EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1165002
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1165002_10-K_2021_0001165002-21-000023.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “we,” “us,” “our,” “Westwood,” or “Westwood Holdings Group” when used in this Form 10-K (“Report”) and in the Annual Report to the Stockholders refers to Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole. This Report contains some forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, without limitation, those set forth under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
General
We manage investment assets and provide services for our clients through our subsidiaries, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. (each of which is a registered investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and referred to hereinafter together as “Westwood Management”) and Westwood Trust. Westwood Management, founded in 1983, provides investment advisory services to institutional investors, a family of mutual funds called the Westwood Funds®, other mutual funds, individual investors and clients of Westwood Trust. Westwood Trust, founded as a state-chartered trust company in 1974, provides trust, custodial and investment management services through use of commingled funds and individual securities to institutions and high net worth individuals. Our revenues are generally derived from fees based on a percentage of assets under management ("AUM"). Westwood Management and Westwood Trust collectively managed assets valued at approximately $13.0 billion at December 31, 2020. We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 12, 2001. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WHG.” We are a holding company whose principal assets consist of the capital stock of Westwood Management and Westwood Trust.
Prior to its liquidation in 2020, our wholly owned subsidiary, Westwood International Advisors, provided investment advisory services to institutional clients, the Westwood Funds®, other mutual funds, an Irish investment company authorized pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulation 2011 (as amended) (the “UCITS Fund”), individual investors and clients of Westwood Trust.
The success of our business is dependent on client, institutional investment consultant and intermediary relationships. We believe that, in addition to investment performance, client service is paramount in the asset management business. Accordingly, a major business focus is to build strong relationships with clients to enhance our ability to anticipate their needs and satisfy their investment objectives. Our team approach is designed to deliver efficient, responsive service to our clients.
We have focused on building our foundation in terms of personnel and infrastructure to support a larger business. We have developed investment strategies that we expect to be desirable within our target institutional, wealth management and intermediary markets. Developing new investment strategies and building the organization can result in incurring expenses before significant offsetting revenues are realized. We continue to evaluate new strategies and resources in terms of meeting actual and potential investor needs.
Available Information
We maintain a website at westwoodgroup.com. Information contained on, or connected to, our website is not incorporated by reference into this Report and should not be considered part of this Report or any other filing that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All of our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are available free of charge on our website. Our Code of Business Conduct, Corporate Governance Guidelines and Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance/Nominating Committee Charters are available without charge on our website. Stockholders also may obtain print copies of these documents free of charge by submitting a written request to Terry Forbes, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, at the address set forth on the front of this Report. The public can also obtain any public document we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Advisory
General
Our advisory business encompasses two distinct investment teams - United States ("U.S.") Value Equity and Multi-Asset. Prior to September 30, 2020, our advisory business also included our Emerging Markets Equity team.
Westwood Management provides investment advisory services to large institutions, including corporate retirement plans, public retirement plans, endowments and foundations. Institutional separate account minimums vary by investment strategy and
generally range from $10 million to $25 million. Westwood Management also provides advisory services to individuals and the Westwood Funds®, as well as sub-advisory services to other mutual funds and pooled investment vehicles. Westwood Management’s investment strategies are managed by the U.S. Value Equity team and by the Multi-Asset team, both based in Dallas, Texas. Our U.S. investment professionals average over eighteen years of investment experience. We believe team continuity and years of experience are among the critical elements required for successfully managing investments.
Investment Strategies
We offer high conviction equity and outcome-oriented solutions to address a wide range of investment objectives, including three strategies: LargeCap Value, Income Opportunity and SmallCap Value, each with over $1 billion in AUM.
U.S. Value Equity Team
The U.S. Value Equity team employs a value-oriented approach focused on identifying undervalued, high quality businesses that can generate superior risk-adjusted returns, employing a fundamental bottom-up, three-step investment process. Our team seeks well-run businesses with conservative balance sheets and strong free cash flow that can grow their business value by funding growth initiatives or returning capital to shareholders. Identifying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals, where the outlook for future earnings growth is underestimated by the market, offers the potential for asymmetric returns. This investment approach is intended to preserve capital during unfavorable periods and provide superior real returns over the long term. We have established a track record of delivering competitive risk-adjusted returns for our clients. The principal investment strategies currently managed by the U.S. Value Equity team are as follows:
LargeCap Value: Investments in equity securities of approximately 40 to 60 companies benchmarked to the Russell 1000 Value Index.
LargeCap Select: Investments in equity securities of approximately 15 to 30 companies benchmarked to the Russell 1000 Value Index.
SMidCap: Investments in equity securities of approximately 50 to 70 companies benchmarked to the Russell 2500 Index.
SmallCap Value: Investments in equity securities of approximately 50 to 70 companies benchmarked to the Russell 2000 Value Index.
AllCap Value: Investments in equity securities of approximately 50 to 80 companies benchmarked to the Russell 3000 Value Index.
Multi-Asset Team
The Multi-Asset team investment process applies both top down views across asset classes along with bottom up security selection, utilizing quantitative and fundamental tools to evaluate macro, micro and technical conditions across a range of asset classes. Our continuum of outcome-oriented solutions maintains defined strategic and tactical allocations and a discipline geared towards managing downside risks.
The team draws on the proprietary fundamental research of Westwood's investment teams in order to identify securities with attractive risk-adjusted return profiles across a broad spectrum of income-producing securities. The principal investment strategies currently managed by the Multi-Asset team are as follows:
Income Opportunity: Multi-asset strategy that invests across multiple bond sectors including convertibles and income-producing equity securities.
Alternative Income: Multi-strategy process seeking to generate positive absolute returns through a short duration yield portfolio of global convertible securities, convertible arbitrage and macro hedging.
Total Return: Multi-asset strategy that invests across multiple bond sectors including convertibles and income-producing equity securities.
High Income Fund: Multi-asset strategy that invests across multiple bond sectors including convertibles and income producing equity securities.
Our ability to grow AUM is primarily dependent on our ability to generate competitive investment performance and our success in building strong relationships with investment consulting firms and other financial intermediaries, as well as our ability to develop new client relationships while nurturing and maintaining existing relationships. We continually seek to expand AUM by organically growing our existing investment strategies, as well bringing new products to market. We intend to grow our investment strategies internally but may also consider acquiring new investment strategies from third parties, as discussed under “Growth Strategy” below. Our growth strategy provides clients with more investment opportunities and diversifies our AUM, thereby reducing risk in any one area of investment and increasing our competitive ability to attract new
clients. Our ten largest clients accounted for approximately 24% of our fee revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020. The loss of some or all of these large clients could have a material adverse effect on our business and our results of operations.
Advisory and Sub-advisory Agreements
Westwood Management manages client accounts under investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. Typical for the asset management industry, these agreements are usually terminable upon short notice and provide for compensation based on the market value of client AUM. Advisory fees are paid quarterly in advance based on AUM on the last day of the preceding quarter, quarterly in arrears based on AUM on the last day of the quarter just ended, or are based on a daily or monthly analysis of AUM for the stated period. Certain clients have contractual performance-based fee arrangements, which generate additional revenues if we outperform a specified index over a specific period of time. Revenue for performance-based fees is recorded at the end of the measurement period. Revenue from advance payments is deferred and recognized over the period that services are performed. Pursuant to these agreements, Westwood provides overall investment management services, including directing investments in conformity with client-established investment objectives and restrictions. Unless otherwise directed in writing by clients, Westwood has the authority to vote all proxies with respect to securities in client portfolios.
Westwood Management is party to sub-advisory agreements with other investment advisers under which it performs similar services under advisory agreements. Our sub-advisory fees are generally computed based upon the average daily AUM and are payable on a monthly basis.
Westwood Management provides investment advisory services to the Westwood Funds® family of mutual funds:
● Westwood Alternative Income (WMNIX,WMNUX) ● Westwood SmallCap (WHGSX,WHGAX,WHGCX)
● Westwood High Income (WHGHX,WSDAX) ● Westwood SMidCap (WHGMX)
● Westwood Income Opportunity (WHGIX,WWIAX,WWICX) ● Westwood Total Return (WLVIX)
● Westwood LargeCap Value (WHGLX,WWLAX)
As of December 31, 2020, the Westwood Funds® had AUM of $2.1 billion.
Trust
General
Through the combined efforts of the Dallas and Houston offices of Westwood Trust, we provide fiduciary and investment services to high net worth individuals and families, non-profit endowments and foundations, public and private retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). Westwood Trust is chartered and regulated by the Texas Department of Banking. Fees charged by Westwood Trust are separately negotiated with each client and are typically based on AUM. Clients generally have at least $1 million in investable assets.
On September 6, 2017, we entered into an agreement to sell the Omaha-based component of our Wealth Management business. The sale was completed on January 12, 2018. The sale did not represent a major strategic shift in our business. Further information on the sale is included in Note 1 “Description of the Business” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” accompanying this Report.
Fiduciary Services
Westwood Trust’s fiduciary services include but are not limited to: financial planning, wealth transfer planning, customizable trust services, trust administration and estate settlement. Westwood Trust also provides custodial services, tax reporting, accounting of trust income and principal, beneficiary and retiree distributions and safekeeping of assets.
Investment Services
Westwood Trust utilizes a consultative approach in developing a client’s portfolio asset allocation. Our approach involves examining clients' financial situations, including their current portfolio of investments, and advising clients on ways to reduce risk, enhance investment returns and strengthen their financial position based on each client’s unique objectives and constraints. Westwood Trust seeks to define and improve risk/return profiles of client investment portfolios by offering a comprehensive investment solution or enhancing clients’ existing investment strategies. Westwood Trust manages separate portfolios of equity and fixed income securities for certain agency and trust clients. Equity portfolios are generally patterned after the institutional strategies offered by Westwood Management or developed by the internal investment team in our Houston office. Fixed income portfolios consist of targeted “laddered” portfolios of primarily high-quality municipal securities.
Westwood Trust also sponsors a range of commingled funds in which client assets are commingled to achieve economies of scale. Westwood Trust’s commingled funds fall within two basic categories: personal trusts (common trust funds) and employee benefit trusts (collective investment funds). Westwood Trust sponsors commingled funds for most of the investment strategies managed by Westwood Management and Westwood International Advisors (prior to its 2020 closure).
Westwood Trust also develops asset allocation models for certain clients utilizing its commingled funds, mutual funds managed by Westwood Management and Westwood International Advisors (prior to its 2020 closure), and non-affiliated mutual funds.
Enhanced Balanced® Portfolios
Westwood Trust is a strong proponent of asset class diversification and offers its clients the ability to diversify among many different asset classes. Westwood Trust Enhanced Balanced® portfolios allocate assets among these asset classes into a customizable portfolio for clients seeking to maximize return for a given level of risk. Periodic adjustments are made to asset class weightings in Enhanced Balanced® portfolios based on historical returns, risk and correlation data, and our current capital markets outlook.
Select Equity Strategy
The Westwood Select Equity strategy aims to provide low-frequency turnover and tax efficiency to high net worth individuals. The offering allows individuals to own a diversified portfolio of best ideas from across Westwood's investment teams. The portfolios are diversified and include value and growth stocks, along with small-, mid- and large-cap stocks. Westwood Select Equity is also available without the tax efficiency overlay.
Distribution Channels
We distribute our Westwood Management investment funds and advisory services across two primary market channels - Institutional and Intermediary. Our Distribution sales and support infrastructure supports the marketing and client service in both channels. Westwood Wealth Management provides wealth and investment management solutions primarily to individuals and utilizes both Westwood Management and external investment management services.
