UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

July 20, 2016

 

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-13913

 

51-0261715

(State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

6300 Lamar Avenue

Overland Park, Kansas 66202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(913) 236-2000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

 

(Registrant’s Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

ITEM 1.01                                   ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

On July 22, 2016, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into the First Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2009 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Amendment”).

 

The effect of the Amendment is to permit the Company to waive provisions of the Rights Agreement at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, so long as the rights outstanding under the Rights Agreement are redeemable at the time of such waiver.

 

The foregoing is a summary of the terms of the Amendment. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 2.02                                   RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

 

On July 26, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing the Company’s financial results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016.  A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 3.03                                   MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 5.02                                   DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

 

In connection with his role as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, effective August 1, 2016, Henry J. Herrmann will receive an annual retainer of $325,000, which will be pro-rated for the remainder of 2016.  Mr. Herrmann will not be eligible to receive meeting fees or grants of restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s director compensation program.

 

ITEM 5.03                                   AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

 

On July 20, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Bylaws, effective immediately, that (i) removed the section regarding Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board from Article V and added a section regarding Chairman of the Board to Article III to clarify that the Chairman of the Board may be, but is not required to be, an officer of the Company, (ii) modified Section 1 and removed Section 9 of Article V regarding the election of officers, and (iii) removed the last sentence in Article III, Section 1 regarding the mandatory director retirement age, as that requirement is set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

 

The above summary of the amendments to the Company’s Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached to this current report as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

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ITEM 9.01                                   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d)                                  Exhibits.

 

3.1                                Amended and Restated Bylaws of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

 

4.1                                First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2016, between Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent.

 

99.1                         Press Release dated July 26, 2016

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: July 26, 2016

By:

/s/ Brent K. Bloss

 

 

Brent K. Bloss

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

and Treasurer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2016, between Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release dated July 26, 2016

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

 

Effective as of July 20, 2016

 

ARTICLE I.  OFFICES

 

Section 1.                                            Registered Office:

 

The registered office shall be established and maintained in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.                                            Other Offices:

 

The Corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II.  MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                            Stockholder Action:

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.  Subject to rights of holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for such shares, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board, upon not less than ten nor more than 60 days’ written notice.

 

Section 2.                                            Annual Meetings:

 

Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting.  The meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware, or by means of remote communication as the Board of Directors may determine.  In the event the Board of Directors fails to so determine the time, date and place of meeting, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive offices of the Corporation on the last Wednesday of April. If the date of the annual meeting shall fall upon a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.  At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect members of a class of the Board of Directors, and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

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Section 3.                                            Voting and Proxies:

 

(a)                                  In accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws, each holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, per share.  No proxy shall be voted after 11 months from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the meeting.  Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless such is demanded at the meeting before voting begins by any stockholder.  If a vote is taken by written ballot, then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as the chairperson of the meeting deems appropriate, and if authorized by the Board of Directors, the ballot may be submitted by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law.  All elections for directors shall be decided by a plurality of votes cast and all other questions shall be decided by a majority of votes cast, except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(b)                                  A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the number of shares held by each, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network as permitted by law (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during the ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  If the meeting is held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.  If the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access the list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 4.                                            Quorum:

 

A majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders.  In determining whether a quorum is present treasury shares shall not be counted.  If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, but until a quorum is secured no other business may be transacted.  The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until an adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

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Section 5.                                            Notice of Meetings:

 

Notice, stating the place, if any, date and time of the special or annual meeting, and the general nature of the business to be considered, shall be given in writing or by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law (including, without limitation, as set forth in Article VI, Section 11 of these Bylaws) to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting.  No business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that stated in the notice of such special meeting.

 

Section 6.                                            Director Nominations and Other Business:

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(i)                                      Nominations of persons for election as director of the Corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the stockholder notice provided for in this Section 6 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) shall be entitled to vote at such annual meeting, and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(a) as to such director nomination or other business; clause (C) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make director nominations or submit business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(ii)                                   For director nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 6(a)(i)(C) above, the stockholder, in addition to any other applicable requirements, must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and any such proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action.  To be timely, a stockholder notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundredth (100 th ) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the one hundredth (100 th ) day prior to the date of such annual meeting, or (B) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation).  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting of stockholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder notice as described above.

 

(iii)                                For director nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 6(a)(i)(C) above, the stockholder

 

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notice must also be in proper form.  To be in proper form, the stockholder notice (whether pursuant to this Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) below) must be in writing and:

 

(A)                                As to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director of the Corporation, (1) set forth all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (2) include such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a director nominee and to serve as a director if elected, (3) set forth a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of Item 404 and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (4) include the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 6(c)(iv) below;

 

(B)                                If the stockholder notice relates to any business (other than the nomination of persons for election as directors) that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, set forth (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, (2) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (3) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (4) any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, and (5) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and

 

(C)                                As to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the director nomination or proposal is made, set forth (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, if any, (2) as of the date of the stockholder notice, (a) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by such beneficial owner, (b) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying

 

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class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (each, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder and by such beneficial owner, if any, and any other direct or indirect opportunity held or owned beneficially by such stockholder and by such beneficial owner, if any, to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of the capital stock of the Corporation, (c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, has a right to vote any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, (d) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Section 6, a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through a contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (e) any right to dividends on the shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, which right is separated or separable from the underlying shares, (f) any proportionate interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instrument held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, is a general partner or with respect to which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, and (g) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, (3) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (4) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear (or will direct a qualified representative of the stockholder to appear) in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or director nomination, and (5) a representation whether the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or elect the nominee, or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and/or director nomination.

 

With respect to the information required to be included in the stockholder notice pursuant to this Section 6(a)(iii)(C)(2)(a) through (g), the stockholder notice shall also include any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s and such beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household.  The information included in the stockholder notice pursuant to this Section 6(a)(iii)(C)(2)(a) through (g) with respect to the stockholder and beneficial owner, and their immediate family members, shall be supplemented by such stockholder and such beneficial owner (x) not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the annual meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date, (y) ten (10) days before the annual meeting date, and (z) immediately prior to the commencement of the annual meeting, by delivery to the Secretary of such supplemented information.

 

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The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require (x) to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, (y) to determine whether such nominee qualifies as an “independent director” or “audit committee financial expert” under applicable law, securities exchange rule or regulation, or any publicly disclosed corporate governance guideline or committee charter of the Corporation, and (z) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence and qualifications, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 6(a)(ii) above to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder notice required by this Section 6 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Subject to rights of holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for such shares, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by (i) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, or (ii) by the Chairman of the Board.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the special meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).  In the event a special meeting of stockholders is properly called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder who (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time of the annual meeting, and (B) otherwise entitled to vote in such election of directors, may nominate a person or persons for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of special meeting, if such stockholder delivers a written notice in the same form as required by Section 6(a)(iii) above with respect to a director nomination (together with the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 6(c)(iv) below) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (1) the one hundredth (100 th ) day prior to the date of such special meeting, or (2) the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made by the Corporation of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such special meeting.  Stockholders have no right to propose other business to be considered at a special meeting of stockholders.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder notice as described above.

 

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(c)                                   General .

 

(i)                                      Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors of the Corporation and only such other business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the person presiding over the meeting shall have the power and duty to (A) determine whether a director nomination or any other business to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6, and (B) declare that a director nomination shall be disregarded or that other business shall not be transacted at the meeting if such nomination or other business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a director nomination or other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies with respect to such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 6, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(ii)                                   For purposes of this Section 6, “public announcement” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(iii)                                Nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (A) stockholders to request the inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (B) the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to nominate and elect directors pursuant to and to the extent provided in any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.

 

(iv)                               To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation, the potential director candidate (a “Candidate”) must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of the stockholder notice under this Section 6) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such Candidate and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the director nomination is being made (which form of questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such Candidate (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Candidate, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or

 

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question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation in writing, or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Candidate’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Candidate’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein, (C) will comply with any stock ownership guidelines that may be in effect for Company directors from time to time, and (D) in such Candidate’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the director nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.                                           Inspectors .

 

(a)                                 The Corporation shall in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

(b)                                 The inspector(s) shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s), and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots.  The inspector(s) may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector(s) in the performance of the duties of the inspector(s).

 

(c)                                  The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting.  No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspector(s) after the closing of the polls unless the Delaware Court of Chancery, upon application by a stockholder, shall determine otherwise.

 

(d)                                  In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspector(s) shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in accordance with Article II, Section 3 of these Bylaws, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the inspector(s) may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons that represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast, or more votes than the stockholder holds of record.  If the inspector(s) consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspector(s) at the time they make their certification pursuant to subsection (b)(v) of this Section 7 shall specify the precise information considered by them including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained,

 

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the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspector’s belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

 

ARTICLE III.  DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                            Number, Election and Terms:

 

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than 15 persons.  The membership of the Board of Directors shall be in compliance with the corporate governance listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (or other exchange on which the Corporation’s capital stock is then traded), laws and regulations, as may be applicable.  Subject to any rights of holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the exact number of directors within the minimum and maximum limitations specified in the preceding sentence shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.  At each annual meeting of stockholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term.  If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director.  Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 2.                                            Resignations:

 

Any director, member of a committee or other officer may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission, and such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary or at such other time as may be specified therein.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

Section 3.                                            Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies:

 

(a)                                  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for such shares, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office even if less than a quorum remain on the Board of Directors, or if all of the directors shall have been removed, by stockholders with a majority of the outstanding shares of stock, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class to which they have been elected expires.

 

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(b)                                  If the office of any member of a committee or other officer becomes vacant, the directors in office, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.

 

(c)                                   Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for such shares, directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the then outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

(d)                                  If the holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock are entitled to elect one or more directors, these provisions shall not apply, with respect to the removal of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of such holders and the rights of such holders shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for such shares.

 

Section 4.                                            Chairman of the Board:

 

(a)          The Board of Directors shall annually elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board and shall fill any vacancy in the position of Chairman of the Board at such time and in such matter as the Board shall determine.  The Chairman of the Board may, but need not, be an officer of, or employed in an executive or any other capacity by, the Corporation.

 

(b)          The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders and shall have and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.  If the Chairman of the Board is absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors or stockholders where he was to have presided, the other directors shall elect one of their members to preside at the meeting.  In the absence or inability of the Chairman of the Board to otherwise act, or if the office of Chairman of the Board shall be vacant, the other directors shall elect one of their members to have and exercise all the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.

 

Section 5.                                            Powers:

 

The Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers of the Corporation except such as are by law, or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or by these Bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

 

Section 6.                                            Election of Committee Members:

 

At each annual meeting or at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors may, by resolution(s) passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, designate directors to serve as members of the audit committee, the compensation committee, the executive committee, and the nominating and corporate governance committee until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified or their earlier resignation or removal.  The membership of each committee shall be in compliance with the corporate governance listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (or other exchange on which the Corporation’s capital stock is then traded), laws and regulations, and the charter adopted with respect to each such committee, as may be applicable.  At any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors may elect additional advisors for these

 

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committees. Such advisors may or may not be members of the Board of Directors and shall serve until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or for the period of time designated by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may from time to time provide for such other committees as may be deemed necessary and assign to such committees such authority and duties as are appropriate and allowed by law.

 

Section 7.                                            Meetings:

 

(a)                                  The directors may hold their annual meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum be present, immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders; or the time and place of such annual meeting may be fixed by resolution of the directors.

 

(b)                                  Regularly scheduled meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the directors.

 

(c)                                   Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board at any time or by the Secretary on the written request of any two directors upon at least 12 hours personal notice to each director.  Notice of the time, date and place of such meeting shall be given, orally, in writing or by electronic transmission (including electronic mail), by the person or persons calling the meeting.  Such special meetings shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the Chairman of the Board or the directors calling the meeting, and shall be stated in the notice of such meeting.

 

(d)                                  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 8.                                            Quorum:

 

A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned.

 

Section 9.                                            Compensation:

 

Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors or as members of committees, except that by resolution of the Board of Directors, retainer fees, meeting fees, and other benefits and payments may be authorized.  Expenses for attendance of meetings shall be paid for all directors of the Corporation.  Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefore.

 

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Section 10.                                     Action Without Meeting:

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing(s) or electronic transmission(s) are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee, respectively. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 11.                                     Amendment, Repeal and Adoption:

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in these Bylaws to the contrary, the stockholders may only amend or repeal any provision of this Article III, or adopt any provision inconsistent with this Article III, with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

Section 12.                                     Emeritus Directors:

 

The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint individuals (including individuals who were former members of the Board of Directors) to serve as Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  Each Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors shall serve until his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal.  Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors may be removed without cause by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors.  Upon invitation by the Board of Directors, any individual appointed as an Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors may, but shall not be required to, attend meetings of the Board of Directors and may participate in any discussions at such meetings; provided, however, that such individual shall not be counted in determining a quorum, vote or initiate any actions to be voted on at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors shall not be entitled to compensation, other than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attending meetings.  Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors shall be available to the Board of Directors and the Corporation for counsel.  It shall be the duty of the Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors to serve as goodwill ambassadors of the Corporation, but such individuals shall not have any responsibility or be subject to any liability imposed upon a member of the Board of Directors or in any manner otherwise be deemed to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  References in these Bylaws to Directors of the Corporation will not include Emeritus Members of the Board of Directors, except for Article IX.  Indemnification.

