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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[x]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017
OR
[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
 
 
 
to
 
Commission file number: 1-8529
imageleggmasona08.jpg
LEGG MASON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
MARYLAND
 
52-1200960
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
100 International Drive - Baltimore, MD
 
21202
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
 
 
 
(410) 539-0000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
X
 
No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). 
Yes
X
 
No
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
X
 
Accelerated filer
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
 
Emerging growth company
 
 
 
 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ____

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
84,540,288 shares of common stock as of the close of business on January 31, 2018.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.      Financial Statements

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
680,322

 
$
733,709

Cash and cash equivalents of consolidated investment vehicles
 
4,325

 
651

Restricted cash
 
17,605

 
16,046

Receivables:
 
 
 
 
Investment advisory and related fees
 
482,652

 
433,192

Other
 
53,105

 
70,527

Investment securities
 
409,369

 
423,619

Investment securities of consolidated investment vehicles
 
126,942

 
49,901

Other
 
72,744

 
74,102

Other current assets of consolidated investment vehicles
 
1,694

 

Total Current Assets
 
1,848,758

 
1,801,747

Fixed assets, net
 
148,859

 
159,662

Intangible assets, net
 
3,800,885

 
4,034,380

Goodwill
 
1,925,650

 
1,924,889

Deferred income taxes
 
204,787

 
202,843

Other
 
137,055

 
156,907

Other assets of consolidated investment vehicles
 
9,172

 
9,987

TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
8,075,166

 
$
8,290,415

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 

LIABILITIES
 
 

 
 

Current Liabilities
 
 

 
 

Accrued compensation
 
$
390,976

 
$
486,679

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
198,481

 
181,793

Short-term borrowings
 
225,500

 

Contingent consideration
 
16,625

 
22,316

Other
 
100,519

 
117,863

Other current liabilities of consolidated investment vehicles
 
487

 
736

Total Current Liabilities
 
932,588

 
809,387

Deferred compensation
 
98,586

 
87,757

Deferred income taxes
 
123,788

 
329,229

Contingent consideration
 
4,076

 
14,494

Other
 
133,106

 
138,737

Long-term debt, net
 
2,221,824

 
2,221,867

TOTAL LIABILITIES
 
3,513,968

 
3,601,471

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)
 
 
 
 
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
 
727,706

 
677,772

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Common stock, par value $.10; authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued 84,490,108 shares for December 2017 and 95,726,628 shares for March 2017
 
8,449

 
9,573

Additional paid-in capital
 
1,960,021

 
2,385,726

Employee stock trust
 
(21,860
)
 
(24,057
)
Deferred compensation employee stock trust
 
21,860

 
24,057

Retained earnings
 
1,911,479

 
1,694,859

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
 
(74,118
)
 
(106,784
)
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
3,805,831

 
3,983,374

Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest
 
27,661

 
27,798

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
3,833,492

 
4,011,172

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
8,075,166

 
$
8,290,415

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3

Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
OPERATING REVENUES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment advisory fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Separate accounts
 
$
255,696

 
$
231,922

 
$
758,870

 
$
692,103

Funds
 
395,370

 
368,962

 
1,170,633

 
1,109,504

Performance fees
 
58,926

 
22,913

 
181,284

 
82,342

Distribution and service fees
 
81,463

 
90,195

 
241,037

 
276,122

Other
 
1,635

 
1,249

 
3,446

 
3,705

Total Operating Revenues
 
793,090

 
715,241

 
2,355,270

 
2,163,776

OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
 
362,071

 
327,862

 
1,143,329

 
1,054,817

Distribution and servicing
 
124,254

 
123,191

 
370,237

 
376,722

Communications and technology
 
54,239

 
52,630

 
155,841

 
156,643

Occupancy
 
24,982

 
23,537

 
74,561

 
87,237

Amortization of intangible assets
 
6,071

 
7,277

 
18,492

 
19,251

Impairment charges
 
195,000

 
35,000

 
229,000

 
35,000

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments
 
739

 
(14,500
)
 
(15,811
)
 
(39,500
)
Other
 
53,067

 
49,078

 
155,330

 
161,252

Total Operating Expenses
 
820,423

 
604,075

 
2,130,979

 
1,851,422

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
 
(27,333
)
 
111,166

 
224,291

 
312,354

NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
1,827

 
1,713

 
4,867

 
5,106

Interest expense
 
(29,088
)
 
(29,495
)
 
(87,431
)
 
(81,985
)
Other income, net
 
5,519

 
6,126

 
24,196

 
22,686

Non-operating income of consolidated investment vehicles, net
 
8,225

 
1,458

 
11,316

 
9,892

Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
(13,517
)
 
(20,198
)
 
(47,052
)
 
(44,301
)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)
 
(40,850
)
 
90,968

 
177,239

 
268,053

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
(209,396
)
 
26,441

 
(142,468
)
 
71,654

NET INCOME
 
168,546

 
64,527

 
319,707

 
196,399

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
19,324

 
13,088

 
43,901


45,067

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC.
 
$
149,222

 
$
51,439

 
$
275,806

 
$
151,332

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC. SHAREHOLDERS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.59

 
$
0.50

 
$
2.87

 
$
1.44

Diluted
 
1.58

 
0.50

 
2.86

 
1.43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.22

 
$
0.84

 
$
0.66

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
NET INCOME
 
$
168,546

 
$
64,527

 
$
319,707

 
$
196,399

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
190

 
(43,666
)
 
32,303

 
(55,797
)
Reclassification of cumulative foreign currency translation on Legg Mason Poland sale
 

 
2,493

 

 
2,493

Unrealized losses on interest rate swap:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized losses on interest rate swap, net of tax benefit of $1,708
 

 

 

 
(2,718
)
Reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income, net of tax benefit of $1,708
 

 

 

 
2,718

Net unrealized losses on interest rate swap
 

 

 



Changes in defined benefit pension plan
 
123

 
3,568

 
363

 
(16,483
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
 
313

 
(37,605
)
 
32,666

 
(69,787
)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
168,859

 
26,922

 
352,373

 
126,612

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
19,634

 
17,123

 
42,401

 
49,161

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC.
 
$
149,225

 
$
9,799

 
$
309,972

 
$
77,451

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC.
 
 
 
 
COMMON STOCK
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
$
9,573

 
$
10,701

Stock options exercised
 
37

 
14

Deferred compensation employee stock trust
 
1

 
1

Stock-based compensation
 
94

 
41

Employee tax withholdings by settlement of net share transactions
 
(35
)
 
(36
)
Shares repurchased and retired
 
(1,221
)
 
(912
)
Ending balance
 
8,449

 
9,809

ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL
 
 
 
 

Beginning balance
 
2,385,726

 
2,693,113

Stock options exercised
 
10,593

 
3,906

Deferred compensation employee stock trust
 
419

 
385

Stock-based compensation
 
54,334

 
60,567

Performance-based restricted share units related to the acquisition of Clarion Partners
 

 
11,121

Employee tax withholdings by settlement of net share transactions
 
(13,039
)
 
(11,809
)
Shares repurchased and retired
 
(477,918
)
 
(290,762
)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest reclassification for affiliate management equity plans
 
(94
)
 
(3,632
)
Ending balance
 
1,960,021

 
2,462,889

EMPLOYEE STOCK TRUST
 
 
 
 

Beginning balance
 
(24,057
)
 
(26,263
)
Shares issued to plans
 
(420
)
 
(386
)
Distributions and forfeitures
 
2,617

 
1,663

Ending balance
 
(21,860
)
 
(24,986
)
DEFERRED COMPENSATION EMPLOYEE STOCK TRUST
 
 
 
 

Beginning balance
 
24,057

 
26,263

Shares issued to plans
 
420

 
386

Distributions and forfeitures
 
(2,617
)
 
(1,663
)
Ending balance
 
21,860

 
24,986

RETAINED EARNINGS
 
 
 
 

Beginning balance
 
1,694,859

 
1,576,242

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
275,806

 
151,332

Dividends declared
 
(80,442
)
 
(68,377
)
Reclassifications to noncontrolling interest for:
 
 
 
 
EnTrustPermal combination
 

 
(15,500
)
Net increase in estimated redemption value of affiliate management equity plans and affiliate noncontrolling interests
 
(3,071
)
 
(2,629
)
Adoption of new stock-based compensation guidance
 
24,327

 

Ending balance
 
1,911,479

 
1,641,068

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET
 
 
 
 

Beginning balance
 
(106,784
)
 
(66,493
)
Changes in defined benefit pension plan
 
363

 
(16,483
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
32,303

 
(55,797
)
Reclassification of cumulative foreign currency translation on Legg Mason Poland sale
 

 
2,493

Ending balance
 
(74,118
)
 
(136,280
)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC.
 
3,805,831


3,977,486

NONREDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
 
27,798

 
22,202

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
6,387

 
5,732

Distributions
 
(6,524
)
 
(4,555
)
Ending balance
 
27,661

 
23,379

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
$
3,833,492

 
$
4,000,865

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Net Income
 
$
319,707

 
$
196,399

Adjustments to reconcile Net Income to net cash provided by operations:
 
 
 
 
Impairments of intangible assets
 
229,000

 
35,000

Tax benefit for new Tax Law
 
(213,675
)

Depreciation and amortization
 
54,551

 
60,639

Accretion and amortization of securities discounts and premiums, net
 
2,255

 
3,058

Stock-based compensation, including $15,200 related to Clarion Partners affiliate management equity plan in 2016
 
55,002

 
71,922

Net unrealized gains on investments
 
(21,841
)
 
(25,633
)
Net (gains) losses and earnings on investments
 
(2,874
)
 
959

Net gains of consolidated investment vehicles
 
(11,316
)
 
(9,892
)
Deferred income taxes
 
46,650

 
59,729

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments
 
(15,811
)
 
(39,500
)
Payment of contingent consideration
 
(739
)
 

Other
 
(196
)
 
585

Decrease (increase) in assets:
 
 
 
 
Investment advisory and related fees receivable
 
(47,603
)
 
(18,456
)
Net sales of trading and other investments
 
43,550

 
61,935

Other receivables
 
5,471

 
(5,768
)
Other assets
 
2,199

 
(13,070
)
Assets of consolidated investment vehicles
 
(54,648
)
 
17,530

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accrued compensation
 
(97,419
)
 
12,068

Deferred compensation
 
10,633

 
21,530

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
15,278

 
(4,689
)
Other liabilities
 
(24,853
)
 
(74,896
)
Other liabilities of consolidated investment vehicles
 
(249
)
 
(2,489
)
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
$
293,072

 
$
346,961











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Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)


 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 

Payments for fixed assets
 
$
(24,540
)
 
$
(27,489
)
Business investments and acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $33,547 in 2016
 
(2,950
)
 
(1,009,928
)
Proceeds from sale of businesses
 

 
12,081

Contingent payment from prior sale of business
 
2,561

 

Change in restricted cash
 
(1,262
)
 
4,849

Returns of capital and proceeds from sales and maturities of investments
 
7,637

 
5,541

CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
(18,554
)
 
(1,014,946
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
Repurchases of common stock
 
(479,139
)
 
(291,674
)
Dividends paid
 
(76,000
)
 
(66,178
)
Distributions to affiliate noncontrolling interests
 
(43,477
)
 
(23,351
)
Net subscriptions/(redemptions) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
44,708


(18,310
)
Employee tax withholdings by settlement of net share transactions
 
(13,074
)
 
(11,845
)
Issuances of common stock for stock-based compensation
 
11,050

 
4,306

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
 

 
500,000

Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
 
225,500

 
(40,000
)
Debt issuance costs
 

 
(17,639
)
Payment of contingent consideration
 
(2,503
)
 
(6,587
)
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
(332,935
)
 
28,722

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH
 
5,030

 
(357
)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
(53,387
)
 
(639,620
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
733,709

 
1,329,126

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
 
$
680,322

 
$
689,506

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for:
 
 
 
 
Income taxes, net of refunds of $9,471 and $1,085, respectively
 
$
16,770

 
$
14,436

Interest
 
67,482

 
59,601

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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Table of Contents

LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted)
December 31, 2017
(Unaudited)

1. Interim Basis of Reporting

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Legg Mason, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Legg Mason”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the interim basis of reporting and, as such, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. The preparation of interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates and the differences could have a material impact on the interim consolidated financial statements. Terms such as “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Company” refer to Legg Mason.

The nature of Legg Mason's business is such that the results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of a full year. Certain disclosures included in the Company's annual report are not required to be included on an interim basis in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The Company has condensed or omitted these disclosures. Certain amounts in prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including amounts for Contingent consideration fair value adjustments in the Consolidated Statements of Income and amounts for cash flows from financing activities related to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The information contained in the interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with Legg Mason's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Consolidation
In the normal course of its business, Legg Mason sponsors and manages various types of investment products. For its services, Legg Mason is entitled to receive management fees and may be eligible, under certain circumstances, to receive additional subordinated management fees or other incentive fees. Legg Mason's exposure to risk in these entities is generally limited to any equity investment it has made or is required to make, and any earned but uncollected management fees. Legg Mason did not sell or transfer investment assets to any of these investment products. In accordance with financial accounting standards, Legg Mason consolidates certain sponsored investment products, some of which are designated and reported as consolidated investment vehicles (“CIVs”). The consolidation of sponsored investment products, including those designated as CIVs, has no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and does not have a material impact on Legg Mason's consolidated operating results. The change in the value of all consolidated sponsored investment products is recorded in Non-Operating Income (Expense) and reflected in Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Certain of the investment products Legg Mason sponsors and manages are considered to be variable interest entities ("VIEs") (as further described below) while others are considered to be voting rights entities (“VREs”) subject to traditional consolidation concepts based on ownership rights. Legg Mason may fund the initial cash investment in certain VRE investment products to generate an investment performance track record in order to attract third-party investors in the product. Legg Mason's initial investment in a new product typically represents 100% of the ownership in that product. As further discussed in Note 4, the products with “seed capital investments” are consolidated as long as Legg Mason maintains a controlling financial interest in the product, but they are not designated as CIVs by Legg Mason unless the investment is longer-term. As of December 31, 2017, March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, no consolidated VREs were designated as CIVs.

A VIE is an entity which does not have adequate equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support; or the equity investors, as a group, do not have the normal characteristics of equity investors for a potential controlling financial interest. Legg Mason must consolidate any VIE for which it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary.

9

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Under consolidation accounting guidance, if limited partners or similar equity holders in a sponsored investment vehicle structured as a limited partnership or a similar entity do not have either substantive kick-out or substantive participation rights over the general partner, the entities are VIEs. As a sponsor and manager of an investment vehicle, Legg Mason may be deemed a decision maker under the accounting guidance. If the fees paid to a decision maker are market-based, such fees are not considered variable interests in a VIE. Market-based fees are those fees which are both customary and commensurate with the level of effort required for the services provided. Additionally, if employee interests in a sponsored investment vehicle are not made to circumvent the consolidation guidance and are not financed by the sponsor, they are not included in the variable interests assessment, and are not included in the primary beneficiary determination.

A decision maker is deemed to be a primary beneficiary of a VIE if it has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits from variable interests that could be significant to the VIE. In determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, Legg Mason considers both qualitative and quantitative factors such as the voting rights of the equity holders, guarantees, and implied relationships. If a fee paid to a decision maker is not market-based, it will be considered in the primary beneficiary determination.

As of December 31, 2017, March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, Legg Mason concluded it was the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs because it held significant financial interests in the funds. In addition, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored exchange traded funds ("ETFs"). Under the terms of the total return swaps, Legg Mason absorbs all gains and losses on the underlying ETF investments of these financial intermediaries, and therefore has variable interests in each of the two related funds, and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. Legg Mason consolidates each of the two ETFs, which were designated as CIVs. See Notes 4 and 13 for additional information related to VIEs and CIVs and Note 12 for additional information regarding total return swaps.

Contingent Consideration Liabilities
In connection with business acquisitions, Legg Mason may be required to pay additional future consideration based on the achievement of certain designated financial metrics. Legg Mason estimates the fair value of these potential future obligations at the time a business combination is consummated and records a Contingent consideration liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Legg Mason accretes contingent consideration liabilities to the expected payment amounts over the related earn-out terms until the obligations are ultimately paid, resulting in Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. If the expected payment amounts subsequently change, the contingent consideration liabilities are (reduced) or increased in the current period, resulting in a (gain) or loss, which is reflected within Contingent consideration fair value adjustments in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Payments of amounts equal to or less than the acquisition date fair value are reflected as Cash Flows from Financing Activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, while payments of amounts in excess of the acquisition date fair value are reflected as Cash Flows from Operating Activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. See Notes 3 and 9 for additional information regarding contingent consideration liabilities.

Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests include affiliate minority interests, third-party investor equity in consolidated sponsored investment products, and vested affiliate management equity plan interests. For CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products with third-party investors, the related noncontrolling interests are classified as redeemable noncontrolling interests if investors in these funds may request withdrawals at any time. Also included in redeemable noncontrolling interests are vested affiliate management equity plan and affiliate minority interests for which the holder may, at some point, request settlement of their interests. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their estimated settlement values. Changes in the expected settlement values are recognized over the settlement period as adjustments to retained earnings. Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests include vested affiliate management equity plan interests that do not permit the holder to request settlement of their interests. Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests are reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their issuance value, together with undistributed net income allocated to noncontrolling interests.

Legg Mason estimates the settlement value of noncontrolling interests as their fair value. For consolidated sponsored investment products, where the investor may request withdrawal at any time, fair value is based on market quotes of the

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underlying securities held by the investment products. For affiliate minority interests and management equity plan interests, fair value reflects the related total business enterprise value, after appropriate discounts for lack of marketability and control.
There may also be features of these equity interests, such as dividend subordination, that are contemplated in their valuations. The fair value of option-like management equity plan interests also relies on Black-Scholes option pricing model calculations.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Statements of Income includes the share of net income of the respective subsidiary allocated to the minority interest holders.

See Note 11 for additional information regarding noncontrolling interests.

Derivative Instruments
As noted above, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored ETFs for initial aggregate notional amounts totaling $48,639 which resulted in investments in the ETFs by each of those financial intermediaries. As of December 31, 2017, the aggregate notional amounts related to these total return swap arrangements totaled $51,066. The total return swap arrangements qualify as derivative instruments and are not designated for hedge accounting. In connection with the arrangements, Legg Mason also executed futures contracts to partially hedge the market risk related to the total return swap arrangements.

See Notes 4, 12, and 13 for additional information.

Stock-Based Compensation
Effective April 1, 2017, Legg Mason adopted updated accounting guidance on stock-based compensation accounting. The updated guidance simplifies several aspects of accounting for stock-based compensation including the income tax consequences, and clarifies classification criteria for awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification of related amounts in statements of cash flows. The updated guidance requires all excess tax benefits and deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation to be recognized as discrete items in the Income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the reporting period in which they occur, thereby increasing the volatility of the Income tax provision as a result of fluctuations in Legg Mason's stock price. Legg Mason adopted this amendment on a modified retrospective basis, and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $24,327 as an increase to both deferred tax assets and Retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 1, 2017. These tax benefits were not previously recognized due to Legg Mason's cumulative tax loss position. In addition, Legg Mason recorded a related discrete Income tax expense of $297 and $1,417 during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for vested stock awards with a grant date exercise price higher than the related vesting date stock price, as this aspect of the guidance was adopted on a prospective basis. Upon adoption of the updated guidance, Legg Mason elected to prospectively account for forfeitures as they occur, which did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Also, cash flows related to income tax deductions in excess of or less than the related stock-based compensation expense will be classified as Cash Flows from Operating Activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net
There were no significant amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, to the Consolidated Statements of Income, except as follows. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, $123 and $363, respectively, of previously unrecognized losses on a defined benefit pension plan were reclassified and expensed as further described in Note 3, during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, $2,493 of cumulative foreign currency translation related to the sale of Legg Mason Poland was reclassified and expensed, and during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, $4,426 was realized on the settlement of an interest rate swap, which was also reclassified and expensed, as further described in Note 7.

Income Taxes
 
On December 22, 2017, H.R. 1 "An Act to Provide for the Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018" (the "Tax Law") became enacted law. The Tax Law is complex, materially changes the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, and includes various changes which will impact Legg Mason. The reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate resulted in a one-time, non-cash provisional tax benefit of $220,935, recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, due to the re-measurement of certain existing deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new income tax rate. In addition, a non-cash tax charge of $7,260 was provisionally provided in the three months ended December 31, 2017, for the effects on unremitted foreign earnings and other aspects of the Tax Law. Legg Mason’s

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re-measurement of its deferred tax assets and liabilities is subject to further adjustments during the measurement period due to the complexity of determining its net deferred tax liability as of the enactment date. Further, our accounting for the tax on unremitted foreign earnings is incomplete due to the complexity of determining the various components of the calculation, including the relevant level of our foreign earnings and profits and the amount of those earnings held in cash and other specified assets. Adjustments to these provisional items may be made in subsequent periods as more detailed information and guidance is obtained and analyzed.

The income tax provision (benefit) and effective tax (benefit) rate were also impacted by the following items during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Noncontrolling interests in EnTrustPermal Group Holdings, LLC ("EnTrustPermal"), Clarion Partners, LLC ("Clarion Partners") and Royce & Associates ("Royce") are structured as partnerships that pass an allocable portion of tax attributes and obligations to the related noncontrolling interest holders. As such, the consolidated financial statements do not generally include any tax provision/benefit associated with the net income allocated to these noncontrolling interests. Due to the significant tax benefit recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, as further discussed above, the impact of noncontrolling interests increased the effective tax rate by over 100 percentage points for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and increased the effective benefit rate by approximately 23 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2017. For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, the impact of noncontrolling interests resulted in a reduction in the effective tax rate of 6.2 percentage points and 2.2 percentage points, respectively.

During the three months ended December 31, 2017, changes in apportionment on state deferred tax liabilities and changes in state law resulted in additional net tax expense of $3,255, and reduced the effective tax rate by 8.0 percentage points and the effective tax benefit by 1.8 percentage points for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively. As a result of the impairment of certain intangible assets at EnTrustPermal further discussed below, the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, also included income tax expense of $3,900 due to the reversal of income tax benefits previously recognized in connection with the impact of changes in the U.K. corporate tax rate on deferred tax liabilities associated with those intangible assets. This expense reduced the effective tax rate by 9.5 percentage points and the effective tax benefit by 2.2 percentage points for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.
In connection with the adoption of updated accounting guidance on stock-based compensation accounting discussed above, Legg Mason recorded a discrete income tax expense of approximately $297 and $1,417 during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, which reduced the effective tax rate by 0.7 percentage points and the effective tax benefit by 0.8 percentage points for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

During the three months ended December 31, 2016, an increase in the valuation allowance related to certain state net operating loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits resulted in additional tax expense of $4,755, and increased the effective tax rate by 5.2 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, respectively. This expense was offset in part by an income tax benefit of $2,865 recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2016, for provision to return adjustments recognized in connection with the filing of fiscal year 2016 tax returns, which reduced the effective tax rate by 3.1 percentage points and 1.1 percentage points for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, respectively.

In September 2016, the U.K. Finance Act 2016 was enacted, which reduced the main U.K. corporate tax rate effective on April 1, 2020 from 18% to 17%. The reduction in the U.K. corporate tax rate resulted in a tax benefit of $4,055, recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2016, as a result of the revaluation of certain existing deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new rate, which reduced the effective tax rate by 1.5 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, Legg Mason also recognized income tax benefits of $2,200 as a result of reserve adjustments related to the conclusion of certain tax examinations, which reduced the effective tax rate by 0.8 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2016.

Recent Accounting Developments
In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") updated the guidance on accounting for derivative hedging. The updated guidance more closely aligns the results of cash flow and fair value hedging designations with risk management activities through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results in the financial statements.  The new guidance also simplifies the application of hedge accounting.  The updated guidance is effective for Legg Mason in fiscal 2020, unless adopted earlier. 

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Legg Mason uses accounting hedge designation from time-to-time and would only potentially be impacted if derivative transactions were designated for hedging.

In February 2016, the FASB updated the guidance on accounting for leases. The updated guidance requires that a lessee shall recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from lease transactions. A lessee will recognize a right-of-use asset to use the underlying asset and a liability representing the lease payments. The updated guidance also requires an evaluation at the inception of a service or other contract, to determine whether the contract is or contains a lease. The guidance will be effective for Legg Mason in fiscal 2020. Legg Mason expects to recognize right of use assets and liabilities upon its adoption of the new standard and is continuing to evaluate the full impact of adoption.

In May 2014, the FASB updated the guidance on revenue recognition. The updated guidance provides a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers, improves comparability and removes inconsistencies in revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. The guidance also requires comprehensive disclosures about the nature, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including significant judgments made in applying the guidance. In March and April 2016, the FASB further updated the revenue guidance on determining whether to report revenue on a gross versus net basis and clarified the identification of revenue performance obligations.

Legg Mason has reviewed its revenue contracts, and is monitoring relevant implementation guidance. Legg Mason does not anticipate any significant changes to current revenue recognition practices, except as discussed below. Legg Mason may be required to recognize longer-term performance and incentive fees subject to clawback when clawback is not reasonably possible. This is earlier than under its current revenue recognition process, which defers recognition until all contingencies are resolved. Additionally, Legg Mason expects certain separate account commissions currently expensed when paid will meet the criteria for capitalization and amortization. This change will require recognition of a deferred commissions cost asset, but is not expected to materially impact the amount of commission expense recognized post adoption. Legg Mason has also evaluated whether revenue-related costs currently presented on a gross basis will be recorded net, or vice versa. While most of Legg Mason's revenue-related costs will continue to be recorded on a gross basis, certain fund reimbursements paid will begin to be recorded as a contra revenue (net) under the new guidance.

The evaluation of the effect of this guidance is ongoing, and Legg Mason has not determined the ultimate impact of the adoption or the transition method to be used upon adoption, which is effective for Legg Mason on April 1, 2018.


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3. Acquisitions

Acquisitions
The following table presents a summary of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for each of Legg Mason's significant recent acquisitions:
 
 
EnTrust Capital
 
Clarion Partners
 
RARE Infrastructure Limited
 
Martin Currie (Holdings) Limited
 
QS Investors Holdings, LLC
Acquisition Date
 
May 2,
2016
 
April 13, 2016
 
October 21, 2015
 
October 1, 2014
 
May 31,
 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase price
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
400,000

 
$
631,476

 
$
213,739

 
$
202,577

 
$
11,000

Estimated contingent consideration
 

 

 
25,000

 
75,211

 
13,370

Performance-based Legg Mason restricted share units
 

 
11,121

 

 

 

Minority equity interest transferred
 
140,000

(1) 

 

 

 

Total consideration
 
540,000

 
642,597

 
238,739

 
277,788

 
24,370

Fair value of noncontrolling interests
 
247,700

(1) 
105,300

 
62,722

 

 

Total
 
787,700

 
747,897

 
301,461

 
277,788

 
24,370

Identifiable assets and liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
8,236

 
25,307

 
9,667

 
29,389

 
441

Investments
 
16,220

 
22,285

 

 

 
3,281

Receivables
 
20,820

 
53,657

 
6,612

 

 
2,699

Indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts
 
262,300

 
505,200

 
122,755

 
135,321

 

Indefinite-life trade name
 
7,400

 
23,100

 
4,766

 
7,130

 

Amortizable intangible asset management contracts
 
65,500

 
102,800

 
67,877

 
15,234

 
7,060

Fixed assets
 
4,479

 
8,255

 
673

 
784

 
599

Other current assets (liabilities), net
 
1,030

 
(25,585
)
 
(10,605
)


 

Liabilities, net
 
(8,823
)
 
(10,579
)
 
(3,948
)
 
(4,388
)
 
(6,620
)
Pension liability
 

 

 

 
(32,433
)
 

Deferred tax liabilities
 

 
(36,788
)
 
(58,619
)
 
(31,537
)
 

Total identifiable assets and liabilities
 
377,162

 
667,652

 
139,178

 
119,500

 
7,460

Goodwill
 
$
410,538

 
$
80,245

 
$
162,283

 
$
158,288

 
$
16,910

(1)
Post combination EnTrustPermal noncontrolling interest of $403,200 also included a fair value reclassification of $15,500 from retained earnings at the time of the acquisition.

EnTrust Capital
On May 2, 2016, Legg Mason acquired EnTrust Capital ("EnTrust") and combined it with The Permal Group, Ltd. ("Permal"), Legg Mason's existing hedge fund platform, to form EnTrustPermal. EnTrust, an alternative asset management firm headquartered in New York, had $9,600,000 in assets under management ("AUM") and approximately $2,000,000 in assets under advisement and committed capital at closing, and largely complementary investment strategies, investor base, and business mix to Permal. The transaction included a cash payment of $400,000, which was funded with borrowings under Legg Mason's revolving credit facility, as well as a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of $450,000 of 4.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes") and $250,000 of 6.375% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2056 (the "6.375% 2056 Notes") in March 2016. As a result of the combination, Legg Mason owns 65% of the new entity, EnTrustPermal, with the remaining 35% owned by EnTrust's co-founder and managing partner. The noncontrolling interests can be put by the holder or called by Legg Mason for settlement at fair value subject to various conditions, including the passage of time. The fair value of the noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the total business enterprise value of the combined entity, after appropriate discounts for lack of marketability and control.


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The fair value of the acquired amortizable intangible asset management contracts had a useful life of approximately eight years at acquisition. Purchase price allocated to intangible assets and goodwill is expected to be deductible for U.S. tax purposes over a period of 15 years. Goodwill is principally attributable to synergies expected to arise with EnTrust.

Management estimated the fair values of the indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts, indefinite-life trade name, and amortizable intangible asset management contracts based upon discounted cash flow analyses, using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in these analyses at acquisition, including projected annual cash flows, projected AUM growth rates and discount rates, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Projected Cash Flow Growth
 
Discount Rate
Indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts
 
(1)% to 5% (weighted-average: 4%)
 
14.5%
Indefinite-life trade name

 
6% to 14% (weighted-average: 6%)
 
14.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected AUM Growth / (Attrition)
 
Discount Rate
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts
 
10% / (13)%
 
13.5%

After the completion of the annual impairment testing process in fiscal 2017, the indefinite-life funds management contracts asset related to the EnTrust acquisition was combined with the indefinite-life funds-of-hedge funds management contracts asset related to the legacy Permal business. During the three months ended December 31, 2017, the combined EnTrustPermal indefinite-life funds management contracts asset was impaired by $195,000. See Note 6 for additional information.

Costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of EnTrust were $7,031 during the nine months ended December 31, 2016.

The financial results of EnTrust included in Legg Mason's consolidated financial results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, include revenues of $39,206 and $84,472, respectively, and did not have a material impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.

In connection with the combination of EnTrust and Permal, Legg Mason incurred total charges for restructuring and transition costs of $90,313 through December 31, 2017, which includes $1,312 and $5,232, respectively, recognized during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017. These costs were primarily comprised of charges for employee termination benefits, including severance and retention incentives, which were recorded as Compensation and benefits, in the Consolidated Statements of Income, and real estate related charges, which were recorded as Occupancy, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. While the combination is substantially complete, Legg Mason expects to incur additional costs totaling $2,000 to $3,000 during the remainder of fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019.


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The table below presents a summary of changes in the restructuring and transition-related liability from December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2017, and cumulative charges incurred to date:
 
 
Compensation
 
Other
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
$

 
$

 
$

Accrued charges
 
31,581

 
9,981

(1)
41,562

Payments
 
(21,938
)
 
(2,097
)
 
(24,035
)
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
9,643

 
7,884

 
17,527

Accrued charges
 
22,891

 
11,075

(1)
33,966

Payments
 
(29,211
)
 
(12,408
)
 
(41,619
)
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
3,323

 
6,551

 
9,874

Accrued charges
 
1,608

 
650

 
2,258

Payments
 
(4,776
)
 
(4,449
)
 
(9,225
)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
155

 
$
2,752

 
$
2,907

Non-cash charges(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Year ended March 31, 2016
 
$
591

 
$
1,143

 
$
1,734

   Year ended March 31, 2017
 
4,423

 
3,396

 
7,819

   Nine months ended December 31, 2017
 
2,970

 
4

 
2,974

Total
 
$
7,984

 
$
4,543

 
$
12,527

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cumulative charges incurred through December 31, 2017
 
$
64,064

 
$
26,249

 
$
90,313

(1) Includes lease loss reserve for space permanently abandoned of $9,069 for the year ended March 31, 2017, and $7,212 for the year ended March 31, 2016.
(2) Includes stock-based compensation expense and accelerated fixed asset depreciation.

Clarion Partners
On April 13, 2016, Legg Mason acquired a majority equity interest in Clarion Partners, a diversified real estate asset management firm headquartered in New York. Clarion Partners managed approximately $41,500,000 in AUM on the date of acquisition. Legg Mason acquired an 82% ownership interest in Clarion Partners for a cash payment of $631,476 (including a payment for cash delivered of $36,772 and co-investments of $16,210), which was funded with a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Notes and the 6.375% 2056 Notes in March 2016. The Clarion Partners management team retained 18% of the outstanding equity in Clarion Partners. The Clarion Partners management team also retained rights to the full amount of performance fee revenues earned on historic AUM in place as of the closing of the acquisition. Performance fees earned on this historic AUM are fully passed through to employees as compensation, per the terms of the acquisition agreement, and recorded as compensation expense. Legg Mason expects the full pass through of performance fees to phase out approximately five years post-closing. The firm's previous majority owner sold its entire ownership interest in the transaction. The noncontrolling interests held by the management team can be put by the holders or called by Legg Mason for settlement at fair value subject to various conditions, including the passage of time. The fair value of the noncontrolling interests reflects the total business enterprise value, after appropriate discounts for lack of marketability and control.

Upon the acquisition, Legg Mason also granted certain key employees of Clarion Partners a total of 716 performance-based Legg Mason restricted share units with an aggregate fair value of $11,121, which vest upon Clarion Partners achieving a certain level of EBITDA, as defined in the award agreements, within a designated period after the closing of the acquisition. The aggregate value of the award was included in the purchase price and was determined as of the grant date using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions:
Long-term EBITDA growth rate
 
6.0
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
2.3
%
Expected volatility:
 
 
   Legg Mason
 
38.0
%
   Clarion Partners
 
30.0
%


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In connection with the transaction, Legg Mason also implemented an affiliate management equity plan for the management team of Clarion Partners, which resulted in a non-cash charge of $15,200 in the three months ended June 30, 2016. See Note 8 for additional information related to the Clarion Partners management equity plan.

The fair value of the acquired amortizable intangible asset management contracts had an average useful life of approximately 10 years at acquisition. Approximately 82% of the purchase price allocated to intangible assets and goodwill is expected to be deductible for U.S. tax purposes over a period of 15 years. Goodwill is principally attributable to synergies expected to arise with Clarion Partners.

Management estimated the fair values of the indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts, indefinite-life trade name, and amortizable intangible asset management contracts based upon discounted cash flow analyses, using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in these analyses at acquisition, including projected annual cash flows, projected AUM growth rates and discount rates, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Projected Cash Flow Growth
 
Discount Rate
Indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts
 
6% to 20% (weighted-average: 6%)
 
13.5%
Indefinite-life trade name
 
5% to 17% (weighted-average: 6%)
 
13.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected AUM Growth / (Attrition)
 
Discount Rate
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts:
 
7% / (10)%
 
13.4%

In addition to the previously discussed charge of $15,200 incurred in connection with the implementation of the Clarion Partners management equity plan, during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, there were $10,741 of costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of Clarion Partners.

The financial results of Clarion Partners included in Legg Mason's consolidated financial results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, include revenues of $50,786 and $191,559, respectively, and did not have a material impact to Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.

Pro Forma Financial Information
The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined financial results of Legg Mason, Clarion Partners, and EnTrust, for the initial period of the acquisitions as if each acquisition had occurred on April 1, 2015. The unaudited pro forma financial information reflects certain adjustments for amortization expense related to the fair value of acquired intangible assets, acquisition- and transition-related costs, interest expense related to debt incurred to finance the acquisitions, and the income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments. The unaudited pro forma financial information is for informational purposes only, excludes projected cost savings, and is not necessarily indicative of the financial results that would have been achieved had the acquisitions actually occurred at the beginning of the first period presented.
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
 
$
715,241

 
$
2,181,127

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
53,243

 
196,830

Net Income Per Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.52

 
$
1.87

Diluted
 
0.52

 
1.87



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RARE Infrastructure Limited
On October 21, 2015, Legg Mason acquired a majority equity interest in RARE Infrastructure Limited ("RARE Infrastructure"). RARE Infrastructure specializes in global listed infrastructure security investing, is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and had approximately $6,800,000 in AUM at the closing of the transaction. Under the terms of the related transaction agreements, Legg Mason acquired a 75% ownership interest in the firm, the firm's management team retained a 15% equity interest and a continuing corporate minority owner, retained 10%. The acquisition required an initial cash payment of $213,739 (using the foreign exchange rate as of October 21, 2015 for the 296,000 Australian dollar payment), which was funded with approximately $40,000 of net borrowings under the Company's previous revolving credit facility, as well as existing cash resources. In addition, contingent consideration may be due March 31, 2018, of up to $82,792 (using the foreign exchange rate as of December 31, 2017, for the maximum 106,000 Australian dollar amount per the related agreements), dependent on the achievement of certain net revenue targets, and subject to potential catch-up adjustments extending through March 31, 2019. The transaction also provided for a potential contingent payment as of March 31, 2017, however no such payment was due based on relevant net revenue targets.

The noncontrolling interests can be put by the holders or called by Legg Mason for settlement at fair value, except for the non-management portion of the noncontrolling interests, which are callable at a pre-agreed formula, as specified in the agreements. The fair value of the noncontrolling interests reflects the total business enterprise value of RARE Infrastructure, after appropriate discounts for lack of marketability and control.

The fair value of the acquired amortizable intangible asset management contracts had a useful life of 12 years at acquisition. Purchase price allocated to intangible assets and goodwill is not deductible for Australian tax purposes. Goodwill was principally attributable to synergies expected to arise with RARE Infrastructure.

Management estimated the fair values of the indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts, indefinite-life trade name, and amortizable intangible asset management contracts based upon discounted cash flow analyses, using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in these analyses at acquisition, including projected annual cash flows, projected AUM growth rates and discount rates, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Projected Cash Flow Growth
 
Discount Rate
Indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts and indefinite-life trade name
 
Up to 10% (weighted-average: 7%)
 
16.5%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected AUM Growth / (Attrition)
 
Discount Rate
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts
 
7% / (8)%
 
16.5%

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, the amortizable intangible asset management contracts asset and the trade name indefinite-life intangible asset were impaired by $32,000 and $2,000, respectively, and during the three months ended December 31, 2016, the amortizable intangible asset management contracts asset was impaired by $18,000. See Note 6 for additional information.

The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated using Monte Carlo simulation in a risk-neutral framework with various observable inputs, as well as, with various unobservable data inputs which are Level 3 measurements. The simulation considered variables, including AUM growth and performance fee levels. Consistent with risk-neutral framework, projected AUM and performance fees were dampened by a measure of risk referred to as 'market price of risk' to account for its market risk or systematic risk before calculating the earn-out payments. These earn-out payments were then discounted commensurate with their timing. A summary of various assumption values follows:
AUM growth rates
 
Weighted-average: 7%
Performance fee growth rates
 
Weighted-average: 3%
Projected AUM and performance fee market price of risk
 
6.5%
AUM volatility
 
20.0%
Earn-out payment discount rate
 
1.9%

Significant increases (decreases) in projected AUM or performance fees would result in a significantly higher (lower) contingent consideration liability fair value.

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The contingent consideration liability established at closing had an acquisition date fair value of $25,000 (using the foreign exchange rate as of October 21, 2015). As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the contingent consideration liability was $2,176, a decrease of $15,268 from March 31, 2017. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, reductions in projected AUM and revenues attributable in part to a large outflow during the quarter resulted in a $15,250 reduction in the estimated contingent consideration liability, recorded as a credit to Contingent consideration fair value adjustments in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The remaining decrease during the nine months ended December 31, 2017 of $18 is attributable to changes in the exchange rate, which is included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, as Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of accretion. The total contingent consideration liability was included in non-current Contingent consideration in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the contingent consideration liability totaled $17,444, of which $7,791 was included in current Contingent consideration in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, with the remaining $9,653 included in non-current Contingent consideration. The contingent consideration liability was recorded at an entity with an Australian dollar functional currency, such that related changes in the exchange rate do not impact net income.

Martin Currie (Holdings) Limited
On October 1, 2014, Legg Mason acquired all outstanding equity interests of Martin Currie (Holdings) Limited ("Martin Currie"), an international equity specialist based in the United Kingdom. The acquisition required an initial payment of $202,577 (using the foreign exchange rate as of October 1, 2014 for the £125,000 contract amount), which was funded from existing cash. In addition, a contingent consideration payment may be due March 31, 2018, following the third anniversary of closing, of up to approximately $439,331 (using the foreign exchange rate as of December 31, 2017 for the maximum £325,000 contract amount), inclusive of the payment of certain potential pension and other obligations, and dependent on the achievement of certain financial metrics at March 31, 2018, as specified in the share purchase agreement. The agreement also provided for potential first and second anniversary contingent payments as of March 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively, however no such payments were due based on relevant financial metrics.

The fair value of the amortizable intangible asset management contracts asset is being amortized over a period of 12 years. Goodwill is principally attributable to synergies expected to arise with Martin Currie. These acquired intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for U.K. tax purposes.

Management estimated the fair values of the indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts, indefinite-life trade name, and amortizable intangible asset management contracts based upon discounted cash flow analyses, using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in these analyses at acquisition, including projected annual cash flows, projected AUM growth rates and discount rates, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Projected Cash Flow Growth
 
Discount Rate
Indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts and indefinite-life trade name
 
Up to 25% (weighted-average: 11%)
 
15.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected AUM Growth / (Attrition)
 
Discount Rate
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts
 
6% / (17)%
 
15.0%

The fair value of the contingent consideration was measured using Monte Carlo simulation with various unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The simulation considered variables, including AUM growth, performance fee levels and relevant product performance. Projected AUM, performance fees and earn-out payments were discounted as appropriate. A summary of various assumption values follows:
AUM growth rates
 
Weighted-average: 14%
Performance fee growth rates
 
Weighted-average: 15%
Discount rates:
 
 
   Projected AUM
 
13.0%
   Projected performance fees
 
15.0%
   Earn-out payments
 
1.3%
AUM volatility
 
18.8%


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Significant future increases (decreases) in projected AUM or performance fees would result in a significantly higher (lower) contingent consideration liability fair value.

The contingent consideration liability established at closing had an acquisition date fair value of $75,211 (using the foreign exchange rate as of October 1, 2014). Actual payments to be made may also include amounts for certain potential pension and other obligations that are accounted for separately. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the contingent consideration liability was $12,960, an increase of $942 from March 31, 2017, which was attributable to changes in the exchange rate, which is included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, as Foreign currency translation adjustment. The contingent consideration liability was included in current Contingent consideration in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, and recorded at an entity with a British pound functional currency, such that related changes in the exchange rate do not impact net income.

Martin Currie Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Martin Currie sponsors a retirement and death benefits plan, a defined benefit pension plan with assets held in a separate trustee-administered fund. Plan assets are measured at fair value and comprised of 65% equities (Level 1) and 35% bonds (Level 2) as of March 31, 2017. Assumptions used to determine the expected return on plan assets targets a 60% / 40% equity/bond allocation with reference to the 15-year FTSE U.K. Gilt yield for equities and U.K. long-dated bond yields for bonds. Plan liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis using the projected unit method and discounted at a rate equivalent to the current rate on a high-quality bond in the local U.K. market and currency. There were no significant concentrations of risk in plan assets as of March 31, 2017. The most recent actuarial valuation was performed as of May 31, 2013, which was updated through the acquisition and at subsequent balance sheet dates through March 31, 2017. Accrual of service credit under the plan ceased on October 3, 2014. Legg Mason uses the corridor approach to account for this plan. Under the corridor approach, actuarial gains and losses on plan assets and liabilities are deferred and reported as Other comprehensive income (loss), unless when the actuarial gains and losses exceed 10% of the greater of the fair value of the plan assets or the plan benefit obligation, the excess is amortized as Compensation and benefits expense over the recovery period of 15 years. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, $123 and $363, respectively, of such previously unrecognized losses were expensed under the corridor approach.
 
The resulting net benefit obligation, comprised as follows, is included in the December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other non-current liabilities:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
Fair value of plan assets (at 5.4% expected weighted-average long-term return)
 
$
64,225

 
$
59,623

Benefit obligation (at 2.7% discount rate)
 
(102,354
)
 
(97,137
)
Unfunded status (excess of benefit obligation over plan assets)
 
$
(38,129
)
 
$
(37,514
)

For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, a net periodic benefit cost of $25 and $28, respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, a net periodic benefit cost of $76 and $66, respectively, was included in Compensation and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Net actuarial losses of $17,633 and $16,681 were included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively.

The contingent consideration payments may provide some funding of the net plan benefit obligation, through a provision of the share purchase agreement requiring certain amounts to be paid to the plan. Any contingent consideration payments to the plan are based on determination of the plan benefit obligation under local technical provisions utilized by the plan trustees.

In connection with a review by the Pensions Regulator in the U.K. ("the Regulator") of the pension plan's current structure and funding status, Martin Currie, the trustees of the pension and the Regulator have agreed to a revised plan structure, including the redomiciliation of the plan in the U.K., additional guarantees and, following the application of any contingent consideration payments toward the pension deficit, provisions for accelerated funding of a portion of any remaining benefit obligation in certain circumstances. Absent funding from contingent consideration payments, Martin Currie does not expect to contribute any additional amounts in fiscal 2018 to the plan in excess of the $1,919 contributed during the three months ended June 30, 2017.

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The contingent consideration provisions of the share purchase agreement also require a designated percentage of the earn-out payments, net of any pension contribution, to be allocated to fund an incentive plan for Martin Currie's management. No payments to employees under the arrangement will be made until the end of the earn-out period. The estimated payment (adjusted quarterly) is being amortized over the earn-out term.

Other
In December 2015, Martin Currie acquired certain assets of PK Investment Management, LLP ("PK Investments"), a London based equity manager, for an initial cash payment of $4,981. In December 2017, Legg Mason paid all contingent consideration due of $3,242. The cash payments were funded with existing cash resources. The contingent consideration liability as of March 31, 2017 was $2,507. In connection with the acquisition, Legg Mason recognized indefinite-life intangible fund management contracts and goodwill of $6,619 and $827, respectively.

QS Investors Holdings, LLC
Effective May 31, 2014, Legg Mason acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of QS Investors, a customized solutions and global quantitative equities provider. The initial purchase price was a cash payment of $11,000, funded from existing cash. In August 2016, Legg Mason paid contingent consideration of $6,587 for the second anniversary payment. Additional contingent consideration of up to $20,000 for the fourth anniversary payment, and up to $3,400 for a potential catch-up adjustment for the second anniversary payment shortfall, may be due in July 2018, dependent on the achievement of certain net revenue targets.

The fair value of the amortizable intangible asset management contracts had a useful life of 10 years at acquisition. Purchase price allocated to goodwill is expected to be deductible for U.S. tax purposes over a period of 15 years. Goodwill is principally attributable to synergies expected to arise with QS Investors.

Management estimated the fair values of the amortizable intangible asset management contracts based upon a discounted cash flow analysis, and the contingent consideration expected to be paid and discounted, based upon probability-weighted revenue projections, using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in these analyses at acquisition including projected annual cash flows, revenues and discount rates, are summarized as follows:
 
 
Projected Cash Flow Attrition, Net
 
Discount Rate
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts
 
(10.0)%
 
15.0%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Projected Revenue Growth Rates
 
Discount Rates
Contingent consideration
 
0% to 10% (weighted-average: 6%)
 
1.2% / 2.1%

As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the contingent consideration liability was $3,665, a decrease of $1,176 from March 31, 2017. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, a reduction in projected net revenue resulted in a $1,300 reduction in the estimated contingent consideration liability, recorded as a credit to Contingent consideration fair value adjustments in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The reduction was offset in part by an increase of $124 attributable to accretion. The contingent consideration liability was included in current Contingent consideration in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017 and non-current Contingent consideration in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2017.
 

Financial Guard, LLC
On August 17, 2016, Legg Mason acquired 82% of the equity interests in Financial Guard, LLC ("Financial Guard"), an online registered investment advisor and technology-enabled wealth management and investment advice platform. The acquisition required an initial cash payment, which was funded with existing cash resources, and a potential contingent payment of up to $3,000 based on certain metrics within the first year after the acquisition. No contingent payment was due based on relevant metrics. In connection with the acquisition, Legg Mason recognized certain business assets and goodwill of $11,995. Legg Mason also committed to contribute up to $5,000 of additional working capital to Financial Guard, to be paid over the two-year period following the acquisition, of which $2,500 has been paid as of December 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, no contingent consideration liability was recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.


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Table of Contents

Precidian Investments, LLC
On January 22, 2016, Legg Mason acquired a minority equity position in Precidian Investments, LLC ("Precidian"), a firm specializing in creating innovative products and solutions and solving market structure issues, particularly with regard to the ETF marketplace.

The transaction required a cash payment, which was funded from existing cash resources. Under the terms of the transaction, Legg Mason acquired series B preferred units of Precidian that entitle Legg Mason to approximately 20% of the voting and economic interests of Precidian, along with customary preferred equity protections. At its sole option during the 48 months following the initial investment or, if earlier, within nine months of the SEC's approval of Precidian's application to operate its active shares product, Legg Mason may, subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions and upon payment of further consideration, convert its preferred units to 75% of the common equity of Precidian on a fully diluted basis.

Legg Mason accounts for its investment in Precidian, which is included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, under the equity method of accounting.

Other
In December 2017, Legg Mason completed two small acquisitions, which required initial cash payment of $700, which was funded from existing cash resources, and potential contingent consideration of up to $1,900.



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Table of Contents

4. Investments and Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities

The disclosures below include details of Legg Mason's financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value and NAV, excluding the financial assets and financial liabilities of CIVs. See Note 13, Variable Interest Entities and Consolidation of Investment Vehicles, for information related to the assets and liabilities of CIVs that are measured at fair value.

The fair values of financial assets and (liabilities) of the Company were determined using the following categories of inputs:
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other observable inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Investments measured at NAV
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
$
289,214

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
289,214

Time deposits and other
 

 
12,317

 

 

 
12,317

Total cash equivalents
 
289,214

 
12,317

 

 

 
301,531

Trading investments of proprietary fund products and other trading investments:(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Seed capital investments
 
120,329

 
58,158

 

 
3,593

 
182,080

Other(3)
 
26,717

 
2,556

 

 

 
29,273

Trading investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans(4)
 
187,473

 

 

 
103

 
187,576

Equity method investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans(5)
 

 

 
1,431

 
9,009

 
10,440

Total current investments(6)
 
334,519

 
60,714

 
1,431

 
12,705

 
409,369

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:(5)(7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments(6)
 

 

 
891

 
15,595

 
16,486

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 

 

 
27,837

 

 
27,837

Other
 

 

 

 
12,569

 
12,569

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:(7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Seed capital investments
 

 

 

 
3,287

 
3,287

Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 

 

 
9,367

 

 
9,367

Other
 

 
102

 
380

 

 
482

Derivative assets(7)(8)
 
7,183

 

 

 

 
7,183

Other investments(7)
 

 

 
112

 

 
112

Total
 
$
630,916

 
$
73,133

 
$
40,018

 
$
44,156

 
$
788,223

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities(9)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(20,701
)
 
$

 
$
(20,701
)
Derivative liabilities(8)
 
(2,288
)
 

 

 

 
(2,288
)
Total
 
$
(2,288
)
 
$

 
$
(20,701
)
 
$

 
$
(22,989
)

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Table of Contents

 
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other observable inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Investments measured at NAV
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
 
$
403,585

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
403,585

Time deposits and other
 

 
35,835

 

 

 
35,835

Total cash equivalents
 
403,585

 
35,835

 

 

 
439,420

Trading investments of proprietary fund products and other trading investments:(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 
141,025

 
75,275

 

 
4,373

 
220,673

Other(3)
 
39,177

 
2,724

 

 
11

 
41,912

Trading investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans(4)
 
150,576

 

 

 
327

 
150,903

Equity method investments relating to proprietary fund products and long-term incentive compensation plans:(5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Seed capital investments
 

 
2,502

 

 

 
2,502

Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 

 

 
1,337

 
6,292

 
7,629

Total current investments(6)
 
330,778


80,501

 
1,337

 
11,003

 
423,619

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:(5)(7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments(6)
 

 

 
752

 
22,712

 
23,464

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 

 

 
26,909

 

 
26,909

Other
 

 

 
1,646

 
15,617

 
17,263

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:(7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 

 

 

 
3,440

 
3,440

Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 

 

 
9,315

 

 
9,315

Other
 

 
99

 
1,825

 

 
1,924

Derivative assets(7)(8)
 
2,718

 

 

 

 
2,718

Other investments(7)
 

 

 
113

 

 
113

Total
 
$
737,081

 
$
116,435

 
$
41,897

 
$
52,772

 
$
948,185

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities(9)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(36,810
)
 
$

 
$
(36,810
)
Derivative liabilities(8)
 
(4,522
)
 

 

 

 
(4,522
)
Total
 
$
(4,522
)
 
$

 
$
(36,810
)
 
$

 
$
(41,332
)
(1)
Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Cash investments in actively traded money market funds are classified as Level 1.  Cash investments in time deposits and other are measured at amortized cost, which approximates fair value because of the short time between purchase of the instrument and its expected realization, and are classified as Level 2.
(2)
Trading investments of proprietary fund products and other trading investments consist of approximately 77% and 23% equity and debt securities, respectively, as of December 31, 2017, and approximately 79% and 21% equity and debt securities, respectively, as of March 31, 2017.
(3)
Includes $13,696 and $26,854 in noncontrolling interests associated with consolidated seed investment products as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively.
(4)
Primarily mutual funds where there is minimal market risk to the Company as any change in value is primarily offset by an adjustment to compensation expense and related deferred compensation liability.
(5)
Certain of Legg Mason's equity method investments are investment companies that record underlying investments at fair value. Therefore, the fair value of these investments is measured using Legg Mason's share of the investee's underlying net income or loss, which is predominately representative of fair value adjustments in the investments held by the equity method investee. Other equity method investments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis are excluded from the tables above.
(6)
Excludes $41,548 and $28,300 of seed capital as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively, which is related to Legg Mason's investments in CIVs. See Note 13.
(7)
Amounts are included in Other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for each of the periods presented.
(8)
See Note 12.
(9)
See Notes 3 and 9.


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Table of Contents

Proprietary fund products include seed capital investments made by Legg Mason to fund new investment strategies and products. Legg Mason had seed capital investments in proprietary fund products, which totaled $271,238 and $305,288, as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively, which are substantially comprised of investments in 58 funds and 57 funds, respectively, that are individually greater than $1,000, and together comprise over 90% of the total seed capital investments at each period end.

As further discussed in Notes 2, 12, and 13, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored ETFs for initial aggregate notional amounts totaling $48,639 which resulted in the investment in the two ETFs by these financial intermediaries. Under the terms of the total return swap arrangements, Legg Mason receives all the investment gains and losses on the underlying investments and therefore is required to consolidate each of the sponsored investment funds, which were designated as CIVs.

See Notes 2 and 13 for information regarding the determination of whether investments in proprietary fund products represent VIEs and consolidation.
The net realized and unrealized gain for investment securities classified as trading was $9,382, and $1,617 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $32,184, and $26,969 for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The net unrealized gains (losses) relating to trading investments still held as of the reporting dates were $5,975 and $(165) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $16,115 and $16,991 for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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Table of Contents

The changes in financial assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, are presented in the tables below:
 
 
Balance as of September 30, 2017
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Redemptions/ Settlements/ Other
 
Transfers
 
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses), net
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity method investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
$
1,393

 
$
11

 
$

 
$
(11
)
 
$

 
$
38

 
$
1,431

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 
851

 

 

 

 

 
40

 
891

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 
27,382

 
868

 

 
(1,139
)
 

 
726

 
27,837

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
9,367

 

 

 

 

 

 
9,367

Other proprietary fund products
 
485

 

 

 
(105
)
 

 

 
380

Other investments
 
114

 

 

 

 

 
(2
)
 
112

 
 
$
39,592

 
$
879

 
$

 
$
(1,255
)
 
$

 
$
802

 
$
40,018

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
 
$
(21,162
)
 
$
(1,900
)
 
n/a

 
$
3,242

 
n/a

 
$
(881
)
 
$
(20,701
)
n/a - not applicable


26

Table of Contents

 
 
Balance as of September 30, 2016
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Redemptions/ Settlements/ Other
 
Transfers
 
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses), net
 
Balance as of December 31, 2016
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity method investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
$
2,653

 
$
20

 
$

 
$
(20
)
 
$

 
$
48

 
$
2,701

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Seed capital investments
 
552

 

 

 

 

 
39

 
591

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 
25,722

 
667

 

 
(197
)
 

 
487

 
26,679

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
7,501

 
314

 

 

 

 

 
7,815

Other proprietary fund products
 
3,827

 

 

 
(2,000
)
 

 
541

 
2,368

Other investments
 
245

 

 

 

 

 
(83
)
 
162

 
 
$
40,500

 
$
1,001

 
$

 
$
(2,217
)
 
$

 
$
1,032

 
$
40,316

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
 
$
(52,053
)
 
$

 
n/a

 
$

 
n/a

 
$
16,569

 
$
(35,484
)
n/a - not applicable


27

Table of Contents

 
 
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Redemptions/ Settlements/ Other
 
Transfers
 
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses), net
 
Balance as of December 31,
 2017
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity method investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
$
1,337

 
$
33

 
$

 
$
(33
)
 
$

 
$
94

 
$
1,431

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 
752

 

 

 

 

 
139

 
891

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 
26,909

 
3,063

 

 
(3,889
)
 

 
1,754

 
27,837

Other proprietary fund products
 
1,646

 

 

 
(1,646
)
 

 

 

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
9,315

 
52

 

 

 

 

 
9,367

Other proprietary fund products
 
1,825

 

 

 
(1,510
)
 

 
65

 
380

Other investments
 
113

 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
 
112

 
 
$
41,897


$
3,148


$


$
(7,078
)

$


$
2,051

 
$
40,018

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
 
$
(36,810
)
 
$
(1,900
)
 
n/a

 
$
3,242

 
n/a

 
$
14,767

 
$
(20,701
)
n/a - not applicable


28

Table of Contents

 
 
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Redemptions/Settlements/ Other
 
Transfers
 
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses), net
 
Balance as of December 31,
2016
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trading investments of seed capital investments in proprietary fund products
 
$
3

 
$

 
$

 
$
(3
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

Equity method investments relating to long-term incentive compensation plans
 

 
2,979

 

 
(448
)
 

 
170

 
2,701

Equity method investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Seed capital investments
 
627

 

 

 

 

 
(36
)
 
591

Seed capital investments in real estate funds
 

 
25,966

 

 
(636
)
 

 
1,349

 
26,679

Investments in partnerships and LLCs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments related to long-term incentive compensation plans
 
7,501

 
314

 

 

 

 

 
7,815

Other proprietary fund products
 
4,807

 

 

 
(3,000
)
 

 
561

 
2,368

Other investments
 
83

 

 

 

 

 
79

 
162

 
 
$
13,021

 
$
29,259

 
$

 
$
(4,087
)
 
$

 
$
2,123

 
$
40,316

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration liabilities
 
$
(84,585
)
 
$
(2,000
)
 
n/a

 
$
6,587

 
n/a

 
$
44,514

 
$
(35,484
)
n/a - not applicable

Realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Level 3 investments are primarily included in Other non-operating income (expense), net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The change in unrealized gains (losses) for Level 3 investments and liabilities still held at the reporting date was $(79) and $15,448 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $16,818, and $44,636 for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.


