Document
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
OR
¨
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from              to             .
Commission file number 1-31234
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DELAWARE
 
75-2969997
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
200 CRESCENT COURT, SUITE 1200
DALLAS, TEXAS
 
75201
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip Code)
(214) 756-6900
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes  x    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
¨
 
Accelerated filer
 
x
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨ 
 
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  ¨    No  x
Shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of October 19, 2018: 9,018,436.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 



WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
INDEX
 
PART I
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PAGE
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 




WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value and share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
September 30,
2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
48,086

 
$
54,249

Accounts receivable
 
19,832

 
21,660

Investments, at fair value
 
71,003

 
51,324

Prepaid income taxes
 
589

 
4,269

Other current assets
 
2,308

 
6,612

Total current assets
 
141,818

 
138,114

Investments
 
5,425

 

Goodwill
 
19,804

 
27,144

Deferred income taxes
 
5,081

 
3,407

Intangible assets, net
 
16,379

 
19,804

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $6,287 and $5,673
 
4,120

 
4,190

Total assets
 
$
192,627

 
$
192,659

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
2,521

 
$
3,501

Dividends payable
 
7,295

 
7,357

Compensation and benefits payable
 
12,726

 
19,075

Income taxes payable
 
2,198

 
1,598

Total current liabilities
 
24,740

 
31,531

Accrued dividends
 
1,349

 
1,717

Noncurrent income taxes payable
 

 
1,017

Deferred rent
 
1,866

 
1,998

Total liabilities
 
27,955

 
36,263

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
 

 

Stockholders' Equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 10,196,635 and outstanding 9,018,436 shares at September 30, 2018; issued 9,980,827 and outstanding 8,899,587 shares at December 31, 2017
 
102

 
100

Additional paid-in capital
 
191,062

 
179,241

Treasury stock, at cost - 1,178,199 shares at September 30, 2018; 1,081,240 shares at December 31, 2017
 
(55,215
)
 
(49,788
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(2,826
)
 
(1,764
)
Retained earnings
 
31,549

 
28,607

Total stockholders' equity
 
164,672

 
156,396

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
192,627

 
$
192,659

 
 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

1


WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data and share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asset-based
 
$
22,023

 
$
25,334

 
$
69,979

 
$
73,619

Performance-based
 

 

 
2,984

 
1,417

Trust fees
 
7,191

 
7,858

 
22,265

 
23,570

Other, net
 
640

 
300

 
953

 
1,265

Total revenues
 
29,854

 
33,492

 
96,181

 
99,871

EXPENSES:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
 
14,444

 
15,601

 
46,857

 
48,875

Sales and marketing
 
549

 
457

 
1,401

 
1,447

Westwood mutual funds
 
979

 
977

 
2,966

 
2,749

Information technology
 
2,332

 
1,855

 
6,753

 
5,494

Professional services
 
1,372

 
1,681

 
3,677

 
4,495

Legal settlement
 

 
4,009

 

 
4,009

General and administrative
 
3,027

 
3,160

 
6,477

 
8,697

Total expenses
 
22,703

 
27,740

 
68,131

 
75,766

Net operating income
 
7,151

 
5,752

 
28,050

 
24,105

Gain on sale of operations
 

 

 
524

 

Income before income taxes
 
7,151

 
5,752

 
28,574

 
24,105

Provision for income taxes
 
1,783

 
1,620

 
7,236

 
7,013

Net income
 
$
5,368

 
$
4,132

 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
616

 
1,297

 
(1,062
)
 
2,438

Total comprehensive income
 
$
5,984

 
$
5,429

 
$
20,276

 
$
19,530

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.64

 
$
0.51

 
$
2.55

 
$
2.10

Diluted
 
$
0.62

 
$
0.49

 
$
2.49

 
$
2.05

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
8,402,697

 
8,171,809

 
8,359,088

 
8,136,350

Diluted
 
8,598,230

 
8,420,749

 
8,561,918

 
8,350,926

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends declared per share
 
$
0.68

 
$
0.62

 
$
2.04

 
$
1.86

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Common Stock, Par
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Total
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
BALANCE, December 31, 2017
 
8,899,587

 
$
100

 
$
179,241

 
$
(49,788
)
 
$
(1,764
)
 
$
28,607

 
$
156,396

Net income
 

 

 

 

 

 
21,338

 
21,338

Other comprehensive loss
 

 

 

 

 
(1,062
)
 

 
(1,062
)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 
215,808

 
2

 
(2
)
 

 

 

 

Dividends declared
 

 

 

 

 

 
(18,396
)
 
(18,396
)
Stock based compensation expense
 

 

 
11,658

 

 

 

 
11,658

Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares
 

 

 
165

 

 

 

 
165

Purchases of treasury stock
 
(13,031
)
 

 

 
(726
)
 

 

 
(726
)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes
 
(83,928
)
 

 

 
(4,701
)
 

 

 
(4,701
)
BALANCE, September 30, 2018
 
9,018,436

 
$
102

 
$
191,062

 
$
(55,215
)
 
$
(2,826
)
 
$
31,549

 
$
164,672

 


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
653

 
722

Amortization of intangible assets
 
1,255

 
1,449

Unrealized (gains) losses on trading investments
 
145

 
(539
)
Stock based compensation expense
 
11,658

 
12,298

Deferred income taxes
 
(1,693
)
 
1,481

Gain on sale of operations
 
(524
)
 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Net sales (purchases) of investments - trading securities
 
(19,824
)
 
8,931

Accounts receivable
 
1,537

 
1,686

Other current assets
 
4,185

 
(3,881
)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
(650
)
 
178

Accrued litigation settlement
 

 
8,018

Compensation and benefits payable
 
(6,157
)
 
(2,696
)
Income taxes payable
 
3,265

 
(5,181
)
Other liabilities
 
(118
)
 
(111
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
15,070

 
39,447

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Purchase of property and equipment
 
(676
)
 
(537
)
Proceeds from Omaha divestiture
 
10,013

 

Purchase of investments
 
(5,425
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
 
3,912

 
(537
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
Purchase of treasury stock under employee stock plans
 
(726
)
 
(1,326
)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes
 
(4,701
)
 
(5,231
)
Cash dividends paid
 
(18,825
)
 
(16,787
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(24,252
)
 
(23,344
)
Effect of currency rate changes on cash
 
(893
)
 
2,191

Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
(6,163
)
 
17,757

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
54,249

 
33,679

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
48,086

 
$
51,436

 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for income taxes
 
$
5,634

 
$
10,245

Accrued dividends
 
$
8,644

 
$
8,161


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4


WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (“Westwood”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 12, 2001. Westwood provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries through its subsidiaries, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. (together “Westwood Management”), Westwood Trust, and Westwood International Advisors Inc. (“Westwood International”). Revenue is largely dependent on the total value and composition of assets under management (“AUM”). Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and in the composition of AUM impact revenues and results of operations.
Divestiture of our Omaha Operations
On September 6, 2017, we entered into an agreement to sell the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business. The sale closed on January 12, 2018. We received proceeds of $10.0 million, net of working capital requirements, and recorded a $524,000 gain on the sale, which is included as “Gain on sale of operations” on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The sale reduced goodwill and intangible assets but did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The following table presents cash proceeds received and net assets sold (in thousands):
Cash Proceeds
$
10,013

Net assets sold:
 
Accounts receivable
99

Other current assets
112

Goodwill
7,340

Intangible assets, net
2,170

Property and equipment, net
18

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(241
)
Other liabilities
(9
)
Gain on sale of operations
$
524

The component is reported within both our Advisory and Trust segments. The sale did not represent a major strategic shift in our business and did not qualify for discontinued operations reporting.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited and are presented in accordance with the requirements for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary in the opinion of management to present fairly our interim financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with GAAP and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

