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Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc (APAM 2.06%)
Q1Â 2019 Earnings Call
May. 01, 2019, 11:00 a.m. ET
Contents:
- Prepared Remarks
- Questions and Answers
- Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:
Operator
Hello, and thank you for standing by. My name is Gary and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the prepared remarks, management will conduct a question-and-answer session and conference participants will be given instructions at that time. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. At this time, I will turn the call over to Makela Taphorn, Director, Investor Relations at Artisan Partners.
Makela Taphorn -- Director, Management Reporting and Investor Relations
Thank you, and welcome to the Artisan Partners Asset Management Business Update and Earnings Call. Today's call will include remarks from Eric Colson, Chairman and CEO; and C.J. Daley, CFO. Our latest results and investor presentation are available on the Investor Relations section of our website. Following these remarks, we will open the line for questions.
Before we begin, I'd like to remind you that our comments made on today's call include responses to questions may deal with forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainty that are presented in the earnings release and detailed in our filings with the SEC. In addition, some of our remarks made today will include reference to non-GAAP financial measures, and you can find reconciliations of those measures to the most comparable GAAP measures in the earnings release.
I will now turn the call over to Eric Colson.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you, Makela, and thank you everyone for joining the call or reading the transcript. Last week, we published our 2018 annual report. The report focuses on our commitment to generating high value-added, sustainable outcomes for clients, employees and shareholders. I encourage you to read the report, which is available on our website. As a firm, we have always focused on sustainable outcomes. For our clients, we compound wealth over the long term to help them secure their futures and achieve their goals. For our investment talent, we take a deliberate approach to bringing in on new people and developing franchises, which increases the probability of success across generations and through market cycles. For our shareholders, we thoughtfully grow our business value while maintaining financial discipline and generating significant cash. Lastly, we operate with integrity and behave ethically. We remain true to who we are as a firm and we communicate our long-term approach to our stakeholders. That's our primary purpose on these calls. None of this is new for us. We have built and managed our relationships with clients, key investment talent, employees and shareholders with a long-term approach and mutual respect in order to establish and maintain trust. We have a real, substantive and successful record on sustainability, not just new policies or initiatives in reaction to a popular movement. We have always felt strongly about building and growing a sustainable firm. Now, we are providing greater transparency and speaking more specifically about these topics.
As a firm, our sustainability over time will ultimately rests on our ability to add value for clients. Slide 2 shows our long-term investment performance, net of fees. On average our nine investment strategies with track records of at least 10 years have outperformed their benchmarks by 237 basis points per year, net of fees, since inception. Our newer strategies have also added value for clients since inception and net of fees, the High Income, Developing World, Thematic and Global Discovery strategies have outperformed by 166 basis points, 442 basis points, 1,683 basis points, and 739 basis points per year. Everything about Artisan is designed to generate and compound wealth over the long term for clients. We are nine for nine in terms of launching and developing successful investment teams. Every investment firm believes in a similar set of values and core principles, which can make it difficult to distinguish among firms. What distinguishes us is, sustainable repeatable outcomes. One team after another, one strategy after another; we have had success across nine autonomous teams, generations of talent, multiple asset classes and various market cycles. The alpha we generate pays pensions, funds retirements, supports education, and in general, improves people's lives.
Assume an employee contributed $10,000 per year to our retirement account for 40 years, compounded at 6% annually, the savings would grow to $1.6 million at retirement. Adding 200 basis points of after-fee alpha and compounding the savings at 8% annually, results in $2.8 million at retirement, over $1 million more for their retiree. What we do can make a big difference in people's lives. That's a huge responsibility and a wonderful opportunity.
Slide 3 shows the topics covered in our 2018 sustainability report, which is part of our annual report. As I said earlier, we have always focused on sustainable outcomes for all of our stakeholders. We are now speaking more specifically about these items. Last year, we joined the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment and we are committed to implementing the six principles. As active fundamental researchers, our investment teams have always focused on understanding all of the material issues related to their investments, including ESG issues. Recently, we have seen increased interest in ESG topics, research and data from our investment teams. We're actively working to improve ESG-related data and resources and better communicate how our teams incorporate ESG into their fundamental bottom-up processes. In keeping with our pursuit of high value-added, differentiated outcomes and our autonomous investment team model, our approach to these matters is thoughtful and tailored, that takes time and often means that we will be different from the crowd.