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As a practical expedient, Legg Mason relies on the NAV of certain investments as their fair value.  The NAVs that have been provided by the investees have been derived from the fair values of the underlying investments as of the respective reporting dates.  The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, the nature of these investments and any related liquidation restrictions or other factors which may impact the ultimate value realized:
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Determined Using NAV
 
As of December 31, 2017
Category of Investment
 
Investment Strategy
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Remaining Term
Funds-of-hedge funds
 
Global macro, fixed income, long/short equity, natural resources, systematic, emerging market, European hedge
 
$
11,024

(1)
$
18,537

 
n/a

 
n/a
Hedge funds
 
Fixed income - developed market, event driven, fixed income - hedge, relative value arbitrage, European hedge
 
9,760

 
10,107

 
$
20,000

 
n/a
Private equity funds
 
Long/short equity
 
14,231

(2)
17,612

 
6,589

 
Up to 11 years
Equity method
 
Long/short fixed income
 
9,009

 
6,292

 
n/a

 
n/a
Other
 
Various
 
132

 
224

 
n/a

 
Various (3)
Total
 
 
 
$
44,156

 
$
52,772

 
$
26,589

 
 
n/a - not applicable
(1)
Liquidation restrictions: 1% daily redemption, 20% monthly redemption, 11% quarterly redemption, and 68% are not subject to redemption or are not currently redeemable.
(2)
Liquidations are expected over the remaining term.
(3)
Of this balance, 34% has a remaining term of less than one year and 66% has a remaining term of 14 years.

There are no current plans to sell any of these investments held as of December 31, 2017.

5. Fixed Assets

Fixed assets primarily consist of equipment, software and leasehold improvements. Equipment consists primarily of communications and technology hardware and furniture and fixtures. Capitalized software includes both purchased software and internally developed software. Fixed assets are reported at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The following table reflects the components of fixed assets as of:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
Equipment
 
$
166,852

 
$
159,102

Software
 
319,249

 
304,943

Leasehold improvements
 
207,704

 
204,551

Total cost
 
693,805

 
668,596

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
 
(544,946
)
 
(508,934
)
Fixed assets, net
 
$
148,859

 
$
159,662


Depreciation and amortization expense related to fixed assets was $11,846 and $13,021 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $36,059 and $41,388 for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The expense includes accelerated depreciation and amortization of $2,688 for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily related to space vacated in connection with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust.



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6. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

The following table reflects the components of intangible assets as of:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
Amortizable intangible asset management contracts and other
 
 

 
 

Cost
 
$
376,872

 
$
408,025

Accumulated amortization
 
(211,944
)
 
(194,371
)
Net
 
164,928

 
213,654

Indefinite–life intangible assets
 


 


U.S. domestic mutual fund management contracts
 
2,106,351

 
2,106,351

Clarion Partners fund management contracts
 
505,200

 
505,200

EnTrustPermal fund management contracts
 
401,404

 
596,404

Other fund management contracts
 
554,700

 
542,908

Trade names
 
68,302

 
69,863

 
 
3,635,957

 
3,820,726

Intangible assets, net
 
$
3,800,885

 
$
4,034,380


Certain of Legg Mason's intangible assets are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and balances related to these assets will fluctuate with changes in the related foreign currency exchange rates.

Indefinite-life Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Legg Mason completed its annual impairment testing process of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets as of December 31, 2017, and determined that the carrying value of the EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund management contracts intangible asset exceeded its fair value, which resulted in an impairment of $195,000. The impairment charge was primarily the result of net client outflows from legacy high net worth fund products, including transfers of client funds from such products into EnTrustPermal separate accounts, and the related decline in revenues. Management estimated the fair value of this asset based upon a discounted cash flow analysis using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected revenue growth rates and discount rates. Base revenues related to the EnTrustPermal fund contracts were assumed to have annual growth (contraction) rates ranging from (13)% to 6% (average: 5%), and the projected cash flows from the EnTrustPermal fund contracts were discounted at 15%.

Projected revenue growth rates for this asset are most dependent on client AUM flows, market conditions, and product investment performance. Discount rates are also influenced by market conditions, as well as interest rates and other factors. Decreases in the projected revenue growth rates and/or increases in the discount rate could result in lower fair value measurements and potential additional impairments in the EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund management contracts intangible asset, which could be significant.

There were no other impairments to indefinite-life intangible assets or goodwill as of December 31, 2017.

As a result of uncertainty regarding future market conditions and economic results, assessing the fair value of the reporting unit and intangible assets requires significant judgment.

As of December 31, 2017, the assessed fair value of the EnTrustPermal trade name indefinite-life intangible asset exceeded the carrying value of $28,500 by 1%. Should market performance and/or AUM levels of EnTrustPermal decrease in the near term such that cash flow projections deviate from current projections, it is reasonably possible that this asset could become impaired, and the impairment could be a material amount.

As of December 31, 2017, the assessed fair value of the RARE Infrastructure indefinite-life fund management contracts intangible asset exceeded the carrying value of $132,780 by approximately 3% and the assessed fair value of the RARE Infrastructure trade name indefinite-life intangible asset exceeded the carrying value of $3,054 by approximately 19%. Should market performance and/or the related AUM levels decrease in the near term such that cash flow projections deviate from current projections, it is reasonably possible that either of these assets could become impaired, and the impairment could be a material amount.

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As of December 31, 2017, the assessed fair value of the indefinite-life domestic mutual funds contracts asset related to the Citigroup Asset Management acquisition exceeds the carrying value by a material amount.

As a result of AUM losses and other factors during the three months ended June 30, 2017, Legg Mason tested the RARE Infrastructure indefinite-life fund management contracts intangible asset and trade name indefinite-life intangible asset for impairment during the three months ended June 30, 2017. The assessed fair value of the RARE Infrastructure indefinite-life fund management contracts intangible asset exceeded the carrying value as of June 30, 2017 by 7% and therefore was not impaired. The carrying value of the trade name exceeded its fair value of $3,054, which resulted in an impairment charge of $2,000. Management estimated the fair value of the RARE Infrastructure trade name as of June 30, 2017 based upon a relief from royalty approach and a discounted cash flow method using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected annual revenue growth rates of 5% to 18% (average: 8%), a royalty rate of 1.0%, and a discount rate of 16.5%.

Projected revenue and AUM growth rates are most dependent on client AUM flows, market conditions, and product investment performance. Discount rates are also influenced by market conditions, as well as interest rates and other factors. Decreases in projected revenue or AUM growth rates and/or increases in the discount rate could result in lower fair value measurements and potential additional impairments in the RARE Infrastructure trade name intangible asset.

Legg Mason's annual impairment testing process in the prior fiscal year determined that the carrying value of the Permal trade name indefinite-life asset exceeded its fair value of $21,100, which resulted in an impairment charge of $17,000. The impairment charge was primarily the result of a decrease in revenues and a reduction in the royalty rate, reflecting a decline in the value of the Permal trade name due to a change in branding and decline in the use of the separate Permal name following the combination with EnTrust. Management estimated the fair value of the Permal trade name based upon a discounted cash flow analysis using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected annual revenue growth rates of 3% to 9% (average: 7%), a royalty rate of 1.5% and a discount rate of 16.0%.

The change in the carrying value of goodwill is summarized below:
 
 
Gross Book Value
 
Accumulated Impairment
 
Net Book Value
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
$
3,086,789

 
$
(1,161,900
)
 
$
1,924,889

Impact of excess tax basis amortization
 
(15,610
)
 

 
(15,610
)
Changes in foreign exchange rates and other
 
16,371

 

 
16,371

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
3,087,550

 
$
(1,161,900
)
 
$
1,925,650


Amortizable Intangible Asset Management Contracts and Other
During the three months ended June 30, 2017, projected revenues related to the RARE Infrastructure separate account contacts amortizable asset declined due to losses of separate account AUM and other factors, including the withdrawal of approximately $1,500,000 by an institutional client in June 2017. Based on revised attrition estimates, the remaining useful life of the acquired contracts was decreased from eight years to five years at June 30, 2017. As a result of the decline in projected revenues and the revised estimate of the remaining useful life, the amortized carrying value was determined to exceed its fair value and an impairment charge of $32,000 was recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2017. Management estimated the $11,180 fair value of this asset as of June 30, 2017, based upon a discounted cash flow analysis using unobservable market inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected AUM growth rates of 7%, attrition rates of 20%, and a discount rate of 16.5%.

Projected revenue, AUM growth rates and client attrition are most dependent on client AUM flows, market conditions, and product investment performance. Discount rates are also influenced by market conditions, as well as interest rates and other factors. Decreases in projected revenue or AUM growth rates and/or increases in the discount rate could result in lower fair value measurements and potential additional impairments in the RARE Infrastructure separate account contracts amortizable asset.


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There were no other impairments to amortizable management contract intangible assets during the nine months ended December 31, 2017.
 
As of December 31, 2017, the cumulative undiscounted cash flows related to the EnTrust separate account contracts amortizable asset exceeded the amortized carrying value of $51,854 by 4%. Should cash flow projections deviate from current projections due to client attrition and the related reduction in revenues and/or market performance, it is reasonably possible that this asset could be deemed to be impaired by a material amount.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2016, revenues related to the RARE Infrastructure separate account contracts asset declined. Based on revised attrition estimates, the remaining useful life of the acquired contracts was decreased from 11 years to eight years at December 31, 2016. As a result of the client attrition, the related decline in revenues, and the revised estimate of the remaining useful life, the amortized carrying value of the management contracts asset was determined to exceed its fair value and an impairment charge of $18,000 was recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2016. Management estimated the fair value of this asset based upon a discounted cash flow analysis using unobservable market data inputs, which are Level 3 measurements. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected AUM growth/(attrition) rates of 7%/(13)% and a discount rate of 15.5%.

As of December 31, 2017, amortizable intangible asset management contracts and other are being amortized over a weighted-average remaining life of 7.2 years.

Estimated amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter is as follows:
Remaining fiscal 2018
 
$
6,252

2019
 
25,008

2020
 
24,230

2021
 
24,126

2022
 
23,889

Thereafter
 
61,423

Total
 
$
164,928


7. Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt

Short-term borrowings
On December 29, 2015, Legg Mason entered into an unsecured credit agreement (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") which provided for a $1,000,000 revolving credit facility. The Credit Agreement was amended on March 31, 2017 to reduce the amount available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility to $500,000. On June 2, 2017, the Credit Agreement was further amended to include Legg Mason, Inc. (the parent entity) among the entities permitted to incur liens to secure obligations, including those related to cash collateral provisions for hedging agreements, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000 at any one time. Prior to this amendment, only certain subsidiaries of Legg Mason were permitted to incur such liens and the cash collateral provided by Legg Mason, Inc. (the parent entity) in connection with certain of its hedging agreements was considered a lien on assets for purposes of the lien covenant. As a result, Legg Mason was not in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement at all times. The amendment provides for a waiver of any defaults under the Credit Agreement that may have arisen prior to the date of the amendment resulting from the provision of such cash collateral.

As further discussed in Note 10, on December 22, 2017, Legg Mason borrowed $225,500 under the Credit Agreement, which remained outstanding as of December 31, 2017, to purchase 5,568 shares of Legg Mason common stock from Shanda Asset Management Investment Limited ("Shanda"). As of December 31, 2017, the effective interest rate on these borrowings was 2.8%. Legg Mason had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2017.

Interest Rate Swap - Credit Agreement
On April 29, 2016, Legg Mason entered into a forward starting, amortizing interest rate swap agreement with a financial intermediary, which was designated as a cash flow hedge. The interest rate swap was used to convert then outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement from floating rate to fixed rate debt. Under the terms of the interest rate swap agreement, Legg Mason paid a fixed interest rate of 2.3% on a notional amount of $500,000. The swap had a 4.67-year

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term, with scheduled reductions in notional amount and was to expire on December 29, 2020. In August 2016, in connection with the repayment of the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, the interest rate swap was terminated for a cash payment of $3,662. As a result, Legg Mason reclassified a loss of $2,249 (net of deferred income taxes of $1,413), representing the fair value of the cash flow hedge, from Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, to Other non-operating income (expense), net.

Prior to its termination in August 2016, the swap settled monthly and during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, $764 was reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, to Interest expense. Until the swap was terminated, the original terms and conditions of the hedged instruments were unchanged and the swap was an effective cash flow hedge.

Long-term debt
Long-term debt, net, consists of the following:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value Hedge Adjustment
 
Unamortized Discount (Premium)
 
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
 
Maturity Amount
 
Carrying Value
2.7% Senior Notes due
July 2019
 
$
251,975

 
$
(2,706
)
 
$
168

 
$
563

 
$
250,000

 
$
252,980

3.95% Senior Notes due
July 2024
 
248,443

 

 
298

 
1,259

 
250,000

 
248,265

4.75% Senior Notes due March 2026
 
447,078

 

 

 
2,922

 
450,000

 
446,812

5.625% Senior Notes due January 2044
 
547,920

 

 
(3,182
)
 
5,262

 
550,000

 
547,861

6.375% Junior Notes due March 2056
 
242,207

 

 

 
7,793

 
250,000

 
242,054

5.45% Junior Notes due September 2056
 
484,201

 

 

 
15,799

 
500,000

 
483,895

Total
 
$
2,221,824

 
$
(2,706
)
 
$
(2,716
)
 
$
33,598

 
$
2,250,000

 
$
2,221,867


As of December 31, 2017, $250,000 of Legg Mason's long-term debt matures in fiscal 2020, and $2,000,000 matures after fiscal 2022.

At December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of Long-term debt was approximately $2,384,090. The fair value of debt was estimated using publicly quoted market prices and was classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Interest Rate Swap - 2.7% Senior Notes due July 2019
On June 23, 2014, Legg Mason entered into an interest rate swap contract with a financial intermediary with a notional amount of $250,000, which was designated as a fair value hedge. The interest rate swap was used to effectively convert the 2.7% Senior Notes due July 2019 from fixed rate debt to floating rate debt and had identical terms as the underlying debt being hedged. The related hedging gains and losses offset one another and resulted in no net income or loss impact. The swap had a five-year term, and was scheduled to mature on July 15, 2019. On April 21, 2016, the fair value hedge swap was terminated for a cash receipt of $6,500, and the related fair value hedge adjustment is being amortized as Interest expense over the remaining life of the debt. During each of the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $451 was amortized and recorded as Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income, and during each of the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $1,353 was amortized and recorded as Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Until the swap was terminated on April 21, 2016, the original terms and conditions of the hedged instruments were unchanged and the swap was an effective fair value hedge.


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8.  Stock-Based Compensation

See Note 2 regarding updated stock-based compensation accounting guidance effective April 1, 2017.

Legg Mason's stock-based compensation includes stock options, an employee stock purchase plan, market-based performance shares payable in common stock, restricted stock awards and units, affiliate management equity plans and deferred compensation payable in stock. Effective August 1, 2017, Legg Mason's stockholders approved a new equity incentive plan, under which a total of 6,500 shares, plus shares remaining under the prior plan, are available for issuance. Shares available for issuance under the equity incentive stock plan as of December 31, 2017, were 8,269. Options under Legg Mason’s employee stock plans have been granted at prices not less than 100% of the fair market value. Options are generally exercisable in equal increments over four or five years and expire within eight to 10 years from the date of grant.

As further discussed below, the components of Legg Mason's total stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Stock options
 
$
1,656

 
$
2,084

 
$
5,801

 
$
6,368

Restricted stock and restricted stock units
 
11,853

 
12,509

 
41,941

 
39,823

Employee stock purchase plan
 
109

 
110

 
502

 
527

Affiliate management equity plans
 
776

 
818

 
2,328

 
21,134

Non-employee director awards
 
200

 

 
1,275

 
1,150

Performance share units
 
870

 
1,032

 
3,134

 
2,901

Employee stock trust
 
7

 
6

 
21

 
19

Total stock-based compensation expense
 
$
15,471

 
$
16,559

 
$
55,002

 
$
71,922


Stock Options
Stock option transactions under Legg Mason's equity incentive plans during the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, are summarized below:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
Options outstanding at March 31
 
4,593

 
$
38.15

 
4,506

 
$
38.48

Granted
 
421

 
37.64

 
753

 
31.31

Exercised
 
(378
)
 
29.45

 
(128
)
 
27.80

Canceled/forfeited
 
(102
)
 
47.07

 
(333
)
 
36.62

Options outstanding at December 31
 
4,534

 
$
38.63

 
4,798

 
$
37.77


At December 31, 2017, options were exercisable for 2,977 shares with a weighted-average exercise price of $37.43 and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 3.8 years. Unamortized compensation cost related to unvested options for 1,557 shares at December 31, 2017, was $9,064, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.

The weighted-average fair value of service-based stock options granted during the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model was $8.33 and $7.78, per share, respectively.

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The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the model for grants in the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
Expected dividend yield
 
1.70
%
 
1.45
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.89
%
 
1.25
%
Expected volatility
 
26.79
%
 
30.95
%
Expected life (in years)
 
5.09

 
5.02


Legg Mason uses an equally weighted combination of both implied and historical volatility to measure expected volatility for calculating Black-Scholes option values.

Restricted Stock
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit transactions during the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, are summarized below:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Value
 
Number of Shares
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Value
Unvested shares at March 31
 
3,321

 
$
38.92

 
3,058

 
$
43.34

Granted
 
1,459

 
37.67

 
1,656

 
31.26

Vested
 
(1,361
)
 
39.75

 
(1,225
)
 
39.18

Canceled/forfeited
 
(66
)
 
38.19

 
(103
)
 
43.30

Unvested shares at December 31
 
3,353

 
$
38.05

 
3,386

 
$
38.91


Unamortized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards at December 31, 2017, of $84,738 is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

Affiliate Management Equity Plans
In connection with the acquisition of Clarion Partners in April 2016, as further discussed in Note 3, Legg Mason implemented a management equity plan for the management team of Clarion Partners that entitles certain of its key employees to participate in 15% of the future growth, if any, of the Clarion Partners enterprise value (subject to appropriate discounts) subsequent to the date of the grant. The initial grant under the plan vested immediately and the related grant-date fair value of $15,200, determined by independent valuation, was recognized as Compensation and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statement of Income and reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Redeemable noncontrolling interest during the three months ended June 30, 2016. As of December 31, 2017, the estimated aggregate redemption amount of units under the plan, as if they were currently redeemable, was $16,200.
 
Effective March 1, 2016, Legg Mason executed agreements with the management of its existing wholly-owned subsidiary, Royce, regarding employment arrangements with Royce management, revised revenue sharing, and the implementation of a management equity plan for Royce's key employees. Under the management equity plan, minority equity interests equivalent to a 19% interest in the Royce entity have been issued to its management team. These interests allow the holders to receive quarterly distributions of a portion of Royce's pre-tax income in amounts equal to the percentage of ownership represented by the equity they hold, subject to payment of Legg Mason's revenue share and reasonable expenses. As of December 31, 2017, the estimated aggregate redemption amount of units under the plan, as if they were currently redeemable, was $27,661.

On March 31, 2014, Legg Mason implemented a management equity plan and granted units to key employees of its subsidiary ClearBridge Investments, LLC ("ClearBridge") that entitle them to participate in 15% of the future growth, if any, of the ClearBridge enterprise value (subject to appropriate discounts) subsequent to the grant date. Independent valuation

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determined the aggregate cost of the award to be approximately $16,000, which will be recognized as Compensation and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the related vesting periods through March 2019. Total compensation expense related to the ClearBridge affiliate management equity plan was $776 and $818 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $2,328 and $2,453 for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. This arrangement provides that one-half of the cost will be absorbed by the ClearBridge incentive pool. As of December 31, 2017, the estimated aggregate redemption amount of vested units under the ClearBridge plan, as if they were currently redeemable, was approximately $25,800.

On June 28, 2013, Legg Mason implemented a management equity plan with key employees of Permal. Independent valuation determined the aggregate cost of the awards to be approximately $9,000, which was being recognized as Compensation and benefits expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the related vesting period through December 2017. In April 2016, in conjunction with the Permal restructuring in preparation for the combination with EnTrust, the Permal management equity plan was liquidated with a payment of $7,150 to its participants, and the remaining $3,481 unamortized cost was expensed during the three months ended June 30, 2016.

Other
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, non-employee directors held 80 and 66 restricted stock units, respectively, which vest on the grant date and are, therefore, not included in the unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units in the table above.

As discussed in Note 3, upon the acquisition of Clarion Partners in April 2016, Legg Mason granted certain key employees of Clarion Partners a total of 716 performance-based Legg Mason restricted share units, which are not included in the unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units in the table above, with an aggregate fair value of $11,121, which was included in the purchase price, that vest upon Clarion Partners achieving a certain level of EBITDA, as defined in the purchase agreement, within a designated period after the closing of the acquisition.

In May 2017 and 2016, Legg Mason granted certain executive officers a total of 111 and 182 performance share units, respectively, as part of their fiscal 2017 and 2016 incentive awards with an aggregate value of $3,503 and $3,528, respectively. The vesting of performance share units granted in May 2017 and 2016, and the number of shares payable at vesting are determined based on Legg Mason’s relative total stockholder return over a three-year period ending March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The grant date fair value per unit for the May 2017 and 2016 performance share units of $31.42 and $19.36, respectively, was estimated as of the grant date using a Monte Carlo pricing model with the following assumptions:
 
 
2017
 
2016
Expected dividend yield
 
2.96
%
 
2.87
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.47
%
 
0.89
%
Expected volatility
 
27.73
%
 
26.01
%



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9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legg Mason leases office facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases, and also has multi-year agreements for certain services. These leases and service agreements expire on varying dates through fiscal 2029. Certain leases provide for renewal options and contain escalation clauses providing for increased rentals based upon maintenance, utility and tax increases.

As of December 31, 2017, the minimum annual aggregate rentals under operating leases and service agreements are as follows:
Remaining fiscal 2018
 
$
36,705

2019
 
124,230

2020
 
108,279

2021
 
95,599

2022
 
92,269

Thereafter
 
199,086

Total(1)
 
$
656,168

(1) Includes $572,801 in real estate and equipment leases and $83,367 in service and maintenance agreements.
 
The minimum rental commitments shown above have not been reduced by $116,377 for minimum sublease rentals to be received in the future under non-cancelable subleases, of which approximately 35% is due from one counterparty.  The lease reserve liability, which is included in the table below, for space subleased as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, was $25,877 and $28,821, respectively. If a sub-tenant defaults on a sublease, Legg Mason may incur operating charges to adjust the existing lease reserve liability to reflect expected future sublease rentals at reduced amounts, dependent on the commercial real estate market at such time.

The minimum rental commitments shown above also include $7,167 for commitments related to space that has been vacated, but for which subleases are being pursued. The related lease reserve liability, also included in the table below, was $4,876 and $10,867 as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively, and remains subject to adjustment based on circumstances in the real estate markets that may require a change in assumptions or the actual terms of a sublease that is ultimately secured. The lease reserve liability takes into consideration various assumptions, including the expected amount of time it will take to secure a sublease agreement and prevailing rental rates in the applicable real estate markets.

During fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017, certain office space was permanently vacated in connection with the combination of EnTrust and Permal. During fiscal 2017, the lease related to a portion of this space was terminated, resulting in reductions in the lease reserve liability totaling $4,495. Also during fiscal 2017, a sublease was executed for headquarters space that had been vacated during fiscal 2016, resulting in a $2,700 reduction in the lease reserve liability for terms more favorable than estimated. This activity is reflected in the lease reserve liability in the table below.

The lease reserve liability for subleased space and vacated space for which subleases are being pursued is included in Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The table below presents a summary of the changes in the lease reserve liability:
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
$
52,240

Accrued charges for vacated and subleased space (1) (2)
 
9,454

Payments, net
 
(16,531
)
Adjustments and other
 
(5,475
)
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
39,688

Payments, net
 
(10,850
)
Adjustments and other
 
1,915

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
30,753

(1)
Included in Occupancy expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income
(2)
Includes $9,069 related to the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust
 

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As of December 31, 2017, Legg Mason had commitments to invest $37,132 in limited partnerships that make private investments. These commitments are expected to be outstanding, or funded as required, through the end of their respective investment periods ranging through fiscal 2029. Also, in connection with the acquisition of Clarion Partners, Legg Mason committed to provide $100,000 of seed capital to Clarion Partners products after the second anniversary of the transaction closing. Legg Mason also committed to contribute up to $5,000 of additional working capital to Financial Guard, to be paid over the two-year period following the acquisition, of which $2,500 has been paid as of December 31, 2017.

As of December 31, 2017, Legg Mason had various commitments to pay contingent consideration relating to business acquisitions. The following table presents a summary of the maximum remaining contingent consideration and changes in the contingent consideration liability for each of Legg Mason's recent acquisitions. See Note 3 for additional details regarding each significant acquisition.
 
 
RARE Infrastructure
 
Martin Currie
 
QS Investors
 
Other(2)
 
Total
Acquisition Date
 
October 21, 2015
 
October 1, 2014
 
May 30, 2014
 
Various
 
 
Maximum Remaining Contingent Consideration(1)
 
$
82,792


$
439,331


$
23,400


$
1,900

 
$
547,423

Contingent Consideration Liability
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
$
27,145

 
$
41,222

 
$
13,749

 
$
2,469

 
$
84,585

Initial purchase accounting accrual
 

 

 

 
2,000

 
2,000

Payment
 

 

 
(6,587
)
 

 
(6,587
)
Fair value adjustments
 
(10,000
)
 
(25,000
)
 
(2,500
)
 
(2,000
)
 
(39,500
)
Foreign exchange and accretion
 
299

 
(4,204
)
 
179

 
38

 
(3,688
)
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
17,444

 
12,018

 
4,841

 
2,507

 
36,810

Initial purchase accounting accrual
 

 

 

 
1,900

 
1,900

Payment
 

 

 

 
(3,242
)
 
(3,242
)
Fair value adjustments
 
(15,250
)
 

 
(1,300
)
 
739

 
(15,811
)
Foreign exchange and accretion
 
(18
)
 
942

 
124

 
(4
)
 
1,044

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
2,176

 
$
12,960

 
$
3,665

 
$
1,900

 
$
20,701

Balance Sheet Classification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Contingent consideration
 
$


$
12,960


$
3,665


$

 
$
16,625

Non-current Contingent consideration
 
2,176






1,900

 
4,076

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
2,176

 
$
12,960

 
$
3,665

 
$
1,900

 
$
20,701

(1)
Using the applicable exchange rate as of December 31, 2017, for amounts denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
(2)
Includes amounts related to two small acquisitions completed in December 2017 and the acquisition of PK Investments on December 31, 2015.

In the normal course of business, Legg Mason enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and that provide general indemnifications, which are not considered financial guarantees by relevant accounting guidance. Legg Mason’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against Legg Mason that have not yet occurred.

Legg Mason has been the subject of customer complaints and has also been named as a defendant in various legal actions arising primarily from asset management, securities brokerage, and investment banking activities, including certain class actions, which primarily allege violations of securities laws and seek unspecified damages, which could be substantial. In the normal course of its business, Legg Mason has also received subpoenas and is currently involved in governmental and industry self-regulatory agency inquiries, investigations and, from time to time, proceedings involving asset management activities. In accordance with guidance for accounting for contingencies, Legg Mason has established provisions for estimated losses from pending complaints, legal actions, investigations and proceedings when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of loss can be made.


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Legg Mason cannot estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss associated with matters of litigation and other proceedings, including those described above as customer complaints, legal actions, inquiries, proceedings and investigations. The inability to provide a reasonably possible amount or range of losses is not because there is uncertainty as to the ultimate outcome of a matter, but because liability and damage issues have not developed to the point where Legg Mason can conclude that there is both a reasonable possibility of a loss and a meaningful amount or range of possible losses. There are numerous aspects to customer complaints, legal actions, inquiries, proceedings and investigations that prevent Legg Mason from estimating a related amount or range of reasonably possible losses. These aspects include, among other things, the nature of the matters; that significant relevant facts are not known, are uncertain or are in dispute; and that damages sought are not specified, are uncertain, unsupportable or unexplained. In addition, for legal actions, discovery may not yet have started, may not be complete or may not be conclusive, and meaningful settlement discussions may not have occurred. Further, for regulatory matters, investigations may run their course without any clear indication of wrongdoing or fault until their conclusion.

In management's opinion, an adequate accrual has been made as of December 31, 2017, to provide for any probable losses that may arise from matters for which the Company could reasonably estimate an amount. Legg Mason's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially affected during a period in which a matter is ultimately resolved. In addition, the ultimate costs of litigation-related charges can vary significantly from period-to-period, depending on factors such as market conditions, the size and volume of customer complaints and claims, including class action suits, and recoveries from indemnification, contribution, insurance reimbursement, or reductions in compensation under revenue share arrangements.

As further described in Note 3, Legg Mason may be obligated to settle noncontrolling interests related to certain affiliates. As of December 31, 2017, affiliate noncontrolling interests, excluding amounts related to management equity plans, aggregated $583,442. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, the estimated redemption value for units under affiliate management equity plans aggregated $69,661. See Notes 8 and 11 for additional information regarding affiliate management equity plans and noncontrolling interests, respectively.

10. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. shareholders ("EPS") is calculated by dividing Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. (adjusted by removing earnings allocated to participating securities) by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding, which excludes participating securities. Legg Mason issues to employees restricted stock and restricted stock units that are deemed to be participating securities prior to vesting, because the related unvested restricted shares/units entitle their holder to nonforfeitable dividend rights. In this circumstance, accounting guidance requires a “two-class method” for EPS calculations that excludes earnings (potentially both distributed and undistributed) allocated to participating securities and does not allocate losses to participating securities.

Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS, but the effect of potential common shares is included in the calculation unless the potential common shares are antidilutive.

As previously discussed, on December 22, 2017, Legg Mason purchased and retired 5,568 shares of Legg Mason common stock from Shanda for an aggregate purchase price of $225,490. Legg Mason's Board of Directors approved the purchase of these shares, utilizing the remaining $169,019 of Legg Mason common stock previously authorized for purchase and authorizing the purchase of an additional $56,471 of Legg Mason common stock to complete the transaction. As of December 31, 2017, further purchases of Legg Mason common stock have not been authorized.

In addition, during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason purchased and retired 1,920 and 6,636 shares of its common stock, respectively, for $74,000 and $253,649, respectively, through open market purchases. During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason retired 344 shares of its common stock for $13,074 under net share settlements of deferred compensation award vesting. Total retired shares, including those purchased from Shanda, reduced weighted-average shares outstanding by 6,606 and 3,922 for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, Legg Mason purchased and retired 2,946 and 9,117 shares of its common stock, respectively, for $90,001 and $291,674, respectively, through open market purchases, and retired 2 and 363 shares of its common stock, respectively, for $43 and $11,845, respectively, under net share settlements of deferred

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compensation award vesting. Total retired shares reduced weighted-average shares outstanding by 7,640 and 4,931 for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, respectively.

The par value of the shares repurchased is charged to common stock, with the excess of the purchase price over par first charged against additional paid-in capital, with the remaining balance, if any, charged against retained earnings.

The following table presents the computations of basic and diluted EPS:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding for EPS
 
90,377

 
99,403

 
92,770

 
101,897

Potential common shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dilutive employee stock options
 
456

 
165

 
429

 
205

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for EPS
 
90,833

 
99,568

 
93,199

 
102,102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
$
149,222

 
$
51,439

 
$
275,806

 
$
151,332

Less: Earnings (distributed and undistributed) allocated to participating securities
 
5,347

 
$
1,706

 
9,639

 
4,874

Net Income (Distributed and Undistributed) Allocated to Shareholders (Excluding Participating Securities)
 
$
143,875

 
$
49,733

 
$
266,167

 
$
146,458

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income per share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.59

 
$
0.50

 
$
2.87

 
$
1.44

Diluted
 
1.58

 
$
0.50

 
2.86

 
1.43


The weighted-average shares exclude weighted-average unvested restricted shares deemed to be participating securities of 3,357 and 3,404 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 3,322 and 3,329, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The diluted EPS calculations for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and the three and nine months ended December 31, 2016, exclude any potential common shares issuable under the 14,205 warrants issued in connection with the repurchase of convertible notes in May 2012 because the market price of Legg Mason common stock did not exceed the exercise price, and therefore, the warrants would be antidilutive. The warrants expired unexercised in July 2017.
Options to purchase 1,980 and 3,993 shares for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 2,224 and 3,506 shares for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the presumed proceeds from exercising such options, including the related income tax benefits, exceed the average price of the common shares for the period and, therefore, the options are deemed antidilutive.

Further, market- and performance-based awards are excluded from potential dilution until the designated market or performance condition is met. Unvested restricted shares for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were antidilutive and, therefore, do not further impact diluted EPS.



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11. Noncontrolling Interests

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and nine months ended December 31, included the following amounts:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
$
17,228

 
$
11,063

 
$
37,514

 
$
39,335

Net income attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests
 
2,096

 
2,025

 
6,387

 
5,732

Total
 
$
19,324

 
$
13,088

 
$
43,901

 
$
45,067


Total redeemable and nonredeemable noncontrolling interests for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, included the following amounts:
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
Consolidated investment vehicles(1) and other
 
Affiliate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Management equity plans
 
Total
 
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests(2)
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
$
58,470

 
$
591,254

 
$
28,048

 
$
677,772

 
$
27,798

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
7,923

 
29,591

 

 
37,514

 
6,387

Net subscriptions (redemptions) and other
 
47,401

 
(2,693
)
 

 
44,708

 

Distributions
 

 
(36,953
)
 

 
(36,953
)
 
(6,524
)
Foreign exchange
 

 
1,500

 

 
1,500

 

Vesting/change in estimated redemption value
 

 
743

 
2,422

 
3,165

 

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
113,794

 
$
583,442

 
$
30,470

 
$
727,706

 
$
27,661

 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
Consolidated investment vehicles(1) and other
 
Affiliate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Management equity plans
 
Total
 
Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests(2)
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
$
94,136

 
$
68,922

 
$
12,727

 
$
175,785

 
$
22,202

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
8,153

 
31,182

 

 
39,335

 
5,732

Net subscriptions (redemptions) and other(3)
 
(20,914
)
 
2,604

 

 
(18,310
)
 

Distributions
 

 
(18,797
)
 

 
(18,797
)
 
(4,555
)
Grants (settlements), net
 

 

 
6,120

 
6,120

 

Business acquisitions
 

 
510,500

 

 
510,500

 

Foreign exchange

 

 
(4,094
)
 

 
(4,094
)
 

Vesting/change in estimated redemption value
 

 

 
6,261

 
6,261

 

Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
$
81,375

 
$
590,317

 
$
25,108

 
$
696,800

 
$
23,379

(1) Principally related to VIE and seeded investment products.
(2) Related to Royce management equity plan.
(3) Includes the impact related to the adoption of updated consolidation accounting guidance.


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Redeemable noncontrolling interests by affiliate (exclusive of management equity plans) for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, included the following amounts:
 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
EnTrust-Permal
 
Clarion Partners
 
RARE Infrastructure
 
Other
 
Total
Balance as of March 31, 2017
 
$
404,852

 
$
113,173

 
$
68,747

 
$
4,482

 
$
591,254

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
17,014

 
9,725

 
2,948

 
(96
)
 
29,591

Redemptions
 

 

 

 
(2,693
)
 
(2,693
)
Distributions
 
(23,759
)
 
(9,462
)
 
(3,597
)
 
(135
)
 
(36,953
)
Foreign exchange
 

 

 
1,500

 

 
1,500

Change in estimated redemption value
 

 
743

 

 

 
743

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
398,107

 
$
114,179

 
$
69,598

 
$
1,558

 
$
583,442

 
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
 
 
EnTrust-Permal
 
Clarion Partners
 
RARE Infrastructure
 
Other
 
Total
Balance as of March 31, 2016
 
$

 
$

 
$
67,155

 
$
1,767

 
$
68,922

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
17,099

 
8,839

 
4,731

 
513

 
31,182

Subscriptions
 

 

 

 
2,604

 
2,604

Distributions
 
(12,855
)
 
(2,733
)
 
(2,703
)
 
(506
)
 
(18,797
)
Business acquisitions
 
403,200

 
105,300

 

 
2,000

 
510,500

Foreign exchange
 

 

 
(4,094
)
 

 
(4,094
)
Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
$
407,444

 
$
111,406

 
$
65,089

 
$
6,378

 
$
590,317


12. Derivatives and Hedging

Legg Mason uses currency forwards to economically hedge the risk of movements in exchange rates, primarily between the U.S. dollar, British pound, Australian dollar, Singapore dollar, Japanese yen, and euro. All derivative transactions for which Legg Mason has certain legally enforceable rights of setoff are governed by International Swaps and Derivative Association ("ISDA") Master Agreements. For these derivative transactions, Legg Mason has one ISDA Master Agreement with each of the significant counterparties, which covers transactions with that counterparty. Each of the respective ISDA agreements provides for settlement netting and close-out netting between Legg Mason and that counterparty, which are legally enforceable rights to setoff. Other assets recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, were $7,183 and $2,718, respectively. Other liabilities recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, were $2,288 and $4,522, respectively.

Legg Mason also uses market hedges on certain seed capital investments by entering into futures contracts to sell index funds that benchmark the hedged seed capital investments.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored ETFs, which resulted in investments by each of the financial intermediaries in the respective ETF. Under the terms of each of the total return swap arrangements, Legg Mason receives the related investment gains and losses on the underlying shares of the ETF and pays a floating rate on the value of the underlying shares. Each of the total return swap arrangements allows either party to terminate all or part of the arrangement and provides for automatic termination upon occurrence of certain events. Each financial intermediary counterparty may hedge its total return swap position through an investment in the ETF and the financial intermediaries purchased interests in the respective Legg Mason ETF on the date of the transactions.


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Table of Contents

The terms of the total return swap arrangements, aggregate counterparty investment in the related ETF on the date of each transaction, and the aggregate notional amount as of December 31, 2017, are as follows:
Transaction Date
 
Expiration Date
 
Aggregate Counterparty Initial Investment in ETF
 
Floating Rate
 
Aggregate Notional Amount as of December 31, 2017
October 10, 2017
 
April 2018
 
$
5,290

 
Three-month LIBOR plus 1.6%
 
$
5,314

July 26, 2017
 
July 2018
 
23,096

 
Three-month LIBOR plus 1.6%
 
23,584

June 6, 2017
 
June 2018
 
20,253

 
Three-month LIBOR plus 1.35%
 
22,168

 
 
 
 
$
48,639

 
 
 
$
51,066


In connection with these arrangements, Legg Mason executed futures contracts with notional amounts totaling $58,417 to partially hedge the gains and losses recognized on the total return swaps.

As further discussed in Note 7, in April 2016, Legg Mason executed a 4.67-year, amortizing interest rate swap, which was terminated in August 2016. Also, in April 2016, Legg Mason terminated another previously existing interest rate swap.

With the exception of the two interest rate swap contracts discussed in Note 7, Legg Mason has not designated any derivatives as hedging instruments for accounting purposes during the periods ended December 31, 2017, March 31, 2017, or December 31, 2016. In addition to the total return swap arrangements and the related futures contracts discussed above, as of December 31, 2017, Legg Mason had open currency forward contracts with aggregate notional amounts totaling $260,788, and open futures contracts relating to seed capital investments with aggregate notional amounts totaling $136,066. With the exception of the total return swap arrangements and related futures contracts, these amounts are representative of the level of non-hedge designation derivative activity throughout the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, the weighted-average remaining contract terms for currency forward contracts and futures contracts relating to seed capital investments were four and three months, respectively.


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Table of Contents

The following table presents the derivative assets and related offsets, if any, as of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts of recognized assets
 
 Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net amount of derivative assets presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash collateral
 
Net amount as of
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts
 
$
7,617

 
$
(1,884
)
 
$
5,733

 
$

 
$

 
$
5,733

Total return swaps
 

 

 

 
1,450

 
3,003

 
4,453

Total derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
7,617


$
(1,884
)
 
$
5,733

 
$
1,450

 
$
3,003

 
$
10,186


The following table presents the derivative liabilities and related offsets, if any, as of December 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities
 
Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net amount of derivative liabilities presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash collateral
 
Net amount as of
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts
 
$
(360
)
 
$
191

 
$
(169
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(169
)
Futures contracts relating to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 

 

 

 
(1,633
)
 
6,356

 
4,723

Total return swaps
 

 

 

 
(410
)
 
2,380

 
1,970

Total futures contracts
 

 

 

 
(2,043
)
 
8,736

 
6,693

Total return swaps
 

 

 

 
(76
)
 
1,769

 
1,693

Total derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
(360
)
 
$
191

 
$
(169
)
 
$
(2,119
)
 
$
10,505

 
$
8,217



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Table of Contents

The following table presents the derivative assets and related offsets, if any, as of March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts of recognized assets
 
 Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net amount of derivative assets presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash collateral
 
Net amount as of
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts
 
$
3,470

 
$
(928
)
 
$
2,542

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,542

Futures contracts relating to seed capital investments
 

 

 

 
176

 
2,878

 
3,054

Total derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
3,470

 
$
(928
)
 
$
2,542

 
$
176

 
$
2,878

 
$
5,596


The following table presents the derivative liabilities and related offsets, if any, as of March 31, 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Balance Sheet
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities
 
Gross amounts offset in the Balance Sheet
 
Net amount of derivative liabilities presented in the Balance Sheet
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash collateral
 
Net amount as of
March 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts
 
$
(3,641
)
 
$
751

 
$
(2,890
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(2,890
)
Futures contracts relating to seed capital investments
 

 

 

 
(1,632
)
 
4,155

 
2,523

Total derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
(3,641
)
 
$
751

 
$
(2,890
)
 
$
(1,632
)
 
$
4,155

 
$
(367
)


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Table of Contents

The following table presents gains (losses) recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income on derivative instruments. As described above, the currency forward contracts and futures and forward contracts for seed capital investments included below are economic hedges of interest rate and market risk of certain operating and investing activities of Legg Mason, including foreign exchange risk on acquisition contingent consideration. Gains and losses on these derivative instruments substantially offset gains and losses of the economically hedged items.
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Income Statement Classification
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts relating to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
Other expense
 
$
2,005

 
$
(1,146
)
 
$
1,368

 
$
(6,199
)
Seed capital investments
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
624

 
(518
)
 
1,932

 
(837
)
Futures contracts relating to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
33

 
(6,864
)
 
1,965

 
(3,514
)
Total return swaps
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 

 
(3,478
)
 

 

Total return swaps
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
1,796

 
(11
)
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total gain (loss) from derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
$
4,458

 
$
(12,017
)
 
$
5,265

 
$
(10,550
)
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
Income Statement Classification
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forward contracts relating to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
Other expense
 
$
10,980

 
$
(4,917
)
 
$
11,148

 
$
(13,085
)
Seed capital investments
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
251

 
(1,868
)
 
2,943

 
(1,752
)
Futures contracts relating to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seed capital investments
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
72

 
(18,082
)
 
2,676

 
(11,184
)
Total return swaps
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
89

 
(5,274
)
 

 

Total return swap
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 
2,562

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total gain (loss) from derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
13,954

 
(30,141
)
 
16,767

 
(26,021
)
Derivative designated as a cash flow hedge (See Note 7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap (termination)
 
Other non-operating income (expense)
 

 

 

 
(3,662
)
Interest rate swap
 
Interest expense
 

 

 

 
(764
)
Total
 
 
 
$
13,954

 
$
(30,141
)
 
$
16,767

 
$
(30,447
)


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Table of Contents

13. Variable Interest Entities and Consolidated Investment Vehicles

In accordance with financial accounting standards, Legg Mason consolidates certain sponsored investment products, some of which are designated as CIVs. As presented in the table below, as of December 31, 2017, March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, Legg Mason concluded it was the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs because it held significant financial interests in the funds. In addition, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Legg Mason entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored exchange traded funds ("ETFs"). Under the terms of the total return swaps, Legg Mason absorbs all gains and losses on the underlying ETF investments of these financial intermediaries, and therefore has variable interests in each of the two ETFs, and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of each ETF. Because it was determined to be the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, Legg Mason consolidated and designated the following funds as CIVs in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017, March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016:
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Number of Consolidated Funds
 
Legg Mason Investment in Funds(1)
 
Number of Consolidated Funds
 
Legg Mason Investment in Funds(1)
 
Number of Consolidated Funds
 
Legg Mason Investment in Funds(1)
Sponsored investment funds
2
 
$
16,537

 
2
 
$
16,424

 
2
 
$
15,807

Foreign mutual funds
3
 
10,114

 
3
 
7,964

 
4
 
12,397

Employee-owned funds
2
 
7,107

 
1
 
3,912

 
1
 
3,575

ETFs(2)
2
 
7,790

 
n/a
 

 
n/a
 

Total
 
 
$
41,548

 
 
 
$
28,300

 
 
 
$
31,779

n/a - not applicable
(1) Represents Legg Mason's maximum risk of loss, excluding uncollected advisory fees.
(2)
Under the total return swap arrangements, Legg Mason receives the related investment gains and losses on notional amounts totaling $51,066. See Note 12 for additional information regarding total return swaps.

The assets of these CIVs are primarily comprised of investment securities. Investors and creditors of these CIVs have no recourse to the general credit or assets of Legg Mason beyond its investment in these funds.

Legg Mason also consolidates certain VRE products with seed capital investments where Legg Mason maintains a controlling financial interest in the product.

See Notes 2 and 4 for additional information regarding VIEs, VREs, and the consolidation of investment products.


48

Table of Contents

The following tables reflect the impact of CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 and the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Consolidating Balance Sheets
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
 
Balance Before Consolidation of CIVs and Other(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
 
Balance Before Consolidation of CIVs and Other(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
Current Assets
 
$
1,740,655

 
$
146,657

 
$
(38,554
)
 
$
1,848,758

 
$
1,749,959

 
$
77,406

 
$
(25,618
)
 
$
1,801,747

Non-current assets
 
6,220,230

 
9,172

 
(2,994
)
 
6,226,408

 
6,481,376

 
9,987

 
(2,695
)
 
6,488,668

Total Assets
 
$
7,960,885

 
$
155,829

 
$
(41,548
)
 
$
8,075,166

 
$
8,231,335

 
$
87,393

 
$
(28,313
)
 
$
8,290,415

Current Liabilities
 
$
932,101

 
$
487

 
$

 
$
932,588

 
$
808,664

 
$
736

 
$
(13
)
 
$
809,387

Non-current liabilities
 
2,581,380

 

 

 
2,581,380

 
2,792,084

 

 

 
2,792,084

Total Liabilities
 
3,513,481

 
487

 

 
3,513,968

 
3,600,748

 
736

 
(13
)
 
3,601,471

Redeemable Non-controlling interests
 
613,912

 
13,696

 
100,098

 
727,706

 
619,302

 
26,853

 
31,617

 
677,772

Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
3,833,492

 
141,646

 
(141,646
)
 
3,833,492

 
4,011,285

 
59,804

 
(59,917
)
 
4,011,172

Total Liabilities and Equity
 
$
7,960,885

 
$
155,829

 
$
(41,548
)
 
$
8,075,166

 
$
8,231,335

 
$
87,393

 
$
(28,313
)
 
$
8,290,415

(1)
Other represents consolidated sponsored investment products (VREs) that are not designated as CIVs.



49

Table of Contents

Consolidating Statements of Income
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Balance Before
Consolidation of CIVs and Other(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
 
Balance Before
Consolidation of CIVs and Other
(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
793,373

 
$

 
$
(283
)
 
$
793,090

 
$
715,601

 
$

 
$
(360
)
 
$
715,241

Total Operating Expenses
 
819,984

 
555

 
(116
)
 
820,423

 
604,075

 
383

 
(383
)
 
604,075

Operating Income (Loss)
 
(26,611
)
 
(555
)
 
(167
)
 
(27,333
)
 
111,526

 
(383
)
 
23

 
111,166

Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
(19,970
)
 
7,940

 
(1,487
)
 
(13,517
)
 
(20,545
)
 
793

 
(446
)
 
(20,198
)
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Provision (Benefit)
 
(46,581
)
 
7,385

 
(1,654
)
 
(40,850
)
 
90,981

 
410

 
(423
)
 
90,968

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
(209,396
)
 

 

 
(209,396
)
 
26,441

 

 

 
26,441

Net Income
 
162,815

 
7,385

 
(1,654
)
 
168,546

 
64,540

 
410

 
(423
)
 
64,527

Less:  Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
13,593

 
(285
)
 
6,016

 
19,324

 
13,101

 
(4
)
 
(9
)
 
13,088

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
$
149,222

 
$
7,670

 
$
(7,670
)
 
$
149,222

 
$
51,439

 
$
414

 
$
(414
)
 
$
51,439

(1)
Other represents consolidated sponsored investment products (VREs) that are not designated as CIVs.
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Balance Before
Consolidation of CIVs and Other(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
 
Balance Before
Consolidation of CIVs and Other
(1)
 
CIVs and Other(1)
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated Totals
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
2,355,620

 
$

 
$
(350
)
 
$
2,355,270

 
$
2,164,162

 
$

 
$
(386
)
 
$
2,163,776

Total Operating Expenses
 
2,130,412

 
749

 
(182
)
 
2,130,979

 
1,851,199

 
606

 
(383
)
 
1,851,422

Operating Income (Loss)
 
225,208

 
(749
)
 
(168
)
 
224,291

 
312,963

 
(606
)
 
(3
)
 
312,354

Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
(55,892
)
 
11,310

 
(2,470
)
 
(47,052
)
 
(53,063
)
 
10,444

 
(1,682
)
 
(44,301
)
Income Before Income Tax Provision (Benefit)
 
169,316

 
10,561

 
(2,638
)
 
177,239

 
259,900

 
9,838

 
(1,685
)
 
268,053

Income tax provision (benefit)
 
(142,468
)
 

 

 
(142,468
)
 
71,654

 

 

 
71,654

Net Income
 
311,784

 
10,561

 
(2,638
)
 
319,707

 
188,246

 
9,838

 
(1,685
)
 
196,399

Less:  Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
35,978

 
(5
)
 
7,928

 
43,901

 
36,914

 
552

 
7,601

 
45,067

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.
 
$
275,806

 
$
10,566

 
$
(10,566
)
 
$
275,806

 
$
151,332

 
$
9,286

 
$
(9,286
)
 
$
151,332

(1)    Other represents consolidated sponsored investment products (VREs) that are not designated as CIVs.
 
 

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Table of Contents

Non-Operating Income (Expense) includes interest income, interest expense, and net gains (losses) on investments.

The consolidation of CIVs has no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc.

As of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, financial assets of CIVs carried at fair value totaling $114,807 and $33,991, respectively, were valued using Level 1 inputs, and totaling $21,106 and $24,734, respectively, were valued using NAV as a practical expedient. Legg Mason had no financial liabilities of CIVs carried at fair value as of December 31, 2017 or March 31, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during either of the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The NAVs used as a practical expedient by CIVs have been provided by the investees and have been derived from the fair values of the underlying investments as of the respective reporting dates. The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, the nature of these investments and any related liquidation restrictions or other factors, which may impact the ultimate value realized:
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Determined Using NAV
 
As of December 31, 2017
Category of Investment
 
Investment Strategy
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2017
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Remaining Term
Hedge funds
 
Global macro, fixed income, long/short equity, systematic, emerging market, U.S. and European hedge
 
$
21,106

(1) 
$
24,734

 
n/a
 
n/a
n/a - not applicable
(1)
Redemption restrictions: 5% daily redemption; 8% monthly redemption; 49% quarterly redemption; and 38% are subject to three to five-year lock-up or side pocket provisions.

As of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, for VIEs in which Legg Mason holds a variable interest, but for which it was not the primary beneficiary, Legg Mason's carrying value and maximum risk of loss were as follows:
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
As of March 31, 2017
 
 
Equity Interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (1)
 
Maximum Risk of Loss (2)
 
Equity Interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (1)
 
Maximum Risk of Loss (2)
Real Estate Investment Trusts
 
$
12,361

 
$
14,099

 
$
11,660

 
$
15,763

Other investment funds
 
29,239

 
47,737

 
47,063

 
73,710

Total
 
$
41,600

 
$
61,836

 
$
58,723

 
$
89,473

(1)
Amounts are related to investments in proprietary and other fund products.
(2)
Includes equity investments the Company has made or is required to make and any earned but uncollected management fees.

The Company's total AUM of unconsolidated VIEs was $30,508,623 and $26,735,285 as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, respectively.

The assets of these VIEs are primarily comprised of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, and the liabilities are primarily comprised of various expense accruals. These VIEs were not consolidated because Legg Mason does not have both the power to direct significant economic activities of the entity and rights/obligations associated with benefits/losses that could be significant to the entity.


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Table of Contents

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

Forward-looking Statements
We have made in this report, and from time to time may otherwise make in our public filings, press releases and statements by our management, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including information relating to anticipated growth in revenues or earnings per share, anticipated changes in our business or in the amount of our client assets under management ("AUM") or assets under advisement ("AUA"), anticipated future performance of our business, including expected earnings per share in future periods, anticipated future investment performance of our affiliates, our expected future net client cash flows, anticipated expense levels, changes in expenses, the expected effects of acquisitions and expectations regarding financial market conditions. The words or phrases “can be,” “may be,” “expects,” “may affect,” “may depend,” “believes,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate” and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties and we caution readers that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of Legg Mason is not a guarantee of future performance.

Actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere herein, under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017, and our other public filings, press releases and statements by our management. Due to such risks, uncertainties and other factors, we caution each person receiving such forward-looking information not to place undue reliance on such statements. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and we undertake no obligations to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Executive Overview
Legg Mason, Inc., a holding company, with its subsidiaries (collectively, "Legg Mason") is a global asset management firm. Acting through our subsidiaries, we provide investment management and related services to institutional and individual clients, company-sponsored mutual funds and other investment products. We offer these products and services directly and through various financial intermediaries. We have operations principally in the U.S. and the U.K. and also have offices in Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Dubai, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan. Terms such as "we," "us," "our," and "Company" refer to Legg Mason.

The financial services business in which we are engaged is extremely competitive. Our competition includes numerous global, national, regional and local asset management firms, commercial banks, insurance companies, and other financial services companies. The industry continues to experience disruption and challenges, including a shift to lower-fee passively managed products, increasing fee pressure (including pressure arising from the shift to lower fee passive products), the increased role of technology in asset management services, the constant introduction of new products and services, and the consolidation of financial services firms through mergers and acquisitions. The asset management industry is also subject to extensive and evolving regulation under federal, state, and foreign laws. Like most firms, we have been and will continue to be impacted by regulatory and legislative changes. Responding to these changes and keeping abreast of regulatory developments, has required, and will continue to require, us to incur costs that impact our profitability.

Our financial position and results of operations are materially affected by the overall trends and conditions of global financial markets. Results of any individual period should not be considered representative of future results. Our profitability is sensitive to a variety of factors, including the amount and composition of our AUM, and the volatility and general level of securities prices, interest rates, and changes in currency exchange rates, among other things. Periods of unfavorable market conditions are likely to have an adverse effect on our profitability. In addition, the diversification of services and products offered, investment performance, access to distribution channels, reputation in the market, attraction and retention of key employees and client relations are significant factors in determining whether we are successful in the attraction and retention of clients. In the last few years, the industry has seen flows into products for which we do not currently garner significant market share, including, in particular, passive products, and corresponding flows out of products in which we do have market share. For a further discussion of factors that may affect our results of operations, refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, and in Item 1A. herein.


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Table of Contents

Our strategy is to expand client choice. We focus our strategic priorities on the four primary areas listed below.  Management keeps these strategic priorities in mind when it evaluates our operating performance and financial condition.  Consistent with this approach, we have also presented in the table below the most important initiatives on which management currently focuses in evaluating our performance and financial condition.
 
Strategic Priorities
 
 
Initiatives
-
Products
 
-
Create an innovative portfolio of investment products and promote revenue growth by developing new products and product vehicles and leveraging the capabilities of our affiliates
 
 
 
-
Identify and execute strategic acquisitions to strengthen our affiliates and increase product offerings
 
 
 
 
 
-
Performance
 
-
Deliver compelling and consistent performance against both relevant benchmarks and the products and services of our competitors
 
 
 
 
 
-
Distribution
 
-
Continue to maintain and enhance our top tier distribution function with the capability to offer solutions to relevant investment challenges and grow market share worldwide
 
 
 
-
Develop alternative and innovative distribution approaches for expanded client access
 
 
 
 
 
-
Productivity
 
-
Operate with a high level of effectiveness and improve ongoing efficiency
 
 
 
-
Align economic relationships with affiliate management teams, including retained affiliate management equity and the implementation of affiliate management equity plan agreements

The strategic priorities discussed above are designed to drive improvements in our net flows, earnings, cash flows, AUM and other key metrics, including operating margin.  Certain of these key metrics are discussed in our quarterly results discussion below.

In connection with these strategic priorities, on May 4, 2017, we launched the ClearBridge All Cap Growth Exchange Traded Fund ("ETF"), an actively managed strategy that seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investment in large-, mid-, and small capitalization stocks that have the potential for above average long-term earnings and/or cash flow growth. On July 14, 2017, we launched the Legg Mason Small-Cap Quality Value ETF, our first dedicated small-cap, multi-factor ETF sub-advised by Royce & Associates ("Royce"). We expect ETFs to be a growth opportunity, as investor interest has trended away from traditional mutual funds, and intend to continue to focus on increasing our ETF product offerings during fiscal 2018.

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $149.2 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, as compared to $51.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. was largely the result of a $213.7 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, one-time, net non-cash provisional tax benefit related to H.R. 1 "An Act to Provide for the Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018" (the "Tax Law"), which became enacted law on December 22, 2017. This increase was offset in part by a non-cash impairment charge of $195.0 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, related to intangible assets at EnTrustPermal Group Holdings, LLC ("EnTrustPermal") and discrete tax items which negatively impacted the three months ended December 31, 2017 by $7.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share. The three months ended December 31, 2016, included impairment charges of $35.0 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, related to RARE Infrastructure Limited ("RARE Infrastructure") amortizable intangible assets and The Permal Group, Limited ("Permal") trade name. The three months ended December 31, 2016, also included a credit of $14.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, related to fair value adjustments to decrease the contingent consideration liabilities associated with the acquisitions of Martin Currie (Holdings) Limited ("Martin Currie"), RARE Infrastructure, QS Investors Holdings, LLC ("QS Investors"), and Financial Guard and a gain on the sale of Legg Mason Poland of $4.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. In addition, the three months ended December 31, 2017, included transition-related costs of $1.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, associated with the combination of Permal with EnTrust Capital ("EnTrust"), while the three months ended December 31, 2016, included $3.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, of such costs.

Average AUM and total operating revenues both increased for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016, as further discussed below.


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During the 12-month period ended December 31, 2017, total AUM increased, primarily due to the positive impact of market performance and other, which includes the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of certain assets which were previously classified as AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM, as further discussed below, and net client inflows in fixed income AUM, which were offset in part by net client outflows in liquidity, alternative, and equity AUM and the disposition of a small investment manager and our portion of a joint venture.

The following discussion and analysis provides additional information regarding our financial condition and results of operations.

Business Environment
U.S. equity markets continued to increase during the three months ended December 31, 2017, largely due to continued growth in corporate earnings and an expanding economy. International equity markets also improved, due to signs of economic growth and accommodative monetary policy.

Our industry continues to be impacted by the generally low growth and mixed return environment, with continued migration from active to passive strategies, which, together with regulatory reform, continues to put pressure on fees, contributing to the consolidation of products and managers on distribution platforms. These factors continue to create significant flow challenges for active managers like ourselves.

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, major U.S. equity market indices and bond market indices increased.
 
 
% Change for the three months ended December 31:
 
% Change for the nine months ended December 31:
Indices(1)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Dow Jones Industrial Average(2)
 
10.3
%
 
7.9
 %
 
19.6
%
 
11.8
 %
S&P 500(2)
 
6.1
%
 
3.3
 %
 
13.2
%
 
8.7
 %
Nasdaq Composite Index(2)
 
6.3
%
 
1.3
 %
 
16.8
%
 
10.5
 %
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
 
0.4
%
 
(3.0
)%
 
2.7
%
 
(0.4
)%
Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond Index
 
1.1
%
 
(7.1
)%
 
5.5
%
 
(3.6
)%
(1)
Indices are trademarks of Dow Jones & Company, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., and Barclays Capital, respectively, which are not affiliated with Legg Mason.
(2)
Excludes the impact of the reinvestment of dividends and stock splits.

