Document


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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 27, 2016

WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


Delaware    001-31234    75-2969997
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission    (IRS Employer
of incorporation)     File Number)    Identification No.)



200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
(Address of principal executive offices)

(214) 756-6900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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 2.02:    RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 34-47583, the following information, which is being furnished pursuant to the requirements of Item 2.02, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition,” is being reported under Item 7.01, “Regulation FD Disclosure.”

On July 27, 2016, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (“Westwood”) issued a press release entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”, a copy of which is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

ITEM 7.01:    REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Westwood announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share payable on October 3, 2016 to stockholders of record on September 9, 2016.

ITEM 9.01:    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)    Exhibits: The following exhibit is furnished with this report:

Exhibit Number                    Description

99.1
Press Release dated July 27, 2016, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”.












SIGNATURES

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

Date: July 27, 2016

                
WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.


By:    /s/ Tiffany B. Kice        
Tiffany B. Kice
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer








EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number        Description

99.1
Press Release dated July 27, 2016, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results; Assets Under Management of $21 Billion”.
    





Exhibit



Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results
Assets Under Management of $21 billion

Dallas, TX, July 27, 2016 – Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE: WHG) today reported second quarter 2016 revenues of $31.0 million compared to revenues of $37.3 million in the second quarter of 2015. Asset-based advisory fees decreased $4.8 million due to lower average assets under management primarily related to net outflows and depreciation since the second quarter of 2015. We earned performance-based fees of $0.4 million in the second quarter 2016 compared to $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2015. Assets under management ("AUM") totaled $21.0 billion at June 30, 2016, excluding assets under advisement ("AUA") totaling $322 million.

Second quarter net income totaled $5.7 million compared with $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, primarily due to a $4.2 million decrease in advisory fees and a $0.6 million charge for one-time information technology implementation costs, both net of tax, partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation costs related to lower results in 2016. Diluted earnings per share of $0.69 compared to $1.23 for the second quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings for the quarter of $10.4 million compared with $14.4 million in the prior year's second quarter. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS") of $1.27 compared with $1.80 in the second quarter of 2015.

Highlights from the second quarter 2016 include:
Strong performance of our Emerging Markets and Multi-Asset strategies.
Negative flows were driven primarily by reallocations from U.S. equity mandates.
Unfunded mandate wins were at their highest level in over a year.

Brian Casey, Westwood’s President & CEO, commented, “The current investing and business environment is one of the most unusual we have seen in a long time. Flows to low- and in some cases even negative-yielding fixed income securities are strong while equities remain out of favor despite the S&P 500 recently reaching an all-time high. So far this year, strong performance has been delivered by several of our strategies, primarily in the Emerging Markets and Multi-Asset segments, which positions us well in areas of rising long-term secular investor demand. We experienced negative flows for the quarter, primarily driven by continued reductions in U.S. equity allocations by investors. On a positive note, unfunded mandates reached their highest level in over a year, with wins coming across a number of our strategies. We expect these mandates to be funded over the remainder of this year.”

Westwood’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share, payable on October 3, 2016 to stockholders of record on September 9, 2016. At quarter-end, Westwood had $73.9 million in cash and investments, stockholders’ equity of $137.6 million, and no debt.

Economic Earnings and Economic EPS are non-GAAP performance measures and are explained and reconciled with the most comparable GAAP numbers in the attached tables.






Westwood will host a conference call to discuss second quarter 2016 results and other business matters at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, dial 877-303-6235 (domestic and Canada) or 631-291-4837 (international). The conference call can also be accessed via our Investor Relations page at westwoodgroup.com and will be available for replay through August 3, 2016 by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international) and then entering the passcode 43853210.

About Westwood

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.0 billion in assets under management*, our firm offers a range of investment strategies including U.S. equities, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Multi-Asset, Global and Emerging Markets equities, and Global Convertible securities portfolios. Access to these strategies is available through separate accounts, commingled funds, the Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds, and UCITS funds. Westwood benefits from significant, broad-based employee ownership and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WHG.” Based in Dallas, Westwood also maintains offices in Toronto, Boston, Omaha and Houston.

