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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-31720
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 30-0168701 (IRS Employer Identification No.) | |
800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800 | ||
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Address of principal executive offices) | 55402 (Zip Code) |
(612) 303-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesþ Noo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filerþ Accelerated Filero Non-Accelerated Filero
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yeso Noþ
As of October 27, 2006, the registrant had 18,583,156 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Piper Jaffray Companies
Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Master Confirmation | ||||||||
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of CEO | ||||||||
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of CFO | ||||||||
Certifications furnished Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 |
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2006 | 2005 | |||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except share data) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 97,756 | $ | 60,869 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents segregated for regulatory purposes | 35,000 | — | ||||||
Receivables: | ||||||||
Customers (net of allowance of $0 at September 30, 2006 and $1,793 at December 31, 2005) | 93,559 | 54,421 | ||||||
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations | 441,731 | 299,056 | ||||||
Deposits with clearing organizations | 39,678 | 64,379 | ||||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | 177,892 | 222,844 | ||||||
Trading securities owned | 803,418 | 517,310 | ||||||
Trading securities owned and pledged as collateral | 4,848 | 236,588 | ||||||
Total trading securities owned | 808,266 | 753,898 | ||||||
Fixed assets (net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $51,726 and $76,581 respectively) | 24,957 | 41,752 | ||||||
Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization of $38,364 and $52,531, respectively) | 231,567 | 317,167 | ||||||
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $2,933 and $1,733, respectively) | 1,867 | 3,067 | ||||||
Other receivables | 31,845 | 24,626 | ||||||
Other assets | 91,441 | 69,200 | ||||||
Assets held for sale | — | 442,912 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 2,075,559 | $ | 2,354,191 | ||||
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||||
Short-term bank financing | $ | 50,000 | $ | — | ||||
Payables: | ||||||||
Customers | 80,789 | 73,781 | ||||||
Checks and drafts | 14,780 | 53,304 | ||||||
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations | 296,881 | 259,597 | ||||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 3,560 | 245,786 | ||||||
Trading securities sold, but not yet purchased | 273,547 | 332,204 | ||||||
Accrued compensation | 121,664 | 171,551 | ||||||
Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 341,151 | 138,122 | ||||||
Liabilities held for sale | — | 145,019 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 1,182,372 | 1,419,364 | ||||||
Subordinated debt | — | 180,000 | ||||||
Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value; | ||||||||
Shares authorized: 100,000,000 at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005; | ||||||||
Shares issued: 19,487,319 at September 30, 2006 and at December 31, 2005; | ||||||||
Shares outstanding: 16,959,795 at September 30, 2006 and 18,365,177 at December 31, 2005 | 195 | 195 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 718,776 | 704,005 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 305,038 | 90,431 | ||||||
Less common stock held in treasury, at cost: 2,527,524 shares at September 30, 2006 and 1,122,142 at December 31, 2005 | (127,630 | ) | (35,422 | ) | ||||
Other comprehensive loss | (3,192 | ) | (4,382 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 893,187 | 754,827 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 2,075,559 | $ | 2,354,191 | ||||
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2006 | 2005 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
Investment banking | $ | 72,107 | $ | 73,407 | $ | 203,107 | $ | 169,909 | ||||||||
Institutional brokerage | 34,964 | 42,476 | 122,136 | 121,699 | ||||||||||||
Interest | 16,663 | 11,357 | 44,728 | 32,015 | ||||||||||||
Other income | 863 | 949 | 12,131 | 2,403 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | 124,597 | 128,189 | 382,102 | 326,026 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | 8,490 | 8,064 | 25,786 | 23,332 | ||||||||||||
Net revenues | 116,107 | 120,125 | 356,316 | 302,694 | ||||||||||||
Non-interest expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits | 69,079 | 72,649 | 202,656 | 177,262 | ||||||||||||
Occupancy and equipment | 6,878 | 7,710 | 21,705 | 22,912 | ||||||||||||
Communications | 5,761 | 5,683 | 16,737 | 18,081 | ||||||||||||
Floor brokerage and clearance | 3,759 | 3,887 | 9,807 | 11,336 | ||||||||||||
Marketing and business development | 5,887 | 4,827 | 17,188 | 15,793 | ||||||||||||
Outside services | 6,344 | 5,237 | 19,472 | 16,911 | ||||||||||||
Cash award program | 512 | 1,004 | 2,673 | 3,201 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring-related expense | — | — | — | 8,595 | ||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 2,838 | 3,319 | 10,185 | 9,516 | ||||||||||||
Total non-interest expenses | 101,058 | 104,316 | 300,423 | 283,607 | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense | 15,049 | 15,809 | 55,893 | 19,087 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 5,521 | 4,871 | 19,730 | 5,854 | ||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | 9,528 | 10,938 | 36,163 | 13,233 | ||||||||||||
Discontinued operations: | ||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 177,085 | 4,210 | 178,444 | 10,487 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 186,613 | $ | 15,148 | $ | 214,607 | $ | 23,720 | ||||||||
Earnings per basic common share | ||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.58 | $ | 1.97 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||
Income from discontinued operations | 9.82 | 0.22 | 9.73 | 0.56 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per basic common share | $ | 10.35 | $ | 0.80 | $ | 11.70 | $ | 1.26 | ||||||||
Earnings per diluted common share | ||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 1.87 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||
Income from discontinued operations | 9.29 | 0.22 | 9.25 | 0.55 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per diluted common share | $ | 9.79 | $ | 0.79 | $ | 11.12 | $ | 1.25 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | 18,031 | 18,841 | 18,348 | 18,814 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 19,071 | 19,107 | 19,294 | 19,007 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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Piper Jaffray Companies
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Operating Activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 214,607 | $ | 23,720 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10,512 | 13,458 | ||||||
Gain on sale of PCS branch network | (327,749 | ) | — | |||||
Deferred income taxes | (11,598 | ) | (1,105 | ) | ||||
Stock-based compensation | 21,433 | 14,231 | ||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,200 | 1,200 | ||||||
Decrease (increase) in operating assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents segregated for regulatory purposes | (35,000 | ) | — | |||||
Receivables: | ||||||||
Customers | 33,058 | (56,415 | ) | |||||
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations | (141,257 | ) | 194,319 | |||||
Deposits with clearing organizations | 24,701 | 1,182 | ||||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell | 44,952 | (24,677 | ) | |||||
Net trading securities owned | (113,311 | ) | (146,195 | ) | ||||
Other receivables | (5,099 | ) | (4,543 | ) | ||||
Other assets | (11,859 | ) | 4,016 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities: | ||||||||
Payables: | ||||||||
Customers | (18,900 | ) | 20,518 | |||||
Checks and drafts | (38,524 | ) | (21,504 | ) | ||||
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations | 275,066 | (5,498 | ) | |||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | (13,527 | ) | (10,517 | ) | ||||
Accrued compensation | (41,662 | ) | (38,876 | ) | ||||
Other liabilities and accrued expenses | 166,832 | 7,954 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 33,875 | (28,732 | ) | |||||
Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Sale of PCS branch network | 701,861 | — | ||||||
Purchases of fixed assets, net | (6,456 | ) | (14,345 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 695,405 | (14,345 | ) | |||||
Financing Activities: | ||||||||
Increase (decrease) in securities loaned | (234,676 | ) | 23,868 | |||||
Decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase | (228,699 | ) | (138,745 | ) | ||||
Increase in short-term bank financing | 50,000 | 170,000 | ||||||
Repayment of subordianted debt | (180,000 | ) | — | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | (100,000 | ) | (42,381 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (693,375 | ) | 12,742 | |||||
Currency adjustment: | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 982 | — | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 36,887 | (30,335 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 60,869 | 67,387 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 97,756 | $ | 37,052 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information — | ||||||||
Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
Interest | $ | 35,137 | $ | 28,483 | ||||
Income taxes | $ | 36,981 | $ | 10,394 | ||||
Noncash financing activities — | ||||||||
Issuance of common stock for retirement plan obligations: | ||||||||
190,966 shares and 331,434 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively | $ | 9,013 | $ | 13,187 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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Piper Jaffray Companies
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Unaudited)
Note 1Background and Basis of Presentation
Background
Piper Jaffray Companies is the parent company of Piper Jaffray & Co. (“Piper Jaffray”), a securities broker dealer and investment banking firm; Piper Jaffray Ltd., a firm providing securities brokerage and investment banking services in Europe headquartered in London, England; Piper Jaffray Financial Products Inc., an entity that facilitates customer derivative transactions; Piper Jaffray Financial Products II Inc., an entity dealing primarily in variable rate municipal products; and other immaterial subsidiaries. Piper Jaffray Companies and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) operate as one reporting segment providing investment banking services and institutional sales, trading and research services. As discussed more fully in Note 14, the Company completed the sale of its Private Client Services branch network and certain related assets to UBS Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of UBS AG (“UBS”), on August 11, 2006, thereby exiting the Private Client Services (“PCS”) business.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Piper Jaffray Companies, its wholly owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany balances have been eliminated. Certain financial information for prior periods has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to Form 10-Q and reflect all adjustments that in the opinion of management are normal and recurring and that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. In accordance with these rules and regulations, certain disclosures that are normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted. The consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These principles require management to make certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The nature of the Company’s business is such that the results of any interim period may not be indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.
Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, for a full summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies. Updates to the Company’s significant accounting policies are described below.
Revenue Recognition
Investment Banking – Investment banking revenues, which include underwriting fees, management fees and advisory fees, are recorded when services for the transactions are completed under the terms of each engagement. Expenses associated with such transactions are deferred until the related revenue is recognized or the engagement is otherwise concluded. Investment banking revenues are presented net of related expenses.
Institutional Brokerage – Institutional brokerage revenues include (i) commissions paid by customers for the execution of brokerage transactions in listed and over–the–counter (OTC) equity, fixed income and convertible debt securities, which are recorded on a trade date basis; (ii) trading gains and losses and (iii) fees paid to the Company for equity research.
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Other Assets
Other assets includes investments in partnerships, investments to fund deferred compensation liabilities, prepaid expenses, and net deferred tax assets. In addition, other assets includes 55,440 restricted shares of NYSE Group, Inc. On March 7, 2006, upon the consummation of the merger of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) and Archipelago Holdings, Inc., NYSE Group, Inc. became the parent company of New York Stock Exchange, LLC (which is the successor to the NYSE) and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. In connection with the merger, the Company received $0.8 million in cash and 157,202 shares of NYSE Group, Inc. common stock in exchange for the two NYSE seats owned by the Company. The Company sold 101,762 shares of NYSE Group, Inc. common stock in a secondary offering during the second quarter of 2006.
Note 3Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a two-step process to recognize and measure a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The first step is recognition, whereby a determination is made whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The second step is to measure a tax position that meets the recognition threshold to determine the amount of benefit to recognize. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of FIN 48 on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 requires the evaluation of prior year misstatements in quantifying misstatements in the current year financial statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. In the initial year of adoption, the cumulative effect of applying SAB 108, if any, will be recorded as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. In subsequent years, previously undetected material misstatements require restatement of the financial statements. The Company does not believe adoption of SAB 108 will impact the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but its application may, for some entities, change current practice. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 157 on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement
Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”). SFAS 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. In addition, SFAS 158 requires disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of the estimated portion of net actuarial gains or losses, prior service costs or credits and transition assets or obligations in other comprehensive income that will be recognized in net periodic benefit cost over the fiscal year. These requirements are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. SFAS 158 also requires employers to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. This requirement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 158 on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R)” (“SFAS 158”). SFAS 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. In addition, SFAS 158 requires disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of the estimated portion of net actuarial gains or losses, prior service costs or credits and transition assets or obligations in other comprehensive income that will be recognized in net periodic benefit cost over the fiscal year. These requirements are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. SFAS 158 also requires employers to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position. This requirement is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 158 on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Note 4Derivatives
Derivative contracts are financial instruments such as forwards, futures, swaps or option contracts that derive their value from underlying assets, reference rates, indices or a combination of these factors. A derivative contract generally represents future commitments to purchase or sell financial instruments at specified terms on a specified date or to exchange currency or interest payment streams based on the contract or notional amount. Derivative contracts exclude certain cash instruments, such as mortgage-backed securities, interest-only and principal-only obligations and indexed debt instruments that derive their values or contractually required cash flows from the price of some other security or index.
