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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016
OR
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
 
Commission File Number: 1-12043
 
OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
Delaware
 
98-0080034
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 668-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(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  x    No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     x  Yes    o  No
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
x
 
 
 
 
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  x
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 April 29, 2016 was 13,263,532 and 99,665 shares, respectively.
 


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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q 
 
 
Page
No.
PART I
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
PART II
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 6.
 



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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.        Financial Statements (unaudited)

OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)
(Expressed in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
62,479

 
$
63,364

Deposits with clearing organizations
56,567

 
49,490

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
263,363

 
360,913

Receivable from customers, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,573 ($2,545 in 2015)
791,631

 
840,355

Income tax receivable
17,261

 
10,937

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 
206,499

Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $705,835 ($546,334 in 2015), at fair value
1,036,782

 
735,393

Notes receivable, net of accumulated amortization and allowance for uncollectibles of $58,350 and $8,722, respectively ($54,919 and $8,444, respectively, in 2015)
32,869

 
32,849

Office facilities, net of accumulated depreciation of $106,206 ($104,961 in 2015)
28,518

 
28,290

Loans held for sale
13,532

 
60,234

Mortgage servicing rights
28,024

 
28,168

Intangible assets
31,700

 
31,700

Goodwill
137,889

 
137,889

Other assets
120,249

 
105,751

Total assets
$
2,620,864

 
$
2,691,832

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Drafts payable
$
37,663

 
$
48,011

Bank call loans
148,300

 
100,200

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
207,879

 
164,546

Payable to customers
521,557

 
594,833

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
529,752

 
651,445

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
270,952

 
126,493

Accrued compensation
93,835

 
150,898

Accounts payable and other liabilities
126,183

 
164,783

Senior secured notes, net of debt issuance costs of $1,011 ($1,132 in 2015)
148,989

 
148,868

Deferred tax liabilities, net of deferred tax assets of $61,346 ($63,481 in 2015)
19,408

 
16,673

Total liabilities
2,104,518

 
2,166,750

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

 

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Share capital
 
 
 
Class A non-voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 13,263,532 and 13,238,486 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively
59,216

 
57,387

Class B voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share, 99,665 shares authorized,
issued and outstanding
133

 
133

 
59,349

 
57,520

Contributed capital
38,385

 
44,438

Retained earnings
411,678

 
417,001

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(28
)
 
(901
)
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders’ equity
509,384

 
518,058

Noncontrolling interest
6,962

 
7,024

Total stockholders’ equity
516,346

 
525,082

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
2,620,864

 
$
2,691,832

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)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Expressed in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
2016
 
2015
REVENUE
 
 
 
Commissions
$
103,833

 
$
109,695

Advisory fees
66,026

 
70,966

Investment banking
12,383

 
27,305

Interest
13,379

 
11,035

Principal transactions, net
1,531

 
18,555

Other
21,542

 
8,005

Total revenue
218,694

 
245,561

EXPENSES
 
 
 
Compensation and related expenses
151,413

 
163,091

Communications and technology
17,781

 
17,168

Occupancy and equipment costs
14,978

 
15,778

Clearing and exchange fees
6,921

 
6,402

Interest
5,088

 
3,910

Other
30,510

 
29,361

Total expenses
226,691

 
235,710

Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
(7,997
)
 
9,851

Income tax provision (benefit)
(4,088
)
 
3,730

Net income (loss)
(3,909
)
 
6,121

Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
(62
)
 
402

Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
$
(3,847
)
 
$
5,719

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.42

Diluted
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.40

Dividends declared per share
$
0.11

 
$
0.11

Weighted average shares
 
 
 
Basic
13,379,827

 
13,704,228

Diluted
13,379,827

 
14,282,270

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 (LOSS) (unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Expressed in thousands)
2016
 
2015
Net income (loss)
$
(3,909
)
 
$
6,121

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (1)
 
 
 
Currency translation adjustment
873

 
(567
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
(3,036
)
 
5,554

Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(62
)
 
402

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
$
(2,974
)
 
$
5,152

 
(1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) is attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. No other comprehensive income (loss) is attributable to noncontrolling interests.
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 STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Expressed in thousands)
2016
 
2015
Share capital
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
$
57,520

 
$
62,397

Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock
5,463

 
2,889

Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation
(3,634
)
 

Balance at end of period
59,349

 
65,286

Contributed capital
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
44,438

 
45,118

Tax deficiency from share-based awards
(741
)
 
(321
)
Share-based expense
1,492

 
898

Vested employee share plan awards
(6,804
)
 
(4,572
)
Balance at end of period
38,385

 
41,123

Retained earnings
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
417,001

 
421,047

Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
(3,847
)
 
5,719

Dividends paid ($0.11 per share)
(1,476
)
 
(1,511
)
Balance at end of period
411,678

 
425,255

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
(901
)
 
(918
)
Currency translation adjustment
873

 
(567
)
Balance at end of period
(28
)
 
(1,485
)
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders’ equity
509,384

 
530,179

Noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
7,024

 
6,088

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
(62
)
 
402

Balance at end of period
6,962

 
6,490

Total stockholders’ equity
$
516,346

 
$
536,669

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)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Expressed in thousands)
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net income (loss) for the period
$
(3,909
)
 
$
6,121

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities
 
 
 
Payment of taxes due for vested share-based awards related to amounts the Company withheld on behalf of its employees to meet minimum statutory tax withholding requirements
(1,341
)
 
(1,683
)
Non-cash items included in net income:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of office facilities and leasehold improvements
1,534

 
1,794

Deferred income taxes
2,735

 
6,089

Amortization of notes receivable
3,431

 
3,745

Amortization of debt issuance costs
121

 
121

Amortization of mortgage servicing rights
782

 
230

Provision for credit losses
28

 
12

Share-based compensation
1,189

 
1,495

Decrease (increase) in operating assets:
 
 
 
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes

 
17,077

Deposits with clearing organizations
(7,077
)
 
(13,748
)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
97,550

 
(23,628
)
Receivable from customers
48,696

 
(26,083
)
Income tax receivable
(6,324
)
 
(2,089
)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell
206,499

 
251,606

Securities owned
(301,389
)
 
(112,208
)
Notes receivable
(3,451
)
 
(3,808
)
Loans held for sale
46,702

 
(76,633
)
Mortgage servicing rights
(638
)
 
1,519

Other assets
(13,625
)
 
(11,820
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
 
 
 
Drafts payable
(10,348
)
 
(758
)
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
43,333

 
93,069

Payable to customers
(73,276
)
 
51,831

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
(121,693
)
 
(290,051
)
Securities sold, but not yet purchased
144,459

 
92,139

Accrued compensation
(56,760
)
 
(63,063
)
Accounts payable and other liabilities
(38,600
)
 
62,141

Cash used in operating activities
(41,372
)
 
(36,583
)
Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Purchase of office facilities
(1,762
)
 
(474
)
Cash used in investing activities
(1,762
)
 
(474
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
(1,476
)
 
(1,511
)
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation
(3,634
)
 

Tax deficiency from share-based awards
(741
)
 
(321
)
Increase in bank call loans, net
48,100

 
42,000

Cash provided by financing activities
42,249

 
40,168

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(885
)
 
3,111

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
63,364

 
63,807

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
62,479

 
$
66,918

Schedule of non-cash financing activities
 
 
 
Employee share plan issuance
$
5,463

 
$
2,889

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for interest
$
1,788

 
$
611

Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net of refunds
$
181

 
$
107

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.        Organization and basis of presentation
Organization
Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. ("OPY") is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of OPY and its subsidiaries (together, the "Company"). The Company engages in a broad range of activities in the financial services industry, including retail securities brokerage, institutional sales and trading, investment banking (both corporate and public finance), research, market-making, trust services, mortgage banking and investment advisory and asset management services.
The principal subsidiaries of OPY are Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ("Oppenheimer"), a registered broker dealer in securities and investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. ("OAM") and its wholly- owned subsidiary, Oppenheimer Investment Management LLC ("OIM"), both registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware ("Oppenheimer Trust"), a limited purpose trust company that provides fiduciary services such as trust and estate administration and investment management, Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance, Inc. ("OMHHF"), which is engaged in commercial mortgage origination and servicing, OPY Credit Corp., which offers syndication as well as trading of issued corporate loans, Oppenheimer Europe Ltd., based in the United Kingdom, with offices in the Isle of Jersey and Switzerland, which provides institutional equities and fixed income brokerage and corporate financial services and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited, based in Hong Kong, China, which provides assistance in accessing the U.S. equities markets and limited mergers and acquisitions advisory services to Asia-based companies, as well as offering fixed income brokerage services to institutional investors, and is regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission.
Oppenheimer provides its services from 82 offices in 24 states located throughout the United States and in 5 foreign jurisdictions. Oppenheimer owns Freedom Investments, Inc. ("Freedom"), a registered broker dealer in securities, which provides discount brokerage services, and Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd., which is engaged in offering investment services in the State of Israel. Oppenheimer holds a trading permit on the New York Stock Exchange and is a member of several other regional exchanges in the United States.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "Form 10-K"). The accompanying December 31, 2015 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statement purposes. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the financial statements and the accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future, actual results may differ materially from the estimates. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future interim or annual period.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Accounting standards require the Company to present noncontrolling interests as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2016, the Company owned 83.68% of OMHHF and the noncontrolling interest recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet was $7.0 million.

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2.        New accounting pronouncements
Recently Adopted
In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity." Under this ASU, a discontinued operation is defined as a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of and represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity's operation. The ASU also modified related disclosure requirements. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11, "Transfers and Servicing – Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financing, and Disclosures," which makes amendments to the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification 860 on accounting for certain repurchase agreements. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015, except for the disclosures related to transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, which became effective for the period that began on or after March 15, 2015. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 6, Collateralized transactions, below.
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, "Compensation - Stock Compensation." The ASU clarifies that entities should treat performance targets that can be met after the requisite service period of a share-based award as performance conditions that affect vesting. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-17, "Business Combination - Pushdown Accounting." The ASU gives the acquired entity the option of applying pushdown accounting in its stand-alone financial statements upon a change-in-control event. The ASU became effective upon issuance. The adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-01, "Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items," to simplify income statement classification by removing the concept of extraordinary items. Under the existing guidance, an entity is required to separately disclose extraordinary items, net of tax, in the income statement after income from continuing operations if an event or transaction is of an unusual nature and occurs infrequently. This separate, net-of-tax presentation (and corresponding earnings per share impact) will no longer be allowed. However, the existing requirement to separately present items that are of an unusual nature or occur infrequently on a pre-tax basis within income from continuing operations has been retained. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidation - Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," to eliminate the deferral of the application of the revised consolidation rules and make changes to both the variable interest model and the voting model. Under this ASU, a general partner will not consolidate a partnership or similar entity under the voting model. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the ASU impacted the disclosure of VIEs but did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 7, Variable interest entities, below.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, “Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent),” which removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient and related disclosures. The ASU became effective for the annual reporting periods in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2015. The adoption of the ASU impacted the fair value disclosures but did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. See Note 5, Fair value measurements, below.

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Recently Issued
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." The ASU outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Additionally, the ASU expands the disclosure requirements for revenue recognition. The ASU was originally effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2016. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date." which defers the effective date of the standard to the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted as of the original effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the ASU will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern," which provides guidance on determining when and how reporting entities must disclose going-concern uncertainties in their financial statements. The ASU requires management of an entity to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issuance of the entity's financial statements and also provide disclosures if there is "substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern." The ASU is effective for the annual reporting period in the fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will not early adopt this ASU. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on its disclosure.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,”   which revises an entity's accounting related to the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities, changes the presentation of certain fair value changes relating to instrument specific credit risk for financial liabilities and amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of the ASU will not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases." The ASU requires most leases to be reflected on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU. The adoption of the new lessee model is expected to have material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.
In March, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and minimum statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company will not early adopt this ASU. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, that the ASU will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.


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3.        Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. by the weighted average number of shares of Class A Stock and Class B Stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share includes the weighted average number of shares of Class A Stock and Class B Stock outstanding and options to purchase Class A Stock and unvested restricted stock awards of Class A Stock using the treasury stock method.
Earnings per share have been calculated as follows:
(Expressed in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding
13,379,827

 
13,704,228

Net dilutive effect of share-based awards, treasury method (1)

 
578,042

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding
13,379,827

 
14,282,270

Net income (loss)
$
(3,909
)
 
$
6,121

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax
(62
)
 
402

Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
$
(3,847
)
 
$
5,719

Basic earnings (loss) per share
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.42

Diluted earnings (loss) per share
$
(0.29
)
 
$
0.40

 
(1)
For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the diluted earnings per share computation does not include the anti-dilutive effect of 1,295,972 shares of Class A Stock granted under share-based compensation arrangements (46,076 for the three months ended March 31, 2015).
4.        Receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
As of
 
March 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations consist of:
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
$
190,963

 
$
224,672

Receivable from brokers
36,059

 
49,458

Securities failed to deliver
10,914

 
7,799

Clearing organizations
22,957

 
25,030

Other
2,470

 
53,954

Total
$
263,363

 
$
360,913

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations consist of:
 
 
 
Securities loaned
$
143,157

 
$
130,658

Payable to brokers
10,232

 
3,316

Securities failed to receive
24,781

 
21,513

Other
29,709

 
9,059

Total
$
207,879

 
$
164,546


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5.        Fair value measurements
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.
Securities Owned and Securities Sold, But Not Yet Purchased at Fair Value
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
Owned
 
Sold
 
Owned
 
Sold
U.S. Government, agency and sovereign obligations
$
749,323

 
$
204,003

 
$
509,614

 
$
77,485

Corporate debt and other obligations
22,823

 
11,166

 
16,138

 
1,652

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities
4,151

 
27

 
3,504

 
27

Municipal obligations
80,220

 

 
30,132

 

Convertible bonds
50,984

 
15,988

 
54,693

 
5,951

Corporate equities
44,964

 
39,768

 
34,475

 
41,378

Money markets
132

 

 
35

 

Auction rate securities
84,185

 

 
86,802

 

Total
$
1,036,782

 
$
270,952

 
$
735,393

 
$
126,493

Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased, consist of trading and investment securities at fair values. Included in securities owned at March 31, 2016 are corporate equities with estimated fair values of approximately $13.5 million ($14.0 million at December 31, 2015), which are related to deferred compensation liabilities to certain employees included in accrued compensation on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
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. Government Obligations
U.S. Treasury securities are valued using quoted market prices obtained from active market makers and inter-dealer brokers.
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.
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.
Corporate Debt and Other Obligations
The fair value of corporate bonds is estimated using recent transactions, broker quotations and bond spread information.
Mortgage and Other Asset-Backed Securities
The Company holds non-agency securities collateralized by home equity and various other types of collateral which are valued based on external pricing and spread data provided by independent pricing services. When specific external pricing is not observable, the valuation is based on yields and spreads for comparable bonds.
Municipal Obligations
The fair value of municipal obligations is estimated using recently executed transactions, broker quotations, and bond spread information.

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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.
Corporate Equities
Equity securities and options are generally valued based on quoted prices from the exchange or market where traded. To the extent quoted prices are not available, fair values are generally derived using bid/ask spreads.
Loans Held for Sale
The Company elected the fair value option for loans held for sale and determines the fair value using both a discounted cash flow model (see key assumptions used in determining mortgage servicing rights below) and quoted observable prices from market participants.
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
OMHHF records an interest rate lock commitment upon the commitment to originate a loan with a borrower. This commitment, which can be an asset or liability, is recognized at fair value, which reflects the fair value of the contractual loan origination related fees and sale premiums, net of co-broker fees, and the estimated fair value of the expected net future cash flows associated with the servicing of the loan. The interest rate lock commitments are valued using a discounted cash flow model developed based on U.S. Treasury rate changes and other observable market data. The fair value is determined after considering the potential impact of collateralization.
To-Be-Announced ("TBA") sale contracts
TBA sale contracts of permanent loans originated or purchased at OMHHF are based on observable market prices of recently executed purchases of similar loans which are then used to derive a market implied spread, which in turn is used as the primary input in estimating the fair value of loans at the measurement date. TBA sale contracts of construction loans originated or purchased at OMHHF are based on observable market prices of recently executed purchases.
Mortgage Servicing Rights ("MSRs")
The Company’s MSRs are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The MSRs are initially measured at fair value on the loan securitization date and subsequently measured on the amortized cost basis subject to quarterly impairment testing. MSRs do not trade in active open markets with readily observable pricing. Therefore the Company uses a discounted cash flow model to estimate the fair value of MSRs. The discounted cash flow model calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income using inputs such as contractually specified servicing fees, prepayment assumptions, delinquency rates, late charges, other ancillary revenue, costs to service and other economic factors. The Company reassesses and periodically adjusts the underlying inputs and assumptions used in the model to reflect observable and unobservable market conditions and assumptions that a market participant would consider in valuing a MSR asset. MSRs are carried at the lower of amortized cost or estimated fair value.
The following key assumptions were used in determining the initial fair value of MSRs:
Discount Rate – The discount rate used for originated permanent and construction loans averaged approximately 12%.
Estimated Life – The estimated life of the MSRs is derived using a continuous prepayment rate ("CPR") assumption which estimates projected prepayments of the loan portfolio by considering factors such as note rates, lockouts, and prepayment penalties at the loan level. The CPR rates used are 0% until such time that a loan's prepayment penalty rate hits 4% of the unpaid principal balance of the loan with the vast majority of CPR speeds ranging from 10% to 15% thereafter, with an average of 12%.
Servicing Costs – The estimated future cost to service the loans on an annual basis per loan averages approximately $1,250 for a permanent loan, with a considerably higher cost to service during the construction phase.
The Company does not anticipate any credit losses on the commercial mortgages it services since all of the mortgages are insured for and guaranteed against credit losses by the Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") and the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") and are thus guaranteed by the U.S. government.

