Form 10-Q

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form

10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

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

For the transition period from

Commission File Number

001-10932

WisdomTree Investments, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		13-3487784
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)


230 Park Avenue 3 rd Floor West New York, New York		10169
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

212-801-2080

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value	WETF	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes

☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

☒

Yes

☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a

non-accelerated

filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule

12b-2

of the Exchange Act.

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 ☒

As of October 26, 2021, there were

145,133,066

shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

WISDOMTREE INVESTMENTS, INC.

Form

10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page Number
PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION		4

Item 1. Financial Statements		4

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		34

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		54

Item 4. Controls and Procedures		55

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION		55

Item 1. Legal Proceedings		55

Item 1A. Risk Factors		55

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		55

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		56

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures		56

Item 5. Other Information		56

Item 6. Exhibits		57

Unless otherwise indicated, references to “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “WisdomTree” mean WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

WisdomTree

and Modern Alpha

are trademarks of WisdomTree Investments, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form

10-Q

contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect our results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form

10-K

for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form

10-Q

for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this Report and the documents that we reference in this Report and have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as exhibits to this Report, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

In particular, forward-looking statements in this Report may include statements about:

•

the ultimate duration of the

COVID-19

pandemic and its short-term and long-term impact on our business and the global economy;

•

anticipated trends, conditions and investor sentiment in the global markets and exchange traded products, or ETPs;

•

anticipated levels of inflows into and outflows out of our ETPs;

•

our ability to deliver favorable rates of return to investors;

•

competition in our business;

•

our ability to develop new products and services;

•

our ability to maintain current vendors or find new vendors to provide services to us at favorable costs;

•

our ability to successfully operate and expand our business in

non-U.S.

markets; and

•

the effect of laws and regulations that apply to our business.

The forward-looking statements in this Report represent our views as of the date of this Report. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. Therefore, these forward-looking statements do not represent our views as of any date other than the date of this Report.

Table of Contents

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	127,924		$	73,425
Securities owned, at fair value (including $21,180 and $23,932 invested in WisdomTree ETFs at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		119,390			34,895
Accounts receivable (including $24,055 and $26,884 due from related parties at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		32,092			29,455
Income taxes receivable		146			—
Prepaid expenses		5,676			3,827
Other current assets		407			259

Total current assets		285,635			141,861
Fixed assets, net		545			7,579
Indemnification receivable (Note 20)		21,872			27,016
Securities held-to-maturity		331			451
Deferred tax assets, net		7,636			8,063
Investments (Note 7)		14,238			8,112
Right of use assets – operating leases (Note 13)		631			16,327
Goodwill (Note 22)		85,856			85,856
Intangible assets (Note 22)		601,247			601,247
Other noncurrent assets		359			180

Total assets	$	1,018,350		$	896,692

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Fund management and administration payable	$	22,273		$	19,564
Compensation and benefits payable		24,411			22,803
Deferred consideration – gold payments (Note 9)		15,961			17,374
Operating lease liabilities (Note 13)		361			3,135
Income taxes payable		—			916
Accounts payable and other liabilities		12,737			10,207

Total current liabilities		75,743			73,999
Convertible notes (Note 11)		317,979			166,646
Deferred consideration – gold payments (Note 9)		208,992			212,763
Operating lease liabilities (Note 13)		327			17,434
Other noncurrent liabilities (Note 20)		21,872			27,016

Total liabilities		624,913			497,858
Preferred stock – Series A Non-Voting Convertible, par value $0.01; 14.750 shares authorized, issued and outstanding; redemption value of $88,456 and $72,667 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) (Note 12)		132,569			132,569

Contingencies (Note 14 )
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, par value $0.01; 2,000 shares authorized:		—			—
Common stock, par value $0.01; 250,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 145,150 and 148,716 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		1,451			1,487
Additional paid-in capital		287,399			317,075
Accumulated other comprehensive income		853			1,102
Accumulated deficit		(28,835	)		(53,399	)

Total stockholders’ equity		260,868			266,265

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,018,350		$	896,692

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

Table of Contents

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020			2021			2020
Operating Revenues:
Advisory fees	$	76,400		$	63,028		$	220,611		$	181,697
Other income		1,712			721			4,532			2,563

