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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC - Quarter Report: 2007 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.   20549


FORM 10-Q


[ x ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period ended June 30, 2007

or

[   ] 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: 1-12043



OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


Canada                        

  

98-0080034

(State or other jurisdiction of            

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)            

Identification No.)


P.O. Box 2015, Suite 1110

20 Eglinton Avenue West

Toronto, Ontario, Canada   M4R 1K8

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


416-322-1515

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether 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 [  ]


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [  ]  Accelerated filer [ X ]  Non-accelerated filer [  ]


Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [  ]  No [ X ]


The number of shares of the Company’s Class A non-voting shares and Class B voting shares (being the only classes of common stock of the Company) outstanding on July 31, 2007 was 13,157,450 and 99,680 shares, respectively.




OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

INDEX


  

Page No.

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.     

Financial Statements (unaudited)

 
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

1

   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006

3

   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006

4

   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006

6

   
 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

   

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

18

   

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

29

   

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

29

   

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.     

Legal Proceedings

31

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

31

Item 2.     

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

31

Item 3.     

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

31

Item 4.     

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

32

Item 5.     

Other Information

33

Item 6.     

Exhibits

33

 

SIGNATURES

34

 

Certifications

35


     




PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item. 1  Financial Statements

OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)


 

June 30,

December 31,

 

2007

2006

Expressed in thousands of dollars

  

ASSETS

  

  Cash and cash equivalents

$39,873

$23,542

  Cash and securities segregated under regulatory and

  

      other purposes

58,184

45,035

  Deposits with clearing organizations

13,618

11,355

  Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations

725,170

643,914

  Receivable from customers

967,878

979,350

  Securities owned including amounts pledged of $1 million

  

         ($979 thousand in 2006), at market value

116,683

137,092

  Notes receivable, net

48,891

52,340

  Office facilities, net

16,591

16,478

  Intangible assets, net of amortization

33,293

33,660

  Goodwill

132,472

132,472

  Deferred income tax, net

6,295

-

  Other

67,682

84,852

   
 

$2,226,630

$2,160,090




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.





1





OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)


 

June 30,

December 31,

 

2007

2006

Expressed in thousands of dollars

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  

Liabilities

  

  Drafts payable

$44,389

$57,641

  Bank call loans

85,500

79,500

  Payable to brokers and clearing organizations

1,007,218

923,556

  Payable to customers

369,218

384,881

  Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at market

  

     value

13,924

7,315

  Accrued compensation

95,055

116,235

  Accounts payable and other liabilities

87,355

74,806

  Income taxes payable

13,861

13,229

  Zero coupon promissory note

12,046

14,576

  Senior secured credit note

98,750

124,375

  Deferred income tax, net

-

4,935

 

1,827,316

1,801,049

   

Shareholders' equity

  

  Share capital

  

       2007 – 13,133,950 Class A non-voting shares

  

      (2006 – 12,834,682 shares)

49,687

41,093

      99,680 Class B voting shares

133

133

 

49,820

41,226

     Contributed capital

14,386

11,662

     Retained earnings

335,247

306,153

     Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(139)

-

 

399,314

359,041

   
 

$2,226,.630

$2,160,090



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



2





OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)


 

Three months ended

Six months ended

 

June 30, 2007

June 30, 2006

June 30,

 2007

June 30,

2006

Expressed in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts

    

REVENUE:

    

  Commissions

$89,923

$89,055

$177,483

$182,717

  Principal transactions, net

11,996

8,796

20,512

19,972

  Interest

28,112

28,049

57,170

54,220

  Investment banking

41,307

21,676

74,698

33,643

  Advisory fees

50,044

41,324

99,481

81,830

  Other

5,368

4,124

11,522

21,692

 

226,750

193,024

440,866

394,074

EXPENSES:

    

  Compensation and related expenses

134,777

114,871

259,406

226,958

  Clearing and exchange fees

4,047

2,050

7,629

6,893

  Communications and technology

12,247

10,391

25,750

22,736

  Occupancy and equipment costs

12,343

12,443

24,609

25,014

  Interest

14,783

16,292

29,631

30,619

  Other

20,667

21,182

37,773

36,648

 

198,864

177,229

384,798

348,868

Profit before income taxes

27,886

15,795

56,068

45,206

Income tax provision

12,120

6,658

23,512

18,852

NET PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD

$15,766

$9,137

$32,556

$26,354

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

    

Change in cash flow hedges (net of tax

    

  of $276 and $99, respectively, for the three

    

  and six months ended June 30, 2007)

377

-

(139)

-

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD


$16,143


$9,137


$32,437


$26,354

     

Earnings per share:

    

   Basic

$1.19

$0.72

$2.48

$2.08

   Diluted

$1.16

$0.52

$2.43

$1.45

     

Dividends declared per share

$0.10

$0.10

$0.20

$0.20


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



3





OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)


 

Six Months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

Cash flows from operating activities:

  

Net profit for the period

$32,556

$26,354

Adjustments to reconcile net profit to net cash provided

  

   by (used in) operating activities:

  

   Non-cash items included in net profit:

  

      Depreciation and amortization

4,761

4,468

      Deferred income tax

(11,230)

7,612

      Amortization of notes receivable

9,223

10,561

      Amortization of debt issuance costs

598

-

      Amortization of intangibles

367

366

      Provision for doubtful accounts

(75)

(257)

      Share-based compensation

9,765

2,511

      Employee share plan issuance

2,409

-

   Decrease (increase) in operating assets:

  

      Cash and securities segregated under federal and other regulations

(13,149)

(8,605)

      Deposits with clearing organizations

(2,263)

505

      Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations

(81,256)

(36,830)

      Receivable from customers

11,547

(47,798)

      Securities owned

20,409

13,467

      Notes receivable

(5,774)

(7,534)

      Other assets

16,572,

15,325

   Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:

  

      Drafts Payable

(13,252)

(178)

      Payable to brokers and clearing organizations

83,523

197,784

      Payable to customers

(15,663)

(116,706)

      Securities sold, but not yet purchased

6,609

(876)

      Accrued compensation

(28,974)

(17,159)

      Accounts payable and other liabilities

11,726

(2,161)

      Income taxes payable

632

(1,186)

Cash provided by operating activities

39,061

39,664



(Continued on next page)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



4






OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) -Continued


 

Six Months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

   

Cash flows from investing and other activities:

  

   Purchase of fixed assets

(4,873)

(2,107)

Cash used in investing and other activities

(4,873)

(2,107)

   

Cash flows from financing activities:

  

   Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting

  

      and Class B shares

(2,639)

(2,541)

   Issuance of Class A non-voting shares

6,185

5,574

   Tax benefit from employee stock options exercised

752

45

   Repurchase of Class A non-voting shares

  

      for cancellation

-

(2,255)

   Senior secured credit note repayments

(25,625)

-

   Zero coupon promissory note repayments

(2,530)

(4,469)

   Bank loan repayments

-

(14,524)

   Increase (decrease) in bank call loans, net

6,000

(23,800)

Cash used in financing activities

(17,857)

(41,970)

   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

16,331

(4,413)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

23,542

32,013

   

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$39,873

$27,600


  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Cash paid during the periods for interest

$27,884

$26,212

Cash paid during the periods for income taxes

$27,333

$15,583




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



5





OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (unaudited)

   
 

Six months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

   

Share capital

  

Balance at beginning of period

$41,226

$32,631

Issue of Class A non-voting shares

8,594

5,574

Repurchase of Class A non-voting shares for cancellation


-


(2,255)

Balance at end of period

$49,820

$35,950

   
   

Contributed capital

  

Balance at beginning of period

$11,662

$8,810

Tax benefit from share-based awards

752

45

Share-based expense

1,972

1,620

Balance at end of period

$14,386

$10,475

   

Retained earnings

  

Balance at beginning of period

$306,153

$266,682

Cumulative effect of an accounting change

(823)

-

Net profit for the period

32,556

26,354

Dividends of $0.20 per share

(2,639)

(2,541)

Balance at end of period

$335,247

$290,495

   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  

Balance at beginning of period

-

-

Change in cash flow hedges, net of tax

$(139)

-

Balance at end of period

$(139)

-

   

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$399,314

$336,920

   



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.