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The Company uses interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, and forward contracts to facilitate customer transactions and as a means to manage risk in certain inventory positions. The Company also enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate exposure associated with holding residual interest securities from its tender option bond program. As of September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, the Company was counterparty to notional/contract amounts of $5.7 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively, of derivative instruments.
The market or fair values related to derivative contract transactions are reported in trading securities owned and trading securities sold, but not yet purchased on the consolidated statements of financial condition and any unrealized gain or loss resulting from changes in fair values of derivatives is recognized in institutional brokerage on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not utilize “hedge accounting” as described within SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Derivatives are reported on a net-by-counterparty basis when a legal right of offset exists under a legally enforceable master netting agreement in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 39, “Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts.”
Fair values for derivative contracts represent amounts estimated to be received from or paid to a counterparty in settlement of these instruments. These derivatives are valued using quoted market prices when available or pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows. The valuation models used require inputs including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit curves and measures of volatility. The net fair value of derivative contracts was approximately $18.3 million and $17.0 million as of September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, respectively.
Note 5Securitizations
In connection with its tender option bond program, as of September 30, 2006, the Company has outstanding securitizations of $279.2 million of highly rated municipal bonds. Each municipal bond is sold into a separate trust that is funded by the sale of variable rate certificates to institutional customers seeking variable rate tax-free investment products. These variable rate certificates reprice weekly. Securitization transactions meeting certain SFAS 140 criteria are treated as sales, with the resulting gain included in institutional brokerage on the consolidated statements of operations. If a securitization does not meet the sale of asset requirements of SFAS 140, the transaction is recorded as a borrowing. The Company retains a residual interest in each structure and accounts for the residual interest as a trading security, which is recorded at fair value in trading securities owned on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The fair value of retained interests was $7.4 million at September 30, 2006, with a weighted average life of 8.7 years. The fair value of retained interests is estimated based on the present value of future cash flows using management’s best estimates of the key assumptions—expected yield, credit losses of 0 percent and a 12 percent discount rate. At September 30, 2006, the sensitivity of the current fair value of retained interests to immediate 10 percent and 20 percent adverse changes in the key economic assumptions was not material. The Company receives a fee to remarket the variable rate certificates derived from the securitizations.
Certain cash flow activity for the municipal bond securitizations described above during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes:
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||
Proceeds from new securitizations | $ | 7,578 | ||
Remarketing fees received | 106 | |||
Cash flows received on retained interests | 5,525 |
Three securitization transactions were designed such that they did not meet the asset sale requirements of SFAS 140; therefore, the Company consolidated these trusts. As a result, the Company has recorded an asset for the underlying bonds of approximately $51.2 million in trading securities owned and a liability for the certificates sold by the trust for approximately $50.1 million in other liabilities and accrued expenses on the consolidated statement of financial condition as of September 30, 2006. The Company has economically hedged the activities of these securitizations with interest rate swaps, which have been recorded at fair value and resulted in a liability of approximately $4.8 million at September 30, 2006.
The Company has contracted with a major third-party financial institution to act as the liquidity provider for the Company’s tender option bond securitized trusts. The Company has agreed to reimburse this party for losses associated with providing liquidity to the trusts. The maximum exposure to loss at September 30, 2006 was $251.2 million, representing the outstanding amount of all trust certificates at that date. This exposure to loss is mitigated by the underlying municipal bonds held in the trusts, which are either AAA or AA rated. These bonds had a market value of approximately $263.2 million at September 30, 2006. The Company believes the likelihood it will be required to fund the reimbursement agreement obligation under any provision of the arrangement is remote, and accordingly, no liability for such guarantee has been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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Note 6Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations
Amounts receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 included:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Receivable arising from unsettled securities transactions, net | $ | 35,290 | $ | 108,454 | ||||
Deposits paid for securities borrowed | 366,152 | 92,495 | ||||||
Receivable from clearing organizations | 24,054 | 50,236 | ||||||
Securities failed to deliver | 5,925 | 34,946 | ||||||
Other | 10,310 | 12,925 | ||||||
$ | 441,731 | $ | 299,056 | |||||
Amounts payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 included:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Deposits received for securities loaned | $ | 275,500 | $ | 234,676 | ||||
Payable to clearing organizations | 11,313 | 8,117 | ||||||
Securities failed to receive | 9,266 | 16,609 | ||||||
Other | 802 | 195 | ||||||
$ | 296,881 | $ | 259,597 | |||||
In the third quarter of 2006, the Company began operating a stock loan conduit business. The business consists of a “matched book” where the Company will borrow a security from an independent party in the securities business and then loan the exact same security to a third party who needs the security. The Company earns interest income on the securities borrowed and pays interest expense on the securities loaned, earning a net spread on the transactions. Prior to the third quarter of 2006, the Company participated in securities lending activities by using customer excess margin securities to finance customer receivables. Deposits paid for securities borrowed and deposits received for securities loaned approximate the market value of the securities. Securities failed to deliver and receive represent the contract value of securities that have not been delivered or received by the Company on settlement date.
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Note 7Trading Securities Owned and Trading Securities Sold, But Not Yet Purchased
Trading securities owned and trading securities sold, but not yet purchased were as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Owned: | ||||||||
Corporate securities: | ||||||||
Equity securities | $ | 31,693 | $ | 13,260 | ||||
Convertible securities | 53,955 | 9,221 | ||||||
Fixed income securities | 101,015 | 68,017 | ||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 239,816 | 329,057 | ||||||
U.S. government securities | 30,352 | 26,652 | ||||||
Municipal securities | 326,875 | 286,531 | ||||||
Other | 24,560 | 21,160 | ||||||
$ | 808,266 | $ | 753,898 | |||||
Sold, but not yet purchased: | ||||||||
Corporate securities: | ||||||||
Equity securities | $ | 39,402 | $ | 8,367 | ||||
Convertible securities | 2,652 | 2,572 | ||||||
Fixed income securities | 13,262 | 31,588 | ||||||
Mortgage-backed securities | 106,161 | 157,132 | ||||||
U.S. government securities | 105,365 | 127,833 | ||||||
Municipal securities | — | 93 | ||||||
Other | 6,705 | 4,619 | ||||||
$ | 273,547 | $ | 332,204 | |||||
At September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, trading securities owned in the amount of $4.8 million and $236.6 million, respectively, have been pledged as collateral for the Company’s secured borrowings, repurchase agreements and securities loaned activities.
Trading securities sold, but not yet purchased represent obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price, thereby creating a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. The Company is obligated to acquire the securities sold short at prevailing market prices, which may exceed the amount reflected on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company economically hedges changes in market value of its trading securities owned utilizing trading securities sold, but not yet purchased, interest rate swaps, futures and exchange-traded options. It is the Company’s practice to economically hedge a significant portion of its trading securities owned.
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Note 8Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The following table presents the changes in the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Continuing | Discontinued | Consolidated | ||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | Operations | Operations | Company | |||||||||
Goodwill | ||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | 231,567 | $ | 85,600 | $ | 317,167 | ||||||
Goodwill acquired | — | — | — | |||||||||
Goodwill disposed in PCS sale | — | (85,600 | ) | (85,600 | ) | |||||||
Impairment losses | — | — | — | |||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2006 | $ | 231,567 | $ | — | $ | 231,567 | ||||||
Intangible assets | ||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | 3,067 | $ | — | $ | 3,067 | ||||||
Intangible assets acquired | — | — | — | |||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets | (1,200 | ) | — | (1,200 | ) | |||||||
Impairment losses | — | — | — | |||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2006 | $ | 1,867 | $ | — | $ | 1,867 | ||||||
The Company wrote-off $85.6 million of goodwill in conjunction with the sale of the PCS branch network. The intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over three years.
Note 9Financing
The Company has uncommitted credit agreements with banks totaling $675 million at September 30, 2006, composed of $555 million in discretionary secured lines of which $0 was outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and $120 million in discretionary unsecured lines of which $50 million and $0 was outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. In addition, the Company has established arrangements to obtain financing at the end of each business day using as collateral the Company’s securities held by its clearing bank and by another broker dealer. Repurchase agreements and securities loaned to other broker dealers are also used as sources of funding.
On August 15, 2006 the Company utilized proceeds from the sale of its PCS branch network to pay in full its $180 million subordinated loan with U.S. Bancorp.
The Company’s short-term financing bears interest at rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate or federal funds rate. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the weighted average interest rate on borrowings was 6.00 percent and 5.55 percent, respectively. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, no formal compensating balance agreements existed, and the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants related to these facilities.
Note 10Legal Contingencies
The Company has been the subject of customer complaints and also has been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings arising primarily from securities brokerage and investment banking activities, including certain class actions that primarily allege violations of securities laws and seek unspecified damages, which could be substantial. Also, the Company is involved from time to time in investigations and proceedings by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations.
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The Company has established reserves for potential losses that are probable and reasonably estimable that may result from pending and potential complaints, legal actions, investigations and proceedings. In addition to the Company’s established reserves, U.S. Bancorp has agreed to indemnify the Company in an amount up to $17.5 million for certain legal and regulatory matters. Approximately $13.2 million of this amount remained available as of September 30, 2006.
As part of the asset purchase agreement between UBS and the Company for the sale of the PCS branch network, UBS agreed to assume certain liabilities of the PCS business, including certain liabilities and obligations arising from litigation, arbitration, customer complaints and other claims related to the PCS business. In certain cases we have agreed to indemnify UBS for litigation matters after UBS has incurred costs of $6.0 million related to these matters. In addition, we have retained liabilities arising from regulatory matters and certain litigation relating to the PCS business prior to the sale. The amount of loss in excess of the $6.0 million indemnification threshold and for other PCS litigation matters deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable are included in the Company’s established reserves. Adjustment to litigation reserves for matters pertaining to the PCS business are included within discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of operations.
Given uncertainties regarding the timing, scope, volume and outcome of pending and potential litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings and other factors, the amounts of reserves are difficult to determine and of necessity subject to future revision. Subject to the foregoing, management of the Company believes, based on its current knowledge, after consultation with outside legal counsel and after taking into account its established reserves and the U.S. Bancorp indemnity agreement, that pending legal actions, investigations and proceedings will be resolved with no material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company. However, if during any period a potential adverse contingency should become probable or resolved for an amount in excess of the established reserves and U.S. Bancorp indemnification, the results of operations in that period could be materially adversely affected.
Note 11Net Capital Requirements and Other Regulatory Matters
As a registered broker dealer and member firm of the NYSE, Piper Jaffray is subject to the Uniform Net Capital Rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of the NYSE. Piper Jaffray has elected to use the alternative method permitted by the SEC rule, which requires that it maintain minimum net capital of the greater of $1.0 million or 2 percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, as such term is defined in the SEC rule. Under the NYSE rule, the NYSE may prohibit a member firm from expanding its business or paying dividends if resulting net capital would be less than 5 percent of aggregate debit balances. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated debt, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals by Piper Jaffray are subject to certain notification and other provisions of the SEC and NYSE rules. In addition, Piper Jaffray is subject to certain notification requirements related to withdrawals of excess net capital.
At September 30, 2006, net capital under the SEC rule was $370.6 million, or 280.2 percent of aggregate debit balances, and $367.9 million in excess of the minimum net capital required under the SEC rule.
Piper Jaffray is also registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and therefore is subject to CFTC regulations.
Piper Jaffray Ltd., which is a registered United Kingdom broker dealer, is subject to the capital requirements of the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority (“FSA”). As of September 30, 2006, Piper Jaffray Ltd. was in compliance with the capital requirements of the FSA.