Total revenues		78,112			63,749			225,143			184,260

Operating Expenses:
Compensation and benefits		22,027			19,098			64,985			53,848
Fund management and administration		15,181			14,328			43,495			41,785
Marketing and advertising		2,925			2,996			9,525			7,413
Sales and business development		2,935			2,386			7,239			7,984
Contractual gold payments (Note 9)		4,250			4,539			12,834			12,362
Professional fees		1,583			950			5,517			3,580
Occupancy, communications and equipment		1,163			1,611			3,904			4,805
Depreciation and amortization		185			253			693			760
Third-party distribution fees		1,873			1,233			5,346			3,928
Acquisition and disposition-related costs		—			—			—			416
Other		1,787			1,611			5,110			5,204

Total operating expenses		53,909			49,005			158,648			142,085

Operating income		24,203			14,744			66,495			42,175
Other Income/(Expenses):
Interest expense		(3,729	)		(2,511	)		(8,592	)		(6,974	)
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments (Note 9)		1,737			(8,870	)		5,066			(34,436	)
Interest income		689			111			1,145			393
Impairments (Note 13 and 24)		(15,853	)		(3,080	)		(16,156	)		(22,752	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt (Note 10)		—			—			—			(2,387	)
Other losses and gains, net		(714	)		744			(6,558	)		56

Income/(loss) before income taxes		6,333			1,138			41,400			(23,925	)
Income tax expense/(benefit)		500			1,408			2,790			(1,767	)

Net income/(loss)	$	5,833		$	(270	)	$	38,610		$	(22,158	)

Earnings/(loss) per share—basic	$	0.04		$	(0.01	)	$	0.24		$	(0.16	)

Earnings/(loss) per share—diluted	$	0.04		$	(0.01	)	$	0.24		$	(0.16	)

Weighted-average common shares—basic		142,070			145,564			144,445			149,886

Weighted-average common shares—diluted		159,213			145,564			161,706			149,886

Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.03		$	0.03		$	0.09		$	0.09

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

(See Note 2 for revisions made to certain amounts previously reported)

Table of Contents

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Continued)

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
	Common Stock						Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Other			Accumulated Deficit			Total
	Shares Issued			Par Value			Additional Paid-In Capital			Comprehensive Income			Accumulated Deficit			Total

Balance—January 1, 2021		148,716		$	1,487		$	317,075		$	1,102		$	(53,399	)	$	266,265
Reclassification of equity component related to convertible notes, net deferred taxes of $1,022, upon the implementation of Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 (Note 11)		—			—			(3,682	)		—			616			(3,066	)

Balance—January 1, 2021 (as adjusted)		148,716		$	1,487		$	313,393		$	1,102		$	(52,783	)	$	263,199
Restricted stock issued and vesting of restricted stock units, net		1,412			13			(13	)		—			—			—
Shares repurchased		(5,121	)		(51	)		(34,455	)		—			—			(34,506	)
Exercise of stock options, net		143			2			813			—			—			815
Stock-based compensation		—			—			7,661			—			—			7,661
Other comprehensive loss		—			—			—			(249	)		—			(249	)
Dividends		—			—			—			—			(14,662	)		(14,662	)
Net income		—			—			—			—			38,610			38,610

Balance—September 30, 2021		145,150		$	1,451		$	287,399		$	853		$	(28,835	)	$	260,868


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Common Stock						Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Other			Accumulated Deficit			Total
	Shares Issued			Par Value			Additional Paid-In Capital			Comprehensive Income			Accumulated Deficit			Total

Balance—January 1, 2020		155,264		$	1,553		$	352,658		$	945		$	(17,744	)	$	337,412
Restricted stock issued and vesting of restricted stock units, net		1,601			16			(16	)		—			—			—
Shares repurchased		(8,190	)		(81	)		(30,898	)		—			—			(30,979	)
Exercise of stock options, net		107			—			240			—			—			240
Stock-based compensation		—			—			9,003			—			—			9,003
Allocation of equity component related to convertible notes, net of issuance costs of $157 and deferred taxes of $1,239		—			—			3,663			—			—			3,663
Other comprehensive loss		—			—			—			(305	)		—			(305	)
Dividends		—			—			(15,207	)		—			—			(15,207	)
Net loss		—			—			—			—			(22,158	)		(22,158	)