6





OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    (Unaudited)


1.    Summary of significant accounting policies

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (“OPY”) and its subsidiaries (together, the “Company”). The Company engages in a broad range of activities in the securities industry, including retail securities brokerage, institutional sales and trading, investment banking (both corporate and public finance), research, market-making, securities lending activities, trust services and investment advisory and asset management services. The principal subsidiaries of OPY are Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”), a registered broker-dealer in securities, and Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. (“OAM”), a registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Oppenheimer operates as Fahnestock & Co. Inc. in Latin America. The Company provides investment advisory services through OAM and Oppenheimer Investment Management (“OIM”) and Oppenheimer’s Fahnestock Asset Management, Alpha Program and OMEGA Group divisions. The Company provides trust services and products through Oppenheimer Trust Company. The Company provides discount brokerage services through Freedom Investments Inc. and through BUYandHOLD, a division of Freedom. Evanston Financial Corporation is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing.


The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). These accounting principles are set out in the notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended, except for the adoption on January 1, 2007 of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) set out in note 2.


Certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated statement of income have been reclassified to conform with current presentation. Total revenue, total expenses, profit before income taxes, income tax provision and net profit for the period were not affected. See note 12 for further discussion.


Disclosures reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements comply in all material respects with those required pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to quarterly financial reporting.


The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which in the opinion of management are normal and recurring and necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The nature of the Company’s business is such that the results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.


These condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars.


2. New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted

In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48. This interpretation requires that a tax position be recognized only if it is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, based solely on its technical merits, as of the reporting date. A tax position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion shall be measured at the largest amount of benefit that is more than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.



7





The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 which resulted in a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings in the amount of $823 thousand and a reclassification of deferred tax liabilities in the amount of $6.1 million to liability for unrecognized tax benefits which is included in accounts payable and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  The Company’s uncertain tax positions primarily consist of an election made under the Internal Revenue Code to limit current recognition of property that was involuntarily converted to money as a result of the monetary damages received.  The Company recognizes interest accrued on underpayments of income taxes as interest expense and any related statutory penalties as other expenses in its condensed consolidated statement of income. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded approximately $166 thousand and $329 thousand, respectively, in interest related to the involuntary conversion of assets.


The Company is in discussions with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) related to the involuntary conversion of assets as part of the IRS’s limited scope examination of the 2003 – 2004 tax period and expects the matter to be resolved within the next twelve months without a material impact to the Company’s effective income tax rate.  At this time, management cannot estimate a range for any possible change in the unrecognized tax benefit.  

  

Due to its retail branch network, the Company is subject to tax examinations in many state and local jurisdictions.  Tax years under examination vary by jurisdictions and it is not uncommon to have many examinations open at any given time.  Currently, tax examinations are ongoing in New York State (1998 to 2000 and 2001 to 2003), New York City (1998 – 2000), New Jersey (2002 – 2005), and Michigan (2002 – 2005).  The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions resulting from these and subsequent years’ examinations.  The Company has established tax reserves that it believes are sufficient in relation to possible additional assessments.  The Company continuously assesses the adequacy of these reserves and believes that the resolution of such matters will not have a material effect on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, although a resolution could have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for a particular period and on the Company’s effective income tax rate for any period in which resolution occurs.


Recently Issued

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), Fair Value Measurements, which provides expanded information about the extent to which companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value and does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. In addition, SFAS No. 157 prohibits recognition of “block discounts” for large holdings of unrestricted financial instruments where quoted prices are readily and regularly available in an active market. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company has determined that adoption of SFAS No. 157 will not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.


In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  SFAS 159 provides entities with the option to mitigate volatility in reported earnings by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  In addition, SFAS 159 allows entities to



8




measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates and to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings.  SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted provided that the entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS 157. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its condensed consolidated financial statements but does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 159 to be material.


3. Earnings per share

Earnings per share was computed by dividing net profit by the weighted average number of Class A non-voting shares (“Class A Shares”) and Class B voting shares (“Class B Shares”) outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the weighted average Class A and Class B Shares outstanding and the effects of exchangeable debentures using the if converted method as well as Class A Shares granted under share-based compensation arrangements using the treasury stock method.



9





Earnings per share has been calculated as follows:


Amounts are expressed in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts

 

Three Months ended June 30,

Six Months ended June 30,

 

2007

2006

2007

2006

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding


13,213,663


12,666,526


13,125,172


12,696,302

Net effect, if converted method (1)

-

6,932,000

-

6,932,000

Net effect, treasury method (2)

329,558

13,078

255,342

1,853

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding


13,543,221


19,611,604


13,380,514


19,630,155

     

Net profit for the period, as reported

$15,766

$9,137

$32,556

$26,354

Effect of dilutive exchangeable debentures


-


1,068


-


2,125

Net profit, available to shareholders and assumed conversions


$15,766


$10,205


$32,556


$28,479

     

Basic earnings per share

$1.19

$0.72

$2.48

$2.08

Diluted earnings per share

$1.16

$0.52

$2.43

$1.45

     



(1)

As part of the consideration for the 2003 acquisition of the U.S. private client and asset management divisions from CIBC World Markets, the Company issued First and Second Variable Rate Exchangeable Debentures which were exchangeable for approximately 6.9 million Class A Shares of the Company at the rate of $23.20 per share (approximately 35% of the outstanding Class A Shares, if exchanged). On July 31, 2006 and October 23, 2006, the Company redeemed $140.8 million and the remaining $20 million, respectively, of such debentures thereby extinguishing all such debentures outstanding.


(2)

The diluted EPS computations do not include the antidilutive effect of Class A Shares granted under share-based compensation arrangements – 79,103 and 1,297,825, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006; and 97,709 and 1,450,457, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.



10





4. Receivable from and payable to brokers and clearing organizations


    Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

June 30,

 2007

 

December 31, 2006

Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations consist of:

   

Deposits paid for securities borrowed

$582,160

 

$529,854

Receivable from brokers

71,138

 

45,027

Securities failed to deliver

27,607

 

33,759

Receivable from clearing organizations

16,607

 

4,896

Omnibus accounts

13,761

 

18,490

Other

13,897

 

11,888

 

$725,170

 

$643,914



 

June 30,

2007

 

December 31, 2006

Payable to brokers and clearing organizations consist of:

   

Deposits received for securities loaned

$950,183

 

$885,655

Securities failed to receive

56,498

 

36,810

Clearing organizations and other

537

 

1,091

 

$1,007,218

 

$923,556


5. Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased (at market value)


    Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

June 30,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

Securities owned consist of:

   

Corporate equities and warrants

$39,014

 

$42,508

Corporate and sovereign obligations

30,542

 

41,747

U.S. government and agency and state and

   

   municipal government obligations

44,642

 

49,974

Money market funds and other


2,485

 

2,863

 

$116,683

 

$137,092




11





 

June 30,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

Securities sold, but not yet purchased consist of:

   

Corporate equities

$11,145

 

$3,609

Corporate and sovereign obligations


1,427

 

2,336

U.S. government and agency and state and

   

   municipal government obligations and other

1,352

 

1,370

 

$13,924

 

$7,315


Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased consist of trading and investment



12




securities at market and fair values. Included in securities owned at June 30, 2007 are corporate equities with market values of approximately $15.7 million ($14.9 million at December 31, 2006), which are correlated to deferred compensation liabilities to certain employees. Also included in corporate equities in securities owned are investments with estimated fair values of approximately $4.7 million and $6.0 million, respectively, at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, which relates to restricted shares of NYSE Group Inc. At June 30, 2007, the Company had pledged securities owned of approximately $1 million ($979 thousand at December 31, 2006) as collateral to counterparties for stock loan transactions, which can be sold or repledged.



13





6. Long term debt

Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.


Issued

Maturity Date

Interest Rate

June 30, 2007

 
     

Zero Coupon Promissory Note,

issued January 2, 2003 (a)

-

0%

$12,046

 

  Less portion due within twelve months

(3,702)

 

Remainder of Zero Coupon Promissory Note

  


$8,344

 
 

Senior secured credit note (b)

7/31/2013

7.85%

$98,750

 

   Less portion due within twelve months

  

(30,098)

 

Remainder of senior secured credit note

  

$68,652

 
     


(a) The Zero Coupon Promissory Note is repayable as related employee notes receivable, which are assigned to Oppenheimer, become due or are forgiven. Such payments are to be made notwithstanding whether any of the employees’ loans default.


(b) On July 31, 2006, the Company issued a Senior Secured Credit Note (“SSCN”) in the amount of $125.0 million at a variable interest rate based on the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) with a seven-year term to a syndicate led by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc, as agent. Minimum principal repayments equal 0.25% per quarter and there are required prepayments of principal based on a portion of the Company’s excess cash flow, the net cash proceeds of asset sales, tax refunds over certain limits, awards over certain limits in connection with legal actions or ‘takings’, and debt issuances or other liability financings. On April 27¸ 2007, the Company repaid $25.0 million of its SSCN, thereby reducing its outstanding indebtedness under the SSCN to $99.1 million. Of the $25.0 million repaid, $10.4 million was a required payment under the terms of the SSCN and $14.6 million represented a voluntary prepayment.  In accordance with the SSCN, the Company has provided certain covenants to the lenders with respect to the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge ratio and maximum leverage ratio driven from EBITDA and minimum net capital requirements with respect to Oppenheimer. In the Company’s view, the most restrictive of the covenants requires that the Company maintain a maximum leverage ratio of 2.30 (total long-term debt divided by EBITDA). At June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with the covenants. The interest rate on the SSCN for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was 7.85%. Under the terms of the SSCN, effective January 1, 2007, the interest rate spread over LIBOR was reduced by 25 basis points. Interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 was $2.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively. See Note 14.



14




The obligations under the SSCN are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than broker-dealer subsidiaries, with certain exceptions, and are collateralized by a lien on substantially all of the assets of each guarantor, including a pledge of the ownership interests in each first-tier broker-dealer subsidiary held by a guarantor, with certain exceptions.


The Company has agreed to make a contingent payment to CIBC if, prior to December 31, 2007, the Company enters into an agreement for the sale of the majority of the Company’s Class A and Class B Shares. The amount of the contingent payment would be based on the price per share realized by the Company’s shareholders in any such transaction. The Company has made an estimate of the fair value of this contingent payment and will revalue it at the end of each reporting period.


7. Share capital

The following table reflects changes in the number of Class A Shares outstanding for the periods indicated:


 

Three months ended

June 30,

Six months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

2007

2006

Class A Shares outstanding, beginning of period


13,078,699


12,555,207


12,834,682


12,496,141

Issued to the Company’s 401(k) Plan

-

-

95,425

104,725

Issued pursuant to the share-based compensation plans


55,251


82,785


203,843


143,226

Repurchased pursuant to the issuer bid

-

(4,600)

-

(110,700)

Class A Shares outstanding, end of period


13,133,950


12,633,392


13,133,950


12,633,392


8. Net capital requirements and stock exchange seats

The Company's major subsidiaries, Oppenheimer and Freedom, are subject to the uniform net capital requirements of the SEC under Rule 15c3-1 (the “Rule”). Oppenheimer computes its net capital requirements under the alternative method provided for in the Rule which requires that Oppenheimer maintain net capital equal to two percent of aggregate customer-related debit items, as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-3. At June 30, 2007, the net capital of Oppenheimer as calculated under the Rule was $184.8 million or 14.34% of Oppenheimer's aggregate debit items. This was $159.0 million in excess of the minimum required net capital. Freedom computes its net capital requirement under the basic method provided for in the Rule, which requires that Freedom maintain net capital equal to the greater of $250,000 or 6 2/3% of aggregate indebtedness, as defined. At June 30, 2007, Freedom had net capital of $7.0 million, which was $6.7 million in excess of the $250,000 required to be maintained at that date.



15





Included in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are exchange memberships carried at cost of $158 thousand with market values of $3.2 million and $2.2 million at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.




16





9. Collateralized transactions

The Company’s customer financing and securities lending activities require the Company to pledge firm and customer securities as collateral for various financing sources such as securities lending and bank call loans.


The Company monitors the market value of collateral held and the market value of securities receivable from others. It is the Company's policy to request and obtain additional collateral when exposure to loss exists. In the event the counterparty is unable to meet its contractual obligation to return the securities, the Company may be exposed to off-balance sheet risk of acquiring securities at prevailing market prices.


Securities lending

The Company has received collateral of approximately $555.2 million under securities borrow agreements of which the Company has repledged approximately $387.9 million as collateral under securities loans agreements at June 30, 2007. Included in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations are receivables from four major U.S. broker-dealers totaling approximately $324.8 million at June 30, 2007.


Bank call loans

The Company obtains short-term borrowings primarily through bank call loans. Bank call loans are generally payable on demand and bear interest at various rates but not exceeding the broker call rate.  At June 30, 2007, these loans, collateralized by firm and customer securities (with market values of approximately $15.3 million and $77.0 million, respectively), are primarily with two U.S. money center banks.


Margin lending

The Company provides margin loans to its clients, which are collateralized by securities in their brokerage accounts.  The Company monitors required margin levels and clients are required to deposit additional collateral, or reduce positions, when necessary.


At June 30, 2007, the Company had approximately $1.4 billion of customer securities under customer margin loans that are available to be pledged, of which the Company has repledged approximately $520.1 million under securities loan agreements and approximately $77.0 million with respect to bank call loans.


Securities owned

The Company pledges its securities owned to collateralize securities lending and bank call loan transactions.  Pledged securities that can be sold or repledged by the secured party are identified as “Securities owned including amounts pledged” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The carrying value of securities owned by the Company that have been loaned or pledged to counterparties where those counterparties do not have the right to sell or repledge the collateral was $15.3 million as at June 30, 2007. 


10. Financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk and concentration of credit risk

In the normal course of business, the Company's securities activities involve execution, settlement and financing of various securities transactions. These activities may expose the Company to risk in the event customers, other brokers and dealers, banks, depositories or clearing organizations are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.



17




The Company is exposed to off-balance sheet risk of loss on unsettled transactions in the event customers and other counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. It is the Company's policy to periodically review, as necessary, the credit standing of each counterparty with which it conducts business.


Securities sold, but not yet purchased represent obligations of the Company to deliver the specified security at the contracted price and thereby create a liability to purchase the security in the market at prevailing prices. Accordingly, these transactions result in off-balance sheet risk, as the Company's ultimate obligation to satisfy the sale of securities sold, but not yet purchased may exceed the amount recognized on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Securities positions are monitored on a daily basis.


The Company's customer financing and securities lending activities require the Company to pledge customer securities as collateral for various financing sources such as bank loans and securities lending.


