Pzena Investment Management, Inc. Reports Results for the Third Quarter of 2016

• 2016 revenue was $27.0 million for the third quarter.
   
• 2016 GAAP operating income was $12.0 million for the third quarter.
   
• 2016 GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.12 for the third quarter.
   
• Declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share.

NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (NYSE:PZN) reported the following U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and non-GAAP basic and diluted net income and earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per-share amounts):

The GAAP results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 include adjustments related to the Company's deferred tax asset, valuation allowance and the associated liability to its selling and converting shareholders.  GAAP results for 2015 also include adjustments related to certain non-recurring charges recognized in operating expenses associated with our former corporate headquarters.  Management believes that these accounting adjustments add a measure of non-operational complexity which obscures the underlying performance of the business.  In evaluating the results of operations, management also reviews non-GAAP measures of earnings, which exclude these items.  Excluding these adjustments, non-GAAP diluted net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $8.0 million and $0.12, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2016, and $1.8 million and $0.12, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  Non-GAAP diluted net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $20.9 million and $0.30, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and $26.2 million and $0.38, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  GAAP and non-GAAP net income for diluted earnings per share generally assume all operating company membership units are converted into Company stock at the beginning of the reporting period, and the resulting change to Company GAAP and non-GAAP net income associated with its increased interest in the operating company is taxed at the Company's effective tax rate, exclusive of the adjustments noted above and other adjustments.  When this conversion results in an increase in earnings per share or a decrease in loss per share, diluted net income and diluted earnings per share are assumed to be equal to basic net income and basic earnings per share for the reporting period.

Management uses the non-GAAP measures to assess the strength of the underlying operations of the business.  It believes the non-GAAP measures provide information to better analyze the Company's operations between periods and over time.  Investors should consider the non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Financial Discussion

Revenue was $27.0 million for the third quarter of 2016, an increase of 2.1% from $26.4 million for the second quarter of 2016, and a decrease of 12.3% from $30.8 million for the third quarter of 2015. 

Included in these amounts for the third quarter of 2015, were performance fees recognized of $3.2 million.  No performance fees were recognized during the third or second quarters of 2016.  In general, performance fees are calculated on an annualized basis over the contract's measurement period, which, for the majority of our performance fee arrangements, extends to three years.

Average assets under management for the third quarter of 2016 were $26.8 billion, an increase of 2.7% from $26.1 billion for the second quarter of 2016, and a decrease of 1.1% from $27.1 billion for the third quarter of 2015.  The increase from the second quarter of 2016 primarily reflects market appreciation over the period partially offset by net outflows.  The decrease from the third quarter of 2015 primarily reflects changes in asset levels during the third quarter of 2015.  Assets under management ended the third quarter of 2015 at $25.5 billion with $3.3 billion in market depreciation occurring primarily toward the second half of the quarter resulting in higher average assets under management for the quarter. 

The weighted average fee rate was 0.403% for the third quarter of 2016, decreasing from 0.405% for the second quarter of 2016, and from 0.454% for the third quarter of 2015. 

The weighted average fee rate for institutional accounts was 0.533% for the third quarter of 2016, increasing from 0.526% for the second quarter of 2016, and decreasing from 0.596% for the third quarter of 2015.  The increase from last quarter primarily reflects an increase in assets in our non-U.S. value strategies that generally carry higher fee rates.  The decrease from the second quarter of last year primarily reflects a decrease in performance fees recognized during the third quarter of 2016.

The weighted average fee rate for retail accounts was 0.227% for the third quarter of 2016, decreasing from 0.253% for the second quarter of 2016, and from 0.262% for the third quarter of 2015.  Certain accounts related to one retail client relationship have fulcrum fee arrangements.  These fee arrangements require a reduction in the base fee, or allow for a performance fee if the relevant investment strategy underperforms or outperforms, respectively, the agreed-upon benchmark over the contract's measurement period, which extends to three years.  The decrease in the weighted average fee rate for retail accounts in the third quarter of 2016 was driven by the reduction of base fees related to these fee arrangements.  To the extent the three-year performance records of these accounts improve relative to their relevant benchmarks, we will expect to earn the full base fee in the future.

Total operating expenses on a GAAP basis were $15.0 million for the third quarter of 2016, decreasing from $15.2 million for the second quarter of 2016 and increasing from $14.5 million for the third quarter of 2015.  The fluctuations in operating expenses on a GAAP basis from the second quarter of 2016 and third quarter of 2015 primarily reflect changes in general and administrative costs over the periods.  Details of operating expenses and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP operating expenses are shown below:

As of September 30, 2016, employee headcount was 92, down from 93 at June 30, 2016 and up from 88 at September 30, 2015. 

The operating margin was 44.3% on a GAAP basis for the third quarter of 2016, compared to 42.6% for the second quarter of 2016, and 52.7% for the third quarter of 2015.

Other income/ (expense) was income of approximately $0.4 million for the third quarter of 2016, income of $0.3 million for the second quarter of 2016, and an expense of $5.0 million for the third quarter of 2015.  Other income/ (expense) includes the gains/ (losses) and other investment income recognized by the Company on its direct investments, as well as those recognized by external investors on their investments in investment partnerships that the Company consolidates.  A portion of gains/ (losses) and other investment income associated with the investments of outside interests are offset in net income attributable to non-controlling interests.  For the third quarter of 2016, other income/ (expense) also includes an expense of $1.2 million reflecting an increase in the Company's liability to its selling and converting shareholders resulting from an increase in expected future tax benefits described in income tax expense below.  Changes in the liability to selling and converting shareholders associated with changes in the realizability of the deferred tax asset generated income of $0.7 million and an expense of $0.7 million in the second quarter of 2016 and the third quarter of 2015, respectively.  Details of other income/ (expense), as well as a reconciliation of the related GAAP and non-GAAP measures, are shown below:

The Company recognized income tax expenses of $0.5 million for the third quarter of 2016, $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2016, and $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2015.  Income taxes for the third quarter of 2016 included a $1.4 million income tax benefit associated with a decrease in the valuation allowance recorded against the Company's deferred tax asset related to the basis step ups created by operating company unit exchanges.  This adjustment generated $0.8 million in income tax expense and $0.8 million in income tax benefit in the second quarter of 2016 and third quarter of 2015, respectively.  Details of the income tax expense, as well as a reconciliation of the related GAAP and non-GAAP measures, are shown below: 

Details of the net income attributable to non-controlling interests of the Company's operating company and consolidated subsidiaries, as well as a reconciliation of the related GAAP and non-GAAP measures, are shown below:

On October 13, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share of its Class A common stock.  The following dates apply to the dividend:

    Record Date:       October 28, 2016

    Payment Date:    November 23, 2016

During the last twelve months, inclusive of the dividend noted above, the Company declared total dividends of $0.41 per share of its Class A common stock.

Third Quarter 2016 Earnings Call Information

Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (NYSE:PZN) will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook at 10:00 a.m. ET, Wednesday, October 19, 2016.  The call will be open to the public.

Webcast Instructions: To gain access to the webcast, which will be "listen-only," go to the Events page in the Investor Relations area of the Company's website, www.pzena.com.

Teleconference Instructions: To gain access to the conference call via telephone, U.S. callers should dial 888-317-6016; Canada callers should dial 855-669-9657; international callers should dial 412-317-6016.  Please reference the Pzena Investment Management call.

Replay: The conference call will be available for replay through November 2, 2016, on the web using the information given above.

About Pzena Investment Management

Pzena Investment Management, LLC, the firm's operating company, is a value-oriented investment management firm.  Founded in 1995, Pzena Investment Management has built a diverse, global client base.  More firm and stock information is posted at www.pzena.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements provide the Company’s current views, expectations, or forecasts of future events and performance, and include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by a forward-looking statement are those described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2016 and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC.  In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and factors, actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this release.

The Company is not under any obligation and does not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

A file accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a5bad47-75fe-4d75-bbbb-ceb5c19a2aa5