Balance—September 30, 2020		148,782		$	1,488		$	319,443		$	640		$	(39,902	)	$	281,669

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

Table of Contents

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income/(loss)	$	38,610		$	(22,158	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Advisory fees received in gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrencies		(57,617	)		(46,077	)
Impairments		16,156			22,752
Contractual gold payments		12,834			12,362
Stock-based compensation		7,661			9,003
(Gain/)/loss on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments		(5,066	)		34,436
Unrealized losses		2,183			1,212
Amortization of right of use asset		1,860			2,384
Amortization of issuance costs – convertible notes		1,542			882
Deferred income taxes		1,515			(961	)
Gain on sale – Canadian ETF business, including remeasurement of contingent consideration		(787	)		(2,877	)
Depreciation and amortization		693			760
Loss on extinguishment of debt		—			2,387
Amortization of issuance costs – former credit facility		—			1,328
Other		(369	)		(1,173	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Securities owned, at fair value		(84	)		94
Accounts receivable		(1,273	)		3,166
Prepaid expenses		(1,888	)		(1,325	)
Gold, other precious metals and cryptocurrencies		44,006			32,969
Other assets		(315	)		(341	)
Fund management and administration payable		2,868			735
Compensation and benefits payable		1,756			(12,349	)
Income taxes receivable/payable		(1,050	)		(3,399	)
Securities sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value		—			(582	)
Operating lease liabilities (including lease termination payment of $12,725)		(15,462	)		(2,778	)
Accounts payable and other liabilities		2,336			1,679

Net cash provided by operating activities		50,109			32,129

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of securities owned, a fair value		(97,570	)		(34,683	)
Purchase of investments		(5,750	)		—
Purchase of fixed assets		(237	)		(292	)
Proceeds from the sale of securities owned, at fair value		10,976			18,122
Proceeds from held-to-maturity securities maturing or called prior to maturity		114			16,441
Proceeds from the sale of the Company’s financial interests in AdvisorEngine Inc.		—			9,592
Proceeds from the sale of Canadian ETF business, net, including receipt of contingent consideration		—			2,774

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities		(92,467	)		11,954

Cash flows from financing activities:
Shares repurchased		(34,506	)		(30,979	)
Dividends paid		(14,662	)		(15,207	)
Convertible notes issuance costs		(4,297	)		(5,411	)
Repayment of debt		—			(179,000	)
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes		150,000			175,250
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		815			240

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities		97,350			(55,107	)

Decrease in cash flow due to changes in foreign exchange rate		(493	)		(387	)

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		54,499			(11,411	)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year		73,425			74,972

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	$	127,924		$	63,561

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for taxes	$	7,332		$	7,650

Cash paid for interest	$	3,719		$	3,390

NON-CASH

ACTIVITIES

On January

, 2021, the Company reclassified the equity component related to the convertible notes, net of deferred taxes, reducing accumulated deficit by $616, increasing the carrying value of the convertible notes by $4,088, reducing additional paid in capital by $3,682 and reducing deferred tax liabilities by $1,022, upon the implementation of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)

2020-06,

Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other

Options

(Note 11).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements (See Note 2 for reclassifications made to certain amounts previously reported)

Table of Contents

1. Organization and Description of Business

WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its global subsidiaries (collectively, “WisdomTree” or the “Company”), is an exchange traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers ETPs covering equity, commodity, fixed income, leveraged and inverse, currency, cryptocurrency and alternative strategies. The Company has the following wholly-owned operating subsidiaries:

•

WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc.

is a New York based investment adviser registered with the SEC, providing investment advisory and other management services to the WisdomTree Trust (“WTT”) and WisdomTree exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The WisdomTree ETFs are issued in the U.S. by WTT. WTT, a

non-consolidated

third party, is a Delaware statutory trust registered with the SEC as an

open-end

management investment company. The Company has licensed to WTT the use of certain of its own indexes on an exclusive basis for the WisdomTree ETFs in the U.S.

•

WisdomTree Management Jersey Limited

(“ManJer”) is a Jersey based management company providing management services to seven issuers (the “ManJer Issuers”) in respect of the ETPs issued and listed by the ManJer Issuers covering commodity, currency, cryptocurrency and leveraged and inverse strategies.