 

ARTICLE IV.  STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 1.                                            Audit Committee:

 

The audit committee shall consist of not less than three nor more than eight members deemed to be independent and elected by the directors in accordance with Article III, Section 6 above.  The chairman of this committee shall be elected by the full Board of Directors, or if the chairman is not so elected by the full Board of Directors or if the chairman elected by the full Board of Directors is not present at a particular meeting, the members of the audit committee

 

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may designate a chairman by majority vote of the committee membership in attendance.  The audit committee shall have the power to (a) assist the Board of Director’s oversight of the integrity of the Corporation’s financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor’s qualifications, performance and independence, and the performance of the internal audit function, (b) directly appoint, retain, compensate, evaluate and terminate the independent auditors, (c) establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints from employees on accounting, internal controls or auditing matters, (d) discuss the Corporation’s financial information and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and (e) retain and compensate independent counsel and other advisors without Board of Director approval.  The audit committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Corporation for the payment of advisors and the independent auditors as well as for the committee’s administrative expenses.  The audit committee shall have and exercise all such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

Section 2.                                            Compensation Committee:

 

The compensation committee shall consist of not less than two nor more than eight members deemed to be independent and elected by the directors in accordance with Article III, Section 6 above.  The chairman of this committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board.  The compensation committee shall have the power to evaluate and prescribe the compensation of all senior executive officers of the Corporation, including the Chief Executive Officer, and administer all of the Corporation’s benefit and equity compensation plans.  The compensation of all other officers shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer.  The compensation committee shall have and exercise all such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

Section 3.                                            Executive Committee:

 

The executive committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of the Chairman of the Board and at least one but not more than eight members elected by the directors from their own number.  The chairman of this committee shall be the Chairman of the Board unless otherwise appointed by the Chairman of the Board.  The executive committee in the interim between meetings of the Board of Directors shall exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors, except where action by the entire Board of Directors is expressly required by law.

 

Section 4.                                            Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee shall consist of not less than two nor more than eight members deemed to be independent and elected by the directors in accordance with Article III, Section 6 above.  The chairman of this committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board.  The nominating and corporate governance committee shall have the power to identify individuals to become directors, to select, or to recommend that the Board of Directors select, the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders, and develop and recommend to the Board of Directors corporate governance principles applicable to the Corporation.  The nominating and corporate governance committee shall have and exercise all such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

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Section 5.                                            Marketing Committee:

 

The marketing committee shall consist of not less than two nor more than eight members elected by the directors in accordance with Article III, Section 6 above.  The chairman of this committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board.  The marketing committee shall have the power to assist in furthering the Board of Director’s understanding of the Corporation’s marketing, sales and distribution plans, strategies and activities.  The marketing committee shall have and exercise all such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

Section 6.                                            Investment Committee:

 

The investment committee shall consist of not less than two nor more than eight members elected by the directors in accordance with Article III, Section 6 above.  The chairman of this committee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board.  The investment committee shall have the power to assist in furthering the Board of Director’s understanding of the Corporation’s investment functions.  The investment committee shall have and exercise all such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

Section 7.                                            Meetings:

 

Meetings of the audit committee, compensation committee, executive committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, marketing committee, and the investment committee shall be held on the call of the Chairman of the Board or any committee member thereof.  Meetings may be held informally, by telephone, or by remote communication, and it is not necessary that members of the committee be physically present together in order for a meeting to be held.  The greater of two members or one-third of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum.

 

ARTICLE V.  OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                            Officers:

 

The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate.  Each officer shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected, or until his death, resignation, retirement or removal.  None of the officers of the Corporation need be directors.  More than one office may be held by the same person.

 

Section 2.                                            Chief Executive Officer:

 

Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall be vested with authority to act for the Corporation, and shall have general and active management of the business of the Corporation, and such other general powers and duties of supervision and management as usually devolve upon such office and as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 3.                                            President:

 

In the event there is a President, he shall perform such duties as usually devolve upon his office and such other duties as are prescribed by these Bylaws, by the Board of Directors, and by the Chairman of the Board.

 

Section 4.                                            Treasurer:

 

The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the Corporation.  The Treasurer shall have and perform such duties as are incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.                                            Secretary:

 

The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by those bodies.  The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal, and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall affix the same to all instruments or papers requiring the seal of the Corporation.  The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary, shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Corporation.  The Secretary shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 6.                                            Other Officers and Agents:

 

The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall be duly authorized officers of the Corporation and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined.

 

ARTICLE VI.  MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 1.                                            Certificates of Stock:

 

The shares of the Corporation may be represented by certificates or may be uncertificated.  Any shares of the Corporation represented by certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.  Any or all of the signatures may be facsimiles.

 

Section 2.                                            Lost Certificates:

 

The Board of Directors may order a new certificate or certificates of stock to be issued in the place of any certificate(s) of the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate(s), or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or give the Corporation or its authorized

 

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agent a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate(s) alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may, at their discretion, refuse to replace any certificate of stock save upon the order of some court having jurisdiction in such matter and may cause such legend to be inscribed on any new certificate(s) as in the Board of Director’s discretion may be necessary to prevent loss to the Corporation.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, the Corporation shall not be required to issue a new certificate, or any certificate at all, if the Corporation has determined that such shares shall be uncertificated.

 

Section 3.                                            Transfer of Shares:

 

(a)                                  The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, and upon such transfer any old certificates shall be surrendered to the Corporation by the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers, or to the authorized agent of the Corporation, by whom they shall be canceled, and new certificates may thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the stock and transfer books.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation may decline to register on its stock books transfers of stock standing in the name of infants, unless (i) the law of the state of which the infant is a resident relieves the Corporation of all liability therefore in case the infant or anyone acting for him thereafter elects to rescind such transfer, or (ii) a court having jurisdiction of the infant and the subject matter enters a valid decree authorizing such transfer.

 

Section 4.                                            Fractional Shares:

 

No fractional part of a share of stock shall ever be issued by the Corporation.