In December 2017, the Federal Reserve Board increased the target federal funds rate from 1.25% to 1.50%. While the economic outlook for the U.S. has remained positive in recent years, it has been impacted by increased uncertainty. The financial environment in which we operate continues to reflect a heightened level of sensitivity and continued pressure on our fees, as previously discussed.



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Table of Contents

Quarter Ended December 31, 2017, Compared to Quarter Ended December 31, 2016

Assets Under Management and Assets Under Advisement

Assets Under Management
Our AUM is primarily managed across the following asset classes:
Equity
 
Fixed Income
 
Alternative
 
Liquidity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Large Cap Growth
 
-
U.S. Intermediate Investment Grade
 
-
Real Estate
 
-
U.S. Managed Cash
-
Large Cap Value
 
-
U.S. Credit Aggregate
 
-
Hedge Funds
 
-
U.S. Municipal Cash
-
Equity Income
 
-
Global Opportunistic Fixed Income
 
-
Listed Infrastructure
 
 
 
-
International Equity
 
-
Global Government
 
 
 
 
 
-
Small Cap Core
 
-
U.S. Municipal
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Large Cap Core
 
-
Global Fixed Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Sector Equity
 
-
High Yield
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Mid Cap Core
 
-
U.S. Long Duration

 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Small Cap Value
 
-
U.S. Limited Duration
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Emerging Markets Equity
 
-
Emerging Markets Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Small Cap Growth
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-
Global Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The components of the changes in our AUM (in billions) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
2017
 
2016
Beginning of period
 
$
754.4

 
$
732.9

Net client cash flows:
 
 
 
 
Investment funds, excluding liquidity products(1):
 
 
 
 

Subscriptions
 
14.6

 
15.5

Redemptions
 
(14.1
)
 
(16.4
)
Long-term separate account flows, net(2)
 
1.7

 
(3.1
)
Total long-term flows
 
2.2

 
(4.0
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 
(2.4
)
 
(7.8
)
Liquidity separate account flows, net
 
0.1

 
0.9

Total liquidity flows
 
(2.3
)
 
(6.9
)
Total net client cash flows
 
(0.1
)
 
(10.9
)
Realizations(3)
 
(0.3
)
 

Market performance and other(4)
 
13.5

 
(2.3
)
Impact of foreign exchange
 
(0.4
)
 
(8.4
)
Acquisition (disposition)(5)
 
0.1

 
(0.9
)
End of period(2)
 
$
767.2

 
$
710.4

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
As further discussed below, due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM effective April 1, 2017, AUM as of December 31, 2017 includes $22.0 billion of assets which were previously included in AUA. Comparable AUA as of December 31, 2016 was $13.7 billion. Long-term separate account flows, net, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, includes $0.6 billion of net inflows related to this AUM. Net inflows related to the comparable AUA were $0.8 billion for the three months ended December 31, 2016, and are excluded from the table above.
(3)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers). Prior to April 1, 2017, realizations were reported as net client cash flows.
(4)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(5)
Related to the acquisition of a small investment manager in December 2017 and the disposition of a small investment manager in December 2016.


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AUM at December 31, 2017 was $767.2 billion, an increase of $12.8 billion, or 2%, from September 30, 2017. Total net client outflows were $0.1 billion, consisting of $2.3 billion of net client outflows from the liquidity asset class which were offset in part by $2.2 billion of net client inflows into long-term asset classes. Long-term asset net inflows were comprised of fixed income net inflows of $5.4 billion, offset in part by equity net outflows of $3.2 billion. Alternative net flows were flat. Fixed income net inflows were primarily in products managed by Western Asset Management Company ("Western Asset"), offset in part by net outflows in products managed by QS Investors. Equity net outflows were primarily in products managed by QS Investors, Martin Currie, Royce, ClearBridge Investments, LLC ("ClearBridge"), and Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC ("Brandywine"). Alternative flows were flat as net inflows into products managed by Clarion Partners and RARE Infrastructure were offset by net outflows from products managed by EnTrustPermal. We generally earn higher fees and profits on alternative and equity AUM and thus net flows in those asset classes more heavily impact our revenues and Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. than do net flows in the fixed income and liquidity asset classes. Market performance and other was $13.5 billion and the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations was $0.4 billion.

In the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we began to separately report realizations. Realizations are investment manager driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. requested redemptions, liquidations, or asset transfers). Realizations for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 were $0.3 billion. Realizations of $0.4 billion were included in net client cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Our net client cash flows reflect the significant industry-wide flow pressure for active managers of equity and fixed income assets discussed above under the heading "Business Environment".

AUM by Asset Class
AUM by asset class (in billions) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, was as follows:
 
 
2017
 
% of
Total
 
2016
 
% of
Total
 
% Change
 Equity
 
$
207.6

 
27
%
 
$
169.0

 
24
%
 
23
 %
Fixed income
 
420.1

 
55

 
381.1

 
54

 
10

Alternative
 
66.3

 
8

 
71.5

 
10

 
(7
)
Total long-term assets
 
694.0

 
90

 
621.6

 
88

 
12

Liquidity
 
73.2

 
10

 
88.8

 
12

 
(18
)
Total
 
$
767.2

 
100
%
 
$
710.4

 
100
%
 
8
 %

Average AUM by asset class (in billions) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was as follows:
 
 
2017
 
% of
Total
 
2016
 
% of
Total
 
% Change
 Equity
 
$
204.7

 
26
%
 
$
166.7

 
23
%
 
23
 %
Fixed income
 
414.8

 
55

 
387.8

 
54

 
7

Alternative
 
65.8

 
9

 
71.3

 
10

 
(8
)
Total long-term assets
 
685.3

 
90

 
625.8

 
87

 
10

Liquidity
 
74.6

 
10

 
90.9

 
13

 
(18
)
Total
 
$
759.9

 
100
%
 
$
716.7

 
100
%
 
6
 %


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The component changes in our AUM by asset class (in billions) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Equity
 
Fixed Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
September 30, 2017
 
$
201.2

 
$
411.9

 
$
65.8

 
$
678.9

 
$
75.5

 
$
754.4

Investment funds, excluding liquidity funds(1):
 
 

 
 

 
 
 


 
 

 
 

Subscriptions
 
4.6

 
8.3

 
1.7

 
14.6

 

 
14.6

Redemptions
 
(7.1
)
 
(5.5
)
 
(1.5
)
 
(14.1
)
 

 
(14.1
)
Separate account flows, net(2)
 
(0.7
)
 
2.6

 
(0.2
)
 
1.7

 
0.1

 
1.8

Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(2.4
)
 
(2.4
)
Net client cash flows
 
(3.2
)
 
5.4

 

 
2.2

 
(2.3
)
 
(0.1
)
Realizations(3)
 

 

 
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 

 
(0.3
)
Market performance and other(4)
 
9.6

 
3.0

 
0.7

 
13.3

 
0.2

 
13.5

Impact of foreign exchange
 

 
(0.2
)
 

 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
Acquisition(5)
 

 

 
0.1

 
0.1

 

 
0.1

December 31, 2017(2)
 
$
207.6

 
$
420.1

 
$
66.3

 
$
694.0

 
$
73.2

 
$
767.2

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM effective April 1, 2017, AUM as of December 31, 2017 includes $16.6 billion and $5.4 billion of equity and fixed income assets, respectively, which were previously included in AUA. Fixed income and equity separate account flows, net, each include $0.3 billion of net inflows related to this AUM.
(3)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers).
(4)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(5)
Related to the acquisition of a small investment manager.
 
 
Equity
 
Fixed Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
September 30, 2016
 
$
168.4

 
$
396.9

 
$
72.0

 
$
637.3

 
$
95.6

 
$
732.9

Investment funds, excluding liquidity
funds(1):
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Subscriptions
 
6.9

 
7.2

 
1.4

 
15.5

 

 
15.5

Redemptions
 
(7.3
)
 
(7.4
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(16.4
)
 

 
(16.4
)
Separate account flows, net
 
(3.3
)
 
0.7

 
(0.5
)
 
(3.1
)
 
0.9

 
(2.2
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(7.8
)
 
(7.8
)
Net client cash flows
 
(3.7
)
 
0.5

 
(0.8
)
 
(4.0
)
 
(6.9
)
 
(10.9
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
6.0

 
(9.2
)
 
0.7

 
(2.5
)
 
0.2

 
(2.3
)
Impact of foreign exchange
 
(1.3
)
 
(6.7
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(8.4
)
 

 
(8.4
)
Disposition(3)
 
(0.4
)
 
(0.4
)
 

 
(0.8
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.9
)
December 31, 2016
 
$
169.0

 
$
381.1

 
$
71.5

 
$
621.6

 
$
88.8

 
$
710.4

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(3)
Related to the disposition of a small investment manager.
.




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The component changes in our AUM by asset class (in billions) for the trailing 12 months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Equity
 
Fixed Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
December 31, 2016
 
$
169.0

 
$
381.1

 
$
71.5

 
$
621.6

 
$
88.8

 
$
710.4

Investment funds, excluding liquidity funds(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subscriptions
 
26.9

 
34.7

 
6.5

 
68.1

 

 
68.1

Redemptions
 
(27.2
)
 
(26.6
)
 
(7.4
)
 
(61.2
)
 

 
(61.2
)
Separate account flows, net(2)
 
(1.1
)
 
2.0

 
(3.4
)
 
(2.5
)
 
0.2

 
(2.3
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(16.9
)
 
(16.9
)
Net client cash flows
 
(1.4
)
 
10.1

 
(4.3
)
 
4.4

 
(16.7
)
 
(12.3
)
Realizations(3)
 

 

 
(2.2
)
 
(2.2
)
 

 
(2.2
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
40.9

 
23.9

 
2.9

 
67.7

 
1.2

 
68.9

Impact of foreign exchange
 
1.1

 
5.0

 
0.5

 
6.6

 
(0.1
)
 
6.5

Acquisition (dispositions), net(4)
 
(2.0
)
 

 
(2.1
)
 
(4.1
)
 

 
(4.1
)
December 31, 2017
 
$
207.6

 
$
420.1

 
$
66.3

 
$
694.0

 
$
73.2

 
$
767.2

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Other includes the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of $12.1 billion and $3.9 billion of certain equity and fixed income assets, respectively, which were previously included in AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. Equity and fixed income separate account flows, net, include $2.8 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, of net inflows related to this AUM. Other also includes the reinvestment of dividends and a $(3.7) billion reconciliation to previously reported amounts.
(3)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers).
(4)
Related to the disposition of a small investment manager and our share of a joint venture, offset in part by the acquisition of a small investment manager.
 
 
Equity
 
Fixed Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
December 31, 2015
 
$
167.3

 
$
364.8

 
$
24.1

 
$
556.2

 
$
115.3

 
$
671.5

Investment funds, excluding liquidity
     funds (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subscriptions
 
22.0

 
27.9

 
4.8

 
54.7

 

 
54.7

Redemptions
 
(28.3
)
 
(25.3
)
 
(7.8
)
 
(61.4
)
 

 
(61.4
)
Separate account flows, net
 
(6.5
)
 
(3.1
)
 
(2.4
)
 
(12.0
)
 
0.7

 
(11.3
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(28.2
)
 
(28.2
)
Net client cash flows
 
(12.8
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(5.4
)
 
(18.7
)
 
(27.5
)
 
(46.2
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
15.8

 
17.4

 
1.7

 
34.9

 
0.5

 
35.4

Impact of foreign exchange
 
(1.1
)
 
(0.2
)
 

 
(1.3
)
 
0.6

 
(0.7
)
Acquisitions (dispositions), net(3)
 
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 
51.1

 
50.5

 
(0.1
)
 
50.4

December 31, 2016
 
$
169.0

 
$
381.1

 
$
71.5

 
$
621.6

 
$
88.8

 
$
710.4

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(3)
Primarily includes $41.5 billion related to the acquisition of Clarion Partners in April 2016 and $9.6 billion related to the acquisition of EnTrust in May 2016, offset in part by $0.9 billion related to the disposition of a small investment manager.

AUM at December 31, 2017 was $767.2 billion, an increase of $56.8 billion, or 8%, from December 31, 2016. Total net client outflows were $12.3 billion, consisting of $16.7 billion of net client outflows from the liquidity asset class, offset in part by $4.4 billion of net client inflows into long-term asset classes. Long-term asset net inflows were comprised of fixed income net inflows of $10.1 billion, offset in part by alternative net outflows of $4.3 billion and equity net outflows of $1.4 billion. Fixed income net inflows were primarily in products managed by Western Asset and Brandywine, offset in part by net outflows in products managed by QS Investors. Alternative net outflows were primarily in products managed by EnTrustPermal and RARE Infrastructure, offset in part by net inflows into products managed by Clarion Partners. Equity net outflows were primarily in products managed by QS Investors, Royce and Brandywine, offset in part by net inflows into products managed by ClearBridge and Martin Currie. Market performance and other was $68.9 billion, $16.0 billion of which relates to the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of certain assets which were previously classified as AUA to

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Table of Contents

AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. The positive impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations totaled $6.5 billion. Acquisition (dispositions), net, totaled $(4.1) billion, and were related to the disposition of one small investment manager and our portion of a joint venture, offset in part by the acquisition of a small investment manager.

In the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we began to separately report realizations. Realizations are investment manager driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. requested redemptions, liquidations, or asset transfers). Realizations for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $2.2 billion. Realizations of $0.2 billion, $0.4 billion, $0.4 billion, and $0.3 billion, were included in net client cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, September 30, 2016, and June 30, 2016, respectively.

AUM by Distribution Channel
Broadly, we have two principal distribution channels, Global Distribution and Affiliate/Other, through which we sell a variety of investment products and services. Global Distribution, which consists of our centralized global distribution operations, principally sells U.S. and international mutual funds and other commingled vehicles, retail separately managed account programs, and sub-advisory accounts for insurance companies and similar clients. Affiliate/Other consists of the distribution operations within our asset managers, which principally sell institutional separate account management, liquidity (money market) funds, real estate and other privately placed investment funds, and funds-of-hedge funds.

The component changes in our AUM by distribution channel (in billions) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Global Distribution
 
Affiliate/Other
 
Total
September 30, 2017
 
$
323.3

 
$
431.1

 
$
754.4

Net client cash flows, excluding liquidity funds
 
2.6

 
(0.3
)
 
2.3

Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 
(2.4
)
 
(2.4
)
Net client cash flows
 
2.6

(1 
) 
(2.7
)
 
(0.1
)
Realizations(2)
 

 
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
Market performance and other(3)
 
7.5

 
6.0

 
13.5

Impact of foreign exchange
 
0.1

 
(0.5
)
 
(0.4
)
Acquisition
 

 
0.1

 
0.1

December 31, 2017
 
$
333.5

(1 
) 
$
433.7

 
$
767.2

(1)
Due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM effective April 1, 2017, AUM as of December 31, 2017 includes $22.0 billion of assets which were previously included in AUA. Net client cash flows include $0.6 billion of net inflows related to this AUM.
(2)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers).
(3)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
 
 
Global Distribution(1)
 
Affiliate/Other
 
Total
September 30, 2016
 
$
272.8

 
$
460.1

 
$
732.9

Net client cash flows, excluding liquidity funds
 
0.3

 
(3.4
)
 
(3.1
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 
(7.8
)
 
(7.8
)
Net client cash flows
 
0.3

 
(11.2
)
 
(10.9
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
2.4

 
(4.7
)
 
(2.3
)
Impact of foreign exchange
 
(4.1
)
 
(4.3
)
 
(8.4
)
Disposition(3)
 

 
(0.9
)
 
(0.9
)
December 31, 2016
 
$
271.4

 
$
439.0

 
$
710.4

(1)
Excludes $14.0 billion and $12.7 billion of AUA as of December 31, 2016 and September 30, 2016, respectively. Net client cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2016, excludes $0.8 billion of AUA net inflows. Effective April 1, 2017, a significant portion of these assets were reclassified from AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM.
(2)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.

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Table of Contents

Operating Revenue Yield
We calculate operating revenue yields as the ratio of the sum of annualized investment advisory fees, distribution and service fees, and other revenues, less performance fees, to average AUM. For each of the quarters ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, our overall operating revenue yield, less performance fees, across all asset classes and distribution channels was 38 basis points. Fees for managing alternative and equity assets are generally higher, with alternative assets averaging 64 basis points and 68 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and fees for managing equity assets averaging 61 basis points and 67 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The average fee rate for managing alternative assets declined over the last year due to a shift in the mix of assets from higher fee to lower fee products, while the average fee rate for managing equity assets declined due to the previously discussed reclassification of certain assets from AUA to AUM, as this increased the AUM denominator without a corresponding increase in operating revenue. This compares to fees for managing fixed income assets, which averaged 27 basis points for each of the quarters ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and liquidity assets, which averaged 14 basis points and 11 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Equity assets are primarily managed by ClearBridge, Royce, Brandywine, QS Investors and Martin Currie; alternative assets are managed by Clarion Partners, EnTrustPermal and RARE Infrastructure; fixed income assets are primarily managed by Western Asset and Brandywine; and liquidity assets are managed by Western Asset. Fee rates for assets distributed through Legg Mason Global Distribution, which are predominately retail in nature, averaged approximately 45 basis points for each of the quarters ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, while fee rates for assets distributed through the Affiliate/Other channel averaged approximately 35 basis points for each of the quarters ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Investment Performance
Overall investment performance of our AUM for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was mixed compared to relevant benchmarks.

For the three months ended December 31, 2017, U.S. equity indices produced positive returns. The best performing index was the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which returned 11% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The lowest performing index was the Russell 2000, which returned 3% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. These positive returns reflect the growth of corporate earnings and an expanding economy.

In the U.S. fixed income markets, shorter-term interest rates rose over the quarter as growth remained solid. Generally, there was strong demand for more risky assets over the quarter and spreads in most risk sectors tightened. The best performing fixed income sector for the quarter was U.S. TIPS as measured by the Barclays U.S. TIPS Index which returned 1% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The lowest performing fixed income sector for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was U.S. Government, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Government Index which remained essentially flat.





60

Table of Contents

The following table presents a summary of the percentages of our AUM by strategy(1) that outpaced their respective benchmarks as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, for the trailing 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods:
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
1-year

 
3-year

 
5-year

 
10-year

 
1-year

 
3-year

 
5-year

 
10-year

Total (includes liquidity)
 
74
%
 
75
%
 
75
%
 
87
%
 
76
%
 
68
%
 
84
%
 
82
%
Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Large cap
 
23
%
 
32
%
 
38
%
 
82
%
 
53
%
 
14
%
 
60
%
 
79
%
Small cap
 
66
%
 
38
%
 
26
%
 
54
%
 
59
%
 
19
%
 
38
%
 
51
%
Total equity (includes other equity)
 
30
%
 
40
%
 
43
%
 
79
%
 
53
%
 
25
%
 
62
%
 
75
%
Fixed income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. taxable
 
95
%
 
89
%
 
89
%
 
88
%
 
88
%
 
79
%
 
91
%
 
83
%
U.S. tax-exempt
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
Global taxable
 
80
%
 
77
%
 
73
%
 
93
%
 
75
%
 
75
%
 
82
%
 
77
%
Total fixed income
 
90
%
 
86
%
 
84
%
 
90
%
 
85
%
 
79
%
 
89
%
 
83
%
Alternative
 
78
%
 
88
%
 
92
%
 
61
%
 
43
%
 
84
%
 
89
%
 
66
%

The following table presents a summary of the percentages of our U.S. mutual fund assets(2) that outpaced their Lipper category averages as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, for the trailing 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods:
 
 
As of December 31, 2017
 
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
1-year

 
3-year

 
5-year

 
10-year

 
1-year

 
3-year

 
5-year

 
10-year

Total (excludes liquidity)
 
56
%
 
62
%
 
61
%
 
76
%
 
68
%
 
65
%
 
72
%
 
71
%
Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Large cap
 
24
%
 
50
%
 
46
%
 
67
%
 
71
%
 
87
%
 
80
%
 
63
%
Small cap
 
65
%
 
57
%
 
37
%
 
58
%
 
69
%
 
11
%
 
36
%
 
59
%
Total equity (includes other equity)
 
35
%
 
50
%
 
45
%
 
66
%
 
62
%
 
58
%
 
67
%
 
62
%
Fixed income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. taxable
 
93
%
 
89
%
 
87
%
 
91
%
 
88
%
 
86
%
 
88
%
 
87
%
U.S. tax-exempt
 
53
%
 
38
%
 
59
%
 
84
%
 
63
%
 
61
%
 
60
%
 
88
%
Global taxable
 
67
%
 
68
%
 
71
%
 
92
%
 
59
%
 
45
%
 
87
%
 
57
%
Total fixed income
 
81
%
 
76
%
 
78
%
 
89
%
 
76
%
 
73
%
 
79
%
 
83
%
Alternative (includes only three funds)
 
16
%
 
93
%
 
100
%
 
n/a

 
92
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
n/a

n/a - not applicable

(1)
For purposes of investment performance comparisons, strategies are an aggregation of portfolios (separate accounts, investment funds, and other products) into a single group that represents a particular investment objective. In the case of separate accounts, the investment performance of the account is based upon the performance of the strategy to which the account has been assigned. Each of our asset managers has its own specific guidelines for including portfolios in their strategies. For those managers which manage both separate accounts and investment funds in the same strategy, the performance comparison for all of the assets is based upon the performance of the separate account.

As of each December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 87% and 88%, respectively, of total AUM is included in strategy AUM, although not all strategies have 3-, 5-, and 10-year histories.  Total strategy AUM includes liquidity assets. Certain assets are not included in reported performance comparisons. These include: accounts that are not managed in accordance with the guidelines outlined above; accounts in strategies not marketed to potential clients; accounts that have not yet been assigned to a strategy; and certain smaller products at some of our affiliates.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. For AUM included in institutional and retail separate accounts and investment funds managed in the same strategy as separate accounts, performance comparisons are based on gross-of-fee performance. For investment funds which are not managed in a separate account format, performance comparisons are based on net-of-fee performance. Funds-of-hedge funds generally do not have specified benchmarks. For purposes of this comparison, performance of those products is net of fees, and is compared to the relevant HFRX Index. These performance comparisons do not reflect the actual performance of any specific separate account or investment fund; individual separate account and investment fund performance may differ.

(2)
Source: Lipper Inc. includes open-end, closed-end, and variable annuity funds. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the U.S. long-term mutual fund assets represented in the data accounted for 19% and 18% of our total AUM, respectively. The performance of our U.S. long-term mutual fund assets is included in the strategies.

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The following table presents a summary of the absolute and relative performance compared to the applicable benchmark for a representative sample of funds within our AUM, net of management and other fees as of the end of the period presented, for the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year periods, and from each fund's inception. The table includes a representative sample of funds from each significant subclass of our investment strategies (i.e., large cap equity, small cap equity, etc.). The funds within this group are representative of the performance of significant investment strategies we offer, that as of December 31, 2017, constituted an aggregate of approximately $438 billion, or approximately 57% of our total AUM. The most meaningful exclusion of funds are our alternative fund strategies, which primarily involve privately placed hedge funds and privately placed real estate funds, and represent only 5% of our total AUM as of December 31, 2017, for which investment performance is not made publicly available. Providing investment returns of funds provides a relevant representation of our performance while avoiding the many complexities relating to factors such as multiple fee structures, bundled pricing, and asset level break points that would arise in reporting performance for strategies or other product aggregations.

 
 
 
Annualized Absolute/Relative Total Return (%) vs. Benchmark
Fund Name/Index(1)
Inception Date
Performance Type(2)
1-year
3-year
5-year
10-year
Inception
Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Large Cap
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Fund
10/24/1983
Absolute
14.28%
4.92%
13.85%
8.09%
11.92%
Russell 3000 Growth
 
Relative
(15.31)%
(8.59)%
(3.31)%
(1.84)%
1.53%
ClearBridge Large Cap Growth Fund
8/29/1997
Absolute
25.04%
13.38%
17.80%
10.00%
8.82%
Russell 1000 Growth
 
Relative
(5.17)%
(0.41)%
0.47%
—%
1.74%
ClearBridge Dividend Strategy
11/6/1992
Absolute
19.12%
9.33%
13.11%
7.34%
8.92%
S&P 500
 
Relative
(2.71)%
(2.08)%
(2.68)%
(1.16)%
(0.79)%
ClearBridge Appreciation Fund
3/10/1970
Absolute
19.51%
9.76%
13.61%
8.02%
10.44%
S&P 500
 
Relative
(2.32)%
(1.65)%
(2.18)%
(0.48)%
(0.20)%
ClearBridge Value Trust
4/16/1982
Absolute
13.76%
6.73%
13.47%
3.43%
11.68%
S&P 500
 
Relative
(8.07)%
(4.68)%
(2.32)%
(5.07)%
(0.31)%
ClearBridge All Cap Value
11/12/1981
Absolute
17.12%
9.17%
12.86%
6.22%
10.29%
Russell 3000 Value
 
Relative
3.93%
0.46%
(1.09)%
(0.97)%
(1.60)%
ClearBridge Large Cap Value Fund
12/31/1988
Absolute
14.44%
7.99%
13.23%
7.18%
9.65%
Russell 1000 Value
 
Relative
0.78%
(0.66)%
(0.81)%
0.08%
(0.80)%
Legg Mason Brandywine Diversified Large Cap Value Fund
9/7/2010
Absolute
19.65%
9.57%
14.15%
n/a
14.31%
Russell 1000 Value
 
Relative
5.99%
0.92%
0.11%
n/a
0.74%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Cap
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ClearBridge Small Cap Growth
7/1/1998
Absolute
24.95%
7.94%
13.51%
9.02%
10.46%
Russell 2000 Growth
 
Relative
2.78%
(2.34)%
(1.70)%
(0.17)%
3.34%
Royce Total Return Fund
12/15/1993
Absolute
13.65%
9.91%
12.30%
7.98%
11.04%
Russell 2000
 
Relative
(1.00)%
(0.05)%
(1.82)%
(0.73)%
1.87%
Royce Premier Fund
12/31/1991
Absolute
23.77%
11.11%
11.68%
8.78%
11.94%
Russell 2000
 
Relative
9.12%
1.15%
(2.44)%
0.07%
2.07%
Royce Pennsylvania Mutual*
6/30/1967
Absolute
16.24%
9.20%
11.83%
7.77%
11.78%
Russell 2000
 
Relative
1.59%
(0.76)%
(2.29)%
(0.94)%
0.05%
Royce Special Equity
5/1/1998
Absolute
7.87%
7.72%
10.33%
8.82%
9.45%
Russell 2000
 
Relative
(6.78)%
(2.24)%
(3.79)%
0.11%
1.64%


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Annualized Absolute/Relative Total Return (%) vs. Benchmark
Fund Name/Index (continued)(1)
Inception Date
Performance Type(2)
1-year
3-year
5-year
10-year
Inception
Fixed Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Taxable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Western Asset Core Plus Fund
7/8/1998
Absolute
6.96%
4.32%
3.88%
5.96%
6.20%
Barclays US Aggregate
 
Relative
3.42%
2.08%
1.78%
1.95%
1.28%
Western Asset Core Bond Fund
9/4/1990
Absolute
5.21%
3.50%
3.16%
5.22%
6.81%
Barclays US Aggregate
 
Relative
1.67%
1.26%
1.06%
1.21%
0.75%
Western Asset Total Return Unconstrained
7/6/2006
Absolute
7.69%
4.44%
3.41%
4.73%
4.88%
Barclays US Aggregate
 
Relative
4.15%
2.20%
1.31%
0.72%
0.44%
Western Asset Intermediate Bond Fund
7/1/1994
Absolute
4.02%
2.88%
2.34%
4.42%
5.65%
Barclays Intermediate Gov't/Credit
 
Relative
1.88%
1.12%
0.84%
1.10%
0.67%
Western Asset Short Term Bond Fund
11/11/1991
Absolute
2.23%
1.37%
1.07%
1.75%
3.48%
Citi Treasury Gov't/Credit 1-3 YR
 
Relative
1.39%
0.46%
0.25%
(0.10)%
(0.55)%
Western Asset Corporate Bond Fund
11/6/1992
Absolute
7.20%
4.71%
4.47%
5.57%
6.51%
Barclays US Credit
 
Relative
1.02%
1.08%
1.23%
0.15%
0.18%
Western Asset Inflation Index Plus Bond Fund
3/1/2001
Absolute
3.82%
1.20%
(0.43)%
3.04%
4.78%
Barclays US TIPS
 
Relative
0.81%
(0.85)%
(0.56)%
(0.49)%
(0.32)%
Western Asset Mortgage Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.
2/24/2010
Absolute
19.70%
9.65%
12.38%
n/a
14.74%
BOFAML Floating Rate Home Loan Index
 
Relative
10.44%
5.46%
8.18%
n/a
9.11%
Western Asset High Yield Fund
9/28/2001
Absolute
7.09%
4.85%
4.38%
6.59%
7.18%
Barclays US Corp High Yield
 
Relative
(0.41)%
(1.50)%
(1.40)%
(1.44)%
(1.36)%
Western Asset Adjustable Rate Income
6/22/1992
Absolute
3.62%
2.07%
1.69%
1.53%
2.75%
Citi T-Bill 6-Month
 
Relative
2.74%
1.61%
1.38%
1.05%
0.07%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Tax-Exempt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Western Asset Managed Municipals Fund
3/4/1981
Absolute
5.52%
2.77%
2.86%
4.83%
7.57%
Barclays Municipal Bond
 
Relative
0.07%
(0.21)%
(0.16)%
0.37%
0.46%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Taxable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Legg Mason Western Asset Macro Opportunities Bond
11/30/2013
Absolute
13.51%
6.96%
n/a
n/a
6.95%
3-Month LIBOR
 
Relative
12.25%
6.19%
n/a
n/a
6.32%
Legg Mason Brandywine Global Opportunities Bond
11/1/2006
Absolute
12.83%
2.73%
2.05%
5.35%
5.69%
Citi World Gov't Bond
 
Relative
5.34%
0.99%
1.93%
2.68%
2.50%
Legg Mason Brandywine Absolute Return Opportunities Fund
2/28/2011
Absolute
6.77%
1.60%
2.07%
n/a
3.36%
Citi 3-Month T-Bill
 
Relative
5.93%
1.22%
1.83%
n/a
3.17%
Legg Mason Brandywine Global Fixed Income
10/31/2003
Absolute
10.23%
0.91%
0.29%
3.49%
4.20%
Citi World Gov't Bond
 
Relative
2.74%
(0.83)%
0.17%
0.82%
0.54%
Legg Mason Western Asset Global Multi Strategy Fund
8/31/2002
Absolute
6.70%
4.07%
2.19%
4.19%
6.26%
50% Bar. Global Agg./ 25% Bar. HY 2%/25% JPM EMBI +
 
Relative
(9.54)%
(5.13)%
(9.64)%
4.19%
6.26%
Legg Mason Western Asset Australian Bond Trust
6/30/1983
Absolute
4.27%
3.34%
4.60%
6.82%
6.10%
UBS Australian Composite Bond Index
 
Relative
0.62%
0.29%
0.45%
0.63%
0.37%
Western Asset Global High Yield Bond Fund
2/22/1995
Absolute
7.83%
5.36%
3.99%
5.99%
7.10%
Barclays Global High Yield
 
Relative
(2.60)%
(1.72)%
(1.68)%
(2.09)%
(1.97)%
Legg Mason Western Asset Global Core Plus Bond Fund
12/31/2010
Absolute
5.14%
2.34%
3.28%
n/a
4.29%
Barclays Global Aggregate Index
 
Relative
2.11%
(0.32)%
0.22%
n/a
0.53%
Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt
10/17/1996
Absolute
9.90%
5.97%
2.13%
5.91%
9.33%
JPM EMBI Global
 
Relative
0.58%
(0.87)%
(1.62)%
(1.15)%
0.38%

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Table of Contents

 
 
 
Annualized Absolute/Relative Total Return (%) vs. Benchmark
Fund Name/Index (continued)(1)
Inception Date
Performance Type(2)
1-year
3-year
5-year
10-year
Inception
Liquidity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Western Asset Institutional Liquid Reserves Ltd.
12/31/1989
Absolute
1.08%
0.58%
0.38%
0.63%
3.15%
Citi 3-Month T-Bill
 
Relative
0.24%
0.20%
0.14%
0.29%
0.29%
n/a
not applicable
(1)
Listed in order of size based on AUM of fund within each subcategory.
(2)
Absolute performance is the actual performance (i.e., rate of return) of the fund. Relative performance is the difference (or variance) between the performance of the fund and its stated benchmark.    