Note 12Stock-Based Compensation and Cash Award Program
The Company maintains one stock-based compensation plan, the Piper Jaffray Companies Amended and Restated 2003 Annual and Long-Term Incentive Plan (“Long-Term Incentive Plan”). The plan permits the grant of equity awards, including non-qualified stock options and restricted stock, to the Company’s employees and directors for up to 4.5 million shares of common stock. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Company has granted shares of restricted stock and options to purchase Piper Jaffray Companies common stock to employees and granted options to purchase Piper Jaffray Companies common stock to its non-employee directors. The Company believes that such awards help align the interests of employees and directors with those of shareholders and serve as an employee retention tool. The awards granted to employees have three-year cliff vesting periods. The director awards are fully vested upon grant. The maximum term of the stock options granted to employees and directors is ten years. The plan provides for accelerated vesting of option and restricted stock awards if there is a change in control of the Company (as defined in the plan), in the event of a participant’s death, and at the discretion of the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors.
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Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation under the fair value method of accounting as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting and Disclosure of Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure.” As such, the Company had recorded stock-based compensation expense in the consolidated statement of operations at fair value, net of estimated forfeitures.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (“SFAS 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment,” using the modified prospective transition method. SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on fair value, net of estimated forfeitures. Because the Company historically expensed all equity awards based on the fair value method, net of estimated forfeitures, SFAS 123(R) did not have a material effect on the Company’s measurement or recognition methods for stock-based compensation.
Employee and director stock options granted prior to January 1, 2006, were expensed by the Company on a straight-line basis over the option vesting period, based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Employee and director stock options granted after January 1, 2006, are expensed by the Company on a straight-line basis over the required service period, based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. At the time it adopted SFAS 123(R), the Company changed the expensing period from the vesting period to the required service period, which shortened the period over which options are expensed for employees who are retiree-eligible on the date of grant or become retiree-eligible during the vesting period. The number of employees that fell within this category at January 1, 2006 was not material. In accordance with SEC guidelines, the Company did not alter the expense recorded in connection with prior option grants for the change in the expensing period.
Employee restricted stock grants prior to January 1, 2006, are amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the market price of Piper Jaffray Companies common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock grants after January 1, 2006, are valued at the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and amortized on a straight-line basis over the required service period. The majority of the Company’s restricted stock grants provide for continued vesting after termination, so long as the employee does not violate non-competition and certain other post-termination restrictions, as set forth in the award agreements. The Company considers the required service period to be the greater of the vesting period or the non-competition period. The Company believes that the non-competition restrictions meet the SFAS 123(R) definition of a substantive service requirement.
The Company recorded compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, of $6.8 million and $5.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $21.4 million and $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to employee stock option and restricted stock grants. The tax benefit related to the total compensation cost for stock-based compensation arrangements totaled $2.6 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and $8.2 million and $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
In connection with the sale of the Company’s PCS branch network, the Company undertook a plan to significantly restructure the Company’s support infrastructure. The Company accelerated the equity award vesting for employees terminated as part of this restructuring. The acceleration of equity awards was deemed to be a modification of the awards as defined by SFAS 123(R). For the three months ending September 30, 2006, the Company recorded $1.9 million of expense in discontinued operations related to the modification of equity awards to accelerate service vesting. Unvested equity awards related to employees transferring to UBS as part of the PCS sale were canceled. See Notes 14 and 15 for further discussion of the Company’s discontinued operations and restructuring activities.
The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using assumptions such as the risk-free interest rate, the dividend yield, the expected volatility and the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the U.S. treasury bill rate with a maturity equal to the expected life of the option. The dividend yield assumption is based on the assumed dividend payout over the expected life of the option. The expected volatility assumption is based on industry comparisons. The Company has only been a publicly traded company for approximately 33 months; therefore, it does not have sufficient historical data to determine an appropriate expected volatility. The expected life assumption is based on an average of the following two factors: 1) industry comparisons; and 2) the guidance provided by the SEC in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”). SAB 107 allows the use of an
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“acceptable” methodology under which the Company can take the midpoint of the vesting date and the full contractual term. The following table provides a summary of the valuation assumptions used by the Company to determine the estimated value of stock option grants in Piper Jaffray Companies common stock for the nine months ended September 30:
2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Weighted average assumptions in option valuation | ||||||||
Risk-free interest rates | 4.55 | % | 3.77 | % | ||||
Dividend yield | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | ||||
Stock volatility factor | 40.08 | % | 38.03 | % | ||||
Expected life of options (in years) | 5.53 | 5.83 | ||||||
Weighted average fair value of options granted | $ | 22.14 | $ | 16.58 |
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock options outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||
Weighted | Remaining | Aggregate | ||||||||||||||
Options | Average | Contractual | Intrinsic | |||||||||||||
Outstanding | Exercise Price | Term (Years) | Value | |||||||||||||
December 31, 2005 | 643,032 | $ | 42.29 | 8.7 | $ | 11,786,777 | ||||||||||
Granted | 50,560 | 53.16 | ||||||||||||||
Exercised | (10,271 | ) | 42.94 | |||||||||||||
Canceled | (152,000 | ) | 42.83 | |||||||||||||
September 30, 2006 | 531,321 | $ | 43.16 | 8.0 | $ | 9,276,865 | ||||||||||
Options exercisable at September 30, 2006 | 73,420 | $ | 43.31 | 7.7 | $ | 1,270,900 |
As of September 30, 2006, there was $3.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.39 years.
The following table summarizes the Company’s nonvested restricted stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Weighted | ||||||||
Nonvested | Average | |||||||
Restricted | Grant Date | |||||||
Stock | Fair Value | |||||||
December 31, 2005 | 1,417,444 | $ | 41.37 | |||||
Granted | 840,592 | 48.21 | ||||||
Vested | (48,599 | ) | 45.25 | |||||
Canceled | (594,443 | ) | 44.23 | |||||
September 30, 2006 | 1,614,994 | $ | 43.76 |
As of September 30, 2006, there was $37.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.98 years.
In connection with the Company’s spin-off from U.S. Bancorp, the Company established a cash award program pursuant to which it granted cash awards to a broad-based group of employees to aid in retention of employees and to compensate employees for the value of U.S. Bancorp stock options and restricted stock lost by employees. The cash awards are being expensed over a four-year period ending December 31, 2007. Participants must be employed on the date of payment to receive payment under the award. Expense related to the cash award program is included as a separate line item on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
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Note 13Shareholders’ Equity
Issuance and Purchase of Shares
During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company reissued 190,966 common shares out of treasury in fulfillment of $9.0 million in obligations under the Piper Jaffray Companies Retirement Plan. The Company also reissued 38,687 common shares out of treasury as a result of vesting and exercise transactions under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. In the third quarter of 2006, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement with a financial institution pursuant to which the Company repurchased 1.6 million shares of its common stock. Under the agreement, the financial institution purchased an equivalent number of shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market. The shares repurchased by the Company were subject to a future price adjustment based upon the weighted average price of the Company’s common stock over an agreed upon period, subject to a specified collar. In October 2006, the Company settled the ASR. The Company elected settlement in shares and received 13,492 additional shares of common stock.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average outstanding shares to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive restricted stock and stock options. The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 186,613 | $ | 15,148 | $ | 214,607 | $ | 23,720 | ||||||||
Shares for basic and diluted calculations: | ||||||||||||||||
Average shares used in basic computation | 18,031 | 18,841 | 18,348 | 18,814 | ||||||||||||
Stock options | 91 | — | 77 | — | ||||||||||||
Restricted stock | 949 | 266 | 869 | 193 | ||||||||||||
Average shares used in diluted computation | 19,071 | 19,107 | 19,294 | 19,007 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 10.35 | $ | 0.80 | $ | 11.70 | $ | 1.26 | ||||||||
Diluted | $ | 9.79 | $ | 0.79 | $ | 11.12 | $ | 1.25 |
Note 14Discontinued Operations
On August 11, 2006, the Company and UBS completed the sale of the Company’s PCS branch network under a previously announced asset purchase agreement. The purchase price under the asset purchase agreement was approximately $750 million, which included $500 million for the branch network and approximately $250 million for the net assets of the branch network, consisting principally of customer margin receivables.
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), the results of PCS operations have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented and the related assets and liabilities included in the sale have been classified as held for sale. The Company recorded income from discontinued operations, net of tax of $177.1 million and $178.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. The Company has reclassified $442.9 million in assets and $145.0 million in liabilities as held for sale as of December 31, 2005 related to the sale of the PCS branch network to UBS. Upon completion of the sale of the PCS branch network on August 11, 2006, the assets and liabilities related to the PCS branch network were transferred to UBS.
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In connection with the sale of the Company’s PCS branch network, the Company initiated a plan to significantly restructure the Company’s support infrastructure. As described more fully in Note 15, the Company incurred $56.9 million in restructuring costs related to the restructuring plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. All restructuring and transaction costs related to the sale of the PCS branch network are included within discontinued operations in accordance with SFAS 144.
Note 15Restructuring
The Company has incurred pre-tax restructuring costs of $56.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 in connection with the sale of the Company’s PCS branch network to UBS. The expense was incurred upon implementation of a specific restructuring plan to reorganize the Company’s support infrastructure.
The restructuring charges include the cost of severance, benefits, outplacement costs and equity award accelerated vesting costs associated with the termination of employees. The severance amounts were determined based on a one-time severance benefit enhancement to the Company’s existing severance pay program in place at the time of termination notification and will be paid out over a benefit period of up to one year from the time of termination. Approximately 315 employees have received a severance package. In addition, the Company has incurred restructuring charges for contract termination costs related to the reduction of office space and the modification of technology contracts. Contract termination fees are determined based on the provisions of SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” which among other things requires the recognition of a liability for contract termination under a cease-use date concept. The Company also incurred restructuring charges for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets determined in accordance with SFAS 144.
The following table presents a summary of activity with respect to the restructuring-related liability:
(Dollars in thousands) | ||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | — | ||
Provision charged to operating expense | 56,919 | |||
Cash outlays | (20,719 | ) | ||
Noncash write-downs | (3,254 | ) | ||
Balance at September 30, 2006 | $ | 32,946 | ||
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes and exhibits included elsewhere in this report. Certain statements in this report may be considered forward-looking. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, the future prospects of Piper Jaffray Companies. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including those factors discussed below under “External Factors Impacting Our Business” as well as the factors identified under “Risk Factors” in Part 1, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC, including any updates found in Part II, Item 1A of this report on Form 10-Q. These reports are available at our Web site at www.piperjaffray.com and at the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.
Executive Overview
Our continuing operations are principally engaged in providing investment banking, institutional brokerage and related financial services to corporations, public sector and non-profit entities in the United States, Europe and Asia, where we recently opened an office in Shanghai, China. Our revenues are generated primarily through the receipt of advisory and financing fees earned on investment banking and public finance activities, commissions and sales credits earned on equity and fixed income transactions, and net interest earned on securities inventories. While we maintain securities inventories primarily to facilitate customer transactions, our capital markets business also realizes profits and losses from trading activities related to these securities inventories.
The securities business is a human capital business; accordingly, compensation and benefits comprise the largest component of our expenses, and our performance is dependent upon our ability to attract, develop and retain highly skilled employees who are motivated and committed to provide the highest quality of service and guidance to clients throughout their lifecycle.
Our discontinued operations consist of the operations of our Private Client Services (“PCS”) retail brokerage business through August 11, 2006, the date we closed the sale of our PCS branch network and certain related assets to UBS Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of UBS AG (“UBS”), the gain on the sale of the PCS branch network and related restructuring and transaction costs. Our retail brokerage business provided financial advice and a wide range of financial products and services to individual investors through a network of branch offices. Revenues were generated primarily through the receipt of commissions earned on equity and fixed income transactions and for distribution of mutual funds and annuities, fees earned on fee-based client accounts and net interest from customers’ margin loan balances. We received $500 million for the sale of the branch network and approximately $250 million for the net assets of the branch network, consisting principally of customer margin receivables. We did not realize any portion of the additional cash consideration of up to $75 million available under the asset purchase agreement with UBS dependent on post-closing performance of the transferred business. The sale resulted in after-tax proceeds of approximately $510 million and an after-tax book gain for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $169 million, net of restructuring and transaction charges. We expect to incur additional pre-tax restructuring costs during the fourth quarter of 2006 related to severance benefits, contract termination costs and other business expenses.
Our divestiture of the PCS branch network had a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition. The majority of our customer receivables and payables were eliminated, stock loan liabilities that helped finance customer receivables were repaid, we wrote-off goodwill related to PCS of $85.6 million, and we significantly changed our capitalization structure by repaying $180 million in subordinated debt and repurchasing 1.6 million common shares through an accelerated share repurchase agreement for an aggregate purchase price of $100 million. In addition, certain equity awards held by PCS employees were forfeited upon the employees’ transfer to UBS, and certain equity awards held by severed employees were vested on an accelerated basis. As discussed above, the results of our PCS business operations, the gain on the sale of our PCS branch network and the related restructuring and transaction costs have been classified within discontinued operations with prior period PCS results of operations reclassified to discontinued operations for a comparable presentation. See Notes 14 and 15 to our unaudited financial statements for a further discussion of our discontinued operations and restructuring.
We plan to utilize a portion of the remaining after-tax proceeds from the PCS branch network sale to accelerate the growth of our existing capital markets businesses and to enter new businesses to support our strategic priorities. Deployment of proceeds may include acquisitions to expand existing businesses or to enter new businesses. In addition, as opportunities arise we anticipate we will use more capital to facilitate customer activity and for principal activities to leverage our expertise. Principal activities may include investing our own capital to a greater extent than we have in the past. These investments may include taking proprietary positions in equity or debt securities of public and private companies.
As part of our growth strategy we also intend to increase the number of business sectors or industries in which we specialize, enhance our product offerings and expand the geographic reach of our services. Within the corporate sector we have traditionally operated in the health care, technology, financial institutions, consumer and aircraft finance sectors. We have recently expanded into the alternative energy, business services and industrial growth sectors to serve our corporate clients. In addition, we have expanded our fixed income financing capabilities to
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provide services to the hospitality and commercial real estate industries. In the third quarter of 2006, as part of our efforts to enhance our product offerings, we announced a strategic relationship with CIT Group, Inc. (“CIT”) to offer middle-market companies a comprehensive set of financing solutions. We also increased our geographic reach in the third quarter of 2006 by strengthening our international presence with the addition of offices in Madrid and Shanghai. These growth initiatives will require investments in personnel and other expenses, which may have a short-term negative impact on our profitability as it may take time to develop meaningful revenues from these growth initiatives.
RESULTS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, our net income, including continuing and discontinued operations, was $186.6 million, or $9.79 per diluted share, up from net income of $15.1 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the year-ago period. Net income for the third quarter of 2006 included $179.7 million, after tax and net of restructuring and transaction costs, related to the gain on the sale to UBS of the PCS branch network and certain related assets. For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, net income from continuing operations totaled $9.5 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, down from net income of $10.9 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $116.1 million, down 3.3 percent from $120.1 million for the same quarter last year.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our net income increased to $214.6 million, or $11.12 per diluted share, from $23.7 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, for the corresponding period in the prior year. Net revenues from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2006 increased 17.7 percent to $356.3 million, compared to $302.7 million for the first nine months of 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net income from continuing operations increased to $36.2 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, from $13.2 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the corresponding period in the prior year.
EXTERNAL FACTORS IMPACTING OUR BUSINESS
Performance in the financial services industry in which we operate is highly correlated to the overall strength of economic conditions and financial market activity. Overall market conditions are a product of many factors, which are mostly unpredictable and beyond our control. These factors may affect the financial decisions made by investors, including their level of participation in the financial markets. In turn, these decisions may affect our business results. With respect to financial market activity, our profitability is sensitive to a variety of factors, including the volume and value of trading in securities, the volatility of the equity and fixed income markets, the level and shape of various yield curves, and the demand for investment banking services as reflected by the number and size of equity and debt financings and merger and acquisition transactions.
Factors that differentiate our business within the financial services industry also may affect our financial results. For example, our business focuses primarily on middle market companies in specific sectors such as the health care, technology, financial institutions, consumer, aircraft finance, alternative energy, business services, and industrial growth industries within the corporate sector and on health care, higher education, housing, hospitality and state and local government entities within the government/non-profit sector. These sectors may experience growth or downturns independently of general economic and market conditions, or may face market conditions that are disproportionately better or worse than those impacting the economy and markets generally. In either case, our business could be affected differently than overall market trends. Given the variability of the capital markets and securities businesses, our earnings may fluctuate significantly from period to period, and results of any individual period should not be considered indicative of future results.
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Results of Operations
FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005
The following table provides a summary of the results of our operations and the results of our operations as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.
Results of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||
as a Percentage of Net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results of Operations | Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended | For the Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||
2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | v2005 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Investment banking | $ | 72,107 | $ | 73,407 | (1.8 | )% | 62.1 | % | 61.1 | % | ||||||||||
Institutional brokerage | 34,964 | 42,476 | (17.7 | ) | 30.1 | 35.3 | ||||||||||||||
Interest | 16,663 | 11,357 | 46.7 | 14.4 | 9.5 | |||||||||||||||
Other income | 863 | 949 | (9.1 | ) | 0.7 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 124,597 | 128,189 | (2.8 | ) | 107.3 | 106.7 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 8,490 | 8,064 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 6.7 | |||||||||||||||
Net revenues | 116,107 | 120,125 | (3.3 | ) | 100.0 | 100.0 | ||||||||||||||
Non-interest expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits | 69,079 | 72,649 | (4.9 | ) | 59.5 | 60.5 | ||||||||||||||
Occupancy and equipment | 6,878 | 7,710 | (10.8 | ) | 5.9 | 6.4 | ||||||||||||||
Communications | 5,761 | 5,683 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 4.7 | |||||||||||||||
Floor brokerage and clearance | 3,759 | 3,887 | (3.3 | ) | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||||||||||||||
Marketing and business development | 5,887 | 4,827 | 22.0 | 5.1 | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||
Outside services | 6,344 | 5,237 | 21.1 | 5.5 | 4.4 | |||||||||||||||
Cash award program | 512 | 1,004 | (49.0 | ) | 0.4 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 2,838 | 3,319 | (14.5 | ) | 2.4 | 2.8 | ||||||||||||||
Total non-interest expenses | 101,058 | 104,316 | (3.1 | ) | 87.0 | 86.8 | ||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before tax expense | 15,049 | 15,809 | (4.8 | ) | 13.0 | 13.2 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 5,521 | 4,871 | 13.3 | 4.8 | 4.1 | |||||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | 9,528 | 10,938 | (12.9 | ) | 8.2 | % | 9.1 | |||||||||||||
Discontinued operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 177,085 | 4,210 | 4,106.3 | N/M | 3.5 | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 186,613 | $ | 15,148 | 1,131.9 | % | N/M | 12.6 | % | |||||||||||
N/M — Not Meaningful
Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2006, was $186.6 million, which included $177.1 million in income from discontinued operations related to the sale of our PCS branch network. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, investment banking revenues decreased slightly to $72.1 million. Revenues from equity and debt financings were stronger than the year-ago period and were offset by a decline in advisory services revenues, which were at record levels for us as of one year ago. Institutional brokerage revenues decreased 17.7 percent from the prior-year period to $35.0 million as a result of decreased equity volumes and lower interest rate product revenues. For the third quarter of 2006, net interest income increased to $8.2 million, up from $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2005. In August 2006, we repaid $180 million in subordinated debt with proceeds from the sale of the PCS branch network, reducing interest expense. Additionally, we have invested the excess proceeds from the sale in short-term interest bearing instruments generating interest income. Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2006, remained flat compared to the prior-year period. For the three months ended September 30, 2006,
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non-interest expenses from continuing operations were $101.1 million, down 3.1 percent from $104.3 million for the year-ago period. This decrease was principally the result of a decline in variable compensation and benefits expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006, driven by lower revenues and profitability.
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits expenses, which are the largest component of our expenses, include salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits, employment taxes and other employee costs. A substantial portion of compensation expense is comprised of variable incentive arrangements, including discretionary bonuses, the amount of which fluctuates in proportion to the level of business activity, increasing with higher revenues and operating profits. Other compensation costs, primarily base salaries and benefits, are more fixed in nature.
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, compensation and benefits expenses decreased 4.9 percent to $69.1 million, from $72.6 million for the prior-year period, due primarily to lower variable compensation resulting from a decline in net revenues and profitability. Compensation and benefits expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 59.5 percent, compared to 60.5 percent for the third quarter of 2005.
Occupancy and Equipment
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, occupancy and equipment expenses were $6.9 million, compared with $7.7 million in the prior-year period. The decrease was attributable to prior investments in technology becoming fully depreciated in the first quarter of 2006. In the fourth quarter of 2006, we anticipate entering into a new lease contract related to our London office and exiting our current lease contract. As a result, we will incur expenses of approximately $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 related to payment of the remaining 2006 lease payments, early exit penalties and leasehold write-offs.
Communications
Communication expenses include costs for telecommunication and data communication, primarily consisting of expense for obtaining third-party market data information. For the third quarter of 2006, communication expenses were $5.8 million, essentially flat when compared with the corresponding period in the prior year.
Floor Brokerage and Clearance
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, floor brokerage and clearance expenses declined 3.3 percent to $3.8 million from the same period last year as a result of our continued efforts to reduce expenses associated with accessing electronic communication networks, offset in part by incremental expense related to our European trading system.
Marketing and Business Development
Marketing and business development expenses include travel and entertainment, postage, supplies and promotional and advertising costs. For the third quarter of 2006, marketing and business development expenses increased 22.0 percent to $5.9 million, compared with $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2005. This increase was driven by deal-related travel and entertainment expense from higher equity financing activity in the third quarter of 2006.
Outside Services
Outside services expenses include securities processing expenses, outsourced technology and operations functions, outside legal fees and other professional fees. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, outside services expenses increased to $6.3 million, compared with $5.2 million in the prior-year period due to services associated with our equity trading system being bundled and provided by a single vendor. Previously, these services were provided by multiple vendors and were recorded in communications, floor brokerage and clearance and outside services. In addition, we incurred increased professional fees expenses related to recruitment of capital markets personnel.
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Cash Award Program
In connection with our spin-off from U.S. Bancorp in 2003, we established a cash award program pursuant to which we granted cash awards to a broad-based group of our employees. The award program was designed to aid in retention of employees and to compensate for the value of U.S. Bancorp stock options and restricted stock lost by our employees as a result of the spin-off. The cash awards are being expensed over a four-year period ending December 31, 2007. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, cash awards expense decreased 49.0 percent to $0.5 million, compared with the prior-year period. The sale of our PCS branch network resulted in the forfeiture and accelerated vesting of approximately half of our cash awards and as a result, our ongoing cash award expense will decrease. We anticipate incurring approximately $0.3 million of cash award expense within continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2006 and approximately $1.5 million of cash awards expense in 2007.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses include insurance costs, license and registration fees, expenses related to our charitable giving program, amortization on intangible assets and litigation-related expenses, which consist of the amounts we reserve and/or pay out related to legal and regulatory matters. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, other operating expenses decreased 14.5 percent to $2.8 million, compared with the prior-year period primarily due to a decline in litigation-related charges.
Income Taxes
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, income taxes from continuing operations were $5.5 million, an effective tax rate of 36.7 percent, compared with an income tax expense of $4.9 million and an effective tax rate of 30.8 percent, for the corresponding period in 2005. The increase in our effective tax rate from the prior-year period is primarily due to a decrease in the ratio of municipal interest income, which is non-taxable, to total taxable income.
NET REVENUES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (DETAIL)
For the Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
September 30, | 2006 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | v2005 | |||||||||
Net revenues: | ||||||||||||
Institutional sales and trading | ||||||||||||
Fixed income | $ | 14,723 | $ | 15,616 | (5.7 | )% | ||||||
Equities | 28,591 | 32,455 | (11.9 | ) | ||||||||
Total institutional sales and trading | 43,314 | 48,071 | (9.9 | ) | ||||||||
Investment banking | ||||||||||||
Underwriting | ||||||||||||
Fixed income | 18,920 | 15,809 | 19.7 | |||||||||
Equities | 27,792 | 18,166 | 53.0 | |||||||||
Advisory services | 25,395 | 39,432 | (35.6 | ) | ||||||||
Total investment banking | 72,107 | 73,407 | (1.8 | ) | ||||||||
Other income | 686 | (1,353 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | 116,107 | $ | 120,125 | (3.3 | )% | ||||||
N/M —Not Meaningful
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, net revenues were $116.1 million, down 3.3 percent compared with the prior-year period.