 

Section 5.                                            Stockholders Record Date:

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

Section 6.                                            Dividends:

 

Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefore at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient.  Before declaring any

 

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dividend there may be set apart out of any fund of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum(s) as the directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or to serve as a fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.  The Corporation may decline to pay cash dividends to infant stockholders except where full and valid release may be granted by the infant or under a decree of court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.                                            Seal:

 

The corporate seal shall consist of two concentric circles between which shall be “WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.” with a representation of the Corporate Logogram in the center.

 

Section 8.                                            Fiscal Year:

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year or such other period as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Checks:

 

All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer(s)  or agent(s) of the Corporation, and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 10.                                     Form of Records:

 

Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books may be kept on or by means of, or be in the form of, diskettes or any other information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.  The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 11.                                     Notice:

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article VI, Section 11(b) below) or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex, overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile.  Any such notice shall be addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.  The notice shall be deemed given (i) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, (ii) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in the case of delivery by overnight express courier, when dispatched, and (iv) in the case of delivery via telegram, telex, mailgram or facsimile, when dispatched.

 

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(b)                                  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent, and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.  Notice given pursuant to this Article VI, Section 11(b) shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting or (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

(c)                                   An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given in writing or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

Section 12.                                     Waiver of Notice:

 

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any waiver of notice.

 

ARTICLE VII.  AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and Bylaws may be adopted at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or at any special meeting thereof, if the proposed alteration or repeal, or Bylaw(s) to be adopted is submitted in accordance with Article II, Section 5 or Article II, Section 6 of these Bylaws, as applicable, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, except as otherwise provided in Article III, Section 11 of these Bylaws.  These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and Bylaws may be adopted without any stockholder action by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors at any annual meeting of the Board of Directors, or at any other meeting of the Board of Directors, if prior notice of the proposed alteration or repeal, or Bylaw(s) to be adopted, is provided to the Board of Directors prior to such meeting.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.  EXCLUSIVE FORUM

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state court located within the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware).

 

ARTICLE IX.  INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.                                            Elimination of Certain Liability of Directors .

 

The directors of the Corporation shall be entitled to the benefits of all limitations on the liability of directors generally that are now or hereafter become available under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) for paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase in violation of Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.  Any repeal or modification of this Section 1 shall be prospective only, and shall not affect, to the detriment of any director, any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 2.                                            Indemnification and Insurance .

 

(a)                                  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall

 

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continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2(b) of this Article IX, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.  The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

 

(b)                                  If a claim under Section 2(a) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(c)                                   The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section 2 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 3.                                            Insurance.

 

The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture,

 

20



 

trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

21


Exhibit 4.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2016 (this “ Amendment ”), is between Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (the “ Rights Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) previously adopted a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2009, between the Company and the Rights Agent (the “ Rights Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of the Rights Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of the Rights;

 

WHEREAS , as of the date of this Amendment, the Rights are redeemable pursuant to Section 23 of the Rights Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , the Board has determined to amend the Rights Agreement in certain respects; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company has delivered to the Rights Agent a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company stating that this Amendment complies with Section 27 of the Rights Agreement and has directed the Rights Agent to execute this Amendment to amend the Rights Agreement as set forth herein;

 

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the Rights Agent hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Certain Definitions .  Terms used in this Amendment but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Rights Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                            Amendments to Rights Agreement .  Section 27 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“Section 27.  Waivers, Supplements and Amendments . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 27 , for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) waive the application of any provision of this Agreement and (b) supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement (and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement) in any respect, in each case without the approval of any holders of the Rights.  At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, except as otherwise provided in this Section 27 , the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any

 



 

holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that at any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, this Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates as such, cause this Agreement to become amendable other than in accordance with this Section 27 or cause the Rights to again become redeemable. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27 , the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided that such supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent under this Agreement.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement by the Company in any one instance shall be deemed to be, nor shall it constitute, a waiver of such provision in any other instance or a waiver of any other provision or in favor of any other Person, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.  No waiver shall become effective unless set forth in a writing duly executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) the Rights Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplement or amendment that affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement, and (ii) any waiver by the Company of the application of any provision of this Agreement that adversely affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement shall only be effective upon the prior written consent of the Rights Agent.”

 

Section 3.                                            Remaining Terms; Controlling Agreement .  All other provisions of the Rights Agreement that are not expressly amended hereby shall continue in full force and effect.  From and after the execution and delivery of this Amendment, any references to the Rights Agreement in the Rights Agreement and other agreements or instruments shall be deemed to refer to the Rights Agreement as amended pursuant to this Amendment.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the Rights Agreement, this Amendment shall control.

 

Section 4.                                            Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

 

Section 5.                                            Governing Law .  This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such state.

 

2



 

Section 6.                                            Descriptive Headings .  Descriptive headings of the sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

Section 7.                                            Counterparts .  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Amendment executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

 

{Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank}

 

3



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to Rights Agreement to be duly executed and their respective seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

Attest:

 

 

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff P. Bennett

 

By:

/s/ Brent K. Bloss

Name:

Jeff P. Bennett

 

Name:

Brent K. Bloss

Title:

Vice President, Associate General

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial

 

Counsel and Assistant Secretary

 

 

Officer and Treasuer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY,

 

 

 

N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul R. Capozzi

 

 

 

Name:

Paul R. Capozzi

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Investor Services

 

[Signature Page to First Amendment to Rights Agreement]

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

News Release

 

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Results

 

Overland Park, KS, Jul. 26, 2016 — Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR) today reported second quarter 2016 net income(1) of $33.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to net income of $37.0 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, during the prior quarter and net income of $67.4 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2015.  Operating income was $53.8 million during the current quarter and the operating margin was 16.8%, compared to $71.4 million and 22.1%, respectively during the prior quarter and $111.0 million and 28.2%, respectively during the same quarter in 2015.

 

 

The second quarter of 2016 included $24.1 million in charges related to severance, accelerated amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) and Project E implementation costs.  Excluding these charges, adjusted net income(2) was $48.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, while adjusted operating income and the adjusted operating margin were $77.9 million and 24.4%, respectively.  In addition to reporting results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), management believes adjusting results to exclude items provides investors with financial measures that better reflect the company’s core operating performance and allow for more appropriate comparisons to prior periods.  However, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.  A schedule reconciling non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share is provided below.