5

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, and notes thereto, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC. Operating results for the periods in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Westwood and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which resulted from a joint project by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Retrospective application is required, with the entity either applying the change to each prior reporting period presented or applying the cumulative effect of each prior reporting period presented at the date of initial application. We adopted ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018. See further discussion in Note 9 “Revenue.”
In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes: Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform Act”). See further discussion in Note 11 “Income Taxes.”
Not Yet Adopted
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a lease
liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases at the commencement date, excluding short-term leases. Leases will be classified as either financing or operating, with classification impacting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2019 under the modified retrospective approach, which allows for recording the cumulative effect of the adoption of the standard as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings. We will elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical lease classification and elect hindsight to determine certain lease terms for existing leases. We have evaluated our population of contracts subject to balance sheet recognition and estimate adoption will result in recognition of additional lease assets and net lease liabilities of approximately $8 million as of January 1, 2019 primarily related to the future minimum payments required under operating leases as disclosed in Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. The insignificant difference in the additional lease assets and net lease liabilities will be recorded as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings. We do not believe the standard will materially impact our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Beginning with our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, we will add disclosures surrounding our leases, including lease cost disaggregation, weighted average remaining lease terms and weighted average discount rate used to determine our lease assets and liabilities. We have also analyzed our current business process and internal controls and anticipate implementing new procedures to successfully adopt the standard, particularly for identification of leases and evaluation of the discount rate.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The purpose of this amendment is to simplify the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services by aligning it with the accounting used for arrangements with employees. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. We do not expect the amendment to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, and we plan to adopt the standard within the required time frame.

6

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework- Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The purpose of this amendment is to modify, remove and add certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Under ASU 2018-13, entities are required to disclose the amount of total gains or losses recognized in other comprehensive income attributable to assets and liabilities categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The ASU also adds an incremental requirement about significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. The requirement to disclose reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 was removed. Various requirements for Level 3 disclosure were also modified. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We do not expect the amendment to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, and we plan to adopt this amendment within the required time frame.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles- Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Topic 350): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The purpose of this amendment is to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The amendments in this update are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. We do not expect the amendment to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, and we plan to adopt the standard within the required time frame.
3. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the applicable period. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding plus the effect of any dilutive shares of restricted stock granted to employees and non-employee directors. There were no anti-dilutive restricted shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. There were approximately 3,251 and 8,800 anti-dilutive restricted shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share and share amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
 
$
5,368

 
$
4,132

 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
 
8,402,697

 
8,171,809

 
8,359,088

 
8,136,350

Dilutive potential shares from unvested restricted shares
 
195,533

 
248,940

 
202,830

 
214,576

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
 
8,598,230

 
8,420,749

 
8,561,918

 
8,350,926

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.64

 
$
0.51

 
$
2.55

 
$
2.10

Diluted
 
$
0.62

 
$
0.49

 
$
2.49

 
$
2.05


7

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

4. INVESTMENTS
In May 2018, we entered into a $5.0 million strategic investment in an equity position of a private company. As part of the agreement, we committed to an additional $5.0 million purchase of equity securities to be invested no later than August 31, 2018. Our intent was to offer this investment opportunity to our current and prospective clients, members of our Board of Directors and employees, but to the extent these parties did not invest the full $5.0 million, we were obligated to make an additional investment to cover any shortfall. Based on investments made by these parties during the third quarter of 2018, we were required to purchase an additional $425,000 of equity securities in the private company in August 2018. Our $5.4 million investment is included in “Investments” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As this investment represents a private company without a readily determinable fair value, the Company has elected to apply the measurement alternative of cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes. The Company will reassess whether our investment qualifies for the measurement alternative at each reporting period. In evaluating the investment for impairment or observable price changes, we will use inputs including recent financing events, as well as other available information regarding the private company's historical and forecasted performance. As of September 30, 2018, there were no observable price changes or indicators of impairment for this investment.
All other investments are carried at fair value on a recurring basis and are accounted for as trading securities. Trading securities are presented in the table below (in thousands):
 
 
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Estimated
Market
Value
September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government agency obligations
 
$
51,194

 
$
117

 
$

 
$
51,311

Money market funds
 
9,978

 

 

 
9,978

Equity funds
 
9,333

 
545

 
(164
)
 
9,714

Total trading securities
 
$
70,505

 
$
662

 
$
(164
)
 
$
71,003

December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and Government agency obligations
 
$
29,367

 
$
21

 
$
(15
)
 
$
29,373

Money market funds
 
9,736

 

 

 
9,736

Equity funds
 
11,578

 
657

 
(20
)
 
12,215

Total trading securities
 
$
50,681

 
$
678

 
$
(35
)
 
$
51,324

 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, approximately $8.7 million and $10.7 million, respectively, in corporate funds were invested in Westwood Funds®, Westwood Common Trust Funds and Westwood Investment Funds Plc (the “UCITS Fund”). See Note 8 “Variable Interest Entities.”
5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We determine estimated fair values for our financial instruments using available information. The fair value amounts discussed in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of either amounts realizable upon disposition of these instruments or our intent or ability to dispose of these assets. The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid income taxes, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, dividends payable, compensation and benefits payable and income taxes payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term maturities. The carrying amount of investments designated as “trading” securities, primarily U.S. Government and Government agency obligations, money market funds, Westwood Funds® mutual funds, the UCITS Fund and Westwood Trust common trust fund shares, equals their fair value based on prices quoted in active markets and, with respect to common trust funds, the net asset value of the shares held as reported by each fund. Market values of our money market holdings generally do not fluctuate. Our strategic investment in a private company discussed in Note 4 “Investments” is excluded from the recurring fair value table shown below, as we have elected to apply the measurement alternative for this investment.

8

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding certain fair value measurements. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy for measuring fair value, as follows:
level 1 – quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets
level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable
level 3 – significant unobservable inputs where there is little or no market activity
The following table summarizes the values of our investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the fair value hierarchy as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Investments Measured at NAV (1)
 
Total
As of September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in trading securities
 
$
68,567

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,436

 
$
71,003

Total assets measured at fair value
 
$
68,567

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,436

 
$
71,003

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in trading securities
 
$
48,998

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,326

 
$
51,324

Total assets measured at fair value
 
$
48,998

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,326

 
$
51,324

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Comprised of certain investments measured at fair value using net asset value (NAV) as a practical expedient. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
6. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired assets over the fair value of the underlying identifiable assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually. We completed our annual goodwill impairment assessment during the third quarter of 2018 and determined that no impairment loss was required. No impairments on goodwill were recorded during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2018 or 2017.
Changes in the balance of Goodwill for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Goodwill
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
27,144

Omaha divestiture
 
(7,340
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
 
$
19,804

Other Intangible Assets
Our intangible assets represent the acquisition date fair value of acquired client relationships, trade names, non-compete agreements and internally developed software and are reflected net of amortization. In valuing these assets, we made significant estimates regarding their useful lives, growth rates and potential attrition. We periodically review intangible assets for events or circumstances that would indicate impairment. No impairments on intangible assets were recorded during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2018 or 2017.

