 29, 2011, legal and accounting fees, printing costs and other expenses associated with the loan and warrants totaled $2,459,000 and are being amortized on a straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the loan.  For both the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29,  2013, interest expense charged to operations was $123,000 and $369,000, respectively.

 

The Company recorded total interest expense for this obligation for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss of $3,310,000 and $9,804,000, respectively, while total interest expense for this obligation for the three and nine-months ended March 29,  2013 was $3,147,000 and $9,332,000, respectively.   

 

The Credit Agreement contains customary financial covenants which require the Company to, among other things: 

·

maintain a tangible net worth at least equal to the sum of $275,000,000 and 20% of cumulative consolidated net income (as defined in the Credit Agreement) for each fiscal quarter for which consolidated net income is positive;

·

maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of at least $4,000,000;

·

maintain an excess net capital balance at Southwest Securities of at least $100,000,000 as of the end of each calendar month; and

·

maintain a total risk-based capital ratio, Tier I risk-based capital ratio and leverage ratio for the Bank that ensures the Bank is considered well capitalized or is required by federal law or regulation or action or directive by the Federal Reserve Board.

 

In addition, the covenants limit the Company’s and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things: 

·

incur additional indebtedness;

·

dispose of or acquire certain assets;

·

pay dividends on the Company’s capital stock;

·

make investments, including acquisitions; and

·

enter into transactions with affiliates.

 

The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2014Should the Company determine it needs additional debt at SWS Group, the Company would require regulatory approval and approval from Hilltop and Oak Hill.

 

If the proposed merger with Hilltop occurs, Hilltop’s warrant to acquire the Company’s common stock, if outstanding, will be cancelled.

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Oak Hill and the Company entered into a Letter Agreement dated March 31, 2014 (the “Oak Hill Letter Agreement”).    Pursuant to the Oak Hill Letter Agreement and the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the proposed merger with Hilltop, Oak Hill will deliver to the Company the certificates evidencing its warrants and any loans of Oak Hill to the Company then outstanding under the Credit Agreement, and SWS will issue and deliver to Oak Hill, in exchange for its warrants and loans, the following consideration: (i) the merger consideration that Oak Hill would have been entitled to receive upon consummation of the merger if its warrants had been exercised immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and (ii) an amount equal to the Applicable Premium (as defined in the Credit Agreement, being a calculation of the present value of all required interest payments due on a loan through its maturity date on the date the loan is repaid) calculated as if the loans held by Oak Hill were prepaid in full as of the closing date of the merger.

 

31


 

INCOME TAXES 

Income tax expense (benefit) for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014  and March 29, 2013 (effective rate of -7.2% and 40.2% in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013, respectively, and -0.4% and 66.7% in the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013, respectively) differs from the amount that would otherwise have been calculated by applying the federal corporate tax rate (35% in fiscal years 2014 and 2013) to loss before income tax expense (benefit)  and is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

Income tax benefit at the statutory rate

$              (2,860)

 

$              (3,344)

 

$              (2,361)

 

$              (1,042)

Tax exempt interest

(293)

 

(220)

 

(759)

 

(724)

Tax exempt income from company-owned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

life insurance ("COLI")

(31)

 

(277)

 

(564)

 

(384)

State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit

77 

 

(66)

 

65 

 

(415)

Non-deductible meals and entertainment

23 

 

77 

 

88 

 

156 

Non-deductible compensation

58 

 

247 

 

104 

 

763 

Valuation allowance

3,546 

 

(256)

 

3,390 

 

(256)

Other, net

66 

 

 

64 

 

(83)

 

$                  586 

 

$              (3,838)

 

$                    27 

 

$              (1,985)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32


 

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013 are presented below (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation plans

$              10,102 

 

$              11,378 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

11,940 

 

10,507 

 

Allowance for probable loan losses

2,673 

 

3,400 

 

Securities available for sale

4,190 

 

3,589 

 

Bad debt reserve

1,871 

 

2,177 

 

Deferred rent

1,912 

 

1,631 

 

State taxes

909 

 

909 

 

Investment in unconsolidated ventures

994 

 

909 

 

Deferred income on loans

772 

 

810 

 

REO

431 

 

139 

 

Long-term debt

2,538 

 

 -

 

Other

911 

 

513 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

39,243 

 

35,962 

 

Valuation allowance

(34,195)

 

(30,870)

 

Net deferred tax assets

5,048 

 

5,092 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps in cash flow hedging relationships

$                  (123)

 

$                  (626)

 

Fixed assets, net

(196)

 

(426)

 

Investment in unconsolidated ventures

 -

 

(120)

 

Long-term debt

 -

 

(82)

 

Other

(539)

 

(249)

 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

(858)

 

(1,503)

 

Net deferred tax assets – included in other assets on the

 

 

 

 

  Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

$                4,190 

 

$                3,589 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At June 30, 2013, the Company established an allowance for deferred tax assets associated with all of its deferred tax assets, except for the Bank’s securities available for sale.  Based on activity in the current period, the allowance increased $3,325,000 from June 30, 2013 to March 31, 2014.   Despite the valuation allowance, these assets remain available to offset future taxable income.

 

Management did not establish a valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset generated on the Bank’s unrealized losses of its securities available for sale of $4,190,000, because the Bank currently has the intent and ability to hold these securities until they recover in value.  The Company intends to maintain a valuation allowance with respect to its deferred tax assets, other than the Bank’s securities available for sale, until sufficient positive evidence exists to support its reduction or reversal.

   

The Company had a deferred tax asset for net operating losses for federal income tax purposes of approximately $11,940,000 and $10,507,000 at March 31,  2014  and June 30, 2013, respectively.  In order to utilize the operating loss carryforwards, the Company must generate sufficient taxable income within the applicable carryforward period.  If certain substantial changes in the Company’s ownership occur, there would be an annual limitation on the amount of the carryforwards that could be utilized.

 

At March 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $142,000 of unrecognized tax benefits.  The Company’s net liability for unrecognized tax benefits decreased $153,000 from June 30, 2013 to March 31, 2014 primarily due to the reversal of positions from the completion of tax audits and expirations of statutes of limitationsWhile the Company expects that the net liability for uncertain tax positions will change during the next 12 months, the Company does not believe that the change will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. 

 

33


 

The Company recognizes interest and penalties on income taxes in income tax expense.  Included in the net liability is accrued interest and penalties of $34,000 and $9,000, net of federal expense and benefit, respectively, as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Company recognized approximately $7,000 and $25,000, net of federal expense, respectively, in interest and penalties in income tax expense, while for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2013, the Company recognized approximately $2,000 and $(193,000), net of federal expense (benefit), respectively, in interest and penalties in income tax expense. The total amount of unrecognized income tax benefits that, if recognized, would reduce income tax expense was approximately $108,000 and $286,000 as of March 31,  2014  and June 30, 2013, respectively

 

With limited exception, SWS is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local tax audits by taxing authorities for years preceding 2010.  The examination of the Company’s federal tax returns for 2008 through 2011 has concluded with no material adjustments.  The Joint Committee completed its review with no exceptions, thereby concluding the matter

 

REGULATORY CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Brokerage.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the net capital position of Southwest Securities was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net capital

$           148,201 

 

 

$           141,112 

 

 

Less:  required net capital

6,747 

 

 

6,843 

 

 

Excess net capital

$           141,454 

 

 

$           134,269 

 

 

Net capital as a percent of aggregate debit items

43.9 

%

 

41.2 

%

 

Net capital in excess of 5% aggregate debit items

$           131,334 

 

 

$           124,005 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the net capital position of SWS Financial was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net capital

$                 935 

 

 

$                 713 

 

 

Less:  required net capital

250 

 

 

250 

 

 

Excess net capital

$                 685 

 

 

$                 463 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, see the discussion in Note 18. Regulatory Capital Requirements in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K

 

Banking.  The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal agencies.  Quantitative measures, established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy, require maintaining minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier I capital (as defined in 12 CFR 165 and 12 CFR 167) to risk-weighted assets (as defined) and of Tier I (core) capital (as defined) to adjusted assets (as defined).  Federal statutes and OCC regulations have established five capital categories for federal savings banks: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. The federal banking agencies have jointly specified by regulation the relevant capital level for each category. An institution is defined as well-capitalized when its total risk-based capital ratio is at least 10.00%, its Tier I risk-based capital ratio is at least 6.00%, its Tier I (core) capital ratio is at least 5.00%, and it is not subject to any federal supervisory order or directive to meet a specific capital level.    At March 31,  2014,  the Bank met all capital requirements to which it was subject and satisfied the requirements to be defined as well capitalized.

 

Until terminated on January 14, 2013, the Bank was restricted by and subject to the Order to Cease and Desist, Order No. WN-11-003, effective on February 4, 2011 (the “Order”), originally issued by the Office of Thrift Supervision and then administered by the OCC.  In connection with the termination of the Order on January 14, 2013, the Bank committed to the OCC that the Bank would, among other things:  (i) adhere to the Bank’s written business and capital plan as amended from time to time and (ii) maintain a Tier I (core) capital ratio at least equal to nine percent (9%) and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least twelve percent (12%).

34


 

The Bank’s capital amounts and ratios at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual

 

For Capital Adequacy Purposes

 

To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

Ratio

 

Amount

Ratio

 

Amount

Ratio

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total risk-based capital

 

$       184,452 

27.4 

%

 

$      53,934 

8.0 

%

 

$      67,418 

10.0 

%

 

 

 

 

Tier I risk-based capital

 

176,360 
26.2 

 

 

26,967 
4.0 

 

 

40,451 
6.0 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier I (core) capital

 

176,360 
13.9 

 

 

50,819 
4.0 

 

 

63,524 
5.0 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual

 

For Capital Adequacy Purposes

 

To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions

 

 

 

 

Amount

Ratio

 

Amount

Ratio

 

Amount

Ratio

 

 

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total risk-based capital

 

$       181,909 

24.9 

%

 

$      58,465 

8.0 

%

 

$      73,081 

10.0 

%

 

 

 

 

Tier I risk-based capital

 

172,734 
23.6 

 

 

29,233 
4.0 

 

 

43,849 
6.0 

 

 

 

 

 

Tier I (core) capital

 

172,734 
13.5 

 

 

51,081 
4.0 

 

 

63,851 
5.0 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

 

Restricted Stock Plan.    During the first nine-months of fiscal 2014, the Board of Directors approved grants to various officers and employees totaling 199,891 shares of restricted stock with a weighted average market value of $5.64 per share.  During the first nine-months of fiscal 2013, the Board of Directors approved grants to various officers and employees totaling 65,079 shares of restricted stock with a weighted average market value of $4.84 per share.  As a result of these grants, SWS recorded deferred compensation in additional paid in capital of approximately $1,443,000.  For the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 SWS recognized compensation expense related to restricted stock grants of approximately $261,000 and $641,000, respectively.  For the three and nine-months ended March 29,  2013, SWS recognized compensation expense related to restricted stock grants of approximately $275,000 and $883,000, respectively.   

 

Upon vesting of the shares granted under the Company’s restricted stock plans, the grantees may choose to sell a portion of their vested shares to the Company to cover the tax liabilities arising from the vesting.

 

During the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Company repurchased 1,094 shares of common stock with a market value of approximately $6,100, at an average price of $5.55 per share, in connection with income tax withholding obligations arising from vesting of restricted stock awards.  During the nine-months ended March 29, 2013, the Company repurchased 4,647 shares of common stock with a market value of approximately $27,000 or an average price of $5.78 per share, in connection with income tax withholding obligations arising from vesting of restricted stock awards.

 

At March 31, 2014, the total number of shares outstanding under the Restricted Stock Plan was 417,137 and the total number of shares available for future issuance was 2,383,016.

 

REPURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK

 

Periodically, SWS repurchases shares of common stock under a plan approved by the Board of Directors.  Prior to February 28, 2013, SWS was authorized to repurchase 500,000 shares of common stock from time to time in the open market.  During fiscal year 2013, SWS Group did not repurchase any shares of common stock under this plan.  As of March 31,  2014, the Company was not authorized to repurchase shares of common stock under a repurchase plan and did not intend to repurchase any shares of common stock.  Any repurchase of shares of common stock by the Company would require approval from the Company’s Board of Directors, Hilltop, Oak Hill and regulatory authorities.

 

The trustee under the deferred compensation plan periodically purchases the Company’s common stock in the open market in accordance with the terms of the plan.  This stock is classified as treasury stock in the consolidated financial statements, but participates in dividends declared by SWS.  The plan purchased 50,000 shares of common stock during the nine-months ended

35


 

March 31,  2014 at a cost of $288,000, or $5.76 per share.  The plan purchased 20,675 shares during the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 at a cost of $121,000, or $5.86 per share.  During the nine-months ended March 31,  2014 and March 29,  2013,  37,575 and 24,867 shares, respectively, were sold or distributed pursuant to the plan. 

 

PREFERRED STOCK

On March 17, 2011 in conjunction with the transaction with Hilltop and Oak Hill, the Board of Directors created the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share.  The Company has 17,400 authorized shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and no shares were issued or outstanding at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013.  If any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued, the Series A Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote with the common stock and will be convertible into shares of common stock at a fixed conversion ratio of 1,000 shares of common stock for each share of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.  The conversion ratio is subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments for extraordinary corporate transactions, such as stock splits, dividends and combinations, the issuance of stock purchase rights, debt or asset distributions (including cash), tender offers or exchange offers and entry into a shareholder rights plan. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock would automatically convert into shares of common stock if such shares were transferred by Hilltop or Oak Hill to a non-affiliate. See additional discussion concerning the Series A Preferred Stock in Debt Issued with Stock Purchase Warrants.

 

INTEREST INCOME AND INTEREST EXPENSE

For the three and nine-months ended March 31,  2014 and March 29, 2013 and, for the Bank, the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the components of interest income and expense were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three-Months Ended

 

For the Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 2014

 

March 2013

 

March 2014

 

March 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer margin accounts

 

$                2,185 

 

$                 1,997 

 

$                6,683 

 

$                6,276 

Assets segregated for regulatory purposes

 

31 

 

30 

 

96 

 

90 

Stock borrowed

 

9,372 

 

8,756 

 

26,115 

 

25,502 

Loans

 

6,255 

 

8,519 

 

20,023 

 

29,633 

Bank investments

 

2,971 

 

1,688 

 

8,383 

 

4,921 

Other

 

1,459 

 

1,810 

 

4,201 

 

6,274 

 

 

$              22,273 

 

$               22,800 

 

$              65,501 

 

$              72,696 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer funds on deposit

 

$                     26 

 

$                     60 

 

$                     93 

 

$                   173 

Stock loaned

 

7,130 

 

6,571 

 

19,885 

 

18,854 

Deposits

 

86 

 

102 

 

271 

 

372 

Federal Home Loan Bank

 

610 

 

627 

 

1,927 

 

2,060 

Long-term debt

 

3,310 

 

3,147 

 

9,804 

 

9,332 

Other

 

652 

 

794 

 

2,331 

 

2,537 

 

 

11,814 

 

11,301 

 

34,311 

 

33,328 

Total net interest revenue

 

$              10,459 

 

$               11,499 

 

$              31,190 

 

$              39,368 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36


 

LOSS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

The following reconciles the weighted average shares outstanding used in the basic and diluted EPS computations for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net loss

$              (8,757)

 

$              (5,718)

 

$              (6,774)

 

$                 (993)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

33,020,499 

 

32,896,805 

 

32,987,933 

 

32,857,860 

Effect of dilutive securities

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

33,020,499 

 

32,896,805 

 

32,987,933 

 

32,857,860 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share – basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$                (0.27)

 

$                (0.17)

 

$                (0.21)

 

$                (0.03)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share – diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$                (0.27)

 

$                (0.17)

 

$                (0.21)

 

$                (0.03)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (paid or unpaid) are treated as participating securities and are factored into the calculation of EPS, except in periods with a net loss, when they are excluded.

 

As a result of the net loss for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013, the warrants to acquire 17,391,304 shares of common stock were anti-dilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding and diluted EPS.     

 

The Company did not declare a dividend during the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013

 

On a quarterly basis, the Board of Directors determines whether the Company will pay a cash dividend.  The payment and rate of dividends on the Company’s common stock is subject to several factors including limitations imposed by the terms of the Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill, regulatory approval, operating results, the Company’s financial requirements, and the availability of funds from the Company’s subsidiaries, including the broker/dealer subsidiaries, which may be subject to restrictions under the net capital rules of the SEC and FINRA, and the Bank, which may be subject to restrictions by federal banking agencies. Specifically, the Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill only allows the Company to pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per share when the Company is not in default of any terms of the Credit Agreement.  The Company currently intends to retain earnings to fund operations and does not plan to pay dividends on its common stock in the near future.

 

SEGMENT REPORTING

SWS operates the following four business segments: 

 

·

Clearing: The clearing segment provides clearing and execution services (generally on a fully disclosed basis) for securities broker/dealers, for bank affiliated firms and firms specializing in high volume trading.

·

Retail Brokerage:  The retail brokerage segment includes retail securities products and services (equities, mutual funds and fixed income products), insurance products and managed accounts and encompasses the activities of the Company’s employees that are registered representatives and the Company’s independent representatives who are under contract with SWS Financial. 

·

Institutional Brokerage:  The institutional brokerage segment serves institutional customers in securities lending, investment banking and public finance, fixed income sales and trading, proprietary trading and agency execution services.

·

Banking:  The Bank offers traditional banking products and services and focuses on small business lending and short-term funding for mortgage bankers.

Clearing and institutional brokerage services are offered exclusively through Southwest Securities.  The Bank and its subsidiary comprise the banking segment.  Retail brokerage services are offered through Southwest Securities (the Private Client Group and the Investment Management Group departments), SWS Insurance and SWS Financial (which contracts with independent representatives for the administration of their securities business).

37


 

SWS's segments are managed separately based on types of products and services offered and their related client bases.  The segments are consistent with how the Company manages its resources and assesses its performance.  Management assesses performance based primarily on income before income taxes and net interest revenue (expense).  As a result, SWS reports net interest revenue (expense) by segment.  SWS's business segment information is prepared using the following methodologies:

·

the financial results for each segment are determined using the same policies as those described in “Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K;

·

segment financial information includes the allocation of interest based on each segment’s earned interest spreads;

·

information system and operational expenses are allocated based on each segment’s usage;

·

shared securities execution facilities expenses are allocated to the segments based on production levels;

·

money market fee revenue is allocated based on each segment’s average balances; and

·

clearing charges are allocated based on clearing levels from each segment.

 

Intersegment balances are eliminated upon consolidation and have been applied to the appropriate segment.

 

The "other" category includes SWS Group, corporate administration and SWS Capital.  SWS Capital is a dormant entity that holds approximately $20,000 of assets.  SWS Group is a holding company that owns various investments. 

 

The following table presents the Company’s operations by the segments outlined above for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014  and March 29, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

(in thousands)

Clearing 

Retail Brokerage

Institutional Brokerage

Banking 

Other Consolidated Entities

Consolidated SWS Group, Inc.

