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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC - Quarter Report: 2011 September (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2011.
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period ended September 30, 2011
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 1-12043
OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   98-0080034
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 668-8000
(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 the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer þ   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by a check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The number of shares of the Company’s Class A non-voting common stock and Class B voting common stock (being the only classes of common stock of the Company) outstanding on October 31, 2011 was 13,572,265 and 99,680 shares, respectively.
 
 

 

 


 

OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
INDEX
         
    Page  
    No.  
       
 
       
       
 
       
    1  
 
       
    3  
 
       
    4  
 
       
    5  
 
       
    7  
 
       
    8  
 
       
    50  
 
       
    66  
 
       
    66  
 
       
       
 
       
    67  
 
       
    74  
 
       
    75  
 
       
    75  
 
       
    76  
 
       
Certifications
       
 
       
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32

 

 


Table of Contents

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item. 1 Financial Statements
OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(Expressed in thousands of dollars)   2011     2010  
ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 87,496     $ 52,854  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
    199,948       142,446  
Deposits with clearing organizations
    22,574       23,228  
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations
    335,266       302,844  
Receivable from customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,399 ($2,716 in 2010)
    893,571       924,817  
Income taxes receivable
    5,135       5,142  
Securities purchased under agreement to resell
    589,665       347,070  
Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $402,666 ($102,501 in 2010), at fair value
    796,865       367,019  
Notes receivable, net
    55,965       59,786  
Office facilities, net
    18,047       22,875  
Intangible assets, net
    37,735       40,979  
Goodwill
    137,889       137,889  
Other
    166,306       198,665  
 
           
 
  $ 3,346,462     $ 2,625,614  
 
           
(Continued on next page)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(Expressed in thousands of dollars)   2011     2010  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Liabilities
               
 
               
Drafts payable
  $ 46,049     $ 61,055  
Bank call loans
    59,300       147,000  
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations
    426,590       372,697  
Payable to customers
    576,981       406,916  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
    860,360       390,456  
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
    210,980       160,052  
Accrued compensation
    129,050       175,938  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    308,233       265,535  
Senior secured note
    200,000        
Senior secured credit note
          22,503  
Subordinated note
          100,000  
Deferred income tax, net
    13,637       11,186  
Excess of fair value of acquired assets over cost
    7,020       7,020  
 
           
 
    2,838,200       2,120,358  
 
           
 
               
Equity
               
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders’ equity Share capital
               
Class A non-voting common stock
(2011 — 13,570,945 shares issued and outstanding
2010 — 13,268,522 shares issued and outstanding)
    62,551       51,768  
Class B voting common stock
99,680 shares issued and outstanding
    133       133  
 
           
 
    62,684       51,901  
Contributed capital
    35,951       47,808  
Retained earnings
    404,685       402,308  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    135       207  
 
           
Stockholders’ equity
    503,455       502,224  
Noncontrolling interest
    4,807       3,032  
 
           
Total equity
    508,262       505,256  
 
           
 
  $ 3,346,462     $ 2,625,614  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Expressed in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts   2011     2010     2011     2010  
REVENUE:
                               
Commissions
  $ 123,267     $ 120,940     $ 380,912     $ 398,719  
Principal transactions, net
    8,233       22,646       32,537       60,803  
Interest
    15,161       11,220       43,599       31,996  
Investment banking
    29,199       21,791       91,357       83,311  
Advisory fees
    50,696       43,356       149,200       130,134  
Other
    5,063       15,190       31,949       34,550  
 
                       
 
    231,619       235,143       729,554       739,513  
 
                       
EXPENSES:
                               
Compensation and related expenses
    148,951       159,486       479,802       485,765  
Clearing and exchange fees
    6,514       5,525       19,127       19,910  
Communications and technology
    15,138       15,838       47,146       48,578  
Occupancy and equipment costs
    18,977       18,162       56,047       54,884  
Interest
    10,230       6,546       28,673       18,016  
Other
    27,545       22,127       82,962       75,615  
 
                       
 
    227,355       227,684       713,757       702,768  
 
                       
Profit before income taxes
    4,264       7,459       15,797       36,745  
Income tax provision
    1,805       3,210       7,139       14,871  
 
                       
Net profit for the period
    2,459       4,249       8,658       21,874  
Less net profit attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax
    353       595       1,775       1,505  
 
                       
Net profit attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 2,106     $ 3,654     $ 6,883     $ 20,369  
 
                       
 
                               
Profit per share attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.15     $ 0.27     $ 0.51     $ 1.53  
Diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.26     $ 0.49     $ 1.46  
Weighted average common shares:
                               
Basic
    13,670,604       13,355,468       13,627,122       13,334,214  
Diluted
    13,915,897       13,956,711       13,922,637       13,920,725  
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.11     $ 0.11     $ 0.33     $ 0.33  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Expressed in thousands of dollars   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Net profit for the period
  $ 2,459     $ 4,249     $ 8,658     $ 21,874  
Other comprehensive income:
                               
Currency translation adjustment
    (1,513 )     1,290       (1,394 )     1,059  
Change in cash flow hedges, net of tax
          (146 )     1,322       (963 )
 
                       
Comprehensive income for the period
    946       5,393       8,586       21,970  
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
    353       595       1,775       1,505  
 
                       
Comprehensive income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 593     $ 4,798     $ 6,811     $ 20,465  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
Expressed in thousands of dollars   2011     2010  
 
               
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net profit for the period
  $ 8,658     $ 21,874  
Adjustments to reconcile net profit to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Non-cash items included in net profit:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    9,299       9,053  
Deferred income tax
    2,451       32,336  
Amortization of notes receivable
    15,103       15,062  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    734       742  
Amortization of intangibles
    3,244       3,243  
Provision for credit losses
    (317 )     336  
Share-based compensation
    118       3,979  
Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
               
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
    (57,502 )     (43,280 )
Deposits with clearing organizations
    654       (6,632 )
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations
    (32,422 )     1,824  
Receivable from customers
    31,563       (11,595 )
Income taxes receivable
    7       (30,566 )
Securities purchased under agreement to resell
    (242,595 )     (61,713 )
Securities owned
    (429,846 )     (183,638 )
Notes receivable
    (11,282 )     (16,966 )
Other
    29,625       (19,252 )
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
               
Drafts payable
    (15,006 )     (9,767 )
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations
    55,215       (30,972 )
Payable to customers
    170,065       (57,791 )
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
    469,904       290,496  
Securities sold, but not yet purchased
    50,928       (9,132 )
Accrued compensation
    (46,796 )     (36,971 )
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    42,698       75,501  
 
           
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    54,500       (63,829 )
 
           
(Continued on next page)

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) —Continued
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
Expressed in thousands of dollars   2011     2010  
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchase of office facilities
    (3,865 )     (11,877 )
 
           
Cash used in investing activities
    (3,865 )     (11,877 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
    (4,506 )     (4,401 )
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock
    337       2,132  
Tax shortfall from share-based compensation
    (1,621 )     (101 )
Senior secured note issuance.
    200,000        
Senior secured credit note repayment
    (22,503 )     (9,500 )
Subordinated note repayment
    (100,000 )      
Increase (decrease) in bank call loans, net
    (87,700 )     68,800  
 
           
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (15,993 )     56,930  
 
           
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    34,642       (18,776 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    52,854       68,918  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 87,496     $ 50,142  
 
           
 
               
Schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Employee share plan issuance
  $ 10,446     $ 1,765  
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during the periods for interest
  $ 15,309     $ 15,933  
Cash paid during the periods for income taxes
  $ 7,680     $ 11,402  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (unaudited)
                 
    Nine months ended  
    September 30,  
Expressed in thousands of dollars   2011     2010  
Share capital
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 51,901     $ 47,824  
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock
    10,783       3,897  
 
           
Balance at end of period
  $ 62,684     $ 51,721  
 
           
Contributed capital
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 47,808     $ 41,978  
Vested employee share plan awards
    (13,348 )     (1,710 )
Tax shortfall from share-based awards
    (1,621 )     (101 )
Share-based compensation expense
    3,112       5,919  
 
           
Balance at end of period
  $ 35,951     $ 46,086  
 
           
Retained earnings
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 402,308     $ 369,697  
Net profit for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
    6,883       20,369  
Dividends ($0.33 per share in 2011 and 2010)
    (4,506 )     (4,401 )
 
           
Balance at end of period
  $ 404,685     $ 385,665  
 
           
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 207     $ (543 )
Currency translation adjustment
    (1,394 )     1,059  
Change in cash flow hedges, net of tax
    1,322       (963 )
 
           
Balance at end of period
  $ 135     $ (447 )
 
           
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 503,455     $ 483,025  
 
           
Non-controlling interest
               
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 3,032     $  
Grant of non-controlling interest
          731  
Net profit attributable to non-controlling interest for the period, net of tax
    1,775       1,505  
 
           
Balance at end of period
  $ 4,807     $ 2,236  
 
           
Total equity
  $ 508,262     $ 485,261  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (”OPY”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OPY and its subsidiaries (together, the “Company”). The principal subsidiaries of OPY are Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”), a registered broker dealer in securities, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. (“OAM”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Oppenheimer Investment Management Inc. (“OIM”), both registered investment advisors under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, Oppenheimer Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company chartered by the State of New Jersey to provide fiduciary services such as trust and estate administration and investment management, Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing and Healthcare Finance, Inc. (formerly Evanston Financial Corporation) (“OMHHF”), which is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing, and OPY Credit Corp., which offers syndication as well as trading of issued corporate loans. Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. (formerly Oppenheimer E.U. Ltd.) (“Oppenheimer Europe”), based in the United Kingdom, provides institutional equities and fixed income brokerage and corporate financial services and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited, based in Hong Kong, China, provides assistance in accessing the U.S. equities markets and limited mergers and acquisitions advisory services to Asia-based companies. Oppenheimer operates as Fahnestock & Co. Inc. in Latin America. Oppenheimer owns Freedom Investments, Inc. (“Freedom”), a registered broker dealer in securities, which also operates as the BUYandHOLD division of Freedom, offering on-line discount brokerage and dollar-based investing services, and Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd., which is engaged in offering investment services in the State of Israel as a local broker dealer.
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, 2010 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.
Accounting standards require the Company to present non-controlling interests (previously referred to as minority interests) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2011, the Company owned 67.34% of OMHHF and the non-controlling interest recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet was $4.8 million.
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.
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.
Certain prior period amounts appearing in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements pertaining to the fair value measurement of derivative contracts have been reclassified to conform with current presentation.

 

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2. New accounting pronouncements
Recently Adopted
In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2010-28, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other,” which modified Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with a zero or negative carrying value, stating that under such circumstances an entity should perform Step 2 of the impairment analysis when it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. The Company adopted this requirement in the period ending March 31, 2011 with no impact on its financial statements.
In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-10, “Consolidation — Amendments for Certain Investment Funds”, that will indefinitely defer the effective date of the updated Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) accounting guidance for certain investment funds. To qualify for the deferral, the investment fund needs to meet certain attributes of an investment company, does not have explicit or implicit obligations to fund losses of the entity and is not a securitization entity, an asset-backed financing entity, or an entity formerly considered a qualifying special-purpose entity (“QSPE”). The Company’s investment funds meet the conditions in ASU No. 2010-10 and qualify for the deferral adoption. Therefore, the Company is not required to consolidate any of its investment funds which are VIEs until further guidance is issued.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurement”. ASU No. 2010-06 requires new disclosures regarding transfers of assets and liabilities measured at fair value in and out of Level 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy. A reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfer. ASU No. 2010-06 also provides additional guidance on the level of disaggregation of fair value measurements and disclosures regarding inputs and valuation techniques. The Company adopted this disclosure requirement in the three months ended March 31, 2010. In addition, ASU No.2010-06 requires the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (i.e., Level 3) to be presented on a gross basis. The Company adopted this requirement in the period ended March 31, 2011. See note 5 for further information.
Recently Issued
In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03, “Transfers and Servicing: Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements,” which removes the requirement to consider whether sufficient collateral is held when determining whether to account for repurchase agreements and other agreements that both entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem financial assets before their maturity as sales or as secured financings. The guidance is effective prospectively for transactions beginning on January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have an impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS,” which provides clarifying guidance on how to measure fair value and has additional disclosure requirements. The amendments prohibit the use of blockage factors at all levels of the fair value hierarchy and provide guidance on measuring financial instruments that are managed on a net portfolio basis. Additional disclosure requirements include transfers between Levels 1 and 2 and, for Level 3 fair value measurements, a description of the valuation processes and additional information about unobservable inputs impacting Level 3 measurements. The updates are effective for the reporting period ending December 31, 2011. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that these updates will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income”, requiring entities to present items of net income and other comprehensive income either in one continuous statement (referred to as the statement of comprehensive income) or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. The Company intends to adopt this requirement in the period ending December 31, 2011.
In September, 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment”, which gives entities the option of performing a qualitative assessment before the quantitative analysis. If entities determine the fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount based on the qualitative factors, the two-step quantitative test would be required. Otherwise, further testing would not be needed. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating whether it will early adopt the ASU.
3. Revision to financial statements
During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company identified historical errors relating to its tax treatment of deferred compensation obligations assumed as part of the 2003 acquisition of the Private Client Division from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”) that affected prior periods. As a result, the Company has determined the need to reestablish book basis of goodwill related to the 2003 transaction in the amount of $5.4 million. Further analysis revealed uncertain tax positions, that were inadvertently taken as a result of the errors, leading to the establishment of a reserve in the amount of $3 million, including accrued interest, as well as cumulative adjustments to current and deferred tax items of $6.6 million primarily related to periods prior to 2008.
The Company assessed the impact of the errors, including the impact of previously disclosed out-of-period adjustments, on its prior period financial statements included in the December 31, 2010 Form 10-K and concluded that these errors were not material, individually or in the aggregate, to any of those financial statements. Although the effect of these errors was not material to any previously issued financial statements, the cumulative effect of correcting these historical errors in the current year would have been material for the fiscal year 2011. Consequently, the Company has revised its prior period financial statements by adjusting opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2010 in the amount of $7.5 million. As part of this revision process, the Company also reversed other previously disclosed out-of-period adjustments (see below for more details), which were immaterial, and recorded them instead in the periods in which the errors originated. These revisions have no net impact on the Company’s net cash amounts provided by (used in) operating, financing or investing activities for the any of the periods previously reported, nor in the current period.
The financial statements as of September 30, 2010, and for the three and nine-month periods then ended and as of December 31, 2010, included herein have been prepared in light of the cumulative revisions above. The financial statements for all other periods affected by the revisions can continue to be relied upon, and will be revised to reflect the revisions discussed above, the next time such financial statements are included in future reports for comparative purposes.

 

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As previously disclosed, the Company identified certain over-accruals in compensation and related expenses related to prior periods which the Company adjusted during the three month period ended March 31, 2010. These previously recorded out-of-period adjustments, which were not material to any prior period, resulted in an increase to compensation and related expenses of $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The over-accruals occurred in the Global High Yield (“GHY”) loan sales and trading business and were the result of duplicate production related compensation expenses being accrued. In addition, the Company had other out-of-period adjustments in 2010 that offset the over-accrual of GHY compensation totaling $1.1 million that were also corrected in the three month period ended March 31, 2010. Most notably was the reversal of a legal accrual of $1 million related to the settlement of an Auction Rate Securities (“ARS”) case and the recognition of a fair value adjustment of $1.1 million related to ARS as a result of this legal settlement (net effect of $67,000). The remaining out-of-period adjustments, individually of lesser amounts, in the aggregate were approximately $1 million.
The Company considered all of the above out-of-period adjustments both individually and in the aggregate in light of several quantitative and qualitative factors that mitigate the large percentage impact on pre-tax income when assessing impact to the overall financial statements. The out-of-period adjustments of $3.7 million related to the GHY business did not result in any over payments to employees or members of management. And compensation payments made in April 2010 were substantially equal to and offsetting the amount referred to above. The magnitude of the out-of-period adjustments were exacerbated by the low profitability of the Company in 2009 and 2010. The adjustments did not impact the trend of earnings from the net loss in 2008 to the net income reported in 2009 and 2010 nor did they cause income (loss) to result in loss (income) for any of the periods in question. The adjustments for each period would have improved results incrementally and did not change significantly the magnitude of the variances period-over-period.
While this reduced level of earnings in 2009 and 2010 resulted in the net over accrual being quantitatively large on pre-tax earnings, the Company assessed the impact on return on assets, return on equity, total revenues, total expenses, compensation expense, compensation as a percentage of revenue ratio, shareholders’ equity, book value per share, and the capital markets business segment’s total revenues and profitability in determining the materiality of the adjustments to the financial statements taken as a whole and concluded that the adjustments were not material in the context of the overall financial statements. The Company also considered factors such as there was no negative impact on regulatory or debt covenant calculations as a result of these items. As a result, the Company concluded that the impact of the adjustments was not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the 2009 or 2010 consolidated financial statements.
As indicated above, the previously recorded out-of-period adjustments have now been reversed and recorded in the proper period as part of the revision process.

 

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The impact of the above adjustments for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 was as follows:
                         
    As Previously             Revised  
(In thousands, except per share data)   Reported     Revision     Balance  
Principal transactions, net
  $ 59,602     $ 1,201     $ 60,803  
Compensation and related expenses
  $ 481,968     $ 3,797     $ 485,765  
Interest expense
  $ 18,208     $ (192 )   $ 18,016  
Other expenses
  $ 75,272     $ 343     $ 75,615  
Profit (loss) before income taxes
  $ 39,492     $ (2,747 )   $ 36,745  
Income tax provision (benefit)
  $ 16,249     $ (1,378 )   $ 14,871  
 
                 
Net profit
  $ 23,243     $ (1,369 )   $ 21,874  
 
                 
 
                       
Earnings Per Share
  $ 1.63     $ 0.10     $ 1.53  
 
                 
The impact of the above adjustments for the three month period ended September 30, 2010 serves to increase net income by $232,000 and earnings per share by $0.01, primarily related to tax items.
4. Profit per share
Profit per share was computed by dividing net profit attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. by the weighted average number of shares of Class A non-voting common stock (“Class A Stock”) and Class B voting common stock (“Class B Stock”) outstanding. Diluted profit per share includes the weighted average Class A and Class B Stock outstanding and the effects of warrants issued and Class A Stock granted under share-based compensation arrangements using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.

 

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Profit per share has been calculated as follows:
Expressed in thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding
    13,670,604       13,355,468       13,627,122       13,334,214  
Net dilutive effect of warrant, treasury method (1)
                       
Net dilutive effect of share-based awards, treasury method (2)
    245,294       601,243       295,515       586,511  
 
                       
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding
    13,915,897       13,956,711       13,922,637       13,920,725  
 
                       
 
                               
Net profit for the period
  $ 2,459     $ 4,249     $ 8,658     $ 21,874  
Net profit attributable to non-controlling interests
    353       595       1,775       1,505  
 
                       
Net profit attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 2,106     $ 3,654     $ 6,883     $ 20,369  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic profit per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.27     $ 0.51     $ 1.53  
Diluted profit per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.26     $ 0.49     $ 1.46  
     
(1)  
As part of the consideration for the 2008 acquisition of a portion of CIBC World Markets Corp.’s U.S. capital markets businesses, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 1 million shares of Class A Stock of the Company at $48.62 per share exercisable five years from the January 14, 2008 acquisition date. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the effect of the warrant is anti-dilutive.
 
(2)  
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the diluted profit per share computations do not include the anti-dilutive effect of 1,139,695 and 1,142,028 shares of Class A Stock granted under share-based compensation arrangements together with the warrant described in (1) (1,273,416 shares of Class A Stock for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010).
5. Receivable from and payable to brokers and clearing organizations
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations consist of:
               
Deposits paid for securities borrowed
  $ 245,601     $ 199,117  
Receivable from brokers
    27,117       20,609  
Securities failed to deliver
    27,936       23,673  
Clearing organizations
    19,023       11,038  
Omnibus accounts
    15,215       19,129  
Other
    374       29,278  
 
           
 
  $ 335,266     $ 302,844  
 
           

 

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    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations consist of:
               
Deposits received for securities loaned
  $ 289,343     $ 345,462  
Securities failed to receive
    48,964       24,944  
Clearing organizations and other (1)
    88,283       2,291  
 
           
 
  $ 426,590     $ 372,697  
 
           
     
(1)  
At September 30, 2011, $79.9 million was a trade date/settlement date adjustment.
In April 2008, Oppenheimer commenced an action against Metal Management Inc. (“Metal”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) to collect an unpaid fee related to an investment banking transaction. On June 20, 2011, the Court issued an order granting Oppenheimer’s motion for summary judgment. On July 25, 2011, Metal appealed such order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On August 26, 2011, Oppenheimer entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Metal paid to Oppenheimer approximately $10.0 million.
6. Financial instruments
Securities owned and securities sold but not yet purchased, investments and derivative contracts are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. The Company’s other financial instruments are generally short-term in nature or have variable interest rates and as such their carrying values approximate fair value, with the exception of notes receivable from employees which are carried at cost.
Securities Owned and Securities Sold, But Not Yet Purchased at Fair Value
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    Owned     Sold     Owned     Sold  
 
                               
U.S. Treasury, agency and sovereign obligations
  $ 523,822     $ 158,580     $ 160,114     $ 105,564  
Corporate debt and other obligations
    42,138       15,785       32,204       6,788  
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
    4,676       8       2,895       25  
Municipal obligations
    75,644       435       55,089       383  
Convertible bonds
    50,962       7,227       39,015       11,093  
Corporate equities
    31,225       28,886       39,151       36,164  
Other
    68,398       59       38,551       35  
 
                       
Total
  $ 796,865     $ 210,980     $ 367,019     $ 160,052  
 
                       
Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased, consist of trading and investment securities at fair values. Included in securities owned at September 30, 2011 are corporate equities with estimated fair values of approximately $12.8 million ($14.3 million at December 31, 2010), which are related to deferred compensation liabilities to certain employees included in accrued compensation on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

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Valuation Techniques
A description of the valuation techniques applied and inputs used in measuring the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is as follows:
U.S. Treasury Obligations
U.S. Treasury securities are valued using quoted market prices obtained from active market makers and inter-dealer brokers and, accordingly, are categorized in Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
U.S. Agency Obligations
U.S. agency securities consist of agency issued debt securities and mortgage pass-through securities. Non-callable agency issued debt securities are generally valued using quoted market prices. Callable agency issued debt securities are valued by benchmarking model-derived prices to quoted market prices and trade data for identical or comparable securities. The fair value of mortgage pass-through securities are model driven with respect to spreads of the comparable To-be-announced (“TBA”) security. Actively traded non-callable agency issued debt securities are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Callable agency issued debt securities and mortgage pass-through securities are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Sovereign Obligations
The fair value of sovereign obligations is determined based on quoted market prices when available or a valuation model that generally utilizes interest rate yield curves and credit spreads as inputs. Sovereign obligations are categorized in Level 1 or 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Corporate Debt & Other Obligations
The fair value of corporate bonds is estimated using recent transactions, broker quotations and bond spread information. Corporate bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Mortgage and Other Asset-Backed Securities
The Company holds non-agency securities primarily collateralized by home equity and manufactured housing which are valued based on external pricing and spread data provided by independent pricing services and are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. When specific external pricing is not observable, the valuation is based on yields and spreads for comparable bonds and, consequently, the positions are categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Municipal Obligations
The fair value of municipal obligations is estimated using recently executed transactions, broker quotations, and bond spread information. These obligations are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where significant inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy.
Convertible Bonds
The fair value of convertible bonds is estimated using recently executed transactions and dollar-neutral price quotations, where observable. When observable price quotations are not available, fair value is determined based on cash flow models using yield curves and bond spreads as key inputs. Convertible bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where significant inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy.
Corporate Equities
Equity securities and options are generally valued based on quoted prices from the exchange or market where traded and categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. To the extent quoted prices are not available, prices are generally derived using bid/ask spreads, and these securities are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

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Other
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with each of the New York Attorney General’s office (“NYAG”) and the Massachusetts Securities Division (“MSD” and, together with the NYAG, the “Regulators”) concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer’s marketing and sale of auction rate securities (“ARS”). Pursuant to those settlements, as of September 30, 2011, the Company purchased and holds approximately $69.3 million in ARS from its clients pursuant to several purchase offers and legal settlements. The Company’s purchases of ARS from its clients will continue on a periodic basis thereafter pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $40.2 million in ARS from clients through 2016 and pay approximately $2.5 million as a result of legal settlements with clients. The ultimate amount of ARS to be repurchased by the Company cannot be predicted with any certainty and will be impacted by redemptions by issuers and client actions during the period, which cannot be predicted. In addition to the ARS held pursuant to purchases from clients of $69.3 million as of September 30, 2011 referred to above, the Company also held $2.1 million in ARS in its proprietary trading account as of September 30, 2011 as a result of the failed auctions in February 2008. These ARS positions primarily represent Auction Rate Preferred Securities issued by closed-end funds and, to a lesser extent, Municipal Auction Rate Securities which are municipal bonds wrapped by municipal bond insurance and Student Loan Auction Rate Securities which are asset-backed securities backed by student loans (collectively referred to as “ARS”).
Interest rates on ARS typically reset through periodic auctions. Due to the auction mechanism and generally liquid markets, ARS have historically been categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Beginning in February 2008, uncertainties in the credit markets resulted in substantially all of the ARS market experiencing failed auctions. Once the auctions failed, the ARS could no longer be valued using observable prices set in the auctions. The Company has used less observable determinants of the fair value of ARS, including the strength in the underlying credits, announced issuer redemptions, completed issuer redemptions, and announcements from issuers regarding their intentions with respect to their outstanding ARS. The Company has also developed an internal methodology to discount for the lack of liquidity and non-performance risk of the failed auctions. Key inputs include spreads on comparable Treasury yields to derive a discount rate, an estimate of the ARS duration, and yields based on current auctions in comparable securities that have not failed. Due to the less observable nature of these inputs, the Company categorizes ARS in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a valuation adjustment (unrealized loss) of $4.0 million for ARS.
Investments
In its role as general partner in certain hedge funds and private equity funds, the Company, through its subsidiaries, holds direct investments in such funds. The Company uses the net asset value of the underlying fund as a basis for estimating the fair value of its investment. Due to the illiquid nature of these investments and difficulties in obtaining observable inputs, these investments are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

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The following table provides information about the Company’s investments in Company-sponsored funds at September 30, 2011.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
            Unfunded              
            Commit-     Redemption     Redemption  
    Fair Value     ments     Frequency     Notice Period  
Hedge Funds(1)
  $ 1,039     $     Quarterly - Annually     30 - 120 Days  
Private Equity Funds(2)
    2,771       1,367       N/A       N/A  
Distressed Opportunities Fund(3)
    10,431           Semi-Annually     180 Days  
 
                           
 
Total
  $ 14,241     $ 1,367                  
 
                           
     
(1)  
Includes investments in hedge funds and hedge fund of funds that pursue long/short, event-driven, and activist strategies.
 
(2)  
Includes private equity funds and private equity fund of funds with a focus on diversified portfolios, real estate and global natural resources.
 
(3)  
Hedge fund that invests in distressed debt of U.S. companies.
Derivative Contracts
From time to time, the Company transacts in exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivative transactions to manage its interest rate risk. Exchange-traded derivatives, namely U.S. Treasury futures, Federal funds futures, and Eurodollar futures, are valued based on quoted prices from the exchange and are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Over-the-counter derivatives, namely interest rate swap and interest rate cap contracts, are valued using a discounted cash flow model and the Black-Scholes model, respectively, using observable interest rate inputs and are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
As described below in “Credit Concentrations”, the Company participates in loan syndications and operates as underwriting agent in leveraged financing transactions where it utilizes a warehouse facility provided by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”) to extend financing commitments to third-party borrowers identified by the Company. The Company uses broker quotations on loans trading in the secondary market as a proxy to determine the fair value of the underlying loan commitment which is categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company also purchases and sells loans in its proprietary trading book where CIBC provides the financing through a loan trading facility. The Company uses broker quotations to determine the fair value of loan positions held which are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The Company from time to time enters into securities financing transactions that mature on the same date as the underlying collateral. Such transactions are treated as a sale of financial assets and a forward repurchase commitment, or conversely as a purchase of financial assets and a forward reverse repurchase commitment. The forward repurchase and reverse repurchase commitments are valued based on the spread between the market value of the government security and the underlying collateral and are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

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Fair Value Measurements
The Company’s assets and liabilities, recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, have been categorized based upon the above fair value hierarchy as follows:
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011:
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements  
    As of September 30, 2011  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:
                               
Cash equivalents
  $ 46,442     $     $     $ 46,442  
Securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
    174,203                   174,203  
Deposits with clearing organizations
    9,095                   9,095  
Securities owned:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
    487,882                   487,882  
U.S. Agency obligations
    4,408       31,471             35,879  
Sovereign obligations
          61             61  
Corporate debt and other obligations
    12,165       29,973             42,138  
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
          3,910       766       4,676  
Municipal obligations
          71,515       4,129       75,644  
Convertible bonds
          50,962             50,962  
Corporate equities
    22,630       8,595             31,225  
Other
    3,179             65,219       68,398  
 
                       
Securities owned, at fair value
    530,264       196,487       70,114       796,865  
 
                       
Investments (1)
    797       30,573       15,473       46,843  
Derivative contracts
          23             23  
To-be-announced securities
          459             459  
Securities purchased under agreements to resell (2)
          574,969             574,969  
 
                       
Total
  $ 760,801     $ 802,511     $ 85,587     $ 1,648,899  
 
                       

 

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Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements  
    As of September 30, 2011  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Liabilities:
                               
Securities sold, but not yet purchased:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $ 158,478     $     $     $ 158,478  
U.S. Agency obligations
          90             90  
Sovereign debt obligations
          12             12  
Corporate debt and other obligations
    312       15,473             15,785  
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
          8             8  
Municipal obligations
          435             435  
Convertible bonds
          7,227             7,227  
Corporate equities
    14,378       14,508             28,886  
Other
    59                   59  
 
                       
Securities sold, but not yet purchased
    173,227       37,753             210,980  
 
                       
Investments
    34                   34  
Derivative contracts
    125       221       1,502       1,848  
To-be-announced securities
          4,070             4,070  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)
          403,374             403,374  
 
                       
Total
  $ 173,386     $ 445,418     $ 1,502     $ 620,306  
 
                       
     
(1)  
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(2)  
Includes securities purchased under agreements to resell where the Company has elected the fair value option.
 
(3)  
Includes securities sold under agreements to repurchase where the Company has elected the fair value option.

 

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Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010:
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements  
    As of December 31, 2010  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
                               
Assets:
                               
Cash equivalents
  $ 14,384     $     $     $ 14,384  
Securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
    14,497                   14,497  
Deposits with clearing organizations
    9,094                   9,094  
Securities owned:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
    115,790                   115,790  
U.S. Agency obligations
    23,963       20,348             44,311  
Sovereign obligations
    13                   13  
Corporate debt and other obligations
          32,204             32,204  
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
          2,881       14       2,895  
Municipal obligations
          53,302       1,787       55,089  
Convertible bonds
          39,015             39,015  
Corporate equities
    31,798       7,353             39,151  
Other
    2,643             35,908       38,551  
 
                       
Securities owned, at fair value
    174,207       155,103       37,709       367,019  
 
                       
Investments (1)
    12,522       34,563       17,208       64,293  
Derivative contracts
          178             178  
To-be-announced securities
          1,526             1,526  
Securities purchased under agreement to resell (2)
          332,179             332,179  
 
                       
Total
  $ 224,704     $ 523,549     $ 54,917     $ 803,170  
 
                       

 

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Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Fair Value Measurements  
    As of December 31, 2010  
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
 
Liabilities:
                               
Securities sold, but not yet purchased:
                               
U.S. Treasury obligations
  $ 101,060     $     $     $ 101,060  
U.S. Agency obligations
    4,405       99             4,504  
Sovereign obligations
                       
Corporate debt and other obligations
          6,788             6,788  
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
          25             25  
Municipal obligations
          383             383  
Convertible bonds
          11,093             11,093  
Corporate equities
    20,962       15,202             36,164  
Other
    35                   35  
 
                       
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
    126,462       33,590             160,052  
Investments
    12                   12  
Derivative contracts
    147       151             298  
To-be-announced securities
          1,213             1,213  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)
          389,305             389,305  
 
                       
Total
  $ 126,621     $ 424,259     $     $ 550,880  
 
                       
     
(1)  
Included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
 
(2)  
Includes securities purchased under agreements to resell where the Company has elected the fair value option.
 
(3)  
Includes securities sold under agreements to repurchase where the Company has elected the fair value option.
There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets and liabilities in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

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The following tables present changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                                         
            Realized     Unrealiz-     Purch-                    
            Gains     ed Gains     ases,     Sales,     Trans-     Ending  
    Opening     (Losses)     (Losses)     Issu-     Settle-     fers In     Bal-  
    Balance     (5)     (5) (6)     ances     ments     / Out     ance  
 
                                                       
For the three months ended September 30, 2011                
Assets:
                                                       
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $ 105       1       (3 )     893       (230 )         $ 766  
Municipal obligations
    3,829       (12 )     (143 )     575       (119 )           4,129  
Other (2)
    63,098             543       4,028       (2,450 )           65,219  
Investments (3)
    16,141             (793 )     126             (1 )     15,473  
 
                                                       
Liabilities:
                                                       
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $ 11                   (11 )               $  
Other(4)
  $                   1,502                   1,502  
                                                 
            Realized     Unrealiz-     Purchases,              
            Gains     ed Gains     Sales,     Trans-        
    Opening     (Losses)     (Losses)     Issuances,     fers In /     Ending  
    Balance     (4)     (4) (5)     Settlements     Out     Balance  
 
                                               
For the three months ended September 30, 2010        
Assets:
                                               
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $ 42       (5 )           (37 )         $  
Municipal obligations
    1,853             (125 )     75             1,803  
Other (2)
    20,870             (424 )     5,375             25,821  
Investments (3)
    16,930       (150 )     352       94             17,226  
 
                                               
Liabilities:
                                               
none
                                               
     
(1)  
Represents private placements of non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations.
 
(2)  
Represents auction rate preferred securities that failed in the auction rate market.
 
(3)  
Primarily represents general partner ownership interests in hedge funds and private equity funds sponsored by the Company.
 
(4)  
Represents valuation adjustment on commitments to purchase ARS as a result of legal settlements
 
(5)  
Included in principal transactions on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, except for investments which are included in other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
 
(6)  
Unrealized gains (losses) are attributable to assets or liabilities that are still held at the reporting date.

