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): April 29, 2015

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

 
 	 	 	 	 	
Delaware	 	001-31234	 	75-2969997	
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	 	(Commission
File Number)	 	(IRS Employer
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):
 
 	¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)	
 
 	¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)	
 
 	¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))	
 
 	¨	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 April 29, 2015, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. issued a press release entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results; Assets Under Management Increase to a Record $21.7 Billion; Quarterly Net Inflows Total $1.1 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 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 $0.50 per common share payable on July 1, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 12, 2015.
 
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 April 29, 2015, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results; Assets Under Management Increase to a Record $21.7 Billion; Quarterly Net Inflows Total $1.1 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: April 29, 2015

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 April 29, 2015, entitled “Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results; Assets Under Management Increase to a Record $21.7 Billion; Quarterly Net Inflows Total $1.1 Billion”.	

Exhibit 99.1

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results
Assets Under Management Increase to a Record $21.7 Billion
Quarterly Net Inflows Total $1.1 Billion
Dallas, TX, April 29, 2015 – Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE: WHG) today reported first quarter 2015 revenues of $29.6 million, a 14% increase compared to revenues of $25.9 million in the first quarter of 2014. First quarter 2015 net income and diluted earnings per share (“Diluted EPS”) were $5.6 million and $0.71, respectively, and included Woodway transaction costs, net of tax, of $0.5 million, which negatively impacted Diluted EPS by approximately $0.06. Net income and Diluted EPS were $5.6 million and $0.72, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014.
First quarter 2015 non-GAAP Economic Earnings and Non-GAAP Economic Earnings per share (“Economic EPS”) were $9.4 million and $1.20, respectively, and included Woodway transaction costs, net of tax, of $0.5 million, which negatively impacted Economic EPS by approximately $0.06. Non-GAAP Economic Earnings and Economic EPS were $9.2 million and $1.18, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014.
Highlights and significant items related to our first quarter 2015 results include:
 
 	•	 	Revenues increased 14% to $29.6 million compared to the same period last year.	
 
 	•	 	Assets under management (“AUM”) reached a record level of $21.7 billion, with positive quarterly net inflows of $1.1 billion. Assets under advisement, for which we provide portfolio design and oversight, totaled $479 million.	
 
 	•	 	Net inflows into The Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds totaled $456 million, representing an organic growth rate of over 12% from year-end. The Funds now account for approximately 20% of our overall AUM.	
 
 	•	 	Increased diversification in AUM by investment strategy, with 5 strategies individually exceeding $1 billion in AUM.	
 
 	•	 	Our Westwood Global and Emerging Markets team has surpassed $4.5 billion in AUM, less than three years since inception.	
 
 	•	 	Non-US clients represent approximately 20% of AUM, up from 3% in 2009.	
On April 1, 2015, Westwood successfully completed the acquisition of Woodway Financial Advisors, which will substantially broaden the geographic reach of our Trust business. Woodway’s financial results will be consolidated into Westwood’s financial results beginning in the second quarter of 2015. Additionally, Woodway’s AUM will be included in Westwood’s AUM at that time.
 
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Brian Casey, Westwood’s President & CEO, commented, “We are pleased with the continued strong demand for our Emerging Markets and Income Opportunity strategies, which drove significant net inflows for the quarter and helped push AUM to a record $21.7 billion. We are also very pleased with the successful closing of the Woodway acquisition and look forward to partnering with the Woodway team to provide exceptional service in the growing Houston market.”
Westwood’s Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per common share, payable on July 1, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 12, 2015. At quarter-end, Westwood had $84 million in cash and investments, stockholders’ equity of $109 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 first quarter 2015 results and other business matters at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, dial 877-303-6235 (domestic) 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 May 6, 2015 by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international) and entering passcode 14287640.
About Westwood
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. provides investment management services to institutional investors, private wealth clients and financial intermediaries. With $21.7 billion in assets under management (as of March 31, 2015), the 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.
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,
 
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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 an 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, 2014 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. 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
 
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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
(unaudited)

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	
 	  	March 31,
2015	 	 	December 31,
2014	 	 	March 31,
2014	 	
REVENUES:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Advisory fees:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Asset based	  	$	23,929	  	 	$	23,132	  	 	$	20,389	  	
Performance based	  	 	288	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	363	  	
Trust fees	  	 	5,150	  	 	 	5,064	  	 	 	5,028	  	
Other, net	  	 	241	  	 	 	69	  	 	 	169	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenues	 	 	29,608	  	 	 	28,265	  	 	 	25,949	  	

EXPENSES:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Employee compensation and benefits	 	 	15,309	  	 	 	13,821	  	 	 	12,852	  	
Sales and marketing	 	 	395	  	 	 	581	  	 	 	287	  	
Westwood mutual funds	 	 	827	  	 	 	578	  	 	 	652	  	
Information technology	 	 	1,037	  	 	 	933	  	 	 	715	  	
Professional services	 	 	2,072	  	 	 	1,351	  	 	 	1,382	  	
General and administrative	 	 	1,590	  	 	 	1,526	  	 	 	1,448	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total expenses	 	 	21,230	  	 	 	18,790	  	 	 	17,336	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income before income taxes	 	 	8,378	  	 	 	9,475	  	 	 	8,613	  	
Provision for income taxes	 	 	2,768	  	 	 	3,497	  	 	 	3,051	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	 	$	5,610	  	 	$	5,978	  	 	$	5,562	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other comprehensive income:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Foreign currency translation adjustments	 	 	(1,388	) 	 	 	(374	) 	 	 	(354	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total comprehensive income	 	$	4,222	  	 	$	5,604	  	 	$	5,208	  	

Earnings per share:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	$	0.74	  	 	$	0.79	  	 	$	0.74	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted	 	$	0.71	  	 	$	0.77	  	 	$	0.72	  	

Weighted average shares outstanding:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	 	 	7,596,223	  	 	 	7,525,438	  	 	 	7,474,415	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted	 	 	7,861,090	  	 	 	7,811,770	  	 	 	7,751,243	  	

Economic Earnings	 	$	9,416	  	 	$	9,687	  	 	$	9,169	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Economic EPS	 	$	1.20	  	 	$	1.24	  	 	$	1.18	  	

Dividends declared per share	 	$	0.50	  	 	$	0.50	  	 	$	0.44	  	

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

 	  	March 31,
2015
(unaudited)	 	 	December 31,
2014	 	
ASSETS	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current Assets:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	19,607	  	 	$	18,131	  	
Accounts receivable	  	 	14,840	  	 	 	14,540	  	
Investments, at fair value	  	 	64,039	  	 	 	79,620	  	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	4,826	  	 	 	4,060	  	
Other current assets	  	 	2,538	  	 	 	2,413	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	 	 	105,850	  	 	 	118,764	  	
Goodwill	 	 	11,255	  	 	 	11,255	  	
Deferred income taxes	 	 	3,542	  	 	 	3,792	  	
Intangible assets, net	 	 	3,340	  	 	 	3,430	  	
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,847 and $2,720	 	 	2,871	  	 	 	2,633	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	 	$	126,858	  	 	$	139,874	  	

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current Liabilities:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	 	$	3,694	  	 	$	2,334	  	
Dividends payable	 	 	4,792	  	 	 	4,868	  	
Compensation and benefits payable	 	 	5,284	  	 	 	18,504	  	
Income taxes payable	 	 	2,031	  	 	 	1,498	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	 	 	15,801	  	 	 	27,204	  	
Accrued dividends	 	 	914	  	 	 	1,450	  	
Deferred rent	 	 	1,216	  	 	 	1,213	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities	 	 	17,931	  	 	 	29,867	  	

Stockholders’ Equity:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 25,000,000 shares, issued 9,280,996 and outstanding 8,467,815 shares at March 31, 2015; issued 9,010,255 and outstanding 8,308,460 shares at December 31, 2014	 	 	93	  	 	 	90	  	
Additional paid-in capital	 	 	125,661	  	 	 	119,859	  	
Treasury stock, at cost – 813,181 shares at March 31, 2015; 701,795 shares at December 31, 2014	 	 	(35,893	) 	 	 	(29,028	) 	
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	 	 	(2,619	) 	 	 	(1,231	) 	
Retained earnings	 	 	21,685	  	 	 	20,317	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total stockholders’ equity	 	 	108,927	  	 	 	110,007	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	 	$	126,858	  	 	$	139,874	  	

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WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 	  	Three Months Ended March 31,	 	
 	  	2015	 	 	2014	 	
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net income	  	$	5,610	  	 	$	5,562	  	
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation	  	 	145	  	 	 	144	  	
Amortization of intangible assets	  	 	90	  	 	 	90	  	
Unrealized gains on trading investments	  	 	(119	) 	 	 	(57	) 	
Stock based compensation expense	  	 	3,678	  	 	 	3,479	  	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	(570	) 	 	 	3,924	  	
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	  	 	(1,392	) 	 	 	(1,893	) 	
Net sales of investments – trading securities	  	 	15,700	  	 	 	19,206	  	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts receivable	  	 	(690	) 	 	 	(450	) 	
Other assets	  	 	42	  	 	 	338	  	
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	  	 	1,285	  	 	 	(189	) 	
Compensation and benefits payable	  	 	(12,406	) 	 	 	(13,963	) 	
Income taxes payable and prepaid income taxes	  	 	2,414	  	 	 	(1,557	) 	
Other liabilities	  	 	(6	) 	 	 	(37	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by operating activities	 	 	13,781	  	 	 	14,597	  	

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchases of property and equipment	 	 	(288	) 	 	 	(121	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used in investing activities	 	 	(288	) 	 	 	(121	) 	

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Purchases of treasury stock	 	 	(1,289	) 	 	 	(669	) 	
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	 	 	(5,576	) 	 	 	(5,170	) 	
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation	 	 	1,392	  	 	 	1,893	  	
Cash dividends	 	 	(4,855	) 	 	 	(3,942	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used in financing activities	 	 	(10,328	) 	 	 	(7,888	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Effect of currency rate changes on cash	 	 	(1,689	) 	 	 	(78	) 	
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	 	 	1,476	  	 	 	6,510	  	
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	 	 	18,131	  	 	 	10,864	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	 	$	19,607	  	 	$	17,374	  	

Supplemental cash flow information:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	 	$	957	  	 	$	761	  	

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

 	  	Three Months Ended	 	
 	  	March 31,
2015	 	  	December 31,
2014	 	  	March 31,
2014	 	
Net Income	  	$	5,610	  	  	$	5,978	  	  	$	5,562	  	
Add: Stock based compensation expense	  	 	3,678	  	  	 	3,582	  	  	 	3,479	  	
Add: Intangible amortization	  	 	90	  	  	 	89	  	  	 	90	  	
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization	  	 	38	  	  	 	38	  	  	 	38	  	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Economic earnings	 	$	9,416	  	 	$	9,687	  	 	$	9,169	  	

Diluted weighted average shares	 	 	7,861,090	  	 	 	7,811,770	  	 	 	7,751,243	  	
Economic EPS	 	$	1.20	  	 	$	1.24	  	 	$	1.18	  	
As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic Earnings per share (or 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 dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income or earnings per share, are useful for both 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 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.
 
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