 

Three-months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

$     3,567 

$        26,902 

$          25,060 

$        (235)

$                (79)

$          55,215 

 

Net intersegment revenues

(185)
185 
(5)
792 
(787)

 -

 

Net interest revenue

1,551 
820 
2,789 
8,530 
(3,231)
10,459 

 

Net revenues

5,118 
27,722 
27,849 
8,295 
(3,310)
65,674 

 

Non-interest expenses

4,139 
25,367 
21,763 
6,228 
9,603 
67,100 

 

Other losses

 -

 -

 -

 -

(6,745)
(6,745)

 

Depreciation and amortization

200 
76 
357 
717 
1,355 

 

Net income (loss) before taxes

979 
2,355 
6,086 
2,067 
(19,658)
(8,171)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 29, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

$     3,060 

$        26,982 

$          23,329 

$      1,062 

$               822 

$          55,255 

 

Net intersegment revenues

(182)
176 
(74)
846 
(766)

 -

 

Net interest revenue

1,451 
815 
2,836 
9,478 
(3,081)
11,499 

 

Net revenues

4,511 
27,797 
26,165 
10,540 
(2,259)
66,754 

 

Non-interest expenses

5,128 
27,489 
21,334 
9,354 
9,165 
72,470 

 

Other losses

 -

 -

 -

 -

(3,840)
(3,840)

 

Depreciation and amortization

16 
220 
104 
442 
580 
1,362 

 

Net income (loss) before taxes

(617)
308 
4,831 
1,186 
(15,264)
(9,556)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(in thousands)

Clearing 

Retail Brokerage

Institutional Brokerage

Banking 

Other Consolidated Entities

Consolidated SWS Group, Inc.

Nine-months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

$   10,574 

$        82,844 

$          75,682 

$       1,638 

$             1,227 

$         171,965 

Net intersegment revenues

(544)
544 
(16)
2,472 
(2,456)

 -

Net interest revenue

4,519 
2,787 
7,435 
26,208 
(9,759)
31,190 

Net revenues

15,093 
85,631 
83,117 
27,846 
(8,532)
203,155 

Non-interest expenses

13,002 
78,022 
64,877 
19,260 
27,905 
203,066 

Other losses

 -

 -

 -

 -

(6,836)
(6,836)

Depreciation and amortization

16 
652 
239 
1,141 
2,028 
4,076 

Net income (loss) before taxes

2,091 
7,609 
18,240 
8,586 
(43,273)
(6,747)

Assets (*)

257,178 
221,020 
2,209,620 
1,262,386 
10,345 
3,960,549 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 29, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenue

$     9,556 

$        79,463 

$          82,409 

$       1,822 

$             3,590 

$         176,840 

Net intersegment revenues

(535)
524 
(133)
2,607 
(2,463)

 -

Net interest revenue

4,634 
2,524 
9,209 
32,122 
(9,121)
39,368 

Net revenues

14,190 
81,987 
91,618 
33,944 
(5,531)
216,208 

Non-interest expenses

14,727 
80,832 
67,523 
28,505 
27,335 
218,922 

Other losses

 -

 -

 -

 -

(264)
(264)

Depreciation and amortization

50 
658 
313 
1,308 
1,774 
4,103 

Net income (loss) before taxes

(537)
1,155 
24,095 
5,439 
(33,130)
(2,978)

Assets (*)

264,528 
219,729 
2,078,603 
1,275,842 
63,878 
3,902,580 

________

 (*)  Assets are reconciled to total assets as presented in the March 31,  2014  and March 29, 2013 Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

Amount as presented above

$         3,960,549 

 

$         3,902,580 

 

Reconciling items:

 

 

 

 

Unallocated assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash

19,901 

 

17,262 

 

Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing

 

 

 

 

organizations         

29,247 

 

32,536 

 

Receivable from clients, net of allowances     

22,832 

 

27,536 

 

Other assets

30,853 

 

16,661 

 

Unallocated eliminations

(13,156)

 

(90)

 

Total assets

$         4,050,226 

 

$         3,996,485 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39


 

COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation.  In the general course of its brokerage business and the business of clearing for other brokerage firms, SWS Group and/or its subsidiaries have been named as defendants in various lawsuits and arbitration proceedings.  These claims allege, among other things, violations of various federal and state securities laws.  The Bank is also involved in certain legal claims and actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  Management believes that resolution of these claims will not result in any material adverse effect on SWS’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The Company has been named as a defendant in three lawsuits related to a $35,000,000 bond offering that was 40% underwritten by M.L. Stern & Co., LLC.  SWS Group purchased M.L. Stern & Co., LLC in 2008.  The offering took place in November 2005, and the lawsuit was filed in November 2009. 

 

The lawsuits are in the discovery stage and the ultimate amount of liability associated with them cannot currently be determined.  However, the Company believes it is at least reasonably possible that a loss related to this matter will be incurred.  At March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Company had a recorded liability of approximately $1,000,000 related to this matter.

 

Merger Litigation. Two putative class actions on behalf of purported stockholders of the Company challenging the proposed merger of the Company and Hilltop are pending in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.  Both lawsuits name as defendants the Company, the members of the Board of Directors, Hilltop, and Peruna LLC.

 

The complaints generally allege, among other things, that the Board of Directors breached its fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to take steps to maximize stockholder value or to engage in a fair sale process before approving the merger, and that the other defendants aided and abetted such breaches of fiduciary duty.  The complaints allege, among other things, that the Board of Directors labored under conflicts of interest, and that certain provisions of the Merger Agreement unduly restrict the Company’s ability to negotiate with other potential bidders.  The complaints seek relief that includes, among other things, an injunction prohibiting the consummation of the merger, rescission to the extent the merger terms have already been implemented, damages for the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, and the payment of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs.  The plaintiffs in both actions have served initial discovery requests directed at all defendants.

 

The Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously.  There can be no assurance, however, with regard to the outcome of these lawsuits.  Currently, a loss resulting from these claims is not considered probable or reasonably estimable in amount. 

 

Contingency.  In February 2011, a limited partnership venture capital fund in which the Company invested received a proposed assessment of transferee liability from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for the tax period ended December 31, 2005.  The proposed assessment is approximately $8,000,000, not including penalties of approximately $3,000,000.  The Company would be responsible for approximately $1,870,000 of the proposed assessment including penalties based on its partnership interest.  Interest is also accruing on this proposed assessment.  As of March 31, 2014, the Company has not accrued an amount on the financial statements due to the uncertainty regarding the proposed assessment.  The matter relates to certain transactions that occurred during 2005 concerning one of the limited partnership venture capital fund’s subsidiaries.  The limited partnership venture capital fund engaged tax counsel and filed a tax court petition in February 2014.  Management of the limited partnership venture capital fund believes that the ultimate outcome will be favorable; however, the limited partnership venture capital fund can give no assurance that it will prevail. 

 

Bank’s Equity Investments.   The Bank has committed to invest $3,000,000 and $2,000,000 in two limited partnership equity funds.  These commitments end in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2020, respectively, unless the limited partners elect to terminate the commitment period at an earlier date in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement.  Also, in April 2012, the Bank acquired an interest in a private investment fund to obtain additional credit for its obligations under the CRA.  The Bank has committed to invest $3,000,000 in the fund.  As of March 31, 2014, $480,000 in contributions have been made by the Bank to this fund.  The commitment in the private investment fund expires in fiscal 2022 with the possibility of two one-year extensions.

 

Underwriting.    Through its participation in underwriting corporate and municipal securities, SWS could expose itself to material risk that securities SWS has committed to purchase cannot be sold at the initial offering price.  Federal and state securities laws and regulations also affect the activities of underwriters and impose substantial potential liabilities for violations in connection with sales of securities by underwriters to the public.  At March 31, 2014, the Company had $540,000 of potential liabilities due under outstanding underwriting arrangements.

 

40


 

Guarantees.  The Bank faces the risk of credit loss under commitments to extend credit and stand-by letters of credit up to the contractual amount of these instruments in the event of breach by the other party to the instrument.  The Bank uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for instruments reported on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

As of March  31, 2014, the Bank had issued stand-by letters of credit in the amount of $137,000.  The recourse provision of the letters of credit allows the amount of the letters of credit to become a part of the fully collateralized loans with total repayment as a first lien.  The collateral on these letters of credit consists of real estate, certificates of deposit, equipment, accounts receivable or furniture and fixtures.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Bank enters into loan agreements where the Bank commits to lend a specified amount of money to a borrower.  At any point in time, there could be amounts that have not been advanced on the loan to the borrower, representing unfunded commitments, as well as amounts that have been disbursed but repaid, which are available for re-borrowing under a revolving line of credit.  As of March 31, 2014, the Bank had commitments of $57,521,000 relating to revolving lines of credit and unfunded commitments.  In addition, as of March 31, 2014, the Bank had approved unfunded new loans in the amount of $43,759,000.

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract.  Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee.  Since many of the commitments are expected to expire unused, the total Bank’s commitments do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  The Bank evaluates the customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.  The amount and type of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Bank upon extension of credit, varies and is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty.  The Bank did not incur any significant losses on its commitments in the first nine-months of fiscal 2014.  In addition, management does not believe the Bank will incur material losses as a result of its outstanding commitments at March  31, 2014.

 

The Company provides representations and warranties to counterparties in connection with a variety of commercial transactions and occasionally indemnifies counterparties against potential losses caused by the breach of those representations and warranties.  These indemnification obligations generally are standard contractual indemnities and are entered into in the normal course of business.  The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnities cannot be estimated.  However, the Company believes that it is unlikely it will have to make material payments under these arrangements and has not recorded any contingent liability in the consolidated financial statements for these indemnities.

 

Southwest Securities is a member of multiple exchanges and clearinghouses.  Under the membership agreements, members are generally required to guarantee the performance of other members.  Additionally, if a member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the clearinghouse, other members would be required to meet shortfalls.  To mitigate these performance risks, the exchanges and clearinghouses often require members to post collateral.  SWS’s maximum potential liability under these arrangements cannot be quantified.  However, the potential for the Company to be required to make payments under these arrangements is unlikely.  Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any contingent liability in the consolidated financial statements for these arrangements.

 

AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS

Clients and correspondents of SWS have the option to invest in a savings account called Bank Insured Deposits at the Bank.  These funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000.  The funds are considered core deposits and are the primary funding source for the Bank.  The Bank’s total core deposits were $995,873,000 and $993,871,000 at March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  At March 31,  2014 and June 30, 2013, clients of Southwest Securities had invested $878,261,000 and $878,434,000, respectively, in Bank Insured Deposits at the Bank. 

 

 

41


 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company’s fair value policies are discussed in “Note 1(x). Fair Value of Financial Instruments” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements.

The following tables summarize by level within the fair value hierarchy “Loans measured at fair value,” “Securities owned, at fair value,” “Securities available for sale,” “Interest Rate Swaps”, “Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value” and “Warrants” which were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

$            - 

$             - 

$  51,295 

$          51,295 

 

 

$            - 

$             - 

$  51,295 

$          51,295 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities owned, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities

$       668 

$             - 

$       475 

$            1,143 

 

Municipal obligations

 -

67,719 

 -

67,719 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

6,989 
77,681 

 -

84,670 

 

Corporate obligations

 -

96,067 
88 
96,155 

 

Other

982 
38,300 

 -

39,282 

 

 

$    8,639 

$ 279,767 

$       563 

$        288,969 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

Westwood common stock

$       139 

$             - 

$            - 

$               139 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

 -

531,591 

 -

531,591 

 

Municipal obligations

 -

43,949 

 -

43,949 

 

 

$       139 

$ 575,540 

$            - 

$        575,679 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

$            - 

$        703 

$            - 

$               703 

 

 

$            - 

$        703 

$            - 

$               703 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities

$           3 

$             - 

$            - 

$                   3 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

87,399 
10,550 

 -

97,949 

 

Corporate obligations

 -

79,508 

 -

79,508 

 

 

$  87,402 

$   90,058 

$            - 

$        177,460 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

$            - 

$             - 

$  31,033 

$          31,033 

 

 

$            - 

$             - 

$  31,033 

$          31,033 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets (liabilities)

$ (78,624)

$ 765,952 

$  20,825 

$        708,153 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

$            - 

$     13,757 

$            - 

$          13,757 

 

 

$            - 

$     13,757 

$            - 

$          13,757 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities owned, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities

$       895 

$               - 

$       625 

$            1,520 

 

Municipal obligations

 -

30,116 

 -

30,116 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

3,300 
38,229 

 -

41,529 

 

Corporate obligations

 -

127,779 
120 
127,899 

 

Other

692 
7,877 

 -

8,569 

 

 

$    4,887 

$   204,001 

$       745 

$        209,633 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale

 

 

 

 

 

Westwood common stock

$       146 

$               - 

$            - 

$               146 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

 -

474,906 

 -

474,906 

 

Municipal obligations

 -

28,224 

 -

28,224 

 

 

$       146 

$   503,130 

$            - 

$        503,276 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

$            - 

$       1,934 

$            - 

$            1,934 

 

 

$            - 

$       1,934 

$            - 

$            1,934 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

$            - 

$            10 

$            - 

$                 10 

 

U.S. government and government agency obligations

45,415 
8,671 

 -

54,086 

 

Corporate obligations

 -

80,639 

 -

80,639 

 

 

$  45,415 

$     89,320 

$            - 

$        134,735 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

$            - 

$               - 

$  24,197 

$          24,197 

 

 

$            - 

$               - 

$  24,197 

$          24,197 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets (liabilities)

$ (40,382)

$   633,502 

$ (23,452)

$        569,668 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43


 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the major classes of assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Loans

Corporate Equity Securities

Corporate Obligations

Warrants

Total

Ending balance at June 30, 2013

$              - 

$                625 

$             120 

$    (24,197)

$    (23,452)

Redemption/sale of security

 

(50)

 -

 -

(50)

Unrealized loss

 

 -

(32)

 -

(32)

Decrease in warrants valuation

 

 

 

 

 

(unrealized gain)

 

 -

 -

1,967 
1,967 

Ending balance at September 30, 2013

$              - 

$                575 

$               88 

$    (22,230)

$    (21,567)

Redemption/sale of security

 

(75)

 

 

(75)

Unrealized loss

 -

 -

(8)

 -

(8)

Transfers from Level 2 to Level 3

35,333 

 -

 -

 -

35,333 

Increase in warrants valuation

 

 

 

 

 

(unrealized loss)

 -

 -

 -

(2,058)
(2,058)

Ending balance at December 31, 2013

$     35,333 

$                500 

$               80 

$    (24,288)

$     11,625 

Redemption/sale of security

 

(25)

 -

 -

(25)

Unrealized gain

173 

 -

 -

181 

Loan pay downs

(191)

 -

 -

 -

(191)

Loan originations with the

 

 

 

 

 

   execution of interest rate swaps

15,980 

 -

 -

 -

15,980 

Increase in warrants valuation

 

 

 

 

 

(unrealized loss)

 -

 -

 -

(6,745)
(6,745)

Ending balance at March 31, 2014

$     51,295 

$                475 

$               88 

$    (31,033)

$     20,825 

 

At the end of each respective quarterly reporting period, the Company recognizes transfers of financial instruments between levels.  During the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the Company transferred the loans measured at fair value from level 2 to level 3 due to a lack of observable data to support a level 2 valuation.    

 

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) and realized gains (losses) for corporate obligations and corporate equity securities are presented in net gains on principal transactions on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.  Changes in unrealized gain (loss) for the warrants are presented in unrealized gain (loss) on warrants valuation on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.  The total unrealized loss included in earnings related to assets and liabilities still held for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 was $6,745,000 and $8,843,000, respectively.  The total unrealized gains included in earnings related to assets and liabilities still held for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 was $181,000 and $2,343,000, respectively.  In comparison, the total unrealized loss included in earnings related to assets and liabilities still held for the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013 was $3,840,000 and $264,000, respectively. 

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company sold one municipal auction rate bond and redeemed one auction rate preferred security valued at the time of sale at $20,304,000 and $25,000, respectively, recognizing no gain or loss on the transactions.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2013, a total unrealized loss of $702,000, representing a write-down on the municipal auction rate bond, was recognized. 

 

44


 

The following table highlights, for each asset and liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement as of March  31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset/Liability

Fair  Value

Valuation Technique(s)

Unobservable Inputs

Range (Weighted-Average)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Loans measured at fair value

$     51,295 

Discounted cash flow

Discount Rate

4.15%-5.29% 
(4.68%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities owned, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate equity securities- auction rate preferred

475 

Analysis of comparable securities

N/A

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate obligations

88 

Discounted cash flow

N/A

N/A

 

Warrants

 

 

 

 

 

Warrants

31,033 

Binomial Model

Derived Volatility

24% - 33% (30%)

 

 

The loans are independently valued quarterly using a discounted cash flow model which factors in the relevant contractual loan terms and then present valued back to a market-based discount rate.  The market based discount rate is based on how the subject loans would be priced as of the valuation date and therefore include normal credit loss expectations, given the underlying underwriting standards including loan to value ratio and debt coverage ratios for the subject portfolio.  The rate at which the loans are discounted is based upon London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) Bank preferential return and terms of the loan. 

 

At March  31, 2014, the Company held 19 auction rate preferred securities that, based on observed values of comparable securities, were valued at their par value of $475,000.  Since June 2010, the Company has held up to $1,825,000 in Level 3 auction rate preferred securities, of which $1,350,000 have been redeemed at par.  The remaining $475,000 of auction rate preferred securities are similar to those that were previously redeemed, and the Company anticipates that the remaining securities will also be redeemed at par.  While a liquidity discount has been considered for these securities, the Company does not believe a discount is warranted.  To the extent these securities are redeemed at a price below par, the Company would consider revaluing any remaining securities at a discounted price.

 

The Company holds $3,505,000 of corporate obligation bonds currently valued at $88,000.  The corporate bonds are valued using a discounted cash flow model with observable market data, however, due to the distressed nature of these bonds, the Company has determined that these bonds should be valued at Level 3.

 

The warrants issued to Hilltop and Oak Hill are valued quarterly using a binomial model that considers the following variables: price and volatility of the Company’s stock, treasury yield, annual dividend and the remaining life of the warrants.  The derived volatility estimate considers both the historical and implied forward volatility of the Company’s common stock.  The primary drivers of the value of the warrants are the price and volatility of the Company’s common stock.  As the volatility and/or stock price increase, the value of the warrants increase as well.  The movement of these two variables will amplify or offset one another depending on the direction and velocity of their movements.  In addition, the warrants will lose time value as they near their contractual expiration date.

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements.

Certain financial and non-financial instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value measurement in certain circumstances; for example, when there is evidence of impairment or in other situations where the lower of cost or fair value method of accounting is applied.

 

45


 

The following table summarizes by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial and non-financial instruments which were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2014

 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

 

Impaired loans (1)

 

$            - 

$            - 

$     9,670 

$     9,670 

 

REO

 

 -

 -

5,880 
5,880 

 

Impaired servicing assets

 

 -

 -

493 
493 

 

 

 

$            - 

$            - 

$   16,043 

$   16,043 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impaired loans (1)

 

$            - 

$            - 

$   20,086 

$   20,086 

 

REO

 

 -

 -

10,165 
10,165 

 

 

 

$            - 

$            - 

$   30,251 

$   30,251 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________

 (1)   Includes certain impaired loans measured at fair value through the allocation of specific valuation allowances or principal charge-offs.

 

For the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 and the year ended June 30, 2013, adjustments to the fair value of impaired loans resulted in a charge to earnings as a provision for loan loss of $207,000 and $3,718,000, respectively.  For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended June 30, 2013, adjustments to the fair value of REO property held at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively, resulted in a charge to earnings as a write-down of REOs of $172,000 and $1,396,000, respectively.  For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, adjustments to the fair value of servicing assets resulted in a charge to earnings as an impairment for servicing assets of $16,000.

 

Other Fair Value Disclosures.