 

 

 

During the quarter the following charges were recorded:

 

·                   $7.1 million for severance and related charges to U&D indirect costs (unaffiliated distribution $2.2 million; broker-dealer $4.9 million);

·                   $9.8 million for severance and related charges to compensation and related costs;

·                   $5.9 million related to the accelerated amortization of DAC to U&D direct costs (broker-dealer) due to a share class conversion; and

·                   $1.3 million related to costs associated with the implementation of technology to Project E to U&D indirect costs (broker-dealer).

 


(1)  Net income represents net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

(2)  Non-GAAP adjusted results provide an understanding of our business by excluding the effects of items that do not reflect the ordinary results of our operations.

 

1



 

Adjusted Results

Reconciliation to GAAP

 

(Amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

 

Adjusted

 

 

 

2Q 16

 

Adj.

 

2Q 16

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment management fees

 

$

140,880

 

 

 

$

140,880

 

Underwriting and distribution fees

 

146,312

 

 

 

146,312

 

Shareholder service fees

 

32,016

 

 

 

32,016

 

Total operating revenues

 

319,208

 

 

 

319,208

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting and distribution

 

181,245

 

(14,285

)

166,960

 

Compensation and related costs

 

58,341

 

(9,818

)

48,523

 

General and administrative

 

19,276

 

 

 

19,276

 

Subadvisory fees

 

2,325

 

 

 

2,325

 

Depreciation

 

4,260

 

 

 

4,260

 

Total operating expenses

 

265,447

 

(24,103

)

241,344

 

Operating Income

 

53,761

 

(24,103

)

77,864

 

Investment and other income/(loss)

 

687

 

 

 

687

 

Interest expense

 

(2,776

)

 

 

(2,776

)

Income before taxes

 

51,672

 

(24,103

)

75,775

 

Provision for taxes

 

18,101

 

8,937

 

27,038

 

Net Income

 

$

33,571

 

(15,166

)

$

48,737

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

(124

)

 

 

(124

)

Net Income Attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

 

$

33,695

 

(15,166

)

$

48,861

 

Net income per share, basic and diluted:

 

0.41

 

(0.18

)

0.59

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

 

82,947

 

82,947

 

82,947

 

Operating margin

 

16.8

%

 

 

24.4

%

 

Business Discussion

 

As of June 30, 2016, assets under management declined 9% sequentially to $86 billion due mainly to outflows from our Institutional and unaffiliated distribution channels.  Our Institutional channel experienced three material redemptions during the quarter that accounted for $4.9 billion of the $5.5 billion in total outflows.  Our unaffiliated distribution channel experienced $3.9 billion in outflows of which the Asset Strategy funds accounted for $2.6 billion.

 

“The company is not without challenges,” said Philip J. Sanders, Chief Investment Officer and incoming Chief Executive Officer of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.  “Our top priorities are improving investment performance, reigniting sales and executing on our technology initiatives across the company.”  Henry J. Herrmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer added; “we have a strong executive team that is united in its focus on achieving these objectives and I am confident that Phil is the right person to lead the organization through these difficult times.”

 

Management Fee Revenue Analysis

 

Management fees declined 3% sequentially, while average assets under management declined 5%.  Fees declined at a lesser rate than average assets under management due to an improvement in the effective fee rate due to a mix-shift in the asset base that increased the average fee rate.  Compared to the same quarter last year, management fees declined 24% due to a 26% decline in average assets under management, which was partly offset by a mix-shift in the asset base that increased the average fee rate.

 

Average assets under management were $90.8 billion during the current quarter, compared to $95.7 billion during the prior quarter and $123.5 billion during the second quarter of 2015.   The effective fee

 

2



 

rate for the current quarter was 62.4 basis points compared to 60.8 basis points and 60.4 basis points during the first quarter of 2016 and second quarter of 2015, respectively.

 

Underwriting and Distribution Analysis

 

Underwriting and Distribution Revenues

 

Revenues were largely unchanged sequentially as lower sales and, to a lesser extent, lower asset levels in our retail unaffiliated channel were offset by higher advisory fee revenues in our broker-dealer channel.  Compared to the same period last year, revenues declined 15% due to lower asset-based Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees across both channels driven by a decrease in average assets under management.

 

Underwriting and Distribution Costs

 

The current quarter included charges for severance, accelerated amortization of DAC and costs associated with the implementation of Project E.  These charges totaled $5.9 million in direct expenses and $8.4 million in indirect expenses.

 

Direct costs rose 2% sequentially; however, excluding the above referenced items, adjusted costs declined 2% due to lower asset-based Rule 12b-1 service and distribution fees in the retail unaffiliated channel and lower commissions.  Indirect costs rose 9%; however, excluding the above referenced items, adjusted costs declined 9% due to workforce reductions, technology costs and travel.

 

Compared to the second quarter of 2015, direct costs declined 14%; however, excluding the above referenced items, adjusted costs declined 18% due to a decrease in assets under management and lower sales volume.  Indirect costs increased 17%; however, excluding the above referenced items, adjusted costs declined 2% due to lower advertising and sales meeting costs.

 

Compensation and Related Expense Analysis

 

Costs increased 10% compared to both the first quarter of 2016 and second quarter of 2015.  The current quarter included severance charges that totaled $9.8 million.  Excluding these charges, adjusted costs declined 8% compared to both the first quarter of 2016 and second quarter of 2015.  The decline was due to lower base salary and payroll taxes from the reduction in workforce and certain employees having exceeded the social security wage base for 2016.

 

General and Administrative Expense Analysis

 

Costs were largely unchanged sequentially as lower dealer servicing costs were offset by higher IT costs.  Compared to the same period last year, costs declined 31% due in lower dealer servicing costs and IT costs, and to a lesser degree, a decline in advertising costs.

 

Investment and Other Income

 

During the first quarter of 2016, we entered into a number of total return swap contracts to serve as an economic hedge against the market risk associated with our investments in sponsored funds.  We experienced a $9.6 million investment loss during the first quarter prior to our hedging strategy being fully implemented.  During the current quarter, higher dividend income and gains on redemptions of

 

3



 

investments classified as available for sale were largely offset by net losses experienced from our hedged investment portfolio.