9

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Changes in the balance of Intangible assets, net for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Intangible assets, net
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
19,804

Amortization
 
(1,255
)
Omaha divestiture (1)
 
(2,170
)
Balance as of September 30, 2018
 
$
16,379

_____________________
(1)    Related to client relationships
7. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The components of Accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
As of September 30, 2018
 
As of December 31, 2017
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
$
(2,826
)
 
$
(1,764
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(2,826
)
 
$
(1,764
)
8. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
We have evaluated (i) our advisory relationships with the UCITS Fund and the Westwood Funds®, (ii) our relationship as sponsor of the Common Trust Funds (“CTFs”) and managing member of the private equity funds Westwood Hospitality Fund I, LLC and Westwood Technology Fund LP (collectively the “Private Equity Funds”) and (iii) the private company discussed in Note 4 “Investments” (“Private Equity”) to determine whether each of these entities is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) or voting ownership entity (“VOE”). Based on our analysis, we determined that the CTFs and Private Equity Funds were VIEs, as the at-risk equity holders do not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and the Company and its representatives have a majority control of the entities' respective boards of directors and can influence the respective entities' management and affairs. Prior to the sale of our Omaha-based operations, we also considered our advisory relationship with ten limited liability companies (“LLCs”) as VIEs, but as of September 30, 2018, we no longer serve as the managing member of the funds and do not control the activities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance. Therefore these LLCs are no longer considered VIEs. Although we have related parties on the UCITS Fund board of directors, the shareholders have rights to remove the current directors by a simple majority vote and so we determined that the UCITS Fund is not a VIE. As the Company and its representatives do not have representation on the Westwood Funds® or the Private Equity independent boards of directors, which direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance, we determined that the Westwood Funds® and the Private Equity were not VIEs. Therefore, the UCITS Fund, Westwood Funds® and Private Equity should be analyzed under the VOE consolidation method. Based on our analysis of our investments in these entities for the periods ending September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we have not consolidated the CTFs, Private Equity Funds or LLCs under the VIE method or the UCITS Fund, Westwood Funds® or Private Equity under the VOE method, and therefore the financial results of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial results.
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, our seed investments aggregated approximately $8.7 million and $10.7 million, respectively, in the CTFs, the Westwood Funds and the UCITS Fund. The seed investments were provided for the sole purpose of showing the economic substance needed to establish the funds or sub-funds. The Company's seed investments in these funds are included in “Investments, at fair value” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

10

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

We have not otherwise provided any financial support not previously contractually obligated to provide, and there are no arrangements that would require us to provide additional financial support to any of these entities. Our seed investments in the above-mentioned Westwood Funds®, the UCITS Fund and the CTFs are accounted for as investments in accordance with our other investments described in Note 4 “Investments.” We recognized fee revenue from the Westwood VIEs and Westwood VOEs of approximately $11.7 million and $13.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We recognized fee revenue from the Westwood VIEs and Westwood VOEs of approximately $36.3 million and $39.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table displays the assets under management, the amounts of our seed investments included in “Investments” on our consolidated balance sheets, and the risk of loss in each vehicle (in millions):
 
 
As of September 30, 2018
 
 
Assets
Under
Management
 
Corporate
Investment
 
Amount at Risk
VIEs/VOEs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Westwood Funds®
 
$
4,031

 
$
6

 
$
6

Common Trust Funds
 
2,079

 
3

 
3

UCITS Fund
 
388

 

 

Private Equity Funds
 
8

 

 

Private Equity
 

 
5

 
5

All other assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Wealth
 
2,703

 
 
 
 
Institutional
 
11,591

 
 
 
 
Total Assets Under Management
 
$
20,800

 
 
 
 
9. REVENUE
Adoption of ASC 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2016-10 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with our historic accounting under Topic 605.
We analyzed the revenue from prior periods and determined no material adjustments to opening retained earnings were necessary as the updated guidance is consistent with our historical revenue recognition methodology.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized when the performance obligation (the investment management and advisory or trust services provided to the client) defined by the investment advisory or sub-advisory agreement is satisfied. For each performance obligation, we determine at contract inception whether the revenue satisfies over time or at a point in time. We derive our revenues from investment advisory fees, trust fees and other sources of revenues. Advisory and Trust fees are calculated based on a percentage of assets under management and the performance obligation is realized over the current calendar quarter. Once clients receive our investment advisory services we have an enforceable right to payment.


11

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Advisory Fee Revenues
Our advisory fees are generated by Westwood Management and Westwood International, which manage client accounts under investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. Advisory fees are typically calculated based on a percentage of assets under management and are paid in accordance with the terms of the agreements. Advisory fees are paid quarterly in advance based on assets under management on the last day of the preceding quarter, quarterly in arrears based on assets under management on the last day of the quarter just ended or are based on a daily or monthly analysis of assets under management for the stated period. We recognize advisory fee revenues as services are rendered. Since our advance paying clients' billing periods coincide with the calendar quarter to which such payments relate, revenue is recognized within the quarter and our condensed consolidated financial statements contain no deferred advisory fee revenues. Advisory clients typically consist of institutional and mutual fund accounts.
Institutional investors include separate accounts of (i) corporate pension and profit sharing plans, public employee retirement funds, Taft Hartley plans, endowments, foundations and individuals; (ii) subadvisory relationships where Westwood provides investment management services for funds offered by other financial institutions; (iii) pooled investment vehicles, including the UCITS Fund and collective investment trusts; and (iv) managed account relationships with brokerage firms and other registered investment advisors that offer Westwood products to their customers.
Mutual funds include the Westwood Funds®, a family of mutual funds for which Westwood Management serves as advisor. These funds are available to individual investors, as well as offered as part of our investment strategies for institutional investors and private wealth accounts.
Arrangements with Performance Based Obligations
A limited number of our advisory clients have a contractual performance-based fee component in their contracts, which generates additional revenues if we outperform a specified index over a specific period of time. The revenue is based on future market performance and is susceptible to factors outside our control. We cannot conclude that a significant reversal in the cumulative amount of revenue recognized will not occur during the measurement period, and therefore the revenue is recorded at the end of the measurement period when the performance obligation has been satisfied.
Trust Fee Revenues
Our trust fees are generated by Westwood Trust pursuant to trust or custodial agreements. Trust fees are separately negotiated with each client and are generally based on a percentage of assets under management. Westwood Trust also provides trust services to a small number of clients on a fixed fee basis. The fees for most of our trust clients are calculated quarterly in arrears, based on a daily average of assets under management for the quarter. Since billing periods for most of Westwood Trust’s clients coincide with the calendar quarter, revenue is fully recognized within the quarter and our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not contain a significant amount of deferred trust fee revenues.

12

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Revenue Disaggregated

Sales taxes are excluded from revenues. The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by account type (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Advisory Fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Institutional
 
$
14,426

 
$
17,610

 
$
46,815

 
$
51,263

Mutual Funds
 
7,527

 
7,724

 
23,030

 
22,356

Private Wealth
 
70

 

 
134

 

Performance-based
 

 

 
2,984

 
1,417

Trust Fees
 
7,191

 
7,858

 
22,265

 
23,570

Other
 
640

 
300

 
953

 
1,265

Total revenues
 
$
29,854

 
$
33,492

 
$
96,181

 
$
99,871


We have clients in various locations around the world. The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by our clients' geographical locations (in thousands):
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
Advisory
 
Trust
 
Performance-based
 
Other
 
Total
Asia
 
$
853

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
853

Australia
 
927

 

 

 

 
927

Canada
 
1,707

 

 

 
38

 
1,745

Europe
 
1,249

 

 

 

 
1,249

United States
 
17,287

 
7,191

 

 
602

 
25,080

Total
 
$
22,023

 
$
7,191

 
$

 
$
640

 
$
29,854

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asia
 
$
3,520

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,520

Australia
 
2,923

 

 

 

 
2,923

Canada
 
5,177

 

 

 
124

 
5,301

Europe
 
3,839

 

 

 

 
3,839

United States
 
54,520

 
22,265

 
2,984

 
829

 
80,598

Total
 
$
69,979

 
$
22,265

 
$
2,984

 
$
953

 
$
96,181


13

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Advisory
 
Trust
 
Performance-based
 
Other
 
Total
Asia
 
$
1,649

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,649

Australia
 
944

 

 

 

 
944

Canada
 
2,219

 

 

 
516

 
2,735

Europe
 
946

 

 

 

 
946

United States
 
19,576

 
7,858

 

 
(216
)
 
27,218

Total
 
$
25,334

 
$
7,858

 
$

 
$
300

 
$
33,492

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Asia
 
$
4,696

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,696

Australia
 
2,371

 

 

 

 
2,371

Canada
 
6,351

 

 

 
738

 
7,089

Europe
 
3,065

 

 

 

 
3,065

United States
 
57,136

 
23,570

 
1,417

 
527

 
82,650

Total
 
$
73,619

 
$
23,570

 
$
1,417

 
$
1,265

 
$
99,871

10. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
Restricted Stock Awards
We have issued restricted shares to our employees and non-employee directors. The Fifth Amended and Restated Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) reserves shares of Westwood common stock for issuance to eligible employees, directors and consultants of Westwood or its subsidiaries in the form of restricted stock. In April 2018, stockholders approved an additional 200,000 shares to be authorized under the Plan, increasing the total number of shares issuable under the Plan (including predecessor plans to the Plan) to 4,848,100 shares. At September 30, 2018, approximately 409,000 shares remain available for issuance under the Plan.
The following table presents the total stock-based compensation expense recorded for stock-based compensation arrangements for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Service condition stock-based compensation expense
 
$
2,434

 
$
2,591

 
$
7,759

 
$
7,828

Performance condition stock-based compensation expense
 
1,107

 
1,454
 
3,471

 
3,949

Stock-based compensation expense under the Plan
 
3,541

 
4,045
 
11,230

 
11,777

Canadian Plan stock-based compensation expense
 
154

 
188

 
428

 
521

Total stock-based compensation expense
 
$
3,695

 
$
4,233

 
$
11,658

 
$
12,298


Restricted Stock
Under the Plan we have granted to employees and non-employee directors restricted stock subject to service conditions and to certain key employees restricted stock subject to both service and performance conditions.
As of September 30, 2018, there was approximately $23.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost for restricted stock grants under the Plan, which we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years. Our two types of restricted stock grants under the Plan are discussed below.

14

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Restricted Stock Subject Only to a Service Condition
We calculate compensation cost for restricted stock grants by using the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant, the number of shares issued and an adjustment for restrictions on dividends. This compensation cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over the applicable vesting period, with adjustments for forfeitures recorded as they occur.
The following table details the status and changes in our restricted stock grants subject only to a service condition for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:

 
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested, January 1, 2018
 
519,375

 
$
55.44

Granted
 
172,366

 
55.92

Vested
 
(203,504
)
 
53.49

Forfeited
 
(29,229
)
 
56.55

Non-vested, September 30, 2018
 
459,008

 
$
56.42


Restricted Stock Subject to Service and Performance Conditions
Under the Plan, certain key employees were provided agreements for grants of restricted shares that vest over multiple year periods subject to achieving annual performance goals established by the Compensation Committee of Westwood’s Board of Directors. Each year the Compensation Committee establishes specific goals for that year’s vesting of the restricted shares. The date that the Compensation Committee establishes annual goals is considered to be the grant date and the fair value measurement date to determine expense on the shares that are likely to vest. The vesting period ends when the Compensation Committee formally approves the performance-based restricted stock vesting based on the specific performance goals from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. If a portion of the performance-based restricted shares does not vest, no compensation expense is recognized for that portion and any previously recognized compensation expense related to shares that do not vest is reversed.
In March 2018, the Compensation Committee established the fiscal 2018 goal for our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer as Income before income taxes of $20.0 million for 50% of their respective awards and an Income before income taxes target of $36.0 million (ranging from 25% of target for threshold performance of $32.0 million to 185% of target for maximum performance of $44.5 million) for the remaining 50% of their respective awards. For certain other key employees, the Compensation Committee established fiscal 2018 goals based on various departmental and company-wide performance goals, including Income before income taxes of at least $20.0 million. During the first nine months of 2018, we recorded expense related to the applicable percentage of the performance-based restricted shares expected to meet or exceed the performance goals needed to earn the shares.
The following table details the status and changes in our restricted stock grants subject to service and performance conditions for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested, January 1, 2018
 
165,918

 
$
55.85

Granted
 
84,829

 
55.46

Vested
 
(98,281
)
 
55.81

Forfeited
 

 

Non-vested, September 30, 2018
 
152,466

 
$
55.66


15

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Canadian Plan
The Share Award Plan of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. for Service Provided in Canada to its Subsidiaries (the “Canadian Plan”) provides compensation in the form of common stock for services performed by employees of Westwood International. Under the Canadian Plan, no more than $10 million CDN ($7.7 million in U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate on September 30, 2018) may be funded to the plan trustee for purchases of common stock with respect to awards granted under the Canadian Plan. At September 30, 2018, approximately $3.5 million CDN ($2.7 million in U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate on September 30, 2018) remains available for issuance under the Canadian Plan, or approximately 52,064 shares based on the closing share price of our stock of $51.74 as of September 30, 2018. During the first nine months of 2018, the trust formed pursuant to the Canadian Plan purchased in the open market 13,031 Westwood common shares for approximately $726,000. As of September 30, 2018, the trust holds 46,358 shares of Westwood common stock. As of September 30, 2018, unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock grants under the Canadian Plan totaled $0.8 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.
Mutual Fund Share Incentive Awards
We grant annually to certain employees mutual fund incentive awards, which are bonus awards based on our mutual funds achieving specific performance goals. Awards granted are notionally credited to a participant account maintained by us that contains a number of mutual fund shares equal to the award amount divided by the net closing value of a fund share on the date the amount is credited to the account. We maintain the award in a corporate investment account until vesting. The investment may increase or decrease based on changes in the value of the mutual fund shares awarded, including reinvested income from the mutual funds during the vesting period. Unvested mutual fund awards are included under “Investments, at fair value” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Awards vest over approximately two years of service following the year in which the participant earned the award. We begin accruing a liability for mutual fund incentive awards when we believe it is probable that the award will be earned and record expense for these awards over the service period of the award, which is three years. During the year in which the amount of the award is determined, we record expense based on the expected value of the award. After the award is earned, we record expense based on the value of the shares awarded and the percentage of the vesting period that has elapsed. Our liability under these awards may increase or decrease based on changes in the value of the mutual fund shares awarded, including reinvested income from the mutual funds during the vesting period. Upon vesting, participants receive the value of the mutual fund share awards adjusted for earnings or losses attributable to the underlying mutual funds. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded expense of approximately $89,000 and $281,000, respectively, related to mutual fund share incentive awards. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded expense of approximately $274,000 and $819,000, respectively, related to mutual fund share incentive awards. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had an accrued liability of approximately $606,000 and $1.8 million, respectively, related to mutual fund share incentive awards.
11. INCOME TAXES
Our effective income tax rate was 24.9% for the third quarter of 2018, compared with 28.2% for the third quarter of 2017. The current quarter rate benefited from the decrease in the U.S. corporate income tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December 2017, partially offset by tax expense of $251,000 related to completion of a state tax audit, while the prior year quarter benefited from the tax impact of our legal settlement with AGF.
Our effective income tax rate was 25.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared with 29.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The current year-to-date rate benefited from the decrease in the U.S. corporate income tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December 2017, partially offset by tax expense related to completion of a state tax audit, while the first nine months of 2017 benefited from the tax impact of our legal settlement with AGF and included a $1.0 million tax benefit related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09 Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Excluding this discrete tax benefit, our effective tax rate would have been 33.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