Institutional
The institutional team markets Westwood funds and advisory and sub-advisory services to pension plan sponsors, foundations and endowments, financial institutions and their investment consultants. We have established strong relationships with many global, national and regional investment consulting firms, which collectively have contributed to our being considered and hired by their clients. Sub-advising the funds of other financial institutions allows us to extend our marketing reach through other firms' distribution systems.
Intermediary and Retail
In our intermediary and retail channel, our team directly markets our investment services, including the Westwood Funds®, to financial intermediaries, RIAs, broker-dealers, turnkey asset management programs and select mutual fund platforms. By leveraging our firm relationships we are also able to offer our strategies within select defined contribution and other retirement plans where clients utilize a mutual fund vehicle. We continue to expand our relationships with financial intermediaries that manage discretionary mutual fund models as well. Our wholesaling group markets our mutual funds and separately managed accounts directly to select broker-dealers and RIAs.
Managed accounts are similar in some respects to mutual fund relationships in that a third-party financial institution, such as a broker-dealer or RIA, trades securities under our model. The end client in a managed account is typically a high net worth individual or small institution that would prefer to own shares directly, rather than in a mutual fund. In these arrangements, the third-party financial institution is responsible to the end client for client service, operations and accounting.
Wealth Management
In our wealth management channel, we generate awareness of our trust fiduciary and investment services through investment consultants, centers of influence, community involvement, and targeted direct marketing to high net worth individuals, families and small to medium-sized institutions. We also seek asset growth generated by referrals from existing clients.
Growth Strategy
We believe that we have established a strong platform to support future growth, deriving our strength in large part from the experience and capabilities of our management team and skilled investment and client professionals. We believe that opportunities for future growth will come from our ability to:
•generate growth in our investment management platform from new and existing clients and consultant relationships, while expanding intermediary distribution;
•attract and retain key employees;
•grow assets in our existing investment strategies;
•enhance our digital capabilities;
•foster continued growth of the wealth management platform and distribution channel;
•pursue strategic corporate development opportunities;
•offer a diverse array of financial services such as banking and private equity investing through strategic alliances;
•pursue international opportunities through targeted sales and relationships with international distributors and institutional investors;
•continue to strengthen our brand name; and
•develop or acquire new investment strategies.
Generate growth from new and existing clients and consultant relationships, while expanding intermediary distribution. As our primary business objective, we intend to maintain and enhance existing relationships with clients, investment consultants and intermediaries by providing value added investment performance and client service. Over the last few years, we have expanded and restructured our distribution team to improve our proactive sales and client engagement strategy. We intend to pursue growth via targeted sales and marketing efforts that showcase our boutique offering of high-conviction equity and outcome-oriented solutions, our consistent investment performance and superior client service. New institutional client accounts are sourced from either investment consultants or from our direct sales efforts with institutional investors. In the intermediary channel, we also intend to broaden platform placement and expand our SMA offering. We believe that the in-depth knowledge of our firm, our people and our processes embedded in our consultant and platform relationships, as well as in existing and prospective relationships, are key factors when being considered for new client investment mandates and platform placements.
Attract and retain key employees. We believe that we have created a workplace environment in which motivated, performance-driven and client-oriented individuals can thrive. As a public company, we offer our employees a compensation program that includes strong equity incentives to closely align their success with that of our clients and stockholders. We believe that these factors are critical to maintaining a stable, client-focused environment that can support future growth.
Grow assets in our existing investment strategies. We have significant capacity to manage additional assets across our existing range of investment strategies. We have developed a range of institutional investment strategies by building on the core competencies of our U.S. Value Equity and Multi-Asset teams.
Enhance our digital capabilities. Over the past three years we have invested a significant amount of capital to enhance our automation and digital efficiency. We moved our technology infrastructure to secure, cloud-based access, created a data warehouse to improve our investment operations work flow, upgraded our trade order management and trade compliance systems, digitized our portfolio accounting and reconciliation system, and outsourced our trading function. We are also developing digital client portals for our institutional and wealth management clients. We believe these investments position us to improve efficiencies and better respond to consumer demand for digital interaction with investment advisors.
Foster continued growth of the wealth management platform and distribution channel. Westwood Trust serves high net worth individuals and families, as well as small to medium-sized institutions. We anticipate continued interest from clients and prospects in our diversified, highly attentive service model. A significant percentage of asset inflows at Westwood Trust stems from referrals, as well as gathering additional assets from existing clients. We believe that our Enhanced Balanced® strategy, which offers diversified exposure to multiple asset classes in a comprehensive manner, our Select Equity strategy, which offers diversified equity exposure in a tax-efficient manner, and our separately managed portfolio offerings all provide opportunities for growth.
Foster expanded intermediary distribution. During 2018 we hired a new Head of Intermediary Sales in order to expand and target our geographic approach and focus coverage for intermediary distribution, and during 2019 we expanded our intermediary sales team to extend our coverage and accelerate growth in top markets. We believe that providing investors access to our mutual funds is a key component to achieving asset growth in the defined contribution and retirement marketplaces as well as with RIAs and select broker-dealers.
Pursue strategic corporate development opportunities. We evaluate strategic corporate development opportunities to augment organic growth. We may pursue a variety of transactions, including acquisitions of asset management firms, mutual funds, wealth management firms, or other financial institutions, as well as hiring investment professionals or teams. We consider opportunities to enhance our existing operations, expand our range of investment strategies and services or further develop our distribution capabilities. By acquiring investment firms or by hiring investment professionals or teams that successfully manage investment strategies beyond our current expertise, we can both attract new clients and provide existing clients with an even more diversified range of investment strategies. We may also consider forging alliances with other financial services firms to leverage our core competency of developing and managing investment strategies with partners that can provide enhanced distribution capabilities or additional service offerings.
Pursue international opportunities through targeted sales and relationships with international distributors and institutional investors. As of December 31, 2020, non-U.S. clients represented approximately 12% of our AUM. We intend to continue our sales efforts outside of the U.S. We may consider forging alliances with international financial services firms or partners to obtain enhanced distribution capabilities and greater access to global customers. Additionally, we continue to target select institutional clients around the globe.
Continue to strengthen our brand name. We believe that the strength of our brand name has been a key component to our long-term success in the investment industry and will be instrumental to our future success. We have developed a strong brand name largely through our performance, coupled with high profile coverage in investment publications and electronic media. Several of our investment professionals have been visible in print and electronic media, and we will continue to look for creative ways to strengthen our brand name and reputation in our target markets.
Develop or acquire new investment strategies. We continue to look for opportunities to expand the range of investment strategies that we offer to existing and prospective clients. We may consider internally-developed strategies that extend our existing investment process to new markets, and we may also consider externally acquired investment strategies. An expanded range of investment strategies offers additional ways to serve our client base, generating more diversified revenue streams, as well as providing asset and revenue growth opportunities.
Competition
We are subject to substantial and growing competition in all aspects of our business. Barriers to entry in the asset management business are relatively low and we expect to face a growing number of competitors. Although no single company dominates the asset management industry, many companies are larger, better known and have greater resources.
We compete with other asset management firms on the basis of investment strategies offered, their investment performance both in absolute terms and relative to peer groups, quality of service, fees charged, the level and type of compensation offered to key employees and the manner in which investment strategies are marketed. Many of our competitors offer more investment strategies and services and have substantially greater AUM.
We compete against numerous investment dealers, banks, insurance companies, mutual fund companies, exchange-traded funds, brokerage and investment firms and others that sell equity funds, taxable income funds, tax-free investments and other investment products. In addition, the allocation of assets by many investors from active equity investment to index funds, fixed income or similar asset classes has enhanced the ability of firms offering non-equity asset classes and passive equity management to compete effectively with us. The demand for passive strategies with low-fee structures has rapidly increased, and investors more frequently demand customized and personalized strategies to fit their investment needs. This shift in the marketplace may benefit competitors that offer certain investment vehicles that we do not currently offer. In summary, our competitive landscape is intense and dynamic, which may affect our ability to compete successfully in the future as an independent company.
Additionally, most prospective clients perform a thorough review of an investment manager’s background, investment policies and performance before committing assets to that manager. In many cases, prospective clients invite a number of competing firms to make presentations. The process of obtaining a new client typically takes twelve to eighteen months from the time of initial contact. While we have achieved success in competing for new clients, it is a process to which we dedicate significant resources over an extended period, with no certainty of winning.
Regulation
Virtually all aspects of our business are subject to federal, state and other non-U.S. jurisdictions' laws and regulations. These laws and regulations are primarily intended to protect investment advisory clients. Under such laws and regulations, agencies that regulate investment advisers have broad administrative powers, including the power to limit, restrict or prohibit advisers from carrying on their business if they fail to comply with such laws and regulations. Possible sanctions include suspension of individual employees, limitations on engaging in certain lines of business for specified periods of time, revocation of investment adviser and other registrations, censures and fines. We believe that we are in compliance with all material laws and regulations.
Westwood Management
Our business is subject to regulation at federal and state levels by the SEC and other regulatory bodies. Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Investment Advisers Act”) and under the laws of various states. As RIAs, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. are regulated and subject to examination by the SEC. The Investment Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on RIAs, including fiduciary duties, record keeping, operational and marketing requirements and disclosure obligations. Westwood Management Corp. also acts as adviser to the Westwood Funds®, a family of mutual funds registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”). As an adviser to a registered
investment company, Westwood Management Corp. must comply with the Investment Company Act and related regulations. The Investment Company Act imposes numerous obligations on registered investment companies, including requirements relating to operations, fees charged, sales, accounting, record keeping, disclosure, governance, and restrictions on transactions with affiliates. Under SEC rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the federal securities laws, we are subject to periodic SEC examinations. The SEC can institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of the Investment Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act, ranging from censure to termination of an investment adviser’s registration. The failure of Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. to comply with SEC requirements could have a material adverse effect on Westwood. We must also comply with anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, as subsequently amended and reauthorized (the “Patriot Act”). We believe that we are in compliance with the regulations under the Investment Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act and the Patriot Act.
As an investment adviser, we have a fiduciary duty to our clients. The SEC has interpreted that duty to impose standards, requirements and limitations on, among other things: trading of client accounts, allocation of investment opportunities among clients, use of soft dollars, execution of transactions and recommendations to clients. We manage accounts for our clients with the authority to buy and sell securities, select broker-dealers to execute trades and negotiate brokerage commission rates. We may receive soft dollar credits from certain broker-dealers that are used to pay for brokerage and research-related products, which reduces certain company operating expenses. We intend to use soft dollars to pay for only those brokerage and research related products and services that fall within the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If our ability to use soft dollars were reduced or eliminated as a result of the implementation of statutory amendments or new regulations, our operating expenses would increase.
Westwood Trust
Westwood Trust operates in a highly regulated environment and is subject to extensive supervision and examination. As a Texas chartered trust company, Westwood Trust is subject to the Texas Finance Code (the “Finance Code”), the rules and regulations promulgated under the Finance Code and supervision by the Texas Department of Banking. These laws are intended primarily for the protection of Westwood Trust’s clients and creditors rather than for the benefit of investors. The Finance Code provides for and regulates a variety of matters, such as:
•minimum capital maintenance requirements;
•restrictions on dividends;
•restrictions on investments of restricted capital;
•lending and borrowing limitations;
•prohibitions against engaging in certain activities;
•periodic fiduciary and information technology examinations by the Texas Department of Banking Commissioner;
•furnishing periodic financial statements to the Texas Department of Banking Commissioner;
•fiduciary record keeping requirements; and
•prior regulatory approval for certain corporate events (such as mergers, the sale or purchase of all or substantially all trust company assets and transactions transferring control of a trust company).
The Finance Code also gives the Banking Commissioner broad regulatory powers (including penalties and civil and administrative actions) if the trust company violates certain provisions of the Finance Code, including implementing conservatorship or closure if Westwood Trust is determined to be in a “hazardous condition” (as defined by applicable law). Westwood Trust’s failure to comply with the Finance Code could have a material adverse effect on Westwood.
