10-Q 1 pjcq1201910q.htm 10-Q Document
 

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

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2019
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to                     

Commission File No. 001-31720
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
 
30-0168701
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1000
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
55402
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(612) 303-6000
 
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Trading Symbol
Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
PJC
The New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  þ No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes  þ No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
 
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨
 
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  ¨ No  þ

As of April 30, 2019, the registrant had 14,227,928 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
 




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

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





PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
18,245

 
$
50,364

Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
47,010

 
235,278

 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
305,295

 
479,795

Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and pledged as collateral
336,363

 
147,427

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
641,658

 
627,222

 
 
 
 
Fixed assets (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $63,011 and $60,555, respectively)
31,680

 
32,619

Goodwill
81,855

 
81,855

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $97,989 and $95,877, respectively)
10,262

 
12,374

Investments
152,024

 
151,963

Net deferred income tax assets
88,002

 
101,857

Right-of-use lease asset
41,935

 

Other assets
56,982

 
51,737

Total assets
$
1,169,653

 
$
1,345,269

 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
Short-term financing
$
49,956

 
$
49,953

Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
6,272

 
8,657

Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
174,504

 
177,427

Accrued compensation
143,430

 
333,522

Accrued lease liability
56,243

 

Other liabilities and accrued expenses
25,577

 
45,294

Total liabilities
455,982

 
614,853

 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
 
 
 
Shares authorized: 100,000,000 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018;
 
 
 
Shares issued: 19,519,307 at March 31, 2019 and 19,518,044 at December 31, 2018;
 
 
 
Shares outstanding: 13,468,235 at March 31, 2019 and 12,995,397 at December 31, 2018
195

 
195

Additional paid-in capital
772,184

 
796,363

Retained earnings
182,027

 
182,552

Less common stock held in treasury, at cost: 6,051,072 shares at March 31, 2019 and 6,522,647 shares at December 31, 2018
(291,903
)
 
(300,268
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,183
)
 
(1,398
)
Total common shareholders' equity
661,320

 
677,444

 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
52,351

 
52,972

Total shareholders' equity
713,671

 
730,416

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
1,169,653

 
$
1,345,269


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

3

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2019
 
2018
Revenues:
 
 
 
Investment banking
$
141,061

 
$
120,841

Institutional brokerage
34,954

 
27,645

Asset management
10,418

 
12,589

Interest
7,567

 
10,413

Investment income
475

 
2,912

 
 
 
 
Total revenues
194,475

 
174,400

 
 
 
 
Interest expense
2,643

 
5,338

 
 
 
 
Net revenues
191,832

 
169,062

 
 
 
 
Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
122,636

 
115,170

Outside services
9,142

 
8,939

Occupancy and equipment
8,750

 
8,578

Communications
8,630

 
8,626

Marketing and business development
7,395

 
7,299

Deal-related expenses
4,728

 
5,051

Trade execution and clearance
1,806

 
2,163

Intangible asset amortization
2,112

 
2,615

Other operating expenses
3,703

 
2,583

 
 
 
 
Total non-interest expenses
168,902

 
161,024

 
 
 
 
Income before income tax expense/(benefit)
22,930

 
8,038

 
 
 
 
Income tax expense/(benefit)
4,124

 
(2,581
)
 
 
 
 
Net income
18,806

 
10,619

 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss) applicable to noncontrolling interests
(616
)
 
16

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
19,422

 
$
10,603

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders
$
17,835

 
$
6,435

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.35

 
$
0.47

Diluted
$
1.32

 
$
0.47

 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share
$
1.39

 
$
2.00

 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
 
 
 
Basic
13,204

 
13,096

Diluted
13,530

 
13,382


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

4

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Net income
$
18,806

 
$
10,619

 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
215

 
529

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
19,021

 
11,148

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income/(loss) applicable to noncontrolling interests
(616
)
 
16

 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
19,637

 
$
11,132


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


5

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
(Unaudited)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common
 
 
 
Additional
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
Common
 
 
 
Total
(Amounts in thousands,
 
Shares
 
Common
 
Paid-In
 
Retained
 
Treasury
 
Comprehensive
 
Shareholders'
 
Noncontrolling
 
Shareholders'
 except share amounts)
 
Outstanding
 
Stock
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Stock
 
Loss
 
Equity
 
Interests
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
12,995,397

 
$
195

 
$
796,363

 
$
182,552

 
$
(300,268
)
 
$
(1,398
)
 
$
677,444

 
$
52,972

 
$
730,416

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss)
 

 

 

 
19,422

 

 

 
19,422

 
(616
)
 
18,806

Dividends
 

 

 

 
(19,947
)
 

 

 
(19,947
)
 

 
(19,947
)
Amortization/issuance of restricted stock
 

 

 
23,826

 

 

 

 
23,826

 

 
23,826

Repurchase of common stock through share repurchase program
 
(501
)
 

 

 

 
(32
)
 

 
(32
)
 

 
(32
)
Issuance of treasury shares for restricted stock vestings
 
1,035,360

 

 
(48,092
)
 

 
48,092

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock from employees
 
(563,284
)
 

 

 

 
(39,695
)
 

 
(39,695
)
 

 
(39,695
)
Shares reserved/issued for director compensation
 
1,263

 

 
87

 

 

 

 
87

 

 
87

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 
215

 
215

 

 
215

Fund capital distributions, net
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(5
)
 
(5
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
 
13,468,235

 
$
195

 
$
772,184

 
$
182,027

 
$
(291,903
)
 
$
(1,183
)
 
$
661,320

 
$
52,351

 
$
713,671

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
12,911,149

 
$
195

 
$
791,970

 
$
176,270

 
$
(273,824
)
 
$
(1,279
)
 
$
693,332

 
$
47,903

 
$
741,235

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 

 

 

 
10,603

 

 

 
10,603

 
16

 
10,619

Dividends
 

 

 

 
(30,575
)
 

 

 
(30,575
)
 

 
(30,575
)
Amortization/issuance of restricted stock
 

 

 
34,416

 

 

 

 
34,416

 

 
34,416

Issuance of treasury shares for restricted stock vestings
 
574,594

 

 
(23,901
)
 

 
23,901

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock from employees
 
(187,860
)
 

 

 

 
(16,797
)
 

 
(16,797
)
 

 
(16,797
)
Shares reserved/issued for director compensation
 
942

 

 
81

 

 

 

 
81

 

 
81

Other comprehensive income
 

 

 

 

 

 
529

 
529

 

 
529

Cumulative effect upon adoption of new accounting standard, net of tax
 

 

 

 
(3,597
)
 

 

 
(3,597
)
 

 
(3,597
)
Fund capital distributions, net
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(904
)
 
(904
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
 
13,298,825

 
$
195

 
$
802,566

 
$
152,701

 
$
(266,720
)
 
$
(750
)
 
$
687,992

 
$
47,015

 
$
735,007



See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


6

Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
18,806

 
$
10,619

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets
2,392

 
2,003

Deferred income taxes
13,855

 
5,610

Stock-based compensation
4,350

 
8,970

Amortization of intangible assets
2,112

 
2,615

Amortization of forgivable loans
1,503

 
1,298

Decrease/(increase) in operating assets:
 
 
 
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
188,268

 
99,092

Net financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
(17,359
)
 
270,816

Investments
(61
)
 
6,473

Other assets
(6,768
)
 
(23,256
)
Increase/(decrease) in operating liabilities:
 
 
 
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
(2,385
)
 
14,190

Accrued compensation
(170,611
)
 
(247,363
)
Other liabilities and accrued expenses
(5,571
)
 
(4,619
)
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
28,531

 
146,448

 
 
 
 
Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of fixed assets, net
(1,431
)
 
(1,560
)
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
(1,431
)
 
(1,560
)
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Increase/(decrease) in short-term financing
3

 
(103,683
)
Payment of cash dividend
(19,947
)
 
(30,375
)
Decrease in noncontrolling interests
(5
)
 
(904
)
Repurchase of common stock
(39,727
)
 
(16,797
)
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
(59,676
)
 
(151,759
)
 
 
 
 
Currency adjustment:
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
457

 
720

 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(32,119
)
 
(6,151
)
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
50,364

 
33,793

 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
18,245

 
$
27,642

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information –
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Interest
$
2,809

 
$
5,615

Income taxes
$
7,462

 
$
12,474


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements


7

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


Index


8

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

Note 1 Organization and Basis of Presentation

Organization

Piper Jaffray Companies is the parent company of Piper Jaffray & Co. ("Piper Jaffray"), a securities broker dealer and investment banking firm; Piper Jaffray Ltd., a firm providing securities brokerage and mergers and acquisitions services in Europe; Piper Jaffray Finance LLC, which facilitates corporate debt underwriting in conjunction with affiliated credit vehicles; Advisory Research, Inc. ("ARI"), which provides asset management services to separately managed accounts, closed-end and open-end funds and partnerships; Piper Jaffray Investment Group Inc. and PJC Capital Management LLC, which consist of entities providing alternative asset management services; Piper Jaffray Financial Products Inc. and Piper Jaffray Financial Products II Inc., entities that facilitate derivative transactions; and other immaterial subsidiaries.

Pershing LLC ("Pershing") is Piper Jaffray's clearing broker dealer responsible for the clearance and settlement of firm and customer cash and security transactions.

Piper Jaffray Companies and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") operate in two reporting segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. A summary of the activities of each of the Company's business segments is as follows:

Capital Markets

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

Asset Management

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

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Pursuant to this guidance, certain information and disclosures have been omitted that are included within complete annual financial statements. Except as disclosed herein, there have been no material changes in the information reported in the financial statements and related disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

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

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

9

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

Note 2 Accounting Policies and Pronouncements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for a full description of the Company's significant accounting policies. Changes to the Company's significant accounting policies are described below.

Leases

A lease is a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of identified property or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. In making this determination, the Company considers if it obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the underlying asset and directs how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract.

The Company leases its corporate headquarters and other offices under various non-cancelable leases, all of which are operating leases. In addition to rent, the leases require payment of real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance. The original terms of the Company's lease agreements generally range up to twelve years. Some of the leases contain renewal and/or termination options, escalation clauses, rent-free holidays and operating cost adjustments.

The Company recognizes a right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset and lease liability on the consolidated statements of financial position for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The lease liability represents the Company’s obligation to make future lease payments and is recorded at an amount equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments due over the lease term. The ROU lease asset, which represents the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term, is measured based on the carrying value of the lease liability, adjusted for other items, such as lease incentives and uneven rent payments.

The discount rate used to determine the present value of the remaining lease payments reflects the Company’s incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term in a similar economic environment. In calculating its discount rates, the Company took into consideration a current financing arrangement that is on a secured (i.e., collateralized) basis, as well as market interest rates and spreads, other reference points, and the respective tenors of the Company’s designated lease term ranges. The Company applied the portfolio approach in determining the discount rates for its leases. The weighted-average discount rate was 4.0 percent at March 31, 2019.

For leases that contain escalation clauses or rent-free holidays, the Company recognizes the related rent expense on a straight-line basis from the date the Company takes possession of the property to the end of the initial lease term. The Company records any difference between the straight-line rent expense and amounts paid under the leases as part of the amortization of the ROU lease asset.

Cash or lease incentives received upon entering into certain leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as a reduction of rent expense from the date the Company takes possession of the property or receives the cash to the end of the initial lease term. Lease incentives, which initially reduce the ROU lease asset, are a component of the amortization of the ROU lease asset.