 

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The following tables present changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                                         
            Realized     Unrealiz-     Purch-                    
            Gains     ed Gains     ases,     Sales,     Trans-     Ending  
    Opening     (Losses)     (Losses)     Issu-     Settle-     fers In     Bal-  
    Balance     (4)     (4) (5)     ances     ments     / Out     ance  
 
                                                       
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011                
Assets:
                                                       
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $ 14       1             995       (244 )         $ 766  
Municipal obligations
    1,787       (12 )     (334 )     2,982       (294 )           4,129  
Other (2)
    35,909             (393 )     38,178       (8,475 )           65,219  
Investments (3)
    17,208             (794 )     572       (1,500 )     (13 )     15,473  
 
                                                       
Liabilities:
                                                       
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $                   11       (11 )         $  
Other
  $                   1,502                   1,502  
                                                 
            Realized     Unrealiz-     Purchases,              
            Gains     ed Gains     Sales,     Trans-        
    Opening     (Losses)     (Losses)     Issuances,     fers In /     Ending  
    Balance     (4)     (4) (5)     Settlements     Out     Balance  
 
                                               
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010        
Assets:
                                               
Mortgage and other asset-backed securities (1)
  $ 317       2       8       (25 )     (302 )   $  
Municipal obligations
    1,075       (4 )     (790 )     1,460       62       1,803  
Other (2)
    4,450             (779 )     22,150             25,821  
Investments (3)
    15,981       (150 )     678       496       221       17,226  
 
                                               
Liabilities:
                                               
none
                                               
     
(1)  
Represents private placements of non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations.
 
(2)  
Represents auction rate preferred securities that failed in the auction rate market.
 
(3)  
Primarily represents general partner ownership interests in hedge funds and private equity funds sponsored by the Company.
 
(4)  
Included in principal transactions on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, except for investments which are included in other income on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
 
(5)  
Unrealized gains (losses) are attributable to assets or liabilities that are still held at the reporting date.

 

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Fair Value Option
The Company has the option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. The Company may make a fair value option election on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. The Company has elected to apply the fair value option to its loan trading portfolio which resides in OPY Credit Corp. and is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Management has elected this treatment as it is consistent with the manner in which the business is managed as well as the way that financial instruments in other parts of the business are recorded. There were no loan positions held in the secondary loan trading portfolio at September 30, 2011 (None at December 31, 2010).
The Company also elected the fair value option for those securities sold under agreements to repurchase (“repurchase agreements”) and securities purchased under agreements to resell (“reverse repurchase agreements”) that do not settle overnight or have an open settlement date or that are not accounted for as purchase and sale agreements (such as repo-to-maturity transactions). The Company has elected the fair value option for these instruments to more accurately reflect market and economic events in its earnings and to mitigate a potential imbalance in earnings caused by using different measurement attributes (i.e. fair value versus carrying value) for certain assets and liabilities. At September 30, 2011, the fair value of the reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $575.0 million and $403.4, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the amount of losses related to reverse repurchase agreements was $1,000 and $7,000, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the amount of gains and losses related to repurchase agreements was $1,000 and $1,000, respectively.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
The Company transacts, on a limited basis, in exchange traded and over-the-counter derivatives for both asset and liability management as well as for trading and investment purposes. Risks managed using derivative instruments include interest rate risk and, to a lesser extent, foreign exchange risk. Interest rate swaps and interest rate caps are entered into to manage the Company’s interest rate risk associated with floating-rate borrowings. All derivative instruments are measured at fair value and are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company designates interest rate swaps and interest rate caps as cash flow hedges of floating-rate borrowings.
Cash flow hedges used for asset and liability management
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains or losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.

 

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On September 29, 2006, the Company entered into interest rate swap transactions to hedge the interest payments associated with its floating rate Senior Secured Credit Note, which was subject to change due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR. See note 6 for further information. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of the swap hedges were expected to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the interest payments due to changes in 3-Month LIBOR. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the effective portion of the net gain on the interest rate swaps, after tax, was approximately $nil and $69,000, respectively ($56,000 and $384,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010) and has been recorded as other comprehensive income on the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss). The swaps expired on March 31, 2011.
On January 20, 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate cap contract, incorporating a series of purchased caplets with fixed maturity dates ending December 31, 2012, to hedge the interest payments associated with its floating rate Subordinated Note, which is subject to changes in 3-Month LIBOR. See note 6 for further information. With the repayment of the Subordinated Note in the second quarter of 2011, this cap is no longer designated as a cash flow hedge. The loss of $1.3 million related to this hedge that was previously included in other comprehensive income (loss) was reversed and included in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations in the second quarter of 2011.
Foreign exchange hedges
From time to time, the Company also utilizes forward and options contracts to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with compensation obligations to Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd. employees denominated in New Israeli Shekels. Such hedges have not been designated as accounting hedges. At September 30, 2011, the Company did not have any such hedges in place.
“To-be-announced” securities
The Company also transacts 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 operations as principal transactions revenue.
The following table summarizes the notional and fair values of the TBAs as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    September 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Notional     Fair Value     Notional     Fair Value  
Sale of TBAs (1)
  $ 435,412     $ 4,070     $ 518,987     $ 1,213  
Purchase of TBAs
  $ 24,295     $ 459     $ 24,695     $ 1,526  
     
(1)  
TBAs are used to offset exposures related to commitments to provide funding for FHA loans at OMHHF. At September 30, 2011, the loan commitments balance was $370.7 million. In addition, at September 30, 2011, OMHHF had a loan receivable balance (included in other assets) of $40.4 million which relates to prior loan commitments that have been funded but have not yet been securitized.

 

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Derivatives used for trading and investment purposes
Futures contracts represent commitments to purchase or sell securities or other commodities at a future date and at a specified price. Market risk exists with respect to these instruments. Notional or contractual amounts are used to express the volume of these transactions, and do not represent the amounts potentially subject to market risk. The futures contracts the Company used include U.S. Treasury notes, Federal Funds and Eurodollar contracts. At September 30, 2011, the Company had 200 open short contracts for 10-year U.S. Treasury notes with a fair value of $122,000 used primarily as an economic hedge of interest rate risk associated with a portfolio of fixed income investments. At September 30, 2011, the Company had 4.5 billion open contracts for Federal Funds futures with a fair value of approximately $3,000 used an economic hedge of interest rate risk associated with government trading activities.
From time-to-time, the Company enters into securities financing transactions that mature on the same date as the underlying collateral. These transactions are treated as a sale of financial assets and a forward repurchase commitment, or conversely as a purchase of financial assets and a forward reverse repurchase commitment. At September 30, 2011, the fair value of the forward repurchase commitment was approximately $221,000.

 

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The notional amounts and fair values of the Company’s derivatives at September 30, 2011 by product were as follows:
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                     
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
As of September 30, 2011
    Description   Notional     Fair Value  
Assets:
                   
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments (1)                
Interest rate contracts
  Cap (2)   $ 100,000     $ 23  
 
                   
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)                
Other contracts
  Forward Start Repo (2)     50,000        
 
               
 
                   
Total Assets
      $ 150,000     $ 23  
 
               
 
                   
Liabilities:
                   
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)                
Commodity contracts
  U.S Treasury Futures (3)   $ 20,000     $ 122  
   
 
  Federal Funds Futures (4)     4,520,000       3  
Other contracts
  Forward Purchase Commitment (3) (5)     1,750,000       221  
 
  Auction rate securities purchase commitment (6)     40,220       1,502  
 
  Forward start Repo (3)     200,000        
 
               
 
                   
Total Liabilities   $ 6,530,220     $ 1,848  
 
               
     
(1)  
See “Fair Value of Derivative Instruments” below for description of derivative financial instruments.
 
(2)  
Included in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(3)  
Included in payable from brokers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(4)  
Included in accounts payable and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(5)  
Forward commitment to repurchase government securities that received sale treatment related to “Repo-to-Maturity” transactions.
 
(6)  
Included in securities owned on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

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Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                     
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
As of December 31, 2010
    Description   Notional     Fair Value  
Assets:
                   
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments (1)
Interest rate contracts
  Cap (2)   $ 100,000     $ 178  
 
               
 
Total Assets
      $ 100,000     $ 178  
 
               
 
                   
Liabilities:
                   
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments (1)
Interest rate contracts
  Swaps   $ 9,000     $ 116  
 
                   
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)
Commodity contracts
  U.S Treasury Futures (3)     14,000       147  
 
Other contracts
  Forward Purchase Commitment (3) (4)     3,250,000       35  
 
               
Sub-total
        3,264,000       182  
 
               
 
                   
Total Liabilities
      $ 3,273,000     $ 298  
 
               
     
(1)  
See “Fair Value of Derivative Instruments” below for description of derivative financial instruments.
 
(2)  
Included in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(3)  
Included in payable from brokers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
(4)  
Forward commitment to repurchase government securities that received sale treatment related to “Repo-to-Maturity” transactions.

 

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The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments and their effect on the statement of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                         
                    Recognized        
                    in Other        
                    Comprehen-        
                    sive Income     Reclassified from  
                    on     Accumulated Other  
                    Derivatives -     Comprehensive  
        Recognized in Income on     Effective     Income into Income-  
        Derivatives     Portion     Effective Portion (2)  
        (pre-tax)     (after-tax)     (after-tax)  
Hedging           Gain/     Gain/     Loca-     Gain/  
Relationship   Description   Location   (Loss)     (Loss)     tion     (Loss)  
 
                                       
Cash Flow Hedges used for asset and liability management:                                
Interest rate contracts
  Caps (3)   N/A   $ (10 )   $     Interest expense   $  
 
                                       
Derivatives used for trading and investment (1):                                
Commodity contracts
  U.S Treasury Futures   Principal transaction revenue     (2,041 )         None      
 
  Federal Funds Futures   Principal transaction revenue     (259 )         None      
 
  Euro-dollar Futures   Principal transaction revenue     33           None      
Other contracts
  Forward purchase commitment (3)   Principal transaction revenue     (363 )         None      
 
  Auction rate securities purchase commitment (4)   Principal transaction revenue     438           None      
 
                                 
Total
          $ (2,202 )   $             $  
 
                                 
     
(1)  
See “Fair Value of Derivative Instruments” above for description of derivative financial instruments.
 
(2)  
There is no ineffective portion included in income for the three months ended September 30, 2011.
 
(3)  
Forward commitment to repurchase government securities that received sale treatment related to “Repo-to-Maturity” transactions.
 
(4)  
Represents change in valuation allowance on commitments to purchase ARS as a result of legal settlements

 

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The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments and their effect on the statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                         
                    Recognized        
                    in Other        
                    Comprehen-        
                    sive Income     Reclassified from  
                    on     Accumulated Other  
                    Derivatives-     Comprehensive  
        Recognized in Income     Effective     Income into Income-  
        on Derivatives     Portion     Effective Portion (2)  
    (pre-tax)     (after-tax)     (after-tax)  
Hedging           Gain/     Gain/     Loca-     Gain/  
Relationship   Description   Location   (Loss)     (Loss)     tion     (Loss)  
 
                                       
Cash Flow Hedges used for asset and liability management:                                
Interest rate contracts
  Swaps   N/A   $     $     Interest expense   $ (50 )
 
  Caps (3)   N/A     (1,960 )         Interest expense     (1,272 )
 
                                       
Derivatives used for trading and investment (1):                                
Commodity contracts
  U.S Treasury Futures   Principal transaction revenue     (3,221 )         None      
 
  Federal Funds Futures   Principal transaction revenue     (509 )         None      
 
  Euro-dollar Futures   Principal transaction revenue     (378 )         None      
 
  Euro FX   Principal transaction revenue     (131 )         None      
Other contracts
  Forward purchase commitment (4)   Principal transaction revenue     (1,147 )         None      
 
  Auction rate securities purchase commitment   Principal transaction revenue     (1,502 )         None      
 
                                 
Total
          $ (8,848 )   $             $ (1,322 )
 
                                 
     
(1)  
See “Fair Value of Derivative Instruments” above for description of derivative financial instruments.
 
(2)  
There is no ineffective portion included in income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
 
(3)  
As noted above in “Cash flow hedges used for asset and liability management”, interest rate caps are used to hedge interest rate risk associated with the Subordinated Note. With the repayment of the Subordinated Note in the second quarter of 2011, this cap is no longer designated as a cash flow hedge and, as a result, a loss of $1.3 million, net of tax, has been reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss) to other expenses on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
 
(4)  
Forward commitment to repurchase government securities that received sale treatment related to “Repo-to-Maturity” transactions.

 

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Collateralized Transactions
The Company enters into collateralized borrowing and lending transactions in order to meet customers’ needs and earn residual interest rate spreads, obtain securities for settlement and finance trading inventory positions. Under these transactions, the Company either receives or provides collateral, including U.S. government and agency, asset-backed, corporate debt, equity, and non-U.S. government and agency securities.
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 September 30, 2011, bank call loans were $59.3 million ($147.0 million at December 31, 2010).
At September 30, 2011, the Company had collateralized loans, collateralized by firm and customer securities with market values of approximately $109.2 million and $146.5 million, respectively, primarily with two U.S. money center banks. At September 30, 2011, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion of customer securities under customer margin loans that are available to be pledged, of which the Company has repledged approximately $255.4 million under securities loan agreements.
At September 30, 2011, the Company had deposited $599.0 million of customer securities directly with the Options Clearing Corporation to secure obligations and margin requirements under option contracts written by customers.
At September 30, 2011, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit.
The Company finances its government trading operations through the use of repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements. Except as described below, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, principally involving government and agency securities, are carried at amounts at which the securities subsequently will be resold or reacquired as specified in the respective agreements and include accrued interest. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are presented on a net-by-counterparty basis, when the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are executed with the same counterparty, have the same explicit settlement date, are executed in accordance with a master netting arrangement, the securities underlying the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements exist in “book entry” form and certain other requirements are met.
Certain of the Company’s repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements are carried at fair value as a result of the Company’s fair value option election. The Company elected the fair value option for those repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements that do not settle overnight or have an open settlement date or that are not accounted for as purchase and sale agreements (such as repo-to-maturity transactions described above). The Company has elected the fair value option for these instruments to more accurately reflect market and economic events in its earnings and to mitigate a potential imbalance in earnings caused by using different measurement attributes (i.e. fair value versus carrying value) for certain assets and liabilities. At September 30, 2011, the fair value of the reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements was $575.0 million and $403.4, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the amount of losses related to reverse repurchase agreements was $1,000 and $7,000, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the amount of gains and losses related to repurchase agreements was $1,000 and $1,000, respectively.
At September 30, 2011, the gross balances of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $6.9 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively ($4.0 billion and $4.1 billion, respectively at December 31, 2010).

 

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The Company receives collateral in connection with securities borrowed and reverse repurchase agreement transactions and customer margin loans. Under many agreements, the Company is permitted to sell or repledge the securities received (e.g., use the securities to enter into securities lending transactions, or deliver to counterparties to cover short positions). At September 30, 2011, the fair value of securities received as collateral under securities borrowed transactions and reverse repurchase agreements was $233.7 million ($192.1 million at December 31, 2010) and $6.9 billion ($3.9 billion at December 31, 2010), respectively, of which the Company has sold and re-pledged approximately $15.3 million ($47.3 million at December 31, 2010) under securities loaned transactions and $6.9 billion under repurchase agreements ($3.9 billion at December 31, 2010).
The Company pledges certain of its securities owned for securities lending and repurchase agreements and to collateralize bank call loan transactions. The carrying value of pledged securities owned that can be sold or re-pledged by the counterparty was $402.7 million, as presented on the face of the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2011 ($102.5 million at December 31, 2010). 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 re-pledge the collateral was $150.1 million as at September 30, 2011 ($149.9 million at December 31, 2010).
The Company manages credit exposure arising from repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements by, in appropriate circumstances, entering into master netting agreements and collateral arrangements with counterparties that provide the Company, in the event of a customer default, the right to liquidate and the right to offset a counterparty’s rights and obligations. The Company also 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.
One of the Company’s funds in which a subsidiary of the Company acts as a general partner and also owns a limited partnership interest utilized Lehman Brothers International (Europe) as a prime broker. As of September 30, 2011, Lehman Brothers International (Europe) held securities with a fair value of $8.7 million that were segregated and not re-hypothecated.
Credit Concentrations
Credit concentrations may arise from trading, investing, underwriting and financing activities and may be impacted by changes in economic, industry or political factors. In the normal course of business, the Company may be exposed to risk in the event customers, counterparties including other brokers and dealers, issuers, banks, depositories or clearing organizations are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company seeks to mitigate these risks by actively monitoring exposures and obtaining collateral as deemed appropriate. Included in receivable from brokers and clearing organizations as of September 30, 2011 are receivables from four major U.S. broker-dealers totaling approximately $125.1 million.
The Company participates in loan syndications through its debt capital markets business. Through OPY Credit Corp., the Company operates as underwriting agent in leveraged financing CIBC to extend financing commitments to third-party borrowers identified by the Company. The Company has exposure, up to a maximum of 10%, of the excess underwriting commitment provided by CIBC over CIBC’s targeted loan retention (defined as “Excess Retention”). The Company quantifies its Excess Retention exposure by assigning a fair value to the underlying loan commitment provided by CIBC (in excess of what CIBC has agreed to retain) which is based on the fair value of the loans trading in the secondary market. To the extent that the fair value of the loans has decreased, the Company records an unrealized loss on the Excess Retention. Underwriting of loans pursuant to the warehouse facility is subject to joint credit approval by the Company and CIBC. As of September 30, 2011, the maximum aggregate principal amount of the warehouse facility was $1.5 billion, of which the Company utilized $66.3 million ($78.0 million as of December 31, 2010) and had $nil in Excess Retention ($nil as of December 31, 2010).

