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Watchlist
Account
Federated Hermes
FHI
#3293
Rank
$4.38 B
Marketcap
๐บ๐ธ
United States
Country
$57.81
Share price
-0.41%
Change (1 day)
59.08%
Change (1 year)
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Annual Reports (10-K)
Federated Hermes
Quarterly Reports (10-Q)
Financial Year FY2014 Q2
Federated Hermes - 10-Q quarterly report FY2014 Q2
Text size:
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Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
____________________________________________________
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2014
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number
001-14818
___________________________________________________
Federated Investors, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________________________________
Pennsylvania
25-1111467
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
Federated Investors Tower
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15222-3779
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 412-288-1900
___________________________________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
x
No
o
.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
(§ 232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
x
No
o
.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
o
No
x
.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date: As of
July 21, 2014
, the Registrant had outstanding
9,000
shares of Class A Common Stock and
104,888,526
shares of Class B Common Stock.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
3
Consolidated Statements of Income
4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
7
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
8
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
27
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
46
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
47
Part II. Other Information
Item 1
Legal Proceedings
48
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
48
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
48
Item 6.
Exhibits
49
Signatures
50
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this report on Form 10-Q including those related to asset flows, levels and mix; business mix; levels of revenues, expenses, gains, losses, net income and reported earnings; obligations to make additional contingent or additional payments pursuant to acquisition agreements or employment agreements; legal proceedings and management's assessment and beliefs regarding such legal proceedings; classification and consolidation of investments; future cash needs and cash flows; management’s expectations, projections or estimates, including regarding fee rates, the level, degree, continuance and impact of fee waivers and reimbursements or assumptions of expenses (fee waivers), interest rates, yields, borrowing, taxes, product demand, investor preferences, performance, legal, compliance and other professional services expenses, the value of the interest rate swap, indebtedness and certain investments, and liquidity; dilution and diluted earnings; future principal uses of cash; performance indicators; the impact of accounting policies and new accounting pronouncements; concentration and other risks; guarantee and indemnification obligations; the timing and impact of increased regulation by governments and regulators including current and potential rule proposals, and final rules, by the Securities and Exchange Commission affecting money market funds or action taken by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Financial Stability Oversight Council, the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service or other U.S. or foreign government entities, and management’s assessments and beliefs regarding such proposals, final rules and actions; distribution-related expenses; levels of investment, potential losses associated with investments and the timing of redemption of certain investments; the ability to raise additional capital; charges for losses and expenses; and various items set forth under the section entitled Risk Factors included in Federated's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2013
constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of Federated Investors, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (Federated) or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Among other risks and uncertainties, market conditions may change significantly resulting in changes to Federated’s asset flows, asset levels, asset mix and business mix, which may cause a decline in revenues and net income, result in impairments and increase the amount of fee waivers incurred by Federated. The obligation to make contingent payments is based on net revenue levels and will be affected by the achievement of such levels, and the obligation to make additional payments pursuant to employment arrangements is based on satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in those arrangements. Future cash needs, cash flows and future uses of cash will be impacted by a variety of factors, including the number and size of any acquisitions, Federated’s success in distributing its products, potential changes in assets under management and/or changes in the terms of distribution and shareholder services contracts with intermediaries who offer Federated’s products to customers, and potential increased legal, compliance and other professional services expenses stemming from additional regulation. Federated’s risks and uncertainties also include liquidity and credit risks in Federated’s money market funds and revenue risk, which will be affected by yield levels in money market fund products, changes in fair values of assets under management, investor preferences and confidence, and the ability of Federated to collect fees in connection with the management of such products. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur as a result of the increased scrutiny of the mutual fund industry by domestic or foreign regulators, and the recent and any ongoing disruption in global financial markets. As a result, no assurance can be given as to future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and neither Federated nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such statements in the future. For more information on these items and additional risks that may impact the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled Risk Factors included in Federated's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2013
.
Table of Contents
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
June 30,
2014
December 31,
2013
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
61,081
$
104,443
Investments—affiliates
141,895
129,413
Investments—consolidated investment companies
55,596
53,476
Investments—other
5,023
4,846
Receivables, net of reserve of $37 and $59, respectively
27,972
29,320
Prepaid expenses
12,265
12,860
Other current assets
4,891
4,960
Total current assets
308,723
339,318
Long-Term Assets
Goodwill
658,837
658,743
Renewable investment advisory contracts
68,970
68,595
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $43,505 and $42,453, respectively
6,954
8,007
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $59,618 and $54,791, respectively
37,205
40,088
Other long-term assets
24,449
21,046
Total long-term assets
796,415
796,479
Total assets
$
1,105,138
$
1,135,797
LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
Short-term debt
$
25,500
$
77,917
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
37,228
36,364
Accrued compensation and benefits
41,817
70,272
Other current liabilities
14,177
29,652
Total current liabilities
118,722
214,205
Long-Term Liabilities
Long-term debt
229,500
198,333
Long-term deferred tax liability, net
133,262
121,203
Other long-term liabilities
18,820
20,195
Total long-term liabilities
381,582
339,731
Total liabilities
500,304
553,936
Commitments and contingencies (Note (12))
TEMPORARY EQUITY
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
17,302
15,517
PERMANENT EQUITY
Federated Investors shareholders’ equity
Common stock:
Class A, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 9,000 shares issued and outstanding
189
189
Class B, no par value, 900,000,000 shares authorized, 129,505,456 shares issued
308,928
295,769
Retained earnings
1,029,014
1,022,608
Treasury stock, at cost, 24,615,180 and 24,715,473 shares Class B common stock, respectively
(751,004
)
(751,239
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
122
(1,208
)
Total Federated Investors, Inc. shareholders’ equity
587,249
566,119
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
283
225
Total permanent equity
587,532
566,344
Total liabilities, temporary equity and permanent equity
$
1,105,138
$
1,135,797
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.)
3
Table of Contents
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
2014
2013
2014
2013
Revenue
Investment advisory fees, net—affiliates
$
114,193
$
126,897
$
226,630
$
259,025
Investment advisory fees, net—other
23,360
20,618
46,016
39,253
Administrative service fees, net—affiliates
52,738
55,253
107,465
112,081
Other service fees, net—affiliates
18,070
16,747
35,612
32,934
Other service fees, net—other
3,377
3,109
6,615
6,253
Other, net
1,243
1,182
2,139
2,231
Total revenue
212,981
223,806
424,477
451,777
Operating Expenses
Compensation and related
70,693
67,855
142,452
134,792
Distribution
49,256
53,809
97,814
112,048
Professional service fees
8,177
9,293
16,558
18,137
Office and occupancy
7,286
6,543
14,201
12,975
Systems and communications
6,225
6,087
12,629
12,710
Travel and related
3,538
3,533
6,399
6,219
Advertising and promotional
2,959
3,936
6,398
7,358
Other
6,005
6,722
12,539
13,311
Total operating expenses
154,139
157,778
308,990
317,550
Operating income
58,842
66,028
115,487
134,227
Nonoperating Income (Expenses)
Investment income, net
1,802
1,708
3,502
3,243
Gain on securities, net
2,509
2,351
4,422
5,244
Debt expense
(2,849
)
(3,137
)
(5,662
)
(6,390
)
Other, net
(5
)
(30
)
(9
)
(70
)
Total nonoperating income, net
1,457
892
2,253
2,027
Income before income taxes
60,299
66,920
117,740
136,254
Income tax provision
22,985
25,059
44,781
49,705
Net income including the noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
37,314
41,861
72,959
86,549
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
445
1,453
896
3,147
Net income
$
36,869
$
40,408
$
72,063
$
83,402
Amounts attributable to Federated Investors, Inc.
Earnings per common share—Basic and Diluted
$
0.35
$
0.39
$
0.69
$
0.80
Cash dividends per share
$
0.25
$
0.24
$
0.50
$
0.48
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.)
4
Table of Contents
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
2014
2013
2014
2013
Net income including the noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
$
37,314
$
41,861
$
72,959
$
86,549
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Permanent equity
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swap
(20
)
11
(99
)
(6
)
Reclassification adjustment related to interest rate swap
912
1,043
1,833
2,109
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale
889
(1,389
)
1,308
1,604
Reclassification adjustment related to securities available for sale
(942
)
(1,302
)
(1,874
)
(2,812
)
Foreign currency items
71
(270
)
162
(301
)
Temporary equity
Foreign currency translation loss
0
(1
)
0
(36
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
910
(1,908
)
1,330
558
Comprehensive income including the noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
38,224
39,953
74,289
87,107
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
313
250
794
253
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
132
1,202
102
2,858
Comprehensive income attributable to Federated Investors, Inc.
$
37,779
$
38,501
$
73,393
$
83,996
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.)
5
Table of Contents
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Federated Investors, Inc. Shareholders
Common
Stock
Retained
Earnings
Treasury
Stock
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
(Loss) Income, Net of
Tax
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
Nonredeemable
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Subsidiary
Total
Permanent
Equity
Redeemable
Noncontrolling
Interest in
Subsidiaries/
Temporary
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
273,886
$
984,505
$
(760,022
)
$
(2,937
)
$
495,432
$
1,244
$
496,676
$
7,268
Net income
0
83,402
0
0
83,402
2,858
86,260
289
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
0
0
0
594
594
0
594
(36
)
Subscriptions—redeemable noncontrolling interest holders
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,839
Consolidation
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
54,919
Stock award activity
11,181
(11,314
)
11,314
0
11,181
0
11,181
0
Dividends declared/Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders
0
(50,192
)
0
0
(50,192
)
(3,780
)
(53,972
)
(2,740
)
Purchase of treasury stock
0
0
(5,486
)
0
(5,486
)
0
(5,486
)
0
Other
0
(130
)
0
0
(130
)
0
(130
)
0
Balance at June 30, 2013
$
285,067
$
1,006,271
$
(754,194
)
$
(2,343
)
$
534,801
$
322
$
535,123
$
69,539
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
295,958
$
1,022,608
$
(751,239
)
$
(1,208
)
$
566,119
$
225
$
566,344
$
15,517
Net income
0
72,063
0
0
72,063
102
72,165
794
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
0
0
0
1,330
1,330
0
1,330
0
Subscriptions—redeemable noncontrolling interest holders
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3,217
Stock award activity
13,184
(13,192
)
13,673
0
13,665
0
13,665
0
Dividends declared/Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders
0
(52,465
)
0
0
(52,465
)
(44
)
(52,509
)
(2,226
)
Stock option activity
(25
)
0
0
0
(25
)
0
(25
)
0
Purchase of treasury stock
0
0
(13,438
)
0
(13,438
)
0
(13,438
)
0
Balance at June 30, 2014
$
309,117
$
1,029,014
$
(751,004
)
$
122
$
587,249
$
283
$
587,532
$
17,302
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.)
6
Table of Contents
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2014
2013
Operating Activities
Net income including the noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
$
72,959
$
86,549
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Amortization of deferred sales commissions
5,576
4,387
Depreciation and other amortization
5,430
4,995
Share-based compensation expense
11,847
10,758
Gain on disposal of assets
(5,142
)
(5,579
)
Provision for deferred income taxes
11,520
13,312
Fair-value adjustments for contingent liabilities
(579
)
(47
)
Net purchases of trading securities
(937
)
(4,661
)
Deferred sales commissions paid
(8,051
)
(6,495
)
Contingent deferred sales charges received
887
783
Other changes in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in receivables, net
1,347
(7
)
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other assets
311
(1,882
)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses
(30,480
)
(36,019
)
Increase in other liabilities
550
1,385
Net cash provided by operating activities
65,238
67,479
Investing Activities
Purchases of securities available for sale
(52,080
)
(21,756
)
Cash paid for business acquisitions
(9,697
)
(3,365
)
Proceeds from redemptions of securities available for sale
41,693
55,810
Cash paid for property and equipment
(2,357
)
(5,986
)
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities
(22,441
)
24,703
Financing Activities
Dividends paid
(52,466
)
(50,208
)
Purchases of treasury stock
(14,629
)
(4,667
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
(2,270
)
(6,520
)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
3,217
9,839
Proceeds from shareholders for share-based compensation
480
0
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
1,368
780
Payments on debt
(21,250
)
(21,250
)
Other financing activities
(609
)
(347
)
Net cash used by financing activities
(86,159
)
(72,373
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(43,362
)
19,809
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
104,443
67,585
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
61,081
$
87,394
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.)
7
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
(1)
Basis of Presentation
The interim Consolidated Financial Statements of Federated Investors, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, Federated) included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.
In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
. Certain items previously reported have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation, including, but not limited to, the combination of an immaterial line item into
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income and the combination of certain items included on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
(2)
Significant Accounting Policies
For a listing of Federated’s significant accounting policies, please refer to Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
.
(3)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2014, Federated adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) accounting standards update (ASU) 2013-08, Financial Services-Investment Companies (Topic 946) amending the criteria for an entity to qualify as an investment company under GAAP. Any entity regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is automatically an investment company under the new definition. The update also amends certain disclosure requirements and measurement criteria. The adoption of the update did not have a material impact on Federated's Consolidated Financial Statements.
On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued as final, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) which supersedes virtually all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The update's core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and prohibits early adoption. The update allows for the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective approach of adoption. Management is currently evaluating the available transition methods and the potential impact of adoption on Federated's Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4)
Concentration Risk
(a)
Revenue Concentration by Asset Class
The following table summarizes the percentage of total revenue earned from Federated's asset classes for the periods presented:
Six Months Ended
June 30,
2014
2013
Money market assets
33
%
42
%
Equity assets
43
%
34
%
Fixed-income assets
23
%
23
%
8
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
The decline in the relative proportion of Federated's revenue attributable to money market assets for the first
six
months of
2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
was primarily the result of increases in fee waivers for certain money market funds to maintain positive or zero net yields.
A significant change in Federated’s money market business or a significant reduction in money market assets due to regulatory changes, changes in the financial markets, including significant and rapid increases in interest rates over a short period of time causing certain investors to prefer direct investments in interest-bearing securities, significant deterioration in investor confidence, further persistent declines in or additional prolonged periods of historically low short-term interest rates and resulting fee waivers or other circumstances, could have a material adverse effect on Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
Current Regulatory Environment
Domestic
In January 2010, the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(
SEC
)
adopted extensive amendments to
Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(
Rule 2a-7
)
to enhance the resiliency of money market funds. These amendments included rules that require all money market funds to meet specific portfolio liquidity standards and rules that significantly enhance the public disclosure and regulatory reporting obligations of these funds. In 2010 and 2011, Federated dedicated internal resources to comply with these amendments including efforts to enhance our information systems and improve related reporting capabilities. These efforts were internally sourced and not material to Federated's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows for those years. In Federated's view, the amendments of 2010 meaningfully and sufficiently strengthened money market funds as demonstrated in meeting heightened requests for redemptions occurring in connection with the U.S. debt ceiling debate and subsequent downgrade of the country's credit rating in 2011, the European debt crisis in 2011/2012 and its ongoing fallout as well as the U.S. debt ceiling debate in 2013.
On July 23, 2014, by a three to two vote of the SEC Commissioners, the SEC adopted lengthy final rules (through an over 860 page release) on money market fund reform (Final Rules).
The Final Rules were adopted after a lengthy and voluminous public comment process, which one SEC Commissioner called, in remarks made at the Sunshine Act Meeting at which the SEC Commissioners adopted the Final Rules, “perhaps one of the most flawed and controversial rulemaking processes the [SEC] has undertaken.”
The Final Rules will impose additional money market fund reforms that require any institutional prime money market fund and any institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund to maintain a floating
net asset value
(
NAV
)
. The Final Rules will permit a money market fund, or, in certain circumstances, require a money market fund (other than a government money market fund), to impose liquidity fees on all redemptions, and permit a money market fund to limit (or gate) redemptions for up to 10 business days in any 90-day period.
The Final Rules also will impose certain current event disclosure requirements on a new Form N-CR and certain other enhanced disclosure and reporting (including on Form N-MFP and Form PF), diversification, and stress-testing requirements on a money market fund.
The Final Rules will become effective 60 days after the date on which the Final Rules are published in the Federal Register (Publication Date).
The mandatory compliance dates for the Final Rules are:
(1) two years after the Publication Date for the floating NAV requirements, liquidity fees and gates requirements and related disclosure requirements;
(2) nine months after the Publication Date for the current event disclosure requirements on new Form N-CR and related website disclosure requirements; and
(3) 18 months after the Publication Date for other requirements not related to either the floating NAV or fees or gates, including the enhanced disclosure and reporting on Form N-MFP and Form PF, diversification and stress-testing requirements, and certain clarifying amendments to relevant SEC rules.
In response to the SEC’s adoption of the Final Rules, the
U.S. Treasury Department
(
Treasury Department
)
and the
Internal Revenue Service
(
IRS
)
also issued on July 23, 2014 proposed rules, which money market fund shareholders may immediately rely upon, aimed at relieving tax burdens for shareholders that frequently purchase or redeem shares of a money market fund (such as through a broker-dealer or bank “sweep arrangement”) and that may experience a high volume of small capital gains and losses if they invest in an institutional prime money market fund or an institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund with a floating NAV.
The IRS also issued on July 23, 2014 final guidance in the form of Revenue Procedure 2014-45 addressing applicable wash sale rules and describing the circumstances in which the IRS will not treat a redemption of shares in a money market fund as part of a wash sale.
