Pzena Investment Management, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2020

Or

For the transition period from ______to______

Commission file number 001-33761

PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

320 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 355-1600

Not Applicable

(Former Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☐

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

As of May 11, 2020, there were 17,195,558 outstanding shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

As of May 11, 2020, there were 54,254,029 outstanding shares of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.000001 per share.

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PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations, or forecasts, of future events.  Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts.  Words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project” or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on our views, plans, estimates, and expectations.  Potentially inaccurate assumptions could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.  Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.  We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this Quarterly Report, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

The reports that we file with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, identify additional factors that can affect forward-looking statements. The impact of COVID-19 may also exacerbate these risks, any of which could have a material effect on us.

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PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(in thousands, except share and per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(in thousands, except share and per-share amounts)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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Pzena Investment Management, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Organization

Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (the “Company”) is the sole managing member of its operating company, Pzena Investment Management, LLC (the “operating company”).  As a result, the Company: (i) consolidates the financial results of the operating company and reflects the membership interests in the operating company that it does not own as a non-controlling interest in its consolidated financial statements; and (ii) recognizes income generated from its economic interest in the operating company’s net income.

The operating company is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is headquartered in New York, New York.  As of March 31, 2020, the operating company managed assets in a variety of value-oriented investment strategies across a wide range of market capitalizations in both U.S. and non-U.S. capital markets.

The Company also serves as the general partner of Pzena Investment Management, LP, a partnership formed with the objective of aggregating employee ownership in the operating company into one entity.

The Company, through its interest in the operating company, has consolidated the results of operations and financial condition of the following entities as of March 31, 2020: 

Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation:

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and related Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations.  

Principles of Consolidation:

The Company’s policy is to consolidate those entities in which it has a direct or indirect controlling financial interest based on either the voting interest model or the variable interest model.  As such, the Company consolidates majority-owned subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, and certain investment vehicles the operating company sponsors for which it is the investment adviser that are considered to be variable-interest entities (“VIEs”), and for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

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Pursuant to the Consolidation Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”), for legal entities evaluated for consolidation, the Company determines whether interests it holds and fees paid to the entity qualify as a variable interest.  If it is determined that the Company does not have a variable interest in the entity, no further analysis is required and the Company does not consolidate the entity.  If it is determined that the Company has a variable interest, it considers its direct economic interests and the proportionate indirect interests through related parties to determine if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

For equity investments where the Company does not control the investee, and where it is not the primary beneficiary of a VIE, but can exert significant influence over the financial and operating policies of the investee, the Company follows the equity method of accounting.  The evaluation of whether the Company exerts control or significant influence over the financial and operating policies of the investee requires significant judgment based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each investment.  Factors considered in these evaluations may include the type of investment, the legal structure of the investee, the terms of the investment agreement, or other agreements with the investee.

The Company analyzes entities structured as series funds which comply with the requirements included in the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered mutual funds as voting interest entities because the shareholders are deemed to have the ability to direct the activities of the fund that most significantly impact the fund's economic performance.

Consolidated Entities

The Company consolidates the financial results of the operating company and records in its own equity its pro-rata share of transactions that impact the operating company’s net equity, including unit and option issuances, repurchases, and retirements.  The operating company’s pro-rata share of such transactions are recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital or non-controlling interests, as applicable, on the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The majority-owned subsidiaries in which the Company, through its interest in the operating company, has a controlling financial interest and the VIEs for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary are collectively referred to as “consolidated subsidiaries.”  Non-controlling interests recorded on the consolidated financial statements of the Company include the non-controlling interests of the outside investors in each of these entities, as well as those of the operating company.  All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated through consolidation.

During 2020, the Company provided the initial cash investment for a Pzena-branded Australian Registered Investment Scheme, Pzena Global Focused Value Fund, in an effort to generate an investment performance track record to attract third-party investors. The Company is considered the primary beneficiary of this entity. At March 31, 2020, Pzena Global Focused Value Fund’s $2.3 million in net assets were included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

On January 1, 2020, the Company redeemed its investment in the Pzena International Value Service (a series of Pzena Investment Management International, LLC). As the Company was no longer deemed the primary beneficiary of this entity, it deconsolidated the entity and removed the related assets, liabilities and non-controlling interest from the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

These consolidated investment partnerships are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting for investment companies. The Company has retained this specialized accounting for these investment partnerships pursuant to U.S. GAAP.