For more information on Westwood, please visit www.westwoodgroup.com.

For more information on the Westwood Funds®, please visit www.westwoodfunds.com.

*As of June 30, 2016







Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including without limitation, words such as “anticipate,” “forecast,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “goal,” “may,” “target,” “designed,” “on track,” “comfortable with,” “optimistic” and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry; the composition and market value of our assets under management; competition in the investment management industry; our investments in foreign companies; our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully; our ability to pursue and properly integrate acquired businesses; litigation risks; our ability to retain qualified personnel; our relationships with current and potential customers; our ability to properly address conflicts of interest; our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage; our ability to maintain effective information systems; our ability to maintain effective cyber security; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures; our relationships with investment consulting firms; the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Westwood’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Westwood is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

# # # #


SOURCE: Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

(WHG-G)
CONTACT:
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.
Tiffany B. Kice
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(214) 756-6900





WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended
 
June 30,
2016
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2015
REVENUES:
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory fees:
 
 
 
 
 
Asset-based
$
22,666

 
$
21,815

 
$
27,458

Performance-based
409

 

 
1,918

Trust fees
7,643

 
7,465

 
7,921

Other, net
305

 
(151
)
 
14

Total revenues
31,023

 
29,129

 
37,311

   
 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
$
15,108

 
$
16,494

 
$
16,512

Sales and marketing
687

 
328

 
496

Westwood mutual funds
831

 
696

 
901

Information technology
2,201

 
1,964

 
1,422

Professional services
1,158

 
1,646

 
1,031

General and administrative
2,526

 
2,355

 
2,197

Total expenses
22,511

 
23,483

 
22,559

Income before income taxes
8,512

 
5,646

 
14,752

Provision for income taxes
2,851

 
2,124

 
4,957

Net income
$
5,661

 
$
3,522

 
$
9,795

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
157

 
1,303

 
233

Total comprehensive income
$
5,818

 
$
4,825

 
$
10,028

   
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.71

 
$
0.45

 
$
1.25

Diluted
$
0.69

 
$
0.44

 
$
1.23

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
   Basic
8,000,214

 
7,862,449

 
7,806,031

   Diluted
8,172,923

 
8,047,084

 
7,961,406

 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic Earnings
$
10,387

 
$
8,093

 
$
14,352

Economic EPS
$
1.27

 
$
1.01

 
$
1.80

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share
$
0.57

 
$
0.57

 
$
0.50








WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)


 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
REVENUES:
 
 
 
Advisory fees:
 
 
 
Asset-based
$
44,481

 
$
51,387

Performance-based
409

 
2,206

Trust fees
15,108

 
13,071

Other, net
154

 
255

Total revenues
60,152

 
66,919

   
 
 
 
EXPENSES:
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
$
31,602

 
$
31,821

Sales and marketing
1,015

 
891

Westwood mutual funds
1,527

 
1,728

Information technology
4,165

 
2,459

Professional services
2,804

 
3,103

General and administrative
4,881

 
3,787

Total expenses
45,994

 
43,789

Income before income taxes
14,158

 
23,130

Provision for income taxes
4,975

 
7,725

Net income
$
9,183

 
$
15,405

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
1,460

 
(1,155
)
Total comprehensive income
$
10,643

 
$
14,250

   
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.16

 
$
2.00

Diluted
$
1.13

 
$
1.93

 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
   Basic
7,931,331

 
7,701,707

   Diluted
8,132,941

 
7,976,790

 
 
 
 
Economic Earnings
$
18,480

 
$
23,768

Economic EPS
$
2.27

 
$
2.98

 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share
$
1.14

 
$
1.00








WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par value and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 
June 30,
2016
 
December 31, 2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
29,124

 
$
22,740

Accounts receivable
21,376

 
19,618

Investments, at fair value
44,800

 
72,320

Other current assets
2,159

 
2,926

Total current assets
97,459

 
117,604

Goodwill
27,144

 
27,144

Deferred income taxes
11,143

 
11,042

Intangible assets, net
22,374

 
23,354

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,133 and $3,687
3,908

 
2,192

Total assets
$
162,028

 
$
181,336

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
3,545

 
$
3,549

Dividends payable
5,924

 
5,749

Compensation and benefits payable
8,754

 
20,264

Contingent consideration

 
9,023

Income taxes payable
3,109

 
6,268

Total current liabilities
21,332

 
44,853

Accrued dividends
1,236

 
1,699

Deferred rent
1,844

 
817

Total liabilities
24,412

 
47,369

 


 
 
Stockholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 9,823,881 and outstanding 8,847,754 shares at June 30, 2016; issued 9,425,309 and outstanding 8,630,687 shares at December 31, 2015
98

 
94

Additional paid-in capital
155,525

 
143,797

Treasury stock, at cost - 976,127 shares at June 30, 2016; 794,622 shares at December 31, 2015
(43,641
)
 
(34,910
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(3,228
)
 
(4,688
)
Retained earnings
28,862

 
29,674

Total stockholders’ equity
137,616

 
133,967

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
162,028

 
$
181,336







WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net income
$
9,183

 
$
15,405

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
494

 
325

Amortization of intangible assets
980

 
552

Unrealized losses (gains) on trading investments
(425
)
 
(81
)
Stock based compensation expense
8,083

 
7,695

Deferred income taxes
(72
)
 
(612
)
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation
(165
)
 
(1,396
)
Net sales (purchases) of investments – trading securities
27,945

 
33,506

Other non-cash, net
276

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(1,188
)
 
(6,773
)
Other current assets
981

 
288

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(375
)
 
810

Compensation and benefits payable
(11,384
)
 
(6,522
)
Income taxes payable
(3,889
)
 
1,673

Other liabilities
166

 
(18
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
30,610

 
44,852

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(994
)
 
(564
)
Acquisition of Woodway, net of cash acquired

 
(24,133
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(994
)
 
(24,697
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Purchases of treasury stock
(4,421
)
 

Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans
(614
)
 
(1,327
)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes
(3,696
)
 
(5,576
)
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation
165

 
1,396

Payment of contingent consideration in acquisition
(5,562
)
 

Cash dividends
(10,282
)
 
(8,743
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(24,410
)
 
(14,250
)
Effect of currency rate changes on cash
1,178

 
(1,269
)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
6,384

 
4,636

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
22,740

 
18,131

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
29,124

 
$
22,767

 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for income taxes
$
8,783

 
$
6,675

Common stock issued for acquisition
$
3,734

 
$
5,669

Non-cash accrued contingent consideration
$

 
$
9,257

Accrued dividends
$
7,160

 
$
6,071

Accrued purchase of property and equipment
$
332

 
$

Tenant allowance included in Property and equipment
$
1,128

 
$







WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Net Income to Economic Earnings
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
June 30,
2016
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2015
Net Income
$
5,661

 
$
3,522

 
$
9,795

Add: Stock based compensation expense
4,080

 
4,003

 
4,017

Add: Intangible amortization
490

 
490

 
462

Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization
156

 
78

 
78

Economic Earnings
$
10,387

 
$
8,093

 
$
14,352

 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average shares
8,172,923

 
8,047,084

 
7,961,406

Economic EPS
$
1.27

 
$
1.01

 
$
1.80

 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Net Income
$
9,183

 
$
15,405

Add: Stock based compensation expense
8,083

 
7,695

Add: Intangible amortization
980

 
552

Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization
234

 
116

Economic Earnings
$
18,480

 
$
23,768

 
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average shares
8,132,941

 
7,976,790

Economic EPS
$
2.27

 
$
2.98



As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share ("Economic EPS"). We provide these measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income and earnings per share, which are reported on a GAAP basis. Management reviews Economic Earnings and Economic EPS to evaluate Westwood’s ongoing performance, allocate resources and review the dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income or earnings per share, are useful for management and investors when evaluating Westwood’s underlying operating and financial performance and its available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider these non-GAAP measures without also considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We define Economic Earnings as net income plus non-cash equity-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes related to goodwill. Although depreciation on fixed assets is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent an allocation of the decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement. In addition, we do not adjust Economic Earnings for tax deductions related to restricted stock expense or amortization of intangible assets. Economic EPS represents Economic Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.