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Auction Rate Securities ("ARS")
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 ARS. Pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer agreed to extend offers to repurchase ARS from certain of its clients subject to certain terms and conditions more fully described below. As of March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any outstanding ARS purchase commitments related to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer has also reached settlements of and received adverse awards in legal proceedings with various clients where the Company is obligated to purchase ARS. Pursuant to completed Purchase Offers (as defined) under the settlements with the Regulators and client related legal settlements and awards to purchase ARS, as of March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and holds (net of redemptions) approximately $87.1 million in ARS from its clients. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $32.5 million in ARS from clients through 2020 under legal settlements and awards.
The ARS positions that the Company owns and is committed to purchase 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.
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 of 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. Due to liquidity problems associated with the ARS market, ARS that lack liquidity are setting their interest rates according to a maximum rate formula. For example, an auction rate preferred security maximum rate may be set at 200% of a short-term index such as LIBOR or U.S. Treasury yield. For fair value purposes, the Company has determined that the maximum spread would be an adequate risk premium to account for illiquidity in the market. Accordingly, the Company applies a spread to the short-term index for each asset class to derive the discount rate. The Company uses short-term U.S. Treasury yields as its benchmark short-term index. The risk of non-performance is typically reflected in the prices of ARS positions where the fair value is derived from recent trades in the secondary market.
The ARS purchase commitment, or derivative asset or liability, arises from both the settlements with the Regulators and legal settlements and awards. The ARS purchase commitment represents the difference between the principal value and the fair value of the ARS the Company is committed to purchase. The Company utilizes the same valuation methodology for the ARS purchase commitment as it does for the ARS it owns. Additionally, the present value of the future principal value of ARS purchase commitments under legal settlements and awards is used in the discounted valuation model to reflect the time value of money over the period of time that the commitments are outstanding. The amount of the ARS purchase commitment only becomes determinable once the Company has met with its primary regulator and the NYAG and agreed upon a buyback amount, commenced the ARS buyback offer to clients, and received notice from its clients which ARS they are tendering. As a result, it is not possible to observe the current yields actually paid on the ARS until all of these events have happened which is typically very close to the time that the Company actually purchases the ARS. For ARS purchase commitments pursuant to legal settlements and awards, the criteria for purchasing ARS from clients is based on the nature of the settlement or award which will stipulate a time period and amount for each repurchase. The Company will not know which ARS will be tendered by the client until the stipulated time for repurchase is reached. Therefore, the Company uses the current yields of ARS owned in its discounted valuation model to determine a fair value of ARS purchase commitments. The Company also uses these current yields by asset class (i.e., auction rate preferred securities, municipal auction rate securities, and student loan auction rate securities) in its discounted valuation model to determine the fair value of ARS purchase commitments. In addition, the Company uses the discount rate and duration of ARS owned, by asset class, as a proxy for the duration of ARS purchase commitments.

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Additional information regarding the valuation technique and inputs for ARS used is as follows: 
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2016
Product
 
Principal
 
Valuation
Adjustment
 
Fair Value
 
Valuation Technique
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range
 
Weighted
Average
Auction Rate Securities ("ARS") Owned (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auction Rate Preferred Securities
 
$
83,175

 
$
2,406

 
$
80,769

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate (2)
 
1.15% to 1.56%
 
1.36%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duration
 
4.0 years
 
4.0 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Yield (3)
 
0.47% to 0.75%
 
0.61%
Municipal Auction Rate Securities
 
25

 
1

 
24

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate (4)
 
1.98%
 
1.98%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duration
 
4.5 years
 
4.5 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Yield (3)
 
1.15%
 
1.15%
Student Loan Auction Rate Securities
 
300

 
25

 
275

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate (5)
 
2.75%
 
2.75%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duration
 
7.0 years
 
7.0 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Yield (3)
 
1.44%
 
1.44%
Other (7)
 
3,625

 
508

 
3,117

 
Secondary Market Trading Activity
 
Observable trades in inactive market for in portfolio securities
 
85.99% of par
 
85.99% of par
 
 
$
87,125

 
$
2,940

 
$
84,185

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auction Rate Securities Commitments to Purchase (6)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auction Rate Preferred Securities
 
$
11,237

 
$
(1,540
)
 
$
12,777

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate (2)
 
1.15% to 1.56%
 
1.36%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duration
 
4.0 years
 
4.0 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Yield (3)
 
0.47% to 0.75%
 
0.61%
 
 
21,312

 
559

 
20,753

 
Discounted Cash Flow
 
Discount Rate (2)
 
1.15% to 1.56%
 
1.36%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Duration
 
4.0 years
 
4.0 years
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Yield (3)
 
0.47% to 0.75%
 
0.61%
 
 
$
32,549

 
$
(981
)
 
$
33,530

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
$
119,674

 
$
1,959

 
$
117,715

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
Principal amount represents the par value of the ARS and is included in securities owned in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016. The valuation adjustment amount is included as a reduction to securities owned in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016.
(2)
Derived by applying a multiple to the spread between 110% to 150% to the U.S. Treasury rate of 1.04%.
(3)
Based on current yields for ARS positions owned.
(4)
Derived by applying a multiple to the spread of 175% to the U.S. Treasury rate of 1.13%.
(5)
Derived by applying the sum of the spread of 1.20% to the U.S. Treasury rate of 1.55%.
(6)
Principal amount represents the present value of the ARS par value that the Company is committed to purchase at a future date. This principal amount is presented as an off-balance sheet item. The valuation adjustment amounts, unrealized gains and losses, are included in other assets and accounts payable and other liabilities, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016.
(7)
Represents ARS issued by a credit default obligation structure that the Company has purchased and is committed to purchase as a result of a legal settlement.

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The fair value of ARS and ARS purchase commitments is particularly sensitive to movements in interest rates. Increases in short-term interest rates would increase the discount rate input used in the ARS valuation and thus reduce the fair value of the ARS (increase the valuation adjustment). Conversely, decreases in short-term interest rates would decrease the discount rate and thus increase the fair value of ARS (decrease the valuation adjustment). However, an increase (decrease) in the discount rate input would be partially mitigated by an increase (decrease) in the current yield earned on the underlying ARS asset increasing the cash flows and thus the fair value. Furthermore, movements in short term interest rates would likely impact the ARS duration (i.e., sensitivity of the price to a change in interest rates), which would also have a mitigating effect on interest rate movements. For example, as interest rates increase, issuers of ARS have an incentive to redeem outstanding securities as servicing the interest payments gets prohibitively expensive which would lower the duration assumption thereby increasing the ARS fair value. Alternatively, ARS issuers are less likely to redeem ARS in a lower interest rate environment as it is a relatively inexpensive source of financing which would increase the duration assumption thereby decreasing the ARS fair value. For example, see the following sensitivities:
The impact of a 25 basis point increase in the discount rate at March 31, 2016 would result in a decrease in the fair value of $1.1 million (does not consider a corresponding reduction in duration as discussed above).

The impact of a 50 basis point increase in the discount rate at March 31, 2016 would result in a decrease in the fair value of $2.2 million (does not consider a corresponding reduction in duration as discussed above).
These sensitivities are hypothetical and are based on scenarios where they are "stressed" and should be used with caution. These estimates do not include all of the interplay among assumptions and are estimated as a portfolio rather than as individual assets.
Due to the less observable nature of these inputs, the Company categorizes ARS in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had a valuation adjustment (unrealized loss) of $2.9 million for ARS owned which is included as a reduction to securities owned on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2016, the Company also had a net valuation adjustment (unrealized gain) of $981,000 on ARS purchase commitments from settlements with the Regulators and legal settlements and awards, comprised of unrealized gains of $1.5 million and unrealized losses of $559,000, which are included in other assets and accounts payable and other liabilities, respectively, on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The total valuation adjustment was $2.0 million as of March 31, 2016. The valuation adjustment represents the difference between the principal value and the fair value of the ARS owned and ARS purchase commitments.
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.
The following table provides information about the Company’s investments in Company-sponsored funds at March 31, 2016:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
Unfunded
Commitments
 
Redemption Frequency
 
Redemption
Notice Period
Hedge funds (1)
$
2,396

 
$

 
Quarterly - Annually
 
30 - 120 Days
Private equity funds (2)
4,866

 
1,251

 
N/A
 
N/A
 
$
7,262

 
$
1,251

 
 
 
 
(1)
Includes investments in hedge funds and hedge fund of funds that pursue long/short, event-driven, and activist strategies. Each hedge fund has various restrictions regarding redemption; no investment is locked-up for a period greater than one year.
(2)
Includes private equity funds and private equity fund of funds with a focus on diversified portfolios, real estate and global natural resources. Due to the illiquid nature of these funds, investors are not permitted to make withdrawals without the consent of the general partner. The lock-up period of the private equity funds can extend to 10 years.

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Valuation Process
The Finance & Accounting ("F&A") group is responsible for the Company’s fair value policies, processes and procedures. F&A is independent from the business units and trading desks and is headed by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), who has final authority over the valuation of the Company’s financial instruments. The Finance Control Group ("FCG") within F&A is responsible for daily profit and loss reporting, front-end trading system position reconciliations, monthly profit and loss reporting, and independent price verification procedures.
For financial instruments categorized in Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the FCG performs a monthly independent price verification to determine the reasonableness of the prices provided by the Company’s independent pricing vendor. The FCG uses its third-party pricing vendor, executed transactions, and broker-dealer quotes for validating the fair values of financial instruments.
For financial instruments categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy measured on a recurring basis, primarily for ARS, a group comprised of the CFO, the Controller, and an Operations Director are responsible for the ARS valuation model and resulting fair valuations. Procedures performed include aggregating all ARS owned by type from firm inventory accounts and ARS purchase commitments from regulatory and legal settlements and awards provided by the Legal Department. Observable and unobservable inputs are aggregated from various sources and entered into the ARS valuation model. For unobservable inputs, the group reviews the appropriateness of the inputs to ensure consistency with how a market participant would arrive at the unobservable input. For example, for the duration assumption, the group would consider recent policy statements regarding short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve and recent ARS issuer redemptions and announcements for future redemptions. The model output is reviewed for reasonableness and consistency. Where available, comparisons are performed between ARS owned or committed to purchase to ARS that are trading in the secondary market.
For financial instruments categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy measured on a non-recurring basis, primarily for MSRs, the OMHHF Valuation Committee, which is comprised of the OMHHF President & Chief Executive Officer, OMHHF CFO, OMHHF Chief Operating Officer, and OMHHF Asset Manager, is responsible for the MSR model and resulting fair valuations. The OMHHF Valuation Committee performs its review of the model and assumptions and its impairment analysis on a quarterly basis. On an annual basis, the Company utilizes an external valuation consultant to validate that the internal MSR model is functioning appropriately. The OMHHF Valuation Committee compares assumptions used for unobservable inputs, such as for discount rates, estimated life, and costs of servicing, to that used by the external valuation consultant for reasonableness. The model output and resulting valuation multiples are reviewed for reasonableness and consistency. Where available, comparisons are performed to recent MSR sales in the secondary market. The Company’s management reviews the results of both the quarterly reviews and annual impairment analysis.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value
The Company’s assets and liabilities, recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 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 March 31, 2016
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
13,449

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,449

Deposits with clearing organizations
29,981

 

 

 
29,981

Securities owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 

U.S. Treasury securities
715,404

 

 

 
715,404

U.S. Agency securities
1,000

 
29,545

 

 
30,545

Sovereign obligations

 
3,374

 

 
3,374

Corporate debt and other obligations

 
22,823

 

 
22,823

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities

 
4,151

 

 
4,151

Municipal obligations

 
80,135

 
85

 
80,220

Convertible bonds

 
50,984

 

 
50,984

Corporate equities
44,964

 

 

 
44,964

Money markets
132

 

 

 
132

Auction rate securities

 

 
84,185

 
84,185

Securities owned, at fair value
761,500

 
191,012

 
84,270

 
1,036,782

Investments (1)

 

 
161

 
161

Loans held for sale

 
13,532

 

 
13,532

Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs

 
811

 

 
811

Interest rate lock commitments

 

 
14,024

 
14,024

ARS purchase commitments

 

 
1,540

 
1,540

Derivative contracts, total

 
811

 
15,564

 
16,375

Total
$
804,930

 
$
205,355

 
$
99,995

 
$
1,110,280

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities
$
202,838

 
$

 
$

 
$
202,838

U.S. Agency securities

 
13

 

 
13

Sovereign obligations

 
1,152

 

 
1,152

Corporate debt and other obligations

 
11,166

 

 
11,166

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities

 
27

 

 
27

Convertible bonds

 
15,988

 

 
15,988

Corporate equities
39,768

 

 

 
39,768

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
242,606

 
28,346

 

 
270,952

Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
709

 

 

 
709

Foreign currency forward contracts
17

 

 

 
17

TBAs

 
11,816

 

 
11,816

ARS purchase commitments

 

 
559

 
559

Derivative contracts, total
726

 
11,816

 
559

 
13,101

Total
$
243,332

 
$
40,162

 
$
559

 
$
284,053

(1)
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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Table of Contents


Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
13,000

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,000

Deposits with clearing organizations
31,456

 

 

 
31,456

Securities owned:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities
436,533

 

 

 
436,533

U.S. Agency securities
25,240

 
46,176

 

 
71,416

Sovereign obligations

 
1,665

 

 
1,665

Corporate debt and other obligations

 
16,138

 

 
16,138

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities

 
3,504

 

 
3,504

Municipal obligations

 
30,051

 
81

 
30,132

Convertible bonds

 
54,693

 

 
54,693

Corporate equities
34,475

 

 

 
34,475

Money markets
35

 

 

 
35

Auction rate securities

 

 
86,802

 
86,802

Securities owned, at fair value
496,283

 
152,227

 
86,883

 
735,393

Investments (1)

 

 
157

 
157

Loans held for sale

 
60,234

 

 
60,234

Securities purchased under agreements to resell (2)

 
206,499

 

 
206,499

Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TBAs

 
6,448

 

 
6,448

Interest rate lock commitments

 

 
9,161

 
9,161

Derivative contracts, total

 
6,448

 
9,161

 
15,609

Total
$
540,739

 
$
425,408

 
$
96,201

 
$
1,062,348

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities sold, but not yet purchased:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury securities
$
75,653

 
$

 
$

 
$
75,653

U.S. Agency securities

 
15

 

 
15

Sovereign obligations

 
1,817

 

 
1,817

Corporate debt and other obligations

 
1,652

 

 
1,652

Mortgage and other asset-backed securities

 
27

 

 
27

Convertible bonds

 
5,951

 

 
5,951

Corporate equities
41,378

 

 

 
41,378

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value
117,031

 
9,462

 

 
126,493

Derivative contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
249

 

 

 
249

Foreign currency forward contracts
2

 

 

 
2

TBAs

 
11,619

 

 
11,619

Interest rate lock commitments

 

 
923

 
923

ARS purchase commitments

 

 
1,369

 
1,369

Derivative contracts, total
251

 
11,619

 
2,292

 
14,162

Total
$
117,282

 
$
21,081

 
$
2,292

 
$
140,655

(1)
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(2)
Included in securities purchased under agreements to resell where the Company has elected fair value option treatment.
There were no transfers between any of the levels in the three months ended March 31, 2016.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents


The following tables present changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 
 
Total Realized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Unrealized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning
 
Gains
 
Purchases
 
Sales and
 
Transfers
 
Ending
 
Balance
 
(Losses) (4)(5)
 
and Issuances 
 
Settlements
 
In (Out)
 
Balance
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipals
$
81

 
$
4

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
85

Auction rate securities (1)(6)(7)
86,802

 
2,233

 
11,450

 
(16,300
)
 

 
84,185

Interest rate lock commitments (2)
9,161

 
4,863

 

 


 

 
14,024

Investments
157

 
4

 


 


 

 
161

ARS purchase commitments (3)

 
1,540

 

 

 

 
1,540

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments (2)
923

 
923

 

 

 

 

ARS purchase commitments (3)
1,369

 
810

 

 

 

 
559

 
(1)
Represents auction rate preferred securities, municipal auction rate securities and student loan auction rate securities that failed in the auction rate market.
(2)
Interest rate lock commitment assets and liabilities are recorded upon the commitment to originate a loan with a borrower and sell the loan to an investor. The commitment assets and liabilities are recognized at fair value, which reflects the fair value of the contractual loan origination related fees and sale premiums, net of co-broker fees, and the estimated fair value of the expected net future cash flows associated with the servicing of the loan.
(3)
Represents the difference in principal and fair value for auction rate securities purchase commitments outstanding at the end of the period.
(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.
(6)
Purchases and issuances in connection with ARS purchase commitments represent instances in which the Company purchased ARS securities from clients during the period pursuant to regulatory and legal settlements and awards that satisfy the outstanding commitment to purchase obligation. This also includes instances where the ARS issuer has redeemed ARS where the Company had an outstanding purchase commitment prior to the Company purchasing those ARS.
(7)
Sales and settlements for the ARS purchase commitments represent additional purchase commitments made during the period for regulatory and legal ARS settlements and awards.

