MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 25, 2012-- Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) today announced that for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, net income was $6.9 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share. These results compared to $10.7 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share, in the year-ago period and $2.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, in the first quarter of 2012. For the second quarter of 2012, net revenues were $106.4 million, compared to $132.9 million in the second quarter of 2011 and $116.9 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Also, the firm is announcing that it is exiting the Hong Kong market by Sept. 30, 2012. The exit would occur through a shut down or sale of the operation. In either scenario, the firm expects to realize net cash proceeds of $13 to $18 million, primarily related to a U.S. tax benefit. For the second quarter of 2012, business results for this operation are reported as continuing operations. They will be reported as discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2012.

Three significant items impacted the second quarter 2012 financial results:

• A $7.1 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, tax benefit resulting from the resolution of a state income tax matter.
• A $3.9 million after-tax loss, or $0.21 per diluted share, ($3.9 million pre-tax) related to the Hong Kong capital markets business. Attached with this earnings release is a supplemental schedule providing the financial results of the Hong Kong capital markets business.
• A $2.2 million after-tax, or $0.12 per diluted share, ($3.6 million pre-tax) restructuring charge for severance and occupancy-related charges.

“Results in Asia continued to weigh on our financial performance. However, our main operations performed reasonably well in the second quarter given the more difficult operating conditions. Total investment banking revenues increased compared to the sequential first quarter led by strong public finance activity and improved M&A revenues,” said Andrew S. Duff, chairman and chief executive officer. “Asset management fees held relatively steady but equity financings and institutional brokerage revenues were weaker due to the more difficult environment.”

Duff continued, “We took additional steps this quarter to improve our financial performance. First, we acquired $27 million of our common stock, bringing the total for the year to $42 million. Second, we pared headcount and identified additional non-compensation cost savings. Third, we will exit the Hong Kong market by Sept. 30. We believe that the Asia market provides a long-term growth opportunity; however, the current loss run-rate is not acceptable nor can we fund the required investment to build out our platform. For a number of months we have devoted considerable resources to evaluating and pursuing alternatives for the Asia business. We are evaluating these alternatives based on the best interests of our shareholders, clients and employees and will exit the market by the end of Sept.”

For the first six months of 2012, net income was $9.8 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share, down from $17.9 million, or $0.93 per diluted common share, in the first six months of last year.

Second Quarter Results
Consolidated Expenses
For the second quarter of 2012, compensation and benefits expenses were $66.5 million, down 17% and 9% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively, due to lower financial results.

For the second quarter of 2012, compensation and benefits expenses were 62.5% of net revenues, compared to 60.4% and 62.2% for the second quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012, respectively. Compensation related to the Hong Kong capital markets business increased the compensation ratio by 1.9 percentage points for the second quarter of 2012, 0.3 percentage points for the second quarter of 2011, and 1.6 percentage points for the first quarter of 2012.

Non-compensation expenses were $38.3 million, or $34.7 million excluding the $3.6 million restructuring charge, compared to $35.4 million in the year-ago period and $31.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. Non-compensation expenses related to the Hong Kong capital markets business were $2.6 million for the second quarter of 2012, $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2011, and $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2012.

Business Segment Results
The firm has two reportable business segments: Capital Markets and Asset Management. Consolidated net revenues and expenses are fully allocated to these two segments.

Capital Markets
For the second quarter, Capital Markets generated a pre-tax operating loss of $2.1 million, or operating income of $1.4 million excluding the $3.5 million restructuring charge allocated to this segment, compared to $12.4 million in the year-ago period and $7.9 millionin the first quarter of 2012. For the second quarter of 2012, the Hong Kong capital markets business generated a pre-tax operating loss of $3.9 million, compared to pre-tax operating income of $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2011, and a pre-tax operating loss of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Net revenues were $89.5 million, down 21% and 10%, compared to the year-ago period and the first quarter of 2012, respectively.

• Equity financing revenues of $13.1 million decreased 58% and 44% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. Industry-wide, capital raising for IPOs decreased during the second quarter due to increased uncertainty in the equity capital markets.
• Fixed income financing revenues were $22.3 million, up 20% and 51% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. The improvement was driven by strong public finance underwriting activity.
• Advisory services revenues were $15.6 million, down 14% compared to the second quarter of 2011, due to fewer completed M&A transactions in Europe, offset in part by a higher average fee on transactions. Advisory services revenue rose 38% compared to the first quarter of 2012, due to more completed M&A transactions in the U.S.
• Equity institutional brokerage revenues were $17.6 million, down 17% compared to the second quarter of 2011, primarily driven by lower client volumes. Revenues decreased 21% compared to the first quarter of 2012, mainly due to lower client volumes and lower trading performance.
• Fixed income institutional brokerage revenues were $20.7 million, down 11% and 28% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. The decrease in revenues was mainly driven by lower results from the firm’s strategic trading businesses and the Municipal Opportunities Fund. Helping to mitigate these lower results, the firm’s expanded middle market sales group generated higher revenues.
• Operating expenses for the quarter were $91.6 million, ($88.1 million excluding the $3.5 million restructuring charge) down from the comparable quarters mainly due to lower compensation expenses. Operating expenses were $100.8 million in the second quarter of 2011 and $91.0 million in the first quarter of 2012.
• For the second quarter of 2012, the segment pre-tax operating margin was -2.3% (1.6% excluding the $3.5 million restructuring charge), down from the comparable quarters due to lower revenues offset in part by reduced operating expenses. The segment pre-tax operating margin was 11.0% in the year-ago quarter and 7.9% in the first quarter of 2012.