The Company’s fair value policies for instruments measured at fair value in accordance with the disclosure requirements of ASC 820  “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” are discussed in Note 1(x). Fair Value of Financial Instruments – Other Fair Value Disclosures  in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K. The recorded amounts, fair value and level of fair value hierarchy of the Company’s financial instruments at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

Level

Recorded Value

Fair Value

 

Recorded Value

Fair Value

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

1

$     87,763 

$     87,763 

 

$   111,046 

$   111,046 

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

1

 -

 -

 

30,047 
30,047 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities held to maturity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GNMA securities 

2

13,553 
13,899 

 

17,423 
17,965 

 

Loans, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase mortgage loans held for investment

3

72,546 
72,429 

 

174,037 
173,738 

 

Other loans held for  investment

3

434,200 
488,171 

 

420,789 
437,916 

 

Servicing assets

3

493 
493 

 

412 
414 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Borrowings

1

50,000 
50,000 

 

131,500 
131,500 

 

Deposits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deposits with no stated maturity

2

968,519 
952,991 

 

963,385 
959,578 

 

Time deposits

2

27,082 
27,309 

 

30,334 
30,736 

 

Advances from FHLB

2

92,430 
93,888 

 

97,565 
100,408 

 

Long-term debt

3

86,537 
97,165 

 

83,102 
86,822 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46


 

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

OVERVIEW 

SWS Group, Inc. (“SWS Group”) (together with its subsidiaries, “we,” “us,” “SWS” or the “company”) is engaged in full-service securities brokerage and full-service commercial banking.  For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, 87% of our total revenues were generated by our full-service brokerage business and 13% of our total revenues were generated by our commercial banking business.  While brokerage and banking revenues are dependent upon trading volumes and interest rates, which may fluctuate significantly, a large portion of our expenses remain fixed.  Consequently, net operating results can vary significantly from period to period. 

Our business is also subject to substantial governmental regulation and changes in legal, regulatory, accounting, tax and compliance requirements, which may have a substantial impact on our business and results of operations.  We also face substantial competition in each of our lines of business.  See Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 6, 2013 (the “Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K”).

We operate through four segments grouped primarily by products, services and customer base:  clearing, retail, institutional and banking.

Clearing.    We provide clearing and execution services for other broker/dealers (predominantly on a fully disclosed basis).  Our clientele includes securities broker/dealers and firms specializing in high-volume trading.  We currently support a wide range of clearing clients, including discount and full-service brokerage firms, registered investment advisors and institutional firms.  In addition to clearing trades, we tailor our services to meet the specific needs of our clearing correspondents ("correspondents") and offer products and services such as recordkeeping, trade reporting, accounting, general back-office support, securities and margin lending, reorganization assistance and custody of securities. 

Revenues in this segment are generated primarily through transaction charges to our correspondent firms for clearing their trades.  Revenue is also earned from various fees and other processing charges as well as through net interest income on correspondent customer balances.

Retail.    We offer retail securities (such as equities, mutual funds and fixed income products), insurance products and managed accounts through the activities of our employees that are registered representatives and our independent contractors.  As a securities broker, we extend margin credit on a secured basis to our retail customers in order to facilitate securities transactions.  This segment generates revenue primarily through commissions charged on securities transactions, fees from managed accounts and the sale of insurance products as well as net interest income from retail customer balances. 

Institutional.    We serve institutional customers in the areas of securities borrowing and lending, municipal finance, sales, trading and underwriting of taxable and tax-exempt fixed income securities and equity trading.  Our securities borrowing and lending business includes borrowing and lending securities for other broker/dealers, lending institutions, and our own clearing and retail operations.  Our municipal finance operations assist public bodies in originating, syndicating and distributing securities of municipalities and political subdivisions.   

Our fixed income sales and trading group specializes in trading and underwriting U.S. government and government agency bonds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed, asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities and structured products.  The clients of our fixed income group include corporations, insurance companies, banks, mutual funds, money managers and other institutionsOur equity trading department focuses on executing equity and option orders on an agency basis for clients.  We also have a portfolio trading group that executes large institutional portfolio trades

Revenues in the institutional segment are derived from the net interest spread on stock loan transactions, commissions, and trading income from fixed income and equity products and investment banking, and underwriting fees from corporate and municipal securities transactions. 

Banking.  We offer traditional banking products and services.  We specialize in three primary areas, business banking, focusing on industrial and small business lending, commercial real estate lending 

47


 

and mortgage purchase.  We originate the majority of our loans internally, and we believe this business model helps us build more valuable relationships with our customers. 

The Bank earns substantially all of its net revenues on the spread between the rates charged to customers on loans and the interest rates paid to depositors as well as interest income from investments. 

The Bank has committed to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") that the Bank will, among other things:  (i) adhere to the Bank’s written business and capital plan as amended from time to time; and (ii) maintain a Tier I capital ratio at least equal to nine percent (9%) of adjusted total assets and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least twelve percent (12%).  As of March 31, 2014, the Bank was in compliance with these commitments.

The "other" category includes SWS Group, corporate administration and SWS Capital Corporation, which is a dormant entity. 

Loan from Hilltop and Oak Hill

 

In March 2011, we entered into a Funding Agreement (the “Funding Agreement”) with Hilltop Holdings, Inc. (“Hilltop”) and Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P. (“OHCP”) and Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P. (collectively with OHCP, “Oak Hill”).  On July 29, 2011, after receipt of stockholder and regulatory approval, we completed the following transactions contemplated by the Funding Agreement:

 

·

entered into a $100.0 million, five year, unsecured credit agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill that accrues interest at 8% per annum (the “Credit Agreement”);

·

issued warrants to Hilltop and Oak Hill allowing each to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $5.75 per share (subject to anti-dilution adjustments), representing approximately 17% of the outstanding common stock of the company for each investor (assuming the warrants are exercised in full); and

·

granted Hilltop and Oak Hill certain rights, including certain registration rights, preemptive rights, and the right for each to appoint one person to our Board of Directors (“BOD”) for so long as each owns 9.9% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock or securities convertible into at least 9.9% of our outstanding common stock.  Mr. Gerald J. Ford and Mr. J. Taylor Crandall have been appointed and elected as directors of SWS Group on behalf of Hilltop and Oak Hill, respectively, pursuant to this right.

 

We entered into this transaction with Hilltop and Oak Hill to ensure that the Bank would maintain adequate capital ratios under an Order to Cease and Desist and could continue to reduce classified assets in a strategic and efficient manner, as well as to ensure that the broker/dealer business lines would operate without disruption.  See Debt Issued with Stock Purchase Warrants in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report for additional discussion on the loan from Hilltop and Oak Hill. 

The funds advanced pursuant to the Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill were recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as restricted cash.  We are required to keep these funds in a restricted account until our BOD, Hilltop and Oak Hill determine the amount(s) to be distributed to our subsidiaries.  Upon the approval of the BOD, Hilltop and Oak Hill, SWS Group contributed $20.0 million of this cash to the Bank as capital in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, loaned $20.0 million to Southwest Securities in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 to use in general operations by reducing Southwest Securities’ use of short-term borrowings for the financing of the company’s day-to-day cash management needs, paid $20.0 million toward its intercompany payable to Southwest Securities and contributed $10.0 million in capital to Southwest Securities in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.  On March 28, 2013, the $20.0 million loan from SWS Group to Southwest Securities was repaid and the company’s BOD, Hilltop and Oak Hill approved, and SWS Group contributed, $20.0 million of cash as a capital contribution to Southwest Securities.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, upon approval by the BOD, Hilltop and Oak Hill, the remaining $30.0 million was loaned to Southwest Securities to use in general operations reducing Southwest Securities’ use of short-term borrowings for the financing of its day-to-day cash management needs.

On March 31, 2014, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with Hilltop and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hilltop, whereby if the merger contemplated therein is completed, we will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hilltop.  If the merger is completed, each share of SWS Group common stock will be converted into the right to receive $1.94 of cash and 0.2496 of a share of Hilltop common stock.  It is currently anticipated that the completion of the merger will occur by the end of 2014 subject to the receipt of SWS Group stockholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. 

If the proposed merger with Hilltop occurs, Hilltop’s warrant to acquire our common stock, if outstanding, will be cancelled.

Currently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Oak Hill and we entered into a Letter Agreement dated March 31, 2014 (the “Oak Hill Letter Agreement”)Pursuant to the Oak Hill Letter Agreement and the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the proposed merger with Hilltop, Oak Hill will deliver to the company the certificates evidencing its warrants and any loans of Oak Hill to the company then outstanding under the Credit Agreement, and we will issue and deliver to Oak Hill, in exchange for its

48


 

warrants and loans, the following consideration: (i) the merger consideration that Oak Hill would have been entitled to receive upon consummation of the merger if its warrants had been exercised immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and (ii) an amount equal to the Applicable Premium (as defined in the Credit Agreement, being a calculation of the present value of all required interest payments due on a loan through its maturity date on the date the loan is repaid) calculated as if the loans held by Oak Hill were prepaid in full as of the closing date of the merger.

 

Business Environment

 

Performance in the financial services industry in which we operate is highly correlated to the overall strength of the economy and financial market activity.  Overall market conditions are a product of many factors, which are beyond our control and can be unpredictable.  These factors may affect the financial decisions made by investors, including their level of participation in the financial markets, which may in turn, affect our business results.  With respect to financial market activity, our profitability is sensitive to a variety of factors, including the volatility of the equity and fixed income markets, the level and shape of various yield curves, the volume of trading in securities, the value of our customers’ assets under management, the demand for loans, the value of real estate in our market areas and the current political environment. 

 

As of March 31, 2014, equity market indices were up versus a year ago with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (the “DJIA”) up 12.9%, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500”) up 19.3% and the NASDAQ Composite Index (“NASDAQ”) up 28.5%.  The DJIA closed at 16,457.66 on March 31, 2014 up from 14,578.50 and 14,909.60 on March 28, 2013 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  While the indices showed improvement and reached record closing prices that have not been reached since 2008, the average daily trading volume on the NYSE decreased 2% as compared to the same period of our prior fiscal year.  The continued uncertainty in the economic environment, with the federal government shutdown in October 2013 and the required implementation by businesses and individuals of the Affordable Care Act, continued low levels of workforce participation and high unemployment rates, contributed to volatility during the first nine-months of fiscal 2014.  For our clearing, retail, and institutional segments, in particular our institutional segment, the uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s plans for monetary easing added to the volatility in interest rates and fixed income inventory valuationsFor our banking segment, this uncertainty creates issues in its approach and timing of mitigation of interest rate risk in a rising interest rate environment.

 

Continued economic and regulatory uncertainty also created a challenging operating environment for us during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014.  The national unemployment rate, which was approximately 6.7% at the end of March 2014, was down from a high of 10.0% at the end of December 2009, and 7.6% at the end of June 2013, but remains at historically high levels.  The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) reduced the federal funds target rate to 0 - 0.25% on December 16, 2008 and announced in January 2013 that it anticipated that rates were unlikely to increase as long as the unemployment rate remained above 6.5%, the short-term inflation rate was projected to be no more than 0.5% above the Federal Open Market Committee’s 2% longer-run goal, and longer-term inflation expectations continue to be stable.

 

The disruptions and developments in the world economy and the credit markets over the past three years resulted in a range of actions by the U.S. and foreign governments to attempt to bring liquidity and order to the financial markets and to prevent an extended recession in the world economy. For more details regarding some of the actions taken by U.S. and foreign governments, see the discussion under Business-Regulation contained in our Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.

 

Government intervention in the markets for the past several years has created artificially low short-term interest rates.  Public announcements by the FRB regarding timing of reduced intervention or increased interest rates has led to substantial volatility in the fixed income markets.  This volatility has produced and could continue to produce material changes in the value of our fixed income trading portfolio. 

 

Texas, along with the rest of the country, has experienced distress in residential and commercial real estate values as well as elevated unemployment rates since the last calendar quarter of 2010.  Real estate values, along with unemployment statistics, have improved; however, with the improvement, competition in the banking business has increased as loan demand is not yet robust. 

 

Regulatory Environment

 

The final provisions of the Volcker Rule of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) were issued December 10, 2013, with an effective date of April 1, 2014 and a compliance date of July 21, 2015.  The Volcker Rule provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act require the federal financial regulatory agencies to adopt rules that prohibit banks, bank holding companies, and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring certain unregistered investment companies (including hedge funds and private equity funds), subject to certain exceptions.  Our securities trading and investment activities at the holding company, the broker/dealer and the Bank are subject to these final provisions.  The final rules are highly complex, and many aspects of their application remain uncertain. 

 

Based on management’s interpretation of the final provisions of the rule, the Bank’s equity method investments would be excluded from the definition of a “covered” fund as these investments would meet the definition of a “public welfare investment”

49


 

funds “designed primarily to promote the public welfare. Currently, the Bank invests in these funds as a cost effective way of meeting its obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”). One of these investments also meets the definition of a small business investment company.   SWS Group’s equity method investment in a venture capital fund would also be excluded from the definition of a “covered” fund as this investment meets the definition of a small business investment company.  In addition, at March 31, 2014, the Bank’s investment portfolio did not contain other securities subject to the Volcker Rule such as collateralized loan obligations (CLO’s) and non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO’s).  The Bank’s held to maturity and available for sale investments are all exempt from the Volcker Rule as these securities are investments in U.S. government, agency and municipal obligations, which are permitted under the provisions of the Volcker Rule. 

 

According to the Volcker Rule, proprietary trading involves a short-term intent, usually 60 days or less.  Banking entities, including our broker/dealer subsidiaries, are prohibited from engaging in proprietary trading such as the purchase or sale of any security, derivative, commodity future or option for the purpose of short-term gain unless certain exemptions apply.  Exempted activities include the following: 1) underwriting; 2) market making; 3) risk mitigating hedging; 4) trading in certain government securities; 5) employee compensation plans and 6) transactions entered into on behalf of clients.     While management continues to assess compliance with the Volcker rule, we have reviewed our processes and procedures in regard to proprietary trading and we believe we are currently following the provisions of the Volcker Rule regarding proprietary trading.

 

Impact of Economic Environment

 

Brokerage:  Volatility in the U.S. credit and mortgage markets, low interest rates and reduced volume in the U.S. stock markets continue to have an adverse effect on several aspects of our brokerage business, including depressed net interest margins, reduced liquidity and lower trading volumes.

 

Exposure to European Sovereign Debt

We have no exposure to European sovereign debt or direct exposure to European banks.  However, we do participate in securities lending with U.S. subsidiaries of several European banks.  Receivables from securities lending are secured by collateral equal to 102% of the market value of the underlying securities, and the collateral is adjusted daily to maintain the 102% margin.

 

Net Interest Margins

Historically, the profitability of our brokerage business has been highly dependent upon net interest income.  We earn net interest income on the spread between the interest rates earned and paid on customer and correspondent balances as well as from our securities lending business.  With interest rates at historically low levels, the spread we are able to earn has been reduced, primarily from the extremely low yields on our portfolio of assets segregated for regulatory purposes.  Additionally, the spread in our securities lending business has declined.  Lastly, because the yields on money market funds have declined significantly, revenue sharing arrangements with our primary money market fund providers have been substantially reduced.  We do not expect any significant changes in these dynamics until short-term interest rates rise.

 

We have taken actions to mitigate the impact of this margin contraction by renegotiating arrangements with our clearing customers, changing the mix of our assets segregated for regulatory purposes and developing new business in our securities lending portfolio.  Despite these actions, profits from net interest remain substantially below historical levels.

 

Liquidity

Dislocation in the credit markets has led to increased liquidity risk.  All but $45.0 million of our borrowing arrangements are uncommitted lines of credit and, as such, can be reduced or eliminated at any time by the lenders extending the credit.  While we have not experienced any reductions in our uncommitted borrowing capacity, over the past three years, our lenders have taken actions that indicate their concerns about extending liquidity in the marketplace.  These actions have included reduced advance rates for certain security types, more stringent requirements for collateral eligibility, higher interest rates and pre-funding of daily settlements.  Should our lenders take any actions that negatively impact the terms of our lending arrangements, the cost of conducting our business could increase and our volume of business could be limited. 

 

The volatility in the U.S. stock markets and the recent policy changes at our various clearing houses, following the  financial crisis in 2008, has also impacted our liquidity through increased margin requirements.  These margin requirements are determined by the clearing houses through a combination of risk formulas that are periodically adjusted to reflect perceived risk in the market.  To the extent we are required to post cash or other collateral to meet these requirements, we will have less liquidity to finance our other business.  We expect these margin requirements may increase over the next 9-12 months.

 

50


 

Valuation of Securities

We regularly trade mortgage, asset-backed and other types of fixed income securities.  We monitor our trading limits daily to ensure that these securities are maintained at levels we consider prudent given current market conditions.  We price these securities using a third-party pricing service and we review the prices monthly to ensure reasonable valuations.  At March 31, 2014, we held mortgage and asset-backed securities of approximately $24.2 million included in securities owned, at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. 

 

Bank:  Shortly after closing the Hilltop and Oak Hill transaction, we contributed $20.0 million in capital to the Bank.  We believe the $20.0 million capital contribution provided the Bank with a sound foundation and with flexibility to accelerate the reduction of classified assets.

 

The Bank continued to reduce classified assets in the quarter ended March 31, 2014.  Classified assets were $40.9 million at March 31, 2014, down from $67.6 million at June 30, 2013.  Classified assets as a percentage of total capital plus the allowance for loan losses was 22.9% at  March 31, 2014 and 37.4% at June 30, 2013.  Non-performing assets (a subset of classified assets) decreased to $25.1 million at March 31, 2014 from $38.0 million at June 30, 2013.  The Bank has significantly reduced classified assets and improved performance over the past six quarters, but the reduction in classified assets could slow and additional loans could be moved to problem status should the economic environment deteriorate. 

 

The Bank’s loan loss allowance at March 31, 2014 was $8.1 million, or 1.83% of loans held for investment, excluding purchased mortgage loans held for investment and loans measured at fair value, as compared to $12.3 million, or 2.85% of loans held for investment, excluding purchased mortgage loans held for investment and loans measured at fair value, at June 30, 2013 and $18.8 million, or 4.07% at March 31, 2013.

 

The Tier I (core) capital ratio was 13.9% and the total risk-based capital ratio was 27.4% at March 31, 2014, as compared to 13.5% and 24.9%, respectively, at June 30, 2013 (without giving effect to the Basel III final rules).  With the stability of these capital ratios, the Bank’s management has focused on diversifying the balance sheet by reducing loan concentrations and building an investment portfolio.  In conjunction with building the security investment portfolio, the Bank entered into $140.0 million of interest rate swaps to reduce deposit cost variability by focusing on protecting earnings in a rising interest rate environment.  The Bank held $115.0 million of interest rate swaps at March 31, 2014.  The Bank plans to continue implementing this strategy, along with other balance sheet considerations, to manage interest rate risk.  The Bank’s liquidity has increased due to lower mortgage purchase program volumes.  Because the volumes have not been replaced with current loan originations, the Bank made two loan purchases in the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The loans purchased were all single family residence mortgages and totaled approximately $40.0 million.

 

The Bank is focused on implementing and executing its business plan, which includes the continued diversification of the balance sheet and conservative growth strategies.  The Bank’s available for sale investment portfolio was $575.5 million and $503.1 million at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  The Bank plans to continue managing a tiered investment portfolio designed to provide cash flows for loan originations.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Bank’s mortgage purchase program loan balance was $72.5 million and $174.0 million, respectively.  These loans are held for investment on average for 25 days or less, which substantially limits credit risk. 

 

The primary funding source for the Bank’s balance sheet growth is core deposits from Southwest Securities’ brokerage customers.  These core deposits provide the Bank with a stable and low cost funding source.  At March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Bank had $878.3 million and $878.4 million, respectively, in funds on deposit from customers of Southwest Securities, representing approximately 88.2% and 88.4%, respectively, of the Bank’s total deposits.

 

Events and Transactions

A description of material events and transactions impacting our results of operations in the periods presented are discussed below: 

Merger Agreement.  During the three-months ended March 31, 2014, we incurred expenses of approximately $2.4 million in legal and professional fees recorded in other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss in connection with the proposed merger with Hilltop.  Additional costs are expected to be incurred until the merger is completed.   