Similar to how we seek to add value for clients, we want our compensation, benefits and culture to have a significant positive long-term impact on our employees' lives. We have always matched 100% of employee 401(k) contributions. We cover 100% of participating employee healthcare premiums. We pay for qualifying undergraduate, graduate and professional education for employees. And most importantly, we seek to provide compelling work with long-term opportunities, so that employees want to be here for their entire careers. Over the long term, we believe that our combination of compensation, benefits and culture has generated results for our employees that we can be proud of.
Slide 4 is an example of the Artisan high value-added differentiated approach. The slide summarizes the investment process of the Artisan sustainable emerging markets team. The team systematically considers the sustainability of a firm's earnings and its competitive advantage. The team also conducts a quantitative and qualitative assessment of ESG factors. The ESG assessment incorporates third-party data, as well as the team's qualitative assessment of environmental, social and governance factors. None of this is new for the team; it is though differentiated and high value added. Differentiated because, while the team cares passionately about emerging markets, people and communities, the team believes that an exclusionary ESG approach based on the values of the developed world would be inconsistent with progress and sustainability in emerging markets. High value-added because the team's sustainability assessment relies in large part on the judgement of an experienced team of emerging markets investors, most of whom were born and educated in emerging markets. While the team leverages third-party data, they don't outsource any decision making. They own it all, including occasional friction with asset allocators over the team's approach to sustainability. Lastly, the team itself is a terrific example of a sustainable franchise, stable, enduring, consistent, diverse and always aiming to improve.
On Side 5, I want to switch topics, to the ongoing disruption we see in investment management, driven primarily by changes in asset owner, behavior and new technology. The Casey Quirk visual is a good representation of the disruption. An increasingly diverse set of clients are demanding customized investment solutions and service, driving greater complexity and investment strategies, vehicles, client service and communication. At the same time, asset owners are becoming more powerful whether because of OCIO, a consolidation of investment consultants or the increased centralization of decision making at financial advisors and broker dealers. And of course, everyone seems to have less and less time to absorb the massive amounts of data, information and noise produced within the industry. These overarching trends manifest themselves in many ways, including demand for outcome-oriented strategies, fee pressure, changing economic models for distribution, increased digitalization and demand for more efficient investment vehicles. We will always be an investment firm first. We have always taken a deliberate approach to trends like these. We don't guess. We prioritize maintaining our high value-added investment offerings. We want to be early on the right investment talent, the right investment resources and the right investment returns. If we are, we will be in a good position to capitalize on changes in the distribution landscape.
We monitor distribution trends closely, waiting for trends that reach a tipping point. We don't want our distribution model to hinder our client relationships, which is dramatically different than being a distribution pioneer. When a clear trend surfaces, we'll be ready to take advantage to better serve our existing clients and reach additional clients.
Slide 6 is a concrete example of a couple of trends. First, the popularity of cleaner, more straightforward mutual funds share classes, and second, the resulting economic pressure that is placing on some intermediaries. The slide shows the evolution of our US mutual fund assets over the last five years. Over that time, we've gone from about two-thirds investor shares to about one-third investor shares, with the balance made up of our institutional and advisors share classes. We launched the advisor share class in 2014 in response to clients and intermediary demands, a good example of how we have aligned with an industry trend without trying to be all things to all people. As a consequence of this evolution, the total amount we pay to intermediaries for distribution has significantly declined. The evolution shown on this slide has been good for our clients and for us, but we recognize that it presents issues for certain intermediaries. Intermediaries who maintain an open architecture platforms provide valuable service to investors. They provide choice, without them more investors will end up in closed structures with less opportunity for asset managers to compete on quality of results, similar to many proprietary 401(k) target date options. We prefer transparency, choice and the ability to compete on investment results, net of fees. Intermediary platforms provide that opportunity. So it's important that they evolve to remain economically viable. Another place where we may be reaching a tipping point is active ETFs and smaller balance SMAs. The technologies are becoming increasingly viable and accessible. They can provide investors with better tax outcomes and greater customization. We believe that both technologies may allow us to better serve existing clients and expand our business. All of this disruption creates opportunity. Given the quality of our investment offering, we are well positioned to take advantage of these trends as they crystallize.
I will now turn it over to C.J. to discuss our recent business and financial results.