Asset Management
For the quarter ended June 30, 2012, asset management generated pre-tax operating income of $3.7 million, down 21% and 17% compared to the second quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. Net revenues were $16.9 million, down 14% compared to the second quarter of 2011, due to lower performance and management fees. Net revenues decreased 6% compared to the first quarter of 2012.

• Operating expenses for the quarter were $13.2 million, down 12% compared to the second quarter of 2011, due to lower compensation expenses. Operating expenses decreased 2% compared to the first quarter of 2012, due to lower compensation expenses offset in part by higher non-compensation expenses. Segment pre-tax operating margin was 22.1%, compared to 24.1% in the year-ago period and 25.1% in the first quarter of 2012. The decrease compared to both periods was mainly driven by lower revenues.
• Assets under management (AUM) were $12.7 billion compared to $12.4 billion in the year-ago period and $13.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012. Compared to the sequential first quarter, the decrease in AUM was driven by market depreciation and net cash outflows.

Other Matters
In the second quarter of 2012, the firm repurchased $26.4 million, or 1.2 million shares, of its common stock at an average price of $22.00 per share. The firm has $17.9 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization, which expires on Sept. 30, 2012.

Additional Shareholder Information

*Excludes Facebook IPO capital

Conference Call
Andrew S. Duff, chairman and chief executive officer, and Debbra L. Schoneman, chief financial officer, will hold a conference call to review the financial results Wed., July 25 at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT). The earnings release will be available on or after July 25 at the firm’s Web site at www.piperjaffray.com. The call can be accessed via webcast or by dialing (888)810- 0209 or (706)902-1361 (international) and referencing reservation #96211040. Callers should dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the call time. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at approximately 11 a.m. ETJuly 25 at the same Web address or by calling (855)859-2056 and referencing reservation #96211040.

About Piper Jaffray
Piper Jaffray is an investment bank and asset management firm serving clients in the U.S. and internationally. Proven advisory teams combine deep industry, product and sector expertise with ready access to global capital. Founded in 1895, the firm is headquartered in Minneapolis and has offices across the United States and in London, Hong Kong and Zurich. www.piperjaffray.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and the conference call to discuss the contents of this press release contain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These forward-looking statements cover, among other things, statements made about general economic and market conditions for the second half of the year, the environment and prospects for capital markets transactions (including corporate advisory transactions for the second half of the year), cost reduction measures and the effect of the recent restructuring charge on non-compensation expenses in future periods, the exiting of the Hong Kong market and discontinuing our Hong Kong capital markets business (including the cash proceeds from the disposition, the restructuring charge, and anticipated timing), anticipated financial results generally (including expectations regarding revenue levels, operating margins, our compensation ratio, earnings per share, and return on equity), current deal pipelines (or backlogs), our strategic priorities (including growth in public finance, asset management, and corporate advisory), or other similar matters. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or discussed in the forward-looking statements, including (1) market and economic conditions or developments may be unfavorable, including in specific sectors in which we operate, and these conditions or developments, such as market fluctuations or volatility, may adversely affect our business, revenue levels and profitability, (2) the volume of anticipated investment banking transactions as reflected in our deal pipelines (and the net revenues we earn from such transactions) may differ from expected results if any transactions are delayed or not completed at all or if the terms of any transactions are modified, (3) our ability to manage expenses may be limited by the fixed nature of certain expenses as well as the impact from unanticipated expenses, (4) exiting the Hong Kong market and divesting our Asia capital markets business could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses and have disruptive effects on our business, (5) we may not be able to compete successfully with other companies in the financial services industry, which may impact our ability to achieve our growth priorities and objectives, (6) our stock price may fluctuate as a result of several factors, including but not limited to, changes in our revenues and operating results, (7) hiring of additional senior talent may not yield the benefits we anticipate or yield them within expected timeframes, and (8) the other factors described under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and updated in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC (available at our Web site at www.piperjaffray.com and at the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. We undertake no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

© 2012 Piper Jaffray Companies, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-7020

Source: Piper Jaffray Companies

Piper Jaffray Companies
Jennifer A. Olson-Goude, 612-303-6277
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications