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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-33220
BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware | | 33-1151291 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
5 DAKOTA DRIVE | | 11042 |
LAKE SUCCESS | | |
New York | | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
(516) 472-5400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of Each Class: | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered: |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | BR | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
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 ý 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 (Section 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 ý 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 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. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer ý 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý
The aggregate market value, as of December 31, 2019, of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $14,072,861,236.
As of July 31, 2020, there were 115,161,503 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding (excluding 39,299,624 shares held in treasury), par value $0.01 per share.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the fiscal year end of June 30, 2020 are incorporated by reference into Part III.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge” or the “Company”) may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature and which may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “assumes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “we believe,” “could be” and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. In particular, information appearing under “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include:
•the potential impact and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic (“Covid-19”) on the business of Broadridge, Broadridge’s results of operations and financial performance, any measures Broadridge has and may take in response to Covid-19 and any expectations Broadridge may have with respect thereto;
•the success of Broadridge in retaining and selling additional services to its existing clients and in obtaining new clients;
•Broadridge’s reliance on a relatively small number of clients, the continued financial health of those clients, and the continued use by such clients of Broadridge’s services with favorable pricing terms;
•a material security breach or cybersecurity attack affecting the information of Broadridge’s clients;
•changes in laws and regulations affecting Broadridge’s clients or the services provided by Broadridge;
•declines in participation and activity in the securities markets;
•the failure of Broadridge’s key service providers to provide the anticipated levels of service;
•a disaster or other significant slowdown or failure of Broadridge’s systems or error in the performance of Broadridge’s services;
•overall market and economic conditions and their impact on the securities markets;
•Broadridge’s failure to keep pace with changes in technology and the demands of its clients;
•Broadridge’s ability to attract and retain key personnel;
•the impact of new acquisitions and divestitures; and
•competitive conditions.
There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. You should carefully read the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of certain risks that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, other than as required by law.
ITEM 1. Business
Overview
Broadridge, a Delaware corporation and a part of the S&P 500® Index (“S&P”), is a global financial technology leader providing investor communications and technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and corporate issuers. With over 50 years of experience, including over 10 years as an independent public company, we provide financial services firms with advanced, dependable, scalable and cost-effective integrated solutions and an important infrastructure that powers the financial services industry. Our solutions enable better financial lives by powering investing, governance and communications and help reduce the need for our clients to make significant capital investments in operations infrastructure, thereby allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities.
Our services include investor communications, securities processing, data and analytics, and customer communications solutions. We serve a large and diverse client base across four client groups: banks/broker-dealers, asset management firms/mutual funds, wealth management firms and corporate issuers. For capital markets firms, we help our clients lower costs and improve the effectiveness of their trade and account processing operations with support for their operational technologies, and their administration, finance, risk and compliance requirements. We serve asset management firms by meeting their critical needs for shareholder communications and by providing investment operations technology to support their investment decisions. For wealth management clients, we provide an integrated platform with tools that optimize advisor productivity, enhance client experience, and digitize enterprise operations. For our corporate issuer clients, we help manage every aspect of their shareholder communications, including registered and beneficial proxy processing, annual meeting support, transfer agency services and financial disclosure document creation, management and SEC filing services.
We operate our business in two reportable segments: Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations.
Investor Communication Solutions
We provide governance and communications solutions through our Investor Communication Solutions business segment to the following financial services clients: banks/broker-dealers, asset management firms/mutual funds, wealth management firms and corporate issuers. In addition to financial services firms, our Customer Communications business also serves companies in the healthcare, insurance, consumer finance, telecommunications, utilities and other service industries.
A large portion of our Investor Communication Solutions business involves the processing and distribution of proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as the facilitation of related vote processing. ProxyEdge® (“ProxyEdge”) is our innovative electronic proxy delivery and voting solution for institutional investors and financial advisors that helps ensure the voting participation of the largest stockholders of many companies. We also provide the distribution of regulatory reports and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions that help our clients meet their regulatory compliance needs.
For asset managers and retirement service providers, we offer data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and multi-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information. Our data and analytics solutions provide investment product distribution data, analytical tools, insights, and research to enable asset managers to optimize product distribution across retail and institutional channels globally. Through Matrix Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Matrix”), we provide mutual fund trade processing services for retirement service providers, third-party administrators, financial advisors, banks and wealth management professionals.
In addition, we provide public corporations and mutual funds with a full suite of solutions to help manage their annual meeting process, including registered and beneficial proxy distribution and processing services, proxy and annual report document management solutions, virtual shareholder meeting services, and solutions that help them gain insight into their shareholder base through our shareholder data services. We also offer financial reporting document composition and management solutions, SEC disclosure and filing services, and registrar, stock transfer and record-keeping services through Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions.
We provide customer communications solutions which include print and digital solutions, content management, postal optimization, and fulfillment services. These services include customer communications management capabilities through the Broadridge Communications CloudSM platform (the “Communications Cloud”). Through one point of integration, the Communications Cloud helps companies create, deliver, and manage multi-channel communications and customer engagement. The platform includes data-driven composition tools, identity and preference management, multi-channel optimization and digital communication experience, archive and information management, digital and print delivery, and analytics and reporting tools.
Global Technology and Operations
We are a leading global provider of securities processing solutions for capital markets, wealth management, and asset management firms. We offer advanced solutions that automate the securities transaction lifecycle, from desktop productivity tools, data aggregation, performance reporting, and portfolio management to order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, asset servicing, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral optimization, compliance and regulatory reporting, and portfolio accounting and custody-related services.
Our core post-trade services help financial institutions efficiently and cost-effectively consolidate their books and records, gather and service assets under management and manage risk, thereby enabling them to focus on their core business activities. Provided on a software as a service (“SaaS”) basis within large user communities, our technology is a global solution, processing clearance and settlement in over 100 countries. Our multi-asset, multi-market, multi-entity and multi-currency solutions support real-time global trade processing of equity, fixed income, mutual fund, foreign exchange, and exchange traded derivatives. We process on average over $8 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day of United States of America (“U.S.”) and Canadian securities.
Our comprehensive wealth management platform offers capabilities across the entire wealth management lifecycle and streamlines all aspects of wealth management services, including account management, fee management and client on-boarding. The wealth management platform enables full-service, regional and independent broker-dealers and investment advisors to better engage with customers through digital marketing and customer communications tools. We also integrate data, content and technology to drive new customer acquisition, support holistic advice and cross-sell opportunities through the creation of sales and educational content, including seminars as well as customizable advisor websites, search engine marketing and electronic and print newsletters. Our advisor solutions help advisors optimize their practice management through customer and account data aggregation and reporting. We currently support over 200,000 professionals at more than 300 financial firms with our wealth management solutions.
We offer buy-side technology solutions for the global investment management industry, including portfolio management, compliance and operational workflow solutions for hedge funds, family offices, investment managers and the providers that service this space. Through our Managed Services, we provide business process outsourcing services that support the entire trade lifecycle operations of our buy- and sell-side clients’ businesses through a combination of our technology and our operations expertise. We also provide support for advisor, investor and compliance workflow.
Our Strategy
We earn our clients’ confidence every day by delivering real business value through leading technology-driven solutions that help our clients get ahead of today’s challenges and capitalize on future growth opportunities. Our solutions harness people, technology and insights to help transform our clients’ businesses by enriching customer engagement, navigating risk, optimizing efficiency and growing revenue.
As financial institutions look to transform and mutualize their mission-critical but non-differentiating operational and support functions, we have the proven technology, scale, innovation, experience and, most importantly, the clients to achieve this goal and meet their needs. We define our market opportunity in our strong and growing global businesses in both governance and communications and capital markets, with an additional growth platform in wealth and investment management. Our growth strategy is based on the following key components.
Our business model.
We deliver multi-client technology and managed services primarily through common SaaS-based operations platforms. We increasingly create layers of value by driving network benefits to our clients, providing deep data and analytics solutions, and offering a suite of digital capabilities on a single platform. All of this translates into our core value proposition to be a trusted provider of technology and managed services across a range of analytical, operational and reporting functions. Our SaaS offerings allow our clients to mutualize development expenses and our solutions integrate global data services to provide globally-consistent insight to functions and requirements within the financial services industry.
Strong positions in a large and growing financial services market.
Our deep industry knowledge enables our clients to successfully solve complex technological challenges, and inspires trust among and brings novel perspectives to our clients. While financial services firms have historically kept much of their technology infrastructure work in-house, there are two significant trends working in favor of Broadridge. In aggregate, financial service firms globally are spending more on technology, and the respective budgets allocated are consistently growing year-over-year. Moreover, these firms are devoting a growing percentage of this spend to third-party technology, operations, and services. Broadridge, as a trusted outside partner, can undertake streamlining and better integrate this infrastructure and processes. We expect the efficiencies that result from such undertaking by Broadridge will lead to growth in the market for our solutions.
Three attractive growth platforms.
Our growth platforms address important and significant client needs as described below. Through our integrated solutions and services and our scalable infrastructure, we believe we are best positioned to meet them.
•Governance. We provide a strong network through our governance platform that links broker-dealers, public companies, mutual funds, shareholders, and regulators. We continue to grow our governance solutions by continuing to transform content and delivery and improve product capabilities to drive higher investor engagement. We aim to be an integral partner to asset managers and retirement service providers by offering data-driven solutions that help them grow revenue, reduce costs and maintain compliance. We are also expanding our capabilities to better serve the needs of issuers and we are driving the next generation of digital communications while optimizing print and mail services through advanced technology.
•Capital Markets. Global institutions have a strong need to simplify their complex technology environment, and our SaaS-based global, multi-asset class technology platform addresses this need. We are driving global post-trade management to create transformation opportunities to simplify our clients’ operations, improve performance, evolve to global operating models, adopt new technologies, and enable our clients to better manage their data.
•Wealth Management. Wealth management clients including full-service, regional and independent broker-dealers, investment advisors, insurance companies and retirement solutions providers are all undergoing unprecedented change. These firms are in need of partners to help them navigate the demographic shift of advisors and investors, the large generational transference of wealth and the aging of the client experience and operational technologies that are essential to their business. These market dynamics are driving the need to more seamlessly integrate technology and processes and access to data-centric digital wealth solutions to better service advisors and investors. This can only be achieved by modernizing their core technology infrastructure. To address this need, we have developed a holistic wealth management platform solution that provides seamless systems and data integration capabilities and enables firms to improve advisor productivity, investor experience and operational process efficiencies.
On-ramp for next-generation technologies.
Our clients understand that next-generation technology is a key driving force for change and efficiency and there is a need among our client base to leverage this technology to address their critical business challenges. However, they face obstacles in creating the right investment and, more importantly, in applying the right talent and intellectual capital, which may be focused on their most differentiating functions. This continues to create opportunities for Broadridge to assist in the areas where we have scale and domain expertise, which includes digital, cloud, blockchain, and artificial intelligence technologies.
High engagement and client-centric culture.
Broadridge is client-centric and has created and grown multi-entity infrastructures across a variety of functions with high client satisfaction. Broadridge conducts a client satisfaction survey for each of its major business units annually, the results of which are a component of all Broadridge associates’ compensation because of the importance of client retention to the achievement of Broadridge’s revenue goals.
We have also built a culture where we focus on having engaged and knowledgeable associates to serve clients well, which in turn creates a real and sustainable advantage. Supporting this excellent client delivery takes engaged associates, and we are passionate about creating an environment in which every associate can thrive and build their knowledge and skills. All of this creates a culture that benefits our associates, our clients, and our stockholders.
History and Development of Our Company
Broadridge has over 50 years of history in providing innovative solutions to financial services firms and publicly-held companies. We are the former Brokerage Services division of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (“ADP”), which opened for business in 1962 with one client, processing an average of 300 trades per night. In 1979, ADP expanded its U.S.-based securities processing solutions to process Canadian securities. Broadridge was incorporated in Delaware as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADP on March 29, 2007 in anticipation of our spin-off from ADP. We spun off from ADP and began operating as an independent public company on March 30, 2007. In January 2019, Timothy C. Gokey succeeded Richard J. Daly as Chief Executive Officer of Broadridge.
Investor Communication Solutions
We began offering our proxy services in 1989. The proxy services business, which has become our Investor Communication Solutions business, leveraged the information processing systems and infrastructure of our Global Technology and Operations business. Our proxy services offering attracted 31 major clients in its first year of operations. In 1992, we acquired The Independent Election Corporation of America which further increased our proxy services capabilities. By 1999, we were handling over 90% of the investor communication distributions for securities held of record by banks and broker-dealers in the U.S. from proxy statements to annual reports. During the 1990s, we expanded our proxy services business to serve security owners of Canadian and United Kingdom issuers and we began offering a complete outsourced solution for international proxies.
In 1994, we began offering ProxyEdge, our innovative electronic proxy delivery and voting solution for institutional investors that helps ensure the participation of the largest stockholders of many companies. In 1998, having previously provided print and distribution services as an accommodation to our securities processing and proxy clients, we began offering account statement and reporting services. In 2001, we developed and released an electronic document distribution and archiving solution of all investor communications.
We have made several acquisitions to improve and expand the solutions offered through our Investor Communication Solutions segment. For our asset management clients, we acquired Access Data Corp. in 2009 to build-out our data and analytics offerings. We made additional acquisitions adding new global data, insight, and compliance capabilities for our global asset management clients.
We continued to expand our services for asset managers and mutual funds through the acquisition of Matrix, a provider of mutual fund trade processing services for retirement service providers, third party administrators, financial advisors, banks and wealth management professionals in 2011. Matrix’s operational, trust, custody, trading and mutual fund and exchanged traded funds (“ETFs”) settlement services strengthened Broadridge’s role as a provider of data processing and distribution channel solutions to the mutual fund industry. We increased the breadth of Matrix’s offerings and enhanced its operational scale through the acquisition of a trade processing business and the acquisition of retirement plan custody and trust assets from TD Ameritrade Trust Company (“TD Ameritrade”), a subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Company. In addition, we expanded our North American fund industry solutions with European fund compliance solutions through the acquisitions of FundAssist Limited (“FundAssist”) and FundsLibrary Limited (“FundsLibrary”).
In 2016, we expanded our communications solutions through the acquisition of the North American Customer Communications (“NACC”) business of DST Systems, Inc., which was renamed Broadridge Customer Communications and integrated into our then existing customer communications business. The combination further enhanced our position as a leading provider of print and digital communications.
In 2017, we added to our corporate issuer solutions with the acquisition of Summit Financial Disclosure, LLC (“Summit”), a full-service financial document management solutions provider. We integrated Summit’s document composition and regulatory filing services with our proxy voting and shareholder communications services to create an end-to-end solution for corporate issuers that spans the entire corporate disclosure lifecycle from private funding, through capital markets transactions and year-round SEC reporting and communications to shareholders.
In 2019, we acquired Fi360, Inc. (“Fi360”) a provider of fiduciary and Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Regulation Best Interest (“Regulation BI”) solutions for the wealth and retirement industry. Fi360 enhances our retirement solutions by providing wealth and retirement advisors with fiduciary tools that complement our Matrix trust and trading platform.
Global Technology and Operations
Our Global Technology and Operations business has evolved over the past 50 years from being a processer of U.S. and Canadian securities to a global provider of multi-market, multi-asset class, multi-entity and multi-currency technology solutions and services. This evolution has occurred through a combination of ongoing organic product development and focused acquisitions that have expanded and enhanced the capabilities of our solutions and the markets we serve.