Westwood Trust is limited by the Finance Code in the payment of dividends to undivided profits, which is described as the part of equity capital equal to the balance of net profits, income, gains and losses since formation minus subsequent distributions to stockholders and transfers to surplus or capital under share dividends or appropriate board resolutions. At the discretion of its Board of Directors, Westwood Trust has made quarterly and special dividend payments, and other distributions, to Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. out of undivided profits.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
We are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and to its related regulations insofar as we are a fiduciary under ERISA with respect to some clients. ERISA and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code impose certain duties on fiduciaries under ERISA or on entities that provide services to ERISA plan clients and prohibit certain transactions involving ERISA plan clients.
Human Capital Resources
Health and Safety
The health and safety of our employees is a high priority, and this is consistent with our operating philosophy of focusing on transparency, effective corporate governance, life principles and giving back to the communities in which we live and work. Our safety focus is evident in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes:
•increasing work from home flexibility;
•minimizing staff levels in all offices;
•improving office cleaning protocols;
•establishing new physical distancing procedures for employees while onsite;
•initiating regular communication regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures;
•implementing protocols to address actual and suspected COVID-19 cases and potential exposure;
•requiring masks to be worn in all offices; and
•work-related travel restrictions.
Measures that the Company Uses to Manage the Business
2020 marked the seventh consecutive year that Pensions & Investments named Westwood one of the best places to work in money management.
Diversity and Inclusion
We believe that our culture of diversity and inclusion enables us to develop and fully leverage the strengths of our people. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 45% of our workforce was female and minorities represented approximately 25% of our employees.
Employees
At December 31, 2020, we had 136 full-time employees, all in the U.S. No employees are represented by a labor union, and we believe our employee relations are favorable. In 2020, approximately 15 employees were terminated following our closure of Westwood International Advisors. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 17% of our employees held the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
We believe these represent the material risks currently facing our business. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. You should also refer to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Report, including our financial statements and related notes.
Risks Related to the Investment Industry
Our results of operations depend upon the market value and composition of AUM, which can fluctuate significantly based on various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Our revenues are primarily generated from fees derived as a percentage of AUM. The value of our AUM can be negatively impacted by several factors, including:
•Market performance: Performance of the securities markets could be impacted by a number of factors beyond our control, including, among others, general economic downturns, political uncertainty, acts of terrorism or natural disasters. Negative performance within the securities markets or short-term volatility within the securities markets could result in investors withdrawing assets, decreasing their rates of investment or shifting assets to cash or other asset classes or strategies that we do not manage, all of which could reduce our revenues. In addition, during periods of slowing growth or declining revenues, profits and profit margins are adversely affected because certain expenses remain relatively fixed.
•Investment performance: Because we compete with many asset management firms on the basis of our investment strategies, the maintenance and growth of AUM is dependent, to a significant extent, on the investment performance of the assets that we manage. Poor performance may result in the loss or reduction of client accounts, which decreases revenues. Underperformance relative to peer groups and/or relevant benchmarks for our various investment strategies could adversely affect our results of operations, especially if such underperformance continues for an extended period of time. The historical returns of our strategies and the ratings and rankings we, or the mutual funds that we advise, have received in the past should not be considered indicative of the future results of these strategies or of any other strategies that we may develop in the future. The investment performance we achieve for our customers varies over time and variances can be wide. In addition, certain of our investment strategies have capacity constraints, as there may be a limit to the number of securities available for certain strategies to operate effectively. In those instances, we may choose to limit access to new or existing investors.
The investment management and wealth management industry is highly competitive and innovative.
The investment management and wealth management industry is highly competitive based on a variety of factors, including investment performance, fee rates, continuity of investment professionals and client relationships, the quality of services provided to clients, corporate positioning, business reputation and differentiated products. A number of factors increase our competitive risks, including the following:
•Potential competitors have a relatively low cost of entering the investment management industry;
•Many competitors have greater financial, technological, marketing and other resources, more comprehensive name recognition and more personnel than we do;
•The continuing trend toward consolidation in the investment management industry, and the securities business in general, has served to increase the size and strength of some of our competitors;
•Recent changes in consumer demand for technological capabilities, including the enhanced ability for firms to offer lower fee passive management strategies, has increased competition in our industry;
•Shifts in demand for alternative investment styles, asset classes and distribution vehicles may cause our competitors to be perceived as more attractive;
•Other industry participants, hedge funds and alternative asset managers may seek to recruit our investment professionals;
•Some competitors charge lower fees for their investment management services than we do;
•Some competitors may provide more comprehensive client services, including banking, financial planning and tax planning at levels beyond what we currently provide; and
•Some competitors may have more sophisticated, innovative or advanced distribution networks than we do.
In particular, we have faced significant competition from competitors with lower fee, passive investment strategies. Investment advisors that emphasize passive products have gained, and may continue to gain, significant market share from
active managers like us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. If we are unable to compete effectively, our earnings could be reduced and our business could be adversely affected.
Some of our strategies invest in the securities of non-U.S. companies, which involve foreign currency exchange, tax, political, social and economic uncertainties and risks.
As of December 31, 2020, approximately 12% of our AUM was invested in strategies offering access to global markets with significant exposure to non-U.S. companies. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could negatively affect the returns of clients invested in these strategies. Investments in non-U.S. issuers may also be affected by tax positions taken in countries or regions in which we are invested, as well as political, social and economic uncertainty or other diplomatic developments. Many financial markets are less developed or efficient than U.S. financial markets with limited liquidity and higher price volatility, and may lack an established regulatory framework. Liquidity and price volatility may be adversely affected by political or economic events, government policies and social or civil unrest within a particular country. These risks, among others, could adversely affect the performance of our strategies invested in securities of non-U.S. issuers and may be particularly acute in emerging or less developed markets. As a result, we may be unable to attract or retain client investments in these strategies, or assets invested in these strategies may experience significant declines in value and our results of operations may be negatively affected.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
Our business is subject to extensive regulation, which is subject to frequent change, with attendant compliance costs and serious consequences for violations; expansion into international markets and introduction of new products and services increases our regulatory and operational risks.
Virtually all aspects of our business are subject to laws and regulations, including the Investment Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act, the Patriot Act, the Finance Code and anti-money laundering laws. These laws and regulations generally grant regulatory agencies broad administrative powers, including the power to limit or restrict us from operating our business, as well as powers to place us under conservatorship or closure if we fail to comply with such laws and regulations. Violations of such laws or regulations could subject us or our employees to disciplinary proceedings and civil or criminal liability, including revocation of licenses, censures, fines or temporary suspensions, permanent barring from the conduct of business, conservatorship or closure. Any such proceeding or liability could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.
In addition, the regulatory environment in which we operate is subject to change. We may be adversely affected as a result of new or revised legislation or regulations or by changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and regulations. In recent years, regulators have increased their oversight of the financial services industry. Some regulations are focused directly on the investment management industry, while others are more broadly focused but affect our industry as well.
The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 significantly increased and revised the federal rules and regulations governing the financial services industry and, in addition to other regulations, has generally resulted in increased compliance and administrative requirements. For example, the SEC’s adoption of Form PF and revisions to Form ADV impose additional reporting requirements for SEC-registered investment advisors. Additionally, ERISA Section 408(b)(2) and related regulations require additional information to be provided to ERISA-governed retirement plans. While we believe that changes in laws, rules and regulations, including those discussed above, have increased our administrative and compliance costs, we are unable to quantify the increased costs attributable to such changes. See “Item 1. Business - Regulation.”
We engage in product offerings and international business activities through our global multi-asset securities product offerings that we make available to our international and domestic clients. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 12% of our AUM is managed for clients who are domiciled outside the U. S. As a result, we face increased operational, regulatory, compliance, marketing, client service, reputational and foreign exchange rate risks. In particular, rapid regulatory change is occurring internationally with respect to financial institutions, including, but not limited to, anticipated revisions to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2011 and the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). The failure of our compliance and internal control systems to properly identify and mitigate such additional risks, or of our operating infrastructure to support international activities, could result in operational failures and actions by regulatory agencies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We devote considerable time and resources to both domestic and international compliance; however, we may fail to timely and properly identify regulatory requirements or modify our compliance procedures for changes in our regulatory environment, which may subject us to legal proceedings, domestic and foreign government investigations, penalties and fines.
Our business involves risks of being engaged in litigation and liability that could increase our expenses and reduce our results of operations.
Many aspects of our business involve substantial risks of liability. We could be named as defendants or co-defendants in lawsuits or could be involved in disputes that involve the threat of lawsuits seeking substantial damages. As an SEC-RIA, mutual fund adviser, trustee to certain Trust clients and publicly-traded entity, we are subject to governmental and self-regulatory organization examinations, investigations and proceedings. Similarly, the investment strategies that we manage could be subject to actual or threatened lawsuits and governmental and self-regulatory organization investigations and proceedings, any of which could harm the investment returns or reputation of the applicable fund or result in our being liable for any resulting damages. There has been an increased incidence of litigation and regulatory investigations in the asset management industry in recent years, including customer claims, as well as class action suits seeking substantial damages. While customers do not have legal recourse against us solely on the basis of poor investment results, if our investment strategies perform poorly or we provide poor financial advice, we are more likely to become subject to litigation brought by dissatisfied clients. In addition, to the extent customers are successful in claiming that their losses resulted from fraud, negligence, willful misconduct, breach of contract or other similar misconduct, these clients may have remedies against us, the mutual funds and other funds we advise or our investment professionals under the federal securities laws or state law. See the discussion of legal proceedings in Item 3. “Legal Proceedings”.
Business and Operational Risks
Due to the substantial cost and time required to introduce new investment strategies or expand the market for current strategies, we may not be able to successfully introduce investment strategies in a timely manner, or at all.
We have incurred significant costs to develop new investment strategies, launch new mutual funds under the Westwood Funds® name, and upgrade our business infrastructure. We expect to continue to incur significant costs related to such improvements.
The development of new investment strategies, whether through acquisition or internal development, requires a substantial amount of time and significant financial resources, including expenses related to compensation, sales and marketing, information technology, legal counsel and other professional services. Our ability to market and sell a new investment strategy depends on our financial resources, the investment performance of the specific strategy, the timing of the offering, the timing of regulatory approvals and our marketing strategies. Once an investment strategy is developed, we must effectively introduce the strategy to existing and prospective clients. Our ability to sell new investment strategies to existing and prospective clients may depend on our ability to meet or exceed the performance of our competitors offering the same or a similar strategy. We may not be able to manage the assets within a given investment strategy profitably, and it may take years before we produce the kind of results that will attract clients. If we are unable to realize the benefits of the costs and expenses incurred in developing new investment strategies, we may experience losses as a result of our management of these investment strategies, and our ability to introduce further new investment strategies and compete in our industry may be hampered.
To introduce new investment strategies, we may seek to add new investment teams. To the extent we are unable to recruit and retain investment teams to complement our existing business model, we may not be successful in further diversifying and increasing our investment strategies and client assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and future prospects. The addition of a new team using an investment strategy with which we may have limited or no experience may require additional resources to update our operational platform and could strain our operational resources and increase the possibility of operational errors. Additional investments may be required to improve our operational platform. If any new teams or strategies perform poorly and fail to attract sufficient assets, our results of operations and reputation may be adversely affected.
Damage to our reputation could harm our business and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our brand is a valuable intangible asset that could be vulnerable to threats that can be difficult or impossible to anticipate or control. Regulatory inquiries and rumors could damage our reputation, even if they are unfounded or satisfactorily addressed. Our reputation could also be negatively affected by employees and third parties acting on our behalf, who may circumvent our controls or act in a manner inconsistent with our policies and procedures. Public perception of our brand could be negatively affected by decreases in our profitability, AUM or stock price. Damage to our brand could impede our ability to attract and retain customers and key employees and could reduce our AUM, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our success depends on certain key employees and our ability to attract and develop new, talented professionals. Our inability to attract and retain key employees could compromise our future success.
Our future success depends upon our ability to attract and retain professional and executive employees, including investment, marketing, client service and management personnel. There is substantial competition for skilled personnel within the asset management business, and the failure to attract, develop, retain and motivate qualified personnel could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects. A limited number of our employees,
including our Chief Executive Officer and certain investment employees, have employment contracts, while other key employees do not have employment contracts. In order to retain or replace key personnel, we may be required to increase compensation, which would decrease net income. Investment and sales professionals often maintain strong relationships with their clients, and their departure may cause us to lose client accounts, which could have a material impact on our revenues and results of operations.
Failure to perform operational tasks or the misrepresentation of products and services could have an adverse effect on our reputation and our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are complex, and our failure to properly perform portfolio responsibilities, including security pricing, corporate actions, investment restrictions compliance, daily net asset value calculations, account reconciliations, tax reporting, investment performance calculations and portfolio oversight could result in reputational harm or subject us to regulatory sanctions, fines, penalties and litigation.
We use advertising materials, public relations information and other external communications to market and sell our investment products. Failure to accurately calculate and present investment performance data within established guidelines and regulations could result in reputational harm or subject us to regulatory sanctions, fines, penalties and litigation.
Damage to our reputation could impede our ability to attract and retain customers and key employees and could reduce our AUM, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Significant regulatory sanctions, fines, penalties, and litigation could also materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to select appropriate third-party vendors and apply appropriate oversight of third-party vendors could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on third-party vendors to perform important portions of our operations, and there is no assurance that our third-party vendors will properly perform or follow our processes, policies and procedures. There is no assurance that our plans for transition or delegation to a third-party vendor will be successful or that there will not be interruptions in service from these third parties. A third-party vendor's failure to accurately perform important operations or follow our processes, policies and procedures could result in the loss of clients, significant regulatory sanctions, fines, penalties and litigation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are a holding company dependent on the operations and funds of our subsidiaries.
We are a holding company, with no revenue-generating operations or assets other than our ownership interests in Westwood Management and Westwood Trust. Accordingly, we are dependent on the cash flow generated by these operating subsidiaries and rely on dividends or other intercompany transfers from our operating subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet our obligations.
Technology and Privacy Risks
Failure to implement and maintain effective cyber security controls could disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, reputation and stock price.
Our business is dependent on information technology systems and the cyber security controls we and our third party vendors have in place to protect those systems and the information contained therein. Despite the implementation of protective measures and endeavoring to modify them as circumstances warrant, our computer systems, software, networks and vendors may be vulnerable to human error, natural disasters, power loss, spam attacks, unauthorized access, distributed denial of service attacks, computer viruses and other malicious code, and other events that could result in significant liability and damage to our reputation, and have an ongoing impact on the security and stability of our operations. The techniques used in these attacks are increasingly sophisticated, change frequently and are often not recognized until launched. A failure of our and our third party vendors' controls to protect our information technology from an external or internal attack or to prevent a breach of confidential client or competitive information could materially interrupt our operations and expose us to regulatory and legal actions, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, reputation and stock price. As attempted attacks continue to evolve in scope and sophistication, we may be required to expend substantial additional resources to modify or enhance our protective measures, to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures or to communicate about cyber attacks to our customers.
Additionally, the SEC issued guidance in February 2018 stating that, as a public company, we are expected to have controls and procedures that relate to cyber security disclosure, and are required under the federal securities laws to disclose information relating to certain cyber attacks or other information security breaches. Successful cyber attacks at other asset management companies or other market participants, whether or not we are affected, could lead to a general loss of customer confidence in the industry that could negatively affect us, including harming the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures, which could result in a loss of business.
Our business is vulnerable to systems failures that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any delays or inaccuracies in securities pricing information or information processing could give rise to claims that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are highly dependent on information systems and third-party vendors for securities pricing information, information processing and updates for certain software. We, or our third-party vendors, may suffer a systems failure or interruption, whether caused by an earthquake, fire, other natural disaster, power or telecommunications failure, unauthorized access, force majeure, act of war or otherwise, and our back-up procedures and capabilities may be inadequate to prevent the risk of extended interruptions in operations.
Misuse of assets and information in the possession of our employees and third-party vendors could damage our reputation and result in costly litigation and liability for our clients and us.
Our employees and certain third-party vendors handle significant amounts of assets along with financial and personal information for our clients. Our employees or third party vendors could misuse or improperly disclose such information, either inadvertently or intentionally, which could harm our reputation. We have implemented a system of controls to minimize the risk of fraudulent use of assets and information; however, our controls may be insufficient to prevent fraudulent actions by employees or third party vendors. If our controls are ineffective, we could be subject to costly litigation, which could consume financial resources, distract management, damage our reputation and result in regulatory sanctions. Such fraudulent actions could also adversely affect clients, causing them to seek redress.
Risks Related to Ownership of Stock and Corporate Governance
Our stock is thinly traded and may be subject to volatility.
Although our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, it may remain relatively illiquid, or “thinly traded,” which can increase share price volatility and make it difficult for larger investors to buy or sell shares in the public market without affecting the share price. Investors may be unable to buy or sell a certain quantity of our shares in the public market within one or more trading days. If limited trading in our stock continues, it may be difficult for holders to sell their shares in the public market at any given time at prevailing prices.
The prevailing market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including actual or anticipated fluctuations in operating results; changes in market valuations of other similar companies; additions or departures of key personnel; future sales of common stock; deviations in net revenues or in losses from levels expected by the investment community; and trading volume fluctuations.
Our organizational documents contain provisions that may prevent or deter another group from paying a premium over the market price to our stockholders to acquire our stock.
Our organizational documents currently contain provisions that establish that stockholders cannot act by written consent, and that authorize our Board of Directors to issue, without shareholder approval, blank check preferred stock. In addition, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to business combinations. These provisions could delay, deter or prevent a merger, consolidation, tender offer or other business combination or change of control involving us that could include a premium over the market price of our common stock that some or a majority of our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests.
Risks Related to our Clients
Competitive fee pressures could reduce revenues and profit margins.
To the extent we have to compete on the basis of price, we may not be able to maintain a profitable fee structure. In recent years, there has been a trend toward lower fees in the investment management industry driven in large part by low-cost, passive strategies, and we are actively marketing lower fee structures to stay competitive. We cannot be assured that we will succeed in providing investment returns and service levels that will allow us to maintain a profitable fee structure. Continued fee reductions on existing or future new business could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.
In addition, we have performance fee agreements with certain clients, who pay us a fee if we outperform a specified index over predetermined periods of time. We may not be able to outperform such indexes, and failure to do so would cause us to earn none or only part of those potential revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations. Our revenues from performance-based fees could fluctuate significantly between measurement periods, depending on how we perform relative to the indexes specified in these agreements. For example, we earned performance fees of $3.2 million in 2020, $0.8 million in 2019 and $3.0 million in 2018.
Our business is dependent on investment advisory, sub-advisory, and trust agreements that are subject to termination or non-renewal and investments we manage under such agreements may be redeemed. As a result, we could lose clients on very short notice.
Substantially all of our revenues are derived pursuant to investment advisory, sub-advisory and trust agreements with our clients that are subject to termination without advance notice. Investors in funds that we advise or sub-advise may redeem their investments at any time without prior notice, thereby reducing our AUM. These investors may redeem for any reason, including general financial market conditions, our absolute or relative investment performance or their own financial condition and requirements. In a declining stock market, the pace of redemptions could accelerate. Substantial additional redemptions or a termination or failure to renew a material number of these agreements would adversely affect our revenues and have a material adverse effect on our earnings and financial condition.
A small number of clients account for a substantial portion of our business, and a reduction or loss of business with any of these clients could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are dependent to a significant degree on our ability to maintain our relationships with clients, consultants, managed account platforms and other intermediaries. Our ten largest clients accounted for approximately 24% of our fee revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020. For each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, our ten largest clients accounted for approximately 20% of our fee revenue. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in maintaining existing relationships, securing additional relationships or achieving the superior investment performance necessary to earn performance-based advisory fees. Our failure to retain one or more of these large relationships or to establish additional profitable relationships could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
General Risk Factors
The recent COVID-19 pandemic, and other potential outbreaks, could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may face risks related to the outbreak of COVID-19, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The full impact of COVID-19 is unknown and rapidly evolving. The outbreak and any preventative or protective actions that governments, we or our clients may take in connection with this virus may result in a period of disruption, including with respect to our financial reporting capabilities and our operations generally, and could potentially impact our clients and third party vendors. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations, reputation, financial condition, cash flows or ability to continue current operations without any direct or indirect impairment or disruption.
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity and spread of COVID-19 and the efffectiveness of actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, among others.
Failure to correctly identify our strategic growth plan or execute our strategic plan could result in damage to our reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We believe that we have established a strong platform to support future growth, but there is no assurance that we will appropriately execute our strategic plans, including but not limited to acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic transactions.
As part of our long-term business strategy, we may pursue corporate development transactions including the acquisition of asset management firms, mutual funds, wealth management firms and investment professionals or teams. Acquisitions involve inherent risks that could compromise the success of the combined business and dilute the holdings of current stockholders. See “Item 1. Business - Growth Strategy.” If we are incorrect when assessing the value, strengths, weaknesses, liabilities and potential profitability of such transactions, or if we fail to adequately integrate the acquired businesses or individuals, the success of the combined business could be compromised. Business acquisitions are subject to the risks commonly associated with such transactions including, among others, potential exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies and to acquisition costs and expenses, the difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired companies, potential disruptions to the business of the combined company and potential diversion of management’s time and attention, the impairment of relationships with and the possible loss of key employees and clients as a result of changes in management, potential litigation or other legal risks, potential write-downs related to goodwill impairments in connection with acquisitions and dilution to the stockholders of the combined company if the acquisition is made for stock of the combined company. In addition, investment strategies, technologies or businesses of acquired companies may not be effectively assimilated into our business or may have a negative effect on the combined company’s revenues or earnings. The combined company may also incur significant expenses to complete acquisitions and support acquired investment strategies and businesses. Further, any such acquisitions may be funded with cash, debt or equity, which could dilute the holdings or limit the rights of stockholders. Finally, we may not be successful in identifying attractive acquisition candidates or completing acquisitions on favorable terms.
Divestitures involve inherent risks that could compromise the success of our business. Risks related to divestitures can include difficulties in the separation of the divested business, loss of clients, retention or obligation to indemnify certain
liabilities, the failure of counterparties to satisfy payment obligations, unfavorable market conditions that may impact any earnout or contingency payment due to us, unexpected difficulties in losing employees of the divested business or asset impairments.
As consumer demand for digital interaction with investment advisors and portfolios continues to grow, we are exploring opportunities to develop digital solutions to enhance services to our clients. If we are incorrect in assessing the value, strengths, weaknesses and potential profitability of such solutions, or if we fail to adequately integrate the solutions, the success of our overall business could be compromised. The initial investment in the necessary technological capabilities and the potential diversion of management’s time and attention could have a material impact to our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There is no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming these or other risks encountered with acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions. These risks may prevent us from realizing the expected benefits from acquisitions or divestitures and could result in the failure to realize the full economic value of a strategic transaction.
Various factors may hinder the declaration and payment of dividends.
