Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. Reports Q4 and Year-end 2015 Results

NEW YORK, March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SAMG) (the "Company" or "Silvercrest") today reported the results of its operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Business Update

During the fourth quarter of 2015, Silvercrest benefitted from improved market conditions and asset values, increased top-line revenue, a growing pipeline of new business opportunities and continued outperformance of its proprietary value equity capabilities. The firm increased discretionary assets under management by nearly $0.3 billion, ending the fourth quarter with $12.1 billion, up from $11.8 billion as of September 30, 2015. For the calendar year 2015, new client discretionary assets increased by $0.9 billion but were offset by $0.4 billion in market depreciation. Total assets under management now stand at $18.1 billion, up from $17.9 billion in December 2014, despite more difficult market conditions that led to $0.7 billion in market depreciation during the year.

Top line revenue increased 8.2% for the calendar year ended December 2015 versus the year ended 2014 -- from $69.5 million to $75.1 million -- due to organic growth, increased institutional business, and our successful acquisition of Jameson, Eaton & Wood, Inc., which has performed in-line with projections. Top line revenue was up 8.5% for the fourth quarter 2015 versus the fourth quarter 2014.

Importantly, our new business pipeline has rebuilt since the market turmoil of the third quarter 2015, reflecting the maturity of our marketing efforts. Silvercrest's proprietary value equity strategies have maintained their relative outperformance compared with their benchmarks. Each of the firm's six strategies has now outperformed its benchmark for nearly all periods, as well as since inception. Our outperformance bodes well for future organic growth, both institutionally and with high net worth families.

We remain focused on finding selective and prudent acquisitions in our space and believe Silvercrest has built one of the premier brands in the fast-growing RIA business, focused on high net worth families and select institutions.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Total Assets Under Management ("AUM") of $18.1 billion, inclusive of discretionary AUM of $12.1 billion and non-discretionary AUM of $6.1 billion at December 31, 2015.
• Revenue of $19.2 million.
• U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") consolidated net income and net income attributable to Silvercrest of $2.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
• Basic and diluted net income per share of $0.11.
• Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")¹ of $5.8 million
• Adjusted net income¹ of $2.5 million.
• Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share¹ of $0.20 and $0.19, respectively.

The table below presents a comparison of certain GAAP and non-GAAP ("adjusted") financial measures and AUM.

AUM Increased to $18.1 billion

Silvercrest's discretionary assets under management increased by $0.5 billion, or 4.3%, to $12.1 billion at December 31, 2015 from $11.6 billion at December 31, 2014.  Silvercrest's AUM increased by $0.2 billion, or 1.1%, to $18.1 billion at December 31, 2015 from $17.9 billion at December 31, 2014.  The increase was attributable to net client inflows of $0.9 billion, which include $0.7 billion of AUM related to our acquisition of Jamison, Eaton & Wood, Inc. ("the Jamison Acquisition") on June 30, 2015, partially offset by $0.7 billion in market depreciation.

Silvercrest's discretionary assets under management increased by $1.5 billion, or 14.9%, to $11.6 billion at December 31, 2014 from $10.1 billion at December 31, 2013.  Silvercrest's AUM increased by $2.2 billion, or 14.0%, to $17.9 billion at December 31, 2014 from $15.7 billion at December 31, 2013.  The increase was attributable to $1.5 billion in market appreciation in addition to net client inflows of $0.7 billion.

Fourth Quarter 2015 vs. Fourth Quarter 2014

Revenue increased by $1.5 million, or 8.5%, to $19.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, from $17.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. This increase was driven primarily by growth in our management and advisory fees as a result of increased AUM.  Revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2015 related to the Jamison Acquisition was $1.2 million.

Total expenses increased by $0.4 million, or 2.4%, to $15.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $14.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. Compensation and benefits expense increased by $0.2 million, or 1.8%, to $11.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $10.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in benefits costs of $0.1 million, an increase in equity-based compensation of $0.6 million due to the granting of restricted stock units in August 2015 and an increase in salary expense of $0.5 million as a result of both merit-based increases and increased headcount due to the Jamison Acquisition, partially offset by a decrease in the accrual for bonuses of $1.0 million.  General and administrative expenses increased by $0.1 million, or 2.6%, to $4.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $4.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in investment research costs of $0.4 million, an increase in sub-advisory and referral fees of $0.2 million and an increase in depreciation and amortization of $0.2 million due primarily to the Jamison Acquisition, partially offset by a change in the fair value of estimated earnout payments of $0.6 million related to the Jamison Acquisition and our 2011 acquisition of certain assets of Milbank Winthrop & Co. (the "Milbank Acquisition").

Consolidated net income was $2.2 million.  Net income attributable to Silvercrest was $0.9 million, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2015.   Our Adjusted Net Income¹ was $2.5 million, or $0.20 per adjusted basic share and $0.19 per adjusted diluted share³ for the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $5.8 million or 30.0% of revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2015 as compared to $5.8 million or 32.5% of revenue for the same period in the prior year.

Year Ended December 31, 2015 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2014

Revenue increased by $5.7 million, or 8.2%, to $75.2 million for year ended December 31, 2015, from $69.5 million for year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was driven primarily by growth in our management and advisory fees as a result of increased assets under management, partially as a result of the Jamison Acquisition.  Revenue related to the Jamison Acquisition for the six months ended December 31, 2015 was $2.6 million.

Total expenses increased by $4.0 million, or 7.4%, to $58.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $54.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in compensation and benefits expense of $2.6 million and an increase in general and administrative expenses of $1.5 million.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense was primarily attributable to an increase in salaries and benefits of $1.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively, due to both merit increases and increased headcount, an increase in the accrual for bonuses of $0.2 million, an increase of $0.1 million related to an earnout for the principals hired as part of the Richmond, VA office expansion, and increased equity-based compensation expense of $0.5 million primarily as a result of the granting of restricted stock units in 2015.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in professional fees of $0.6 million related to the timing of audit expenses and increased legal fees as a result of the Jamison Acquisition and the granting of restricted stock units, an increase in investment research costs of $1.2 million due to decreased soft dollar costing, an increase in occupancy and related expenses of $0.1 million, an increase in depreciation and amortization of $0.4 million due primarily to intangibles acquired as part of the Jamison Acquisition and an increase in travel and entertainment expenses of $0.2 million.  This was partially offset by a change in the fair value of estimated earnout payments related to the Milbank and Jamison acquisitions of $0.6 million, a decrease in bad debt expense of $0.2 million because we increased our reserve in 2014, a decrease in client reimbursements of $0.1 million and a decrease in sub-advisory and referral fees of $0.1 million as a result of lower sub-advisory revenue.

Consolidated net income was $11.1 million.  Net income attributable to Silvercrest was $5.3 million, or $0.68 per basic and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2015. 

Silvercrest's Adjusted Net Income¹ was $10.7 million, or $0.84 and $0.78 per adjusted basic and diluted share³, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $21.9 million or 29.1% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to $21.1 million or 30.4% of revenue for the same period in the prior year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and cash equivalents were $31.6 million at December 31, 2015, compared to $30.8 million at December 31, 2014. Silvercrest L.P. had notes payable of $4.5 million at December 31, 2015 and $4.1 million at December 31, 2014.  As of December 31, 2015, there was nothing outstanding on our revolving credit facility with City National Bank. 

Total stockholders' equity was $45.8 million at December 31, 2015.  We had 7,989,749 million shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 4,695,014 million shares of Class B common stock outstanding at December 31, 2015.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with additional insight, promote transparency and allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making, we supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a basis consistent with GAAP with Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Earnings Per Share which are non-GAAP financial measures of earnings.  These adjustments, and the non-GAAP financial measures that are derived from them, provide supplemental information to analyze our operations between periods and over time. Investors should consider our non-GAAP financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

• EBITDA represents net income before provision for income taxes, interest income, interest expense, depreciation and amortization.
• We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA without giving effect to the Delaware franchise tax, professional fees associated with acquisitions or financing transactions, gains on extinguishment of debt or other obligations related to acquisitions, impairment charges and losses on disposals or abandonment of assets and leaseholds, client reimbursements and fund redemption costs, severance and other similar expenses, but including partner incentive allocations, prior to our initial public offering, as an expense. We feel that it is important to management and investors to supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis with Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure of earnings, as this measure provides a perspective of recurring earnings of the Company.
• Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by total revenue.
• Adjusted Net Income represents recurring net income without giving effect to professional fees associated with acquisitions or financing transactions, losses on forgiveness of notes receivable from our principals, gains on extinguishment of debt or other obligations related to acquisitions, impairment charges and losses on disposals or abandonment of assets and leaseholds, client reimbursements and fund redemption costs, severance and other similar expenses, but including partner incentive allocations, prior to our initial public offering, as an expense. Furthermore, Adjusted Net Income includes income tax expense assuming a corporate rate of 40%.
• Adjusted Earnings Per Share represents Adjusted Net Income divided by the actual Class A and Class B shares outstanding as of the end of the reporting period for basic Adjusted Earnings Per Share, and to the extent dilutive, we add unvested deferred equity units, restricted stock units and performance units to the total shares outstanding to compute diluted Adjusted Earnings Per Share. As a result of our structure, which includes a non-controlling interest, we feel that it is important to management and investors to supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis with Adjusted Earnings Per Share, a non-GAAP financial measure of earnings, as this measure provides a perspective of recurring earnings per share of the Company as a whole as opposed to being limited to our Class A common stock.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on March 11, 2016, at 8:30 am (Eastern Time) to discuss these results. Hosting the call will be Richard R. Hough III, Chief Executive Officer and President and Scott A. Gerard, Chief Financial Officer. Listeners may access the call by dialing 1-866-394-9665 or for international listeners the call may be accessed by dialing 1-253-237-1128.  An archived replay of the call will be available after the completion of the live call on the Investor Relations page of the Silvercrest website at http://ir.silvercrestgroup.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements and Other Disclosures

This report contains, and from time to time our management may make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may", "might", "will", "should", "expects", "intends", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue", the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance, future expenses, anticipated growth strategies, descriptions of new business initiatives and anticipated trends in our business or financial results. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: incurrence of net losses, fluctuations in quarterly and annual results, adverse economic or market conditions, our expectations with respect to future levels of assets under management, inflows and outflows, our ability to retain clients from whom we derive a substantial portion of our assets under management, our ability to maintain our fee structure, our particular choices with regard to investment strategies employed, our ability to hire and retain qualified investment professionals, the cost of complying with current and future regulation, coupled with the cost of defending ourselves from related investigations or litigation, failure of our operational safeguards against breaches in data security, privacy, conflicts of interest or employee misconduct, our expected tax rate, and our expectations with respect to deferred tax assets,  adverse economic or market conditions, incurrence of net losses, adverse effects of management focusing on implementation of a growth strategy, failure to develop and maintain the Silvercrest brand and other factors disclosed under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 which is accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Silvercrest

Silvercrest was founded in April 2002 as an independent, employee-owned registered investment adviser. With offices in New York, Boston, Virginia and New Jersey, Silvercrest provides traditional and alternative investment advisory and family office services to wealthy families and select institutional investors.

 

SOURCE Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.