We made significant additions to our Global Technology and Operations business through two key acquisitions in the mid-1990s. In 1995, we acquired a London-based provider of multi-currency clearance and settlement services, to become a global supplier of transaction processing services. In 1996, we acquired a provider of institutional fixed income transaction processing systems.
Our Managed Services business was launched in 2005 with the acquisition of the Bank of America Corporation’s U.S. Clearing and BrokerDealer Services business. Over the years, we have expanded the asset class, geographic and market segment coverage of our Managed Services. Expanded asset classes include futures, over-the-counter derivatives, and non-dollar and fixed income securities. In addition, we added fee billing for all asset classes and we now support asset managers and entities outside the U.S.
For our capital markets solutions, we added reconciliations and matching capabilities with the acquisition of CityNetworks Ltd. in 2010. We broadened our global securities financing and collateral management capabilities through the acquisitions of 4sight Financial Software Limited and Anetics, Inc. in 2016. In 2017, we acquired Message Automation Limited, extending our regulatory and compliance capabilities for capital markets firms. Most recently, we acquired Shadow Financial Systems, Inc. (“Shadow Financial”) in 2019, which added a market-ready solution for exchanges, inter-dealer brokers and proprietary trading firms, as well as additional capabilities in exchange traded derivatives and cryptocurrency.
For our wealth management solutions, we have made a series of acquisitions that have broadened our suite of wealth-focused technology and advisor communications solutions for broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers and banks. In 2010, we acquired Forefield, Inc., which has been consolidated with Emerald Connect, LLC, acquired in 2014, to provide financial advisors with content and tools to communicate with their customers. In 2016, we acquired M&O Systems, Inc., and in 2019 we acquired Financial Database Services, Inc. These acquisitions have made Broadridge the leading provider of advisor compensation management solutions, as well as strengthened our compliance and advisor onboarding capabilities. In 2019, we acquired Rockall Technologies Limited (“Rockall”) and expanded our core front-to-back wealth management capabilities, providing innovative securities-based lending (“SBL”) and collateral management technology solutions to help commercial banks manage risk and optimize clients’ securities lending and financing needs. In 2019, we acquired RPM Technologies (“RPM”), a Canadian provider of enterprise wealth management software solutions and services. The addition of RPM’s state-of-the-art technology platforms builds upon our Canadian wealth management business, providing a solution set for the retail banking sector with enhanced mutual fund and deposit manufacturing capabilities.
For our asset management solutions, we expanded our securities processing solutions to service buy-side firms with the acquisition of Paladyne Systems in 2011, a provider of an integrated operational solutions platform that provides hedge funds, hedge fund administrators, and asset management firms with mission critical applications to streamline and manage their businesses. In 2013, we expanded our suite of asset management solutions through the acquisition of Bonaire Software Solutions, LLC, a provider of fee calculation, billing, and revenue and expense management solutions. In 2015, we acquired QED Financial Systems, Inc., a provider of investment accounting and data management solutions to institutional investors and asset management firms. In 2019, we acquired ClearStructure Financial Technology, LLC (“ClearStructure”), a global provider of portfolio management solutions for the private debt markets.
The Broadridge Business
Investor Communication Solutions
The Investor Communication Solutions segment’s revenues represented approximately 77% and 80% of our total Revenues in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, which gives effect to the foreign exchange impact from revenues generated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. See “Analysis of Reportable Segments — Revenues” under “Item 701. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The services and solutions provided through our Investor Communication Solutions segment serve the following client groups:
Banks/Broker-Dealers
We handle the entire proxy materials distribution and voting process for our bank and broker-dealer clients. We offer traditional hard copy and electronic services for the delivery of proxy materials to investors and collection of consents; maintenance of a database that contains the delivery method preferences of our clients’ customers; posting of documents on the Internet; e-mail notification to investors notifying them that proxy materials are available; and proxy voting over the Internet, mobile devices and tablets. We also have the ability to combine stockholder communications for multiple stockholders residing at the same address which we accomplish by having ascertained the delivery preferences of investors. In addition, we provide a complete outsourced solution for the processing of international proxies with the ability to process proxy voting in over 120 international markets.
A majority of publicly-traded shares are not registered in companies’ records in the names of their ultimate beneficial owners. Instead, a substantial majority of all public companies’ shares are held in “street name,” meaning that they are held of record by broker-dealers or banks through their depositories. Most street name shares are registered in the name “Cede & Co.,” the name used by The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”), which holds shares on behalf of its participant broker-dealers and banks. These participant broker-dealers and banks (which are known as “Nominees” because they hold securities in name only) in turn hold the shares on behalf of their clients, the individual beneficial owners. Nominees, upon request, are required to provide companies with lists of beneficial owners who do not object to having their names, addresses, and shareholdings supplied to companies, so called “non-objecting beneficial owners” (or “NOBOs”). Objecting beneficial owners (or “OBOs”) may be contacted directly only by the broker-dealer or bank. As DTCC’s role is only as the custodian, a number of mechanisms have been developed in order to pass the legal rights it holds as the record owner (such as the right to vote) to the beneficial owners. The first step in passing voting rights down the chain is the “omnibus proxy,” which DTCC executes to transfer its voting rights to its participant Nominees. Under applicable rules, Nominees must deliver proxy materials to beneficial owners and request voting instructions.
Given the large number of Nominees involved in the beneficial proxy process resulting from the large number of beneficial shareholders, we play a unique, central and integral role in ensuring that the beneficial proxy process occurs without issue for both Nominees and companies. A large number of Nominees have contracted out the processes of distributing proxy materials and tabulating voting instructions to us. Nominees accomplish this by entering into agreements with Broadridge and transferring to us via powers of attorney the authority to execute a proxy, which authority the Nominee receives from the DTCC via an omnibus proxy. Through our agreements with Nominees for the provision of beneficial proxy services, we take on the responsibility of ensuring that the account holders of Nominees receive proxy materials, that their voting instructions are conveyed to the companies conducting solicitations and that these services are fulfilled in accordance with each company’s requirements with respect to its particular solicitation. In order for us to provide the beneficial proxy services effectively, we interface and coordinate directly with each company to ensure that the services are performed in an accurate and acceptable manner. With respect to companies, as it would be impracticable and would also increase the costs for companies to work with all of the Nominees through which their shares are held beneficially, companies work with us for the performance of all the tasks and processes necessary to ensure that proxy materials are distributed to all beneficial owners and that their votes are accurately reported.
The SEC rules require public companies to reimburse Nominees for the expense of distributing stockholder communications to beneficial owners of securities held in street name. The reimbursement rates are set forth in the rules of self-regulatory organizations (“SROs”), including the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). We bill public companies for the proxy services performed, collect the fees and remit to the Nominee its portion of the fees. In addition, the NYSE rules establish fees specifically for the services provided by intermediaries in the proxy process, such as Broadridge. We also compile NOBO lists on behalf of Nominees in response to requests from corporate issuers. The preparation of NOBO lists is subject to reimbursement by the securities issuers requesting such lists to the broker-dealers. The reimbursement rates are based on the number of NOBOs on the list produced pursuant to NYSE or other SRO rules. The rules also provide for certain fees to be paid to third-party intermediaries who compile NOBO lists. We function as an intermediary in the NOBO process.
We provide institutional investors with a suite of services to manage the entire proxy voting process, including fulfilling their fiduciary obligations and meeting their reporting needs. ProxyEdge is our innovative electronic proxy delivery and voting solution for institutional investors and financial advisors that integrates ballots for positions held across multiple custodians and presents them under a single proxy. Voting can be instructed for the entire position, by account vote group or on an individual account basis either manually or automatically based on the recommendations of participating governance research providers. ProxyEdge also provides for client reporting and regulatory reporting. ProxyEdge can be utilized for meetings of U.S. and Canadian companies and for meetings in many non-North American countries based on the holdings of our global custodian clients. ProxyEdge is offered in several languages and there are currently over 5,600 ProxyEdge users worldwide.
In addition to our proxy services, we provide our bank and broker-dealer clients with regulatory communications services including prospectus delivery services. Our proprietary extraction, normalization and presentment capabilities from the SEC’s EDGAR database have enabled us to provide our bank and broker-dealer and asset management clients with an on-demand solution for prospectus post-sale fulfillment. This process provides efficiency for our clients as it reduces their reliance on offset print and fund delivered inventory. We provide portfolio-specific solutions for the retirement and annuity markets. We have integrated this functionality into additional capabilities to offer an efficient fulfillment model for regulatory and compliance distributions.
We also offer a complete reorganization communications solution to notify investors of reorganizations or corporate action events such as tender offers, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies, and class action lawsuits. We also offer our Mailbox products - Advisor Mailbox™ and Investor Mailbox® - which support and complement any investor communication strategy. Our Investor Mailbox solution provides the electronic delivery of investor communications to our clients’ websites or mobile apps, enabling investor access to regulatory delivery notices, day-to-day account and investment information and convenient response tools. Our Advisor Mailbox is an electronic communications platform for financial advisors that delivers immediate electronic access to the communications and documents sent to such advisors’ customers. Advisor Mailbox streamlines multiple communication paths for all investor-related documents into a single-visit portal that is integrated onto an advisor’s platform.
Asset Management Firms/Mutual Funds
We provide a full range of data-driven solutions that help our asset management and retirement services clients grow revenue, operate efficiently, and maintain compliance. Our regulatory communications solutions enable global asset managers to communicate with large audiences of investors efficiently and reliably by centralizing all investor communications through one resource. We provide composition, printing, filing, and distribution services for regulatory reports, prospectuses and proxy materials, as well as proxy solicitation services. We manage the entire communications process with both registered and beneficial stockholders. Our marketing and transactional communications solutions provide a content management and multi-channel distribution platform for marketing and sales communications for asset managers and retirement service providers. In addition, our data and analytics solutions provide investment product distribution data, analytical tools, and insights and research to enable asset managers to optimize product distribution across retail and institutional channels globally.
We also provide mutual fund and ETF trade processing services for retirement service providers, third-party administrators, financial advisors, banks and wealth management professionals through Matrix. Matrix’s operational, trust, custody, trading and mutual fund and ETF settlement services are integrated into our product suite thereby strengthening Broadridge’s role as a provider of insight, technology and managed services to the asset management and retirement industry.
Corporate Issuers
We provide governance and communications services to corporate issuers. We are the largest processor and provider of investor communication solutions to public companies through the performance of beneficial proxy services. We also provide disclosure solutions and transfer agency services providing corporate issuers a single source solution that spans the entire corporate disclosure and shareholder communications lifecycle.
Our governance and communications services include a full suite of annual meeting solutions:
•Proxy services – we provide complete project management for the entire annual meeting process including registered and beneficial proxy materials distribution, vote processing and tabulation through our ShareLink® tool.
•Virtual Shareholder Meeting™ – electronic annual meetings on the Internet, either on a stand-alone basis, or in conjunction with in-person annual meetings, including shareholder validation and voting services and the ability for shareholders to ask questions and for management to respond during the meetings.
•We also offer tools for corporate issuers to help them better engage with their shareholders and other stakeholders in connection with the annual meeting process as well as on an ongoing basis throughout the year. These services include data and analytics tools to help issuers understand their shareholder base and voting behavior.
Our disclosure solutions provide compliance reporting and transactional reporting services for public companies including the following:
•Proxy Materials Document Composition and Distribution – proxy and annual report design and digitization, SEC filing, printing and web hosting services.
•Annual and Transactional SEC Filing Services – typesetting, printing and SEC filing services for capital markets transactions such as initial public offerings, spin-offs, acquisitions, and securities offerings, as well as year-round SEC reporting including document composition, EDGARization and XBRL tagging. In addition, we provide transaction support services such as virtual deal rooms and translation services.
We also provide registrar, stock transfer and record-keeping services through our transfer agency services. Our transfer agency services address the needs public companies have for more efficient and reliable stockholder record maintenance and communication services. In addition, we provide corporate actions services including acting as the exchange agent, paying agent, or tender agent in support of acquisitions, initial public offerings and other significant corporate transactions. We also provide abandoned property compliance and reporting services.
Customer Communications Solutions
We support financial services, healthcare, insurance, consumer finance, telecommunications, utilities, and other service industries with their customer communications management strategies for transactional (statements and bills), marketing (personalized microsites and direct mail) and regulatory communications (proxies and explanation of benefits). These services include print and digital solutions, content management, postal optimization, and fulfillment services.
Through the Communications Cloud, our clients can:
•utilize flexible and scalable composition options to create relevant content that drives customer action (apply, enroll, service, click, vote, pay and more);
•manage and consolidate customer profiles, preferences and consents;
•optimize content across channels to accelerate delivery, reduce costs, and help them meet regulatory requirements and quality controls on customer communications;
•store and retrieve communications with best-in-class security;
•deliver communications across channels, including print, website and mobile apps, secure email, personal cloud, and online banking, and send notifications via email, short message service (SMS) and push/app; and
•gain comprehensive reporting and analytics to improve communications and increase engagement based on customer behaviors.
International Solutions
We provide regulatory and communications solutions addressing clients’ needs within Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) and the Asia-Pacific region (“APAC”). Our offerings help clients address evolving requirements for stronger governance, greater transparency and improved insights derived from data analytics. These solutions are a direct extension of our U.S. and Canadian businesses and in many cases serve the same client base. Our international solutions help clients sharpen focus on their core businesses while helping them maintain regulatory compliance, reduce costs, improve efficiency and gain data insights.
Our Global Proxy solution includes services similar to those provided by our U.S. and Canadian proxy businesses. In September 2020, the European Union will adopt the Shareholder Rights Directive II (“SRD II”), which will increase engagement between corporate issuers and beneficial owners. We have designed and implemented a SRD II component of our Global Proxy solution for both custodians and wealth managers.
Our fiscal year 2020 acquisition of FundsLibrary has added the capabilities to provide fund document and data dissemination in the European market. FundsLibrary links fund managers to distributors and investors to provide complete, accurate and timely information supporting fund sales. The solution helps fund managers increase distribution opportunities, comply with both United Kingdom domestic and European Union regulations such as Solvency II and MiFID II, and makes information easily accessible for investors in digital format. FundsLibrary has been combined with the FundAssist business we acquired in 2018 to form Fund Communication Solutions. The combined solution provides funds with a single, integrated provider to manage data, perform calculations, compose documents, manage regulatory compliance and disseminate information across multiple jurisdictions.
Global Technology and Operations
Transactions involving securities and other financial market instruments originate with an investor, who places an order with a broker who in turn routes that order to an appropriate market for execution. At that point, the parties to the transaction coordinate payment and settlement of the transaction through a clearinghouse. The records of the parties involved must then be updated to reflect completion of the transaction. Tax, custody, accounting and record-keeping requirements must be complied with in connection with the transaction and the customer’s account information must correctly reflect the transaction. The accurate processing of trading activity and custody activity requires effective automation and information flow across multiple systems and functions within the brokerage firm and across the systems of the various parties that participate in the execution of a transaction.
Our Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the securities transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange traded derivatives, from order capture and execution through trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearing and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting and custody-related services. Our solutions provide automated straight through processing operations and enable buy- and sell-side financial institutions to efficiently and cost-effectively consolidate their books and records, gather and service assets under management, focus on their core businesses, and manage risk. With our multi-market, multi-asset class, multi-entity and multi-currency capabilities, we provide post-trade processing on a global basis.