Floating NAV Requirement
The Final Rules will require any institutional prime money market fund and any institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund to value its holdings utilizing market-based valuations to maintain a floating NAV rounded to the nearest 1/100th of one percent, or the fourth decimal place, rather than use the amortized cost method of valuation of securities maturing in more than 60 days to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
A government money market fund or a retail money market fund will be
9
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
allowed to continue using the amortized cost method (and/or the penny rounding method of pricing) to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
Under the Final Rules, a “government money market fund” will include any money market fund that invests 99.5% (rather than 80%) or more of its total assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized solely by government securities or cash.
A “retail money market fund” will include any money market fund that has policies and procedures reasonably designed to limit all beneficial owners of the money market fund to natural persons.
Liquidity Fee and Gate Requirements
The Final Rules also will permit the board of directors/trustees of a money market fund to impose liquidity fees of up to two percent on all redemptions if the money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets (which generally include cash, U.S. Treasury securities, certain other government securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, and securities that convert to cash within one week) falls below 30% of its total assets and the board determines that such liquidity fees are in the best interests of the money market fund.
Under the Final Rules, if a money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets falls below 10%, the money market fund (other than a government money market fund) would be required to impose a liquidity fee of one percent on all redemptions, unless the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund determines that such a liquidity fee is not in the best interests of the money market fund or that a lower or higher (up to two percent) liquidity fee on all redemptions is in the best interests of the money market fund.
Under the Final Rules, the board of directors/trustees of a money market fund also will have the discretion to temporarily suspend (or gate) redemptions for up to 10 days if a money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets falls below 30% and the board determines that imposing a gate is in the best interests of the money market fund. A money market fund will not be able to impose a gate on redemptions for more than 10 business days in any 90-day period.
A government money market fund will not be subject to the liquidity fee and redemption gate requirements adopted under the Final Rules, but may voluntarily opt into them, if previously disclosed to the government money market fund’s investors.
Current Event Disclosure Requirements and Other Requirements
Under the Final Rules, a money market fund will be required to disclose certain current events on a new Form N-CR, including
(A) the imposition or removal of liquidity fees or gates and the primary considerations or factors taken into account by the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund in making its decision related to fees and gates,
(B) portfolio security defaults,
(C) sponsor or affiliate support of the money market fund, including the amount of support and a brief description of the reason for the support, and
(D) for a government money market fund or a retail money market fund, a reduction in the money market fund’s market-based (or shadow) NAV per share below $0.9975.
In addition to certain clarifying amendments and other changes to SEC rules implemented by the Final Rules, the Final Rules also will impose certain other enhanced disclosure and reporting, diversification, and stress-testing requirements on a money market fund.
The other enhanced disclosure and reporting requirements appear to be aimed at further increasing transparency. Under the Final Rules, in addition to the current event disclosures that will be required on new Form N-CR, a money market fund will be required to disclose in its statement of additional information any occasion during the last 10 years (excluding occasions that occurred before the compliance date) in which the money market fund received sponsor or affiliate support.
On a daily basis, a money market fund also will be required to disclose on its website its levels of daily liquid assets and weekly liquid assets, net shareholder inflows or outflows, market-based (or shadow) NAV per share, impositions of liquidity fees or gates, and any use of sponsor or affiliate support.
The Final Rules also amend Form N-MFP, a form required under SEC rules to be filed by a money market fund with the SEC within five business days after the end of each month, to require reporting of certain additional information relating to assessing money market fund risk and will make the information filed on Form N-MFP public immediately upon filing (rather than 60 days after filing).
The Final Rules also require an adviser of a private “liquidity fund” to report certain additional information regarding this type of private fund on Form PF.
Regarding diversification, the Final Rules will require a money market fund to treat certain affiliated entities as single issuers for purposes of determining whether the money market fund is complying with the five percent issuer diversification requirement under Rule 2a-7, which, as revised, will generally restrict a money market fund from investing more than five percent of its assets in any one issuer or group of affiliated issuers.
Rule 2a-7 currently provides for a "25% basket,” under which up to 25% of the value of securities held in a money market fund’s portfolio may be subject to guarantees or demand features from a single institution.
The Final Rules will require that a money market fund (other than a municipal or tax-exempt money market fund) meet a 10% diversification limit for guarantors and demand feature providers.
For a municipal or tax-exempt money market fund, no more than 15% of the value of its securities will be able to be held in securities subject to guarantees or demand features from a single institution. Under the Final Rules, a money market fund also will be required to treat the sponsor of an asset-backed security as a guarantor subject to the diversification limit applicable to guarantees and
10
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
demand features, unless the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund (or its delegate) determines that the money market fund is not relying on the sponsor’s financial strength or its ability or willingness to provide liquidity, credit or other support to determine the asset-backed security’s quality or liquidity.
Regarding stress testing, the Final Rules will further enhance the stress testing, and related board reporting, requirements adopted by the SEC in 2010.
For example, the Final Rules will require a money market fund to test its ability to maintain weekly liquid assets of at least 10% and to minimize principal volatility in response to certain specified hypothetical stress scenarios.
Related SEC Proposals
Along with the Final Rules, the SEC also issued on July 23, 2014, a Notice of Proposed Rule 10b-10 Exemptive Relief, in which the SEC solicited comment on a proposal to exempt broker-dealers from the immediate confirmation delivery requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) for transactions effected in shares of floating NAV institutional prime money market funds and institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market funds.
The SEC also issued separate proposals re-proposing amendments to Rule 2a-7 and Form N-MFP to remove any references to or requirement of reliance on credit ratings and to establish alternative standards of creditworthiness in place of credit ratings and proposing amendments to Rule 2a-7 to eliminate an exclusion from the issuer diversification provisions for securities with certain guarantees.
Treasury Department and IRS Tax Guidance
Under the proposed rules issued by the Treasury Department and IRS on July 23, 2014, shareholders that frequently purchase or redeem shares of a money market fund (such as through a broker-dealer or bank “sweep arrangement”) and that may experience a high volume of small capital gains and losses if they invest in an institutional prime money market fund or an institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund with a floating NAV may adopt a simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting for these gains and losses.
Money market fund shareholders that invest in floating NAV money market funds can immediately rely on these proposed rules. Under the proposed rules, floating NAV money market fund shareholders can measure net gain or net loss without transaction-by-transaction calculations and determine their net gain or loss using certain information provided to them by the money market fund for non-tax purposes.
The net gain (or loss) can be determined as the increase (or decrease) in the value of the shareholder’s shares during a period (such as the tax year), minus the net investment in those holdings (purchases minus sales) during the period.
Under the proposed rules, floating NAV money market funds also receive the same waiver of gross-proceeds reporting, basis reporting and holding-period reporting that now applies to stable-value money market funds.
Under Revenue Procedure 2014-45, which also was issued on July 23, 2014, the IRS describes the circumstances in which the IRS will not treat a redemption of shares in a money market fund as part of a wash sale.
(A wash sale generally occurs when a shareholder sells a security at a loss, and within 30 days before or after the sale, acquires a substantially identical security.)
If shareholders of floating NAV money market funds choose not to adopt the simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting described above, Revenue Procedure 2014-45 provides relief from the wash sale rules for any losses on shares of a floating NAV money market fund. In addition, this guidance clarifies that the wash sale rules do not affect shareholders who do adopt the simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting described above.
The Final Rules and related guidance issued by the Treasury Department and IRS, on July 23, 2014, represent the culmination of a lengthy and voluminous public comment process on the SEC’s prior proposed rule on money market fund reforms.
Since January 2010, the SEC worked to develop a proposal for additional reforms related to money market funds. On June 5, 2013, the SEC issued its rule proposal for public comment. The SEC's proposal was lengthy (approximately 700 pages) and included two principal alternative reforms that could be adopted alone or in combination. Similar to the Final Rules adopted by the SEC, one alternative was a floating
NAV
for institutional prime money market funds and other money market funds (such as, for example, municipal money market funds) other than government and retail money market funds, and the other alternative involved use of liquidity fees and redemption gates when a fund failed to maintain a prescribed liquidity threshold. Unlike the Final Rules adopted by the SEC, in the case of either alternative, the proposal would have eliminated the amortized cost method of valuation of securities maturing in more than 60 days while permitting the use of the penny rounding method to maintain a stable share price for money market funds not required to have a floating NAV. The proposal also included additional diversification and disclosure measures that would apply under either alternative.
When the SEC's proposal was issued in June 2013, management reviewed the SEC proposal and actively participated in the public comment process both individually through the filing of 18 comment letters and with industry groups.
While the public comment period formally closed on September 17, 2013, comments on the SEC's proposal continued to be submitted, including
11
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
additional comment letters submitted on behalf of Federated.
Comment letters are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-03-13/s70313.shtml.
On March 24, 2014, the SEC published a series of four analyses conducted by the SEC's Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, which the SEC staff believed "have the potential to be informative for evaluating final rule amendments for the regulation of money market funds." The analyses examined (1) the spread between same-day buy and sell transaction prices for certain corporate bonds from January 2, 2008 to January 31, 2009, (2) the extent of government money market fund exposure to non-government securities, (3) academic literature reviewing recent evidence on the availability of "safe assets" in the U.S. and global economies and (4) the extent various types of money market funds are holding in their portfolios guarantees and demand features from a single institution.
The SEC staff requested comments on this supplemental information be submitted to the comment file to the SEC’s June 5, 2013 money market fund reform proposal (discussed above) by April 23, 2014.
Federated filed three comment letters with respect to this supplemental information published by the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis.
One comment letter addressed the analysis regarding the spread between same-day buy and sell transaction prices for certain money market eligible securities from January 2, 2008 to January 31, 2009.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its view that, while Federated generally agreed with the SEC staff's methodology for considering the cost of liquidity in evaluating an appropriate liquidity fee, the staff’s use of Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) bond data as the basis for spread analysis led the staff to find significantly larger spreads than it would have found had it based its analysis on the short-term instruments in which money market funds actually invest.
Management believed, and continues to believe, that the staff’s analysis overstated the spreads for Rule 2a-7 eligible securities during crisis periods by several multiples of actual spreads, and thus could have led the SEC to adopt a far larger-than-necessary liquidity fee requirement as part of its Final Rules.
Another comment letter addressed the analysis regarding municipal money market funds' exposure to parents of guarantors.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its view that it did not believe that the SEC staff’s analysis supported the conclusion that elimination of the "25% basket" in Rule 2a-7 would not increase the credit risks of municipal and other money market funds.
Management did not believe, and continues not to believe, that there is a basis for concluding that elimination of the 25% basket would protect investors, or promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation.
The third comment letter addressed the SEC staff’s analyses regarding the demand and supply of safe assets in the economy and government money market fund exposure to non-government securities.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its reservations about the data and analysis underlying both analyses on the basis that neither analysis appeared focused on the market sector that the SEC's June 5, 2013 money market fund reform proposal would have most directly affected, namely, the market for short-term U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements for U.S. government securities (the government money market).
Management believed, and continues to believe, that any money market reform proposal that would have the effect of shifting large amounts of capital into the government money market would certainly create problems for investors who are required to invest in government securities or who cannot afford the risks associated with other classes of "safe assets" included in the SEC staff's analysis (such as gold, investment grade bonds, securitized assets and foreign sovereign obligations).
In April, 2014, the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
(
FRBNY
)
published a paper entitled “Gates, Fees and Preemptive Runs” in which the FRBNY purported to show that the possibility of suspending convertibility, including the imposition of gates or fees for redemptions, can create runs that would not otherwise occur.
As reflected in Federated’s comment letter, dated April 25, 2014, management believed, and continues to believe, that publicly available data shows that roughly 91% of large bank deposits are subject to the banks' ability to refuse early withdrawal requests from time deposits, defer for seven days requests for withdrawals from savings accounts, and impose early withdrawal fees on time deposits. Management believed, and continues to believe, therefore, that the FRBNY’s paper was based on a flawed assumption that banks are currently prohibited from imposing gates or fees on withdrawals from bank deposits and that, as evidenced by the relative stability of these assets, it was erroneous to claim that gates and fees cause assets to be prone to runs. To the contrary, management believed, and continues to believe, that gates and fees will achieve the SEC’s stated money market fund reform goals while promoting efficiency, competition and capital formation.
In a final comment letter on the SEC’s June 5, 2013 proposal submitted on July 16, 2014, Federated conveyed its views to the SEC that a combination of a floating NAV for institutional prime money market funds and liquidity fees and gates would be an onerous regulatory alternative that would significantly reduce the utility of money market funds for a large segment of investors, particularly when less burdensome alternatives exist that would achieve the SEC's stated money market reform goals while enhancing transparency for investors. In that comment letter, Federated listed and examined the less burdensome alternatives that management believed, and continues to believe, exist for achieving the SEC's goals, including, among other alternatives, allowing for the imposition of gates and fees (without requiring a floating NAV) and enhanced disclosures.
Federated supported throughout the public comment process, and continues to support, liquidity fees and redemption gates in certain contexts.
Federated believed, and continues to believe, the floating NAV will significantly reduce the utility and attractiveness of money market funds for investors who, in Federated's view, value money market funds in their current form as
12
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
an efficient and effective cash management investment product offering daily liquidity at par.
Management believes the Final Rules appropriately continue to allow a government money market fund or a retail money market fund to use the amortized cost method to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
However, management believes that the Final Rules’ combination of a floating NAV for institutional prime money market funds and institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market funds with liquidity fees and gates could be an onerous regulatory alternative that could significantly reduce the utility of money market funds for a large segment of investors, with further adverse consequences for issuers who rely upon money market funds as an important alternative to bank financing, particularly when less burdensome alternatives exist that would achieve the SEC's stated money market reform goals while enhancing transparency for investors.
Management believes that the floating NAV will be detrimental to Federated's money market fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
Given the recent adoption of the SEC’s Final Rules, the extended compliance dates under the Final Rules, and the recent issuance of Treasury Department and IRS guidance on related tax reforms, Federated is unable at this time to assess the degree of any potential impact the SEC's Final Rules may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows until the Final Rules, and related Treasury Department and IRS guidance, are fully reviewed and analyzed.
In connection with the review and analysis of the Final Rules, the related tax guidance, and their impact on Federated's business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows, Federated will consider its legislative, regulatory, legal, product structure and development, business and certain other options that may be available to seek to minimize the potential impact of any adverse consequences of the Final Rules. Federated also is unable to assess at this time whether, or the degree to which, any potential options ultimately may be pursued or be successful.
The Financial Stability Oversight Council
(
FSOC
)
may recommend new or heightened regulation for "nonbank financial companies" under Section 120 of the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
(
Dodd-Frank Act
)
. On April 3, 2013,
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(
the Governors
)
issued a final regulation, which became effective on May 6, 2013, that defines the term "predominantly engaged in financial activities" for purposes of identifying "nonbank financial companies" under the Dodd-Frank Act. In the adopting release for the regulation, the Governors stated that they believe "that it is clear that open-end investment companies, such as mutual funds including money market funds, ... engage in financial activities" for the purpose of asserting regulatory jurisdiction. Management respectfully disagrees with this position. Management believes that (1) the final regulation is inconsistent with the clear language and intent of the Dodd-Frank Act, (2) the conclusion that mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, fall within the scope of "financial activities" is without a valid statutory basis and (3) Congress intended the scope of "financial activities" for Dodd-Frank Act regulation to be strictly limited to specific lines of business previously defined under the Bank Holding Company Act, which historically have not been viewed as including mutual funds as a specific line of business.
In a Congressional Appropriations Committee conference report that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which was signed into law by President Obama on January 17, 2014, Congress instructed the SEC to undertake a “rigorous economic analysis” before promulgating its final money market fund proposal, and indicated that the “Committee expects that the final rules will take into account the substantive concerns of stakeholders who use these products for short-term financing needs.” In the conference report, Congress also expressed that “[i]mpairing or restricting the use of money market funds could potentially result in a decrease in the ability of these products to provide liquidity, potentially resulting in hundreds of market participants issuing longer-term debt, significantly increasing their funding costs, slowing expansion rates, and depressing jobs and economic growth.” In a House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee conference report accompanying a House appropriations bill, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, 2015, the House Appropriations Committee indicated that the “Committee remains concerned with the [SEC’s] proposal to further regulate money market funds” and reiterated many of the above statements from the Congressional Appropriations Committee conference report. In addition to underscoring the importance to the capital markets of money market funds as currently structured, management believes that these conference reports reflect Congress’ view that the regulation of money market funds is within the purview of the SEC, not FSOC.
On November 1, 2013, Federated also responded to the SEC’s request for comment on a September 2013 report of the
U.S. Department of the Treasury's
(
Treasury Department
)
Office of Financial Research entitled
“Asset Management and Financial Stability”
(
the OFR Report
)
, which was prepared at the request of FSOC. Federated believes that the OFR Report is lacking in both substance and depth of analysis in its effort to justify FSOC’s and the Governors' role in fundamentally changing the structure and operation of investment managers, investors and the markets. While the SEC requested comments to be submitted by November 1, 2013, comments have continued to be submitted. Comment letters are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/comments/am-1/am-1.shtml.
13
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
Federated is unable to assess whether, or the degree to which, any of the Federated Funds, including money market funds, could ultimately be designated a systematically important nonbank financial company by FSOC. In management's view, the issuance of final regulations is, and any reforms ultimately put into effect would be, detrimental to Federated's money market fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. Federated is unable to assess the degree of any potential impact any reforms or other actions by the Governors, FSOC or other governmental entities may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows at this time.
International
European-based money market funds face regulatory reform pressure in Europe similar to that faced in the U.S. The European Commission released its money market fund reform proposal on September 4, 2013. The proposal would have permitted either floating NAV money market funds or constant NAV money market funds subject to capital requirements. Under the proposal, a constant NAV money market fund generally would have had to either build a capital buffer of 3% or convert to a floating NAV money market fund. On March 10, 2014, the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee postponed a vote on the proposal until the next European Parliament, which will convene after parliamentary elections. Any proposal must be approved by the European Parliament and European Council and any final regulation could vary materially from that of any proposal. Management does not anticipate agreement on a final regulation before late fourth quarter 2014.
A proposal to implement a European
financial transactions tax
(
FTT
)
continues to be developed. Notwithstanding challenges to its legality, discussions have continued regarding the scope, application and allocation of the FTT.
On May 6, 2014, a Declaration was signed by 10 of the 11 original participating European countries confirming their support for the FTT, clarifying that the FTT would be introduced on a step-by-step basis, with the progressive implementation focusing first on the taxation of equities and certain derivatives, noting that individual countries could impose the FTT on additional products not included in the initial progressive implementation (for example, in order to maintain existing taxes) at their discretion and indicating that the initial phase of the FTT should be implemented by no later than January 1, 2016.
Management does not expect the FTT to be effective until 2015 or early 2016.
European money market reform and the imposition of the FTT, particularly if enacted with broad application, would each be detrimental to Federated's fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. Federated is unable to assess the degree of any potential impact that European money market reform proposals or the FTT may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows until such proposals are finalized and approved or the FTT is enacted.
On January 8, 2014, the
Financial Stability Board
(
FSB
)
also published for comment as a consultative document
“Assessment Methodologies for Identifying Non-Bank Non-Insurer Global Systemically Important Financial Institutions”
(
Consultation
)
. The FSB is an international organization, of which the Governors, the SEC and the Treasury Department are members, that was established to coordinate, at the international level, the work of national authorities and bodies in developing and promoting the implementation of regulatory policies. The Consultation sets forth proposed methodologies for identifying systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions, including, among others, “market intermediaries” which the Consultation appears to define as including investment advisers, brokers and certain other intermediaries, and “investment funds,” which the Consultation appears to define as including money market funds, other open-end or closed-end mutual funds, and hedge funds and other private funds. The proposed methodologies include consideration of size (U.S. $100 billion is a proposed materiality threshold), exposures, complexity, interconnectedness, leverage and other factors. The Consultation specifically notes that, in addition to individual funds, it may also be necessary to consider families of funds following the same or similar investment strategies. The deadline for the formal comment period on the Consultation ended on April 7, 2014.
On April 4, 2014, Federated filed a comment letter addressing various aspects of the Consultation.
Management generally agrees with the Consultation’s approach of developing specific, measurable, published criteria for designating systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions, and believes that
(1) the proposed criteria or methodologies, to the extent applied to the investment fund sector, should focus on individual funds and not investment managers or fund families, and that a size criteria for investment funds that is based on net assets under management at a fixed amount that is not tied to the overall size of the investment market in which the fund participates is flawed, and
(2) key aspects of investment funds, particularly money market funds, such as lack of leverage and their substitutability, simplicity and transparency, and applicable legal requirements and risk mitigation practices, weigh strongly against listing them as systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions.
Federated concluded in its comment letter that it does not believe that money market funds should be designated as systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions under the Consultation.
Federated is unable to assess whether, or the degree to which Federated, any of its investment management subsidiaries or any of the Federated Funds, including money market funds, could ultimately be determined to be a systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institution.
14
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
Historically Low Short-Term Interest Rates
For several years, the Governors have kept the near-zero federal funds rate unchanged and short-term interest rates continued at all-time low levels. In certain money market funds, the gross yield earned by the fund is not sufficient to cover all of the fund's operating expenses due to these historically low short-term interest rates. Since the fourth quarter 2008, Federated has voluntarily waived fees (either through fee waivers or reimbursements or assumptions of expenses) in order for certain money market funds to maintain positive or zero net yields. These fee waivers have been partially offset by related reductions in distribution expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a result of Federated's mutual understanding and agreement with third-party intermediaries to share the impact of the waivers.
These voluntary fee waivers are calculated as a percent of
assets under management
(
AUM
or managed assets
)
in certain money market funds and thus will vary depending upon the asset levels in such funds. In addition, the level of waivers are dependent on several other factors including, but not limited to, yields on instruments available for purchase by the money market funds, changes in expenses of the money market funds and changes in the mix of money market assets. In any given period, a combination of these factors drives the amount of fee waivers necessary in order for certain funds to maintain positive or zero net yields. As an isolated variable, an increase in yields on instruments held by the money market funds will cause the pre-tax impact of fee waivers to decrease. Conversely, as an isolated variable, an increase in expenses of the money market funds would cause the pre-tax impact of fee waivers to increase.
With regard to asset mix, changes in the relative amount of money market fund assets in prime and government money market funds as well as the distribution among certain share classes that vary in pricing structure will impact the level of fee waivers. Generally, prime money market funds waive less than government money market funds as a result of higher gross yields on the underlying investments. As such, as an isolated variable, an increase in the relative proportion of average managed assets invested in prime money market funds as compared to total average money market fund assets should typically result in lower waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields. Conversely, the opposite would also be true.
The impact of such fee waivers on various components of Federated's Consolidated Statements of Income was as follows for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in millions)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Revenue
$
(102.3
)
$
(91.9
)
$
(209.0
)
$
(179.3
)
Less: Reduction in Distribution expense
70.2
66.9
144.5
131.7
Operating income
(32.1
)
(25.0
)
(64.5
)
(47.6
)
Less: Reduction in Noncontrolling interest
2.5
1.3
5.2
2.1
Pre-tax impact
$
(29.6
)
$
(23.7
)
$
(59.3
)
$
(45.5
)
The negative pre-tax impact of fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds increased for both the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same periods in
2013
primarily as a result of lower yields on instruments held by the money market funds.
Based on recent commentary from the Governors in a June 18, 2014 press release, "a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy remains appropriate," Federated is unable to predict when the Governors will increase their target for the federal funds rate. As such, fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds and the related reduction in distribution expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests could continue for the foreseeable future. Assuming asset levels and mix remain constant and based on recent market conditions, fee waivers for the third quarter
2014
may result in a negative pre-tax impact on income of approximately
$31 million
. See Management's Discussion and Analysis for additional information on management's expectations regarding fee waivers.
While the level of fee waivers are impacted by various factors, increases in short-term interest rates that result in higher yields on securities purchased in money market fund portfolios would reduce the negative pre-tax impact of these waivers.
The actual amount of future fee waivers and the resulting negative impact of these waivers are contingent on a number of variables including, but not limited to, changes in assets within the money market funds, available yields on instruments held by the money market funds, actions by the Governors, the Treasury Department, the SEC, FSOC and other governmental entities, changes in expenses of the money market funds, changes in the mix of money market customer assets, changes in the distribution fee arrangements with third parties, Federated's willingness to continue the fee waivers and changes in the extent to which the impact of the waivers is shared by third parties.
15
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(b)
Revenue Concentration by Investment Fund
A significant portion of Federated's total revenue for the
three
- and
six
-month periods ended
June 30, 2014
was derived from services provided to a sponsored fund, the Federated Kaufmann Fund (
11%
for both the
three
- and
six
-month periods ended
June 30, 2014
, respectively). A significant and prolonged decline in the AUM in this fund could have a material adverse effect on Federated’s future revenues and, to a lesser extent, net income, due to a related reduction to distribution expenses associated with this fund.
A listing of Federated’s risk factors is included in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2013
.
(5)
Variable Interest Entities
Federated is involved with various entities in the normal course of business that may be deemed to be voting rights entities (VREs) or variable interest entities (VIEs). In accordance with Federated’s consolidation accounting policy, Federated first determines whether the entity being evaluated is a VRE or a VIE. Once this determination is made, Federated proceeds with its evaluation of whether or not to consolidate the entity. The disclosures below represent the results of such evaluations pertaining to
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
.
(a)
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
From time to time, Federated invests in investment companies that meet the definition of a VIE for general corporate investment purposes or, in the case of newly launched products, in order to provide investable cash to establish a performance history. Most of Federated’s sponsored investment companies meet the definition of a VIE primarily due to their typical series fund structure in which the shareholders of each participating portfolio underlying the series fund generally lack the ability as an individual group to make decisions through voting rights regarding the board of directors/trustees of the fund. Federated’s investment in investment companies represents its maximum exposure to loss. Federated’s conclusion to consolidate an investment company may vary from period to period, most commonly as a result of changes in its percentage interest in the entity resulting from changes in the number of shares held by either Federated or third parties. Given that the entities follow investment company accounting, which prescribes fair-value accounting, a deconsolidation generally does not result in gains or losses for Federated.
The following table presents the balances related to the consolidated investment companies that were included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as well as Federated's net interest in the investment companies for each period presented:
(in millions)
June 30, 2014
December 31, 2013
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1.8
$
1.1
Investments—consolidated investment companies
55.6
53.5
Receivables
0.6
0.9
Less: Liabilities
2.2
1.6
Less: Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries
17.3
15.5
Federated's net interest in consolidated investment companies
$
38.5
$
38.4
Federated's net interest in the consolidated investment companies of
$38.5 million
and
$38.4 million
at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, respectively, represents the value of Federated's economic ownership interest in these sponsored investment companies. The assets of the consolidated investment companies are restricted for use by the respective investment company. The liabilities of the consolidated investment companies primarily represent investments sold short and operating liabilities of the entities. The liabilities are primarily classified as
Other current liabilities
on Federated’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Federated did not deconsolidate any investment companies during the
six-month period
ended
June 30, 2014
.
16
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
Neither creditors nor equity investors in the investment companies have any recourse to Federated’s general credit. In the ordinary course of business, from time to time, Federated may choose to waive certain fees or assume operating expenses of sponsored investment companies for competitive, regulatory or contractual reasons (see
Note (1)(o) of Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended
December 31, 2013
for information regarding fee waivers). Federated has not provided financial support to any of these entities outside the ordinary course of business.
(b)
Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Federated's involvement with certain investment companies that are deemed to be VIEs includes serving as the investment manager, or at times, holding a minority interest or both. Federated’s variable interest in these entities is not deemed to absorb the majority of the variability of the entity’s net assets. Therefore, Federated is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and has not consolidated these entities.
At
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, Federated’s investment and maximum risk of loss related to unconsolidated VIEs were entirely related to investment companies and totaled
$193.3 million
and
$220.5 million
, respectively. AUM for these unconsolidated investment companies totaled
$257.6 billion
and
$280.3 billion
at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, respectively. Accounts receivable from sponsored investment companies for advisory and other services totaled
$12.9 million
and
$13.5 million
at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, respectively.
In the ordinary course of business Federated may choose to waive certain fees or assume operating expenses of these sponsored investment companies for competitive, regulatory or contractual reasons (see
Note (1)(o) of Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended
December 31, 2013
for information regarding fee waivers). Federated has not provided financial support to any of these entities outside the ordinary course of business.
(6)
Investments
Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
included available-for-sale and trading securities. At
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, Federated held investments totaling
$141.9 million
and
$129.4 million
, respectively, in fluctuating-value Federated-sponsored mutual funds that were classified as available-for-sale securities and were included in
Investments—affiliates
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Available-for-sale securities were as follows:
June 30, 2014
December 31, 2013
Gross Unrealized
Estimated
Fair
Gross Unrealized
Estimated
Fair
(in thousands)
Cost
Gains
(Losses)
Value
Cost
Gains
(Losses)
Value
Equity mutual funds
$
25,949
$
1,742
$
0
$
27,691
$
24,737
$
2,423
$
0
$
27,160
Fixed-income mutual funds
114,250
394
(440
)
114,204
102,072
786
(605
)
102,253
Total fluctuating-value mutual funds
$
140,199
$
2,136
$
(440
)
$
141,895
$
126,809
$
3,209
$
(605
)
$
129,413
The increase in available-for-sale securities at
June 30, 2014
as compared to
December 31, 2013
, was primarily due to purchases of
$52.1 million
of fixed-income and equity mutual funds during the first
six
months of
2014
, partially offset by
$41.7 million
in redemptions of equity and fixed-income mutual funds during the same period.
Federated’s trading securities totaled
$60.6 million
and
$58.3 million
at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, respectively. Federated consolidates certain investment companies into its Consolidated Financial Statements as a result of Federated’s controlling financial interest in the companies (see
Note (5)
). All investments held by these investment companies, which primarily represented Federated-sponsored investment companies, were included in
Investments—consolidated investment companies
on Federated’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
.
Investments—other
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
represented other trading investments held in separate accounts for which Federated is the beneficiary.
Federated’s trading securities as of
June 30, 2014
were primarily composed of domestic and foreign debt securities (
$39.3 million
) and stocks of large international and U.S. companies (
$16.2 million
). Federated's trading securities as of
December 31,
17
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
2013
were primarily composed of domestic and foreign debt securities (
$36.5 million
) and stocks of large U.S. and international companies (
$17.0 million
).
The following table presents gains and losses recognized in
Gain on securities, net
on the Consolidated Statements of Income in connection with investments and economic derivatives held by certain consolidated investment companies:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Unrealized (loss) gain
Trading securities
$
(919
)
$
(467
)
$
(570
)
$
(231
)
Derivatives
1
(89
)
124
(150
)
(156
)
Realized gains
2
Available-for-sale securities
3
1,477
3,835
3,005
6,157
Trading securities
2,148
279
3,101
627
Derivatives
1
95
521
161
598
Realized losses
2
Available-for-sale securities
3
0
(939
)
0
(939
)
Trading securities
(181
)
(687
)
(1,095
)
(497
)
Derivatives
1
(22
)
(315
)
(30
)
(315
)
Gain on securities, net
4
$
2,509
$
2,351
$
4,422
$
5,244
1
Amounts related to economic derivatives held by certain consolidated investment companies.
2
Realized gains and losses are computed on a specific-identification basis.
3
Amounts related to redemptions of available-for-sale securities resulting in proceeds of
$32.3 million
and
$41.7 million
for the
three and six months ended
June 30, 2014
, respectively, and
$44.1 million
and
$55.8 million
for the
three and six months ended
June 30, 2013
, respectively.
4
Amounts related to consolidated investment companies totaled
$0.8 million
and
$1.1 million
for the
three and six months ended
June 30, 2014
, respectively, and
$(0.5) million
and
$(0.1) million
for t
he
three and six months ended
June 30, 2013
, respectively.
(7)
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability as of the measurement date. A three-tier, fair-value reporting hierarchy exists for disclosure of fair value measurements based on the observability of the inputs to the valuation of financial assets and liabilities. The three levels are:
Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 assets may include equity and debt securities that are traded in an active exchange market, including shares of mutual funds.
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Level 2 assets and liabilities may include debt and equity securities, purchased loans and over-the-counter derivative contracts whose fair value is determined using a pricing model without significant unobservable data inputs in active exchange markets.
Level 3 – Fair values derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable in active exchange markets.
18
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(a)
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents fair value measurements for classes of Federated’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
June 30, 2014
December 31, 2013
Fair Value Measurements Using
Fair Value Measurements Using
(in thousands)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Financial Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
61,081
$
0
$
0
$
61,081
$
104,443
$
0
$
0
$
104,443
Available-for-sale equity securities
103,143
38,752
0
141,895
81,550
47,863
0
129,413
Trading securities—equity
18,779
2,569
0
21,348
11,925
9,906
0
21,831
Trading securities—debt
0
39,271
0
39,271
0
36,491
0
36,491
Foreign currency forward contracts
0
34
0
34
0
159
0
159
Total financial assets
$
183,003
$
80,626
$
0
$
263,629
$
197,918
$
94,419
$
0
$
292,337
Financial Liabilities
Interest rate swap
$
0
$
2,296
$
0
$
2,296
$
0
$
5,061
$
0
$
5,061
Acquisition-related future consideration liabilities
0
0
5,910
5,910
0
0
6,489
6,489
Other
1
1,755
14
0
1,769
1,118
2
0
1,120
Total financial liabilities
$
1,755
$
2,310
$
5,910
$
9,975
$
1,118
$
5,063
$
6,489
$
12,670
1
Amounts include investments sold short within one of the consolidated investment companies and foreign currency forward contracts recorded within
Other current liabilities
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Federated did not hold any nonfinancial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at
June 30, 2014
or
December 31, 2013
.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents
include investments in money market funds and deposits with banks. Investments in Federated money market funds totaled
$50.6 million
and
$94.4 million
at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
, respectively. Cash investments in money market funds are valued under the market approach through the use of quoted market prices in an active market, which is the NAV of the funds, and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
Available-for-sale equity securities
Available-for-sale equity securities include investments in sponsored fluctuating-value mutual funds and are included in
Investments—affiliates
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For investments in mutual funds that are publicly available, the securities are valued under the market approach through the use of quoted market prices available in an active market, which is the NAV of the funds, and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. For one investment in a mutual fund that is not publicly available but for which the NAV is calculated daily and for which there are no redemption restrictions, the security is valued using NAV as a practical expedient and is classified as Level 2. There is no modeling or additional information needed to arrive at the fair values of any of these investments.