Interest rate swaps

On September 29, 2006, the Company entered into interest rate swap transactions to hedge the interest payments associated with the floating rate SSCN, which is subject to change due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR.  These swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”.  Changes in the fair value of the swap hedges are expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the interest payments due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR. At June 30, 2007, the effective portion of the loss on the interest rate swaps was approximately $238 thousand and this amount has been recorded net of tax as accumulated other comprehensive loss on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  Information on these swaps is summarized in the following table:


Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

June 30, 2007

December 31, 2006

Notional principal amount

 $87,000

         $99,000

Weighted-average fixed interest rate

5.45%

            5.45%

Weighted-average maturity

1.6 years

            1.4 years


Mortgage-backed securities TBAs

The Company has some limited trading activities in pass-through mortgage-backed securities eligible to be sold in the "to-be-announced" or TBA market.  TBAs provide for the forward or delayed delivery of the underlying instrument with settlement up to 180 days. The contractual or notional amounts related to these financial instruments reflect the volume of activity and do not reflect the amounts at risk. Unrealized gains and losses on TBAs are recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers and clearing organizations, respectively, and in the condensed consolidated statement of income as principal transactions revenue. The credit risk for TBAs is limited to the unrealized market valuation gains recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Market risk is substantially dependent upon the value of the underlying financial instruments and is affected by market forces such as volatility and changes in interest rates. The table below summarizes the notional amounts of TBAs and fair values (carrying amounts) of the related assets and liabilities.




18




Futures contracts

Futures contracts represent commitments to purchase or sell securities at a future date and at a specified price. Credit risk and market risk exist with respect to these instruments. Credit risk associated with the contracts is limited to amounts recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and is mitigated by performance guarantees provided by the clearing organization of the futures exchange. Notional or contractual amounts are used to express the volume of these transactions, and do not represent the amounts potentially subject to market risk. At June 30, 2007, the Company had open contracts for U.S. Treasury futures.

Fair values of the Company’s financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk which are included in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers and clearing organizations are as follows:

Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

June 30, 2007

June 30, 2006

 

Notional

Assets

Liabilities

Notional

Assets

Liabilities

Interest rate swaps

$87,000

-

$238

             -

     -

    -       

U.S. Treasury futures

$34,600

-

$329

$53,800

-

$88

Purchase of TBAs

$16,610

$452

-

$41,774

$4,245

-

Sale of TBAs

$16,905

-

$157

$45,814

-

$206


Clearing arrangements

The Company has a clearing arrangement with Pershing LLC to clear certain transactions in foreign securities. The clearing broker has the right to charge the Company for losses that result from a client's failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. The Company has a relationship with R.J. O’Brien & Associates, which maintains an omnibus account on behalf of Oppenheimer and executes commodities transactions on commodity exchanges. Accordingly, the Company has credit exposures with these clearing brokers. The clearing brokers can re-hypothecate the securities held on behalf of the Company. As the right to charge the Company has no maximum amount and applies to all trades executed through the clearing brokers, the Company believes there is no maximum amount assignable to this right. At June 30, 2007, the Company had recorded no liabilities with regard to this right. The Company's policy is to monitor the credit standing of the clearing brokers with which it conducts business.


11. Related party transactions

The Company does not make loans to its officers and directors except under normal commercial terms pursuant to client margin account agreements. These loans are fully collateralized by such employee-owned securities.


12.  Reclassification of prior period revenue

Certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated statement of income have been reclassified to conform with current presentation.



19





The following table identifies the revenue amounts as reported originally and as reclassified.


 

Three months ended

June 30, 2006

Six months ended

June 30, 2006

 

As reported

Reclassified

As reported

Reclassified

Expressed in thousands of dollars

    

REVENUE:

    

  Commissions

$91,130

$89,055

$183,444

$182,717

  Principal transactions, net

$26,851

$8,796

$58,256

$19,972

  Advisory fees

$29,603

$41,324

$54,152

$81,830


The most significant changes are the reclassification from principal transactions to commissions of the portion of the mark-up that gets credited to the financial advisor for over-the-counter transactions where the Company operates in either a riskless principal or market making capacity; and the reclassification from commissions to advisory fees for the Private Client Division's share of fee-based revenue.


13. Segment information

The table below presents information about the reported revenue and pre-tax profit of the Company for the periods noted. The Company’s segments are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. The Company’s business is conducted primarily in the United States.   Asset information by reportable segment is not reported, since the Company does not produce such information for internal use.



20





   Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

Three months ended June 30,

Six months ended June 30,

In thousands of dollars

2007

2006

2007

2006

Revenue:

    

Private Client

$164,044

$148,167

$322,609

$295,786

Capital Markets

45,291

28,714

82,057

54,972

Asset Management

16,467

14,592

32,111

27,946

Other *

948

1,550

4,089

15,371

Total

$226,750

$193,024

$440,866

$394,074

     

Operating Income (Loss):

    

Private Client

$16,507

$14,494

$38,643

$28,176

Capital Markets

13,536

2,366

18,777

6,920

Asset Management

337

1,316

1,980

1,855

Other *

(2,494)

(2,381)

(3,332)

8,255

Total

$27,886

$15,795

$56,068

$45,206


*  Other revenue and other operating income (loss) include approximately ($900 thousand) and $11.6 million, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 related to NYSE Group Inc. transactions. The NYSE Group Inc. / Archipelago merger took place in March 2006.



21





14. Subsequent events



22





On July 27, 2007, a cash dividend of U.S.$0.11 per share (totaling $1.5 million) was declared payable on August 24, 2007 to Class A and Class B shareholders of record on August 10, 2007. This represents an increase of 10% in the quarterly dividend rate.


On August 2, 2007, the Company voluntarily repaid $15.0 million of its senior secured credit note plus accrued interest thereon, thereby reducing its outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit note to $83.8 million. See Note 6.



23




Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  


The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Reference is also made to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.


The Company engages in a broad range of activities in the securities industry, including retail securities brokerage, institutional sales and trading, investment banking (both corporate and public finance), research, market-making, securities lending activities, trust services and investment advisory and asset management services. The Company provides its services from 88 offices in 21 states located throughout the United States through its principal subsidiaries, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”), a registered broker-dealer in securities, and Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. (“OAM), a registered investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and conducts business from 2 offices in Latin America through local broker-dealers. Client assets entrusted to the Company as at June 30, 2007 totaled approximately $62.6 billion. The Company provides investment advisory services through OAM and Oppenheimer Investment Management (“OIM”) and Oppenheimer’s Fahnestock Asset Management, Alpha Program and OMEGA Group divisions. Assets under fee-based management increased by 27% to $17.3 billion at June 30, 2007 compared to $13.6 billion at June 30, 2006, reflecting organic growth and increases in market value. Advisory fees include wrap fees on managed products in client accounts, administrative fees on money market shares held as agent for clients and management and performance fees on alternative investments. The Company provides trust services and products through Oppenheimer Trust Company. The Company provides discount brokerage services through Freedom Investments Inc. and through BUYandHOLD, a division of Freedom. Evanston Financial Corporation is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing. At June 30, 2007, the Company employed approximately 2,902 people, of whom 1,664 were registered personnel, including approximately 1,230 financial advisors.


Critical Accounting Policies


The Company’s accounting policies are essential to understanding and interpreting the financial results reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The significant accounting policies used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are summarized in notes 1 and 2 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Certain of those policies are considered to be particularly important to the presentation of the Company’s financial results because they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, often as a result of matters that are inherently uncertain.


During the three months ended June 30, 2007, there were no other material changes to matters discussed under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.



24





Business Environment

The securities industry is directly affected by general economic and market conditions, including fluctuations in volume and price levels of securities and changes in interest rates, inflation, political events, investor participation levels, legal and regulatory, accounting, tax and compliance requirements and competition, all of which have an impact on commissions, firm trading, fees from accounts under investment management, and investment income as well as on liquidity. Substantial fluctuations can occur in revenues and net income due to these and other factors.



25




Results during the second quarter of 2007 reflected a rising, but often volatile market environment, with investors focused on high oil prices, weak housing markets, foreclosures in sub-prime mortgages, and a weak U.S. dollar. Despite these issues, the U.S. economy continued to grow at a moderate pace with low unemployment rates and relatively strong consumer spending. Core inflation has been gradually easing and the Federal Reserve continues to hold interest rates steady.  Growth over the next several quarters should be maintained as the weak dollar fuels exports. The investment environment remains attractive as global liquidity continues to fuel acquisitions and the retirement of equity securities through corporate buy-backs, privatizations, and mergers proceeds at a record pace.