We have historically paid a quarterly dividend; however, payment of future dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, and various factors may impact our ability to maintain the current dividend or pay dividends at all. We suspended our dividend in the second quarter of 2020 in order to preserve capital and provide additional financial flexibility amid the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such factors include our financial position, capital requirements and liquidity, tax regulations, stock repurchase plans, state corporate and banking law restrictions, results of operations and other factors that our Board of Directors may consider relevant. As a holding company, our ability to pay dividends is dependent on the dividends and income we receive from our subsidiaries. Currently, our primary source of cash consists of dividends from Westwood Management or Westwood Trust. The payment of dividends by Westwood Trust is subject to the discretion of its Board of Directors and compliance with applicable laws, including the provisions of the Finance Code applicable to Westwood Trust. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
We may not be able to fund future capital requirements on favorable terms, if at all.
We cannot be certain that financing to fund our working capital or other cash requirements, if needed, will be available on favorable terms, if at all. Our capital requirements may vary greatly from quarter to quarter depending on, among other things, capital expenditures, technological investments and fluctuations in our operating results and financing activities. If financing becomes necessary, we may or may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms, if at all. Further, any future equity financings could dilute the relative percentage ownership of then existing common stockholders, and any future debt financings could involve restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions.
Failure to properly identify and address conflicts of interest could harm our reputation or cause clients to withdraw funds, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The SEC and other regulators have increased their scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest, and we have implemented procedures and controls that we believe are reasonably designed to address these issues. However, appropriately dealing with conflicts of interest is complex, and if we fail, or appear to fail, to deal appropriately with conflicts of interest, we could face reputational damage, litigation or regulatory proceedings, any of which may adversely affect our results of operations.
As we expand the scope of our business and our client base, we must also continue to monitor and address any potential new conflicts between the interests of our stockholders and those of our clients. Our clients may withdraw funds if they perceive conflicts of interest between the investment decisions we make for strategies in which they have invested and our obligations to our stockholders. For example, we may limit the growth of assets in or close strategies or otherwise take action to slow the flow of assets when we believe it is in the best interest of our clients, even though our AUM and investment management fees may be negatively impacted. Similarly, we may establish or add new investment teams or expand operations into other geographic areas or jurisdictions if we believe such actions are in the best interest of our clients, even though our results of operations may be adversely affected in the short term. Although we believe such actions enable us to retain client assets and maintain our profit margins, if clients perceive a change in our investment or operational decisions favors a strategy to maximize short term results, they may withdraw funds, which could adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.
Insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover legal and regulatory proceedings.
We maintain insurance coverage in amounts and on terms we believe appropriate to cover legal and regulatory matters and potential cyber security attacks; however, we can make no assurance that there will be adequate coverage or that a specific claim will be covered by our insurance policies. Additionally, insurance premiums may rise for substantially the same coverage amounts and terms, which will increase our expenses and reduce net income.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.
Effective internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports, our brand and operating results could be harmed. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, contain inherent limitations, and systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
We cannot be certain that the measures we take to evaluate and improve our internal controls will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.
Westwood, Westwood Management and Westwood Trust conduct their principal operations using approximately 45,000 square feet of leased office space in Dallas, Texas pursuant to a lease with an initial term that expires in March 2026. In addition, we lease approximately 8,000 square feet of office space in Houston, Texas pursuant to a lease that expires in June 2024 and approximately 2,600 square feet of office space in Southborough, Massachusetts pursuant to a lease that expires in August 2023. In December 2020, we assigned the lease of our office space in Massachusetts to a third party. While Westwood International Advisors was closed in 2020, we leased approximately 6,000 square feet of office space in Toronto, Ontario, prior to terminating that lease in January 2021.
In January 2021, we entered into a sublease agreement with a third party for approximately 10,000 square feet of our Dallas, Texas office space. The agreement begins in the first quarter of 2021 and expires in the fourth quarter of 2025.
We continue to assess these facilities to ensure their adequacy to serve our anticipated business needs.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are subject from time to time to certain claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “WHG.” At December 31, 2020, there were approximately 218 record holders of our common stock, although we believe that the number of beneficial owners of our common stock is substantially greater.
Dividends
We suspended dividends in the second quarter of 2020 in order to preserve capital and provide additional financial flexibility amid the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any future payments of cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and subject to limitations under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Westwood Holdings Group is the sole stockholder of Westwood Management and Westwood Trust. Westwood Trust is limited under applicable Texas law in the payment of dividends to the amount of undivided profits, which is defined as that part of equity capital equal to the balance of net profits, income, gains and losses since its formation minus subsequent distributions to stockholders and transfers to surplus or capital under share dividends or appropriate Board of Directors’ resolutions.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On July 20, 2012, our Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to $10.0 million of our outstanding common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Westwood's Board of Directors authorized an additional $5.0 million of repurchases under the share repurchase program in July 2016, an additional $10.0 million in February 2020, and an additional $10.0 million in April 2020. The share repurchase program has no expiration date and may be discontinued at any time by the Board of Directors.
Between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, under the share repurchase program the Company repurchased 679,756 shares of our common stock at an average price of $19.05 per share, including commissions, for an aggregate purchase price of $13.0 million. The following table displays information with respect to the treasury shares we purchased during the year ended December 31, 2020:
Period Total
number of
shares
purchased Average
price paid
per share Total number
of shares
purchased as part of publicly announced
plans or programs Maximum number (or
approximate dollar value) of shares that
may yet be purchased
under the plans or
programs (1)
Repurchase program(1)
$ 10,000,000
March 2020 272,059 $ 17.89 272,059
April 2020 407,707 $ 19.83 407,697
Total 679,756 19.05 679,756
(1) These purchases relate to the share repurchase program and were authorized in April 2020.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares total stockholder returns of Westwood since December 31, 2015 with the total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL U.S. Asset Manager Index, a composite of various publicly-traded asset management companies.
Index Period ended December 31, Cumulative Five-Year Total Return
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 120.06 $ 138.37 $ 75.04 $ 71.74 $ 35.76 (64.24) %
Russell 2000 Index 100.00 121.31 139.08 123.76 155.35 186.36 86.36 %
SNL U.S. Asset Manager Index 100.00 105.79 140.48 105.98 147.70 189.47 89.47 %
The total return for our stock and for each index assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2015 in our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index, and the SNL U.S. Asset Manager Index, including reinvestment of dividends. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “WHG.”
The closing price of our common stock on the last trading day of the year ended December 31, 2020 was $14.50 per share. Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated financial data, together with AUM data presented below, should be read in conjunction with “Item 1. Business” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Report. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results.
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share and % amounts)
2020(1)
2019(2)
2018(3)
2017(4)
2016(5)
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) Data:
Total revenues $ 65,111 $ 84,079 $ 122,300 $ 133,785 $ 123,021
Employee compensation and benefits $ 42,141 $ 50,152 $ 59,959 $ 64,955 $ 61,509
Employee compensation and benefits as a % of total revenues 64.7 % 59.6 % 49.0 % 48.6 % 50.0 %
Income (loss) before income taxes $ (7,588) $ 9,402 $ 36,462 $ 33,893 $ 34,010
Income (loss) before income taxes as a % of total revenues (11.7) % 11.2 % 29.8 % 25.3 % 27.6 %
Net income (loss) $ (8,947) $ 5,911 $ 26,751 $ 19,989 $ 22,647
Earnings (loss) per share - basic $ (1.12) $ 0.70 $ 3.20 $ 2.45 $ 2.84
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted $ (1.12) $ 0.70 $ 3.13 $ 2.38 $ 2.77
Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.43 $ 2.88 $ 2.76 $ 2.54 $ 2.33
Economic Earnings(6)
$ 7,284 $ 18,179 $ 43,943 $ 38,917 $ 41,108
Economic Earnings per common share $ 0.91 $ 2.15 $ 5.14 $ 4.63 $ 5.03
________________
(1)Our 2020 financial results were impacted by a $4.2 million reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Net Income (Loss) following the closure of Westwood International Advisors, $1.1 million in incremental Canadian withholding taxes (net of U.S. federal tax deduction) paid to repatriate more than $37.0 million from Westwood International Advisors to the U.S., and a $3.4 million goodwill impairment. These items negatively impacted both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.52 per share, $0.14 per share and $0.43 per share, respectively.
(2)Our 2019 financial results were impacted by unrealized gains on private investments of $3.3 million, which positively impacted both diluted and basic earnings per share by $0.31 per share and a $1.9 million foreign currency transaction loss, which negatively impacted both diluted and basic earnings per share by $0.17 per share.
(3)Our 2018 financial results were impacted by a $2.8 million foreign currency transaction gain, which positively impacted both diluted and basic earnings per share by $0.26 per share.
(4)Our 2017 financial results were impacted by a $3.4 million incremental income tax expense related to tax reform, a $2.5 million legal settlement charge, net of insurance recovery and tax and a $1.6 million foreign currency transaction loss. These items negatively impacted diluted earnings per share by $0.40 per share, $0.30 per share and $0.12 per share, respectively.
(5)Our 2016 financial results were impacted by $1.3 million of one-time costs, net of tax, associated with implementation of new information technology platforms, which negatively impacted diluted earnings per share by $0.16 per share.
(6)Economic Earnings is a non-U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”) performance measure that is provided as supplemental information. See the definition of Economic Earnings and the reconciliation to Net income in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Supplemental Financial Information.”
As of December 31,
2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets Data (in thousands):
Cash and investments $ 82,558 $ 100,090 $ 118,230 $ 105,573 $ 90,164
Total assets 149,152 178,707 199,183 192,659 179,678
Stockholders’ equity 130,711 148,287 161,149 156,396 146,069
AUM (in millions) $ 13,045 $ 15,235 $ 16,606 $ 24,229 $ 21,241

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with “Selected Financial Data” included in this Report, as well as our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Report.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this Report and the Annual Report to Stockholders that are not purely historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as well as other statements including, without limitation, words such as “anticipate,” “forecast”, “explore,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” "potentially," “could,” “goal,” “may,” “target,” “designed” and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results, our financial condition, and the timing of some events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others:
•the composition and market value of our AUM;
•our ability to maintain our fee structure in light of competitive fee pressures;
•inclusion of foreign company investments in our AUM;
•regulations adversely affecting the financial services industry;
•litigation risks;
•our ability to develop and market new investment strategies successfully;
•our reputation and our relationships with current and potential customers;
•our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
•our ability to perform operational tasks;
•our ability to select and oversee third-party vendors;
•our dependence on the operations and funds of our subsidiaries;
•our ability to maintain effective cyber security;
•our ability to maintain effective information systems;
•our ability to prevent misuse of assets and information in the possession of our employees and third-party vendors, which could damage our reputation and result in costly litigation and liability for our clients and us;
•our stock is thinly traded and may be subject to volatility;
•our organizational documents contain provisions that may prevent or deter another group from paying a premium over the market price to our stockholders to acquire our stock;
•competition in the investment management industry;
•our ability to avoid termination of client agreements and the related investment redemptions;
•the significant concentration of our revenues in a small number of customers;
•our relationships with investment consulting firms;
•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
•our ability to identify and execute on our strategic initiatives;
•our ability to declare and pay dividends;
•our ability to fund future capital requirements on favorable terms;
•our ability to properly address conflicts of interest;
•our ability to maintain adequate insurance coverage; and
•our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls.
Additional factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are discussed under the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report. The forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and speak only as of the date of this Report. We are not obligated and do not undertake an obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.
Overview
We manage investment assets and provide services for our clients through our subsidiaries, Westwood Management Corp. and Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. (each of which is an SEC-registered investment advisor and referred to hereinafter together as “Westwood Management”) and Westwood Trust. Westwood Management provides investment advisory services to institutional investors, a family of mutual funds called the Westwood Funds®, other mutual funds, individuals and clients of Westwood Trust.