The Global Technology and Operations segment’s revenues represented approximately 26% and 23% of our total Revenues in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, which gives effect to the foreign exchange impact from revenues generated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. See “Analysis of Reportable Segments — Revenues” under “Item 701. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Services and solutions offered through the Global Technology and Operations segment include the following:
Capital Markets Solutions
We provide a set of sophisticated, multi-entity and multi-currency systems that support real-time processing of securities transactions in North American equities, options, fixed income securities, and mutual funds. Our core post-trade processing systems support real-time processing of primarily equity and option transactions in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Our post-trade processing platform is provided on a SaaS basis and handles the entire securities processing cycle from order management to clearance, settlement and custody, and assists our clients in meeting their regulatory reporting and other post-trade requirements. We also provide specialized transaction processing tools and services for small to mid-market financial firms in Canada.
In addition, we provide the most comprehensive fixed income transaction processing capabilities to support clearance, settlement, custody, P&L reporting and regulatory reporting for domestic and foreign fixed income instruments. Our solution includes extensive support for mortgage-backed securities and other structured products. It is a multi-currency, multi-entity solution that provides real-time position and balance information, in addition to detailed accounting, financing, collateral management, and repurchase agreement functionality. The solution offers real-time straight through processing capabilities, enterprise-wide integration and a robust technology infrastructure - all focused on supporting firms specializing in the fixed-income marketplace.
Wealth Management Solutions
We deliver business critical data, technology solutions and marketing services to enable full-service, regional and independent broker-dealers and investment advisors to better engage with customers to help grow their business. We offer an integrated open-architecture wealth management platform through which we provide enhanced data-centric capabilities to improve the overall client experience across the entire wealth management lifecycle including advisor, investor and operational workflows. This comprehensive wealth management platform streamlines all aspects of the service model, allowing our clients to digitally-onboard customers, manage advisor compensation for multiple products and service models, and seamlessly transfer and service accounts. We also provide solutions for reconciliations, securities lending, reference data management, and enterprise workflow management; as well as advisor desktop applications and reporting solutions including cloud-based marketing and customer communication tools.
In addition, we provide data-driven, digital solutions to broker-dealers, financial advisors, insurers and other firms with large distributed salesforces. Our data aggregation solution helps financial advisors manage and build client relationships by providing customer account data aggregation, performance reporting, household grouping, automated report creation, document storage, and integration with popular financial planning and productivity applications. Our marketing operations and automation platform enables firms to manage marketing activities efficiently across field offices and branch locations using consistent standards. The platform provides unique data and analytical capabilities designed to increase marketing and sales effectiveness. We integrate data, content and technology to drive new client acquisition and cross-sell opportunities through the creation of sales and educational content, including seminars and a library of financial planning topics as well as customizable advisor websites, search engine marketing and electronic and print newsletters.
Our digital marketing and content capabilities leverage analytics and machine-learning to enable financial advisors and wealth management firms to grow their businesses and deepen relationships with their clients. Financial advisors and wealth management firms can tap into our digital tools and library of multi-channel content to personalize touchpoints to engage their clients and prospects across digital channels including websites, social media, e-mail and mobile.
Asset Management Solutions
We provide buy-side technology solutions for the global investment management industry. Our asset management solutions are portfolio management, compliance and operational support solutions such as order management, data warehousing, reporting, reference data management, risk management and portfolio accounting for hedge funds, family offices, investment managers and the providers that service this space including prime brokers, hedge fund administrators and custodians. The client base for these services includes institutional asset managers, public funds, start-up or emerging managers through some of the largest global hedge fund complexes and global fund administrators. We have integrated our business process outsourcing expertise with our investment management solutions to offer a set of managed services to asset management firms.
Managed Services
Our business process outsourcing services support the operations of our buy- and sell-side clients’ businesses. These services combine our technology with our operations expertise to support the entire trade lifecycle, including securities clearing and settlement, reconciliations, record-keeping, asset servicing, and custody-related functions.
International Solutions
We provide advanced real-time, multi-asset and multi-currency post-trade processing solutions to support the processing of a broad range of equity, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange traded derivative securities for global financial institutions. We primarily offer these services on a SaaS basis and support clearance and settlement activities in over 90 countries with direct connectivity solutions in the major markets.
We have also acquired and developed a series of solutions that are directly adjacent to our post-trade processing services. These services include reference data management, securities financing, securities-based lending, collateral management, trade and transaction reporting, reconciliations, financial messaging and asset servicing. Our solutions can be deployed as a complete post-trade service as well as discrete components supporting financial institutions.
Clients
We serve a large and diverse client base across four client groups: banks/broker-dealers, asset management firms/mutual funds, corporate issuers and wealth management firms. Our clients in the financial services industry include retail and institutional brokerage firms, global banks, mutual funds, asset managers, insurance companies, annuity companies, institutional investors, specialty trading firms, clearing firms, third-party administrators, hedge funds, and financial advisors. Our corporate issuer clients are typically publicly held companies. In addition to financial services firms, our Customer Communications business services other corporate clients in the healthcare, insurance, consumer finance, telecommunications, utilities, and other service industries with their essential communications.
In fiscal year 2020, we:
•processed approximately 80% of the outstanding shares in the U.S. in the performance of our proxy services;
•processed over 6 billion investor and customer communications through print and digital channels;
•processed on average over $8 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day of U.S. and Canadian securities; and
•provided fixed income trade processing services to 19 of the 24 primary dealers of fixed income securities in the U.S.
In fiscal year 2020, we derived approximately 20% of our consolidated revenues from five clients. Our largest single client accounted for approximately 6% of our consolidated revenues.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive industry. Our Investor Communication Solutions business competes with companies that provide investor communication and corporate governance solutions including proxy services providers, transfer agents, proxy advisory firms, proxy solicitation firms and financial printers. We also face competition from numerous firms in the compiling, printing and electronic distribution of statements, bills, and other customer communications. Our Global Technology and Operations business principally competes with brokerage firms that perform their trade processing in-house, and with numerous other outsourcing vendors. Our back-office support services offered through this segment also compete with very large financial institutions that manage their own back-office record-keeping operations.
Technology
We have several information processing systems which serve as the core foundation of our technology platform. We leverage these systems in order to provide our services. We are committed to maintaining extremely high levels of quality service through our skilled technical employees and the use of our technology within an environment that seeks continual improvement.
Our mission-critical applications are designed to provide high levels of availability, scalability, reliability, and flexibility. They operate on industry standard enterprise architecture platforms that provide high degrees of horizontal and vertical scaling. This scalability and redundancy allows us to provide high degrees of system availability. In 2010, we entered into an Information Technology Services Agreement (the “IT Services Agreement”) with International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”), which was amended and restated in 2019 (the “Amended IT Services Agreement”). Under the Amended IT Services Agreement, IBM performs a broad range of technology services including supporting our mainframe, midrange, network and data center operations, as well as providing disaster recovery services.
In 2014, the Company and IBM United Kingdom Limited (“IBM UK”) entered into an Information Technology Services Agreement (the “EU IT Services Agreement”), which was amended in 2019 (the “Amended EU IT Services Agreement”). Under the Amended EU IT Services Agreement, IBM UK provides data center services supporting the Company’s technology outsourcing services for certain clients in Europe and Asia.
In 2019, we entered into an information technology agreement with IBM for private cloud services (the “IBM Private Cloud Agreement”) under which IBM will operate, manage and support the Company’s private cloud global distributed platforms and products, and operate and manage certain Company networks.
Most of our systems and applications process in highly resilient data centers that employ multiple active power and cooling distribution paths, redundant components, and are capable of providing 99.995% availability. Additionally, the data centers provide infrastructure capacity and capability to permit any planned activity without disruption to the critical load, and can sustain at least one worst-case, unplanned failure or event with no critical load impact. Our geographically dispersed processing centers also provide disaster recovery and business continuity processing.
Product Development. Our products and services are designed with reliability, availability, scalability, and flexibility so that we can fully meet our clients’ processing needs. These applications are built in a manner which allows us to meet the breadth and depth of requirements of our financial services industry clients in a highly efficient manner. We continually upgrade, enhance, and expand our existing products and services taking into account input from clients, industry-wide initiatives and regulatory changes affecting our clients.
Intellectual Property. We own a portfolio of more than 110 U.S. and non-U.S. patent and patent applications. We also own registered marks for our trade name and own or have applied for trademark registrations for many of our services and products. We regard our products and services as proprietary and utilize internal security practices and confidentiality restrictions in contracts with employees, clients, and others for protection. We believe that we are the owner or in some cases, the licensee, of all intellectual property and other proprietary rights necessary to conduct our business.
Cybersecurity
Our information security program is designed to meet the needs of our clients who entrust us with their sensitive information. Our program includes encryption, data masking technology, data loss prevention technology, authentication technology, entitlement management, access control, anti-malware software, and transmission of data over private networks, among other systems and procedures designed to protect against unauthorized access to information, including by cyber-attacks. In addition, we conduct regular security awareness training as well as testing for our employees.
To further demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the highest levels of quality service, information security, and client satisfaction within an environment that fosters continual improvement, most of our business units and our core applications and facilities for the provision of many services including our proxy services, U.S. equity and fixed income securities processing services, and IBM’s data centers, are International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 27001 certified. This security standard specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving a documented Information Security Management System within the context of the organization’s overall business risks. It specifies the requirements for the implementation of security controls customized to the needs of individual organizations. This standard addresses confidentiality, access control, vulnerability, business continuity, and risk assessment.
Additionally, Broadridge is utilizing the National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (the “NIST Framework”) issued by the U.S. government in 2014 and updated in 2018, as a guideline to manage our cybersecurity-related risk. The NIST Framework outlines 108 subcategories of security controls and outcomes over five functions: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover.
Regulation
The securities and financial services industries are subject to extensive regulation in the U.S. and in other jurisdictions. As a matter of public policy, regulatory bodies in the U.S. and the rest of the world are charged with safeguarding the integrity of the securities and other financial markets and with protecting the interests of investors participating in those markets. Due to the nature of our services and the markets we serve, these regulatory bodies impact our businesses in the following various manners.
In the U.S., the securities and financial services industries are subject to regulation under both federal and state laws. At the federal level, the SEC regulates the securities industry, along with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the various stock exchanges, and other SROs. The Department of Labor (“DOL”) enforces the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) regulations on fiduciaries and organizations that provide services to retirement plans such as Matrix. As a provider of services to financial institutions and issuers of securities, our services, such as our proxy and shareholder report processing and distribution services, are provided in a manner to assist our clients in complying with the laws and regulations to which they are subject. As a result, the services we provide may be required to change as applicable laws and regulations are adopted or revised. We monitor legislative and rulemaking activity by the SEC, FINRA, DOL, the stock exchanges and other regulatory bodies that may impact our services, and if new laws or regulations are adopted or changes are made to existing laws or regulations applicable to our services, we expect to adapt our business practices and service offerings to continue to assist our clients in fulfilling their obligations under new or modified requirements.
Certain aspects of our business are subject to regulatory compliance or oversight. As a provider of technology services to financial institutions, certain aspects of our U.S. operations are subject to regulatory oversight and examination by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”), an interagency body of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the National Credit Union Administration and various state regulatory authorities. Periodic examinations by the FFIEC generally include areas such as data privacy, disaster recovery, information security, and third-party vendor management to identify potential risks related to our services that could adversely affect our banking and financial services clients.
In addition, our business process outsourcing, mutual fund processing and transfer agency solutions, as well as the entities providing those services, are subject to regulatory oversight. Our business process outsourcing and mutual fund processing services are performed by a broker-dealer, Broadridge Business Process Outsourcing, LLC (“BBPO”). BBPO is registered with the SEC, is a member of FINRA and is required to participate in the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). Although BBPO’s FINRA membership agreement allows it to engage in clearing, and the retailing of corporate securities in addition to mutual fund retailing on a wire order basis, BBPO does not clear customer transactions, process any retail business or carry customer accounts. BBPO is subject to regulations concerning many aspects of its business, including trade practices, capital requirements, record retention, money laundering prevention, the protection of customer funds and customer securities, and the supervision of the conduct of directors, officers and employees. A failure to comply with any of these laws, rules or regulations could result in censure, fine, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders, or the suspension or revocation of SEC or FINRA authorization granted to allow the operation of its business or disqualification of its directors, officers or employees. There has been continual regulatory scrutiny of the securities industry including the outsourcing by firms of their operations or functions. This oversight could result in the future enactment of more restrictive laws or rules with respect to business process outsourcing. As a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA, BBPO is subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which requires BBPO to maintain a minimum net capital amount. At June 30, 2020, BBPO was in compliance with this capital requirement.
BBPO, as a “Managing Clearing Member” of the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”), is also subject to OCC Rule 309(b) with respect to the business process outsourcing services that it provides to other OCC “Managed Clearing Member” broker-dealers. OCC Rule 309(b) requires that BBPO maintain a minimum net capital amount. At June 30, 2020, BBPO was in compliance with this capital requirement.
Matrix Trust Company (“Matrix Trust”), is a Colorado State non-depository trust company and National Securities Clearing Corporation trust member, whose primary business is to provide cash agent, custodial and directed trustee services to institutional customers, and investment management services to collective investment trust funds (“CITs”). As a result, Matrix Trust is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the Colorado Division of Banking and the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, as well as the National Securities Clearing Corporation. Specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items, when applicable, must be met. At June 30, 2020, Matrix Trust was in compliance with its capital requirements. In addition, in connection with the offering of CITs, Matrix Trust acts as a discretionary trustee and an ERISA fiduciary. CITs are subject to regulation by the IRS, federal and state banking regulators, and ERISA, which impose a number of duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA. Matrix Trust is also subject to regulation by the Colorado Division of Banking and the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions which regulate the CITs pursuant to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulation.
Our transfer agency business, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, is subject to certain SEC rules and regulations, including annual reporting, examination, internal controls, proper safeguarding of issuer and shareholder funds and securities, and obligations relating to its operations. Our transfer agency business has been formally approved by the NYSE to act as a transfer agent or registrar for issuers of NYSE listed securities and as a result, it is subject to certain NYSE requirements concerning operational standards. Furthermore, it is also subject to U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regulations, as well as certain provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”) and the Federal Trade Commission’s (the “FTC”) regulations with respect to maintenance of information security safeguards. In addition, certain state laws govern certain services performed by our transfer agency business.
In addition, our regulated businesses are required to comply with anti-money laundering laws and regulations, such as, in the U.S., the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (collectively, the “BSA”), and the BSA implementing regulations of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A variety of similar anti-money laundering requirements apply in other countries.
Privacy and Information Security Regulations
The processing and transfer of personal information is required to provide certain of our services. Data privacy laws and regulations in the U.S. and foreign countries apply to the access, collection, transfer, use, storage, and destruction of personal information. In the U.S., our financial institution clients are required to comply with privacy regulations imposed under the GLBA, in addition to other regulations. As a processor of personal information in our role as a provider of services to financial institutions, we must comply with the FTC’s Safeguards Rule implementing certain provisions of GLBA with respect to maintenance of information security safeguards.
We perform services for healthcare companies and are, therefore, subject to compliance with laws and regulations regarding healthcare information, including in the U.S., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”). We also perform credit-related services and agree to comply with payment card standards, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. In addition, federal and state privacy and information security laws, and consumer protection laws, which apply to businesses that collect or process personal information, also apply to our businesses.