Trading securities—equity
Trading securities - equity primarily include the equity securities held by consolidated investment companies (included in
Investments—consolidated investment companies
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets) as well as certain equity investments held in separate accounts for which Federated is the beneficiary (included in
Investments—other
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets). For the publicly traded equity securities available in an active market, whether domestic or foreign, the fair value of these securities is often classified as Level 1 and is based on unadjusted quoted market prices. From time to time, however, the fair value of certain equity securities traded principally in foreign markets and held by consolidated investment companies may be determined by third-party pricing services when a country's exchange is closed due to a holiday or when there has been a significant trend in the U.S. equity markets or in index futures trading between the time the foreign market closes and the pricing time of the consolidated investment company. The determination to use the third-party pricing service versus the
19
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
unadjusted quoted market price is the cause for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for these securities. For the period between
December 31, 2013
and
June 30, 2014
, there were
$2.5 million
of investments transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. For the period between
December 31, 2012
and
June 30, 2013
, there were
$4.1 million
of investments transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. Transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy are reported at fair values as of the beginning of the period in which the transfers occur.
Trading securities—debt
Trading securities - debt primarily represent fixed-income securities held by consolidated Federated-sponsored investment companies at
June 30, 2014
and
December 31, 2013
. The fair value of these securities may include observable market data such as valuations provided by independent pricing services after considering factors such as the yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, call rights and other potential prepayments, terms and type, reported transactions, indications as to values from dealers and general market conditions (Level 2).
Foreign currency forward contracts
The fair value of foreign currency forward contracts is primarily included in Receivables, net or
Other current liabilities
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, representing contracts held by certain consolidated Federated-sponsored investment companies as part of their investment strategy. Pricing is determined by interpolating a value by utilizing the spot foreign exchange rate and forward points (based on the spot rate and currency interest rate differentials), which are all inputs that are observable in active markets (Level 2).
Interest rate swap
The fair value of Federated's interest rate swap at
June 30, 2014
is included in
Other current liabilities
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Pricing is determined based on a third-party, model-derived valuation in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets (Level 2) including the Eurodollar future rate and yields for three- and thirty-year Treasury securities. See
Note (8)
for more information.
Acquisition-related future consideration liabilities
From time to time, pursuant to purchase and sale agreements entered into in connection with certain business combinations, Federated may be required to make future consideration payments if certain contingencies are met. See
Note (12)(a)
for additional information regarding the nature and timing of these payments. In connection with these arrangements entered into after January 1, 2009, Federated records a liability representing the estimated fair value of future consideration payments as of the acquisition date. The liability is subsequently remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. As of
June 30, 2014
, acquisition-related future consideration liabilities were recorded in
Other current liabilities
(
$2.9 million
) and
Other long-term liabilities
(
$3.0 million
) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Management estimated the fair value of future consideration payments based primarily upon expected future cash flows using an income approach valuation methodology with data inputs unobservable in active markets (Level 3). As of
June 30, 2014
, significant inputs involving unobservable market data included (1) an estimated rate of change for underlying AUM ranging from
0%
-
6%
per year (weighted average of
2%
); (2) an estimate ranging from
0.02%
-
0.03%
per year of the impact of fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on the contractually-derived net revenue per managed asset assumptions (weighted average of
0.02%
); and (3) an estimated discount rate ranging from
16%
-
18%
based on the current estimated market rate of return (weighted average of
16%
). Assuming no other changes in model inputs, the fair value of the future consideration liability will increase, resulting in additional expense recorded in
Operating Expenses
-
Other
in the period of change if: (1) the underlying AUM grow at a rate that is greater than the assumed rate, (2) the actual impact of fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on the net revenue is less than the assumed amount or (3) the discount rate decreases. Conversely, the fair value of the future consideration liability will decrease, resulting in a reduction to expense, if the inverse occurs for any of these inputs, assuming no other changes.
20
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for Federated’s liability for future consideration payments related to these acquisitions for each period presented:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in thousands)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Beginning balance
$
6,489
$
11,711
$
6,489
$
11,759
Changes in fair value
1
(579
)
1
(579
)
(47
)
Ending balance
$
5,910
$
11,712
$
5,910
$
11,712
1
For all periods presented, the amounts were included as
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Investments sold short
The fair value of investments sold short within a consolidated investment company is included in
Other current liabilities
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The investments primarily relate to domestic equity securities that are available in an active exchange market. The fair value of these investments is classified as Level 1 and is based on unadjusted quoted market prices.
(b)
Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis
Federated did not hold any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at
June 30, 2014
.
(c)
Fair Value Measurements of Other Financial Instruments
The fair value of Federated’s debt is estimated by management based upon expected future cash flows utilizing a discounted cash flow methodology under the income approach. The fair value of the liability is estimated using observable market data (Level 2) in estimating inputs including the discount rate. Based on this fair value estimate, the carrying value of debt appearing on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value.
(8)
Debt and Interest Rate Swap
Debt consisted of the following:
Weighted-Average Interest Rates
(dollars in thousands)
2014
1
2013
2
June 30, 2014
December 31, 2013
Term Loan
3.521
%
3.646
%
$
255,000
$
276,250
Less: Short-term debt
25,500
77,917
Long-term debt
$
229,500
$
198,333
1
As of
June 30, 2014
. See additional information below regarding the interest rate fixed at
3.521%
in connection with the Swap.
2
As of
December 31, 2013
.
On June 24, 2014, Federated entered into an unsecured Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Federated, certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors party thereto, a syndicate of 13 banks as Lenders party thereto led by PNC Bank, National Association as administrative agent, PNC Capital Markets LLC as sole bookrunner and joint lead arranger, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. as joint lead arranger, Citibank, N.A. as syndication agent, and TD Bank, N.A. as documentation agent
(
Credit Agreement
).
The Credit Agreement amends and restates Federated's prior
unsecured Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which was dated
June 10, 2011
and scheduled to mature on
June 10, 2016
(
Prior Credit Agreement
).
The borrowings under the Credit Agreement's term loan facility of
$255 million
equaled the remaining principal balance from the Prior Credit Agreement's term loan facility.
The term loan facility bears interest based on
the
London Interbank Offering Rate
(
LIBOR
)
plus a spread, currently
112.5
basis points
.
The Credit Agreement qualified for modification accounting treatment.
The Credit Agreement also refinanced the
$200 million
revolving credit facility under the Prior Credit Agreement.
Federated had
no
borrowings outstanding on the previous revolving credit facility.
As of
June 30, 2014
, the entire
$200 million
revolving credit facility was available for borrowings.
Similar to the Prior Credit Agreement, certain subsidiaries entered into an Amended and Restated Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship whereby these subsidiaries guarantee payment of all obligations incurred through the Credit Agreement.
Federated pays an annual facility fee, currently
12.5
basis points
.
21
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread, currently
100
basis points
.
The Credit Agreement matures on June 24, 2019 and, with respect to the term loan facility, requires quarterly principal payments of
$6.4 million
per quarter beginning on July 1, 2014 through July 1, 2018 and
$36.7 million
per quarter from October 1, 2018 through April 1, 2019, with a final payment at maturity of
$36.7 million
.
The interest rate swap (the Swap) that Federated entered into with PNC Bank, National Association and certain other banks during 2010 to hedge its interest rate risk associated with Federated's original term loan facility remains in effect.
Under the Swap, Federated will receive payments based on LIBOR plus a spread and will make payments based on an annual fixed rate of
3.521%
for the amount of the term loan covered by the Swap. As of June 30, 2014, the Swap covered
$255 million
of the term loan and will be reduced by
$63.8 million
per quarter, beginning July 1, 2014 through the expiration of the Swap on April 1, 2015. After July 1, 2014, the remaining amount of the term loan not covered by the Swap will bear interest at a spread, as previously noted, over LIBOR.
The Swap requires monthly cash settlements of interest paid or received. The differential between the interest paid or interest received from the monthly settlements is recorded as adjustments to
Debt expense
on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Swap is accounted for as a cash flow hedge and has been determined to be highly effective. Federated evaluates effectiveness using the long-haul method. Changes in the fair value of the Swap will likely be offset by an equal and opposite change in the fair value of the hedged item, therefore very little, if any, net impact on reported earnings is expected. The fair value of the Swap agreement at
June 30, 2014
was a liability of
$2.3 million
which was recorded in
Other current liabilities
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The entire amount of this loss in fair value was recorded in
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at
June 30, 2014
. During the next nine months management expects to charge the entire
$2.3 million
loss to
Debt expense
on the Consolidated Statements of Income. This amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates subsequent to
June 30, 2014
. During the
three
- and
six
-month periods ended
June 30, 2014
,
$1.4 million
and
$2.9 million
, respectively were charged to
Debt expense
on the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of Federated's fixed interest rate associated with the Swap. During the
three
- and
six
-month periods ended
June 30, 2013
,
$1.6 million
and
$3.3 million
, respectively, were charged to
Debt expense
on the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of Federated’s fixed interest rate associated with the Swap.
The Credit Agreement includes representations and warranties, affirmative and negative financial covenants, including an interest coverage ratio covenant and a leverage ratio covenant, reporting requirements and other non-financial covenants. Federated was in compliance with all covenants at and during the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
. The Credit Agreement and the Swap also have certain stated events of default and cross default provisions which would permit the lenders/counterparties to accelerate the repayment of the debt or to terminate the Swap if not cured within the applicable grace periods. The events of default generally include breaches of contract, failure to make required loan payments, insolvency, cessation of business, deterioration in credit rating to below investment grade, notice of lien or assessment and other proceedings, whether voluntary or involuntary, that would require the repayment of amounts borrowed.
(9)
Share-Based Compensation Plans
(a)
Restricted Stock
During the first
six
months of
2014
, Federated awarded
586,931
shares of restricted Federated Class B common stock, the majority of which were awarded in connection with a bonus program in which certain key employees received a portion of their bonus in the form of restricted stock under Federated’s Stock Incentive Plan. This restricted stock, which was granted on the bonus payment date and issued out of treasury, will generally vest over a
three
-year period.
Federated awarded
989,050
shares of restricted Federated Class B common stock under its Stock Incentive Plan during
2013
. Of this amount,
474,050
shares of restricted Federated Class B common stock were awarded in connection with the aforementioned bonus program in
2013
. The remaining shares were awarded to certain key employees and generally vest over a
ten
-year period.
22
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(b)
Stock Options
During the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
and the year ended
December 31, 2013
, there were
no
stock options issued or exercised.
(c)
Non-Management Director Stock Award
There were
5,100
shares of Federated Class B common stock awarded to non-management directors during each of the second quarters of
2014
and
2013
. There were
no
additional awards to non-management directors during
2014
or 2013.
(10)
Equity
During 2008, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows Federated to buy back up to
5 million
shares of Class B common stock. The program has no stated expiration date and no other programs existed as of
June 30, 2014
. The program authorizes executive management to determine the timing and the amount of shares for each purchase. The repurchased shares are held in treasury for employee share-based compensation plans, future acquisitions and other corporate activities. During the first
six
months of
2014
, Federated repurchased
0.5 million
shares of Class B common stock for
$13.4 million
, the majority of which were repurchased in the open market. The remaining shares were repurchased in connection with employee separations and are not counted against the board-approved share repurchase program. At
June 30, 2014
,
0.9 million
shares remained available to be purchased under the current buyback program.
(11)
Earnings Per Share Attributable to Federated Investors, Inc. Shareholders
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share using the two-class method for amounts attributable to Federated Investors, Inc.:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Numerator – Basic and Diluted
Net income attributable to Federated Investors, Inc.
$
36,869
$
40,408
$
72,063
$
83,402
Less: Total income available to participating unvested restricted shareholders
1
(1,480
)
(1,539
)
(2,866
)
(3,195
)
Total net income attributable to Federated Common Stock
2
$
35,389
$
38,869
$
69,197
$
80,207
Denominator
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding
100,789
100,716
100,757
100,617
Dilutive potential shares from stock options
1
1
2
1
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding
100,790
100,717
100,759
100,618
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to Federated Common Stock – Basic and Diluted
2
$
0.35
$
0.39
$
0.69
$
0.80
1
Income available to participating unvested restricted shareholders includes dividends paid on unvested restricted shares and their proportionate share of undistributed earnings.
2
Federated Common Stock excludes unvested restricted stock which are deemed participating securities in accordance with the two-class method of computing earnings per share.
For both the
three
- and
six
- month periods ended
June 30, 2014
,
27 thousand
awarded stock options were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the
three
- and
six
- month periods ended
June 30, 2013
,
44 thousand
and
49 thousand
stock options, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. In all cases, these options were antidilutive because the exercise price was greater than the average market price of Federated Class B common stock for each respective period. In the event the options become dilutive, these shares would be included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share and would result in a proportional amount of dilution.
23
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(12)
Commitments and Contingencies
(a)
Contractual
In 2010, Federated acquired the money market management business of SunTrust Banks, Inc.
(SunTrust Acquisition).
As part of the SunTrust Acquisition, Federated is required to make annual contingent purchase price payments in the fourth quarters of each of the
five
years following the acquisition date. The contingent purchase price payments are calculated as a percentage of revenue less distribution expenses directly attributed to certain eligible assets. The first three contingent purchase price payments of
$5.0 million
,
$4.2 million
and
$3.8 million
were paid in the fourth quarters of 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. At
June 30, 2014
,
management estimated remaining contingent payments could total
$4 million
over the
two
years that remain; however, the actual amount of the contingent payments will vary based on asset levels and related net revenues and is not limited by any maximum amount. A wide range of outcomes for actual payments is possible due to the extent of reasonably possible flow-rate volatility for the respective AUM. As of
June 30, 2014
,
a liability of
$3.8 million
representing the estimated fair value of future consideration payments was recorded in
Other current liabilities
(
$2.1 million
)
and
Other long-term liabilities
(
$1.7 million
)
(see
Note (7)(a)
for a discussion regarding the valuation methodology).
This liability is remeasured at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
In 2008, Federated completed the acquisition of certain assets of Clover Capital Management, Inc., an investment manager that specialized in value investing
(Clover Capital Acquisition).
As part of the Clover Capital Acquisition, Federated was required to make contingent purchase price payments based upon growth in revenues over the
five
-year period following the acquisition date. The contingent purchase price payments were recorded as additional goodwill at the time the contingency was resolved. The applicable growth targets were not met for the first two anniversary years and as such,
no
related payments were made. The final three payments of
$9.2 million
(recorded in
Other current liabilities
as of
December 31, 2013
),
$3.4 million
and
$5.9 million
were paid in the first quarters of 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Pursuant to other acquisition agreements, Federated may be required to make additional purchase price payments based on a percentage of revenue less certain direct expenses attributable to eligible AUM. The payments could occur annually through 2017. As of
June 30, 2014
,
liabilities totaling
$2.1 million
,
representing the estimated fair value of future consideration payments were recorded in
Other current liabilities
(
$0.8 million
)
and
Other long-term liabilities
(
$1.3 million
) (see
Note (7)(a)
for a discussion regarding the valuation methodology).
The liabilities are remeasured at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Pursuant to various significant employment arrangements, Federated may be required to make certain incentive compensation-related payments through 2018. As of
June 30, 2014
,
Federated may be required to pay up to
$32 million
over the remaining terms of the arrangements based on the achievement of performance goals. In addition, certain employees have incentive compensation opportunities related to the Federated Kaufman Large Cap Fund
(the Fund Bonus).
Assuming asset levels and other variable inputs at
June 30, 2014
remain constant throughout the year, the Fund Bonus payment in
2015
may approximate
$2 million
.
Management is unable to reasonably estimate a range of possible bonus payments for the Fund Bonus for subsequent years due to the wide-range of possible growth-rate scenarios.
(b)
Guarantees and Indemnifications
On an intercompany basis, various wholly owned subsidiaries of Federated guarantee certain financial obligations of Federated Investors, Inc., and Federated Investors, Inc. guarantees certain financial and performance-related obligations of various wholly owned subsidiaries. In addition, in the normal course of business, Federated has entered into contracts that provide a variety of indemnifications. Typically, obligations to indemnify third parties arise in the context of contracts entered into by Federated, under which Federated agrees to hold the other party harmless against losses arising out of the contract, provided the other party's actions are not deemed to have breached an agreed upon standard of care. In each of these circumstances, payment by Federated is contingent on the other party making a claim for indemnity, subject to Federated's right to challenge the other party's claim. Further, Federated’s obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of time and/or amount. It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these or similar agreements due to the conditional nature of Federated’s obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Management believes that if Federated were to incur a loss in any of these matters, such loss should not have a material effect on its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
24
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(c)
Legal Proceedings
CCM Rochester, Inc. (CCM).
In December, 2008, Federated completed the acquisition of certain assets of CCM (f/k/a Clover Capital Management, Inc.), an investment manager that specialized in value investing.
The purchase was consummated in the midst of the financial crisis.
The payment terms under the
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated September 12, 2008
(
APA
)
, included an upfront payment of
$30 million
paid by Federated Investors, Inc. at closing and the opportunity for contingent payments over a five year earn-out period following the acquisition date based on the growth in revenue associated with the acquired assets.
Under the APA, in order to reach the maximum contingent payments totaling approximately
$55 million
, the revenue associated with the acquired assets would have had to have grown at a
30%
compound annual growth rate.
Under the APA, Federated Investors, Inc. paid CCM an additional
$18 million
, in the aggregate, in contingent payments for the last three years of the earn-out period.
Shortly after the final contingent payment was paid to CCM, Federated Investors, Inc. was named as the defendant in a case filed on May 20, 2014 by CCM in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (CCM Rochester, Inc., f/k/a Clover Capital Management, Inc. v. Federated Investors, Inc., Case No. 14-cv-3600 (S.D.N.Y.)).
In this lawsuit, CCM has asserted claims against Federated Investors, Inc. for fraudulent inducement, breach of contract (including CCM’s allegations relating to implied duties of best efforts and good faith and fair dealing) and indemnification based on Federated’s alleged failure to effectively market and distribute the investment products associated with the acquired assets and to pay CCM the maximum contingent payments.