Rent expense for leases with a term of 12 months or less is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term in the consolidated statements of operations.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a ROU lease asset and lease liability on the consolidated statements of financial position for all leases with a term longer than 12 months and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous U.S. GAAP.


10

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

The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and applied the package of practical expedients in transitioning to the new guidance. Electing the package of practical expedients allowed the Company to not reassess: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (iii) initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases. Also, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease components from nonlease components.

Upon adoption, the Company recognized a ROU lease asset of approximately $44.0 million and a lease liability of approximately $59.0 million. The difference between the ROU lease asset and the lease liability is due to lease incentives. There were no changes to the recognition of rent expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations upon adoption of ASU 2016-02. In addition, the new guidance has not impacted Piper Jaffray's net capital position.

Future Adoption of New Applicable Accounting Standards

Financial Instruments Credit Losses

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

Note 3 Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned and Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Sold, but Not Yet Purchased

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
12,908

 
$
1,458

Convertible securities
116,008

 
92,485

Fixed income securities
33,819

 
31,906

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
Taxable securities
40,072

 
38,711

Tax-exempt securities
246,130

 
268,804

Short-term securities
20,620

 
52,472

Mortgage-backed securities
14

 
15

U.S. government agency securities
152,743

 
123,384

U.S. government securities
2,569

 
954

Derivative contracts
16,775

 
17,033

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
$
641,658

 
$
627,222

 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
79,279

 
$
82,082

Fixed income securities
18,163

 
20,180

U.S. government agency securities
8,859

 
10,257

U.S. government securities
62,354

 
60,365

Derivative contracts
5,849

 
4,543

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
174,504

 
$
177,427


At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, financial instruments and other inventory positions owned in the amount of $336.4 million and $147.4 million, respectively, had been pledged as collateral for short-term financings.


11

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

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

Derivative Contract Financial Instruments

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

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

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

Derivatives are reported on a net basis by counterparty (i.e., the net payable or receivable for derivative assets and liabilities for a given counterparty) when a legal right of offset exists and on a net basis by cross product when applicable provisions are stated in master netting agreements. Cash collateral received or paid is netted on a counterparty basis, provided a legal right of offset exists. The total absolute notional contract amount, representing the absolute value of the sum of gross long and short derivative contracts, provides an indication of the volume of the Company's derivative activity and does not represent gains and losses. The following table presents the gross fair market value and the total absolute notional contract amount of the Company's outstanding derivative instruments, prior to counterparty netting, by asset or liability position:
 
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Derivative
 
Derivative
 
Notional
 
Derivative
 
Derivative
 
Notional
Derivative Category
 
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)
 
Amount
 
Assets (1)
 
Liabilities (2)
 
Amount
Interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer matched-book
 
$
186,555

 
$
175,755

 
$
2,308,159

 
$
181,199

 
$
169,950

 
$
2,532,966

Trading securities
 
10

 
4,222

 
239,225

 
408

 
4,202

 
262,275

 
 
$
186,565

 
$
179,977

 
$
2,547,384

 
$
181,607

 
$
174,152

 
$
2,795,241

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

The Company's derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, therefore, unrealized gains and losses are recorded on the consolidated statements of operations. The gains and losses on the related economically hedged inventory positions are not disclosed below as they are not in qualifying hedging relationships. The following table presents the Company's unrealized gains/(losses) on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
March 31,
Derivative Category               
 
Operations Category
 
2019
 
2018
Interest rate derivative contract
 
Investment banking
 
$
(617
)
 
$
(795
)
Interest rate derivative contract
 
Institutional brokerage
 
(249
)
 
5,062

 
 
 
 
$
(866
)
 
$
4,267



12

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

Credit risk associated with the Company's derivatives is the risk that a derivative counterparty will not perform in accordance with the terms of the applicable derivative contract. Credit exposure associated with the Company's derivatives is driven by uncollateralized market movements in the fair value of the contracts with counterparties and is monitored regularly by the Company's financial risk committee. The Company considers counterparty credit risk in determining derivative contract fair value. The majority of the Company's derivative contracts are substantially collateralized by its counterparties, who are major financial institutions. The Company has a limited number of counterparties who are not required to post collateral. Based on market movements, the uncollateralized amounts representing the fair value of the derivative contract can become material, exposing the Company to the credit risk of these counterparties. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had $16.9 million of uncollateralized credit exposure with these counterparties (notional contract amount of $176.5 million), including $13.9 million of uncollateralized credit exposure with one counterparty.

Note 4 Fair Value of Financial Instruments

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

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

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

Cash Equivalents

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

Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned

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


13

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

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

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

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

Taxable municipal securities – Taxable municipal securities are valued using recently executed observable trades or market price quotations and therefore are generally categorized as Level II.

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

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

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

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

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


14

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

Derivatives – Derivative contracts include interest rate swaps, interest rate locks and U.S. treasury bond futures. These instruments derive their value from underlying assets, reference rates, indices or a combination of these factors. The majority of the Company's interest rate derivative contracts, including both interest rate swaps and interest rate locks, are valued using market standard pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows. The valuation models used do not involve material subjectivity as the methodologies do not entail significant judgment and the pricing inputs are market observable, including contractual terms, yield curves and measures of volatility. These instruments are classified as Level II within the fair value hierarchy. Certain interest rate locks transact in less active markets and were valued using valuation models that included the previously mentioned observable inputs and certain unobservable inputs that required significant judgment, such as the premium over the MMD curve. These instruments are classified as Level III.

Investments

The Company's investments valued at fair value include equity investments in private companies and partnerships and investments in registered mutual funds. Investments in registered mutual funds are valued based on quoted prices on active markets and classified as Level I. Investments in private companies are valued based on an assessment of each underlying security, considering rounds of financing, third party transactions and market-based information, including comparable company transactions, trading multiples (e.g., multiples of revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")) and changes in market outlook, among other factors. These securities are generally categorized as Level III.

Fair Value Option – The fair value option permits the irrevocable fair value option election on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. The fair value option was elected for certain merchant banking and other investments at inception to reflect economic events in earnings on a timely basis. Merchant banking and other equity investments of $2.6 million and $3.0 million, included within investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition, are accounted for at fair value and are classified as Level III assets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The realized and unrealized net impact from fair value changes included in earnings as a result of electing to apply the fair value option to certain financial assets were losses of $0.4 million and gains of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The following table summarizes quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company's Level III financial instruments as of March 31, 2019:
 
Valuation
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range      
 
Average (1)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities in private companies
Market approach
 
Revenue multiple (2)
 
2 - 5 times
 
4.3 times
 
 
 
EBITDA multiple (2)
 
13 - 16 times
 
14.5 times
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate locks
Discounted cash flow
 
Premium over the MMD curve in basis points ("bps") (3)
 
2 - 24 bps
 
11.7 bps
Uncertainty of fair value measurements:
(1)
Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the financial instruments.
(2) Significant increase/(decrease) in the unobservable input in isolation would have resulted in a significantly higher/(lower) fair value measurement.
(3) Significant increase/(decrease) in the unobservable input in isolation would have resulted in a significantly lower/(higher) fair value measurement.


15

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

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company's financial instruments by pricing observability levels defined in FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, "Fair Value Measurement" ("ASC 820") as of March 31, 2019:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Counterparty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
21

 
$
12,887

 
$

 
$

 
$
12,908

Convertible securities

 
116,008

 

 

 
116,008

Fixed income securities

 
33,819

 

 

 
33,819

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities

 
40,072

 

 

 
40,072

Tax-exempt securities

 
246,130

 

 

 
246,130

Short-term securities

 
20,620

 

 

 
20,620

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 
14

 

 
14

U.S. government agency securities

 
152,743

 

 

 
152,743

U.S. government securities
2,569

 

 

 

 
2,569

Derivative contracts

 
186,565

 

 
(169,790
)
 
16,775

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
2,590

 
808,844

 
14

 
(169,790
)
 
641,658

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
750

 

 

 

 
750

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
33,150

 
3,252

 
107,878

(2)

 
144,280

Total assets
$
36,490

 
$
812,096

 
$
107,892

 
$
(169,790
)
 
$
786,688

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
68,307

 
$
10,972

 
$

 
$

 
$
79,279

Fixed income securities

 
18,163

 

 

 
18,163

U.S. government agency securities

 
8,859

 

 

 
8,859

U.S. government securities
62,354

 

 

 

 
62,354

Derivative contracts

 
175,755

 
4,222

 
(174,128
)
 
5,849

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
130,661

 
$
213,749

 
$
4,222

 
$
(174,128
)
 
$
174,504

(1)
Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting on a counterparty basis. The Company had no securities posted as collateral to its counterparties.
(2)
Noncontrolling interests of $52.4 million are attributable to third party ownership in consolidated merchant banking and senior living funds.


16

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

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company's financial instruments by pricing observability levels defined in ASC 820 as of December 31, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Counterparty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Collateral
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Level I
 
Level II
 
Level III
 
Netting (1)
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
331

 
$
1,127

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,458

Convertible securities

 
92,485

 

 

 
92,485

Fixed income securities

 
31,906

 

 

 
31,906

Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Taxable securities

 
38,711

 

 

 
38,711

Tax-exempt securities

 
268,804

 

 

 
268,804

Short-term securities

 
52,472

 

 

 
52,472

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 
15

 

 
15

U.S. government agency securities

 
123,384

 

 

 
123,384

U.S. government securities
954

 

 

 

 
954

Derivative contracts

 
181,378

 
229

 
(164,574
)
 
17,033

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
1,285

 
790,267

 
244

 
(164,574
)
 
627,222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
20,581

 

 

 

 
20,581

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
33,587

 
2,649

 
107,792

(2)

 
144,028

Total assets
$
55,453

 
$
792,916

 
$
108,036

 
$
(164,574
)
 
$
791,831

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity securities
$
81,575

 
$
507

 
$

 
$

 
$
82,082

Fixed income securities

 
20,180

 

 

 
20,180

U.S. government agency securities

 
10,257

 

 

 
10,257

U.S. government securities
60,365

 

 

 

 
60,365

Derivative contracts

 
169,950

 
4,202

 
(169,609
)
 
4,543

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
141,940

 
$
200,894

 
$
4,202

 
$
(169,609
)
 
$
177,427

(1)
Represents cash collateral and the impact of netting on a counterparty basis. The Company had no securities posted as collateral to its counterparties.
(2)
Noncontrolling interests of $53.0 million are attributable to third party ownership in consolidated merchant banking and senior living funds.