Assets Under Advisement
AUA was $11 billion and $41 billion as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. AUA was comprised of approximately $6 billion related to Western Asset, approximately $3 billion related to QS Investors, approximately $1 billion related to EnTrustPermal, and approximately $1 billion related to Brandywine as of December 31, 2017; and approximately $17 billion related to QS Investors, approximately $11 billion related to ClearBridge, approximately $10 billion related to Western Asset, approximately $2 billion related to EnTrustPermal, and approximately $1 billion related to Brandywine as of December 31, 2016. AUA fee rates vary with the level of non-discretionary service provided and other factors, and our average annualized fee rate related to AUA was approximately nine basis points and 13 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Effective April 1, 2017, certain assets totaling $16.0 billion were reclassified from AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM, specifically for retail separately managed account programs that operate and have fees comparable to programs managed on a fully discretionary basis. Comparable AUA for these programs as of December 31, 2016, was $13.7 billion.

Results of Operations
In accordance with financial accounting standards on consolidation, we consolidate and separately identify amounts relating to certain sponsored investment products. The consolidation of these investment products has no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and does not have a material impact on our consolidated operating results. We also hold investments in other consolidated sponsored investment funds and the change in the value of these investments, which is recorded in Non-operating income (expense), is reflected in our Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. See Notes 2, 4, and 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the consolidation of investment products.

Operating Revenues
The components of Total Operating Revenues (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Investment advisory fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Separate accounts
 
$
255.7

 
$
231.9

 
$
23.8

10
 %
Funds
 
395.4

 
369.0

 
26.4

7

Performance fees
 
58.9

 
22.9

 
36.0

n/m

Distribution and service fees
 
81.5

 
90.2

 
(8.7
)
(10
)
Other
 
1.6

 
1.2

 
0.4

33

Total Operating Revenues
 
$
793.1

 
$
715.2

 
$
77.9

11
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Total operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2017, were $793.1 million, an increase of 11% from $715.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a 10% increase in average long-term AUM. A $36.0 million increase in performance fees, $7.7 million of which were performance fees earned by Clarion Partners that were fully passed through as compensation expense, as further discussed below, also contributed to the increase. Despite an increase in long-term average AUM as a percentage of our total average AUM, our operating revenue yield, excluding performance fees, remained flat at 38 basis points for each of the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, as a

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Table of Contents

result of a less favorable product mix, with lower yielding products comprising a higher percentage of our long-term and total average AUM for the three months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Investment advisory fees from separate accounts increased $23.8 million, or 10%, to $255.7 million, as compared to $231.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. Of this increase, $15.2 million arose from the inclusion of revenues associated with certain assets that were reclassified from AUA to AUM, effective April 1, 2017, due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM, as previously discussed. Prior to this reclassification, revenues related to the comparable AUA were included in Distribution and service fees. In addition, higher average equity assets managed by ClearBridge contributed $6.8 million to the increase and higher average fixed income assets managed by Western Asset contributed $5.6 million to the increase. These increases were offset in part by a decrease of $3.9 million due to lower average alternative assets managed by RARE Infrastructure.

Investment advisory fees from funds increased $26.4 million, or 7%, to $395.4 million, as compared to $369.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. Of this increase, $25.1 million was due to higher average equity assets managed at ClearBridge and Martin Currie, $11.9 million was due to higher average fixed income assets managed by Western Asset, and $6.9 million was due to higher average alternative assets managed at Clarion Partners and RARE Infrastructure. These increases were offset in part by a decrease of $11.1 million due to lower average alternative assets managed by EnTrustPermal, with the decrease largely attributable to legacy Permal, and a decrease of $6.1 million due to the disposition of two small investment managers in March 2017 and December 2016.

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 11% and 13%, respectively, of our long-term average AUM was in accounts that were eligible to earn performance fees at some point during the respective fiscal year. Performance fees earned on pre-close AUM at Clarion Partners are fully passed through to the Clarion Partners management team, per the terms of the acquisition agreement, and recorded as compensation expense, and therefore have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. We expect the full pass through of performance fees at Clarion Partners to phase out approximately five years post-closing. Exclusive of these pass-through performance fees, approximately 7% and 8% of our long-term average AUM was in accounts that were performance-fee eligible as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, 36% and 28%, respectively, of the performance-fee eligible AUM earned a performance fee.

Investment advisory performance fees increased $36.0 million, to $58.9 million, as compared to $22.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to an aggregate $28.5 million increase in performance fees earned on assets managed by Martin Currie, Western Asset, and EnTrustPermal. An increase of $7.7 million in performance fees earned by Clarion Partners on assets invested with them prior to the acquisition closing, which were passed through as compensation expense, also contributed to the increase.

Distribution and service fees decreased $8.7 million, or 10%, to $81.5 million, as compared to $90.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. This decrease was driven by $10.4 million related to the previously discussed reclassification of certain assets from AUA to AUM, effective April 1, 2017, due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM, as revenue related to these assets is included in Investment advisory fees from separate accounts for the three months ended December 31, 2017. This decrease was offset in part by a $0.8 million increase in net distribution and services fees, due to a reduction in fee waivers, which was substantially offset by a reduction in average mutual fund AUM subject to distribution and services fees, and an increase of $0.8 million in advisement fees related to our AUA.


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Operating Expenses
The components of Total Operating Expenses (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Compensation and benefits
 
$
362.1

 
$
327.9

 
$
34.2

10
 %
Distribution and servicing
 
124.2

 
123.2

 
1.0

1

Communications and technology
 
54.2

 
52.6

 
1.6

3

Occupancy
 
25.0

 
23.5

 
1.5

6

Amortization of intangible assets
 
6.1

 
7.3

 
(1.2
)
(16
)
Impairment charges
 
195.0

 
35.0

 
160.0

n/m

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments
 
0.7

 
(14.5
)
 
15.2

n/m

Other
 
53.1

 
49.1

 
4.0

8

Total Operating Expenses
 
$
820.4

 
$
604.1

 
$
216.3

36
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, incurred at the investment management affiliate level represented approximately 70% of total operating expenses in each period, excluding impairment charges. The remaining operating expenses (excluding impairment charges) are corporate costs, including costs of our global distribution operations.

The components of Compensation and benefits (in millions) for the three months ended December 31 were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Salaries and incentives
 
$
289.2

 
$
266.6

 
$
22.6

8
 %
Benefits and payroll taxes (including deferred compensation)
 
56.9

 
52.9

 
4.0

8

Transition and severance costs
 
1.7

 
4.6

 
(2.9
)
(63
)
Performance fee pass through
 
10.0

 
2.3

 
7.7

n/m

Gains on deferred compensation and seed capital investments
 
4.3

 
1.5

 
2.8

n/m

Compensation and benefits
 
$
362.1

 
$
327.9

 
$
34.2

10
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Compensation and benefits increased 10% to $362.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $327.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, as a result of the following:

Salaries and incentives increased $22.6 million, to $289.2 million, as compared to $266.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to an increase of $23.3 million in net compensation at investment affiliates, which was primarily driven by the impact of increased revenues at certain revenue-share based affiliates, which usually creates a corresponding increase in compensation per the applicable revenue share agreements.
Benefits and payroll taxes increased $4.0 million, to $56.9 million, as compared to $52.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $3.4 million increase in payroll-related taxes.
Transition costs and severance decreased $2.9 million, to $1.7 million, as compared to $4.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, with $1.1 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, associated with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust, which is now substantially complete. The remaining amounts in each period were primarily severance costs for corporate personnel.

Compensation as a percentage of operating revenues remained essentially flat at 45.7%, as compared to 45.8%, as the impact of a reduction in compensation expense for corporate and distribution personnel, which is not directly tied to revenues, was

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substantially offset by the impact of an increase in performance fees earned by Clarion Partners that are passed through as compensation expense.

Distribution and servicing expense remained relatively flat at $124.2 million, as compared to $123.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Communications and technology expense increased 3% to $54.2 million, as compared to $52.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $1.1 million increase in technology maintenance costs.

Occupancy expense increased 6% to $25.0 million, as compared to $23.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the adjustment of a lease reserve associated with the restructuring of Permal in the prior year period.

Amortization of intangible assets decreased $1.2 million, to $6.1 million, as compared to $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a reduction in amortization expense as a result of impairments of the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset recognized in the quarters ended June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017.

Impairment charges were $195.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $35.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The impairment charge recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2017 was related to the EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund managements contracts asset. This impairment charge was primarily the result of net client outflows from legacy high net worth fund products, including transfers of client funds from such products into EnTrustPermal separate accounts, and the related decline in revenues. The impairment charges recognized during the three months ended December 31, 2016, were $18.0 million related to the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset and $17.0 million related to the Permal trade name asset. The impairment of the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset resulted from client attrition during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, the related decline in revenues, and a reduction in the estimated remaining useful life of the contracts from 11 years to eight years. The impairment of the Permal trade name resulted from a decrease in revenues and a reduction in the royalty rate, reflecting a decline in the value of the separate Permal trade name due to the combination with EnTrust. See Critical Accounting Policies and Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these impairment charges.

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments for the three months ended December 31, 2017 included an expense of $0.7 million which increased the contingent consideration liability associated with the acquisition of PK Investment Management, LLP ("PK Investments"), and for the months ended December 31, 2016 included credits totaling $14.5 million which reduced the contingent consideration liabilities related to the acquisitions of Martin Currie, RARE Infrastructure, QS Investors and Financial Guard.

Other expense increased $4.0 million, or 8%, to $53.1 million, as compared to $49.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in professional fees and a $1.1 million increase in advertising expenses.


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Table of Contents

Non-Operating Income (Expense)
The components of Total Non-Operating Income (Expense) (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Interest income
 
$
1.9

 
$
1.7

 
$
0.2

12
 %
Interest expense
 
(29.1
)
 
(29.5
)
 
0.4

(1
)
Other income, net
 
5.5

 
6.1

 
(0.6
)
(10
)
Non-operating income of consolidated investment vehicles, net
 
8.2

 
1.5

 
6.7

n/m

Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
$
(13.5
)
 
$
(20.2
)
 
$
6.7

(33
)%
n/m - not meaningful

Other income, net, totaled $5.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $6.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The change was primarily due to a $4.0 million gain recognized in the prior year period in connection with the sale of Legg Mason Poland in December 2016, offset in part by a $2.9 million increase in net market gains on seed capital investments and assets invested for deferred compensation plans, which are offset by a corresponding increase in compensation expense.

Non-operating income of consolidated investment vehicles, net, totaled $8.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The change was due to activity of the CIVs during the respective periods. See Notes 2 and 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles and net market gains on investments of certain CIVs.

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)
The income tax benefit was $209.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to an income tax provision of $26.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The effective tax rate was 512.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to an effective tax rate of 29.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2016. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Law became enacted law. The Tax Law is complex, materially changes the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, and includes various changes which will impact us. The reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate, as well as other aspects of the Tax Law, resulted in a one-time, non-cash provisional tax benefit of $220.9 million, recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the re-measurement of certain existing deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new income tax rate. Additionally, a non-cash tax charge of $7.3 million was provisionally provided in the three months ended December 31, 2017, for the effects on unremitted foreign earnings and other aspects of the Tax Law. Adjustments to these provisional items may be made in subsequent periods as more detailed information and guidance is obtained and analyzed.

Also, during the three months ended December 31, 2017, changes in apportionment on state deferred tax liabilities and changes in state law resulted in additional net tax expense of $3.3 million, which reduced the effective tax rate by 8.0 percentage points for the three months ended December 31, 2017. As a result of the previously discussed impairment of intangible assets at EnTrustPermal, the three months ended December 31, 2017 also included income tax expense of $3.9 million due to the reversal of income tax benefits previously recognized in connection with the impact of changes in the U.K. corporate tax rate on deferred tax liabilities associated with those intangible assets. This expense reduced the effective tax rate by 9.5 percentage points for the three months ended December 31, 2017.
During the three months ended December 31, 2016, an increase in valuation allowances related to certain state net operating loss carryforwards and foreign tax credits resulted in additional tax expense of $4.8 million, and increased the effective tax rate by 5.2 percentage points. This expense was offset in part by an income tax benefit of $2.9 million, which reduced the effective tax rate by 3.1 percentage points, for provision to return adjustments recognized in connection with the filing of fiscal 2016 tax returns.


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Noncontrolling interests in EnTrustPermal, Clarion Partners and Royce are structured as partnerships that pass an allocable portion of tax attributes and obligations to the related noncontrolling interest holders. As such, the consolidated financial statements do not generally include any tax provision/benefit associated with the net income allocated to these noncontrolling interests. Due to the significant tax benefit recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, the impact of noncontrolling interests reduced the effective tax rate by over 100 percentage points for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the three months ended December 31, 2016, the impact of noncontrolling interests resulted in a reduction in the effective tax rate of 6.2 percentage points.

Due to the significant tax benefit recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, the impact of CIVs reduced the effective tax rate by 63 percentage points for the three months ended December 31, 2017, and for the three months ended December 31, 2016, CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products did not impact the effective tax rate.

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and Operating Margin
Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. for the three months ended December 31, 2017, totaled $149.2 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, as compared to $51.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. was largely the result of a $213.7 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, one-time, net non-cash provisional tax benefit related to the Tax Law, which was offset in part by a $160.0 million increase in non-cash impairment charges, resulting from $195.0 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, of a charge being recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $35.0 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2016. In addition, Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. per diluted share for the three months ended December 31, 2017, benefited from a reduction in weighted-average shares outstanding as a result of share repurchases. Operating margin was (3.4)% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 15.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2016, reflecting the impact of the non-cash impairment charges discussed above.



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Nine Months Ended December 31, 2017, Compared to Nine Months Ended December 31, 2016

Assets Under Management

The components of the changes in our AUM (in billions) for the nine months ended December 31, were as follows:
 
 
2017
 
2016
Beginning of period
 
$
728.4

 
$
669.6

Net client cash flows:
 
 
 
 
Investment funds, excluding liquidity funds(1)
 
 
 
 

Subscriptions
 
46.9

 
42.8

Redemptions
 
(41.6
)
 
(45.8
)
Long-term separate account flows, net(2)
 
(4.8
)
 
(2.5
)
Total long-term flows
 
0.5

 
(5.5
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 
(14.1
)
 
(25.0
)
Liquidity separate account flows, net
 
0.5

 
0.8

Total liquidity flows
 
(13.6
)
 
(24.2
)
Total net client cash flows
 
(13.1
)
 
(29.7
)
Realizations(3)
 
(2.2
)
 

Market performance and other(2)
 
51.8

 
25.7

Impact of foreign exchange
 
2.5

 
(5.4
)
Acquisitions (disposition), net(4)
 
(0.2
)
 
50.2

End of period
 
$
767.2

 
$
710.4

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
As previously discussed, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, Other includes the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of $16.0 billion of certain assets which were previously included in AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. Comparable AUA as of December 31, 2016 was $13.7 billion. Long-term separate account flows, net, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, includes $3.3 billion of net inflows related to this AUM. Other also includes the reinvestment of dividends and, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, a $(3.7) billion reconciliation to previously reported amounts.
(3)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers). Prior to April 1, 2017, realizations were reported as net client cash flows.
(4)
The nine months ended December 31, 2016, includes $41.5 billion and $9.6 billion related to the acquisitions of Clarion Partners and EnTrust, respectively, offset in part by $0.9 billion related to the disposition of a small investment manager.

AUM at December 31, 2017, was $767.2 billion, an increase of $38.8 billion, or 5%, from March 31, 2017. Total net client outflows were $13.1 billion, comprised of $13.6 billion of net client outflows from the liquidity asset class, offset in part by $0.5 billion of net client inflows into long-term asset classes. Long-term asset net inflows were comprised of fixed income net inflows of $6.6 billion, and were offset in part by equity net outflows of $4.6 billion and alternative net outflows of $1.5 billion. Fixed income net inflows were primarily into products managed by Western Asset and Brandywine, offset in part by net outflows in products managed by QS Investors. Equity net outflows were primarily from products managed by QS Investors, Royce, and Brandywine, offset in part by equity net inflows in products managed by ClearBridge and Martin Currie. Alternative net outflows were primarily in products managed by EnTrustPermal and RARE Infrastructure, offset in part by net inflows in products managed by Clarion Partners. Market performance and other was $51.8 billion, $16.0 billion of which relates to the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of certain assets which were previously classified as AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. The positive impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations was $2.5 billion.

As previously discussed, in the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we began to separately report realizations. Realizations are investment manager driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. requested redemptions, liquidations, or asset transfers). Realizations for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $2.2 billion. Realizations of $1.1 billion were included in net client cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2016.


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Average AUM by asset class (in billions) for the nine months ended December 31 were as follows:
 
 
2017
 
% of
Total
 
2016
 
% of
Total
 
% Change
 Equity
 
$
197.9

 
26
%
 
$
165.1

 
23
%
 
20
 %
Fixed Income
 
408.7

 
55

 
385.2

 
54

 
6

Alternative
 
66.4

 
9

 
66.0

 
9

 
1

Total long-term assets
 
673.0

 
90

 
616.3

 
86

 
9

Liquidity
 
77.6

 
10

 
103.4

 
14

 
(25
)
Total
 
$
750.6

 
100
%
 
$
719.7

 
100
%
 
4
 %

The component changes in our AUM by asset class (in billions) for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Equity
 
Fixed
Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
March 31, 2017
 
$
179.8

 
$
394.3

 
$
67.9

 
$
642.0

 
$
86.4

 
$
728.4

Investment funds, excluding liquidity funds(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Subscriptions
 
17.3

 
24.8

 
4.8

 
46.9

 

 
46.9

Redemptions
 
(20.1
)
 
(16.9
)
 
(4.6
)
 
(41.6
)
 

 
(41.6
)
Separate account flows, net(2)
 
(1.8
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(1.7
)
 
(4.8
)
 
0.5

 
(4.3
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(14.1
)
 
(14.1
)
Net client cash flows
 
(4.6
)
 
6.6

 
(1.5
)
 
0.5

 
(13.6
)
 
(13.1
)
Realizations(3)
 

 

 
(2.2
)
 
(2.2
)
 

 
(2.2
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
32.3

 
17.2

 
1.7

 
51.2

 
0.6

 
51.8

Impact of foreign exchange
 
0.4

 
2.0

 
0.3

 
2.7

 
(0.2
)
 
2.5

Acquisition (disposition), net
 
(0.3
)
 

 
0.1

 
(0.2
)
 

 
(0.2
)
December 31, 2017
 
$
207.6

 
$
420.1

 
$
66.3

 
$
694.0

 
$
73.2

 
$
767.2

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Other includes the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of $12.1 billion and $3.9 billion of certain equity and fixed income assets, respectively, which were previously included in AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. Equity and fixed income separate account flows, net, each include $1.8 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively of net inflows related to this AUM. Other also includes the reinvestment of dividends and a $(3.7) billion reconciliation to previously reported amounts.
(3)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers).


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Equity
 
Fixed
Income
 
Alternative
 
Total Long-Term
 
Liquidity
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
$
162.3

 
$
372.3

 
$
22.7

 
$
557.3

 
$
112.3

 
$
669.6

Investment funds, excluding liquidity funds(1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Subscriptions
 
17.4

 
20.9

 
4.5

 
42.8

 

 
42.8

Redemptions
 
(19.9
)
 
(18.9
)
 
(7.0
)
 
(45.8
)
 

 
(45.8
)
Separate account flows, net
 
(5.9
)
 
5.3

 
(1.9
)
 
(2.5
)
 
0.8

 
(1.7
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 

 

 

 
(25.0
)
 
(25.0
)
Net client cash flows
 
(8.4
)
 
7.3

 
(4.4
)
 
(5.5
)
 
(24.2
)
 
(29.7
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
16.9

 
5.8

 
2.5

 
25.2

 
0.5

 
25.7

Impact of foreign exchange
 
(1.4
)
 
(3.9
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(5.7
)
 
0.3

 
(5.4
)
Acquisitions (disposition), net(3)
 
(0.4
)
 
(0.4
)
 
51.1

 
50.3

 
(0.1
)
 
50.2

December 31, 2016
 
$
169.0

 
$
381.1

 
$
71.5

 
$
621.6

 
$
88.8

 
$
710.4

(1)
Subscriptions and redemptions reflect the gross activity in the funds and include assets transferred between funds and between share classes.
(2)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(3)
Includes $41.5 billion, and $9.6 billion related to the acquisitions of Clarion Partners, and EnTrust, respectively, offset in part by $0.9 billion related to the disposition of a small investment manager.

AUM by Distribution Channel
The component changes in our AUM by distribution channel (in billions) for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows:
 
 
Global Distribution
 
Affiliate/Other
 
Total
March 31, 2017
 
$
285.6

 
$
442.8

 
$
728.4

Net client cash flows, excluding liquidity funds
 
12.2

 
(11.2
)
 
1.0

Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 
(14.1
)
 
(14.1
)
Net client cash flows
 
12.2

 
(25.3
)
 
(13.1
)
Realizations(1)
 

 
(2.2
)
 
(2.2
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
34.8

 
17.0

 
51.8

Impact of foreign exchange
 
0.9

 
1.6

 
2.5

Acquisitions (dispositions), net
 

 
(0.2
)
 
(0.2
)
December 31, 2017
 
$
333.5

 
$
433.7

 
$
767.2

(1)
Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers).
(2)
Other includes the reclassification, effective April 1, 2017, of $16.0 billion of certain assets which were previously included in AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM. Other also includes the reinvestment of dividends and a $(3.7) billion reconciliation to previously reported amounts.

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Global Distribution(1)
 
Affiliate/Other
 
Total
March 31, 2016
 
$
254.6

 
$
415.0

 
$
669.6

Net client cash flows, excluding liquidity funds
 
5.1

 
(9.8
)
 
(4.7
)
Liquidity fund flows, net
 

 
(25.0
)
 
(25.0
)
Net client cash flows
 
5.1

 
(34.8
)
 
(29.7
)
Market performance and other(2)
 
14.2

 
11.5

 
25.7

Impact of foreign exchange
 
(2.5
)
 
(2.9
)
 
(5.4
)
Acquisitions (disposition), net(3)
 

 
50.2

 
50.2

December 31, 2016
 
$
271.4

 
$
439.0

 
$
710.4

(1)
Excludes $14.0 billion and $10.3 billion of AUA as of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively. Net client cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, excludes $2.4 billion of AUA net inflows. Effective April 1, 2017, the significant portion of these assets were reclassified from AUA to AUM due to a change in our policy on classification of AUA and AUM.
(2)
Other primarily includes the reinvestment of dividends.
(3)
Includes $41.5 billion, and $9.6 billion related to the acquisitions of Clarion Partners, and EnTrust, respectively, offset in part by $0.9 billion related to the disposition of a small investment manager.

Results of Operations

Operating Revenues
The components of Total Operating Revenues (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Investment advisory fees:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Separate accounts
 
$
758.9

 
$
692.1

 
$
66.8

10
 %
Funds
 
1,170.6

 
1,109.5

 
61.1

6

Performance fees
 
181.3

 
82.4

 
98.9

n/m

Distribution and service fees
 
241.0

 
276.1

 
(35.1
)
(13
)
Other
 
3.5

 
3.7

 
(0.2
)
(5
)
Total Operating Revenues
 
$
2,355.3

 
$
2,163.8

 
$
191.5

9
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Total operating revenues for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $2.36 billion, an increase of 9% from $2.16 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $98.9 million increase in performance fees, $42.6 million of which are performance fees earned by Clarion Partners that were fully passed through as compensation expense, as previously discussed. A 9% increase in average long-term AUM also contributed to the increase. Despite an increase in average long-term AUM as a percentage of our total average AUM, our operating revenue yield, excluding performance fees, remained flat at 38 basis points for each of the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, as a result of a less favorable product mix, with lower yielding products comprising a higher percentage of our long-term and total average AUM for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Investment advisory fees from separate accounts increased $66.8 million, or 10%, to $758.9 million, as compared to $692.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. Of this increase, $41.4 million resulted from the inclusion of revenues associated with certain assets that were reclassified from AUA to AUM, effective April 1, 2017, as previously discussed. Prior to this reclassification, revenues related to the comparable AUA were included in Distribution and service fees. In addition, higher average equity assets managed at ClearBridge contributed $20.7 million to the increase, and higher average fixed income assets at Western Asset contributed $9.8 million to the increase. These increases were offset in part by a decrease of $7.4 million due to lower average alternative assets managed by RARE Infrastructure.

Investment advisory fees from funds increased $61.1 million, or 6%, to $1.17 billion, as compared to $1.11 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. Of this increase, $88.8 million was due to higher average equity assets managed

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at ClearBridge and Martin Currie, $23.6 million was due to higher average fixed income assets managed at Western Asset, and $14.1 million was due to higher revenues earned by Clarion Partners, which was acquired in April 2016, due in part to the inclusion of a full nine months of revenues in the current year. These increases were offset in part by a decrease of $33.8 million due to lower average alternative assets managed by EnTrustPermal, a decrease of $23.0 million due to the disposition of two small investment managers in March 2017 and December 2016, and a net decrease of $9.1 million in fees from liquidity assets, as a result of lower average liquidity assets managed by Western Asset, offset in part by a reduction in fee waivers on liquidity funds.

Investment advisory performance fees increased $98.9 million, to $181.3 million, as compared to $82.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $52.7 million increase in performance fees earned on assets managed by Martin Currie, Western Asset, EnTrustPermal, and Brandywine, and a $42.6 million increase in performance fees related to Clarion Partners, which were passed through to employees as compensation.

Distribution and service fees decreased $35.1 million, or 13%, to $241.0 million, as compared to $276.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. Of this decrease, $28.1 million was related to the previously discussed reclassification of certain assets from AUA to AUM, as revenue related to these assets is included in Investment advisory fees from separate accounts for the nine months ended December 31, 2017. A reduction in average mutual fund AUM subject to distribution and service fees also contributed to the decrease.

Operating Expenses
The components of Total Operating Expenses (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Compensation and benefits
 
$
1,143.3

 
$
1,054.8

 
$
88.5

8
 %
Distribution and servicing
 
370.2

 
376.7

 
(6.5
)
(2
)
Communications and technology
 
155.9

 
156.6

 
(0.7
)

Occupancy
 
74.6

 
87.2

 
(12.6
)
(14
)
Amortization of intangible assets
 
18.5

 
19.3

 
(0.8
)
(4
)
Impairment charges
 
229.0

 
35.0

 
194.0

n/m

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments
 
(15.8
)
 
(39.5
)
 
23.7

(60
)
Other
 
155.3

 
161.3

 
(6.0
)
(4
)
Total Operating Expenses
 
$
2,131.0

 
$
1,851.4

 
$
279.6

15
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Operating expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, incurred at the investment management affiliate level represented approximately 70% of total operating expenses in each period, excluding impairment charges. The remaining operating expenses (excluding impairment charges) are corporate costs, including costs of our global distribution operations.


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The components of Compensation and benefits (in millions) for the nine months ended December 31 were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Salaries and incentives
 
$
823.3

 
$
763.4

 
$
59.9

8
 %
Benefits and payroll taxes (including deferred compensation)
 
201.0

 
183.2

 
17.8

10

Transition costs and severance
 
9.1

 
31.2

 
(22.1
)
(71
)
Management equity plan charge
 

 
15.2

 
(15.2
)
n/m

Performance fee pass through
 
95.3

 
52.7

 
42.6

81

Gains on deferred compensation and seed capital investments
 
14.6

 
9.1

 
5.5

60

Compensation and benefits
 
$
1,143.3

 
$
1,054.8

 
$
88.5

8
 %
n/m - not meaningful

Compensation and benefits increased 8% to $1,143.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $1,054.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, as a result of the following:

Salaries and incentives increased $59.9 million, to $823.3 million, as compared to $763.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to an increase of $57.8 million in net compensation at investment affiliates, which was primarily driven by the impact of increased revenues at certain revenue-share based affiliates, which usually creates a corresponding increase in compensation per the applicable revenue share agreements.
Benefits and payroll taxes increased $17.8 million to $201.0 million, as compared to $183.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to an increase in costs associated with certain long-term incentive and other benefit plans, as well as an increase in payroll-related taxes.
Transition costs and severance decreased $22.1 million, to $9.1 million, as compared to $31.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, with $4.6 million and $25.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, associated with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust, which is now substantially complete. The remaining amounts in each period were primarily severance costs for corporate and distribution personnel.
Management equity plan charge is associated with the implementation of an affiliate management equity plan for the management team of Clarion Partners.