Privacy laws and regulations may require notification to affected individuals, federal and state regulators, and consumer reporting agencies in the event of a security breach that results in unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, certain personal information. Privacy laws outside the U.S. may be more restrictive and may require different compliance requirements than U.S. laws and regulations, and may impose additional duties on us in the performance of our services.
There has been increased public attention regarding the use of personal information and data transfer, accompanied by legislation, regulations and enforcement activity intended to strengthen data protection, information security and consumer and personal privacy. We and certain of our affiliates are certified under the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield Framework which provides a mechanism to comply with data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Union and Switzerland to the U.S. As a processor of personal information in our role as a provider of services to financial institutions, we are also subject to the jurisdiction of the FTC with respect to its enforcement of the Privacy Shield Framework.
The law in this area continues to develop and the changing nature of privacy laws in the U.S., the European Union and elsewhere could impact our processing of personal information of our employees and on behalf of our clients. The European Union Parliament adopted the comprehensive General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) that became effective in May 2018. The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which became effective as of January 2020, creates new individual privacy rights for California consumers and places additional privacy and security obligations on entities handling certain personal data of consumers or households. We have been following the CCPA and its developments, including recent amendments, the release of proposed regulations, and the new CCPA ballot initiative scheduled for some time in the future. In our role as a service provider under CCPA, we help facilitate clients in their compliance obligations, in addition to confirming compliance by our own vendors.
We continually monitor the privacy and information security laws and regulations and while we believe that we are compliant with our regulatory responsibilities, information security threats continue to evolve resulting in increased risk and exposure. In addition, legislation, regulation, litigation, court rulings, or other events could expose Broadridge to increased costs, liability, and possible damage to our reputation.
Legal Compliance
Regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury place prohibitions and restrictions on all U.S. citizens and entities, including the Company, with respect to transactions by U.S. persons with specified countries and individuals and entities identified on OFAC's sanctions lists and Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (for example, individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, countries subject to certain economic and trade sanctions, as well as terrorists, terrorist organizations and narcotics traffickers identified by OFAC under programs that are not country specific). Similar requirements apply to transactions and dealings with persons and entities specified in lists maintained in other countries. We have developed procedures and controls that are designed to monitor and address legal and regulatory requirements and developments to protect against having direct business dealings with such prohibited countries, individuals or entities.
Compliance with laws and regulations that are applicable to our international operations is complex and may increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions. Our international operations could expose us to fines and penalties if we fail to comply with these regulations. These laws and regulations include import and export requirements, trade restrictions and embargoes, data privacy requirements, labor laws, tax laws, anti-competition regulations, U.S. laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and local laws prohibiting bribery and other improper payments or inducements, such as the U.K. Bribery Act. Although we have implemented policies, procedures and training designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, vendors and agents will not take actions in violation of our policies or applicable laws and regulations, particularly as we expand our operations, including through acquisitions of businesses that were not previously subject to and may not have familiarity with laws and regulations applicable to us or compliance policies similar to ours. Any violations of sanctions or export control regulations or other laws could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, including the imposition of substantial fines and interest or prohibitions on our ability to offer our products and services to one or more countries, and could also damage our reputation, our international expansion efforts and our business, and negatively impact our operating results.
Seasonality
Processing and distributing proxy materials and annual reports to investors comprises a large portion of our Investor Communication Solutions business. We process and distribute the greatest number of proxy materials and annual reports during our third and fourth fiscal quarters. The recurring periodic activity of this business is linked to significant filing deadlines imposed by law on public reporting companies. Historically, this has caused our revenues, operating income, net earnings, and cash flows from operating activities to be higher in our fourth fiscal quarter than in any other quarter. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and its related amendments (collectively “ASU No. 2014-09”), resulting in the majority of our revenues from equity proxy services being recognized in the third and fourth fiscal quarters. Notwithstanding the impact of ASU No. 2014-09, the seasonality of our revenues makes it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the results of any specific fiscal quarter and could affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows on a fiscal quarter-by-quarter basis.
Employees
At June 30, 2020, we had over 12,000 employees. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements governing their employment with our company. We believe that our employee relations are good.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated by reference herein. Based on the information currently known to us, we believe that the following information identifies the most significant factors affecting our company. However, additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
The current Covid-19 pandemic may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial performance.
The current Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant effect on the world economy, which has created significant uncertainties. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the adverse effects of the pandemic on the economy, our employees, our clients and our third-party service providers and the general impact of recession in the U.S. The Covid-19 pandemic has created significant volatility, uncertainty and business and economic disruption. Any of the following factors, or other cascading effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that are not currently foreseeable, could negatively affect our operations and performance of our services, increase our costs, and negatively impact our sales, results of operations and our liquidity position, possibly to a significant degree:
•The Covid-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders and quarantine rules resulting from the pandemic have had an impact on our ability to perform our services and the operations of our facilities. Our ability to provide our services and solutions could continue to be negatively impacted, including as a result of our employees or our clients’ and vendors’ employees working remotely, or due to business slowdown or interruption caused by the illness of our employees or the safety measures implemented to prevent the illness of our employees such as the potential closures of offices and facilities. In addition, a resurgence of the Covid-19 virus in the areas where we operate could result in additional stay-at-home orders being put in place. Our inability or failure to properly perform our services could cause us to incur expenses including service penalties, lose revenues, lose clients or damage our reputation.
•We have taken several measures in response to Covid-19, including adopting strict social distancing and cleaning measures in our production facilities, taking the temperature of production-related employees in affected areas, and instituting remote work for many of our employees. We may take further actions in our facilities as may be required by government authorities or as we determine are in the best interests of our employees, clients, and vendors. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by Covid-19 or will be satisfactory to government authorities.
•We are a global company and our business is highly dependent on the financial services industry and exchanges and market centers, particularly in North America. The current pandemic continues to adversely impact global commercial activity in many countries, including the U.S., and has contributed to significant volatility in financial markets. An extended period of market disruption or closures, or a prolonged economic downturn (including whether there is a resurgence or second wave of infections) could negatively impact our business and financial results. We have experienced a decrease in demand for certain of our services and a delay or reduction in our sales which could continue if the economic downturn is prolonged or it causes financial stress for our clients. We could also experience a delay in onboarding our clients. Further, the decline in market activity has resulted in decreased assets under administration negatively impacting our mutual fund processing business. In addition, lower interest rates have negatively impacted our mutual fund processing and transfer agency businesses.
•The technological resources and infrastructure used by us, as well as the third-party service providers and vendors who support us, such as internet capacity may be strained due to the increase in the number of remote users. In addition, we may face increased cybersecurity risks due to the number of employees who are working remotely in regions impacted by stay-at-home orders or observing quarantine safety measures. Increased levels of remote access may create additional opportunities for cybercriminals to attempt to exploit vulnerabilities, and employees may be more susceptible to phishing and social engineering attempts due to increased stress caused by the crisis and from balancing family and work responsibilities at home.
•We rely on third-party service providers and vendors to provide critical systems and services such as data center services and materials needed for the production and delivery of our print services, and the Covid-19 pandemic could present heightened or novel risks with respect to the continuity of our critical vendors’ services or ability to supply materials including the possibility of closure or business interruption.
•There is a potential risk that members of our senior management team and/or our board of directors could become incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform their duties for an extended period of time due to illness resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are no comparable recent events which may provide guidance as to the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, and, as a result, its ultimate impact is highly uncertain and subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of the impacts on our business, our operations or the global economy and the full impact will depend on numerous evolving factors that are outside our control. However, the effects could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial performance.
Consolidation in the financial services industry could adversely affect our revenues by eliminating some of our existing and potential clients and could make us increasingly dependent on a more limited number of clients.
Mergers or consolidations of financial institutions could reduce the number of our clients and potential clients. If our clients merge with or are acquired by other firms that are not our clients, or firms that use fewer of our services, they may discontinue or reduce the use of our services. In addition, it is possible that the larger financial institutions resulting from mergers or consolidations could decide to perform in-house some or all of the services that we currently provide or could provide. Any of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
A large percentage of our revenues are derived from a small number of clients in the financial services industry.
In fiscal year 2020, we derived approximately 20% of our consolidated revenues from our five largest clients and approximately 52% of the revenues of our Global Technology and Operations segment from the 15 largest clients in that segment. Our largest single client accounted for approximately 6% of our consolidated revenues in fiscal year 2020. While these clients generally work with multiple business segments, the loss of business from any of these clients due to merger or consolidation, financial difficulties or bankruptcy, or the termination or non-renewal of contracts could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations. Also, in the event a client experiences financial difficulties or bankruptcy resulting in a reduction in their demand for our services or loss of the client’s business, in addition to losing the revenue from that client, we would be required to write-off any investments made by us in connection with that client, including costs incurred to set up or convert a client’s systems to function with our technology. Such costs for all clients represented approximately 9% of our total assets as of June 30, 2020.
Security breaches or cybersecurity attacks could adversely affect our ability to operate, could result in personal, confidential or proprietary information being misappropriated, and may cause us to be held liable or suffer harm to our reputation.
We process and transfer sensitive data, including personal information, valuable intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential data provided to us by our clients, which include financial institutions, public companies, mutual funds, and healthcare companies. We also handle personal information of our employees in connection with their employment. We maintain systems and procedures including encryption, authentication technology, data loss prevention technology, entitlement management, access control and anti-malware software, and transmission of data over private networks to protect against unauthorized access to physical and electronic information, including by cyber-attacks.
In certain circumstances, our third-party vendors may have access to sensitive data including personal information. It is also possible that a third-party vendor could intentionally or inadvertently disclose sensitive data including personal information. We require our third-party vendors to have appropriate security controls if they have access to the personal information of our clients’ customers. However, despite those safeguards, it is possible that unauthorized individuals could improperly access our systems or those of our vendors, or improperly obtain or disclose the sensitive data including personal information that we or our vendors process or handle.
Many of our services are provided through the Internet which increases our exposure to potential cybersecurity attacks. We have experienced cybersecurity threats to our information technology infrastructure and have experienced non-material cyber-attacks, attempts to breach our systems and other similar incidents. Future threats could cause harm to our business and our reputation and challenge our ability to provide reliable service, as well as negatively impact our results of operations materially. Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all the costs related to cybersecurity attacks or disruptions resulting from such events.
Any security breach resulting in the unauthorized use or disclosure of certain personal information could put individuals at risk of identity theft and financial or other harm and result in costs to us in investigation, remediation, legal defense and in liability to parties who are financially harmed. We may incur significant costs to protect against the threat of information security breaches or to respond to or alleviate problems caused by such breaches. For example, laws may require notification to regulators, clients or employees and enlisting credit monitoring or identity theft protection in the event of a privacy breach. A cybersecurity attack could also be directed at our systems and result in interruptions in our operations or delivery of services to our clients and their customers. Furthermore, a material security breach could cause us to lose revenues, lose clients or cause damage to our reputation.
Our clients are subject to complex laws and regulations, and new laws or regulations and/or changes to existing laws or regulations could impact our clients and, in turn, adversely impact our business or may reduce our profitability.
We provide technology solutions to financial services firms that are generally subject to extensive regulation in the U.S. and in other jurisdictions. As a provider of services to financial institutions and issuers of securities, our services are provided in a manner designed to assist our clients in complying with the laws and regulations to which they are subject. Therefore, our services, such as our proxy and shareholder report distribution and processing and customer communications services, are particularly sensitive to changes in laws and regulations governing the financial services industry and the securities markets.
Our services and the fees we charge our clients for certain services are subject to change if applicable SEC or stock exchange rules or regulations are amended, or new laws or regulations are adopted, which could result in a negative impact on our business and financial results.
In addition, new regulations governing our clients could result in significant expenditures that could cause them to reduce their use of our services, seek to renegotiate existing agreements, or cease or curtail their operations, all of which could adversely impact our business. Further, an adverse regulatory action that changes a client’s business or adversely affects its financial condition, could decrease their ability to purchase, or their demand for, our products and services. The loss of business from our larger clients could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations.
Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if we do not comply with legal and regulatory requirements that apply to our services or businesses, and new laws or regulations and/or changes to existing laws or regulations to which we are subject may adversely affect our ability to conduct our business or may reduce our profitability.
The legislative and regulatory environment of the financial services industry is continuously changing. The SEC, FINRA, DOL and various stock exchanges, and other U.S. and foreign governmental or regulatory authorities continuously review legislative and regulatory initiatives and may adopt new or revised laws and regulations. These legislative and regulatory initiatives may adversely affect the way in which we conduct our business and may make our business less
profitable. Also, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and regulations by those entities may adversely affect our business. Further, as a provider of technology services to financial institutions, certain aspects of our U.S. operations are subject to regulatory oversight and examination by the FFIEC. A sufficiently unfavorable review from the FFIEC could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business process outsourcing, mutual fund processing and transfer agency solutions as well as the entities providing those services are subject to regulatory oversight. Our provision of these services must comply with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, FINRA, DOL and various stock exchanges, and other regulatory bodies charged with safeguarding the integrity of the securities markets and other financial markets and protecting the interests of investors participating in these markets. If we fail to comply with any applicable regulations in performing those services, we could lose our clients, be subject to suits for breach of contract or to governmental proceedings, censures and fines, our reputation could be harmed, and we could be limited in our ability to obtain new clients.
In addition, in connection with the offering of CITs, Matrix Trust acts as a discretionary trustee and ERISA fiduciary. ERISA and the applicable provisions of the federal tax laws impose a number of duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA. As a result, we may face the risk of lawsuits and regulatory proceedings resulting from a breach of Matrix Trust’s fiduciary responsibilities.
For a description of the aspects of our business that are subject to regulatory compliance or oversight, please refer to Part I, “Item 1. Business - Regulation” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.
As a provider of data and business processing solutions, our systems contain a significant amount of sensitive data, including personal information, related to our clients, customers of our clients, and our employees. We are, therefore, subject to compliance obligations under federal, state and foreign privacy and information security laws, including in the U.S., the GLBA, HIPAA, the CCPA, and the GDPR in the EU, and we are subject to penalties for failure to comply with such regulations. Such penalties could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. There has been increased public attention regarding the use of personal information, accompanied by legislation and regulations intended to strengthen data protection, information security and consumer and personal privacy. The law in these areas continues to develop, the number of jurisdictions adopting such laws continues to increase and these laws may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Furthermore, the changing nature of privacy laws in the U.S., the European Union and elsewhere could impact our processing of personal information of our employees and on behalf of our clients. While we believe that Broadridge is compliant with its regulatory responsibilities, information security threats continue to evolve resulting in increased risk and exposure and increased costs to protect against the threat of information security breaches or to respond to or alleviate problems caused by such breaches.
For a description of privacy and information security regulations affecting us, please refer to Part I, “Item 1. Business - Regulations - Privacy and Information Security Regulations” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion.
Our ability to comply with regulations depends largely upon the maintenance of an effective compliance system which can be time consuming and costly, as well as our ability to attract and retain qualified compliance personnel.
Our revenues may decrease due to declines in the levels of participation and activity in the securities markets.