The Company's Level III assets were $107.9 million and $108.0 million, or 13.7 percent and 13.6 percent of financial instruments measured at fair value at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. There were no significant transfers between levels for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
 

17

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

The following tables summarize the changes in fair value associated with Level III financial instruments held at the beginning or end of the periods presented:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(losses) for assets/
 
Balance at
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized
 
Unrealized
 
Balance at
 
liabilities held at
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
gains/
 
gains/
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2018
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
in
 
out
 
(losses)
 
(losses)
 
2019
 
2019
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage-backed securities
$
15

 
$

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(27
)
 
$
28

 
$
14

 
$

Derivative contracts
229

 

 
(336
)
 

 

 
336

 
(229
)
 

 

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
244

 

 
(338
)
 

 

 
309

 
(201
)
 
14

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
107,792

 

 

 

 

 

 
86

 
107,878

 
86

Total assets
$
108,036

 
$

 
$
(338
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
309

 
$
(115
)
 
$
107,892

 
$
86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts
$
4,202

 
$
(5,603
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,603

 
$
20

 
$
4,222

 
$
4,222

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
4,202

 
$
(5,603
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,603

 
$
20

 
$
4,222

 
$
4,222


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(losses) for assets/
 
Balance at
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized
 
Unrealized
 
Balance at
 
liabilities held at
 
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
Transfers
 
Transfers
 
gains/
 
gains/
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2017
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
in
 
out
 
(losses)
 
(losses)
 
2018
 
2018
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tax-exempt securities
$
700

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
(700
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Short-term securities
714

 

 

 

 

 

 
5

 
719

 
5

Mortgage-backed securities
481

 

 
(5
)
 

 

 

 
(192
)
 
284

 
3

Derivative contracts
126

 

 
(1,760
)
 

 

 
1,760

 
2,018

 
2,144

 
2,144

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions owned
2,021

 

 
(1,765
)
 

 
(700
)
 
1,760

 
1,831

 
3,147

 
2,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments at fair value
126,060

 
601

 
(4,154
)
 

 

 
3,402

 
(4,272
)
 
121,637

 
(869
)
Total assets
$
128,081

 
$
601

 
$
(5,919
)
 
$

 
$
(700
)
 
$
5,162

 
$
(2,441
)
 
$
124,784

 
$
1,283

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative contracts
$
4,433

 
$
(1,305
)
 
$
3,226

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1,921
)
 
$
(3,044
)
 
$
1,389

 
$
1,389

Total financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased
$
4,433

 
$
(1,305
)
 
$
3,226

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1,921
)
 
$
(3,044
)
 
$
1,389

 
$
1,389



18

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

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

The carrying values of the Company's cash, receivables and payables either from or to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and short-term financings approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature.

Note 5 Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs")

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

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

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

Consolidated VIEs

The Company's consolidated VIEs at March 31, 2019 included certain alternative asset management funds in which the Company has an investment and, as the managing partner, is deemed to have both the power to direct the most significant activities of the funds and the right to receive benefits (or the obligation to absorb losses) that could potentially be significant to these funds.

The following table presents information about the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs which are consolidated by the Company and included on the consolidated statements of financial condition at March 31, 2019. The assets can only be used to settle the liabilities of the respective VIE, and the creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. One of these VIEs has $25.0 million of bank line financing available with an interest rate based on prime plus an applicable margin. The assets and liabilities are presented prior to consolidation, and thus a portion of these assets and liabilities are eliminated in consolidation.

 
 
Alternative Asset
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Management Funds
Assets:
 
 
Investments
 
$
104,208

Other assets
 
511

Total assets
 
$
104,719

 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
Other liabilities and accrued expenses
 
$
2,079

Total liabilities
 
$
2,079


The Company has investments in a grantor trust which was established as part of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the grantor trust. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the grantor trust are consolidated by the Company on the consolidated statements of financial condition. See Note 13 for additional information on the nonqualified deferred compensation plan.


19

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

Nonconsolidated VIEs

The Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs and accordingly does not consolidate them. These VIEs had net assets approximating $0.4 billion at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. The Company's exposure to loss from these VIEs is $6.1 million, which is the carrying value of its capital contributions recorded in investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition at March 31, 2019. The Company had no liabilities related to these VIEs at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Furthermore, the Company has not provided financial or other support to these VIEs that it was not previously contractually required to provide as of March 31, 2019.

Note 6 Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Receivable from clearing organizations
$
36,015

 
$
223,987

Deposits with clearing organizations
3,606

 
230

Receivable from brokers and dealers
3,998

 
7,700

Other
3,391

 
3,361

Total receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
$
47,010

 
$
235,278


 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Payable to clearing organizations
$
5,128

 
$
4,734

Payable to brokers and dealers
1,144

 
3,923

Total payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
$
6,272

 
$
8,657


Under the Company's fully disclosed clearing agreement, the majority of its securities inventories and all of its customer activities are held by or cleared through Pershing. The Company has also established an arrangement to obtain financing from Pershing related to the majority of its trading activities. Financing under this arrangement is secured primarily by securities, and collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under this arrangement. The funding is at the discretion of Pershing and could be denied. The Company's clearing arrangement activities are recorded net from trading activity. The Company's fully disclosed clearing agreement includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

Note 7 Investments

The Company's investments include investments in private companies and partnerships and registered mutual funds.
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Investments at fair value
$
144,280

 
$
144,028

Investments at cost
1,513

 
1,512

Investments accounted for under the equity method
6,231

 
6,423

Total investments
152,024

 
151,963

 
 
 
 
Less investments attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)
(52,351
)
 
(52,972
)
 
$
99,673

 
$
98,991

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

At March 31, 2019, investments carried on a cost basis had an estimated fair market value of $1.5 million. Because valuation estimates were based upon management's judgment, investments carried at cost would be categorized as Level III assets in the fair value hierarchy, if they were carried at fair value.


20

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

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

Note 8 Other Assets

 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Fee receivables
$
18,105

 
$
23,120

Income tax receivables
12,661

 

Accrued interest receivables
3,585

 
4,240

Forgivable loans, net
7,288

 
7,568

Prepaid expenses
8,042

 
9,477

Other
7,301

 
7,332

Total other assets
$
56,982

 
$
51,737


Note 9 Short-Term Financing

The Company issues secured commercial paper to fund a portion of its securities inventory. The commercial paper notes ("CP Notes") can be issued with maturities of 27 days to 270 days from the date of issuance. The CP Notes are currently issued under two separate programs, CP Series A and CP Series II A, and are secured by different inventory classes. As of March 31, 2019, the weighted average maturity of outstanding CP Notes was 9 days. The CP Notes are interest bearing or sold at a discount to par with an interest rate based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin. CP Series II A includes a covenant that requires the Company's U.S. broker dealer subsidiary to maintain excess net capital of $100 million. The Company had CP Notes of $50.0 million outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 with weighted average interest rates of 3.48% and 3.38%, respectively.

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

The Company's committed short-term bank line financing at March 31, 2019 consisted of a one-year $175 million committed revolving credit facility with U.S. Bank, N.A., which was renewed in December 2018. Advances under this facility are secured by certain marketable securities. The facility includes a covenant that requires the Company's U.S. broker dealer subsidiary to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million, and the unpaid principal amount of all advances under this facility will be due on December 13, 2019. The Company pays a nonrefundable commitment fee on the unused portion of the facility on a quarterly basis. At March 31, 2019, the Company had no advances against this line of credit.

The Company's uncommitted secured line at March 31, 2019 was $85 million and is dependent on having appropriate collateral, as determined by the bank agreement, to secure an advance under the line. The availability of the Company's uncommitted line is subject to approval by the bank each time an advance is requested and may be denied. At March 31, 2019, the Company had no advances against this line of credit.

Note 10 Legal Contingencies

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


21

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

The Company has established reserves for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from pending and potential legal actions, investigations and regulatory proceedings. Reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued at March 31, 2019 are not material. In many cases, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even possible or to estimate the amount or range of any potential loss, particularly where proceedings may be in relatively early stages or where plaintiffs are seeking substantial or indeterminate damages. Matters frequently need to be more developed before a loss or range of loss can reasonably be estimated.

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

Note 11 Leases

The Company leases office space throughout the United States and in a limited number of foreign countries where the Company's international operations reside. Aggregate minimum lease commitments on an undiscounted basis for the Company’s operating leases (including short-term leases) as of March 31, 2019 are as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Remainder of 2019
$
10,670

2020
13,876

2021
9,461

2022
8,064

2023
7,187

Thereafter
15,771

Total
$
65,029


The weighted-average remaining lease term was 5.9 years at March 31, 2019.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company’s operating lease cost was $3.0 million, of which $0.2 million related to all short-term leases. The Company recorded sublease income of $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Note 12 Shareholders' Equity

Share Repurchases

Effective September 30, 2017, the Company's board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million in common shares through September 30, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 501 shares at an average price of $64.80 per share related to this authorization. The Company has $102.8 million remaining under this authorization. No repurchases were made in conjunction with this authorization during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

The Company also purchases shares of common stock from restricted stock award recipients upon the award vesting or as recipients sell shares to meet their employment tax obligations. The Company purchased 563,284 shares and 187,860 shares, or $39.7 million and $16.8 million of the Company's common stock for these purposes during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


22

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

Issuance of Shares

The Company issues common shares out of treasury stock as a result of employee restricted share vesting and exercise transactions as discussed in Note 13. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company issued 1,035,360 shares and 574,594 shares, respectively, related to these obligations.

Dividends

The Company's dividend policy includes a quarterly and an annual special cash dividend, payable in the first quarter of each year, with the intention of returning a metric based on the Company's net income from the previous fiscal year.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company declared and paid both a quarterly and annual special cash dividend on its common stock of $0.375 and $1.01 per share, respectively, totaling $19.9 million.

On April 26, 2019, the board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.375 per share to be paid on June 14, 2019, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 24, 2019.

Noncontrolling Interests

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Piper Jaffray Companies, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Noncontrolling interests represent equity interests in consolidated entities that are not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to Piper Jaffray Companies. Noncontrolling interests include the minority equity holders' proportionate share of the equity in merchant banking funds of $50.7 million and a senior living fund aggregating $1.7 million as of March 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2018, noncontrolling interests included the minority equity holders' proportionate share of the equity in merchant banking funds of $50.2 million and a senior living fund aggregating $2.8 million.

Ownership interests in entities held by parties other than the Company's common shareholders are presented as noncontrolling interests within shareholders' equity, separate from the Company's own equity. Revenues, expenses and net income or loss are reported on the consolidated statements of operations on a consolidated basis, which includes amounts attributable to both the Company's common shareholders and noncontrolling interests. Net income or loss is then allocated between the Company and noncontrolling interests based upon their relative ownership interests. Net income applicable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from consolidated net income to determine net income applicable to the Company. There was no other comprehensive income or loss attributed to noncontrolling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.




23

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

Note 13 Compensation Plans

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The Company maintains three stock-based compensation plans, the Piper Jaffray Companies Amended and Restated 2003 Annual and Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan"), the 2016 Employment Inducement Award Plan (the "Simmons Inducement Plan") and the 2019 Employment Inducement Award Plan (the "Weeden & Co. Inducement Plan"). The Company's equity awards are recognized on the consolidated statements of operations at grant date fair value over the service period of the award, less forfeitures.

The following table provides a summary of the Company's outstanding equity awards (in shares or units) as of March 31, 2019:
Incentive Plan
 
Restricted Stock
 
Annual grants
482,660

Sign-on grants
55,885

 
538,545

Simmons Inducement Plan
 
Restricted Stock
254,058

 
 
Total restricted stock outstanding
792,603

 
 
Incentive Plan
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Leadership grants
218,022

 
 
Incentive Plan
 
Stock Options
81,667

 
Incentive Plan

The Incentive Plan permits the grant of equity awards, including restricted stock, restricted stock units and non-qualified stock options, to the Company's employees and directors for up to 8.2 million shares of common stock (0.7 million shares remained available for future issuance under the Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2019). The Company believes that such awards help align the interests of employees and directors with those of shareholders and serve as an employee retention tool. The Incentive Plan provides for accelerated vesting of awards if there is a severance event, a change in control of the Company (as defined in the Incentive Plan), in the event of a participant's death, and at the discretion of the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors.

