SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 3, 2003

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware

1-9305

43-1273600

(State of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

One Financial Plaza
501 North Broadway
St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 


(314) 342-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code

 


Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit 99: Press Release

 

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

On November 3, 2003, Stifel Financial Corp. (the "Registrant") announced the settlement of claims that had initially resulted in a $4.4 million arbitration award in October 2002, against its subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. The claims arose in connection with the activities of a former Stifel broker in its Pikeville, Kentucky office. The arbitration award was vacated in part and affirmed in part by a U. S. District Court judgment entered in August of this year. The District Court's judgment was on appeal to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The settlement resolves the arbitration award, the District Court's judgment, and the appeal of that judgment.

In the third quarter of 2002, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $3.5 million related to the arbitration award and other matters. The Company anticipates that the settlement will result in an addition of approximately $0.15 per diluted share to the 2003 third quarter earnings.

The press release is attached as Exhibit 99. Certain statements contained in the press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ materially from those currently expected.

 


SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

Date: November 4, 2003

By: /s/ James M. Zemlyak

Name: James M. Zemlyak

Title: Chief Financial Officer