We generate significant revenues from the transaction processing fees we earn from our services. These revenue sources are substantially dependent on the levels of participation and activity in the securities markets. The number of unique securities positions held by investors through our clients and our clients’ customer trading volumes reflect the levels of participation and activity in the markets, which are impacted by market prices, and the liquidity of the securities markets, among other factors. Volatility in the securities markets and sudden sharp or gradual but sustained declines in market participation and activity can result in reduced investor communications activity, including reduced proxy and event-driven communications processing such as mutual fund proxy, mergers and acquisitions and other special corporate event communications processing, and reduced trading volumes. In addition, our event-driven fee revenues are based on the number of special events and corporate transactions we process. Event-driven activity is impacted by financial market conditions and changes in regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in fluctuations in the timing and levels of event-driven fee revenues. As such, the timing and level of event-driven activity and its potential impact on our revenues and earnings are difficult to forecast. The occurrence of any of these events would likely result in reduced revenues and decreased profitability from our business operations.
We may be adversely impacted by a failure of third-party service providers to perform their functions.
We rely on relationships with third parties, including our service providers and other vendors for certain functions. If we are unable to effectively manage our third-party relationships and the agreements under which our third-party vendors operate, our financial results or reputation could suffer. We rely on these third parties, including our data center and cloud services providers, to provide services in a timely and accurate manner and to adequately address their own cybersecurity risks. Failure by these third parties to adequately perform their services as expected could result in material interruptions in our operations, and negatively impact our services resulting in a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Certain of our businesses rely on a single or a limited number of service providers or vendors. Changes in the business condition (financial or otherwise) of these service providers or vendors could impact their provision of services to us or they may no longer be able to provide services to us at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. In such circumstances, we cannot be certain that we will be able to replace our key third-party vendors in a timely manner or on terms commercially reasonable to us given, among other reasons, the scope of responsibilities undertaken by some of our providers, the depth of their experience and their familiarity with our operations generally.
If we change a significant vendor, an existing provider makes significant changes to the way it conducts its operations, or is acquired, or we seek to bring in-house certain services performed today by third parties, we may experience unexpected disruptions in the provision of our solutions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Furthermore, certain third-party services providers or vendors may have access to sensitive data including personal information, valuable intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential data provided to us by our clients. It is possible that a third-party vendor could intentionally or inadvertently disclose sensitive data including personal information, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results and damage our reputation.
We rely on the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) and other third-party carriers to deliver communications and changes in our relationships with these carriers or an increase in postal rates or shipping costs may adversely impact demand for our products and services and could have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
We rely upon the USPS and third-party carriers, including the United Parcel Service, for timely delivery of communications on behalf of our clients. As a result, we are subject to carrier disruptions due to factors that are beyond our control, including employee strikes, inclement weather, increased fuel costs and suspension of delivery of communications to certain countries as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Any failure to deliver communications to or on behalf of our clients in a timely and accurate manner may damage our reputation and brand and could cause us to lose clients. In addition, the USPS has incurred significant financial losses in recent years and may, as a result, implement significant changes to the breadth or frequency of its mail delivery causing disruptions in the service. If our relationship with any of these third-party carriers is terminated or impaired, or if any of these third parties are unable to distribute communications, we would be required to use alternative, and possibly more expensive, carriers to complete our distributions on behalf of our clients. We may be unable to engage alternative carriers on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, if at all, which could have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, future increases in postal rates or shipping costs, as well as changes in customer preferences, may result in decreased demand for our traditional printed and mailed communications resulting in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In the event of a disaster, our disaster recovery and business continuity plans may fail, which could result in the loss of client data and adversely interrupt operations.
Our operations are dependent on our ability to protect our infrastructure against damage from catastrophe, natural disaster, or severe weather including events resulting from unauthorized security breach, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attack, pandemic, or other events that could have a significant disruptive effect on our operations. We have disaster recovery and business continuity plans in place in the event of system failure due to any of these events and we test our plans regularly. In addition, our data center services provider also has disaster recovery plans and procedures in place. However, we cannot be certain that our plans, or those of our data center services provider, will be successful in the event of a disaster. If our disaster recovery or business continuity plans are unsuccessful in a disaster recovery scenario, we could potentially lose client data or experience material adverse interruptions to our operations or delivery of services to our clients, and we could be liable to parties who are financially harmed by those failures. In addition, such failures could cause us to lose revenues, lose clients or damage our reputation.
Any slowdown or failure of our computer or communications systems could impact our ability to provide services to our clients and support our internal operations and could subject us to liability for losses suffered by our clients or their customers.
Our services depend on our ability to store, retrieve, process, and manage significant databases, and to receive and process transactions and investor communications through a variety of electronic systems. Our systems, those of our data center and cloud services providers, or any other systems with which our systems interact could slow down significantly or fail for a variety of reasons, including:
•computer viruses or undetected errors in internal software programs or computer systems;
•direct or indirect hacking or denial of service cybersecurity attacks;
•inability to rapidly monitor all system activity;
•inability to effectively resolve any errors in internal software programs or computer systems once they are detected;
•heavy stress placed on systems during peak times or due to high volumes or volatility; or
•power or telecommunications failure, fire, flood, pandemic or any other disaster.
While we monitor system loads and performance and implement system upgrades to handle predicted increases in trading volume and volatility, we may not be able to predict future volume increases or volatility accurately or that our systems and those of our data center services and cloud services providers will be able to accommodate these volume increases or volatility without failure or degradation. In addition, we may not be able to prevent cybersecurity attacks on our systems. Moreover, because we have outsourced our data center operations and use third-party cloud services for storage of certain data, the operation, performance and security functions of the data center and the cloud system involve factors beyond our control. Any significant degradation or failure of our computer systems, communications systems or any other systems in the performance of our services could cause our clients or their customers to suffer delays in their receipt of our services. These delays could cause substantial losses for our clients or their customers, and we could be liable to parties who are financially harmed by those failures. In addition, such failures could cause us to lose revenues, lose clients or damage our reputation.
The inability to properly perform our services or operational errors in the performance of our services could lead to liability for claims, client loss and result in reputational damage.
The inability or the failure to properly perform our services could result in our clients and/or certain of our subsidiaries that operate regulated businesses being subjected to losses including censures, fines, or other sanctions by applicable regulatory authorities, and we could be liable to parties who are financially harmed by those errors. In addition, the inability to properly perform our services or errors in the performance of our services could cause us to incur expenses including service penalties, lose revenues, lose clients or damage our reputation.
General economic and political conditions and broad trends in business and finance that are beyond our control may contribute to reduced levels of activity in the securities markets, which could result in lower revenues from our business operations.
Our services are impacted by the number of unique securities positions held by investors through our clients, the level of investor communications activity we process on behalf of our clients, trading volumes, market prices, and liquidity of the securities markets. These factors are in turn affected by general national and international economic and political conditions, and broad trends in business and finance that result in changes in participation and activity in the securities markets. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to adversely impact global commercial activity and has contributed to a general economic recession, adversely impacting our clients and the markets. These factors include:
•economic, political and market conditions;
•legislative and regulatory changes;
•the availability of short-term and long-term funding and capital;
•the level and volatility of interest rates;
•currency values and inflation;
•financial well-being of our clients; and
•national, state, and local taxation levels affecting securities transactions.
These factors are beyond our control and may contribute to reduced levels of participation and activity in the securities markets. Our revenues have historically been largely driven by transaction processing based on levels of participation and activity in the securities markets. Accordingly, any significant reduction in participation and activity in the securities markets would likely result in lower revenues from our business operations.
If the operational systems and infrastructure that we depend on fail to keep pace with our growth, we may experience operating inefficiencies, client dissatisfaction and lost revenue opportunities.
The growth of our business and expansion of our client base may place a strain on our management and operations. We believe that our current and anticipated future growth will require the implementation of new and enhanced communications and information systems, the training of personnel to operate these systems, and the expansion and upgrade of core technologies. While many of our systems are designed to accommodate additional growth without redesign or replacement, we may nevertheless need to make significant investments in additional hardware and software to accommodate growth. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to predict the timing or rate of this growth accurately or expand and upgrade our systems and infrastructure on a timely basis.
Our growth has required and will continue to require increased investments in management personnel and systems, financial systems and controls, and office facilities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage or continue to manage our future growth successfully. If we fail to manage our growth, we may experience operating inefficiencies, dissatisfaction among our client base, and lost revenue opportunities.
If we are unable to respond to the demands of our existing and new clients, or adapt to technological changes or advances, our business and future growth could be impacted.
The global financial services industry is characterized by increasingly complex and integrated infrastructures and products, new and changing business models and rapid technological and regulatory changes. Our clients’ needs and demands for our products and services evolve with these changes. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to respond to our clients’ demands for new services, capabilities and technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis. We also need to adapt to technological advancements such as digital and distributed ledger or blockchain technologies and cloud computing and keep pace with changing regulatory standards to address our clients’ increasingly sophisticated requirements. Transitioning to these new technologies may be disruptive to our resources and the services we provide and may increase our reliance on third-party service providers such as our cloud services provider.
In addition, we run the risk of disintermediation due to emerging technologies, including distributed ledger or blockchain technologies. If we fail to adapt or keep pace with new technologies in a timely manner, it could harm our ability to compete, decrease the value of our products and services to our clients, and harm our business and impact our future growth.
Intense competition could negatively affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share and profitability.
The markets for our products and services continue to evolve and are highly competitive. We compete with a number of firms that provide similar products and services. In addition, our securities processing solutions compete with our clients’ in-house capabilities to perform competitive functions. Our competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or changing opportunities, technologies, and client requirements and may be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities, offer more attractive terms to clients and adopt more aggressive pricing policies than we will be able to offer or adopt. In addition, we expect that the markets in which we compete will continue to attract new competitors and new technologies, including international providers of similar products and services to ours. There can be no assurances that we will be able to compete effectively with current or future competitors. If we fail to compete effectively, our market share could decrease and our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed.
Our business, financial position, and results of operations could be harmed by adverse rating actions by credit rating agencies.
If the credit ratings of our outstanding indebtedness are downgraded, or if rating agencies indicate that a downgrade may occur, our business, financial position, and results of operations could be adversely affected and perceptions of our financial strength could be damaged. A downgrade would have the effect of increasing our borrowing costs and could decrease the availability of funds we are able to borrow, adversely affecting our business, financial position, and results of operations. In addition, a downgrade could adversely affect our relationships with our clients. For further information with respect to our borrowing costs, see Note 13, “Borrowings” to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We may be unable to attract and retain key personnel.
Our continued success depends on our ability to attract and retain key personnel such as our senior management and other qualified personnel including highly skilled technical employees to conduct our business. Skilled and experienced personnel in the areas where we compete are in high demand, and competition for their talents is intense. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to recruit and retain the required key personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified individuals or our recruiting and retention costs increase significantly, our operations and financial results could be materially adversely affected.
The inability to identify, obtain and retain important intellectual property rights to technology could harm our business.
Our success depends in part upon the development, licensing, and acquisition of systems and applications to conduct our business. Our success will increasingly depend in part on our ability to identify, obtain and retain intellectual property rights to technology, both for internal use as well as for use in providing services to our clients, through internal development, acquisition, licensing from others, or alliances with others. Our inability to identify, obtain and retain rights to certain technology on favorable terms and conditions would make it difficult to conduct business, or to timely introduce new and innovative products and services, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our products and services, and the products and services provided to us by third parties, may infringe upon intellectual property rights of third parties, and any infringement claims could require us to incur substantial costs, distract our management, or prevent us from conducting our business.
Although we attempt to avoid infringing upon known proprietary rights of third parties, we are subject to the risk of claims alleging infringement of third-party proprietary rights. If in response to a third-party infringement allegation, we were to determine that we require a license to such third-party’s proprietary rights, then we may be unable to obtain such license on commercially reasonable terms. Additionally, third parties that provide us with products or services that are integral to the conduct of our business may also be subject to similar infringement allegations from others, which could prevent such third parties from continuing to provide these products or services to us. In either of these events, we may need to undertake substantial reengineering of our products or services in order to continue offering them, and we may not succeed in doing so. In addition, any claim of infringement could cause us to incur substantial costs defending such claim, even if the claim is baseless, and could distract our management from our business. Furthermore, a party asserting such an infringement claim could secure a judgment against us that requires us to pay substantial damages, grants such party injunctive relief, or grants other court ordered remedies that could prevent us from conducting our business.
Acquisitions and integrating such acquisitions create certain risks and may affect operating results.
As part of our overall business strategy, we may make acquisitions and strategic investments in companies, technologies or products, or enter joint ventures. These transactions and the integration of acquisitions involve a number of risks. The core risks are in the areas of:
•valuation: finding suitable businesses to acquire at affordable valuations or on other acceptable terms; competition for acquisitions from other potential acquirors, and negotiating a fair price for the business based on inherently limited due diligence reviews;
•integration: managing the complex process of integrating the acquired company’s people, products, technology, and other assets, and converting their financial, information security, privacy and other systems and controls to meet our standards, so as to realize the projected value of the acquired company and the synergies projected to be realized in connection with the acquisition; and
•legacy issues: protecting against actions, claims, regulatory investigations, losses, and other liabilities related to the predecessor business.
Also, the process of integrating these businesses may disrupt our business and divert our resources. These risks may arise for a number of reasons including, for example:
•finding suitable businesses to acquire at affordable valuations or on other acceptable terms;
•competition for acquisitions from other potential acquirors;
•incurring unforeseen obligations or liabilities in connection with such acquisitions;
•devoting unanticipated financial and management resources to an acquired business;
•borrowing money from lenders or selling equity or debt securities to the public to finance future acquisitions on terms that may be adverse to us;
•loss of clients of the acquired business;
•entering markets where we have minimal prior experience; and
•experiencing decreases in earnings as a result of non-cash impairment charges.
In addition, international acquisitions often involve additional or increased risks including, for example:
•geographically separated organizations, systems, and facilities;
•integrating personnel with diverse business backgrounds and organizational cultures;
•complying with non-U.S. regulatory requirements;
•enforcing intellectual property rights in some non-U.S. countries; and
•general economic and political conditions.
We may incur non-cash goodwill impairment charges in the future.
As a result of past acquisitions, we carry a significant goodwill balance on our balance sheet. Goodwill accounted for approximately 34% of the total assets on our balance sheet as of June 30, 2020. We expect to engage in additional acquisitions, which will likely result in our recognition of additional goodwill. We test goodwill for impairment annually as of March 31st and at other times if events have occurred or circumstances exist that indicate the carrying value of goodwill may no longer be recoverable. Although no indications of a goodwill impairment have been identified, there can be no assurance that we will not incur impairment charges in the future, particularly in the event of a prolonged economic recession. A significant non-cash goodwill impairment could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We operate internationally and our operations could be adversely impacted by local legal, economic, political and other conditions.
A portion of our revenue is generated outside the U.S. and in recent years, we have expanded our operations, entered strategic alliances, and acquired businesses outside the U.S. Also, our business is highly dependent on the global financial services industry and exchanges and market centers around the world. Compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable to our international operations could cause us to incur higher than anticipated costs, and inadequate enforcement of laws or policies such as those protecting intellectual property, could affect our business and the Company’s overall results of operations. Our operations also could be affected by economic and political changes in those countries, particularly in those with developing economies, and by macroeconomic changes, including recessions, inflation and currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. currencies.
For example, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (“Brexit”) became effective on January 31, 2020. A transition period will apply until the end of 2020 (or later, if extended) during which the pre-Brexit legal regime will continue to apply while the United Kingdom and European Union negotiate rules that will apply to their future relationship. It is unknown how that future relationship will be structured which is likely to lead to differing laws and regulations in the United Kingdom and European Union and further global economic, trade and regulatory uncertainty. This continued uncertainty surrounding the withdrawal, has caused, and may continue to cause, economic uncertainty including volatility in global stock markets and currency exchange rate fluctuations, resulting in a decline in the value of the British pound relative to the U.S. dollar. Brexit may also negatively impact our clients with operations in the United Kingdom, which may cause them to reduce their spending on our solutions and services.