CCM seeks approximately
$37 million
in alleged damages plus attorneys’ fees from Federated Investors, Inc.
Federated believes CCM’s claims are meritless, intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit and has filed a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit on the basis that, among other reasons, CCM’s claims are implausible, contrary to the express terms of the APA and contrary to settled law.
Federated believes that at all times it acted in good faith and complied with its contractual obligations contained in the APA. As of
June 30, 2014
, Federated believes a material loss related to this lawsuit is remote and as such, does not believe this pending lawsuit is material to Federated or its consolidated financial statements. Based on this assessment of the status and nature of CCM’s claims, no loss is estimable.
Other Litigation.
Federated also has claims asserted and threatened against it in the ordinary course of business.
Federated cannot assess or predict whether, when or what types of claims may be threatened or asserted, the types or amounts of damages or other remedies that may be sought (which may be material when threatened or asserted), whether claims that have been threatened will become formal asserted pending legal proceedings, or whether claims ultimately may be successful (whether through settlement or adjudication), entirely or in part, whether or not any such claims are threatened or asserted in or outside the ordinary course of business.
Federated also may be initially unable to accurately assess a claim's impact.
Given that the outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and uncertain, an adverse result may arise from time to time that adversely impacts, potentially in a material way, Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
As of
June 30, 2014
, Federated does not believe that it has any pending legal proceedings asserted against Federated in the ordinary course of business that are material to Federated or its consolidated financial statements and, as such, does not believe that a material loss related to these claims is reasonably possible.
25
Table of Contents
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
(unaudited)
(13)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Federated Investors, Inc. Shareholders
The components of
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
attributable to Federated shareholders are as follows:
(in thousands)
Unrealized Loss
on Interest Rate Swap
1
Unrealized
Gain on Securities
Available for
Sale
2
Foreign Currency
Translation (Loss) Gain
Total
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
(7,071
)
$
3,644
$
490
$
(2,937
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications and tax
(9
)
2,975
(461
)
2,505
Tax impact
3
(1,371
)
160
(1,208
)
Reclassification adjustments, before tax
3,334
(5,218
)
0
(1,884
)
Tax impact
(1,225
)
2,406
0
1,181
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
2,103
(1,208
)
(301
)
594
Balance at June 30, 2013
$
(4,968
)
$
2,436
$
189
$
(2,343
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
(3,185
)
$
1,586
$
391
$
(1,208
)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications and tax
(157
)
2,097
248
2,188
Tax impact
58
(789
)
(86
)
(817
)
Reclassification adjustments, before tax
2,922
(3,005
)
0
(83
)
Tax impact
(1,089
)
1,131
0
42
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)
1,734
(566
)
162
1,330
Balance at June 30, 2014
$
(1,451
)
$
1,020
$
553
$
122
1
Amounts reclassified from
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
were recorded in
Debt expense
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
2
Amounts reclassified from
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
were recorded in
Gain on securities, net
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
(14)
Subsequent Events
On
July 24, 2014
, the board of directors declared a
$0.25
per share dividend to shareholders of record as of
August 8, 2014
to be paid on
August 15, 2014
.
26
Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
The discussion and analysis below should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report. Management has presumed that the readers of this interim financial information have read or have access to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
.
General
Federated Investors, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, Federated) is one of the largest investment managers in the United States with
$351.6 billion
in managed assets as of
June 30, 2014
. The majority of Federated’s revenue is derived from advising Federated-sponsored funds (Federated Funds) and Separate Accounts (which include separately managed accounts, institutional accounts, sub-advised funds and other managed products) in both domestic and international markets. Federated also derives revenue from providing administrative and other mutual fund-related services, including distribution, shareholder servicing and retirement plan recordkeeping services.
Federated’s investment products are distributed in four markets. These markets and the relative percentage of managed assets at
June 30, 2014
attributable to such markets are as follows: wealth management and trust (
42%
), broker dealer/retail (
34%
), institutional (
19%
) and international (
5%
).
Investment advisory fees, administrative service fees and certain fees for other services, such as distribution and shareholder service fees, are contract-based fees that are generally calculated as a percentage of the net assets of managed investment portfolios. Federated’s revenue is primarily dependent upon factors that affect the value of managed assets including market conditions and the ability to attract and retain assets. Nearly all assets under management (AUM or managed assets) in Federated’s investment products can be redeemed at any time with no advance notice requirement. Fee rates for Federated's services generally vary by asset and service type and may vary based on changes in asset levels. Generally, management-fee rates charged for advisory services provided to equity products are higher than management-fee rates charged on money market and fixed-income products. Likewise, mutual funds typically have a higher management-fee rate than Separate Accounts, which in turn, typically have a higher management-fee rate than liquidation portfolios. Accordingly, revenue is also dependent upon the relative composition of average AUM across both asset and product types. Federated may waive certain fees for competitive reasons such as to maintain certain mutual fund expense ratios, to maintain positive or zero net yields on money market funds, to meet regulatory requirements or to meet contractual requirements. Since Federated’s products are largely distributed and serviced through financial intermediaries, Federated pays a portion of fees earned from sponsored products to the financial intermediaries that sell these products. These payments are generally calculated as a percentage of net assets attributable to the financial intermediary selling the product and represent the vast majority of Distribution expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Certain components of distribution expense can vary depending upon the asset type, distribution channel and/or the size of the customer relationship. Federated generally pays out a larger portion of revenue earned from managed assets in money market funds than revenue earned from managed assets in equity or fixed-income funds.
Federated’s most significant operating expenses are Compensation and related expense and Distribution expense as described above. Compensation and related expense includes base salary and wages, incentive compensation and other employee expenses including payroll taxes and benefits. Incentive compensation, which includes stock-based compensation, can vary depending on various factors including, but not limited to, overall results of operations of Federated, investment management performance and sales performance.
The discussion and analysis of Federated’s financial condition and results of operations are based on Federated’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Federated operates in a single operating segment, the investment management business. Management evaluates Federated’s performance at the consolidated level. Management analyzes all expected revenue and expenses and considers market demands in determining an overall fee structure for services provided and in evaluating the addition of new business. Federated’s growth and profitability are dependent upon its ability to attract and retain AUM and upon the profitability of those assets, which is impacted, in part, by management’s decisions regarding fee waivers in order for certain money market funds to maintain positive or zero net yields. Fees for fund-related services are ultimately subject to the approval of the independent directors or trustees of the mutual funds. Management believes the most meaningful indicators of Federated’s performance are AUM, gross and net product sales, total revenue and net income, both in total and per diluted share.
27
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Business Developments
Money Market Fund Matters
For the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
, approximately
33%
of Federated’s total revenue was attributable to money market assets as compared to
42%
for the same period in
2013
.
A significant change in Federated’s money market business or a significant reduction in money market assets due to regulatory changes, changes in the financial markets, including significant and rapid increases in interest rates over a short period of time causing certain investors to prefer direct investments in interest-bearing securities, significant deterioration in investor confidence, further persistent declines in or additional prolonged periods of historically low short-term interest rates and resulting fee waivers or other circumstances, could have a material adverse effect on Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
(a)
Current Regulatory Environment
Domestic
In January 2010, the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(
SEC
)
adopted extensive amendments to
Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(
Rule 2a-7
)
to enhance the resiliency of money market funds. These amendments included rules that require all money market funds to meet specific portfolio liquidity standards and rules that significantly enhance the public disclosure and regulatory reporting obligations of these funds. In 2010 and 2011, Federated dedicated internal resources to comply with these amendments including efforts to enhance our information systems and improve related reporting capabilities. These efforts were internally sourced and not material to Federated's results of operations, financial condition or cash flows for those years. In Federated's view, the amendments of 2010 meaningfully and sufficiently strengthened money market funds as demonstrated in meeting heightened requests for redemptions occurring in connection with the U.S. debt ceiling debate and subsequent downgrade of the country's credit rating in 2011, the European debt crisis in 2011/2012 and its ongoing fallout as well as the U.S. debt ceiling debate in 2013.
On July 23, 2014, by a three to two vote of the SEC Commissioners, the SEC adopted lengthy final rules (through an over 860 page release) on money market fund reform (Final Rules).
The Final Rules were adopted after a lengthy and voluminous public comment process, which one SEC Commissioner called, in remarks made at the Sunshine Act Meeting at which the SEC Commissioners adopted the Final Rules, “perhaps one of the most flawed and controversial rulemaking processes the [SEC] has undertaken.”
The Final Rules will impose additional money market fund reforms that require any institutional prime money market fund and any institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund to maintain a floating
net asset value
(
NAV
)
. The Final Rules will permit a money market fund, or, in certain circumstances, require a money market fund (other than a government money market fund), to impose liquidity fees on all redemptions, and permit a money market fund to limit (or gate) redemptions for up to 10 business days in any 90-day period.
The Final Rules also will impose certain current event disclosure requirements on a new Form N-CR and certain other enhanced disclosure and reporting (including on Form N-MFP and Form PF), diversification, and stress-testing requirements on a money market fund.
The Final Rules will become effective 60 days after the date on which the Final Rules are published in the Federal Register (Publication Date).
The mandatory compliance dates for the Final Rules are:
(1) two years after the Publication Date for the floating NAV requirements, liquidity fees and gates requirements and related disclosure requirements;
(2) nine months after the Publication Date for the current event disclosure requirements on new Form N-CR and related website disclosure requirements; and
(3) 18 months after the Publication Date for other requirements not related to either the floating NAV or fees or gates, including the enhanced disclosure and reporting on Form N-MFP and Form PF, diversification and stress-testing requirements, and certain clarifying amendments to relevant SEC rules.
In response to the SEC’s adoption of the Final Rules, the
U.S. Treasury Department
(
Treasury Department
)
and the
Internal Revenue Service
(
IRS
)
also issued on July 23, 2014 proposed rules, which money market fund shareholders may immediately rely upon, aimed at relieving tax burdens for shareholders that frequently purchase or redeem shares of a money market fund (such as through a broker-dealer or bank “sweep arrangement”) and that may experience a high volume of small capital gains and losses if they invest in an institutional prime money market fund or an institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund with a floating NAV.
The IRS also issued on July 23, 2014 final guidance in the form of Revenue Procedure 2014-45 addressing applicable wash sale rules and describing the circumstances in which the IRS will not treat a redemption of shares in a money market fund as part of a wash sale.
Floating NAV Requirement
The Final Rules will require any institutional prime money market fund and any institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund to value its holdings utilizing market-based valuations to maintain a floating NAV rounded to the nearest 1/100th
28
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
of one percent, or the fourth decimal place, rather than use the amortized cost method of valuation of securities maturing in more than 60 days to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
A government money market fund or a retail money market fund will be allowed to continue using the amortized cost method (and/or the penny rounding method of pricing) to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
Under the Final Rules, a “government money market fund” will include any money market fund that invests 99.5% (rather than 80%) or more of its total assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized solely by government securities or cash.
A “retail money market fund” will include any money market fund that has policies and procedures reasonably designed to limit all beneficial owners of the money market fund to natural persons.
Liquidity Fee and Gate Requirements
The Final Rules also will permit the board of directors/trustees of a money market fund to impose liquidity fees of up to two percent on all redemptions if the money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets (which generally include cash, U.S. Treasury securities, certain other government securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, and securities that convert to cash within one week) falls below 30% of its total assets and the board determines that such liquidity fees are in the best interests of the money market fund.
Under the Final Rules, if a money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets falls below 10%, the money market fund (other than a government money market fund) would be required to impose a liquidity fee of one percent on all redemptions, unless the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund determines that such a liquidity fee is not in the best interests of the money market fund or that a lower or higher (up to two percent) liquidity fee on all redemptions is in the best interests of the money market fund.
Under the Final Rules, the board of directors/trustees of a money market fund also will have the discretion to temporarily suspend (or gate) redemptions for up to 10 days if a money market fund’s level of weekly liquid assets falls below 30% and the board determines that imposing a gate is in the best interests of the money market fund. A money market fund will not be able to impose a gate on redemptions for more than 10 business days in any 90-day period.
A government money market fund will not be subject to the liquidity fee and redemption gate requirements adopted under the Final Rules, but may voluntarily opt into them, if previously disclosed to the government money market fund’s investors.
Current Event Disclosure Requirements and Other Requirements
Under the Final Rules, a money market fund will be required to disclose certain current events on a new Form N-CR, including
(A) the imposition or removal of liquidity fees or gates and the primary considerations or factors taken into account by the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund in making its decision related to fees and gates,
(B) portfolio security defaults,
(C) sponsor or affiliate support of the money market fund, including the amount of support and a brief description of the reason for the support, and
(D) for a government money market fund or a retail money market fund, a reduction in the money market fund’s market-based (or shadow) NAV per share below $0.9975.
In addition to certain clarifying amendments and other changes to SEC rules implemented by the Final Rules, the Final Rules also will impose certain other enhanced disclosure and reporting, diversification, and stress-testing requirements on a money market fund.
The other enhanced disclosure and reporting requirements appear to be aimed at further increasing transparency. Under the Final Rules, in addition to the current event disclosures that will be required on new Form N-CR, a money market fund will be required to disclose in its statement of additional information any occasion during the last 10 years (excluding occasions that occurred before the compliance date) in which the money market fund received sponsor or affiliate support.
On a daily basis, a money market fund also will be required to disclose on its website its levels of daily liquid assets and weekly liquid assets, net shareholder inflows or outflows, market-based (or shadow) NAV per share, impositions of liquidity fees or gates, and any use of sponsor or affiliate support.
The Final Rules also amend Form N-MFP, a form required under SEC rules to be filed by a money market fund with the SEC within five business days after the end of each month, to require reporting of certain additional information relating to assessing money market fund risk and will make the information filed on Form N-MFP public immediately upon filing (rather than 60 days after filing).
The Final Rules also require an adviser of a private “liquidity fund” to report certain additional information regarding this type of private fund on Form PF.
Regarding diversification, the Final Rules will require a money market fund to treat certain affiliated entities as single issuers for purposes of determining whether the money market fund is complying with the five percent issuer diversification requirement under Rule 2a-7, which, as revised, will generally restrict a money market fund from investing more than five percent of its assets in any one issuer or group of affiliated issuers.
Rule 2a-7 currently provides for a "25% basket,” under which up to 25% of the value of securities held in a money market fund’s portfolio may be subject to guarantees or demand features from a single institution.
The Final Rules will require that a money market fund (other than a municipal or tax-exempt money market fund) meet a 10% diversification limit for guarantors and demand feature providers.
For a municipal or tax-exempt money market fund, no more than 15% of the value of its securities will be able to be held in securities subject to
29
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
guarantees or demand features from a single institution. Under the Final Rules, a money market fund also will be required to treat the sponsor of an asset-backed security as a guarantor subject to the diversification limit applicable to guarantees and demand features, unless the board of directors/trustees of the money market fund (or its delegate) determines that the money market fund is not relying on the sponsor’s financial strength or its ability or willingness to provide liquidity, credit or other support to determine the asset-backed security’s quality or liquidity.
Regarding stress testing, the Final Rules will further enhance the stress testing, and related board reporting, requirements adopted by the SEC in 2010.
For example, the Final Rules will require a money market fund to test its ability to maintain weekly liquid assets of at least 10% and to minimize principal volatility in response to certain specified hypothetical stress scenarios.
Related SEC Proposals
Along with the Final Rules, the SEC also issued on July 23, 2014, a Notice of Proposed Rule 10b-10 Exemptive Relief, in which the SEC solicited comment on a proposal to exempt broker-dealers from the immediate confirmation delivery requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) for transactions effected in shares of floating NAV institutional prime money market funds and institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market funds.
The SEC also issued separate proposals re-proposing amendments to Rule 2a-7 and Form N-MFP to remove any references to or requirement of reliance on credit ratings and to establish alternative standards of creditworthiness in place of credit ratings and proposing amendments to Rule 2a-7 to eliminate an exclusion from the issuer diversification provisions for securities with certain guarantees.
Treasury Department and IRS Tax Guidance
Under the proposed rules issued by the Treasury Department and IRS on July 23, 2014, shareholders that frequently purchase or redeem shares of a money market fund (such as through a broker-dealer or bank “sweep arrangement”) and that may experience a high volume of small capital gains and losses if they invest in an institutional prime money market fund or an institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market fund with a floating NAV may adopt a simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting for these gains and losses.
Money market fund shareholders that invest in floating NAV money market funds can immediately rely on these proposed rules. Under the proposed rules, floating NAV money market fund shareholders can measure net gain or net loss without transaction-by-transaction calculations and determine their net gain or loss using certain information provided to them by the money market fund for non-tax purposes.
The net gain (or loss) can be determined as the increase (or decrease) in the value of the shareholder’s shares during a period (such as the tax year), minus the net investment in those holdings (purchases minus sales) during the period.
Under the proposed rules, floating NAV money market funds also receive the same waiver of gross-proceeds reporting, basis reporting and holding-period reporting that now applies to stable-value money market funds.
Under Revenue Procedure 2014-45, which also was issued on July 23, 2014, the IRS describes the circumstances in which the IRS will not treat a redemption of shares in a money market fund as part of a wash sale.
(A wash sale generally occurs when a shareholder sells a security at a loss, and within 30 days before or after the sale, acquires a substantially identical security.)
If shareholders of floating NAV money market funds choose not to adopt the simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting described above, Revenue Procedure 2014-45 provides relief from the wash sale rules for any losses on shares of a floating NAV money market fund. In addition, this guidance clarifies that the wash sale rules do not affect shareholders who do adopt the simplified, aggregate method of tax accounting described above.