Non-Consolidated Variable Interest Entities

VIEs that are not consolidated receive investment management services from the operating company and are generally private investment partnerships sponsored by the operating company.  The total net assets of these VIEs was approximately $152.4 million and $247.8 million at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.  

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the operating company had $1.9 million and $0.5 million in investments in certain of these firm-sponsored vehicles, the majority of which are primarily held to satisfy certain of the Company’s obligations under its deferred compensation programs, for which the Company was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary.  The Company's exposure to risk in the non-consolidated VIEs is generally limited to any equity investment and any uncollected management fees. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the non-consolidated VIEs was $2.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

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Management’s Use of Estimates:

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the period.  Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition:

Revenue, comprised of advisory fee income, is recognized over the period in which advisory services are provided. Advisory fee income includes management fees that are calculated based on percentages of assets under management (“AUM”), generally billed quarterly, either in arrears or advance, depending on the applicable contractual terms. Advisory fee income also includes performance fees that may be earned by the Company depending on the investment return of the AUM, as well as fulcrum fee arrangements. Performance fee arrangements generally entitle the Company to participate, on a fixed-percentage basis, in any returns generated in excess of an agreed-upon benchmark. The Company’s participation percentage in such return differentials is then multiplied by AUM to determine the performance fees earned. In general, returns are calculated on an annualized basis over the contract’s measurement period, which usually extends to three years. Performance fees are generally payable annually or quarterly. Fulcrum fee arrangements require a reduction in the base fee, or allow for a performance fee if the relevant investment strategy underperforms or outperforms, respectively, the agreed-upon benchmark over the contract's measurement period, which extends to three years. Fulcrum fees are generally payable quarterly. Following the Revenue Recognition Topic of the FASB ASC, performance fee income is recorded at the conclusion of the contractual performance period, when it is probable that significant reversal of the performance fee will not occur. Advisory fee income also includes fund expense cap reimbursements which are required to be presented net against Revenue rather than as a component of General and Administrative Expense.

Revenue from advisory fees is disaggregated into categories based on the composition of the Company's client base and advisory fee structure for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

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Cash and Cash Equivalents:

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Cash and Cash Equivalents was $20.5 million and $52.5 million, respectively.  The Company considers all money market funds and highly-liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in bank deposits, other accounts whose balances often exceed federally insured limits and treasury money market funds. Cash is stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Interest on cash and cash equivalents is recorded as Interest Income on an accrual basis in the consolidated statements of operations.

Restricted Cash:

At both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $1.0 million of compensating balances recorded in Restricted Cash in the consolidated statements of financial condition. These balances reflect a letter of credit issued by a third party in lieu of a cash security deposit, as required by the Company’s lease for its corporate headquarters.

The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash per the consolidated statements of cash flows to the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Due to/from Broker:

Due to/from Broker consists primarily of amounts payable/receivable for unsettled securities transactions held/initiated at the clearing brokers of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries.

Non-Cash Compensation:

All non-cash compensation awards granted have varying vesting schedules and are issued at prices equal to the assessed fair market value at the time of issuance.  Expenses associated with these awards are recognized over the period during which employees are required to provide service.  The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Investments:

Investments, at Fair Value

Investments, at Fair Value consist of equity securities at fair value and trading debt securities held by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as well as investments in open-ended registered mutual funds.  Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such determination on an ongoing basis. Dividends and interest income associated with the Company's investments and the investments of the Company's consolidated subsidiaries are recognized as Dividend Income on an ex-dividend basis and Interest Income, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations.

All such investments are recorded at fair value, with net realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized as a component of Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/ (Losses) from Investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

Investments in equity method investees

The Company accounted for its investments in certain private investment partnerships in which the Company has non-controlling interests and exercises significant influence, using the equity method.  These investments are included in Investments in the Company's consolidated statements of financial condition.  The carrying value of these investments is recorded at the amount of capital reported by the private investment partnership or mutual fund.  The capital account for each entity reflects any contributions paid to, distributions received from, and equity earnings of, the relevant entity.  The earnings of these investments are recognized as in Equity in Earnings/ (Losses) of Affiliates in the consolidated statements of operations.

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Investments in equity method investees are evaluated for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.  If the carrying amounts of the assets exceed their respective fair values, additional impairment tests are performed to measure the amounts of impairment losses, if any.  During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, no impairment losses were recognized.