 

4



 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Income

(Amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

 

 

 

2015

 

2016

 

 

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment management fees

 

$

182,105

 

$

185,914

 

$

175,218

 

$

166,325

 

$

144,778

 

$

140,880

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting and distribution fees

 

166,978

 

171,508

 

165,130

 

160,382

 

146,658

 

146,312

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder service fees

 

36,375

 

36,568

 

35,761

 

34,367

 

32,380

 

32,016

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

 

385,458

 

393,990

 

376,109

 

361,074

 

323,816

 

319,208

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting and distribution

 

195,420

 

195,762

 

189,065

 

189,534

 

173,836

 

181,245

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and related costs

 

53,495

 

52,829

 

46,157

 

48,271

 

52,940

 

58,341

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

25,678

 

27,897

 

25,458

 

26,033

 

19,152

 

19,276

 

 

 

 

 

Subadvisory fees

 

2,387

 

2,394

 

2,305

 

2,048

 

2,093

 

2,325

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

4,034

 

4,064

 

4,117

 

3,831

 

4,362

 

4,260

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

281,014

 

282,946

 

267,102

 

269,717

 

252,383

 

265,447

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

104,444

 

111,044

 

109,007

 

91,357

 

71,433

 

53,761

 

 

 

 

 

Investment and other income/(loss)

 

3,972

 

9

 

(16,872

)

7,647

 

(10,218

)

687

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(2,766

)

(2,765

)

(2,765

)

(2,772

)

(2,768

)

(2,776

)

 

 

 

 

Income before taxes

 

105,650

 

108,288

 

89,370

 

96,232

 

58,447

 

51,672

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for taxes

 

38,537

 

40,843

 

41,312

 

33,312

 

20,978

 

18,101

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

67,113

 

$

67,445

 

$

48,058

 

$

62,920

 

$

37,469

 

$

33,571

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

501

 

(124

)

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

 

$

67,113

 

$

67,445

 

$

48,058

 

$

62,920

 

$

36,968

 

$

33,695

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share, basic and diluted:

 

0.80

 

0.80

 

0.58

 

0.76

 

0.45

 

0.41

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

 

83,581

 

84,079

 

83,469

 

82,873

 

82,104

 

82,947

 

 

 

 

 

Operating margin

 

27.1

%

28.2

%

29.0

%

25.3

%

22.1

%

16.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

Net Distribution Cost Analysis

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

Retail Unaffiliated Distribution(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Revenues

 

$

52,142

 

$

51,768

 

$

47,040

 

$

43,091

 

$

35,923

 

$

32,510

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Expenses - Direct

 

(68,595

)

(66,947

)

(62,117

)

(57,119

)

(46,846

)

(42,452

)

 

 

 

 

U&D Expenses - Indirect

 

(14,029

)

(13,972

)

(13,329

)

(14,614

)

(13,349

)

(14,939

)

 

 

 

 

Net Distribution (Costs)

 

$

(30,482

)

$

(29,151

)

$

(28,406

)

$

(28,642

)

$

(24,272

)

$

(24,881

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail Broker-Dealer(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Revenues

 

$

114,836

 

$

119,740

 

$

118,090

 

$

117,291

 

$

110,735

 

$

113,802

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Expenses - Direct

 

(82,022

)

(85,177

)

(84,420

)

(83,413

)

(80,277

)

(87,740

)

 

 

 

 

U&D Expenses - Indirect

 

(30,774

)

(29,666

)

(29,199

)

(34,388

)

(33,364

)

(36,114

)

 

 

 

 

Net Distribution Excess/(Costs)

 

$

2,040

 

$

4,897

 

$

4,471

 

$

(510

)

$

(2,906

)

$

(10,052

)

 

 

 

 

 


(1) Retail Unaffiliated Distribution was previously referred to as the “Wholesale channel”

(2) Retail Broker-Dealer was previously referred to as the “Advisors channel”

 

5



 

Changes in Assets Under Management

(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

2015

 

2016

 

 

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

Retail Unaffiliated Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

60,335

 

$

59,412

 

$

57,545

 

$

49,320

 

$

45,641

 

$

38,623

 

 

 

 

 

Sales*

 

3,870

 

3,239

 

2,768

 

2,341

 

2,144

 

1,526

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(6,259

)

(4,558

)

(5,569

)

(7,300

)

(7,680

)

(5,543

)

 

 

 

 

Net Exchanges

 

224

 

144

 

265

 

176

 

158

 

127

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

(2,165

)

(1,175

)

(2,536

)

(4,783

)

(5,378

)

(3,890

)

 

 

 

 

Market action

 

1,242

 

(692

)

(5,689

)

1,104

 

(1,640

)

464

 

 

 

 

 

Ending assets

 

$

59,412

 

$

57,545

 

$

49,320

 

$

45,641

 

$

38,623

 

$

35,197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail Broker-Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

45,517

 

$

46,385

 

$

45,947

 

$

42,215

 

$

43,344

 

$

42,142

 

 

 

 

 

Sales*

 

1,270

 

1,347

 

1,238

 

1,218

 

1,068

 

1,094

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(1,279

)

(1,279

)

(1,242

)

(1,245

)

(1,197

)

(1,329

)

 

 

 

 

Net Exchanges

 

(224

)

(144

)

(265

)

(176

)

(172

)

(163

)

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

(233

)

(76

)

(269

)

(203

)

(301

)

(398

)

 

 

 

 

Market action

 

1,101

 

(362

)

(3,463

)

1,332

 

(901

)

517

 

 

 

 

 

Ending assets

 

$

46,385

 

$

45,947

 

$

42,215

 

$

43,344

 

$

42,142

 

$

42,261

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

17,798

 

$

17,097

 

$

17,214

 

$

14,657

 

$

15,414

 

$

14,426

 

 

 

 

 

Sales*

 

300

 

1,203

 

465

 

773

 

453

 

190

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(1,460

)

(1,003

)

(1,817

)

(799

)

(1,068

)

(5,699

)

 

 

 

 

Net Exchanges

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

(1,160

)

200

 

(1,352

)

(26

)

(601

)

(5,473

)

 

 

 

 

Market action

 

459

 

(83

)

(1,205

)

783

 

(387

)

40

 

 

 

 

 

Ending assets

 

$

17,097

 

$

17,214

 

$

14,657

 

$

15,414

 

$

14,426

 

$

8,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

123,650

 

$

122,894

 

$

120,706

 

$

106,192

 

$

104,399

 

$

95,191

 

 

 

 

 

Sales*

 

5,440

 

5,789

 

4,471

 

4,332

 

3,665

 

2,810

 

 

 

 

 

Redemptions

 

(8,998

)

(6,840

)

(8,628

)

(9,344

)

(9,945

)

(12,571

)

 

 

 

 

Net Exchanges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

(3,558

)

(1,051

)

(4,157

)

(5,012

)

(6,280

)

(9,761

)

 

 

 

 

Market action

 

2,802

 

(1,137

)

(10,357

)

3,219

 

(2,928

)

1,021

 

 

 

 

 

Ending assets

 

$

122,894

 

$

120,706

 

$

106,192

 

$

104,399

 

$

95,191

 

$

86,451

 

 

 

 

 

 


* Sales is primarily gross sales (net of sales commissions).  This amount also includes net reinvested dividends & capital gains and investment income.