Restricted Stock Awards

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

The Company's Annual Grants are made each year in February. Annual Grants vest ratably over three years in equal installments. The Annual Grants provide for continued vesting after termination of employment, so long as the employee does not violate certain post-termination restrictions set forth in the award agreement or any agreements entered into upon termination. The Company determined the service inception date precedes the grant date for the Annual Grants, and that the post-termination restrictions do not meet the criteria for an in-substance service condition, as defined by FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, "Compensation — Stock Compensation." Accordingly, restricted stock granted as part of the Annual Grants is expensed in the one-year period in which those awards are deemed to be earned, which is generally the calendar year preceding the February grant date. For example, the Company recognized compensation expense during fiscal 2018 for its February 2019 Annual Grant ("2019 Annual Grant"). If an equity award related to the Annual Grants is forfeited as a result of violating the post-termination restrictions, the lower of the fair value of the award at grant date or the fair value of the award at the date of forfeiture is recorded within the

24

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

consolidated statements of operations as a reversal of compensation expense.

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

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

Restricted Stock Units

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

Leadership Grants Subsequent to 2016

Restricted stock units granted in each of the years subsequent to 2016 will vest and convert to shares of common stock at the end of each 36-month performance period only if the Company satisfies predetermined performance and/or market conditions over the performance period. Under the terms of these awards, the number of units that will actually vest and convert to shares will be based on the extent to which the Company achieves specified targets during each performance period. The maximum payout leverage under these grants is 150 percent.

Up to 75 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company achieving certain average adjusted return on equity targets, as defined in the terms of the award agreements. The fair value of this portion of the award was based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. If the Company determines that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the 36-month performance period. The probability that the performance condition will be achieved is reevaluated each reporting period with changes in estimated outcomes accounted for using a cumulative effect adjustment to compensation expense. Compensation expense will be recognized only if the performance condition is met. Employees forfeit unvested restricted stock units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has determined that the probability of achieving the performance condition for each award is as follows:
 
 
Probability of Achieving
Grant Year
 
Performance Condition
2019
 
68%
2018
 
50%
2017
 
75%

Up to 75 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company's total shareholder return relative to members of a predetermined peer group. The market condition must be met for the awards to vest and compensation cost will be recognized regardless if the market condition is satisfied. Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the 36-month requisite service period. Employees forfeit unvested restricted stock units upon termination of employment with a corresponding reversal of compensation expense. For this portion of the awards, the fair value on the grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions:
 
 
Risk-free
 
Expected Stock
Grant Year
 
Interest Rate
 
Price Volatility
2019
 
2.50%
 
31.9%
2018
 
2.40%
 
34.8%
2017
 
1.62%
 
35.9%


25

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

Because the market condition portion of the awards vesting depend on the Company's total shareholder return relative to a peer group, the valuation modeled the performance of the peer group as well as the correlation between the Company and the peer group. The expected stock price volatility assumptions were determined using historical volatility, as correlation coefficients can only be developed through historical volatility. The risk-free interest rates were determined based on three-year U.S. Treasury bond yields.

The compensation committee of the Company's board of directors included defined retirement provisions in its Leadership Grants, beginning with the February 2018 grant. Certain grantees meeting defined age and service requirements will be fully vested in the awards as long as performance and post-termination obligations are met throughout the performance period. These retirement-eligible grants are expensed in the period in which those awards are deemed to be earned, which is the calendar year preceding the February grant date. For example, the Company recognized compensation expense for retirement-eligible grantees in fiscal 2018 for its February 2019 Leadership Grant.

2016 Leadership Grant

Restricted stock units granted in 2016 contain market condition criteria and will vest and convert to shares of common stock at the end of the 36-month performance period only if the Company's stock performance satisfies predetermined market conditions over the performance period. Under the terms of the award, the number of units that will vest and convert to shares will be based on the Company's stock performance achieving specified targets during the performance period. Compensation expense is recognized over the 36-month performance period.

Up to 50 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company's total shareholder return relative to members of a predetermined peer group and up to 50 percent of the award can be earned based on the Company's total shareholder return. The fair value of the award on the grant date was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with the following assumptions pursuant to the methodology above:
 
 
Risk-free
 
Expected Stock
Grant Year
 
Interest Rate
 
Price Volatility
2016
 
0.98%
 
34.9%

Stock Options

On February 15, 2018, the Company granted options to certain executive officers. These options are expensed on a straight-line basis over the required service period of five years, based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant. The exercise price per share is equal to the closing price on the date of grant plus ten percent. These options are subject to graded vesting, beginning on the third anniversary of the grant date, so long as the employee remains continuously employed by the Company. The maximum term of these stock options is ten years.

The fair value of this stock option award was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate
2.82%
Dividend yield
3.22%
Expected stock price volatility
37.20%
Expected life of options (in years)
7.0
Fair value of options granted (per share)
$24.49

The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the U.S. Treasury bond yield with a maturity equal to the expected life of the options. The dividend yield assumption was based on the assumed dividend payout over the expected life of the options. The expected stock price volatility assumption was determined using historical volatility, as correlation coefficients can only be developed through historical volatility.


26

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

Inducement Plans

The Company established the Simmons Inducement Plan in conjunction with the acquisition of Simmons & Company International ("Simmons"). The Company granted $11.6 million (286,776 shares) in restricted stock under the Simmons Inducement Plan on May 16, 2016. These shares cliff vest on May 16, 2019. Simmons Inducement Plan awards are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Employees forfeit unvested Simmons Inducement Plan shares upon termination of employment and a reversal of compensation expense is recorded.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company established the Weeden & Co. Inducement Plan in conjunction with the anticipated acquisition of Weeden & Co. L.P. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. As of March 31, 2019, no shares have been issued under the Weeden & Co. Inducement Plan.

Stock-Based Compensation Activity

The following table summarizes the Company's stock-based compensation expense:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(amounts in millions)
2019
 
2018
Stock-based compensation expense
$
4.3

 
$
8.9

Forfeitures
0.9

 

Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense
0.3

 
1.2


The following table summarizes the changes in the Company's unvested restricted stock:
 
Unvested
 
Weighted Average
 
Restricted Stock
 
Grant Date
 
(in Shares)
 
Fair Value      
December 31, 2018
1,569,795

 
$
53.80

Granted
261,253

 
74.40

Vested
(1,035,360
)
 
48.55

Canceled
(3,085
)
 
81.67

March 31, 2019
792,603

 
$
67.34


The following table summarizes the changes in the Company's unvested restricted stock units:
 
Unvested
 
Weighted Average
 
Restricted
 
Grant Date
 
Stock Units      
 
Fair Value      
December 31, 2018
194,251

 
$
48.97

Granted
39,758

 
75.78

Vested

 

Canceled
(15,987
)
 
45.79

March 31, 2019
218,022

 
$
54.09

 
As of March 31, 2019, there was $4.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock and restricted stock units expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1 years.


27

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

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company's outstanding stock options:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
Remaining
 
 
 
Options
 
Average
 
Contractual Term
 
Aggregate
 
Outstanding      
 
Exercise Price     
 
(in Years)
 
Intrinsic Value
December 31, 2018
81,667

 
$
99.00

 
9.1
 
$

Granted

 

 
 
 
 
Exercised

 

 
 
 
 
Canceled

 

 
 
 
 
March 31, 2019
81,667

 
$
99.00

 
8.9
 
$


As of March 31, 2019, there was $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.9 years. There were no options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Acquisition-related Compensation Arrangements

The Company entered into acquisition-related compensation arrangements with certain employees for retention and incentive purposes. Additional cash compensation was available to certain employees subject to exceeding an investment banking revenue threshold during the three year Simmons post-acquisition period, which ended on February 26, 2019. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had accrued $39.1 million related to this performance award plan, which is expected to be paid in August 2019. Amounts payable related to this performance award plan were recorded as compensation expense on the consolidated statements of operations over the requisite performance period of three years. The Company recorded $0.6 million as a reduction of compensation expense and $4.3 million was recorded as compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plans

The Company maintains various deferred compensation arrangements for employees.

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

The nonqualified deferred compensation plan is an unfunded plan which allows certain highly compensated employees, at their election, to defer a portion of their compensation. In 2017, this plan was closed to future deferral elections by participants for performance periods beginning after December 31, 2017. The amounts deferred under this plan are held in a grantor trust. The Company invests, as a principal, in investments to economically hedge its obligation under the nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Investments in the grantor trust, consisting of mutual funds, totaled $30.6 million and $31.2 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and are included in investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The compensation deferred by the employees was expensed in the period earned. The deferred compensation liability was $31.0 million and $31.4 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Changes in the fair value of the investments made by the Company are reported in investment income and changes in the corresponding deferred compensation liability are reflected as compensation and benefits expense on the consolidated statements of operations.



28

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

Note 14 Earnings Per Share ("EPS")

The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders represents net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies reduced by the allocation of earnings to participating securities. No allocation of undistributed earnings is made for periods in which a loss is incurred, or for periods in which cash dividends exceed net income resulting in an undistributed loss. Distributed earnings (e.g., dividends) are allocated to participating securities. Prior to the 2019 Annual Grant, all of the Company's unvested restricted shares are deemed to be participating securities as they are eligible to share in the profits (e.g., receive dividends) of the Company. The Company's unvested restricted stock units, as well as the 2019 Annual Grant, are not participating securities as they are not eligible to receive dividends, or the dividends are forfeitable until vested. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average outstanding shares to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive stock options, restricted stock units and non-participating restricted shares.

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2019
 
2018
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
19,422

 
$
10,603

Earnings allocated to participating securities (1)
(1,587
)
 
(4,168
)
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders (2)
$
17,835

 
$
6,435

 
 
 
 
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
 
 
 
Average shares used in basic computation
13,204

 
13,096

Restricted stock units
205

 
286

Non-participating restricted shares
121

 

Average shares used in diluted computation (3)
13,530

 
13,382

 
 
 
 
Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.35

 
$
0.47

Diluted (3)
$
1.32

 
$
0.47

(1)
Represents the allocation of distributed and undistributed earnings to participating securities. No allocation of undistributed earnings is made for periods in which a loss is incurred, or for periods in which cash dividends exceed net income resulting in an undistributed loss. Distributed earnings (e.g., dividends) are allocated to participating securities. Participating securities include the Company's unvested restricted shares issued prior to the 2019 Annual Grant. The weighted average participating shares outstanding were 1,130,844 and 2,089,155 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(2)
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders for diluted and basic EPS may differ under the two-class method as a result of adding the effect of the assumed exercise of stock options, restricted stock units and non-participating restricted shares to dilutive shares outstanding, which alters the ratio used to allocate earnings to Piper Jaffray Companies' common shareholders and participating securities for purposes of calculating diluted and basic EPS.
(3)
Earnings per diluted common share is calculated using the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding for periods in which a loss is incurred, or for periods in which cash dividends exceed net income resulting in an undistributed loss. Common shares of 533,207 and 1,926,530 were excluded from diluted EPS at March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as the Company had undistributed losses for these periods.

The anti-dilutive effects from stock options, restricted stock units and non-participating restricted shares were immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


29

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

Note 15 Segment Reporting

Basis for Presentation

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

Reportable segment financial results are as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
Capital Markets
 
 
 
Investment banking
 
 
 
Advisory services
$
114,879

 
$
75,329

Financing
 
 
 
Equities
13,527

 
37,642

Debt
13,082

 
7,686

Total investment banking
141,488

 
120,657

 
 
 
 
Institutional sales and trading
 
 
 
Equities
15,714

 
18,006

Fixed income
23,669

 
16,334

Total institutional sales and trading
39,383

 
34,340

 
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
1,129

 
1,388

 
 
 
 
Investment income
629

 
3,298

 
 
 
 
Long-term financing expenses
(238
)
 
(1,787
)
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
182,391

 
157,896

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
158,453

 
148,860

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
23,938

 
$
9,036

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
13.1
 %
 
5.7
 %
 
 
 
 
Continued on next page

30

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

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
 
Asset Management
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
 
 
 
Management fees
$
9,288

 
$
11,193

Performance fees
1

 
8

Total management and performance fees
9,289

 
11,201

 
 
 
 
Investment income/(loss)
152

 
(35
)
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
9,441

 
11,166

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
10,449

 
12,164

 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating loss
$
(1,008
)
 
$
(998
)
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
(10.7
)%
 
(8.9
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
Net revenues
$
191,832

 
$
169,062

 
 
 
 
Operating expenses (1)
168,902

 
161,024

 
 
 
 
Pre-tax operating income
$
22,930

 
$
8,038

 
 
 
 
Pre-tax operating margin
12.0
 %
 
4.8
 %
(1)Operating expenses include intangible asset amortization as set forth in the table below:     
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Capital Markets
$
753

 
$
1,214

Asset Management
1,359

 
1,401

Total intangible asset amortization
$
2,112

 
$
2,615


Reportable segment assets are as follows:
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Capital Markets
$
1,105,143

 
$
1,273,147

Asset Management
64,510

 
72,122

Total assets
$
1,169,653

 
$
1,345,269





31

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

Note 16 Net Capital Requirements and Other Regulatory Matters

Piper Jaffray is registered as a securities broker dealer with the SEC and is a member of various SROs and securities exchanges. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), serves as Piper Jaffray's primary SRO. Piper Jaffray is subject to the uniform net capital rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of FINRA. Piper Jaffray has elected to use the alternative method permitted by the SEC rule which requires that it maintain minimum net capital of $1.0 million. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated debt, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals by Piper Jaffray are subject to certain approvals, notifications and other provisions of SEC and FINRA rules.

At March 31, 2019, net capital calculated under the SEC rule was $214.6 million, and exceeded the minimum net capital required under the SEC rule by $213.6 million.

The Company's committed short-term credit facility includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million. CP Notes issued under CP Series II A include a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray to maintain excess net capital of $100 million. The Company's fully disclosed clearing agreement with Pershing also includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

Piper Jaffray Ltd., a broker dealer subsidiary registered in the United Kingdom, is subject to the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. As of March 31, 2019, Piper Jaffray Ltd. was in compliance with the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority.

Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, which is subject to the liquid capital requirements of the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rule promulgated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. At March 31, 2019, Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited was in compliance with the liquid capital requirements of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Note 17 Income Taxes

The Company recorded income tax expense of $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Income tax expense was reduced by a tax benefit of $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price.

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Income tax expense was reduced by a tax benefit of $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price.




32


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

The following information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes and exhibits included elsewhere in this report. Certain statements in this report may be considered forward-looking. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements other than historical information or statements of current condition and may relate to our future plans and objectives and results, and also may include our belief regarding the effect of various legal proceedings, as set forth under "Legal Proceedings" in Part I, Item 3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including those factors discussed below under "External Factors Impacting Our Business" as well as the factors identified under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC and under "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at our Web site at www.piperjaffray.com and at the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have included financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include adjustments to exclude (1) revenues and expenses related to noncontrolling interests, (2) amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, (3) compensation and non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements, (4) the impact from remeasuring deferred tax assets resulting from changes to the U.S. federal tax code and (5) the impact of the annual special cash dividend paid in the first quarter resulting in an undistributed loss on earnings per diluted common share. These adjustments affect the following financial measures: net revenues, compensation expenses, non-compensation expenses, income tax expense/(benefit), net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies, earnings per diluted common share, segment net revenues, segment operating expenses, segment pre-tax operating income/(loss) and segment pre-tax operating margin. Management believes that presenting these results and measures on an adjusted basis in conjunction with the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures provides the most meaningful basis for comparison of our operating results across periods, and enhances the overall understanding of our current financial performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our core operating results. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Executive Overview

Our business principally consists of providing investment banking, institutional brokerage, asset management and related financial services to corporations, private equity groups, public entities, non-profit entities and institutional investors in the United States and Europe. We operate through two reportable business segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for a full description of our business, including our business strategy.

On February 25, 2019, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Weeden & Co. L.P. ("Weeden & Co."). Weeden & Co. is a broker dealer focused on providing institutional clients with premier global trading solutions, specializing in best execution through the use of high-touch and program trading capabilities. The transaction is expected to close early in the third quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.



33


Financial Highlights
 
 
Three Months Ended
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Mar. 31,
 
Mar. 31,
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/(Dec)
U.S. GAAP
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
 
$
191,832

 
$
169,062

 
13.5
%
Compensation and benefits
 
122,636

 
115,170

 
6.5

Non-compensation expenses
 
46,266

 
45,854

 
0.9

Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
 
19,422

 
10,603

 
83.2

Earnings per diluted common share
 
$
1.32

 
$
0.47

 
180.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net revenues
 
$
191,419

 
$
168,143

 
13.8
%
Adjusted compensation and benefits
 
120,329

 
104,966

 
14.6

Adjusted non-compensation expenses
 
43,011

 
42,167

 
2.0

Adjusted net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
 
23,070

 
21,322

 
8.2

Adjusted earnings per diluted common share
 
$
1.57

 
$
1.38

 
13.8
%

For the three months ended March 31, 2019

Net revenues were up 13.5 percent from the year-ago period as higher advisory services revenues and improved performance in our fixed income institutional brokerage business were partially offset by lower equity financing revenues.
Compensation and benefits expenses increased 6.5 percent compared with the prior-year period due to higher compensation expenses resulting from increased revenues and profitability, partially offset by lower acquisition-related compensation costs.
Non-compensation expenses were up slightly compared to the year-ago period.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded a tax benefit of $1.7 million and $5.0 million, respectively, related to restricted stock vesting at values greater than the grant price. The tax benefit increased earnings per diluted common share by $0.13 in the first quarter of 2019, compared with $0.39 in the first quarter of 2018.



34


(1)
Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to adjusted non-GAAP financial information
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2019
 
2018
 Net revenues:
 
 
 
Net revenues – U.S. GAAP basis
$
191,832

 
$
169,062

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Revenue related to noncontrolling interests
(413
)
 
(919
)
Adjusted net revenues
$
191,419

 
$
168,143

 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits – U.S. GAAP basis
$
122,636

 
$
115,170

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
(2,307
)
 
(10,204
)
Adjusted compensation and benefits
$
120,329

 
$
104,966

 
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses:
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses – U.S. GAAP basis
$
46,266

 
$
45,854

Adjustments:
 
 
 
Non-compensation expenses related to noncontrolling interests
(1,029
)
 
(903
)
Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
(2,112
)
 
(2,615
)
Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
(114
)
 
(169
)
Adjusted non-compensation expenses
$
43,011

 
$
42,167

 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies:
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies – U.S. GAAP basis
$
19,422

 
$
10,603

 Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
1,941

 
7,673

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
1,593

 
1,967

Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
114

 
127

Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation

 
952

Adjusted net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
23,070

 
$
21,322

 
 
 
 
Earnings per diluted common share:
 
 
 
 Earnings per diluted common share – U.S. GAAP basis
$
1.32

 
$
0.47

Adjustment for undistributed loss allocated to participating shares (2)
0.01

 
0.21

 
1.33

 
0.68

 Adjustments:
 
 
 
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
0.13

 
0.50

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
0.11

 
0.13

Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
0.01

 
0.01

Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation

 
0.06

 Adjusted earnings per diluted common share
$
1.57

 
$
1.38

(2)
Piper Jaffray Companies calculates earnings per common share using the two-class method, which requires the allocation of consolidated adjusted net income between common shareholders and participating security holders, which in the case of Piper Jaffray Companies, represents unvested stock with non-forfeitable dividend rights. No allocation of undistributed earnings is made for periods in which a loss is incurred, or for periods in which the special cash dividend exceeds adjusted net income resulting in an undistributed loss.

External Factors Impacting Our Business

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


35


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

Outlook for the remainder of 2019

We believe that the U.S. economy will continue to grow at a moderate pace for the remainder of 2019. However, geopolitical and macroeconomic risks, such as uncertainties surrounding trade policy and global economic deceleration, present risks to this outlook. These risks and uncertainties may pose consequences for the global economy and inject periods of heightened volatility into the U.S. equity and debt markets.

U.S. monetary policy will continue to be a critical factor impacting the economy and financial markets. The U.S. Federal Reserve is projecting no interest rate increases in 2019 as the growth of economic activity has slowed and inflation has stagnated despite tight labor conditions. Going forward, we believe the U.S. Federal Reserve will be patient and flexible in adjusting short-term interest rates, balancing economic data and inflation readings.

Market conditions remain conducive to advisory engagements, especially in the U.S. middle market, our primary market. Advisory activity has been driven by solid economic growth domestically, ample financing availability, and secular changes in technology and innovation driving the need for strategic acquisitions and divestment activity. We believe our full year advisory pipeline remains strong and, consistent with prior years, will be more weighted to the second half of the year. Advisory services revenues for any given quarter are impacted by the timing and size of the deals closing, which can result in fluctuations in revenues period over period. Equity capital raising started 2019 slowly due to the extended federal government shut down and steep sell-off in the fourth quarter of 2018. Heading into the second quarter, market conditions have improved and are more conducive for equity capital raising, which should allow us to execute on our strong pipeline. If we experience sustained bouts of higher volatility or a material market correction, our advisory services and equity capital raising businesses may suffer.

Our equity brokerage business experienced secular changes in 2018 as the manner in which many market participants pay for trade execution and research services began to transition at a time when the overall fee pool was shrinking. Increasingly, market participants are executing trades through low-touch execution providers and paying separately for research services. This dynamic has introduced more seasonality to our equity brokerage business as we typically receive an increased level of payments for research in the second half of the year. In the first quarter, we announced the acquisition of Weeden & Co. The acquisition is expected to close early in the third quarter and add enhanced trade execution capabilities and scale to our equity brokerage business.

Interest rates remain relatively low by historical standards and the yield curve has flattened. We expect these conditions to persist and will likely slow customer flow activity for our fixed income institutional brokerage business. In our public finance business, municipal issuance levels started 2019 slower than anticipated, however, we expect volumes to improve to more normalized levels as the year progresses, which should benefit this business.

Asset management revenues will continue to be affected by valuations, investment performance and broad market trends. We also expect that active asset managers, ourselves included, will remain under pressure to create alpha for their clients and to maintain or grow AUM.