Interest rate changes also impact the Company’s fixed income businesses as well as its cost of borrowed funds. Interest rates were higher in the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Investor interest in fixed income securities is driven by attractiveness of published rates, the direction of rates and economic expectations. Volatility in bond prices also impacts opportunities for profits in fixed income proprietary trading. Management constantly monitors its exposure to interest rate fluctuations to mitigate risk of loss in volatile environments.



26





The Company is focused on growing its private client and asset management businesses through strategic additions of experienced financial advisors in its existing branch system and employment of experienced money management personnel in its asset management business. In addition, the Company is committed to the improvement of its technology capability to support client service and the expansion of its capital markets capabilities.


 Regulatory Environment

The brokerage business is subject to regulation by the SEC, the NYSE, the NASD and various state securities regulators. Events in recent years surrounding corporate accounting and other activities leading to investor losses resulted in the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and have caused increased regulation of public companies. New regulations and new interpretations and enforcement of existing regulations are creating increased costs of compliance and increased investment in systems and procedures to comply with these more complex and onerous requirements. Increasingly, the various states are imposing their own regulations that make the uniformity of regulation a thing of the past, and make compliance more difficult and more expensive to monitor. This regulatory environment has resulted in increased costs of compliance with rules and regulations, in particular, the impact of the rules and requirements that were created by the passage of the Patriot Act, and the anti-money laundering regulations (AML) that are related thereto. The expectation is that the increased costs of compliance in today’s regulatory environment are not temporary.


Mutual Fund Inquiry  

Since the third quarter of 2003, Oppenheimer has been responding to the SEC, the NY State Attorney General (the “NYAG”), the NYSE, the NASD and other regulators as part of an industry-wide review of market timing, late trading and other activities involving mutual funds.  The Company has answered several document requests and subpoenas and there have been on-the-record interviews of Company personnel.  On June 5, 2006, Oppenheimer received an invitation from the NYSE to make a “Wells Submission” (a formal response to a request from a regulator that describes why an action should not be brought) with respect to its activities as a broker-dealer and as a clearing firm in connection with allegedly improper market timing (not late trading) of mutual funds by several former employees.  Oppenheimer has filed a response with the NYSE.



27




 A few of its former



28




financial advisors, working from a single branch office, engaged in activities that are the subject of the SEC's inquiry largely during the period before the Company acquired the U.S. Private Client Division of CIBC World Markets on January 3, 2003.


On January 31, 2007, the SEC instituted administrative proceedings against three former employees and a current employee who had a supervisory role with respect to those employees. The former financial advisors were charged with, among other things, violating the antifraud provisions of the securities laws. The current employee, a senior employee of Oppenheimer, was charged with aiding these violations and failure to supervise the former financial advisors. The Company was not charged in these proceedings and continues to cooperate in the investigation of market timing activity by the NYSE discussed above. The Company has set aside reserves that it believes should address its financial exposure with respect to these matters. The Company continues to closely monitor its mutual fund activities and the activities of its employees.


Other Regulatory Matters

The Company has been the subject of various regulatory investigations with respect to its operations. Most of these matters revolve around the period when the Company was transferring the business and client accounts of various acquisitions it has made to a common systems platform between September 2001 and June 2003. During that period of time, the Company absorbed approximately 35 branch offices and 1,000 financial advisors, and transitioned more than 250,000 client accounts from four separate and distinct companies, each of which utilized a different technology platform.  The Company's business doubled during this period. As previously reported, certain of the Company’s operations were impacted beginning in June 2003 and the Company experienced client service issues, which were subsequently corrected. The new businesses undertaken by the Company and the effect on the Company’s operations for the period described above has resulted in investigations by the SEC, the NYSE, and the NASD. With the exception of the mutual funds timing matter described above and the stock loan matter, described below, the Company has settled substantially all outstanding matters with the NYSE. With the exception of the matters described below, the Company has settled substantially all outstanding matters with the NASD.


On January 9, 2006, the NASD filed an action against Oppenheimer and its Chairman and CEO (the “2006 Complaint”) for alleged violations with respect to the Company’s filing of the NASD mutual fund breakpoint survey in 2003. This action could result in, among other things, monetary penalty, censure, suspension and/or other remedial sanctions. As previously disclosed, Oppenheimer had previously informed the NASD of certain limitations within its system relative to selecting out and generating data in the form requested by the NASD, and the NASD had stated that no extensions to file would be granted to any firm.  As a result, just prior to the deadline, Oppenheimer submitted the data it then had available.  The NASD informed Oppenheimer within two days that its submission was deficient. The Company and Mr. Lowenthal, the Chairman and CEO, maintain that the assignment of overall responsibility for the response to the 2003 survey was properly delegated by the CEO to individuals who had the requisite experience and background to



29




complete and file the survey with the NASD. The Company and Mr. Lowenthal believe that they have strong defenses for the action brought against them because of these issues and intend to vigorously defend the action. As the NASD itself notes, the issuance of a disciplinary complaint represents the initiation of a formal proceeding by the NASD in which the allegations have not been heard or determined and does not represent a decision as to any of the allegations contained in the complaint.


Prior to the filing of the 2006 Complaint, the Company advised the NASD that it had reviewed the actual breakpoints applied for the period 2001 through 2005, a period longer than required by the NASD of similar member firms. The Company has returned to customers approximately $800,000 in breakpoint credits and revised and enhanced its procedures for determining applicable breakpoints.



30




All amounts due to customers have been refunded.  The Company believes that the breakpoint survey matter was an industry-wide problem and that the Company has appropriately addressed in all respects the breakpoint issue with its clients.  


The Company and Mr. Lowenthal are cooperating, have been cooperating and intend to continue to cooperate with all regulators and hope to reach a fair resolution of all outstanding regulatory issues.


On July 9, 2007, the Company entered into a Consent Order with the Massachusetts Securities Division (the “MSD”) filed on August 2, 2006 against the Company's main operating subsidiary, Oppenheimer, as well as a financial advisor formerly employed by Oppenheimer alleging that Oppenheimer violated the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act by failing to provide reasonable supervision of the former financial advisor thereby allowing the former financial advisor to engage in unlawful activity in the State of Massachusetts. The Company has agreed to the payment of an administrative fine of $1 million, a censure, the payment of $270 thousand in restitution to two clients, the retention of an independent consultant to review Oppenheimer’s Massachusetts branch office policies, procedures and supervisory controls, and the adoption of the recommendations of such independent consultant.

 

On April 16, 2007, Oppenheimer received an invitation from the NYSE to make a “Wells Submission” with respect to its activities as a broker-dealer and as a clearing firm in connection with Oppenheimer’s supervision of its securities lending activities including, but not limited to, failing to detect and prevent stock loan personnel from engaging in business dealings with finders in violation of Oppenheimer policy.  The Company believes that this matter has no effect on any client of Oppenheimer and that at all times Oppenheimer’s supervision of its securities lending activities was reasonable and in accordance with industry standards. Any disciplinary proceedings brought against Oppenheimer in relation to the foregoing could result in, among other things, a censure, a fine and/or the imposition of an undertaking against Oppenheimer.


Other Matters

A subsidiary of the Company was the administrative agent for two closed-end funds until December 5, 2005. The Company has been advised by the current administrative agent for these two funds that the Internal Revenue Service may file a claim for interest and penalties for one of these funds with respect to the 2004 tax year as a result of an alleged failure of such subsidiary to take certain actions. The Company will continue to monitor developments on this matter.


As part of its ongoing business, the Company records reserves for legal expenses, judgments, fines and/or awards attributable to litigation and regulatory matters. In connection therewith, the Company has maintained its legal reserves at levels it believes will resolve outstanding matters, but may increase or decrease such reserves as matters warrant.


Business Continuity


The Company is committed to an on-going investment in its technology and communications infrastructure including extensive business continuity planning and investment. These costs are on-going and the Company believes that current and future costs will exceed historic levels due to business and regulatory requirements. The Company believes that internally-generated funds from operations are sufficient to finance its expenditure program.


Results of Operations


Net profit for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $15.8 million or $1.19 per share, an increase



31




of 73% when compared to $9.1 million or $0.72 per share in the same period of 2006. Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $226.8 million, an increase of 17% compared to revenue of $193.0 million in the same period of 2006.  


Net profit for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $32.6 million or $2.48 per share compared to $26.4 million or $2.08 per share in the first half of 2006, an increase of 24% in net profit. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $440.9 million compared to $394.1 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of 12%. Revenue and profit before taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2006 includes a non-recurring gain of $11.6 million (most of which was generated in the first quarter of 2006) related to the exchange of the Company’s three NYSE memberships for cash and NYSE Group common shares ($0.53 per share). Excluding this one-time gain in the six months ended June 30, 2006, revenue and profit before taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were up 15% and 67%, respectively, compared to the same period of 2006.


The Company’s profit before taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was significantly impacted by share-based expense totaling $9.6 million ($8.3 million in the second quarter of 2007) primarily related to outstanding stock appreciation rights which, under accounting guidelines, are re-measured at fair value at each period end. The significant increase in the price of the Company’s Class A Shares during the second quarter of 2007 was a contributing factor to the increase in share-based expense. Share-based expense for the six months ended June 30, 2006 totaled $3.2 million ($2.8 million in the second quarter of 2006).


The Company’s expenses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 12% and 10%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2006 due primarily to higher compensation and related costs. Compensation expense tracks the trend in transactional revenue and includes the impact of stock-based compensation since January 1, 2006. Interest expense decreased because of reduced bank borrowing, despite higher interest rates and the higher interest cost of the refinanced debt in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods of 2006.


At June 30, 2007, shareholders’ equity was $399.3 million and book value per share was $30.17 compared to shareholders’ equity of $336.9 million and book value of $26.46 at June 30, 2006.


As previously reported, on July 31, 2006, the Company issued a senior secured credit note in the amount of $125 million at a variable interest rate based on the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) with a seven-year term to a syndicate led by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc, as agent. Minimum principal repayments equal 0.25% per quarter and there are required prepayments of principal based on a portion of the Company’s excess cash flow, the net cash proceeds of asset sales, tax refunds over certain limits, awards over certain limits in connection with legal actions or ‘takings’, and debt issuances or other liability financings. The interest rate on the senior secured credit note was 7.85% in the second quarter of 2007.


On April 27, 2007, the Company repaid $25.0 million of its senior secured credit note, thereby reducing its outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit note to $99.1 million. Of the $25.0 million pay down, $10.4 million was a required payment under the terms of the senior secured credit note and $14.6 million represented a voluntary prepayment. Under the terms of the senior secured credit note, the interest rate spread over LIBOR has been reduced by 25 basis points.




32




The following table and discussion summarizes the changes in the major revenue and expense categories for the periods presented (in thousands of dollars):



33





 

Three Months ended

June 30,

Six Months ended

June 30,

 

2007 versus 2006

2007 versus 2006

 

Period to Period Change

Percentage Change

Period to Period Change

Percentage Change

Revenue -

    

Commissions

$868

1%

$(5,234)

-3%

Principal transactions, net

3,200

36%

540

3%

Interest

63

-%

2,950

5%

Investment banking

19,631

91%

41,055

122%

Advisory fees

8,750

21%

17,651

22%

Other

1,244

30%

(10,170)

-47%

Total revenue

33,726

17%

46,792

12%


Expenses -

    

Compensation and related expenses

19,906

17%

32,448

14%

Clearing and exchanges fees

1,997

97%

736

11%

Communications and technology

1,856

18%

3,014

13%

Occupancy and equipment costs

(100)

-1%

(405)

-2%

Interest

(1,509)

-9%

(988)

-3%

Other

(515)

-2%

1,125

3%

Total expenses

21,635

12%

35,930

10%

Profit before income taxes

12,091

77%

10,862

24%

Income tax provision

5,462

82%

4,660

25%

Net profit

$6,629

73%

$6,202

24%


Revenue, other than interest

Commission revenue and, to a large extent, revenue from principal transactions depend on investor participation in the markets. Commission revenue in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased 1% and decreased by 3%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2006. Commission revenue has been impacted by a general compression in rates charged to clients for transactions as well as clients’ changing their accounts to traditional fee-based arrangements. Net revenue from principal transactions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 36% and 3%, respectively, compared to the comparable periods of 2006. Net results from principal trading were positive for the periods in 2007, but with increased market volatility, the Company has scaled back its exposure. The Company has no exposure to the issues surrounding the sub-prime mortgage market.  Investment banking revenues in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased 91% and 122%, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2006. The increase can be attributed to the increased emphasis and staffing levels of the investment banking effort as well as the capital market’s appetite for the securities of small and mid-cap offerings. Advisory fees for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 21% and 22%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2006 as a result of increases in traditional fee-based assets under management. Assets under management by the asset management group increased 27% to $17.3 billion at June 30, 2007 compared to $13.6 billion at June 30, 2006, reflecting organic growth and increases in market value. The Company continues to build its base of annualized revenues through employee and client education and in connection with its dedication to assisting clients in their asset allocation process. Other revenue in the six months ended June 30, 2006 includes a gain on the exchange of the Company’s NYSE seats for cash and NYSE Group common shares of $11.6 million, as described



34




above.



35





Interest

Net interest revenue (interest revenue less interest expense) in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 13% and 17% compared to the same periods of 2006. Interest revenue, which primarily relates to revenue from customer margin balances and securities lending activities, was flat in the three months ended June 30, 2007 and increased by 5% in the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods in 2006. Interest expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 decreased by 9% and 3%, respectively, despite higher interest rates and the increased interest cost of the refinanced debt, primarily as a result of reduced bank borrowing in 2007.


Expenses, other than interest

Compensation and related costs in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007increased by 17% and 14%, respectively, compared to the comparable periods of 2006. Compensation expense, including the Company’s accrual for year-end bonuses, has volume-related components and, therefore, increased with the increased levels of business conducted in the 2007 periods compared to the comparable periods of 2006. The amortization of forgivable loans to brokers is included in compensation expense. This expense is relatively fixed and is not influenced by increases or decreases in revenue levels, but rather by the net number of financial advisors hired in one period compared to another. The Company’s compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was substantially impacted by share-based compensation expense totaling $9.6 million ($8.3 million in the second quarter of 2007) primarily related to outstanding stock appreciation rights which, under accounting guidelines, are re-measured at fair value at each period end based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A Shares. The significant increase in the market price of the Company’s Class A Shares during the second quarter of 2007 was a contributing factor to the increase in share-based compensation expense. The cost of clearing and exchange fees in the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 11% compared to the same period of 2006 due to higher transaction volume in 2007 compared to 2006. The cost of communications and technology in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 18% and 13%, respectively, compared to the comparable periods of 2006, reflecting the Company’s continued commitment to improve its technology platform. Occupancy and equipment costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 decreased by 1% and 2%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2006 due to reductions in equipment maintenance and rental expense in 2007 compared to 2006. Other expenses in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 decreased by 2% and increased by 3%, respectively compared to the same periods of 2006. Included in other expenses, bad debt expense and legal and regulatory settlement expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2007 were relatively flat compared to the same periods of 2006. The Company’s effective income tax rate increased in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same periods of 2006 mainly as the result of the non-deductibility of regulatory settlements in 2007. See Regulatory Environment, above.


