Piper Jaffray Companies Announces 2013 Third Quarter Results

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) today announced that for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, net income from continuing operations was $6.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted common share. The results for the quarter were reduced by $0.15 per diluted common share, due to a $2.3 million after-tax charge ($3.8 million pre-tax), related to restructuring and integration costs associated with the acquisitions of Seattle-Northwest and Edgeview. Excluding these costs, net income from continuing operations would have been $9.2 million, or $0.57 per diluted common share. These results compared to net income from continuing operations of $14.5 million, or $0.82 per diluted common share, in the year-ago period. In the second quarter of 2013, net income from continuing operations was $4.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share.

For the third quarter of 2013, net revenues from continuing operations were $128.3 million, compared to $131.5 million in the year-ago period and $99.8 million in the second quarter of 2013.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, net income, including continuing and discontinued operations, was $5.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $19.7 million, or $1.11 per diluted common share, in the year-ago period, and $2.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2013. Discontinued operations in the current quarter principally include expenses related to FAMCO, an asset management subsidiary we sold in the second quarter.

“The diversification in our mix of businesses contributed to our solid performance for the quarter. Our equity-related businesses, led by equity capital raising and asset management, registered strong performance and third quarter M&A revenue surpassed the revenue generated in the first half of the year. In Fixed Income, we rebounded from a challenging second quarter, while the results in our Public Finance business reflected soft market conditions,” said Andrew S. Duff, chairman and chief executive officer.

Third Quarter Results from Continuing Operations

Consolidated Expenses

For the third quarter of 2013, compensation and benefits expenses were $79.4 million, up 2% and 22% compared to the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively. The increase in compensation and benefits expenses compared to the second quarter of 2013 was due to improved financial results.

For the third quarter of 2013, compensation and benefits expenses were 61.9% of net revenues, compared to 59.4% and 65.1% for the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively. The compensation ratio increased compared to the third quarter of 2012 due to a change in our business mix, and decreased compared to the second quarter of 2013 due to an increased revenue base.

Non-compensation expenses were $36.8 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $28.1 million in the year-ago period and $31.4 million in the second quarter of 2013. Third quarter non-compensation expenses included $3.8 million of acquisition-related restructuring, integration and transaction costs. In addition, intangible amortization increased $1.2 million in the quarter related to the acquisitions of Seattle-Northwest and Edgeview. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, third quarter non-compensation expenses were $31.8 million.

Business Segment Results
The firm has two reportable business segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. Consolidated net revenues and expenses are fully allocated to these two segments. The operating results of our Hong Kong capital markets business, and FAMCO, an asset management subsidiary sold in the second quarter, are presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Capital Markets
For the quarter, Capital Markets generated pre-tax operating income of $6.4 million, compared to pre-tax operating income of $20.6 million and a pre-tax operating loss of $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively.

Net revenues were $110.3 million, down 4% compared to the year-ago period and up 35% compared to the second quarter of 2013, respectively.

• Equity financing revenues of $30.0 million increased 60% and 38% compared to the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively. Revenues were up compared to both periods due to more completed transactions.
• Fixed income financing revenues of $12.8 million were down 23% and 42% compared to the year-ago period and second quarter of 2013, respectively. Revenues were unfavorable compared to both periods due to fewer completed transactions.
• Advisory services revenues were $20.2 million, up 24% and 115% compared to the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively, due to more completed transactions.
• Equity institutional brokerage revenues of $23.0 million increased 28% and 7% compared to the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively. Revenues increased compared to both periods due to improved trading performance.
• Fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were $20.4 million, down 56% compared to the third quarter of 2012. Results from the firm's strategic trading business, particularly in the mortgage-backed securities strategy, were lower in the current quarter compared to the robust year-ago period. Fixed income institutional brokerage rebounded significantly in the current quarter compared to revenues of $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2013 as we overcame the rate shocks we experienced late in the second quarter of 2013.
• Operating expenses for the third quarter were $103.9 million, up 10% compared to the prior year quarter, due to higher non-compensation expenses. Operating expenses increased 24% compared to the second quarter of 2013, resulting from higher compensation expenses due to improved operating results as well as higher non-compensation expenses. The non-compensation expenses were higher primarily due to $5.0 million of restructuring and intangible amortization expenses related to our recent acquisitions of Seattle Northwest and Edgeview.
• Segment pre-tax operating margin was 5.8% compared to 17.9% in the year-ago period and a negative 2.6% in the second quarter of 2013. Pre-tax operating margin in the current quarter was lower compared to the year-ago period due to lower net revenues and higher non-compensation expenses. Pre-tax operating margin improved compared to the sequential quarter due to higher net revenues, offset in part by higher non-compensation expenses.