On July 27, 2020, Westwood’s Board of Directors approved the closure of Westwood International Advisors Inc. (“Westwood International Advisors”) and Westwood’s office in Toronto, Canada. As a result of this closure, we incurred $0.5 million of severance expense, $0.3 million of lease impairment expense and $0.1 million of vendor contract related costs, offset by $1.3 million of restricted stock forfeitures. The severance expense and restricted stock forfeitures were recognized within "Employee compensation and benefits," the lease impairment expense was recognized in "General and administrative," and the vendor contract costs were recognized within "Information technology" on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Additionally, we repatriated previously undistributed income to the United States from Canada and incurred $1.1 million of Canadian withholding taxes (net of U.S. federal tax deduction). The withholding taxes were recognized in "Income tax expense" on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in common trust funds to institutions and high net worth individuals. Our revenues are generally derived from fees based on a percentage of AUM. Westwood International Advisors provided investment advisory services to an Irish investment company authorized pursuant to the European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulation 2011 (as amended) (the “UCITS Fund”), which was liquidated in June 2020.
We continue to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business, particularly the impact on global stock markets. In 2020 we took a number of precautionary measures designed to help minimize the risk of the spread of the virus to our employees, including suspending all non-essential travel for our employees and encouraging our employees to work remotely. The investments we have made in technology over the past several years, particularly our significant investments in cloud-based systems and business continuity planning, have allowed our entire team to serve our clients from their homes. While our ability to meet with clients declined at the beginning of the pandemic, we were able to rebound in the second half of the year as our clients embraced digital interactions.
Our revenues are generally derived from fees based on a percentage of AUM, and at December 31, 2020, Westwood Management and Westwood Trust collectively managed assets valued at approximately $13.0 billion. We have established a track record of delivering competitive, risk-adjusted returns for our clients.
With respect to most of our client AUM, we utilize a “value” investment style focused on achieving superior long-term, risk-adjusted returns by investing in companies with high levels of free cash flow, improving returns on equity and strengthening balance sheets that are well positioned for growth but whose value is not fully recognized in the marketplace. This investment approach is designed to preserve capital during unfavorable periods and provide superior real returns over the long term. Our investment teams have significant industry experience. Our investment team members have average investment experience of over fifteen years.
We have focused on building a foundation in terms of personnel and infrastructure to support a much larger business. We have also developed investment strategies that we believe will be desirable within our target institutional, wealth management and intermediary markets. The cost of developing new products and growing the organization as a whole has resulted in our incurring expenses that, in some cases, have not generated significant offsetting revenues. While we continue to evolve our products, we believe that the appropriate foundation and products are in place such that investors will recognize the value in these products and services, thereby generating new revenue streams for Westwood. However, there is no guarantee that this will occur.
2020 Highlights
The following items impacted the year ended December 31, 2020:
•AUM as of December 31, 2020 was $13.0 billion, a 14% decrease compared to December 31, 2019. Quarterly average AUM decreased 21% to $12.4 billion for 2020 compared to 2019, which contributed to the 23% decrease in total revenue from 2019.
•Our LargeCap Value, SMidCap, AllCap Value, High Income, Alternative Income, Income Opportunity and Total Return strategies exhibited strong performance by beating their primary benchmarks for the year.
•We had a $4.2 million non-cash reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Net Income (Loss), with no impact on Stockholder's Equity, following the closure of Westwood International Advisors.
•We had a $3.4 million non-cash write-off of historical Advisory goodwill due to to the Company's lower market capitalization and Advisory net outflows.
•The effective tax rate decreased to (17.9)% for 2020 compared to 37.1% for 2019, primarily due to the closure of our Westwood International Advisors office (net of withholding tax paid to Canada), permanent differences between book and tax restricted stock expense based on a decrease in our stock price between the grant and vesting dates, and permanent differences related to goodwill impairment, partially offset by a state tax refund.
•We repurchased 679,756 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $13.0 million.
•Our financial position remains strong with liquid cash and short-term investments of $82.6 million and no debt as of December 31, 2020.
Revenues
We derive our revenues from investment advisory fees, trust fees and other revenues. Our advisory fees are generated by Westwood Management and Westwood International Advisors (prior to its closure, effective September 30, 2020), which manage client accounts under investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. Advisory fees are typically calculated based on a percentage of AUM and are paid in accordance with the terms of the agreements. Advisory fees are paid quarterly in advance based on AUM on the last day of the preceding quarter, quarterly in arrears based on AUM on the last day of the quarter just ended or are based on a daily or monthly analysis of AUM for the stated period. We recognize advisory fee revenues as services are rendered. Certain of our clients have a contractual performance-based fee component in their contracts, which generates additional revenues if we outperform a specified index over a specific period of time. We record revenue for performance-based fees at the end of the measurement period. Since our advance paying clients’ billing periods coincide with the calendar quarter to which such payments relate, revenue is recognized within the quarter, and our Consolidated Financial Statements contain no deferred advisory fee revenues.
Our trust fees are generated by Westwood Trust pursuant to trust or custodial agreements. Trust fees are separately negotiated with each client and are generally based on a percentage of AUM. Westwood Trust also provides trust services to a small number of clients on a fixed fee basis. Trust fees are primarily calculated quarterly in arrears based on a daily average of AUM for the quarter. Since billing periods for most of Westwood Trust's clients coincide with the calendar quarter, revenue is fully recognized within the quarter, and our Consolidated Financial Statements contain no deferred advisory fee revenues.
Our other revenues primarily consist of investment income from our seed money investments into new investment strategies and contract revenues.
Employee Compensation and Benefits
Employee compensation and benefits costs generally consist of salaries, incentive compensation, equity-based compensation expense and benefits.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing costs relate to our marketing efforts, including travel and entertainment, direct marketing and advertising costs.
Westwood Mutual Funds
Westwood mutual funds expenses relate to our marketing, distribution and administration of the Westwood Funds®.
Information Technology
Information technology expenses are generally costs associated with proprietary investment research tools, maintenance and support, computing hardware, software licenses, telecommunications and other related costs.
Professional Services
Professional services expenses generally consist of costs associated with sub-advisory fees, audit, legal and other professional services.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses generally consist of costs associated with the lease of office space, amortization, depreciation, insurance, custody expense, Board of Directors fees, investor relations, licenses and fees, office supplies and other miscellaneous expenses.
Impairment expense
Impairment expense consists of long-lived asset impairments, generally goodwill or intangible assets.
Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions
Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions consist of foreign currency transactions primarily related to Westwood International Advisors.
Gain on sale of operations
Gain on sale of operations includes the gain on the sale of our Omaha-based component of our Wealth Management business.
Unrealized gains (losses) on private investments
Unrealized gains (losses) on private investments includes changes in the value of our private equity investments.
Investment income
Investment income primarily includes interest and dividend income on fixed income securities and money market funds.
Other Income
Other income primarily consists of income from the sublease of a portion of our corporate office.
Foreign currency translation adjustments to net income (loss) upon liquidation of a foreign subsidiary
Foreign currency translation adjustments to net income (loss) upon liquidation of a foreign subsidiary includes a cumulative adjustment following the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary, Westwood International Advisors.
Assets Under Management
AUM decreased $2.2 billion, or 14%, to $13.0 billion at December 31, 2020 compared to $15.2 billion at December 31, 2019. Quarterly average AUM decreased $3.4 billion, down 21%, to $12.4 billion for 2020 compared with $15.8 billion for 2019. The decrease in average AUM was primarily due to Institutional and Mututal Funds net outflows, partially offset by $0.5 billion of market appreciation in 2020.
AUM decreased $1.4 billion, or 8%, to $15.2 billion at December 31, 2019 compared to $16.6 billion at December 31, 2018. Quarterly average AUM decreased $5.6 billion, down 26%, to $15.8 billion for 2019 compared with $21.4 billion for 2018. The decrease in average AUM was primarily due to Institutional and Mutual Funds net outflows, partially offset by $3.0 billion of market appreciation in 2019.
The following table presents our AUM (in millions, except percentages):
As of December 31,
2020 Change 2019 Change 2018
Institutional(1)
$ 6,567 (25) % $ 8,739 (6) % $ 9,327
Wealth Management(2)
4,335 (2) % 4,438 10 % 4,043
Mutual Funds(3)
2,143 4 % 2,058 (36) % 3,236
Total AUM(4)
$ 13,045 (14) % $ 15,235 (8) % $ 16,606
(1)Institutional includes (i) separate accounts of corporate pension and profit sharing plans, public employee retirement funds, Taft-Hartley plans, endowments, foundations and individuals; (ii) sub-advisory relationships where Westwood provides investment management services for funds offered by other financial institutions; (iii) pooled investment vehicles, including the UCITS Fund and collective investment trusts; and (iv) managed account relationships with brokerage firms and other registered investment advisors that offer Westwood products to their customers. The UCITS Fund was liquidated in June 2020.
(2)Wealth Management includes assets for which Westwood Trust provides trust and custodial services and participation in common trust funds that it sponsors to institutions and high net worth individuals pursuant to trust or agency agreements and assets for which Westwood Advisors, L.L.C. provides advisory services to high net worth individuals. Investment sub-advisory services are provided for the common trust funds by Westwood Management, Westwood International Advisors (prior to its closure, effective September 30, 2020) and external unaffiliated sub-advisors. For certain assets in this category Westwood Trust currently provides limited custody services for a minimal or no fee, viewing these assets as potentially converting to fee-generating managed assets in the future.
(3)Mutual Funds include the Westwood Funds®, a family of mutual funds for which Westwood Management serves as advisor. These funds are available to individual investors, as well as offered as part of our investment strategies for institutional and wealth management accounts.
(4)AUM for 2020, 2019 and 2018 excludes approximately $267 million, $283 million and $228 million of assets under advisement ("AUA"), respectively, related to our model portfolios for which we provide consulting advice but do not have discretionary investment authority.
Roll-Forward of Assets Under Management
Year Ended December 31, 2020
AUM (in millions) Institutional Wealth Management Mutual
Funds
Total
Beginning of period assets $ 8,739 $ 4,438 $ 2,058 $ 15,235
Client flows:
Inflows 937 335 967 2,239
Outflows (3,178) (766) (1,024) (4,968)
Net client flows (2,241) (431) (57) (2,729)
Market appreciation 69 328 142 539
Net change (2,172) (103) 85 (2,190)
End of period assets $ 6,567 $ 4,335 $ 2,143 $ 13,045
The decrease in AUM for the year ended December 31, 2020 was due to net outflows of $2.7 billion, partially offset by market appreciation of $0.5 billion. Net client flows were primarily related to our Emerging Markets, SMidCap and LargeCap Value strategies.
Year Ended December 31, 2019
AUM (in millions) Institutional Wealth Management Mutual
Funds
Total
Beginning of period assets $ 9,327 $ 4,043 $ 3,236 $ 16,606
Client flows:
Inflows 725 395 544 1,664
Outflows (3,106) (699) (2,259) (6,064)
Net client flows (2,381) (304) (1,715) (4,400)
Market appreciation 1,793 699 537 3,029
Net change (588) 395 (1,178) (1,371)
End of period assets $ 8,739 $ 4,438 $ 2,058 $ 15,235
The decrease in AUM for the year ended December 31, 2019 was due to net outflows of $4.4 billion, partially offset by market appreciation of $3.0 billion. Net client flows were primarily related to our Income Opportunity, Emerging Markets, and LargeCap Value strategies.
Year Ended December 31, 2018
AUM (in millions) Institutional Wealth Management Mutual
Funds
Total
Beginning of period assets $ 14,421 $ 5,566 $ 4,242 $ 24,229
Client flows:
Inflows 1,353 378 879 2,610
Outflows(1)
(5,536) (1,639) (1,672) (8,847)
Net client flows (4,183) (1,261) (793) (6,237)
Market depreciation (911) (262) (213) (1,386)
Net change (5,094) (1,523) (1,006) (7,623)
End of period assets $ 9,327 $ 4,043 $ 3,236 $ 16,606
(1)Wealth Management outflows include approximately $1.1 billion of assets related to the sale of our Omaha-based component of our Wealth Management business.
The decrease in AUM for the year ended December 31, 2018 was due to net outflows of $6.2 billion, which included approximately $1.1 billion of outflows related to the divestiture of our Omaha operations, and market depreciation of $1.4 billion. Net client flows were primarily related to our SMidCap strategies, Emerging Markets strategies, LargeCap Value strategy and Income Opportunity strategy.
Results of Operations
The following table and discussion of our results of operations is based upon data derived from our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) contained in our Consolidated Financial Statements and should be read in conjunction with these statements included elsewhere in this Report.
Years ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)
2020 Change 2019 Change 2018
Revenues:
Advisory fees:
Asset-based $ 38,028 (33) % $ 57,033 (36) % $ 89,367
Performance-based 2,808 268 764 (74) 2,984
Trust fees 23,563 (8) 25,483 (12) 28,953
Trust performance-based fees 366 NM - NM -
Other revenues, net 346 (57) 799 (20) 996
Total revenues 65,111 (23) 84,079 (31) 122,300
Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits 42,141 (16) 50,152 (16) 59,959
Sales and marketing 1,194 (42) 2,068 7 1,936
Westwood mutual funds 1,681 (46) 3,097 (19) 3,808
Information technology 8,111 (4) 8,426 (7) 9,103
Professional services 4,271 (1) 4,322 (10) 4,783
General and administrative 8,941 (6) 9,516 (1) 9,564
Impairment expense 3,403 NM - NM -
(Gain) loss on foreign currency transactions (1,184) NM 1,854 NM (2,791)
Total expenses 68,558 (14) 79,435 (8) 86,362
Net operating income (loss) (3,447) (174) 4,644 (87) 35,938
Gain on sale of operations - NM - NM 524
Unrealized gains (losses) on private investments (711) (122) 3,296 NM -
Investment income (expense) 604 (54) 1,318 NM -
Other income 135 (6) 144 NM -
Foreign currency translation adjustments to net income (loss) upon liquidation of a foreign subsidiary (4,169) NM - NM -
Income (loss) before income taxes $ (7,588) (181) % $ 9,402 (74) % $ 36,462
Provision for income taxes 1,359 (61) 3,491 (64) 9,711
Net income (loss) $ (8,947) (251) % $ 5,911 (78) % $ 26,751
NM - Not meaningful
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019
Total Revenues. Total revenues decreased $19.0 million, or 23%, to $65.1 million compared with $84.1 million for 2019. The decrease was attributable to a $19.0 million decrease in asset-based advisory fees and a $1.9 million decrease in Trust fees, both primarily due to lower average AUM compared to 2019, partially offset by a $2.0 million increase in performance-based advisory fees, primarily due to higher realization of performance fees in 2020.
Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefit costs decreased $8.0 million, or 16.0%, to $42.1 million compared with $50.2 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to reductions in compensation relating to short- and long-term incentive compensation as a result of lower asset-based revenues as compared to the prior year, and lower headcount.
Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses decreased $0.9 million, or 42%, to $1.2 million compared with $2.1 million for 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower travel costs as a result of COVID-19.
Westwood Mutual Funds. Westwood mutual funds expenses decreased 46% to $1.7 million compared to $3.1 million for 2019 primarily due to lower service fees following declines in market values for the Westwood funds.
Impairment Expense. Following a sustained decline in the Company's market capitalization, we determined that the entire goodwill related to our Advisory segment was impaired, and we recorded impairment charges of $3.4 million in 2020.
(Gain) loss on foreign currency transactions. We recorded $1.2 million foreign currency transaction gains in 2020 as a result of fluctuations in the Canadian dollar exchange rate.
Unrealized gains (losses) on private investments. We recorded $0.7 million of unrealized losses on private investments in 2020. The decrease in valuation is primarily related to a $0.5 million market value decrease in our investment in Charis, the parent company of Westwood Private Bank ("Charis)." Further information is included in Note 5 "Investments" to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" accompanying this Report.
Foreign currency translation adjustments to net income (loss) upon liquidation of a foreign subsidiary. We recorded a cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment of $4.2 million following the liquidation of Westwood International Advisors in 2020.
Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate was (17.9)% for 2020 compared to 37.1% for 2019. Our income tax rate differed from the 21% statutory rate for 2020, which would have generated a tax benefit to the Company, primarily due to the Canadian withholding tax on repatriation of funds from Westwood International Advisors, permanent differences between book and tax restricted stock expense based on a decrease in our stock price between the grant and vesting dates, and permanent differences related to foreign currency losses and goodwill impairment, partially offset by a state tax refund.
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018
Total Revenues. Total revenues decreased $38.2 million, or 31%, to $84.1 million compared with $122.3 million for 2018. The decrease was attributable to a $32.3 million decrease in asset-based advisory fees, a $3.5 million decrease in Trust fees, and a $2.2 million decrease in performance-based fees. Advisory-based fees and Trust fees decreased as a result of lower average AUM compared to 2018.
Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefit costs decreased $9.8 million, or 16%, to $50.2 million compared with $60.0 million in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to reductions in compensation relating to short- and long-term incentive compensation as a result of lower asset-based revenues as compared to the prior year, and lower headcount.
Westwood Mutual Funds. Westwood mutual funds expenses decreased 19% to $3.1 million compared to $3.8 million for 2018 primarily due to lower mutual funds average AUM, principally Income Opportunity outflows.
Information Technology. Information technology costs decreased $0.7 million, or 7%, to $8.4 million compared with $9.1 million in 2018, primarily due to the timing of implementation costs for our technology infrastructure.
(Gain) loss on foreign currency transactions. We recorded $1.9 million of foreign currency transaction losses in 2019 due to a 4% decrease in the Canadian dollar exchange rate.
Unrealized gains on private investments. We recorded $3.3 million of unrealized gains on private investments in 2019. The increase in valuation is primarily related to a $2.8 million valuation step-up in our investment in InvestCloud, a private digital financial services provider ("InvestCloud") and a $0.5 million market value increase in our investment in Charis.
Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate increased to 37.1% for 2019 compared to 26.6% for 2018. The 2019 rate was negatively impacted by a $0.6 million discrete tax expense related to a permanent difference between book and tax stock-based compensation expense following a decrease in our stock price between grant and vesting dates, as well as limitations on the deductibility of additional compensation under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Reform Act").
Supplemental Financial Information
As supplemental information, we are providing non-GAAP performance measures that we refer to as Economic Earnings and Economic EPS. We provide these measures in addition to, but not as a substitute for, net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share, which are reported on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis. Our management and Board of Directors review Economic Earnings and Economic EPS to evaluate our ongoing performance, allocate resources, and review our dividend policy. We believe that these non-GAAP performance measures, while not substitutes for GAAP net income (loss) or earnings (loss) per share, are useful for management and investors when evaluating our underlying operating and financial performance and our available resources. We do not advocate that investors consider these non-GAAP measures without also considering financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
We define Economic Earnings as net income (loss) plus non-cash equity-based compensation expense, impairment expense, amortization of intangible assets, currency translation adjustment reclassification and deferred taxes related to goodwill. Although depreciation on fixed assets is a non-cash expense, we do not add it back when calculating Economic Earnings because depreciation charges represent an allocation of the decline in the value of the related assets that will ultimately require replacement. In addition, we do not adjust Economic Earnings for tax deductions related to restricted stock expense or amortization of intangible assets. Economic EPS represents Economic Earnings divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, our Economic Earnings decreased by 60% to $7.3 million compared with $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The current year was impacted by lower revenue due to a decrease in quarterly average AUM and unrealized losses on private investments, partially offset by lower employee compensation costs and higher performance-based fees.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Economic Earnings for the years presented:
For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages and per share data)
2020 Change 2019 Change 2018 Change 2017 Change 2016
Net Income (Loss) $ (8,947) (251) % $ 5,911 (78) % $ 26,751 34 % $ 19,989 (12) % $ 22,647
Add: Stock-based compensation expense 6,701 (35) 10,305 (33) 15,283 (7) 16,430 3 15,954
Add: Impairment expense 3,403 NM - NM - NM - NM -
Add: Intangible amortization 1,721 - 1,726 3 1,672 (11) 1,872 (4) 1,960
Add: Currency translation adjustment reclassification 4,169 NM - NM - NM - NM -
Add: Tax benefit from goodwill amortization 237 - 237 - 237 (62) 626 14 547
Economic Earnings $ 7,284 (60) % $ 18,179 (59) % $ 43,943 13 % $ 38,917 (5) % $ 41,108
Economic Earnings per Share $ 0.91 (58) % $ 2.15 (58) % $ 5.14 11 % $ 4.63 (8) % $ 5.03
The following table provides Economic Earnings by segment for the years presented:
For the years ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)
2020 Change 2019 Change 2018 Change 2017 Change 2016
Economic Earnings by Segment:
Advisory $ 8,713 (55) % $ 19,186 (60) % $ 47,574 11 % $ 42,887 1 % $ 42,588
Trust 5,668 (24) 7,487 31 5,737 (11) 6,464 12 5,782
Westwood Holdings (7,097) (16) (8,494) (9) (9,368) (10) (10,434) 44 (7,262)
Total $ 7,284 (60) % $ 18,179 (59) % $ 43,943 13 % $ 38,917 (5) % $ 41,108
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31,
Balance Sheet Data (in thousands) 2020 2019
Cash and cash equivalents $ 13,016 $ 49,766
Accounts receivable 9,450 13,177
Total liquid assets $ 22,466 $ 62,943
Investments, at fair value $ 69,542 $ 50,324
We fund our operations and cash requirements with cash generated from operating activities. We may also use cash from operations to pay dividends to our stockholders. We suspended dividends in the second quarter of 2020 in order to preserve capital and provide additional financial flexibility amid the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we had no debt. The changes in net cash provided by operating activities generally reflect changes in earnings plus the effects of non-cash items and changes in working capital, including liquidation of investments used to cover current liabilities. Changes in working capital, especially accounts receivable and accounts payable, are generally the result of timing differences between collection of fees billed and payment of operating expenses.
We had cash and short-term investments of $82.6 million and $100.1 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. On July 27, 2020, Westwood’s Board of Directors approved the closure of Westwood International Advisors, effective September 30, 2020. Following that decision by the Board of Directors, we repatriated over $37.0 million to the United States and primarily invested the cash in short-term investments. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, working capital aggregated $84.5 million and $95.6 million, respectively.
Westwood Trust must maintain cash and investments in an amount equal to the minimum restricted capital of $4.0 million, as required by the Texas Finance Code. Restricted capital is included in Investments in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2020, Westwood Trust had approximately $13.9 million in excess of its minimum capital requirement.
For the years ended December 31,
Cash Flow Data (in thousands) 2020 2019 2018
Operating cash flows $ (9,770) $ 32,172 $ 31,484
Investing cash flows (4) (4,848) 3,597
Financing cash flows (25,812) (31,870) (34,115)
Historically we have funded our operations and cash requirements with cash generated from operating activities. We may also use cash from operations to pay dividends to our stockholders. The changes in net cash provided by operating activities generally reflect the changes in earnings plus the effects of non-cash items and changes in working capital. Changes in working capital, especially accounts receivable and accounts payable, generally result from timing differences between collection of fees billed and payment of operating expenses.
During 2020, cash flow used in operating activities was $9.8 million, compared to cash provided by operations of $32.2 million during 2019 and $31.5 million during 2018. The decrease of $41.9 million from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to net purchases of investments, unrealized investment losses and a net loss in 2020. The increase of $0.7 million from 2018 to 2019 was primarily due to cash transferred to our investment accounts offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities and net income.
Cash flow used in investing activities was minimal in 2020. Cash flow used in investing activities during 2019 of $4.8 million was primarily related to our investment in Charis. Cash flow provided by investing activities during 2018 was primarily related to the proceeds from the sale of our Omaha-based component of our Wealth Management business, partially offset by our investment in InvestCloud.
Cash used in financing activities was $25.8 million in 2020 compared to $31.9 million and $34.1 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. The change from 2019 to 2020 primarily related to repurchases of common stock under our share repurchase plan and lower dividends, following our dividend suspension in the second quarter of 2020. The change from 2018 to 2019 related to repurchases of common stock under our share repurchase plan and the amount of restricted stock shares withheld for annual vesting, partially offset by higher dividends.
Our future liquidity and capital requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including results of operations, the timing and magnitude of capital expenditures or strategic initiatives, our dividend policy and other business and risk factors described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Report. We believe that current cash and short-term investment balances plus
cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet both the operating and capital requirements of our ordinary business operations through at least the next twelve months. However, there can be no assurance that we will not require additional financing within this time frame. The failure to raise needed capital on attractive terms, if at all, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Cash Dividends
The following table summarizes dividends declared during 2020 and 2019:
2020 Dividends
Declaration Date Record Date Paid Date Dividend Per Share
February 5, 2020 March 6, 2020 April 1, 2020 $0.43
2019 Dividends
Declaration Date Record Date Paid Date Dividend Per Share
February 6, 2019 March 8, 2019 April 1, 2019 $0.72
April 24, 2019 June 7, 2019 July 1, 2019 $0.72
July 31, 2019 September 6, 2019 October 1, 2019 $0.72
October 30, 2019 December 6, 2019 January 2, 2020 $0.72
$2.88
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands).
Payments due in:
Total Less than 1 year 1-3 years 4-5 years Thereafter
Purchase obligations(1)
$ 12,629 $ 4,858 $ 5,825 $ 1,946 $ -
(1) A “purchase obligation” is defined as an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding and that specifies all significant terms, including (a) fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; (b) fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and (c) the approximate timing of the transaction. Our purchase obligations relate to obligations associated with implementing and operating new information technology platforms and outsourcing services. The above purchase obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable without significant penalty.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent losses and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In applying accounting principles, we often must make individual estimates and assumptions regarding expected outcomes or uncertainties. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe the following are areas where the degree of judgment and complexity in determining amounts recorded in our Consolidated Financial Statements make accounting policies critical.
Consolidation
We assess each legal entity that we manage to determine whether consolidation is appropriate at the onset of the relationship. We first determine whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), or a voting interest entity (“VOE”), under GAAP and whether we have a controlling financial interest in the entity. Assessing whether or not an entity is a VOE or VIE and if it requires consolidation involves judgment and analysis. Factors considered in this assessment include, but are not limited to, the legal organization of the entity, our equity ownership and contractual involvement with the entity and any related party or de facto agent implications of our involvement with the entity. We reconsider whether entities are a VIE or VOE
whenever contractual arrangements change, the entity receives additional equity or returns equity to its investors or changes in facts and circumstances occur that change the investors' abilities to direct the activities of the entity.
A VIE is an entity in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities without subordinated financial support, (ii) the at-risk equity holders, as a group, lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or (iii) the entity is structured with disproportionate voting rights, and substantially all of the activities are conducted on behalf of an investor with disproportionately few voting rights. That is, the at-risk equity holders do not have the obligation to absorb significant losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. An enterprise must consolidate all VIEs of which it is the primary beneficiary. We determine if a sponsored investment meets the definition of a VIE by considering whether the fund’s equity investment at risk is sufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support and whether the fund’s at-risk equity holders absorb any losses, have the right to receive residual returns and have the right to direct the activities of the entity most responsible for the entity’s economic performance. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is defined as the party that, considering the involvement of related parties and de facto agents, has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect its economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. This evaluation is updated on a continuing basis.
A VOE is an entity that is outside the scope of the guidance for VIEs. Consolidation of a VOE is required when a reporting entity owns a controlling financial interest in a VOE. Ownership of a majority of the voting interests is the usual condition for a controlling financial interest.
We evaluated (i) our relationship as sponsor of the Common Trust Funds (“CTFs”) and managing member of the private equity funds Westwood Hospitality Fund I, LLC and Westwood Technology Opportunities Fund I, LP (collectively the “Private Funds”), (ii) our advisory relationships with the Westwood Funds® and (iii) our investments in InvestCloud and Charis discussed in Note 5 “Investments” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” (“Private Equity”) to determine whether each of these entities is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) or voting ownership entity (“VOE”).
Based on our analyses, we determined that the CTFs and Private Funds were VIEs, as the at-risk equity holders do not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance, and the Company and its representatives have a majority control of the entities' respective boards of directors and can influence the respective entities' management and affairs.
Based on our analyses, we determined the Westwood Funds® and Private Equity (i) have sufficient equity at risk to finance the entities' activities independently, (ii) have the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to direct the activities of the entities that most significantly impact the entities' economic performance and (iii) are not structured with disproportionate voting rights.
Based on our analyses of our investments in these entities for the periods ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, we have not consolidated the CTFs or Private Funds under the VIE method or the Westwood Funds® or Private Equity under the VOE method, and therefore the financial results of these entities are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial results.
Goodwill
Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment. We assess the recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill either qualitatively or quantitatively as of July 1 of each fiscal year, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. We test more frequently if indicators are present or changes in circumstances suggest that impairment may exist. These indicators include declines in revenues, earnings or cash flows, or the development of a material adverse change in the business climate.
We assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, which is referred to as a component. We have identified two reporting units, which are consistent with our reporting segments: Advisory and Trust. The Company is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless we determine that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than the carrying amount. We assess goodwill for impairment using either a qualitative or quantitative assessment. The qualitative assessment includes consideration of the current trends in the industry in which we operate, macroeconomic conditions and recent financial performance of our reporting units. The quantitative analysis requires a comparison of each reporting unit’s carrying value to the fair value of the respective unit. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recorded based on that difference.
The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using a market multiple approach and an income approach. The key assumptions used in the market multiple valuation require significant management judgment, including the determination of our peer group and the valuation multiples of such peer group. The income approach is based on the long-term projected future cash flows of the reporting units. These cash flows are determined based on revenue and expense projections over each of the next
five years and a terminal revenue growth rate thereafter. We discount the estimated cash flows to present value using a weighted average cost of capital ("the discount rate") that considers factors such as market assumptions, the timing of cash flows and the risks inherent in such cash flows. An impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
Following a sustained decline in the Company's market capitalization, we determined that the entire goodwill related to our Advisory segment was impaired, and recorded impairment charges of $3.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 to "Impairment expense" on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
We determined the fair value of each of our reporting units using a weighted average approach of the market and income approaches. As part of this current assessment, we determined that an increase in the discount rate (from the prior assessment) applied in the valuation was required to align with market-based assumptions. The higher discount rate, in conjunction with revised long-term projections resulted in a lower fair value of the Advisory segment.
There was no goodwill impairment in the Trust segment, nor were there any goodwill impairments recorded during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We operate in several states and countries and are required to allocate our income, expenses and earnings under the various laws and regulations of these tax jurisdictions. Accordingly, our provision for income taxes reflects the statutory tax obligations of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment and complex calculations are used when determining our tax liability and in evaluating our tax positions, and we are subject to audits by taxing authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We adjust our income tax provision in the period in which we determine that actual outcomes will likely be different from our estimates. Changes in tax laws may result in changes to our tax position and effective tax rates. We include penalties and interest on income-based taxes in the “General and administrative” line on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). On December 22, 2017, the Tax Reform Act was signed into law. Further information on the tax impacts of the Tax Reform Act is included in Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
We are required to assess whether a valuation allowance should be established against our deferred tax assets based on consideration of all available evidence, using a more-likely-than-not standard. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we have not recorded a valuation allowance on any deferred tax assets. In the event that sufficient taxable income does not result in future years, a valuation allowance may be required.
We account for uncertain tax positions by recognizing the impact of a tax position in our Consolidated Financial Statements when we believe it is more likely than not that the tax position would not be sustained upon examination by the appropriate tax authority based on the merits of the position. We periodically review our tax positions and adjust the balances as new information becomes available. In making these assessments, we often must analyze complex tax laws of multiple domestic and international jurisdictions. The actual outcome of our tax positions, if significantly different from our estimates, could materially impact the financial statements. Further information on uncertain tax positions is included in Note 8 “Income Taxes” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Accounting Developments
See Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for a description of new accounting standards and their anticipated effects on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Our revenues are primarily generated from fees derived as a percentage of our AUM, which is subject to market risks. Additionally, we invest corporate capital in various financial instruments, including U. S. treasury bills and equity funds, all of which present inherent market risks. We do not currently participate in any hedging activities, nor do we utilize any derivative financial instruments. The following information describes the key aspects of certain financial instruments that involve market risks.
Securities Markets and Interest Rates
The value of AUM is affected by fluctuations in securities markets and changes in interest rates. Since we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from investment advisory and trust fees based on the value of AUM, our revenues may be adversely affected by a decline in the prices of securities or changing interest rates. A hypothetical 10% decrease in our average AUM during the year ended December 31, 2020 would have reduced our reported consolidated total revenue by approximately $6 million.
Our cash equivalents and other investment instruments are exposed to financial market risk due to fluctuations in interest rates, which may affect interest income. We do not expect interest income to be significantly affected by sudden changes in market interest rates.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The independent registered public accounting firm's report and our Consolidated Financial Statements listed in the accompanying index are included in Item 15 of this Report. See “Index to Financial Statements” on page.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2020 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act was (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the quarterly period ended December 31, 2020, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.’S MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.:
The management of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (“Westwood”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)). Westwood’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, contain inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The management of Westwood assessed the effectiveness of Westwood’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in the 2013 Internal Control - Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2020, Westwood’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
Westwood is not required to, nor did it, engage an independent registered public accounting firm to issue an audit report on our assessment of Westwood's internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/ Brian O. Casey
Brian O. Casey, President & Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Murray Forbes III
Murray Forbes III, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
March 4, 2021
Dallas, Texas

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this item is, or will be, set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., which is to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (the “Proxy Statement”). The Proxy Statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors, and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Report by this item are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item is, or will be, set forth in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors, and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Report by this item are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table gives information as of December 31, 2020 about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under our Seventh Amended and Restated Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan and the Share Award Plan of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. for Service Provided in Canada to its Subsidiaries, which are our only equity compensation plans in effect at that time. The material terms of these plans were approved by our stockholders and are discussed in Note 7 “Employee Benefits” to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II. Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Plan Category Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders - $ - 684,000 (1)
(1) 684,000 shares are available under our Seventh Amended and Restated Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan. Our Share Award Plan of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. for Service Provided in Canada to its Subsidiaries was effectively terminated following the closure of Westwood International Advisors.
The other information required by this item is, or will be, set forth in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors, and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Report by this item are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item is, or will be, set forth in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors, and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Report by this item are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this item is, or will be, set forth in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors, and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Report by this item are incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statements included in this Report are listed in the Index to Financial Statements on page 1 of this Report. Schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are either not required under the related instructions or are not applicable.
Exhibits
The exhibits required to be furnished pursuant to Item 15 are listed in the Index to Exhibits filed herewith, which Index to Exhibits is incorporated herein by reference.