Securities Valuation:

Investments in equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported price or closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. If no reported equity sales occurred on the valuation date, equity investments are valued at the bid price. Investments in registered mutual funds are carried at fair value at their respective net asset values as of the valuation date. Otherwise, fair values for investment securities are based on Level 2 or Level 3 inputs detailed in Note 9. Transactions are recorded on a trade date basis.

The net realized gain or loss on sales of equity securities and securities sold short is determined on a specific identification basis and is included in Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/ (Losses) from Investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

Concentrations of Credit Risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, amounts due from brokers, and advisory fees receivable.  The Company maintains its cash in bank deposits and other accounts whose balances often exceed federally insured limits.

The concentration of credit risk with respect to advisory fees receivable is generally limited due to the short payment terms extended to clients by the Company.  On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its advisory fees receivable and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts, if necessary, based on a history of past write-offs, collections, and current credit conditions.  At both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there was no allowance for doubtful accounts.

Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment is carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, except for leasehold improvements, which range from three to seven years.  Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the improvements or the remaining lease term.

Leases:

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included as a component of Right-of-use (“ROU”) Assets and Lease Liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition. ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. These options to extend or terminate are assessed on a lease-by-lease basis, and the ROU assets and lease liabilities are adjusted when it is reasonably certain that an option will be exercised. If a lease arrangement does not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Lease expense associated with leases that have a term of 12 months or less as of the commencement date are recognized as a component of general and administrative expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Share Repurchases:

Share repurchases may be made from time-to-time in open market transactions or through privately negotiated transactions under the authorization approved by the Board of Directors. The Company charges the entire excess of cost over par to additional paid-in capital. If the Company’s additional paid-in capital balance is reduced to zero, any additional amounts are recognized in retained earnings.

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Business Segments:

The Company views its operations as comprising one operating segment.

Income Taxes:

The Company is a “C” corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, and thus liable for federal, state, and local taxes on the income derived from its economic interest in its operating company.  The operating company is a limited liability company that has elected to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes.  It has not made a provision for federal or state income taxes because it is the individual responsibility of each of the operating company’s members (including the Company) to separately report their proportionate share of the operating company’s taxable income or loss.  The operating company has made a provision for New York City Unincorporated Business Tax (“UBT”) and its consolidated subsidiary Pzena Investment Management, LTD has made a provision for U.K. income taxes.  The effective tax rate for interim periods represents the Company’s best estimate of the effective tax rate expected to be applied to the full fiscal year, adjusted for discrete items recognized during the quarter.

Judgment is required in evaluating the Company's uncertain tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. The Company establishes liabilities for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These liabilities are established when the Company believes that certain positions might be challenged despite its belief that its tax return positions are in accordance with applicable tax laws. The Company adjusts these liabilities in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax audit, new tax legislation or the change of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the effect of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate.  It is also the Company’s policy to recognize accrued interest, and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions in Income Tax Expense on the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries account for all U.S. federal, state, local, and U.K. taxation pursuant to the asset and liability method, which requires deferred income tax assets and liabilities to be recorded for temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to affect taxable income.  Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more-likely-than-not to be realized.  At both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have a valuation allowance recorded against its deferred tax assets.

The income tax expense, or benefit, is the tax payable or refundable for the period, plus or minus the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company records its deferred tax liabilities as a component of other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial condition. All excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies related to stock- and unit-transactions are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of the provision for income taxes.

Tax Receivable Agreement:

The Company’s purchase of membership units of the operating company concurrent with the initial public offering, and the subsequent and future exchanges by holders of Class B units of the operating company for shares of Class A common stock (pursuant to the exchange rights provided for in the operating company’s operating agreement), have resulted in, and are expected to continue to result in, increases in the Company’s share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of the operating company, which will increase the tax depreciation and amortization deductions that otherwise would not have been available to the Company.  These increases in tax basis and tax depreciation and amortization are each deductible for tax purposes over a period of 15 years and have reduced, and are expected to continue to reduce, the amount of cash taxes that the Company would otherwise be required to pay in the future. The Company has entered into a tax receivable agreement with past, current, and future members of the operating company that requires the Company to pay to any member involved in any exchange transaction 85% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax or foreign or franchise tax that it realizes as a result of these increases in tax basis and, in limited cases, transfers or prior increases in tax basis.  The Company expects to benefit from the remaining 15% of cash tax savings, if any, in income tax it realizes.  Payments under the tax receivable agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that the Company will determine.  The Company will not be reimbursed for any payments previously made under the tax receivable agreement if a tax basis increase is successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service.  