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(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Assets and Liabilities
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
 
Total Realized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and Unrealized
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning
 
Gains
 
Purchases
 
Sales and
 
Transfers
 
Ending
 
Balance
 
(Losses) (4)(5)
 
and Issuances 
 
Settlements
 
In (Out)
 
Balance
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipals
$
164

 
$
(60
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
104

Auction rate securities (1)(6)(7)
91,422

 
935

 
8,225

 
(1,525
)
 

 
99,057

Interest rate lock commitments (2)
7,576

 
3,848

 

 

 

 
11,424

Investments
193

 
(9
)
 

 

 

 
184

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments (2)
1,222

 
678

 

 

 

 
544

ARS purchase commitments (3)
902

 
105

 

 

 

 
797

(1)
Represents auction rate preferred securities, municipal auction rate securities and student loan auction rate securities that failed in the auction rate market.
(2)
Interest rate lock commitment assets and liabilities are recorded upon the commitment to originate a loan with a borrower and sell the loan to an investor. The commitment assets and liabilities are recognized at fair value, which reflects the fair value of the contractual loan origination related fees and sale premiums, net of co-broker fees, and the estimated fair value of the expected net future cash flows associated with the servicing of the loan.
(3)
Represents the difference in principal and fair value for auction rate securities purchase commitments outstanding at the end of the period.
(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.
(6)
Purchases and issuances in connection with ARS purchase commitments represent instances in which the Company purchased ARS securities from clients during the period pursuant to regulatory and legal settlements and awards that satisfy the outstanding commitment to purchase obligation. This also includes instances where the ARS issuer has redeemed ARS where the Company had an outstanding purchase commitment prior to the Company purchasing those ARS.
(7)
Sales and settlements for the ARS purchase commitments represent additional purchase commitments made during the period for regulatory and legal ARS settlements and awards.
Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value
The tables below present the carrying value, fair value and fair value hierarchy category of certain financial instruments that are not measured at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The tables below exclude non-financial assets and liabilities (e.g., office facilities and accrued compensation).
The carrying value of financial instruments not measured at fair value categorized in the fair value hierarchy as Level 1 or Level 2 (e.g., cash and receivables from customers) approximates fair value because of the relatively short period of time between their origination and expected maturity or settlement. The fair value of the Company’s 8.75% Senior Secured Notes, categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, is based on quoted prices from the market in which the Notes trade.
The fair value of MSRs is based on observable and unobservable inputs and thus categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. See valuation techniques above for key assumptions used.

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Assets and liabilities not measured at fair value as of March 31, 2016 
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement: Assets
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash
$
49,030

 
$
49,030

 
$
49,030

 
$

 
$

 
$
49,030

Deposits with clearing organization
26,586

 
26,586

 
26,586

 

 

 
26,586

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
190,963

 
190,963

 

 
190,963

 

 
190,963

Receivables from brokers
36,059

 
36,059

 

 
36,059

 

 
36,059

Securities failed to deliver
10,914

 
10,914

 

 
10,914

 

 
10,914

Clearing organizations
22,957

 
22,957

 

 
22,957

 

 
22,957

Other
2,470

 
2,470

 

 
2,470

 

 
2,470

 
263,363

 
263,363

 

 
263,363

 

 
263,363

Receivable from customers
791,631

 
791,631

 

 
791,631

 

 
791,631

Mortgage servicing rights
28,024

 
41,777

 

 

 
41,777

 
41,777

Investments (1)
53,482

 
53,482

 

 
53,482

 

 
53,482

 
(1)
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement: Liabilities
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Drafts payable
$
37,663

 
$
37,663

 
$
37,663

 
$

 
$

 
$
37,663

Bank call loans
148,300

 
148,300

 

 
148,300

 

 
148,300

Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities loaned
143,157

 
143,157

 

 
143,157

 

 
143,157

Payable to brokers
10,232

 
10,232

 

 
10,232

 

 
10,232

Securities failed to receive
24,781

 
24,781

 

 
24,781

 

 
24,781

Other
29,709

 
29,709

 

 
29,709

 

 
29,709

 
207,879

 
207,879

 

 
207,879

 

 
207,879

Payables to customers
521,557

 
521,557

 

 
521,557

 

 
521,557

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
529,752

 
529,752

 

 
529,752

 

 
529,752

Warehouse payable
11,845

 
11,845

 

 
11,845

 

 
11,845

Senior secured notes
150,000

 
152,195

 

 
152,195

 

 
152,195


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Assets and liabilities not measured at fair value as of December 31, 2015 
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement: Assets
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash
$
50,364

 
$
50,364

 
$
50,364

 
$

 
$

 
$
50,364

Deposits with clearing organization
18,034

 
18,034

 
18,034

 

 

 
18,034

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
224,672

 
224,672

 

 
224,672

 

 
224,672

Receivables from brokers
49,458

 
49,458

 

 
49,458

 

 
49,458

Securities failed to deliver
7,799

 
7,799

 

 
7,799

 

 
7,799

Clearing organizations
25,030

 
25,030

 

 
25,030

 

 
25,030

Other
53,954

 
53,954

 

 
53,954

 

 
53,954

 
360,913

 
360,913

 

 
360,913

 

 
360,913

Receivable from customers
840,355

 
840,355

 

 
840,355

 

 
840,355

Mortgage servicing rights
28,168

 
41,838

 

 

 
41,838

 
41,838

Investments (1)
53,286

 
53,286

 

 
53,286

 

 
53,286

(1)
Included in other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement: Liabilities
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2015
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Drafts payable
$
48,011

 
$
48,011

 
$
48,011

 
$

 
$

 
$
48,011

Bank call loans
100,200

 
100,200

 

 
100,200

 

 
100,200

Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities loaned
130,658

 
130,658

 

 
130,658

 

 
130,658

Payable to brokers
3,316

 
3,316

 

 
3,316

 

 
3,316

Securities failed to receive
21,513

 
21,513

 

 
21,513

 

 
21,513

Other
9,059

 
9,059

 

 
9,059

 

 
9,059

 
164,546

 
164,546

 

 
164,546

 

 
164,546

Payables to customers
594,833

 
594,833

 

 
594,833

 

 
594,833

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
651,445

 
651,445

 

 
651,445

 

 
651,445

Warehouse payable
54,341

 
54,341

 

 
54,341

 

 
54,341

Senior secured notes
150,000

 
154,568

 

 
154,568

 

 
154,568


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Fair Value Option
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 loan trading portfolio 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 March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
The Company elected the fair value option for repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements that do not settle overnight or have an open settlement date. 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 mismatch in earnings caused by using different measurement attributes (i.e. fair value versus carrying value) for certain assets and liabilities. At March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements that elected the fair value option.
On October 1, 2013, the Company also elected the fair value option for loans held for sale which reside in OMHHF and are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Loans held for sale represent originated loans that are generally transferred or sold within 60 days from the date that a mortgage loan is funded. Electing to use fair value allows a better offset of the change in fair value of the loan and the change in fair value of the derivative instruments used as economic hedges. During the period prior to its sale, interest income on a loan held for sale is calculated in accordance with the terms of the individual loan. At March 31, 2016, the Company did not carry any loans held for sale for a period longer than 90 days. At March 31, 2016, the book value and fair value of loans held for sale was $12.7 million and $13.5 million, respectively.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
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. All derivative instruments are measured at fair value and are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Cash flow hedges used for asset and liability management
For derivative instruments that were designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative was 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. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, there were no derivative instruments that were designated and qualified as a cash flow hedge.
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 Shekel. Such hedges have not been designated as accounting hedges. Unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange forward contracts are recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and other income in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
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, General collateral futures and Eurodollar contracts which are used primarily as an economic hedge of interest rate risk associated with government trading activities. Unrealized gains and losses on futures contracts are recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as principal transactions revenue, net.

23

Table of Contents


Derivatives used for commercial mortgage banking
In the normal course of business, OMHHF enters into contractual commitments to originate (purchase) and sell multifamily mortgage loans at fixed prices with fixed expiration dates. The commitments become effective when the borrowers "lock-in" a specified interest rate within time frames established by OMHHF. All mortgagors are evaluated for credit worthiness prior to the extension of the commitment. Market risk arises if interest rates move adversely between the time of the "lock-in" of rates by the borrower and the sale date of the loan to an investor. To mitigate the effect of the interest rate risk inherent in providing rate lock commitments to borrowers, OMHHF’s policy is to enter into a TBA sale contract with the investor simultaneously with the rate lock commitment with the borrower. The TBA sale contract with the investor locks in an interest rate and price for the sale of the loan. The terms of the contract with the investor and the rate lock with the borrower are matched in substantially all respects, with the objective of eliminating interest rate risk to the extent practical. TBA sale contracts with the investors have an expiration date that is longer than our related commitments to the borrower to allow, among other things, for the closing of the loan and processing of paperwork to deliver the loan into the sale commitment.
Both the rate lock commitments to borrowers and the TBA sale contracts to buyers are undesignated derivatives and, accordingly, are marked to fair value through earnings. Unrealized gains and losses on rate lock commitments are recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and other income in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The fair value of the Company’s rate lock commitments to borrowers and loans held for sale and the related input includes, as applicable:
the assumed gain/loss of the expected resultant loan sale to the buyer;
the expected net future cash flows associated with servicing the loan;
the effects of interest rate movements between the date of the rate lock and the balance sheet date; and
the nonperformance risk of both the counterparty and the Company.
The fair value of the Company’s TBA sale contracts to investors considers effects of interest rate movements between the trade date and the balance sheet date. The market price changes are multiplied by the notional amount of the TBA sale contracts to measure the fair value.
The assumed gain/loss considers the amount that the Company has discounted the price to the borrower from par for competitive reasons, if at all, and the expected net cash flows from servicing to be received upon securitization of the loan. The fair value of the expected net future cash flows associated with servicing the loan is calculated pursuant to the valuation techniques described previously for MSRs.
To calculate the effects of interest rate movements, the Company uses applicable published U.S. Treasury prices, and multiplies the price movement between the rate lock date and the balance sheet date by the notional loan commitment amount.
The fair value of the Company’s TBA sale contracts to investors considers the market price movement of the same type of security between the trade date and the balance sheet date. The market price changes are multiplied by the notional amount of the TBA sale contracts to measure the fair value.
The fair value of the Company’s interest rate lock commitments and TBA sale contracts is adjusted to reflect the risk that the agreement will not be fulfilled. The Company’s exposure to nonperformance in rate lock and TBA sale contracts is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. Given the credit quality of our counterparties, the short duration of interest rate lock commitments and TBA sale contracts, and the Company’s historical experience with the agreements, the risk of nonperformance by the Company’s counterparties is not significant.
TBA Securities
The Company also transacts in pass-through mortgage-backed securities eligible to be sold in the TBA market as economic hedges against mortgage-backed securities that it owns or has sold but not yet purchased. 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 sheet in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, respectively, and in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as principal transactions revenue, net.

24

Table of Contents


The notional amounts and fair values of the Company’s derivatives at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 by product were as follows:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments at March 31, 2016
 
Description
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Other contracts
TBAs
 
$
135,100

 
$
803

 
TBA sale contracts
 
3,480

 
8

 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
248,420

 
14,024

 
ARS purchase commitments
 
11,237

 
1,540

 
 
 
$
398,237

 
$
16,375

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
Futures
 
$
4,060,000

 
$
709

Other contracts
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
400

 
17

 
TBAs
 
132,900

 
798

 
TBA sale contracts
 
257,592

 
11,018

 
ARS purchase commitments
 
21,312

 
559

 
Forward start repurchase agreements
 
680,000

 

 
 
 
$
5,152,204

 
$
13,101

 
(1)
See "Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" above for description of derivative financial instruments. Such derivative instruments are not subject to master netting agreements, thus the related amounts are not offset.
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments at December 31, 2015
 
Description
 
Notional
 
Fair Value
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Other contracts
TBAs
 
$
35,650

 
$
4

 
TBA sale contracts
 
83,810

 
6,444

 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
203,648

 
9,161

 
 
 
$
323,108

 
$
15,609

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity contracts
Futures
 
$
2,943,000

 
$
249

Other contracts
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
400

 
2

 
TBAs
 
24,350

 
5

 
TBA sale contracts
 
223,846

 
11,614

 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
48,638

 
923

 
ARS purchase commitments
 
27,813

 
1,369

 
 
 
$
3,268,047

 
$
14,162

 
(1)
See "Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" above for description of derivative financial instruments. Such derivative instruments are not subject to master netting agreements, thus the related amounts are not offset.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

25

Table of Contents


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the location and fair value amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments and their effect on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
Recognized in Income on Derivatives
(pre-tax)
Types
 
Description
 
Location
 
Gain (Loss)
Commodity contracts
 
Futures
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
$
(1,754
)
Other contracts
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Other revenue
 
17

 
 
TBAs
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
(9
)
 
 
TBA sale contracts
 
Other revenue
 
(7,901
)
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
Other revenue
 
5,786

 
 
ARS purchase commitments
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
2,350

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(1,511
)
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
Recognized in Income on Derivatives
(pre-tax)
Types
 
Description
 
Location
 
Gain (Loss)
Commodity contracts
 
Futures
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
$
(1,480
)
Other contracts
 
Foreign exchange forward contracts
 
Other revenue
 
3

 
 
TBAs
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
(14
)
 
 
TBA sale contracts
 
Other revenue
 
(1,619
)
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
Other revenue
 
4,526

 
 
ARS purchase commitments
 
Principal transactions revenue
 
105

 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,521


26

Table of Contents


6.        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 March 31, 2016, bank call loans were $148.3 million ($100.2 million at December 31, 2015). At March 31, 2016, such loans were collateralized by firm and customer securities with market values of approximately $163.5 million and $230.6 million, respectively, with commercial banks.
At March 31, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.1 billion of customer securities under customer margin loans that are available to be pledged, of which the Company has re-pledged approximately $114.7 million under securities loan agreements.
At March 31, 2016, the Company had pledged $360.7 million of customer securities directly with the Options Clearing Corporation to secure obligations and margin requirements under option contracts written by customers.
The Company enters into reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions to, among other things, acquire securities to cover short positions and settle other securities obligations, to accommodate customers’ needs and to finance the Company’s inventory positions. 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.
The following table presents a disaggregation of the gross obligation by the class of collateral pledged and the remaining contractual maturity of the repurchase agreements and securities loaned transactions as of March 31, 2016:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
Overnight and Open
Repurchase agreements:
 
U.S. Treasury and Agency securities
$
850,440

Securities loaned:
 
Equity securities
143,157

Gross amount of recognized liabilities for repurchase agreements and securities loaned
$
993,597



27

Table of Contents


The following tables present the gross amounts and the offsetting amounts of reverse repurchase agreements, repurchase agreements, securities borrowed and securities loaned transactions as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
As of March 31, 2016
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset on
the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset on the
Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts
of Assets
Presented on
the Balance
Sheet
 
Financial
Instruments
 
Cash
Collateral
Received
 
Net Amount
Reverse repurchase agreements
$
320,688

 
$
(320,688
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

Securities borrowed (1)
190,963

 

 
190,963

 
(185,319
)
 

 
5,644

Total
$
511,651

 
$
(320,688
)
 
$
190,963

 
$
(185,319
)
 
$

 
$
5,644

(1)
Included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset on
the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented on
the Balance
Sheet
 
Financial
Instruments
 
Cash
Collateral
Pledged
 
Net Amount
Repurchase agreements
$
850,440

 
$
(320,688
)
 
$
529,752

 
$
(518,518
)
 
$

 
$
11,234

Securities loaned (2)
143,157

 

 
143,157

 
(139,315
)
 

 
3,842

Total
$
993,597

 
$
(320,688
)
 
$
672,909

 
$
(657,833
)
 
$

 
$
15,076

 
(2)
Included in payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
As of December 31, 2015
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset on
the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts
of Assets
Presented on
the Balance
Sheet
 
Financial
Instruments
 
Cash
Collateral
Received
 
Net Amount
Reverse repurchase agreements
$
282,042

 
$
(75,543
)
 
$
206,499

 
$
(203,266
)
 
$

 
$
3,233

Securities borrowed (1)
224,672

 

 
224,672

 
(219,099
)
 

 
5,573

Total
$
506,714

 
$
(75,543
)
 
$
431,171

 
$
(422,365
)
 
$

 
$
8,806

 
(1)
Included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset on
the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
 
Gross
Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented on
the Balance
Sheet
 
Financial
Instruments
 
Cash
Collateral
Pledged
 
Net Amount
Repurchase agreements
$
726,988

 
$
(75,543
)
 
$
651,445

 
$
(645,498
)
 
$

 
$
5,947

Securities loaned (2)
130,658

 

 
130,658

 
(122,650
)
 

 
8,008

Total
$
857,646

 
$
(75,543
)
 
$
782,103

 
$
(768,148
)
 
$

 
$
13,955

(2)
Included in payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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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. 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 March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements that elected the fair value option.
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 re-pledge the securities received (e.g., use the securities to enter into securities lending transactions, or deliver to counterparties to cover short positions). At March 31, 2016, the fair value of securities received as collateral under securities borrowed transactions and reverse repurchase agreements was $185.9 million ($217.0 million at December 31, 2015) and $320.8 million ($278.8 million at December 31, 2015), respectively, of which the Company has sold and re-pledged approximately $23.4 million ($36.0 million at December 31, 2015) under securities loaned transactions and $320.8 million under repurchase agreements ($278.8 million at December 31, 2015).
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 $705.8 million, as presented on the face of the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016 ($546.3 million at December 31, 2015). 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 $163.7 million at March 31, 2016 ($142.7 million at December 31, 2015).
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 manages market risk of repurchase agreements and securities loaned by monitoring 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.
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, dealers and clearing organizations as of March 31, 2016 are receivables from four major U.S. broker-dealers totaling approximately $124.8 million.
Warehouse Facilities
The Company reached an agreement with RBS Citizens, NA (“Citizens”) that was announced in July 2012, whereby the Company, through OPY Credit Corp., will introduce lending opportunities to Citizens, which Citizens can elect to accept and in which the Company will participate in the fees earned from any related commitment by Citizens. The Company can also in certain circumstances assume a portion of Citizen’s syndication and lending risk under such loans, and if it does so it shall be obligated to secure such obligations via a cash deposit determined through risk-based formulas. Neither the Company nor Citizens is obligated to make any specific loan or to commit any minimum amount of lending capacity to the relationship. The agreement also calls for Citizens and the Company at their option to jointly participate in the arrangement of various loan syndications. At March 31, 2016, there were no loans in place.