Institutional sales and trading revenues comprise all the revenues generated through trading activities, primarily the facilitation of customer trades. To assess the profitability of institutional sales and trading activities, we aggregate institutional brokerage revenues with the net interest income or expense associated with financing, hedging and holding long or short inventory positions. Our results in the sales and trading area vary from quarter to quarter with changes in trading margins, trading volumes and the timing of transactions as a result of market opportunities. Increased price transparency in the fixed income market, pressure from institutional clients in the equity market to reduce commissions and the use of alternative trading systems in the equity market have put pressure on trading margins. We expect this pressure to continue.
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For the three months ended September 30, 2006, institutional sales and trading revenues were $43.3 million, a decrease of 9.9 percent compared with $48.1 million recorded in the prior-year period. Fixed income institutional sales and trading revenues decreased 5.7 percent to $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared with $15.6 million for the corresponding period in 2005. This decrease was due primarily to a decline in sales of interest rate products, offset in part by higher revenues from high-yield and structured products. Equity institutional sales and trading revenue decreased 11.9 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2006, to $28.6 million. This decline compared to the prior-year period was primarily driven by lower volumes, offset in part by increased revenues from algorithmic and program trading (“APT”) and convertibles.
In the third quarter of 2006, investment banking revenues decreased slightly to $72.1 million. Advisory services revenues decreased 35.6 percent to $25.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to record high advisory services revenues in the third quarter of 2005. Partially offsetting this decrease was higher fixed income and equity financing revenues. Fixed income financing revenues increased 19.7 percent to $18.9 million. The increased revenues compared to the prior-year period are due to stronger public finance revenues, resulting principally from higher average revenues per transaction. We completed 111 public finance issues with a par value of $1.5 billion during the third quarter of 2006, compared with 107 issues with a par value of $1.5 billion during the third quarter of 2005. Equity financing revenues increased 53.0 percent to $27.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Consistent with the industry, we completed fewer equity financing transactions; however, our revenues increased in the third quarter of 2006 when compared with the prior-year period due to higher average revenues per transaction. During the three months ended September 30, 2006, we completed 17 equity financings (8 lead-managed), raising $1.9 billion in capital for our clients, compared with 21 equity financings (7 lead-managed), raising $2.2 billion in capital, during the three months ended September 30, 2005.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Discontinued operations include the operating results of our PCS business, the gain on sale of the PCS branch network, and restructuring and transaction costs. The sale of the PCS branch network to UBS closed on August 11, 2006.
For the three months ended September 30, 2006, income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $177.1 million. See Note 14 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our discontinued operations.
In connection with the sale of our PCS branch network, we implemented a plan to significantly restructure our support infrastructure. We recorded $40.7 million in pre-tax restructuring costs during the third quarter of 2006. We expect to incur additional costs during the fourth quarter of 2006 related to severance benefits, contract termination costs and other business expenses.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005
The following table provides a summary of the results of our operations and the results of our operations as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.
Results of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||
as a Percentage of Net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results of Operations | Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Nine Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||
2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | 2005 | v2005 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
(Amounts in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Investment banking | $ | 203,107 | $ | 169,909 | 19.5 | % | 57.0 | % | 56.1 | % | ||||||||||
Institutional brokerage | 122,136 | 121,699 | 0.4 | 34.3 | 40.2 | |||||||||||||||
Interest | 44,728 | 32,015 | 39.7 | 12.5 | 10.6 | |||||||||||||||
Other income | 12,131 | 2,403 | 404.8 | 3.4 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 382,102 | 326,026 | 17.2 | 107.2 | 107.7 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | 25,786 | 23,332 | 10.5 | 7.2 | 7.7 | |||||||||||||||
Net revenues | 356,316 | 302,694 | 17.7 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||
Non-interest expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Compensation and benefits | 202,656 | 177,262 | 14.3 | 56.9 | 58.6 | |||||||||||||||
Occupancy and equipment | 21,705 | 22,912 | (5.3 | ) | 6.1 | 7.6 | ||||||||||||||
Communications | 16,737 | 18,081 | (7.4 | ) | 4.7 | 6.0 | ||||||||||||||
Floor brokerage and clearance | 9,807 | 11,336 | (13.5 | ) | 2.7 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||||
Marketing and business development | 17,188 | 15,793 | 8.8 | 4.8 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||
Outside services | 19,472 | 16,911 | 15.1 | 5.5 | 5.6 | |||||||||||||||
Cash award program | 2,673 | 3,201 | (16.5 | ) | 0.8 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||
Restructuring-related expense | — | 8,595 | N/M | — | 2.8 | |||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses | 10,185 | 9,516 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||
Total non-interest expenses | 300,423 | 283,607 | 5.9 | 84.3 | 93.7 | |||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before tax expense | 55,893 | 19,087 | 192.8 | 15.7 | 6.3 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 19,730 | 5,854 | 237.0 | 5.6 | 1.9 | |||||||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | 36,163 | 13,233 | 173.3 | 10.1 | 4.4 | |||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 178,444 | 10,487 | 1,601.6 | 50.1 | 3.4 | |||||||||||||||
Net Income | $ | 214,607 | $ | 23,720 | 804.8 | % | 60.2 | % | 7.8 | % | ||||||||||
N/M — Not Meaningful
Except as discussed below, the underlying reasons for variances to prior year are substantially the same as the comparative quarterly discussion, and the statements in the foregoing discussion also apply.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net income, including both continuing and discontinued operations, totaled $214.6 million, which included a gain of $169.1 million, after-tax and net of restructuring and transaction costs, from the sale of our PCS branch network. Net revenues from continuing operations increased to $356.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of 17.7 percent from the corresponding period in the prior year. Investment banking revenues increased 19.5 percent to $203.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared with revenues of $169.9 million in the prior-year period. This increase was primarily attributable to higher equity underwriting activity. Institutional brokerage revenues remained essentially flat when compared with the prior-year period. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $12.1 million, compared with $2.4 million for the corresponding period in the
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prior year. The increase was primarily due to a $9.3 million gain related to our ownership of two seats on the New York Stock Exchange, which were exchanged for cash and restricted shares of the NYSE Group, Inc. We sold approximately 65 percent of our NYSE Group, Inc. restricted shares in a secondary offering during the second quarter of 2006. Non-interest expenses increased to $300.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, from $283.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase was attributable to increased variable compensation and benefits expenses due to higher revenues and profitability, offset in part by an $8.6 million restructuring charge taken in the second quarter of 2005.
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Communications
Communication expenses include costs for telecommunication and data communication, primarily consisting of expense for obtaining third-party market data information. For the first nine months of 2006, communication expenses were $16.7 million, down 7.4 percent from the corresponding period in 2005. The decrease was due to costs savings associated with a change in vendors related to our equity trading system and a portion of these costs now being recorded within outside services.
Restructuring-Related Expense
In the third quarter of 2005, we implemented certain expense reduction measures as a means to better align our cost infrastructure with our revenues. This resulted in a pre-tax restructuring charge of $8.6 million, consisting of $4.9 million in severance benefits and $3.7 million related to the reduction of office space.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses include insurance costs, license and registration fees, expenses related to our charitable giving program, amortization on intangible assets and litigation-related expenses, which consist of the amounts we reserve and/or pay out related to legal and regulatory matters. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, other operating expenses increased to $10.2 million, compared with $9.5 million for the year-ago period. The increase of 7.0 percent was primarily a result of increased charitable giving expenses, offset in part by a reduction in litigation-related expenses.
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NET REVENUES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (DETAIL)
For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||
September 30, | 2006 | |||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | v2005 | |||||||||
Net revenues: | ||||||||||||
Institutional sales and trading | ||||||||||||
Fixed income | $ | 53,959 | $ | 47,275 | 14.1 | % | ||||||
Equities | 92,880 | 89,322 | 4.0 | |||||||||
Total institutional sales and trading | 146,839 | 136,597 | 7.5 | |||||||||
Investment banking | ||||||||||||
Underwriting | ||||||||||||
Fixed income | 50,347 | 47,199 | 6.7 | |||||||||
Equities | 83,483 | 55,464 | 50.5 | |||||||||
Advisory services | 69,277 | 67,246 | 3.0 | |||||||||
Total investment banking | 203,107 | 169,909 | 19.5 | |||||||||
Other income | 6,370 | (3,812 | ) | N/M | ||||||||
Total net revenues | $ | 356,316 | $ | 302,694 | 17.7 | % | ||||||
N/M —Not Meaningful |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net revenues were $356.3 million, up 17.7 percent compared with the corresponding period in the prior year.
Institutional sales and trading revenues comprise all the revenues generated through trading activities, primarily the facilitation of customer trades. To assess the profitability of institutional sales and trading activities, we aggregate institutional brokerage revenues with the net interest income or expense associated with financing, economically hedging and holding long or short inventory positions. Our results in the sales and trading area vary from quarter to quarter with changes in trading margins, trading volumes and the timing of transactions as a result of market opportunities. Increased price transparency in the fixed income market, pressure from institutional clients in the equity market to reduce commissions and the use of alternative trading systems in the equity market have put pressure on trading margins. We expect this pressure to continue.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, institutional sales and trading revenues increased 7.5 percent to $146.8 million, compared with $136.6 million for the prior-year period. Fixed income institutional sales and trading revenues increased 14.1 percent to $54.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared with $47.3 million for the corresponding period in 2005. We were able to improve year-over-year performance through higher cash sales and trading and increased high-yield and structured product revenues, offset in part by lower interest rate product revenues. Equity institutional sales and trading revenue increased 4.0 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, to $92.9 million due to incremental sales and trading revenue related to our European expansion and increased revenues from APT and convertibles partially offset by decreased revenues from lower volumes and pressure by institutional clients to reduce commissions.
For the first nine months of 2006, investment banking revenues increased 19.5 percent to $203.1 million, compared with $169.9 million in the first nine months of 2005. Equity underwriting revenues increased 50.5 percent to $83.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, which was due to more completed transactions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we completed 68 equity offerings, raising $8.8 billion in capital for our clients, compared with 56 equity offerings, raising $6.8 billion in capital, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Fixed income underwriting revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 increased 6.7 percent to $50.3 million. The increase was driven by higher public finance revenues, as an increase in average revenue per transaction more than offset fewer completed transactions. Advisory services revenues increased 3.0 percent to $69.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as higher average revenues per transaction offset the decline in completed transactions. We completed 31 mergers and acquisitions transactions valued at $5.1 billion for the first nine months of 2006, compared with 35 deals valued at $6.2 billion for the first nine months of 2005.
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DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The underlying reasons for fluctuations in discontinued operations between the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 are substantially the same as those described in the comparative discussion for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements are set forth in Note 3 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements and are incorporated herein by reference.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our accounting and reporting policies comply with GAAP and conform to practices within the securities industry. The preparation of financial statements in compliance with GAAP and industry practices require us to make estimates and assumptions that could materially affect amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those policies that we believe to be the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require us to make estimates that are difficult, subjective or complex. Most accounting policies are not considered by us to be critical accounting policies. Several factors are considered in determining whether or not a policy is critical, including, among others, whether the estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, the nature of the estimates, the ability to readily validate the estimates with other information, including third-party or independent sources, the sensitivity of the estimates to changes in economic conditions and whether alternative accounting methods may be used under GAAP.
For a full description of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report to Shareholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following are our critical accounting policies:
VALUATION OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Trading securities owned, trading securities owned and pledged as collateral, and trading securities sold, but not yet purchased on our consolidated statements of financial condition consist of financial instruments recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses related to these financial instruments are reflected on our consolidated statements of operations.
The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. When available, we use observable market prices, observable market parameters, or broker or dealer prices (bid and ask prices) to derive the fair value of the instrument. In the case of financial instruments transacted on recognized exchanges, the observable market prices represent quotations for completed transactions from the exchange on which the financial instrument is principally traded. Bid prices represent the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a financial instrument at a particular time. Ask prices represent the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for a financial instrument at a particular time.
A substantial percentage of the fair value of our trading securities owned, trading securities owned and pledged as collateral, and trading securities sold, but not yet purchased are based on observable market prices, observable market parameters, or derived from broker or dealer prices. The availability of observable market prices and pricing parameters can vary from product to product. Where available, observable market prices and pricing or market parameters in a product may be used to derive a price without requiring significant judgment. In certain markets, observable market prices or market parameters are not available for all products, and fair value is determined using techniques appropriate for each particular product. These techniques involve some degree of judgment.
For investments in illiquid or privately held securities that do not have readily determinable fair values, the determination of fair value requires us to estimate the value of the securities using the best information available. Among the factors considered by us in determining the fair value of financial instruments are the cost, terms and liquidity of the investment, the financial condition and operating results of the issuer, the quoted market price of publicly traded securities with similar quality and yield, and other factors generally pertinent to the valuation of investments. In instances where a security is subject to transfer restrictions, the value of the security is based primarily on the quoted price of a similar security without restriction but may be reduced by an amount estimated to reflect such restrictions. In addition, even where the value of a security is derived from an independent source, certain assumptions may be required to determine the security’s fair value. For instance, we assume that the size of positions in securities that we hold would not be large enough to affect the quoted price of the securities if we sell them, and that any such sale would happen in an orderly manner. The actual value realized upon disposition could be different from the currently estimated fair value.
Fair values for derivative contracts represent amounts estimated to be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these instruments. These derivatives are valued using quoted market prices when available or pricing models based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows. Management deemed the net present value of estimated future cash flows model to be the best estimate of fair value as most of our derivative products are interest rate products. The valuation models used require inputs including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit curves and measures of volatility. The valuation models are monitored over the life of the derivative product. If there are any changes in the underlying inputs, the model is updated for those new inputs.
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The following table presents the carrying value of our trading securities owned, trading securities owned and pledged as collateral and trading securities sold, but not yet purchased for which fair value is measured based on quoted prices or other independent sources versus those for which fair value is determined by management.
September 30, 2006 | ||||||||
Trading | ||||||||
Trading | Securities Sold, | |||||||
Securities Owned | But Not Yet | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | or Pledged | Purchased | ||||||
Fair value of securities excluding derivatives, based on quoted prices and independent sources | $ | 774,848 | $ | 266,842 | ||||
Fair value of securities excluding derivatives, as determined by management | 8,793 | 6,705 | ||||||
Fair value of derivatives as determined by management | 24,625 | — | ||||||
$ | 808,266 | $ | 273,547 | |||||
Financial instruments carried at contract amounts that approximate fair value have short-term maturities (one year or less), are repriced frequently or bear market interest rates and, accordingly, are carried at amounts approximating fair value. Financial instruments carried at contract amount on our consolidated statements of financial condition include receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, securities purchased under agreements to resell, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, receivables from and payables to customers, short-term financing and subordinated debt.
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but its application may, for some entities, change current practice. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 157 on our results of operations and financial condition.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
We record all assets and liabilities acquired in purchase acquisitions, including goodwill, at fair value as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations.” Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired requires certain management estimates. In conjunction with the sale of our PCS branch network to UBS, we wrote-off $85.6 million of goodwill during the third quarter of 2006. At September 30, 2006, we had goodwill of $231.6 million, principally as a result of the 1998 acquisition of our predecessor, Piper Jaffray Companies Inc., and its subsidiaries by U.S. Bancorp.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we are required to perform impairment tests of our goodwill and intangible assets annually and more frequently in certain circumstances. We have elected to test for goodwill impairment in the fourth quarter of each calendar year. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process, which requires management to make judgments in determining what assumptions to use in the calculation. The first step of the process consists of estimating the fair value of each operating segment based on a discounted cash flow model using revenue and profit forecasts and comparing those estimated fair values with carrying values, which includes the allocated goodwill. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying values, a second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment by determining an “implied fair value” of goodwill. The determination of a reporting unit’s “implied fair value” of goodwill requires us to allocate the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. Any unallocated fair value represents the “implied fair value” of goodwill, which is compared to its corresponding carrying value. We completed our last goodwill impairment test as of October 31, 2005, and no impairment was identified.
As noted above, the initial recognition of goodwill and other intangible assets and the subsequent impairment analysis requires management to make subjective judgments concerning estimates of how the acquired assets or businesses will perform in the future using valuation methods including discounted cash flow analysis. Events and factors that may significantly affect the estimates include, among others, competitive forces and changes in revenue growth trends, cost structures, technology, discount rates and market conditions. Additionally, estimated cash flows may extend beyond ten years and, by their nature, are difficult to determine over an extended time period. To assess the reasonableness of cash flow estimates and validate assumptions used in our estimates, we review historical performance of the underlying assets or similar assets.
In assessing the fair value of our operating segments, the volatile nature of the securities markets and our industry requires us to consider the business and market cycle and assess the stage of the cycle in estimating the timing and extent of future cash flows. In addition to estimating the fair value of an operating segment based on discounted cash flows, we consider other information to validate the reasonableness of our valuations, including public market comparables, multiples of recent mergers and acquisitions of similar businesses and third-party assessments. Valuation multiples may be based on revenues, price-to-earnings and tangible capital ratios of comparable public companies and
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business segments. These multiples may be adjusted to consider competitive differences including size, operating leverage and other factors. We determine the carrying amount of an operating segment based on the capital required to support the segment’s activities, including its tangible and intangible assets. The determination of a segment’s capital allocation requires management judgment and considers many factors, including the regulatory capital requirements and tangible capital ratios of comparable public companies in relevant industry sectors. In certain circumstances, we may engage a third party to validate independently our assessment of the fair value of our operating segments. If during any future period it is determined that an impairment exists, the results of operations in that period could be materially adversely affected.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
As part of our compensation to employees and directors, we use stock-based compensation, consisting of stock options and restricted stock. Effective January 1, 2004, we elected to account for stock-based employee compensation on a prospective basis under the fair value method, as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting and Disclosure of Stock-Based Compensation,” and as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure.” The fair value method requires stock based compensation to be expensed in the consolidated statement of operations at their fair value.
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (“SFAS 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment,” using the modified prospective transition method. SFAS 123(R) requires all stock-based compensation to be expensed in the consolidated statement of operations at fair value, net of estimated forfeitures. Because we have expensed all equity awards based on the fair value method, net of estimated forfeitures, SFAS 123(R) did not have a material effect on our measurement or recognition methods for stock-based compensation.
Compensation paid to employees in the form of stock options or restricted stock is generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the required service period of the award, which is typically three years, and is included in our results of operations as compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures. The majority of our restricted stock grants provide for continued vesting after termination, providing the employee does not violate non-competition and certain other post-termination restrictions, as set forth in the award agreements. We consider the required service period to be the greater of the vesting period or the non-competition period. We believe that our non-competition restrictions meet the SFAS 123(R) definition of a substantive service requirement.
Stock-based compensation granted to our non-employee directors is in the form of stock options. Stock-based compensation paid to directors is immediately vested (i.e., there is no continuing service requirement) and is included in our results of operations as outside services expense as of the date of grant.
In determining the estimated fair value of stock options, we use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model requires management to exercise judgment with respect to certain assumptions, including the expected dividend yield, the expected volatility, and the expected life of the options. The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the assumed dividend payout over the expected life of the option. The expected volatility assumption is based on industry comparisons, as we have limited information on which to base our volatility estimates because we have only been a public company since the beginning of 2004. The expected life of options assumption is based on the average of the following two factors: 1) industry comparisons; and 2) the guidance provided by the SEC in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”). SAB 107 allowed the use of an “acceptable” methodology under which we can take the midpoint of the vesting date and the full contractual term. We believe our approach for calculating an expected life to be an appropriate method in light of the lack of any historical data regarding employee exercise behavior or employee post-termination behavior. Additional information regarding assumptions used in the Black-Scholes pricing model can be found in Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
CONTINGENCIES
We are involved in various pending and potential legal proceedings related to our business, including litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings. Some of these matters involve claims for substantial amounts, including claims for punitive and other special damages. The number of these legal proceedings has increased in recent years. We have, after consultation with outside legal counsel and consideration of facts currently known by management, recorded estimated losses in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” to the extent that claims are probable of loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The determination of these reserve amounts requires significant judgment on the part of management. In making these determinations, we consider many factors, including, but not limited to, the loss and damages sought by the plaintiff or claimant, the basis and validity of the claim, the likelihood of a successful defense against the claim, and the potential for, and magnitude of, damages or settlements from such pending and potential litigation and arbitration proceedings, and fines and penalties or orders from regulatory agencies.
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Under the terms of our separation and distribution agreement with U.S. Bancorp and ancillary agreements entered into in connection with the spin-off, we generally are responsible for all liabilities relating to our business, including those liabilities relating to our business while it was operated as a segment of U.S. Bancorp under the supervision of its management and board of directors and while our employees were employees of U.S. Bancorp servicing our business. Similarly, U.S. Bancorp generally is responsible for all liabilities relating to the businesses U.S. Bancorp retained. However, in addition to our established reserves, U.S. Bancorp agreed to indemnify us in an amount up to $17.5 million for losses that result from certain matters, primarily third-party claims relating to research analyst independence. U.S. Bancorp has the right to terminate this indemnification obligation in the event of a change in control of our company. As of September 30, 2006, approximately $13.2 million of the indemnification remained available.
As part of our asset purchase agreement with UBS for the sale of our PCS branch network, UBS agreed to assume certain liabilities of the PCS business, including certain liabilities and obligations arising from litigation, arbitration, customer complaints and other claims related to the PCS business. In certain cases we have agreed to indemnify UBS for litigation matters after UBS has incurred costs of $6.0 million related to these matters. In addition, we have retained liabilities arising from regulatory matters and certain litigation relating to the PCS business prior to the sale.
Subject to the foregoing, we believe, based on our current knowledge, after appropriate consultation with outside legal counsel and after taking into account our established reserves and the U.S. Bancorp indemnity agreement, that pending litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings will be resolved with no material adverse effect on our financial condition. However, if, during any period, a potential adverse contingency should become probable or resolved for an amount in excess of the established reserves and indemnification, the results of operations in that period could be materially adversely affected.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is of critical importance to us given the nature of our business. Insufficient liquidity resulting from adverse circumstances contributes to, and may be the cause of, financial institution failure. Accordingly, we regularly monitor our liquidity position, including our cash and net capital positions, and we have implemented a liquidity strategy designed to enable our business to continue to operate even under adverse circumstances, although there can be no assurance that our strategy will be successful under all circumstances.
We have a liquid balance sheet. Most of our assets consist of cash and assets readily convertible into cash. Securities inventories are stated at fair value and are generally readily marketable. Receivables and payables with customers and brokers and dealers usually settle within a few days. As part of our liquidity strategy, we emphasize diversification of funding sources. We utilize a mix of funding sources and, to the extent possible, maximize our lower-cost financing associated with repurchase agreements. Our assets are financed by our cash flows from operations, equity capital, bank lines of credit and proceeds from securities sold under agreements to repurchase. The fluctuations in cash flows from financing activities are directly related to daily operating activities from our various businesses.
A significant component of our employees’ compensation is paid in an annual bonus. The timing of these bonus payments, which generally are paid in February, has a significant impact on our cash position and liquidity when paid.
We currently do not pay cash dividends on our common stock.
On August 11, 2006, we closed the sale of our PCS branch network and certain related assets to UBS. We received proceeds of approximately $500 million for our branch network and $250 million for certain other assets, consisting primarily of customer margin loans. During the third quarter of 2006, we utilized these proceeds to repay all of our $180 million in subordinated debt outstanding, repurchase 1.6 million in common shares through an accelerated share repurchase agreement for an aggregate price of $100 million, repaid stock loan liabilities and reduced securities sold under agreements to repurchase. We anticipate paying approximately $165 million in income tax liabilities related to the gain on the sale of our PCS branch network in the fourth quarter of 2006.
In connection with the sale of our PCS branch network, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of $180 million in common shares through December 31, 2007. Following our accelerated share repurchase, we have $80 million of share repurchase authorization remaining, and we expect to conduct open market share purchases under this authorization through December 31, 2007.
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FUNDING SOURCES
We have available discretionary short-term financing on both a secured and unsecured basis. Secured financing is obtained through the use of repurchase agreements and secured bank loans. Bank loans and repurchase agreements are typically collateralized by the firm’s securities inventory. Short-term funding is generally obtained at rates based upon the federal funds rate.
To finance customer receivables we utilized an average of $4 million in short-term bank loans and an average of $81 million in securities lending arrangements in the third quarter of 2006. This compares to an average of $16 million in short-term bank loans and $248 million in average securities lending arrangements in the third quarter of 2005. Average net repurchase agreements (excluding economic hedges) of $56 million and $220 million in the third quarter of 2006 and the third quarter of 2005, respectively, were primarily used to finance inventory. The reduction in average short-term bank loans, securities lending arrangements and average net repurchase agreements during the third quarter of 2006 was due to the receipt of approximately $750 million in proceeds from the sale of our PCS branch network. Growth in our securities inventory is generally financed through repurchase agreements or securities lending. Bank financing supplements these sources as necessary. On September 30, 2006, we had $50 million outstanding in short-term bank financing.
As of September 30, 2006, we had uncommitted credit agreements with banks totaling $675 million, comprising $555 million in discretionary secured lines and $120 million in discretionary unsecured lines. We have been able to obtain necessary short-term borrowings in the past and believe we will continue to be able to do so in the future. We also have established arrangements to obtain financing using as collateral our securities held by our clearing bank or by another broker dealer at the end of each business day.
On August 15, 2006, we utilized proceeds from the sale of our PCS branch network to pay in full our $180 million subordinated loan with U.S. Bancorp.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table provides a summary of our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2006:
2007 | 2009 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||
4th quarter | through | through | and | |||||||||||||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | thereafter | Total | |||||||||||||||
Operating leases | $ | 3.2 | $ | 25.5 | $ | 26.2 | $ | 39.3 | $ | 94.2 | ||||||||||
Cash award program | 0.3 | 1.5 | — | — | 1.8 | |||||||||||||||
Venture fund commitments (a) | — | — | — | — | 7.2 |
(a) | The venture fund commitments have no specified call dates. The timing of capital calls is based on market conditions and investment opportunities. |
As of September 30, 2006, our minimum lease commitments for non-cancelable office space leases were $94.2 million. Certain leases have renewal options and clauses for escalation and operation cost adjustments. We have commitments to invest an additional $7.2 million in venture capital funds.
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
As a registered broker dealer and member firm of the NYSE, our broker dealer subsidiary is subject to the uniform net capital rule of the SEC and the net capital rule of the NYSE. We have elected to use the alternative method permitted by the uniform net capital rule, which requires that we maintain minimum net capital of the greater of $1.0 million or 2 percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, as this is defined in the rule. The NYSE may prohibit a member firm from expanding its business or paying dividends if resulting net capital would be less than 5 percent of aggregate debit balances. Advances to affiliates, repayment of subordinated liabilities, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other provisions of the uniform net capital rule and the net capital rule of the NYSE. We expect these provisions will not impact our ability to meet current and future obligations. In addition, we are subject to certain notification requirements related to withdrawals of excess net capital from our broker dealer subsidiary. Our broker dealer subsidiary is also registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and therefore is subject to CFTC regulations. Piper Jaffray Ltd., our registered United Kingdom broker dealer subsidiary, is subject to the capital requirements of the U.K. Financial Services Authority.
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At September 30, 2006, net capital under the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital Rule was $370.6 million or 280.2 percent of aggregate debit balances, and $367.9 million in excess of the minimum required net capital.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We enter into various types of off-balance sheet arrangements in the ordinary course of business. We hold retained interests in non-consolidated entities, incur obligations to commit capital to non-consolidated entities, enter into derivative transactions, enter into non-derivative guarantees and enter into other off-balance sheet arrangements.
We enter into arrangements with special-purpose entities (“SPEs”), also known as variable interest entities. SPEs are corporations, trusts or partnerships that are established for a limited purpose. SPEs, by their nature, generally are not controlled by their equity owners, as the establishing documents govern all material decisions. Our primary involvement with SPEs relates to securitization transactions in which highly rated fixed rate municipal bonds are sold to an SPE. We follow Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 (“SFAS 140”), “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities — a Replacement of FASB Statement No. 125,” to account for securitizations and other transfers of financial assets. Therefore, we derecognize financial assets transferred in securitizations provided that such transfer meets all of the SFAS 140 criteria. See Note 5, “Securitizations,” in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for a complete discussion of our securitization activities.
We have investments in various entities, typically partnerships or limited liability companies, established for the purpose of investing in emerging growth companies or other private or public equity. We commit capital or act as the managing partner or member of these entities. These entities are reviewed under variable interest entity and voting interest entity standards. If we determine that an entity should not be consolidated, we record these investments on the equity method of accounting. The lower of cost or market method of accounting is applied to investments where we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operations of an entity. For a complete discussion of our activities related to these types of partnerships, see Note 6, “Variable Interest Entities,” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report to Shareholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
We enter into derivative contracts in a principal capacity as a dealer to satisfy the financial needs of clients. We also use derivative products to manage the interest rate and market value risks associated with our security positions. For a complete discussion of our activities related to derivative products, see Note 4, “Derivatives,” in the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
In the third quarter of 2006, we entered into a strategic relationship with CIT to provide clients with debt solutions, including senior secured and unsecured debt, second lien facilities, subordinated financings and mezzanine loans. Our strategic relationship with CIT offers us the possibility of committing capital alongside CIT in connection with offering debt solutions to our clients as opportunities arise.
Our other types of off-balance-sheet arrangements include contractual commitments and guarantees. For a discussion of our activities related to these off-balance sheet arrangements, see Note 14, “Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees,” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report to Shareholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Enterprise Risk Management
Risk is an inherent part of our business. In the course of conducting business operations, we are exposed to a variety of risks. Market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, and legal, regulatory and compliance risk are the principal risks we face in operating our business. We seek to identify, assess and monitor each risk in accordance with defined policies and procedures. The extent to which we properly identify and effectively manage each of these risks is critical to our financial condition and profitability. For a full description of our risk management framework, see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
VALUE-AT-RISK
Value-at-Risk (“VaR”) is the potential loss in value of our trading positions due to adverse market movements over a defined time horizon with a specified confidence level. We perform a daily historical simulated VaR analysis on substantially all of our trading positions, including fixed income, equities, convertible bonds and all associated economic hedges. We use a VaR model because it provides a common metric for
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assessing market risk across business lines and products. The modeling of the market risk characteristics of our trading positions involves a number of assumptions and approximations. While we believe that these assumptions and approximations are reasonable, different assumptions and approximations could produce materially different VaR estimates. For example, we include the risk-reducing diversification benefit between various securities because it is highly unlikely that all securities would have an equally adverse move on a typical trading day.
We report an empirical VaR based on net realized trading revenue volatility. Empirical VaR presents an inclusive measure of our historical risk exposure, as it incorporates virtually all trading activities and types of risk including market, credit, liquidity and operational risk. The exhibit below presents VaR using the past 250 days of net trading revenue. Consistent with industry practice, when calculating VaR we use a 95 percent confidence level and a one-day time horizon for calculating both empirical and simulated VaR. This means there is a 1 in 20 chance that daily trading net revenues will fall below the expected daily trading net revenues by an amount at least as large as the reported VaR. As a result, shortfalls from expected trading net revenues on a single trading day that are greater than the reported VaR would be anticipated to occur, on average, about once a month.
The following table quantifies the empirical VaR for each component of market risk for the periods presented:
At September 30, | At December 31, | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Interest Rate Risk | $ | 274 | $ | 324 | ||||
Equity Price Risk | 257 | 345 | ||||||
Aggregate Undiversified Risk | 531 | 669 | ||||||
Diversification Benefit | (121 | ) | (133 | ) | ||||
Aggregate Diversified Value-at-Risk | $ | 410 | $ | 536 |
The table below illustrates the daily high, low and average value-at-risk calculated for each component of market risk during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005, respectively.
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
(Dollars in thousands) | High | Low | Average | |||||||||
Interest Rate Risk | $ | 355 | $ | 273 | $ | 319 | ||||||
Equity Price Risk | 346 | 255 | 301 | |||||||||
Aggregate Undiversified Risk | 679 | 528 | 620 | |||||||||
Aggregate Diversified Value-at-Risk | 541 | 410 | 493 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2005
(Dollars in thousands) | High | Low | Average | |||||||||
Interest Rate Risk | $ | 1,436 | $ | 324 | $ | 538 | ||||||
Equity Price Risk | 345 | 258 | 314 | |||||||||
Aggregate Undiversified Risk | 1,705 | 668 | 853 | |||||||||
Aggregate Diversified Value-at-Risk | 1,558 | 536 | 719 |
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We use model-based VaR simulations for managing risk on a daily basis. Model-based VaR derived from simulation has inherent limitations, including reliance on historical data to predict future market risk and the parameters established in creating the models that limit quantitative risk information outputs. There can be no assurance that actual losses occurring on any given day arising from changes in market conditions will not exceed the VaR amounts shown below or that such losses will not occur more than once in a 20-day trading period. In addition, different VaR methodologies and distribution assumptions could produce materially different VaR numbers. Changes in VaR between reporting periods are generally due to changes in levels of risk exposure, volatilities and/or correlations among asset classes.
The following table quantifies the simulated VaR for each component of market risk for the periods presented:
At September 30, | At December 31, | |||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||
Interest Rate Risk | $ | 584 | $ | 309 | ||||
Equity Price Risk | 193 | 288 | ||||||
Aggregate Undiversified Risk | 777 | 597 | ||||||
Diversification Benefit | (173 | ) | (239 | ) | ||||
Aggregate Diversified Value-at-Risk | $ | 604 | $ | 358 |
In addition to daily VaR estimates, we calculate the potential market risk to our trading positions under selected stress scenarios. We calculate the daily 99.9 percent VaR estimates both with and without diversification benefits for each risk category and firmwide. These stress tests allow us to measure the potential effects on net revenue from adverse changes in market volatilities, correlations and trading liquidity. Supplementary measures employed by Piper Jaffray to monitor and manage market risk exposure include the following: net market position and basis point values, option sensitivities, and inventory turnover. All metrics are aggregated by asset concentration and are used for monitoring limits, exception approvals and strategic control.
We anticipate our aggregate VaR may increase in future periods as we commit more of our own capital to proprietary investments.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information under the caption “Enterprise Risk Management” in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in this Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. During the third quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, there was no change in our system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Due to the nature of our business, we are involved in a variety of legal proceedings. These proceedings include litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, which may arise from, among other things, client account activity, underwriting or other transactional activity, employment matters, regulatory examinations of our businesses and investigations of securities industry practices by governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations. The securities industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory scrutiny applied to securities firms has increased dramatically in recent years, resulting in a higher number of regulatory investigations and enforcement actions and significantly greater uncertainty regarding the likely outcome of these matters. The number of litigation and arbitration proceedings also has increased in recent years. Accordingly, in recent years we have incurred higher expenses for legal proceedings than previously.
At the time of our spin-off from U.S. Bancorp, we assumed liability for certain legal proceedings that named U.S. Bancorp as a defendant but related to the business we managed when Piper Jaffray was a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. In those situations, we generally have agreed with U.S. Bancorp that we will manage the proceedings and indemnify U.S. Bancorp for the related expenses, including the amount of any judgment. In turn, U.S. Bancorp agreed to indemnify us for certain legal proceedings relating to our business prior to the spin-off (as described in Note 10 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements).
As part of our asset purchase agreement with UBS for the sale of our PCS branch network, UBS agreed to assume certain liabilities of the PCS business, including certain liabilities and obligations arising from litigation, arbitration, customer complaints and other claims related to the PCS business. In certain cases we have agreed to indemnify UBS for litigation matters after UBS has incurred costs of $6.0 million related to these matters. In addition, we have retained liabilities arising from regulatory matters and certain litigation relating to the PCS business prior to the sale.
Litigation-related expenses include amounts we reserve and/or pay out as legal and regulatory settlements, awards or judgments, and fines. Parties who initiate litigation and arbitration proceedings against us may seek substantial or indeterminate damages, and regulatory investigations can result in substantial fines being imposed on us. We reserve for contingencies related to legal proceedings at the time and to the extent we determine the amount to be probable and reasonably estimable. However, it is inherently difficult to predict accurately the timing and outcome of legal proceedings, including the amounts of any settlements, judgments or fines. We assess each proceeding based on its particular facts, our outside advisors’ and our past experience with similar matters, and expectations regarding the current legal and regulatory environment and other external developments that might affect the outcome of a particular proceeding or type of proceeding. We believe, based on our current knowledge, after appropriate consultation with outside legal counsel, in light of our established reserves and the indemnification available from U.S. Bancorp, that pending litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings, including those described below, will be resolved with no material adverse effect on our financial condition. Of course, there can be no assurance that our assessments will reflect the ultimate outcome of pending proceedings, and the outcome of any particular matter may be material to our operating results for any particular period, depending, in part, on the operating results for that period and the amount of established reserves and indemnification. We generally have denied, or believe that we have meritorious defenses and will deny, liability in all significant litigation and arbitration proceedings currently pending against us, and we intend to vigorously defend such actions.
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Initial Public Offering Allocation Litigation
We have been named, along with other leading securities firms, as a defendant in many putative class actions filed in 2001 and 2002 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York involving the allocation of securities in certain initial public offerings. The court’s order, dated August 8, 2001, transferred all related class action complaints for coordination and pretrial purposes asIn re Initial Public Offering Allocation Securities Litigation, Master File No. 21 MC 92 (SAS). These complaints assert claims pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The claims are based, in part, upon allegations that between 1998 and 2000, in connection with acting as an underwriter of certain initial public offerings of technology and Internet-related companies, we obtained excessive compensation by allocating shares in these initial public offerings to preferred customers who, in return, purportedly agreed to pay additional compensation to us in the form of excess commissions that we failed to disclose. The complaints also allege that our customers who received favorable allocations of shares in initial public offerings agreed to purchase additional shares of the same issuer in the secondary market at pre-determined prices. These complaints seek unspecified damages. The defendants’ motions to dismiss the complaints were filed on July 1, 2002, and oral argument on the motions to dismiss was heard on November 14, 2002. The court entered its order largely denying the motions to dismiss on February 19, 2003. A status conference was held with the court on July 11, 2003, for purposes of establishing a case management plan setting forth discovery deadlines, selecting focus cases and briefing class certification. Seventeen focus cases were selected, including eleven cases for purposes of merits discovery and six cases for purposes of class certification. We are named defendants in two of the merits focus cases and none of the class certification focus cases. On October 13, 2004, the court issued an opinion largely granting plaintiffs’ motions for class certification in the six class certification focus cases. Defendants filed a petition seeking leave to appeal the class certification ruling on October 27, 2004. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the petition on November 8, 2004, and defendants filed their reply in further support of the petition on November 15, 2004. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted the defendants’ petition on June 30, 2005. Defendants filed their brief on October 3, 2005. Plaintiffs’ response was filed on December 19, 2005, and defendants filed their reply on January 27, 2006. Oral argument on the class certification appeal was heard on June 6, 2006. A decision on the appeal is currently pending. Discovery is proceeding at this time with respect to the remaining eleven focus cases selected for merits discovery.
Initial Public Offering Fee Antitrust Litigation
We have been named, along with other leading securities firms, as a defendant in several putative class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1998. The court’s order, dated February 11, 1999, consolidated these purported class actions for all purposes asIn re Public Offering Fee Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 98 CV 7890 (LMM). The consolidated amended complaint seeks unspecified compensatory damages, treble damages and injunctive relief. The consolidated amended complaint was filed on behalf of purchasers of shares issued in certain initial public offerings for U.S. companies and alleges that defendants conspired in offerings of an amount between $20 million and $80 million to fix the underwriters’ discount at 7.0 percent of the offering amount in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The court dismissed this consolidated action with prejudice and denied plaintiffs’ motion to amend the complaint and include an issuer plaintiff. The court stated that its decision did not affect any class actions filed on behalf of issuer plaintiffs. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s decision on December 13, 2002 and remanded the action to the district court. A motion to dismiss was filed with the district court on March 26, 2003 seeking dismissal of this action and the issuer plaintiff action described below in their entirety, based upon the argument that the determination of underwriting fees is implicitly immune from the antitrust laws because of the extensive federal regulation of the securities markets. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss on April 25, 2003. The underwriter defendants filed a motion for leave to file a supplemental memorandum of law in further support of their motion to dismiss on June 10, 2003. The court denied the motion to dismiss based upon implied immunity in its memorandum and order dated June 26, 2003. A supplemental memorandum in support of the motion to dismiss, applicable only to this action because the purported class consists of indirect purchasers, was filed on June 24, 2003 and sought dismissal based upon the argument that the proposed class members cannot state claims upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiffs filed a supplemental memorandum in opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss on July 9, 2003, and defendants filed a reply in further support of the motion to dismiss on July 25, 2003. The court entered its memorandum and order granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss on February 24, 2004. Plaintiffs’ damage claims were dismissed because they were indirect purchasers, but the motion to dismiss was denied with respect to plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief. We filed our answer to the consolidated amended complaint on April 22, 2004. Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification and supporting memorandum of law on September 16, 2004. Class discovery concluded on April 11, 2005, and defendants filed their brief in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for class certification on May 25, 2005. Plaintiffs’ reply brief in support of their motion for class certification was filed on October 20, 2005, and defendants filed a surreply brief in opposition to class certification on November 15, 2005. Plaintiffs filed a summary judgment motion on liability on October 25, 2005. The Court denied class certification of an issuer class in its Memorandum and Order dated April 18, 2006. The Order further requires the purchaser plaintiffs to notify the Court within 14 days as to their intention of pursuing class certification of purchaser class to pursue injunctive
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relief without the prospect of recovery of money damages. Plaintiffs filed a Rule 23(f) application with respect to the denial of class certification on May 1, 2006. The Court granted their request that the response to Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment be adjourned until 30 days after a ruling on the 23(f) application or the Second Circuit rules on the appeal, whichever is later. The Second Circuit Court accepted the Plaintiffs’ Rule 23(f) application with respect to the denial of class certification. The briefing on that issue is in progress.
Similar purported class actions also have been filed against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of issuer plaintiffs asserting substantially similar antitrust claims based upon allegations that 7.0 percent underwriters’ discounts violate the Sherman Act. These purported class actions were consolidated by the district court asIn re Issuer Plaintiff Initial Public Offering Fee Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 00 CV 7804 (LMM), on May 23, 2001. These complaints also seek unspecified compensatory damages, treble damages and injunctive relief. Plaintiffs filed a consolidated class action complaint on July 6, 2001. The district court denied defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint on September 30, 2002. Defendants filed a motion to certify the order for interlocutory appeal on October 15, 2002. On March 26, 2003, a motion to dismiss based upon implied immunity was also filed in connection with this action. The court denied the motion to dismiss on June 26, 2003. Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification and supporting memorandum of law on September 16, 2004. Class discovery concluded on April 11, 2005. Defendants filed their brief in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for class certification on May 25, 2005, and plaintiffs’ reply brief in support of their motion for class certification was filed on October 20, 2005. Defendants filed a surreply brief in opposition to class certification on November 15, 2005. Plaintiffs filed a summary judgment motion on liability on October 25, 2005. The Court denied class certification of an issuer class in its Memorandum and Order dated April 18, 2006. The Order further requires the purchaser plaintiffs to notify the Court within 14 days as to their intention of pursuing class certification of purchaser class to pursue injunctive relief without the prospect of recovery of money damages. Plaintiffs filed a Rule 23(f) application with respect to the denial of class certification on May 1, 2006. The Court granted their request that the response to Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment be adjourned until 30 days after a ruling on the 23(f) application or the Second Circuit rules on the appeal, whichever is later. The Second Circuit Court accepted the Plaintiffs’ Rule 23(f) application with respect to the denial of class certification. The briefing on that issue is in progress.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the risk factors contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC, as updated in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. These risk factors describe various risks and uncertainties to which we are or may become subject. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects in a material and adverse manner. The following information updates the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q:
10-Q:
Increases in capital commitments in our proprietary trading, investing and similar activities increase the potential for significant losses.
The trend in capital markets is toward larger and more frequent commitments of capital by financial services firms in many of their activities, and as we implement our growth strategy following the divestiture of our PCS branch network we expect to increasingly commit our own capital to engage in proprietary trading, investing and similar activities. Our results of operations in a given period may be affected by the nature and scope of these activities, and such activities will subject us to market fluctuations and volatility that may adversely affect the value of our positions, which could result in significant losses and reduce our revenues and profits. In addition, commitments of capital may lead to a greater concentration of risk, which may cause us to suffer losses even when business conditions are generally favorable for others in the industry.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Piper Jaffray Companies or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), of our common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.
In addition, a third-party trustee makes open-market purchases of our common stock from time to time pursuant to the Piper Jaffray Companies Retirement Plan, under which participating employees may allocate assets to a company stock fund.
Total Number of | ||||||||||||||||
Shares Purchased as | Approximate Dollar Value | |||||||||||||||
Total Number | Part of Publicly | of Shares that May Yet Be | ||||||||||||||
of Shares | Average Price Paid | Announced Plans or | Purchased Under the Plans | |||||||||||||
Period | Purchased(1) | per Share | Programs | or Programs | ||||||||||||
Month #1 | 0 | N/A | 0 | |||||||||||||
(July 1, 2006 to July 31, 2006) | ||||||||||||||||
Month #2 | 0 | N/A | 0 | |||||||||||||
(August 1, 2006 to August 31, 2006) | ||||||||||||||||
Month #3 | 1,635,035 | $ | 60.66 | 1,635,035 | ||||||||||||
(September 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006) | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,635,035 | $ | 60.66 | 1,635,035 | $80 million | |||||||||||
(1) | On August 14, 2006 we announced that our board of directors had authorized the repurchase up to $180 million of common shares over a period commencing with the closing of the sale of our PCS branch network to UBS and ending on December 31, 2007. On August 16, 2006, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase $100 million of our common stock on an accelerated basis. We paid $100 million to Goldman Sachs on August 21, 2006 and received 1,635,035 shares pursuant to the accelerated share repurchase on September 1, 2006. On October 2, 2006, we completed the accelerated share repurchase with the receipt of an additional 13,492 shares for a total of 1,648,527 shares received pursuant to the accelerated share repurchase. The accelerated share repurchase agreements are further described in our report on Form 8-K dated August 17, 2006, and are filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto. We have $80 million of repurchase authorization remaining, and we expect to conduct open market share purchases under this authorization through December 31, 2007. |
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit | Method of | |||
Number | Description | Filing | ||
10.1 | Master Confirmation between Piper Jaffray Companies and Goldman Sachs & Co., dated August 16, 2006, and Supplemental Confirmation thereto dated August 16, 2006, with Trade Notification dated September 1, 2006. | Filed herewith | ||
31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer. | Filed herewith | ||
31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer. | Filed herewith | ||
32.1 | Certifications furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed herewith |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on November 3, 2006.
PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES | ||||||
By Its | /s/ Andrew S. Duff | |||||
By Its | /s/ Thomas P. Schnettler |
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit | Method of | |||
Number | Description | Filing | ||
10.1 | Master Confirmation between Piper Jaffray Companies and Goldman Sachs & Co., dated August 16, 2006, and Supplemental Confirmation thereto dated August 16, 2006, with Trade Notification dated September 1, 2006. | Filed herewith | ||
31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer. | Filed herewith | ||
31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer. | Filed herewith | ||
32.1 | Certifications furnished pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed herewith |