Other expenses will continue to be impacted by litigation and regulatory settlement costs. The Company may face additional legal costs and settlement expenses in future quarters. The Company has used its best estimate to provide adequate reserves to cover potential litigation and regulatory expenses. It is anticipated that the costs of compliance with regulatory authorities, as well as Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, will continue to be expensive.


Liquidity and Capital Resources


Total assets at June 30, 2007 increased by 3% from December 31, 2006 levels. The Company satisfies its need for funds from its own cash resources, internally generated funds, collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings, consisting primarily of bank loans, and uncommitted lines of credit. The



36




amount of Oppenheimer's bank borrowings fluctuates in response to changes in the level of the Company's securities inventories and customer margin debt, changes in stock loan balances and changes in notes receivable from employees. Oppenheimer has arrangements with banks for borrowings on an unsecured and on a fully collateralized basis. At June 30, 2007, $85.5 million of such borrowings were outstanding compared to outstanding borrowings of $79.5 million at



37




December 31, 2006. At June 30, 2007, the Company had available collateralized and uncollateralized letters of credit of $205.2 million.


In connection with the acquisition of the Oppenheimer divisions from CIBC World Markets in January 2003, the Company issued variable rate exchangeable debentures (the “Debentures”) in the amount of approximately $161.8 million and a zero coupon promissory note in the amount of approximately $65.5 million. The Debentures were redeemed on July 31, 2006 ($141.8 million) and the remaining balance on October 23, 2006 ($20.0 million) through the issue of a senior secured credit note to a syndicate led by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc., as agent, in the amount of $125.0 million plus internally available funds and an increase in bank call loans. The senior secured credit note has a term of seven years with minimum principal repayments of 0.25% per quarter and required prepayments based on a portion of the Company’s excess cash flow, the net cash proceeds of asset sales, tax refunds over certain limits, awards over certain limits in connection with legal actions or ‘takings’, and debt issuances or other liability financings, and pays interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR (London Interbank Offering Rate). In accordance with the senior secured credit note, the Company has provided certain covenants to the lenders with respect to the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge ratio and maximum leverage ratio driven from EBITDA and minimum net capital requirements with respect to Oppenheimer. In the Company’s view, the most restrictive of the covenants requires that the Company maintain a maximum leverage ratio of 2.30 (total long-term debt divided by EBITDA). At June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with the covenants. The interest rate on the senior secured credit note for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was 7.85%. Interest expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 was $2.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively, on the senior secured credit note. The effective interest rate on the Debentures was 4.5% per annum over the life of the Debentures.


On April 27, 2007, the Company repaid $25.0 million of its senior secured credit note, thereby reducing its outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit note to $99.1 million. Of the $25.0 million pay down, $10.4 million was a required payment under the terms of the senior secured credit note and $14.6 million represented a voluntary prepayment. Under the terms of the senior secured credit note, the interest rate spread over LIBOR has been reduced by 25 basis points. With strong earnings and cash flow in the first quarter of 2007 and a positive outlook for future quarters, the Company determined that it was appropriate to reduce indebtedness under the senior secured credit note at such time. The Company funded the repayment from internally available funds and bank call loans.


On August 2, 2007, the Company voluntarily repaid $15.0 million of its senior secured credit note plus accrued interest thereon, thereby reducing its outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit note to $83.8 million.


The obligations under the senior secured credit note are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, other than broker-dealer subsidiaries, with certain exceptions, and are collateralized by a lien on substantially all of the assets of each guarantor, including a pledge of the ownership interests in each first-tier broker-dealer subsidiary held by a guarantor, with certain exceptions.


On September 29, 2006, the Company entered into interest rate swap transactions to hedge the interest payments associated with the floating rate senior secured credit note, which is subject to



38




change due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR.  These swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”.  Changes in the fair value of the swap hedges are expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the interest payments due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR.  


On July 27, 2007, Moody’s Investor Service raised to positive from stable the rating outlook on the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, E.A. Viner International Co., recognizing the improvements in the Company’s performance over the last twelve months.  Moody’s maintains the following ratings for the Company and its subsidiaries: Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.: Foreign Currency Corporate Family Rating – B1; and E.A. Viner International Co. : $125 million seven year bank facility – B1.


Funding Risk


Dollar amounts are expressed in thousands.

 

Six months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

Cash provided by  operations

$39,061

$39,664

Cash used in investing activities

(4,873)

(2,107)

Cash used in financing activities

(17,857)

(41,970)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


$16,331


$(4,413)


Management believes that funds from operations, combined with the Company's capital base and available credit facilities, are sufficient for the Company's liquidity needs in the foreseeable future. (See Factors Affecting “Forward-Looking Statements”).


Other Matters


During the second quarter of 2007, the Company did not purchase any Class A Shares pursuant to the Normal Course Issuer Bid.



39





During the second quarter of 2007, the Company issued 22,889 Class A Shares for a total consideration of $566 thousand related to employee exercises of options under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan and 32,362 Class A Shares pursuant to the Company Employee Share Plan.


On May 18, 2007, the Company paid cash dividends of U.S. $0.10 per Class A and Class B Share totaling $1.3 million from available cash on hand. These dividends are “eligible dividends” for Canadian income tax purposes.


On July 27, 2007, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of U.S. $0.11 per Class A and Class B Share payable on August 24, 2007 to shareholders of record on August 10, 2007. This represents an increase of 10% in the quarterly dividend rate. These dividends are “eligible dividends” for Canadian income tax purposes.


The book value of the Company’s Class A and Class B Shares was $30.17 at June 30, 2007 compared to $26.46 at June 30, 2006, an increase of approximately 14%, based on total outstanding shares of 13,233,630 and 12,733,072, respectively.


The diluted weighted average number of Class A non-voting and Class B shares outstanding for the



40




three months ended June 30, 2007 was 13,543,221 compared to 19,611,604 outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2006, a net decrease of 31% due to the redemption, on July 31, 2006 ($140.8 million) and October 23, 2006 ($20.0 million), of the Company’s Debentures (exchangeable into 6.9 million Class A Shares).


On July 27, 2007, the Company announced that it is filing an application to voluntarily de-list its Class A Shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange effective August 31, 2007, or such other date as may be agreed. Substantially all of the Company’s active business is carried on in the United States through Oppenheimer and other subsidiaries. The preponderance of trading in the Class A Shares takes place through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange. The Company has assessed the cost and benefits of maintaining the Toronto Stock Exchange listing and has determined that there are no material benefits to the Company or its shareholders to continue such a listing. The Company as a Canadian federally incorporated corporation and as a Canadian reporting issuer will continue to be subject to Canadian corporate law and provincial securities regulations. Canadian investors will continue to be able to trade in the Class A Shares through Canadian securities dealers that can trade through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements


Information concerning the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements is included in note 10 of the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Such information is hereby incorporated by reference.


Contractual and Contingent Obligations


The Company has contractual obligations to make future payments in connection with non-cancelable lease obligations and debt assumed upon the 2003 acquisition of the Oppenheimer divisions from CIBC World Markets, as well as debt assumed upon the refinancing in 2006 of the Debentures issued in 2003.



41





The following table sets forth these contractual and contingent commitments as at June 30, 2007:


Contractual Obligations   (In millions of dollars)


 

Total

Less than 1 Year

1-3 Years

3-5 Years

More than 5 Years

      

Minimum rentals

$155

$15

$52

$43

$45

Senior secured credit note

$99

$30

$27

$30

$12

Zero coupon promissory notes

$12

$4

$3

$1

$4

Uncertain tax matters

$6

$4

-

-

2

Total

$272

$53

$82

$74

$63



New Accounting Pronouncements


Recently Adopted

In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48. This interpretation requires that a tax position be recognized only if it is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, based solely on its technical merits, as of the reporting date. A tax



42




position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion shall be measured at the largest amount of benefit that is more than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.