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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 the settlement date, generally one to three business days after the 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), Mortgage-Backed Securities and Clearing Corporation and others. With respect to its business in reverse repurchase and repurchase agreements, substantially all open contracts at March 31, 2016 are with the FICC. In addition, the Company began clearing its non-U.S. international equities business carried on by Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. through BNP Paribas Securities Services and Oppenheimer through BNP Securities Corp. The clearing organizations 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 March 31, 2016, 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.
OMHHF, which is engaged in commercial mortgage origination and servicing, has obtained an uncommitted warehouse facility line through PNC Bank (“PNC”) under which OMHHF pledges FHA-guaranteed mortgages for a period averaging 15 business days and PNC provides a facility that allows OMHHF to fund the loan at the closing table. Warehouse payable represents the warehouse line amount outstanding with PNC and is included in accounts payable and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and cash flows from operating activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. OMHHF repays PNC upon the securitization of the mortgage by GNMA and the delivery of the security to the counter-party for payment pursuant to a contemporaneous sale on the date the mortgage is securitized. At March 31, 2016, OMHHF had $11.8 million ($54.3 million at December 31, 2015) outstanding under the warehouse facility line at a variable interest rate of one month LIBOR plus a spread. The Company earns a spread between the interest earned on the loans originated by the Company and the interest incurred on amounts drawn from the warehouse facility. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $200,000 and $125,000, respectively. The Company’s ability to originate mortgage loans depends upon our ability to secure and maintain these types of short-term financings on acceptable terms.
As discussed in Note 5, Fair value measurements, the Company enters into TBA sale contracts to offset exposures related to commitments to provide funding for FHA loans at OMHHF. In the normal course of business, the Company may be exposed to the risk that counterparties to these TBA sale contracts are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.
7.        Variable interest entities ("VIEs")
The Company’s policy is to consolidate all subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, as well as any VIEs where the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary, when it has the power to make the decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb significant losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
For funds that the Company has concluded are not VIEs, the Company then evaluates whether the fund is a partnership or similar entity. If the fund is a partnership or similar entity, the Company evaluates the fund under the partnership consolidation guidance. Pursuant to that guidance, the Company consolidates funds in which it is the general partner, unless presumption of control by the Company can be overcome. This presumption is overcome only when unrelated investors in the fund have the substantive ability to liquidate the fund or otherwise remove the Company as the general partner without cause, based on a simple majority vote of unaffiliated investors, or have other substantive participating rights. If the presumption of control can be overcome, the Company accounts for its interest in the fund pursuant to the equity method of accounting.
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.

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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 form of general and limited partner interests. 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 and limited partnership interests, additional capital commitments, and management fees receivable represent its maximum exposure to loss. The subsidiaries’ general partnership and limited 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 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At March 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum
Exposure
to Loss in
Non-consolidated
VIEs
 
 
 
Carrying Value of the
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Company’s Variable Interest
 
Capital
 
 
VIE Assets (1)
 
Assets (2)
 
Liabilities
 
Commitments
 
Hedge funds
$
317,804

 
$
609

 
$

 
$

 
$
609

Private equity funds
52,800

 
15

 

 
2

 
17

Total
$
370,604

 
$
624

 
$

 
$
2

 
$
626

(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.
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum
Exposure
to Loss in
Non-consolidated
VIEs
 
 
 
Carrying Value of the
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Company’s Variable Interest
 
Capital
 
 
VIE Assets (1)
 
Assets (2)
 
Liabilities
 
Commitments
 
Hedge funds
$
1,775,503

 
$
1,354

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,354

Private equity funds
54,800

 
27

 

 
2

 
29

Total
$
1,830,303

 
$
1,381

 
$

 
$
2

 
$
1,383

 
(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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8.        Commercial mortgage banking
OMHHF is engaged in the business of originating and servicing FHA-insured multifamily and healthcare facility loans and securitizing these loans into GNMA mortgage backed securities. OMHHF also offers mortgage services to developers of commercial properties including apartments, elderly housing and nursing homes that satisfy FHA criteria. OMHHF maintains a mortgage servicing portfolio for which it provides a full array of services, including the collection of mortgage payments from mortgagors which are passed on to the mortgage holders, construction loan management and asset management.
The Company owns an 83.68% controlling interest in OMHHF. The 16.32% noncontrolling interest belongs to one related party who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of OMHHF.
Loan Origination Fees
OMHHF recognizes origination fees and other direct origination costs when it enters into a rate lock commitment with the borrower. The origination fees and other direct origination costs are recognized when OMHHF enters into a commitment to sell loans to third parties. In accordance with Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") guidelines, OMHHF will, with HUD's approval and for certain loan programs, apply the premium income towards the payment of prepayment costs that customers will incur on their prior mortgage. These costs are netted with revenues from premium income that are otherwise earned from these loan refinancings or modifications. Prepayment costs recorded as contra-revenue against premium income were $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 ($8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015).
Funding Commitments
OMHHF provides its clients with commitments to fund FHA-insured permanent or constructions loans. Upon providing these commitments to fund, OMHHF enters into TBA sale contracts directly or indirectly with counterparties to offset its exposures related to these funding commitments. See Note 5, Fair value measurements, for more information.
Loans Held For Sale
OMHHF advances funds from its own cash reserves in addition to obtaining financing through warehouse facilities in order to fund initial loan closing and subsequent construction loan draws. Prior to the GNMA securitization of a loan, a loan held for sale is recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Loans held for sale are recorded at fair value through earnings.
Escrows Held in Trust
Custodial escrow accounts relating to loans serviced by OMHHF totaled $256.1 million at March 31, 2016 ($421.5 million at December 31, 2015). These amounts are not included on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as such amounts are not OMHHF’s assets. Certain cash deposits at financial institutions exceeded the FDIC-insured limits or other institutionally provided insurance. The combined uninsured balance with relation to escrow accounts at March 31, 2016 was approximately $138.0 million. OMHHF places these deposits with major financial institutions where it believes the risk is minimal and that meet or exceed GNMA required credit ratings.
The total unpaid principal balance of loans the Company was servicing for various institutional investors as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2016
 
As of December 31, 2015
Unpaid principal balance of loans
$
3,937,592

 
$
3,974,292

Mortgage Servicing Rights (“MSRs”)
OMHHF purchases commitments or originates mortgage loans that are sold and securitized into GNMA mortgage backed securities. OMHHF retains the servicing responsibilities for the loans securitized and recognizes either a MSR asset or a MSR liability for that servicing contract. OMHHF receives monthly servicing fees equal to a percentage of the outstanding principal balance of the loans being serviced.
OMHHF estimates the initial fair value of the servicing rights based on the present value of future net servicing income, adjusted for factors such as discount rate and prepayment. OMHHF uses the amortization method for subsequent measurement, subject to annual impairment. See Note 5, Fair value measurements, for more information.

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The fair value of the servicing rights on the loan portfolio was $41.8 million at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (carrying value of $28.0 million and $28.2 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively). The following tables summarize the changes in carrying value of MSRs for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at beginning of period
$
28,168

 
$
30,140

Originations (1)
1,388

 
601

Purchases
111

 
208

Disposals (1)
(861
)
 
(2,328
)
Amortization expense
(782
)
 
(230
)
Balance at end of period
$
28,024

 
$
28,391

 
(1)
Includes refinancings.
Servicing rights are amortized using the straight-line method over 10 years. Estimated amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Originated MSRs
 
Purchased MSRs
 
Total MSRs
2016
$
2,340

 
$
791

 
$
3,131

2017
3,116

 
1,053

 
4,169

2018
3,091

 
1,046

 
4,137

2019
2,995

 
985

 
3,980

2020
2,851

 
886

 
3,737

Thereafter
7,610

 
1,260

 
8,870

 
$
22,003

 
$
6,021

 
$
28,024

The Company receives fees during the course of servicing the mortgage loans. The fees for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Servicing fees
$
1,455

 
$
1,467

Ancillary fees
105

 
101

Total MSR fees
$
1,560

 
$
1,568

 

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9.        Long-term debt
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
Issued
Maturity Date
 
At March 31, 2016
 
At December 31, 2015
Senior Secured Notes
4/15/2018
 
$
150,000

 
$
150,000

On April 12, 2011, the Company completed the private placement of $200 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due April 15, 2018 (the “Notes”) at par. The interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15th and October 15th. On April 15, 2014, the Company retired early a total of $50.0 million (25%) of the Notes.
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. These guarantees may be shared, on a senior basis, under certain circumstances, with newly incurred debt outstanding in the future. At March 31, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.
Interest expense for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 on the Notes was $3.3 million.
10.        Share capital
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of (a) 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share; (b) 50,000,000 shares of Class A non-voting common stock ("Class A Stock"), par value $0.001 per share; and (c) 99,665 shares of Class B voting common stock ("Class B Stock"), par value $0.001 per share. No Preferred Stock has been issued. 99,665 shares of Class B Stock have been issued and are outstanding.
The Class A Stock and the Class B Stock are equal in all respects except that the Class A Stock is non-voting.
The following table reflects changes in the number of shares of Class A Stock outstanding for the periods indicated:
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Class A Stock outstanding, beginning of period
13,238,486

 
13,530,688

Issued pursuant to shared-based compensation plans
265,320

 
104,143

Repurchased and canceled pursuant to the stock buy-back
(240,274
)
 

Class A Stock outstanding, end of period
13,263,532

 
13,634,831

Stock buy-back
On September 15, 2015, the Company announced that its board of directors approved a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to purchase up to 665,000 shares of the Company's Class A Stock, representing approximately 5% of its 13,348,369 then issued and outstanding shares of Class A Stock ("New Program"). This authorization replaces the share repurchase program covering up to 675,000 shares of the Company's Class A Stock, which was announced on October 7, 2011 ("Previous Program"), pursuant to which 322,177 shares of the Company's Class A Stock were repurchased and canceled prior to December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company purchased and canceled an additional 328,844 shares of Class A Stock for a total consideration of $6.6 million ($20.12 per share) under the Previous Program. The 23,979 remaining shares available under the Previous Program have been replaced by the shares available under the New Program.
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and canceled an aggregate of 240,274 shares of Class A Stock for a total consideration of $3.6 million ($15.13 per share) under the New Program. As of March 31, 2016, 329,844 shares were available to be purchased under the New Program.

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Any such share purchases will be made by the Company from time to time in the open market at the prevailing open market price using cash on hand, in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange and federal and state securities laws and the terms of the Company's senior secured debt. All shares purchased will be canceled. The share repurchase program is expected to continue indefinitely. The timing and amounts of any purchases will be based on market conditions and other factors including price, regulatory requirements and capital availability. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of Class A Stock. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice.
11.        Contingencies
Many aspects of the Company's business involve substantial risks of liability. In the normal course of business, the Company has been named as defendant or co-defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions, and other litigation, creating substantial exposure. Certain of the actual or threatened legal matters include claims for substantial compensatory and/or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. These proceedings arise primarily from securities brokerage, asset management and investment banking activities. The Company is also involved, from time to time, in other reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental and self-regulatory agencies regarding the Company's business which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. The investigations include, among other things, inquiries from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") and various state regulators.
The Company accrues for estimated loss contingencies related to legal and regulatory matters when available information indicates that it is probable a liability had been incurred at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the Company can reasonably estimate the amount of that loss. In many proceedings, however, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or even possible or to estimate the amount of any loss. In addition, even where loss is possible or an exposure to loss exists in excess of the liability already accrued with respect to a previously recognized loss contingency, it is often not possible to reasonably estimate the size of the possible loss or range of loss or possible additional losses or range of additional losses.
For certain legal and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot reasonably estimate such losses, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where plaintiffs seek substantial, indeterminate or special damages. Numerous issues may need to be reviewed, analyzed or resolved, including through potentially lengthy discovery and determination of important factual matters, and by addressing novel or unsettled legal questions relevant to the proceedings in question, before a loss or range of loss or additional loss can be reasonably estimated for any proceeding. Even after lengthy review and analysis, the Company, in many legal and regulatory proceedings, may not be able to reasonably estimate possible losses or range of loss.
For certain other legal and regulatory proceedings, the Company can estimate possible losses, or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued, but does not believe, based on current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that such losses individually, or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements as a whole.
For legal and regulatory proceedings 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 $49.0 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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In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with the Regulators concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer's marketing and sale of ARS. Pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer agreed to extend offers to repurchase ARS from certain of its clients subject to certain terms and conditions more fully described below. As of March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any outstanding ARS purchase commitments related to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer has also reached settlements of and received adverse awards in legal proceedings with various clients where the Company is obligated to purchase ARS. Pursuant to completed Purchase Offers (as defined) under the settlements with the Regulators and client related legal settlements and awards to purchase ARS, as of March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and holds (net of redemptions) approximately $87.1 million in ARS from its clients. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $32.5 million in ARS from clients through 2020 under legal settlements and awards.
The Company's purchases of ARS from its clients holding ARS eligible for repurchase will, subject to the terms and conditions of the settlements with the Regulators, continue on a periodic basis. Pursuant to these terms and conditions, the Company is required to conduct a financial review every six months, until the Company has extended Purchase Offers to all Eligible Investors (as defined), to determine whether it has funds available, after giving effect to the financial and regulatory capital constraints applicable to the Company, to extend additional Purchase Offers. The financial review is based on the Company's operating results, regulatory net capital, liquidity, and other ARS purchase commitments outstanding under legal settlements and awards (described below). There are no predetermined quantitative thresholds or formulas used for determining the final agreed upon amount for the Purchase Offers. Upon completion of the financial review, the Company first meets with its primary regulator, FINRA, and then with representatives of the NYAG and other regulators to present the results of the review and to finalize the amount of the next Purchase Offer. Various offer scenarios are discussed in terms of which Eligible Investors should receive a Purchase Offer. The primary criteria to date in terms of determining which Eligible Investors should receive a Purchase Offer has been the amount of household account equity each Eligible Investor had with the Company in February 2008. Once various Purchase Offer scenarios have been discussed, the regulators, not the Company, make the final determination of which Purchase Offer scenario to implement. The terms of settlements provide that the amount of ARS to be purchased during any period shall not risk placing the Company in violation of regulatory requirements.
Eligible Investors for future buybacks continued to hold approximately $37.3 million of ARS principal value as of March 31, 2016. It is reasonably possible that some ARS Purchase Offers will need to be extended to Eligible Investors holding ARS prior to redemptions (or tender offers) by issuers of the full amount that remains outstanding. The potential additional losses that may result from entering into ARS purchase commitments with Eligible Investors for future buybacks represents the estimated difference between the principal value and the fair value. It is possible that the Company could sustain a loss of all or substantially all of the principal value of ARS still held by Eligible Investors but such an outcome is highly unlikely. The amount of potential additional losses resulting from entering into these commitments cannot be reasonably estimated due to the uncertainties surrounding the amounts and timing of future buybacks that result from the six-month financial review and the amounts, scope, and timing of future issuer redemptions and tender offers of ARS held by Eligible Investors. The range of potential additional losses related to valuation adjustments is between $0 and the amount of the estimated differential between the principal value and the fair value of ARS held by Eligible Investors for future buybacks that were not yet purchased or committed to be purchased by the Company at any point in time. The range of potential additional losses described here is not included in the estimated range of aggregate loss in excess of amounts accrued for legal and regulatory proceedings described above.
Outside of the settlements with the Regulators, the Company has also reached various legal settlements with clients and received unfavorable legal awards requiring it to purchase ARS. The terms and conditions including the ARS amounts committed to be purchased under legal settlements and awards are based on the specific facts and circumstances of each legal proceeding. In most instances, the purchase commitments are in increments and extend over a period of time. At March 31, 2016, no ARS purchase commitments related to legal settlements extended past 2020.
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.
On January 27, 2015, the SEC approved an Offer of Settlement from Oppenheimer and issued an Order Instituting Administrative and Cease and Desist Proceedings (the "Order"). Pursuant to the Order, Oppenheimer was ordered to (i) cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of the relevant provisions of the federal securities laws; (ii) be censured; (iii) pay to the SEC $10.0 million comprised of $4.2 million in disgorgement, $753,500 in prejudgment interest and $5.1 million in civil penalties; and (iv) retain an independent consultant to review Oppenheimer's policies and procedures relating to anti-money laundering and Section 5 of the Securities Act.

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Oppenheimer made a payment of $5.0 million to the SEC on February 17, 2015 and agreed to make a second payment of $5.0 million to the SEC before January 27, 2017. On the same date the Order was issued, a division of the United States Department of the Treasury ("FinCEN") issued a Civil Monetary Assessment (the "Assessment") against Oppenheimer relating to potential violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder related primarily to, in the Company's view, the SEC matter discussed immediately above. Pursuant to the terms of the Assessment, Oppenheimer admitted that it violated the Bank Secrecy Act and consented to the payment of a civil money penalty, which, as a result of the payments to the SEC described above, obligates Oppenheimer to make an aggregate payment of $10.0 million to FinCEN. On February 9, 2015, Oppenheimer made a payment of $5.0 million to FinCEN and has agreed to make a second payment of $5.0 million before January 27, 2017. As of March 31, 2016, the Company was fully reserved for the remaining $10.0 million related to the aforementioned matters.
Since early 2014, Oppenheimer has been responding to information requests from FINRA regarding the supervision of one of its former financial advisers who was indicted by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey in March 2014 on allegations of insider trading. In August 2014, Oppenheimer received information requests from the SEC regarding supervision of the same financial adviser. A number of Oppenheimer employees have provided on-the-record testimony in connection with the SEC inquiry. Oppenheimer is continuing to cooperate with both the FINRA and SEC inquiries.

12.        Regulatory 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") promulgated under the Exchange Act. 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 March 31, 2016, the net capital of Oppenheimer as calculated under the Rule was $112.8 million or 9.61% of Oppenheimer’s aggregate debit items. This was $89.3 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 $100,000 or 6-2/3% of aggregate indebtedness, as defined. At March 31, 2016, Freedom had net capital of $5.7 million, which was $5.6 million in excess of the $100,000 required to be maintained at that date.
New Basel III requirements being implemented in the European Union have changed how capital adequacy is reported under the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV), effective January 1, 2014, for Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. At March 31, 2016, the capital required and held under CRD IV was as follows:
Common Equity Tier 1 ratio 12.32% (required 4.5%);
Tier 1 Capital ratio 12.32% (required 6.0%); and
Total Capital ratio 13.75% (required 8.0%).
At March 31, 2016, the regulatory capital of Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited was $2.2 million, which was $1.8 million in excess of the $387,000 required to be maintained on that date. Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited computes its regulatory capital pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong.

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13.        Segment information
The Company has determined its reportable segments based on the Company’s method of internal reporting, which disaggregates its retail business by branch and its proprietary and investment banking businesses by product. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based upon profitability.
The Company’s reportable segments are:
Private Clientincludes commissions and a proportionate amount of fee income earned on assets under management ("AUM"), net interest earnings on client margin loans and cash balances, fees from money market funds, net contributions from stock loan activities and financing activities, and direct expenses associated with this segment;
Asset Management—includes a proportionate amount of fee income earned on AUM from investment management services of Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Oppenheimer’s asset management divisions employ various programs to professionally manage client assets either in individual accounts or in funds, and includes direct expenses associated with this segment;
Capital Markets—includes investment banking, institutional equities sales, trading, and research, taxable fixed income sales, trading, and research, public finance and municipal trading, as well as the Company’s operations in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Israel, and direct expenses associated with this segment;
Commercial Mortgage Banking—includes loan origination and servicing fees from the Company’s subsidiary, OMHHF; and
Corporate/Other—the Company does not allocate costs associated with certain infrastructure support groups that are centrally managed for its reportable segments. These areas include, but are not limited to, legal, compliance, operations, accounting, and internal audit. Costs associated with these groups are separately reported in a Corporate/Other category and primarily include compensation and benefits.
The table below presents information about the reported revenue and net income before taxes of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. Asset information by reportable segment is not reported, since the Company does not produce such information for internal use by the chief operating decision maker.
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Revenue
 
 
 
Private client (1)
$
127,544

 
$
139,932

Asset management (1)
22,974

 
24,461

Capital markets
61,065

 
72,166

Commercial mortgage banking
3,738

 
8,386

Corporate/Other
3,373

 
616

Total
$
218,694

 
$
245,561

Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
Private client (1)
$
16,317

 
$
16,757

Asset management (1)
6,768

 
7,886

Capital markets
(6,798
)
 
6,735

Commercial mortgage banking
(657
)
 
4,037

Corporate/Other
(23,627
)
 
(25,564
)
Total
$
(7,997
)
 
$
9,851

(1)    Asset management fees are allocated 22.5% to the Asset Management and 77.5% to the Private Client segments.

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Revenue, classified by the major geographic areas in which it was earned for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, was as follows:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Americas
$
207,207

 
$
233,031

Europe/Middle East
10,592

 
10,972

Asia
895

 
1,558

Total
$
218,694

 
$
245,561

14.        Subsequent events
On April 29, 2016, the Company announced a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.11 per share, payable on May 27, 2016 to holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock of record on May 13, 2016.

15.        Condensed consolidating financial information
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 indenture for the Notes contains covenants with restrictions which are discussed in Note 9. The following condensed consolidating financial information presents 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.
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 ceasing to be a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company if such sale does not constitute an asset sale under the indenture for the Notes or does not constitute an asset sale effected in compliance with the asset sale and merger covenants of the indenture for the Notes; 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 for the Notes in accordance with the terms of such indenture.

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MARCH 31, 2016
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
196

 
$
119

 
$
62,164

 
$

 
$
62,479

Deposits with clearing organizations

 

 
56,567

 

 
56,567

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

 

 
263,363

 

 
263,363

Receivable from customers, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,573

 

 
791,631

 

 
791,631

Income tax receivable
34,696

 
27,742

 

 
(45,177
)
 
17,261

Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $705,835, at fair value

 
1,213

 
1,035,569

 

 
1,036,782

Notes receivable, net of accumulated amortization and
allowance for uncollectibles of $58,350 and $8,722,
respectively

 

 
32,869

 

 
32,869

Office facilities, net of accumulated depreciation of $106,206

 
21,477

 
7,041

 

 
28,518

Loans held for sale, at fair value

 

 
13,532

 

 
13,532

Mortgage servicing rights

 

 
28,024

 

 
28,024

Subordinated loan receivable

 
112,558

 

 
(112,558
)
 

Intangible assets

 

 
31,700

 

 
31,700

Goodwill

 

 
137,889

 

 
137,889

Other assets
138

 
2,739

 
117,372

 

 
120,249

Deferred tax assets
1,135

 
317

 
27,550

 
(29,002
)
 

Investment in subsidiaries
577,002

 
528,357

 

 
(1,105,359
)
 

Intercompany receivables
53,871

 
18,409

 

 
(72,280
)
 

Total assets
$
667,038

 
$
712,931

 
$
2,605,271

 
$
(1,364,376
)
 
$
2,620,864

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drafts payable
$

 
$

 
$
37,663

 
$

 
$
37,663

Bank call loans

 

 
148,300

 

 
148,300

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

 

 
207,879

 

 
207,879

Payable to customers

 

 
521,557

 

 
521,557

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

 

 
529,752

 

 
529,752

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

 

 
270,952

 

 
270,952

Accrued compensation

 

 
93,835

 

 
93,835

Accounts payable and other liabilities
6,225

 
35,488

 
84,470

 

 
126,183

Income tax payable
2,440

 
22,189

 
20,548

 
(45,177
)
 

Senior secured notes, net of debt issuance costs of $1,011
148,989

 

 

 

 
148,989

Subordinated indebtedness

 

 
112,558

 
(112,558
)
 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 
48,410

 
(29,002
)
 
19,408

Intercompany payables

 
62,204

 
10,076

 
(72,280
)
 

Total liabilities
157,654

 
119,881

 
2,086,000

 
(259,017
)
 
2,104,518

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
509,384

 
593,050

 
512,309

 
(1,105,359
)
 
509,384

Noncontrolling interest

 

 
6,962

 

 
6,962

Total stockholders’ equity
509,384

 
593,050

 
519,271

 
(1,105,359
)
 
516,346

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
667,038

 
$
712,931

 
$
2,605,271

 
$
(1,364,376
)
 
$
2,620,864


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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
907

 
$
2,586

 
$
59,871

 
$

 
$
63,364

Deposits with clearing organizations

 

 
49,490

 

 
49,490

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

 

 
360,913

 

 
360,913

Receivable from customers, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,545

 

 
840,355

 

 
840,355

Income tax receivable
33,801

 
27,536

 

 
(50,400
)
 
10,937

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

 

 
206,499

 

 
206,499

Securities owned, including amounts pledged of $546,334, at fair value

 
1,183

 
734,210

 

 
735,393

Notes receivable, net of accumulated amortization and
allowance for uncollectibles of $54,919 and $8,444,
respectively

 

 
32,849

 

 
32,849

Office facilities, net of accumulated depreciation of $104,961

 
20,793

 
7,497

 

 
28,290

Loans held for sale, at fair value

 

 
60,234

 

 
60,234

Mortgage servicing rights

 

 
28,168

 

 
28,168

Subordinated loan receivable

 
112,558

 

 
(112,558
)
 

Intangible assets

 

 
31,700

 

 
31,700

Goodwill

 

 
137,889

 

 
137,889

Other assets
69

 
3,224

 
102,458

 

 
105,751

Deferred tax assets
317

 
330

 
29,900

 
(30,547
)
 

Investment in subsidiaries
577,320

 
532,651

 

 
(1,109,971
)
 

Intercompany receivables
60,187

 
13,185

 

 
(73,372
)
 

Total assets
$
672,601

 
$
714,046

 
$
2,682,033

 
$
(1,376,848
)
 
$
2,691,832

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drafts payable
$

 
$

 
$
48,011

 
$

 
$
48,011

Bank call loans

 

 
100,200

 

 
100,200

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

 

 
164,546

 

 
164,546

Payable to customers

 

 
594,833

 

 
594,833

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

 

 
651,445

 

 
651,445

Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

 

 
126,493

 

 
126,493

Accrued compensation

 

 
150,898

 

 
150,898

Accounts payable and other liabilities
3,235

 
35,812

 
125,736

 

 
164,783

Income tax payable
2,440

 
22,189

 
25,771

 
(50,400
)
 

Senior secured notes, net of debt issuance costs of $1,132
148,868

 

 

 

 
148,868

Subordinated indebtedness

 

 
112,558

 
(112,558
)
 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 
47,220

 
(30,547
)
 
16,673

Intercompany payables

 
62,204

 
11,168

 
(73,372
)
 

Total liabilities
154,543

 
120,205

 
2,158,879

 
(266,877
)
 
2,166,750

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
518,058

 
593,841

 
516,130

 
(1,109,971
)
 
518,058

Noncontrolling interest

 

 
7,024

 

 
7,024

Total stockholders’ equity
518,058

 
593,841

 
523,154

 
(1,109,971
)
 
525,082

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
672,601

 
$
714,046

 
$
2,682,033

 
$
(1,376,848
)
 
$
2,691,832


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
$

 
$

 
$
103,833

 
$

 
$
103,833

Advisory fees

 

 
66,379

 
(353
)
 
66,026

Investment banking

 

 
12,383

 

 
12,383

Interest

 
2,557

 
13,389

 
(2,567
)
 
13,379

Principal transactions, net

 
30

 
1,501

 

 
1,531

Other

 
78

 
21,542

 
(78
)
 
21,542

Total revenue

 
2,665

 
219,027

 
(2,998
)
 
218,694

EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and related expenses
387

 

 
151,026

 

 
151,413

Communications and technology
28

 

 
17,753

 

 
17,781

Occupancy and equipment costs

 

 
15,056

 
(78
)
 
14,978

Clearing and exchange fees

 

 
6,921

 

 
6,921

Interest
3,281

 

 
4,374

 
(2,567
)
 
5,088

Other
673

 
3

 
30,187

 
(353
)
 
30,510

Total expenses
4,369

 
3

 
225,317

 
(2,998
)
 
226,691

Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
(4,369
)
 
2,662

 
(6,290
)
 

 
(7,997
)
Income tax provision (benefit)
(1,714
)
 
1,004

 
(3,378
)
 

 
(4,088
)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
(1,192
)
 
(2,850
)
 

 
4,042

 

Net loss
(3,847
)
 
(1,192
)
 
(2,912
)
 
4,042

 
(3,909
)
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax

 

 
(62
)
 

 
(62
)
Net loss attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
(3,847
)
 
(1,192
)
 
(2,850
)
 
4,042

 
(3,847
)
Other comprehensive income

 

 
873

 

 
873

Total comprehensive loss
$
(3,847
)
 
$
(1,192
)
 
$
(1,977
)
 
$
4,042

 
$
(2,974
)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

42

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OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
$

 
$

 
$
109,695

 
$

 
$
109,695

Advisory fees

 

 
71,420

 
(454
)
 
70,966

Investment banking

 

 
27,305

 

 
27,305

Interest

 
2,566

 
11,033

 
(2,564
)
 
11,035

Principal transactions, net

 

 
18,609

 
(54
)
 
18,555

Other

 
95

 
7,985

 
(75
)
 
8,005

Total revenue

 
2,661

 
246,047

 
(3,147
)
 
245,561

EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and related expenses
312

 

 
162,779

 

 
163,091

Communications and technology
25

 

 
17,143

 

 
17,168

Occupancy and equipment costs

 

 
15,853

 
(75
)
 
15,778

Clearing and exchange fees

 

 
6,402

 

 
6,402

Interest
3,281

 

 
3,193

 
(2,564
)
 
3,910

Other
288

 
68

 
29,513

 
(508
)
 
29,361

Total expenses
3,906

 
68

 
234,883

 
(3,147
)
 
235,710

Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
(3,906
)
 
2,593

 
11,164

 

 
9,851

Income tax provision (benefit)
(1,480
)
 
847

 
4,363

 

 
3,730

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
8,145

 
6,399

 

 
(14,544
)
 

Net income
5,719

 
8,145

 
6,801

 
(14,544
)
 
6,121

Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax

 

 
402

 

 
402

Net income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
5,719

 
8,145

 
6,399

 
(14,544
)
 
5,719

Other comprehensive loss

 

 
(567
)
 

 
(567
)
Total comprehensive income
$
5,719

 
$
8,145

 
$
5,832

 
$
(14,544
)
 
$
5,152


43

Table of Contents


OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
5,140

 
$
(2,467
)
 
$
(44,045
)
 
$

 
$
(41,372
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase of office facilities

 

 
(1,762
)
 

 
(1,762
)
Cash used in investing activities

 

 
(1,762
)
 

 
(1,762
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
(1,476
)
 

 

 

 
(1,476
)
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation
(3,634
)
 

 

 

 
(3,634
)
Tax deficiency from share-based awards
(741
)
 

 

 

 
(741
)
Increase in bank call loans, net

 

 
48,100

 

 
48,100

Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities
(5,851
)
 

 
48,100

 

 
42,249

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(711
)
 
(2,467
)
 
2,293

 

 
(885
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period
907

 
2,586

 
59,871

 

 
63,364

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period
$
196

 
$
119

 
$
62,164

 
$

 
$
62,479


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Table of Contents


OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015
(Expressed in thousands)
Parent
 
Guarantor
subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
1,394

 
$
436

 
$
(38,413
)
 
$

 
$
(36,583
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase of office facilities

 

 
(474
)
 

 
(474
)
Cash used in investing activities

 

 
(474
)
 

 
(474
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends paid on Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock
(1,511
)
 

 

 

 
(1,511
)
Tax deficiency from share-based awards
(321
)
 

 

 

 
(321
)
Increase in bank call loans, net

 

 
42,000

 

 
42,000

Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities
(1,832
)
 

 
42,000

 

 
40,168

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(438
)
 
436

 
3,113

 

 
3,111

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period
439

 
1,557

 
61,811

 

 
63,807

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period
$
1

 
$
1,993

 
$
64,924

 
$

 
$
66,918



45

Table of Contents


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, 2015.
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 Inc. ("OAM"). As of March 31, 2016, the Company provided its services from 82 offices in 24 states located throughout the United States, offices in Tel Aviv, Israel, Hong Kong, China, London, England, St. Helier, Isle of Jersey and Geneva, Switzerland. Client assets administered by the Company as of March 31, 2016 totaled approximately $78.7 billion. The Company provides investment advisory services through OAM and Oppenheimer Investment Management, LLC ("OIM") and Oppenheimer's Fahnestock Asset Management, Alpha and OMEGA Group divisions. At March 31, 2016, client assets under management totaled $23.7 billion. The Company provides trust services and products through Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware. The Company provides discount brokerage services through Freedom Investments, Inc. ("Freedom"). Through OPY Credit Corp., the Company offers syndication as well as trading of issued syndicated corporate loans. Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance, Inc. ("OMHHF") is engaged in Federal Housing Administration ("FHA")-insured commercial mortgage origination and servicing. At March 31, 2016, the Company employed 3,254 employees (3,193 full-time and 61 part-time), of whom approximately 1,223 were financial advisers.
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 Note 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, 2015. 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 March 31, 2016, there were no material changes to matters discussed under the heading "Critical Accounting Polices" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
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 confidence, 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 and interest income as well as on liquidity. Substantial fluctuations can occur in revenue and net income due to these and other factors.
For a number of years, the Company offered auction rate securities ("ARS") to its clients. A significant portion of the market in ARS 'failed' because, in the tight credit market in and subsequent to 2008, dealers were 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 ARS in their individual accounts. The absence of a liquid market for these securities presents a significant problem to clients continuing to own ARS 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 did not act 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 historically were 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. Due to

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liquidity problems associated with the ARS market, ARS that lack liquidity are setting their interest rates according to a maximum rate formula defined in their registration statements.
The Company has sought financing from a number of sources, with limited success, in order to try to find a means for all its clients to find liquidity from their ARS holdings. It seems likely that liquidity will ultimately come from issuer redemptions and tender offers which, to date, combined with purchases by the Company, have reduced client holdings by approximately 95%. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in finding a liquidity solution for all its clients' ARS. See "Risk Factors – The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market" appearing in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and "Factors Affecting 'Forward-Looking Statements'" herein.
Recent events have caused increased review and scrutiny of 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 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 advisers 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.
Regulatory and Legal Environment
The brokerage business is subject to regulation by, among others, the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") and FINRA in the United States, the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in the United Kingdom, the Jersey Financial Services Commission ("JFSC") in the Isle of Jersey, the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong ("SFC"), and various state securities regulators in the United States. In addition, Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd. operates under the supervision of the Israeli Securities Authority. Past events 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. The financial crisis of 2008-9 accelerated this trend. New regulations and new interpretations and enforcement of existing regulations have created increased costs of compliance and increased investment in systems and procedures to comply with these more complex and onerous requirements. The SEC and FINRA have increased their enforcement activities with an intent to bring more actions against firms and individuals with increased fines and sanctions for violations of existing rules as well as for conduct that stems from violations of new interpretations of existing rules. Certain legislators continue to publicly advocate that the SEC has not taken adequate enforcement action against firms and individuals. Various states are imposing their own regulations that make compliance more difficult and more expensive to monitor.
In July 2010, Congress enacted extensive legislation entitled the 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 2008-9 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 continues to be impossible to predict the nature and impact of such rulemaking. In addition, new rules have been adopted to 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, increase the disclosures provided to clients, and create a tax on securities transactions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has stated its intention to implement new rules affecting the interaction between financial institutions and consumers. It is too early to tell if other rules will become final and the impact of these proposed rules on the Company.
In April 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) finalized its definition of fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) through the release of new rules and changes to interpretations of six prohibited transaction exemptions which together set a new standard for the treatment and effects of advice given to retirement investors. Under this new rule, investment advice given to an employee benefit plan or an individual retirement account (IRA) is considered fiduciary advice. As a result, financial service providers and advisors who provide investment advice will need to meet greater conflict of interest standards which is likely to limit commission based compensation in favor of flat-fee compensation plans. The rules will also limit the ability to render advice which encourages the transfer of retirement assets from 401(k) and similar Plans as well as pension plans to rollover IRA plans sponsored by financial service providers.

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The rules provide for a Best Interest Contract (BIC) exemption, which would, under some circumstances, allow advisors to continue to receive commissions under a contract with a retirement investor. However, there is no exemption available for sophisticated investors and a financial institution’s failure to maintain and comply with the required anti-conflict of interest policies and procedures will result in a loss of the relief afforded by the BIC exemption and potential legal and regulatory sanctions. The new fiduciary standard definitions for investment advice will be effective on June 7, 2016 but compliance with the new rules under most circumstances is postponed until April 10, 2017 and full compliance with the BIC and other exemptions is delayed until January 1, 2018.

However, given the breadth of the new definitions and rules, some forms of compensation traditionally associated with the recruiting of financial advisors and the ability of financial advisors to have clients transfer their IRA and retirement accounts may be impacted prior to the dates set forth above and perhaps immediately given the June 7th effective date. The rule may also have implications for long term incentive programs designed to reward financial advisors for increasing their business and their assets under management and administration. The Company is reviewing its business and operating models in light of these new rules as they are expected to bring significant structural and operational changes to the Company and are likely to have a negative impact on revenues derived from retirement accounts and the desirability of servicing such accounts except when they are participating in fixed fee based programs.  Under the new rules, fiduciaries are subject to personal liability for losses resulting from a breach of their duties.  It is likely that the DOL will issue further clarifying guidance in the coming weeks and months.
Prohibitions and Restrictions on Proprietary Trading and Certain Interests in, and Relationships with, Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds (the "Volcker Rule") was published by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as required by Dodd-Frank in 2011. 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 was exposed for comment until February 13, 2012 and became effective on July 21, 2015. There may be additional changes to the requirements of the Volcker Rule and it is impossible to determine the Volcker Rule's impact on market liquidity and on the liquidity of issued sovereign debt in Europe and Asia. Various committees of Congress are reviewing the impact of the Volcker Rule and are potentially moving to reduce its impact on smaller institutions. The Company believes that the Volcker Rule will not directly affect its operations, but indirect effects cannot be predicted with any certainty. Additionally, the Federal Reserve in conjunction with other U.S. regulatory organizations has analyzed the U.S. financial system and the impact that might result from the failure of one or more "Strategically Important Financial Institutions" ("SIFI"). To date, less than 50 such institutions have been identified and will be made subject to special regulations including the requirement to create a plan for their orderly demise in the event of a failure. Oppenheimer has not been identified as a SIFI. There can be no assurance that this list will not grow to include more SIFI institutions. The identification process has not been completed and is subject to appeal by the affected institutions. Recently one SIFI has proposed voluntarily discontinuing significant portions of its business to be relieved of the SIFI designation. Another SIFI appealed its designation and was found by a court to have been incorrectly designated as a SIFI and had the designation removed. The government has proposed appealing this court decision. The Company has no reason to believe that it will be identified as a SIFI. But, this requirement may have broader implications for the capital markets as capital becomes less available in various markets and markets become increasingly volatile.
The adoption of rules under Basel II have resulted in a number of large international banks adopting new business models which has included the abandonment of a variety of securities related to businesses deemed to present excessive risks and requiring substantial capital that was not justified by the related returns. In addition, the European Commission recently adopted several acts under the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (known as Mifid II) that would prevent broker dealers from "bundling" the cost of research together with trading commissions. The long term effects of these changes on the markets and on competition are impossible to predict.
Recent revelations concerning the potential manipulation of LIBOR ("London Interbank Offered Rate") during the period from 2008-2010 make it likely that more regulation surrounding the fixing of interest rates on commercial bank loans and reference rates on derivatives can be expected. Similar investigations are underway with respect to the setting of foreign exchange rates over a broad time period and there is no way to predict the outcome of these investigations although recently enforcement has been instituted against a number of international banks as well as employees of such banks with sizable fines being assessed.
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, have created significant costs of compliance and can be expected to continue to do so. FinCEN ("Financial Crimes Enforcement Network") has heightened their review of activities of broker-dealers where heretofore their focus had been on commercial banks. This increased focus is likely to lead to significantly higher levels of enforcement and higher fines and penalties on broker-dealers. FinCEN has proposed new rules on

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customer due diligence which the Company expects will become final in 2016 with an effective date in 2017. Regulators have expanded their views of the requirements of the Patriot Act, as well as their views of the enforcement of the provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") with respect to the amount of diligence and on-going monitoring required by financial institutions of both their foreign and domestic clients and their activities. As a result, the Company has increased staffing, made additional investments in its due diligence systems, upgraded its monitoring systems and significantly revised its AML policies and procedures.
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 2016.
On July 30, 2013, the SEC adopted final amendments to the financial responsibility rules ("FRRs") and reporting rules under SEC Rule 17a-5 ("Reporting Rule") for broker-dealers. The final amendments to the FRRs make changes to the rules related to proprietary accounts for broker-dealers, special reserve deposits with banks, bank sweep programs, deductions from net worth, solvency requirements, the SEC's ability to restrict withdrawals of capital, books and records requirements, and notifications to regulators. The rules are now effective.
The Reporting Rule requires all broker-dealers to file an unaudited quarterly Form Custody report which provides information around custodial practices. In addition, the Reporting Rule provides significant changes to annual reporting of broker-dealers by eliminating the internal control report referred to as the Material Inadequacy Letter, and providing for a new Compliance Report asserting the effectiveness of internal controls for compliance with net capital, customer reserve formula, quarterly security count, and customer account statements. Also, the Reporting Rule makes changes to the audit and attestation requirements for auditor reporting from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") standards to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") standards as well as provides the SEC with access to auditors and audit workpapers. These rules are now effective.
On May 14, 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) released an updated version of its Internal Control – Integrated Framework (the "2013 Framework"), which supersedes the original framework that was developed in 1992. The Company adopted the 2013 Framework on December 15, 2014 as a basis for their compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
In September 2015, FINRA released Regulatory Notice 15-33 which provides guidance on effective liquidity risk management strategies. Based on the guidelines, broker-dealers are expected to rigorously evaluate their liquidity needs related to both market wide stress and idiosyncratic stresses, devote sufficient resources to measuring risks applicable to its business and report the results of measurement to senior management. This would include a review for what those risks might be based on historical events that have affected the firm or other firms and stresses that could occur but have not yet been observed. Additionally, based on the guidelines, every broker-dealer needs to consider developing contingency plans for addressing those risks so that the firm will have sufficient liquidity to operate after the stress occurs while continuing to protect all customer assets, conduct stress tests and other reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of the contingency plans, have a training plan for its staff and have tested processes on which it intends to rely if such stresses occur. The Company is reviewing these guidelines and plans to assess them in the context of its current liquidity risk management strategies and will make any necessary enhancements to its procedures upon the conclusion of its review.
Other Regulatory Matters
On February 19, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") formed a Special Committee of the Board (the "Special Committee") in order to engage an independent law firm to conduct a review of Oppenheimer and OAM's broker-dealer and investment adviser compliance processes and related internal controls and governance processes and provide recommendations to the Special Committee on how to improve any of the foregoing. On February 19, 2015, the Special Committee agreed to engage an independent law firm to conduct the aforementioned review. On April 22, 2015, the Special Committee agreed to retain Kalorama Partners LLP to act as the independent law firm. In July 2015, the Company created a Compliance Committee made up of independent directors to oversee the Company’s compliance with applicable rules and regulations. As part of its engagement, the Company agreed that the recommendations of the independent law firm be shared with the SEC. Moreover, Oppenheimer and OAM have agreed to adopt the recommendations made by the independent law firm. The Company has implemented a substantial number of recommendations made by the independent law firm. As of March 31, 2016, the independent law firm's review was ongoing including that of sub-contractors engaged to perform reviews requiring specific expertise.

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For several quarters, Oppenheimer has been responding to information requests from FINRA regarding the sale of leveraged and inverse exchange traded funds ("ETFs"). The Company believes that its ongoing discussions with FINRA will likely result in the settlement of any charges that might have been alleged in connection with the investigation but there is no guarantee that such a settlement can be reached.
Since early 2014, Oppenheimer has been responding to information requests from FINRA regarding the supervision of one of its former financial advisers who was indicted by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey in March 2014 on allegations of insider trading. In August 2014, Oppenheimer received information requests from the SEC regarding supervision of the same financial adviser. A number of Oppenheimer employees have provided on-the-record testimony in connection with the SEC inquiry. Oppenheimer is continuing to cooperate with both the FINRA and SEC inquiries.
Since January 2016, Oppenheimer has been responding to information requests from FINRA regarding the purchase of Class A mutual fund shares by non-for-profit organizations and certain qualified retirement plans that were eligible in some cases for lower cost mutual fund alternative share classes. Oppenheimer is continuing to cooperate with FINRA in this inquiry.
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with the Regulators concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer's marketing and sale of ARS. Pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer agreed to extend offers to repurchase ARS from certain of its clients subject to certain terms and conditions. In addition to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer has also reached settlements of and received adverse awards in legal proceedings with various clients where the Company is obligated to purchase ARS. Pursuant to completed Purchase Offers (as defined) under the settlements with the Regulators and client related legal settlements and awards to purchase ARS, as of March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and holds (net of redemptions) approximately $87.1 million in ARS from its clients. As of March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any outstanding ARS purchase commitments related to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $32.5 million from clients through 2020 under legal settlements and awards.
The ARS positions that the Company owns and is committed to purchase 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.
The Company's clients held at Oppenheimer approximately $91.4 million of ARS at March 31, 2016 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. See "Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements" herein for additional details.
Other Matters
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. See "Legal Proceedings" herein.
Business Continuity
The Company is committed to an on-going investment in its technology and communications infrastructure including extensive business continuity planning and investment. These costs are on-going and the Company believes that current and future costs will exceed historic levels due to business and regulatory requirements. The Company built a new data center in 2010 which is housed in a location different from its headquarters. The move to new headquarters in 2012 required additional outlays for business continuity purposes although considerable savings have begun to be realized by the availability of independent electric generating capacity for the entire building which will support the Company's infrastructure and occupancy.

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The fourth quarter of 2012 was impacted by Superstorm Sandy which occurred on October 29, 2012 causing the Company to vacate its two principal offices in downtown Manhattan and displaced 800 of the Company's employees including substantially all of its capital markets, operations and headquarters staff for in excess of 30 days. The Company continues to review both internally and with its landlords and vendors the infrastructure necessary to withstand a similar event in light of the issues that arose in the fall of 2012.
Cybersecurity
The Company has been focused for many years on the issues of maintaining the security of its clients' data, access to its data processing environment, and its data processing facilities. Recent examples of vulnerabilities by other companies and the government which have resulted in loss of client data and fraudulent activities by both domestic and foreign entities have caused the Company to review its security policies and procedures and to take additional actions to protect its network and its information. Such threats are ongoing. Given the importance of protection of client data, there has developed increased regulatory oversight of cybersecurity planning and protections have been put in place by broker-dealers and other financial service providers. This planning is subject to oversight and examination on a periodic or targeted basis by the SEC and FINRA. The Company continues to adopt procedures to address the risks posed by the current environment. The Company has significantly increased the resources dedicated to this effort and believes that further increases will be required in the future.
Outlook
The Company recognizes the increased focus on compliance with the regulatory requirements of our industry, and we must continue to perform a rigorous and ongoing assessment of our compliance and risk management efforts, invest in people and programs, all while continuing to provide a platform with first class investment ideas and services. The Company is committed to improving its technology capabilities to ensure compliance with industry regulations, support client service and expand its capital markets capabilities. The Company's long-term growth plan is to continue to expand existing offices by hiring experienced professionals as well as expand 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 potential acquisition opportunities, and will continue to focus its attention on the management of its existing business and may, from time to time, dispose of businesses that are no longer strategic to its business operations or which have limited opportunities for growth. The Company announced in March 2016 its intention to evaluate the potential of a sale of assets related to the business of OMHHF if they can be sold at prices deemed attractive. See Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 herein for further details.
Results of Operations
The Company reported a net loss attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. of $3.8 million or $0.29 basic loss per share for the first quarter of 2016 compared with net income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. of $5.7 million or $0.42 basic earnings per share for the first quarter of 2015. Loss before income tax benefit was $8.0 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with income before income tax provision of $9.9 million for the first quarter of 2015. Revenue for the first quarter of 2016 was $218.7 million compared with revenue of $245.6 million for the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 10.9%.

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The following table and discussion summarizes the changes in the major revenue and expense categories for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
 
Amount Change
 
% Change
Revenue
 
 
 
Commissions
$
(5,862
)
 
(5.3
)
Advisory fees
(4,940
)
 
(7.0
)
Investment banking
(14,922
)
 
(54.6
)
Interest
2,344

 
21.2

Principal transactions, net
(17,024
)
 
(91.7
)
Other
13,537

 
169.1

Total revenue
(26,867
)
 
(10.9
)
Expenses
 
 
 
Compensation and related expenses
(11,678
)
 
(7.2
)
Communications and technology
613

 
3.6

Occupancy and equipment costs
(800
)
 
(5.1
)
Clearing and exchange fees
519

 
8.1

Interest
1,178

 
30.1

Other
1,149

 
3.9

Total expenses
(9,019
)
 
(3.8
)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
(17,848
)
 
*

Income tax provision (benefit)
(7,818
)
 
*

Net income (loss)
(10,030
)
 
*

Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax
(464
)
 
*

Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
$
(9,566
)
 
*

 *
Not comparable
Revenue
Commission revenue was $103.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of 5.3% compared with $109.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, due to reduced transaction volumes from retail investors during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Advisory fees were $66.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of 7.0% compared with $71.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, due to lower advisory fees on traditional managed products. AUM decreased 6.9% from $25.9 billion to $24.1 billion from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015, which contributed to the aforementioned advisory fee decrease as the fees are calculated quarterly based on the market value at the end of the previous period.
Investment banking revenue decreased 54.6% to $12.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared with $27.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 due to extremely low activity from equities underwriting during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Interest revenue was $13.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 21.2% compared with 11.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, due to an increase of $2.3 million in interest from higher holdings of U.S. government and agency securities.
Principal transactions revenue decreased 91.7% to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared with $18.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 due primarily to lower number of new interest rate lock commitments in the commercial mortgage banking business during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Other revenue was $21.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 169.1% compared to $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The increase is primarily due to an increase in fees earned on FDIC-insured bank deposits and an increase of service fee income in the commercial mortgage business, offset by a decrease in customer service charges.

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Expenses
Compensation and related expenses (including salaries, production and incentive compensation, share-based compensation, deferred compensation, and other benefit-related items) totaled $151.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease of 7.2% compared to $163.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The decrease was due to lower production, incentive and deferred compensation expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Compensation and related expenses as a percentage of revenue was 69.2% during the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to 66.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Non-compensation expenses were $75.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of 3.7% compared to $72.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, due to higher legal, regulatory and consulting costs during the three months ended March 31, 2016.
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 51.1% (benefit) compared with 37.9% (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The elevated income tax benefit during the first quarter of 2016 was primarily due to higher nontaxable benefits received during the first quarter of 2016 with respect to life insurance on certain employees of which the Company is the beneficiary.
The table below presents information about the reported revenue and net income (loss) before taxes of the Company's reportable business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
% Change
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
Private Client
$
127,544

 
$
139,932

 
(8.9
)
Asset Management
22,974

 
24,461

 
(6.1
)
Capital Markets
61,065

 
72,166

 
(15.4
)
Commercial Mortgage Banking
3,738

 
8,386

 
(55.4
)
Corporate/Other
3,373

 
616

 
447.6

 
$
218,694

 
$
245,561

 
(10.9
)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
 
 
 
 
 
Private Client
$
16,317

 
$
16,757

 
(2.6
)
Asset Management
6,768

 
7,886

 
(14.2
)
Capital Markets
(6,798
)
 
6,735

 
*

Commercial Mortgage Banking
(657
)
 
4,037

 
*

Corporate/Other
(23,627
)
 
(25,564
)
 
(7.6
)
 
$
(7,997
)
 
$
9,851

 
*

 *
Not comparable
Private Client
Private Client reported revenue of $127.5 million for the first quarter of 2016, 8.9% lower than the first quarter of 2015, due to lower levels of transaction-based business during the first quarter of 2016. Income before income tax provision was $16.3 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 2.6% compared with the first quarter of 2015, due to lower levels of activity, as noted above, partially offset by decreases in production and deferred compensation costs as well as legal and regulatory costs allocated to Private Client during the first quarter of 2016.

Client assets under administration were $78.7 billion at both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
Financial adviser headcount was 1,223 at the end of the first quarter of 2016 (1,233 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015), down from 1,301 at the end of the first quarter of 2015.
Retail commissions were $59.9 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 9.0% from the first quarter of 2015.
Advisory fee revenue on traditional and alternative managed products was $44.7 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 6.8% over the first quarter of 2015 (see Asset Management below for further information).

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Fees earned on client cash deposits in the FDIC-insured bank program was $7.5 million during the first quarter of 2016 versus $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2015. Much of the increase was due to the discontinued offering of retail money market funds to clients and the transfer of these balances into the FDIC-insured bank deposit program during the first quarter of 2015. Money market fee waivers totaled $5.5 million during the first quarter of 2015.
Asset Management
Asset Management reported revenue of $23.0 million for the first quarter of 2016, 6.1% lower than the first quarter of 2015. Income before income tax provision was $6.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 14.2% compared with the first quarter of 2015.
Advisory fee revenue on traditional and alternative managed products was $21.3 million for the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of 7.5% over the first quarter of 2015. Advisory fees are calculated based on the value of client assets under management ("AUM") at the end of the prior quarter which totaled $24.1 billion at December 31, 2015 ($25.9 billion at December 31, 2014) and are allocated to the Private Client and Asset Management business segments.
AUM decreased 10.9% to $23.7 billion at March 31, 2016 compared to $26.6 billion at March 31, 2015, which is the basis for advisory fee billings for the second quarter of 2016. The decrease in AUM was comprised of asset depreciation of $1.3 billion and net redemption of assets of $1.6 billion.
The following table provides a breakdown of the change in assets under management for the three months ended March 31, 2016:
(Expressed in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Fund Type
 
Beginning
Balance
 
Contributions
 
Redemptions
 
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Ending
Balance
Traditional (1)
 
$
20,129

 
$
499

 
$
(522
)
 
$
(167
)
 
$
19,939

Institutional Fixed Income (2)
 
1,198

 
17

 
(42
)
 
24

 
1,197

Alternative Investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hedge Funds (3)
 
2,515

 
62

 
(114
)
 
(105
)
 
2,358

Private Equity Funds (4)
 
268

 

 

 
(16
)
 
252

 
 
$
24,110

 
$
578

 
$
(678
)
 
$
(264
)
 
$
23,746

 
(1)
Traditional investments include third party advisory programs, Oppenheimer financial adviser managed and advisory programs, and Oppenheimer Asset Management taxable and tax-exempt portfolio management strategies.
(2)
Institutional fixed income provides solutions to institutional investors including: Taft-Hartley Funds, Public Pension Funds, Corporate Pension Funds, and Foundations and Endowments.
(3)
Hedge funds represent single manager hedge fund strategies in areas including hedged equity, technology and financial services, and multi-manager and multi-strategy fund of funds.
(4)
Private equity funds represent private equity fund of funds including portfolios focused on natural resources and related assets.

Capital Markets
Capital Markets reported revenue of $61.1 million for the first quarter of 2016, 15.4% lower than the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to lower trading income and equities underwriting fees. Loss before income tax benefit was $6.8 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared with income before income tax provision of $6.7 million for the first quarter of 2015.

Institutional equities commissions increased 2.9% to $29.5 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015.
Advisory fees from investment banking activities decreased 14.7% to $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the prior year quarter due to a decrease in completed mergers and acquisitions activity during the first quarter of 2016.
Equity underwriting fees decreased 79.1% to $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with the prior year quarter due to a significant decrease in equity underwriting activity during the first quarter of 2016.

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Revenue from Taxable Fixed Income decreased 4.4% to $18.1 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015.
Public Finance and Municipal Trading revenue increased 6.3% to $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015.
Commercial Mortgage Banking
Commercial Mortgage Banking reported revenue of $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2016, 55.4% lower than the first quarter of 2015, primarily due to decreases in loan modifications of commercial mortgages during the first quarter of 2016. Loss before income tax benefit was $657,000 for the first quarter of 2016, compared with income before income tax provision of $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2015.

Premium income earned from loan modifications was $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2015 as the Company modified 3 commercial loans (8 in the first quarter of 2015) with an aggregate principal loan balance of $18.3 million ($92.1 million in the first quarter of 2015).
Loan origination fees for the first quarter of 2016 were $1.2 million, an increase of 199.3% compared with the first quarter of 2015, as the Company originated 10 commercial loans (2 in the first quarter of 2015) with an aggregate principal loan balance of $110.9 million ($8.7 million in the first quarter of 2015).
Net servicing revenue for the first quarter of 2016 was $1.5 million which was flat compared with the comparable period in 2015.
Principal loan balances related to servicing activities totaled $3.9 billion at March 31, 2016, down 2.5% from March 31, 2015.
On March 22, 2016, the Company issued a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting that its Board of Directors has authorized management to evaluate the potential disposition of one or more of the corporate assets of its commercial mortgage banking business segment.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Total assets at March 31, 2016 decreased by 2.6% from December 31, 2015. The Company satisfies its need for short-term funds from internally generated funds and collateralized and uncollateralized borrowings, consisting primarily of bank call 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, and changes in stock loan balances and financing through repurchase agreements. Oppenheimer has arrangements with banks for borrowings on a fully-collateralized basis. At March 31, 2016, the Company had $148.3 million of such borrowings outstanding compared to outstanding borrowings of $100.2 million at December 31, 2015. The Company also has some availability of short-term bank financing on an unsecured basis.
Volatility in the financial markets and ongoing concerns about the speed and degree of economic recovery has had an adverse effect on the availability of credit through traditional sources. As a result of concerns around financial markets generally and the strength of counterparties specifically, lenders have reduced and, in some cases, ceased to provide funding on both a secured and unsecured basis to financial service providers.
The Company's overseas subsidiaries, Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited, are subject to local regulatory capital requirements which restrict the Company's ability to utilize this capital for other purposes. The regulatory capital requirements for Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited were $4.2 million and $387,000, respectively, at March 31, 2016. See Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 herein for further details. The liquid assets at Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. are primarily comprised of cash deposits in bank accounts. The liquid assets at Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited are primarily comprised of investments in U.S. Treasuries and cash deposits in bank accounts. Any restrictions on transfer of these liquid assets from Oppenheimer Europe Ltd. and Oppenheimer Investments Asia Limited to the Company or its other subsidiaries would be limited by the regulatory capital requirements.

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The Company permanently reinvests eligible earnings of its foreign subsidiaries in such subsidiaries and, accordingly, does not accrue any U.S. income taxes that would arise if these earnings were repatriated. The unrecognized deferred tax liability associated with earnings of foreign subsidiaries, net of associated U.S. foreign tax credits, is estimated at $2.5 million for those subsidiaries with respect to which the Company would be subject to residual U.S. tax on cumulative earnings through March 31, 2016 were those earnings to be repatriated. The Company intends to continue to reinvest permanently the excess earnings of Oppenheimer Israel (OPCO) Ltd. in its own business and in the businesses in Europe and Asia to support business initiatives in those regions.
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with the Regulators concluding investigations and administrative proceedings concerning Oppenheimer's marketing and sale of ARS. Pursuant to those settlements and legal settlements and awards, the Company has purchased and will, subject to the terms and conditions of the settlements, continue to purchase ARS on a periodic basis. 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 legal and other actions by clients during the relevant period which cannot be predicted. See "Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements" herein.
Additional settlements of regulatory matters could have an adverse effect on the Company's liquidity depending on the size and composition of any such settlement.
Refinancing
On April 12, 2011, the Company completed the private placement of $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due April 15, 2018 (the "Notes") at par. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15th and October 15th. On April 15, 2014, the Company retired early a total of $50.0 million (25%) of the Notes. Upon completion of the redemption and retirement on April 15, 2014, $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes remains outstanding. See Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 herein for further discussion. The Company intends at appropriate times to continue to redeem outstanding Notes if and when funds become available for this purpose.
On June 17, 2015, S&P affirmed the Company's and its Notes' "B" rating and affirmed its stable outlook on the Notes. On December 28, 2015, Moody's Corporation affirmed the Company's 'B2' Corporate Family rating and 'B2' rating on the Notes and revised its outlook from stable to positive.
Liquidity
For the most part, the Company's assets consist of cash and cash equivalents and assets which can be readily converted into cash. Receivable from brokers, 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. The Company's 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 $4.0 million in forgivable notes to employees (which are inherently illiquid) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 ($4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015) as upfront or backend inducements. The amount of funds allocated to such inducements will vary with hiring activity.
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.
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 March 31, 2016, bank call loans were $148.3 million ($100.2 million at December 31, 2015 and $101.4 million at March 31, 2015). The average daily bank loan outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $113.5 million and $86.6 million, respectively. The largest daily bank loan outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $192.2 million and $186.7 million, respectively. The average weighted interest rate on bank call loans applicable on March 31, 2016 was 1.52%.

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At March 31, 2016, securities loaned balances totaled $143.2 million ($130.7 million at December 31, 2015 and $165.0 million at March 31, 2015). The average daily securities loan balance for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $189.6 million and $152.2 million, respectively. The largest daily stock loan balance for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $241.7 million and $183.0 million, respectively.
The Company finances its government trading operations through the use of securities purchased under agreements to resell ("reverse repurchase agreements") and securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("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. 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 March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements that elected the fair value option.
At March 31, 2016, the gross balances of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements were $320.7 million and $850.4 million, respectively. The average daily balance of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements on a gross basis for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $346.9 million and $852.3 million, respectively ($321.5 million and $796.4 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015). The largest amount of reverse repurchase agreements and repurchase agreements outstanding on a gross basis during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $726.8 million and $1.2 billion, respectively ($632.5 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015).
At March 31, 2016, the gross leverage ratio was 5.1.
OMHHF, which is engaged in commercial mortgage origination and servicing, has obtained an uncommitted warehouse facility line through PNC under which OMHHF pledges FHA-guaranteed mortgages for a period averaging 15 business days and PNC table funds the principal payment to the mortgagee. At March 31, 2016, OMHHF had $11.8 million outstanding under the warehouse facility line at a variable interest rate of 1 month LIBOR plus a spread. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $200,000 and $125,000, 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.
The Company regularly reviews its sources of liquidity and financing and conducts internal stress analysis to determine the impact on the Company of events that could remove sources of liquidity or financing and to plan actions the Company could take in the case of such an eventuality. The Company's reviews have resulted in plans that the Company believes would result in a reduction of assets through liquidation that would significantly reduce the Company's need for external financing.

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Funding Risk
(Expressed in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash used in operating activities
$
(41,372
)
 
$
(36,583
)
Cash used in investing activities
(1,762
)
 
(474
)
Cash provided by financing activities
42,249

 
40,168

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
$
(885
)
 
$
3,111

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. Changes in capital requirements under international standards that will impact the costs and relative returns on loans may cause banks including those with whom the Company relies to back away from providing funding to the securities industry. Such a development might impact the Company's ability to finance its day to day activities or increase the costs to acquire funding. The Company may or may not be able to pass such increased funding costs on to its clients. (See "Factors Affecting 'Forward-Looking Statements'").
Other Matters
During the first quarter of 2016, the Company purchased and canceled 240,274 shares of Class A Stock for a total consideration of $3.6 million.
On April 28, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of Class A and Class B Stock payable on May 27, 2016 to stockholders of record on May 13, 2016.
The book value of the Company's Class A and Class B Stock was $38.12 at March 31, 2016 compared to $38.84 at December 31, 2015, based on total outstanding shares of 13,363,197 and 13,338,166, respectively.
The diluted weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B Stock outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 13,379,827 compared to 14,282,270 outstanding for the same period in 2015.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In February 2010, Oppenheimer finalized settlements with the Regulators concluding investigations and administrative proceedings by the Regulators concerning Oppenheimer's marketing and sale of ARS. Pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer agreed to extend offers to repurchase ARS from certain of its clients subject to certain terms and conditions more fully described below. As of March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any outstanding ARS purchase commitments related to the settlements with the Regulators. In addition to the settlements with the Regulators, Oppenheimer has also reached settlements of and received adverse awards in legal proceedings with various clients where the Company is obligated to purchase ARS. Pursuant to completed Purchase Offers (as defined) under the settlements with the Regulators and client related legal settlements and awards to purchase ARS, as of March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and holds (net of redemptions) approximately $87.1 million in ARS from its clients. In addition, the Company is committed to purchase another $32.5 million in ARS from clients through 2020 under legal settlements and awards.
The Company's purchases of ARS from its clients holding ARS eligible for repurchase will, subject to the terms and conditions of the settlements with the Regulators, continue on a periodic basis. Pursuant to these terms and conditions, the Company is required to conduct a financial review every six months, until the Company has extended Purchase Offers to all Eligible Investors (as defined), to determine whether it has funds available, after giving effect to the financial and regulatory capital constraints applicable to the Company, to extend additional Purchase Offers. The financial review is based on the Company's operating results, regulatory net capital, liquidity, and other ARS purchase commitments outstanding under legal settlements and awards (described below). There are no predetermined quantitative thresholds or formulas used for determining the final agreed upon amount for the Purchase Offers. Upon completion of the financial review, the Company first meets with its primary regulator, FINRA, and then with representatives of the NYAG and other regulators to present the results of the review and to finalize the amount of the next Purchase Offer. Various offer scenarios are discussed in terms of which Eligible Investors should receive a Purchase Offer. The primary criteria to date in terms of determining which Eligible Investors should receive a Purchase Offer has been the amount of household account equity each Eligible Investor had with the Company in February 2008. Once various Purchase Offer scenarios have been discussed, the regulators, not the Company, make the final determination of which Purchase Offer scenario to implement. The terms of settlements provide that the amount of ARS to be purchased during any period shall not risk placing the Company in violation of regulatory requirements.

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Outside of the settlements with the Regulators, the Company has also reached various legal settlements with clients and received unfavorable legal awards requiring it to purchase ARS. The terms and conditions including the ARS amounts committed to be purchased under legal settlements are based on the specific facts and circumstances of each legal proceeding. In most instances, the purchase commitments are in increments and extend over a period of time. At March 31, 2016, no ARS purchase commitments related to legal settlements extended past 2020. To the extent the Company receives an unfavorable award, the Company usually must purchase the ARS provided for by the award within 30 days of the rendering of the award. The ultimate amount of ARS to be repurchased by the Company under both the settlements with the Regulators and the legal settlements and awards cannot be predicted with any certainty and will be impacted by redemptions by issuers, the Company's financial and regulatory constraints, and legal and other actions by clients during the relevant period, which also cannot be predicted.
The ARS positions that the Company owns and are committed to purchase 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. At March 31, 2016, the amount of ARS held by the Company that was below investment grade was $3.7 million and the amount of ARS that was unrated was $400,000.
(Expressed in thousand)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Auction Rate Securities Owned and Committed to Purchase at March 31, 2016
Product
 
Principal
 
Valuation
Adjustment
 
Fair Value
Auction Rate Securities ("ARS") Owned (1)
 
$
87,125

 
$
2,940

 
$
84,185

ARS Commitments to Purchase Pursuant to: (2)(3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Settlements with the Regulators (4)
 

 

 

Legal Settlements and Awards (5)
 
32,549

 
(981
)
 
33,530

Total
 
$
119,674

 
$
1,959

 
$
117,715

(1)
Principal amount represents the par value of the ARS and is included in Securities Owned in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016. The valuation adjustment amount is included as a reduction to securities owned in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2016.
(2)
Principal amount represents the present value of the ARS par value that the Company is committed to purchase at a future date. This principal amount is presented as an off-balance sheet item.
(3)
Specific ARS to be purchased under ARS Purchase Commitments are unknown until the beneficial owner selects the individual ARS to be purchased.
(4)
Commitments to purchase under settlements with the Regulators at March 31, 2016. Eligible Investors for future buybacks under the settlements with the Regulators held approximately $37.3 million of ARS as of March 31, 2016.
(5)
Commitments to purchase under various legal settlements and awards with clients through 2020.
Per the above table, the Company has recorded a valuation adjustment on its ARS owned and ARS purchase commitments of $2.0 million as of March 31, 2016. The valuation adjustment is comprised of $2.9 million which represents the difference between the principal value and the fair value of the ARS the Company owns as of March 31, 2016 and $981,000 which represents the difference between the principal value and the fair value of the ARS the Company is committed to purchase under the settlements with the Regulators and legal settlements and awards. As of March 31, 2016, the Company did not have any outstanding ARS purchase commitments related to the settlements with the Regulators. Eligible Investors for future buybacks under the settlements with the Regulators held approximately $37.3 million of ARS as of March 31, 2016. Since the Company was not committed to purchase this amount as of March 31, 2016, there were no valuation adjustments booked to recognize the difference between the principal value and the fair value for this remaining amount.
Additional information concerning the Company's off-balance sheet arrangements is included in Note 5 and Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 herein.

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Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth the Company's contractual obligations as of March 31, 2016:
(Expressed in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Less than 1
year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
More than
5 Years
Operating Lease Obligations
$
272

 
$
40

 
$
71

 
$
50

 
$
111

Committed Capital
5

 
5

 

 

 

Regulatory Settlements (1)
10

 
10

 

 

 

Senior Secured Notes (2)(3)
183

 
13

 
170

 

 

ARS Purchase Commitments (1)
33

 
7

 
20

 
6

 

Total
$
503

 
$
75

 
$
261

 
$
56

 
$
111

(1)
See Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 1 for additional information
(2)
See Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements appearing in Item 1 for additional information.
(3)
Includes interest payable of $32.8 million through maturity.
Inflation
Because the assets of the Company's brokerage subsidiaries are highly liquid, and because securities inventories are carried at current market values, the impact of inflation generally is reflected in the financial statements. However, the rate of inflation affects the Company's costs relating to employee compensation, rent, communications and certain other operating costs, and such costs may not be recoverable in the level of commissions or fees charged. To the extent inflation results in rising interest rates and has other adverse effects upon the securities markets, it may adversely affect the Company's financial position and results of operations.
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, including declining oil prices, (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, the trading of low-priced securities, stepped up enforcement efforts by the SEC, FinCEN and other regulators and the results of pending litigation and regulatory proceedings involving the Company, (x) changes in foreign, 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, health epidemics and economic crisis in foreign countries, (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 Volcker Rule and the rules and regulations thereunder, (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, (xxi) risks related to the downgrade of U.S. long-term sovereign debt obligations and the sovereign debt of European nations, (xxii) risks related to the manipulation of LIBOR and concerns over high speed trading, (xxiii) potential cyber security threats, (xxiv) risks related to the lowering by S&P of its rating on the Company and on the Notes, and (xxv) risks related to pending elections results, Congressional gridlock, government shutdowns and threats of default by the federal government. 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. See Item 1A – "Risk Factors" appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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Item 3.        Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, 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, 2015.
Item 4.        Controls and Procedures
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a–15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or its internal controls will prevent all errors 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 Exchange Act 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 changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the three months ended March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls 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 in 2008 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, including investigations by multiple regulators of matters involving the same or similar underlying facts, which seek substantial penalties, fines or other monetary relief. The SEC, amongst other regulators, has announced its intention to bring more regulatory cases seeking substantial penalties in the future.
While the ultimate resolution of routine pending litigation, regulatory 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 condensed consolidated financial condition and statement of cash flow. 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, litigations or regulatory proceedings currently filed or to be filed against the Company, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition, including its cash position.
The materiality of legal and regulatory 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 and regulatory matters. See "Risk Factors – The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market" in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as well as "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Regulatory and Legal Environment – Other Regulatory Matters" as well as "Factors Affecting 'Forward-Looking Statements'" herein.
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, loss contingencies are not probable and reasonably estimable in the view of management and, accordingly, reserves have not been established for those matters. For legal or regulatory proceedings 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 $49.0 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.
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. 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 differed dramatically from that of the larger broker-dealers who underwrote and provided supporting bids in the auctions, actions Oppenheimer never undertook. Oppenheimer played no role in any decision by the lead underwriters or broker-dealers to discontinue entering support bids and allowing auctions to fail. See "Risk Factors – The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market" in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as well as "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Regulatory and Legal Environment – Other Regulatory Matters" herein.

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As previously disclosed, Oppenheimer, without admitting or denying liability, entered into a Consent Order (the "Order") with the Massachusetts Securities Division (the "MSD") 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.
As previously disclosed, on February 23, 2010, the New York Attorney General ("NYAG" and together with the MSD, the "Regulators") 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 and closed three offers to purchase Eligible ARS (as defined in the Order) from Customer Accounts (as defined in the Order) during 2010 and 2011 with the final offer closing on April 7, 2011. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the AOD, the Company has made twelve offers to purchase ARS from Eligible Investors between the periods May 21, 2010 and April 25, 2016. The Company's purchases of ARS from clients have continued and will, subject to the terms and conditions of the AOD, continue on a periodic basis. Accounts were, and will continue to be, aggregated on a "household" basis for purposes of these offers. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had purchased and holds (net of redemptions) approximately $87.1 million of ARS pursuant to the settlements with the Regulators and legal settlements and awards.
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 75 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 March 31, 2016, Oppenheimer had extended margin loans to eight 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 Investor 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. 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 and the AOD, each as described in Item 3 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and attached thereto as Exhibits 10.24 and 10.22 respectively, as well as the subsequent disclosures related thereto in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 through September 30, 2015 and in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2010 through and including 2015, for additional details of the agreements with the MSD and NYAG. The Company is continuing to cooperate with investigating entities from states other than Massachusetts and New York.
As of March 31, 2016, eleven ARS matters were concluded in either court or arbitration with Oppenheimer prevailing in four of those matters and the claimants prevailing in seven of those matters. The Company has purchased approximately $7.6 million in ARS from the prevailing claimants in those seven actions. In addition, the Company has made cash payments of approximately $12.7 million as a result of legal settlements with clients. As of March 31, 2016, there are no pending ARS- related cases against Oppenheimer. It is possible, however, that other individuals or entities that purchased ARS from Oppenheimer may bring additional claims against Oppenheimer in the future for repurchase or rescission.
See "Risk Factors - The Company may continue to be adversely affected by the failure of the Auction Rate Securities Market" in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Regulatory and Legal Environment - Other Regulatory Matters" and "Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements" herein.
Other Pending Matters
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 $25.0 million in funds embezzled by the sole portfolio manager for International Management Associates, a hedge fund. The 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 (U.S.N.D. GA). In addition, on June 10, 2011, the Trustee filed a petition for permission to appeal the dismissal to 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 U.S.N.D. GA. On March 30, 2012, the U.S.N.D. GA affirmed in part and reversed in part the ruling from the Bankruptcy Court and remanded the matter to the Bankruptcy Court. Discovery has closed and Oppenheimer filed a motion for summary judgment at the end of February 2014. Oppenheimer's summary judgment motion remains under consideration by the Bankruptcy Court. Oppenheimer believes that, as a result of previous court rulings in this matter, the claimed damages against Oppenheimer have been substantially reduced and that it has meritorious defenses to the remaining claims made against it and intends to defend itself vigorously.
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 July 22, 2011, defendants removed the case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, and subsequently, on October 3, 2012, Providence Holdings, Inc. filed a new action in the United States District Court for the Eastern Division of Texas against Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer Trust Company, and two individuals, re-asserting basically the same claims as above. On December 18, 2012, Oppenheimer and Oppenheimer Trust Company filed motions (i) to dismiss the new complaint and (ii) to stay the action pending resolution of all claims among the parties in the action pending in Oklahoma styled State of Oklahoma ex rel. Holland v. Providence Holdings, Inc. On March 18, 2013, the Texas court issued an order formally approving the parties' stipulation to stay the action. On April 15, 2011, in an action styled State of Oklahoma ex rel. Holland v. Providence Holdings, Inc., et al. in the Oklahoma

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County District Court, Providence Holdings, Inc. and Jerry Lancaster asserted cross-claims against Oppenheimer and Oppenheimer Trust Company Inc. related to the same facts at issue in the Texas litigation discussed above. These cross-claims included claims for breach of fiduciary duty, various theories of fraud, violation of Texas commercial statutes, breach of contract, interference with prospective business advantage, and loss of business opportunity and sought undisclosed damages. That case is in document discovery, pending the resolution of several privilege claims by cross-claim plaintiffs that implicate receivership proceedings pending before several courts in Oklahoma. On September 24, 2015, Providence Holdings filed a motion for summary judgment as to some but not all of Oppenheimer's cross-claims against it. The Court has deferred Oppenheimer's obligation to respond to that motion indefinitely until discovery has taken place. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims raised and intends to defend against these claims vigorously including pursuing dismissal of the claims against it.
On March 15, 2013, the Company filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York ("New York Court"), a breach of contract action against Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC") in connection with the Company's acquisition of CIBC's U.S. capital markets businesses for an amount of damages to be proven at trial. On January 31, 2014, the Company filed an amended complaint. On March 13, 2014, CIBC filed a motion to dismiss portions of the Company's amended complaint. In October 2014, the motion to dismiss was granted in part and denied in part by the New York Court. Discovery in the case is proceeding.
In October 2013, JPMorgan Chase Clearing Corp. ("JPMCC"), a division of JPMorgan Chase, filed a FINRA arbitration claim against Oppenheimer ("JPMCC Arbitration") seeking a declaration from the panel ordering that Oppenheimer indemnify it for all damages and costs, including but not limited to attorneys' fees, for litigation in Germany that had begun in 2011 ("German Litigation"). Multiple investors in Germany sought redress from JPMCC for losses associated with a Swiss investment advisory firm, Salomon Investment AG, later renamed SAL Investment AG ("SAL"), that had solicited their business by phone and pooled their funds in an omnibus account at the German offices of Josephthal Lyon & Ross GmbH ("Josephthal GmbH"), and had invested those funds unsuitably and charged the investors excessive commissions and fees from about 1995 to 1998. Josephthal Lyon & Ross Inc. ("Josephthal") was acquired by what is now Oppenheimer in 2001. Bear Stearns, acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2008, cleared trades for the aforementioned omnibus account. JPMCC based its indemnification claim on agreements with Josephthal executed in 1991 and 2000. No hearing dates have been set in the JPMCC Arbitration. In August 2014, judgments ("Judgments") in favor of seven German plaintiffs grouped in three separate cases were finalized in the German court in Dusseldorf against JPMCC. The German court found that JPMCC was liable to the plaintiffs for damages in amounts totaling (including interest) approximately €1.25 million (approximately U.S. $1.42 million). These judgments have been affirmed by an intermediate level appellate court, and JPMCC and Oppenheimer have requested leave to appeal those decisions to Germany's highest appellate court. In addition, eighteen other plaintiffs have filed statements of claim against JPMCC in Dusseldorf with claimed aggregate damages (excluding claims for interest and attorneys' fees) of approximately €3.2 million (approximately U.S. $3.64 million). Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims and intends to defend itself vigorously.
On May 15, 2015, plaintiffs IBEW Local No. 58 Annuity Fund and Electrical Workers Pension Trust Fund of IBEW Local No. 58, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed an Amended Class Action Complaint ("CAC") relating to EveryWare Global, Inc. ("EveryWare") in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The CAC names as defendants certain current and former officers and directors of EveryWare, Monomoy Capital Partners, L.P. and certain of its affiliates, as well as Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., CJS Securities, Inc., Telsey Advisory Group, LLC, Imperial Capital, LLC and BTIG, LLC (collectively, the "Underwriter Defendants"), Plaintiffs allege that, among other things, the Registration Statement issued in connection with a secondary offering of EveryWare's stock on or about September 16, 2013 contained misrepresentations and omissions of material facts. In the secondary offering, the Underwriter Defendants sold 1,750,000 shares of EveryWare stock to the public at a price of $11.50 per share. The CAC alleges claims against the Underwriter Defendants for violations of Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Plaintiffs purport to bring their action on behalf of a class comprising all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired EveryWare securities between May 21, 2013 and May 16, 2014. The CAC seeks an award of unspecified compensatory damages, interest and attorneys' fees and costs. On August 14, 2015, the Underwriter Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the CAC. The Underwriter Defendants, including Oppenheimer, believe they have meritorious defenses to the CAC. On March 30, 2016 the Underwriter Defendant's motion to dismiss was granted in full and the case was dismissed with prejudice.
In October 2015, Claimant filed a FINRA Arbitration (No. 15-02841) against Oppenheimer captioned Board of Bernalillo County Commissioners vs. BOSC, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Thomas Wayne Hayes and Royce Owen Simpson. The Statement of Claim alleges that Oppenheimer and its former employee Simpson, as well as BOSC, Inc. and its former employee Hayes, violated the New Mexico Securities Act by recommending a concentrated portfolio of fixed income securities with a longer than appropriate average maturity which resulted in the portfolio being exposed to significant interest rate risk that was unsuitable for one of the county's investment objectives of preserving capital. The county has alleged damages against all

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Respondents in excess of $16.0 million. Oppenheimer believes it has meritorious defenses to the claims made against it and intends to defend itself vigorously.

See also "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Regulatory and Legal Environment – Other Regulatory Matters" herein.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, 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, 2015.
Item 2.        Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 
(a)
During the first quarter of 2016, the Company issued 265,320 shares of Class A Stock pursuant to the Company’s share-based compensation programs for no cash consideration.
(b)
Not applicable.
(c)In the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company purchased and canceled 240,274 shares of Class A Stock for total consideration of $3.6 million ($15.13 per share), summarized as follows:
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Period
 
(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
 
(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
 
(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 2016
 
106,100

 
$
15.51

 
106,100

 
464,018

February 2016
 
90,292

 
14.75

 
90,292

 
373,726

March 2016
 
43,882

 
14.97

 
43,882

 
329,844

Total
 
240,274

 
$
15.13

 
240,274

 
329,844

Item 6.        Exhibits
31.1
  
Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal
 
 
31.2
  
Certification of Jeffrey J. Alfano
 
 
32
  
Certification of Albert G. Lowenthal and Jeffrey J. Alfano
 
 
101
  
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and (vi) the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.*
 
*
This information is furnished and not filed for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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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 29th day of April, 2016.
OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC.
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Albert G. Lowenthal
 
 
Albert G. Lowenthal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Jeffrey J. Alfano
 
 
Jeffrey J. Alfano, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


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