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The Company records an increase in deferred tax assets for the estimated income tax effects of the increases in tax basis based on enacted federal and state tax rates at the date of the exchange.  The Company records 85% of the estimated realizable tax benefit (which is the recorded deferred tax asset less any recorded valuation allowance) as an increase to the liability due under the tax receivable agreement, which is reflected as the liability to selling and converting shareholders in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  The remaining 15% of the estimated realizable tax benefit is initially recorded as an increase to the Company’s additional paid-in capital.  All of the effects to the deferred tax asset of changes in any of the estimates after the tax year of the exchange will be reflected in the provision for income taxes.  Similarly, the effect of subsequent changes in the enacted tax rates will be reflected in the provision for income taxes.

If the Company exercises its right to terminate the tax receivable agreement early, the Company will be obligated to make an early termination payment to the selling and converting shareholders, based upon the net present value (based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the tax receivable agreement) of all payments that would be required to be paid by the Company under the tax receivable agreement.  If certain change of control events were to occur, the Company would be obligated to make an early termination payment.

Foreign Currency:

The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. Dollar.  Assets and liabilities of foreign operations whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the applicable reporting date, and the consolidated statements of operations are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the applicable period.  A charge or credit is recorded to other comprehensive income to reflect the translation of these amounts to the extent the non-U.S. currency is designated the functional currency of the subsidiary.  Non-functional currency related transaction gains and losses are immediately recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded $0.5 million of other comprehensive loss associated with foreign currency translation adjustments. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.1 million of other comprehensive income associated with foreign currency translation adjustments.  

Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured into U.S. Dollar amounts at the date of valuation.  Purchases and sales of investment securities, and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies, are remeasured into U.S. Dollar amounts on the respective dates of such transactions.

The Company does not isolate the portion of the results of its operations resulting from the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on its non-U.S. investments.  Such fluctuations are included in Net Realized and Unrealized Gains/ (Losses) from Investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, foreign withholding taxes, and other receivables and payables recorded on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition and the U.S. Dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid.  Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities resulting from changes in exchange rates.

Note 3—Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits expense to employees and members is comprised of the following:

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All non-cash compensation awards granted have varying vesting schedules and are issued at prices equal to the assessed fair market value at the time of issuance, as discussed below. Details of non-cash compensation awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

As part of the Company's year-end bonus structure, certain employee members may elect to have all or part of year-end cash compensation paid in the form of cash, or equity issued pursuant to Pzena Investment Management, LLC Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (“the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan”).  For the year ended December 31, 2019, $3.8 million of cash compensation was elected to be paid in the form of equity, which was issued and vested immediately on January 1, 2020.  Details of awards associated with these elections issued on January 1, 2020 are as follows:

Pursuant to the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, the operating company issues Class B units, phantom Class B units and options to purchase Class B units.  The operating company also issues Delayed Exchange Class B units pursuant to the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.  These Delayed Exchange Class B units vest immediately upon grant, but may not be exchanged pursuant to the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the operating company until at least the seventh anniversary of the date of grant.  These Delayed Exchange Class B units are also not entitled to any benefit under the Tax Receivable Agreement between the Company and members of the operating company.  The operating company also issues phantom Delayed Exchange Class B units and options to purchase Delayed Exchange Class B units. Under the Pzena Investment Management, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (“the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan”), the Company issues shares of restricted Class A common stock, options to purchase Class A common stock, and contingently vesting options to acquire shares of Class A common stock.  During each of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, no contingently vesting options vested.  During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 430,955 and 10,399 Delayed Exchange Class B units were issued to certain employee members, respectively, for approximately $1.9 million and $0.1 million in cash, respectively.

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Under the Pzena Investment Management, LLC Amended and Restated Bonus Plan (the “Bonus Plan”), eligible employees whose compensation is in excess of certain thresholds are required to defer a portion of that excess.  These deferred amounts may be invested, at the employee’s discretion, in certain investment options designated by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors.  Amounts deferred in any calendar year reduce that year’s compensation expense and are amortized and vest ratably over a four-year period commencing the following year.  The Company also issued to certain of its employees deferred compensation with certain investment options that also vest ratably over a four-year period.  As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the liability associated with all deferred compensation investment accounts was $0.8 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

Pursuant to the Pzena Investment Management, Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Director Plan”), non-employee directors may elect to have all or part of their compensation otherwise payable in cash, deferred in the form of phantom shares of Class A common stock of the Company issued under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  Elections to defer compensation under the Director Plan are made on a year-to-year basis.  Distributions under the Director Plan are made in a single distribution of shares of Class A common stock at such time as elected by the participant when the deferral was made.  Since inception of the Director Plan in 2009, the Company’s directors have elected to defer 100% of their compensation in the form of phantom shares of Class A common stock.  Amounts deferred in any calendar year are amortized over the calendar year and reflected as General and Administrative Expense.  As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were 536,755 and 455,028 phantom shares of Class A common stock outstanding, respectively.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, no distributions were made under the Director Plan.

