NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP - FORM 10-Q

Attached files

file	filename
EX-3.3 - NFP AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex33.htm
EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex322.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex311.htm
EX-12.1 - COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex121.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION OF CEO PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex321.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF CFO PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex312.htm
EX-10.26 - FORM OF NOTICE OF GRANT OF RSUS UNDER 2009 SIP AND ADDITIONAL TERMS &AMP; CONDITIONS OF RSU GRANT FOR DIRECTORS - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex1026.htm
EX-10.25 - FORM OF NOTICE OF GRANT OF RSUS UNDER 2009 SIP AND ADDITIONAL TERMS &AMP; CONDITIONS OF RSU GRANT FOR EMPLOYEES - NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP	ex1025.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________

FORM 10-Q

______________

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2009

¨	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: 001-31781

______________

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

______________

Delaware	13-4029115
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

340 Madison Avenue, 19th Floor New York, New York	10173
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(212) 301-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

______________

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 ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, 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.

Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨	Smaller reporting company ¨

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

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.10 par value, as of October 31, 2009 was 41,354,117.

National Financial Partners Corp. and Subsidiaries

Form 10-Q

INDEX

			Page

Part I	Financial Information:

	Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited):	5

		Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008	5

		Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008	6

		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008	7

		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	8

	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	30

	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	50

	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	51

Part II	Other Information:

	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	52

	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	52

	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	53

	Item 5.	Other Information	54

	Item 6.	Exhibits	56

	Signatures		59

Forward-Looking Statements

National Financial Partners Corp. (“NFP”) and its subsidiaries (together with NFP, the “Company”) and their representatives may from time to time make verbal or written statements, including certain statements in this report, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “may,” “project,” “will,” “continue” and similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements may include discussions concerning revenue, expenses, earnings, cash flow, impairments, losses, dividends, capital structure, credit facilities, market and industry conditions, premium and commission rates, interest rates, contingencies, the direction or outcome of regulatory investigations and litigation, income taxes and the Company’s operations or strategy.

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views with respect to future results, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions made by management using currently-available information, such as market and industry materials, experts’ reports and opinions, and current financial trends. These statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation:

•

NFP’s ability, through its operating structure, to respond quickly to regulatory, operational or financial situations impacting its firms;

•

the Company’s ability to manage its business effectively and profitably through the principals of its firms;

•

the financial impact of NFP’s new incentive plans;

•

a recessionary economic environment, resulting in fewer sales of financial products or services, including rising unemployment which could impact group benefits sales based on reduced headcount, the availability of credit in connection with the purchase of such products or services, consumer hesitancy in spending or the insolvencies of or difficulties experienced by insurance companies, financial institutions or the Company’s clients;

•

the occurrence of events or circumstances that could be indicators of impairment to goodwill and intangible assets which require the Company to test for impairment, and the impact of any impairments that the Company may take;

•

the impact of the adoption or modification of certain accounting treatments or policies and changes in underlying assumptions relating to such treatments or policies (including with respect to impairments), which may lead to adverse financial results;

•

NFP’s success in acquiring and retaining high-quality independent financial services distribution firms and various factors inhibiting the Company’s ability to acquire and retain firms;

•

the performance of the Company’s firms following acquisition;

•

changes in interest rates or general economic conditions and credit market conditions, including changes that adversely affect NFP’s ability to access capital;

•

adverse developments or volatility in the markets in which the Company operates, resulting in fewer sales of financial products and services, including those related to compensation agreements with insurance companies and activities within the life settlements industry;

•

securities and capital markets behavior, including fluctuations in the price of NFP’s common stock, recent uncertainty in the U.S. financial markets, or the dilutive impact of any capital-raising efforts to finance operations or business strategy;

•

any losses that NFP may take with respect to firm dispositions, firm restructures or otherwise;

•

the continued availability of borrowings and letters of credit under NFP’s credit facility;

•

NFP’s ability to manage its indebtedness and capital structure;

•

adverse results or other consequences from litigation, arbitration, regulatory investigations or compliance initiatives, including those related to business practices, compensation agreements with insurance companies, policy rescissions or chargebacks, regulatory investigations or activities within the life settlements industry;

•

uncertainty in the financial services, insurance or life settlement industries arising from investigations into certain business practices and subpoenas received from various governmental authorities and related litigation;

•

the impact of legislation or regulations in jurisdictions in which NFP’s subsidiaries operate, including the possible adoption of comprehensive and exclusive federal regulation over all interstate insurers and the uncertain impact of proposals for legislation regulating the financial services industry;

•

the reduction of the Company’s revenue and earnings due to the elimination or modification of compensation arrangements, including contingent compensation arrangements and the adoption of internal initiatives to enhance compensation transparency, including the transparency of fees paid for life settlements transactions;

•

changes in laws, including the elimination or modification of the federal estate tax, changes in the tax treatment of life insurance products, or changes in regulations affecting the value or use of benefits programs, which may adversely affect the demand for or profitability of the Company’s services;

•

uncertainty regarding the impact of proposed healthcare legislation or reform on NFP’s subsidiaries that operate in the benefits market;

•

developments in the availability, pricing, design or underwriting of insurance products, revisions in mortality tables by life expectancy underwriters or changes in the Company’s relationships with insurance companies;

•

changes in premiums and commission rates or the rates of other fees paid to the Company’s firms, including life settlements and registered investment advisory fees;

•

the occurrence of adverse economic conditions or an adverse regulatory climate in New York, Florida or California;

•

the loss of services of key members of senior management;

•

the availability or adequacy of errors and omissions insurance or other types of insurance coverage protection; and

•

the Company’s ability to effect smooth succession planning at its firms.

Additional factors are set forth in NFP’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2009 (the “2008 10-K”), and its Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 21, 2009 solely to update the Company’s 2008 10-K for the adoption of new guidance relating to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion (including partial cash settlement).

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. NFP expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Part I – Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)—(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	September 30, 2009			December 31, 2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	60,084		$	48,621
Cash, cash equivalents and securities purchased under resale agreements in premium trust accounts		75,838			75,109
Commissions, fees and premiums receivable, net		100,930			140,758
Due from principals and/or certain entities they own		21,787			16,329
Notes receivable, net		7,161			6,496
Deferred tax assets		8,322			9,435
Other current assets		18,368			19,284
Total current assets		292,490			316,032
Property and equipment, net		44,341			51,683
Deferred tax assets		110,561			24,889
Intangibles, net		399,265			462,123
Goodwill, net		57,018			635,693
Notes receivable, net		32,410			23,683
Other non-current assets		29,793			28,018
Total assets	$	965,878		$	1,542,121
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Premiums payable to insurance carriers	$	82,583		$	73,159
Borrowings		75,000			148,000
Income taxes payable		—			11
Deferred tax liabilities		239			—
Due to principals and/or certain entities they own		22,779			38,791
Accounts payable		21,381			28,513
Accrued liabilities		47,531			54,380
Total current liabilities		249,513			342,854
Deferred tax liabilities		116,825			119,400
Convertible senior notes		201,767			193,475
Other non-current liabilities		62,037			62,874
Total liabilities		630,142			718,603
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized 200,000 shares; none issued		—			—
Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized 180,000 shares; 44,100 and 43,875 issued and 41,201 and 39,753 outstanding, respectively		4,410			4,388
Additional paid-in capital		874,839			881,458
Retained (deficit) earnings		(434,316	)		97,178
Treasury stock, 2,899 and 4,122 shares, respectively, at cost		(109,373	)		(159,456	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		176			(50	)
Total stockholders’ equity		335,736			823,518
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	965,878		$	1,542,121

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008			2009			2008
Revenue:
Commissions and fees	$	229,925		$	277,282		$	671,104		$	851,135
Cost of services:
Commissions and fees		63,059			85,216			187,934			275,487
Operating expenses (1)		88,112			102,384			274,553			306,581
Management fees		34,855			41,140			87,316			118,727
Total cost of services		186,026			228,740			549,803			700,795
Gross margin		43,899			48,542			121,301			150,340
Corporate and other expenses:
General and administrative		13,044			16,537			37,898			48,900
Amortization and depreciation		12,336			13,404			38,130			39,029
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets		2,002			5,198			612,234			10,226
Gain on sale of subsidiaries		(1,190	)		(578	)		(1,852	)		(7,665	)
Total corporate and other expenses		26,192			34,561			686,410			90,490
Income (loss) from operations		17,707			13,981			(565,109	)		59,850

Interest and other income		4,088			1,475			13,421			4,231
Interest and other expense		(4,999	)		(5,277	)		(15,779	)		(16,087	)
Net interest and other		(911	)		(3,802	)		(2,358	)		(11,856	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		16,796			10,179			(567,467	)		47,994
Income tax (benefit) expense		6,256			6,682			(72,230	)		27,080
Net income (loss)	$	10,540		$	3,497		$	(495,237	)	$	20,914
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.25		$	0.09		$	(12.11	)	$	0.53
Diluted	$	0.24		$	0.08		$	(12.11	)	$	0.51
Dividends declared per share	$	—		$	0.21		$	—		$	0.63
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		41,604			39,670			40,888			39,493
Diluted		43,114			41,187			40,888			41,164

______________

(1)	Excludes amortization and depreciation which are shown separately under Corporate and other expenses.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited—in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(495,237	)	$	20,914
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred taxes		(87,000	)		23
Stock-based compensation		7,443			10,032
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets		612,234			10,226
Amortization of intangibles		27,745			29,323
Depreciation		10,385			9,706
Accretion of senior convertible notes discount		8,292			7,778
Gain on sale of subsidiaries		(1,852	)		(7,665	)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and securities purchased under resale agreements in premium trust accounts		(729	)		4,737
Commissions, fees and premiums receivable, net		38,920			44,452
Due from principals and/or certain entities they own		(3,390	)		(17,746	)
Notes receivable, net – current		(705	)		(889	)
Other current assets		(396	)		(3,346	)
Notes receivable, net – non-current		(2,209	)		(7,676	)
Other non-current assets		(1,832	)		(13,828	)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Premiums payable to insurance carriers		9,424			(2,917	)
Income taxes payable		(11	)		(1,764	)
Due to principals and/or certain entities they own		(22,072	)		(33,214	)
Accounts payable		(7,125	)		(12,425	)
Accrued liabilities		(8,475	)		(22,282	)
Other non-current liabilities		(416	)		10,898
Total adjustments		578,231			3,423
Net cash provided by operating activities		82,994			24,337
Cash flow from investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries		10,997			22,523
Purchases of property and equipment, net		(4,943	)		(30,322	)
Payments for acquired firms, net of cash, and contingent consideration		(1,606	)		(63,782	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		4,448			(71,581	)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings		—			179,000
Repayments of borrowings		(73,000	)		(132,000	)
Proceeds from stock-based awards, including tax benefit		(2,719	)		3,481
Shares cancelled to pay withholding taxes		(210	)		(680	)
Payments for treasury stock repurchase		—			(24,612	)
Dividends paid		(50	)		(24,683	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(75,979	)		506
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		11,463			(46,738	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period		48,621			114,182
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period	$	60,084		$	67,444
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes	$	18,010		$	29,968
Cash paid for interest	$	5,771		$	7,568
Non-cash transactions:
See Note 8

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - Nature of Operations

National Financial Partners Corp. (“NFP”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on August 27, 1998, but did not commence operations until January 1, 1999. The principal business of NFP is the acquisition and management of operating companies that offer high net worth individuals and companies throughout the United States and in Canada comprehensive solutions across corporate and executive benefits, life insurance and wealth transfer, and investment advisory products and services. As of September 30, 2009, NFP and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) owned more than 150 firms. In September 2009, NFP announced corporate reorganizational efforts that are intended to enhance the Company’s client service delivery structure.

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Recently adopted accounting standards

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, “FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 (“SFAS 168”),” which became the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by non-governmental entities. Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. On the effective date of SFAS 168, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification superseded all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. All other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification became non-authoritative. The Company adopted SFAS 168 as it became effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. Upon the adoption of SFAS 168, beginning for this interim period ending September 30, 2009, references to authoritative accounting literature have been modified to “plain English” in accordance with the adoption of SFAS 168.

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion (including partial cash settlement). The new guidance applies to NFP’s $230.0 million (including over-allotment) aggregate principal amount of 0.75% convertible senior notes due February 1, 2012 (the “notes” or the “convertible senior notes”) (see “Note 6—Borrowings”). The new guidance requires NFP to separate the convertible senior notes into two separate components: a non-convertible note and a conversion option. As a result, NFP is required to recognize interest expense on its convertible senior notes at their non-convertible debt borrowing rate (6.62%) rather than at their stated face rate (0.75%). With the change in accounting principle required by the new guidance, NFP is required to amortize to interest expense the excess of the principal amount of the liability component of its notes over the carrying amount using the interest method, and the non-cash portion of interest expense relating to the discount on the notes is now recognized as a charge to earnings. Previously, NFP recorded the cost incurred in connection with the convertible note hedge, including the related tax benefit, and the proceeds from the sale of the warrants as adjustments to additional paid-in capital. As such, the face value of the notes of $230.0 million was previously shown as a liability on the consolidated statement of financial condition and the discount was recognized as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital of $55.9 million. In addition, interest expense was previously recognized through earnings based only on the stated rate of the notes.

The notes are now presented on the consolidated statement of financial condition at their net carrying amount, or the face value of the notes less their unamortized discount. The new guidance does not have any impact on cash payments or obligations due under the terms of the notes. As required, effective January 1, 2009 NFP’s comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply its provisions retrospectively.

The cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle for the adoption of the new guidance related to the accounting for convertible debt on retained earnings and additional paid-in capital as of January 1, 2009 was a decrease of $11.8 million and an increase of $47.2 million, respectively, resulting in a net $35.4 million increase in total stockholder’s equity. In addition, the notes and income taxes payable decreased by $36.6 million resulting in total liabilities decreasing $36.6 million. Prepaid expenses decreased by $1.2 million resulting in a $1.2 million decrease in total assets as a result of the adoption.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

The following financial statement line items within the consolidated statement of operations for the three-month period ended September 30, 2008 and nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 were affected by the adoption of the new guidance relating to the accounting for convertible debt:

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2008									Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
(in thousands, except per share data)	As Originally Reported			Effect of Change			After Adoption of New Accounting Guidance			As Originally Reported			Effect of Change			After Adoption of New Accounting Guidance
Interest and other expense	$	(2,759	)	$	(2,518	)	$	(5,277	)	$	(8,585	)	$	(7,502	)	$	(16,087	)
Income before income taxes		12,697			(2,518	)		10,179			55,496			(7,502	)		47,994
Provision for income taxes		7,556			(874	)		6,682			29,950			(2,870	)		27,080
Net income		5,141			(1,644	)		3,497			25,546			(4,632	)		20,914

Net income per share:
Basic		0.13			(0.04	)		0.09			0.65			(0.12	)		0.53
Diluted	$	0.12		$	(0.04	)	$	0.08		$	0.62		$	(0.11	)	$	0.51

The following financial statement line items within the consolidated statement of financial condition as of December 31, 2008 were affected by the adoption of the new guidance relating to the accounting for convertible debt:

(in thousands)	As Originally Reported		Effect of Change			After Adoption of New Accounting Guidance
Deferred tax assets	$	24,858	$	31		$	24,889
Other non-current assets		29,213		(1,195	)		28,018
Income taxes payable		—		11			11
Deferred tax liabilities		119,399		1			119,400
Convertible senior notes		230,000		(36,525	)		193,475
Additional paid-in capital		834,263		47,195			881,458
Retained earnings	$	109,024	$	(11,846	)	$	97,178

The following financial statement line items within the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 were affected by the adoption of the new guidance relating to the accounting for convertible debt:

(in thousands)	As Originally Reported			Effect of Change			After Adoption of New Accounting Guidance
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$	25,546		$	(4,632	)	$	20,914
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:
Accretion of Sr. Convert Notes Discount	$	—		$	7,778		$	7,778
Other current assets		(3,116	)		(230	)		(3,346	)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Other non-current assets		(13,553	)		(275	)		(13,828	)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Income taxes payable		875			(2,639	)		(1,764	)
Other non-current liabilities		10,899			(1	)		10,898

Total adjustments	$	(1,209	)	$	4,632		$	3,423

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance that related to the accounting for business combinations. The new guidance requires that upon initially obtaining control, the acquiring entity in a business combination must recognize 100% of the fair value of the acquired assets, including goodwill and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions even if the acquirer has not acquired 100% of its target. Contingent consideration arrangements are now fair valued at the acquisition date and included on that basis in the purchase price consideration. The recognition of contingent consideration at a later date when the amount of that consideration is determinable beyond a reasonable doubt will no longer be applicable. All transaction costs are now expensed as incurred. On April 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance for accounting for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations that arise from contingencies which is effective January 1, 2009, and amends the prior accounting guidance to require that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value if fair value can be reasonably estimated. If the acquisition date fair value of an asset acquired or a liability assumed that arises from a contingency cannot be determined, the asset or liability would be recognized in accordance with GAAP for contingencies. If the fair value is not determinable and the criteria established by GAAP are not met, no asset or liability would be recognized.

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance that related to accounting for non-controlling interests in consolidated financial statements. The new accounting guidance states for entities to provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners separately within the consolidated statement of financial condition within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity and separately on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. Further, the new guidance states that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary should be accounted for consistently and when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former subsidiary should be initially measured at fair value. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company.

In May 2009, FASB issued new guidance relating to subsequent events, established general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The new guidance sets forth:

·	the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements;

·	the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements; and

·	the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date.

The Company has adopted the new guidance and it was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. See “Note 10—Subsequent Events” for further detail.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Basis of presentation

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company included herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the interim periods presented and are not necessarily indicative of a full year’s results.

All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in NFP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2009 (the “2008 10-K”) and as updated in NFP’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 21, 2009 (the “2008 8-K”).

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Property, equipment and depreciation

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, generally three to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the terms of the leases. Amortization and depreciation expense totaling $5.9 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, has been excluded from operating expenses in Cost of services and included in Corporate and other expenses.

Foreign currency translation

The functional currency of the Company is the United States (“U.S.”) dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign operations is the applicable local currency. The translation of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for income and expense accounts using monthly average exchange rates. The cumulative effects of translating the functional currencies into the U.S. dollar are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

Comprehensive income

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation. This information is provided in the Company’s statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 represents accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments. See “Note 7—Stockholders’ Equity” for further detail.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

The Company evaluates its amortizing (long-lived assets) and non-amortizing intangible assets for impairment in accordance with GAAP.

In accordance with GAAP, long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company generally performs its recoverability test on a quarterly basis for each of its acquired firms that have experienced a significant deterioration in its business indicated principally by either an inability to produce base earnings for a period of time or in the event of a restructure in base. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset and by the eventual disposition of the asset. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the underlying asset, an impairment may exist. The Company measures impairments on identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization by comparing the fair value of the asset to the carrying amount of the asset. In the event that the discounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recognized for the difference in the consolidated statements of income.

In accordance with GAAP, goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested at least annually for impairment, and are tested for impairment more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the intangible asset might be impaired. The Company generally performs its impairment test on a quarterly basis for each of its acquired firms that may have an indicator of impairment. Indicators at the Company level include but are not limited to: sustained operating losses or a trend of poor operating performance, which may cause the terms of the applicable management contract to be restructured, loss of key personnel, a decrease in NFP’s market capitalization below its book value, and an expectation that a reporting unit will be sold or otherwise disposed of. Indicators of impairment at the reporting unit level may be due to the failure of the firms the Company acquires to perform as expected after the acquisition for various reasons, including legislative or regulatory changes that affect the products and services in which a firm specializes, the loss of key clients after acquisition, general economic factors that impact a firm in a direct way, and the death or disability of significant principals. If one or more indicators of impairment exist, NFP performs an evaluation to identify potential impairments. If an impairment is identified, NFP measures and records the amount of impairment loss.

A two-step impairment test is performed on goodwill. In the first step, NFP compares the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit. NFP determines the fair value of its reporting units by blending two valuation approaches: the income approach and a market value approach. In order to determine the relative fair value of each of the reporting units the income approach is conducted first. These relative values are then scaled to the estimated market value of NFP.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit, goodwill is not impaired and NFP is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of the goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner that is consistent with the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit.

See “Note 5—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.”

Fair value measurements

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new accounting guidance regarding fair value measurement standards, which clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures on fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB deferred the effective date of the new guidance by one year for nonfinancial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the new guidance related to accounting for non-financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The new guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity such as assets or liabilities that are financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.

If the inputs used to measure the financial assets and liabilities fall within more than one level described above, the categorization is based on the lowest level (with the level 3 being the lowest) input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with standards established by GAAP which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses on the temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of its assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured utilizing statutory enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the new guidance, which clarified the accounting for uncertain tax positions by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements.

The Company believes that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease within the next twelve months due to the settlement of state income tax audits and the expiration of statutes of limitations in various federal and state jurisdictions in an amount ranging from $0.5 million to $3.0 million based on current estimates.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Revenue recognition

Insurance and annuity commissions paid by insurance companies are based on a percentage of the premium that the insurance company charges to the policyholder. First-year commissions are calculated as a percentage of the first twelve months’ premium on the policy and earned in the year that the policy is originated. In many cases, the Company receives renewal commissions for a period following the first year, if the policy remains in force. Some of the Company’s firms also receive fees for the settlement of life insurance policies. These fees are generally based on a percentage of the settlement proceeds received by their clients, and recognized as revenue when the policy is transferred and the rescission period has ended. The Company also earns commissions on the sale of insurance policies written for benefits programs. The commissions are paid each year as long as the client continues to use the product and maintains its broker of record relationship with the Company. The Company also earns fees for the development and implementation of corporate and executive benefits programs as well as fees for the duration that these programs are administered. Asset-based fees are earned for administrative services or consulting related to certain benefits plans. Insurance commissions are recognized as revenue when the following criteria are met: (1) the policy application and other carrier delivery requirements are substantially complete, (2) the premium is paid, and (3) the insured party is contractually committed to the purchase of the insurance policy. Carrier delivery requirements may include additional supporting documentation, signed amendments and premium payments. Subsequent to the initial issuance of the insurance policy, premiums are billed directly by carriers. Commissions earned on renewal premiums are generally recognized upon receipt from the carrier, since that is typically when the Company is first notified that such commissions have been earned. The Company carries an allowance for policy cancellations, which approximated $1.2 million at both September 30, 2009 and 2008, that is periodically evaluated and adjusted as necessary. Miscellaneous commission adjustments are generally recorded as they occur. Contingent commissions are recorded as revenue when received which, in many cases, is the Company’s first notification of amounts earned. Contingent commissions are commissions paid by insurance underwriters and are based on the estimated profit and/or overall volume of business placed with the underwriter. The data necessary for the calculation of contingent commissions cannot be reasonably estimated prior to receipt of the commission.

The Company earns commissions related to the sale of securities and certain investment-related insurance products. The Company also earns fees for offering financial advice and related services. These fees are based on a percentage of assets under management and are generally paid quarterly. In certain cases, incentive fees are earned based on the performance of the assets under management. Some of the Company’s firms charge flat fees for the development of a financial plan or a flat fee annually for advising clients on asset allocation. Any investment advisory or related fees collected in advance are deferred and recognized as income on a straight-line basis over the period earned. Transaction-based fees, including performance fees, are recognized when all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Securities and mutual fund commission income and related expenses are recorded on a trade date basis.

Some of the Company’s firms earn additional compensation in the form of incentive and marketing support payments from manufacturers of financial services products, based on the volume, persistency and profitability of business generated by the Company from these three sources. Incentive and marketing support revenue is recognized at the earlier of notification of a payment or when payment is received, unless there exists historical data and other information which enable management to reasonably estimate the amount earned during the period.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 3 - Earnings Per Share

The computations of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009			2008
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Basic:
Net (loss) income	$	10,540	$	3,497	$	(495,237	)	$	20,914
Average shares outstanding		41,211		39,645		40,775			39,485
Contingent consideration and incentive payments		393		25		133			8
Total		41,604		39,670		40,888			39,493
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.25	$	0.09	$	(12.11	)	$	0.53
Diluted:
Net (loss) income		10,540		3,497	$	(495,237	)	$	20,914
Average shares outstanding		41,211		39,645		40,755			39,485
Contingent consideration and incentive payments		393		384		133			384
Stock-based awards		1,503		1,148		—			1,281
Other		7		10		—			14
Total		43,114		41,187		40,888			41,164
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.24	$	0.08	$	(12.11	)	$	0.51

The calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share excluded approximately 1.5 million shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, because the effect of inclusion would be antidilutive.

Note 4 - Acquisitions and Divestitures

While acquisitions remain a component of the Company’s business strategy over the long term, NFP suspended acquisition activity (with the exception of certain sub-acquisitions) in the latter part of 2008 in order to conserve cash. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company completed one sub-acquisition effective January 1, 2009, to augment the business of one of the Company’s existing benefits firms. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company completed fifteen acquisitions that offer wealth transfer, corporate and executive benefits and other financial services to high net worth individuals and companies. These acquisitions allowed NFP to expand into desirable geographic locations, further extend its presence in the financial services industry and increased the volume of services currently provided.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

The purchase price excluding contingent consideration, associated with acquisitions accounted for as purchases, and the allocations thereof, are summarized as follows:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2009		2008
Consideration:
Cash	$	279	$	48,313
Common stock		—		18,458
Other		186		791
Totals	$	465	$	67,562
Allocation of purchase price:
Net tangible assets	$	—	$	328
Cost assigned to intangibles:
Book of business		200		22,088
Management contract		112		16,632
Trade name		3		442
Goodwill, net of deferred tax adjustment of $0.1 million in 2009 and $8.0 million in 2008		150		28,072
Total	$	465	$	67,562

Regarding acquisitions completed through September 30, 2008, the number of shares issued by NFP is generally based upon an average fair market value of NFP’s publicly-traded common stock over a specified period of time prior to the closing date of the acquisition. No shares were issued in connection with the sub-acquisition completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

In connection with contingent consideration $2.8 million was paid in cash and NFP has issued 978,273 shares of common stock with a value of approximately $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. $14.9 million was paid in cash and NFP issued 78,023 shares of common stock with a value of approximately $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

For acquisitions that were completed prior to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to business combinations on January 1, 2009, future payments made under this arrangement will be recorded as an adjustment to purchase price when the contingencies are settled. For acquisitions completed after January 1, 2009, in accordance with GAAP, contingent consideration amounts are fair valued at the acquisition date and are included on the basis in the purchase price consideration at the time of the acquisition with subsequent adjustments recorded in the statement of operations. As of September 30, 2009, the amount of contingent consideration recorded as an adjustment to goodwill relating to this sub-acquisition as of January 1, 2009 was $0.2 million. No subsequent changes have been made to the contingent consideration amounts through September 30, 2009. This arrangement results in the payment of additional consideration to the seller upon the firm’s attainment of certain revenue benchmarks following the closing of this sub-acquisition. The range of payments that may be made upon attainment of the benchmarks ranges from $0 through a maximum amount of $0.3 million.

In connection with this sub-acquisition, the Company does not expect any amounts of goodwill to be deductible over 15 years for tax purposes.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

In connection with a 2008 acquisition of a group benefits intermediary and its subsequent merger with an existing wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, a portion of the consideration, totaling $23.1 million, was treated as prepaid management fee which will be amortized to management fee expense over the remaining term of the management contract. Approximately $0.9 million was amortized to management fee expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008; $1.2 million was included in Other current assets; and $19.7 million was included in Other non-current assets.

The following table summarizes the required disclosures of the pro forma combined entity, as if these acquisitions occurred at January 1, 2009 and 2008, respectively:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2009			2008
Revenue	$	671,104		$	851,317
(Loss) income before income taxes		(567,467	)		47,928
Net (loss) income		(495,237	)		20,885
Earnings (loss) per share – basic		(12.11	)		0.53
Earnings (loss) per share – diluted	$	(12.11	)	$	0.51

The unaudited pro forma results above have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had the acquisitions occurred at January 1, 2009 and 2008, respectively, nor is it necessarily indicative of future operating results.

Divestitures

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company sold fifteen subsidiaries, receiving aggregate consideration of $6.8 million in cash, promissory notes with principals in the principal amount of $5.9 million, accounts receivables of $1.3 million, and 16,883 shares of NFP common stock with a value of $0.1 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009 the Company sold certain assets of four subsidiaries, and received aggregate consideration of $4.2 million in cash, promissory notes in the principal amount of $1.9 million, and 6,800 shares of NFP common stock with a value of less than $0.1 million. The Company recognized a net gain from these transactions of $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 are as follows:

(in thousands)	2009
Balance as of January 1,	$	635,693
Goodwill acquired during the year, including goodwill related to the deferred tax liability of $127		277
Contingent consideration		7,911
Firm disposals, firm restructures and other, net		(979	)
Impairment of goodwill		(585,884	)

Balance as of September 30,	$	57,018

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Acquired intangible assets

	As of September 30, 2009					As of December 31, 2008
(in thousands)	Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization			Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization
Amortizing identified intangible assets:
Book of business	$	220,715	$	(109,741	)	$	230,742	$	(99,445	)
Management contract		352,259		(80,709	)		385,656		(77,467	)
Institutional customer relationships		15,700		(3,925	)		15,700		(3,270	)
Total	$	588,674	$	(194,375	)	$	632,098	$	(180,182	)
Non-amortizing intangible assets:
Goodwill	$	59,853	$	(2,835	)	$	647,839	$	(12,146	)
Trade name		5,042		(76	)		10,337		(130	)
Total	$	64,895	$	(2,911	)	$	658,176	$	(12,276	)

Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $27.7 million. Intangibles related to book of business, management contract and institutional customer relationships are being amortized over a 10-year, 25-year and 18-year period, respectively. Based on the Company’s acquisitions as of September 30, 2009, estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is $35.8 million per year. Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years may change primarily as the result of acquisitions or other corporate activities.

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

In accordance with GAAP, long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company generally performs its recoverability test on a quarterly basis for each of its acquired firms that have experienced a significant deterioration in its business indicated principally either by an inability to produce base earnings for a period of time or in the event of a restructure in base. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset and by the eventual disposition of the asset. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the underlying asset, an impairment may exist. The Company measures impairments on identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization by comparing the fair value of the asset to the carrying amount of the asset. In the event that the discounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recognized for the difference in the consolidated statements of income.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

A two-step impairment test is performed on goodwill for reporting units that demonstrate indicators of impairment. In the first step, NFP compares the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that reporting unit. NFP determines the fair value of its reporting units by blending two valuation approaches: the income approach and a market value approach. In order to determine the relative fair value of each of the reporting units the income approach is conducted first. These relative values are then scaled to the estimated market value of NFP.

Under the income approach, management uses certain assumptions to determine the reporting unit’s fair value. The Company’s cash flow projections for each reporting unit are based on five-year financial forecasts. The five-year forecasts were based on quarterly financial forecasts developed internally by management for use in managing its business. The forecast generally translates into an assumption that the weak economic environment will continue through 2009, revenue will stabilize at a reduced level in 2010 and the Company will resume normalized long-term growth rates in 2011. No change has been made to the cash flow projections during the third quarter. The significant assumptions of these five-year forecasts included quarterly revenue growth rates for various product categories, quarterly commission expense as a percentage of revenue and quarterly operating expense growth rates. The future cash flows were tax affected and discounted to present value using a blended discount rate, ranging from 9.03% to 9.67%. Since NFP retains a cumulative preferred position in its reporting units’ base earnings, NFP assigned a rate of return to that portion of its gross margin that would be represented by yields seen of preferred equity securities of 7.6%. For cash flows retained by NFP in excess of target earnings and below base earnings, NFP assigned a discount rate ranging from 11.43% to 14.77%. Terminal values for all reporting units were calculated using a Gordon growth methodology using a blended discount rate of 12.55% with a long-term growth rate of 3%.

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance related to accounting for non-financial assets and liabilities, which emphasizes market-based measurement, rather than entity-specific measurement, in calculating reporting unit fair value. In applying the market value approach, management derived an enterprise value of the Company as a whole as of September 30, 2009, taking into consideration NFP’s stock price, an appropriate equity premium and the current capital structure. The market value approach was used to derive the implied equity value of the entity as a whole which was then allocated to the individual reporting units based on the proportional fair value of each reporting unit derived using the income approach to the total entity fair value derived using the income approach.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

As referenced above, the method to compute the amount of impairment incorporates quantitative data and qualitative criteria including new information and judgments that can dramatically change the decision about the valuation of an intangible asset in a very short period of time. The timing and amount of realized losses reported in earnings could vary if management’s conclusions were different. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s reported financial position and results of operations for any particular quarterly or annual period.

Non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are summarized below:

($ in thousands)	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Gains (Losses)
Book of business	$	110,974	$	—	$	—	$	110,974	$	(2,080	)
Management contract		271,550		—		—		271,550		(18,985	)
Institutional customer relationships		11,775		—		—		11,775		—
Trade name		4,966		—		—		4,966		(5,285	)
Goodwill	$	57,018	$	—	$	—	$	57,018	$	(585,884	)

In accordance with GAAP, long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $415.4 million were written down to their fair value of $394.3 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $21.1 million for amortizing intangibles, which was included in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

In accordance with GAAP, goodwill and trade name of $653.2 million was written down to its implied fair value of $62.0 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $591.1 million, which was included in earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

As previously stated in NFP’s 2008 10-K, and as updated in the 2008 8-K, NFP carefully monitors both the expected future cash flows of its reporting units and its market capitalization for the purpose of assessing the carrying values of its goodwill and intangible assets. As further stated in the 2008 10-K, if the stock price remained below the net book value per share, or other negative business factors existed as outlined in the relevant accounting guidance, NFP may be required to perform another Step 1 analysis and potentially a Step 2 analysis, which could result in an impairment of up to the entire balance of the Company’s remaining goodwill; if NFP performed a Step 2 goodwill impairment analysis as defined by GAAP, it would also be required to evaluate its intangible assets for impairment under GAAP. NFP’s impairment analysis for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, consistent with the analysis previously stated in the 2008 10-K, and as updated in the 2008 8-K, led to the impairment charge of $591.1 million taken for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Of this $591.1 million, an impairment charge of $588.4 million was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Note 6 - Borrowings

Credit Facility

NFP’s credit facility among NFP, the financial institutions party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, is structured as a revolving credit facility and matures on August 22, 2011. NFP has previously amended its credit facility as described in the 2008 10-K and as updated in the 2008 8-K. On May 6, 2009, NFP executed the third amendment to its credit facility (the “Third Amendment”). Pursuant to the Third Amendment, the definition of EBITDA has been amended to expressly provide that the non-cash impairment of goodwill and intangible assets associated with the Company’s evaluation of intangible assets for the first quarter of 2009 in accordance with GAAP will be disregarded in the calculation of EBITDA.

NFP may elect to pay down its outstanding balance at any time before August 22, 2011. Subject to legal or regulatory requirements, the credit facility is secured by the assets of NFP and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Up to $35.0 million of the credit facility is available for the issuance of letters of credit and the sublimit for swingline loans is the lesser of $10.0 million or the total revolving commitments outstanding. The credit facility contains various customary restrictive covenants, subject to certain exceptions, that prohibit the Company from, among other things: (i) incurring additional indebtedness or guarantees, (ii) creating liens or other encumbrances on property or granting negative pledges, (iii) entering into a merger or similar transaction, (iv) selling or transferring certain property, (v) making certain restricted payments and (vi) making advances or loans. In addition, the credit facility contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain certain ratios.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants. Per the terms of its amended credit facility, the maximum consolidated leverage ratio, one of the Company’s most restrictive debt covenants, is required to be a maximum of 3.0 to 1.0 on the last day of the rolling four quarter period ended September 30, 2009. As of September 30, 2009, the consolidated leverage ratio was 2.2 to 1.0. However, if the Company’s earnings deteriorate, it is possible that NFP will fail to comply with the terms of its credit facility in the future, such as the consolidated leverage ratio covenant, and therefore be in default under the credit facility. Upon the occurrence of such event of default, the majority of lenders under the credit facility could cause amounts currently outstanding to be declared immediately due and payable. Such an acceleration could trigger “cross acceleration provisions” under NFP’s indenture governing the notes; see “—Convertible Senior Notes” below.

As of September 30, 2009, the year-to-date weighted average interest rate for NFP’s credit facility was 3.92%. The combined weighted average of the credit facility in the prior year period was 4.53%.

NFP had a balance of $75.0 million outstanding under its credit facility as of September 30, 2009, below the maximum allowable balance of $225.0 million. At December 31, 2008, outstanding borrowings were $148.0 million.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Convertible Senior Notes

In January 2007, NFP issued $230.0 million (including over-allotment) aggregate principal amount of 0.75% convertible senior notes due February 1, 2012 (the “notes” or the “convertible senior notes”). The notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with NFP’s existing or future senior debt and senior to any subordinated debt. The notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing or future liabilities of NFP’s subsidiaries and will be effectively subordinated to existing or future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral. The notes were used to pay the net cost of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, repurchase 2.3 million shares of NFP’s common stock from Apollo Investment Fund IV, L.P. and Apollo Overseas Partners IV, L.P. and to repay a portion of outstanding amounts of principal and interest under NFP’s credit facility.