The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 which resulted in a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings in the amount of $823 thousand and a reclassification of deferred tax liabilities in the amount of $6.1 million to liability for unrecognized tax benefits which is included in accounts payable and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  The Company’s uncertain tax positions primarily consist of an election made under the Internal Revenue Code to limit current recognition of property that was involuntarily converted to money as a result of the monetary damages received. The Company recognizes interest accrued on underpayments of income taxes as interest expense and any related statutory penalties as other expenses in its condensed consolidated statement of income. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded approximately $166 thousand and $329 thousand, respectively, in interest related to the involuntary conversion of assets.


The Company is in discussions with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) related to the involuntary conversion of assets as part of the IRS’s limited scope examination of the 2003 – 2004 tax period and expects the matter to be resolved within the next twelve months without a material impact to the Company’s effective income tax rate.  At this time, management cannot estimate a range for any possible change in the unrecognized tax benefit.  

  

Due to its retail branch network, the Company is subject to tax examinations in many state and local jurisdictions.  Tax years under examination vary by jurisdictions and it is not uncommon to have many examinations open at any given time.  Currently, tax examinations are ongoing in New York State (1998 to 2000 and 2001 to 2003), New York City (1998 – 2000), New Jersey (2002 – 2005), and Michigan (2002 – 2005).  The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions resulting from these and subsequent years’ examinations.  The Company has established tax reserves that it believes are sufficient in relation to possible additional assessments.  The Company continuously assesses the adequacy of these reserves and believes that the resolution of such matters will not have a material effect on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, although a resolution could have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for a particular period and on the Company’s effective income tax rate for any period in which resolution occurs.


Recently Issued

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), Fair Value Measurements, which provides expanded information about the extent to which companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value, and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value and does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. In addition, SFAS No. 157 prohibits recognition of “block discounts” for large holdings of unrestricted financial instruments where quoted prices are readily and regularly available in an active market. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company has determined that adoption of SFAS No. 157 will not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.


In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  SFAS 159 provides entities with the option to



43




mitigate volatility in reported earnings by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  In addition, SFAS 159 allows entities to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates and to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings.  SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted provided that the entity also elects to apply the provisions of SFAS 157.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its condensed consolidated financial statements but does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 159 to be material.


Factors Affecting “Forward-Looking Statements”


This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, future revenues or earnings, the results of litigation, business prospects and anticipated market performance of the Company. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company cautions readers that a variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, include, but are not limited to: (i) transaction volume in the securities markets, (ii) the volatility of the securities markets, (iii) fluctuations in interest rates, (iv) changes in regulatory requirements which could affect the cost and manner of doing business, (v) fluctuations in currency rates, (vi) general economic conditions, both domestic and international, (vii) changes in the rate of inflation and the related impact on the securities markets, (viii) competition from existing financial institutions and other new participants in the securities markets, (ix) legal or



44




economic developments affecting the litigation  experience of the securities industry or the Company, (x) changes in federal and state tax laws which could affect the popularity of products and services sold by the Company, (xi) the effectiveness of efforts to reduce costs and eliminate overlap, (xii) war and nuclear confrontation, (xiii) the Company’s ability to achieve its business plan and (xiv) corporate governance issues. See “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. There can be no assurance that the Company has correctly or completely identified and assessed all of the factors affecting the Company’s business. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.


ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

During the three months ended June 30, 2007, there were no material changes to the information contained in Part II, Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.


ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a–15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.


Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or its internal controls will prevent all error and all



45




fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include, but are not limited to, the realities that judgments in decision–making can be faulty and that break-downs can occur because of a simple error or omission. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based, in part, upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost–effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.


Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting


No changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2007.



46





PART II

OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

Many aspects of the Company’s business involve substantial risks of liability. In the normal course of business, the Company has been named as defendant or co-defendant in lawsuits creating substantial exposure. The Company is also involved in governmental and self-regulatory agency investigations and proceedings. See Regulatory Environment under Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. The Company and others in the financial services industry have been involved in increased incidences of litigation and regulatory investigations in recent years, including customer claims seeking, in total, substantial damages.


For information on proceedings that were terminated during the three months ended June 30, 2007, see Part I, Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Regulatory Environment – Other Regulatory Matters. On July 9, 2007, the Company entered into a Consent Order with the MSD.


The Company is the subject of customer complaints, has been named as defendant or codefendant in various lawsuits seeking, in total, substantial damages and is involved in certain governmental and self-regulatory agency investigations and proceedings. These proceedings arise primarily from securities brokerage, asset management and investment banking activities. While the ultimate resolution of pending litigation and other matters cannot be currently determined, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the Company has no reason to believe that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition. However, the Company’s results of operations could be materially affected during any period if liabilities in that period differ from prior estimates. The materiality of legal matters to the Company’s future operating results depends on the level of future results of operations as well as the timing and ultimate outcome of such legal matters.


ITEM 1A. Risk Factors


During the three months ended June 30, 2007, there were no material changes to the information contained in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.


ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


Not applicable


ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable




47




ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


The following discloses the voting results of the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (the "Corporation") held on May 14, 2007.



  

For

Against

Withheld

1.

Election of Directors

96,469

-

4

 

Each of the following nominees was elected as a director of the Corporation to serve until the termination of the next annual meeting of shareholders by the holders of the Corporation's Class B voting shares ("Class B shareholders") pursuant to a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Act:

J. L. Bitove

R. Crystal

A. G. Lowenthal

K. W. MacArthur

A. W. Oughtred

E. K. Roberts

B. Winberg

   

2.

Appointment of Auditors

96,469

-

4

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were re-appointed as the auditors of the Corporation to hold office until the termination of the next annual meeting of shareholders

   

3.

Confirmation of Adoption of 2006 Equity Incentive Plan

96,469

4

-

 

The adoption of the Corporation's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan was confirmed.

   

4.

Issue of Class A Shares to the Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan

96,465

8

-

 

The issue by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, from time to time, of up to an aggregate of 300,000 Class A non-voting shares of the Corporation to the Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan was authorized.

   

5.

April 27, 2006 Option Award

96,465

8

-

 

The grant by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation on April 27, 2006 of an option to purchase 10,000 Class A non-voting shares of the Corporation to an employee of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. at the price of US $26.50 per share was approved.

   




48





ITEM 5. Other Information

Delisting of Class A Shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange


The Class A non-voting shares of the Company are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.  The preponderance of trading in the Class A Shares take place on the New York Stock Exchange.  Substantially all of the Company's active business is carried on in the United States through Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and other subsidiaries.  The directors of the Company have assessed the cost and benefits of maintaining the Toronto Stock Exchange Listing and have determined that there are no material benefits to the Company or its shareholders to continue such listing.  Accordingly, the directors have approved an application to voluntarily de-list the Class A non-voting shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange effective August 31, 2007 or such other date as may be agreed. The Company as a Canadian federally incorporated corporation and as a Canadian reporting issuer will continue to be subject to Canadian corporate law and provincial securities regulations. Canadian investors will continue to be able to trade in the Class A Shares of the Company through Canadian securities dealers that can trade through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.


ITEM 6. Exhibits

Exhibits


10.1

First Amendment (dated July 24, 2007) to Senior Secured Credit

 

Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2006, by and among E. A. Viner International Co., as borrower, and the other credit parties thereto from time to time, as guarantors, and the lenders party thereto from time to time, and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and syndication agent, and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as collateral agent.

31.1

Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal

31.2

Certification of Elaine K. Roberts

32.1

Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal and Elaine K. Roberts




49






 SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized, in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on this 7th day of August, 2007.


                                   


 

 OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.



                                   By: _____________________________

                                     

A.G. Lowenthal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                    

(Principal Executive Officer)



                               By:  _______________________________

                          E.K. Roberts, President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   





50