In addition, our operations and our ability to deliver our services to our clients could be adversely impacted if there is instability, disruption or destruction in certain geographic regions including as a result of natural or man-made disasters, wars, terrorist activities, or any widespread outbreak of an illness, pandemic or other local or global health issue.
Certain of our services may be exposed to risk from our counterparties and third parties.
Our mutual fund and exchange traded fund processing services and our transfer agency services involve the settlement of transactions on behalf of our clients and third parties. With these activities, we may be exposed to risk in the event our clients, or broker-dealers, banks, clearing organizations, or depositories are unable to fulfill contractual obligations. Failure to settle a transaction may affect our ability to conduct these services or may reduce their profitability as a result of the reputational risk associated with failure to settle.
Our revenues are subject to seasonal variations because we process and distribute the greatest number of proxy materials and annual reports in our third and fourth fiscal quarters.
Processing and distributing proxy materials and annual reports to investors comprises a large portion of our Investor Communication Solutions business. We process and distribute the greatest number of proxy materials and annual reports during our third and fourth fiscal quarters. The recurring periodic activity of this business is linked to significant filing deadlines imposed by law on public reporting companies. This causes our revenues, operating income, net earnings, and cash flows from operating activities to be higher in our third and fourth fiscal quarters. The seasonality of our revenues makes it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the results of any specific fiscal quarter and could affect an investor’s ability to compare our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows on a fiscal quarter-by-quarter basis.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
ITEM 2. Properties
We operate our business primarily from 69 facilities. We lease three facilities in Edgewood, New York, and facilities in El Dorado Hills, California; South Windsor, Connecticut; Kansas City, Missouri; Coppell, Texas; and Markham, Canada, with a combined space of 2.2 million square feet which are used in connection with our Investor Communication Solutions business. We also lease a facility in Newark, New Jersey, which houses our principal Global Technology and Operations business operations. We also lease space at 60 additional locations, subject to customary lease arrangements. Our leases expire on a staggered basis. We believe our facilities are currently adequate for their intended purposes and are adequately maintained.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to claims and litigation. While the outcome of any claim or litigation is inherently unpredictable, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II.
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock began trading “regular way” on the NYSE under the symbol “BR” on April 2, 2007. There were 10,172 stockholders of record of the Company’s common stock as of July 31, 2020. This figure excludes the beneficial holders whose shares may be held of record by brokerage firms and clearing agencies.
Dividend Policy
We expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock. On August 10, 2020, our Board of Directors increased our quarterly cash dividend by $0.035 per share to $0.575 per share, an increase in our expected annual dividend amount from $2.16 to $2.30 per share. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our businesses, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.
As a holding company, substantially all our assets being comprised of the capital stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends will be dependent on our receiving dividends from our operating subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries through which we provide our business process outsourcing and mutual fund processing services, are regulated and may be subject to restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to us. We do not believe that these restrictions are significant enough to impact the Company’s ability to pay dividends.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on Broadridge common stock from June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2020, with the comparable cumulative return of the: (i) S&P 500 Index and (ii) S&P 500 Information Technology Index. The graph assumes $100 was invested on June 30, 2015 in our common stock and in each of the indices and assumes that all cash dividends are reinvested. The table below the graph shows the dollar value of those investments as of the dates in the graph. The comparisons in the graph are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of future performance of our common stock.
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, each as amended, except to the extent that Broadridge specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.
Comparison of Five Year Cumulative Total Return Among Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., S&P 500 Index, and S&P 500 Information Technology Index (in dollars)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2015 | | June 30, 2016 | | June 30, 2017 | | June 30, 2018 | | June 30, 2019 | | June 30, 2020 |
Broadridge Financial Solutions. Inc. Common Stock | | $ | 100.00 | | | $ | 133.19 | | | $ | 157.32 | | | $ | 243.33 | | | $ | 274.52 | | | $ | 276.52 | |
S&P 500 Index | | $ | 100.00 | | | $ | 103.98 | | | $ | 122.58 | | | $ | 140.19 | | | $ | 154.79 | | | $ | 166.38 | |
S&P 500 Information Technology Index | | $ | 100.00 | | | $ | 104.79 | | | $ | 140.30 | | | $ | 184.22 | | | $ | 210.63 | | | $ | 286.23 | |
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
The following table contains information about our purchases of our equity securities for each of the three months during our fourth fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2) | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) |
April 1, 2020 – April 30, 2020 | 198,432 | | | | $ | 91.32 | | | — | | | 9,586,545 | |
May 1, 2020 – May 31, 2020 | 5,479 | | | | 116.02 | | | — | | | 9,586,545 | |
June 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020 | 1,015 | | | | 121.63 | | | — | | | 9,586,545 | |
Total | 204,926 | | | | $ | 92.13 | | | — | | | |
(1)Includes 204,926 shares purchased from employees to pay taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
(2)During the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2020, the Company did not repurchase shares of common stock under its share repurchase program. At June 30, 2020, there were 9,586,545 shares remaining available for repurchase under its share repurchase program. Any share repurchases will be made in the open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with applicable legal requirements and other factors.
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data is derived from our Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, the accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended June 30, | | | | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| (in millions, except for per share amounts) | | | | | | | | | |
Statements of Earnings Data | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues (a) | $ | 4,529.0 | | | $ | 4,362.2 | | | $ | 4,329.9 | | | $ | 4,142.6 | | | $ | 2,897.0 | | |
Operating income (a) | 624.9 | | | 652.7 | | | 598.1 | | | 534.0 | | | 502.3 | | |
Earnings before income taxes (a) | 579.5 | | | 607.3 | | | 561.0 | | | 488.1 | | | 468.9 | | |
Net earnings (a) | 462.5 | | | 482.1 | | | 427.9 | | | 326.8 | | | 307.5 | | |
Basic earnings per share (a) | $ | 4.03 | | | $ | 4.16 | | | $ | 3.66 | | | $ | 2.77 | | | $ | 2.60 | | |
Diluted earnings per share (a) | $ | 3.95 | | | $ | 4.06 | | | $ | 3.56 | | | $ | 2.70 | | | $ | 2.53 | | |
Basic Weighted-average shares outstanding | 114.7 | | | 115.9 | | | 116.8 | | | 118.0 | | | 118.3 | | |
Diluted Weighted-average shares outstanding | 117.0 | | | 118.8 | | | 120.4 | | | 120.8 | | | 121.6 | | |
Cash dividends declared per common share | $ | 2.16 | | | $ | 1.94 | | | $ | 1.46 | | | $ | 1.32 | | | $ | 1.20 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June 30, | | | | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 | | 2016 | |
| (in millions) | | | | | | | | | |
Balance Sheet Data | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 476.6 | | | $ | 273.2 | | | $ | 263.9 | | | $ | 271.1 | | | $ | 727.7 | | |
Total current assets (a) | 1,328.0 | | | 1,042.3 | | | 991.1 | | | 989.6 | | | 1,289.1 | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 161.6 | | | 189.0 | | | 204.1 | | | 198.1 | | | 112.2 | | |
Total assets (a)(b) | 4,889.8 | | | 3,880.7 | | | 3,304.7 | | | 3,149.8 | | | 2,872.7 | | |
Total current liabilities (a)(b) | 1,341.0 | | | 802.6 | | | 777.3 | | | 744.9 | | | 692.9 | | |
Long-term debt, excluding current portion | 1,387.6 | | | 1,470.4 | | | 1,053.4 | | | 1,102.1 | | | 890.7 | | |
Total liabilities (a)(b) | 3,543.2 | | | 2,753.2 | | | 2,210.4 | | | 2,146.0 | | | 1,827.3 | | |
Total stockholders’ equity (a)(b) | 1,346.5 | | | 1,127.5 | | | 1,094.3 | | | 1,003.8 | | | 1,045.5 | | |
(a)The Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09 on July 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method with the cumulative effect of initially applying ASU No. 2014-09 recognized at the date of initial application. Accordingly, financial statement periods prior to July 1, 2018 have not been restated for the effects of ASU No. 2014-09. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, and Note 3, “Revenue Recognition” to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of the Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2014-09.
(b)The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases”, as amended, on July 1, 2019, by recognizing a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and corresponding lease liability, along with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, in the period of adoption. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, as amended, did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, or the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity. Under this method of adoption, the Company has not restated the prior period Consolidated Financial Statements presented to the current period presentation. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, and Note 8, “Leases” in our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of the Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, as amended.
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the results of operations and financial condition of Broadridge during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere herein. Certain information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical in nature and which may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “assumes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “we believe,” “could be” and other words of similar meaning, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from the results discussed in this Item 7 because of various factors, including those set forth elsewhere herein. See “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” included in Part 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The discussion summarizing the significant factors affecting the results of operations and financial condition of Broadridge during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 can be found in Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2019 (the “2019 Annual Report”), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2019.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Broadridge, a Delaware corporation and a part of the S&P 500® Index, is a global financial technology leader providing investor communications and technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and corporate issuers. Our services include investor communications, securities processing, data and analytics, and customer communications solutions. With over 50 years of experience, including over 10 years as an independent public company, we provide financial services firms with advanced, dependable, scalable and cost-effective integrated solutions and an important infrastructure that powers the financial services industry. Our solutions enable better financial lives by powering investing, governance and communications and help reduce the need for our clients to make significant capital investments in operations infrastructure, thereby allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities.
Our businesses operate in two reportable segments: Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations.
Investor Communication Solutions
We provide governance and communications solutions through our Investor Communication Solutions business segment to the following financial services clients: banks/broker-dealers, asset management firms/mutual funds, wealth management firms, and corporate issuers. In addition to financial services firms, our Customer Communications business also serves companies in the healthcare, insurance, consumer finance, telecommunications, utilities and other service industries.
A large portion of our Investor Communication Solutions business involves the processing and distribution of proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as the facilitation of related vote processing. ProxyEdge® is our innovative electronic proxy delivery and voting solution for institutional investors and financial advisors that helps ensure the voting participation of the largest stockholders of many companies. We also provide the distribution of regulatory reports and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions that help our clients meet their regulatory compliance needs.
For asset managers and retirement service providers, we offer data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and multi-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information. Our data and analytics solutions provide investment product distribution data, analytical tools, insights, and research to enable asset managers to optimize product distribution across retail and institutional channels globally. Through Matrix, we provide mutual fund trade processing services for retirement service providers, third party administrators, financial advisors, banks and wealth management professionals.
In addition, we provide public corporations and mutual funds with a full suite of solutions to help manage their annual meeting process, including registered and beneficial proxy distribution and processing services, proxy and annual report document management solutions, virtual shareholder meeting services, and solutions that help gain insight into their shareholder base through our shareholder data services. We also offer financial reporting document composition and management solutions, SEC disclosure and filing services, and registrar, stock transfer and record-keeping services through Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions.
We provide customer communications solutions which include print and digital solutions, content management, postal optimization, and fulfillment services. These services include customer communications management capabilities through the Broadridge Communications Cloud platform. Through one point of integration, the Communications Cloud helps companies create, deliver, and manage multi-channel communications and customer engagement. The platform includes data-driven composition tools, identity and preference management, multi-channel optimization and digital communication experience, archive and information management, digital and print delivery, and analytics and reporting tools.
Global Technology and Operations
We are a leading global provider of securities processing solutions for capital markets, wealth management, and asset management firms. We offer advanced solutions that automate the securities transaction lifecycle, from desktop productivity tools, data aggregation, performance reporting, and portfolio management to order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, asset servicing, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral optimization, compliance and regulatory reporting, and portfolio accounting and custody-related services.
Our core post-trade services help financial institutions efficiently and cost-effectively consolidate their books and records, gather and service assets under management and manage risk, thereby enabling them to focus on their core business activities. Our multi-asset, multi-market, multi-entity and multi-currency solutions support real-time global trade processing of equity, fixed income, mutual fund, foreign exchange, and exchange traded derivatives.
Our comprehensive wealth management platform offers capabilities across the entire wealth management lifecycle and streamlines all aspects of wealth management services, including account management, fee management and client on-boarding. The wealth management platform enables full-service, regional and independent broker-dealers and investment advisors to better engage with customers through digital marketing and customer communications tools. We also integrate data, content and technology to drive new customer acquisition, support holistic advice and cross-sell opportunities through the creation of sales and educational content, including seminars as well as customizable advisor websites, search engine marketing and electronic and print newsletters. Our advisor solutions help advisors optimize their practice management through customer and account data aggregation and reporting.
We offer buy-side technology solutions for the global investment management industry, including portfolio management, compliance and operational workflow solutions for hedge funds, family offices, investment managers and the providers that service this space. Through our Managed Services, we provide business process outsourcing services that support the entire trade lifecycle operations of our buy- and sell-side clients’ businesses through a combination of our technology and our operations expertise and we provide support for advisor, investor and compliance workflow.
ACQUISITIONS
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the respective acquisition date based upon the estimated fair values at such date. The results of operations of the business acquired by the Company are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings since the respective date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed is allocated to Goodwill.
Pro forma supplemental financial information for all acquisitions is not provided as the impact of these acquisitions on the Company’s operating results was not material for any acquisition individually or in the aggregate.
The following represents the fiscal year 2020 acquisitions:
Fiscal Year 2020 Acquisitions:
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Financial information on each transaction is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Shadow Financial | | Fi360 | | Clear-Structure | | Funds-Library | | Total |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | |
Cash payments, net of cash acquired | | $ | 35.6 | | | $ | 116.0 | | | $ | 59.1 | | | $ | 69.6 | | | $ | 280.3 | |
Deferred payments, net | | 2.9 | | | 3.5 | | | 2.6 | | | — | | | 9.0 | |
Contingent consideration liability | | — | | | — | | | 7.0 | | | — | | | 7.0 | |
Aggregate purchase price | | $ | 38.5 | | | $ | 119.5 | | | $ | 68.7 | | | $ | 69.6 | | | $ | 296.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net tangible assets acquired / (liabilities assumed) | | $ | (0.2) | | | $ | (7.9) | | | $ | 0.6 | | | $ | (3.3) | | | $ | (10.8) | |
Goodwill | | 17.6 | | | 84.4 | | | 44.2 | | | 39.1 | | | 185.3 | |
Intangible assets | | 21.1 | | | 43.1 | | | 23.9 | | | 33.8 | | | 121.8 | |
Aggregate purchase price | | $ | 38.5 | | | $ | 119.5 | | | $ | 68.7 | | | $ | 69.6 | | | $ | 296.3 | |
Shadow Financial
In October 2019, we acquired Shadow Financial, a provider of multi-asset class post-trade solutions for the capital markets industry. The acquisition builds upon Broadridge’s post-trade processing capabilities by adding a market-ready solution for exchanges, inter-dealer brokers and proprietary trading firms. In addition, the acquisition adds capabilities across exchange traded derivatives and cryptocurrency.
•Goodwill is tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of customer relationships and software technology, which are being amortized over a seven-year life and five-year life, respectively.
The allocation of the purchase price will be finalized upon completion of the analysis of the fair values of the acquired business’ assets and liabilities.