16

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Tax Reform Act
On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. During 2017, we provisionally recognized the incremental tax impacts related to deemed repatriated earnings and the revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these amounts in our Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. We completed the accounting for our 2017 U.S. corporate income tax return in the third quarter of 2018 and made no significant changes to the amounts provisionally recognized.
Tax Audit
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions, and during the first nine months of 2018, our 2014 tax return was audited in a state jurisdiction in which we operate. The audit was completed in September 2018, and we recorded and paid income taxes and interest expense of $251,000 and $81,000, respectively, during the third quarter of 2018, which are included within “Provision for income taxes” and “General and administrative expenses,” respectively, in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. No penalties were assessed by the state.
12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Some of our directors, executive officers and their affiliates invest personal funds directly in trust accounts that we manage. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded trust fees from these accounts of $89,000 and $92,000, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we recorded trust fees from these accounts of $276,000 and $277,000, respectively. There was $89,000 and $98,000 due from these accounts as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
The Company engages in transactions with its affiliates in the ordinary course of business. Westwood International and Westwood Management provide investment advisory services to the UCITS Fund and the Westwood Funds®. Certain members of our management serve on the board of directors of the UCITS Fund, and we have capital invested in three of the Westwood Funds®. Under the terms of the investment advisory agreements, the Company earns quarterly fees paid by clients of the fund or by the funds directly. The fees are based on negotiated fee schedules applied to assets under management. These fees are commensurate with market rates. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company earned approximately $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in fees from the affiliated funds. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company earned approximately $3.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively, in fees from the affiliated funds. These fees do not include fees paid directly to Westwood International by certain clients invested in the UCITS Fund that have an investment management agreement with Westwood International. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $329,000 and $423,000, respectively, of these fees were outstanding and included in “Accounts receivable” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As discussed in Note 4 “Investments,” the Company made a strategic investment in an equity position of a private company during the second and third quarters of 2018. We previously entered into a separate agreement with this private company to implement a portfolio management product. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred approximately $162,000 and $767,000, respectively, in expenses to this company, which are included in “Information technology expenses” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company did not incur any similar expenses during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017.

17

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
On August 3, 2012, AGF Management Limited and AGF Investments Inc. (collectively, “AGF”) filed a lawsuit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against Westwood, certain Westwood employees and the executive recruiting firm of Warren International, LLC (“Warren”). The action related to the hiring of certain members of Westwood’s global and emerging markets investment team previously employed by AGF. On November 5, 2012, Westwood responded to AGF’s lawsuit with a counterclaim, and on November 6, 2012, AGF filed a second lawsuit against Westwood, Westwood Management and an employee of Westwood International.
On October 13, 2017, we reached a settlement with AGF that provided for the dismissal of all claims, with prejudice and without any admission of liability. We agreed to pay AGF a one-time payment of $10.0 million CDN, half of which was covered by our insurance. During 2017, we recorded a net $4.0 million ($5.0 million CDN) charge related to the settlement and associated insurance coverage, with a $4.0 million ($5.0 million CDN) receivable from our insurance provider included in “Other current assets” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017. We received the insurance proceeds of $4.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and had no receivable related to the settlement at September 30, 2018.
Our policy is to not accrue legal fees and directly-related costs as part of potential loss contingencies. We have agreed with our Directors & Officers insurance provider that 50% of the defense costs related to both AGF claims, excluding Westwood’s counterclaim against AGF, are covered by insurance. We expense legal fees and directly related costs as incurred. We received the remaining insurance proceeds related to AGF legal expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and had no receivable at quarter-end. We had a receivable of approximately $212,000 as of December 31, 2017, which represented our then current minimum estimate of expenses that we expected to recover under our insurance policy. This receivable is included in “Other current assets” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
14. SEGMENT REPORTING
We operate two segments: Advisory and Trust. These segments are managed separately based on the types of products and services offered and their related client bases. The Company’s segment information is prepared on the same basis that management reviews the financial information for operational decision-making purposes. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, evaluates the performance of our segments based primarily on fee revenues and Economic Earnings. Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., the parent company of Advisory and Trust, does not have revenues and is the entity in which we record typical holding company expenses including employee compensation and benefits for holding company employees, directors’ fees and investor relations costs. All segment accounting policies are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Intersegment balances that eliminate in consolidation have been applied to the appropriate segment.
Advisory
Our Advisory segment provides investment advisory services to corporate retirement plans, public retirement plans, endowments, foundations, individuals, the Westwood Funds®, and the UCITS Fund, as well as investment subadvisory services to mutual funds and our Trust segment. Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood International, which provide investment advisory services to clients of similar type, are included in our Advisory segment along with Westwood Advisors, L.L.C.
Trust
Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in common trust funds that it sponsors to institutions and high net worth individuals. Westwood Trust is included in our Trust segment.

18

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(in thousands)
 
Advisory
 
Trust
 
Westwood
Holdings
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net fee revenues from external sources
 
$
22,023

 
$
7,191

 
$

 
$

 
$
29,214

Net intersegment revenues
 
1,756

 
58

 

 
(1,814
)
 

Net interest and dividend revenue
 
187

 
52

 

 

 
239

Other, net
 
389

 
12

 

 

 
401

Total revenues
 
$
24,355

 
$
7,313

 
$

 
$
(1,814
)
 
$
29,854

Economic Earnings
 
$
10,553

 
$
1,357

 
$
(2,369
)
 
$

 
$
9,541

Less:   Restricted stock expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,695

Intangible amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
419

Deferred taxes on goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
59

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
5,368

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets
 
$
220,138

 
$
60,658

 
$
16,839

 
$
(105,008
)
 
$
192,627

Segment goodwill
 
$
3,403

 
$
16,401

 
$

 
$

 
$
19,804

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net fee revenues from external sources
 
$
25,334

 
$
7,858

 
$

 
$

 
$
33,192

Net intersegment revenues
 
2,026

 
57

 

 
(2,083
)
 

Net interest and dividend revenue
 
111

 
43

 

 

 
154

Other, net
 
157

 
(11
)
 

 

 
146

Total revenues
 
$
27,628

 
$
7,947

 
$

 
$
(2,083
)
 
$
33,492

Economic Earnings
 
$
8,786

 
$
1,560

 
$
(1,356
)
 
$

 
$
8,990

Less:   Restricted stock expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,233

Intangible amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
469

Deferred taxes on goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
156

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
4,132

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets
 
$
208,444

 
$
73,170

 
$
18,388

 
$
(108,640
)
 
$
191,362

Segment goodwill
 
$
5,219

 
$
21,925

 
$

 
$

 
$
27,144



19

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

(in thousands)
 
Advisory
 
Trust
 
Westwood
Holdings
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net fee revenues from external sources
 
$
72,963

 
$
22,265

 
$

 
$

 
$
95,228

Net intersegment revenues
 
5,639

 
171

 

 
(5,810
)
 

Net interest and dividend revenue
 
464

 
152

 

 

 
616

Other
 
331

 
6

 

 

 
337

Total revenues
 
$
79,397

 
$
22,594

 
$

 
$
(5,810
)
 
$
96,181

Economic Earnings
 
$
37,463

 
$
4,034

 
$
(7,069
)
 
$

 
$
34,428

Less:   Restricted stock expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11,658

Intangible amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,255

Deferred taxes on goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
177

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
21,338

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net fee revenues from external sources
 
$
75,036

 
$
23,570

 
$

 
$

 
$
98,606

Net intersegment revenues
 
6,050

 
160

 

 
(6,210
)
 

Net interest and dividend revenue
 
391

 
67

 

 

 
458

Other
 
811

 
(4
)
 

 

 
807

Total revenues
 
$
82,288

 
$
23,793

 
$

 
$
(6,210
)
 
$
99,871

Economic Earnings
 
$
31,372

 
$
4,528

 
$
(4,592
)
 
$

 
$
31,308

Less:   Restricted stock expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12,298

Intangible amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,449

Deferred taxes on goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
469

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
17,092

We are providing a performance measure that we refer to as Economic Earnings. Our management and the Board of Directors review Economic Earnings to evaluate our ongoing performance, allocate resources and determine our dividend policy. We also believe that this performance measure is useful for management and investors when evaluating our underlying operating and financial performance and our available resources.
In calculating Economic Earnings, we add to net income the non-cash expense associated with equity-based compensation awards of restricted stock, amortization of intangible assets and the deferred taxes related to the tax-basis amortization of goodwill. Although depreciation on property and equipment is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent a decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement.
The following tables provide a reconciliation of Net income to Economic Earnings (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
 
$
5,368

 
$
4,132

 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

Add: Stock-based compensation expense
 
3,695

 
4,233

 
11,658

 
12,298

Add: Intangible amortization
 
419

 
469

 
1,255

 
1,449

Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization
 
59

 
156

 
177

 
469

Economic Earnings
 
$
9,541

 
$
8,990

 
$
34,428

 
$
31,308


20

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)

15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Dividend Declared
In October 2018, Westwood’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.72 per common share, an increase of 6% from the previous quarterly dividend rate, payable on January 2, 2019, to stockholders of record on December 7, 2018.

21


ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this report and the Annual Report to Stockholders that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including, without limitation, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “may,” “target,” “designed,” “on track,” “comfortable with,” “optimistic” and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC, and those risks set forth below:
the composition and market value of our assets under management;
regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry;
competition in the investment management industry;
our assets under management includes investments in foreign companies;
our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully;
our reputation and our relationships with current and potential customers;
our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
our ability to perform operational tasks;
our ability to maintain effective cyber security;
our ability to identify and execute on our strategic initiatives;
our ability to select and oversee third-party vendors;
our ability to maintain effective information systems;
litigation risks;
our ability to properly address conflicts of interest;
our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage;
our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls;
our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures;
our relationships with investment consulting firms; and
the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers.
You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We are not obligated and do not undertake an obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

22


Overview
We manage investment assets and provide services for our clients through our subsidiaries, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. (each of which is an SEC-registered investment advisor and referred to hereinafter together as “Westwood Management”), Westwood International Advisors Inc. (“Westwood International”) and Westwood Trust. Westwood Management provides investment advisory services to institutional investors, a family of mutual funds called the Westwood Funds®, other mutual funds, an Ireland-domiciled fund organized pursuant to the European Union’s Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (the “UCITS Fund”), individual investors and clients of Westwood Trust. Westwood International provides investment advisory services to institutional clients, the Westwood Funds®, other mutual funds, the UCITS Fund and clients of Westwood Trust. Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in self-sponsored common trust funds to institutions and high net worth individuals. Our revenues are generally derived from fees based on a percentage of assets under management.
Divestiture of our Omaha Operations
On September 6, 2017, we entered into an agreement to sell the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business. The sale closed on January 12, 2018. We received proceeds of $10.0 million, net of working capital requirements, and recorded a gain on the sale of $524,000, which is included as “Gain on sale of operations” on our Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The component is reported within both our Advisory and Trust segments. The sale did not represent a major strategic shift in our business and did not qualify for discontinued operations reporting.
Revenues
We derive our revenues from investment advisory fees, trust fees and other revenues. Our advisory fees are generated by Westwood Management and Westwood International, which manage client accounts under investment advisory and subadvisory agreements. Advisory fees are typically calculated based on a percentage of assets under management and are paid in accordance with the terms of the agreements. Advisory fees are paid quarterly in advance based on assets under management on the last day of the preceding quarter, quarterly in arrears based on assets under management on the last day of the quarter just ended or are based on a daily or monthly analysis of assets under management for the stated period. We recognize advisory fee revenues as services are rendered. A limited number of our clients have a contractual performance-based fee component in their contracts, which generates additional revenues if we outperform a specified index over a specific period of time. We record revenues from performance-based fees at the end of the measurement period. Since our advance paying clients' billing periods coincide with the calendar quarter to which such payments relate, revenue is recognized within the quarter and our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain no deferred advisory fee revenues.
Our trust fees are generated by Westwood Trust pursuant to trust or custodial agreements. Trust fees are separately negotiated with each client and are generally based on a percentage of assets under management. Westwood Trust also provides trust services to a small number of clients on a fixed fee basis. Trust fees for most of our trust clients are calculated quarterly in arrears, based on a daily average of assets under management for the quarter. Since billing periods for most of Westwood Trust’s clients coincide with the calendar quarter, revenue is fully recognized within the quarter and our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not contain a significant amount of deferred trust fee revenues.
Our other revenues generally consist of interest and investment income. Although we generally invest most of our cash in U.S. Treasury securities, we also invest in equity and fixed income instruments and money market funds, including seed money for new investment strategies.
Employee Compensation and Benefits
Employee compensation and benefits expenses generally consist of salaries, incentive compensation, equity-based compensation and benefits.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses relate to our marketing efforts, including travel and entertainment, direct marketing and advertising costs.

23


Westwood Mutual Funds
Westwood Mutual Funds expenses relate to our marketing, distribution and administration of the Westwood Funds®.
Information Technology
Information technology expenses are generally costs associated with proprietary investment research tools, maintenance and support, computing hardware, software licenses, telecommunications and other related costs.
Professional Services
Professional services expenses generally consist of costs associated with subadvisory fees, audit, tax, legal and other professional services.
Legal Settlements
Legal settlement expenses consist of settlements related to litigation claims, net of any amounts covered by our insurance policies.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses generally consist of costs associated with the lease of our office space, amortization, depreciation, insurance, custody expense, Board of Directors' fees, investor relations, licenses and fees, office supplies, foreign currency transaction gains/losses and other miscellaneous expenses.
Gain on Sale of Operations
Gain on sale of operations includes the gain on the sale of our Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business.

24


Assets Under Management
Assets under management (“AUM”) decreased $2.8 billion to $20.8 billion at September 30, 2018 compared with $23.6 billion at September 30, 2017. The average of beginning and ending assets under management for the third quarter of 2018 was $21.2 billion compared to $23.1 billion for the third quarter of 2017. These decreases are due to net outflows, including $1.2 billion of outflows related to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business, partially offset by market appreciation, over the last twelve months.
The following table displays assets under management as of September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
% Change
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
As of September 30,
 
vs.
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
September 30, 2017
 
 
(in millions)
 
 
Institutional
 
$
11,979

 
$
13,658

 
(12
)%
Private Wealth
 
4,790

 
5,822

 
(18
)
Mutual Funds
 
4,031

 
4,144

 
(3
)
Total Assets Under Management(1)
 
$
20,800

 
$
23,624

 
(12
)%
________________
(1)
AUM excludes $268 million and $362 million of assets under advisement (AUA) as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to our model portfolios for which we provided consulting advice but for which we did not have direct discretionary investment authority.

Institutional includes (i) separate accounts of corporate pension and profit sharing plans, public employee retirement funds, Taft Hartley plans, endowments, foundations and individuals; (ii) subadvisory relationships where Westwood provides investment management services for funds offered by other financial institutions; (iii) pooled investment vehicles, including the UCITS Fund and collective investment trusts; and (iv) managed account relationships with brokerage firms and other registered investment advisors that offer Westwood products to their customers.
Private Wealth includes assets for which Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in common trust funds that it sponsors to institutions and high net worth individuals pursuant to trust or custodial agreements and assets for which Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. provides advisory services to high net worth individuals. Investment subadvisory services are provided for the common trust funds by Westwood Management, Westwood International and external, unaffiliated subadvisors. For certain assets in this category, Westwood Trust currently provides limited custody services for a minimal or no fee, viewing these assets as potentially converting to fee-generating managed assets in the future. As an example, some assets in this category consist of low-basis stock currently held in custody for clients where we believe such assets may convert to fee-generating managed assets upon an inter-generational transfer of wealth.
Mutual Funds include the Westwood Funds®, a family of mutual funds for which Westwood Management serves as advisor. These funds are available to individual investors, as well as offered as part of our investment strategies for institutional and private wealth accounts.

25


Roll-Forward of Assets Under Management
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Institutional
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period assets
 
$
12,457

 
$
12,773

 
$
14,421

 
$
11,911

Inflows(1)
 
402

 
1,113

 
1,187

 
2,173

Outflows
 
(1,265
)
 
(659
)
 
(3,858
)
 
(1,954
)
Net flows
 
(863
)
 
454

 
(2,671
)
 
219

Market appreciation
 
385

 
431

 
229

 
1,528

Net change
 
(478
)
 
885

 
(2,442
)
 
1,747

End of period assets
 
$
11,979

 
$
13,658

 
$
11,979

 
$
13,658

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Wealth
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period assets
 
$
4,935

 
$
5,685

 
$
5,566

 
$
5,520

Inflows
 
106

 
194

 
293

 
509

Outflows(2)
 
(422
)
 
(216
)
 
(1,242
)
 
(710
)
Net flows
 
(316
)
 
(22
)
 
(949
)
 
(201
)
Market appreciation
 
171

 
159

 
173

 
503

Net change
 
(145
)
 
137

 
(776
)
 
302

End of period assets
 
$
4,790

 
$
5,822

 
$
4,790

 
$
5,822

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mutual Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period assets
 
$
4,199

 
$
4,092

 
$
4,242

 
$
3,810

Inflows
 
164

 
293

 
716

 
792

Outflows
 
(466
)
 
(334
)
 
(1,034
)
 
(803
)
Net flows
 
(302
)
 
(41
)
 
(318
)
 
(11
)
Market appreciation
 
134

 
93

 
107

 
345

Net change
 
(168
)
 
52

 
(211
)
 
334

End of period assets
 
$
4,031

 
$
4,144

 
$
4,031

 
$
4,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total AUM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning of period assets
 
$
21,591

 
$
22,550

 
$
24,229

 
$
21,241

Inflows
 
672

 
1,600

 
2,196

 
3,474

Outflows
 
(2,153
)
 
(1,209
)
 
(6,134
)
 
(3,467
)
Net flows
 
(1,481
)
 
391

 
(3,938
)
 
7

Market appreciation
 
690

 
683

 
509

 
2,376

Net change
 
(791
)
 
1,074

 
(3,429
)
 
2,383

End of period assets
 
$
20,800

 
$
23,624

 
$
20,800

 
$
23,624

________________
(1)
Institutional inflows include approximately $713 million of assets related to a long-only convertibles fund, which transitioned from AUA to AUM during the third quarter of 2017.
(2)
Private Wealth outflows include approximately $271 million and $802 million of assets related to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.


26


Three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
The $791 million decrease in assets under management for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was due to net outflows of $1.5 billion, partially offset by market appreciation of $690 million. Net outflows were primarily related to our Emerging Markets, SMidCap and Income Opportunity strategies and outflows related to the divestiture of our Omaha operations.
The $1.1 billion increase in assets under management for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was due to market appreciation of $683 million and net inflows of $391 million. Net inflows were primarily related to $713 million in our Strategic Global Convertibles strategy that transitioned from AUA to AUM in the third quarter of 2017, as well as net inflows to our Market Neutral Income and Emerging Markets strategies. These net inflows were partially offset by net outflows from our SMidCap strategies, Income Opportunity strategy and LargeCap Value strategy.
Nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
The $3.4 billion decrease in assets under management for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was due to net outflows of $3.9 billion, partially offset by market appreciation of $509 million. Net outflows were primarily related to our Emerging Markets, SMidCap, Income Opportunity and LargeCap Value strategies and outflows related to the divestiture of our Omaha operations, partially offset by net inflows to our SmallCap Value strategy.
The $2.4 billion increase in assets under management for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was due to market appreciation of $2.4 billion and net inflows of $7 million. Net inflows were primarily related to approximately $713 million in our Strategic Global Convertibles strategy that transitioned from AUA to AUM in the third quarter of 2017 and net inflows to our SmallCap Value, Market Neutral Income and Emerging Markets strategies, partially offset by net outflows from our SMidCap strategies and LargeCap Value strategy.


27


Results of Operations
The following table (dollars in thousands) and discussion of our results of operations are based upon data derived from the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income contained in our condensed consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with those statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
% Change
 
% Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2018
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
vs.
 
vs.
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2017
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory fees: asset-based
 
$
22,023

 
$
25,334

 
$
69,979

 
$
73,619

 
(13
)%
 
(5
)%
Advisory fees: performance-based
 

 

 
2,984

 
1,417

 

 
111

Trust fees
 
7,191

 
7,858

 
22,265

 
23,570

 
(8
)
 
(6
)
Other revenues
 
640

 
300

 
953

 
1,265

 
NM
 
NM
Total revenues
 
29,854

 
33,492

 
96,181

 
99,871

 
(11
)
 
(4
)
Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
 
14,444

 
15,601

 
46,857

 
48,875

 
(7
)
 
(4
)
Sales and marketing
 
549

 
457

 
1,401

 
1,447

 
20

 
(3
)
Westwood mutual funds
 
979

 
977

 
2,966

 
2,749

 

 
8

Information technology
 
2,332

 
1,855

 
6,753

 
5,494

 
26

 
23

Professional services
 
1,372

 
1,681

 
3,677

 
4,495

 
(18
)
 
(18
)
Legal Settlement
 

 
4,009

 

 
4,009

 
NM
 
NM
General and administrative
 
3,027

 
3,160

 
6,477

 
8,697

 
(4
)
 
(26
)
Total expenses
 
22,703

 
27,740

 
68,131

 
75,766

 
(18
)
 
(10
)
Net operating income
 
7,151

 
5,752

 
28,050

 
24,105

 
24

 
16

Gain on sale of operations
 

 

 
524

 

 
NM
 
NM
Income before income taxes
 
7,151

 
5,752

 
28,574

 
24,105

 
24

 
19

Provision for income taxes
 
1,783

 
1,620

 
7,236

 
7,013

 
10

 
3

Net income
 
$
5,368

 
$
4,132

 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

 
30
 %
 
25
 %
_________________________
NM    Not meaningful

28


Three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to three months ended September 30, 2017
Total Revenues. Total revenues decreased $3.6 million, or 11%, to $29.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $33.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Asset-based advisory fees decreased $3.3 million, or 13%, primarily due to lower average assets under management. Trust fees decreased $0.7 million, or 8%, primarily due to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business.
Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits decreased $1.2 million, or 7%, to $14.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The decrease was due to reductions in compensation relating to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business and short- and long-term incentive compensation as a result of lower asset-based revenues as compared to the prior year quarter.
Legal Settlement. We recorded a net $4.0 million charge related to a legal settlement and associated insurance coverage during the third quarter of 2017. See further discussion of the settlement in Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I. Financial Information.
Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate decreased to 24.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from 28.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The current quarter rate benefited from the decrease in the U.S. corporate income tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December 2017, partially offset by tax expense of $251,000 related to completion of a state tax audit, while the prior year quarter benefited from the tax impact of our legal settlement with AGF.
Nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2017
Total Revenues. Total revenues decreased $3.7 million, or 4%, to $96.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $99.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Asset-based advisory fees decreased $3.6 million, or 5%, related to lower average assets under management, and Trust fees decreased $1.3 million, or 6%, primarily due to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business. These decreases were offset by a $1.6 million increase in performance-based advisory fees.
Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits costs decreased $2.0 million, or 4%, to $46.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $48.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The decrease is due to reductions in compensation relating to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business and short- and long-term incentive compensation as a result of lower asset-based revenues as compared to the prior year.
Information Technology. Information technology costs increased $1.3 million, or 23%, to $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to implementation costs as we continue to invest in our technology infrastructure and increased research expenses.
Professional services. Professional services costs decreased $0.8 million, or 18%, to $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared with $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to reduced legal fees in the current quarter as we settled the AGF lawsuit in the prior year quarter.
Legal Settlement. We recorded a net $4.0 million charge related to a legal settlement and associated insurance coverage during the third quarter of 2017. See further discussion of the settlement in Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I. Financial Information.
General & Administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased $2.2 million, or 26%, to $6.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $8.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily due to a $0.8 million foreign currency transaction gain recorded in the first nine months of 2018 as compared to a $1.6 million foreign currency transaction loss recorded in the first nine months of 2017.
Gain on Sale of Operations. The nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes a $0.5 million gain on the sale of our Omaha-based component of our Private Wealth business.

29


Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate decreased to 25.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from 29.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The current year-to-date rate benefited from the decrease in the U.S. corporate income tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in December 2017, partially offset by tax expense of $251,000 related to completion of a state tax audit, while the prior year benefited from the tax impact of our legal settlement with AGF and included a $1.0 million tax benefit related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09 Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting in the first quarter of 2017. Excluding this discrete tax benefit, our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 would have been 33.0%. Prior to adoption of ASU 2016-09, excess tax benefits were recorded through Additional paid-in capital, with no impact to the effective tax rate.
Supplemental Financial Information
As supplemental information, we provide a non-U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) performance measure that we refer to as Economic Earnings. We provide this measure in addition to, but not as a substitute for, net income reported on a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) basis. Our management and Board of Directors review Economic Earnings to evaluate our ongoing performance, allocate resources and review the dividend policy. We believe that this non-GAAP performance measure, while not a substitute for GAAP net income, is useful for management and investors when evaluating our underlying operating and financial performance and our available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider this non-GAAP measure without also considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In calculating Economic Earnings, we add back to net income the non-cash expense associated with equity-based compensation awards of restricted stock, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes related to the tax-basis amortization of goodwill. Although depreciation on property and equipment is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent a decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement.
The following tables provide a reconciliation of Net income to Economic Earnings (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
%
Change
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Net income
 
$
5,368

 
$
4,132

 
30
 %
Add: Stock-based compensation expense
 
3,695

 
4,233

 
(13
)
Add: Intangible amortization
 
419

 
469

 
(11
)
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization
 
59

 
156

 
(62
)
Economic Earnings
 
$
9,541

 
$
8,990

 
6
 %
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
 
8,598,230

 
8,420,749

 
 
Economic Earnings per share
 
$
1.11

 
$
1.07

 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
%
Change
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Net Income
 
$
21,338

 
$
17,092

 
25
 %
Add: Stock-based compensation expense
 
11,658

 
12,298

 
(5
)
Add: Intangible amortization
 
1,255

 
1,449

 
(13
)
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization
 
177

 
469

 
(62
)
Economic Earnings
 
$
34,428

 
$
31,308

 
10
 %
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
 
8,561,918

 
8,350,926

 
 
Economic Earnings per share
 
$
4.02

 
$
3.75

 
 

30


Liquidity and Capital Resources
We fund our operations and cash requirements with cash generated from operating activities. We may also use cash from operations to pay dividends to our stockholders. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had no debt. The changes in net cash provided by operating activities generally reflect the changes in earnings plus the effects of non-cash items and changes in working capital. Changes in working capital, especially accounts receivable and accounts payable, are generally the result of timing differences between collection of fees billed and payment of operating expenses.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, cash flow provided by operating activities, principally our investment advisory business, was $15.1 million. Cash flow provided by investing activities of $3.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily related to the sale of the Omaha-based component of our private wealth business, partially offset by our strategic investment in a private company. Cash flow used in financing activities of $24.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 reflected the payment of dividends, purchases of restricted stock returned for payment of taxes and purchases of treasury shares for our Canadian share award plan.
We had cash and short-term investments of $119.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and $105.6 million as of December 31, 2017. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included approximately $30 million and $33 million, respectively, of undistributed income from Westwood International. If these funds were needed for our U.S. operations, we would be required to accrue and pay incremental Canadian withholding taxes to repatriate a portion of these funds. Our current intention is to permanently reinvest the funds subject to withholding taxes outside of the U.S., and our current forecasts do not demonstrate a need to repatriate them to fund our U.S. operations. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, working capital aggregated $117.1 million and $106.6 million, respectively.
Westwood Trust must maintain cash and investments in an amount equal to the minimum restricted capital of $4.0 million, as required by the Texas Finance Code. Restricted capital is included in Investments in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2018, Westwood Trust had approximately $16.8 million in excess of its minimum capital requirement.
Our future liquidity and capital requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including our results of operations, the timing and magnitude of capital expenditures or strategic initiatives, our dividend policy and other business and risk factors described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC. We believe that current cash and short-term investment balances plus cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet both the operating and capital requirements of our ordinary business operations through at least the next twelve months. However, there can be no assurance that we will not require additional financing within this time frame. The failure to raise needed capital on attractive terms, if at all, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2018 (in thousands):
 
 
Payments due in:
 
 
Total
 
Less than
1 year
 
1-3
years
 
4-5
years
 
After 5
years
Purchase obligations(1)
 
$
10,120

 
$
3,032

 
$
3,705

 
$
1,759

 
$
1,624

Operating lease obligations
 
$
13,507

 
$
1,908

 
$
4,272

 
$
3,501

 
$
3,826

________________
(1)
A “purchase obligation” is defined as an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding and that specifies all significant terms, including (a) fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; (b) fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and (c) the approximate timing of the transaction. Our purchase obligations relate to obligations associated with implementing and operating new information technology platforms and outsourcing services. The above purchase obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable without significant penalty.

31


Critical and Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Refer to Note 9 “Revenue” in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a detailed description of the adoption of ASU 2014-09.
There have been no other significant changes in our critical or significant accounting policies and estimates since December 31, 2017. Information with respect to our critical accounting policies and estimates that we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported consolidated results and require difficult, subjective or complex judgment by management is described under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
Accounting Developments
Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of recently issued accounting guidance.
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
There have been no significant changes in our Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk from those previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (1) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

32


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
We face a number of significant risks and uncertainties in our business, including those detailed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and summarized in this report under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These risks and uncertainties may affect our current position and future prospects and should be considered carefully in evaluating us, including making an investment in our common stock.
ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table displays information with respect to the treasury shares we purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2018:
Period
 
Total
number of
shares
purchased
 
Average
price paid
per share
 
Total number
of shares
purchased as
part of publicly
announced
plans or
programs
 
Maximum number (or
approximate
dollar value)
of shares that
may yet be
purchased
under the
plans or
programs (1)
Repurchase program (1)
 

 
$

 

 
$
9,366,000

Canadian Plan (2)
 

 
$

 

CDN
$
3,478,000

Employee transactions (3)
 

 
$

 

 

July 1-31, 2018
 
118

 
$
59.40

 

 


(1)
On July 20, 2012, our Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to $10.0 million of our outstanding common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. In July 2016, Westwood's Board of Directors authorized an additional $5.0 million of repurchases under the share repurchase program. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be discontinued at any time by the Board of Directors.
(2)
On April 18, 2013, our stockholders approved the Share Award Plan of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. for Service Provided in Canada to its Subsidiaries (the “Canadian Plan”), which contemplates a trustee purchasing up to $10.0 million CDN of our outstanding common stock on the open market for the purpose of making share awards to our Canadian employees. The Canadian Plan has no expiration date and may be discontinued at any time by the Board of Directors.
(3)
Consists of shares of common stock tendered by an employee at the market close price on the date of vesting in order to satisfy the employee’s minimum tax withholding obligations from vested restricted shares. We anticipate having additional shares tendered in subsequent periods for the same purpose.


33


ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
10.1*
 
 
 
 
31.1*
 
 
 
 
31.2*
 
 
 
 
32.1**
 
 
 
 
32.2**
 
 
 
 
101.INS*
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
101.SCH*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
101.CAL*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.DEF*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.LAB*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
101.PRE*
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.


34


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.
 
Dated:
October 24, 2018
WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Brian O. Casey
 
 
 
 
Brian O. Casey
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Tiffany B. Kice
 
 
 
 
Tiffany B. Kice
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

35