36


Results of Operations

Financial Summary for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018

The following table provides a summary of the results of our operations on a U.S. GAAP basis and the results of our operations as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a Percentage of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Revenues for the
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
 
v2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$
141,061

 
$
120,841

 
16.7
 %
 
73.5
 %
 
71.5
 %
Institutional brokerage
34,954

 
27,645

 
26.4

 
18.2

 
16.4

Asset management
10,418

 
12,589

 
(17.2
)
 
5.4

 
7.4

Interest
7,567

 
10,413

 
(27.3
)
 
3.9

 
6.2

Investment income
475

 
2,912

 
(83.7
)
 
0.2

 
1.7

Total revenues
194,475

 
174,400

 
11.5

 
101.4

 
103.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
2,643

 
5,338

 
(50.5
)
 
1.4

 
3.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
191,832

 
169,062

 
13.5

 
100.0

 
100.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
122,636

 
115,170

 
6.5

 
63.9

 
68.1

Outside services
9,142

 
8,939

 
2.3

 
4.8

 
5.3

Occupancy and equipment
8,750

 
8,578

 
2.0

 
4.6

 
5.1

Communications
8,630

 
8,626

 

 
4.5

 
5.1

Marketing and business development
7,395

 
7,299

 
1.3

 
3.9

 
4.3

Deal-related expenses
4,728

 
5,051

 
(6.4
)
 
2.5

 
3.0

Trade execution and clearance
1,806

 
2,163

 
(16.5
)
 
0.9

 
1.3

Intangible asset amortization
2,112

 
2,615

 
(19.2
)
 
1.1

 
1.5

Other operating expenses
3,703

 
2,583

 
43.4

 
1.9

 
1.5

Total non-interest expenses
168,902

 
161,024

 
4.9

 
88.0

 
95.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income tax expense/(benefit)
22,930

 
8,038

 
185.3

 
12.0

 
4.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense/(benefit)
4,124

 
(2,581
)
 
N/M

 
2.1

 
(1.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
18,806

 
10,619

 
77.1

 
9.8

 
6.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss) applicable to noncontrolling interests
(616
)
 
16

 
N/M

 
(0.3
)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies
$
19,422

 
$
10,603

 
83.2
 %
 
10.1
 %
 
6.3
 %
N/M – Not meaningful

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recorded net income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies of $19.4 million. Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $191.8 million, a 13.5 percent increase compared to $169.1 million in the year-ago period. In the first quarter of 2019, investment banking revenues were $141.1 million, up 16.7 percent compared with $120.8 million in the prior-year period, as higher advisory services and debt financing revenues were partially offset by lower equity financing revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, institutional brokerage revenues increased 26.4 percent to $35.0 million, compared with $27.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, as higher fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were partially offset by lower equity institutional brokerage revenues. In the first quarter of 2019, asset management fees of $10.4

37


million were down 17.2 percent compared with $12.6 million in the first quarter of 2018 due to lower management fees from our master limited partnership ("MLP") and equity product offerings as we experienced client assets under management ("AUM") outflows and market depreciation during 2018. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, net interest income was $4.9 million, down slightly from $5.1 million in the prior-year period. We recorded investment income of $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared with $2.9 million in the prior-year period. Non-interest expenses were $168.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, up 4.9 percent compared to $161.0 million in the prior-year period, due primarily to higher compensation expenses from increased revenues and improved profitability.

Consolidated Non-Interest Expenses

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

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, compensation and benefits expenses increased to $122.6 million, compared with $115.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018, due to higher net revenues and increased profitability. Compensation and benefits expenses as a percentage of net revenues was 63.9 percent in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 68.1 percent in the first quarter of 2018. The lower compensation ratio reflects decreased acquisition-related compensation driven by a decline in compensation expenses related to a Simmons & Company International ("Simmons") performance award plan implemented at the time of acquisition. The requisite service period for our remaining acquisition-related compensation arrangements ends in the second quarter of 2019.

Outside Services – Outside services expenses include securities processing expenses, outsourced technology functions, outside legal fees, fund expenses associated with our consolidated alternative asset management funds and other professional fees. Outside services expenses increased 2.3 percent to $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared with $8.9 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Excluding the portion of expenses from non-controlled equity interests in our consolidated alternative asset management funds, outside services expenses were flat.

Occupancy and Equipment – For the three months ended March 31, 2019, occupancy and equipment expenses increased slightly to $8.8 million, compared with $8.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Communications – Communication expenses include costs for telecommunication and data communication, primarily consisting of expenses for obtaining third party market data information. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, communication expenses were flat at $8.6 million, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Marketing and Business Development – Marketing and business development expenses include travel and entertainment costs, advertising and third party marketing fees. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, marketing and business development expenses were $7.4 million, essentially flat compared to the corresponding period of 2018.

Deal-Related Expenses – Deal-related expenses include costs we incurred over the course of a completed investment banking deal, which primarily consist of legal fees, offering expenses, and travel and entertainment costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, deal-related expenses were $4.7 million, compared with $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in deal-related expenses corresponds with a decline in equity financing activity for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The amount of deal-related expenses will principally be dependent on the level of deal activity and may vary from period to period as the recognition of deal-related costs typically coincides with the closing of a transaction.
 
Trade Execution and Clearance – For the three months ended March 31, 2019, trade execution and clearance expenses were $1.8 million, compared with $2.2 million in the corresponding period of 2018. The decline in trade execution and clearance expenses was reflective of reduced trading volumes compared with the first quarter of 2018.


38


Intangible Asset Amortization – Intangible asset amortization includes the amortization of definite-lived intangible assets consisting of customer relationships and the Simmons trade name. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, intangible asset amortization was $2.1 million, compared with $2.6 million in the corresponding period of 2018.

Other Operating Expenses – Other operating expenses include insurance costs, license and registration fees, expenses related to our charitable giving program and litigation-related expenses, which consist of the amounts we reserve and/or pay out related to legal and regulatory matters. Other operating expenses increased to $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared with $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher expense related to our charitable giving program driven by our increased profitability.

Income Taxes For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our provision for income taxes was $4.1 million, which included a $1.7 million tax benefit related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price. Excluding the impact of this benefit, our effective tax rate was 25.4 percent.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, our benefit from income taxes was $2.6 million. In the first quarter of 2018, we recorded a $5.0 million tax benefit related to stock-based compensation awards vesting at values greater than the grant price. Additionally, pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, "Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," we recorded an additional $1.0 million of income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Excluding the impact of these two items, our effective tax rate was 18.5 percent due to the impact of tax-exempt interest income representing a larger portion of our pre-tax income.

In the second quarter of 2019, we estimate recording a tax benefit of approximately $3.6 million related to performance share units and Simmons Inducement Plan shares vesting at values greater than the grant price. See also Note 13, "Compensation Plans" in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information on our compensation plans.

Segment Performance

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

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

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


39


Capital Markets

The following table sets forth the Capital Markets adjusted segment financial results and adjustments necessary to reconcile to our consolidated U.S. GAAP pre-tax operating income and pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
(Dollars in thousands)
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
 
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
Investment banking
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory services
$
114,879

 
$

 
$

 
$
114,879

 
$
75,329

 
$

 
$

 
$
75,329

Financing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
13,527

 

 

 
13,527

 
37,642

 

 

 
37,642

Debt
13,082

 

 

 
13,082

 
7,686

 

 

 
7,686

Total investment banking
141,488

 

 

 
141,488

 
120,657

 

 

 
120,657

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Institutional sales and trading
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
15,714

 

 

 
15,714

 
18,006

 

 

 
18,006

Fixed income
23,669

 

 

 
23,669

 
16,334

 

 

 
16,334

Total institutional sales and trading
39,383

 

 

 
39,383

 
34,340

 

 

 
34,340

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management and performance fees
1,129

 

 

 
1,129

 
1,388

 

 

 
1,388

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
216

 
413

 

 
629

 
2,379

 
919

 

 
3,298

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term financing expenses
(238
)
 

 

 
(238
)
 
(1,787
)
 

 

 
(1,787
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenues
181,978

 
413

 

 
182,391

 
156,977

 
919

 

 
157,896

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
154,250

 
1,029

 
3,174

 
158,453

 
136,370

 
903

 
11,587

 
148,860

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income
$
27,728

 
$
(616
)
 
$
(3,174
)
 
$
23,938

 
$
20,607

 
$
16

 
$
(11,587
)
 
$
9,036

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
15.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
13.1
%
 
13.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
5.7
%
(1)
The following is a summary of the adjustments needed to reconcile our consolidated U.S. GAAP segment pre-tax operating income and segment pre-tax operating margin to the adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin:
Noncontrolling interests – The impacts of consolidating noncontrolling interests in our alternative asset management funds are not included in adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin.
Other adjustments – The following table sets forth the items not included in adjusted segment pre-tax operating income and adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Compensation from acquisition-related agreements
$
2,307

 
$
10,204

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions
753

 
1,214

Non-compensation expenses from acquisition-related agreements
114

 
169

 
$
3,174

 
$
11,587


Capital Markets net revenues on a U.S. GAAP basis were $182.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $157.9 million in the prior-year period. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, adjusted net revenues were $182.0 million, compared with $157.0 million in the first quarter of 2018. The variance explanations for net revenues and adjusted net revenues are consistent on both a U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP basis.


40


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

In the first quarter of 2019, investment banking revenues increased 17.3 percent to $141.5 million, compared with $120.7 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, advisory services revenues were $114.9 million, up 52.5 percent compared to $75.3 million in the first quarter of 2018. We completed 35 transactions with an aggregate enterprise value of $11.9 billion in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 36 transactions with an aggregate enterprise value of $5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Although the number of completed transactions was essentially flat year-over-year, the increase in revenues was driven by the closing of two larger deals. The uneven distribution of the number and size of deals results in revenue fluctuations from quarter to quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, equity financing revenues were $13.5 million, down 64.1 percent compared with $37.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, driven by fewer completed transactions which was exacerbated by fewer bookrun deals. We completed 7 bookrun deals in the first quarter of 2019 compared with 17 bookrun deals in the year-ago period. Equity financing activity started slow in 2019 as the federal government shut down extended into late January 2019 and market participants were hesitant after the market volatility in the fourth quarter of 2018. During the first quarter of 2019, we completed 12 equity financings, raising $5.2 billion for our clients, compared with 25 equity financings, raising $4.5 billion for our clients in the comparable year-ago period. Debt financing revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $13.1 million, up 70.2 percent compared with $7.7 million in the historical slow year-ago period, which was impacted by federal tax reform. Municipal issuance volumes were up on a year-over-year basis, but remain low on a historical basis. During the first quarter of 2019, we completed 77 negotiated municipal issues with a total par value of $1.7 billion, compared with 59 negotiated municipal issues with a total par value of $1.6 billion during the prior-year period.

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

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, institutional brokerage revenues were $39.4 million, an increase of 14.7 percent compared with $34.3 million in the prior-year period, as higher fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were partially offset by lower equity institutional brokerage revenues. Equity institutional brokerage revenues were $15.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, down 12.7 percent compared with $18.0 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Although equity market indices were up in the first quarter of 2019, volatility and volumes were relatively subdued, which negatively impacted our performance. Additionally, revenues in the first quarter of 2018 were positively impacted by more block trade activity. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were $23.7 million, up 44.9 percent compared with $16.3 million in the prior-year period, due to increased client activity at the start of the year and improved overall trading performance. Also, market conditions in this business improved significantly compared to the year-ago period, driven by strong returns in the municipal asset class. In the first quarter of 2018, industry returns for municipal bonds were the worst in nearly a decade.

Management and performance fees include the fees generated from our merchant banking, energy and senior living funds with outside investors. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, management and performance fees were $1.1 million, compared with $1.4 million in the prior-year period.

Investment income includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments, including amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests, in our merchant banking, energy and senior living funds. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, investment income was $0.6 million, compared with $3.3 million in the corresponding period of 2018. We recorded lower gains on our investments in the current period.

Long-term financing expenses primarily represent interest paid on our senior notes along with commitment fees on our lines of credit. We repaid our $125 million fixed rate senior notes upon maturity on October 9, 2018, and, as a result, we no longer have long-term financing expenses related to these notes.