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Thanks, Eric. Our financial highlights are presented on Slide 7. As usual, I will focus my comments on adjusted results, which we utilize to evaluate our business results and operations. Following the sharp declines in global equity markets in the fourth quarter of 2018, our assets under management began the quarter at $96.2 billion. However, the strong rebound in markets during the first quarter of 2019, as well as alpha generated by our investment teams drove assets under management to $108 billion at March 31. Average AUM for the quarter was consistent with the previous quarter, while revenues decreased 2% primarily due to two fewer billing days in the quarter. Our effective average fee rate remained at 72 basis points, reflecting our active high value-add product mix. Operating margin in the March quarter was 30.9%, reflecting the impact on revenue of two less billing days in the quarter, higher seasonal expenses, which are typical in the first quarter, and a previously discussed occupancy charge for relocation of one of our investment teams. Adjusted earnings per adjusted share were $0.55 cents and our Board of Directors approved a quarterly variable cash dividend of $0.55 cents per share, which represents approximately 80% of the cash generated during the quarter.
Assets under management and net client cash flows are on a Slide 8. Average AUM for the quarter was $104.9 billion, consistent with the preceding December 2018 quarter. However, as a result of the strong rebound in global equity markets and alpha generation across our investment strategies, both of which were offset in part by net client cash outflows, our ending AUM was up 12% from last quarter and ended at $107.8 billion. Client cash outflows in the quarter of $1.1 billion reflected continued headwinds as well as structural changes in asset allocation and the defined contribution market.
Turning to revenues and expenses on Slide 9. Revenues of $187 million in the March quarter were down 2% compared to the December quarter due to the two fewer billing days and down 12% compared to the March quarter of last year, in line with declines in average assets under management. As noted, our average fee rate remained relatively stable for the quarter and year. Operating expenses were up 2% in the quarter primarily due to $4.3 million in higher seasonal expenses and a $2 million dollar occupancy charge associated with the office relocation. These higher expenses were partially offset by a decline in investment team onboarding costs related to the new Non-US Small-Mid Cap Growth investment team members.
Further detail on compensation and benefits expenses are represented on Slide 10. Compensation and benefits costs are largest operating expense and the majority of this expense varies directly with revenue. Compensation and benefits expenses rose slightly this quarter to 53.1% of revenues compared to 51.4% in the December 2018 quarter. Higher compensation for annual merit raises and incentive compensation drove the increase. Declining costs from the December quarter for onboarding the new Non-US Small-Mid Cap Growth investment team members was offset by higher first quarter seasonal expenses. Compared to the March quarter of 2019, compensation costs declined as a result of a decline in incentive compensation paid to our investment and marketing professionals as a result of lower revenues. Equity based compensation expense decreased $2.2 million as higher grant date value awards became fully amortized during 2018.
The operating margin and adjusted earnings per share are presented on Slide 11. Our operating margin was negatively impacted this quarter by two fewer billing days and higher seasonal expenses. As a result, our operating margin was 30.9% down from 33.5% last quarter. The decline from 37.7% in the prior-year quarter was primarily the result of lower average AUM. In addition, we have continued to make long-term investments to support sustainable growth in our investment franchises including annual equity grants through our investment talent, dedicated office space to support autonomous investment cultures and strategic distribution and technology enhancements. These investments along with investments we have made over the last several years have created significant additional capacity for growth over time and have strengthened the long-term economic alignment of our investment teams. Adjusted net income per adjusted share was $0.55 in the March 2019 quarter compared to $0.61 last quarter and $0.78 for the same quarter of last year, which brings me to our dividend discussion on Slide 12.
The quarterly dividend recently declared of $0.55 reflects approximately 80% of the cash generated during the March 2019 quarter. As in prior years, we will consider the payment of a special annual dividend after the end of the year. That process involves us assessing the current market environment and business conditions and any needs to retain cash for strategic investment or other corporate purposes. Our capital management philosophy has been and continues to be payment of a majority, if not all, the cash generated from operations in the form of cash dividends.
Our balance sheet summary is on Slide 13. Our cash position is healthy and leverage remains modest. In closing as a high value-added investment manager, we expect that long-term investment performance will be the primary driver of our long-term financial results. Over shorter time periods, our results are subject to the volatility of global equity markets and client cash flow trends. We remain focused on executing on our model to provide our talent the best opportunity to deliver results for our clients and shareholders over the long term. That concludes my comments and we look forward to your questions.
I will now turn the call back to the operator.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
We will now begin the question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) And the first question comes from Kenneth Lee with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.