•

WisdomTree Multi Asset Management Limited

(“WTMAML”) is a Jersey based management company providing management services to WisdomTree Multi Asset Issuer PLC (“WMAI”) in respect of the ETPs issued by WMAI. WMAI, a

non-consolidated

third party, is a public limited company domiciled in Ireland.

•

WisdomTree Management Limited

(“WML”)

is an Ireland based management company providing management services to WisdomTree Issuer ICAV (“WTI”) in respect of the WisdomTree UCITS ETFs issued by WTI. WTI, a

non-consolidated

third party, is a public limited company domiciled in Ireland.

•

WisdomTree UK Limited

(“WTUK”)

is a United Kingdom based company registered with the Financial Conduct Authority currently providing distribution and support services to ManJer, WTMAML and WML.

•

WisdomTree Europe Limited

is a United Kingdom based company which is the legacy distributor of the WMAI ETPs and WisdomTree UCITS ETFs. These services are now provided directly by WTUK. WisdomTree Europe Limited is no longer regulated and does not provide any regulated services.

•

WisdomTree Ireland Limited

is an Ireland based company authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland providing distribution services to ManJer, WTMAML and WML.

•

WisdomTree Commodity Services, LLC

(“WTCS”) is a New York based company that served as the managing owner and commodity pool operator of the WisdomTree Continuous Commodity Index Fund (“GCC”) until December 2020 when GCC was reorganized into the WisdomTree Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund under WTT.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and in the opinion of management reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Immaterial Correction of an Error – Consolidated Statements of Operations

The presentation of amounts

collected on behalf of third parties of

$891 and $2,380

for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, has been revised due to an immaterial error correction. These amounts were originally recorded as advisory fee revenue and fund management and administration expense while no such amounts should have been recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The following table summarizes these revisions, which had no effect on previously reported net income:


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Operating Revenues:
Advisory fees (previously reported)	$	63,919		$	184,077
Amounts collected on behalf of third parties		(891	)		(2,380	)

Advisory fees (as corrected)	$	63,028		$	181,697


Total revenues (previously reported)	$	64,640		$	186,640
Amounts collected on behalf of third parties		(891	)		(2,380	)

Total revenues (as corrected)	$	63,749		$	184,260

Operating Expenses:
Fund management and administration (previously reported)	$	15,219		$	44,165
Amounts collected on behalf of third parties		(891	)		(2,380	)

Fund management and administration (as corrected)	$	14,328		$	41,785


Total operating expenses (previously reported)	$	49,896		$	144,465
Amounts collected on behalf of third parties		(891	)		(2,380	)

Total operating expenses (as corrected)	$	49,005		$	142,085

Reclassifications - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Cash flows from purchasing securities owned, at fair value of $34,683 and selling securities owned, at fair value of $18,122

during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 that were not acquired specifically for resale or associated with the Company’s business activities have been reclassified from operating activities to investing activities to conform to the current year’s presentation in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The following table summarizes these reclassifications for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities (previously reported)	$	15,568
Reclassification of net cash flows from securities purchases and sales		16,561

Net cash provided by operating activities (currently reported)	$	32,129

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities (previously reported)	$	28,515
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value		(34,683	)
Proceeds from the sale of securities owned, at fair value		18,122

Net cash provided by investing activities (currently reported)	$	11,954

Consolidation

The Company consolidates entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity (“VOE”) or a variable interest entity (“VIE”). The usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a VOE is ownership of a majority voting interest. If the Company has a majority voting interest in a VOE, the entity is consolidated. The Company has a controlling financial interest in a VIE when the Company has a variable interest that provides it with (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The Company reassesses its evaluation of whether an entity is a VOE or VIE when certain reconsideration events occur.

Segment and Geographic Information

The Company, through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe, conducts business as a single operating segment as an ETP sponsor and asset manager which is based upon the Company’s current organizational and management structure, as well as information used by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and other factors.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar are translated based on the end of period exchange rates from local currency to U.S. dollars. Results of operations are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the period. The impact of the foreign currency translation adjustment is included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) as a component of other comprehensive income/(loss).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company earns substantially all of its revenue in the form of advisory fees from its ETPs and recognizes this revenue over time, as the performance obligation is satisfied. Advisory fees are based on a percentage of the ETPs’ average daily net assets. Progress is measured using the practical expedient under the output method resulting in the recognition of revenue in the amount for which the Company has a right to invoice.