 

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The Company is obligated to settle transactions with brokers and other financial institutions even if its clients fail to meet their obligations to the Company. Clients are required to complete their transactions on settlement date, generally one to three business days after trade date. If clients do not fulfill their contractual obligations, the Company may incur losses. The Company has clearing/participating arrangements with the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”), the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (“FICC”), R.J. O’Brien & Associates (commodities transactions) and others. With respect to its business in reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements, substantially all open contracts at September 30, 2011 are with the FICC. In addition, the Company recently began clearing its non-U.S. international equities business carried on by Oppenheimer Europe through BNP Paribas Securities Services. The clearing corporations have the right to charge the Company for losses that result from a client’s failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. 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 September 30, 2011, 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 and banks with which it conducts business.
Through its Debt Capital Markets business, the Company also participates, with other members of loan syndications, in providing financing commitments under revolving credit facilities in leveraged financing transactions. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had $6.7 million committed under such financing arrangements.
OMHHF, which is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing, has obtained an uncommitted warehouse facility line through PNC Bank (“PNC”) under which OMHHF pledges Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) guaranteed mortgages for a period of up to 10 business days and PNC table funds the principal payment to the mortgagee. OMHHF repays PNC upon the securitization of the mortgage by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the delivery of the security to the counter party for payment pursuant to a contemporaneous sale on the date the mortgage is funded. At September 30, 2011, OMHHF had $19.0 million outstanding under the warehouse facility line at a variable interest rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 2.75%. Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $568,000 and $2.2 million, respectively.
Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)
VIEs are entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that absorbs a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receives a majority of its expected residual returns, or both, as a result of holding variable interests. The enterprise that is considered the primary beneficiary of a VIE consolidates the VIE.

 

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A subsidiary of the Company serves as general partner of hedge funds and private equity funds that were established for the purpose of providing investment alternatives to both its institutional and qualified retail clients. The Company holds variable interests in these funds as a result of its right to receive management and incentive fees. The Company’s investment in and additional capital commitments to these hedge funds and private equity funds are also considered variable interests. The Company’s additional capital commitments are subject to call at a later date and are limited in amount.
The Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of the hedge funds and private equity funds in which it holds a variable interest in the context of the total general and limited partner interests held in these funds by all parties. In each instance, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary and therefore need not consolidate the hedge funds or private equity funds. The subsidiaries’ general partnership interests, additional capital commitments, and management fees receivable represent its maximum exposure to loss. The subsidiaries’ general partnership interests and management fees receivable are included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
The following tables set forth the total VIE assets, the carrying value of the subsidiaries’ variable interests, and the Company’s maximum exposure to loss in Company-sponsored non-consolidated VIEs in which the Company holds variable interests and other non-consolidated VIEs in which the Company holds variable interests as at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
As of September 30, 2011
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                         
            Carrying Value of the             Maximum  
            Company’s Variable             Exposure  
    Total     Interest     Capital     to Loss in Non-  
    VIE Assets (1)     Assets (2)     Liabilities     Commitments     consolidated VIEs  
 
                                       
Hedge Funds
  $ 1,612,468     $ 2,008     $     $     $ 2,008  
Private Equity Funds
    142,875       27             13       40  
 
                             
Total
  $ 1,755,343     $ 2,035     $     $ 13     $ 2,048  
 
                             
As of December 31, 2010
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                         
            Carrying Value of the             Maximum  
            Company’s Variable             Exposure  
    Total     Interest     Capital     to Loss in Non-  
    VIE Assets (1)     Assets (2)     Liabilities     Commitments     consolidated VIEs  
 
                                       
Hedge Funds
  $ 1,769,382     $ 775     $     $     $ 775  
Private Equity Funds
    157,196       22             5       27  
 
                             
Total
  $ 1,926,578     $ 797     $     $ 5     $ 802  
 
                             
     
(1)  
Represents the total assets of the VIEs and does not represent the Company’s interests in the VIEs.
 
(2)  
Represents the Company’s interests in the VIEs and is included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

 

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7. Long-term debt
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
            Interest              
            Rate at              
            September     September 30,     December  
Issued   Maturity Date     30, 2011     2011     31, 2010  
 
                               
Senior Secured Notes (a)
    4/15/2018       8.75 %   $ 200,000     $  
Senior Secured Credit Note (b)
    7/31/2013 *           $     $ 22,503  
Subordinated Note (c)
    1/31/2014 *           $     $ 100,000  
     
*  
Retired on April 12, 2011
 
(a)  
On April 12, 2011, the Company completed the private placement of $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75 percent Senior Secured Notes due April 15, 2018 at par (the “Notes”).The interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15th and October 15th. Proceeds from the private placement were used to retire the Senior Secured Credit Note due 2013 ($22.4 million) and the Subordinated Note due 2014 ($100.0 million) and for other general corporate purposes. The private placement resulted in the fixing of the interest rate over the term of the Notes compared to the variable rate debt that was retired and an extension of the debt maturity dates as described above. The cost to issue the Notes was approximately $4.5 million which was capitalized in the second quarter of 2011 and will be amortized over the period of the Notes. The Company wrote off $344,000 in unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Secured Credit Note during the second quarter of 2011. Additionally, as a result of the retirement of the Subordinated Note, the effective portion of the net loss of $1.3 million related to the interest rate cap cash flow hedge has been reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the condensed consolidated balance sheet to interest expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the second quarter of 2011.
 
   
The indenture for the Notes contains covenants which place restrictions on the incurrence of indebtedness, the payment of dividends, sale of assets, mergers and acquisitions and the granting of liens. The Notes provide for events of default including nonpayment, misrepresentation, breach of covenants and bankruptcy. The Company’s obligations under the Notes are guaranteed, subject to certain limitations, by the same subsidiaries that guaranteed the obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Note and the Subordinated Note which were retired. These guarantees may be shared, on a senior basis, under certain circumstances, with newly incurred debt outstanding in the future. At September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.
 
   
On July 12, 2011, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed to register the exchange of the Notes for fully registered Notes was declared effective by the SEC. The Exchange Offer was completed in its entirety on August 9, 2011.
 
   
Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, on the Notes was $4.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively.

 

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(b)  
In 2006, the Company issued a Senior Secured Credit Note in the amount of $125.0 million at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR with a seven-year term to a syndicate led by Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc., as agent. In accordance with the Senior Secured Credit Note, the Company provided certain covenants to the lenders with respect to the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge ratio and maximum leverage ratio and minimum net capital requirements with respect to Oppenheimer.
 
   
The principal balance of the Senior Secured Credit Note in the amount of $22.4 million was repaid in full on April 12, 2011 in connection with the issuance of the Notes described in (a) above.
 
   
Interest expense, as well as interest paid for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, on the Senior Secured Credit Note was $nil and $306,000, respectively ($405,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010).
 
(c)  
On January 14, 2008, in connection with the acquisition of certain businesses from CIBC World Markets Corp., CIBC made a loan in the amount of $100.0 million and the Company issued a Subordinated Note to CIBC in the amount of $100.0 million at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR. The purpose of this note was to support the capital requirements of the acquired business. In accordance with the Subordinated Note, the Company provided certain covenants to CIBC with respect to the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge ratio and maximum leverage ratio and minimum net capital requirements with respect to Oppenheimer.
The principal balance of the Subordinated Note in the amount of $100.0 million was repaid in full on April 12, 2011 in connection with the issuance of the Notes described in (a) above.
Interest expense, as well as interest paid for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, on the Subordinated Note was $nil and $1.6 million, respectively ($1.5 million and $4.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010).
8. Share capital
The following table reflects changes in the number of shares of Class A Stock outstanding for the periods indicated:
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Class A Stock outstanding, beginning of period
    13,568,945       13,253,022       13,268,522       13,118,001  
Issued pursuant to the share-based compensation plans
    2,000       6,500       302,423       141,521  
 
                       
Class A Stock outstanding, end of period
    13,570,945       13,259,522       13,570,945       13,259,522  
 
                       
9. Net capital requirements
The Company’s U.S. broker dealer 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 September 30, 2011, the net capital of Oppenheimer as calculated under the Rule was $158.1 million or 12.2% of Oppenheimer’s aggregate debit items. This was $132.3 million in excess of the minimum required net capital at that date. 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 September 30, 2011, Freedom had net capital of $5.0 million, which was $4.8 million in excess of the $250,000 required to be maintained at that date.

 

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At September 30, 2011, the regulatory capital of Oppenheimer Europe was $4.3 million, which was $1.3 million in excess of the $3.0 million required to be maintained at that date. Oppenheimer Europe computes its regulatory capital pursuant to the Fixed Overhead Method prescribed by the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom.
At September 30, 2011, the regulatory capital of Oppenheimer Investments Asia Ltd. was $1.1 million, which was $756,000 in excess of the $385,000 required to be maintained on that date. Oppenheimer Investments Asia Ltd. computes its regulatory capital pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong.
10. 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 employee-owned securities.
11. Segment information
The table below presents information about the reported revenue and profit before income taxes 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, 2010. The Company has allocated all revenue and expenses to its segments and has eliminated the “Other” category. Previously reported segment information has been revised to reflect this change. The Company’s business is conducted primarily in the United States with additional operations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America.
The table below presents information about the reported revenue and profit before income taxes of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. Asset information by reportable segment is not reported, since the Company does not produce such information for internal use. Substantially all assets are located in the United States.

 

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Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Revenue:
                               
Private Client (1)
  $ 127,527     $ 134,182     $ 410,684     $ 411,858  
Capital Markets
    88,044       84,396       265,061       277,866  
Asset Management (1)
    16,048       16,565       53,809       49,789  
 
                       
Total
  $ 231,619     $ 235,143     $ 729,554     $ 739,513  
 
                       
 
                               
Profit (loss) before taxes:
                               
Private Client (1)
  $ 5,989     $ 3,117     $ 10,128     $ 13,647  
Capital Markets
    (4,005 )     86       (6,717 )     10,916  
Asset Management (1)
    2,280       4,256       12,386       12,182  
 
                       
Total
  $ 4,264     $ 7,459     $ 15,797     $ 36,745  
 
                       
     
(1)  
Asset management revenue is allocated 77.5% to the Private Client segment and 22.5% to the Asset Management segment.
Revenues, classified by the major geographic areas in which they were earned for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, were as follows:
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
United States
  $ 219,545     $ 220,188     $ 691,107     $ 698,300  
Europe / Middle East
    7,093       6,710       21,881       21,001  
Asia
    2,787       2,756       9,172       10,921  
South America
    2,194       5,489       7,394       9,291  
 
                       
Total
  $ 231,619     $ 235,143     $ 729,554     $ 739,513  
 
                       
12. Subsequent events
On October 28, 2011, the Company announced a cash dividend of $0.11 per share (totaling $1.5 million) payable on November 25, 2011 to Class A and Class B Stockholders of record on November 11, 2011.

 

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13. Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company’s Notes are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by E.A. Viner International Co. and Viner Finance Inc. (together, the Guarantors), unless released as described below. Each of the Guarantors is 100% owned by the Company. The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company (referred to as “Parent” for purposes of this note only), the Guarantor subsidiaries, the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries and elimination entries necessary to consolidate the Company. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method for purposes of the consolidated presentation.
Each Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon: the sale, exchange or transfer of the capital stock of a Guarantor and the Guarantor ceases to be a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company if such sale does not constitute an asset sale under the indenture or does not constitute an asset sale effected in compliance with the asset sale and merger covenants of the debenture; a Guarantor being dissolved or liquidated; a Guarantor being designated unrestricted in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Notes; or the exercise by the Company of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option or the discharge of the Company’s obligations under the indenture in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
ASSETS
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 12,293     $ 18,228     $ 56,975     $     $ 87,496  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
                199,948             199,948  
Deposits with clearing organizations
                22,574             22,574  
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations
          23       335,243             335,266  
Receivable from customers, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,399
                893,571             893,571  
Income taxes receivable
    4,351       26,618       (702 )     (25,132 )     5,135  
Securities purchased under agreement to resell
                589,665             589,665  
Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $402,666, at fair value
          12,163       784,702             796,865  
Subordinated loan receivable
          112,558             (112,558 )      
Notes receivable, net
                55,965             55,965  
Office facilities, net
                18,047             18,047  
Deferred tax asset
    93             16,791       (16,884 )      
Intangible assets, net
                37,735             37,735  
Goodwill
                137,889             137,889  
Other
    4,300       324       161,622       60       166,306  
Investment in subsidiaries
    500,526       895,821       (189,022 )     (1,207,325 )      
Intercompany receivables
    192,640       (136,446 )     (20,012 )     (36,181 )      
 
                             
 
  $ 714,203     $ 929,289     $ 3,100,991     $ (1,398,021 )   $ 3,346,462  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                       
Liabilities
                                       
Drafts payable
  $     $     $ 46,049     $     $ 46,049  
Bank call loans
                59,300             59,300  
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations
                426,590             426,590  
Payable to customers
                576,981             576,981  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
                860,360             860,360  
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
          313       210,667             210,980  
Accrued compensation
                129,050             129,050  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    8,308       845       299,019       59       308,233  
Income taxes payable
    2,440       22,555       137       (25,132 )      
Senior secured note
    200,000                         200,000  
Subordinated indebtedness
                112,558       (112,558 )      
Deferred income tax, net
          (1,890 )     32,410       (16,883 )     13,637  
Excess of fair value of acquired assets over cost
                7,020             7,020  
Intercompany payables
          36,169             (36,169 )      
 
                             
 
    210,748       57,992       2,760,141       (190,683 )     2,838,200  
Stockholders’ equity attributable to the Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
    503,455       871,297       336,043       (1,207,338 )     503,455  
Noncontrolling interest
                    4,807               4,807  
Stockholders’ equity
    503,455       871,297       340,850       (1,207,338 )     508,262  
 
                             
 
  $ 714,203     $ 929,289     $ 3,100,991       (1,398,021 )   $ 3,346,462  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
ASSETS
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 361     $ (241 )   $ 52,734     $     $ 52,854  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes
                142,446             142,446  
Deposits with clearing organizations
                23,228             23,228  
Receivable from brokers and clearing organizations
          62       302,782             302,844  
Receivable from customers, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,716
                924,817             924,817  
Income taxes receivable
          33,557       (702 )     (27,713 )     5,142  
Securities purchased under agreement to resell
                347,070             347,070  
Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $102,501, at fair value
                367,019             367,019  
Subordinated loan receivable
          12,558       100,000       (112,558 )      
Notes receivable, net
                59,786             59,786  
Office facilities, net
                22,875             22,875  
Intangible assets, net
                40,979             40,979  
Goodwill
                137,889             137,889  
Other
          (347 )     198,954       58       198,665  
Investment in subsidiaries
    492,299       782,916       (152,804 )     (1,122,411 )      
Intercompany receivables
    12,135       21,862       1,849       (35,846 )      
 
                             
 
  $ 504,795     $ 850,367     $ 2,568,922     $ (1,298,470 )   $ 2,625,614  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET (unaudited)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2010
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
 
                                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                       
Liabilities
                                       
Drafts payable
  $     $     $ 61,055     $     $ 61,055  
Bank call loans
                147,000             147,000  
Payable to brokers and clearing organizations
                372,697             372,697  
Payable to customers
                406,916             406,916  
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
                390,456             390,456  
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
                160,052             160,052  
Accrued compensation
                175,938             175,938  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    131             265,346       58       265,535  
Income taxes payable
    2,440       22,189       3,084       (27,713 )      
Senior secured credit note
                22,503             22,503  
Subordinated note
                212,558       (112,558 )     100,000  
Deferred income tax, net
                11,186             11,186  
Excess of fair value of acquired assets over cost
                7,020             7,020  
Intercompany payables
          35,896             (35,896 )      
 
                             
 
    2,571       58,085       2,235,811       (176,109 )     2,120,358  
 
                             
 
                                       
Stockholders’ equity attributable to the Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
    502,224       792,282       330,079       (1,122,361 )     502,224  
Noncontrolling interest
                3,032             3,032  
 
                             
Stockholders’ equity
    502,224       792,282       333,111       (1,122,361 )     505,256  
 
                             
 
  $ 504,795     $ 850,367     $ 2,568,922     $ (1,298,470 )   $ 2,265,614  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
REVENUE
                                       
Commissions
  $     $     $ 123,267     $     $ 123,267  
Principal transactions, net
          (1,391 )     9,624             8,233  
Interest
    1       2,937       14,937       (2,714 )     15,161  
Investment banking
                29,199             29,199  
Advisory fees
                51,320       (624 )     50,696  
Other
          1       5,062               5,063  
 
                             
 
    1       1,547       233,409       (3,338 )     231,619  
 
                             
 
                                       
EXPENSES
                                       
Compensation and related expenses
    69             148,882             148,951  
Clearing and exchange fees
                6,514             6,514  
Communications and technology
    24             15,114             15,138  
Occupancy and equipment costs
                18,977             18,977  
Interest
    4,375       11       8,558       (2,714 )     10,230  
Other
    360       18       27,791       (624 )     27,545  
 
                             
 
    4,828       29       225,836       (3,338 )     227,355  
 
                             
Profit before income taxes
    (4,827 )     1,518       7,573             4,264  
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (2,252 )     610       3,447             1,805  
Net profit for the period
    (2,575 )     908       4,126             2,459  
Less net profit attributable to non- Controlling interest, net of tax
                353             353  
Equity in subsidiaries
    4,681                   (4,681 )      
 
                             
Net profit attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 2,106     $ 908     $ 3,773     $ (4,681 )   $ 2,106  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
REVENUE
                                       
Commissions
  $     $     $ 380,912     $     $ 380,912  
Principal transactions, net
          (1,698 )     34,235             32,537  
Interest
    1       7,356       43,167       (6,925 )     43,599  
Investment banking
                92,357       (1,000 )     91,357  
Advisory fees
                151,015       (1,815 )     149,200  
Other
          1       31,948               31,949  
 
                             
 
    1       5,659       733,634       (9,740 )     729,554  
 
                             
 
                                       
EXPENSES
                                       
Compensation and related expenses
    221             479,581             479,802  
Clearing and exchange fees
                19,127             19,127  
Communications and technology
    45             47,101             47,146  
Occupancy and equipment costs
                56,047             56,047  
Interest
    8,167       3,438       23,993       (6,925 )     28,673  
Other
    1,906       280       83,591       (2,815 )     82,962  
 
                             
 
    10,339       3,718       709,440       (9,740 )     713,757  
 
                             
Profit before income taxes
    (10,338 )     1,941       24,194               15,797  
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (4,444 )     876       10,707             7,139  
Net profit for the period
    (5,894 )     1,065       13,487             8,658  
Less net profit attributable to non- Controlling interest, net of tax
                1,775             1,775  
Equity in subsidiaries
    12,777                   (12,777 )      
 
                             
Net profit attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 6,883     $ 1,065     $ 11,712     $ (12,777 )   $ 6,883  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
REVENUE
                                       
Commissions
  $     $     $ 120,940     $     $ 120,940  
Principal transactions, net
                22,646             22,646  
Interest
          1,839       11,220       (1,839 )     11,220  
Investment banking
                21,791             21,791  
Advisory fees
                43,854       (498 )     43,356  
Other
                15,190               15,190  
 
                             
 
          1,839       235,641       (2,337 )     235,143  
 
                             
 
                                       
EXPENSES
                                       
Compensation and related expenses
    126             159,360             159,486  
Clearing and exchange fees
                5,525             5,525  
Communications and technology
                15,838             15,838  
Occupancy and equipment costs
                18,162             18,162  
Interest
          1,591       6,794       (1,839 )     6,546  
Other
    148       103       22,376       (498 )     22,127  
 
                             
 
    274       1,694       228,055       (2,337 )     227,684  
 
                             
Profit (loss) before income taxes
    (274 )     147       7,586             7,459  
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (110 )     79       3,240             3,210  
Net profit (loss) for the period
    (164 )     67       4,346             4,249  
Less net profit attributable to non- controlling interest, net of tax
                595             595  
Equity in subsidiaries
    3,818                   (3,818 )      
 
                             
Net profit (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 3,654     $ 67     $ 3,751       ($3,818 )   $ 3,654  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
REVENUE
                                       
Commissions
  $     $     $ 398,719     $     $ 398,719  
Principal transactions, net
          (276 )     61,079             60,803  
Interest
          5,335       31,995       (5,334 )     31,996  
Investment banking
                83,311             83,311  
Advisory fees
                131,620       (1,486 )     130,134  
Other
                34,550             34,550  
 
                             
 
          5,059       741,274       (6,820 )     739,513  
 
                             
 
                                       
EXPENSES
                                       
Compensation and related expenses
    228             485,537             485,765  
Clearing and exchange fees
                19,910             19,910  
Communications and technology
    29             48,549             48,578  
Occupancy and equipment costs
                54,884             54,884  
Interest
          4,951       18,398       (5,333 )     18,016  
Other
    625       202       76,275       (1,487 )     75,615  
 
                             
 
    882       5,153       703,553       (6,820 )     702,768  
 
                             
Profit (loss) before income taxes
    (882 )     (94 )     37,721             36,745  
Income tax provision (benefit)
    (353 )     (30 )     15,254             14,871  
Net profit (loss) for the period
    (529 )     (64 )     22,467             21,874  
Less net profit attributable to non- controlling interest, net of tax
                1,505             1,505  
Equity in subsidiaries
    20,898                   (20,898 )      
 
                             
Net profit (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ 20,369     $ (64 )   $ 20,962     $ (20,898 )   $ 20,369  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
Cash flows from operations:
                                       
Net profit (loss) for the period
  $ (5,894 )   $ 1,065     $ 13,487     $     $ 8,658  
Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
                                       
Depreciation and amortization
                9,299             9,299  
Deferred income tax
    (93 )     (1,890 )     4,434             2,451  
Amortization of notes receivable
                15,103             15,103  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
                734             734  
Amortization of intangibles
                3,244             3,244  
Provision for credit losses
                (317 )           (317 )
Share-based compensation
                118             118  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    (180,979 )     54,010       105,755       36,423       15,210  
 
                             
Cash provided by (used in) continuing operations
    (186,966 )     53,186       151,856       36,423       54,500  
 
                             
 
                                       
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Purchase of office facilities
                (3,865 )           (3,865 )
 
                             
Cash used in investing activities
                (3,865 )           (3,865 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
    (4,506 )                       (4,506 )
Issuance of Class A non-voting common Stock
    337                         337  
Senior secured note issuance
    200,000                         200,000  
Senior secured credit note repayments
                (22,503 )           (22,503 )
Subordinated note repayments
                (100,000 )           (100,000 )
Other financing activities
    3,067       (34,717 )     (21,247 )     (36,423 )     (89,321 )
 
                             
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    198,898       (34,717 )     (143,750 )     (36,423 )     (15,993 )
 
                             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    11,932       18,469       4,241           34,642  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    361       (241 )     52,734             52,854  
 
                             
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 12,293     $ 18,228   $ 56,975           $ 87,496  
 
                             

 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
                                         
            Guarantor     Non-guarantor     Elimin-        
Expressed in thousands of dollars.   Parent     Subsidiaries     Subsidiaries     ations     Consolidated  
Cash flows from operations:
                                       
Net profit (loss) for the period
    ($529 )     ($64 )   $ 22,467       $ 21,874  
Adjustments to reconcile net profit (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
                                       
Depreciation and amortization
                9,053             9,053  
Deferred income tax
                32,336             32,336  
Amortization of notes receivable
                15,062             15,062  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
                742             742  
Amortization of intangibles
                3,243             3,243  
Provision for credit losses
                336             336  
Share-based compensation
                3,979             3,979  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    (1,921     (7,037     (137,776 )     (3,720     (150,454 )
 
                             
Cash provided by (used in) continuing operations
    (2,450     (7,101     (50,558 )     (3,720     (63,829 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Purchase of office facilities
                (11,877 )           (11,877 )
 
                             
Cash used in investing activities
                (11,877 )           (11,877 )
 
                             
 
                                       
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
    (4,401 )                       (4,401 )
Issuance of Class A non-voting common Stock
    2,132                         2,132  
Senior secured credit note repayments
                (9,500 )           (9,500 )
Other financing activities
    7,823     10,164       41,851       8,861       68,699  
 
                             
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    5,554     10,164       32,351       8,861       56,930  
 
                             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    3,104       3,063       (30,084 )     5,141       (18,776 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    2,475       2,359       64,084             68,918  
 
                             
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 5,579     $ 5,422     $ 34,000       5,141     $ 50,142  
 
                             

 

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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, 2010.
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, trust services and investment advisory and asset management services. Its principal subsidiaries are Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”) and Oppenheimer Asset Management (“OAM”). As at September 30, 2011, the Company provided its services from 94 offices in 26 states located throughout the United States, offices in Tel Aviv, Israel, Hong Kong, China, and London, England and in two offices in Latin America through local broker-dealers. Client assets entrusted to the Company as at September 30, 2011 totaled approximately $77.3 billion. The Company provides investment advisory services through OAM and Oppenheimer Investment Management (“OIM”) and Oppenheimer’s Fahnestock Asset Management, ALPHA and OMEGA Group divisions. At September 30, 2011, client assets under management by the asset management groups totaled $17.7 billion. The Company provides trust services and products through Oppenheimer Trust Company. The Company provides discount brokerage services through Freedom and through BUYandHOLD, a division of Freedom Investments, Inc. Through OPY Credit Corp., the Company offers syndication as well as trading of issued corporate loans. Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing and Healthcare Finance, Inc. (formerly Evanston Financial Corporation) (“OMHHF”) is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing. At September 30, 2011, the Company employed 3,610 employees (3,536 full time and 74 part time), of whom approximately 1,408 were 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 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 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 September 30, 2011, there were no 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, 2010.
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 as well as fees for investment banking services, and investment income as well as on liquidity. Substantial fluctuations can occur in revenues and net income due to these and other factors.

 

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For a number of years, the Company has offered auction rate securities (“ARS”) to its clients. A significant portion of the market in ARS has ‘failed’ because, in the tight credit market, the dealers are no longer willing or able to purchase the imbalance between supply and demand for ARS. These securities have auctions scheduled on either a 7, 28 or 35 day cycle. Clients of the Company own a significant amount of ARS in their individual accounts. The absence of a liquid market for these securities presents a significant problem to clients and, as a result, to the Company. It should be noted that this is a failure of liquidity and not a default. These securities in almost all cases have not failed to pay interest or principal when due. These securities are fully collateralized for the most part and, for the most part, remain good credits. The Company has not acted as an auction agent for ARS.
Interest rates on ARS typically reset through periodic auctions. Due to the auction mechanism and generally liquid markets, ARS have historically been categorized as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Beginning in February 2008, uncertainties in the credit markets resulted in substantially all of the ARS market experiencing failed auctions. Once the auctions failed, the ARS could no longer be valued using observable prices set in the auctions. The Company has used less observable determinants of the fair value of ARS, including the strength in the underlying credits, announced issuer redemptions, completed issuer redemptions, and announcements from issuers regarding their intentions with respect to their outstanding ARS. The Company has also developed an internal methodology to discount for the lack of liquidity and non-performance risk of the failed auctions. Key inputs include spreads on comparable Treasury yields to derive a discount rate, an estimate of the ARS duration, and yields based on current auctions in comparable securities that have not failed. Due to the less observable nature of these inputs, the Company categorizes ARS in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had a valuation adjustment (unrealized loss) of $4.0 million for ARS.
The Company has sought, with limited success, financing from a number of sources to try to find a means for all its clients to find liquidity from their ARS holdings and will continue to do so. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in finding a liquidity solution for all its clients’ ARS holdings. See “Risk Factors — The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and “Factors Affecting ‘Forward-Looking Statements”.
Recent events have caused increased review and scrutiny on the methods utilized by financial service companies to finance their short term requirements for liquidity. The Company utilizes commercial bank loans, securities lending, and repurchase agreements (through overnight, term, and repo-to-maturity transactions) to finance its short term liquidity needs (See “Liquidity”). All repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements are collateralized by short term U.S. Government obligations and U.S. Government Agency obligations.
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 while addressing the issue of managing its expenses to better align them with the current investment environment. The Company will continue to nurture the growth of OMMHF as well as its business in non-U.S. markets.

 

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Regulatory and Legal Environment
The brokerage business is subject to regulation by, among others, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and FINRA (formerly the NYSE and NASD) in the United States, the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) in the United Kingdom, the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong (“SFC”), the Israeli Securities Authority (“ISA”) in Israel and various state securities regulators in the United States. 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.
In July 2010, Congress enacted extensive legislation entitled the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd Frank”) in which it mandated that the SEC and other regulators conduct comprehensive studies and issue new regulations based on their findings to control the activities of financial institutions in order to protect the financial system, the investing public and consumers from issues and failures that occurred in the recent financial crisis. All relevant studies have not yet been completed, but they are widely expected to extensively impact the regulation and practices of financial institutions including the Company. The changes are likely to significantly reduce leverage available to financial institutions and to increase transparency to regulators and investors of risks taken by such institutions. It is impossible to presently predict the nature of such rulemaking, and rules adopted in the U.S. and the United Kingdom would create a new regulator for certain activities, regulate and/or prohibit proprietary trading for certain deposit taking institutions, control the amount and timing of compensation to “highly paid” employees, create new regulations around financial transactions with consumers requiring the adoption of a uniform fiduciary standard of care of broker-dealers and investment advisers providing personalized investment advice about securities to retail customers, and increase the disclosures provided to clients, and possibly create a tax on securities transactions. If and when enacted, such regulations will likely increase compliance costs and reduce returns earned by financial service providers and intensify compliance overall. It is difficult to predict the nature of the final regulations and their impact on the business of the Company.
Prohibitions and Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds (the “Volcker Rule”) was recently published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as required by Dodd-Frank. The Volcker Rule is intended to restrict U.S. banks and other financial institutions that accept deposits from conducting proprietary trading activities, as well as investing in hedge funds and private equity funds for their own account. The intent of the Volcker Rule is to reduce risk to the capital of such institutions through reducing speculation and risk-taking with bank capital. The draft form of the proposed rule is being exposed for comment until January 13, 2012 and is scheduled to become effective on July 21, 2012. While it is widely expected that the impact of the Volcker Rule may significantly impact the liquidity in various capital markets, the effect cannot be predicted. The Company believes that the Volcker Rule will not directly affect its operations, but indirect effects cannot be predicted with any certainty.

 

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The impact of the rules and requirements that were created by the passage of the Patriot Act, and the anti-money laundering regulations (AML) in the U.S. and similar laws in other countries that are related thereto have created significant costs of compliance and can be expected to continue to do so.
Pursuant to FINRA Rule 3130 (formerly NASD Rule 3013 and NYSE Rule 342), the chief executive officers (“CEOs”) of regulated broker-dealers (including the CEO of Oppenheimer) are required to certify that their companies have processes in place to establish and test supervisory policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with federal securities laws and regulations, including applicable regulations of self-regulatory organizations. The CEO of the Company is required to make such a certification on an annual basis and did so in March 2011.
Other Regulatory Matters
For several quarters, Oppenheimer has been responding to information requests from the Enforcement Staff of FINRA regarding Oppenheimer’s policies and procedures in relation to, and the activities of several financial advisors concerning, the sale of low-priced securities. The Company has responded to numerous document requests and there have been on-the-record testimony given by financial advisors and supervisory personnel who work in several of Oppenheimer’s branch offices.
On June 23, 2011, Oppenheimer received notice of an investigation by the SEC pursuant to which the SEC requested information from the Company regarding the sale of a number of low-priced securities effected primarily through one of Oppenheimer’s financial advisors. Oppenheimer is continuing to respond to information requests as part of the investigation.
Oppenheimer is continuing to cooperate with the investigating entities and will continue to closely monitor the activities of its financial advisors and their supervisors in relation to the sale of low-priced securities.
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with each of the New York Attorney General’s office (“NYAG”) and the Massachusetts Securities Division (“MSD” and, together with the NYAG, the “Regulators”) concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer’s marketing and sale of auction rate securities (“ARS”). Pursuant to those settlements, as of September 30, 2011, the Company purchased and holds approximately $69.3 million in ARS from its clients pursuant to several purchase offers and legal settlements. The Company’s purchases of ARS from its clients will continue on a periodic basis thereafter pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $40.2 million in ARS from clients through 2016 and pay approximately $2.5 million as a result of legal settlements with clients. The ultimate amount of ARS to be repurchased by the Company cannot be predicted with any certainty and will be impacted by redemptions by issuers and client actions during the period, which cannot be predicted. In addition to the ARS held pursuant to purchases from clients of $69.3 million as of September 30, 2011 referred to above, the Company also held $2.1 million in ARS in its proprietary trading account as of September 30, 2011 as a result of the failed auctions in February 2008. These ARS positions primarily represent Auction Rate Preferred Securities issued by closed-end funds and, to a lesser extent, Municipal Auction Rate Securities which are municipal bonds wrapped by municipal bond insurance and Student Loan Auction Rate Securities which are asset-backed securities backed by student loans (collectively referred to as “ARS”).
The Company’s clients held at Oppenheimer approximately $402.8 million of ARS at September 30, 2011, exclusive of amounts that 1) were owned by Qualified Institutional Buyers (“QIBs”), 2) were transferred to the Company after February 2008, 3) were purchased by clients after February 2008, or 4) were transferred from the Company to other securities firms after February 2008.