Capital Markets segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was 13.1 percent, compared with 5.7 percent for the corresponding period of 2018. The increase in segment pre-tax operating margin was driven by higher revenues

41


and lower acquisition-related compensation. Adjusted segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was 15.2 percent, compared with 13.1 percent for the corresponding period of 2018.

Asset Management

The following table sets forth the Asset Management segment financial results and adjustments necessary to reconcile to our consolidated U.S. GAAP pre-tax operating income/(loss) and pre-tax operating margin for the periods presented:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments (1)
 
 
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
 
Total
 
Noncontrolling
 
Other
 
U.S.
(Dollars in thousands)
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
 
Adjusted
 
Interests
 
Adjustments
 
GAAP
Management fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MLP
$
5,506

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,506

 
$
6,304

 
$

 
$

 
$
6,304

Equity
3,782

 

 

 
3,782

 
4,889

 

 

 
4,889

Total management fees
9,288

 

 

 
9,288

 
11,193

 

 

 
11,193

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance fees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity
1

 

 

 
1

 
8

 

 

 
8

Total performance fees
1

 

 

 
1

 
8

 

 

 
8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total management and performance fees
9,289

 

 

 
9,289

 
11,201

 

 

 
11,201

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income/(loss)
152

 

 

 
152

 
(35
)
 

 

 
(35
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net revenues
9,441

 

 

 
9,441

 
11,166

 

 

 
11,166

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
9,090

 

 
1,359

 
10,449

 
10,763

 

 
1,401

 
12,164

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating income/(loss)
$
351

 
$

 
$
(1,359
)
 
$
(1,008
)
 
$
403

 
$

 
$
(1,401
)
 
$
(998
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment pre-tax operating margin
3.7
%
 
 
 
 
 
(10.7
)%
 
3.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
(8.9
)%
(1)
Other Adjustments – Consists of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Management and performance fee revenues comprise the revenues generated from management and investment advisory services performed for separately managed accounts, registered funds and partnerships. Client asset inflows and outflows and investment performance have a direct effect on management and performance fee revenues. Management fees are generally based on the level of AUM measured monthly or quarterly, and an increase or reduction in AUM, due to market price fluctuations or net client asset flows, will result in a corresponding increase or decrease in management fees. Fees vary with the type of assets managed and the vehicle in which they are managed. Performance fees are earned when the investment return on AUM exceeds certain benchmark targets or other performance targets over a specified measurement period. These performance fees are typically annual performance hurdles and recognized in the fourth quarter of the applicable year, or upon withdrawal of client assets. The level of performance fees earned can vary significantly from period to period and these fees may not necessarily be correlated to changes in total AUM. At March 31, 2019, approximately five percent of our AUM was eligible to earn performance fees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, management fees were $9.3 million, a decrease of 17.0 percent, compared with $11.2 million in the prior-year period. Management fees declined for both our MLP and equity product offerings primarily due to lower average AUM, driven by net client outflows. Additionally, we experienced significant market depreciation at the end of 2018.

Investment income/(loss) includes gains and losses from our investments in registered funds and private funds or partnerships that we manage. We recorded investment income of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

The negative segment pre-tax operating margin for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was due to a pre-tax operating loss resulting from intangible amortization expense.


42


The following table summarizes the changes in our AUM for the periods presented:
 
 
 
 
 
Twelve
 
Three Months Ended
 
Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
(Dollars in millions)
2019
 
2018
 
2019
MLP
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
3,054

 
$
3,790

 
$
3,399

Net inflows/(outflows)
(147
)
 
6

 
(347
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
535

 
(397
)
 
390

End of period
$
3,442

 
$
3,399

 
$
3,442

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
2,701

 
$
3,556

 
$
3,478

Net outflows
(135
)
 
(47
)
 
(608
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
303

 
(31
)
 
(1
)
End of period
$
2,869

 
$
3,478

 
$
2,869

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period
$
5,755

 
$
7,346

 
$
6,877

Net outflows
(282
)
 
(41
)
 
(955
)
Net market appreciation/(depreciation)
838

 
(428
)
 
389

End of period
$
6,311

 
$
6,877

 
$
6,311


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

Critical Accounting Policies

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

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

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

See the "Critical Accounting Policies" section and Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for further information on our critical accounting policies. See also Note 2, "Accounting Policies and Pronouncements" in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for changes to our significant accounting policies.


43


Liquidity, Funding and Capital Resources

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

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

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

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

As part of our acquisition of Simmons, we entered into acquisition-related compensation arrangements with certain employees for retention and incentive purposes. Additional cash compensation was available to certain employees subject to exceeding an investment banking revenue threshold during the three year post-acquisition period, which ended on February 26, 2019. As of March 31, 2019, we had accrued $39.1 million related to this performance award plan, which is expected to be paid in August 2019. Additionally, as part of our definitive agreement to acquire Weeden & Co., we expect to pay approximately $24.5 million of the total consideration in cash upon closing, early in the third quarter of 2019. We expect these payments to be funded by cash flows generated from operations.
Our dividend policy is intended to return between 30 percent and 50 percent of our adjusted net income from the previous fiscal year to shareholders. This includes the payment of a quarterly and an annual special cash dividend, payable in the first quarter of each year. Our board of directors determines the declaration and payment of dividends on an annual and quarterly basis, and is free to change our dividend policy at any time.

Our board of directors declared the following dividends on shares of our common stock:
Declaration Date
 
Dividend Per Share

 
Record Date
 
Payment Date
February 1, 2018 (1)
 
$
1.6200

 
February 26, 2018
 
March 15, 2018
February 1, 2018
 
$
0.3750

 
February 26, 2018
 
March 15, 2018
April 27, 2018
 
$
0.3750

 
May 25, 2018
 
June 15, 2018
July 27, 2018
 
$
0.3750

 
August 24, 2018
 
September 14, 2018
October 26, 2018
 
$
0.3750

 
November 28, 2018
 
December 14, 2018
February 1, 2019 (2)
 
$
1.0100

 
February 25, 2019
 
March 15, 2019
February 1, 2019
 
$
0.3750

 
February 25, 2019
 
March 15, 2019
April 26, 2019
 
$
0.3750

 
May 24, 2019
 
June 14, 2019
(1)
Represents the annual special cash dividend based on our fiscal year 2017 results.
(2)
Represents the annual special cash dividend based on our fiscal year 2018 results.

Effective September 30, 2017, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million in common shares through September 30, 2019. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we repurchased 501 shares of our common stock at an average price of $64.80 per share related to this authorization. We have $102.8 million remaining under this authorization.


44


We also purchase shares of common stock from restricted stock award recipients upon the award vesting or as recipients sell shares to meet their employment tax obligations. During the first quarter of 2019, we purchased 563,284 shares or $39.7 million of our common stock for these purposes.

Leverage

The following table presents total assets, adjusted assets, total shareholders' equity and tangible shareholders' equity with the resulting leverage ratios as of:
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Total assets
$
1,169,653

 
$
1,345,269

Deduct: Goodwill and intangible assets
(92,117
)
 
(94,229
)
Deduct: Right-of-use lease asset
(41,935
)
 

Deduct: Assets from noncontrolling interests
(53,451
)
 
(53,558
)
Adjusted assets
$
982,150

 
$
1,197,482

 
 
 
 
Total shareholders' equity
$
713,671

 
$
730,416

Deduct: Goodwill and intangible assets
(92,117
)
 
(94,229
)
Deduct: Noncontrolling interests
(52,351
)
 
(52,972
)
Tangible common shareholders' equity
$
569,203

 
$
583,215

 
 
 
 
Leverage ratio (1)
1.6

 
1.8

 
 
 
 
Adjusted leverage ratio (2)
1.7

 
2.1

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

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

Funding and Capital Resources

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


45


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

Pershing Clearing Arrangement – We have established an arrangement to obtain financing from Pershing related to the majority of our trading activities. Under our fully disclosed clearing agreement, the majority of our securities inventories and all of our customer activities are held by or cleared through Pershing. Financing under this arrangement is secured primarily by securities, and collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under this arrangement. Our clearing arrangement activities are recorded net from trading activity and reported within receivables from or payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. The funding is at the discretion of Pershing (i.e., uncommitted) and could be denied without a notice period. Our fully disclosed clearing agreement includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray & Co., our U.S. broker dealer subsidiary, to maintain excess net capital of $120 million. At March 31, 2019, we had $169.5 million of financing outstanding under this arrangement.

Commercial Paper Program – Piper Jaffray & Co. issues secured commercial paper to fund a portion of its securities inventory. This commercial paper is currently issued under two separate programs, CP Series A and CP Series II A, and is secured by different inventory classes, which is reflected in the interest rate paid on the respective program. The programs can issue commercial paper with maturities of 27 to 270 days. CP Series II A includes a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain excess net capital of $100 million. The following table provides information about our commercial paper programs at March 31, 2019:
(Dollars in millions)
 
CP Series A
 
CP Series II A
Maximum amount that may be issued
 
$
300.0

 
$
200.0

Amount outstanding
 

 
50.0

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average maturity, in days
 

 
9

Weighted average maturity at issuance, in days
 

 
29


Prime Broker Arrangements – We have established an overnight financing arrangement with a broker dealer related to our convertible securities inventories. Financing under this arrangement is secured primarily by convertible securities and collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available. The funding is at the discretion of the prime broker and could be denied subject to a notice period. This arrangement is reported within receivables from or payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, net of trading activity. At March 31, 2019, we had $101.8 million of financing outstanding under this prime broker arrangement.

Additionally, we previously established an arrangement to obtain overnight financing with another prime broker related to certain strategic trading activities in municipal securities. We completed the liquidation of the municipal securities inventories associated with these strategic trading activities in the third quarter of 2018, and closed this prime broker arrangement as we no longer needed the funding source.

Committed Lines – Our committed line is a one-year $175 million revolving secured credit facility. We may use this credit facility in the ordinary course of business to fund a portion of our daily operations. Advances under this facility are secured by certain marketable securities. The facility includes a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million, and the unpaid principal amount of all advances under the facility will be due on December 13, 2019. This credit facility has been in place since 2008 and we renewed the facility for another one-year term in the fourth quarter of 2018. At March 31, 2019, we had no advances against this line of credit.


46


Uncommitted Line – We use this uncommitted line in the ordinary course of business to fund a portion of our daily operations, and the amount borrowed under our uncommitted line varies daily based on our funding needs. Our $85 million uncommitted secured line is dependent on having appropriate collateral, as determined by the bank agreement, to secure an advance under the line. Collateral limitations could reduce the amount of funding available under this secured line. Our uncommitted line is discretionary and is not a commitment by the bank to provide an advance under the line. More specifically, the line is subject to approval by the bank each time an advance is requested and advances may be denied, which may be particularly true during times of market stress or market perceptions of our exposures. We manage our relationship with the bank that provides this uncommitted facility in order to have appropriate levels of funding for our business. At March 31, 2019, we had no advances against this line of credit.

The following tables present the average balances outstanding for our various funding sources by quarter for 2019 and 2018, respectively.
 
 
Average Balance for the Three Months Ended
(Dollars in millions)
 
Mar. 31, 2019
 
Dec. 31, 2018
 
Sept. 30, 2018
 
June 30, 2018
 
Mar. 31, 2018
Funding source:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pershing clearing arrangement
 
$
82.1

 
$
79.6

 
$
3.0

 
$
90.0

 
$
47.1

Commercial paper
 
50.0

 
50.0

 
50.0

 
50.0

 
50.0

Prime broker arrangements
 
106.4

 
85.2

 
112.7

 
218.8

 
336.5

Total
 
$
238.5

 
$
214.8

 
$
165.7

 
$
358.8

 
$
433.6


The average funding in the first quarter of 2019 declined compared to the corresponding period of 2018 due to significantly lower inventory balances at March 31, 2019. We previously financed a portion of our municipal securities inventories associated with certain strategic trading activities through one of our prime broker arrangements. As previously discussed, we closed this prime broker arrangement in the third quarter of 2018.

The following table presents the maximum daily funding amount by quarter for 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(Dollars in millions)
 
2019
 
2018
First Quarter
 
$
362.7

 
$
613.1

Second Quarter
 
 
 
$
505.0

Third Quarter
 
 
 
$
263.5

Fourth Quarter
 
 
 
$
312.3


Contractual Obligations

Our contractual obligations have not materially changed from those reported in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

New Leases Guidance

As discussed in Note 2 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, we adopted new accounting guidance related to leases effective as of January 1, 2019. The guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use ("ROU") lease asset and lease liability on the consolidated statements of financial condition for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. Upon adoption, we recognized a ROU lease asset of approximately $44.0 million and a lease liability of approximately $59.0 million. The difference between the ROU lease asset and lease liability is due to lease incentives. The new guidance has not impacted Piper Jaffray & Co.'s net capital position.

Capital Requirements

As a registered broker dealer and member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), Piper Jaffray & Co., our U.S. broker dealer subsidiary, is subject to the uniform net capital rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of FINRA. We have elected to use the alternative method permitted by the uniform net capital rule which requires that we maintain minimum net capital of $1.0 million. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated liabilities, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain approvals, notifications and other provisions of the uniform net capital rules. We expect that these provisions will not impact our ability to meet current and future obligations. At March 31, 2019, our net capital under the SEC's uniform net capital rule was $214.6 million, and exceeded the minimum net capital required under the SEC rule by $213.6 million.

47



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

Our committed short-term credit facility includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain minimum net capital of $120 million. Secured commercial paper issued under CP Series II A includes a covenant that requires Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain excess net capital of $100 million. Our fully disclosed clearing agreement with Pershing also includes a covenant requiring Piper Jaffray & Co. to maintain excess net capital of $120 million.

At March 31, 2019, Piper Jaffray Ltd., our broker dealer subsidiary registered in the United Kingdom, was subject to, and was in compliance with, the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Financial Services Act of 2012.

Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, which is subject to the liquid capital requirements of the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rule promulgated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. At March 31, 2019, Piper Jaffray Hong Kong Limited was in compliance with the liquid capital requirements of the Hong Kong Securities and Trade Commission.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

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

 
 
 
 
 
2022
 
2024
 
 
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
- 2023
 
- 2025
 
Later
 
2019
 
2018
Customer matched-book derivative contracts (1) (2)
$
31,050

 
$
21,390

 
$
10,280

 
$
125,660

 
$
103,030

 
$
2,016,749

 
$
2,308,159

 
$
2,532,966

Trading securities derivative contracts (2)
214,850

 
10,000

 

 

 
5,000

 
9,375

 
239,225

 
262,275

Investment commitments (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 
77,955

 
77,984

(1)
Consists of interest rate swaps. We have minimal market risk related to these matched-book derivative contracts; however, we do have counterparty risk with one major financial institution, which is mitigated by collateral deposits. In addition, we have a limited number of counterparties (contractual amount of $176.5 million at March 31, 2019) who are not required to post collateral. The uncollateralized amounts, representing the fair value of the derivative contracts, expose us to the credit risk of these counterparties. At March 31, 2019, we had $16.9 million of credit exposure with these counterparties, including $13.9 million of credit exposure with one counterparty.
(2)
We believe the fair value of these derivative contracts is a more relevant measure of the obligations because we believe the notional or contract amount overstates the expected payout. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the net fair value of these derivative contracts approximated $10.9 million and $12.5 million, respectively.
(3)
The investment commitments have no specified call dates. The timing of capital calls is based on market conditions and investment opportunities.

Derivatives

Derivatives' notional or contract amounts are not reflected as assets or liabilities on our consolidated statements of financial condition. Rather, the fair value of the derivative transactions are reported on the consolidated statements of financial condition as assets or liabilities in financial instruments and other inventory positions owned and financial instruments and other inventory positions sold, but not yet purchased, as applicable. For a discussion of our activities related to derivative products, see Note 3, "Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Owned and Financial Instruments and Other Inventory Positions Sold, but Not Yet Purchased," in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Investment Commitments

We have investments, including those made as part of our merchant banking activities, in various limited partnerships or limited liability companies that provide financing or make investments in companies. We commit capital and/or act as the managing partner of these entities. We have committed capital of $78.0 million to certain entities and these commitments generally have no specified call dates.


48


Risk Management

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

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

We use internal committees to assist in governing risk and ensure that our business activities are properly assessed, monitored and managed. Our financial risk committee manages our market, liquidity and credit risks, and oversees risk management practices related to these risks, including defining acceptable risk tolerances and approving risk management policies. Membership is comprised of senior leadership. A subset of this group, including but not limited to, our Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Head of Market and Credit Risk, and Head of Fixed Income Trading, meets with increased frequency to evaluate the firm's inventory position, and respond to market changes in a dynamic manner. Other committees that help evaluate and monitor risk include underwriting, leadership team and operating committees. These committees help manage risk by ensuring that business activities are properly managed and within a defined scope of activity. Our valuation committee, comprised of members of senior management and risk management, provide oversight and overall responsibility for the internal control processes and procedures related to fair value measurements. Additionally, our operational risk committees address and monitor risk related to information systems and security, legal, regulatory and compliance matters, and third parties such as vendors and service providers.

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

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

Strategic Risk

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

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


49


Market Risk

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

Our different types of market risk include:

Interest Rate Risk — Interest rate risk represents the potential volatility from changes in market interest rates. We are exposed to interest rate risk arising from changes in the level and volatility of interest rates, changes in the slope of the yield curve, changes in credit spreads, and the rate of prepayments on our interest-earning assets (e.g., inventories) and our funding sources (e.g., short-term financing) which finance these assets. Interest rate risk is managed by selling short U.S. government securities, agency securities, corporate debt securities and derivative contracts. See Note 3 of our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements for additional information on our derivative contracts. Our interest rate hedging strategies may not work in all market environments and as a result may not be effective in mitigating interest rate risk. Also, we establish limits on the notional level of our fixed income securities inventory and manage net positions within those limits.

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

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

Value-at-Risk ("VaR")

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

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

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

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


50


The following table quantifies the model-based VaR simulated for each component of market risk for the periods presented, which are computed using the past 250 days of historical data. When calculating VaR we use a 95 percent confidence level and a one-day time horizon. This means that, over time, there is a one in 20 chance that daily trading net revenues will fall below the expected daily trading net revenues by an amount at least as large as the reported VaR. Shortfalls on a single day can exceed reported VaR by significant amounts. Shortfalls can also accumulate over a longer time horizon, such as a number of consecutive trading days. Therefore, there can be no assurance that actual losses occurring on any given day arising from changes in market conditions will not exceed the VaR amounts shown below or that such losses will not occur more than once in a 20-day trading period.
 
March 31,
 
December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)
2019
 
2018
Interest Rate Risk
$
275

 
$
370

Equity Price Risk
55

 
49

Diversification Effect (1)
(40
)
 
(40
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
290

 
$
379

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

The aggregate VaR as of March 31, 2019 was lower than the reported VaR on December 31, 2018. The decrease in VaR was due to our mix of inventory compared to the end of 2018.

We view average VaR over a period of time as more representative of trends in the business than VaR at any single point in time. The table below illustrates the daily high, low and average VaR calculated for each component of market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018, respectively.
(Dollars in thousands)
High
 
Low
 
Average
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Risk
$
469

 
$
181

 
$
293

Equity Price Risk
57

 
43

 
48

Diversification Effect (1)
 
 
 
 
(36
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
480

 
$
194

 
$
305

(Dollars in thousands)
High
 
Low
 
Average
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Risk
$
1,084

 
$
268

 
$
631

Equity Price Risk
91

 
21

 
54

Diversification Effect (1)
 
 
 
 
(40
)
Total Value-at-Risk
$
1,101

 
$
277

 
$
645

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

Trading losses exceeded our one-day VaR on three occasions during the first quarter of 2019.

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

Liquidity Risk

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


51


See the section entitled "Liquidity, Funding and Capital Resources" for information regarding our liquidity and how we manage liquidity risk.

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

Credit Risk

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

Our different types of credit risk include:

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

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

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

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


52


We have concentrated counterparty credit exposure with five non-publicly rated entities totaling $16.9 million at March 31, 2019. This counterparty credit exposure is part of our matched-book derivative program related to our public finance business, consisting primarily of interest rate swaps. One derivative counterparty represents 82.3 percent, or $13.9 million, of this exposure. Credit exposure associated with our derivative counterparties is driven by uncollateralized market movements in the fair value of the interest rate swap contracts and is monitored regularly by our financial risk committee. We attempt to minimize the credit (or repayment) risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with high-quality counterparties that are reviewed periodically by senior management.

Operational Risk

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

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

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

We operate under a fully disclosed clearing model for all of our clearing operations. In a fully disclosed clearing model, we act as an introducing broker for client transactions and rely on Pershing, our clearing broker dealer, to facilitate clearance and settlement of our clients' securities transactions. The clearing services provided by Pershing are critical to our business operations, and similar to other services performed by third party vendors, any failure by Pershing with respect to the services we rely upon Pershing to provide could cause financial loss, significantly disrupt our business, damage our reputation, and adversely affect our ability to serve our clients and manage our exposure to risk.

Human Capital Risk

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

Legal and Regulatory Risk

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

53


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

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

Effects of Inflation

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

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

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

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

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

During the first quarter of our fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, there was no change in our system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the legal proceedings contained in Part I, Item 3 "Legal Proceedings" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the risk factors contained in Part I, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. These risk factors describe various risks and uncertainties to which we are or may become subject. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects in a material and adverse manner. 


54


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

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Piper Jaffray Companies or any "affiliated purchaser" (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Number of Shares
 
Approximate Dollar
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchased as Part of
 
Value of Shares Yet to be
 
 
Total Number of
 
Average Price
 
Publicly Announced
 
Purchased Under the
Period
 
Shares Purchased
 
Paid per Share
 
Plans or Programs
 
Plans or Programs (1)
Month #1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(January 1, 2019 to January 31, 2019)
 
501

 
$
64.80

 
501

 
$
103

million
Month #2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(February 1, 2019 to February 28, 2019)
 
563,284

 
$
70.47

 

 
$
103

million
Month #3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(March 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019)
 

 
$

 

 
$
103

million
Total
 
563,785

 
$
70.47

 
501

 
$
103

million
(1)
Effective September 30, 2017, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $150.0 million of common stock through September 30, 2019.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
 
 
 
Method
Number    
 
Description
 
of Filing
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
 
(1)
10.2
 
 
(2)
31.1
 
 
Filed herewith
31.2
 
 
Filed herewith
32.1
 
 
Filed herewith
101
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 Registration S-T: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 and (vi) the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Filed herewith

_________________
(1)
Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)
Filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference.
This exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.



55



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.


 
 
 
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 8, 2019
 
By
 
/s/ Chad R. Abraham
 
 
 
Its
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
May 8, 2019
 
By
 
/s/ Timothy L. Carter
 
 
 
Its
 
Chief Financial Officer