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $39.7 million and $39.4 million, respectively, in unrecorded compensation expense related to unvested awards issued pursuant to its Bonus Plan and certain agreements; Class B units, option grants, Delayed Exchange Class B units, phantom Delayed Exchange Class B units, and phantom Class B units issued under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan; and restricted Class A common stock and contingently vesting option grants issued under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  The Company anticipates that this unrecorded cost will amortize over the respective vesting periods of the awards.

Note 4 – Employee Benefit Plans

The operating company has a Profit Sharing and Savings Plan for the benefit of substantially all employees.  The Profit Sharing and Savings Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan with a 401(k) deferral component.  All full-time employees and certain part-time employees who have met the age and length of service requirements are eligible to participate in the plan.  The plan allows participating employees to make elective deferrals of compensation up to the annual limits which are set by law.  The plan provides for a discretionary annual contribution by the operating company which is determined by a formula based on the salaries of eligible employees as defined by the plan.  For both the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the expense recognized in connection with this plan was $0.8 million.

Note 5—Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the Company’s net income attributable to its common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period.

Under the two-class method of computing basic earnings per share, basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income for basic earnings per share by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  The two-class method includes an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each participating security according to dividends declared and undistributed earnings for the period.  The Company’s net income for basic earnings per share is reduced by the amount allocated to participating restricted shares of Class A common stock which participate for purposes of calculating earnings per share.

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For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s basic earnings per share was determined as follows:

Diluted earnings per share adjusts this calculation to reflect the impact of all outstanding membership units of the operating company, phantom Class B units, phantom Delayed Exchange Class B units, phantom Class A common stock, outstanding options to purchase Class B units, options to purchase Delayed Exchange Class B units, options to purchase Class A common stock, and restricted Class A common stock, to the extent they would have a dilutive effect on net income per share for the reporting period.  Net income for diluted earnings per share assumes that all outstanding operating company membership units are converted into Company stock at the beginning of the reporting period and the resulting change to the Company's net income associated with its increased interest in the operating company is taxed at the Company’s effective tax rate, exclusive of one-time charges and adjustments associated with both the valuation allowance and the liability to selling and converting shareholders and other one-time charges. When this conversion results in an increase in earnings per share or a decrease in loss per share, diluted net income and diluted earnings per share are assumed to be equal to basic net income and basic earnings per share for the reporting period.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s diluted net income was determined as follows: 

Under the two-class method of computing diluted earnings per share, diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income for diluted earnings per share by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect of any potential common shares outstanding during the period using the more dilutive of the treasury method or two-class method.  The two-class method includes an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each participating security according to dividends declared and undistributed earnings for the period.  The Company’s net income for diluted earnings per share is reduced by the amount allocated to participating restricted Class B units for purposes of calculating earnings per share.  Dividend equivalent distributions paid per share on the operating company’s unvested restricted Class B units are equal to the dividends paid per share of Company Class A common stock.

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For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s diluted earnings per share were determined as follows:

Approximately 2.9 million options to purchase Class B units, 0.1 million options to purchase shares of Class A common stock, and 1.0 million contingent options to purchase shares of Class A common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as their inclusion would have had an antidilutive effect based on current market prices or because the option had contingent vesting requirements that were not met. Approximately 0.3 million options to purchase Class B units, 0.1 million options to purchase shares of Class A common stock, and 2.0 million contingent options to purchase shares of Class A common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as their inclusion would have had an antidilutive effect based on current market prices or because the option had contingent vesting requirements that were not met.  

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Note 6—Shareholders’ Equity

The Company functions as the sole managing member of the operating company.  As a result, the Company: (i) consolidates the financial results of the operating company and reflects the membership interest in it that it does not own as a non-controlling interest in its consolidated financial statements; and (ii) recognizes income generated from its economic interest in the operating company’s net income.  Class A and Class B units of the operating company have the same economic rights per unit. Class B-1 membership units, first issued on December 31, 2019, are entitled to receive distributions for the duration of the holder’s employment with the operating company, will participate in additional value to the extent there has been appreciation subsequent to the issuance of the Class B-1 membership unit.  As of March 31, 2020 the holders of Class A common stock (through the Company) and the holders of Class B units of the operating company held approximately 24.1% and 75.9%, respectively, of the economic interest in the March 31, 2020 value of the operating company. As of March 31, 2020, the holders of Class A common stock (through the Company), the holders of Class B units of the operating company, and the holders of Class B-1 units of the operating company held 22.2%, 70.1%, and 7.7%, respectively, of the right to the future income and distributions. As of December 31, 2019, the holders of Class A common stock of the Company and the holders of Class B units of the operating company held approximately 25.4% and 74.6%, respectively, of the December 31, 2019 economic interests in the value of the operating committee. As of December 31, 2019 the holders of Class A common stock (through the Company), the holders of Class B units of the operating company, and the holders of Class B-1 units of the operating company held 24.1%, 71.0%, and 4.9%, respectively, of the right to the future income and distributions.

Each Class B unit of the operating company is issued with a corresponding share of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.000001 per share.  Holders of Class B common stock have the right to receive the par value of the Class B common stock held by them upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, but do not share in dividends.  Each share of the Company’s Class B common stock entitles its holder to five votes, until the first time that the number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding constitutes less than 20% of the number of all shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding.  From such time and thereafter, each share of the Company’s Class B common stock entitles its holder to one vote.  When a Class B unit is exchanged for a share of the Company’s Class A common stock or forfeited, a corresponding share of the Company’s Class B common stock will automatically be redeemed and canceled.  Conversely, to the extent that the Company causes the operating company to issue additional Class B units to employees pursuant to its equity incentive plan, these additional holders of Class B units would be entitled to receive a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock (including if the Class B units awarded are subject to vesting). Class B-1 units have not been issued corresponding shares and do not have voting rights.

All holders of the Company’s Class B common stock have entered into a stockholders’ agreement, pursuant to which they agreed to vote all shares of Class B common stock then held by them, with the majority of votes of Class B common stockholders taken in a preliminary vote of the Class B common stockholders.

The outstanding shares of the Company’s Class A common stock represent 100% of the rights of the holders of all classes of the Company’s capital stock to receive distributions, except that holders of Class B common stock will have the right to receive the class’s par value upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Pursuant to the operating agreement of the operating company, each vested Class B unit is exchangeable for a share of the Company’s Class A common stock, subject to certain exchange timing and volume limitations.  

Pursuant to the operating agreement of the operating company, each vested Class B-1 unit, upon the end of the holder’s employment, is exchanged for shares of Class A common stock in an amount based upon the appreciation in price of the Class A common stock from the date of grant to the date of exchange.

The Company’s share repurchase program was announced on April 24, 2012.  The Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an aggregate of $10 million of the Company’s outstanding Class A common stock and the operating company’s Class B units on the open market and in private transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws.  On February 11, 2014, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an increase of $20 million in the aggregate amount authorized under the program.  On April 19, 2018, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an additional increase of $30 million in the aggregate amount authorized under the program.  The timing, number and value of common shares and units repurchased are subject to the Company’s discretion.  The Company’s share repurchase program is not subject to an expiration date and may be suspended, discontinued, or modified at any time, for any reason.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company purchased and retired 823,792 shares of Class A common stock and 94,830 Class B units under the current repurchase authorization at a weighted average price per share of $6.86 and $5.97, respectively.  During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company purchased and retired 533,369 shares of Class A common stock and 95,739 Class B units under the repurchase authorization at a weighted average price per unit of $8.83 and $6.01, respectively.  The Company records the repurchase of shares and units at cost based on the trade date of the transaction.

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Note 7—Non-Controlling Interests

Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests in the operations of the Company’s operating company and consolidated subsidiaries is comprised of the following:

Distributions to non-controlling interests represent tax allocations and dividend equivalents paid to the members of the operating company, as well as withdrawals from the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries.  Contributions from non-controlling interests represent contributions to the Company's consolidated subsidiaries.

Note 8—Investments

The following is a summary of Investments:

Investment, at Fair Value

Investments, at Fair Value consisted of the following at March 31, 2020:

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Investments, at Fair Value consisted of the following at December 31, 2019: