UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

OR

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

For the transition period from                                 to                                

Commission file number 001-13913

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

6300 Lamar Avenue

Overland Park, Kansas 66202

(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

(913) 236-2000

(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 ☒ 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 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, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

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

Shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date:

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

Quarter Ended September 30, 2016

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited, in thousands, except for per share data)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited, in thousands)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

(Unaudited, in thousands)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited, in thousands)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”) derive revenues from investment management and advisory services, investment product underwriting and distribution, and/or shareholder services administration provided to the Waddell & Reed Advisors group of mutual funds (the “Advisors Funds”), Ivy Funds (the “Ivy Funds”), Ivy Variable Insurance Portfolios (the “Ivy VIP”) and InvestEd Portfolios (“InvestEd”) (collectively, the Advisors Funds, Ivy Funds, Ivy VIP and InvestEd are referred to as the “Funds”), the Ivy Global Investors Fund SICAV (the “SICAV”) and its sub-funds (the “IGI Funds”), and institutional and separately managed accounts.  The Funds and the institutional and separately managed accounts operate under various rules and regulations set forth by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  The IGI Funds are regulated by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). Services to the Funds are provided under investment management agreements, underwriting agreements, and shareholder servicing and accounting service agreements that set forth the fees to be charged for these services.  Services to the IGI Funds are provided under investment management and distribution agreements.  The majority of these agreements are subject to annual review and approval by each Fund’s board of trustees.  Our revenues are largely dependent on the total value and composition of assets under management.  Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and composition of assets under management can significantly impact our revenues and results of operations.

Basis of Presentation

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented.  The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”).  Certain amounts in the prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified for consistent presentation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared consistent with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2015 Form 10-K except as noted below.  In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only a normal and recurring nature) necessary to present fairly our financial position at September 30, 2016, the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Investments Securities and Investments in Sponsored Funds

Sponsored funds, which include the Funds, the IGI Funds and privately offered funds structured in the form of limited liability companies, are investments we have made for general corporate investment purposes and to provide seed capital for new investment products. The Company’s initial investment in a new investment product typically represents 100% ownership in that product.  Sponsored funds are initially consolidated and are accounted for as trading securities.  The Company has classified its investments in certain sponsored funds as either equity method investments (when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the fund) or as available for sale investments (when the Company owns less than 20% of the fund) as described in Note 4.  Investments held by our broker-dealer entities or certain investments that are anticipated to be purchased and sold on a more frequent basis are classified as trading.

2.Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and short-term investments.  We consider all highly liquid investments with maturities upon acquisition of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.  Cash and cash equivalents - restricted represents cash held for the benefit of customers segregated in compliance with federal and other regulations.

3.New Accounting Guidance

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers.  This standard also specifies the accounting for certain costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer.  This ASU will supersede much of the existing revenue recognition guidance in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period; early application is permitted for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method.  We have evaluated our population of contracts and concluded that the adoption of this ASU will have an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which provides updated guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of certain financial assets and financial liabilities.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  We are evaluating the estimated impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” which increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements.  This ASU will be presented using a modified retrospective approach, which includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early application permitted.  We are evaluating the estimated impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07,“Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting.”  The amendments in this ASU eliminate the requirement that when an investment qualifies for the use of equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence, an investor must adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods that the investment had been held.  ASU 2016-07 also requires that an entity that has an available for sale equity security that becomes qualified for the equity method recognize through earnings the unrealized holding gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income at the date the investment becomes qualified for use of the equity method.  ASU 2016-07 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016.  We have concluded that the adoption of this ASU will have an immaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which requires recognition of all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and classification of excess tax benefits along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity; allows an entity to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur; and permits withholding up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions.  ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted.  Upon adoption of this standard on January 1, 2017, the Company will account for forfeitures when they occur.  We do not expect a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures upon adoption of this ASU.  However, after the adoption date, recognition of excess tax benefits as income tax benefit and tax deficiencies as income tax expense in the income statement may result in increased volatility in our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The ASU changes the impairment model for most financial assets, and will require the use of an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost. Under this model, entities will be required to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on such instruments and record an allowance to offset the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, resulting in a net presentation of the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. We are evaluating the estimated impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.”  This ASU eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments for debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, the maturing of a zero coupon bond, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization. ASU 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification, including requirements to allocate certain components of these cash receipts and payments among operating, investing and financing activities.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the estimated impact the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. 

4.Investment Securities

Investment securities at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:

The following is a summary of the gross unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as available for sale at September 30, 2016:

The following is a summary of the gross unrealized gains (losses) related to securities classified as available for sale at December 31, 2015:

A summary of available for sale sponsored funds with fair values below carrying values at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is as follows:

Based upon our assessment of these sponsored funds, the time frame the investments have been in a loss position and our intent to hold sponsored funds until they have recovered, we determined that a write-down was not necessary at September 30, 2016.

The corporate bond accounted for as trading matures in 2018. Mortgage-backed securities accounted for as trading and held as of September 30, 2016 mature in 2022.

Sponsored funds

The Company has classified its investments in the Advisor Funds, Ivy Funds and IGI Funds as either trading, equity method investments (when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the fund) or as available for sale investments (when the Company owns less than 20% of the fund).  These entities do not meet the criteria of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and are considered to be voting interest entities (“VOE”). The Company has determined the Advisor and Ivy Funds are VOEs because the structure of the investment products is such that the voting rights held by the equity holders provide for equality among equity investors.  The Company has determined that the IGI Funds are VOEs as their legal structure and the powers of their equity investors prevent the IGI Funds from meeting characteristics of being a VIE.

Sponsored privately offered funds

The Company holds interests in privately offered funds structured in the form of limited liability companies.  The members of these entities have the substantive ability to remove the Company as managing member or dissolve the entity upon a simple majority vote.  These entities do not meet the criteria of a variable interest entity and are considered to be voting interest entities.

Consolidated sponsored funds

The following table details the balances related to consolidated sponsored funds at September 30, 2016, as well as the Company’s net interest in these funds:

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we consolidated the Ivy Funds and IGI Funds in which we provided initial seed capital at the time of the fund’s formation. When we no longer have a controlling financial interest in a sponsored fund, it is deconsolidated from our financial statements.  We deconsolidated $44.2 million of these investments from our consolidated balance sheet during the first quarter of 2016.  There was no impact to the consolidated statement of income as a result of this deconsolidation.

Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the asset.  Inputs may be observable or unobservable and refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset.  An individual investment’s fair value measurement is assigned a level based upon the observability of the inputs that are significant to the overall valuation.  The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized as follows:

Assets classified as Level 2 can have a variety of observable inputs.  These observable inputs are collected and utilized, primarily by an independent pricing service, in pricing approaches evaluated differently depending upon the specific asset to determine a value.  The fair value of municipal bonds is measured based on pricing models that take into account, among other factors, information received from market makers and broker-dealers, current trades, bid-wants lists, offerings, market movements, the callability of the bond, state of issuance and benchmark yield curves.  The fair value of corporate bonds is measured using various techniques, which consider recently executed trades in securities of the issuer or comparable issuers, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads and fundamental data relating to the issuer. 

Securities’ values classified as Level 3 are primarily determined through the use of a single quote (or multiple quotes) from dealers in the securities using proprietary valuation models.  These quotes involve significant unobservable inputs, and thus, the related securities are classified as Level 3 securities.