Contractual Gold Payments

Contractual gold payments are measured and paid monthly based upon the average daily spot price of gold (Note 9).

Marketing and Advertising

Marketing and advertising costs, including media advertising and production costs, are expensed when incurred.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation is provided for using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:


Equipment			5 years
Furniture and fixtures			15 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of their respective leases or service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter. Fixed assets are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Stock-Based Awards

Accounting for stock-based compensation requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all equity awards based on estimated fair values. Stock-based compensation is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and is amortized over the relevant service period. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.

Third-Party Distribution Fees

The Company pays a percentage of its advisory fee revenues based on incremental growth in assets under management (“AUM”), subject to caps or minimums, to marketing agents to sell WisdomTree ETFs and for including WisdomTree ETFs on third-party customer platforms and recognizes these expenses as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be classified as cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits with financial institutions in an amount that is in excess of federally insured limits.

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Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are customer and other obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company measures credit losses, if any, by applying historical loss rates, adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to amounts outstanding using the aging method.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company performs a review for the impairment of long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets are less than their carrying amounts or when other events occur which may indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Securities Owned and Securities Sold, but not yet Purchased (at fair value)

Securities owned and securities sold, but not yet purchased are securities classified as either trading or

available-for-sale

(“AFS”). These securities are recorded on their trade date and are measured at fair value. All equity securities are classified by the Company as trading. Debt securities are classified based primarily on the Company’s intent to hold or sell the security. Changes in the fair value of debt securities classified as trading and AFS are reported in other income and other comprehensive income, respectively, in the period the change occurs. Debt securities classified as AFS are assessed for impairment on a quarterly basis and an estimate for credit loss is provided when the fair value of the AFS debt security is below its amortized cost basis. Credit-related impairments are recognized in earnings with a corresponding adjustment to the security’s amortized cost basis if the Company intends to sell the impaired AFS debt security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovering its amortized cost basis. Other credit-related impairments are recognized as an allowance with a corresponding adjustment to earnings. Impairments resulting from noncredit-related factors are recognized in other comprehensive income. Amounts recorded in other comprehensive income are reclassified into earnings upon sale of the AFS debt security using the specific identification method.

Securities

Held-to-Maturity

The Company accounts for certain of its securities as

held-to-maturity

on a trade date basis, which are recorded at amortized cost. For

held-to-maturity

securities, the Company has the intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity and it is not

more-likely-than-not

that the Company will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity.

Held-to-maturity

securities are placed on

non-accrual

status when the Company is in receipt of information indicating collection of interest is doubtful. Cash received on

held-to-maturity

securities placed on

non-accrual

status is recognized on a cash basis as interest income if and when received.

The Company reviews its portfolio of

held-to-maturity

securities for impairment on a quarterly basis, recognizing an allowance, if any, by applying an estimated loss rate after consideration for the nature of collateral securing the financial asset as well as potential future changes in collateral values and historical loss information for financial assets secured with similar collateral.

Investments in pass-through government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) are determined to have an estimated loss rate of zero due to an implicit U.S. government guarantee.

Investments

The Company accounts for equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value under the measurement alternative prescribed in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)

2016-01,

Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

, to the extent such investments are not subject to consolidation or the equity method. Under the measurement alternative, these financial instruments are carried at cost, less any impairment (assessed quarterly), plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. In addition, income is recognized when dividends are received only to the extent they are distributed from net accumulated earnings of the investee. Otherwise, such distributions are considered returns of investment and are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the investment.

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable net assets at the acquisition date. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at least annually and at the time of a triggering event requiring

re-evaluation,

if one were to occur. Goodwill is considered impaired when the estimated fair value of the reporting unit that was allocated the goodwill is less than its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of such reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill impairment is recognized based on that difference, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a component of an operating segment provided that the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and management regularly reviews the operating results of that component.

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Goodwill is allocated to the Company’s U.S. Business and European Business components. For impairment testing purposes, these components are aggregated as a single reporting unit as they fall under the same operating segment and have similar economic characteristics.

Goodwill is assessed for impairment annually on November 30

. When performing its goodwill impairment test, the Company considers a qualitative assessment, when appropriate, and a quantitative assessment using the market approach and its market capitalization when determining the fair value of the reporting unit.

Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually and are also reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired if their estimated fair values are less than their carrying values.

Finite-lived intangible assets, if any, are amortized over their estimated useful life, which is the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the Company. These intangible assets are tested for impairment at the time of a triggering event, if one were to occur. Finite-lived intangible assets may be impaired when the estimated undiscounted future cash flows generated from the assets are less than their carrying amounts.

The Company may rely on a qualitative assessment when performing its intangible asset impairment test. Otherwise, the impairment evaluation is performed at the lowest level of reasonably identifiable cash flows independent of other assets. The annual impairment testing date for all of the Company’s intangible assets is November 30

Leases

The Company accounts for its lease obligations in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842,

Leases

(ASC 842), which requires the recognition of both (i) a lease liability equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments and (ii) an offsetting

right-of-use

asset. The remaining lease payments are discounted using the rate implicit in the lease, if known, or otherwise the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. After lease commencement,

right-of-use

assets are assessed for impairment and otherwise are amortized over the remaining lease term on a straight-line basis. These recognition requirements are not applied to short-term leases which are those with a lease term of 12 months or less. Instead, lease payments associated with short-term leases are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

ASC 842 also provides a practical expedient which allows for consideration in a contract to be accounted for as a single lease component rather than allocated between lease and

non-lease

components. The Company has elected to apply this practical expedient to all lease contracts, where applicable.

Deferred Consideration – Gold Payments

Deferred consideration represents the present value of an obligation to pay gold to a third party into perpetuity and is measured using forward-looking gold prices observed on the CMX exchange, a selected discount rate and perpetual growth rate (Note 9). Changes in the fair value of this obligation are reported as gain/(loss) on revaluation of deferred consideration – gold payments on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Convertible Notes

Convertible notes are carried at amortized cost, net of issuance costs. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company early adopted ASU

2020-06

Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options

under the modified retrospective approach. ASU

2020-06

provides for convertible instruments being reported as a single liability (applicable to the convertible notes) or equity with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features unless the conversion feature meets the criteria for accounting under the substantial premium model or does not qualify for a derivative scope exception. Previously, the convertible notes were required to be separated into their liability and equity components by allocating the issuance proceeds to each of those components. The liability component was allocated proceeds equal to the estimated fair value of similar debt instruments without the conversion option. The difference between the gross proceeds received from the issuance of the convertible notes and the proceeds allocated to the liability component represented the residual amount that was recorded in additional

paid-in

capital. Interest expense is recognized using the effective interest method and includes amortization of issuance costs over the life of the debt.

Contingencies

The Company may be subject to reviews, inspections and investigations by regulatory authorities as well as legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company evaluates the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome of all legal or regulatory proceedings to which it is a party and accrues a loss contingency when the loss is probable and reasonably estimable.

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Contingent Payments

The Company recognizes contingent payments when the contingency is resolved and the gain is realized.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Net income available to common stockholders represents net income of the Company reduced by an allocation of earnings to participating securities. The Series A

non-voting

convertible preferred stock (Note 12) and unvested share-based payment awards that contain

non-forfeitable

rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and are included in the computation of EPS pursuant to the

two-class

method. Share-based payment awards that do not contain such rights are not deemed participating securities and are included in diluted shares outstanding (if dilutive).

Diluted EPS is calculated under the treasury stock method and the

two-class

method. The calculation that results in the lowest diluted EPS amount for the common stock is reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The treasury stock method includes the dilutive effect of potential common shares including unvested stock-based awards, the Series A

non-voting

convertible preferred stock and the convertible notes, if any. Potential common shares associated with the Series A

non-voting

convertible preferred stock and the convertible notes are computed under the

if-converted

method. Potential common shares associated with the conversion option embedded in the convertible notes are dilutive when the Company’s average stock price exceeds the conversion price.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, which requires the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is

more-likely-than-not

that some portion or all the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Tax positions are evaluated utilizing a

two-step

process. The Company first determines whether any of its tax positions are

more-likely-than-not

to be sustained upon examination, based solely on the technical merits of the position. Once it is determined that a position meets this recognition threshold, the position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company records interest expense and penalties related to tax expenses as income tax expense.