Fi360
In November 2019, we acquired Fi360, a provider of fiduciary and Regulation BI solutions for the wealth and retirement industry, including the accreditation and continuing education for the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® Designation, the leading designation focused on fiduciary responsibility. The acquisition enhances Broadridge’s retirement solutions by providing wealth and retirement advisors with fiduciary tools that will complement its Matrix trust and trading platform. The acquisition also further strengthens Broadridge’s data and analytics tools and solutions suite that enable asset managers to grow their businesses by providing greater transparency into the retirement market.
•Goodwill is not tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of customer relationships and software technology, which are being amortized over a seven-year life and five-year life, respectively.
The allocation of the purchase price will be finalized upon completion of the analysis of the fair values of the acquired business’ assets and liabilities.
ClearStructure
In November 2019, we acquired ClearStructure, a global provider of portfolio management solutions for the private debt markets. ClearStructure’s component services enhance Broadridge’s existing multi-asset class, front-to-back office asset management technology suite, providing Broadridge clients with a capability to access the public and private markets.
•The contingent consideration liability is payable through fiscal year 2023 upon the achievement by the acquired business of certain revenue targets, and has a maximum potential pay-out of $12.5 million upon the achievement in full of the defined financial targets by the acquired business.
•The fair value of the contingent consideration liability at June 30, 2020 is $7.0 million.
•Goodwill is primarily tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of customer relationships and software technology, which are being amortized over a seven-year life and five-year life, respectively.
The allocation of the purchase price will be finalized upon completion of the analysis of the fair values of the acquired business’ assets and liabilities, and is still subject to a working capital adjustment.
FundsLibrary
In February 2020, we acquired FundsLibrary, a provider of fund document and data dissemination in the European market. FundsLibrary's solutions enable fund managers to increase distribution opportunities and help them comply with regulations such as Solvency II and MiFID II. The business will be combined with FundAssist, Broadridge's existing European funds regulatory communications business. The combined solution provides funds with a single, integrated provider to manage data, perform calculations, compose documents, manage regulatory compliance and disseminate information across multiple jurisdictions.
•Goodwill is not tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of customer relationships and software technology, which are being amortized over a seven-year life and three-year life, respectively.
The allocation of the purchase price will be finalized upon completion of the analysis of the fair values of the acquired business’ assets and liabilities, and is still subject to a working capital adjustment.
The following represents the fiscal year 2019 acquisitions:
Fiscal Year 2019 Acquisitions:
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Financial information on each transaction is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rockall | | RPM | | TD Ameritrade* | | Total |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | |
Cash payments, net of cash acquired | | $ | 34.9 | | | $ | 258.3 | | | $ | 61.5 | | | $ | 354.7 | |
Deferred payments, net | | 0.5 | | | 40.9 | | | — | | | 41.4 | |
Contingent consideration liability | | 7.0 | | | 0.8 | | | — | | | 7.9 | |
Aggregate purchase price | | $ | 42.4 | | | $ | 300.1 | | | $ | 61.5 | | | $ | 404.0 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net tangible assets acquired / (liabilities assumed) | | $ | (2.9) | | | $ | 6.8 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3.9 | |
Goodwill | | 31.1 | | | 181.6 | | | 27.1 | | | 239.8 | |
Intangible assets | | 14.2 | | | 111.7 | | | 34.4 | | | 160.3 | |
Aggregate purchase price | | $ | 42.4 | | | $ | 300.1 | | | $ | 61.5 | | | $ | 404.0 | |
* Broadridge acquired the retirement plan custody and trust assets from TD Ameritrade Trust Company.
Rockall
In May 2019, we acquired Rockall, a provider of SBL and collateral management solutions for wealth management firms and commercial banks. The acquisition expands Broadridge's core front-to-back office wealth capabilities, providing innovative SBL and collateral management technology solutions to help firms manage risk and optimize clients' securities lending and financing needs.
•The contingent consideration liability is payable over the next two years upon the achievement by the acquired business of certain revenue targets, and has a maximum potential pay-out of $10.1 million upon the achievement in full of the defined financial targets by the acquired business.
•The fair value of the contingent consideration liability at June 30, 2020 is $7.6 million.
•Goodwill is not tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of software technology and customer relationships, which are being amortized over a four-year life and six-year life, respectively.
•In the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company settled deferred payment obligations totaling $0.5 million.
RPM
In June 2019, we acquired RPM, a Canadian provider of enterprise wealth management software solutions and services. The addition of RPM’s state-of-the-art technology platforms builds upon our Canadian wealth management business, providing a solution set for the retail banking sector with enhanced mutual fund and deposit manufacturing capabilities.
•The contingent consideration liability is payable over the next two years upon the achievement by the acquired business of certain revenue targets, and has a maximum potential pay-out of $3.7 million upon the achievement in full of the defined financial targets by the acquired business.
•The fair value of the contingent consideration liability at June 30, 2020 is $0.8 million.
•Goodwill is partially tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist primarily of software technology and customer relationships, which are being amortized over a five-year life and seven-year life, respectively.
•In the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company settled deferred payment obligations totaling $40.9 million.
Retirement Plan Custody and Trust Assets from TD Ameritrade
In June 2019, Broadridge acquired the retirement plan custody and trust assets from TD Ameritrade Trust Company, a subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Company. The acquisition expands Broadridge's suite of solutions for the growing qualified and non-qualified retirement plan services market and the support it provides for third-party administrators, financial advisors, record-keepers, banks, and brokers.
•Goodwill is tax deductible.
•Intangible assets acquired consist of customer relationships, which are being amortized over a seven-year life.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in the U.S. and in accordance with the SEC requirements for Annual Reports on Form 10-K. These financial statements present the consolidated position of the Company and include the entities in which the Company directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest as well as various entities in which the Company has investments recorded under the equity method of accounting as well as certain marketable and non-marketable securities. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Amounts presented may not sum due to rounding. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation where applicable, except as it relates to (i) ASU No. 2016-02, as amended “Leases” (“ASU No. 2016-02”), (ii) ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU No. 2014-09”), (iii) ASU No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU No. 2016-01”), and (iv) ASU No. 2018-02, “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income” (“ASU No. 2018-02”), as described further below.
In presenting the Consolidated Financial Statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Management continually evaluates the accounting policies and estimates used to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements. The estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment, available information, and historical experience and are believed to be reasonable. However, actual amounts and results could differ from those estimates made by management. In management’s opinion, the Consolidated Financial Statements contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results reported. The results of operations reported for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for subsequent periods.
Effective July 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” and its related amendments (collectively referred to as “ASU 2016-02, as amended”) by recognizing a ROU asset and corresponding lease liability, along with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, in the period of adoption. Under this method of adoption, the Company has not restated the prior period Consolidated Financial Statements presented to the current period presentation. Additional information about the impact of the Company's adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, as amended is included in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 8, “Leases” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Effective July 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09 using the modified retrospective transition approach applied to all contracts. Under this transition approach, we have not restated the prior period Consolidated Financial Statements presented to the current period presentation. Additional information about the Company’s revenue recognition policies and the related impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 is included in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 3, “Revenue Recognition”.
Effective July 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2016-01, which requires changes in the fair value of publicly traded equity securities for which we do not have significant influence to be recorded as part of Net earnings rather than as Other comprehensive income (loss), net. In addition, equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value will be recorded at cost less impairment as further adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the issuer. We adopted ASU No. 2016-01 using the modified-retrospective transition approach by recording the cumulative effect of previously unrecognized gains or losses on publicly traded equity securities to retained earnings as of July 1, 2018. The provisions of ASU No. 2016-01 relative to equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value have been applied prospectively. The Consolidated Financial Statements have not been revised for periods prior to July 1, 2018. The impact of adopting ASU No. 2016-01 resulted in a reclassification of less than $0.1 million in unrealized gains, net from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings as of July 1, 2018.
Effective July 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2018-02, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects associated with the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) enacted in December 2017. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-02 resulted in an increase to retained earnings of $1.5 million.
Effective July 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2017-07, “Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost” (“ASU No. 2017-07”) whereby we revised its presentation in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings to reflect the non-service cost components of net benefit cost as part of Other non-operating income (expenses), net, which were previously recorded as part of Total operating expenses. All prior period information has been conformed to the current period presentation.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We continually evaluate the accounting policies and estimates used to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements. The estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment, available information, and historical experience and are believed to be reasonable. However, actual amounts and results could differ from these estimates made by management. Certain accounting policies that require significant management estimates and are deemed critical to our results of operations or financial position are discussed below.
Goodwill. We review the carrying value of all our goodwill by comparing the carrying value of our reporting units to their fair values. We are required to perform this comparison at least annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. When determining fair value of a reporting unit, we utilize the income approach which considers a discounted future cash flow analysis using various assumptions, including projections of revenues based on assumed long-term growth rates, estimated costs and appropriate discount rates based on the particular reporting unit’s weighted-average cost of capital. The principal factors used in the discounted cash flow analysis requiring judgment are the projected future operating cash flows based on forecasted earnings before interest and taxes, and the selection of the terminal value growth rate and discount rate assumptions. The weighted-average cost of capital takes into account the relative weight of each component of our consolidated capital structure (equity and long-term debt). Our estimates of long-term growth and costs are based on historical data, various internal estimates and a variety of external sources, and are developed as part of our routine, long-range planning process.
Changes in economic and operating conditions impacting these assumptions could result in goodwill impairments in future periods. If the carrying amount of reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination is determined. We had $1,674.5 million of goodwill as of June 30, 2020. Given the significance of our goodwill, an adverse change to the fair value of one of our reporting units could result in an impairment charge, which could be material to our earnings.
The Company performs a sensitivity analysis under Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test assuming hypothetical reductions in the fair values of our reporting units. A 10% change in our estimates of projected future operating cash flows, discount rates, or terminal value growth rates used in our calculations of the fair values of the reporting units would not result in an impairment of our goodwill.
Income Taxes. The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity’s financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in addressing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements or tax returns (e.g., realization of deferred tax assets, changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof). The Company is subject to regular examination of its income tax returns by the U.S. federal, state and foreign tax authorities. A change in the assessment of the outcomes of such matters could materially impact our Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has estimated foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $13.1 million as of June 30, 2020 of which $1.5 million are subject to expiration in the June 30, 2020 through June 30, 2028 period. The remaining $11.6 million of carryforwards has an indefinite utilization period. In addition, the Company has estimated U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $37.0 million of which $16.9 million can be utilized through June 30, 2030 with the balance of $20.2 million having an indefinite utilization period. U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards resulting from tax losses beginning with the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 have an indefinite carryforward under the Tax Act. The Company did not realize any federal net operating losses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.
Valuation allowances are recognized to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to utilize the deferred tax assets attributable to net operating and capital loss carryforwards of certain subsidiaries to offset future taxable earnings. The Company has recorded valuation allowances of $6.7 million and $3.3 million at June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The determination as to whether a deferred tax asset will be recognized is made on a jurisdictional basis and is based on the evaluation of historical taxable income or loss, projected future taxable income, carryforward periods, scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies. Projected future taxable income is based on expected results and assumptions as to the jurisdiction in which the income will be earned. The assumptions used to project future taxable income requires significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates used to manage the underlying businesses.
On the same date that the Tax Act was enacted, December 22, 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) which provided the Company with up to one year to finalize accounting for the impacts of the Tax Act. Under SAB 118, the Company finalized the prior year estimate of the net tax impact to the Company arising from the enactment of the Tax Act, and recognized a tax benefit of approximately $0.5 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019.
Share-based Payments. Accounting for stock-based compensation requires the measurement of stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant. We determine the fair value of stock options issued by using a binomial option-pricing model. The binomial option-pricing model considers a range of assumptions related to volatility, dividend yield, risk-free interest rate and employee exercise behavior. Expected volatilities utilized in the binomial option-pricing model are based on a combination of implied market volatilities, historical volatility of our stock price and other factors. Similarly, the dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future changes. The risk-free rate is derived from the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The binomial option-pricing model also incorporates exercise and forfeiture assumptions based on an analysis of historical data. The expected life of the stock option grants is derived from the output of the binomial model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Determining these assumptions are subjective and complex, and therefore, a change in the assumptions utilized could impact the calculation of the fair value of our stock options. A hypothetical change of five percentage points applied to the volatility assumption used to determine the fair value of the fiscal year 2020 stock option grants would result in approximately a $2.4 million change in total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal year 2020 grants, which would be amortized over the vesting period. A hypothetical change of one year in the expected life assumption used to determine the fair value of the fiscal year 2020 stock option grants would result in approximately a $0.8 million change in the total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal year 2020 grants, which would be amortized over the vesting period. A hypothetical change of one percentage point in the forfeiture rate assumption used for the fiscal year 2020 stock option grants would result in approximately a $0.1 million change in the total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal year 2020 grants, which would be amortized over the vesting period. A hypothetical one-half percentage point change in the dividend yield
assumption used to determine the fair value of the fiscal year 2020 stock option grants would result in approximately a $0.9 million change in the total pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal year 2020 grants, which would be amortized over the vesting period.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Management focuses on a variety of key indicators to plan, measure and evaluate the Company’s business and financial performance. These performance indicators include Revenue and Recurring fee revenue as well as not generally accepted accounting principles measures (“Non-GAAP”) of Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net earnings, Adjusted Diluted earnings per share, Free Cash flow, and Closed sales. In addition, management focuses on select operating metrics specific to Broadridge of Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth, as defined below.
Refer to the section “Explanation and Reconciliation of the Company’s Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net earnings, Adjusted Diluted earnings per share, and Free Cash flow to the most directly comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measures, and an explanation for why these Non-GAAP metrics provide useful information to investors and how management uses these Non-GAAP metrics for operational and financial decision-making. Refer to the section “Results of Operations” for a description of Closed sales and an explanation of why Closed sales is a useful performance metric for management and investors.
Revenues
Revenues are primarily generated from fees for processing and distributing investor communications and fees for technology-enabled services and solutions. The Company monitors revenue in each of our two reportable segments as a key measure of success in addressing our clients’ needs. Fee revenues are derived from both recurring and event-driven activity. The level of recurring and event-driven activity the Company processes directly impacts distribution revenues. While event-driven activity is highly repeatable, it may not recur on an annual basis. Event-driven fee revenues are based on the number of special events and corporate transactions the Company processes. Event-driven activity is impacted by financial market conditions and changes in regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in fluctuations in the timing and levels of event-driven fee revenues. Distribution revenues primarily include revenues related to the physical mailing of proxy materials, interim communications, transaction reporting, customer communications and fulfillment services as well as Matrix administrative services.
Recurring fee revenue growth represents the Company’s total annual fee revenue growth, less growth from event-driven fee revenues. We distinguish recurring fee revenue growth between organic and acquired:
•Organic – We define organic revenue as the recurring fee revenue generated from Net New Business and internal growth.
•Acquired – We define acquired revenue as the recurring fee revenue generated from acquired services in the first twelve months following the date of acquisition. This type of growth comes as a result of our strategy to purchase, integrate, and leverage the value of assets we acquire.