Compensation as a percentage of operating revenues remained relatively flat at 48.5%, as compared to 48.7%, as the impact of the reduction in transition and severance costs incurred in connection with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust, and the impact of the charge recognized in the prior year in connection with the implementation of the Clarion Partners management equity plan, was substantially offset by the impact of the increase in performance fees earned by Clarion Partners that were passed through fully as compensation expense.

Distribution and servicing expenses decreased 2% to $370.2 million, as compared to $376.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to lower average AUM in certain products for which we pay fees to third-party distributors.

Communications and technology expense remained relatively flat at $155.9 million, as compared to $156.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, as a decrease in technology depreciation was substantially offset by an increase in technology maintenance costs.

Occupancy expense decreased 14% to $74.6 million, as compared to $87.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to net real estate charges of $12.3 million recognized in the prior year period in connection with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust.

Amortization of intangible assets decreased $0.8 million to $18.5 million, as compared to $19.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a reduction in amortization expense as a result of impairments of the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset recognized in the quarters ended June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017, offset in part by a full nine months of amortization expense recognized in the current year period related to the acquisitions of Clarion Partners in April 2016 and EnTrust in May 2016.

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Impairment of intangible assets was $229.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $35.0 million and for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The impairment charges recognized during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were comprised of $195.0 million related to the EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund management contracts asset, as discussed above, $32.0 million related to the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset and $2.0 million related to the RARE Infrastructure trade name asset. The impairments to the RARE Infrastructure assets resulted from losses of separate account AUM and other factors at RARE Infrastructure, and the related decline in projected revenues. A revised estimate of the remaining useful life of the RARE Infrastructure separate account contracts intangible asset also contributed to the impairment of that asset. As discussed above, the impairment charges recognized during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, were comprised of $18.0 million related to the RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset, and $17.0 million related to the Permal trade name asset. See Critical Accounting Policies and Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these impairment charges, including the significant assumptions used to determine the fair value of the assets.

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, included credits of $16.6 million which reduced the contingent consideration liabilities related to the acquisitions of RARE Infrastructure and QS Investors, which were offset in part by an expense of $0.7 million, increasing the contingent consideration liability related to the acquisition of PK Investments. Contingent consideration fair value adjustments for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 included credits of $39.5 million, which reduced the contingent consideration liabilities related to the acquisitions of Martin Currie, RARE Infrastructure, QS Investors and Financial Guard.

Other expense decreased $6.0 million to $155.3 million, as compared to $161.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to a $4.3 million reduction in professional fees and a $3.9 million reduction in insurance expense, both driven by costs incurred in the prior year period in connection with the acquisitions of Clarion Partners and EnTrust, offset in part by a $2.8 million increase in advertising expense.

Non-Operating Income (Expense)
The components of Total Non-Operating Income (Expense) (in millions), and the dollar and percentage changes between periods were as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$
 Change
%
 Change
Interest income
 
$
4.9

 
$
5.1

 
$
(0.2
)
(4
)%
Interest expense
 
(87.5
)
 
(82.0
)
 
(5.5
)
7

Other income, net
 
24.2

 
22.7

 
1.5

7

Non-operating income of consolidated investment vehicles, net
 
11.3

 
9.9

 
1.4

14

Total Non-Operating Income (Expense)
 
$
(47.1
)
 
$
(44.3
)
 
$
(2.8
)
6
 %

Interest expense increased $5.5 million, to $87.5 million, as compared to $82.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the net impact of the issuance of $500 million of 5.45% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2056 in August 2016, the proceeds of which were used to repay $500 million of then outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Other income, net, totaled $24.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $22.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The change was primarily due to a $5.5 million increase in net market gains on seed capital investments and assets invested for deferred compensation plans, which are offset by a corresponding increase in compensation expense and a $3.7 million loss recognized in the prior year period in connection with the termination of an interest rate swap. These increases were offset in part by a $3.1 million reduction in net market gains on corporate investments, which are not offset by a corresponding increase in compensation expense, and a $4.0 million gain recognized in the prior year period in connection with the sale of Legg Mason Poland.

Non-operating income of consolidated investment vehicles, net, totaled $11.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $9.9 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The change was primarily due to

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activity of the CIVs during the respective periods. See Notes 2 and 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles and net market gains on investments of certain CIVs.

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)
The income tax benefit was $142.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to an income tax provision of $71.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The effective benefit rate was 80.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to an effective tax rate of 26.7% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. As previously discussed, on December 22, 2017, the Tax Law became enacted law. The reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate, as well as other aspects of the Tax Law, resulted in a one-time, non-cash provisional tax benefit of $220.9 million, recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the remeasurement of certain existing deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new income tax rate. In addition, a non-cash tax charge of $7.3 million was provisionally provided in the three months ended December 31, 2017, for the effects on unremitted foreign earnings and other aspects of the Tax Law. Adjustments to these provisional items may be made in subsequent periods as more detailed information and guidance is obtained and analyzed.

Also, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, changes in apportionment on state deferred tax liabilities and changes in state law resulted in additional net tax expense of $3.3 million, which reduced the effective benefit rate by 1.8 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2017. As a result of the previously discussed impairment of intangible assets at EnTrustPermal, the nine months ended December 31, 2017 also included income tax expense of $3.9 million due to the reversal of income tax benefits previously recognized in connection with the impact of changes in the U.K. corporate tax rate on deferred tax liabilities associated with those intangible assets. This expense reduced the effective benefit rate by 2.2 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2017. In addition, a $1.4 million discrete tax expense was recognized with respect to equity based compensation, which reduced the effective benefit rate by 0.8 percentage points.
In September 2016, the U.K. Finance Act 2016 was enacted, which reduced the main U.K. corporate tax rate to be effective on April 1, 2020 from 18% to 17%. The impact of the tax rate reduction on certain existing deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted in a tax benefit of $4.1 million, and reduced the effective tax rate by 1.5 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, was also impacted by a tax benefit of $2.9 million for provision to return adjustments recognized in connection with the filing of fiscal 2016 tax returns, and a tax benefit of $2.2 million, which resulted from reserve adjustments related to the conclusion of certain tax examinations. These benefits together reduced the effective tax rate by 1.9 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2016. These benefits were offset in part by a $2.3 million increase in valuation allowances, which increased the effective tax rate by 0.8 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2016.

Noncontrolling interests in EnTrustPermal, Clarion Partners and Royce are structured as partnerships that pass an allocable portion of tax attributes and obligations to the related noncontrolling interest holders. As such, the consolidated financial statements do not generally include any tax provision/benefit associated with the net income allocated to these noncontrolling interests, which reduced the effective benefit rate by 22.7 percentage points and reduced the effective tax rate by 2.2 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The impact of CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products reduced the effective benefit rate by 3.8 percentage points and reduced the effective tax rate 0.9 percentage points for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and Operating Margin
Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, totaled $275.8 million, or $2.86 per diluted share, as compared to $151.3 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, in the nine months ended December 31, 2016.  The increase in Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. was largely the result of a $213.7 million, one-time, net non-cash provisional tax benefit related to the Tax Law. Lower acquisition and transition-related costs recognized in the current year period, with $5.2 million of such costs recognized during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $73.0 million, recognized during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, as well as the net impact of increased operating revenues in the current year period, also contributed to the increase. These increases were offset in part by a $194.0 million increase in impairment charges, with $229.0 million of such charges recognized in the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $35.0 million of such charges recognized in the nine months ended December 31, 2016. In addition,

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Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. per diluted share for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, benefited from a reduction in weighted-average shares outstanding as a result of share repurchases. Operating margin was 9.5% for the nine months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 14.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, reflecting the impact of the non-cash impairment charges discussed above.

Quarter Ended December 31, 2017, Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2017
Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $149.2 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, as compared to $75.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. was largely driven by a $213.7 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, one-time, net non-cash provisional tax benefit related to the Tax Law, which was offset in part by non-cash impairment charges of $195.0 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Operating revenues increased to $793.1 million in the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $768.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase in operating revenues was primarily due to an increase of $28.0 million in performance fees that were not passed through as compensation expense, primarily at EnTrustPermal, Western Asset, and Martin Currie, which was offset in part by a $9.9 million decrease in pass through performance fees at Clarion Partners. A 1% increase in average AUM also contributed to the increase.
 
Operating expenses increased $196.5 million, to $820.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $623.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as a result of the $195.0 million impairment charge related to the EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund managements contracts asset recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Non-operating expense, net, decreased $4.6 million, to $13.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $18.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to an increase in non-operating income of CIVs, which has no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc., as the gains are fully attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Operating margin was (3.4)% for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 18.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017, reflecting the impact of the non-cash impairment charge recognized in the three months ended December 31, 2017, as discussed above.

Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information
As supplemental information, we are providing a performance measure for "Operating Margin, as Adjusted" and a liquidity measure for "Adjusted EBITDA", each of which are based on methodologies other than generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP”). Our management uses these measures as benchmarks in evaluating and comparing our period-to-period operating performance and liquidity.

Operating Margin, as Adjusted
We calculate "Operating Margin, as Adjusted," by dividing (i) Operating Income, adjusted to exclude the impact on compensation expense of gains or losses on investments made to fund deferred compensation plans, the impact on compensation expense of gains or losses on seed capital investments by our affiliates under revenue sharing arrangements, amortization related to intangible assets, income (loss) of CIVs, the impact of fair value adjustments of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, and impairment charges by (ii) our operating revenues, adjusted to add back net investment advisory fees eliminated upon consolidation of investment vehicles, less distribution and servicing expenses which we use as an approximate measure of revenues that are passed through to third parties, and less performance fees that are passed through as compensation expense or net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, which we refer to as "Operating Revenues, as Adjusted." The deferred compensation items are removed from Operating Income in the calculation because they are offset by an equal amount in Non-operating income (expense), net, and thus have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. We adjust for the impact of the amortization of management contract assets and the impact of fair value adjustments of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, which arise from acquisitions to reflect the fact that these items distort comparison of our operating results with the results of other asset management firms that have not engaged in significant acquisitions. Impairment charges and income (loss) of CIVs are removed from Operating Income in the calculation because these items are not reflective of our core asset management operations. We use Operating Revenues, as Adjusted, in the calculation to show the operating margin without distribution and servicing expenses, which we use to approximate our distribution revenues that are passed through to third parties as a direct cost of selling our products, although

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distribution and servicing expenses may include commissions paid in connection with the launching of closed-end funds for which there is no corresponding revenue in the period. We also use Operating Revenues, as Adjusted, in the calculation to show the operating margin without performances fees which are passed through as compensation expense or net income attributable to noncontrolling interests per the terms of certain more recent acquisitions. Operating Revenues, as Adjusted, also include our advisory revenues we receive from consolidated investment vehicles that are eliminated in consolidation under GAAP.

We believe that Operating Margin, as Adjusted, is a useful measure of our performance because it provides a measure of our core business activities. It excludes items that have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and indicates what our operating margin would have been without distribution revenues that are passed through to third parties as a direct cost of selling our products, performance fees that are passed through as compensation expense or net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests per the terms of certain more recent acquisitions, amortization related to intangible assets, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, if any, impairment charges, and the impact of the consolidation of certain investment vehicles described above. The consolidation of these investment vehicles does not have an impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. This measure is provided in addition to our operating margin calculated under GAAP, but is not a substitute for calculations of margins under GAAP and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, including measures of adjusted margins of other companies.


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The calculation of Operating Margin and Operating Margin, as Adjusted, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 2017

September 30, 2017

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2017

December 31, 2016
Operating Revenues, GAAP basis
 
$
793,090

 
$
768,338

 
$
715,241

 
$
2,355,270

 
$
2,163,776

Plus (less):
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Pass-through performance fees
 
(9,970
)
 
(19,874
)
 
(2,250
)
 
(95,275
)
 
(52,681
)
Operating revenues eliminated upon consolidation of investment vehicles
 
283

 
23

 
360

 
350

 
386

Distribution and servicing expense, excluding consolidated investment vehicles
 
(124,071
)
 
(123,578
)
 
(123,326
)
 
(369,998
)
 
(376,722
)
Operating Revenues, as Adjusted
 
$
659,332

 
$
624,909

 
$
590,025

 
$
1,890,347

 
$
1,734,759

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income, GAAP basis
 
$
(27,333
)
 
$
144,419

 
$
111,166

 
$
224,291

 
$
312,354

Plus (less):
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Gains on deferred compensation and seed investments, net
 
4,333

 
4,824

 
1,474

 
14,585

 
9,072

Impairment of intangible assets
 
195,000

 

 
35,000

 
229,000

 
35,000

Amortization of intangible assets
 
6,071

 
6,082

 
7,277

 
18,492

 
19,251

Contingent consideration fair value adjustments
 
739

 

 
(14,500
)
 
(15,811
)
 
(39,500
)
Operating loss of consolidated investment vehicles, net
 
722

 
128

 
360

 
917

 
609

Operating Income, as Adjusted
 
$
179,532

 
$
155,453

 
$
140,777

 
$
471,474

 
$
336,786

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Margin, GAAP basis
 
(3.4
)%
 
18.8
%
 
15.5
%
 
9.5
%
 
14.4
%
Operating Margin, as Adjusted
 
27.2

 
24.9

 
23.9

 
24.9

 
19.4


Operating Margin, as Adjusted, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, was 27.2%, 24.9%, and 23.9%, respectively. Operating Margin, as Adjusted, for each of the three months ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2017, was reduced by 0.2 percentage points, and for the three months ended December 31, 2016, was reduced by 0.5 percentage points, due to transition-related costs incurred in connection with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust.

Operating Margin, as Adjusted, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was 24.9% and 19.4%, respectively. Operating Margin, as Adjusted, for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was reduced by 0.3 percentage points and 2.3 percentage points, respectively, due to transition-related costs incurred in connection with the restructuring of Permal for the combination with EnTrust. Operating Margin, as Adjusted, for the nine months ended December 31, 2016, was also reduced by 1.0 percentage points due to acquisition-related costs incurred in connection with the Clarion Partners and EnTrust acquisitions, and 0.9 percentage points due to the charge associated with the implementation of the Clarion Partners management equity plan.


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Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus (minus) interest expense, net of accretion and amortization of debt discounts and premiums, current income tax expense (benefit), the net change in assets and liabilities, net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net gains (losses) and earnings on investments, net gains (losses) on consolidated investment vehicles, and other. The net change in assets and liabilities adjustment aligns with the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Adjusted EBITDA is not reduced by equity-based compensation expense, including management equity plan non-cash issuance-related charges. Most management equity plan units may be put to or called by us for cash payment, although their terms do not require this to occur.

We believe that this measure is useful to investors and us as it provides additional information with regard to our ability to meet working capital requirements, service our debt, and return capital to our shareholders. This measure is provided in addition to Cash provided by operating activities and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures or liquidity measures of other companies, including their measures of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA. Further, this measure is not to be confused with Net Income, Cash provided by operating activities, or other measures of earnings or cash flows under GAAP, and are provided as a supplement to, and not in replacement of, GAAP measures.

We previously disclosed Adjusted EBITDA that conformed to calculations required by our debt covenants, which adjusted for certain items that required cash settlement that are not part of the current definition. The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
December 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities, GAAP basis
 
$
117,323

 
$
289,329

 
$
209,102

 
$
293,072

 
$
346,961

Plus (less):
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net of accretion and amortization of debt discounts and premiums
 
28,503

 
28,343

 
28,534

 
85,176

 
78,927

Current tax expense
 
8,823

 
9,662

 
(2,981
)
 
24,557

 
11,925

Net change in assets and liabilities
 
25,077

 
(145,656
)
 
(108,242
)
 
92,744

 
21,346

Net change in assets and liabilities of consolidated investment vehicles
 
21,873

 
1,235

 
43,732

 
54,897

 
(15,041
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(19,324
)
 
(11,960
)
 
(13,088
)
 
(43,901
)
 
(45,067
)
Net gains (losses) and earnings on investments
 
(4,163
)
 
1,491

 
2,432

 
2,874

 
(959
)
Net gains on consolidated investment vehicles
 
8,225

 
2,094

 
1,458

 
11,316

 
9,892

Other
 
663

 
194

 
(638
)
 
934

 
(1,137
)
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
187,000

 
$
174,732

 
$
160,309

 
$
521,669

 
$
406,847


Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2017, September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, was $187.0 million, $174.7 million, and $160.3 million, respectively. The increase for both the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, and the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2016, was primarily due to an increase in net income, adjusted for non-cash items.

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was $521.7 million and $406.8 million, respectively. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net income, adjusted for non-cash items, largely the result of a reduction in acquisition and transition-related costs incurred in connection with the acquisitions of Clarion Partners and EnTrust, and the net impact of increased operating revenues.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary objective of our capital structure is to appropriately support our business strategies and to provide needed liquidity at all times, including maintaining required capital in certain subsidiaries. Liquidity and the access to liquidity are important to the success of our ongoing operations. Our overall funding needs and capital base are continually reviewed to determine if the capital base meets the expected needs of our businesses. We intend to continue to explore potential acquisition opportunities as a means of diversifying and strengthening our asset management business. These opportunities may from time to time involve acquisitions that are material in size and may require, among other things, and subject to existing covenants, the raising of additional equity capital and/or the issuance of additional debt.

The consolidation of variable interest entities discussed above does not impact our liquidity and capital resources. However, we have executed total return swap arrangements with investors in two ETFs, and as a result we receive the related investment gains and losses on the ETFs and are required to consolidate these ETFs. At December 31, 2017, the total return swap notional values aggregate $51.1 million. Otherwise, we have no rights to the benefits from, nor do we bear the risks associated with, the assets and liabilities of the CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products beyond our investments in and investment advisory fees generated from these products, which are eliminated in consolidation. Additionally, creditors of the CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products have no recourse to our general credit beyond the level of our investment, if any, so we do not consider these liabilities to be our obligations.

Our assets consist primarily of intangible assets, goodwill, cash and cash equivalents, investment securities, and investment advisory and related fee receivables. Our assets have been principally funded by equity capital, long-term debt and the results of our operations. At December 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents, total assets, long-term debt, net, and stockholders' equity were $0.7 billion, $8.1 billion, $2.2 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively. Total assets include amounts related to CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products of $0.1 billion.

Cash and cash equivalents are primarily invested in liquid domestic and non-domestic money market funds that hold principally domestic and non-domestic government and agency securities, bank deposits and corporate commercial paper. We have not recognized any losses on these investments. Our monitoring of cash and cash equivalents partially mitigates the potential that material risks may be associated with these balances.

The following table summarizes our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended December 31 (in millions):
 
 
2017
 
2016
Cash flows provided by operating activities
 
$
293.1

 
$
347.0

Cash flows used in investing activities
 
(18.6
)
 
(1,014.9
)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
 
(332.9
)
 
28.7

Effect of exchange rate changes
 
5.0

 
(0.4
)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(53.4
)
 
(639.6
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
733.7

 
1,329.1

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
680.3

 
$
689.5


Cash inflows provided by operating activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $293.1 million, primarily related to Net Income, adjusted for non-cash items, including the $213.7 million tax benefit recognized in connection with the enactment of the Tax Law, offset in part by payments for accrued and deferred compensation. Cash inflows provided by operating activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, were $347.0 million, primarily related to Net Income, adjusted for non-cash items.

Cash outflows used in investing activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $18.6 million, primarily related to payments made for fixed assets, offset in part by returns of capital received on certain investments in partnerships and limited liability companies. Cash outflows used in investing activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, were $1.0 billion, primarily related to payments associated with the acquisitions of Clarion Partners and EnTrust.
  
Cash outflows used in financing activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, were $332.9 million, primarily related to the purchase of 6.6 million shares of our common stock for $253.6 million through open market purchases, the

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purchase of 5.6 million shares of our common stock from Shanda Asset Management Investment Limited ("Shanda") for $225.5 million, as further discussed below, and dividends paid of $76.0 million, offset in part by $225.5 million of borrowings under our unsecured credit agreement (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") to fund the purchase of our shares from Shanda. Cash inflows provided by financing activities during the nine months ended December 31, 2016, were $28.7 million, primarily related to $482.4 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the 5.45% 2056 Notes in August 2016, offset in part by the purchase of 9.1 million shares of our common stock for $291.7 million, net redemptions and distributions of $41.7 million related to noncontrolling interests, dividends paid of $66.2 million and the net repayment of $40 million outstanding on our Credit Agreement.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, we entered into various total return swap arrangements with financial intermediaries with respect to two Legg Mason sponsored ETFs, which resulted in investments in the ETFs by those financial intermediaries in the aggregate amount of $48.7 million. These total return swap arrangements are intended to enable us to expedite third-party distribution platform access for the product. We intend to continue to grow our ETF business over the next 12 months, and may enter into similar arrangements in connection with gaining distribution platform access for additional products.

We expect that over the next 12 months cash generated from our operating activities and available cash on hand, together with potential additional transactions similar to the total return swaps described above, will be adequate to support our operating cash needs, planned share repurchases, and the repayment of borrowings under our Credit Agreement. We currently intend to utilize our available resources for any number of potential activities, including, but not limited to, acquisitions, repurchases of shares of our common stock, seed capital investments in new and existing products, repayment of outstanding debt, or payment of increased dividends. In addition to our ordinary operating cash needs, we anticipate other cash needs during the next 12 months, as discussed below.

Acquisitions
As of December 31, 2017, we had various commitments to pay contingent consideration relating to business acquisitions. The following table presents a summary of the maximum remaining aggregate contingent consideration and the Contingent consideration liability (in millions) for each of our acquisitions. Additional details regarding contingent consideration for each significant recent acquisition are discussed below.
 
 
RARE Infrastructure
 
Martin Currie
 
QS Investors
 
Other
 
Total
Maximum Remaining Contingent Consideration(1)
 
$
82.8

 
$
439.3

 
$
23.4

 
$
1.9

 
$
547.4

Contingent consideration liability
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Contingent consideration
 
$

 
$
13.0

(2) 
$
3.6

 
$

 
$
16.6

Non-current Contingent consideration
 
2.2

 

 

 
1.9

 
4.1

Balance as of December 31, 2017
 
$
2.2

 
$
13.0

 
$
3.6

 
$
1.9

 
$
20.7

(1)
Using the applicable exchange rate as of December 31, 2017 for amounts denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
(2)
Exclusive of net pension liability of $38.1 million and other obligations, all of which are accounted for separately.

As further described below, we may be obligated to settle noncontrolling interests related to certain affiliates. The following table presents a summary of our affiliate noncontrolling interests (in millions), excluding amounts related to management equity plans, as of December 31, 2017. The ultimate timing of noncontrolling interest settlements are too uncertain to project with any accuracy.
 
 
EnTrustPermal
 
Clarion Partners
 
RARE Infrastructure
 
Other
 
Total
Affiliate noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2017
 
$
398.1

 
$
114.2

 
$
69.6

 
$
1.5

 
$
583.4


On August 17, 2016, we acquired a majority interest in Financial Guard. Contingent consideration of up to $3 million was potentially due one year after the closing date; however, no such payment was due based on relevant financial metrics. We

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also committed to contribute up to $5 million of additional working capital to Financial Guard, to be paid over the two-year period following the acquisition, of which $2.5 million has been paid as of December 31, 2017.

On May 2, 2016, we closed the transaction to combine Permal and EnTrust, to create EnTrustPermal, of which we own 65%. Noncontrolling interests of 35% of the outstanding equity are subject to put and call provisions that may result in future cash outlays.

On April 13, 2016, we acquired a majority interest in Clarion Partners. We also implemented an affiliate management equity plan for the management team of Clarion Partners, as further discussed below. In conjunction with the acquisition, we committed to provide $100 million of seed capital to Clarion Partners products, after the second anniversary of the transaction closing. Noncontrolling interests of 18% of the outstanding equity are subject to put and call provisions that may result in future cash outlays.

On December 31, 2015, Martin Currie acquired certain assets of PK Investments. In December 2017, we paid all contingent consideration due of $3.2 million.

On October 21, 2015, we acquired a majority interest in RARE Infrastructure. Contingent consideration may be due March 31, 2018, aggregating up to approximately $82.8 million (using the foreign exchange rate as of December 31, 2017 for the maximum 106 million Australia dollar amount per the contract), dependent on the achievement of certain net revenue targets, and subject to potential catch-up adjustments extending through March 31, 2019. Noncontrolling interests of 25% of the outstanding equity are subject to put and call provisions that may result in future cash outlays.

On October 1, 2014, we acquired all outstanding equity interests of Martin Currie. A contingent consideration payment may be due on March 31, 2018, aggregating up to approximately $439.3 million (using the foreign exchange rate as of December 31, 2017 for the maximum £325 million contract amount), inclusive of the payment of certain potential pension and other obligations, and dependent on the achievement of certain financial metrics at March 31, 2018, as specified in the share purchase agreement. Actual payments to be made may also include amounts for certain potential pension and other obligations that are accounted for separately. In addition, in connection with a review by the Pensions Regulator in the U.K. ("the Regulator") of the pension plan's current structure and funding status, Martin Currie, the trustees of the pension and the Regulator have agreed to a revised plan structure, including the redomiciliation of the plan in the U.K., additional guarantees, and following the application of any contingent consideration payments toward the pension deficit, provisions for accelerated funding of a portion of any remaining benefit obligation in certain circumstances.

Effective May 31, 2014, we completed the acquisition of QS Investors. Contingent consideration of up to $20 million for the fourth anniversary payment, and up to $3 million for a potential catch-up adjustment for the second anniversary payment shortfall, may be due in July 2018, dependent on the achievement of certain net revenue targets.

See Notes 3 and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding these acquisitions.

Affiliate Management Equity Plans
In conjunction with the acquisition of Clarion Partners in April 2016, we implemented an affiliate management equity plan that entitles certain key employees of Clarion Partners to participate in 15% of the future growth, if any, of the enterprise value (subject to appropriate discounts) subsequent to the date of the grant. In March 2016, we implemented an affiliate management equity plan with Royce. Under this management equity plan, as of December 31, 2017, noncontrolling interests equivalent to 19.0% in the Royce entity have been issued to its management team. In addition, we implemented an affiliate management equity plan in March 2014, that entitles certain key employees of ClearBridge to participate in 15% of the future growth, if any, of the enterprise value (subject to appropriate discounts). As of December 31, 2017, the estimated redemption value for units under management equity plans aggregated $70 million. Repurchases of units granted under the plans may impact future liquidity requirements, however, the amounts and timing of repurchases are too uncertain to project with any accuracy. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding affiliate management equity plans.


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Future Outlook
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $400 million in cash and cash equivalents in excess of our working capital and regulatory requirements. On December 22, 2017, we purchased 5.6 million shares of our common stock from Shanda for $225.5 million. The share purchase was funded using $225.5 million of borrowings under our Credit Agreement. The aggregate purchase of $225.5 million is effectively an acceleration of our authorized share repurchase program for the next three quarters, and as a result, we do not intend to purchase shares in the market prior to the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Until October 2018, we will apply funds that otherwise would have been allocated to share purchases to repay the amounts borrowed under our Credit Agreement in connection with the purchase of shares from Shanda. Excluding the purchase of shares from Shanda, during the nine months ended December 31, 2017, we retired $266.7 million of shares, including $13.1 million of shares retired under net share settlements for annual deferred compensation award vesting, and made dividend payments totaling $76.0 million. As of December 31, 2017, we have approximately $275 million of available borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement, which terminates in December 2020, and can be increased by another $500 million with the approval of the lenders. While we do not currently expect to raise incremental debt or equity financing over the next 12 months, we intend to grow our ETF business and are exploring various options to facilitate the launch of and provide capital to these new products. Going forward, there can be no assurances of these expectations as our projections could prove to be incorrect, events may occur that require additional liquidity in excess of amounts available under our Credit Agreement, such as an opportunity to refinance indebtedness, or market conditions might significantly worsen, affecting our results of operations and generation of available cash. If these events result in our operations and available cash being insufficient to fund liquidity needs, we may seek to manage our available resources by taking actions such as reducing future share repurchases, reducing operating expenses, reducing our expected expenditures on investments, selling assets (such as investment securities), repatriating earnings from foreign subsidiaries, reducing our dividend, or modifying arrangements with our affiliates and/or employees. Should these types of actions prove insufficient, or should an acquisition or refinancing opportunity arise, we would likely utilize borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility or seek to raise additional equity or debt.

On June 2, 2017, our Credit Agreement was amended to permit Legg Mason, Inc. to incur liens to secure obligations, including those related to cash collateral provisions for hedging agreements, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200 million at any one time. Prior to this amendment, cash collateral provided in connection with certain of our hedging agreements was considered a lien on assets for purposes of the lien covenant, and, as a result, we were not in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement at all times. The amendment provides for a waiver of any defaults under the unsecured credit agreement that may have arisen prior to the date of the amendment resulting from the provision of such cash collateral.

As previously discussed, on December 20, 2017, our Board of Directors approved the purchase of $225.5 million of our common stock from Shanda, utilizing the remaining $169.0 million of common stock available for repurchase as authorized on January 30, 2015, and authorizing the purchase of an additional $56.5 million of common stock to complete the transaction. As of December 31, 2017, further purchases of our common stock have not been authorized.

Our liquid assets include cash, cash equivalents, and certain current investment securities. As of December 31, 2017, our total liquid assets of approximately $890 million, included $360 million of cash, cash equivalents, and investments held by foreign subsidiaries. Other net working capital amounts of foreign subsidiaries were not significant. In order to increase our cash available in the U.S. for general corporate purposes, we plan to utilize up to approximately $210 million of foreign cash over the next several years, of which $4.3 million is accumulated foreign earnings with the remainder provided from forecasted future earnings. Any additional tax provision associated with these repatriations was previously recognized and adjusted to reflect the impact of the recently enacted Tax Law. No further repatriation of accumulated prior period foreign earnings is currently planned.

After the Tax Law, our preliminary estimate of our future annual effective tax rate is between 22% and 26%. The actual impact of the Tax Law on us and our actual future effective tax rates may materially differ from these estimates, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions we have made in determining these estimates, guidance that may be issued by the IRS with respect to the Tax Law and actions we may decide to take in the future.