 

6



 

Supplemental Information

 

Asset Manager

 

2015

 

2016

 

(S in millions)

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

Retail Unaffiliated Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUM

 

$

59,412

 

$

57,545

 

$

49,320

 

$

45,641

 

$

38,623

 

$

35,197

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

$

(2,165

)

$

(1,175

)

$

(2,536

)

$

(4,783

)

$

(5,378

)

$

(3,890

)

 

 

 

 

Organic growth

 

-14.4

%

-7.9

%

-17.6

%

-38.8

%

-47.1

%

-40.3

%

 

 

 

 

Redemption Rate

 

42.9

%

31.0

%

41.2

%

59.3

%

77.7

%

61.3

%

 

 

 

 

Retail Broker-Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUM

 

$

46,385

 

$

45,947

 

$

42,215

 

$

43,344

 

$

42,142

 

$

42,261

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

$

(233

)

$

(76

)

$

(269

)

$

(203

)

$

(301

)

$

(398

)

 

 

 

 

Organic growth

 

-2.0

%

-0.7

%

-2.3

%

-1.9

%

-2.8

%

-3.8

%

 

 

 

 

Redemption Rate

 

9.0

%

9.0

%

8.9

%

9.3

%

9.3

%

10.5

%

 

 

 

 

Institutional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUM

 

$

17,097

 

$

17,214

 

$

14,657

 

$

15,414

 

$

14,426

 

$

8,993

 

 

 

 

 

Net flows

 

$

(1,160

)

$

200

 

$

(1,352

)

$

(26

)

$

(601

)

$

(5,473

)

 

 

 

 

Organic growth

 

-26.1

%

4.7

%

-31.4

%

-0.7

%

-15.6

%

-151.8

%

 

 

 

 

Redemption Rate

 

33.7

%

23.2

%

45.4

%

20.5

%

29.9

%

198.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Year

 

3 Years

 

5 Years

 

Fund Rankings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lipper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funds ranked in top half

 

31

%

42

%

41

%

Assets ranked in top half

 

16

%

32

%

42

%

MorningStar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funds with 4/5 stars

 

17

%

11

%

8

%

Assets with 4/5 stars

 

15

%

5

%

4

%

 

 

 

2015

 

2016

 

 

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

1st Qtr.

 

2nd Qtr.

 

3rd Qtr.

 

4th Qtr.

 

Broker-Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUA* (in billions)

 

$

53.7

 

$

53.6

 

$

49.4

 

$

51.0

 

$

49.9

 

$

50.5

 

 

 

 

 

AUA* fee based accounts (in billions)

 

$

18.0

 

$

18.3

 

$

17.0

 

$

17.6

 

$

17.4

 

$

17.8

 

 

 

 

 

# Advisors

 

1,745

 

1,780

 

1,795

 

1,819

 

1,803

 

1,799

 

 

 

 

 

Advisor productivity (in thousands)

 

$

65.9

 

$

67.9

 

$

66.3

 

$

64.9

 

$

61.3

 

$

63.1

 

 

 

 

 

U&D revenues (in thousands)

 

$

114,836

 

$

119,740

 

$

118,090

 

$

117,291

 

$

110,735

 

$

113,802

 

 

 

 

 

 


* AUA represent Assets Under Administration

 

7



 

Unaudited Balance Sheet Information

Schedule of Selected Items

 

(Amounts in millions)

 

Jun. 30, 2016

 

Cash & cash equivalents (unrestricted)

 

$

467.5

 

Investment securities

 

361.6

 

Total assets

 

1,406.2

 

Long-term debt

 

189.5

 

Total liabilities

 

577.8

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

10.9

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

817.5

 

 

 

 

 

Shares outstanding

 

82.9

 million shares

 

 

 

Quarter ended

 

Year-to-Date

 

($ in thousands)

 

Jun. 30, 2016

 

Jun. 30, 2016

 

Shares repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares

 

1,075,826

 

2,201,497

 

Total cost

 

$

21,863

 

$

47,461

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend paid

 

 

 

 

 

Rate per share

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.92

 

Total paid

 

$

38,501

 

$

76,616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital returned to stockholders

 

$

60,364

 

$

124,077

 

 

In April 2016, we granted 2,213,850 shares of restricted stock pursuant to our stock incentive plan

 

8



 

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Income

(Amounts in thousands, except for per share data)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

Jun-15

 

Jun-16

 

% Change

 

Operating Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment management fees

 

$

368,019

 

$

285,658

 

-22.4

%

Underwriting and distribution fees

 

338,486

 

292,970

 

-13.4

%

Shareholder service fees

 

72,943

 

64,396

 

-11.7

%

Total operating revenues

 

779,448

 

643,024

 

-17.5

%

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriting and distribution

 

391,182

 

355,081

 

-9.2

%

Compensation and related costs

 

106,324

 

111,281

 

4.7

%

General and administrative

 

53,575

 

38,428

 

-28.3

%

Subadvisory fees

 

4,781

 

4,418

 

-7.6

%

Depreciation

 

8,098

 

8,622

 

6.5

%

Total operating expenses

 

563,960

 

517,830

 

-8.2

%

Operating Income

 

215,488

 

125,194

 

-41.9

%

Investment and other income

 

3,981

 

(9,531

)

-339.4

%

Interest expense

 

(5,531

)

(5,544

)

0.2

%

Income before taxes

 

213,938

 

110,119

 

-48.5

%

Provision for taxes

 

79,380

 

39,079

 

-50.8

%

Net Income

 

$

134,558

 

$

71,040

 

-47.2

%

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

377

 

N/A

 

Net Income Attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

 

$

134,558

 

$

70,663

 

-47.5

%

Net income per share, basic and diluted

 

1.61

 

0.86

 

-46.7

%

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

 

83,831

 

82,526

 

 

 

Operating margin

 

27.6

%

19.5

%

 

 

 

Net Distribution Cost Analysis

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

Jun-15

 

Jun-16

 

% Change

 

Retail Unaffiliated Distribution(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Revenues

 

$

103,910

 

$

68,433

 

-34.1

%

U&D Expenses - Direct

 

(135,542

)

(89,298

)

-34.1

%

U&D Expenses - Indirect

 

(28,001

)

(28,288

)

1.0

%

Net Distribution (Costs)

 

$

(59,633

)

$

(49,153

)

-17.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail Broker-Dealer(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U&D Revenues