Holders may convert their notes at their option on any day prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding December 1, 2011 only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five business-day period after any five consecutive trading-day period (the “measurement period”) in which the price per note for each day of that measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of NFP’s common stock and the conversion rate on each such day; (2) during any calendar quarter (and only during such quarter) after the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2007, if the last reported sale price of NFP’s common stock for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the applicable conversion price in effect on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; or (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. The notes are convertible, regardless of the foregoing circumstances, at any time from, and including, December 1, 2011 through the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Default under the credit facility resulting in its acceleration would, subject to a 30-day grace period, trigger a default under the supplemental indenture governing the notes, in which case the trustee under the notes or holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes could declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all such notes to be due and payable immediately.

Upon conversion, NFP will pay, at its election, cash or a combination of cash and common stock based on a daily conversion value calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day of the relevant 20 trading day observation period. The initial conversion rate for the notes was 17.9791 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $55.62 per share of common stock. The conversion price is subject to adjustment in some events but is not adjusted for accrued interest. As of September 30, 2009 the conversion rate for the notes is 18.0679 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $55.35 per share of common stock. In addition, if a “fundamental change” (as defined in the First Supplemental Indenture governing the notes) occurs prior to the maturity date, NFP will, in some cases and subject to certain limitations, increase the conversion rate for a holder that elects to convert its notes in connection with such fundamental change.

Concurrent with the issuance of the notes, NFP entered into convertible note hedge and warrant transactions with an affiliate of one of the underwriters for the notes. A default under NFP’s credit facility would trigger a default under each of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, in which case the counterparty could designate early termination under either, or both, of these instruments. The transactions are expected to reduce the potential dilution to NFP’s common stock upon future conversions of the notes. Under the convertible note hedge, NFP purchased 230,000 call options for an aggregate premium of $55.9 million. Each call option entitles NFP to repurchase an equivalent number of shares issued upon conversion of the notes at the same strike price (initially $55.62 per share), generally subject to the same adjustments. The call options expire on the maturity date of the notes. NFP also sold warrants for an aggregate premium of $34.0 million. The warrants expire ratably over a period of 40 scheduled trading days between May 1, 2012 and June 26, 2012, on which dates, if not previously exercised, the warrants will be treated as automatically exercised if they are in the money. The warrants provide for net-share settlement. The net cost of the convertible note hedge and warrants to the Company is $21.9 million. Debt issuance costs associated with the notes of approximately $7.6 million are recorded in Other current assets and Other non-current assets and will be amortized over the term of the notes.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Adoption of new accounting guidance

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new guidance related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion (including partial cash settlement). The new guidance applies to NFP’s convertible senior notes (see “Note 6—Borrowings”). The new guidance requires NFP to separate the convertible senior notes into two separate components: a non-convertible note and a conversion option. As a result, NFP is required to recognize interest expense on its convertible senior notes at their non-convertible debt borrowing rate (6.62%) rather than at their stated face rate (0.75%). With the change in accounting principle required by the new guidance, NFP is required to amortize to interest expense the excess of the principal amount of the liability component of its notes over the carrying amount using the interest method, and the non-cash portion of interest expense relating to the discount on the notes is now recognized as a charge to earnings. The new guidance does not have any impact on cash payments or obligations due under the terms of the notes. As required, effective January 1, 2009 NFP’s comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply its provisions retrospectively. For more detail on the effects of the change in accounting principle, see “Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Recently adopted accounting standards.”

As of September 30, 2009 the net carrying amount of the notes was $201.8 million and the unamortized discount of the notes within additional paid-in capital was $28.2 million. As of December 31, 2008 the net carrying amount of the notes was $193.5 million and the unamortized discount was $36.5 million. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 the principal amount of the notes was $230.0 million. The discount on the notes is being amortized over the life of the notes. The effective interest rate on the notes is 6.62%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the amount of interest expense incurred by NFP relating to the notes for cash interest paid and for the amortization of the discount is approximately $9.6 million.

As of September 30, 2009 the conversion rate for the notes is 18.0679 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $55.35 per share of common stock. As of September 30, 2009 the instrument’s converted value did not exceed its principal amount of $230.0 million.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 7 - Stockholders’ Equity

The changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss) during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 are summarized as follows:

(in thousands)	Par Value		Additional Paid-in Capital			Retained Earnings (Deficit)			Treasury Stock			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total
Balance at December 31, 2008	$	4,388	$	881,458		$	97,178		$	(159,456	)	$	(50	)	$	823,518
Common stock issued for:
Contingent consideration		—		(6,801	)		(31,578	)		40,991			—			2,612
Common stock repurchased		—		—			—			(493	)		—			(493	)
Common stock returned from escrow		—		—			—			(254	)		—			(254	)
Tax benefit from purchase of call options		—		56			—			—			—			56
Stock issued through Employee Stock Purchase Plan		—		(4,370	)		(4,625	)		9,839			—			844
Stock-based awards exercised/lapsed, including tax benefit		22		(2,741	)		—			—			—			(2,719	)
Shares cancelled to pay withholding taxes		—		(210	)		—			—			—			(210	)
Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation, net of cancellations		—		7,443			—			—			—			7,443
Dividend Equivalents of stock-based awards		—		4			(54	)		—			—			(50	)
Components of comprehensive income (loss):
Translation adjustments, net of tax effect of $22		—		—			—			—			226			226
Net (loss)		—		—			(495,237	)		—			—			(495,237	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		—		—			—			—			—			(495,011	)
Balance at September 30, 2009	$	4,410	$	874,839		$	(434,316	)	$	(109,373	)	$	176		$	335,736

Stock-based compensation

NFP is authorized under its 2009 Stock Incentive Plan to grant awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance-based awards or other stock-based awards that may be granted to officers, employees, principals, independent contractors and non-employee directors of the Company and/or an entity in which the Company owns a substantial ownership interest (such as a subsidiary of the Company). Any shares covered by outstanding options or other equity awards that are forfeited, cancelled or expire after April 15, 2009 without the delivery of shares under NFP’s Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Incentive Plan for Principals and Managers, Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan or Amended and Restated 2002 Stock Incentive Plan for Principals and Managers, may also be issued under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Summarized below is the amount of stock-based compensation allocated between cost of services and corporate and other expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30
(in thousands)	2009		2008		2009		2008
Cost of services:
Operating expenses	$	863	$	960	$	2,665	$	3,059
Management fees		405		461		1,209		1,378
Corporate and other expenses:
General and administrative		1,188		1,870		3,569		5,595
Total stock-based compensation cost	$	2,456	$	3,291	$	7,443	$	10,032

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Effective January 1, 2007, NFP established an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The ESPP is designed to encourage the purchase of common stock by NFP’s employees, further aligning interests of employees and stockholders and providing incentive for current employees. Up to 3,500,000 shares of common stock are currently available for issuance under the ESPP. The ESPP enables all regular and part-time employees who have worked with NFP for at least one year to purchase shares of NFP common stock through payroll deductions of any whole dollar amount of eligible compensation, up to an annual maximum of $10,000. The employees’ purchase price is 85% of the lesser of the market price of the common stock on the first business day or the last business day of the quarterly offering period. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to the compensatory nature of the discount given to employees who participate in the ESPP, which totaled $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Summarized ESPP information is as follows:

(in thousands, except per share amounts)	For the Period Ended September 30, 2009
Purchase price per share	$	6.36
Shares to be acquired		37,677
Employee contributions	$	240
Stock compensation expense recognized	$	487

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 8 - Non-Cash Transactions

The following non-cash transactions occurred during the periods indicated:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008
Stock issued as consideration for acquisitions	$	—		$	18,458
Net assets acquired (liabilities assumed) in connection with acquisitions		(54	)		328
Stock issued as incentive compensation		—			8,270
Restricted stock units issued as incentive compensation		—			3,150
Stock issued for contingent consideration and other		2,358			3,256
Stock repurchased, note receivable and satisfaction of an accrued liability in connection with divestitures of acquired firms		199			414
Stock repurchased in exchange for satisfaction of a note receivable, due from principal and/or certain entities they own and other assets		294			707
Excess (reduction in) tax benefit from stock-based awards exercised/lapsed, net		(2,651	)		(260	)
Accrued liability for contingent consideration	$	7,170		$	10,458

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

Legal matters

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is involved in lawsuits and other claims. Management considers these lawsuits and claims to be without merit and the Company intends to defend them vigorously. In addition, the sellers of firms that the Company acquires typically indemnify the Company for loss or liability resulting from acts or omissions occurring prior to the acquisition, whether or not the sellers were aware of these acts or omissions. Several of the existing lawsuits and claims have triggered these indemnity obligations.

In addition to the foregoing lawsuits and claims, during 2004, several of the Company’s firms received subpoenas and other informational requests from governmental authorities, including the New York Attorney General’s Office, seeking information regarding compensation arrangements, any evidence of bid rigging and related matters. The Company has cooperated and will continue to cooperate fully with all governmental agencies.