 

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See “Risk Factors — The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market,” appearing in Item 1A to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and “Legal Proceedings” herein.
Other Matters
A subsidiary of the Company was the administrative agent for two closed-end funds until December 5, 2005. The Company was advised by the current administrative agent for these two funds that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) had asserted 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. On October 14, 2011, Oppenheimer entered into a settlement agreement with the adviser to one of the aforementioned funds pursuant to which Oppenheimer paid approximately $2.5 million. Oppenheimer also received approximately $1.3 million in contribution from two other parties involved in the matter, making Oppenheimer’s net payment equal to approximately $1.2 million. The Company considers this matter now closed.
In April 2008, Oppenheimer commenced an action against Metal Management Inc. (“Metal”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) to collect an unpaid fee related to an investment banking transaction. On June 20, 2011, the Court issued an order granting Oppenheimer’s motion for summary judgment. On July 25, 2011, Metal appealed such order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On August 26, 2011, Oppenheimer entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Metal paid to Oppenheimer approximately $10 million. See further discussion in Results of Operations, below.
The Company operates in all state jurisdictions in the United States and is thus subject to regulation and enforcement under the laws and regulations of each of these jurisdictions. The Company has been and expects that it will continue to be subject to investigations and some or all of these may result in enforcement proceedings as a result of its business conducted in the various states.
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. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company establishes reserves for litigation and regulatory matters when those matters present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. When loss contingencies are not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not establish reserves. In some of the matters described below under “Legal Proceedings”, including but not limited to the U.S. Airways matter, loss contingencies are not probable and reasonably estimable in the view of management and, accordingly, reserves have not been established for those matters. See “Legal Proceedings” herein and note 13 to the consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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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 remain high due to business and regulatory requirements. This investment increased in 2008 and 2009 as a result of the January 2008 acquisition of certain businesses from CIBC and the Company’s need to build out its platform to accommodate these businesses. The Company made infrastructure investments for technology in 2010 when it built a new data center both to accommodate its existing and future business and to restructure its disaster recovery planning. The recent signing of a lease to consolidate and move the Company headquarters in New York will require additional changes and investments in the Company’s disaster recovery planning.
Outlook
The Company’s long-term plan is to continue to expand existing offices by hiring experienced professionals as well as through the purchase of operating branch offices from other broker dealers or the opening of new branch offices in attractive locations, thus maximizing the potential of each office and the development of existing trading, investment banking, investment advisory and other activities. Equally important is the search for viable acquisition candidates. As opportunities are presented, it is the long-term intention of the Company to pursue growth by acquisition where a comfortable match can be found in terms of corporate goals and personnel at a price that would provide the Company’s stockholders with incremental value. The Company may review additional potential acquisition opportunities, and will continue to focus its attention on the management of its existing business. In addition, the Company is committed to improving its technology capabilities to support client service and the expansion of its capital markets capabilities.
Results of Operations
The Company reported net profit of $2.1 million or $0.15 per share for the third quarter of 2011 compared to $3.7 million or $0.27 per share in the third quarter of 2010. Revenue for the third quarter of 2011 was $231.6 million compared to revenue of $235.1 million in the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of 1.5%. Client assets entrusted to the Company and under management totaled approximately $77.3 billion while client assets under fee-based programs offered by the asset management groups totaled approximately $17.7 billion at September 30, 2011 ($71.5 billion and $17.9 billion, respectively, at September 30, 2010).
The Company’s net profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $6.9 million or $0.51 per share compared to $20.4 million or $1.53 per share in the same period of 2010. Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $729.6 million, a decrease of 1.4% compared to $739.5 million in the same period of 2010.
After topping out in April, stock markets around the world continued to decline throughout the third quarter. While commodity prices declined during the third quarter, this positive influence was significantly overwhelmed by declining consumer and business confidence due to lack of progress in Washington dealing with the federal debt limit as well as the long term effects of a rising federal deficit and continuing elevated levels of domestic unemployment. The slowing growth in the domestic economy was further and negatively impacted by the sovereign debt issues facing the Euro-zone and Europe’s failure to move towards resolving the risks facing the European banks. By the end of the third quarter, share prices had declined almost 20% from their April high and credit spreads had widened considerably with U.S Treasury Yields at all time lows and other forms of debt under heightened pressure.

 

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Oppenheimer’s results were affected by the conditions described above as well as by matters more closely tied to the Company. The Company’s institutional business, both equity and fixed income, was adversely affected by low volume levels, high volatility and the fallout from Europe as issues of counter-party risks reached heightened levels by quarter—end. Investment banking income improved as merger activity begun in earlier periods closed. However, conditions prevalent during the quarter brought corporate issuance to a standstill. Fee based programs related to clients’ asset management accounts continued to show favorable comparisons as total assets under management were near highs at the beginning of the quarter. Earnings continue to be significantly and adversely affected by low interest rates which severely limit the Company’s ability to earn positive spreads from this source.
The following table and discussion summarizes the changes in the major revenue and expense categories for the periods presented:
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                                 
    Three months ended     Nine months ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011 versus 2010     2011 versus 2010  
    Period to     Period to     Period to        
    Period     Period     Period     Percentage  
    Change     Change     Change     Change  
Revenue -
                               
Commissions
  $ 2,327       1.9 %   $ (17,807 )     -4.5 %
Principal transactions, net
    (14,413 )     -63.6 %     (28,266 )     -46.5 %
Interest
    3,941       35.1 %     11,603       36.3 %
Investment banking
    7,408       34.0 %     8,046       9.7 %
Advisory fees
    7,340       16.9 %     19,066       14.7 %
Other
    (10,127 )     -66.7 %     (2,601 )     -7.5 %
 
                           
Total revenue
    (3,524 )     -1.5 %     (9,959 )     -1.4 %
 
                           
 
                               
Expenses -
                               
Compensation and related expenses
    (10,535 )     -6.6 %     (5,963 )     -1.2 %
Clearing and exchanges fees
    989       17.9 %     (783 )     -3.9 %
Communications and technology
    (700 )     -4.4 %     (1,432 )     -3.0 %
Occupancy and equipment costs
    815       4.5 %     1,163       2.1 %
Interest
    3,684       56.3 %     10,657       59.2 %
Other
    5,418       24.5 %     7,347       9.7 %
 
                           
Total expenses
    (329 )     -0.1 %     10,989       1.6 %
 
                           
Profit before income taxes
    (3,195 )     -42.8 %     (20,948 )     -57.0 %
Income tax provision
    (1,405 )     -43.8 %     (7,732 )     -52.0 %
 
                           
Net profit
    (1,790 )     -42.1 %     (13,216 )     -60.4 %
Net profit attributable to non- controlling interest, net of tax
    (242 )     -40.7 %     270       17.9 %
 
                           
Net profit (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
  $ (1,548 )     -42.4 %   $ (13,486 )     -66.2 %

 

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Highlights of the Company’s results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 follow:
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue — Third Quarter 2011
   
Commission revenue was $123.3 million for the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 1.9%compared to $120.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. Volatile markets in the 2011 period contributed to the increase.
   
Principal transactions revenue was $8.2 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to $22.6 million in the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of 63.6%. The decrease stems from lower income from firm investments (a net loss of $5.5 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to a net gain of $483,000 for the third quarter of 2010) and lower fixed income trading revenue ($14.6 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to $21.3 million in the third quarter of 2010).
   
Interest revenue was $15.2 million in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 35.1% compared to $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2010. The increase is primarily attributable to increased interest earned by the government trading desk of $1.2 million as a result of higher inventory balances as well as an increase in other interest revenue earned on a disputed fee of $2.0 million related to a 2008 investment banking transaction.
   
Investment banking revenue was $29.2 million in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 34.0% compared to $21.8 million in the third quarter of 2010 with increased fee income related to the collection of a fee of $8.0 million related to the investment banking transaction referred to above in interest revenue.
   
Advisory fees were $50.7 million in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 16.9% compared to $43.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. Asset management fees increased by $8.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 as a result of an increase in the value of assets under management of 19.4% during the period. Asset management fees are calculated based on client assets under management at the end of the prior quarter which totaled $19.7 billion at June 30, 2011 ($16.5 billion at June 30, 2010). The increase in asset management fees was offset by a decrease in fees earned on money market products of $1.1 million as the Company continues to waive money market fee income. The Company waived $6.9 million in money market fees during the third quarter of 2011 ($5.4 million in the third quarter of 2010).
   
Other revenue was $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, a decrease of 66.7% compared to $15.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 primarily as a result of a $8.1 million decrease in the mark-to-market value of Company-owned life insurance policies that relate to our employee deferred compensation programs (which are largely offset by a decrease in employee compensation liabilities and expense). In addition, fees generated from Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance, Inc. (“OMHHF”) (formerly called Evanston Financial Corporation) decreased by $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010.
Revenue — Year-to-date 2011
   
Commission revenue was $380.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a decrease of 4.5% compared to $398.7 million in the same period of 2010.
   
Principal transactions revenue was $32.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $60.8 million in the same period of 2010, a decrease of 46.5%. The decrease stems from lower income from firm investments (a net loss of $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a net gain of $70,000 for the same period of 2010) and lower fixed income trading revenue ($40.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $57.4 million in the same period of 2010) partially as a result of loss of personnel in the loan trading department.
   
Interest revenue was $43.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 36.3% compared to $32.0 million in the same period of 2010. The increase is primarily attributable to interest earned by the government trading desk of $5.6 million as a result of higher inventory balances as well as an increase in other interest revenue earned on a disputed fee of $2.0 million related to a 2008 investment banking transaction.

 

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Investment banking revenue was $91.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 9.7% compared to $83.3 million in the same period of 2010 related to the collection of a fee of $8.0 million related to the investment banking transaction referred to above in interest revenue.
   
Advisory fees were $149.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 14.7% compared to $130.1 million in the same period of 2010. Asset management fees increased by $21.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 as a result of an increase in the value of assets under management during the period. The increase in asset management fees was offset by a decrease in fees earned on money market products of $2.0 as the Company continues to waive money market fee income. The Company waived $19.1 million in money market fees during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 ($17.2 million in the same period of 2010).
   
Other revenue was $31.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a decrease of 7.5% compared to $34.6 million in the same period of 2010 primarily as a result of a $5.4 million decrease in the mark-to-market value of Company-owned life insurance policies that relate to our employee deferred compensation programs (which are largely offset by a decrease in employee compensation liabilities and expense).
Expenses — Third Quarter 2011
   
Compensation and related expenses decreased 6.6% in the third quarter of 2011 to $149.0 million compared to $159.5 million in the third quarter of 2010. Share-based compensation expense decreased by $7.0 million in response to the decline in the Company’s stock price in the third quarter of 2011 and deferred compensation expense decreased by $8.2 million compared to the third quarter of 2010. These decreases were partially offset by somewhat higher compensation costs related to the increase in commission revenue in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
   
Clearing and exchange fees increased 17.9% to $6.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $5.5 million in the same period of 2010 based on reduced pricing on share volumes on institutional equities business.
   
Communications and technology expenses decreased 4.4% to $15.1 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $15.8 million in the same period of 2010 with savings in IT costs in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
   
Occupancy and equipment costs of $19.0 million in the third quarter of 2011 increased 4.5% compared to $18.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 due primarily to higher lease costs in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010.
   
Interest expense increased 56.3% to $10.2 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $6.5 million in the same period in 2010 primarily due to increased debt service costs of $2.2 million incurred on the $200 million senior secured note which was issued to refinance and retire the Company’s senior secured credit note ($22.4 million) and subordinated note ($100 million) in April 2011
   
Other expenses increased 24.5% to $27.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $22.1 million in the same period in 2010 primarily due to increased legal costs of $4.5 million relating to client litigation and arbitration activity and legal costs to resolve regulatory matters.

 

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Expenses — Year-to-date 2011
   
Compensation and related expenses decreased by 1.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 at $479.8 million compared to $485.8 million in the same period of 2010. The decreases in share-based compensation expense and deferred compensation expense of $3.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 were offset by increases in producer payroll costs.
   
Clearing and exchange fees decreased 3.9% to $19.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $19.9 million in the same period of 2010 due to lower trade execution costs and floor brokerage fees.
   
Communications and technology expenses decreased 3.0% to $47.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $48.6 million in the same period of 2010 due to lower telecommunications costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
   
Occupancy and equipment costs of $56.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by 2.1% compared to $54.9 million in the same period of 2010.
   
Interest expense increased 59.2% to $28.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $18.1 million in the same period in 2010 primarily due to increased debt service costs of $6.2 million incurred on the $200 million senior secured note which was issued to refinance and retire the Company’s senior secured credit note ($22.4 million) and subordinated note ($100 million) in April 2011. In addition, the loss of $1.6 million on the Company’s interest rate cap which hedged the subordinated note was reclassified from other comprehensive income into interest expense in the second quarter of 2011.
   
Other expenses increased 9.7% to $83.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $75.6 million in the same period in 2010 primarily due to increased legal costs of $5.3 million relating to client litigation and arbitration activity and legal costs to resolve regulatory matters and increased costs of external portfolio management of $3.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Total assets at September 30, 2011 increased by 27.5% from December 31, 2010 levels due in large part to the Company’s expansion of its inventory of government and agency securities. The Company satisfies its need for short-term funds from internally generated funds and collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings, consisting primarily of bank loans, stock loans, uncommitted lines of credit, and warehouse facilities. The Company finances its trading in government securities through the use of repurchase agreements. The Company’s longer-term capital needs are met through the issuance of the Notes (see “Refinancing” below). The 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 notes receivable from employees, investment in office facilities, changes in stock loan balances and financing through repurchase agreements. The Company believes that such availability will continue going forward but current conditions in the worldwide credit markets may make the availability of bank financing more challenging in the months ahead. Oppenheimer has arrangements with banks for borrowings on a fully-collateralized basis. At September 30, 2011, the Company had $59.3 million of such borrowings outstanding compared to outstanding borrowings of $147.0 million at December 31, 2010. The Company also has limited availability of short-term bank financing on an unsecured basis.
Volatility in the financial markets, and the continuance of credit and sovereign debt issues throughout the world, has had an adverse affect on the availability of credit through traditional sources. As a result of concern about the ability of markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically, a few lenders have reduced and, in some cases, ceased to provide funding to the Company on both a secured and unsecured basis. As of September 30, 2011, the Company did not have any exposure to European sovereign debt.

 

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On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor’s lowered its long term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America from AAA to AA+. Credit agencies have also reduced the credit ratings of various sovereign nations in recent months. While the ultimate impact of such action is inherently unpredictable, this downgrade could have material adverse impact on financial markets and economic conditions throughout the world, including, specifically, the United States. Moreover, the market’s anticipation of these impacts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and liquidity. The negative impact that may result from this downgrade or any future downgrade could adversely affect our credit ratings, as well as those of our clients and/or counterparties and could require us to post additional collateral on loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. The unprecedented nature of this and any future negative credit rating actions with respect to U.S. government obligations and the credit ratings of other sovereign nations will make any impact on our business, financial condition and liquidity unpredictable. See Item 1A “Risk Factors- The Recent Downgrade of U.S. Long Term Sovereign Debt Obligations May Adversely Affect Markets and Our Business” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with each of the New York Attorney General’s office (“NYAG”) and the Massachusetts Securities Division (“MSD” and, together with the NYAG, the “Regulators”) concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer’s marketing and sale of auction rate securities (“ARS”). Pursuant to those settlements, as of September 30, 2011, the Company purchased and holds approximately $69.3 million in ARS from its clients pursuant to several purchase offers and legal settlements. The Company’s purchases of ARS from its clients will continue on a periodic basis thereafter pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $40.2 million in ARS from clients through 2016 and pay approximately $2.5 million as a result of legal settlements with clients. The ultimate amount of ARS to be repurchased by the Company cannot be predicted with any certainty and will be impacted by redemptions by issuers and client actions during the period, which cannot be predicted. In addition to the ARS held pursuant to purchases from clients of $69.3 million as of September 30, 2011 referred to above, the Company also held $2.1 million in ARS in its proprietary trading account as of September 30, 2011 as a result of the failed auctions in February 2008. These ARS positions primarily represent Auction Rate Preferred Securities issued by closed-end funds and, to a lesser extent, Municipal Auction Rate Securities which are municipal bonds wrapped by municipal bond insurance and Student Loan Auction Rate Securities which are asset-backed securities backed by student loans (collectively referred to as “ARS”).
Refinancing
On April 12, 2011, the Company completed the private placement of $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75 percent Senior Secured Notes (“Notes”) due April 15, 2018 at par. The interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15th and October 15th. Proceeds from the private placement were used to retire the Morgan Stanley Senior Secured Credit Note due 2013 ($22.4 million) and the CIBC Subordinated Note due 2014 ($100.0 million) and for other general corporate purposes. The private placement resulted in the fixing of the interest rate over the term of the Notes compared to the variable rate debt that was retired and an extension of the debt maturity dates as described above. The cost to issue the Notes was approximately $4.5 million which has been capitalized during the three months ending June 30, 2011 and will be amortized over the period of the Notes. The Company wrote off $344,000 in unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Secured Credit Note during the three months ending June 30, 2011. Additionally, as a result of the retirement of the Subordinated Note, the effective portion of the net loss of $1.3 million related to the interest rate cap cash flow hedge has been reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the condensed consolidated balance sheet to interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three months ending June 30, 2011.

 

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Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, on the Notes was $4.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively.
The indenture for the Notes contains covenants which place restrictions on the incurrence of indebtedness, the payment of dividends, sale of assets, mergers and acquisitions and the granting of liens. The Notes provide for events of default including nonpayment, misrepresentation, breach of covenants and bankruptcy. The Company’s obligations under the Notes are guaranteed, subject to certain limitations, by the same subsidiaries that guaranteed the obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Note and the Subordinated Note which were retired. These guarantees may be shared, on a senior basis, under certain circumstances, with newly incurred debt outstanding in the future. The Notes were filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011. At September 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.
On July 12, 2011, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed to register the exchange of the Notes for fully registered Notes, was declared effective by the SEC. The Exchange Offer was completed in its entirety on August 9, 2011.
Lease commitment
On July 15, 2011, the Company signed a lease to occupy seven floors at 85 Broad Street in New York City for a term of 15 years. The Company will occupy approximately 270,000 rentable square feet in the building. This lease represents a commitment of approximately $184.5 million over the 15 year term. The Company expects to commence occupancy of the building in December 2011 and complete its full occupancy in the summer of 2012. While the Company will save considerably on occupancy costs over the life of the lease, it is likely that the Company will incur additional and overlapping rent costs as well as other related moving costs during the next ten months.
Liquidity
For the most part, the Company’s assets consist of cash and assets which can be readily converted into cash. Receivable from dealers and clearing organizations represents deposits for securities borrowed transactions, margin deposits or current transactions awaiting settlement. Receivable from customers represents margin balances and amounts due on transactions awaiting settlement. Our receivables are, for the most part, collateralized by marketable securities. The Company’s collateral maintenance policies and procedures are designed to limit the Company’s exposure to credit risk. Securities owned, with the exception of the ARS, are mainly comprised of actively trading, readily marketable securities. The Company advanced $1.1 million in forgivable notes, net to financial advisors (which are inherently illiquid) for the three months ended September 30, 2011 ($4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010) as upfront or backend inducements. The amount of funds allocated to such inducements will vary with market conditions and available opportunities.
The Company satisfies its need for short-term liquidity from internally generated funds, collateralized and uncollateralized bank borrowings, stock loans and repurchase agreements and warehouse facilities. Bank borrowings are collateralized by firm and customer securities. In addition, letters of credit are issued in the normal course of business to satisfy certain collateral requirements in lieu of depositing cash or securities.