Employee reduction.  Due to our decline in revenue for the past three fiscal years, management determined that expense reductions were needed in order to improve operating results and execute our strategic business plan.  As a result, we reduced the number of our employees by approximately 7% during the three-months ended September 30, 2013 and recorded in commissions and other employee compensation on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss approximately $1.2 million in severance expense for the three-months ended September 30, 2013.  While we continue to monitor our staffing needs, we do not anticipate any additional headcount reductions at this time.

 

51


 

Warrant valuation.    The warrants issued to Hilltop and Oak Hill are presented as liabilities carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.  During the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the value of these warrants increased primarily due to the increase in the market value of our common stock.  Our stock price increased from $5.45 at June 30, 2013 to $7.48 at March 31, 2014.  The increase in the stock price, combined with other factors, resulted in an unrealized pre-tax loss of $6.7 million and $6.8 million for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014, respectively. 

 

During the nine-months ended March 29, 2013, the value of these warrants increased due to an increase in the stock price from $5.33 at June 29, 2012 to $6.05 at March 28, 2013.  The increase in the stock price, combined with other factors, resulted in an unrealized pre-tax loss of $3.8 million and $0.3 million for the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013, respectively.   

 

Recapture in allowance for loan loss.  The quality of the Bank’s assets continued to improve in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 resulting in a recapture of $1.6 million of our provision for loan loss in the three-months ended March 31, 2014.  There was no recapture in the three-months ended March 31, 2013.  The Bank recaptured $4.9 million and $1.5 million in the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively. 

 

Auction rate security.    Since fiscal 2010, we held an auction rate municipal bond at 95.7% of par.  As a result of a trade in a similar security at a value less than par and related market conditions, we determined that our security should be written down to 92.5% of par in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.  This resulted in a single $702,000 write down at September 28, 2012.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, we sold this security with no further gain or loss recognized on the transaction.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Consolidated

 

Net loss for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 was $8.8 million and $6.8 million, respectively, as compared to net loss for the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013 of  $5.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively.  The three and nine-months ended March  31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 contained 61 and 189 trading days and 60 and 185 trading days, respectively. 

 

Southwest Securities was custodian for $32.2 billion and $30.4 billion in total customer assets at March  31, 2014 and March 29, 2013, respectively.

 

The following is a summary of increases (decreases) in categories of net revenues and operating expenses for the three and nine-months ended March  31, 2014 compared to the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three- Months

 

Nine- Months

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

Amount

Percent

 

Amount

Percent

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues from clearing operations

 

$          88 

%

 

$        278 

%

Commissions

 

(1,028)
(3)

 

 

(4,407)
(5)

 

Net interest

 

(1,040)
(9)

 

 

(8,178)
(21)

 

Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees

 

508 

 

 

(258)
(1)

 

Net gains on principal transactions

 

2,692 
49 

 

 

(1,320)
(5)

 

Other

 

(2,300)
(32)

 

 

832 

 

 

 

$    (1,080)

(2)

%

 

$  (13,053)

(6)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions and other employee compensation

 

$    (3,324)

(6)

%

 

$    (8,256)

(5)

%

Occupancy, equipment and computer service costs

 

(153)
(2)

 

 

68 

 -

 

Communications

 

13 

 -

 

 

169 

 

Floor brokerage and clearing organization charges

 

238 
25 

 

 

461 
16 

 

Advertising and promotional

 

(463)
(50)

 

 

(606)
(26)

 

Recapture of loan loss

 

(1,578)

>(100)

 

 

(3,419)

>(100)

 

Unrealized net gain/loss on warrant valuation

 

2,905 
76 

 

 

6,572 

>100

 

Other

 

(103)
(1)

 

 

(4,273)
(18)

 

 

 

(2,465)
(3)

 

 

(9,284)
(4)

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$     1,385 

(14)

%

 

$    (3,379)

>(100)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52


 

Three-Months Ended:

 

Net revenues decreased $1.1 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.  Commissions revenue decreased $1.0 million primarily due to a $0.6 million decrease in the institutional segment and a $0.4 million decrease in the retail segment as compared to the prior year comparable quarter.  The decrease in the institutional segment was due primarily to a decline in portfolio trading transaction volume partially offset by an increase in commissions revenue in our taxable fixed income business in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  The decrease in commissions revenue in the retail segment was due to lower independent representative headcount at our independent registered representative group (“SWS Financial”).

 

Net interest revenues were down $1.0 million primarily driven by a $0.9 million decrease in our banking segment due to a 21% decrease in average loan balances and a 20 basis point decrease in net interest yield as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. 

 

Other revenues decreased $2.3 million.  The decrease was due to the following: (1) a $1.3 million decrease in our banking segment due to a $1.2 million decrease in gains on sale of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans, a $0.6 million decrease in the gains recognized on the valuation of the Bank’s equity method investments, a $0.5 million increase in losses on the Bank’s hedged interest rate swap positions as the Bank did not hold these positions in third quarter fiscal 2013, offset by a $0.5 million gain on the sale of available for sale securities, a $0.5 million increase in the fair value of foreclosed real estate owned (“REO”) property where appraised values were greater than the loan’s book value and a $0.3 million increase in net gains on the sale of REO; (2) a $0.7 million decrease in our retail segment due to a $1.0 million decrease in insurance related revenue offset by a $0.2 million increase in servicing fees income received from a third party administrator; (3) a $0.8 million decrease in our other segment primarily due to a $0.7 million decrease in the valuation adjustment for our deferred compensation plan investments; and (4) a $0.4 million increase in our clearing segment due primarily to a $0.3 million increase in third party servicing fee income. 

 

Offsetting these decreases in net revenues were increases in net gains on principal transactions which were up  $2.7 million primarily due to a $2.9 million increase in the institutional segment related to improvement in our fixed income businesses.  Additionally, investment banking, advisory and administrative fees increased $0.5 million primarily due to a $1.1 million increase in fees earned by our retail segment mainly due to an increase in management fees, partially offset by a $0.6 million decrease in the institutional segment, which was due to a $0.8 decrease in taxable fixed income underwriting fees, offset by a $0.3 million increase in municipal finance fees. 

 

Operating expenses decreased $2.5 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.  The largest component of the decrease  was a $3.3 million decrease in commissions and other employee compensation primarily resulting from staff reductions.  Additionally, advertising and promotional  expenses decreased $0.5 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year primarily due to a decrease in travel and entertainment expenses. Lastly, the Bank recorded a recapture on the loan loss provision in the current quarter of $1.6 million compared to no provision or recapture on the provision for loan loss in the same quarter last year due to the reduction in the historical loss component for the commercial real-estate loan portfolio resulting from improvement in the portfolio performance.  Offsetting these decreases was the $2.9 million increased expense related to a  change in the value of the warrants held by Hilltop and Oak Hill, as we recognized a $6.7 million loss on the warrant valuation for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 and a $3.8 million loss on the warrant valuation for the three-months ended March 29, 2013.    

 

Nine-Months Ended:

 

Net revenues decreased $13.1 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. Commissions revenue decreased $4.4 million.  Institutional commissions were down $5.4 million primarily due to lower portfolio trading transaction volume in the first three-quarters of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period of fiscal 2013.  Offsetting the decline in our institutional segment was a $1.0 million increase in our retail segment’s commissions revenue due to increased customer activity in our PCG group.

 

Net interest revenue decreased $8.2 million primarily driven by a $5.9 million decrease in net interest revenue in our banking segment due to a 29% decrease in our average loan balance and a 60 basis point decrease in net interest yield at the Bank as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.  Net interest revenue in the institutional segment decreased $1.8 million primarily due to a $1.4 million decrease in interest earned on our securities owned portfolio in our fixed income businesses and a $0.4 million decrease in net interest income in the stock loan business primarily due to a 14 basis point decrease in our average net interest spread partially offset by a 29% increase in our average stock borrowed portfolio balances.  In addition, net interest revenue decreased $0.6 million in the other segment due to a $0.5 million increase in the accretion expense on the discount of the $100.0 million of indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.

 

Net gains on principal transactions decreased $1.3 million primarily due to a $3.0 million decrease in the other segment caused by the recognition of a $3.6 million realized gain in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 related to the sale of our shares of USHS common stock.  Offsetting the decrease was a $1.6 million increase in net gains of principal transactions in our institutional

53


 

segment resulting from a $4.9 million increase in municipal finance trading gains, primarily offset by a $3.3 million decrease in our taxable fixed income gains.

 

Other revenues increased $0.8 million.  This increase was primarily related to a $1.4 million increase in third party servicing fees in our clearing and retail segments offset by a $1.3 million decrease in insurance revenues in our retail segment.  Other revenue in our other segment increased $0.5 million primarily due to an increase in the valuation adjustment for our deferred compensation plan investments.   Other revenue in the banking segment increased $0.2 million due to a $1.3 million decrease in net losses on the sale of REO, a $0.5 million increase in the fair value of REO foreclosed property where appraised values were greater than the loan’s book value, a $0.4 million gain on sale of available for sale securities and a $0.3 million net increase in the value of the Bank’s loans recorded at fair value and losses recorded for the offsetting interest rate swap positions, offset by a $1.4 million decrease in the gains recognized on the valuation of the Bank’s equity method investments and a $1.0 million decrease in gains on sale of SBA loans.

 

Operating expenses decreased $9.3 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year.  The largest components of this decrease were a $5.2 million decrease in employee salaries and benefits primarily resulting from the staff reductions in the first three-months of fiscal 2014 and our exit from the Corporate Finance business in fiscal 2013, and a $3.0 million decrease in incentive compensation offset by a $0.3 million increase in deferred compensation expense. 

 

Other expenses decreased $4.3 million primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in REO expenses, a $1.2 million decrease in the REO loss provision, a $1.0 million decrease in legal and professional fee expenses, as a $3.4 million decline in ongoing legal and professional fees was offset by  $2.4 million of expenses incurred in connection with the proposed merger with Hilltop, a $0.4 million decrease in outside services at the Bank and a $0.4 million decrease in Bank regulatory fees. 

 

Lastly, the Bank had a $3.4 million increase for loan loss recapture for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 when compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the reduction in the historical loss component for the commercial real-estate loan portfolio due to improvement in the portfolio performance and the pay-off in the current period of an outstanding balance of a commercial loan for which the Bank had recorded a $2.1 million specific allowance reserve.  

 

Offsetting these operating expense reductions, we recorded $6.6 million of additional expense related to the warrant valuation.  We recognized a $6.8 million loss on the warrant valuation for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and a $0.3 million loss on the warrant valuation for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.

 

Net Interest Income    

 

We generate net interest income from our brokerage segments and our banking segment.  Net interest income from the brokerage segments is dependent upon the level of customer and stock loan balances as well as the spread between the rates we earn on those assets compared to the cost of funds.  Net interest is the primary source of income for the Bank and represents the amount by which interest and fees generated by earning assets exceed the cost of funds.  The Bank’s cost of funds consists primarily of interest paid to the Bank’s depositors on interest-bearing accounts and long-term borrowings with the FHLB.  Net interest income from our brokerage, corporate and banking segments were as follows for the three and nine-months ended March  31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

2014

 

2013 (2)

 

2014

 

2013 (2)

Brokerage

 

$              5,150 

 

$                5,101 

 

$            14,694 

 

$            16,367 

Bank

 

8,530 

 

9,478 

 

26,208 

 

32,122 

SWS Group(1)

 

(3,221)

 

(3,080)

 

(9,712)

 

(9,121)

Net interest

 

$            10,459 

 

$              11,499 

 

$            31,190 

 

$            39,368 

__________

(1)

Consists primarily of interest expense under the Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill.

(2)

The net interest reported for the Bank is for the period ended March 31, 2013

 

54


 

Average balances of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in our brokerage operations were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine- Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

Average interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer margin balances

 

$             239,000 

 

$            237,000 

 

$             242,000 

 

$             237,000 

Assets segregated for regulatory purposes

 

183,000 

 

194,000 

 

191,000 

 

195,000 

Stock borrowed

 

1,977,000 

 

1,650,000 

 

1,907,000 

 

1,475,000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer funds on deposit,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   including short credits

 

$             336,000 

 

$            329,000 

 

$             348,000 

 

$             335,000 

Stock loaned

 

1,914,000 

 

1,584,000 

 

1,821,000 

 

1,425,000 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest revenue generated by each segment is reviewed in detail in the segment analysis below.

Income Tax Benefit 

 

For the three-months ended March 31, 2014, income tax benefit (effective rate of -7.2%) differed from the amount that would have otherwise been calculated by applying the federal corporate tax rate (35%) to income before income tax benefit (expense) due primarily to an increase in the value of our deferred tax valuation allowance. 

For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, income tax benefit (effective rate of -0.4%) differed from the amount that would have otherwise been calculated by applying the federal corporate tax rate (35%) to income before income tax benefit (expense) due to the value of company-owned life insurance (“COLI”),  tax exempt interest and an increase in the value of our deferred tax valuation allowance

See further discussion regarding reconciliation of the effective tax rate and the federal corporate tax rate in “Income Taxes” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

55


 

Segment Information

The following is a summary of net revenues and pre-tax income (loss) by segment for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the three and nine-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

Increase/

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013 (1)

 

 

Decrease

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing

 

$              5,118 

 

$              4,511 

 

 

$           607 

 

13 

%

Retail

 

27,722 

 

27,797 

 

 

(75)

 

-

 

Institutional

 

27,849 

 

26,165 

 

 

1,684 

 

 

Banking

 

8,295 

 

10,540 

 

 

(2,245)

 

(21)

 

Other

 

(3,310)

 

(2,259)

 

 

(1,051)

 

(47)

 

Total

 

$            65,674 

 

$            66,754 

 

 

$       (1,080)

 

(2)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing

 

$                 979 

 

$               (617)

 

 

$         1,596 

 

>100

%

Retail

 

2,355 

 

308 

 

 

2,047 

 

>100

 

Institutional

 

6,086 

 

4,831 

 

 

1,255 

 

26 

 

Banking

 

2,067 

 

1,186 

 

 

881 

 

74 

 

Other

 

(19,658)

 

(15,264)

 

 

(4,394)

 

(29)

 

Total

 

$            (8,171)

 

$            (9,556)

 

 

$         1,385 

 

14 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

Increase/

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013 (1)

 

 

Decrease

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing

 

$             15,093 

 

$             14,190 

 

 

$           903 

 

%

Retail

 

85,631 

 

81,987 

 

 

3,644 

 

 

Institutional

 

83,117 

 

91,618 

 

 

(8,501)

 

(9)

 

Banking

 

27,846 

 

33,944 

 

 

(6,098)

 

(18)

 

Other

 

(8,532)

 

(5,531)

 

 

(3,001)

 

(54)

 

Total

 

$           203,155 

 

$           216,208 

 

 

$     (13,053)

 

(6)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-tax income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing

 

$               2,091 

 

$                (537)

 

 

$         2,628 

 

>100

%

Retail

 

7,609 

 

1,155 

 

 

6,454 

 

>100

 

Institutional

 

18,240 

 

24,095 

 

 

(5,855)

 

(24)

 

Banking

 

8,586 

 

5,439 

 

 

3,147 

 

58 

 

Other

 

(43,273)

 

(33,130)

 

 

(10,143)

 

(31)

 

Total

 

$             (6,747)

 

$             (2,978)

 

 

$       (3,769)

 

>(100)

%

 

________

(1)

The net revenues and pre-tax income reported for the banking segment are for the periods ended March 31, 2013.

56


 

Clearing. 

Three-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the clearing segment for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

% Change

 

Net revenue from clearing

 

$                2,170 

 

 

$              2,081 

 

%

 

Net interest

 

1,551 

 

 

1,451 

 

 

 

Other

 

1,397 

 

 

979 

 

43 

 

 

Net revenues

 

5,118 

 

 

4,511 

 

13 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

4,139 

 

 

5,128 

 

(19)

 

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$                   979 

 

 

$                (617)

 

>100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily average customer margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

balance

 

$            114,000 

 

 

$            95,000 

 

20 

%

 

Daily average customer funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on deposit

 

$            168,000 

 

 

$           179,000 

 

(6)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total correspondent clearing customer assets under custody were $16.6 billion and $15.4 billion at March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013, respectively.

The following table reflects the number of client transactions processed for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 and March 29, 2013 and the number of correspondents at the end of each period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

 

Tickets for high-volume trading firms

 

12,364 

 

104,860 

 

Tickets for general securities broker/dealers

 

173,695 

 

158,745 

 

Total tickets

 

186,059 

 

263,605 

 

Correspondents

 

145 

 

147 

 

For the three-months ended March  31, 2014, net revenues in the clearing segment increased 13%  and clearing fee revenues increased 4%. Other revenues increased 43%  compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013

The 4% increase in clearing fee revenue for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 when compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 was primarily due to a 9% increase in the number of general securities tickets processed and an increase in the overall revenue per ticket.  Revenue per ticket increased approximately 48% from $7.90 for the three-months ended March 29, 2013 to $11.66 for the three-months ended March  31, 2014.  The change in the mix of tickets processed led to an increase in revenue per ticket as fees charged to high-volume trading firms are discounted substantially from the fees charged to general securities broker/dealers.  Management believes that the increase in clearing volume for general security broker/dealers corresponds with improved conditions in the equity markets.  For the three-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013, tickets processed for high-volume trading firms decreased 88%.  Approximately one-half of this decline was due to the loss of one correspondent through a broker/dealer withdrawal.

The increase in other revenues was primarily due to a $0.3 million increase in third party servicing fee income.   

Operating expenses decreased 19% for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period last fiscal year primarily due to a 17%  decrease in operations and information technology expenses and a 54% decrease in compensation expenses due to headcount reductions.

57


 

Nine-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the clearing segment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenue from clearing

 

$                6,675 

 

 

$              6,397 

 

%

Net interest

 

4,519 

 

 

4,634 

 

(2)

 

Other

 

3,899 

 

 

3,159 

 

23 

 

Net revenues

 

15,093 

 

 

14,190 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

13,002 

 

 

14,727 

 

(12)

 

Pre-tax income (loss)

 

$                2,091 

 

 

$                (537)

 

>100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily average customer margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

balance

 

$            107,000 

 

 

$           100,000 

 

%

Daily average customer funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on deposit

 

$            522,000 

 

 

$           529,000 

 

(1)

%

 

The following table reflects the number of client transactions processed for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 29, 2013

Tickets for high-volume trading firms

 

33,923 

 

299,171 

Tickets for general securities broker/dealers

 

514,940 

 

473,003 

Total tickets

 

548,863 

 

772,174 

 

For the nine-months ended March  31, 2014, net revenues in the clearing segment increased 6% while clearing fee revenues increased  4%. Other revenues increased 23% compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013. 

 

The 4% increase in clearing fee revenue for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 when compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 was primarily due to a 9% increase in the number of general securities tickets processed and an increase in the revenue per ticket.  Revenue per ticket increased approximately 47% from $8.29 for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 to $12.16 for the nine-months ended March  31, 2014.  The change in the mix of tickets processed led to an increase in revenue per ticket as fees charged to high-volume trading firms are discounted substantially from the fees charged to general securities broker/dealers.  Management believes that the increase in clearing volume for general security broker/dealers corresponds with improved conditions in the equity markets.  For the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013, tickets processed for high-volume trading firms decreased 89%.  Approximately one-half of this decline was due to the loss of one correspondent through a broker/dealer withdrawal. 

 

The increase in other revenue was primarily driven by a $0.8 million increase in third party servicing fee income.

 

Operating expenses decreased 12% for the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period last fiscal year primarily due to a 38%  decrease in compensation expense attributable to headcount reductions.  In addition, a  decrease in other expenses was attributed to a 9% decrease in operations and information technology expenses.

 

58


 

Retail. 