In March 2006, NFP received a subpoena from the New York Attorney General’s Office seeking information regarding life settlement transactions. One of NFP’s subsidiaries received a subpoena seeking the same information. The Company is cooperating fully with the Attorney General’s investigation. The investigation, however, is ongoing and the Company is unable to predict the investigation’s outcome.

Management continues to believe that the resolution of these lawsuits or claims will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

The Company cannot predict at this time the effect that any current or future regulatory activity, investigations or litigation will have on its business. Given the current regulatory environment and the number of its subsidiaries operating in local markets throughout the country, it is possible that the Company will become subject to further governmental inquiries and subpoenas and have lawsuits filed against it. In addition, the stock market continues to experience significant price and volume fluctuations. When the market price of a company’s stock drops significantly, shareholders may institute securities class action litigation against that company. Any litigation against NFP could cause it to incur substantial costs, divert the time and attention of management and other resources, or otherwise harm the Company’s business. The Company’s ultimate liability, if any, in connection with these matters and any possible future such matters is uncertain and subject to contingencies that are not yet known.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Contingent consideration arrangements

The maximum contingent payment which could be payable as purchase consideration based on commitments outstanding as of September 30, 2009 is as follows:

(in thousands)		2009				2010				2011				2012				Thereafter
Maximum contingent payments payable as purchase consideration		$	54,028			$	117,872			$	79,739			$	241			$	400

Performance incentives

Management fees include an accrual for certain performance-based incentive amounts payable under NFP’s current ongoing incentive plan. Incentive amounts are paid in a combination of cash and NFP’s common stock. In addition to the incentive award, NFP pays an additional cash incentive equal to 50% of the incentive award elected to be received in the form of NFP’s stock. This election is made subsequent to the completion of the incentive period. For firms that began their incentive period prior to January 1, 2005, the principal can elect from 0% to 100% to be paid in NFP’s common stock. No accrual is made for these additional cash incentives until the related election is made. However, for firms beginning their incentive period on or after January 1, 2005 (with the exception of Highland Capital Holding Corporation firms, which completed this incentive period in 2008), the principal is required to take a minimum of 30% (maximum 50%) of the incentive award in common stock. The Company accrues on a current basis for these firms the additional cash incentive (50% of the stock portion of the award) based upon the principal’s election or the minimum percentage required to be received in NFP stock. As of September 30, 2009, the maximum additional payment for this cash incentive that could be payable for all firms was approximately $0.4 million. Currently, NFP has elected to pay all incentive awards under this plan in cash.

Firms likely to receive an incentive payment under the current ongoing incentive plan can elect to continue to participate in it. The election must be made prior to November 1, 2009 and will only be effective until the expiration of the firm’s ongoing incentive plan incentive period. The Annual Principal Incentive Plan, Annual Business Incentive Plan, and Long Term Equity Incentive Plan will replace the current ongoing incentive plan, subject to the exceptions noted below. See “—New Incentive Plans” below.

2009 Principal Incremental Incentive Plan

For the year beginning January 1, 2009, NFP instituted the 2009 Principal Incremental Incentive Plan (the “Incremental Plan”). The terms of the Incremental Plan provide that if NFP’s organic gross margin increases in 2009 relative to 2008, NFP will fund a new incentive pool (the “Incremental Incentive Pool”) which will be equal to 50% of NFP’s organic gross margin increase. Generally, the 2009 Incentive Pool will be allocated pro rata with each firm’s contribution to organic gross margin growth. As of September 30, 2009 the Company has not accrued any amounts relating to the Incremental Plan. After the year ended December 31, 2009, the Incremental Plan will not be continued for subsequent fiscal years.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

New Incentive Plans

NFP recently adopted three new incentive plans that included both a cash and equity component (two annual cash-based plans and one long-term equity-based plan) for principals and key firm employees of its acquired firms.

The Annual Principal Incentive Plan (“the PIP”) is designed to reward annual performance of an NFP firm based on the firm’s earnings growth. Under the PIP, a cash incentive payment will be made to the extent a firm’s earnings exceed its incentive hurdle for the 12-month performance period ending September 30, 2010. Principals of firms likely to receive an incentive payment under the current ongoing incentive plan can elect to continue to participate in the ongoing incentive plan until the end of their current ongoing incentive plan period. For all other principals, the ongoing incentive plan will terminate effective September 30, 2009. The Company has not accrued any amounts relating to the PIP as of September 30, 2009. The Company anticipates it will begin accruing amounts depending on the firm’s individual performance relative to its incentive hurdle during the fourth quarter of 2009.

The PIP is intended to remain in place for successive 12-month performance periods following the initial PIP performance period and the PIP incentive hurdle will be set at the beginning of each such performance period. For NFP firms that have not at this time completed their three year earn-out period, the initial PIP performance period is expected to commence immediately upon the completion of such firm’s three year earn-out period, at which time the PIP incentive hurdle will be determined.

Under the Business Incentive Plan (“the BIP”), NFP anticipates funding certain incentive pools based on the achievement of certain gross margin growth for the 12-month performance period ending December 31, 2010. The Company has not accrued any expense relating to the BIP as of September 30, 2009. Depending on the Company’s performance, the Company anticipates accruing expense for the BIP in 2010.

Under the Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (“the EIP”) NFP will issue equity awards to principals and key firm employees based on each firm’s performance over the two-year period that ended on June 30, 2009 (the “Initial EIP Performance Period”). The payments made under the EIP for the initial EIP performance period are anticipated to be in the form of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”). The RSUs will vest 100% on the third anniversary of the grant date. NFP expects to make the equity grant prior to December 31, 2009. As such, the Company anticipates it will begin recognizing the expense for the EIP in the fourth quarter of 2009.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2009—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

Self insured medical plan

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company is primarily self insured for medical insurance benefits provided to employees, and purchases insurance to protect the Company against claims, both on an individual and in aggregate basis, above certain levels. A health insurance carrier adjudicates and processes employee claims and is paid a fee for these services. The Company reimburses the health insurance carrier for paid claims. The Company estimates its exposure for claims incurred but not paid using historical census and other information provided by its health insurance carrier and other professionals. The Company has $3.2 million accrued for self insurance liabilities at September 30, 2009. As of December 31, 2008, the Company accrued $2.1 million for self insurance liabilities.

Deferred compensation plan

On March 25, 2009, NFP amended and restated its non-qualified deferred compensation plan for a select group of management and highly compensated employees of NFP, NFP Securities, Inc. and NFP Insurance Services, Inc. The plan is designed to aid NFP in retaining and attracting executive employees by providing them with tax-deferred savings opportunities. Under the plan, participants may elect to defer receipt of a portion of their annual eligible compensation. Amounts deferred under the plan are invested at the direction of the participant. NFP may make a matching contribution of up to 50% of the first 6% of the participant’s eligible compensation, not to exceed the participant’s deferred amounts. Matching contributions, if any, are credited to the participant’s deferral account as of the last day of each plan year. 50% of all matching contributions, plus an additional amount equal to 10% of such matching contributions is deemed to be invested in an NFP stock fund, and the remaining 50% of the matching contributions is allocated to other hypothetical investments selected by the participant. The participants are 100% vested in their deferred amounts at all times. Matching contributions shall vest based on a participant’s number of years of service. Subject to the terms of the plan, distributions from a participant’s deferral account will occur upon the end of the deferral period, upon death or disability, upon the occurrence of unforeseeable emergencies or upon separation of service. A maximum of 25% of deferred compensation may be invested in the NFP stock fund. 50% of future matching contributions, if any, shall be required to be invested in the NFP stock fund. As of September 30, 2009, the Company’s deferred compensation liability balance was $1.9 million. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s deferred compensation liability balance was $1.5 million. NFP has decided that no matching contributions will be made for base compensation or incentive compensation earned for service in 2009.

Note 10 – Subsequent Events

The Company adopted new accounting guidance relating to subsequent events in June 2009 and evaluated subsequent events from October 1, 2009 through November 4, 2009, the date of issuance of the financial statements. The Company did not have any significant subsequent events to report.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of National Financial Partners Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, this discussion includes forward-looking information that involves risks and assumptions, which could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. See “Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this report.

Executive Overview

The Company is a leading independent financial services distribution company. The Company offers high net worth individuals and companies throughout the United States and in Canada comprehensive solutions across corporate and executive benefits, life insurance and wealth transfer, and investment advisory products and services. Founded in 1998 and commencing operations on January 1, 1999, National Financial Partners Corp. (“NFP”) has grown internally and through acquisitions and as of September 30, 2009, operates over 150 firms. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, revenue decreased $180.0 million, or 21.1%, to $671.1 million from $851.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Company experienced a net loss of $495.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, a decrease of $516.1 million from net income of $20.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The net loss was due to a substantial increase in the level of impairment of goodwill and intangible assets from $10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $612.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Excluding the after tax impact of impairments, the net income decline was a result of lower revenue, particularly in life insurance, partially offset by declines in cost of services and general and administrative expense.

The Company’s firms earn revenue that consists primarily of commissions and fees earned from the sale of financial products and services to their clients. The Company’s firms also incur commissions and fees expense and operating expense in the course of earning revenue. NFP pays management fees to non-employee principals of its firms and/or certain entities they own based on the financial performance of each respective firm. The Company refers to revenue earned by the Company’s firms less the expenses of its firms, including management fees, as gross margin. The Company excludes amortization and depreciation from gross margin. These amounts are separately disclosed as part of Corporate and other expenses. Management uses gross margin as a measure of the performance of the firms that the Company has acquired. Gross margin declined from $150.3 million, or 17.7% of revenue, during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $121.3 million, or 18.1% of revenue, during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Gross margin percentage improved slightly despite the decrease in revenue as a result of decreases in the variable components of the Company’s cost structure.

The Company’s gross margin is offset by expenses that NFP incurs at the corporate level, including corporate and other expenses. Corporate and other expenses increased from $90.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $686.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Corporate and other expenses include general and administrative expense, amortization, depreciation, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and (gain) loss on sale of subsidiaries. General and administrative expense includes the operating expenses of NFP’s corporate headquarters. General and administrative expense declined from $48.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 to $37.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue declined slightly from 5.7% during the period ending September 30, 2008 to 5.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

The Company recognized an impairment charge of $607.3 million during the first quarter of 2009, an impairment charge of $2.9 million during the second quarter and an impairment charge of $2.0 million during the third quarter. This represented a significant increase from impairments of $10.2 million recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase in the impairment charge reflected the incorporation of market data, including NFP’s market value which had remained below net book value through the end of the second quarter, the performance of the Company in the weak economic environment, discount rates that are risk adjusted to reflect both company-specific and market-based credit spreads and other relevant market data. Among other items, the market value reflected the decline in the Company’s sales, particularly in the life insurance area, and the Company’s capital structure. As a result, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $612.2 during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Many external factors affect the Company’s revenue and profitability, including economic and market conditions, legislative and regulatory developments and competition. Because many of these factors are unpredictable and generally beyond the Company’s control, the Company’s revenue and earnings will fluctuate from year to year and quarter to quarter. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company’s gross margin decreased primarily due to the decrease in revenue. The revenue decline was heavily concentrated in retail life, life brokerage and settlements revenue. Corporate and executive benefits, financial planning and investment advisory revenue all declined for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 but at a lower rate than did life insurance. The decline in revenue was partially offset by the decline in the variable components of the Company’s cost structure.

While the challenging economic and market environment is showing signs of stabilization, there is considerable uncertainty as to the scope of any economic recovery. Additionally, poor economic conditions during the latter part of 2008 largely continued during the first nine months of 2009. Continued financial market volatility and a distressed economic environment may reduce the demand for the Company’s services or the products the Company distributes and could negatively affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The potential for a significant insurer to experience economic stress or withdraw from writing certain types of insurance the Company currently offers its customers could negatively impact the availability of certain types of insurance and represent potentially reduced revenue and profitability for the Company.

In light of the financial environment, NFP has taken certain steps to streamline operations and conserve available cash and continues to explore further expense reductions. With the exception of certain sub-acquisitions, NFP does not anticipate completing acquisitions until market conditions and financial results improve. NFP continues to consider actions designed to strengthen its financial position, including evaluating its capital structure or further reducing indebtedness. In September 2009, NFP announced corporate reorganizational efforts that are intended to enhance the Company’s client service delivery structure.

Acquisitions

While acquisitions remain a component of the Company’s business strategy over the long term, NFP suspended acquisition activity (with the exception of certain sub-acquisitions) in the latter part of 2008 in order to conserve cash. NFP will continue to reassess the market and economic environment. Under NFP’s typical acquisition structure, NFP acquires 100% of the equity of businesses that distribute financial services products on terms that are relatively standard across its acquisitions. To determine the acquisition price, NFP’s management first estimates the annual operating cash flow of the business to be acquired based on current levels of revenue and expense. For this purpose, management defines operating cash flow as cash revenue of the business less cash and non-cash expenses, other than amortization, depreciation and compensation to the business’ owners or individuals who subsequently become principals. Management refers to this estimated annual operating cash flow as “target earnings.” Typically, the acquisition price is a multiple (generally in a range of five to six times) of a portion of the target earnings, which management refers to as “base earnings.” Under certain circumstances, NFP has paid multiples in excess of six times based on the unique attributes of the transaction that in the Company’s view justify the higher value. Base earnings averaged 54% of target earnings for all firms owned at September 30, 2009. This percentage can vary based on the percentage of base earnings acquired, disposed, and/or restructured. In determining base earnings, management focuses on the recurring revenue of the business. Recurring revenue refers to revenue from sales previously made (such as renewal commissions on insurance products, commissions and administrative fees for ongoing benefits plans and mutual fund trail commissions) and fees for assets under management.

NFP enters into a management contract with principals and/or certain entities they own. Under the terms of the management contract, the principals and/or such entities are entitled to management fees consisting of:

•

all future earnings of the acquired business in excess of the base earnings up to target earnings; and

•

a percentage of any earnings in excess of target earnings generally based on the ratio of base earnings to target earnings.

NFP typically retains a cumulative preferred position in the base earnings. To the extent earnings of a firm in any year are less than base earnings, in the following year NFP is entitled to receive base earnings together with the prior years’ shortfall before any management fees are paid. In certain more recent transactions involving large institutional sellers, the Company has provided minimum guaranteed compensation to certain former employees of the seller who became principals of the acquired business.

Additional purchase consideration is often paid to the former owners based on satisfying specified internal growth thresholds over the three-year period following the acquisition.

Sub-acquisitions

A sub-acquisition involves the acquisition by one of the Company’s firms of a business that is generally too small to qualify for a direct acquisition by NFP or where the individual running the business wishes to exit immediately or soon after the acquisition, prefers to partner with an existing principal or does not wish to become a principal. The acquisition multiple paid for sub-acquisitions is typically lower than the multiple paid for a direct acquisition by NFP.

Substantially all of NFP’s acquisitions have been paid for with a combination of cash and NFP common stock, valued at the fair market value at the time of acquisition. NFP typically requires its principals to take at least 30% of the total acquisition price in NFP common stock. However, in transactions involving institutional sellers, the purchase price typically consists of substantially all cash. Through September 30, 2009, principals have taken on average approximately 34% of the total acquisition price in NFP common stock. The following table shows acquisition activity (including sub-acquisitions) in the period:

(in thousands, except number of acquisitions)	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
Number of acquisitions closed		1
Consideration:
Cash	$	279
Common stock		—
Other (1)		186
	$	465

______________

(1)	Represents obligations of the Company associated with this acquisition.

Although management believes that NFP will continue to have opportunities to complete acquisitions once market conditions stabilize, there can be no assurance that NFP will be successful in identifying and completing acquisitions. Any change in the Company’s financial condition or in the environment of the markets in which the Company operates could impact its ability to source and complete acquisitions.

Restructures and Disposals

Certain businesses acquired by NFP have been adversely affected by changes in the markets served, necessitating a change in the economic relationship between NFP and the principals. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, NFP has restructured twenty-four transactions, seven of which had not been previously restructured. These restructures generally result in either temporary or permanent reductions in base and target earnings and/or changes in the ratio of base to target earnings and the principals typically paying cash, surrendering NFP common stock, issuing notes or other concessions by principals. As part of the restructures that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company received greater operating control over the restructured firms, including expense control and limitations on management fee advances. Such restructures are an indicator of a need to assess whether an impairment exists. See “—Expenses—Corporate and other expenses—Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.”

At times, the Company may dispose of firms, certain business units within a firm or firm assets for one or more of the following reasons: non-performance, changes resulting in firms no longer being part of the Company’s core business, change in competitive environment, regulatory changes, the cultural incompatibility of an acquired firm’s management team with the Company, change of business interests of a principal or other issues personal to a principal. In certain instances NFP may sell operating companies back to the principals. Principals generally buy back businesses by surrendering all of their NFP common stock and paying cash or issuing NFP a note. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, NFP has disposed of fifteen firms and certain assets of four more firms.

Revenue

The Company’s firms generate revenue primarily from the following sources:

•

Corporate and executive benefits commissions and fees. The Company’s firms earn commissions on the sale of insurance policies written for benefits programs. The commissions are paid each year as long as the client continues to use the product and maintains its broker of record relationship with the firm. The Company’s firms also earn fees for the development and implementation of corporate and executive benefits programs as well as fees for the duration that these programs are administered. Asset-based fees are also earned for administrative services or consulting related to certain benefits plans. Incidental to the corporate and executive benefits services provided to their customers, some of the Company’s firms offer property and casualty insurance brokerage and advisory services. The Company believes that these services complement the corporate and executive benefits services provided to the Company’s clients. In connection with these services, the Company earns commissions and fees.

•

Life insurance commissions and estate planning fees. Insurance and annuity commissions paid by insurance companies are based on a percentage of the premium that the insurance company charges to the policyholder. First-year commissions are calculated as a percentage of the first twelve months’ premium on the policy and earned in the year that the policy is originated. In many cases, the Company’s firms receive renewal commissions for a period following the first year. Some of the Company’s firms receive fees for the settlement of life insurance policies. These fees are generally based on a percentage of the settlement proceeds. The Company’s firms also earn fees for developing estate plans. Revenue from life insurance activities also includes amounts received by the Company’s life brokerage entities, including its life settlements brokerage entities, that assist non-affiliated producers with the placement and sale of life insurance.

•

Financial planning and investment advisory fees and securities commissions. The Company’s firms earn commissions related to the sale of securities and certain investment-related insurance products, as well as fees for offering financial advice and related services. These fees are based on a percentage of assets under management and are generally paid quarterly. In a few cases, incentive fees are earned based on the performance of the assets under management. Some of the Company’s firms charge flat fees for the development of a financial plan or a flat fee annually for advising clients on asset allocation.