 

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The Company does not repatriate the earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. Foreign earnings are permanently reinvested for the use of the foreign subsidiaries and therefore these foreign earnings are not available to satisfy the domestic liquidity requirements of the Company.
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 not exceeding the broker call rate. At September 30, 2011, bank call loans were $59.3 million ($68.8 million at September 30, 2010). Average bank loans outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $77.7 million and $103.5 million, respectively ($56.6 million and $56.3 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010). The largest bank loan outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $217.8 million and $225.1 million, respectively ($140.5 million and $144.2 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010). The average weighted interest rate on bank call loans applicable on September 30, 2011 was 1.3%.
At September 30, 2011, stock loan balances totaled $289.3 million ($345.5 million at September 30, 2010). The average daily stock loan balance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $299.8 million and $359.3 million, respectively ($367.3 million and $384.7 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010). The largest stock loan balances for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $335.8 million and $471.9 million, respectively ($415.9 million and $456.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010).
The aggregate amount of stock loan and borrowing activity has increased as equity markets have improved and as the values of the underlying securities have increased. Client demand for margin borrowing has increased somewhat and with it the desire to establish “short” positions which creates further demand for stock borrowing activity to fulfill the obligation to complete delivery.
The Company finances its government trading operations through the use of securities purchased under agreement to repurchase (“repurchase agreements”) and securities sold under agreement to resell (“reverse repurchase agreements”). Except as described below, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, principally involving government and agency securities, are carried at amounts at which securities subsequently will be resold or reacquired as specified in the respective agreements and include accrued interest. Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are presented on a net-by-counterparty basis, when the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are executed with the same counterparty, have the same explicit settlement date, are executed in accordance with a master netting arrangement, the securities underlying the repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements exist in “book entry” form and certain other requirements are met.
Certain of the Company’s repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements are carried at fair value as a result of the Company’s fair value option election. The Company elected the fair value option for those repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements that do not settle overnight or have an open settlement date or that are not accounted for as purchase and sale agreements (such as repo-to-maturity transactions described above). The Company has elected the fair value option for these instruments to more accurately reflect market and economic events in its earnings and to mitigate a potential imbalance in earnings caused by using different measurement attributes (i.e. fair value versus carrying value) for certain assets and liabilities. At September 30, 2011, the fair value of the reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $575.0 million and $403.4, respectively.

 

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At September 30, 2011, the gross balances of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $6.9 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively. The average daily balance of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements on a gross basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $7.8 billion and $8.3 billion, respectively ($3.5 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010). The largest amount of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements outstanding on a gross basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $8.5 billion and $9.1 billion, respectively ($6.1 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010).
At September 30, 2011, the notional value of the repo-to-maturity was $1.75 billion. The average balance for the repo-to-maturity for the three months ended on September 31, 2011 was $1.57 billion. At September 30, 2011, the gross leverage ratios including and excluding the effects of treating repo-to-maturity transactions as sales transactions were 6.6 and 10.0, respectively. All repo-to-maturity transactions outstanding as of September 30, 2011 are collateralized with U.S. government securities maturing within one year.
OMHHF, which is engaged in mortgage brokerage and servicing, has obtained an uncommitted warehouse facility line through PNC Bank (“PNC”) under which OMHHF pledges Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) guaranteed mortgages for a period of up to 10 business days and PNC table funds the principal payment to the mortgagee. OMHHF repays PNC upon the securitization of the mortgage by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) and the delivery of the security to the counter party for payment pursuant to a contemporaneous sale on the date the mortgage is funded. At September 30, 2011, OMHHF had $19.0 million outstanding under the warehouse facility line at a variable interest rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 2.75%. Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $568,000 and $2.2 million, respectively.
Liquidity Management
The Company manages its need for liquidity on a daily basis to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The Company’s liquidity needs may be affected by market conditions, increased inventory positions, business expansion and other unanticipated occurrences. In the event that existing financial resources do not satisfy the Company’s needs, the Company may have to seek additional external financing. The availability of such additional external financing may depend on market factors outside the Company’s control.
Funding Risk
Expressed in thousands of dollars.
                 
    For the nine months ended  
    September 30,  
    2011     2010  
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ 54,500     $ (63,829 )
Cash used in investing activities
    (3,865 )     (11,877 )
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (15,993 )     56,930  
 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 34,642     $ (18,776 )
 
           
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”).

 

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Other Matters
During the third quarter of 2011, the Company issued 2,000 shares of Class A Stock pursuant to the Company’s share-based compensation programs.
On August 26, 2011, the Company paid cash dividends of $0.11 per share of Class A and Class B Stock totaling approximately $1.5 million from available cash on hand.
On October 27, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of Class A and Class B Stock payable on November 25, 2011 to stockholders of record on November 11, 2011.
The book value of the Company’s Class A and Class B Stock was $36.83 at September 30, 2011 compared to $36.32 at September 30, 2010, based on total outstanding shares of 13,670,625 and 13,359,202, respectively.
The diluted weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B Stock outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was 13,915,897 compared to 13,956,711 outstanding for the same period in 2010.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Information concerning the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements is included in Note 5 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 payments to CIBC in connection with the acquisition in the form of an earn-out to be paid in 2013 as described in note 18 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 appearing in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. On April 12, 2011, the Company repaid the remaining debt assumed upon the acquisition from the proceeds of new senior secured notes issued in the amount of $200.0 million. See note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
The following table sets forth the Company’s contractual and contingent commitments as at September 30, 2011.
Expressed in millions of dollars.
                                         
            Less than 1                 More than  
    Total     Year     1-3 Years     3-5 Years     5 Years  
Minimum rentals (1)
  $ 370     $ 10     $ 83     $ 70     $ 207  
Committed capital
    5       5                    
Earn-out
    25             25              
Revolving commitment (2)
    7                         7  
Senior Secured Notes (3)
    200                         200  
ARS purchase offers (4)
    40       2       27       11        
 
                             
Total
  $ 647     $ 17     $ 135     $ 81     $ 414  
 
                             
(1)  
On July 15, 2011, the Company signed a lease to occupy seven floors at 85 Broad Street in New York City for a term of 15 years. The commitment of $184.5 million related to this lease has been included in the table.
 
(2)  
Represents unfunded commitments to provide revolving credit facilities by OPY Credit Corp.
 
(3)  
The Senior Secured Credit Note and the Subordinated Note were retired on April 12, 2011 and the Company issued $200 million in 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due April 15, 2018.
 
(4)  
Represents payments to be made pursuant to the ARS settlements entered into with Regulators in February 2010 as well as commitments to purchase ARS as a result of legal settlements. The most recent round of ARS purchases from clients has been completed and the Company has not yet determined the amount or timing of the next purchase offer to clients. See note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 appearing in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Such information is hereby incorporated by reference.
Factors Affecting “Forward-Looking Statements”
From time to time, the Company may publish “Forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act or make oral statements that constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may relate to such matters as anticipated financial performance, future revenues or earnings, business prospects, projected ventures, new products, anticipated market performance, and similar matters. 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 method of doing business and reduce returns, (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 participants in the securities markets, (ix) legal developments affecting the litigation experience of the securities industry and the Company, including developments arising from the failure of the Auction Rate Securities markets and the results of pending litigation involving the Company, (x) changes in federal and state tax laws which could affect the popularity of products sold by the Company or impose taxes on securities transactions, (xi) the effectiveness of efforts to reduce costs and eliminate overlap, (xii) war and nuclear confrontation as well as political unrest and regime changes, (xiii) the Company’s ability to achieve its business plan, (xiv) corporate governance issues, (xv) the impact of the credit crisis and tight credit markets on business operations, (xvi) the effect of bailout, financial reform and related legislation including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Act and the proposed Volcker Rule, (xvii) the consolidation of the banking and financial services industry, (xviii) the effects of the economy on the Company’s ability to find and maintain financing options and liquidity, (xix) credit, operations, legal and regulatory risks, (xx) risks related to foreign operations, and (xxi) risks related to the downgrade of U.S. long term sovereign debt obligations and the sovereign debt of European nations. 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.

 

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ITEM 3.  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
During the three months ended September 30, 2011, 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, 2010.
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 as defined in Rule 13a—15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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 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.
The Company confirms that its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the three months ended September 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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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 the subject of customer complaints and has been named as a defendant or co-defendant in various lawsuits or arbitrations creating substantial exposure. The incidences of these types of claims have increased since the onset of the credit crisis and the resulting market disruptions. The Company is also involved from time to time in certain governmental and self-regulatory agency investigations and proceedings. These proceedings arise primarily from securities brokerage, asset management and investment banking activities. There has been an increased incidence of regulatory investigations in the financial services industry in recent years, including customer claims, which seek substantial penalties, fines or other monetary relief.
While the ultimate resolution of routine pending litigation and other matters cannot be currently determined, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the Company does not 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an adverse result in any of the matters set forth below or multiple adverse results in arbitrations and litigations currently filed or to be filed against the Company, including arbitrations and litigations relating to auction rate securities, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition, including its cash position. There are currently five auction rate securities arbitrations, scheduled to commence prior to December 31, 2011. The US Airways arbitration, discussed in more detail below, commenced in September and will be heard throughout the fourth quarter of 2011.
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. See “Risk Factors — The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as “Factors Affecting ‘Forward-Looking Statements’” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Regulatory and Legal Environment — Other Regulatory Matters and — Other Matters.”
For legal proceedings set forth below where there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss or an additional loss may be incurred, the Company estimates a range of aggregate loss in excess of amounts accrued of $0 to approximately $220 million. This estimated aggregate range is based upon currently available information for those legal proceedings in which the Company is involved, where an estimate for such losses can be made. For certain cases, the Company does not believe that an estimate can currently be made. The foregoing estimate is based on various factors, including the varying stages of the proceedings (including the fact that many are currently in preliminary stages), the numerous yet-unresolved issues in many of the proceedings and the attendant uncertainty of the various potential outcomes of such proceedings. Accordingly, the Company’s estimate will change from time to time, and actual losses may be more than the current estimate.

 

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Auction Rate Securities Matters
For a number of years, the Company offered auction rate securities (“ARS”) to its clients. A significant portion of the market in ARS ‘failed’ in February 2008 due to credit market conditions, and dealers were no longer willing or able to purchase the imbalance between supply and demand for ARS. See “Risk Factors — The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Regulatory and Legal Environment — Other Regulatory Matters and — Other Matters.”
Oppenheimer offered ARS to its clients in the same manner as dozens of other “downstream” firms in the ARS marketplace — as an available cash management option for clients seeking to increase their yields on short-term investments similar to a money market fund. The Company believes that Oppenheimer’s participation therefore differs dramatically from that of the larger broker-dealers who underwrote and provided supporting bids in the auctions and who subsequently entered into settlements with state and federal regulators, agreeing to purchase billions of dollars of their clients’ ARS holdings. Unlike these other broker-dealers, Oppenheimer did not act as the lead or sole lead managing underwriter or dealer in any ARS auctions during the relevant time period, did not enter support bids to ensure that any ARS auctions cleared, and played no role in any decision by the lead underwriters or broker-dealers to discontinue entering support bids and allowing auctions to fail.
As previously disclosed, Oppenheimer entered into a Consent Order (the “Order”) pursuant to the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act on February 26, 2010 settling a pending administrative proceeding against the respondents related to Oppenheimer’s sales of ARS to retail and other investors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Oppenheimer did not admit or deny any of the findings or allegations contained in the underlying administrative complaint. Oppenheimer agreed to pay, and has paid, the external costs incurred by the Massachusetts Securities Division (the “MSD”) related to the investigation and the administrative proceeding in the amount of $250,000.
As previously disclosed, on February 23, 2010, the New York Attorney General (“NYAG”) accepted Oppenheimer’s offer of settlement and entered an Assurance of Discontinuance (“AOD”) pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 63(15) in connection with Oppenheimer’s marketing and sale of ARS. Oppenheimer did not admit or deny any of the findings or allegations contained in the AOD and no fine was imposed.
Pursuant to the terms of the Order, Oppenheimer commenced several offers to purchase Eligible ARS (as defined in the Order) from Customer Accounts (as defined in the Order) during 2010. Pursuant to the Order, the Company made an initial offer to purchase ARS from Massachusetts customers on May 21, 2010 which closed on August 4, 2010. Pursuant to the Order, on August 19, 2010, Oppenheimer commenced a second offer to purchase Eligible ARS from Massachusetts customers which closed on October 6, 2010. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the AOD, the Company made an initial offer to purchase ARS from Eligible Investors on May 21, 2010 which closed on August 4, 2010. Pursuant to the AOD, on December 3, 2010, Oppenheimer commenced an additional offer to purchase Eligible ARS from Eligible Investors which closed on February 16, 2011. On February 15, 2011, Oppenheimer commenced a third and final offer to purchase additional Eligible ARS from all eligible Massachusetts Customer Accounts which offer closed April 7, 2011. On May 6, 2011, pursuant to the AOD, Oppenheimer commenced an additional offer to purchase Eligible ARS from Eligible Investors who did not receive an initial purchase offer which offer closed on July 22, 2011. Accounts were, and will continue to be, aggregated on a “household” basis for purposes of these offers. As at September 30, 2011, the Company had purchased approximately $76.8 million of ARS from its clients pursuant to these offers (of which $9.8 million was subsequently redeemed by issuers).

 

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The Company’s purchases of ARS from clients will continue on a periodic basis pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators. Oppenheimer has agreed with the NYAG that it will offer to purchase Eligible ARS from Eligible Investors who did not receive an initial purchase offer periodically, as excess funds become available to Oppenheimer after giving effect to the financial and regulatory capital constraints applicable to Oppenheimer, until Oppenheimer has extended a purchase offer to all Eligible Investors. Such offers will remain open for a period of seventy-five days from the date on which each such offer to purchase is sent. The ultimate amount of ARS to be repurchased by the Company cannot be predicted with any certainty and will be impacted by redemptions by issuers and client actions during the period, which also cannot be predicted.
In addition, Oppenheimer has agreed to work with issuers and other interested parties, including regulatory and other authorities and industry participants, to provide liquidity solutions for other Massachusetts clients not covered by the offers to purchase. In that regard, on May 21, 2010, Oppenheimer offered such clients a margin loan against marginable collateral with respect to such account holders’ holdings of Eligible ARS. As of September 30, 2011, Oppenheimer had extended margin loans to five holders of Eligible ARS from Massachusetts.
Further, Oppenheimer has agreed to (1) no later than 75 days after Oppenheimer has completed extending a purchase offer to all Eligible Investors (as defined in the AOD), use its best efforts to identify any Eligible Investors who purchased Eligible ARS (as defined in the AOD) and subsequently sold those securities below par between February 13, 2008 and February 23, 2010 and pay the investor the difference between par and the price at which the Eligible Investor sold the Eligible ARS, plus reasonable interest thereon (the “ARS Losses”); (2) no later than 75 days after Oppenheimer has completed extending a Purchase Offer to all Eligible Investors, use its best efforts to identify Eligible Investors who took out loans from Oppenheimer after February 13, 2008 that were secured by Eligible ARS that were not successfully auctioning at the time the loan was taken out from Oppenheimer and who paid interest associated with the ARS-based portion of those loans in excess of the total interest and dividends received on the Eligible ARS during the duration of the loan (the “Loan Cost Excess”) and reimburse such investors for the Loan Cost Excess plus reasonable interest thereon; (3) upon providing liquidity to all Eligible Investors, participate in a special arbitration process for the exclusive purpose of arbitrating any Eligible Investor’s claim for consequential damages against Oppenheimer related to the investor’s inability to sell Eligible ARS; and (4) work with issuers and other interested parties, including regulatory and governmental entities, to expeditiously provide liquidity solutions for institutional investors not within the definition of Small Businesses and Institutions (as defined in the AOD) that held ARS in Oppenheimer brokerage accounts on February 13, 2008. Oppenheimer believes that because items (1) through (3) above will occur only after it has provided liquidity to all Eligible Investors, it will take an extended period of time before the requirements of items (1) through (3) will take effect.
Each of the AOD and the Order provides that in the event that Oppenheimer enters into another agreement that provides any form of benefit to any Oppenheimer ARS customer on terms more favorable than those set forth in the AOD or the Order, Oppenheimer will immediately extend the more favorable terms contained in such other agreement to all eligible investors. In the case of the Order, it is limited to more favorable agreements entered into subsequent to the February 26, 2010 Order while, in the case of the AOD, it covers more favorable agreements entered into prior and subsequent to the February 23, 2010 AOD. The AOD further provides that if Oppenheimer pays (or makes any pledge or commitment to pay) to any governmental entity or regulator pursuant to any other agreement costs or a fine or penalty or any other monetary amount, then an equivalent payment, pledge or commitment will become immediately owed to the State of New York for the benefit of New York residents.

