OPY Oppenheimer Holdings Inc

NEW YORK, July 30, 2020 /CNW/ - Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: OPY) (the "Company" or "Firm") today reported net income of $17.6 million or $1.40 basic earnings per share for the second quarter of 2020 compared with net income of $12.4 million or $0.95 basic earnings per share for the second quarter of 2019. Revenue for the second quarter of 2020 was $264.7 million compared to revenue of $250.9 million for the second quarter of 2019.

Albert G. Lowenthal, Chairman and CEO commented, "I am extremely proud of how our employees have risen to the challenges of the current environment.  While navigating new working arrangements, whether remotely or in a less populated office environment, the Firm's associates were able to work productively and contribute to what turned out to be a very solid quarter, both in terms of revenue and profit, given the headwinds created by a very low interest rate environment.  Continued volatility in the equity markets and huge demand for capital raising led to stronger than expected operating results for the period.

Investment banking led the way with a significant increase in the number of equity underwriting transactions in May and June. We also saw substantially increased activity in fixed income, both taxable and municipal finance, including higher public finance issuances.  This helped offset lower M&A activity during the quarter. The broader equities markets saw the largest quarterly increase in two decades contributing to higher retail and institutional commission revenue as investors reacted to very high levels of volatility.  The recovery in asset values also contributed to record assets under management at June 30, 2020, which will drive advisory fee revenue for the third quarter of 2020. A continuation of market volatility and robust capital markets activity would drive positive operating results for the last half of the year".

Highlights

• The Firm's operating results demonstrated the resiliency of the franchise
• Our balance sheet, capital levels, and liquidity remain strong during these unprecedented times
• Revenue increased 5.5% during the period driven by robust underwriting revenue, increased institutional equities and fixed income sales and trading activity, and higher retail investor participation
• Compensation expense increased 15.3% due to higher production, incentive, and deferred compensation costs resulting from higher incentive compensation tied to commissionable revenue and asset values underlying deferred compensation programs
• Compensation expense as a percentage of revenue was higher at 67.8% during the current period versus 62.1% last year due to substantially lower bank deposit sweep income which has no associated compensation costs
• Book value and tangible book value per share reached record levels at June 30, 2020
• Private Client pre-tax profit margin was 17.2% reflecting strong underlying business fundamentals
• Assets under management were at a record level of $32.7 billion at June 30, 2020
• Investment banking had its best quarter since the fourth quarter of 2010 with revenue of $46.2 million

Private Client

Private Client reported revenue for the current quarter of $141.8 million, 12.4% lower compared with a year ago.  Pre-tax income of $24.3 million in the current quarter resulted in a pre-tax profit margin of 17.2%.

Revenue:

• Retail commissions increased 6.7% from a year ago as a result of increased volatility and client participation
• Advisory fees decreased 5.8% due to lower assets under management at March 31, 2020 compared with March 31, 2019
• Bank deposit sweep income decreased $24.7 million or 77.6% from a year ago due to lower short-term interest rates partially offset by higher average cash sweep balances
• Interest revenue declined 46.7% from a year ago due to lower short-term interest rates partially offset by higher average margin balances
• Other revenue increased 85.3% primarily due to increases in the cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance policies

Total Expenses:

• Compensation expenses increased 5.8% primarily due to increased deferred compensation costs tied to the performance of the overall equities markets
• Non-compensation expenses decreased 18.2% primarily due to lower interest costs associated with the bank deposit sweep program

Asset Management

Asset Management reported revenue for the current quarter of $17.5 million, 5.9% lower compared with a year ago.  Pre-tax income was $4.0 million, a decrease of 25.1% compared with a year ago.

Revenue:

• Advisory fee revenue decreased 6.0% due to lower assets under management at March 31, 2020 compared with March 31, 2019

Assets under Management (AUM):

• AUM hit a record level of $32.7 billion at June 30, 2020, which is the basis for advisory fee billings for the third quarter of 2020
• The increase in AUM was comprised of higher asset values of $1.3 billion on existing client holdings and a net contribution of assets of $1.2 billion

 Total Expenses:

• Compensation expenses were up 6.8% which was primarily related to increases in incentive compensation
• Non-compensation expenses were roughly flat when compared to the prior period

Capital Markets

Capital Markets reported revenue for the current quarter of $105.3 million, 46.6% higher compared with a year ago. Pre-Tax income was $22.3 million compared with a pre-tax loss of $1.8 million a year ago.

Revenue:

Investment Banking

• Advisory fees earned from investment banking activities decreased 44.5% compared with a year ago due to lower M&A activity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
• Equities underwriting fees more than doubled compared with a year ago due to higher levels of capital issuances in the equity markets
• Fixed income underwriting fees were up more than four times due to increased fees earned in emerging markets and public finance offerings

Sales and Trading

• Equities sales and trading increased 31.9% due to increased equities agency and convertible bond transactions
• Fixed Income sales and trading increased 54.2% driven by increased client activity in investment grade, emerging market, high yield, and mortgage-backed securities

Total Expenses:

• Compensation expenses increased 35.9% primarily due to increased incentive compensation tied to increases in revenue
• Non-compensation expenses were 25.6% lower due to decreased interest costs and reduced costs associated with travel and entertainment and conferences

Other Matters

• Shareholders' equity reached a record high of $601.1 million on June 30, 2020
• The Board of Directors announced a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.12 per share effective for the second quarter of 2020 and payable on August 27, 2020 to holders of Class A non-voting and Class B voting common stock of record on August 13, 2020
• The Company's broker-dealer regulatory net capital was near all-time highs as of June 30, 2020
• Level 3 assets, primarily comprised of auction rate securities, were $29.6 million as of June 30, 2020
• The effective tax rate for the current period was 24.1% compared with 28.8% for the prior period. The decrease is primarily due to the resolution of tax audits on a favorable basis during the current period

Coronavirus Pandemic ("COVID-19")

The Company continues to monitor the effects of the pandemic both on a national level as well as regional and local effects and is responding accordingly.  In addition, we continue to provide frequent communications to clients, employees, and regulators.  We have adopted enhanced cleaning practices and other health protocols in our offices, taken measures to significantly restrict non-essential business travel and have practices in place to mandate that employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19, or show any relevant symptoms, self-quarantine.  In early March 2020, the Company executed on its Business Continuity Plan whereby the vast majority of our employees began to work remotely with only "essential" employees reporting to our offices.  We accomplished this by significantly expanding the use of technology infrastructure that facilitates remote operations.  Our ability to avoid significant business disruptions are reliant on the continued ability to have the vast majority of employees working remotely.  To date, there have been no significant disruptions to our business or control processes as a result of this dispersion of employees.  Recent outbreaks in various states indicate that COVID-19 will continue to impact the economy and, by extension, our business, well into 2021.  We currently anticipate that a large number of our employees will continue to work remotely for the indefinite future.

Company Information

Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading middle market investment bank and full service broker-dealer that provides a wide range of financial services including retail securities brokerage, institutional sales and trading, investment banking (both corporate and public finance), research, market-making, trust, and investment management.  With roots tracing back to 1881, the firm is headquartered in New York and has 93 retail branch offices in the United States and has institutional businesses located in London, Tel Aviv, and Hong Kong.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" relating to anticipated future performance including the projected impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial performance, and operating results.  The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to vary from the forward-looking statements: the severity and duration of the COVID-19; COVID-19 impact on the U.S. and global economies; and Federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic.  For a discussion of the factors that could cause future performance to be different than anticipated, reference is made to Factors Affecting "Forward-Looking Statements" and Part 1A – Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

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SOURCE Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.