Three-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the retail segment for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private Client Group (PCG)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

$              12,905 

 

$              12,817 

 

%

Advisory fees

 

2,909 

 

2,235 

 

30 

 

Insurance products

 

468 

 

1,274 

 

(63)

 

Other

 

232 

 

109 

 

>100

 

Net interest revenue

 

564 

 

557 

 

 

 

 

17,078 

 

16,992 

 

 

Independent registered 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

representatives (SWS Financial)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

5,719 

 

6,223 

 

(8)

 

Advisory fees

 

1,173 

 

871 

 

35 

 

Insurance products

 

2,153 

 

2,195 

 

(2)

 

Other

 

369 

 

340 

 

 

Net interest revenue

 

256 

 

258 

 

(1)

 

 

 

9,670 

 

9,887 

 

(2)

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

103 

 

102 

 

 

Advisory fees

 

503 

 

406 

 

24 

 

Insurance products

 

274 

 

386 

 

(29)

 

Other

 

94 

 

24 

 

>100

 

 

 

974 

 

918 

 

 

Total

 

27,722 

 

27,797 

 

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

25,367 

 

27,489 

 

(8)

 

Pre-tax income

 

$                2,355 

 

$                   308 

 

>100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily average customer margin balances

 

$            121,000 

 

$            140,000 

 

(14)

%

Daily average customer funds on deposit

 

$            123,000 

 

$            117,000 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCG representatives

 

157 

 

164 

 

(4)

%

SWS Financial representatives   

 

279 

 

302 

 

(8)

%

 

 

Net revenues in the retail segment remained consistent for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period in the last fiscal yearAdvisory fees increased $1.1 million with improvement in all areas of the retail business due to a 22% increase in assets under management offset by a $1.0 million decline in the revenue from the sale of insurance products.

 

Total customer assets were $15.0 billion at March  31, 2014 and $14.3 billion at March 29, 2013.  Assets under management were $1.2 billion at March  31, 2014 versus $956.5 million at March 29, 2013.

 

Operating expenses decreased 8% for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period last fiscal year primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in commissions and other employee compensation expense due to a reduction in salaries and lower commissions paid by SWS Financial, a $0.4 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses and a $0.1 million decrease in legal expense. 

59


 

Nine-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the retail segment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PCG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

$              39,112 

 

$              37,320 

 

%

Advisory fees

 

8,669 

 

6,523 

 

33 

 

Insurance products

 

3,063 

 

3,066 

 

 -

 

Other

 

612 

 

288 

 

>100

 

Net interest revenue

 

1,967 

 

1,668 

 

18 

 

 

 

53,423 

 

48,865 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWS Financial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

17,651 

 

18,442 

 

(4)

 

Advisory fees

 

3,130 

 

2,691 

 

16 

 

Insurance products

 

6,380 

 

7,562 

 

(16)

 

Other

 

1,056 

 

847 

 

25 

 

Net interest revenue

 

820 

 

856 

 

(4)

 

 

 

29,037 

 

30,398 

 

(4)

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

354 

 

319 

 

11 

 

Advisory fees

 

1,535 

 

1,174 

 

31 

 

Insurance products

 

1,043 

 

1,132 

 

(8)

 

Other

 

239 

 

99 

 

>100

 

 

 

3,171 

 

2,724 

 

16 

 

Total

 

85,631 

 

81,987 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

78,022 

 

80,832 

 

(3)

 

Pre-tax income

 

$                7,609 

 

$                1,155 

 

>100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily average customer margin balances

 

$            131,000 

 

$            134,000 

 

(2)

%

Daily average customer funds on deposit

 

$            382,000 

 

$            342,000 

 

12 

%

 

Net revenues in the retail segment increased 4% for the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period in the last fiscal year.  Improvement in PCG accounted for most of the additional revenues reflecting underlying improvement in retail client activity and success in retaining key producers.  Advisory fees increased $2.9 million with improvements in all areas due to a 22% increase in assets under management.   In addition, commissions revenue was up $1.0 million primarily due to strength in the PCG businessOther revenues decreased $0.6 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the same period in the last fiscal year primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in insurance related income offset by a $0.6 million increase in third party servicing fee income.

 

Operating expenses decreased 3% for the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the same period last fiscal year.  This decrease was primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in legal expenses, a $0.6 million decrease in commissions and other employee compensation expense, a $0.5 million reduction in operations and information technology expense and a $0.4 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses.     

 

60


 

Institutional

Three-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the institutional segment for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 (dollars in thousands): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

$              6,782 

 

$              4,766 

 

42 

%

Municipal finance

 

2,135 

 

2,827 

 

(24)

 

Portfolio trading

 

2,548 

 

4,498 

 

(43)

 

 

 

11,465 

 

12,091 

 

(5)

 

Investment banking fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

1,017 

 

1,860 

 

(45)

 

Municipal finance

 

4,095 

 

3,803 

 

 

Corporate finance

 

 -

 

90 

 

(100)

 

Other

 

 -

 

(1)

 

100 

 

 

 

5,112 

 

5,752 

 

(11)

 

Net gains on principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

3,775 

 

3,225 

 

17 

 

Municipal finance

 

4,475 

 

2,095 

 

>100

 

Other

 

(3)

 

(4)

 

25 

 

 

 

8,247 

 

5,316 

 

55 

 

Other

 

236 

 

170 

 

39 

 

Net interest revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock loan

 

2,242 

 

2,185 

 

 

Other

 

547 

 

651 

 

(16)

 

Total

 

27,849 

 

26,165 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

21,763 

 

21,334 

 

 

Pre-tax income

 

$              6,086 

 

$              4,831 

 

26 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

representatives

 

28 

 

34 

 

(18)

%

Municipal distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

representatives

 

22 

 

25 

 

(12)

%

 

61


 

Average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the institutional segment for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Daily average interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock borrowed

 

$         1,977,000 

 

$        1,650,000 

 

Daily average interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock loaned

 

$         1,914,000 

 

$        1,584,000 

 

 

The following table sets forth the number and aggregate dollar amount of new municipal bond underwritings conducted by Southwest Securities for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 and March 29, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 Number of Issues

 

121 

 

183 

 Aggregate Amount of Offerings

 

$     11,687,314,000 

 

$       11,394,664,000 

 

Net revenues in the institutional segment increased 6% while pre-tax income was up 26% for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013Net gains on principal transactions increased $2.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2013 primarily due to improvements in the municipal finance business.  Investment banking and advisory fees decreased $0.6 million as an $0.8 million decrease in the taxable fixed income group on lower government agency underwriting revenue was offset by a $0.3 million improvement in municipal finance fees.  Commissions revenue decreased $0.6 million as both portfolio trading and municipal finance commissions revenues were down $2.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively, which overshadowed a $2.0 million improvement in our taxable fixed income division.

 

Operating expenses increased 2%  in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to third quarter of fiscal 2013, primarily from a $0.2 million increase in compensation expenses due to stronger segment revenues and a $0.2 million increase in clearing charges.

 

62


 

Nine-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the institutional segment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

$             19,685 

 

$            18,009 

 

%

Municipal finance

 

7,189 

 

8,158 

 

(12)

 

Portfolio trading

 

6,441 

 

12,593 

 

(49)

 

 

 

33,315 

 

38,760 

 

(14)

 

Investment banking fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

2,886 

 

6,668 

 

(57)

 

Municipal finance

 

15,003 

 

12,879 

 

16 

 

Corporate finance

 

 -

 

1,444 

 

(100)

 

Other

 

 -

 

(1)

 

100 

 

 

 

17,889 

 

20,990 

 

(15)

 

Net gains on principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxable fixed income

 

9,384 

 

12,688 

 

(26)

 

Municipal finance

 

14,390 

 

9,497 

 

52 

 

Other

 

(13)

 

(23)

 

43 

 

 

 

23,761 

 

22,162 

 

 

Other

 

717 

 

497 

 

44 

 

Net interest revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock loan

 

6,230 

 

6,648 

 

(6)

 

Other

 

1,205 

 

2,561 

 

(53)

 

Total

 

83,117 

 

91,618 

 

(9)

 

Operating expenses

 

64,877 

 

67,523 

 

(4)

 

Pre-tax income

 

$             18,240 

 

$            24,095 

 

(24)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average balances of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the institutional segment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

2014

 

2013

Daily average interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

Stock borrowed

 

$         1,907,000 

 

$        1,475,000 

Daily average interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Stock loaned

 

$         1,821,000 

 

$        1,425,000 

 

63


 

The following table sets forth the number and aggregate dollar amount of new municipal bond underwritings conducted by Southwest Securities for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 29,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 Number of Issues

 

419 

 

505 

 Aggregate Amount of Offerings

 

$     34,752,604,000 

 

$       38,037,337,000 

 

Net revenues in the institutional segment decreased 9% while pre-tax income was down 24% for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.  Commissions revenue decreased $5.4 million primarily driven by a $6.2 million decrease in the portfolio trading business on lower trading volumes and a $1.0 million decrease in the municipal finance business when compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year.  This decrease was offset by a $1.7 million increase in commissions revenue for taxable fixed income.  Investment banking, advisory and administrative fees decreased $3.1 million primarily due to a $3.8 million reduction in underwriting fees earned by our taxable fixed income group.  In addition, corporate finance fees were down $1.4 million as we exited the business in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.  These reductions in fees were partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in municipal finance fees during the period due to a more favorable mix in public finance deal flow.  Net interest revenue decreased $1.8  million primarily due to a $1.4 million decrease in net interest earned in our fixed income divisions.  In addition, net interest income from our stock lending business was down $0.4 million due to a 14 basis point decrease in the average net interest spread, which was partially offset by a 28% increase in our average stock lending balances.  Net gains on principal transactions increased $1.6 million primarily due to a $4.9 million increase in municipal finance trading gains partially offset by a $3.3 million decrease in our taxable fixed income gains.  The decrease in the taxable fixed income trading gains was primarily the result of an ongoing challenging market environment during the first three-quarters of fiscal 2014, as compared to the more robust market environment during the first three-quarters of fiscal 2013. 

 

Operating expenses decreased 4% during the first three-quarters of fiscal 2014, primarily due to a $4.1 million decrease in compensation expense due to weaker segment revenues, which was partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in quotation costs and a $0.4 million increase in clearing costs.

 

Banking.  

Three-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the banking segment for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March  31, 2013 (dollars in thousands):  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest revenue

 

$              8,530 

 

$                9,478 

 

(10)

%

 

Other

 

(235)

 

1,062 

 

>(100)

 

 

Total net revenues

 

8,295 

 

10,540 

 

(21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

6,228 

 

9,354 

 

(33)

 

 

Pre-tax income

 

$              2,067 

 

$                1,186 

 

74 

%

 

 

The Bank’s net revenues decreased 21% due primarily to a $0.9 million reduction in net interest revenues  for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March  31, 2013 primarily due to a 21% decrease in average loan balances, as well as a 20 basis point decrease in the net yield on interest-earning assets as excess cash generated from loan repayments was reinvested in an investment portfolio with lower comparable yields.  Other revenue decreased $1.3 million due primarily to a $1.2 million decrease in gains on SBA loan sales, a $0.6 million decrease in the gains recognized on the valuation of the Bank’s equity method investments and a $0.5 million loss in earnings from the Bank’s hedged interest rate swap positions, offset by a $0.5 million gain on sale of available for sale securities, a $0.5 million increase in the fair value of REO foreclosed property where appraised values were greater than the loan’s book value and a $0.3 million increase in net gains on the sale of REO.   

 

The Bank’s operating expenses decreased $3.1 million, or 33%, for three-months ended March  31, 2014 compared to the three-months ended March  31, 2013 and was primarily attributable to the a  $0.6 million decrease in commissions and other employee

64


 

compensation, a $1.6 million increase in the Bank’s loan loss recapture for the three-months ended March  31,  2014 with the reduction in the historical loss component for the commercial real-estate loan portfolio due to improvement in the performance of the portfolio.   Other expenses were also lower due to a $0.9 million decrease in REO related expenses, which included a $0.5 million decrease in the REO loss provision related to the continued reduction of REO. 

 

Net Interest Income

 

The following table sets forth an analysis of the Bank’s net interest income by each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

 

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

$            909 

 

$              2 

 

0.9 

%

 

$         2,418 

 

$            27 

 

4.4 

%

 

Lot and land development

 

5,850 

 

67 

 

4.6 

 

 

10,872 

 

110 

 

4.1 

 

 

1-4 family

 

133,318 

 

1,585 

 

4.8 

 

 

279,816 

 

3,530 

 

5.1 

 

 

Commercial real estate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

multifamily

 

315,431 

 

3,923 

 

5.0 

 

 

309,046 

 

4,043 

 

5.3 

 

 

Commercial

 

69,604 

 

657 

 

3.8 

 

 

63,722 

 

784 

 

5.0 

 

 

Consumer

 

2,657 

 

21 

 

3.3 

 

 

1,640 

 

25 

 

6.4 

 

 

Total loans

 

527,769 

 

6,255 

 

 

 

 

667,514 

 

8,519 

 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market

 

76,840 

 

111 

 

0.6 

 

 

24,131 

 

29 

 

0.5 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – held to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

maturity

 

14,065 

 

84 

 

2.4 

 

 

20,667 

 

121 

 

2.4 

 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – available for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sale

 

545,414 

 

2,583 

 

1.9 

 

 

346,788 

 

1,400 

 

1.6 

 

 

Municipal obligations – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

44,274 

 

172 

 

1.6 

 

 

13,036 

 

45 

 

1.4 

 

 

Interest bearing deposits in banks

 

1,218 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

3,038 

 

 

 -

 

 

Federal reserve funds

 

23,707 

 

16 

 

0.3 

 

 

185,140 

 

89 

 

0.2 

 

 

Investments – other

 

4,568 

 

 

0.4 

 

 

3,198 

 

 

0.4 

 

 

Total interest-earning assets 

 

$  1,237,855 

 

$       9,226 

 

3.0 

%

 

$  1,263,512 

 

$     10,207 

 

3.3 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

3,172 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,458 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

24,061 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,227 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,265,088 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,305,197 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$       27,390 

 

$            61 

 

0.9 

%

 

$       32,468 

 

$            75 

 

1.0 

%

 

Money market accounts

 

17,962 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

17,806 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

Interest-bearing demand accounts

 

8,527 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

8,819 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

Savings accounts

 

881,870 

 

22 

 

 -

 

 

953,889 

 

24 

 

 -

 

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

93,583 

 

610 

 

2.6 

 

 

59,336 

 

627 

 

4.3 

 

 

 

 

$  1,029,332 

 

$          696 

 

0.3 

%

 

$  1,072,318 

 

$          729 

 

0.3 

%

 

 

65


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

 

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Non interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non interest-bearing demand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

accounts

 

$       56,687 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$                 - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

7,782 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61,731 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,093,801 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,134,049 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholder’s equity

 

171,287 

 

 

 

 

 

 

171,148 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,265,088 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,305,197 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$        8,530 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$        9,478 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net yield on interest-earning assets

 

 

 

 

 

2.8 

%

 

 

 

 

 

3.0 

%

 

__________

(*)  Loan fees included in interest income for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 and 2013 were $272 and $386, respectively.

 

A number of factors, including interest rate trends, changes in the U.S. economy, competition and the scheduled maturities and interest rate sensitivity of the loan portfolios and deposits, affect the interest rate spreads earned by the Bank.

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the Bank’s interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in volume and rate (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014 as compared to March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Attributed to

 

 

 

Change

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Mix

 

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

$              (25)

 

$              (17)

 

$              (21)

 

$                13 

 

Lot and land development

 

(43)

 

(51)

 

14 

 

(6)

 

1-4 family

 

(1,945)

 

(1,848)

 

(202)

 

105 

 

Commercial real estate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

multifamily

 

(120)

 

84 

 

(200)

 

(4)

 

Commercial

 

(127)

 

72 

 

(182)

 

(17)

 

Consumer

 

(4)

 

16 

 

(12)

 

(8)

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market

 

82 

 

65 

 

 

11 

 

U.S. government and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

government agency obligations  –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

held to maturity

 

(37)

 

(39)

 

 

(1)

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

1,183 

 

802 

 

242 

 

139 

 

Municipal obligation – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

127 

 

110 

 

 

12 

 

Interest bearing deposits in banks

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

 -

 

 -

 

Federal reserve funds

 

(73)

 

(78)

 

34 

 

(29)

 

Investments – other

 

 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

 

$            (981)

 

$            (883)

 

$            (313)

 

$              215 

 

 

66


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2014 as compared to March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Attributed to

 

 

 

Change

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Mix

 

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$              (14)

 

$              (12)

 

$                (2)

 

$                  - 

 

Savings accounts

 

(2)

 

(2)

 

 -

 

 -

 

Federal Home Loan Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

advances

 

(17)

 

363 

 

(241)

 

(139)

 

 

 

(33)

 

349 

 

(243)

 

(139)

 

Net interest income

 

$            (948)

 

$          (1,232)

 

$              (70)

 

$              354 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended:

The following is a summary of the results for the banking segment for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 31, 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Change

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest revenue

 

$            26,208 

 

$               32,122 

 

(18)

%

Other

 

1,638 

 

1,822 

 

(10)

 

Total net revenues

 

27,846 

 

33,944 

 

(18)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

19,260 

 

28,505 

 

(32)

 

Pre-tax income

 

$              8,586 

 

$                 5,439 

 

58 

%

 

The Bank’s net revenues decreased $6.1 million due primarily to a $5.9 million reduction in net interest revenues and a $0.2 million decrease in other revenues for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the nine-months ended March 31, 2013 primarily due to the 29% decrease in average loan balances, as well as a 60 basis point decrease in the net yield on interest earning assets as excess cash generated from loan repayments was reinvested in an investment portfolio with lower comparable yields.  The decrease in other revenue was due to a $1.4 million decrease in the valuation of the Bank’s equity method investments and a $1.0 million decrease in gains on SBA loan sales, offset by a $1.3 million decrease in net losses on the sale of REO, a $0.5 million increase in the fair value of REO foreclosed property where appraised values were greater than the loan’s book value and a $0.4 million gain from the sale of available for sale securities. 

 

The Bank’s operating expenses decreased $9.2 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the nine-months ended March 31, 2013.  The expense reduction was primarily attributable to a $2.1 million decrease in commissions and other employee compensation and a $3.4 million increase in the Bank’s loan loss recapture for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014.  Additionally, other operating expenses decreased $3.4 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the nine-months ended March 31, 2013.  The decrease was primarily due to a $2.4 million decrease in REO related expenses, including a $1.2 million decrease in the REO loss provision, a $0.4 million decrease in outside services fees paid, a $0.4 million decrease in the Bank’s regulatory fees and a $0.2 million decrease in legal expenses. Reductions in REO related expenses and regulatory fees were due to continued REO reduction and overall improvement at the Bank. 

 

67


 

Net Interest Income

The following table sets forth an analysis of the Bank’s net interest income by each major category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

$         1,161 

 

$             15 

 

1.7 

%

 

$         2,865 

 

$             98 

 

4.5 

%

Lot and land development

 

7,128 

 

521 

 

9.7 

 

 

13,736 

 

575 

 

5.6 

 

1-4 family

 

145,906 

 

5,516 

 

5.0 

 

 

349,499 

 

13,242 

 

5.1 

 

Commercial real estate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

multifamily

 

313,767 

 

11,939 

 

5.1 

 

 

315,629 

 

12,944 

 

5.5 

 

Commercial

 

67,528 

 

1,970 

 

3.9 

 

 

70,387 

 

2,687 

 

5.1 

 

Consumer

 

2,089 

 

62 

 

4.0 

 

 

1,842 

 

87 

 

6.3 

 

Total loans

 

537,579 

 

20,023 

 

 

 

 

753,958 

 

29,633 

 

 

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market

 

53,217 

 

206 

 

0.5 

 

 

24,274 

 

91 

 

0.5 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – held to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

maturity

 

15,279 

 

275 

 

2.4 

 

 

22,806 

 

409 

 

2.4 

 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – available for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sale

 

533,544 

 

7,320 

 

1.8 

 

 

337,571 

 

4,102 

 

1.6 

 

Municipal obligations – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

38,170 

 

441 

 

1.5 

 

 

11,518 

 

116 

 

1.3 

 

Interest bearing deposits in banks

 

1,364 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

3,433 

 

 

 -

 

Federal reserve funds

 

60,854 

 

128 

 

0.3 

 

 

112,985 

 

192 

 

0.2 

 

Investments – other

 

4,646 

 

13 

 

0.4 

 

 

3,382 

 

10 

 

0.4 

 

Total interest-earning assets 

 

$  1,244,653 

 

$      28,406 

 

3.0 

%

 

$  1,269,927 

 

$      34,554 

 

3.6 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non interest-earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

3,182 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,598 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

22,502 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40,701 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,270,337 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,314,226 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$       28,629 

 

$           192 

 

0.9 

%

 

$       34,050 

 

$           254 

 

1.0 

%

Money market accounts

 

18,418 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

20,762 

 

 

0.1 

 

Interest-bearing demand accounts

 

8,549 

 

 

0.1 

 

 

9,050 

 

 

0.1 

 

Savings accounts

 

883,704 

 

68 

 

 -

 

 

954,037 

 

106 

 

 -

 

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

 

97,079 

 

1,927 

 

2.6 

 

 

63,643 

 

2,060 

 

4.3 

 

Other financed borrowings

 

 

 -

 

0.8 

 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

 

 

$  1,036,383 

 

$        2,198 

 

0.3 

%

 

$  1,081,542 

 

$        2,432 

 

0.3 

%

 

68


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

Average

 

Income/

 

Yield/

 

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

 

Balance

 

Expense(*)

 

Rate

Non interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non interest-bearing demand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

accounts

 

$       58,090 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$       55,446 

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

6,898 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,598 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,101,371 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,143,586 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholder’s equity

 

168,966 

 

 

 

 

 

 

170,640 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,270,337 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$  1,314,226 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

 

 

 

$       26,208 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$       32,122 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net yield on interest-earning assets

 

 

 

 

 

2.8 

%

 

 

 

 

 

3.4 

%

__________

(*)  Loan fees included in interest income for the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 and 2013 were $1,057 and $1,712, respectively.

 

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the Bank’s interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in volume and rate (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014 as compared to March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Attributed to

 

 

Change

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Mix

Interest income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

$              (83)

 

$              (58)

 

$              (61)

 

$                36 

Lot and land development

 

(54)

 

(277)

 

429 

 

(206)

1-4 family

 

(7,726)

 

(7,714)

 

(28)

 

16 

Commercial real estate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

multifamily

 

(1,005)

 

(76)

 

(934)

 

Commercial

 

(717)

 

(109)

 

(633)

 

25 

Consumer

 

(25)

 

12 

 

(33)

 

(4)

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market

 

115 

 

109 

 

 

U.S. government and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

government agency obligations  –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

held to maturity

 

(134)

 

(135)

 

 

 -

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

3,218 

 

2,382 

 

529 

 

307 

Municipal obligation – available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for sale

 

325 

 

268 

 

17 

 

40 

Interest bearing deposits in banks

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

Federal reserve funds

 

(64)

 

(89)

 

45 

 

(20)

Investments – other

 

 

 

(1)

 

 -

 

 

$          (6,148)

 

$          (5,684)

 

$            (667)

 

$              203 

 

69


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31, 2014 as compared to March 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Attributed to

 

 

Change

 

Volume

 

Rate

 

Mix

Interest expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$              (62)

 

$              (40)

 

$              (26)

 

$                  4 

Money market accounts

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

 -

 

 -

Savings accounts

 

(38)

 

(8)

 

(33)

 

Federal Home Loan Bank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

advances

 

(133)

 

1,082 

 

(796)

 

(419)

 

 

(234)

 

1,033 

 

(855)

 

(412)

Net interest income

 

$          (5,914)

 

$          (6,717)

 

$              188 

 

$              615 

 

Other.    

Three-Months Ended:

The following discusses the financial results for SWS Group, corporate administration and SWS Capital Corporation.

 

Pre-tax loss from the other segment was $19.7 million for three-months ended March  31, 2014 compared to pre-tax loss of $15.3 million for the three-months ended March 29, 2013.  The primary driver of the $4.4 million increase in the pre-tax loss was related to the change in warrant valuation resulting in a $2.9 million increase in expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2013.  We recorded a $6.7 million unrealized loss on the valuation of the warrants held by Hilltop and Oak  Hill for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 compared to a $3.8 million unrealized loss on the valuation for the warrants held by Hilltop and Oak Hill for the three-months ended March 29, 2013.

 

Net revenues decreased $1.1 million for the three-months ended March  31, 2014 compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013The decrease was primarily due to a $0.7 million decrease in the valuation adjustment for our deferred compensation plan investments and a $0.2 million increase in net interest expense caused by an increase in the accretion expense on the discount on the $100.0 million of indebtedness under the Credit Agreement. 

 

Overall operating expenses increased $0.4 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to the three-months ended March 29, 2013 primarily due to $2.4 million in merger related fees, offset by a $0.8 million decrease in expenses related to our deferred compensation plan.  Other legal fees and operating expenses were down $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

 

Nine-Months Ended:

Pre-tax loss from the other segment was $43.3 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to a pre-tax loss of $33.1 million for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.  The primary driver of the $10.1 million increase in the pre-tax loss was related to the change in warrant valuation resulting in a $6.6 million increase in expense in the first three-quarters of fiscal 2014 compared to the first three-quarters of fiscal 2013.  We recorded a $6.8 million unrealized loss on the valuation of the warrants held by Hilltop and Oak  Hill for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to a $0.3 million unrealized loss on the valuation for the warrants held by Hilltop and Oak  Hill for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013

 

Net revenues decreased $3.0 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.    The decrease was primarily due to a $3.6 million realized gain recognized from the sale of our shares of USHS common stock in fiscal 2013 offset by a $0.7 million loss incurred in fiscal 2013 related to our municipal auction rate bond and a $0.5 million increase in the valuation adjustment for our deferred compensation plan investments, which was partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in interest expense caused by an increase in the accretion expense on the discount of the $100.0 million of indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.

 

Overall operating expenses increased $0.6 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the nine-months ended March 29, 2013 primarily due to $2.4 million in merger related fees.   Deferred compensation expense related to our deferred compensation plan increased $0.5 million, offset by a $1.4 million and $0.6 million decrease in executive and administrative incentive compensation and other legal fees, respectively.  

 

70


 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Investments

In fiscal 2013, the Bank implemented an investment strategy to diversify its balance sheet, absorb excess liquidity, and maximize interest income through investment in a conservative securities portfolio.  The securities portfolio is structured to provide cash flows to ensure that adequate funds are available for new loan originations. 

 

The book value of the Bank’s investment portfolio at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Government-sponsored enterprises—

 

 

 

 

 

held to maturity securities

 

$                13,553 

 

$                17,423 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises—

 

 

 

 

 

FHLB stock

 

4,501 

 

4,657 

 

Government-sponsored enterprises—

 

 

 

 

 

available for sale securities

 

531,591 

 

474,906 

 

Municipal obligations—

 

 

 

 

 

available for sale securities

 

43,949 

 

28,224 

 

Equity method investments

 

3,324 

 

3,844 

 

 

 

$               596,918 

 

$               529,054 

 

 

Loans and Allowance for Probable Loan Losses

The Bank grants loans to customers primarily within Texas and New Mexico.  In the ordinary course of business, the Bank also purchases mortgage loans that have been originated in various areas of the United States.  Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its portfolio is dependent upon the general economic conditions in Texas and New Mexico.  Substantially all of the Bank’s loans are collateralized with real estate.

 

The allowance for loan losses is maintained to absorb management’s estimate of probable loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio at each reporting date.  The allowance for loan losses is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for loan losses charged to earnings.  Loan losses are charged against the allowance when management determines the collection of principal is remote.  Subsequent recoveries are recorded through the allowance.  The determination of an adequate allowance is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. 

 

The allowance for loan losses consists of a specific and a general allowance component. 

 

The specific component provides for estimated probable losses for loans identified as impaired.  A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts of principal and interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  Management considers the borrower’s financial condition, payment status, historical payment record and any adverse situations affecting the borrower’s ability to repay when evaluating whether a loan is deemed impaired.  Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and shortfalls on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration all circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record and the amount of shortfall in relation to the principal and interest outstanding. 

 

A specific reserve is recorded when and to the extent (i) the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective rate, (ii) the fair value of collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent or (iii) the observable market price of the impaired loan is lower than its recorded investment.  If the fair value of collateral is used to measure impairment of a collateral-dependent loan and repayment is dependent on the sale of the collateral, the fair value is adjusted to incorporate estimated costs to sell.  Impaired loans that are collateral-dependent are primarily measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral as determined by third party appraisals using the income approach, recent comparable sales data or a combination thereof.  In certain instances it is necessary for management to adjust the appraised value, less estimated costs to sell, to reflect changes in fair value occurring subsequent to the appraisal date.  Management considers a guarantor’s capacity and willingness to perform, when appropriate, and the borrower’s resources available for repayment when measuring impairment. 

 

The general allowance provides for estimated and probable losses inherent in the remainder of the Bank’s loan portfolio.  The general allowance is determined through a statistical calculation based on the Bank's historical loss experience adjusted for certain qualitative factors as deemed appropriate by management.  The statistical calculation is conducted on a disaggregated basis for groups of homogeneous loans with similar risk characteristics (product types).  The historical loss element is calculated

71


 

as the average ratio of charge-offs, net of recoveries, to the average recorded investment for the current and previous seven quarters.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2014, management changed from using the current and the previous five quarters in the calculation to the current and the previous seven quarters for a more conservative approach and to be more indicative of the current economic outlook.  Management adjusts the historical loss rates to reflect changes in the real estate market, current market environment for commercial loans, credit quality to reflect increased credit risk not captured in the historical loss, significant concentrations of product types and trends in portfolio volume to capture additional risk of loss associated with the total loan portfolio.  Prevailing economic conditions and specific industry trends are taken into consideration when establishing the adjustments to historical loss rates.

 

Certain types of loans, such as option adjustable rate mortgage (“ARM”) products, junior lien mortgages, high loan-to-value ratio mortgages, single family interest only loans, sub-prime loans, and loans with initial "teaser" rates, can have a greater risk of non-collection than other loans.  At March 31, 2014, the Bank had $7.0 million in junior lien mortgages. These loans represented less than 2% of the Bank’s total loans at March 31, 2014.  At March 31, 2014, the Bank did not have any exposure to sub-prime loans or loans with initial teaser rates and had no single family interest only loans.

 

At March 31, 2014, the Bank’s loan portfolio included a total of $1.0 million in loans with high loan-to-value ratios.  High loan-to-value ratios are defined by regulation and range from 75%-90% depending on the type of loan.  At March 31, 2014, all of these loans were 1-4 single family or lot loans to home builders in North Texas.  We addressed the additional risk in these loans in our allowance calculation primarily through our review of the real estate market deterioration adjustment to the historical loss ratio. Additionally, at March 31, 2014, the Bank had no loans with a high loan-to-value ratio that were deemed impaired.  Regulatory guidelines suggest that high loan-to-value ratio loans should not exceed 100% of total capital.  At March 31, 2014, the Bank’s high loan-to-value ratio loans represented less than 1% of total capital.

 

We obtain appraisals on real estate loans at the time of origination from third party appraisers approved by the Bank’s BOD. We may also obtain additional appraisals when the borrower’s performance indicates it may default.  After a loan default and foreclosure, we obtain new appraisals to determine the fair value of the foreclosed asset. We obtain updated appraisals on foreclosed properties on an annual basis, or more frequently if required by market conditions, until we sell the property. 

 

Management reviews the loan loss computation methodology on a quarterly basis to determine if the factors used in the calculation are appropriate. In the past four years, because our problem loans and losses were concentrated in real estate related loans, we paid particular attention to real estate market deterioration and the concentration of capital in our real estate related loans. Improvement or additional deterioration in the residential and commercial real estate markets may have an impact on these factors in future quarters. To the extent we underestimate the impact of these risks, our allowance for loan losses could be materially understated.

 

72


 

Loans receivable, including loans measured at fair value, at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Residential

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased mortgage loans

 

 

 

 

 

held for investment

 

$                 72,546 

 

$              174,037 

 

1-4 family

 

92,433 

 

59,910 

 

 

 

164,979 

 

233,947 

 

Lot and land development

 

 

 

 

 

Residential land

 

556 

 

3,102 

 

Commercial land

 

5,399 

 

5,886 

 

 

 

5,955 

 

8,988 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

785 

 

1,367 

 

Commercial construction

 

5,526 

 

1,668 

 

Commercial real estate

 

182,815 

 

214,446 

 

Multifamily    

 

133,698 

 

99,833 

 

Commercial loans

 

69,709 

 

58,718 

 

Consumer loans

 

2,666 

 

1,959 

 

 

 

566,133 

 

620,926 

 

Allowance for probable loan loss (*)

 

(8,092)

 

(12,343)

 

 

 

$               558,041 

 

$              608,583 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________

 (*)  There is no allowance for probable loan loss for loans measured at fair value or purchased mortgage loans held for investment.  Purchase mortgage loans held for investment are held on average for 25 days or less, substantially reducing credit risk.

 

The decrease in purchased mortgage loans held for investment from June 30, 2013 to March  31, 2014 was representative of an overall decline in the first three quarters of fiscal 2014 in the mortgage industry’s production levels.  The nature of purchased mortgage loans held for investment business is volatile and subject to significant variation depending on interest rates, competition and general economic conditions.

 

The following table shows the scheduled maturities of certain loan categories at March  31, 2014, and segregates those loans with fixed interest rates from those with floating or adjustable rates (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 year

 

1-5

 

Over 5

 

 

 

 

or less

 

years

 

years

 

Total

Commercial construction, commercial

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

real estate and multifamily loans

 

$     36,956 

 

$   127,431 

 

$   157,652 

 

$   322,039 

Commercial loans

 

34,991 

 

22,903 

 

11,815 

 

69,709 

Residential construction loans

 

121 

 

664 

 

 -

 

785 

Total

 

$     72,068 

 

$   150,998 

 

$   169,467 

 

$   392,533 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of loans based upon:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating or adjustable interest rates

 

$     63,211 

 

$     87,684 

 

$   130,985 

 

$   281,880 

Fixed interest rates

 

8,857 

 

63,314 

 

38,482 

 

110,653 

Total

 

$     72,068 

 

$   150,998 

 

$   169,467 

 

$   392,533 

 

We maintain an internally classified loan list that helps us assess the overall quality of the loan portfolio and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  Loans on this list are classified as substandard, doubtful or loss based on probability of repayment, collateral valuation and related collectibility.  This list is used to identify loans that are considered non-performing.

 

We classify loans as non-performing when they are 90 days or more past due as to principal or interest or when reasonable doubt exists as to timely collectability.  The Bank uses a standardized review process to determine which non-performing loans should be placed on non-accrual status.  At the time a loan is placed on non-accrual status, we reverse previously accrued and uncollected interest against interest income.  We recognize interest income on non-accrual loans to the extent we receive cash payments for the loans with respect to which ultimate full collection is likely.  For loans where full collection is not likely, we apply interest payments to the outstanding principal and we recognize income only if full payment is made.   

 

73


 

Non-performing assets and classified loans as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 were as follows (dollars in thousands): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

Loans accounted for on a non-

 

 

 

 

 

accrual basis

 

 

 

 

 

1-4 family

 

$                5,724 

 

$               7,792 

 

Lot and land development

 

927 

 

2,418 

 

Residential construction

 

560 

 

601 

 

Commercial real estate

 

3,303 

 

7,611 

 

Commercial loans

 

3,874 

 

4,024 

 

 

 

14,388 

 

22,446 

 

Non-performing loans as a

 

 

 

 

 

percentage of total loans

 

2.5% 

 

3.6% 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REO

 

 

 

 

 

1-4 family

 

2,117 

 

1,801 

 

Lot and land development

 

1,146 

 

4,008 

 

Commercial real estate

 

2,124 

 

4,065 

 

Commercial loans

 

493 

 

291 

 

 

 

5,880 

 

10,165 

 

Performing troubled debt

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring (*)

 

4,819 

 

5,349 

 

Non-performing assets

 

$              25,087 

 

$             37,960 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-performing assets as a

 

 

 

 

 

percentage of total assets

 

2.0% 

 

3.0% 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current classified assets

 

 

 

 

 

1-4 family

 

$                   116 

 

$                  223 

 

Lot and land development

 

317 

 

965 

 

Multifamily

 

 -

 

692 

 

Commercial real estate

 

15,466 

 

22,616 

 

Commercial loans

 

(64)

(**)

5,114 

 

 

 

15,835 

 

29,610 

 

Total classified assets

 

 

 

 

 

1-4 family     

 

8,106 

 

10,080 

 

Lot and land development

 

2,390 

 

7,391 

 

Multifamily   

 

 -

 

692 

 

Residential construction

 

560 

 

601 

 

Commercial real estate

 

25,272 

 

38,801 

 

Commercial loans

 

4,594 

 

10,005 

 

 

 

$              40,922 

 

$             67,570 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________

 (*) The remaining balance of loans modified as a troubled debt restructuring is included in non-performing loans.  See discussion of the Bank’s troubled debt restructuring loans in “Loans and Allowance for Probable Loan Loss” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

(**)The troubled debt restructuring commercial loans were SBA guaranteed.  The credit exposure was less than the legal balance, leading to the negative balance.

 

Approximately $193,000, $272,000, $560,000, and $810,000 of gross interest income would have been recorded in the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, had the non-accrual loans been recorded in accordance with their original terms.  There was $2,000, $7,000, $31,000 and $39,000 of interest income recorded on the non-accrual loans, prior to being placed on non-accrual status, in the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. 

Total classified assets to Bank capital plus allowance for loan loss was 22.9% at March  31, 2014.  Classified assets decreased $26.6 million from June 30, 2013 and substantially all classified loans by collateral location are in Texas.  Bank management continues to be focused on reducing the classified asset ratio through the disposal of these assets.  Depending on the method used, the Bank may be required to record additional write-downs of these assets.  While management is diligently working to

74


 

dispose of these assets quickly, lack of demand for certain property types, length of sales cycle and manpower limitations will impact the time required to ultimately reduce the classified assets to a more acceptable level.