Asset Management
For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, asset management generated pre-tax operating income of $5.7 million, up 20% and 4% compared to the third quarter of 2012 and the second quarter of 2013, respectively.

Net revenues were $18.1 million, an increase of 11% compared to the third quarter of 2012. Increased revenues compared to the prior year quarter were driven by higher management fees from increased assets under management (AUM) due to market appreciation.

• Operating expenses for the current quarter were $12.3 million, up 8% compared to the year-ago period and down slightly compared with the second quarter of 2013. Segment pre-tax operating margin was 31.6%, compared to 29.4% in the year-ago period and 30.4% in the second quarter of 2013. Segment pre-tax margin improved relative to both periods due to higher net revenues.
• Assets under management were $10.6 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2013, compared to $9.2 billion in the year-ago period and $10.2 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2013. Increases in AUM have been driven by market appreciation.

Other Matters
In the third quarter of 2013, the firm repurchased $29.0 million, or 885,000 shares, of its common stock at an average price of $32.79 per share. The firm has $40.7 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization, which expires on September 30, 2014.

Third Quarter Results from Discontinued Operations

Discontinued operations include the operating results of our Hong Kong capital markets business, which we shut down, and FAMCO, an asset management subsidiary we sold in the second quarter of 2013.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the net loss from discontinued operations was $1.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted common share. The net loss was principally driven by additional expense from contractual obligations related to the sale of FAMCO. Results from discontinued operations was net income of $5.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted common share, in the year-ago period and a net loss of $1.9 million, or $0.11 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2013.

Conference Call
Andrew S. Duff, chairman and chief executive officer, and Debbra L. Schoneman, chief financial officer, will hold a conference call to review the financial results Wed., Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT). The earnings release will be available on or after Oct. 16 at the firm's Web site at www.piperjaffray.com. The call can be accessed via webcast or by dialing (888)810-0209 or (706)902-1361 (international) and referencing reservation #71538766. Callers should dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the call time. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at approximately 12 p.m. ET Oct. 16 at the same Web address or by calling (855)859-2056 and referencing reservation #71538766.

About Piper Jaffray

Piper Jaffray is an investment bank and asset management firm serving clients in the U.S. and internationally. Proven advisory teams combine deep industry, product and sector expertise with ready access to capital. Founded in 1895, the firm is headquartered in Minneapolis and has offices across the United States and in London, Hong Kong and Zurich. www.piperjaffray.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and the conference call to discuss the contents of this press release contain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, statements made about general economic and market conditions (including the interest rate environment and outlook for equity markets), financial results for fixed income institutional brokerage (including inventory valuations, strategic trading results, and hedging activities), the environment and prospects for capital markets and corporate advisory transactions (including our performance in specific sectors), our integration of Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation and Edgeview Partners, L.P., anticipated financial results generally (including expectations regarding our compensation ratio, revenue levels, operating margins, earnings per share, and return on equity), current deal pipelines (or backlogs), our strategic priorities (including growth in public finance, asset management, and corporate advisory), or other similar matters.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and important factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

• market and economic conditions or developments may be unfavorable, including in specific sectors in which we operate, and these conditions or developments, such as market fluctuations or volatility, may adversely affect our business, revenue levels and profitability;
• further interest rate volatility, especially if the changes continue to be rapid or severe, could continue to negatively impact our fixed income institutional business;
• strategic trading activities comprise a meaningful portion of our fixed income institutional brokerage revenue, and results from these activities may be volatile and vary significantly, including the possibility of incurring losses, on a quarterly and annual basis;
• the volume of anticipated investment banking transactions as reflected in our deal pipelines (and the net revenues we earn from such transactions) may differ from expected results if there is a decline in macroeconomic conditions or the financial markets, or if the terms of any transactions are modified;
• the expected benefits of the Seattle-Northwest and Edgeview transactions may take longer than anticipated to achieve and may not be achieved in their entirety or at all, and will depend upon our integration of the companies proving successful; and
• our stock price may fluctuate as a result of several factors, including but not limited to, changes in our revenues and operating results.

A further listing and description of these and other risks, uncertainties and important factors can be found in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and updated in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC (available at our Web site at www.piperjaffray.com and at the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. We undertake no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

© 2013 Piper Jaffray Companies, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-7020