 

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If Oppenheimer fails to comply with any of the terms set forth in the Order, the MSD may institute an action to have the Order declared null and void and reinstitute the previously pending administrative proceedings. If Oppenheimer defaults on any obligation under the AOD, the NYAG may terminate the AOD, at his sole discretion, upon 10 days written notice to Oppenheimer.
Reference is made to the Order between the MSD and Oppenheimer et. al, described in Item 3 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and attached as Exhibit 10.24 thereto, as well as the disclosures related thereto in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010, March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011 and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, for additional details of the agreements with the MSD. Reference is also made to the AOD between the NYAG and Oppenheimer, described in Item 3 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and attached as Exhibit 10.22 thereto, as well as the disclosures related thereto in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010, March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011 and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, for additional details of the agreements with the NYAG.
The Company is continuing to cooperate with investigating entities from states other than Massachusetts and New York.
In February 2009, Oppenheimer received notification of a filing of an arbitration claim before FINRA captioned U.S. Airways v. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., et. al seeking an award compelling Oppenheimer to purchase approximately $250 million in ARS previously purchased by U.S. Airways through Oppenheimer (which has subsequently been reduced to a $110 million liquidated damages claim) or, alternatively, an award rescinding such sale. Plaintiffs’ seek an award of punitive damages from Oppenheimer as well as interest on such award. Plaintiff bases its claims on numerous causes of action including, but not limited to, fraud, gross negligence, misrepresentation and suitability. U.S. Airways is a publicly-traded corporation that bought and sold ARS for many years through several broker dealers, not just Oppenheimer. It is also a “Qualified Institutional Buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and purchased ARS for cash management purposes. On July 10, 2009, Oppenheimer asserted a third party statement of claim against Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (“DBSI”) and Deutsche Bank A.G. (“Deutsche AG”). Deutsche AG challenged Oppenheimer’s efforts to compel that entity to appear at a FINRA arbitration, since, Deutsche AG argued, it is not a FINRA member. Subsequently, Oppenheimer deferred further action against Deutsche AG and proceeded prosecuting its third party claim against DBSI. At the same time, Oppenheimer filed its answer denying any liability to U.S. Airways. DBSI subsequently filed a motion to sever the arbitration into a separate proceeding which motion was granted on July 28, 2010. To the extent there is a determination by an arbitration panel that U.S. Airways has been harmed, Oppenheimer’s third party statement of claim against DBSI alleges that DBSI is liable to U.S. Airways because of its role in the process of creating, marketing and procuring ratings for certain auction rate credit-linked notes purchased by U.S. Airways. The arbitration with U.S. Airways commenced in September 2011 and will continue throughout the fourth quarter of 2011 and is not expected to be completed until early 2012. No date has yet been set for the arbitration with the DBSI. On January 28, 2011, DBSI filed a motion to stay the DBSI arbitration. Oppenheimer filed its opposition to the DBSI motion to stay on February 25, 2011. On May 25, 2011, the arbitration panel granted DBSI’s motion to stay the DBSI arbitration. On June 10, 2011, Oppenheimer filed a motion for reconsideration of the arbitration panel’s decision to stay the arbitration which motion for reconsideration was denied on July 14, 2011. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations in the U.S. Airways action.

 

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In April 2009, Oppenheimer was served with a complaint in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky captioned Ashland, Inc. and Ash Three, LLC v. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. seeking compensatory and consequential damages as a result of plaintiff’s purchase of approximately $194 million in ARS. Plaintiff sought an award of punitive damages from Oppenheimer as well as interest on such award. Plaintiff based its claim on numerous causes of action including, but not limited to, fraud, gross negligence, misrepresentation and suitability. Ashland is a publicly-traded corporation that bought and sold ARS for many years through several broker dealers, not just Oppenheimer. It is also a “Qualified Institutional Buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and purchased ARS for cash management purposes. The court granted Oppenheimer’s motion to dismiss this action with prejudice on February 22, 2010. Plaintiff filed an appeal of this dismissal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on March 19, 2010. On July 28, 2011, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s Order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint with prejudice The time period during which the plaintiff was able to file a writ of certorari with the U.S. Supreme Court has expired.
In February 2009, the Company was served with an arbitration claim before FINRA captioned Hansen Beverage Company v. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., et. al. Hansen demands that its investments in approximately $60 million in ARS, which are illiquid and which Hansen purchased from Oppenheimer, be rescinded. The claim alleges that Oppenheimer misrepresented liquidity and market risks in the ARS market when recommending ARS to Hansen. Oppenheimer has filed its response to the claim and also filed a motion to dismiss respondents Oppenheimer Holdings (“Holdings”) and Oppenheimer Asset Management as parties improperly named in the arbitration. Oppenheimer Asset Management was dismissed from the proceeding without prejudice on July 14, 2009. The arbitration was scheduled to commence with the remaining parties in June 2011. On June 21, 2011, Oppenheimer and Hansen entered into a settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Oppenheimer agreed to (i) pay, and has paid, Hansen $1.6 million, and (ii) grant to Hansen a put option, exercisable on or after July 1, 2013, pursuant to which Hansen may obligate Oppenheimer to purchase up to (a) $1 million par value of ARS then held by Hansen on or after July 1, 2013, (b) $1 million par value of ARS then held by Hansen on or after October 1, 2013, and (c) commencing on or after January 1, 2014 and on or after the first day of each calendar quarter for each of the following nine (9) quarters, ARS having a par value equal to ten percent (10%) of all ARS held and not redeemed or sold by Hansen prior to January 1, 2014 (the “Quarterly ARS Option Amount”); provided that each Quarterly ARS Option Amount shall be reduced by fifty percent (50%) of the par value of any ARS redeemed or sold in the immediately preceding quarter; and provided, further, that the Quarterly ARS Option Amount for each quarter in 2014 shall not be less than $1 million. At September 30, 2011, Hansen owned approximately $21.6 million par value of ARS that would be subject to the Quarterly ARS Option Amount. In consideration of the foregoing, Hansen agreed to (i) dismiss all claims against Oppenheimer with prejudice, (ii) dismiss all claims against Holdings without prejudice (and Holdings agreed to toll any statute of limitations until such time as Oppenheimer has performed its obligations under the Settlement Agreement), and (iii) grant to Oppenheimer a call option to purchase from Hansen any ARS held by Hansen and not previously redeemed, sold or designated to be put to Oppenheimer as part of a Quarterly ARS Option Amount.

 

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In August 2009, Oppenheimer received notification of the filing of an arbitration claim before FINRA captioned Investec Trustee (Jersey) Limited as Trustee for The St. Paul’s Trust v. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. et. al seeking an award ordering Oppenheimer to repurchase approximately $80 million in ARS previously purchased by Investec as Trustee for the St. Paul’s Trust, and seeking additional damages of $7.5 million as a result of claimant’s liquidation of certain ARS positions in a private securities transaction. Oppenheimer believes that claimant’s current ARS holdings are approximately $17.5 million par value, with the difference resulting from issuer redemptions. Oppenheimer filed its answer denying any liability to the claimant and asserted a counter-claim against Investec as Trustee for the Trust, alleging that Investec, and not Oppenheimer or its representatives, owed a fiduciary duty to the St. Paul’s Trust and violated that duty. On July 15, 2010, Investec as Trustee moved in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for a partial stay of the arbitration, arguing that Oppenheimer’s claim against Investec as Trustee is in reality a claim against Investec itself and that Oppenheimer is inappropriately seeking damages against Investec. On January 4, 2011, the New York State Supreme Court denied Investec’s application for a partial stay. Investec filed a notice of appeal to the New York State Appellate Division, First Department on January 28, 2011. On February 9, 2011, Oppenheimer filed its opposition to Investec’s motion for a partial stay of the arbitration proceedings and cross-moved for a stay of the arbitration in its entirety and an adjournment of the appeal until the Appellate Division’s June 2011 term. On March 8, 2011, Oppenheimer’s cross-motion was granted and the arbitration was stayed. On June 16, 2011, the Appellate Division issued an order lifting the stay. The arbitration has subsequently been rescheduled to commence in April 2012.
At the same time Oppenheimer filed its answer in the Investec matter discussed in the previous paragraph, Oppenheimer asserted third party claims against the underwriters of the ARS still held by claimant. Oppenheimer argued in its third party arbitration claim that those underwriters are liable to claimant because of their role in the processing, trading, marketing and supporting of the ARS still held by claimant and for other actions by the underwriters which lead to the interruption in the ARS market. The underwriters filed a motion to sever the arbitration into a separate proceeding which motion was granted on June 18, 2010 along with a stay of the arbitration against the underwriters. No date has yet been set for the arbitration with the underwriters. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims made as well as third party claims in the Investec matter and intends to vigorously defend itself in this matter.
As of September 30, 2011, Oppenheimer and certain affiliated parties are currently named as a defendant or respondent in approximately 27 arbitration claims before FINRA, brought by individuals and entities who purchased ARS through Oppenheimer in amounts ranging from $25,000 to $15 million, as well as two court actions brought in various jurisdictions, seeking awards compelling Oppenheimer to repurchase such ARS or, alternatively, awards rescinding such sales, based on a variety of causes of action similar to those described above. The Company has filed, or is in the process of filing, its responses to such claims and has participated in or is awaiting hearings regarding such claims before FINRA or in the court actions. As of September 30, 2011, seven ARS matters were concluded in either court or arbitration with Oppenheimer prevailing in three of those matters and the claimants prevailing in four of those matters. The Company has purchased approximately $1.1 million in ARS from the prevailing claimants in those four actions. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $40.2 million in ARS from clients through 2016 and pay approximately $2.5 million as a result of legal settlements with clients. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims in the pending arbitrations and court actions and intends to vigorously defend against these claims. Oppenheimer may also implead third parties, including underwriters where it believes such action is appropriate. It is possible that other individuals or entities that purchased ARS from Oppenheimer may bring additional claims against Oppenheimer in the future for repurchase or rescission.
See the “Risk Factors — The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market,” and Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 8 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Regulatory and Legal Environment — Other Regulatory Matters and — Other Matters.”

 

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Other Pending Matters
In addition to the ARS cases discussed above, on or about March 13, 2008, Oppenheimer was served in a matter pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Georgia, captioned William Perkins, Trustee for International Management Associates v. Lehman Brothers, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., JB Oxford & Co., Bank of America Securities LLC and TD Ameritrade Inc. The Trustee seeks to set aside as fraudulent transfers in excess of $25 million in funds embezzled by the sole portfolio manager for International Management Associates, a hedge fund. Said portfolio manager purportedly used the broker dealer defendants, including Oppenheimer, as conduits for his embezzlement. Oppenheimer filed its answer to the complaint on June 18, 2010. Oppenheimer filed a motion for summary judgment, which was argued on March 31, 2011. Immediately thereafter, the Bankruptcy Court dismissed all of the Trustee’s claims against all defendants including Oppenheimer. In June 2011, the Trustee filed an appeal with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. In addition, on June 10, 2011, the Trustee filed a petition for permission to appeal the dismissal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. On July 27, 2011, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied the Trustee’s Petition. The Trustee then appealed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The matter has been fully briefed but no oral argument has been set. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims made against it and intends to defend itself vigorously.
In March 2010, the Company received a notice from counsel representing a receiver appointed by a state district court in Oklahoma (the “Receiver”) to oversee a liquidation proceeding of Providence Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“Providence”), an Oklahoma insurance company. That notice demanded the return of Providence’s municipal bond portfolio of approximately $55 million that had been custodied at Oppenheimer beginning in January 2009. In January 2009, the municipal bond portfolio had been transferred to an insurance holding company, Park Avenue Insurance LLC (“Park Avenue”), as part of a purchase and sale transaction. Park Avenue used the portfolio as collateral for a margin loan used to fund the purchase of Providence from Providence’s parent. On October 19, 2010, Oppenheimer was named as a co-defendant in a complaint filed by the Receiver in state district court for Oklahoma County, Oklahoma captioned State of Oklahoma, ex rel. Kim Holland, Insurance Commissioner, as Receiver for Park Avenue Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Providence Holdings, Inc., Falcon Holdings, LLC et. al alleging, that all defendants conspired to unlawfully transfer the assets of Providence to Park Avenue. In addition to Oppenheimer, the complaint names as defendants nine individuals alleging they were members of the board of directors of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. during the time period at issue. In fact, for the time period alleged, six of these individuals were not members of such board. The complaint was subsequently amended to name three individuals including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who is the only individual who has been served, who were directors of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. at the time of the events in question. The complaint alleges causes of action for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and trespass to chattel and/or conversion and seeks actual damages of $102 million, punitive damages, interest and costs, including attorneys’ fees. Oppenheimer moved to remove the matter to the United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma on December 2, 2010. Thereafter, the Receiver moved to remand the matter to the District Court of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Oppenheimer filed its opposition to this motion on February 3, 2011; the motion to remand was granted on February 24, 2011. On January 18, 2011 and March 28, 2011, motions to dismiss the complaint were filed on behalf of Oppenheimer and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, respectively. On June 17, 2011, the motion to dismiss Oppenheimer was deferred and the motion to dismiss the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer was granted in its entirety. The motion to dismiss the Receiver’s action against Oppenheimer, which was refiled in state court after remand from the federal court, was denied on August 2, 2011. Discovery has commenced. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims raised and intends to defend against these claims vigorously.

 

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On June 24, 2011, Oppenheimer was served with a petition in a matter pending in state court in Collin County, Texas captioned Jerry Lancaster, Providence Holdings, Inc., Falcon Holdings, LLC and Derek Lancaster v. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., Oppenheimer Trust Company, Charles Antonuicci, Alan Reichman, John Carley, Park Avenue Insurance, LLC and Park Avenue Bank. The action requests unspecified damages, including exemplary damages, for Oppenheimer’s alleged breach of fiduciary duty, negligent hiring, fraud, conversion, conspiracy, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and violation of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. The first amended petition alleges that Oppenheimer held itself out as having expertise in the insurance industry generally and managing insurance companies’ investment portfolios but inappropriately allowed plaintiffs’ bond portfolios to be used by Park Avenue Insurance Company to secure the sale of Providence Property and Casualty Insurance Company to Park Avenue Insurance Company. On October 5, 2011 plaintiffs in the matter filed a voluntary dismissal without prejudice. On the same date, Oppenheimer and Oppenheimer Trust Company agreed to suspend the running of any applicable statute of limitations defense, for one year. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims raised and intends to defend against these claims vigorously including seeking dismissal of the claims against it.
In September 2010, Oppenheimer was named as a co-defendant in a complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York captioned TPTCC NY, Inc., The Proton Institute of NY, LLC, and NY Medscan, LLC v. Radiation Therapy Services Inc., New York Proton Management LLC et. al alleging that all defendants conspired to eliminate plaintiffs as competitors in providing a developing cancer treatment in the Greater New York Area. Oppenheimer provided certain investment banking services to the various parties. The complaint alleges causes of action for violation of the Sherman Act, conversion, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and breaches of fiduciary duty and contract, and requests damages of $350 million, punitive damages and injunctive relief. On November 12, 2010, Oppenheimer filed its motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint, and thereafter plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint. On January 7, 2011, Oppenheimer refiled its motion to dismiss the First Amended Complaint which motion was granted in its entirety on February 25, 2011. On June 3, 2011, the plaintiffs filed an appeal of this dismissal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims raised and intends to defend against those claims vigorously.
ITEM 1A.  
Risk Factors
During the three months ended September 30, 2011, 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, 2010, except for the risk factor below.
The recent downgrade of U.S. Long Term Sovereign debt obligations and issues affecting the Sovereign debt of European nations may adversely affect markets and other business.
On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor’s lowered its long term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America from AAA to AA+. While the ultimate impact of such action is inherently unpredictable, this downgrade could have material adverse impact on financial markets and economic conditions throughout the world, including, specifically, the United States. Moreover, the market’s anticipation of these impacts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and liquidity. Various types of financial markets, including, but not limited to, money markets, long-term or short-term fixed income markets, foreign exchange markets, commodities markets and equity markets may be adversely affected by these impacts. In addition, the cost and availability of funding and certain impacts, such as increased spreads in money market and other short term rates, have been experienced already as the market anticipated the downgrade.

 

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The negative impact that may result from this downgrade or any future downgrade could adversely affect our credit ratings, as well as those of our clients and/or counterparties and could require us to post additional collateral on loans collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. The unprecedented nature of this and any future negative credit rating actions with respect to U.S. government obligations will make any impact on our business, financial condition and liquidity unpredictable. In addition any such impact may not be immediately apparent.
In addition, global markets and economic conditions have been negatively impacted by the ability of certain European Union (“EU”) member states to service their sovereign debt obligations. The continued uncertainty over the outcome of the EU governments’ financial support programs and the possibility that other EU member states may experience similar financial troubles could further disrupt global markets and may negatively impact our business, financial condition and liquidity.
ITEM 2.  
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
  (a)  
On July 12, 2011, the Company’s Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-174932) on Form S-4 filed to register the exchange of the Notes for fully registered Notes was declared effective by the SEC. The Exchange Offer was completed in its entirety on August 9, 2011
  (b)  
Previously provided.
  (c)  
Not applicable.
ITEM 6.  
Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
         
  31.1    
Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal
  31.2    
Certification of Elaine K. Roberts
  32    
Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal and Elaine K. Roberts

 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York on this 10th day of November, 2011.
         
 
  OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
 
       
 
  By:   “A.G. Lowenthal”
 
      A.G. Lowenthal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
      (Principal Executive Officer)
 
       
 
  By:   “E.K. Roberts”
 
      E.K. Roberts, President and Treasurer
 
      (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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