The following table presents an analysis of REO for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

Balance at beginning of period

 

$               7,355 

 

$             29,421 

 

$             10,165 

 

$              32,257 

Foreclosures

 

1,978 

 

185 

 

4,652 

 

11,076 

Sales

 

(3,391)

 

(5,363)

 

(8,674)

 

(18,369)

Write-downs

 

(62)

 

(549)

 

(263)

 

(1,475)

Other

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

205 

Balance at end of period

 

$               5,880 

 

$             23,694 

 

$               5,880 

 

$              23,694 

 

The following table presents the Bank’s classified assets as of March  31, 2014 by year of origination of the loan (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-

 

 

 

Troubled

 

Current

 

 

Year

 

Performing

 

 

 

Debt

 

Classified

 

 

Originated

 

Loans

 

REO

 

Restructuring

 

Assets

 

Total

Fiscal 2008 or prior

 

$            3,662 

 

$      4,046 

 

$                    340 

 

$         6,318 

 

$           14,366 

Fiscal 2009

 

2,058 

 

1,039 

 

1,090 

 

4,576 

 

8,763 

Fiscal 2010

 

8,388 

 

383 

 

1,573 

 

4,476 

 

14,820 

Fiscal 2011

 

280 

 

 -

 

34 

 

265 

 

579 

Fiscal 2012

 

 -

 

412 

 

101 

 

16 

 

529 

Fiscal 2013

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,681 

 

136 

 

1,817 

Fiscal 2014

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

48 

 

48 

 

 

$          14,388 

 

$      5,880 

 

$                 4,819 

 

$       15,835 

 

$           40,922 

 

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The following table presents an analysis of the allowance for probable loan losses for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended

 

Nine-Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

Balance at beginning of period

 

$                9,448 

 

$              18,637 

 

$              12,343 

 

$              22,402 

Continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charge-offs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lot and land development

 

 -

 

 -

 

(4)

 

(182)

1-4 family

 

(189)

 

 -

 

(286)

 

(163)

Commercial real estate

 

 -

 

 -

 

(51)

 

(1,113)

Commercial loans

 

 -

 

(51)

 

(67)

 

(1,659)

Total charge-offs   

 

(189)

 

(51)

 

(408)

 

(3,117)

Recoveries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential construction

 

14 

 

 

77 

 

44 

Lot and land development

 

102 

 

 

112 

 

192 

1-4 family

 

26 

 

19 

 

87 

 

88 

Commercial real estate

 

266 

 

109 

 

705 

 

192 

Commercial loans

 

 

34 

 

45 

 

405 

Consumer loans

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

10 

Total recoveries  

 

411 

 

180 

 

1,026 

 

931 

Net recoveries (charge-offs)

 

222 

 

129 

 

618 

 

(2,186)

Recapture of loan loss charged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to operations

 

(1,578)

 

 -

 

(4,869)

 

(1,450)

 

 

(1,356)

 

129 

 

(4,251)

 

(3,636)

Balance at end of period

 

$                8,092 

 

$              18,766 

 

$                8,092 

 

$              18,766 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of net recoveries (charge-offs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  during the period to average loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outstanding during the period

 

-0.01%

 

-0.02%

 

-0.11%

 

0.29% 

 

With the continued challenging economic environment and persistent high unemployment rates, the Bank frequently reviews and updates its processes and procedures for the extension of credit, allowance for loan loss computation and internal asset review and classification.  Recent changes include more stringent underwriting guidelines for loan-to-value ratios, guarantor’s financial condition, owner-occupied versus investor loans and speculative versus custom construction.  The Bank currently requires extensive documentation and data in order to reclassify existing non-performing loans as performing loans.  The Bank is also updating appraisals frequently, including for performing loans, to serve as an early indicator of loan deterioration. 

 

As a result of the current economic environment, the Bank significantly limited the growth of its loan portfolio in fiscal 2011 and 2012 in order to allocate the time, resources and capital necessary to support the existing loan portfolio.  During fiscal 2013, the Bank reestablished marketing efforts to implement a conservative loan growth plan which we believe will enhance our core earnings in future years.  Through the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Bank has continued these marketing efforts in order to grow the Bank’s loan portfolio.

 

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The allowance for probable loan losses by type of loans as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

June 30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

of the

 

 

 

Percent

 

of the

 

 

 

 

 

of loans

 

allowance

 

 

 

of loans

 

allowance

 

 

 

 

 

to total

 

for loan

 

 

 

to total

 

for loan

 

 

 

Amount

 

loans

 

loss

 

Amount

 

loans

 

loss

 

Residential construction

 

$           1 

 

0.1 

%

 

 -

%

 

$         49 

 

0.2 

%

 

0.4 

%

 

Lot and land development

 

48 

 

1.1 

 

 

0.6 

 

 

374 

 

1.4 

 

 

3.0 

 

 

1-4 family

 

1,871 

 

29.1 

 

 

23.1 

 

 

1,528 

 

37.7 

 

 

12.4 

 

 

Commercial real estate

 

1,882 

 

33.3 

 

 

23.3 

 

 

3,290 

 

34.8 

 

 

26.7 

 

 

Multifamily

 

2,484 

 

23.6 

 

 

30.7 

 

 

3,567 

 

16.1 

 

 

28.9 

 

 

Commercial loans

 

1,792 

 

12.3 

 

 

22.1 

 

 

3,530 

 

9.5 

 

 

28.6 

 

 

Consumer loans

 

14 

 

0.5 

 

 

0.2 

 

 

 

0.3 

 

 

 -

 

 

 

 

$     8,092 

 

100.0 

%

 

100.0 

%

 

$   12,343 

 

100.0 

%

 

100.0 

%

 

 

At March 31, 2014, approximately 23.3% of the Bank’s loan loss allowance was allocated to its commercial real estate loan portfolio while the Bank’s commercial real estate loan portfolio represented approximately 33.3% of its total loan portfolio.  This was down from June 30, 2013 when approximately 26.7% of the Bank’s loan loss allowance was allocated to its commercial real estate loan portfolio.  Commercial real estate loans tend to be individually larger than residential loans and deterioration in this portfolio can lead to volatility in earnings.  At March 31, 2014, the loan loss allowance related to multifamily loans was 30.7% as compared to multifamily loans constituting 23.6% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio.  The larger allocation of the allowance to multifamily loans reflects the recent growth in this portfolio. 

 

Additionally, at March  31, 2014, approximately 22.1% of the Bank’s loan loss allowance was allocated to its commercial loans portfolio, while the Bank’s commercial loan portfolio represented approximately 12.3% of its total loan portfolio.  This decrease from June 30, 2013 was due primarily to the approximately $2.1 million payment received on an outstanding loan for which the Bank had a specific impairment reserve recorded.    

 

The Bank’s written loan policies address specific underwriting standards for commercial real estate loans.  These policies include loan to value requirements, cash flow requirements, acceptable amortization periods and appraisal guidelines.  In addition, specific covenants, unique to each relationship, may be used where deemed appropriate to further protect the lending relationship.  Collateral in the commercial real estate portfolio varies from owner-occupied properties to investor properties.  We periodically review the portfolio for concentrations by industry as well as geography.  All commercial relationships are stress tested at the time of origination and major relationships are then stress tested on an annual basis.

 

Deposits

Average deposits and the average interest rate paid on the deposits for the three and nine-months ended March  31, 2014 can be found in the discussion of the Bank’s net interest income under the caption  "Results of Operations-Segment Information-Banking." 

The Bank had $11.1 million and $12.5 million in certificates of deposit of $100,000 or greater at March  31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, respectively.  The Bank is funded primarily by deposits from SWS’s brokerage customers, which are classified as core deposits.  These core deposits provide the Bank with a stable and low cost funding source.  The Bank also utilizes long-term Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) borrowings to match long-term fixed rate loan funding.  At March  31, 2014, the Bank had $878.3 million in funds on deposit from customers of Southwest Securities, representing approximately 88% of the Bank’s total deposits.

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Short-Term Borrowings and Advances from FHLB

The following table represents short-term borrowings and advances from the FHLB that were due within one year during the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three-Months Ended March 31,

 

Nine-Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

 

Amount

 

Rate

At end of period

 

$    10,127 

 

4.29 

%

 

$    13,493 

 

3.90 

%

 

$    10,127 

 

4.29 

%

 

$       13,493 

 

3.90 

%

Average balance during period

 

10,578 

 

4.23 

%

 

13,484 

 

3.90 

%

 

13,484 

 

4.01 

%

 

14,306 

 

4.10 

%

Maximum month-end balance during year

 

14,241 

 

 -

 

 

15,304 

 

 -

 

 

15,307 

 

 -

 

 

16,704 

 

 -

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Management believes that our current assets and available liquidity are adequate to meet our liquidity needs over the next 12 months.  However, our forecast may not prove to be accurate or we may need to raise additional capital.  As a result, from time to time, management evaluates various opportunities to supplement the company’s sources of liquidity and capital.  In fiscal 2012, this evaluation led to our entering into the Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill, as discussed below.  Should we determine we need to obtain additional long-term debt at SWS Group, regulatory approval and approval from Hilltop and Oak Hill would be required.    

Credit Agreement

On July 29, 2011, we entered into a Credit Agreement with Hilltop and Oak Hill pursuant to which we obtained a $100.0 million, five year, unsecured loan that accrues interest at a rate of 8% per annum.  In addition, we issued warrants to Hilltop and Oak Hill allowing each to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.75 per share (subject to anti-dilution adjustments), representing approximately 17% of the common stock of our company per investor as of July 29, 2011 (assuming the warrants are exercised in full).  The Credit Agreement contains restrictions and covenants that we must adhere to as long as the unsecured loan is outstanding.  As of March 31, 2014, SWS Group had utilized all of the $100.0 million by (i) contributing $20.0 million in capital to the Bank to promote growth in the Bank’s loan portfolio, (ii) reducing SWS Group’s intercompany payable to Southwest Securities by $20.0 million, (iii) contributing $30.0 million in capital to Southwest Securities and (iv) loaning $30.0 million to Southwest Securities to use in general operations by reducing Southwest Securities’ use of short-term borrowings for the financing of its day-to-day cash management needs.  See “Debt Issued with Stock Purchase Warrants” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

Brokerage

A substantial portion of our assets are highly liquid in nature and consist mainly of cash or assets that are readily convertible into cash.  Our equity capital, short-term bank borrowings, interest bearing and non-interest bearing client credit balances, correspondent deposits and other payables finance these assets.  We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts that represents amounts that are necessary in the judgment of management to adequately absorb losses from known and inherent risks in receivables from clients, clients of correspondents and correspondents.  The highly liquid nature of our assets provides us with flexibility in financing and managing our anticipated operating needs.  Management believes that the present liquidity position of the brokerage businesses is adequate to meet its needs over the next 12 months.

Short-Term Borrowings. At March  31, 2014, we had short-term borrowing availability under broker loan lines, a $20.0 million unsecured line of credit and a $45.0 million revolving committed credit facility, each of which is described below.

Broker Loan Lines.  At March 31, 2014, we had uncommitted broker loan lines of up to $400.0 million.  These lines of credit are used primarily to finance securities owned, securities held for correspondent broker/dealer accounts and receivables in customers’ margin accounts.  These lines may also be used to release pledged collateral against day loans.  These credit arrangements are provided on an "as offered" basis, are not committed lines of credit and can be terminated at any time by the lender.  Any outstanding balances under these credit arrangements are due on demand and bear interest at rates indexed to the federal funds rate.  At March 31, 2014, $50.0 million was outstanding under these secured arrangements, which was collateralized by securities held for firm accounts valued at $111.2 million.  Our ability to borrow additional funds is limited by our eligible collateral.

Unsecured Line of Credit.  We also have a $20.0 million unsecured line of credit that is due on demand and bears interest at rates indexed to the federal funds rate. This credit arrangement is provided on an "as offered" basis and is not a committed line of

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credit.  The total amount of borrowings available under this line of credit is reduced by the amount outstanding under any unsecured letters of credit at the time of borrowing.  At March 31, 2014, we had no outstanding unsecured letters of credit, there were no amounts outstanding on this line, and we had $20.0 million available for borrowing under this line of credit.

Revolving Committed Credit Facility.    On January 28, 2011, Southwest Securities entered into a $45.0 million committed revolving credit facility with an unaffiliated bank.  The commitment fee for the credit facility is 0.375% per annum and, when drawn, the interest rate is equal to the federal funds rate plus 125 basis points.  The agreement was renewed on January 23, 2014 and has the same terms as the initial agreement.  The credit facility requires Southwest Securities to maintain tangible net worth of $150.0 million.  As of March 31, 2014, there was no outstanding balance under this credit facility.

 

Net Capital Requirements.    Our broker/dealer subsidiaries are subject to the requirements of the SEC relating to liquidity, capital standards and the use of client funds and securities.  The amount of the broker/dealer subsidiaries’ net assets that may be distributed to the parent of the broker/dealer is subject to restrictions under applicable net capital rules.  Historically, we have operated in excess of the minimum net capital requirements.  See “Regulatory Capital Requirements” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

 

Secured Borrowings.  We participate in transactions involving securities sold under repurchase agreements (“repos”), which are secured borrowings that we record in our statement of financial condition as other liabilities.  These securities generally mature within one to four days from the transaction date.  Securities sold under repurchase agreements are reflected at the amount of cash received in connection with the transactions.  We may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities.

Banking

Liquidity is monitored daily to ensure the Bank’s ability to meet deposit withdrawals, maintain reserve requirements and otherwise sustain operations.  The Bank’s liquidity is maintained in the form of readily marketable loans and investment securities, balances with the FHLB, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, federal funds sold to correspondent banks and vault cash.  At March  31, 2014, the Bank had net borrowing capacity from the FHLB of $102.1 million.  In addition, at March  31, 2014, the Bank had the ability to borrow up to $40.5 million in funds from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas under its secondary credit program.   

In the second quarter of fiscal 2010, the Bank entered into a secured line of credit agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.  This line of credit is secured by the Bank's commercial loan portfolio.  This line is due on demand and bears interest at a rate of 50 basis points over the federal funds target rate.  At March  31, 2014, there were no amounts outstanding under this line of credit.

The Bank’s asset and liability management policy is intended to manage interest rate risk.  The Bank manages the periodic repricing of its interest-earning assets and its interest-bearing liabilities.  Overall interest rate risk is monitored through reports showing both sensitivity ratios, a simulation model, and existing "GAP" data.  (See the Bank’s GAP analysis in "-Risk Management-Market Risk-Interest Rate Risk-Banking.")  At March 31, 2014, $878.3 million of the Bank’s deposits were from the brokerage customers of Southwest Securities.  Current events in the securities markets could impact the amount of these funds available to the Bank.

Capital Requirements. The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal agencies.  Quantitative measures, established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy, require maintaining minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier I capital (as defined in 12 CFR 165 and 12 CFR 167) to risk-weighted assets (as defined) and of Tier I (core) capital (as defined) to adjusted assets (as defined) (without giving effect to the Basel III final rule).  At March 31, 2014, the Bank had a total risk-based capital ratio of 27.4% and the Bank had a Tier I (core) capital ratio of 13.9%.  At March 31, 2014, the Bank had a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 26.2%.  Under federal law, the OCC may require the Bank to apply other measures of risk-weight or capital ratios that the OCC deems appropriate.  In connection with the termination of the Order to Cease and Desist, Order No. WN-11-003, effective on February 4, 2011, on January 14, 2013, the Bank committed to the OCC that the Bank would, among other things, maintain a Tier I capital ratio at least equal to 9% of adjusted total assets and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 12%.

The Bank has historically met all of its capital adequacy requirements.    As of March  31, 2014, the Bank met all capital requirements to which it was subject and satisfied the requirements to be defined as well-capitalized.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We generally do not enter into off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by the SEC.  However, our broker/dealer subsidiaries enter into transactions in the normal course of business that expose us to off-balance sheet risk.  See “Note 27. Financial

79


 

Instruments with Off-Statement of Financial Condition Risk” in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.

Cash Flow

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $26.1 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $125.2 million for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.  The net cash provided by operating activities for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 was due to the $92.1 million decrease in net receivable from broker, dealer and clearing organizations and a $45.5 million decrease in client accounts offset by a a $45.4 million increase in securities purchased under agreements to resell, a net $36.6 million increase in our securities inventory and a $25.2 million increase in our customer reserve requirement.  

Net cash used in investing activities was $27.6 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $115.0 million for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013. Cash used in investing activities was due to purchases of securities of $177.1  million, offset by proceeds from cash received at the Bank from loan pay-downs net of originations of $45.5 million and proceeds from the Bank’s investments of $92.4 million. 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $21.9 million for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $107.6 million for the nine-months ended March 29, 2013.  The primary driver of the cash used in financing activities was a decrease in net cash proceeds from short-term borrowings offset by increases in cash proceeds from repurchase agreements, and an increase in deposits at the Bank. 

We expect that cash flows provided by operating activities and short-term borrowings will be the primary source of working capital for the next 12 months.

Treasury Stock

We periodically repurchase our shares of common stock. We currently have no approved repurchase plan, and any such plan would require, in addition to BOD approval, the approval of Hilltop, Oak Hill and regulatory authorities.

The trustee under our deferred compensation plan periodically purchases shares of our common stock in the open market in accordance with the terms of the plan.  This stock is classified as treasury stock in our consolidated financial statements, but participates in future dividends declared by us.  During the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, the plan purchased approximately 50,000 shares of common stock at a cost of approximately $288,000, or $5.76 per share, and approximately 37,575 shares were sold or distributed to participants pursuant to the plan. 

As restricted stock grants vest, grantees may sell a portion of their vested shares to us to cover the tax liabilities arising from vesting.  As a result, in the nine-months ended March 31, 2014, we repurchased approximately 1,100 shares of common stock with a market value of approximately $6,100, or an average of $5.55 per share, to cover tax liabilities. 

Inflation

Our financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).  GAAP requires us to measure our financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars.  Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession are generally not considered under GAAP.  Our assets are primarily monetary, consisting of cash, securities inventory and receivables from customers and broker/dealers.  These monetary assets are generally liquid and turn over rapidly and, consequently, are not significantly affected by inflation.  The rate of inflation affects various expenses of the company, such as employee compensation and benefits, communications, and occupancy and equipment, which may not be readily recoverable in the price of our services.  The rate of inflation can also have a significant impact on securities prices and on investment preferences by our customers, generally.  In management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial services firm to a greater degree than changes in the inflation rate.  While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate.  Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities among other things.

 

 

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RISK MANAGEMENT

In an effort to assist the company in managing enterprise risk, and at the BOD’s request, the company engaged a firm to perform an analysis of the company’s enterprise risk management process in 2010.  During fiscal 2011, based on the BOD’s recommendations, we initiated an enterprise risk management program and formed an enterprise risk management committee.  Enterprise risk is viewed as the threat from an event, action of loss of opportunity that, if it occurs or has occurred, may adversely affect any, or any combination of, our company objectives, business strategies, business model, regulatory compliance, reputation and existence.  The committee works with our various departments and committees to manage our enterprise risk management program and reports the results of this work to the Audit Committee of the BOD on a quarterly basis.  During fiscal 2013, we hired a full time risk manager for the consolidated group who serves as the primary liaison with our risk management consultants.  We continue to utilize the consultants to improve risk management processes, procedures and reporting.

We manage risk exposure through the involvement of various levels of management.  We establish, maintain and regularly monitor maximum positions by industry and issuer in both trading and inventory accounts.  Current and proposed underwriting, banking and other commitments are subject to due diligence reviews by senior management, as well as professionals in the appropriate business and support units.  The Bank seeks to reduce the risk of significant adverse effects of market rate fluctuations by minimizing the difference between rate-sensitive assets and liabilities, referred to as "GAP," and maintaining an interest rate sensitivity position within a particular timeframe.  Credit risk related to various financing activities is reduced by the industry practice of obtaining and maintaining collateral.  We monitor our exposure to counterparty risk through the use of credit information, the monitoring of collateral values and the establishment of credit limits.  We have established various other risk management committees that are responsible for reviewing and managing risk related to interest rates, trading positions, margin and other credit risk and risks from capital market transactions.

CREDIT RISKS

A description of the credit risk for our brokerage and banking segments is as follows:

Brokerage.  Credit risk arises from the potential nonperformance by counterparties, customers or debt security issuers.  We are exposed to credit risk as a trading counterparty and as a stock loan counterparty to dealers and customers, as a holder of securities and as a member of clearing organizations.  We have established credit risk committees to review our credit exposure in our various business units.  These committees are composed of senior management of the company.  Credit exposure is also associated with customer margin accounts, which are monitored daily.  We monitor exposure to individual securities and perform sensitivity analysis on a regular basis in connection with our margin lending activities.  We adjust our margin requirements if we believe our risk exposure is not appropriate based on market conditions. 

Banking.  Credit risk is the possibility that a borrower or counterparty will fail to meet its obligations in accordance with agreed terms and is inherent in all types of lending.  The Bank has developed and continues to update its policies and procedures to provide a process for managing credit risk.  These policies and procedures include underwriting guidelines, credit and collateral tracking and detailed loan approval procedures. The Bank also maintains a detailed loan review process to monitor the quality of its loan portfolio. The Bank makes loans to customers primarily within Texas and New Mexico.  The Bank also purchases mortgage loans, which have been originated in other areas of the United States.  Although the Bank has a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its portfolio is dependent upon the general economic conditions in Texas and New Mexico. Policies and procedures, which are in place to manage credit risk, are designed to be responsive to changes in these economic conditions.

Operational Risk

 

Operational risk refers generally to risk of loss resulting from our operations, including but not limited to, improper or unauthorized execution and processing of transactions, deficiencies in our operating systems, and inadequacies or breaches in our control processes.  We operate in diverse markets and rely on the ability of our employees and systems to process large numbers of transactions.  In order to mitigate and control operational risk, we have developed and continue to update specific policies and procedures that are designed to identify and manage operational risk at appropriate levels.  We also use periodic self-assessments and internal audit examinations as further review of the effectiveness of our controls and procedures in mitigating our operational risk. 

 

Legal Risk 

Legal risk includes the risk of non-compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.  We are subject to extensive regulation in the different jurisdictions in which we conduct business.  We have established procedures based on legal and regulatory requirements that are designed to reasonably ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.  We also have established procedures that are designed to ensure that executive management’s policies relating to conduct, ethics and business practices are followed.  In connection with our business, we have various procedures addressing

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significant issues such as regulatory capital requirements, sales and trading practices, new products, use and safekeeping of customer funds and securities, granting credit, collection activities, money laundering, privacy and record keeping.

Market Risk 

Market risk generally represents the risk of loss that may result from the potential change in value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates, market prices, investor expectations and changes in credit ratings of the issuer.  Our exposure to market risk is directly related to our role as a financial intermediary in customer-related transactions and to our proprietary trading activities and securities lending activities.

Interest Rate Risk. A description of the interest rate risk for our brokerage and banking segments is as follows:

Brokerage.  Interest rate risk is a consequence of maintaining inventory positions and trading in interest rate sensitive financial instruments and maintaining a matched stock loan book.  Our fixed income activities also expose us to the risk of loss related to changes in credit spreads.  Credit spread risk arises from the potential that changes in an issuer’s credit rating or credit perception could affect the value of financial instruments.

Banking.  Our primary emphasis in interest rate risk management for the Bank is the matching of assets and liabilities of similar cash flow and re-pricing time frames.  This matching of assets and liabilities reduces exposure to interest rate movements and aids in stabilizing positive interest spreads.  We strive to structure our balance sheet as a natural hedge by matching floating rate assets with variable short term funding and by matching fixed rate liabilities with similar longer term fixed rate assets.  The Bank has established percentage change limits in both interest margin and net portfolio value.  To verify that the Bank is within the limits established for interest margin, the Bank prepares an analysis of net interest margin based on various shifts in interest rates.  To verify that the Bank is within the limits established for net portfolio value, the Bank analyzes data prepared using internal modeling data for net portfolio value.  These analyses are conducted on a quarterly basis for the Bank’s BOD

The following table illustrates the estimated change in net interest margin based on shifts in interest rates of positive 300 basis points to negative 100 basis points:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates

 

Projected Change in Net Interest Margin

+300

 

-30.76%

+200

 

-20.58%

+100

 

-10.25%

0

 

0.00%

-100

 

-11.73%

 

 

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The following GAP Analysis table indicates the Bank’s interest rate sensitivity position at March  31, 2014 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repricing Opportunities

 

 

0-6 months

 

7-12 months

 

1-3 years

 

3+ years

Earning assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans-net

 

$      372,606 

 

$         34,320 

 

$      82,633 

 

$     68,482 

Securities and FHLB stock

 

26,314 

 

23,423 

 

6,777 

 

537,080 

Interest-bearing deposits

 

61,802 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

Total earning assets

 

460,722 

 

57,743 

 

89,410 

 

605,562 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest-bearing liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transaction accounts and savings

 

910,277 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

Certificates of deposit

 

9,813 

 

12,403 

 

4,062 

 

804 

Borrowings

 

8,335 

 

1,792 

 

8,581 

 

73,722 

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

928,425 

 

14,195 

 

12,643 

 

74,526 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAP

 

$    (467,703)

 

$         43,548 

 

$      76,767 

 

$   531,036 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative GAP

 

$    (467,703)

 

$      (424,155)

 

$   (347,388)

 

$   183,648 

 

Market Price Risk.  We are exposed to market price risk as a result of making markets and taking proprietary positions in securities.  Market price risk results from changes in the level or volatility of prices, which affect the value of securities or instruments that derive their value from a particular stock or bond, a basket of stocks or bonds or an index. 

The following table categorizes “Securities owned, at fair value” net of “Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value,” which are in our securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased, portfolios, and “Securities available for sale” in our available-for-sale portfolio which are subject to interest rate and market price risk at March  31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years to Maturity

 

 

1 or less

 

1 to 5

 

5 to 10

 

Over 10

 

Total

Trading securities, at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

$      3,642 

 

$      3,441 

 

$    11,325 

 

$    49,311 

 

$    67,719 

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

 

6,349 

 

(34,887)

 

17,056 

 

(1,797)

 

(13,279)

Corporate obligations

 

(5,951)

 

(201)

 

(3,918)

 

26,717 

 

16,647 

Total debt securities

 

$      4,040 

 

$   (31,647)

 

$    24,463 

 

$    74,231 

 

$    71,087 

Corporate equity securities

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

1,140 

 

1,140 

Other

 

39,282 

 

 -

 

 -

 

 -

 

39,282 

 

 

$    43,322 

 

$   (31,647)

 

$    24,463 

 

$    75,371 

 

$  111,509 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

83


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years to Maturity

 

 

 

1 or less

 

1 to 5

 

5 to 10

 

Over 10

 

Total

Weighted average yield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

2.42 

%

 

1.50 

%

 

2.60 

%

 

4.44 

%

 

3.88 

%

U.S. government and government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

agency obligations

 

0.04 

 

 

1.53 

 

 

2.60 

 

 

2.86 

 

 

2.50 

 

Corporate obligations

 

0.72 

 

 

2.24 

 

 

4.16 

 

 

4.25 

 

 

3.48 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities, at fair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Securities available for sale

 

$   45,375 

 

 

$     27,608 

 

 

$   47,488 

 

 

$   455,208 

 

 

$   575,679 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures.  We review our estimates on an on-going basis.  We base our estimates on our experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  Our accounting policies and methodology used in establishing estimates have not changed materially since June 30, 2013.  See Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K for a discussion of our critical accounting policies. 

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS

 

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.  Hilltop will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus of SWS and Hilltop, and SWS and Hilltop will each file other documents with respect to the proposed transaction and a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of SWS.  Investors and security holders of SWS are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents that will be filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information.  Investors and security holders of SWS will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by SWS or Hilltop through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.  Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by SWS will be available free of charge on SWS’s internet website at www.swst.com or by contacting SWS’s Investor Relations Department at (214) 859-1800.  Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Hilltop will be available free of charge on Hilltop’s internet website at www.hilltop-holdings.com or by contacting Hilltop’s Investor Relations Department at (214) 252-4029.

 

SWS, Hilltop, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about the directors and executive officers of SWS is set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on September 6, 2013, our proxy statement for our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on October 3, 2013, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed with the SEC on September 17, 2013 and October 1, 2013.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Hilltop is set forth in its most recent proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2013.  Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

84


 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

From time to time we make statements (including some contained in this report) that predict or forecast future events, depend on future events for their accuracy, or otherwise contain "forward-looking" information and constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws.  Such statements are generally identifiable by terminology such as “plans,” “expects,” “estimates,” “budgets,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “projects,” “indicates,” “targets,” “objective,” “could,” “should,” “may” or other similar words.  By their very nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should recognize that such statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated.    Actual results may differ materially as a result of various factors, some of which are outside of our control, including:

·

failure to obtain the approval of stockholders of SWS in connection with the proposed Hilltop merger;

·

the failure to consummate or delay in consummating the proposed transaction for other reasons;

·

the timing to consummate the proposed transaction;

·

the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied;

·

the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transaction is delayed, is not obtained, or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated;

·

Hilltop’s ability to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction;

·

Hilltop’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate its and SWS’s businesses;

·

the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; 

·

the interest rate environment;

·

the volume of trading in securities;

·

the liquidity in capital markets;

·

the volatility and general level of securities prices and interest rates;

·

the ability to meet regulatory capital requirements administered by federal agencies;

·

the level of customer margin loan activity and the size of customer account balances;

·

the demand for real estate in Texas, New Mexico and the national market;

·

the credit-worthiness of our correspondents, trading counterparties and of our banking and margin customers;

·

the demand for investment banking services;

·

general economic conditions, especially in Texas and New Mexico, and investor sentiment and confidence;

·

the value of collateral securing the loans we hold;

·

competitive conditions in each of our business segments;

·

changes in accounting, tax and regulatory compliance requirements;

·

changes in federal, state and local tax rates;

·

the ability to attract and retain key personnel;

·

the availability of borrowings under credit lines, credit agreements and credit facilities;

·

the potential misconduct or errors by our employees or by entities with whom we conduct business;

·

the ability of borrowers to meet their contractual obligations and the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses; and

·

the potential for litigation and other regulatory liability.

Our future operating results also depend on our operating expenses, which are subject to fluctuation due to:

·

variations in the level of compensation expense incurred as a result of changes in the number of total employees, competitive factors or other market variables;

·

variations in expenses and capital costs, including depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges incurred to maintain our infrastructure; and

85


 

·

unanticipated costs which may be incurred from time to time in connection with litigation, regulation and compliance, loan analyses and modifications or other contingencies.

Other factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations discussed in this report include those factors described in this report under the headings Overview,” “Risk Management,” “Risk Factors” and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K under the heading Risk Factors and our other reports filed with and available from the SEC.  Our forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference from “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the caption “Risk Management.”

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under to the Exchange Act) as of March  31, 2014.  Based on such evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has concluded that, as of March  31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the purpose of ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the nine-months ended March  31, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings 

 

In the general course of our brokerage business and the business of clearing for other brokerage firms, we have been named as defendants in various pending lawsuits and arbitration and regulatory proceedings.  These claims allege violations of various federal and state securities laws, among other matters.  The Bank is also involved in certain claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.  We believe that resolution of these claims will not result in a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Merger Litigation. Two putative class actions on behalf of purported stockholders of the Company challenging the proposed merger of the company and Hilltop are pending in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.  Both lawsuits name as defendants the company, the members of the BOD, Hilltop, and Peruna LLC.

 

The complaints generally allege, among other things, that the BOD breached its fiduciary duties to stockholders by failing to take steps to maximize stockholder value or to engage in a fair sale process before approving the merger, and that the other defendants aided and abetted such breaches of fiduciary duty.  The complaints allege, among other things, that the BOD labored under conflicts of interest, and that certain provisions of the Merger Agreement unduly restrict our ability to negotiate with other potential bidders.  The complaints seek relief that includes, among other things, an injunction prohibiting the consummation of the merger, rescission to the extent the merger terms have already been implemented, damages for the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, and the payment of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs.  The plaintiffs in both actions have served initial discovery requests directed at all defendants.

 

We believe the lawsuits are without merit and intend to defend against them vigorously.  There can be no assurance, however, with regard to the outcome of these lawsuits.  Currently, a loss resulting from these claims is not considered probable or reasonably estimable in amount.

 

86


 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

Certain risks related to the proposed merger with Hilltop are described below.  These risk factors supplement and should be read together with those described in the Fiscal 2013 Form 10-K.  You should carefully consider all such risks and uncertainties before deciding to invest in, or retain, shares of our common stock.  These are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not currently know about or that we currently believe are immaterial, or that we have not predicted, may also harm our business operations or adversely affect us. If any of these risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition, operating results or liquidity could be materially harmed.

 

Because the market price of Hilltop common stock will fluctuate and the per share merger consideration may be adjusted, SWS stockholders cannot be sure of the value of the merger consideration they will receive.

 

Upon completion of the merger, each share of SWS common stock will be converted into merger consideration consisting of $1.94 in cash and 0.2496 in Hilltop common stock. Because the stock portion of the merger consideration is based on a fixed ratio, the market value of the merger consideration may at any given time vary from the closing price of Hilltop common stock on the date the merger was announced. Any change in the market price of Hilltop common stock prior to completion of the merger will affect the market value of the merger consideration that SWS stockholders will receive upon completion of the merger. SWS is not permitted to terminate the Merger Agreement or resolicit the vote of its stockholders solely because of changes in the market price of Hilltop’s common stock, and there will be no adjustment to the merger consideration for changes in such market price. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors, including general market and economic conditions, changes in our respective businesses, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations. Many of these factors are beyond SWS’s control.

 

You are urged to obtain current market quotations for shares of Hilltop common stock.

 

The merger is subject to the receipt of consents and approvals from government entities that may take longer than expected or may impose conditions that are not presently anticipated or that could have an adverse effect on the combined company following the merger.

 

The merger is conditioned on the receipt of all requisite governmental and regulatory authorizations, consents, orders and approvals from the Federal Reserve Board and the Texas Department of Banking and, if applicable, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. These government entities may impose conditions on the completion of the merger or require changes to the terms of the merger. There can be no assurance material conditions or changes will not be imposed, and such conditions or changes could have the effect of delaying or preventing completion of the merger or imposing additional costs on or limiting the revenues of the combined company following the merger, any of which might have an adverse effect on the combined company following the merger.

 

We will be subject to business uncertainties, and we are subject to contractual restrictions while the merger is pending.    

Uncertainty about the effect of the merger on employees and customers may have an adverse effect on us. These uncertainties may impair our ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel while the merger is pending, and could cause customers and others that deal with us to seek to change existing business relationships with us. Retention of certain employees may be challenging during the pendency of the merger, as certain employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles. If key employees depart because of issues relating to such uncertainty or a desire not to remain with the business, our business could be negatively impacted.

In addition, the Merger Agreement restricts us from taking certain specified actions until the merger occurs without the consent of Hilltop. These restrictions may prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the merger and may affect our strategic business plans.  Lastly,  our business may be indirectly adversely affected by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the merger.

The Merger Agreement limits SWS’s ability to pursue an alternative transaction and requires SWS to pay a termination fee of $8 million under certain circumstances relating to alternative acquisition proposals.

SWS agreed in the Merger Agreement that it will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its or their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives or agents not to, knowingly encourage, solicit, participate in, knowingly facilitate or initiate discussions, negotiations, inquiries, proposals or offers with or provide any non-public information to, any person relating to any third party acquisition or any inquiry, proposal or offer reasonably likely to lead to a third party acquisition, subject to exceptions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement also provides for the payment by SWS of a termination fee in the amount of $8 million in the event that Hilltop terminates the Merger Agreement for certain reasons including a change in the recommendation of the BOD  or a termination of the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances followed by an acquisition of, or an agreement to acquire, SWS by a third party. These provisions may discourage a potential competing acquiror that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant part of SWS from considering or proposing such an acquisition. Furthermore, if the Merger Agreement is terminated and the BOD  seeks another party to acquire

87


 

SWS, SWS stockholders cannot be certain that SWS will be able to find a party willing to engage in a transaction or to pay the equivalent or greater consideration than that which Hilltop has agreed to pay in the merger.

Termination of the Merger Agreement could negatively impact SWS.

If the Merger Agreement is terminated, there may be various consequences. For example, SWS’s business may have been impacted adversely by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the merger, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the merger. A termination of the Merger Agreement may also damage the reputation and franchise value of SWS.  If the Merger Agreement is terminated and the BOD of SWS  seeks another merger or business combination, SWS stockholders cannot be certain that SWS will be able to find a party willing to engage in a transaction or to pay the equivalent or greater consideration than that which Hilltop has agreed to pay in the merger.

The combined company expects to incur substantial expenses related to the merger.

The combined company expects to incur substantial expenses in connection with completing the merger and combining the business, operations, networks, systems, technologies, policies and procedures of the two companies. Although we have assumed that a certain level of transaction and combination expenses would be incurred, there are a number of factors beyond our control that could affect the total amount or the timing of our combination expenses. Many of the expenses that will be incurred, by their nature, are difficult to estimate accurately at the present time. Due to these factors, the transaction and combination expenses associated with the merger could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that the combined company expects to achieve from the elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale and cost savings related to the combination of the businesses following the completion of the merger. As a result of these expenses, SWS expects to take charges against its earnings before and after the completion of the merger. The charges taken in connection with the merger are expected to be significant, although the aggregate amount and timing of such charges are uncertain at present. Further, if the merger is not completed, we would have to recognize these expenses without realizing the expected benefits of the merger.

If completed, the merger may not produce its anticipated results, and Hilltop and SWS may be unable to combine their operations in the manner expected.

We and Hilltop entered into the Merger Agreement with the expectation that the merger will result in various benefits. Achieving the anticipated benefits of the merger is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether the Hilltop and SWS organizations can be combined in an efficient, effective and timely manner.

It is possible that the transition process could take longer than anticipated and could result in the loss of valuable employees, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses, controls, procedures, policies and compensation arrangements, any of which could adversely affect the combined company’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger. The combined company’s results of operations could also be adversely affected by any issues attributable to either company’s operations that arise or are based on events or actions that occur prior to the closing of the merger. The companies may have difficulty addressing possible differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies. The transition process is subject to a number of uncertainties, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated benefits will be realized or, if realized, the timing of their realization. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits could result in increased costs or decreases in the amount of expected revenues and could adversely affect the combined company’s future business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

The exercise of our outstanding warrants would significantly dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders.

The exercise by Hilltop and/or Oak Hill of all or a substantial portion of our outstanding warrants would significantly dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders.  Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such exercise could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 3.  Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

 

88


 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits 

 

The exhibits required to be furnished pursuant to Item 6 are listed in the Exhibit Index filed herewith, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

89


 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWS Group, Inc.

 

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

May 7, 2014

 

 

/S/ James H. Ross

(Date)

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

James H. Ross

 

 

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

May 7, 2014

 

 

/S/ J. Michael Edge

(Date)

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

J. Michael Edge

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

May 7, 2014

 

 

/S/ Laura Leventhal

(Date)

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

Laura Leventhal

 

 

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

90


 

SWS, GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Number

 

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among SWS Group, Inc., Hilltop Holdings Inc. and Peruna LLC, dated as of March 31, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2014

3.1

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 15, 2009

3.2

Restated By-laws of the Registrant incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 28, 2014

3.3

Certificate of Designations of Non-Voting Perpetual Participating Preferred Stock, Series A of SWS Group, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2011

4.1

Warrant to purchase up to 8,695,652 shares of Common Stock, issued on July 29, 2011 to Hilltop Holdings Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2011

4.2

Warrant to purchase up to 8,419,148 shares of Common Stock, issued on July 29, 2011 to Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2011

4.3

Warrant to purchase up to 276,504 shares of Common Stock, issued on July 29, 2011 to Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2011

4.4

Investor Rights Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 among SWS Group, Inc., Hilltop Holdings Inc., Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P. and Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 1, 2011

10.1

Letter Agreement by and among SWS Group, Inc., Oak Hill Capital Partners III, L.P. and Oak Hill Capital Management Partners III, L.P., dated as of March 31, 2014 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2014

31.1*

Chief Executive Officer Certification filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2*

Chief Financial Officer Certification filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1*

Chief Executive Officer Certification furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2*

Chief Financial Officer Certification furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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The following materials from SWS Group, Inc.’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-months ended March 31, 2014 and March 29, 2013; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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* Filed herewith

 

 

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