The Global Intangible

Low-Taxed

Income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Reform Act requires the Company to include in its U.S. income tax return foreign subsidiary earnings in excess of an allowable return on the foreign subsidiary’s tangible assets. An accounting policy election is available to either account for the tax effects of GILTI in the period that is subject to such taxes or to provide deferred taxes for book and tax basis differences that upon reversal may be subject to such taxes. The Company accounts for the tax effects of these provisions in the period that is subject to such tax.

Non-income

based taxes are recorded as part of other liabilities and other expenses.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2021, the Company early adopted ASU

2020-06,

Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options

(ASU

2020-06)

under the modified retrospective approach. Under the ASU, the accounting for convertible instruments was simplified by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. Accordingly, more convertible instruments are reported as a single liability or equity with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. Certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception are removed and, as a result, more equity contracts will qualify for the scope exception. The ASU also simplifies the diluted

earnings-per-share

calculation in certain areas. Upon the adoption of this ASU, the Company reclassified the equity component related to the convertible notes, net of deferred taxes, reducing accumulated deficit by $616, increasing the carrying value of the convertible notes by $4,088, reducing additional

paid-in

capital by $3,682 and reducing deferred tax liabilities by $1,022. These updates also reduced interest expense recognized on the Company’s convertible notes by approximately $420 per quarter

(Note 11).

On January 1, 2021, the Company adopted ASU

2019-12,

Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes

(ASU

2019-12).

The main objective of the standard is to reduce complexity in the accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions: (1) exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income); (2) exception to the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment; (3) exception to the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary; and (4) exception to the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a

year-to-date

loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. The standard also simplifies the accounting for income taxes by enacting the following: (a) requiring that an entity recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on

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income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount as a

non-income-based

tax; (b) requiring that an entity evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered as a separate transaction; (c) specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements; and (d) requiring that an entity reflect the enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. The Company has determined that the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

3. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Of the total cash and cash equivalents of $127,924 and $73,425 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, $105,885 and $70,911 were held at two financial institutions. At September 30, 2021 and December 3

, 2020, cash equivalents were approximately $20,143 and $660, respectively.

Certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries are required to maintain a minimum level of regulatory capital, which was $12,384 and $10,745 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. These requirements are generally satisfied by cash on hand.

4. Fair Value Measurements

The fair value of financial instruments is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., “the exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820,

Fair Value Measurement

, establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the transparency of inputs as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 – Instruments whose significant drivers are unobservable.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from product to product and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of product, whether the product is new and not yet established in the marketplace, and other characteristics particular to the transaction. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by management in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The tables below summarize the categorization of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 there were no transfers between Levels 2 and 3.


	September 30, 2021
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Recurring fair value measurements:
Cash equivalents	$	20,143	$	20,143	$	—	$	—
Securities owned, at fair value
ETFs		21,454		21,454		—		—
Pass-through GSEs		95,785		24,969		70,816		—
Corporate bonds		2,151		—		2,151		—

Total	$	139,533	$	66,566	$	72,967	$	—

Non-recurring fair value measurements:
Securrency, Inc. – Series A convertible preferred stock (1)	$	8,488	$	—	$	—	$	8,488

Liabilities:
Recurring fair value measurements:
Deferred consideration (Note 9)	$	224,953	$	—	$	—	$	224,953

(1)	Fair value of $8,488 and $8,349 determined on June 9, 2021 and March 8, 2021, respectively (Note 7).

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	December 31, 2020
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Recurring fair value measurements:
Cash equivalents	$	660	$	660	$	—	$	—
Securities owned, at fair value
ETFs		24,165		24,165		—		—
Pass-through GSEs		8,613		—		8,613		—
Corporate bonds		2,117		—		2,117		—


	For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other			Accumulated Deficit			Total
	Shares Issued		Par Value		Additional Paid-In Capital		Comprehensive Income			Accumulated Deficit			Total

Balance—July 1, 2021		145,114	$	1,451	$	285,002	$	1,155		$	(29,871	)	$	257,737
Restricted stock issued and vesting of restricted stock units, net		36		—		—		—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—		—		2,397		—			—			2,397
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		(302	)		—			(302	)
Dividends		—		—		—		—			(4,797	)		(4,797	)
Net income		—		—		—		—			5,833			5,833

Balance—September 30, 2021		145,150	$	1,451	$	287,399	$	853		$	(28,835	)	$	260,868