The Final Rules and related guidance issued by the Treasury Department and IRS, on July 23, 2014, represent the culmination of a lengthy and voluminous public comment process on the SEC’s prior proposed rule on money market fund reforms.
Since January 2010, the SEC worked to develop a proposal for additional reforms related to money market funds. On June 5, 2013, the SEC issued its rule proposal for public comment. The SEC's proposal was lengthy (approximately 700 pages) and included two principal alternative reforms that could be adopted alone or in combination. Similar to the Final Rules adopted by the SEC, one alternative was a floating
NAV
for institutional prime money market funds and other money market funds (such as, for example, municipal money market funds) other than government and retail money market funds, and the other alternative involved use of liquidity fees and redemption gates when a fund failed to maintain a prescribed liquidity threshold. Unlike the Final Rules adopted by the SEC, in the case of either alternative, the proposal would have eliminated the amortized cost method of valuation of securities maturing in more than 60 days while permitting the use of the penny rounding method to maintain a stable share price for money market funds not required to have a floating NAV. The proposal also included additional diversification and disclosure measures that would apply under either alternative.
When the SEC's proposal was issued in June 2013, management reviewed the SEC proposal and actively participated in the public comment process both individually through the filing of 18 comment letters and with industry groups.
While the public
30
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
comment period formally closed on September 17, 2013, comments on the SEC's proposal continued to be submitted, including additional comment letters submitted on behalf of Federated.
Comment letters are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/comments/s7-03-13/s70313.shtml.
On March 24, 2014, the SEC published a series of four analyses conducted by the SEC's Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, which the SEC staff believed "have the potential to be informative for evaluating final rule amendments for the regulation of money market funds." The analyses examined (1) the spread between same-day buy and sell transaction prices for certain corporate bonds from January 2, 2008 to January 31, 2009, (2) the extent of government money market fund exposure to non-government securities, (3) academic literature reviewing recent evidence on the availability of "safe assets" in the U.S. and global economies and (4) the extent various types of money market funds are holding in their portfolios guarantees and demand features from a single institution.
The SEC staff requested comments on this supplemental information be submitted to the comment file to the SEC’s June 5, 2013 money market fund reform proposal (discussed above) by April 23, 2014.
Federated filed three comment letters with respect to this supplemental information published by the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis.
One comment letter addressed the analysis regarding the spread between same-day buy and sell transaction prices for certain money market eligible securities from January 2, 2008 to January 31, 2009.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its view that, while Federated generally agreed with the SEC staff's methodology for considering the cost of liquidity in evaluating an appropriate liquidity fee, the staff’s use of Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) bond data as the basis for spread analysis led the staff to find significantly larger spreads than it would have found had it based its analysis on the short-term instruments in which money market funds actually invest.
Management believed, and continues to believe, that the staff’s analysis overstated the spreads for Rule 2a-7 eligible securities during crisis periods by several multiples of actual spreads, and thus could have led the SEC to adopt a far larger-than-necessary liquidity fee requirement as part of its Final Rules.
Another comment letter addressed the analysis regarding municipal money market funds' exposure to parents of guarantors.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its view that it did not believe that the SEC staff’s analysis supported the conclusion that elimination of the "25% basket" in Rule 2a-7 would not increase the credit risks of municipal and other money market funds.
Management did not believe, and continues not to believe, that there is a basis for concluding that elimination of the 25% basket would protect investors, or promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation.
The third comment letter addressed the SEC staff’s analyses regarding the demand and supply of safe assets in the economy and government money market fund exposure to non-government securities.
In that comment letter, Federated expressed its reservations about the data and analysis underlying both analyses on the basis that neither analysis appeared focused on the market sector that the SEC's June 5, 2013 money market fund reform proposal would have most directly affected, namely, the market for short-term U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements for U.S. government securities (the government money market).
Management believed, and continues to believe, that any money market reform proposal that would have the effect of shifting large amounts of capital into the government money market would certainly create problems for investors who are required to invest in government securities or who cannot afford the risks associated with other classes of "safe assets" included in the SEC staff's analysis (such as gold, investment grade bonds, securitized assets and foreign sovereign obligations).
In April, 2014, the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
(
FRBNY
)
published a paper entitled “Gates, Fees and Preemptive Runs” in which the FRBNY purported to show that the possibility of suspending convertibility, including the imposition of gates or fees for redemptions, can create runs that would not otherwise occur.
As reflected in Federated’s comment letter, dated April 25, 2014, management believed, and continues to believe, that publicly available data shows that roughly 91% of large bank deposits are subject to the banks' ability to refuse early withdrawal requests from time deposits, defer for seven days requests for withdrawals from savings accounts, and impose early withdrawal fees on time deposits. Management believed, and continues to believe, therefore, that the FRBNY’s paper was based on a flawed assumption that banks are currently prohibited from imposing gates or fees on withdrawals from bank deposits and that, as evidenced by the relative stability of these assets, it was erroneous to claim that gates and fees cause assets to be prone to runs. To the contrary, management believed, and continues to believe, that gates and fees will achieve the SEC’s stated money market fund reform goals while promoting efficiency, competition and capital formation.
In a final comment letter on the SEC’s June 5, 2013 proposal submitted on July 16, 2014, Federated conveyed its views to the SEC that a combination of a floating NAV for institutional prime money market funds and liquidity fees and gates would be an onerous regulatory alternative that would significantly reduce the utility of money market funds for a large segment of investors, particularly when less burdensome alternatives exist that would achieve the SEC's stated money market reform goals while enhancing transparency for investors. In that comment letter, Federated listed and examined the less burdensome alternatives that management believed, and continues to believe, exist for achieving the SEC's goals, including, among other alternatives, allowing for the imposition of gates and fees (without requiring a floating NAV) and enhanced disclosures.
31
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Federated supported throughout the public comment process, and continues to support, liquidity fees and redemption gates in certain contexts.
Federated believed, and continues to believe, the floating NAV will significantly reduce the utility and attractiveness of money market funds for investors who, in Federated's view, value money market funds in their current form as an efficient and effective cash management investment product offering daily liquidity at par.
Management believes the Final Rules appropriately continue to allow a government money market fund or a retail money market fund to use the amortized cost method to seek to maintain a stable NAV.
However, management believes that the Final Rules’ combination of a floating NAV for institutional prime money market funds and institutional municipal (or tax-exempt) money market funds with liquidity fees and gates could be an onerous regulatory alternative that could significantly reduce the utility of money market funds for a large segment of investors, with further adverse consequences for issuers who rely upon money market funds as an important alternative to bank financing, particularly when less burdensome alternatives exist that would achieve the SEC's stated money market reform goals while enhancing transparency for investors.
Management believes that the floating NAV will be detrimental to Federated's money market fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
Given the recent adoption of the SEC’s Final Rules, the extended compliance dates under the Final Rules, and the recent issuance of Treasury Department and IRS guidance on related tax reforms, Federated is unable at this time to assess the degree of any potential impact the SEC's Final Rules may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows until the Final Rules, and related Treasury Department and IRS guidance, are fully reviewed and analyzed.
In connection with the review and analysis of the Final Rules, the related tax guidance, and their impact on Federated's business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows, Federated will consider its legislative, regulatory, legal, product structure and development, business and certain other options that may be available to seek to minimize the potential impact of any adverse consequences of the Final Rules. Federated also is unable to assess at this time whether, or the degree to which, any potential options ultimately may be pursued or be successful.
The Financial Stability Oversight Council
(
FSOC
)
may recommend new or heightened regulation for "nonbank financial companies" under Section 120 of the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
(
Dodd-Frank Act
)
. On April 3, 2013,
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(
the Governors
)
issued a final regulation, which became effective on May 6, 2013, that defines the term "predominantly engaged in financial activities" for purposes of identifying "nonbank financial companies" under the Dodd-Frank Act. In the adopting release for the regulation, the Governors stated that they believe "that it is clear that open-end investment companies, such as mutual funds including money market funds, ... engage in financial activities" for the purpose of asserting regulatory jurisdiction. Management respectfully disagrees with this position. Management believes that (1) the final regulation is inconsistent with the clear language and intent of the Dodd-Frank Act, (2) the conclusion that mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, fall within the scope of "financial activities" is without a valid statutory basis and (3) Congress intended the scope of "financial activities" for Dodd-Frank Act regulation to be strictly limited to specific lines of business previously defined under the Bank Holding Company Act, which historically have not been viewed as including mutual funds as a specific line of business.
In a Congressional Appropriations Committee conference report that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, which was signed into law by President Obama on January 17, 2014, Congress instructed the SEC to undertake a “rigorous economic analysis” before promulgating its final money market fund proposal, and indicated that the “Committee expects that the final rules will take into account the substantive concerns of stakeholders who use these products for short-term financing needs.” In the conference report, Congress also expressed that “[i]mpairing or restricting the use of money market funds could potentially result in a decrease in the ability of these products to provide liquidity, potentially resulting in hundreds of market participants issuing longer-term debt, significantly increasing their funding costs, slowing expansion rates, and depressing jobs and economic growth.” In a House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee conference report accompanying a House appropriations bill, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, 2015, the House Appropriations Committee indicated that the “Committee remains concerned with the [SEC’s] proposal to further regulate money market funds” and reiterated many of the above statements from the Congressional Appropriations Committee conference report. In addition to underscoring the importance to the capital markets of money market funds as currently structured, management believes that these conference reports reflect Congress’ view that the regulation of money market funds is within the purview of the SEC, not FSOC.
On November 1, 2013, Federated also responded to the SEC’s request for comment on a September 2013 report of the
U.S. Department of the Treasury's
(
Treasury Department
)
Office of Financial Research entitled
“Asset Management and Financial Stability”
(
the OFR Report
)
, which was prepared at the request of FSOC. Federated believes that the OFR Report is lacking in both substance and depth of analysis in its effort to justify FSOC’s and the Governors' role in fundamentally changing the structure and operation of investment managers, investors and the markets. While the SEC requested comments to be submitted
32
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
by November 1, 2013, comments have continued to be submitted. Comment letters are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/comments/am-1/am-1.shtml.
Federated is unable to assess whether, or the degree to which, any of the Federated Funds, including money market funds, could ultimately be designated a systematically important nonbank financial company by FSOC. In management's view, the issuance of final regulations is, and any reforms ultimately put into effect would be, detrimental to Federated's money market fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. Federated is unable to assess the degree of any potential impact any reforms or other actions by the Governors, FSOC or other governmental entities may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows at this time.
International
European-based money market funds face regulatory reform pressure in Europe similar to that faced in the U.S. The European Commission released its money market fund reform proposal on September 4, 2013. The proposal would have permitted either floating NAV money market funds or constant NAV money market funds subject to capital requirements. Under the proposal, a constant NAV money market fund generally would have had to either build a capital buffer of 3% or convert to a floating NAV money market fund. On March 10, 2014, the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee postponed a vote on the proposal until the next European Parliament, which will convene after parliamentary elections. Any proposal must be approved by the European Parliament and European Council and any final regulation could vary materially from that of any proposal. Management does not anticipate agreement on a final regulation before late fourth quarter 2014.
A proposal to implement a European
financial transactions tax
(
FTT
)
continues to be developed. Notwithstanding challenges to its legality, discussions have continued regarding the scope, application and allocation of the FTT.
On May 6, 2014, a Declaration was signed by 10 of the 11 original participating European countries confirming their support for the FTT, clarifying that the FTT would be introduced on a step-by-step basis, with the progressive implementation focusing first on the taxation of equities and certain derivatives, noting that individual countries could impose the FTT on additional products not included in the initial progressive implementation (for example, in order to maintain existing taxes) at their discretion and indicating that the initial phase of the FTT should be implemented by no later than January 1, 2016.
Management does not expect the FTT to be effective until 2015 or early 2016.
European money market reform and the imposition of the FTT, particularly if enacted with broad application, would each be detrimental to Federated's fund business and could materially and adversely affect Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. Federated is unable to assess the degree of any potential impact that European money market reform proposals or the FTT may have on its business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows until such proposals are finalized and approved or the FTT is enacted.
On January 8, 2014, the
Financial Stability Board
(
FSB
)
also published for comment as a consultative document
“Assessment Methodologies for Identifying Non-Bank Non-Insurer Global Systemically Important Financial Institutions”
(
Consultation
)
. The FSB is an international organization, of which the Governors, the SEC and the Treasury Department are members, that was established to coordinate, at the international level, the work of national authorities and bodies in developing and promoting the implementation of regulatory policies. The Consultation sets forth proposed methodologies for identifying systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions, including, among others, “market intermediaries” which the Consultation appears to define as including investment advisers, brokers and certain other intermediaries, and “investment funds,” which the Consultation appears to define as including money market funds, other open-end or closed-end mutual funds, and hedge funds and other private funds. The proposed methodologies include consideration of size (U.S. $100 billion is a proposed materiality threshold), exposures, complexity, interconnectedness, leverage and other factors. The Consultation specifically notes that, in addition to individual funds, it may also be necessary to consider families of funds following the same or similar investment strategies. The deadline for the formal comment period on the Consultation ended on April 7, 2014.
On April 4, 2014, Federated filed a comment letter addressing various aspects of the Consultation.
Management generally agrees with the Consultation’s approach of developing specific, measurable, published criteria for designating systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions, and believes that
(1) the proposed criteria or methodologies, to the extent applied to the investment fund sector, should focus on individual funds and not investment managers or fund families, and that a size criteria for investment funds that is based on net assets under management at a fixed amount that is not tied to the overall size of the investment market in which the fund participates is flawed, and
(2) key aspects of investment funds, particularly money market funds, such as lack of leverage and their substitutability, simplicity and transparency, and applicable legal requirements and risk mitigation practices, weigh strongly against listing them as systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions.
Federated concluded in its comment letter that it does not believe that money market funds should be designated as systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institutions under the
33
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Consultation.
Federated is unable to assess whether, or the degree to which Federated, any of its investment management subsidiaries or any of the Federated Funds, including money market funds, could ultimately be determined to be a systemically important non-bank, non-insurance company financial institution.
(b)
Historically Low Short-Term Interest Rates
For several years, the Governors have kept the near-zero federal funds rate unchanged and short-term interest rates continued at all-time low levels. In certain money market funds, the gross yield earned by the fund is not sufficient to cover all of the fund's operating expenses due to these historically low short-term interest rates. Since the fourth quarter 2008, Federated has voluntarily waived fees (either through fee waivers or reimbursements or assumptions of expenses) in order for certain money market funds to maintain positive or zero net yields. These fee waivers have been partially offset by related reductions in distribution expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a result of Federated's mutual understanding and agreement with third-party intermediaries to share the impact of the waivers.
These voluntary fee waivers are calculated as a percent of
AUM
in certain money market funds and thus will vary depending upon the asset levels in such funds. In addition, the level of waivers are dependent on several other factors including, but not limited to, yields on instruments available for purchase by the money market funds, changes in expenses of the money market funds and changes in the mix of money market assets. In any given period, a combination of these factors drives the amount of fee waivers necessary in order for certain funds to maintain positive or zero net yields. As an isolated variable, an increase in yields on instruments held by the money market funds will cause the pre-tax impact of fee waivers to decrease. Conversely, as an isolated variable, an increase in expenses of the money market funds would cause the pre-tax impact of fee waivers to increase.
With regard to asset mix, changes in the relative amount of money market fund assets in prime and government money market funds as well as the distribution among certain share classes that vary in pricing structure will impact the level of fee waivers. Generally, prime money market funds waive less than government money market funds as a result of higher gross yields on the underlying investments. As such, as an isolated variable, an increase in the relative proportion of average managed assets invested in prime money market funds as compared to total average money market fund assets should typically result in lower waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields. Conversely, the opposite would also be true.
The impact of such fee waivers on various components of Federated's Consolidated Statements of Income was as follows for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2014
March 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
September 30, 2013
June 30, 2013
(in millions)
Investment advisory fees
$
(69.6
)
$
(73.1
)
$
(70.9
)
$
(70.7
)
$
(59.4
)
Other service fees
(32.7
)
(33.6
)
(33.7
)
(34.4
)
(32.5
)
Total Revenue
(102.3
)
(106.7
)
(104.6
)
(105.1
)
(91.9
)
Less: Reduction in Distribution expense
70.2
74.3
73.3
72.1
66.9
Operating income
(32.1
)
(32.4
)
(31.3
)
(33.0
)
(25.0
)
Less: Reduction in Noncontrolling interest
2.5
2.7
2.0
2.7
1.3
Pre-tax impact
$
(29.6
)
$
(29.7
)
$
(29.3
)
$
(30.3
)
$
(23.7
)
The negative pre-tax impact of fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds increased for both the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same periods in
2013
primarily as a result of lower yields on instruments held by the money market funds.
Based on recent commentary from the Governors in a June 18, 2014 press release, "a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy remains appropriate," Federated is unable to predict when the Governors will increase their target for the federal funds rate. As such, fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds and the related reduction in distribution expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests could continue for the foreseeable future. Assuming asset levels and mix remain constant and based on recent market conditions, fee waivers for the third quarter
2014
may result in a negative pre-tax impact on income of approximately
$31 million
.
While the level of fee waivers are impacted by various factors, increases in short-term interest rates that result in higher yields on securities purchased in money market fund portfolios would reduce the negative pre-tax impact of these waivers.
Management estimates that an increase of
10
34
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
basis points in gross yields on securities purchased in money market fund portfolios will likely reduce the negative pre-tax impact of these waivers by approximately
45%
from the current levels and an increase of
25
basis points would reduce the impact by approximately
70%
from the current levels.
The actual amount of future fee waivers and the resulting negative impact of these waivers are contingent on a number of variables including, but not limited to, changes in assets within the money market funds, available yields on instruments held by the money market funds, actions by the Governors, the Treasury Department, the SEC, FSOC and other governmental entities, changes in expenses of the money market funds, changes in the mix of money market customer assets, changes in the distribution fee arrangements with third parties, Federated's willingness to continue the fee waivers and changes in the extent to which the impact of the waivers is shared by third parties.
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
On June 24, 2014, Federated entered into an unsecured Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Federated, certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors party thereto, a syndicate of 13 banks as Lenders party thereto led by PNC Bank, National Association as administrative agent, PNC Capital Markets LLC as sole bookrunner and joint lead arranger, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. as joint lead arranger, Citibank, N.A. as syndication agent, and TD Bank, N.A. as documentation agent
(
Credit Agreement
).
The Credit Agreement amends and restates Federated's prior
unsecured Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which was dated
June 10, 2011
and scheduled to mature on
June 10, 2016
(
Prior Credit Agreement
).
The borrowings under the Credit Agreement's term loan facility of
$255 million
equaled the remaining principal balance from the Prior Credit Agreement's term loan facility.
The term loan facility bears interest based on
the
London Interbank Offering Rate
(
LIBOR
)
plus a spread, currently
112.5
basis points
.
The Credit Agreement qualified for modification accounting treatment.
The Credit Agreement also refinanced the
$200 million
revolving credit facility under the Prior Credit Agreement.
Federated had
no
borrowings outstanding on the previous revolving credit facility.
As of
June 30, 2014
, the entire
$200 million
revolving credit facility was available for borrowings.
Similar to the Prior Credit Agreement, certain subsidiaries entered into an Amended and Restated Continuing Agreement of Guaranty and Suretyship whereby these subsidiaries guarantee payment of all obligations incurred through the Credit Agreement.
Federated pays an annual facility fee, currently
12.5
basis points
.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement's revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread, currently
100
basis points
.
The Credit Agreement matures on June 24, 2019 and, with respect to the term loan facility, requires quarterly principal payments of
$6.4 million
per quarter beginning on July 1, 2014 through July 1, 2018 and
$36.7 million
per quarter from October 1, 2018 through April 1, 2019, with a final payment at maturity of
$36.7 million
.
The interest rate swap (the Swap) that Federated entered into with PNC Bank, National Association and certain other banks during 2010 to hedge its interest rate risk associated with Federated's original term loan facility remains in effect.
See
Note (8)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Credit Agreement and Swap.
35
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Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Asset Highlights
Managed Assets at Period End
June 30,
Percent Change
(in millions)
2014
2013
By Asset Class
Money market
$
245,201
$
268,532
(9
)%
Fixed-income
51,129
50,005
2
%
Equity
49,888
38,705
29
%
Liquidation portfolio
1
5,408
6,561
(18
)%
Total managed assets
$
351,626
$
363,803
(3
)%
By Product Type
Mutual Funds:
Money market
$
212,434
$
232,874
(9
)%
Fixed-income
40,357
40,188
0
%
Equity
31,673
25,030
27
%
Total mutual fund assets
$
284,464
$
298,092
(5
)%
Separate Accounts:
Money market
$
32,767
$
35,658
(8
)%
Fixed-income
10,772
9,817
10
%
Equity
18,215
13,675
33
%
Total separate account assets
$
61,754
$
59,150
4
%
Liquidation Portfolio
1
$
5,408
$
6,561
(18
)%
Total managed assets
$
351,626
$
363,803
(3
)%
Average Managed Assets
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
Percent Change
June 30,
Percent Change
(in millions)
2014
2013
2014
2013
By Asset Class
Money market
$
254,575
$
274,899
(7
)%
$
263,904
$
279,743
(6
)%
Fixed-income
50,774
52,375
(3
)%
50,716
52,553
(3
)%
Equity
47,466
38,762
22
%
46,079
37,724
22
%
Liquidation portfolio
1
5,569
6,834
(19
)%
5,680
7,025
(19
)%
Total average managed assets
$
358,384
$
372,870
(4
)%
$
366,379
$
377,045
(3
)%
By Product Type
Mutual Funds:
Money market
$
219,936
$
237,790
(8
)%
$
227,582
$
244,221
(7
)%
Fixed-income
40,130
42,258
(5
)%
40,058
42,419
(6
)%
Equity
30,154
25,094
20
%
29,335
24,566
19
%
Total average mutual fund assets
$
290,220
$
305,142
(5
)%
$
296,975
$
311,206
(5
)%
Separate Accounts:
Money market
$
34,639
$
37,109
(7
)%
$
36,322
$
35,522
2
%
Fixed-income
10,644
10,117
5
%
10,658
10,134
5
%
Equity
17,312
13,668
27
%
16,744
13,158
27
%
Total average separate account assets
$
62,595
$
60,894
3
%
$
63,724
$
58,814
8
%
Liquidation Portfolio
1
$
5,569
$
6,834
(19
)%
$
5,680
$
7,025
(19
)%
Total average managed assets
$
358,384
$
372,870
(4
)%
$
366,379
$
377,045
(3
)%
1
Liquidation portfolio represents a portfolio of distressed bonds at cost. Federated has been retained by a third party to manage these assets through an orderly liquidation process that will generally occur over a multi-year period.
36
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Changes in Equity and Fixed-Income Fund and Separate Account Assets
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in millions)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Equity Funds
Beginning assets
$
29,208
$
24,491
$
28,097
$
23,152
Sales
2,566
1,918
4,858
3,670
Redemptions
(1,464
)
(1,629
)
(3,297
)
(4,017
)
Net sales (redemptions)
1,102
289
1,561
(347
)
Net exchanges
9
43
41
90
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
1,354
207
1,974
2,135
Ending assets
$
31,673
$
25,030
$
31,673
$
25,030
Equity Separate Accounts
2
Beginning assets
$
16,671
$
13,361
$
16,051
$
11,858
Sales
3
1,168
1,031
2,013
2,137
Redemptions
3
(746
)
(937
)
(1,524
)
(1,505
)
Net sales
3
422
94
489
632
Market gains and losses
4
1,122
220
1,675
1,185
Ending assets
$
18,215
$
13,675
$
18,215
$
13,675
Total Equity Assets
2
Beginning assets
$
45,879
$
37,852
$
44,148
$
35,010
Sales
3
3,734
2,949
6,871
5,807
Redemptions
3
(2,210
)
(2,566
)
(4,821
)
(5,522
)
Net sales
3
1,524
383
2,050
285
Net exchanges
9
43
41
90
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
2,476
427
3,649
3,320
Ending assets
$
49,888
$
38,705
$
49,888
$
38,705
Fixed-income Funds
Beginning assets
$
40,237
$
42,612
$
39,606
$
42,478
Sales
3,325
5,232
7,573
10,380
Redemptions
(3,940
)
(6,877
)
(7,965
)
(11,886
)
Net redemptions
(615
)
(1,645
)
(392
)
(1,506
)
Net exchanges
(11
)
(80
)
(70
)
(122
)
Acquisition-related
301
0
301
0
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
445
(699
)
912
(662
)
Ending assets
$
40,357
$
40,188
$
40,357
$
40,188
Fixed-income Separate Accounts
2
Beginning assets
$
10,746
$
10,158
$
10,520
$
10,233
Sales
3
377
562
631
1,093
Redemptions
3
(537
)
(725
)
(769
)
(1,370
)
Net redemptions
3
(160
)
(163
)
(138
)
(277
)
Net exchanges
1
7
1
7
Market gains and losses
4
185
(185
)
389
(146
)
Ending assets
$
10,772
$
9,817
$
10,772
$
9,817
Total Fixed-income Assets
2
Beginning assets
$
50,983
$
52,770
$
50,126
$
52,711
Sales
3
3,702
5,794
8,204
11,473
Redemptions
3
(4,477
)
(7,602
)
(8,734
)
(13,256
)
Net redemptions
3
(775
)
(1,808
)
(530
)
(1,783
)
Net exchanges
(10
)
(73
)
(69
)
(115
)
Acquisition-related
301
0
301
0
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
630
(884
)
1,301
(808
)
Ending assets
$
51,129
$
50,005
$
51,129
$
50,005
1) Reflects the approximate changes in the fair value of the securities held by the portfolios and, to a lesser extent, reinvested dividends, distributions, net investment income and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.
2) Includes separately managed accounts, institutional accounts and sub-advised funds and other managed products.
3) For certain accounts, Sales and Redemptions are calculated as the remaining difference between beginning and ending assets after the calculation of Market gains and losses.
4) Reflects the approximate changes in the fair value of the securities held by the portfolios.
37
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Total Changes in Equity and Fixed-Income Assets
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in millions)
2014
2013
2014
2013
Funds
Beginning assets
$
69,445
$
67,103
$
67,703
$
65,630
Sales
5,891
7,150
12,431
14,050
Redemptions
(5,404
)
(8,506
)
(11,262
)
(15,903
)
Net sales (redemptions)
487
(1,356
)
1,169
(1,853
)
Net exchanges
(2
)
(37
)
(29
)
(32
)
Acquisition-related
301
0
301
0
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
1,799
(492
)
2,886
1,473
Ending assets
$
72,030
$
65,218
$
72,030
$
65,218
Separate Accounts
2
Beginning assets
$
27,417
$
23,519
$
26,571
$
22,091
Sales
3
1,545
1,593
2,644
3,230
Redemptions
3
(1,283
)
(1,662
)
(2,293
)
(2,875
)
Net sales (redemptions)
3
262
(69
)
351
355
Net exchanges
1
7
1
7
Market gains and losses
4
1,307
35
2,064
1,039
Ending assets
$
28,987
$
23,492
$
28,987
$
23,492
Total Assets
2
Beginning assets
$
96,862
$
90,622
$
94,274
$
87,721
Sales
3
7,436
8,743
15,075
17,280
Redemptions
3
(6,687
)
(10,168
)
(13,555
)
(18,778
)
Net sales (redemptions)
3
749
(1,425
)
1,520
(1,498
)
Net exchanges
(1
)
(30
)
(28
)
(25
)
Acquisition-related
301
0
301
0
Market gains and losses/reinvestments
1
3,106
(457
)
4,950
2,512
Ending assets
$
101,017
$
88,710
$
101,017
$
88,710
1) Reflects the approximate changes in the fair value of the securities held by the portfolios and, to a lesser extent, reinvested dividends, distributions, net investment income and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.
2) Includes separately managed accounts, institutional accounts and sub-advised funds and other managed products.
3) For certain accounts, Sales and Redemptions are calculated as the remaining difference between beginning and ending assets after the calculation of Market gains and losses.
4) Reflects the approximate changes in the fair value of the securities held by the portfolios.
38
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Changes in Federated’s average asset mix period-over-period across both asset class and product types have a direct impact on Federated’s operating income. Asset mix impacts Federated’s total revenue due to the difference in the fee rates earned on each asset class and product type per invested dollar and certain components of distribution expense can vary depending upon the asset class, distribution channel and/or the size of the customer relationship. The following table presents the relative composition of average managed assets and the percent of total revenue derived from each asset class and product type for the periods presented:
Percent of Total Average Managed Assets
Percent of Total Revenue
Six Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2014
2013
2014
2013
By Asset Class
Money market assets
72
%
74
%
33
%
42
%
Fixed-income assets
14
%
14
%
23
%
23
%
Equity assets
13
%
10
%
43
%
34
%
Liquidation portfolio
1
%
2
%
0
%
0
%
Other activities
--
--
1
%
1
%
By Product Type
Mutual Funds:
Money market assets
62
%
65
%
31
%
40
%
Fixed-income assets
11
%
11
%
21
%
21
%
Equity assets
8
%
7
%
36
%
28
%
Separate Accounts:
Money market assets
10
%
9
%
2
%
2
%
Fixed-income assets
3
%
3
%
2
%
2
%
Equity assets
5
%
3
%
7
%
6
%
Liquidation Portfolio
1
%
2
%
0
%
0
%
Other Activities
--
--
1
%
1
%
Total managed assets represent the balance of AUM at a point in time. By contrast, average managed assets represent the average balance of AUM during a period of time. Because substantially all revenue and certain components of distribution expense are generally calculated daily based on AUM, changes in average managed assets are typically a key indicator of changes in revenue earned and asset-based expenses incurred during the same period.
As of
June 30, 2014
, total managed assets
decreased
3%
from
June 30, 2013
primarily as a result of decreases in money market assets, partially offset by an increase in equity assets. Average managed assets
decreased
4%
and
3%
for the
three and six months ended
June 30, 2014
compared to the same periods in
2013
. Period-end money market assets
decreased
9%
at
June 30, 2014
compared to
June 30, 2013
. Average money market assets
decreased
7%
and
6%
for the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
, respectively, as compared to the same periods in
2013
, following the industry trend in the accommodative monetary policy environment. Short-term interest rates remained low in the first half of
2014
as the Governors kept the near-zero federal funds rate unchanged in the continuous pursuit of a sustained economic recovery. In the bond market, anticipation of the beginning of the Governors' tapering, impacting long-term bond rates, contributed to fund outflows industrywide in the second half of
2013
. The bond market flows reversed in early 2014 as long-term bond rates trended down. The Governors expect to end the bond-buying in October assuming the economy stays on track. Period-end fixed-income assets
increased
2%
at
June 30, 2014
compared to
June 30, 2013
, primarily as a result of market appreciation, partially offset by net redemptions while average fixed-income assets
decreased
3%
for both the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same periods in
2013
. Period-end equity assets
increased
29%
at
June 30, 2014
compared to
June 30, 2013
primarily due to market appreciation, and to a lesser extent, net sales. Average equity assets
increased
22%
for both the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same periods in
2013
benefiting from the strong equity-market performance. Both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, key indicators of broad equity-market performance, surpassed levels not seen since 2007 during 2013 and continued on an upward trajectory during the first half of 2014. Average assets in the liquidation portfolio
decreased
19%
for both the
three- and six-month periods
ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same periods in
2013
due to the anticipated gradual liquidation of the portfolio.
39
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Results of Operations
Revenue.
The following table sets forth components of total revenue for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in millions)
2014
2013
Change
Percent
Change
2014
2013
Change
Percent
Change
Revenue from managed assets
$
210.6
$
221.5
$
(10.9
)
(5
)%
$
420.0
$
447.3
$
(27.3
)
(6
)%
Revenue from sources other than managed assets
2.4
2.3
0.1
4
%
4.5
4.5
0
0
%
Total revenue
$
213.0
$
223.8
$
(10.8
)
(5
)%
$
424.5
$
451.8
$
(27.3
)
(6
)%
Revenue from managed assets
decreased
$10.9 million
for the
three
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to an increase of
$10.4 million
in voluntary fee waivers related to certain money market funds in order for these funds to maintain positive or zero net yields, a decrease of $10.0 million due to lower average money market assets and a decrease of $3.7 million due to lower average fixed-income assets. These decreases in revenue were partially offset by an increase of $14.8 million due to higher average equity assets.
Revenue from managed assets
decreased
$27.3 million
for the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to an increase of
$29.7 million
in voluntary fee waivers related to certain money market funds in order for these funds to maintain positive or zero net yields, a decrease of $17.4 million due to lower average money market assets and a decrease of $8.0 million due to lower average fixed-income assets. These decreases in revenue were partially offset by an increase of $30.4 million due to higher average equity assets.
See Business Developments –
Historically Low Short-Term Interest Rates
for additional information on voluntary fee waivers related to certain money market funds in order for these funds to maintain positive or zero net yields, including the offsetting decreases in distribution expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the net pre-tax impact on income.
For the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
, Federated’s ratio of revenue from managed assets to average managed assets was 0.23% as compared to 0.24% for the same period of
2013
. The decrease in the rate was primarily due to the increase in voluntary fee waivers to maintain positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds for the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period of
2013
, partially offset by the increase in average managed assets invested in higher fee-paying equity products for the same period comparison.
Operating Expenses.
The following table sets forth significant fluctuations in operating expenses for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
(in millions)
2014
2013
Change
Percent
Change
2014
2013
Change
Percent
Change
Compensation and related
$
70.7
$
67.9
$
2.8
4
%
$
142.5
$
134.8
$
7.7
6
%
Distribution
49.3
53.8
(4.5
)
(8
)%
97.8
112.0
(14.2
)
(13
)%
All other
34.1
36.1
(2.0
)
(6
)%
68.7
70.8
(2.1
)
(3
)%
Total operating expenses
$
154.1
$
157.8
$
(3.7
)
(2
)%
$
309.0
$
317.6
$
(8.6
)
(3
)%
Total operating expenses
for the
three
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
decreased
$3.7 million
compared to the same period in
2013
.
Distribution
expense
decreased
$4.5 million
in the second quarter
2014
compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to a decrease of $3.5 million related to a decrease in average money market assets, a decrease of
$3.3 million
resulting from higher fee waivers associated with maintaining positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds and a decrease of $1.2 million related to a decrease in the levels and mix of average fixed-income assets, partially offset by an increase of $3.2 million related to an increase in average equity assets.
Compensation and related
expense
increased
$2.8 million
in the second quarter
2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
reflecting a $1.2 million increase in base salary and wages primarily due to increased headcount and higher wages and a $1.1 million increase in incentive compensation driven primarily by sales and investment management performance.
40
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Total operating expenses
for the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
decreased
$8.6 million
compared to the same period in
2013
.
Distribution
expense
decreased
$14.2 million
in the first
six
months of
2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to a decrease of
$12.8 million
resulting from higher fee waivers associated with maintaining positive or zero net yields on certain money market funds and decreases of $5.1 million and $2.6 million related to decreases in average money market assets and the levels and mix of average fixed-income assets, respectively, partially offset by an increase of $5.9 million related to an increase in average equity assets.
Compensation and related
expense
increased
$7.7 million
in the first
six
months of
2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
reflecting a $2.5 million increase in base salary and wages primarily due to increased headcount and higher wages, a $2.4 million increase in incentive compensation driven primarily by investment management and sales performance, a $1.7 million increase as a result of the finalization of prior-year bonus estimates during the first quarter of each year and an increase of $1.1 million in other employee expenses.
Nonoperating Income (Expenses).
Nonoperating income, net
increased
$0.6 million
for the
three
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
.
Nonoperating income, net
increased
$0.2 million
for the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
.
Income Taxes.
The income tax provision
decreased
$2.1 million
for the
three
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to lower income before income taxes. The effective tax rate was
38.1%
for the
three
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to
37.4%
for the same period in
2013
. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decreased rate in the prior year related to a reduction to the capital loss deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
The income tax provision
decreased
$4.9 million
for the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
primarily due to lower income before income taxes. The effective tax rate was
38.0%
for the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to
36.5%
for the same period in
2013
. The change in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decreased rate in the prior year related to a reduction to the capital loss deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
Net Income attributable to Federated Investors, Inc.
Net income
decreased
$3.5 million
for the
three
months ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
, primarily as a result of the changes in revenues and expenses noted above. Diluted earnings per share for the
three
months ended
June 30, 2014
decreased
$0.04
as compared to the same period of
2013
primarily due to
decreased
net income.
Net income
decreased
$11.3 million
for the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to the same period in
2013
, primarily as a result of the changes in revenues and expenses noted above. Diluted earnings per share for the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
decreased
$0.11
as compared to the same period of
2013
primarily due to
decreased
net income.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquid Assets.
At
June 30, 2014
, liquid assets, net of noncontrolling interests, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, investments and receivables, totaled
$271.7 million
as compared to
$303.2 million
at
December 31, 2013
. The
decrease
of
$31.5 million
primarily reflects a
decrease
of
$43.4 million
in
Cash and cash equivalents
, which is summarized in the discussion below, partially offset by an increase of
$12.5 million
in
Investments—affiliates
due primarily to net purchases of available-for-sale securities.
At
June 30, 2014
, Federated's liquid assets included investments in certain Federated-sponsored money market and fluctuating-value funds that may have direct and/or indirect exposures to international sovereign debt and currency risks. Federated has been actively monitoring its money market, fixed-income and equity portfolios to manage sovereign debt and currency risks, including in connection with recent events in Eastern Europe and Russia. Federated's experienced portfolio managers and analysts work to evaluate credit risk through quantitative and fundamental analysis. Further, for cash invested in certain money market funds (approximately
$45 million
), only indirect short-term exposures exist primarily to high-quality international bank names that are subject to Federated's credit analysis process and that meet the requirements of Rule 2a-7.
Cash Provided by Operating Activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled
$65.2 million
for the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
as compared to
$67.5 million
for the same period in
2013
. The
decrease
of
$2.3 million
was primarily due
41
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
to the
$27.3 million
decrease in revenue from managed assets previously discussed. This decrease was partially offset by
an $11.0 million reduction in cash paid for taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013 due primarily to (1) a $5.0 million federal income tax extension payment paid in the first quarter 2013 while none was required in the first quarter 2014 and (2) a $4.4 million reduction in quarterly federal estimated income tax payments in the first half of 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013.
The remaining difference is primarily related to cash paid to vendors for operating activities.
Cash Used by Investing Activities.
During the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
, cash
used
by investing activities was
$22.4 million
and primarily reflected
$52.1 million
in cash paid for purchases of available-for-sale securities and
$9.7 million
in cash paid for contingent payments related primarily to a prior year business acquisition, partially offset by the receipt of
$41.7 million
in proceeds from redemptions of available-for-sale securities.
Cash Used by Financing Activities.
During the
six
-month period ended
June 30, 2014
, cash used by financing activities was
$86.2 million
. During the first
six
months of
2014
, Federated paid
$52.5 million
or
$0.50
per share in dividends to holders of its common shares, repaid
$21.3 million
in connection with its long-term debt obligations (see
Note (8)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information) and paid
$14.6 million
to purchase treasury stock.
Borrowings.
During the second quarter
2014
, Federated entered into an unsecured Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks that refinanced both a
$255 million
term loan (Term Loan) and a
$200 million
revolving credit facility (collectively, as amended, Credit Agreement). The original proceeds were used for general corporate purposes including cash payments related to acquisitions, dividends, investments and share repurchases. During each of the
six
-month periods ended
June 30, 2014
and
2013
, Federated made principal payments of
$21.3 million
on the Term Loan. As of
June 30, 2014
, the entire
$200 million
revolving credit facility was available for borrowings. The Swap associated with Federated's original term loan facility remains in effect. The Swap converts the variable interest rate on the Term Loan to a fixed rate of
3.521%
for the amount of the Term Loan covered by the Swap until the Swap's expiration on April 1, 2015. See
Note (8)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Credit Agreement has an interest coverage ratio covenant (consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to consolidated interest expense) and a leverage ratio covenant (consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA) as well as other customary terms and conditions. Federated was in compliance with all of its covenants, including its interest coverage and leverage ratios at and during the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
. An interest coverage ratio of at least 4 to 1 is required and as of
June 30, 2014
, the interest coverage ratio was 28 to 1. A leverage ratio of no more than 3.0 to 1 is required and as of
June 30, 2014
, the leverage ratio was 0.9 to 1. The Credit Agreement and the Swap also have certain stated events of default and cross default provisions which would permit the lenders/counterparties to accelerate the repayment of the debt or the Swap if not cured within the applicable grace periods. The events of default generally include breaches of contract, failure to make required loan payments, insolvency, cessation of business, deterioration in credit rating to below investment grade, notice of lien or assessment and other proceedings, whether voluntary or involuntary, that would require the repayment of amounts borrowed.
Future Cash Needs.
In addition to the contractual obligations and contingent liabilities described below, management expects that principal uses of cash will include paying incentive and base compensation, funding distribution expenditures, paying shareholder dividends, repaying debt obligations, funding business acquisitions and global expansion, paying taxes, repurchasing company stock, seeding new products and funding property and equipment acquisitions, including computer-related software and hardware. As a result of the highly regulated nature of the investment management business, management anticipates that expenditures for compliance and investment management personnel, compliance systems and related professional and consulting fees may continue to increase.
On
July 24, 2014
, the board of directors declared a
$0.25
per share dividend to shareholders of record as of
August 8, 2014
to be paid on
August 15, 2014
.
After evaluating Federated’s existing liquid assets, expected continuing cash flow from operations, its borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility included in the Credit Agreement and its ability to obtain additional financing arrangements and issue debt or stock, management believes it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its present and reasonably foreseeable cash needs. Although management currently is not projecting to draw on the availability under the revolving credit facility for the next 12 months, management may choose to borrow up to the maximum available under the revolving credit facility which could cause total outstanding borrowings to total as much as $449 million.
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Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Financial Position
The following discussion summarizes significant changes in assets and liabilities that are not discussed elsewhere in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the status of Federated’s goodwill as of
June 30, 2014
.
Accrued compensation and benefits
at
June 30, 2014
decreased
$28.5 million
from
December 31, 2013
primarily due to the annual
2013
accrued incentive compensation being paid in the first quarter
2014
($59.6 million), partially offset by certain
2014
incentive compensation accruals earned at
June 30, 2014
($34.5 million).
Other current liabilities
at
June 30, 2014
decreased
$15.5 million
from
December 31, 2013
primarily due to a $9.2 million contingent purchase price payment relating to a prior year business acquisition (see
Note (12)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information) and payments of $2.3 million relating to the Swap (see
Note (8)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information).
Long-term deferred tax liability, net
at
June 30, 2014
increased
$12.1 million
fr
om
December 31, 2013
primarily due to tax amortization deductions in excess of book amortization related to intangible assets.
There were no indicators of goodwill impairment as of
June 30, 2014
as Federated’s market capitalization exceeded the book value of equity by more than
450%
.
Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities
Contingent Payments.
Pursuant to various acquisition- and employee-related agreements, Federated is required to make certain periodic contingent payments. Details regarding these commitments are as follows:
In 2010, Federated acquired the money market management business of SunTrust Banks, Inc.
(SunTrust Acquisition).
As part of the SunTrust Acquisition, Federated is required to make annual contingent purchase price payments in the fourth quarters of each of the
five
years following the acquisition date. The contingent purchase price payments are calculated as a percentage of revenue less distribution expenses directly attributed to certain eligible assets. The first three contingent purchase price payments of
$5.0 million
,
$4.2 million
and
$3.8 million
were paid in the fourth quarters of 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. At
June 30, 2014
,
management estimated remaining contingent payments could total
$4 million
over the
two
years that remain; however, the actual amount of the contingent payments will vary based on asset levels and related net revenues and is not limited by any maximum amount. A wide range of outcomes for actual payments is possible due to the extent of reasonably possible flow-rate volatility for the respective AUM. As of
June 30, 2014
,
a liability of
$3.8 million
representing the estimated fair value of future consideration payments was recorded in
Other current liabilities
(
$2.1 million
)
and
Other long-term liabilities
(
$1.7 million
) (see
Note (7)(a)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for a discussion regarding the valuation methodology).
This liability is remeasured at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
In 2008, Federated completed the acquisition of certain assets of Clover Capital Management, Inc., an investment manager that specialized in value investing
(Clover Capital Acquisition).
As part of the Clover Capital Acquisition, Federated was required to make contingent purchase price payments based upon growth in revenues over the
five
-year period following the acquisition date. The contingent purchase price payments were recorded as additional goodwill at the time the contingency was resolved. The applicable growth targets were not met for the first two anniversary years and as such,
no
related payments were made. The final three payments of
$9.2 million
(recorded in
Other current liabilities
as of
December 31, 2013
),
$3.4 million
and
$5.9 million
were paid in the first quarters of 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Pursuant to other acquisition agreements, Federated may be required to make additional purchase price payments based on a percentage of revenue less certain direct expenses attributable to eligible AUM. The payments could occur annually through 2017. As of
June 30, 2014
,
liabilities totaling
$2.1 million
,
representing the estimated fair value of future consideration payments were recorded in
Other current liabilities
(
$0.8 million
)
and
Other long-term liabilities
(
$1.3 million
) (see
Note (7)(a)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for a discussion regarding the valuation methodology).
The liabilities are remeasured at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in
Operating Expenses
-
Other
on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
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Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Pursuant to various significant employment arrangements, Federated may be required to make certain incentive compensation-related payments through 2018. As of
June 30, 2014
,
Federated may be required to pay up to
$32 million
over the remaining terms of the arrangements based on the achievement of performance goals. In addition, certain employees have incentive compensation opportunities related to the Federated Kaufman Large Cap Fund
(the Fund Bonus).
Assuming asset levels and other variable inputs at
June 30, 2014
remain constant throughout the year, the Fund Bonus payment in
2015
may approximate
$2 million
.
Management is unable to reasonably estimate a range of possible bonus payments for the Fund Bonus for subsequent years due to the wide-range of possible growth-rate scenarios.
Legal Proceedings.
CCM Rochester, Inc. (CCM).
In December, 2008, Federated completed the acquisition of certain assets of CCM (f/k/a Clover Capital Management, Inc.), an investment manager that specialized in value investing.
The purchase was consummated in the midst of the financial crisis.
The payment terms under the
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated September 12, 2008
(
APA
)
, included an upfront payment of
$30 million
paid by Federated Investors, Inc. at closing and the opportunity for contingent payments over a five year earn-out period following the acquisition date based on the growth in revenue associated with the acquired assets.
Under the APA, in order to reach the maximum contingent payments totaling approximately
$55 million
, the revenue associated with the acquired assets would have had to have grown at a
30%
compound annual growth rate.
Under the APA, Federated Investors, Inc. paid CCM an additional
$18 million
, in the aggregate, in contingent payments for the last three years of the earn-out period.
Shortly after the final contingent payment was paid to CCM, Federated Investors, Inc. was named as the defendant in a case filed on May 20, 2014 by CCM in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (CCM Rochester, Inc., f/k/a Clover Capital Management, Inc. v. Federated Investors, Inc., Case No. 14-cv-3600 (S.D.N.Y.)).
In this lawsuit, CCM has asserted claims against Federated Investors, Inc. for fraudulent inducement, breach of contract (including CCM’s allegations relating to implied duties of best efforts and good faith and fair dealing) and indemnification based on Federated’s alleged failure to effectively market and distribute the investment products associated with the acquired assets and to pay CCM the maximum contingent payments.
CCM seeks approximately
$37 million
in alleged damages plus attorneys’ fees from Federated Investors, Inc.
Federated believes CCM’s claims are meritless, intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit and has filed a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit on the basis that, among other reasons, CCM’s claims are implausible, contrary to the express terms of the APA and contrary to settled law.
Federated believes that at all times it acted in good faith and complied with its contractual obligations contained in the APA. As of
June 30, 2014
, Federated believes a material loss related to this lawsuit is remote and as such, does not believe this pending lawsuit is material to Federated or its consolidated financial statements. Based on this assessment of the status and nature of CCM’s claims, no loss is estimable.
Other Litigation.
Federated also has claims asserted and threatened against it in the ordinary course of business.
Federated cannot assess or predict whether, when or what types of claims may be threatened or asserted, the types or amounts of damages or other remedies that may be sought (which may be material when threatened or asserted), whether claims that have been threatened will become formal asserted pending legal proceedings, or whether claims ultimately may be successful (whether through settlement or adjudication), entirely or in part, whether or not any such claims are threatened or asserted in or outside the ordinary course of business.
Federated also may be initially unable to accurately assess a claim's impact.
Given that the outcome of litigation is inherently unpredictable and uncertain, an adverse result may arise from time to time that adversely impacts, potentially in a material way, Federated’s business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.
As of
June 30, 2014
, Federated does not believe that it has any pending legal proceedings asserted against Federated in the ordinary course of business that are material to Federated or its consolidated financial statements and, as such, does not believe that a material loss related to these claims is reasonably possible.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a complete list of new accounting standards recently adopted by Federated, see
Note (3)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
44
Table of Contents
Management's Discussion and Analysis (continued)
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (unaudited)
Critical Accounting Policies
Federated’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Management continually evaluates the accounting policies and estimates it uses to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements. In general, management's estimates are based on historical experience, information from third-party professionals and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates made by management and those differences may be material.
Of the significant accounting policies described in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
, management believes that its policies regarding accounting for intangible assets and acquisition-related future consideration liabilities involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. See
Note (1)
of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the section entitled Critical Accounting Policies in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
for a complete discussion of these policies.
45
Table of Contents
Part I, Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
(unaudited)
There have not been any material changes to Federated’s exposures to market risk during the
six
months ended
June 30, 2014
that would require an update to the disclosures provided in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
.
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Table of Contents
Part I, Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(unaudited)
(a)
Federated carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including Federated’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of Federated’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of
June 30, 2014
. Based upon that evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that Federated’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at
June 30, 2014
.
(b)
There has been no change in Federated’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended
June 30, 2014
that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Federated’s internal control over financial reporting.
47
Table of Contents
Part II. Other Information
(unaudited)
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Information regarding this Item is contained in
Note (12)(c)
to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I of this report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There are no material changes to the risk factors included in Federated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2013
.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(c) The following table summarizes stock repurchases under Federated’s share repurchase program during the
second
quarter
2014
.
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
Average
Price Paid
per Share
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
1
Maximum Number of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
1
April
2
13,634
$
20.99
10,000
1,054,734
May
170,000
27.91
170,000
884,734
June
2
30,133
29.54
30,000
854,734
Total
213,767
$
27.69
210,000
854,734
1
Federated’s share repurchase program was authorized in August 2008 by the board of directors and permits the purchase of up to
5.0 million
shares of Federated Class B common stock with no stated expiration date. No other plans existed as of
June 30, 2014
.
2
In April and June 2014, 3,634 and 133 shares, respectively, of restricted stock with a weighted-average price of $0.00 per share, were repurchased in connection with employee separations.
Table of Contents
Part II, Item 6. Exhibits
(unaudited)
The following exhibits required to be filed or furnished by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are filed or furnished herewith and incorporated by reference herein:
Exhibit 10.1 – The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2014, by and among Federated Investors, Inc. certain subsidiaries as guarantors party thereto, the banks as lenders party thereto, and PNC Bank, National Association, PNC Bank Capital Markets LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Citibank, N.A. and TD Bank, N.A. (filed herewith)
Exhibit 31.1 – Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
Exhibit 31.2 – Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
Exhibit 32 – Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
The following XBRL documents are filed herewith:
Exhibit 101.INS – XBRL Instance Document
Exhibit 101.SCH – XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Exhibit 101.CAL – XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.DEF – XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.LAB – XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.PRE – XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
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Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Federated Investors, Inc.
(Registrant)
Date
July 25, 2014
By:
/s/ J. Christopher Donahue
J. Christopher Donahue
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Date
July 25, 2014
By:
/s/ Thomas R. Donahue
Thomas R. Donahue
Chief Financial Officer
50