Revenues and Recurring fee revenue are useful metrics for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates the Company’s ongoing operational performance. See “Results of Operations” as well as Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 3, “Revenue Recognition” to our Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth
The Company uses select operating metrics specific to Broadridge of Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth in evaluating its business results and identifying trends affecting its business. Record Growth is defined as stock record growth and interim record growth which measure the estimated annual change in total positions eligible for equity proxy materials and mutual fund and exchange traded fund interim communications, respectively, for equities and mutual fund position data reported to Broadridge in both the current and prior year periods. Internal Trade Growth represents the estimated change in trade volumes for Broadridge securities processing clients whose contracts are linked to trade volumes and who were on Broadridge’s trading platforms in both the current and prior year periods. Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth are useful non-financial metrics for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates Broadridge’s ongoing operational performance within its Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations reportable segments, respectively.
The key performance indicators for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020, and 2019, are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Select Operating Metrics | | |
| | | |
| Years Ended June 30, | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 |
| | | |
| | | |
Record Growth | | | |
Equity proxy | 10 | % | | 6 | % |
Mutual fund interims | 2 | % | | 9 | % |
Internal Trade Growth | | | |
Equity | 8 | % | | 6 | % |
Fixed Income | 12 | % | | 5 | % |
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussions of Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Analysis of Reportable Segments refer to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 compared to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. The Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Earnings should be read in conjunction with the Analysis of Reportable Segments, which provides more detailed discussions concerning certain components of the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Discussions of Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Analysis of Reportable Segments for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 compared to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 is disclosed in Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the 2019 Annual Report.
The following references are utilized in the discussions of Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Analysis of Reportable Segments:
“Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property” and “Acquisition and Integration Costs” represent certain non-cash amortization expenses associated with acquired intangible assets and purchased intellectual property assets, as well as certain transaction and integration costs associated with the Company’s acquisition activities, respectively.
“IBM Private Cloud Charges” represent a charge on the hardware assets to be transferred to IBM and other charges related to the IBM Private Cloud Agreement.
“Gain on Sale of a Joint Venture Investment” represents a non-operating, cash gain on the sale of one of the Company’s joint venture investments.
“Covid-19 Related Expenses” represents certain non-recurring expenses associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Net New Business” refers to recurring revenue from Closed sales less recurring revenue from client losses.
The following definitions describe the Company’s Revenues:
Fee revenues in the Investor Communication Solutions segment are derived from both recurring and event-driven activity. In addition, the level of recurring and event-driven activity we process directly impacts distribution revenues. While event-driven activity is highly repeatable, it may not recur on an annual basis. The types of services we provide that comprise event-driven activity are:
•Mutual Fund Proxy: The proxy and related services we provide to mutual funds when certain events occur requiring a shareholder vote including changes in directors, sub-advisors, fee structures, investment restrictions, and mergers of funds.
•Mutual Fund Communications: Mutual fund communications services consist primarily of the distribution on behalf of mutual funds of supplemental information required to be provided to the annual mutual fund prospectus as a result of certain triggering events such as a change in portfolio managers. In addition, mutual fund communications consist of notices and marketing materials such as newsletters.
•Proxy Contests and Specials, Corporate Actions, and Other: The proxy services we provide in connection with shareholder meetings driven by special events such as proxy contests, mergers and acquisitions, and tender/exchange offers.
Event-driven fee revenues are based on the number of special events and corporate transactions we process. Event-driven activity is impacted by financial market conditions and changes in regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in fluctuations in the timing and levels of event-driven fee revenues. As such, the timing and level of event-driven activity and its potential impact on revenues and earnings are difficult to forecast.
Generally, mutual fund proxy activity has been subject to a greater level of volatility than the other components of event-driven activity. During fiscal year 2020, mutual fund proxy fee revenues were 35% lower than the prior fiscal year while during fiscal year 2019 mutual fund proxy revenues were 14% lower than the prior fiscal year. Although it is difficult to forecast the levels of event-driven activity, we expect that the portion of fee revenues derived from mutual fund proxy activity may continue to experience volatility in the future.
Distribution revenues primarily include revenues related to the physical mailing of proxy materials, interim communications, transaction reporting, customer communications and fulfillment services as well as Matrix administrative services.
Distribution cost of revenues consists primarily of postage-related expenses incurred in connection with our Investor Communication Solutions segment, as well as Matrix administrative services expenses. These costs are reflected in Cost of revenues.
Closed sales represent an estimate of the expected annual recurring fee revenue for new client contracts that were signed by Broadridge in the current reporting period. Closed sales does not include event-driven or distribution activity. We consider contract terms, expected client volumes or activity, knowledge of the marketplace and experience with our clients, among other factors, when determining the estimate. Management uses Closed sales to measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing programs, as an indicator of expected future revenues and as a performance metric in determining incentive compensation.
Closed sales is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for revenue or other income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Closed sales is a useful metric for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates our ongoing operational performance.
The inherent variability of transaction volumes and activity levels can result in some variability of amounts reported as actual achieved Closed sales. Larger Closed sales can take up to 12 to 24 months or longer to convert to revenues, particularly for the services provided by our Global Technology and Operations segment. For fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, we are reporting Closed sales net of a 4.0% allowance adjustment. Consequently, our reported Closed sales amounts are not adjusted for actual revenues achieved because these adjustments are estimated in the period the sale is reported. We assess the allowance amount at the end of each fiscal year to establish the appropriate allowance for the subsequent year using trailing five years actual data as the starting point, normalized for outlying factors, if any, to enhance the accuracy of the allowance.
For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, Closed sales were $238.9 million and $233.3 million, respectively. The fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, are net of an allowance adjustment of $10.0 million and $9.7 million, respectively.
Recent Developments
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of Covid-19 as a pandemic, which continues to spread throughout the world including the U.S., India, Canada, Europe and other locations where we operate. Developments have occurred rapidly with respect to the spread of Covid-19 and its impact on human health and businesses. To date, the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, created significant financial market volatility, disrupted global supply chains, and resulted in a significant number of deaths and infections worldwide. In response, several countries worldwide enacted fiscal stimulus packages while central banks increased monetary stimulus, both designed to help mitigate the negative macroeconomic effects of Covid-19. In addition, several national, state and local governments have placed restrictions on people from gathering in groups or interacting within a certain physical distance (i.e. social distancing) and in certain cases, have ordered businesses to close, limit operations or mandate that people stay at home.
The Company’s operations, both our Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations segments, are critical components of the overall financial markets infrastructure in the U.S. and globally. As a result, we have been permitted to continue operating in all jurisdictions in which we conduct business (in most cases remotely), including in jurisdictions that have mandated the closure of certain businesses. Accordingly, the Company has taken several measures designed to protect the health of our employees and to minimize our operational disruption and resulting provision of services to our clients from the Covid-19 pandemic, including adopting strict social distancing and cleaning measures in our production facilities, taking the temperature of production-related employees in affected areas on a daily basis as a prerequisite to entering our facilities, load balancing of client jobs between various facilities, and instituting work from home protocols for employees not involved in production operations, amongst other measures.
To date, there has not been a material impact as a result of Covid-19 on our consolidated revenues and pre-tax income. The Company processed above average levels of equity and fixed income trades in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2020 for our financial services clients, many of whom themselves have experienced higher levels of trading activity from market volatility caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, partially offset by lower internal growth in certain aspects of our Investor Communication Solutions business. In addition, all of our production-related facilities remain operational and are continuing to provide ongoing services to our clients. Further, we have not experienced any significant supply-chain issues as our critical vendors have also remained operational and continue to meet their on-going service level requirements. We continue to actively engage with our clients to assist with their service demands, including our clients’ needs for any supplemental operational services and/or changes to existing service requirements in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are unable to precisely predict the impact that Covid-19 will have in the future due to numerous uncertainties, including the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, the impact to the business of our clients, and other factors identified in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K. Given these uncertainties, Covid-19 could disrupt the business of certain of our clients, decrease our clients’ demand for our services, impact our business operations and our ability to execute on our associated business strategies and initiatives, and adversely impact our consolidated results of operations and/or our financial condition in the future. We will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the nature and extent of the impact of Covid-19 to our business, consolidated results of operations, and financial condition.
On August 5, 2020, the SEC proposed modifications to the mutual fund and exchange-traded fund disclosure framework (the “Fund Disclosure Proposal”). The Fund Disclosure Proposal is intended to provide a disclosure framework that would better serve the needs of retail investors. Among the modifications proposed are the requirement for streamlined shareholder reports with concise and visually engaging content which would replace prospectus updates, and improvements to prospectus disclosure. Adoption and implementation of the Fund Disclosure Proposal amendments as proposed could have an impact on our services, business and financial results. We will closely monitor and evaluate the progress of the Fund Disclosure Proposal and its potential impact on our business. Please see our “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A. of this Form 10-K for more information.
ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Fiscal Year 2020 Compared to Fiscal Year 2019
The table below presents Consolidated Statements of Earnings data for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and the dollar and percentage changes between periods:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended June 30, | | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | Change | | | |
| | | | | ($) | | (%) | |
| (in millions, except for per share amounts) | | | | | | | |
Revenues | $ | 4,529.0 | | | $ | 4,362.2 | | | $ | 166.9 | | | 4 | | |
Cost of revenues | 3,265.1 | | | 3,131.9 | | | 133.2 | | | 4 | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 639.0 | | | 577.5 | | | 61.5 | | | 11 | | |
Total operating expenses | 3,904.1 | | | 3,709.5 | | | 194.7 | | | 5 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Operating income | 624.9 | | | 652.7 | | | (27.8) | | | (4) | | |
Margin | 13.8 | % | | 15.0 | % | | | | (1.2) | | pts |
Interest expense, net | (58.8) | | | (41.8) | | | (17.0) | | | 41 | | |
Other non-operating income (expenses), net | 13.4 | | | (3.7) | | | 17.1 | | | NM | |
Earnings before income taxes | 579.5 | | | 607.3 | | | (27.7) | | | (5) | | |
Provision for income taxes | 117.0 | | | 125.2 | | | (8.1) | | | (7) | | |
Effective tax rate | 20.2 | % | | 20.6 | % | | | | (0.4) | | pts |
Net earnings | $ | 462.5 | | | $ | 482.1 | | | $ | (19.6) | | | (4) | | |
Basic earnings per share | $ | 4.03 | | | $ | 4.16 | | | $ | (0.13) | | | (3) | | |
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 3.95 | | | $ | 4.06 | | | $ | (0.11) | | | (3) | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | |
Basic | 114.7 | | 115.9 | | | | | |
Diluted | 117.0 | | 118.8 | | | | | |
NM - Not meaningful
Revenues
The table below presents Consolidated Statements of Earnings data for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and the dollar and percentage changes between periods:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended June 30, | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | Change | | |
| | | | | $ | | % |
| ($ in millions) | | | | | | |
Recurring fee revenues | $ | 3,036.3 | | | $ | 2,760.3 | | | $ | 275.9 | | | 10 | |
Event-driven fee revenues | 178.0 | | | 244.5 | | | (66.5) | | | (27) | |
Distribution revenues | 1,451.2 | | | 1,459.8 | | | (8.6) | | | (1) | |
Foreign currency exchange | (136.4) | | | (102.4) | | | (34.0) | | | NM |
Total | $ | 4,529.0 | | | $ | 4,362.2 | | | $ | 166.9 | | | 4 | |
NM - Not meaningful | | | | | | | |
| Points of Growth | | | | | | |
| Net New Business | | Internal Growth | | Acquisitions | | Total |
Recurring fee revenue Growth Drivers | 4pts | | 1pt | | 6pts | | 10 | % |
Revenues increased $166.9 million, or 4%, to $4,529.0 million from $4,362.2 million.
•Recurring fee revenue growth was primarily driven by acquisitions that were not in the prior year period, as well as 4pts of Organic growth primarily from Net New Business. Internal growth was slightly positive with positive growth in our Global Technology and Operations segment driven by higher trading volumes resulting from market volatility, partially offset by negative internal growth in our Investor Communication Solutions segment.
•Event-driven fee revenues decreased $66.5 million, or 27%, primarily due to decreased activity in mutual fund proxy, equity special meetings, and equity contests.
•Distribution revenues decreased $8.6 million, or 1%, to $1,451.2 million primarily due to the decrease in Event-driven fee revenues.
•Currencies negatively impacted revenues by $34.0 million due to a combination of foreign acquisitions, continued international revenue growth, and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against other currencies.
Total operating expenses. Operating expenses increased $194.7 million, or 5%, to $3,904.1 million from $3,709.5 million as a result of:
•Cost of revenues - The increase of $133.2 million in cost of revenues primarily reflected higher operating costs from acquisitions and related amortization expense and charges associated with the IBM Private Cloud Agreement, partially offset by certain lower operational expenses.
•Selling, general and administrative expenses - The increase of $61.5 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses primarily reflected the impact of acquisitions and higher compensation expense.
•Currencies positively impacted total operating expenses by $31.3 million due to a combination of foreign acquisitions, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against other currencies, and continued international operating expense growth.
Operating income margin of 13.8% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 declined 120 bps from 15.0% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 partly due to charges associated with the IBM Private Cloud Agreement. However, Adjusted Operating income margin of 17.5% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 increased 40 bps on higher recurring revenues from 17.1% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, which excludes certain charges associated with the IBM Private Cloud Agreement and certain other Non-GAAP adjustments. See “Explanation and Reconciliation of the Company’s Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Interest expense, net. Interest expenses, net, was $58.8 million, an increase of $17.0 million from $41.8 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. The increase of $17.0 million was primarily due to an increase in interest expense from higher borrowings primarily related to acquisitions.
Other non-operating income (expenses), net. Other non-operating income, net for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 was $13.4 million, an increase of $17.1 million, compared to $3.7 million of Other non-operating expenses, net for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. The increase of $17.1 million was primarily due to higher investment gains as compared to the prior year period.
Provision for income taxes.
•Effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 - 20.2%.
•Effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 - 20.6%.
The decrease in the effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 compared to the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 was primarily driven by higher discrete tax benefits, partially offset by lower excess tax benefits of $15.6 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020 compared to $19.3 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019.
ANALYSIS OF REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
Broadridge has two reportable business segments: (1) Investor Communication Solutions and (2) Global Technology and Operations.
The primary component of “Other” are certain gains, losses, corporate overhead expenses and non-operating expenses that have not been allocated to the reportable segments, such as interest expense. Foreign currency exchange is a reconciling item between the actual foreign currency exchange rates and the constant foreign currency exchange rates used for internal management reporting.
Certain corporate expenses, as well as certain centrally managed expenses, are allocated based upon budgeted amounts in a reasonable manner. Because the Company compensates the management of its various businesses on, among other factors, segment profit, the Company may elect to record certain segment-related operating and non-operating expense items in Other rather than reflect such items in segment profit.
In connection with an organizational change made in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, in order to further align and enhance our portfolio of services, the results for the Company’s wealth management Advisor Solutions services that were previously reported in our Investor Communication Solutions reportable segment are now reported within the Global Technology and Operations reportable segment. As a result, our prior period segment results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 have been revised to reflect this change, which resulted in transferring $42.8 million of revenues and $2.2 million of earnings before income taxes between reportable segments, respectively.
Revenues
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Years Ended June 30, | | | | | | |
| 2020 | | 2019 | | Change | | |
| | | | | $ | | % |
| ($ in millions) | | | | | | |
Investor Communication Solutions | $ | 3,491.3 | | | $ | 3,468.3 | | | $ | 23.0 | | | 1 | |
Global Technology and Operations | 1,174.2 | | | 996.3 | | | 177.9 | | | 18 | |
Foreign currency exchange | (136.4) | | | (102.4) | | | (34.0) | | | NM |
Total | $ | 4,529.0 | | | $ | 4,362.2 | |