 

$

234,576

 

$

224,537

 

-4.3

%

U&D Expenses - Direct

 

(167,199

)

(168,017

)

0.5

%

U&D Expenses - Indirect

 

(60,440

)

(69,478

)

15.0

%

Net Distribution Excess/(Costs)

 

$

6,937

 

$

(12,958

)

-286.8

%

 


(1) Retail Unaffiliated Distribution was previously referred to as the “Wholesale channel”

(2) Retail Broker-Dealer was previously referred to as the “Advisors channel”

 

9



 

Changes in Assets Under Management

(Amounts in millions)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

Jun-15

 

Jun-16

 

% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail Unaffiliated Distribution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

60,335

 

$

45,641

 

-24.4

%

Sales*

 

7,110

 

3,671

 

-48.4

%

Redemptions

 

(10,816

)

(13,224

)

22.3

%

Net Exchanges

 

367

 

285

 

N/M

 

Net flows

 

(3,339

)

(9,268

)

177.6

%

Market action

 

549

 

(1,176

)

-314.2

%

Ending assets

 

$

57,545

 

$

35,197

 

-38.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail Broker-Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

45,517

 

$

43,344

 

-4.8

%

Sales*

 

2,616

 

2,161

 

-17.4

%

Redemptions

 

(2,558

)

(2,525

)

-1.3

%

Net Exchanges

 

(367

)

(335

)

N/M

 

Net flows

 

(309

)

(699

)

126.2

%

Market action

 

739

 

(384

)

-152.0

%

Ending assets

 

$

45,947

 

$

42,261

 

-8.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional Channel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

17,798

 

$

15,414

 

-13.4

%

Sales*

 

1,504

 

643

 

-57.2

%

Redemptions

 

(2,464

)

(6,767

)

174.6

%

Net Exchanges

 

0

 

50

 

N/M

 

Net flows

 

(960

)

(6,074

)

532.7

%

Market action

 

376

 

(347

)

-192.3

%

Ending assets

 

$

17,214

 

$

8,993

 

-47.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning assets

 

$

123,650

 

$

104,399

 

-15.6

%

Sales*

 

11,230

 

6,475

 

-42.3

%

Redemptions

 

(15,838

)

(22,516

)

42.2

%

Net Exchanges

 

 

 

N/M

 

Net flows

 

(4,608

)

(16,041

)

248.1

%

Market action

 

1,664

 

(1,907

)

-214.6

%

Ending assets

 

$

120,706

 

$

86,451

 

-28.4

%

 


* Sales is primarily gross sales (net of sales commissions).  This amount also includes net reinvested dividends & capital gains and investment income.

 

10



 

Earnings Conference Call

 

Stockholders, members of the investment community and the general public are invited to listen to a live Web cast of our earnings release conference call today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.  During this call, Henry J. Herrmann, Chairman and CEO, will review our quarterly results.  Live access to the teleconference will be available on the “Investor Relations” section of our Web site at www.waddell.com .  A Web cast replay will be made available shortly after the conclusion of the call and accessible for seven days.

 

Web Site Resources

 

We invite you to visit the Investor Relations section of our Web site at www.waddell.com. Under the “Investor Info” tab you will find a link to presentations as well as to data tables which include supplemental information schedules.

 

Contacts

 

Investor Contact :

Nicole Russell, VP, Investor Relations, (913) 236-1880, nrussell@waddell.com

 

Mutual Fund Investor Contact :

Call (888) WADDELL, or visit www.waddell.com or www.ivyfunds.com .

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Please invest carefully.

 

About the Company

 

Waddell & Reed, Inc., founded in 1937, is one of the oldest mutual fund complexes in the United States, having introduced the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds in 1940. Today, we distribute our investment products through the retail unaffiliated distribution channel (encompassing broker/dealer, retirement, and registered investment advisors), our retail broker-dealer channel (our network of financial advisors), and our Institutional channel (including defined benefit plans, pension plans and endowments, and our subadvisory partnership with Mackenzie in Canada).

 

Through its subsidiaries, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. provides investment management and financial planning services to clients throughout the United States and internationally. Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, while Ivy Investment Management Company serves as investment advisor to Ivy Funds and investment advisor and global distributor to the Ivy Global Investors SICAV, an umbrella UCITS fund range domiciled in Luxembourg. Waddell & Reed, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and distributor to the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, while Ivy Distributors, Inc. serves as principal underwriter and distributor to Ivy Funds.

 

11



 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains “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, which reflect the current views and assumptions of management with respect to future events regarding our business and industry in general. These forward-looking statements include all statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, including statements with respect to revenues and earnings, the amount and composition of assets under management, distribution sources, expense levels, redemption rates and the financial markets and other conditions. These statements are generally identified by the use of such words as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “outlook,” “will,” “potential” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking information provided by us or on our behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those discussed below. If one or more events related to these or other risks, contingencies or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those forecasted or expected. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which include, without limitation:

 

·                   The loss of existing distribution channels or inability to access new distribution channels;

 

·                   A reduction in assets under our management on short notice, through increased redemptions in our distribution channels or our Funds, particularly those Funds with a high concentration of assets, or investors terminating their relationship with us or shifting their funds to other types of accounts with different rate structures;

 

·                   The adverse ruling or resolution of any litigation, regulatory investigations and proceedings, or securities arbitrations by a federal or state court or regulatory body;

 

·                   The introduction of legislative or regulatory proposals or judicial rulings that change the independent contractor classification of our financial advisors at the federal or state level for employment tax or other employee benefit purposes;

 

·                   A decline in the securities markets or in the relative investment performance of our Funds and other investment portfolios and products as compared to competing funds;

 

·                   The ability of mutual fund and other investors to redeem their investments without prior notice or on short notice;

 

·                   Our inability to reduce expenses rapidly enough to align with declines in our revenues, the level of our assets under management or our business environment.

 

·                   Non-compliance with applicable laws or regulations and changes in current legal, regulatory, accounting, tax or compliance requirements or governmental policies;

 

·                   Our inability to attract and retain senior executive management and other key personnel to conduct our broker-dealer, fund management and investment advisory business;

 

·                   A failure in, or breach of, our operational or security systems or our technology infrastructure, or those of third parties on which we rely; and

 

·                   Our inability to implement new information technology and systems, or our inability to complete such implementation in a timely or cost effective manner.

 

The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with other cautionary statements included in this and other reports and filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information in Item 1 “Business” and Item 1A “Risk Factors” of Part I and Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of Part II to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and as updated in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the year ending December 31, 2016. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

 

12