Kenneth Lee -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Thanks for taking my question. I appreciate the overview of the key distribution trends. Just a follow up on the prepared remarks regarding active ETFs and these smaller separate account distribution trends. What potential changes would you expect to see over the near term given these trends? Thanks.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Hi, Kenneth, it's Eric. In the near-term (inaudible) next year, I don't see any changes for us. First on the active ETF, as you look at our array of strategies, primarily using high degrees of freedom, the current ETF -- active ETF structure will only incorporate US securities so it'd be difficult for us to leverage that new vehicle. Secondly, around the ETF given our focus on high value-added results and need to control capacity and we've always stated that we look at the total capacity, the velocity of assets and the mix of assets; we need to be more thoughtful and think about how to control capacity within that vehicle. So that structure I think is a little laid out for us. I do think the smaller separate account business and many of the, I guess, call it, Fintech (ph) or smaller companies developing platforms to help us leverage their operations to go out and service smaller accounts is moving along. But again I think that's also probably about a little over a year out as well.
Kenneth Lee -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Got it. Very helpful. And just one follow-up on the commentary regarding the outflows seen in the quarter. One thing in the prepared remarks you talked about the defined contribution as well as some asset allocation changes. I wonder if you can just provide a little bit more details on that, presumably that's been the impact the mid-cap strategies, but wondering if there is any other key strategies where you've seen an impact across those two items. Thanks.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
The DC channel has been the same. So there's no changes from past statements. I think you've seen and also continued movement in the active passive rebalancing. We saw a bit of that in the international space this past quarter, which impacted the international growth and international value strategies with regards to flow movement, but probably (ph) be the two trends for the quarter.
Kenneth Lee -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Okay. Very helpful. Thank you very much.
Operator
The next question comes from Alex Blostein with Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Alexander Blostein -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst
Hi. Good morning, everyone. Your -- your growth team and global equity teams both continue to have very strong performance. Obviously, long term has been good, but even the one year looks like it's improved on a (inaudible) performance net of fees. Is that starting to resonate you think with any of the channels to actually drive better flows on either side of those teams or the kind of secular shift to passive ultimately still kind of always that? And do you guys see any opportunities to open any of close strategy strategies there given against strong performance from a capacity perspective?
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Yes. Certainly, Alex, this Eric. The global equity and the growth teams have had very strong performance and with regards to the global equity team and primarily the international growth strategy, which is the bulk of the assets for the global equity team, has delivered good performance. We've seen quite a few clients just rebalancing around that strong performance. So Q1 saw some allocation of rebalancing some outflows that occurred because of strong performance being rebalanced toward value managers or other asset classes given the strength of the strategy.
So there normal, and in my mind, normal flows that occurred in global equity, the growth team again strong performance, we saw quite a bit of interest in the global opportunities US Small Cap Growth and Discoveries strategy on the Mid-Cap Growth. We've talked about in the past a little bit of rebalancing that actually occurred in global opportunities, now that's a little bit more mature. I think those were fairly normal rebalancing and then especially given the strong performance. With regards to open or closed, at this point, we probably have never been more open in the history of the firm when you look across all the strategies, especially since we've been public. This is probably the greatest capacity story we've.
Alexander Blostein -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst
Got it. I guess I'm just curious if there anything that you guys see on the horizon that could actually accelerate growth sales and any other strategy that's performing well.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
The sales cycle and being able to predict that has always been difficult in this industry. So we have no forward statement on flows to make.
Alexander Blostein -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst
Got it. That's right. Fair enough. C.J., just one for you. I don't think I caught your stand on near-term outlook on expenses so maybe just kind of run us through what you guys expect on the expense front for the rest of the year, especially maybe taking into account some of the discussion points you guys made early around distribution?
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Yes. I mean, I think the guidance remains similar to what I gave last quarter. Occupancy, we expect to run around $5 million a quarter. This quarter we had a $2 million charge for lease abandonment in New York. So we still think that $5 million is a good number. We'll have some double rents that will start to subside as we move into the middle of the year there. Technology cost, as we talked about our spend around distribution and investments that's continue to expect to run about $10 million a quarter although that will fluctuate a bit as you saw this quarter because it just ebbs and flows based on product and project starting and ramp-up time, so that's still good. And then we expect equity-based comp to be quite a bit lower as a result of those early grants rolling off that were at a higher value at the grant date. So, overall take that all into consideration, expense overall should be relatively flat to last year but that of course given our variable model really will depend a lot on what revenues and AUM levels throughout the year.
Alexander Blostein -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst
Great. Thanks for all the detail there.
Operator
The next question comes from Robert Lee with KBW. Please go ahead.
Robert Lee -- KBW -- Analyst
Hi. Thanks. Thanks for taking my questions at this morning. Maybe C.J., following up a little bit on kind of some of the distribution initiatives, I mean, can you maybe drill down into that a little bit and give us a sense of what is actually under way right now. I mean, understanding some of the tax spending may be related to that, but you actively currently kind of seeding and building SMA, CIP vehicles. And maybe the second question related to this is, oftentimes in retail lease, they're demanding larger lease initially, larger -- if it's a new product larger, asset bases, seed capital. Is this at all in packed how you're thinking about capital management going forward. Do you think you will see a need to put up more seed capital than you have historically?
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Yes. So, our technology spend is really around supporting our investment teams and distribution spend is supporting our distribution team. So on the investment side, we're putting more development into tools for the investment teams around their research process, market data spend is up as teams demand more data and better ways to utilize that data. And then on the distribution side, it's more of a move from a relationship-based model to a knowledge-based model where we're using data as well to help the teams capture and utilize data to be more efficient in their sales efforts. So there's no underlying R&D going on with vehicles that we're not disclosing. And from a capital management standpoint, we fund all of this from our strong cash earnings generation. So there isn't any capital management policy changes and all that spend you see in the line items on the P&L.
Robert Lee -- KBW -- Analyst
Maybe just as a follow up maybe. If I think of some of the things you've talking about SMAs or other investment vehicles and kind of working more closely with changing intermediary models. I mean, do you envision having to restaff or staff up more in the retail channels or maybe start more aggressively looking at newer channels within intermediary whether (inaudible) or investment advisors and so should we be thinking that over next several years that, that could be something where we see some investment.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Hi, Rob, it's Eric. I wouldn't forecast any investment in there with regard to, I guess, the ETF structure. I think people are kind of I guess estimating out there anywhere from 2 to 3 basis points of some type of cost that would go in there if you did move forward on the current proposed active ETF. I think more structures would come out and cost of that would probably come down a bit. That vehicle or structure would go through our same channels. We wait for that client demand to surface for the vehicle that best suits their needs. Our focus on is delivering the investment strategies and as our clients surface up different needs such that we saw in the past of the evolution of an advisory share, which we put in place a few years ago due to the demand by the client base and we would expect the same for the active ETF, as well as the SMA business. So it wouldn't be a spend into trying to forge a new channel, it's reacting to the dynamics of our current clients and an intermediary relationships.
Robert Lee -- KBW -- Analyst
Great. Thanks for taking my questions.
Operator
Your next question comes from Bill Katz with Citigroup. Please go ahead.
William Katz -- Citigroup -- Analyst
Okay. Thank you very much for taking the question this morning. First question comes back to the discussion on sustainable investing, I guess, ESG more broadly. Obviously, you spend a lot of time in your prepared remarks today and sort of look at you annual shareholder letter, it was very helpful, thank you for that. Are you envisioning any sort of shift in product opportunity to leverage or harness what you have been doing for a bit of time now? It seems like there's a fairly high level of growth in ESG products in the system. I'm sort of worrying how you think about maybe leveraging it on the sort of sales side.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Hi, Bill, it's Eric. I -- when we thought about the ESG, there's a firm perspective of our shareholders asking how we're positioned. There's our investment teams seeking information and data to go into their research and how they evolve and then there's the question you're posing on a client perspective of the strategy output and how a portfolio is designed to fit into ESG demands. We primarily are focusing on the firm side of the equation. Secondly, making sure our teams have that data and research to go into their investment process to understand the risks of all securities that are they're invested in. And as clients request restrictions, as we've done in the past with any type of ESG or social restriction, we will react to that and create a portfolio.
We have not designed a specific ESG portfolio and market that to sell into the industry. I agree with you that there has been a large proliferation of ESG products. My view is that it's just going to be incorporated into the investment philosophy and process of all strategies that people are going to seek to have that incorporated. So the differentiation between just a typical active product and a specific ESG portfolio will converge.
William Katz -- Citigroup -- Analyst
Okay. Fair enough. I just want to come back to your comments where you used the slide from one of the consultants out there. It sounds like -- maybe I misheard and I apologize if I did, that you're still not really changing any kind of distribution philosophy yet, is just sort of waiting for something more profound to potentially emerge. But I guess what might change in the near term that you're looking or watching for that might sort of ignite a more proactive growth path -- organic growth path?
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
The trend we're highlighting specifically is the movement to cleaner shares and as the revenue share goes down to zero, which you'll see in the institutional or clean share and as assets migrate into lower revenue share structures that that's going to put pressure on the intermediary open architecture business and we will see more and more discussions with those platforms and how we work with those platforms will change, which we're clearly at a tipping point, which we think is a very good tipping point. We welcome a much more transparent open structure to compete on net of fees as opposed to a closed structure, which we clearly saw occur in the defined contribution business with a target date funds moving primarily the growth into closed structures. So we're going to be working more with our intermediary partners, and as that evolves, and you move to a clean structures, it does open the door quite a bit for the active ETF, which carries a zero revenue share as well. We believe the infrastructure and operations are very close on the intermediary side to move toward this clean structure, as well as the active ETF. And so we're spending quite a bit of attention and our time on the distribution space at this point.
William Katz -- Citigroup -- Analyst
Okay. That's helpful. And then just last one, bigger picture question for you (inaudible). You have among best in class performance, you're one of the few that that's actually seen a nice improvement in performance over the last year or so versus many of your publicly traded peers. Yet as the conversation was showing today, you're really not seeing it translate into sort of gross or net sales at this point time. As good as your performance is and appreciating sort of some of the distribution change that are out there. Those are assuming to be part of a larger platform to potentially leverage more of a global distribution network to really take advantage of the growth at this point or is the independent path the most likely conclusion?
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
The -- from a distribution angle, we 100% believe in the global mindset going from virtually zero non-US client base seven years ago to today over 20% of our assets. We also believe that you have to go broader and deeper into the wealth channel. Both put quite a bit of demand on independent firms to broaden out. The continuation of open architecture and the continued efforts in digitalization create a wonderful opportunity for a firm like Artisan that can leverage those models, compete in open structures and leverage a digital marketing and sales strategy to go deeper into the wealth channel, creates a wonderful opportunity for us and we think those are both at tipping points at this point in the cycle that we're excited about and that's why we're highlighting the changes this quarter. It's a signal that where we believe the market's going, where we're spending time and where we're putting resources behind with the mindset that these trends play out over time.
William Katz -- Citigroup -- Analyst
Okay. Thank you very much for taking the questions.
Operator
The next question comes from Dan Fannon with Jefferies and Company. Please go ahead.
Dan Fannon -- Jefferies -- Analyst
Thanks. Just kind of following up on that last point around global distribution, you highlighted the 20% of AUM coming from outside, but that number has been stagnant for the last several quarters and just thinking about some of the changes that are happening here in the US that you highlighted or watching or looking at I guess outside the US, what are you guys doing to kind of improve your positioning there or continue the growth that you have seen in any -- doesn't seem there is as much structural changes or opportunities as there is here in the US, but maybe give us a little bit of insight there too.
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Those certainly had. Dan, this is Eric, again. We primarily have built that non-US leverage in our institutional brand, our institutional distribution and we've been building a presence in the intermediary space outside the US. That takes a bit of time. First, you have to build up your vehicles in the (inaudible) structure, get that to a size and scale that you can operate on these platforms. These non US intermediary platforms have been reinvesting to broaden out into open architecture, and again, that that just takes some time. But we believe that we're on track to broaden out the distribution outside the US from where we've been, which is right around that 20% number from the last year or two. So we think there's quite a bit of interesting opportunity both inside the US and outside the US given the changes going on.
Dan Fannon -- Jefferies -- Analyst
Okay. And then just switching topics, performance fees, I know, a small contributor but with your performance improving, can you give us a sense of -- remind us which funds carry those attributes and is there a way to maybe frame kind of what a year where performance is good that number -- those numbers could look like?
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Yes. Dan, we have opportunities for performances primarily in the June and the December quarter and there's only a handful of performance fee accounts across three or four strategies, primarily in our global strategies and obviously our hedge funds, so our private structures. They've been very immaterial. I think the largest quarter for recollection has been just a couple million dollars of performance fees. So we would expect that to continue to be a very small portion and not material to our overall results.
Dan Fannon -- Jefferies -- Analyst
Okay. Thank you.
Operator
This concludes our question-and-answer session. And the conference is also now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.
Duration: 46 minutes
Call participants:
Makela Taphorn -- Director, Management Reporting and Investor Relations
Eric R. Colson -- President and Chief Executive Officer
C.J. Daley -- Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Kenneth Lee -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Alexander Blostein -- Goldman Sachs -- Analyst
Robert Lee -- KBW -- Analyst
William Katz -- Citigroup -- Analyst
Dan Fannon -- Jefferies -- Analyst
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