Other
As of December 31, 2017, less than 1% of total assets (4% of financial assets at fair value) and less than 1% of total liabilities (90% of financial liabilities measured at fair value) meet the definition of Level 3.


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On January 30, 2018, the Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.28 per share, payable on April 16, 2018.
 
Contractual and Contingent Obligations
We have contractual obligations to make future payments, principally in connection with our long-term debt, non-cancelable lease agreements, acquisition agreements and service agreements. See Notes 7 and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosures related to our commitments.

The following table sets forth these contractual obligations (in millions) by fiscal year, and excludes contractual obligations of CIVs and other consolidated sponsored investment products, as we are not responsible or liable for these obligations:
 
 
Remaining 2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Contractual Obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings by contract maturity(1)
 
$
225.5

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
225.5

Long-term borrowings by contract maturity
 

 

 
250.0

 

 

 
2,000.0

 
2,250.0

Interest on long-term borrowings and credit facility commitment fees
 
47.0

 
114.3

 
109.7

 
106.1

 
105.4

 
2,272.8

 
2,755.3

Minimum rental and service commitments
 
36.7

 
124.2

 
108.3

 
95.6

 
92.3

 
199.1

 
656.2

Total Contractual Obligations
 
309.2

 
238.5

 
468.0

 
201.7

 
197.7

 
4,471.9

 
5,887.0

Contingent Obligations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payments related to business acquisitions:(2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Martin Currie
 
439.3

 

 

 

 

 

 
439.3

RARE Infrastructure
 
82.8

 

 

 

 

 

 
82.8

Other
 

 
24.0

 
0.7

 
0.6

 

 

 
25.3

Total payments related to business acquisitions
 
522.1

 
24.0

 
0.7

 
0.6

 

 

 
547.4

Total Obligations(3)(4)(5)(6)
 
$
831.3

 
$
262.5

 
$
468.7

 
$
202.3

 
$
197.7

 
$
4,471.9

 
$
6,434.4

(1)
Represents borrowings under our revolving credit facility which does not expire until December 2020.
(2)
The amount of contingent payments reflected for any year represents the maximum amount that could be payable at the earliest possible date under the terms of the business purchase agreements, using the applicable exchange rate as of December 31, 2017, for amounts denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The related contingent consideration liabilities had an aggregate fair value of $20.7 million as of December 31, 2017, net of certain potential pension and other obligations related to Martin Currie. See Notes 3 and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3)
The table above does not include approximately $37.1 million in capital commitments to investment partnerships in which we are a limited partner, which will be outstanding, or funded as required, through the end of the commitment periods running through fiscal 2029; $100 million of co-investment commitment associated with the Clarion Partners acquisition, which will be funded after the second anniversary of the transaction closing; or up to approximately $2.5 million of remaining additional working capital commitment associated with the Financial Guard acquisition, which will be funded over the period ending in August 2018.
(4)
The table above does not include amounts for uncertain tax positions of $54.7 million (net of the federal benefit for state tax liabilities), because the timing of any related cash outflows cannot be reliably estimated.
(5)
The table above does not include redeemable noncontrolling interests related to minority equity interests in our affiliates and affiliate management equity plans with key employees of Clarion Partners and ClearBridge of $613.9 million as of December 31, 2017, because the timing and amount of any related cash outflows cannot be reliably estimated. Redeemable noncontrolling interests of CIVs of $113.8 million as of December 31, 2017, are also excluded from the table above because we have no obligations in relation to these amounts. Potential obligations arising from the ultimate settlement of awards under the affiliate management equity plan with key employees of Royce are also excluded due to the uncertainty of the timing and amounts ultimately payable. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding affiliate management equity plans.
(6)
The table above excludes net pension liability $38.1 million due to the uncertainty of the timing and amounts ultimately payable.



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Critical Accounting Policies
The following Critical Accounting Policies have been updated from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017.

Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Balances as of December 31, 2017, are as follows (in thousands):
Amortizable asset management contracts
 
$
164,928

Indefinite-life intangible assets
 
3,567,655

Trade names
 
68,302

Goodwill
 
1,925,650

 
 
$
5,726,535


Our identifiable intangible assets consist primarily of asset management contracts, contracts to manage proprietary mutual funds, hedge funds or funds-of-hedge funds, and trade names resulting from acquisitions. Asset management contracts are amortizable intangible assets that are capitalized at acquisition and amortized over the expected life of the contract. Contracts to manage proprietary mutual funds, hedge funds or funds-of-hedge funds are indefinite-life intangible assets because we assume that there is no foreseeable limit on the contract period due to the likelihood of continued renewal at little or no cost. Similarly, trade names are considered indefinite-life intangible assets because they are expected to generate cash flows indefinitely.


In allocating the purchase price of an acquisition to intangible assets, we must determine the fair value of the assets acquired. We determine fair values of intangible assets acquired based upon projected future cash flows, which take into consideration estimates and assumptions including profit margins, growth and/or attrition rates for acquired contracts based upon historical experience and other factors, estimated contract lives, discount rates, projected net client flows and market performance. The determination of estimated contract lives requires judgment based upon historical client turnover and attrition rates and the probability that contracts with termination provisions will be renewed. The discount rate employed is a weighted-average cost of capital that takes into consideration a premium representing the degree of risk inherent in the asset, as more fully described below.

Goodwill represents the residual amount of acquisition cost in excess of identified tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities.


Given the relative significance of our intangible assets and goodwill to our consolidated financial statements, on a quarterly basis we consider if triggering events have occurred that may indicate a significant change in fair values. Triggering events may include significant adverse changes in our business or the legal or regulatory environment, loss of key personnel, significant business dispositions, or other events, including changes in economic arrangements with our affiliates that will impact future operating results. If a triggering event has occurred, we perform quantitative tests, which include critical reviews of all significant assumptions, to determine if any intangible assets or goodwill are impaired. If we have not qualitatively concluded that it is more likely than not that the respective fair values exceed the related carrying values, we perform these tests for indefinite-life intangible assets and goodwill annually at December 31.


We completed our annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets and our periodic impairment review of amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2017. As a result of these impairment tests, our combined EnTrustPermal indefinite-life funds management contracts asset was determined to be partially impaired, resulting in a pre-tax operating charge of $195 million. Neither goodwill nor any other intangible assets were deemed to be impaired. Details of our intangible assets and goodwill and the related impairment tests follow. As a result of uncertainty regarding future market conditions, assessing the fair value of the reporting unit and intangible assets requires management to exercise significant judgment.

Amortizable Intangible Assets
Intangible assets subject to amortization are considered for impairment at each reporting period using an undiscounted cash flow analysis. Significant assumptions used in assessing the recoverability of management contract intangible assets include projected cash flows generated by the contracts and the remaining lives of the contracts. Projected cash flows are based on fees generated by current AUM for the applicable contracts. Contracts are generally assumed to turnover evenly throughout

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the life of the intangible asset. The remaining life of the asset is based upon factors such as average client retention and client turnover rates. If the amortization periods are no longer appropriate, the expected lives are adjusted and the impact on the fair value is assessed. Actual cash flows in any one period may vary from the projected cash flows without resulting in an impairment charge because a variance in any one period must be considered in conjunction with other assumptions that impact projected cash flows.

As of December 31, 2017, the cumulative undiscounted cash flows related to the EnTrust separate account contracts amortizable asset exceeded the carrying value of $52 million by 4%. Future decreases in our cash flow projections, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions due to client attrition and the related reduction in revenues, investment performance, market conditions, or other factors, may result in impairment of this asset. There can be no assurance that future client attrition, asset outflows, market uncertainty, or other factors, will not produce an impairment in this asset.

As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the RARE Infrastructure separate account contracts amortizable asset exceeded the carrying value of $10 million by 2%. Despite the excess of fair value over the related carrying value, future decreases in our cash flow projections, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions due to client attrition and the related reduction in revenues, investment performance, market conditions, or other factors, may result in further impairment of this asset. There can be no assurance that continued client attrition, asset outflows, market uncertainty, or other factors, will not produce an additional impairment in this asset.

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, projected revenues related to the RARE Infrastructure separate account contacts amortizable asset declined due to losses of separate account AUM and other factors, including the withdrawal of approximately $1.5 billion by an institutional client in June 2017. Based on revised attrition estimates, the remaining useful life of the acquired contracts was decreased from eight years to five years at June 30, 2017. As a result of the decline in projected revenues and the revised estimate of the remaining useful life, the amortized carrying value was determined to exceed its fair value and an impairment charge of $32 million was recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2017. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis as of June 30, 2017 included projected AUM growth rates of 7%, attrition rates of 20%, and a discount rate of 16.5%.

The estimated remaining useful lives of amortizable intangible assets currently range from one to nine years with a weighted-average life of approximately 7.2 years.

Indefinite-Life Intangible Assets
For intangible assets with lives that are indeterminable or indefinite, fair value is determined from a market participant's perspective based on projected discounted cash flows, taking into account the values market participants would pay in a taxable transaction to acquire the respective assets. We have two primary types of indefinite-life intangible assets: proprietary fund contracts and, to a lesser extent, trade names.

We determine the fair value of our intangible assets based upon discounted projected cash flows, which take into consideration estimates of future fees, profit margins, growth rates, taxes, and discount rates. The determination of the fair values of our indefinite-life intangible assets is highly dependent on these estimates and changes in these inputs could result in a material impairment of the related carrying values. An asset is determined to be impaired if the current implied fair value is less than the recorded carrying value of the asset. If an asset is impaired, the difference between the current implied fair value and the carrying value of the asset reflected on the financial statements is recognized as an Operating expense in the period in which the impairment is determined to exist.

Contracts that are managed and operated as a single unit, such as contracts within the same family of funds, are reviewed in aggregate and are considered interchangeable if investors can transfer between funds with limited restrictions. Similarly, cash flows generated by new funds added to the fund group are included when determining the fair value of the intangible asset. As further discussed in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, EnTrust has been combined with Permal to form EnTrustPermal, through common management, shared resources (including infrastructure, employees, and processes) and branding initiatives. Accordingly, after completing the annual impairment testing process in fiscal 2017, the indefinite-life funds management contracts asset related to the EnTrust acquisition was combined with the indefinite-life funds-of-hedge funds management contracts asset related to the legacy Permal business. The related carrying values and cash flows of the funds have been aggregated for impairment testing.


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Projected cash flows are based on annualized cash flows for the applicable contracts projected forward 40 years, assuming annual cash flow growth from estimated net client flows and projected market performance. To estimate the projected cash flows, projected growth rates by affiliate are used to project their AUM. Cash flow growth rates consider estimates of both AUM flows and market expectations by asset class (equity, fixed income, alternative, and liquidity) and by investment manager based upon, among other things, historical experience and expectations of future market and investment performance from internal and external sources. Currently, our market growth assumptions are 6% for equity, 3% for fixed income, 4% for alternative, and 0% for liquidity products, with a general assumption of 2% organic growth for all products, subject to exceptions for organic growth (contraction), generally in years one through five.

The starting point for these assumptions is our corporate planning process that includes three-year AUM projections from the management of each operating affiliate that consider the specific business circumstances of each affiliate, with flow assumptions for years one through five for certain affiliates adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect a market participant view. Beyond year three, the estimates move towards our general organic growth assumption of 2%, as appropriate for each affiliate and asset class, through year 20. The resulting cash flow growth rate for year 20 is held constant and used to further project cash flows through year 40. Based on projected AUM by affiliate and asset class, affiliate advisory fee rates are applied to determine projected revenues. The domestic mutual fund contracts projected revenues are applied to a weighted-average margin for the applicable affiliates that manage the AUM. Margins are based on arrangements currently in place at each affiliate. Projected operating income is further reduced by an appropriate tax rate to calculate the projected cash flows.

We believe our growth assumptions are reasonable given our consideration of multiple inputs, including internal and external sources, although our assumptions are subject to change based on fluctuations in our actual results and market conditions. Our assumptions are also subject to change due to, among other factors, poor investment performance by one or more of our operating affiliates, the withdrawal of AUM by clients, changes in business climate, adverse regulatory actions, or loss of key personnel. We consider these risks in the development of our growth assumptions and discount rates, discussed further below. Further, actual cash flows in any one period may vary from the projected cash flows without resulting in an impairment charge because a variance in any one period must be considered in conjunction with other assumptions that impact projected cash flows.

Our process includes comparison of actual results to prior growth projections. However, differences between actual results and our prior projections are not necessarily indicative of a need to reassess our estimates given that our discounted projected cash flow analyses include projections well beyond three years and variances in the near-years may be offset in subsequent years; fair value assessments are point-in-time, and the consistency of a fair value assessment with other indicators of value that reflect expectations of market participants at that point-in-time is critical evidence of the soundness of the estimate of value. In subsequent periods, we consider the differences in actual results from our prior projections in considering the reasonableness of the growth assumptions used in our current impairment testing.

Discount rates are based on appropriately weighted estimated costs of debt and equity capital using a market participant perspective. We estimate the cost of debt based on published debt rates. We estimate the cost of equity capital based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model, which considers the risk-free interest rate, peer-group betas, and company and equity risk premiums. The equity risk is further adjusted to consider the relative risk associated with each of our indefinite-life intangible asset and our reporting unit. The discount rates are also calibrated based on an assessment of relevant market values.

Consistent with standard valuation practices for taxable transactions, the projected discounted cash flow analysis also factors in a tax benefit value, as appropriate. This tax benefit represents the discounted tax savings a third party that purchased an asset on a given valuation date would receive from future tax deductions for the amortization of the purchase price over 15 years.

As of December 31, 2017, the combined EnTrustPermal fund management contracts asset accounted for approximately 11% of our indefinite-life intangible assets, and is supported by the combined EnTrustPermal fund management business. The past several years have seen declines in the traditional high net worth client funds-of-hedge funds business, including transfers of client funds from such products into EnTrustPermal separate account products. Further, funds-of-hedge fund managers are subject to certain market influences, as evidenced in EnTrustPermal's growth in institutional funds and separate accounts, adding additional uncertainty to our estimates. As a result, both the near-term and long-term growth assumptions for these contracts were reduced, which led to decreased projected cash flows from the business.


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Based upon our projected discounted cash flow analyses, the EnTrustPermal fund management contracts asset carrying value of $596 million exceeded its fair value of $401 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $195 million for the excess. Base revenues related to the EnTrustPermal fund management contracts were assumed to have annual growth (contraction) rates ranging from (13)% to 6% (average: 5%). Given current experience, projected near-year cash flows reflect AUM outflows in years one, two, three, and four, and trend to modest AUM inflows in year five. Investment performance, including its expected impact on future asset flows, is a significant factor in our growth projections for the funds contracts. Our market performance projections are supported by the fact that our alternative assets have 5-year returns approximating 5%, and are further supported by industry statistics. The projected cash flows from the EnTrustPermal fund management contracts were discounted at 15.0%, reflecting the factors noted above. Future decreases in our cash flow projections or increases in the discount rate, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions resulting from flow and AUM levels, investment performance, market conditions, or other factors, may result in further impairment of this asset. There can be no assurance that asset flows, market uncertainty, or other factors will not produce an additional impairment in this asset, which could be significant.

As of December 31, 2017, the RARE Infrastructure mutual funds contracts asset of $133 million accounted for approximately 4% of our indefinite-life intangible assets. Based on our projected discounted cash flow analyses, the fair value of the mutual funds contracts asset exceeded its carrying value by 3%. For our impairment test, cash flows from the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts were assumed to have long-term annual growth rates averaging approximately 7%, and reflect moderate AUM inflows in years 1 and 2. Projected cash flows of the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts were discounted at 16.5%.

Assuming all other factors remain the same, our actual results and/or changes in assumptions for the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts cash flow projections over the long-term would have to deviate more than 3% from projections, or the discount rate would have to be raised from 16.5% to 17.0%, for the asset to be deemed impaired. Despite the excess of fair value over the related carrying value, given the current uncertainty regarding future market conditions, it is reasonably possible that fund performance, flows and AUM levels may decrease in the near term such that actual cash flows from the RARE Infrastructure mutual funds contracts could deviate from the projections by more than 3% and the asset could be deemed to be impaired by a material amount.

The domestic mutual fund contracts acquired in the Citigroup Asset Management (“CAM”) transaction of $2.1 billion, account for approximately 60% of our indefinite-life intangible assets. As of December 31, 2017, approximately $560 billion of AUM, primarily managed by ClearBridge and Western Asset, are associated with this asset, with approximately 53% in equity AUM, 41% in fixed income AUM and 6% in liquidity AUM. Although our domestic mutual funds overall have maintained strong recent market performance, previously disclosed uncertainties regarding market conditions and asset flows and risks related to potential regulatory changes in the liquidity business, are reflected in our projected discounted cash flow analyses. Based on our projected discounted cash flow analyses, the related fair value exceeded its carrying value by a material amount. For our impairment test, cash flows from the domestic mutual fund contracts were assumed to have annual growth rates averaging approximately 7%, and reflect moderate AUM inflows in years 1 and 2. Projected cash flows of the domestic mutual fund contracts were discounted at 14.5%.

Trade names account for 2% of indefinite-life intangible assets and are primarily related to EnTrustPermal and Clarion Partners, which had carrying values of $29 million and $23 million, respectively. We tested these intangible assets using a relief from royalty approach and discounted cash flow methods similar to those described above for indefinite-life contracts.

As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the EnTrustPermal trade name exceeded the carrying value of $29 million by 1%. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis included projected annual revenue growth (contraction) rates of (14)% to 6% (average: 3%), a royalty rate of 1.5%, and a discount rate of 14.5%. Future decreases in our cash flow projections or increases in the discount rate, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions resulting from flow and AUM levels, investment performance, market conditions, or other factors, may result in further impairment of this asset. There can be no assurance that asset outflows, market uncertainty, or other factors, will not produce an additional impairment in this asset.

As a result of AUM losses and other factors, we tested the RARE Infrastructure trade name asset for impairment during the quarter ended June 30, 2017. The $5 million carrying value of the trade name exceeded its $3 million fair value, which resulted in a $2 million impairment. The significant assumptions used in the cash flow analysis as of June 30, 2017 included average projected annual growth rates of 8%, a royalty rate of 1.0% and a discount rate of 16.5%. As of December 31, 2017,

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the fair value of the trade name exceeded the carrying value by 19%. Future decreases in our cash flow projections or increases in the discount rate, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions resulting from flow and AUM levels, investment performance, market conditions, or other factors, may result in further impairment of this asset. There can be no assurance that asset outflows, market uncertainty, or other factors, will not produce an additional impairment in this asset.

As of December 31, 2017, the resulting fair values of our other trade name assets significantly exceeded the related carrying amounts.

Goodwill
Goodwill is evaluated at the reporting unit level and is considered for impairment when the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the reporting unit. In estimating the implied fair value of the reporting unit, we use valuation techniques based on discounted projected cash flows and EBITDA multiples, similar to techniques employed in analyzing the purchase price of an acquisition. We continue to be managed as one Global Asset Management operating segment. Internal management reporting of discrete financial information regularly received by the chief operating decision maker, our Chief Executive Officer, is at the consolidated Global Asset Management business level. As a result, goodwill is recorded and evaluated at one Global Asset Management reporting unit level. Our Global Asset Management reporting unit consists of the operating businesses of our asset management affiliates and our centralized global distribution operations. In our impairment testing process, all consolidated assets (except for certain tax benefits) and liabilities are allocated to our single Global Asset Management reporting unit. Similarly, the projected operating results of the reporting unit include our holding company corporate costs and overhead, including interest expense and costs associated with executive management, finance, human resources, legal and compliance, internal audit and other central corporate functions.

Goodwill principally originated from the acquisitions of CAM, Permal, Royce, Martin Currie, RARE Infrastructure, Clarion Partners and EnTrust. The value of the reporting unit is based in part, on projected consolidated net cash flows, including all cash flows of assets managed in our mutual funds, closed-end funds and other proprietary funds, in addition to separate account assets of our managers.

Significant assumptions used in assessing the implied fair value of the reporting unit under the discounted cash flow method are consistent with the methodology discussed above for indefinite-life intangible assets. Also, at the reporting unit level, future corporate costs are estimated and consolidated with the projected operating results of all our affiliates.

Actual cash flows in any one period may vary from the projected cash flows without resulting in an impairment charge because a variance in any one period must be considered in conjunction with other assumptions that impact projected cash flows.

Discount rates are based on appropriately weighted estimated costs of debt using a market participant perspective, also consistent with the methodology discussed above for indefinite-life intangible assets.

We also perform a market-based valuation of our reporting unit value, which applies an average of EBITDA multiples paid in change of control transactions for peer companies to our EBITDA. The results of our two estimates of value for the reporting unit (the discounted cash flow and EBITDA multiple analyses) are compared and significant differences, if any, are assessed to determine the reasonableness of each value and whether any adjustment to either result is warranted. Once the values are accepted, the appropriately weighted average of the two reporting unit valuations (the discounted cash flow and EBITDA multiple analyses) is used as the implied fair value of our Global Asset Management reporting unit, which at December 31, 2017, exceeded the carrying value by 30%. Considering the relative merits of the details involved in each valuation process, we used an equal weighting of the two values for the December 2017 testing. Changes in the assumptions underlying projected cash flows from the reporting unit or its EBITDA multiple, resulting from market conditions, reduced AUM or other factors, could result in an impairment of goodwill, and such an impairment could potentially have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

We further assess the accuracy of the reporting unit value determined from these valuation methods by comparing their results to our market capitalization to determine an implied control premium. The reasonableness of this implied control premium is considered by comparing it to control premiums that have been paid in relevant actual change of control transactions. This assessment provides evidence that our underlying assumptions in our analyses of our reporting unit fair value are reasonable.


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In calculating our market capitalization for these purposes, market volatility can have a significant impact on our capitalization, and if appropriate, we may consider the average market prices of our stock for a period of one or two months before the test date to determine market capitalization. A control premium arises from the fact that in an acquisition, there is typically a premium paid over current market prices of publicly traded companies that relates to the ability to control the operations of an acquired company. Further, assessments of control premiums in the asset management industry are difficult because many acquisitions involve privately held companies, or involve only portions of a public company, such that no control premium can be calculated.

Recent market evidence regarding control premiums suggest values of 0% to 67%, with an average of 27%, as realistic and common and we believe such premiums to be a reasonable range of estimation for our equity value. Based on our analysis and consideration, we believe the implied control premium of 34% determined by our reporting unit value estimation at December 31, 2017, is reasonable in relation to the observed relevant market control premium values.

Recent Accounting Developments
See discussion of Recent Accounting Developments in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Item 3.        Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, there were no material changes to the information contained in Part II, Item 7A of Legg Mason’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017.

Item 4.        Controls and Procedures

As of December 31, 2017, Legg Mason's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of Legg Mason's disclosure controls and procedures. In 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, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.  Based on that evaluation, Legg Mason's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, concluded that Legg Mason's disclosure controls and procedures were effective on a reasonable assurances basis.  There have been no changes in Legg Mason's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Legg Mason's internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

The following is an update to the risk factors set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. The risk factor below has been updated to include activity for the nine months ended December 31, 2017.

Potential Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets Could Increase our Expenses and Reduce our Assets

Determining goodwill and intangible assets, and evaluating them for impairment, requires significant management estimates and judgment, including estimating value and assessing life in connection with the allocation of purchase price in the acquisition creating them. Our goodwill and intangible assets may become impaired as a result of any number of factors, including losses of investment management contracts or declines in the value of managed assets. Any impairment of goodwill or intangibles could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. For example, during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, we incurred an impairment charge associated with our combined EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund management contracts asset of $195 million; and, during the quarter ended June 30, 2017, we incurred impairment charges associated with our RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset and trade name asset of $32 million and $2 million, respectively. Also, during the quarter ended December 31, 2016, we incurred impairment charges associated with our RARE Infrastructure amortizable management contracts asset and Permal trade name asset of $18 million and $17 million, respectively. Finally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2015, we incurred aggregate impairment charges of $371 million relating to the legacy Permal funds-of-hedge funds contracts, which was subsequently combined with the EnTrust fund management contracts asset to create the previously discussed EnTrustPermal fund management contracts asset, and Permal trade name assets. Changes in the assumptions underlying projected cash flows from the assets or reporting unit, resulting from market conditions, reduced assets under management ("AUM") or other factors, could result in an impairment of any of these assets.
As a result of AUM losses and other factors, we tested the RARE Infrastructure indefinite-life mutual fund contracts asset and trade name asset for impairment during the three months ended June 30, 2017. The assessed value of the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts asset exceeded its carrying value by 7% and therefore was not impaired. The fair value of the trade name asset exceeded its carrying value, which resulted in the $2 million impairment discussed above. During the nine months ended December 31, 2017, no other triggering events required that we consider impairment tests of any of our other intangible assets or goodwill prior to our annual December 31 impairment tests.
We completed our annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets as of December 31, 2017, and determined that the combined EnTrustPermal indefinite-life fund management contracts asset of $596 million was impaired by $195 million. The impairment charge was primarily the result of net client outflows from legacy high net worth fund products, including transfers of client funds from such products into EnTrustPermal separate accounts. There were no other impairments in the value of our indefinite-life intangible assets, amortizable management contracts assets or goodwill as of this date.
The domestic mutual fund contracts asset acquired in the 2005 acquisition of the Citigroup Asset Management business of $2.1 billion and the combined EnTrustPermal fund management contracts asset of $401 million account for approximately 60% and 11%, respectively, of our indefinite-life intangible assets, while the goodwill in our reporting unit aggregates $1.9 billion. As of December 31, 2017, we also had $1.1 billion of other indefinite-life intangible assets, which includes indefinite-life mutual funds contract assets of $505 million and $133 million, recorded at fair value in connection with the acquisitions of Clarion Partners in April 2016 and RARE Infrastructure in October 2015, respectively.
As a result of impairing the fund contracts and trade name assets discussed above, decreases in our cash flow projections or increases in the discount rates, resulting from actual results, or changes in assumptions due to market conditions, reduced AUM, less favorable operating margins, lower yielding asset mixes, and other factors, may result in further impairment of the RARE Infrastructure assets, the EnTrustPermal trade name or the EnTrustPermal fund management contracts asset. There can be no assurances that continued market uncertainty or asset outflows, or other factors, will not produce additional impairment in some or all of these assets.
As of December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of the EnTrustPermal trade name asset exceeded the carrying value by approximately 1% and the estimated fair value of the EnTrust amortizable management contracts intangible asset exceeded

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the carrying value by 4%. The carrying value of these assets remain sensitive to changes in actual results and assumptions. Therefore, market decreases, outflows or other changes in actual results or assumptions may result in an impairment of the EnTrustPermal trade name and/or the EnTrust amortizable management contracts asset, which could be significant.

Also, as of December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts asset exceeded the carrying value by approximately 3%. Assuming all other factors remain the same, our actual results and/or changes in assumptions for the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts cash flow projections over the long term would have to deviate by more than 3%, or the discount rate would have to increase from 16.5% to 17.0% for the asset to be deemed impaired. The carrying value of the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts asset remains sensitive to changes in the actual results or assumptions noted above. Therefore, market decreases, outflows or other changes in actual results or the assumptions noted above may result in an impairment of the RARE Infrastructure mutual fund contracts assets.

The estimated fair value of our reporting unit exceeds its aggregate carrying value by 30% at December 31, 2017. Similar to intangible assets, changes in the assumptions underlying projected cash flows from the reporting unit or its EBITDA multiple, resulting from market conditions, reduced AUM or other factors, could result in an impairment of goodwill, and such an impairment could potentially have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

There can be no assurances that continued market uncertainty or asset outflows, or other factors, will not produce an additional impairment.

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

The following table sets out information regarding our purchases of Legg Mason common stock in each month during the quarter ended December 31, 2017:
Period
 
Total number
of shares
purchased (1)
 
Average price
paid per share (1)(2)
 
Total number of
shares purchased
as part of
publicly announced
plans or programs(3)
 
Approximate dollar value that may
yet be purchased
under the plans
or programs(3)
October 1, 2017 through
    October 31, 2017
 
539

 
$
36.01

 

 
$
242,980,366

November 1, 2017 through
November 30, 2017
 
1,920,406

 
38.52

 
1,920,328

 
169,018,810

December 1, 2017 through
December 31, 2017
 
5,567,653

 
40.50

 
5,567,653

 

Total
 
7,488,598

 
$
39.99

 
7,487,981

 


(1)
Includes shares of vesting restricted stock, and shares received on vesting of restricted stock units, surrendered to Legg Mason to satisfy related income tax withholding obligations of employees via net share transactions.
(2)
Amounts exclude fees.
(3)
On January 30, 2015, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase authorization for up to $1 billion for additional repurchases of common stock. On December 20, 2017, our Board of Directors approved the purchase of $225.5 million of our common stock from Shanda Asset Management Investment Limited, utilizing the remaining $169.0 million available under this authorization and authorizing an additional purchase of $56.5 million to complete the transaction. As of December 31, 2017, further purchases of our common stock have not been authorized.


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Item 6.        Exhibits

3.1
3.2
10.1
12
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101
Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Legg Mason, Inc. for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 5, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail
* These exhibits are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

LEGG MASON, INC.

DATE:
February 5, 2018
 
/s/ Joseph A. Sullivan
 
 
 
Joseph A. Sullivan
 
 
 
President, Chief Executive Officer, and
 
 
 
Chairman of the Board
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:
February 5, 2018
 
/s/ Peter H. Nachtwey
 
 
 
Peter H. Nachtwey
 
 
 
Senior Executive Vice President
 
 
 
and Chief Financial Officer



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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
3.1
Articles of Incorporation of Legg Mason, as amended (incorporated by reference to Legg Mason's Current Report on Form 8-K for the event on July 26, 2011)
3.2
By-laws of Legg Mason, as amended and restated July 26, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Legg Mason's Current Report on Form 8-K for the event on July 26, 2011)
10.1
Share Repurchase Agreement dated December 22, 2017 by and between Legg Mason, Inc. and Shanda Asset Management Investment Limited (incorporated by reference to Legg Mason's Current Report on Form 8-K for the event on December 22, 2017)

12
Computation of consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101
Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Legg Mason, Inc. for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 5, 2018, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail

* These exhibits are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.



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