Some of the Company’s firms also earn additional compensation in the form of incentive and marketing support revenue from manufacturers of financial services products, based on the volume, persistency and profitability of business generated by the Company from these three sources. Incentive and marketing support revenue is recognized at the earlier of notification of a payment or when payment is received, unless historical data or other information exists which enables management to reasonably estimate the amount earned during the period. These forms of payments are earned both with respect to sales by the Company’s owned firms and sales by NFP’s affiliated third-party distributors.

NFP Securities, Inc. (“NFPSI”), NFP’s registered broker-dealer and investment adviser, also earns commissions and fees on the transactions effected through it. Most principals of the Company’s firms, as well as many of the Company’s affiliated third-party distributors, conduct securities or investment advisory business through NFPSI.

Although NFP’s operating history is limited, historically a significant number of its firms earn approximately 65% to 70% of their revenue in the first three quarters of the year and approximately 30% to 35% of their revenue in the fourth quarter. In 2008, NFP earned 26% of its revenue in the fourth quarter. The Company believes that the continuation of a difficult economic environment punctuated by a deterioration in credit and liquidity, investment losses and a reduction in consumer confidence may result in a change in this historical pattern for the year ended December 31, 2009, as was the case for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Expenses

The following table sets forth certain expenses as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008
Total revenue	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of services:
Commissions and fees	27.4		30.7		28.0		32.4
Operating expenses	38.3		37.0		40.9		36.0
Management fees	15.2		14.8		13.0		13.9
Total cost of services (excludes items shown separately below)	80.9		82.5		81.9		82.3
Gross margin	19.1		17.5		18.1		17.7
Corporate and other expenses:
General and administrative	5.7		6.0		5.6		5.7
Amortization	3.9		3.5		4.1		3.5
Depreciation	1.4		1.3		1.5		1.1
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0.9		1.9		91.2		1.2
Gain on sale of subsidiaries	(0.5	)	(0.2	)	(0.2	)	(0.9	)
Total corporate and other expenses	11.4	%	12.5	%	102.2	%	10.6	%

Cost of services

Commissions and fees. Commissions and fees are typically paid to third-party producers, who are producers that are affiliated with the Company’s firms. Commission and fees are also paid to non-affiliated producers who utilize the services of one or more of the Company’s life brokerage entities including the Company’s life settlements brokerage entities. Commissions and fees are also paid to non-affiliated producers who provide referrals and specific product expertise to NFP’s firms. When business is generated solely by a principal, no commission expense is incurred because principals are only paid from a share of the cash flow of the acquired firm through management fees. However, when income is generated by a third-party producer, the producer is generally paid a portion of the commission income, which is reflected as commission expense of the acquired firm. Rather than collecting the full commission and remitting a portion to a third-party producer, a firm may include the third-party producer on the policy application submitted to a carrier. The carrier will, in these instances, directly pay each named producer their respective share of the commissions and fees earned. When this occurs the firm will record only the commissions and fees it receives directly as revenue and have no commission expense. As a result, the NFP firm will have lower revenue and commission expense and a higher gross margin percentage. Gross margin dollars will be the same. The transactions in which an NFP firm is listed as the sole producer and pays commissions to a third-party producer, versus transactions in which the carrier pays each producer directly, will cause NFP’s gross margin percentage to fluctuate without affecting gross margin dollars or earnings. In addition, NFPSI pays commissions to the Company’s affiliated third-party distributors who transact business through NFPSI.

Operating expenses. The Company’s firms incur operating expenses related to maintaining individual offices, including compensating producing and non-producing staff. Firm operating expenses also include the expenses of NFPSI and of NFP Insurance Services, Inc. (“NFPISI”), two subsidiaries that serve the Company’s acquired firms and through which the Company’s acquired firms and its third-party distributors who are members of its marketing organizations access insurance and financial services products and manufacturers. The Company records share-based payments related to firm employees and firm activities to operating expenses as a component of cost of services.

Management fees. NFP pays management fees to the principals of its firms and/or certain entities they own based on the financial performance of the firms they manage. NFP typically pays a portion of the management fees monthly in advance. Once NFP receives its cumulative preferred earnings (base earnings) from a firm, the principals and/or entity the principals own will earn management fees equal to earnings above base earnings up to target earnings. An additional management fee is paid in respect of earnings in excess of target earnings based on the ratio of base earnings to target earnings. For example, if base earnings equal 40% of target earnings, NFP receives 40% of earnings in excess of target earnings and the principals and/or the entities they own receives 60%. A majority of the Company’s acquisitions have been completed with a ratio of base earnings to target earnings of 50%. Management fees also include an accrual for certain performance-based incentive amounts payable under NFP’s ongoing incentive plan. Incentive amounts are paid in a combination of cash and NFP’s common stock. In addition to the incentive award, NFP pays an additional cash incentive equal to 50% of the incentive award elected to be received in NFP common stock. This election is made subsequent to the completion of the incentive period. For firms that began their incentive period prior to January 1, 2005, the principal could elect from 0% to 100% to be paid in NFP’s common stock. No accrual is made for these additional cash incentives until the incentive award is earned and the related election is made. However, for firms beginning their incentive period on or after January 1, 2005 (with the exception of Highland Capital Holding Corporation firms which completed this incentive period in 2008), the principal is required to take a minimum of 30% (maximum of 50%) of the incentive award in NFP common stock. The Company accrues on a current basis for these firms the additional cash incentive (50% of the stock portion of the award based upon the principal’s election) on the minimum percentage required to be received in company stock. Currently, NFP has elected to pay all incentive awards under this plan in cash. Management fees are reduced by amounts paid by the principals and/or certain entities they own under the terms of the management contract for capital expenditures, including sub-acquisitions, in excess of $50,000. These amounts may be paid in full or over a mutually agreeable period of time and are recorded as a “deferred reduction in management fees.” Amounts recorded in deferred reduction in management fees are amortized as a reduction in management fee expense generally over the useful life of the asset. The ratio of management fees to gross margin before management fees is dependent on the percentage of total earnings of the Company’s firms capitalized by the Company, the performance of the Company’s firms relative to base earnings and target earnings, the growth of earnings of the Company’s firms in the periods after their first three years following acquisition and the earnings of NFPISI, NFPSI and a small number of firms without a principal, to whom which no management fees are paid. Due to NFP’s cumulative preferred position, if a firm produces earnings below target earnings in a given year, NFP’s share of the firm’s total earnings would be higher for that year. If a firm produces earnings at or above target earnings, NFP’s share of the firm’s total earnings would be equal to the percentage of the earnings capitalized by NFP in the initial transaction, less any percentage due to additional management fees earned under the ongoing incentive plan. The Company records share-based payments related to principals as management fees which are included as a component of cost of services.

The table below summarizes the results of operations of NFP’s firms for the periods presented and uses the following non-GAAP measures: (i) gross margin before management fees, (ii) gross margin before management fees as a percentage of total revenue and (iii) management fees, as a percentage of gross margin before management fees. Gross margin before management fees represents the profitability of the Company’s business before principals receive participation in the earnings. Gross margin before management fees as a percentage of total revenue represents the base profitability of the Company divided by the total revenue of the Company’s business. Whether or not a principal participates in the earnings of a firm is dependent on the specific characteristics and performance of that firm. Management fees as a percentage of gross margin before management fees represents the percentage of earnings that is not retained by the Company as profit, but is paid out to principals.

The Company uses gross margin before management fees and gross margin before management fees as a percentage of total revenue to evaluate how the Company’s business is performing before giving consideration to a principal’s participation in their firm’s earnings. This measure is one for which the principal is compensated and reflects the principal’s performance and is a result of their direct operating authority and control. Management fees as a percentage of gross margin before management fees is a measure that management uses to evaluate how much of the Company’s margin and margin growth is being shared with principals. This management fee percentage is a variable, not a fixed, ratio. Management fees as a percentage of gross margin before management fees will fluctuate based upon the aggregate mix of earnings performance by individual firms. It is based on the percentage of the Company’s earnings that are capitalized at the time of acquisition, the performance relative to NFP’s preferred position in the earnings and the growth of the individual firms and in the aggregate. Management fees may be higher during periods of strong growth due to the increase in incentive accruals. Higher firm earnings will generally be accompanied by higher incentive accruals. Where firm earnings decrease, management fees and management fee percentage may be lower as incentive accruals are either reduced or eliminated. In addition, because management fees earned are based on a firm’s cumulative performance through the year, to the extent that a firm’s performance improves through the year, whether by revenue growth or expense reductions, the management fee percentage may likewise increase through the year. For example, if a firm has base earnings and target earnings of $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and if the firm’s cumulative earnings are $0.7 million for the first nine months of the year, no management fee would be earned and the management fee percentage would be zero. In the remaining fourth quarter, if the firm was able to achieve cumulative earnings of $2.0 million, the management fee earned would be $1.0 million and the management fee percentage would be equal to approximately 80% for the quarter. Further, since NFP retains a cumulative preferred interest in base earnings, the relative percentage of management fees generally decreases as firm earnings decline. For firms that do not achieve base earnings, principals typically earn no management fee. Thus, a principal generally earns more management fees only when firm earnings grow and, conversely, principals earn less when firm earnings decline. This structure provides the Company with protection against earnings shortfalls through reduced management fee expense; in this manner the interests of the principals and shareholders remain aligned.

NATIONAL FINANCIAL PARTNERS CORP - FORM 10-Q - November 4, 2009

Attached files