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KORN FERRY - Quarter Report: 2019 October (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2019

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 001-14505

 

KORN FERRY

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-2623879

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600, Los Angeles, California 90067

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(310) 552-1834

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

KFY

New York Stock Exchange

 

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    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 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.

 

Large accelerated filer 

 

 

Accelerated filer        

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  

 

 

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  

 

The number of shares outstanding of our common stock as of December 2, 2019 was 55,230,531 shares.

 

 


KORN FERRY

Table of Contents

Item #

 

Description

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part I. Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2019 (unaudited) and April 30, 2019

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) for the three and six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) for the three and six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) for three and six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II. Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

October 31,

2019

 

 

April 30,

2019

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

464,423

 

 

$

626,360

 

Marketable securities

 

 

6,508

 

 

 

8,288

 

Receivables due from clients, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $23,165 and $21,582 at October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively

 

 

458,263

 

 

 

404,857

 

Income taxes and other receivables

 

 

40,506

 

 

 

26,767

 

Unearned compensation

 

 

48,195

 

 

 

42,003

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

31,603

 

 

 

28,535

 

Total current assets

 

 

1,049,498

 

 

 

1,136,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable securities, non-current

 

 

138,055

 

 

 

132,463

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

140,685

 

 

 

131,505

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

 

 

214,421

 

 

 

 

Cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance policies, net of loans

 

 

128,626

 

 

 

126,000

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

36,779

 

 

 

43,220

 

Goodwill

 

 

578,307

 

 

 

578,298

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

76,288

 

 

 

82,948

 

Unearned compensation, non-current

 

 

101,308

 

 

 

80,924

 

Investments and other assets

 

 

22,314

 

 

 

22,684

 

Total assets

 

$

2,486,281

 

 

$

2,334,852

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

30,599

 

 

$

39,156

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

15,018

 

 

 

21,145

 

Compensation and benefits payable

 

 

198,284

 

 

 

328,610

 

Operating lease liability, current

 

 

48,493

 

 

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

158,071

 

 

 

162,047

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

450,465

 

 

 

550,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation and other retirement plans

 

 

274,241

 

 

 

257,635

 

Operating lease liability, non-current

 

 

200,266

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

273,310

 

 

 

222,878

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

1,064

 

 

 

1,103

 

Other liabilities

 

 

28,444

 

 

 

58,891

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,227,790

 

 

 

1,091,465

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock: $0.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 73,120 and 72,442 shares issued and 55,315 and 56,431 shares outstanding at October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively

 

 

601,686

 

 

 

656,463

 

Retained earnings

 

 

734,891

 

 

 

660,845

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

 

 

(80,646

)

 

 

(76,652

)

Total Korn Ferry stockholders' equity

 

 

1,255,931

 

 

 

1,240,656

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

2,560

 

 

 

2,731

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

1,258,491

 

 

 

1,243,387

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

2,486,281

 

 

$

2,334,852

 

 

 

 

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

1


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

492,389

 

 

$

495,205

 

 

$

976,938

 

 

$

960,773

 

Reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expenses

 

 

11,788

 

 

 

11,588

 

 

 

23,437

 

 

 

24,382

 

          Total revenue

 

 

504,177

 

 

 

506,793

 

 

 

1,000,375

 

 

 

985,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

 

 

337,382

 

 

 

335,835

 

 

 

665,878

 

 

 

657,740

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

62,009

 

 

 

57,738

 

 

 

127,816

 

 

 

226,462

 

Reimbursed expenses

 

 

11,788

 

 

 

11,588

 

 

 

23,437

 

 

 

24,382

 

Cost of services

 

 

18,414

 

 

 

19,627

 

 

 

35,549

 

 

 

37,954

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

12,715

 

 

 

11,018

 

 

 

25,492

 

 

 

22,749

 

          Total operating expenses

 

 

442,308

 

 

 

435,806

 

 

 

878,172

 

 

 

969,287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

61,869

 

 

 

70,987

 

 

 

122,203

 

 

 

15,868

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

1,133

 

 

 

(4,500

)

 

 

2,959

 

 

 

20

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(4,210

)

 

 

(4,337

)

 

 

(8,267

)

 

 

(8,440

)

        Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

 

58,792

 

 

 

62,150

 

 

 

116,895

 

 

 

7,448

 

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

 

15,760

 

 

 

14,833

 

 

 

30,213

 

 

 

(1,277

)

Net income

 

 

43,032

 

 

 

47,317

 

 

 

86,682

 

 

 

8,725

 

          Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(228

)

 

 

(1,283

)

 

 

(927

)

 

 

(1,302

)

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

$

42,804

 

 

$

46,034

 

 

$

85,755

 

 

$

7,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to Korn Ferry:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Basic

 

$

0.78

 

 

$

0.82

 

 

$

1.54

 

 

$

0.13

 

     Diluted

 

$

0.77

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

1.54

 

 

$

0.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Basic

 

 

54,568

 

 

 

55,461

 

 

 

54,917

 

 

 

55,420

 

     Diluted

 

 

54,716

 

 

 

56,239

 

 

 

55,170

 

 

 

56,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared per share:

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.10

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

2


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net income

 

$

43,032

 

 

$

47,317

 

 

$

86,682

 

 

$

8,725

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

1,213

 

 

 

(12,778

)

 

 

(4,085

)

 

 

(27,334

)

Deferred compensation and pension plan adjustments, net of tax

 

 

495

 

 

 

273

 

 

 

990

 

 

 

546

 

Net unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swap, net of tax

 

 

(356

)

 

 

145

 

 

 

(951

)

 

 

278

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

44,384

 

 

 

34,957

 

 

 

82,636

 

 

 

(17,785

)

Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(112

)

 

 

(1,016

)

 

 

(875

)

 

 

(1,041

)

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Korn Ferry

 

$

44,272

 

 

$

33,941

 

 

$

81,761

 

 

$

(18,826

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

3


 

KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Retained

 

 

(Loss) Income,

 

 

Stockholders'

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

Stockholder's

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Net

 

 

Equity

 

 

Interest

 

 

Equity

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of April 30, 2019

 

56,431

 

 

$

656,463

 

 

$

660,845

 

 

$

(76,652

)

 

$

1,240,656

 

 

$

2,731

 

 

$

1,243,387

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,951

 

 

 

699

 

 

 

43,650

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,462

)

 

 

(5,462

)

 

 

64

 

 

 

(5,398

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,081

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,081

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,081

)

Purchase of stock

 

(546

)

 

 

(21,329

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,329

)

 

 

 

 

 

(21,329

)

Issuance of stock

 

711

 

 

 

5,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,074

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

5,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,091

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,091

 

Balance as of July 31, 2019

 

56,596

 

 

 

645,299

 

 

 

697,715

 

 

 

(82,114

)

 

 

1,260,900

 

 

 

3,494

 

 

 

1,264,394

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,804

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,804

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

43,032

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,468

 

 

 

1,468

 

 

 

(116

)

 

 

1,352

 

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,628

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,628

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,628

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,046

)

 

 

(1,046

)

Purchase of stock

 

(1,313

)

 

 

(49,325

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(49,325

)

 

 

 

 

 

(49,325

)

Issuance of stock

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

5,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,712

 

Balance as of October 31, 2019

 

55,315

 

 

$

601,686

 

 

$

734,891

 

 

$

(80,646

)

 

$

1,255,931

 

 

$

2,560

 

 

$

1,258,491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Retained

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Stockholders'

 

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

Stockholder's

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Loss, Net

 

 

Equity

 

 

Interest

 

 

Equity

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of April 30, 2018

 

56,517

 

 

$

683,942

 

 

$

572,800

 

 

$

(40,135

)

 

$

1,216,607

 

 

$

3,008

 

 

$

1,219,615

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(38,611

)

 

 

 

 

 

(38,611

)

 

 

19

 

 

 

(38,592

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14,156

)

 

 

(14,156

)

 

 

6

 

 

 

(14,150

)

Effect of adopting new accounting standards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,853

 

 

 

(2,197

)

 

 

6,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,656

 

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,027

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,027

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,027

)

Purchase of stock

 

(200

)

 

 

(13,054

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,054

)

 

 

 

 

 

(13,054

)

Issuance of stock

 

621

 

 

 

4,803

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,803

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,803

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

5,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,369

 

Balance as of July 31, 2018

 

56,938

 

 

 

681,060

 

 

 

537,015

 

 

 

(56,488

)

 

 

1,161,587

 

 

 

3,033

 

 

 

1,164,620

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,034

 

 

 

1,283

 

 

 

47,317

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,093

)

 

 

(12,093

)

 

 

(267

)

 

 

(12,360

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,716

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,716

)

 

 

 

 

 

(5,716

)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(690

)

 

 

(690

)

Purchase of stock

 

(459

)

 

 

(22,875

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,875

)

 

 

 

 

 

(22,875

)

Issuance of stock

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

6,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,301

 

Balance as of October 31, 2018

 

56,511

 

 

$

664,486

 

 

$

577,333

 

 

$

(68,581

)

 

$

1,173,238

 

 

$

3,359

 

 

$

1,176,597

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

4


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

86,682

 

 

$

8,725

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

25,492

 

 

 

22,749

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

11,520

 

 

 

12,369

 

Tradename write-offs

 

 

 

 

 

106,555

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 

7,150

 

 

 

7,471

 

Gain on cash surrender value of life insurance policies

 

 

(4,209

)

 

 

(3,003

)

(Gain) loss on marketable securities

 

 

(3,121

)

 

 

836

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

6,402

 

 

 

(19,838

)

Change in other assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation

 

 

14,817

 

 

 

(1,646

)

Receivables due from clients

 

 

(60,556

)

 

 

(52,536

)

Income taxes and other receivables

 

 

(13,468

)

 

 

345

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

(8,140

)

 

 

(5,326

)

Unearned compensation

 

 

(26,576

)

 

 

(21,103

)

Income taxes payable

 

 

(6,139

)

 

 

(5,898

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

(133,444

)

 

 

(76,544

)

Other

 

 

(508

)

 

 

(5,345

)

         Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(104,098

)

 

 

(32,189

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

(23,817

)

 

 

(24,565

)

Purchase of marketable securities

 

 

(3,826

)

 

 

(8,539

)

Proceeds from sales/maturities of marketable securities

 

 

3,016

 

 

 

8,923

 

Premium on company-owned life insurance policies

 

 

(355

)

 

 

(33,752

)

Proceeds from life insurance policies

 

 

1,999

 

 

 

4,517

 

Dividends received from unconsolidated subsidiaries

 

 

166

 

 

 

 

          Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(22,817

)

 

 

(53,416

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from long term debt

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

 

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

(61,929

)

 

 

(22,745

)

Payments of tax withholdings on restricted stock

 

 

(8,725

)

 

 

(13,184

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee

   stock options and in connection with an employee stock purchase plan

 

 

4,313

 

 

 

4,105

 

Payments on life insurance policy loans

 

 

(943

)

 

 

(2,567

)

Principal payments on finance leases

 

 

(927

)

 

 

 

Dividends paid to shareholders

 

 

(11,709

)

 

 

(11,743

)

Dividends - noncontrolling interest

 

 

(1,046

)

 

 

(690

)

Borrowings under life insurance policies

 

 

 

 

 

31,870

 

Principal payments on term loan

 

 

 

 

 

(12,031

)

Payment of contingent consideration from acquisitions

 

 

(455

)

 

 

(455

)

          Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(31,421

)

 

 

(27,440

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(3,601

)

 

 

(20,124

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(161,937

)

 

 

(133,169

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

626,360

 

 

 

520,848

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

 

$

464,423

 

 

$

387,679

 

 

 

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

 

 

5


 

KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019

 

 

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Korn Ferry, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its subsidiaries currently operate through three global segments: Korn Ferry Advisory (“Advisory”), Executive Search and Korn Ferry RPO and Professional Search (“RPO & Professional Search”). Advisory assists clients to synchronize strategy and talent by addressing four fundamental needs: Organizational Strategy, Assessment and Succession, Leadership Development, and Rewards and Benefits, all underpinned by a comprehensive array of some of the world’s leading intellectual property (“IP”), products and tools. Executive Search focuses on recruiting board level, chief executive and other senior executive and general management positions, in addition to research-based interviewing and assessment solutions, for clients predominantly in the consumer goods, financial services, industrial, life sciences/healthcare and technology industries. RPO & Professional Search uses data-backed insight and IP, matched with strategic collaboration and innovative technology, to meet people challenges head-on—and succeed. Solutions span all aspects of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (“RPO”), Professional Search and Project Recruitment.

Basis of Consolidation and Presentation

The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2019 for the Company and its wholly and majority owned/controlled domestic and international subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements conform with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and prevailing practice within the industry. The consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results for these periods. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year.

Investments in affiliated companies, which are 50% or less owned and where the Company exercises significant influence over operations, are accounted for using the equity method.

The Company has control of a Mexico subsidiary and consolidates the operations of this subsidiary. Noncontrolling interest, which represents the Mexico partners’ 51% interest in the Mexico subsidiary, is reflected on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the consolidated financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosures.

Use of Estimates and Uncertainties

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in estimates are reported in current operations as new information is learned or upon the amounts becoming fixed or determinable. The most significant areas that require management’s judgment are revenue recognition, deferred compensation, annual performance-related bonuses, evaluation of the carrying value of receivables, goodwill and other intangible assets, share-based payments, leases, and the recoverability of deferred income taxes.

Revenue Recognition

Substantially all fee revenue is derived from talent and organizational advisory services and the digital sales, fees for professional services related to executive and professional recruitment performed on a retained basis and RPO, either stand-alone or as part of a solution.

Revenue is recognized when control of the goods and services are transferred to the customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods and services. Revenue contracts with customers are evaluated based on the five-step model outlined in Accounting Standard Codification 606 (“ASC 606”): 1) identify the contract with a customer; 2) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; 3) determine the transaction price; 4) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligation(s); and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied.

6


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Consulting fee revenue, primarily generated from Advisory, is recognized as services are rendered, measured by total hours incurred to the total estimated hours at completion. It is possible that updated estimates for consulting engagements may vary from initial estimates with such updates being recognized in the period of determination. Depending on the timing of billings and services rendered, the Company accrues or defers revenue as appropriate.

Digital revenue is generated from a range of online tools designed to support human resource processes for pay, talent and engagement, and assessments, as well as licenses to proprietary IP and tangible/digital products. IP subscriptions grant access to proprietary compensation and job evaluation databases. IP subscriptions are considered symbolic IP due to the dynamic nature of the content and, as a result, revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. Functional IP licenses grant customers the right to use IP content via delivery of a flat file. Because the IP content license has significant stand-alone functionality, revenue is recognized upon delivery and when an enforceable right to payment exists. Online assessments are delivered in the form of online questionnaires. A bundle of assessments represents one performance obligation, and revenue is recognized as assessment services are delivered and the Company has a legally enforceable right to payment. Tangible/digital products sold by the Company mainly consist of books and digital files covering a variety of topics including performance management, team effectiveness, and coaching and development. The Company recognizes digital revenue when sold or shipped, as is the case for books.

Fee revenue from executive and professional search activities is generally one-third of the estimated first-year cash compensation of the placed candidate, plus a percentage of the fee to cover indirect engagement-related expenses. In addition to the search retainer, an uptick fee is billed when the actual compensation awarded by the client for a placement is higher than the estimated compensation. In the aggregate, upticks have been a relatively consistent percentage of the original estimated fee; therefore, the Company estimates upticks using the expected value method based on historical data on a portfolio basis. In a standard search engagement, there is one performance obligation, which is the promise to undertake a search. The Company generally recognizes such revenue over the course of a search and when it is legally entitled to payment as outlined in the billing terms of the contract. Any revenues associated with services that are provided on a contingent basis are recognized once the contingency is resolved, as this is when control is transferred to the customer. These assumptions determine the timing of revenue recognition for the reported period.

RPO fee revenue is generated through two distinct phases: 1) the implementation phase and 2) the post-implementation recruitment phase. The fees associated with the implementation phase are recognized over the period that the related implementation services are provided. The post-implementation recruitment phase represents end-to-end recruiting services to clients for which there are both fixed and variable fees, which are recognized over the period that the related recruiting services are performed.

Reimbursements

The Company incurs certain out-of-pocket expenses that are reimbursed by its clients, which are accounted for as revenue in the consolidated statements of income.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

An allowance is established for doubtful accounts by taking a charge to general and administrative expenses. The amount of the allowance is based on historical loss experience and assessment of the collectability of specific accounts, as well as expectations of future collections based upon trends and the type of work for which services are rendered. After the Company exhausts all collection efforts, the amount of the allowance is reduced for balances identified as uncollectible.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, the Company’s investments in cash equivalents consisted of money market funds for which market prices are readily available.

Marketable Securities

The Company currently has investments in mutual funds (for which market prices are readily available) that are held in trust to satisfy obligations under the Company’s deferred compensation plans. Such investments are based upon the employees’ investment elections in their deemed accounts in the Executive Capital Accumulation Plan and similar plans in Asia Pacific and Canada (“ECAP”) from a pre-determined set of securities, and the Company invests in marketable securities to mirror these elections. These investments are recorded at fair value with the change in value in the period being reflected in the consolidated statements of income and are classified as marketable securities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The investments that the Company may sell within the next twelve months are carried as current assets. Realized gains (losses) on marketable securities are determined by specific identification. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis; dividends are recorded as earned on the ex-dividend date. Interest, dividend income and the changes in fair value in marketable securities are recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in other income (loss), net.

7


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price the Company would receive to sell an asset or transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants. For those assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value, the Company determines the fair value based upon the quoted market price, if available. If a quoted market price is not available for identical assets, the fair value is based upon the quoted market price of similar assets. The fair values are assigned a level within the fair value hierarchy as defined below:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities, foreign currency forward contracts and an interest rate swap. The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair values of marketable securities are obtained from quoted market prices, and the fair values of foreign currency forward contracts and the interest rate swap are obtained from a third party, which are based on quoted prices or market prices for similar assets and financial instruments.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company has entered into an interest rate swap agreement to effectively convert its variable debt to a fixed-rate basis. The principal objective of these contracts is to eliminate or reduce the variability of the cash flows in interest payments associated with the Company’s long-term debt, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest payment cash flows. The Company has determined that the interest rate swap qualifies as a cash flow hedge in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). Changes in the fair value of an interest rate swap agreement designated as a cash flow hedge are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income within stockholders’ equity and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Not Designated as Hedges

The Company has established a program that primarily utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to offset the risks associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures primarily originating from intercompany balances due to cross border work performed in the ordinary course of business. These foreign currency forward contracts are neither used for trading purposes nor are they designated as hedging instruments pursuant to ASC 815. Accordingly, the fair value of these contracts is recorded as of the end of the reporting period in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, while the change in fair value is recorded to the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Business Acquisitions

Business acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method. The acquisition method requires the reporting entity to identify the acquirer, determine the acquisition date, recognize and measure the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity, and recognize and measure goodwill or a gain from the purchase. The acquiree’s results are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their fair values and the excess of the purchase price over the amounts assigned is recorded as goodwill, or if the fair value of the assets acquired exceeds the purchase price consideration, a bargain purchase gain is recorded. Adjustments to fair value assessments are generally recorded to goodwill over the measurement period (not longer than twelve months). The acquisition method also requires that acquisition-related transaction and post-acquisition restructuring costs be charged to expense as committed and requires the Company to recognize and measure certain assets and liabilities including those arising from contingencies and contingent consideration in a business combination.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of use (“ROU”) assets and current and non-current operating lease liability, in the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, net, other accrued liabilities and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

8


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and the lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the periods in which they are incurred.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. For all leases with non-lease components the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired. The goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill of the reporting unit would be considered impaired. To measure the amount of the impairment loss, the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill is compared to the carrying amount of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. For each of these tests, the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units is determined using a combination of valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow methodology. To corroborate the discounted cash flow analysis performed at each reporting unit, a market approach is utilized using observable market data such as comparable companies in similar lines of business that are publicly traded or which are part of a public or private transaction (to the extent available). Results of the annual impairment test performed as of January 31, 2019, indicated that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and no reporting units were at risk of failing the impairment test. As a result, no impairment charge was recognized. There was also no indication of potential impairment as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019 that required further testing.

Intangible assets primarily consist of customer lists, non-compete agreements, proprietary databases and IP. Intangible assets are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition and are amortized in a pattern in which the asset is consumed, if that pattern can be reliably determined, or using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from one to 24 years. For intangible assets subject to amortization, an impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the intangible assets is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. The carrying amount of the intangible assets is considered not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from use of the asset. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicated that the fair value of the asset may be less than its carrying amount. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, there were no indicators of impairment with respect to the Company’s intangible assets.

On June 12, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors voted to approve a plan to go to market under a single, master brand architecture and to simplify the Company’s organizational structure by eliminating and/or consolidating certain legal entities and implementing a rebranding of the Company to offer the Company’s current products and services using the “Korn Ferry” name, branding and trademarks. As a result, the Company discontinued the use of all sub-brands. Two of the Company’s former sub-brands, Hay Group and Lominger, came to Korn Ferry through acquisitions. In connection with the accounting for these acquisitions, $106.6 million of the purchase price was allocated to indefinite-lived tradename intangible assets. As a result of the decision to discontinue their use, the Company took a non-cash intangible asset write-off of $106.6 million during the six months ended October 31, 2018, recorded in general and administrative expenses.

Compensation and Benefits Expense

Compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income consist of compensation and benefits paid to consultants (employees who originate business), executive officers and administrative and support personnel. The most significant portions of this expense are salaries and the amounts paid under the annual performance-related bonus plan to employees. The portion of the expense applicable to salaries is comprised of amounts earned by employees during a reporting period. The portion of the expenses applicable to annual performance-related bonuses refers to the Company’s annual employee performance-related bonus with respect to a fiscal year, the amount of which is communicated and paid to each eligible employee following the completion of the fiscal year.

Each quarter, management makes its best estimate of its annual performance-related bonuses, which requires management to, among other things, project annual consultant productivity (as measured by engagement fees billed and collected by executive search consultants and revenue and other performance/profitability metrics for Advisory and RPO & Professional Search consultants), the level of engagements referred by a consultant in one line of business to a different line of business,

9


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

and Company performance, including profitability, competitive forces and future economic conditions and their impact on the Company’s results. At the end of each fiscal year, annual performance-related bonuses take into account final individual consultant productivity (including referred work), Company/line of business results, including profitability, the achievement of strategic objectives, the results of individual performance appraisals, and the current economic landscape. Accordingly, each quarter the Company reevaluates the assumptions used to estimate annual performance-related bonus liability and adjusts the carrying amount of the liability recorded on the consolidated balance sheet and reports any changes in the estimate in current operations.

Because annual performance-based bonuses are communicated and paid only after the Company reports its full fiscal year results, actual performance-based bonus payments may differ from the prior year’s estimate. Such changes in the bonus estimate historically have been immaterial and are recorded in current operations in the period in which they are determined. The performance-related bonus expense was $117.4 million and $142.9 million during the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, included in compensation and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income. During the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, the performance related bonus expense was $64.4 million and $81.9 million, respectively.

Other expenses included in compensation and benefits expense are due to changes in deferred compensation and pension plan liabilities, changes in cash surrender value (“CSV”) of company-owned life insurance (“COLI”) contracts, amortization of stock compensation awards, payroll taxes and employee insurance benefits. Unearned compensation on the consolidated balance sheets includes long-term retention awards that are generally amortized over four-to-five years.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has employee compensation plans under which various types of stock-based instruments are granted. These instruments principally include restricted stock units, restricted stock and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The Company recognizes compensation expense related to restricted stock units, restricted stock and the estimated fair value of stock purchases under the ESPP on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the amounts in prior periods in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance (Accounting Standard Codification 842 – Leases) on accounting for leases that generally requires all leases to be recognized on the consolidated balance sheet. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. On July 30, 2018, the FASB issued an amendment that allows entities to apply the provisions at the effective date without adjusting comparative periods. The Company adopted this guidance in its fiscal year beginning May 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach without restatement of comparative periods. As such, periods prior to the date of adoption are presented in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification 840 - Leases. The FASB also issued subsequent related Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”), which detail amendments to the ASU, implementation considerations, narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients. The Company has elected to apply the group of practical expedients which allows the Company to carry forward its identification of contracts that are or contain leases, its historical lease classification and its initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company has also elected to combine lease and non-lease components for all asset classes and recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on a straight-line basis without recognizing a ROU asset or operating lease liability.

The adoption of this standard had a material impact on the consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2019 due to the recognition of ROU assets and operating lease liabilities, but an immaterial impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, and consolidated statements of cash flows. Upon adoption we recognized total ROU assets of $236.1 million with a corresponding liability of $272.3 million. The ROU asset balance was adjusted by the reclassification of pre-existing prepaid expenses and other assets and deferred rent balances of $5.1 million and $41.3 million, respectively.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance amending and simplifying accounting for hedging activities. The guidance refined and expanded strategies that qualify for hedge accounting and simplify the application of hedge accounting in certain situations. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted this guidance in its fiscal year beginning May 1, 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

10


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Recently Proposed Accounting Standards - Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for measurement of credit losses on financial Instruments, which amends the impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will adopt this guidance in its fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020. The adoption of this guidance is not anticipated to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance simplifying the test for goodwill impairment. The new guidance simplifies the test for goodwill impairment by removing Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Companies will now perform the goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments of this standard are effective for goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the adoption timeline and doesn’t anticipate the guidance to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance amending the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The amendment removes and modifies disclosures that are currently required and adds additional disclosures that are deemed relevant. The amendments of this standard are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will adopt this guidance in its fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance and doesn’t anticipate the guidance to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance amending accounting for internal-use software. The new guidance will align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with developing or obtaining internal-use software. The amendments of this standard are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this guidance in its fiscal year beginning May 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

2. Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Accounting Standards Codification 260, Earnings Per Share, requires companies to treat unvested share-based payment awards that have non-forfeitable rights to dividends prior to vesting as a separate class of securities in calculating earnings per share. The Company has granted and expects to continue to grant to certain employees under its restricted stock agreements grants that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Such grants are considered participating securities. Therefore, the Company is required to apply the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The dilutive effect of participating securities is calculated using the more dilutive of the treasury method or the two-class method.

Basic earnings per common share was computed using the two-class method by dividing basic net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share was computed using the two-class method by dividing diluted net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus dilutive common equivalent shares. Dilutive common equivalent shares include all in-the-money outstanding options or other contracts to issue common stock as if they were exercised or converted. Financial instruments that are not in the form of common stock, but when converted into common stock increase earnings per share are anti-dilutive and are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, restricted stock awards of 0.7 million were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, restricted stock awards of 0.6 million were outstanding, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.   

11


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

The following table summarizes basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

$

42,804

 

 

$

46,034

 

 

$

85,755

 

 

$

7,423

 

Less: distributed and undistributed earnings to nonvested restricted stockholders

 

 

466

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

910

 

 

 

118

 

Basic net earnings attributable to common stockholders

 

 

42,338

 

 

 

45,549

 

 

 

84,845

 

 

 

7,305

 

Add: undistributed earnings to nonvested restricted stockholders

 

 

406

 

 

 

425

 

 

 

792

 

 

 

 

Less: reallocation of undistributed earnings to nonvested restricted stockholders

 

 

405

 

 

 

419

 

 

 

788

 

 

 

 

Diluted net earnings attributable to common stockholders

 

$

42,339

 

 

$

45,555

 

 

$

84,849

 

 

$

7,305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

54,568

 

 

 

55,461

 

 

 

54,917

 

 

 

55,420

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted stock

 

 

138

 

 

 

767

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

871

 

ESPP

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

14

 

Stock Options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

Diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding

 

 

54,716

 

 

 

56,239

 

 

 

55,170

 

 

 

56,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.78

 

 

$

0.82

 

 

$

1.54

 

 

$

0.13

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.77

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

1.54

 

 

$

0.13

 

 

3. Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income and all changes to stockholders’ equity, except those changes resulting from investments by stockholders (changes in paid in capital) and distributions to stockholders (dividends) and is reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes, is recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity.

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

 

 

October 31,

2019

 

 

April 30,

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

$

(64,303

)

 

$

(60,270

)

Deferred compensation and pension plan adjustments, net of tax

 

 

(15,848

)

 

 

(16,838

)

Interest rate swap unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax

 

 

(495

)

 

 

456

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net

 

$

(80,646

)

 

$

(76,652

)

 

The following table summarizes the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended October 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Translation

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

and Pension

Plan (1)

 

 

Unrealized Losses on

Interest Rate

Swap (2)

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of July 31, 2019

 

$

(65,632

)

 

$

(16,343

)

 

$

(139

)

 

$

(82,114

)

Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

 

 

 

(315

)

 

 

1,014

 

Reclassification of realized net losses (gains) to net income

 

 

 

 

 

495

 

 

 

(41

)

 

 

454

 

Balance as of October 31, 2019

 

$

(64,303

)

 

$

(15,848

)

 

$

(495

)

 

$

(80,646

)

 

The following table summarizes the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the six months ended October 31, 2019:

 

12


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Translation

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

and Pension

Plan (1)

 

 

Unrealized

(Losses) Gains on

Interest Rate

Swap (2)

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of April 30, 2019

 

$

(60,270

)

 

$

(16,838

)

 

$

456

 

 

$

(76,652

)

Unrealized losses arising during the period

 

 

(4,033

)

 

 

 

 

 

(806

)

 

 

(4,839

)

Reclassification of realized net losses (gains) to net income

 

 

 

 

 

990

 

 

 

(145

)

 

 

845

 

Balance as of October 31, 2019

 

$

(64,303

)

 

$

(15,848

)

 

$

(495

)

 

$

(80,646

)

 

(1)  

The tax effect on the reclassifications of realized net losses was $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, respectively.

 

(2)    The tax effect on unrealized losses was $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, respectively.

 

The following table summarizes the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net for the three months ended October 31, 2018:

 

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Translation

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

and Pension

Plan (1)

 

 

Unrealized

Gains on

Interest Rate

Swap (2)

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of July 31, 2018

 

$

(46,961

)

 

$

(11,196

)

 

$

1,669

 

 

$

(56,488

)

Unrealized (losses) gains arising during the period

 

 

(12,511

)

 

 

 

 

 

193

 

 

 

(12,318

)

Reclassification of realized net losses (gains) to net income

 

 

 

 

 

273

 

 

 

(48

)

 

 

225

 

Balance as of October 31, 2018

 

$

(59,472

)

 

$

(10,923

)

 

$

1,814

 

 

$

(68,581

)

 

The following table summarizes the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net for the six months ended October 31, 2018:

 

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Translation

 

 

Deferred

Compensation

and Pension

Plan (1)

 

 

Unrealized Gains on

Interest Rate

Swap (2)

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of April 30, 2018

 

$

(32,399

)

 

$

(9,073

)

 

$

1,337

 

 

$

(40,135

)

Unrealized (losses) gains arising during the period

 

 

(27,073

)

 

 

 

 

 

342

 

 

 

(26,731

)

Reclassification of realized net losses (gains) to net income

 

 

 

 

 

546

 

 

 

(64

)

 

 

482

 

Effect of adoption of accounting standard

 

 

 

 

 

(2,396

)

 

 

199

 

 

 

(2,197

)

Balance as of October 31, 2018

 

$

(59,472

)

 

$

(10,923

)

 

$

1,814

 

 

$

(68,581

)

 

(1)  

The tax effect on the reclassifications of realized net losses was $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, respectively.

 

(2)

The tax effect on unrealized gains was $0.1 million for both the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, respectively.       

4. Employee Stock Plans

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Restricted stock

 

$

5,712

 

 

$

6,301

 

 

$

10,803

 

 

$

11,670

 

ESPP

 

 

346

 

 

 

354

 

 

 

717

 

 

 

699

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

 

$

6,058

 

 

$

6,655

 

 

$

11,520

 

 

$

12,369

 

 

13


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Stock Incentive Plan

At the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on October 3, 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement to the Korn Ferry Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2019 amendment and restatement being the “Fourth A&R 2008 Plan”), which, among other things, eliminated the fungible share counting provision and decreased the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for stock-based awards by 2,141,807 shares, leaving 3,600,000 shares available for issuance, subject to certain changes in the Company’s capital structure and other extraordinary events.  The Fourth A&R 2008 Plan was also amended to generally require a minimum one-year vesting for all future awards, and provides for the grant of awards to eligible participants, designated as either nonqualified or incentive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, any of which are market-based, and incentive bonuses, which may be paid in cash or stock or a combination thereof.  

Restricted Stock

The Company grants time-based restricted stock awards to executive officers and other senior employees generally vesting over a four-year period. In addition, certain key management members typically receive time-based restricted stock awards upon commencement of employment and may receive them annually in conjunction with the Company’s performance review. Time-based restricted stock awards are granted at a price equal to fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

The Company also grants market-based restricted stock units to executive officers and other senior employees. The market-based units vest after three years depending upon the Company’s total stockholder return over the three-year performance period relative to other companies in its selected peer group. The fair value of these market-based restricted stock units are determined by using extensive market data that is based on historical Company and peer group information. The Company recognizes compensation expense for market-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Restricted stock activity during the six months ended October 31, 2019 is summarized below:

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted-

Average Grant

Date Fair Value

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Non-vested, April 30, 2019

 

 

1,460

 

 

$

38.42

 

Granted

 

 

586

 

 

$

38.31

 

Vested

 

 

(615

)

 

$

25.06

 

Forfeited/expired

 

 

(21

)

 

$

20.86

 

Non-vested, October 31, 2019

 

 

1,410

 

 

$

44.47

 

 

As of October 31, 2019, there were 0.5 million shares outstanding relating to market-based restricted stock units with total unrecognized compensation totaling $15.4 million.

As of October 31, 2019, there was $46.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards of restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, 3,582 shares and 225,236 shares of restricted stock totaling $0.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively, were repurchased by the Company, at the option of employees, to pay for taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, 2,708 shares and 202,503 shares of restricted stock totaling $0.1 million and $13.2 million, respectively, were repurchased by the Company, at the option of employees, to pay for taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an ESPP that, in accordance with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, allows eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their salary to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the fair market price of the common stock on the last day of the enrollment period. Employees may not purchase more than $25,000 in stock during any calendar year. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP is 3.0 million shares. During the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, no shares were purchased under the ESPP. During the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, employees purchased 126,604 shares at $34.06 per share and 75,106 shares at $52.64 per share, respectively. As of October 31, 2019, the ESPP had approximately 0.8 million shares remaining available for future issuance.

14


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Common Stock

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the Company repurchased (on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions) 1,309,092 shares and 1,633,192 shares of the Company’s common stock for $49.2 million and $61.9 million, respectively. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the Company repurchased (on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions) 456,274 shares for $22.7 million.

 

5. Financial Instruments

The following tables show the Company’s financial instruments and balance sheet classification as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019:

 

 

October 31, 2019

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

Cash and

Cash

Equivalents

 

 

Marketable

Securities,

Current

 

 

Marketable

Securities,

Non-

current

 

 

Income Taxes & Other Receivables

 

 

Other Accrued Liabilities

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Level 1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

459,313

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

459,313

 

 

$

459,313

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Money market funds

 

 

5,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,110

 

 

 

5,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds (1)

 

 

137,601

 

 

 

7,560

 

 

 

(598

)

 

 

144,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,508

 

 

 

138,055

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

602,024

 

 

$

7,560

 

 

$

(598

)

 

$

608,986

 

 

$

464,423

 

 

$

6,508

 

 

$

138,055

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

 

 

$

1,301

 

 

$

(548

)

 

$

753

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

753

 

 

$

 

Interest rate swap

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(666

)

 

$

(666

)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(666

)

 

 

 

April 30, 2019

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

 

Balance Sheet Classification

 

 

 

Cost

 

 

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

Cash and

Cash

Equivalents

 

 

Marketable

Securities,

Current

 

 

Marketable

Securities,

Non-

current

 

 

Income

Taxes &

Other

Receivables

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Level 1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

579,998

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

579,998

 

 

$

579,998

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Money market funds

 

 

46,362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,362

 

 

 

46,362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutual funds (1)

 

 

135,439

 

 

 

6,301

 

 

 

(989

)

 

 

140,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,288

 

 

 

132,463

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

761,799

 

 

$

6,301

 

 

$

(989

)

 

$

767,111

 

 

$

626,360

 

 

$

8,288

 

 

$

132,463

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 2:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

 

 

$

821

 

 

$

(722

)

 

$

99

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

99

 

Interest rate swap

 

$

 

 

$

619

 

 

$

 

 

$

619

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

619

 

 

(1)

These investments are held in trust for settlement of the Company’s vested obligations of $131.5 million and $122.3 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively, under the ECAP (see Note 7 — Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans). Unvested obligations under the deferred compensation plans totaled $23.2 million and $24.6 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the fair value of the investments increased; therefore, the Company recognized a gain of $1.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively, which was recorded in other income (loss), net. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the fair value of the investments decreased; therefore, the Company recognized a loss of $4.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, which was recorded in other income (loss), net.

Investments in marketable securities are based upon investment selections the employee elects from a pre-determined set of securities in the ECAP, and the Company invests in marketable securities to mirror these elections. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, the Company’s investments in marketable securities consisted of mutual funds for which market prices are readily available.

15


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Designated Derivatives - Interest Rate Swap Agreement

In March 2017, the Company entered into an interest rate swap contract with a notional amount of $129.8 million, to hedge the variability to changes in cash flows attributable to interest rate risks caused by changes in interest rates related to its variable rate debt. The Company has designated the swap as a cash flow hedge. As of October 31, 2019, the notional amount was $99.7 million. The interest rate swap agreement matures on June 15, 2021, and locks the interest rates on a portion of the debt outstanding at 1.919%, exclusive of the credit spread on the debt.

The fair value of the derivative designated as a cash flow hedge instrument was as follows:

 

 

October 31,

2019

 

 

April 30,

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Derivative asset:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap contract

 

$

 

 

$

619

 

Derivative liability:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap contract

 

$

666

 

 

$

 

During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized the following gains and losses on the interest rate swap:

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

(Losses) gains recognized in other comprehensive income (net of tax effects of $(111), $67, $(283) and $120, respectively)

 

$

(315

)

 

$

193

 

 

$

(806

)

 

$

342

 

Gains reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into interest expense, net

 

$

55

 

 

$

64

 

 

$

196

 

 

$

86

 

As the critical terms of the hedging instrument and the hedged forecasted transaction are the same, the Company has concluded that the changes in the fair value or cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged are expected to completely offset at inception and on an ongoing basis.

We estimate that $0.4 million of derivative losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of October 31, 2019 will be reclassified into interest expense, net within the following 12 months. The cash flows related to the interest rate swap contract are included in net cash provided by operating activities.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Not Designated as Hedges

The fair value of derivatives not designated as hedge instruments are as follows:

 

 

October 31,

2019

 

 

April 30,

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Derivative assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

1,301

 

 

$

821

 

Derivative liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

548

 

 

$

722

 

 

As of October 31, 2019, the total notional amounts of the forward contracts purchased and sold were $55.1 million and $47.9 million, respectively. As of April 30, 2019, the total notional amounts of the forward contracts purchased and sold were $51.4 million and $40.0 million, respectively. The Company recognizes forward contracts as a net asset or net liability on the consolidated balance sheets as such contracts are covered by a master netting agreement. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the Company incurred gains of $2.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related to forward contracts, which is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. These foreign currency gains offset foreign currency losses that result from transactions denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the Company incurred losses of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, related to forward contracts, which is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. These foreign currency losses offset foreign currency gains that result from transactions denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency. The cash flows related to foreign currency forward contracts are included in net cash used in operating activities.

16


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

6. Leases

The Company’s lease portfolio is comprised of operating leases for office space and equipment and finance leases for equipment. Equipment leases are comprised of vehicles and office equipment. The majority of the Company’s leases include both lease and non-lease components. Non-lease components primarily include maintenance, insurance, taxes and other utilities. The Company has decided to combine fixed payments for non-lease components with its lease payments and account for them as a single lease component, which increases its ROU assets and lease liabilities. Some of the leases include one or more options to renew or terminate the lease at the Company’s discretion. Generally, the renewal and termination options are not included in the ROU assets and lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise. The Company has elected not to recognize a ROU asset or lease liability for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less.

As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The Company applies the portfolio approach when determining the incremental borrowing rate since it has a centrally managed treasury function.  The Company’s incremental borrowing rate is estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments in a similar economic environment.

Operating leases contain both office and equipment leases, have remaining terms that range from less than one year to 11 years, some of which also include options to extend or terminate the lease. Finance leases are comprised of equipment leases and have remaining terms that range from less than one year to 5 years. Finance lease assets are included in property and equipment, net while finance lease liabilities are included in other accrued liabilities and other liabilities.

The components of lease expense were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31, 2019

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31, 2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Finance lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of ROU assets

 

$

473

 

 

$

943

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

39

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

 

512

 

 

 

1,022

 

Operating lease cost

 

 

14,166

 

 

 

28,393

 

Short-term lease cost

 

 

277

 

 

 

556

 

Variable lease cost

 

 

3,183

 

 

 

6,076

 

Sublease income

 

 

(53

)

 

 

(107

)

  Total lease cost

 

$

18,085

 

 

$

35,940

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31, 2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

$

30,351

 

Financing cash flows from finance leases

 

$

927

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

6,054

 

Finance leases

 

$

732

 

17


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

 

 

October 31,

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Finance Leases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, at cost

 

$

4,586

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(930

)

Property and equipment, net

 

$

3,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

$

1,597

 

Other liabilities

 

 

2,107

 

Total finance lease liabilities

 

$

3,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average remaining lease terms:

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

6.0 years

 

Finance leases

 

2.7 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average discount rate:

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

 

4.9

%

Finance leases

 

 

4.2

%

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:

Year Ending April 30,

 

Operating

 

 

Financing

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

2020 (excluding the six months ended October 31, 2019)

 

$

30,609

 

 

$

930

 

2021

 

 

55,843

 

 

 

1,466

 

2022

 

 

48,661

 

 

 

1,003

 

2023

 

 

41,648

 

 

 

365

 

2024

 

 

35,904

 

 

 

132

 

Thereafter

 

 

75,748

 

 

 

18

 

Total lease payments

 

 

288,413

 

 

 

3,914

 

Less: imputed interest

 

 

39,654

 

 

 

210

 

Total

 

$

248,759

 

 

$

3,704

 

 

7. Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans

The Company has several deferred compensation and retirement plans for eligible consultants and vice presidents that provide defined benefits to participants based on the deferral of current compensation or contributions made by the Company subject to vesting and retirement or termination provisions. Among these plans is a defined benefit pension plan for certain employees in the U.S.. The assets of this plan are held separately from the assets of the sponsor in self-administered funds. All other defined benefit obligations from other plans are unfunded.

The components of net periodic benefit costs are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

6,474

 

 

$

4,532

 

 

$

11,930

 

 

$

8,178

 

Interest cost

 

 

1,422

 

 

 

1,330

 

 

 

2,815

 

 

 

2,626

 

Amortization of actuarial loss

 

 

745

 

 

 

446

 

 

 

1,490

 

 

 

892

 

Expected return on plan assets (1)

 

 

(363

)

 

 

(392

)

 

 

(726

)

 

 

(784

)

Net periodic service credit amortization

 

 

(77

)

 

 

(77

)

 

 

(154

)

 

 

(154

)

Net periodic benefit costs (2)

 

$

8,201

 

 

$

5,839

 

 

$

15,355

 

 

$

10,758

 

 

18


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

(1)

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 6.00% and 6.25% for October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

(2)

The service cost, interest cost and the other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in compensation and benefits expense, interest expense, net and other income (loss), net, respectively, on the consolidated statements of income.

The Company purchased COLI contracts insuring the lives of certain employees eligible to participate in the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of setting aside funds to cover such plans. The gross CSV of these contracts of $220.9 million and $219.2 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively, was offset by outstanding policy loans of $92.3 million and $93.2 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The CSV value of the underlying COLI investments increased by $1.9 million and $4.2 million during the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, respectively, and is recorded as a decrease in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The CSV value of the underlying COLI investments increased by $1.7 million and $3.0 million during the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, respectively, and is recorded as a decrease in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

The Company’s ECAP is intended to provide certain employees an opportunity to defer salary and/or bonus on a pre-tax basis. In addition, the Company, as part of its compensation philosophy, makes discretionary contributions into the ECAP and such contributions may be granted to key employees annually based on the employee’s performance. Certain key management may also receive Company ECAP contributions upon commencement of employment. The Company amortizes these contributions on a straight-line basis over the service period, generally a four-to-five year period. Participants have the ability to allocate their deferrals among a number of investment options and may receive their benefits at termination, retirement or ‘in service’ either in a lump sum or in quarterly installments over one-to-15 years. The ECAP amounts that are expected to be paid to employees over the next 12 months are classified as a current liability included in compensation and benefits payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The ECAP is accounted for whereby the changes in the fair value of the vested amounts owed to the participants are adjusted with a corresponding charge (or credit) to compensation and benefits costs. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, deferred compensation liability increased; therefore, the Company recognized compensation expense of $1.3 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Offsetting the increases in compensation and benefits expense was an increase in the fair value of marketable securities (held in trust to satisfy obligations of the ECAP liabilities) of $1.2 million and $3.1 million during the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, respectively, recorded in other income (loss), net on the consolidated statements of income. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, deferred compensation liability decreased; therefore, the Company recognized a decrease in compensation expense of $4.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Offsetting the decrease in compensation and benefits expense was a decrease in the fair value of marketable securities (held in trust to satisfy obligations under the ECAP) of $4.8 million and $0.8 million during the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, respectively, recorded in other income (loss), net on the consolidated statements of income (see Note 5—Financial Instruments).

8. Fee Revenue

Substantially all fee revenue is derived from talent and organizational advisory services and digital sales, fees for professional services related to executive and professional recruitment performed on a retained basis and RPO, standalone or as part of a solution.

Contract Balances

A contract asset (unbilled receivables) is recorded when the Company transfers control of products or services before there is an unconditional right to payment. A contract liability (deferred revenue) is recorded when cash is received in advance of performance of the obligation. Deferred revenue represents the future performance obligations to transfer control of products or services for which we have already received consideration. Deferred revenue is presented in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

The following table outlines our contract asset and liability balances as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019:

 

 

October 31, 2019

 

 

April 30, 2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Contract assets (unbilled receivables)

 

$

78,391

 

 

$

60,595

 

Contract liabilities (deferred revenue)

 

$

115,630

 

 

$

112,999

 

During the six months ended October 31, 2019, we recognized revenue of $69.0 million that was included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the period.

19


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

Performance Obligations

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to exclude the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with a duration of one year or less, which applies to all executive search and professional search fee revenue. As of October 31, 2019, the aggregate transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied for contracts with an expected duration of greater than one year at inception was $608.3 million. Of the $608.3 million of remaining performance obligations, the Company expects to recognize approximately $203.4 million as fee revenue in fiscal 2020, $209.1 million in fiscal 2021, $117.4 million in fiscal 2022 and the remaining $78.4 million in fiscal 2023 and thereafter. However, this amount should not be considered an indication of the Company’s future revenue as contracts with an initial term of one year or less are not included. Further, the Company’s contract terms and conditions allow for clients to increase or decrease the scope of services and such changes do not increase or decrease a performance obligation until the Company has an enforceable right to payment.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company disaggregates its revenue by line of business and further by region for Executive Search. This information is presented in Note 10—Segments.

The following table provides further disaggregation of fee revenue by industry:

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Industrial

 

$

139,010

 

 

 

28.2

%

 

$

143,969

 

 

 

29.1

%

Financial Services

 

 

85,457

 

 

 

17.4

 

 

 

93,015

 

 

 

18.8

 

Life Sciences/Healthcare

 

 

88,807

 

 

 

18.0

 

 

 

83,611

 

 

 

16.9

 

Consumer Goods

 

 

75,227

 

 

 

15.3

 

 

 

79,076

 

 

 

15.9

 

Technology

 

 

70,355

 

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

60,148

 

 

 

12.1

 

Education/Non-Profit

 

 

29,702

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

31,061

 

 

 

6.3

 

General

 

 

3,831

 

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

4,325

 

 

 

0.9

 

Fee Revenue

 

$

492,389

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

$

495,205

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

Six Months Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Industrial

 

$

278,917

 

 

 

28.5

%

 

$

279,699

 

 

 

29.1

%

Financial Services

 

 

172,333

 

 

 

17.6

 

 

 

174,405

 

 

 

18.2

 

Life Sciences/Healthcare

 

 

170,921

 

 

 

17.5

 

 

 

162,771

 

 

 

16.9

 

Consumer Goods

 

 

147,060

 

 

 

15.1

 

 

 

150,662

 

 

 

15.7

 

Technology

 

 

139,450

 

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

122,967

 

 

 

12.8

 

Education/Non-Profit

 

 

60,463

 

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

61,640

 

 

 

6.4

 

General

 

 

7,794

 

 

 

0.8

 

 

 

8,629

 

 

 

0.9

 

Fee Revenue

 

$

976,938

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

$

960,773

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

20


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

9. Income Taxes

The provision for income tax was $15.8 million and $30.2 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, respectively, with an effective tax rate of 26.8% and 25.8%, respectively. In both periods, the Company’s effective tax rate was higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to the impact of U.S. state income taxes and the recognition of taxable income outside the U.S. at higher statutory tax rates.

10. Segments

The Company currently operates through three global business segments: Advisory, Executive Search and RPO & Professional Search. Advisory assists clients to synchronize strategy and talent by addressing four fundamental needs: Organizational Strategy, Assessment and Succession, Leadership Development and Rewards and Benefits, all underpinned by a comprehensive array of some of the world’s leading IP, products and tools. Executive Search focuses on recruiting board level, chief executive and other senior executive and general management positions, in addition to research-based interviewing and assessment solutions, for clients predominantly in the consumer goods, financial services, industrial, life sciences/healthcare and technology industries. RPO & Professional Search uses data-backed insight and IP, matched with strategic collaboration and innovative technology, to meet people challenges head on—and succeed. Solutions span all aspects of RPO, Professional Search and Project Recruitment. Executive Search is managed by geographic regional leaders and Advisory and RPO & Professional Search worldwide operations are managed by their Chief Executive Officers. The Executive Search geographic regional leaders and the Chief Executive Officers of Advisory and RPO & Professional Search report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company also operates a Corporate segment to record global expenses of the Company.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the Company’s chief operating decision maker’s review of (1) fee revenue and (2) adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). To the extent that such charges occur, Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring charges, integration/acquisition costs, certain separation costs and certain non-cash charges (goodwill, intangible asset and other than temporary impairment). The accounting policies for the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 1—Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, except the items described above are excluded from EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA.

Financial highlights by business segment are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

209,760

 

 

$

113,818

 

 

$

39,821

 

 

$

25,944

 

 

$

8,272

 

 

$

187,855

 

 

$

94,774

 

 

$

 

 

$

492,389

 

Total revenue

 

$

213,922

 

 

$

117,077

 

 

$

40,441

 

 

$

26,168

 

 

$

8,273

 

 

$

191,959

 

 

$

98,296

 

 

$

 

 

$

504,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

42,804

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

228

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,133

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,210

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,760

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

28,391

 

 

$

28,124

 

 

$

6,511

 

 

$

5,803

 

 

$

791

 

 

$

41,229

 

 

$

15,094

 

 

$

(22,845

)

 

 

61,869

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

8,042

 

 

 

869

 

 

 

450

 

 

 

329

 

 

 

315

 

 

 

1,963

 

 

 

990

 

 

 

1,720

 

 

 

12,715

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

520

 

 

 

637

 

 

 

107

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

846

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

(287

)

 

 

1,133

 

EBITDA

 

 

36,953

 

 

 

29,630

 

 

 

7,068

 

 

 

6,204

 

 

 

1,136

 

 

 

44,038

 

 

 

16,138

 

 

 

(21,412

)

 

 

75,717

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,615

 

 

 

2,615

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

36,953

 

 

$

29,630

 

 

$

7,068

 

 

$

6,204

 

 

$

1,136

 

 

$

44,038

 

 

$

16,138

 

 

$

(18,797

)

 

$

78,332

 

21


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

217,089

 

 

$

115,863

 

 

$

44,928

 

 

$

27,936

 

 

$

8,907

 

 

$

197,634

 

 

$

80,482

 

 

$

 

 

$

495,205

 

Total revenue

 

$

221,419

 

 

$

119,322

 

 

$

45,636

 

 

$

28,146

 

 

$

8,912

 

 

$

202,016

 

 

$

83,358

 

 

$

 

 

$

506,793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

46,034

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,283

 

Other loss, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,500

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,337

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,833

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

29,426

 

 

$

35,328

 

 

$

7,319

 

 

$

6,767

 

 

$

2,053

 

 

$

51,467

 

 

$

12,516

 

 

$

(22,422

)

 

 

70,987

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

6,964

 

 

 

968

 

 

 

95

 

 

 

375

 

 

 

101

 

 

 

1,539

 

 

 

761

 

 

 

1,754

 

 

 

11,018

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

265

 

 

 

(3,981

)

 

 

22

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

(3,789

)

 

 

(79

)

 

 

(897

)

 

 

(4,500

)

EBITDA

 

 

36,655

 

 

 

32,315

 

 

 

7,436

 

 

 

7,219

 

 

 

2,247

 

 

 

49,217

 

 

 

13,198

 

 

 

(21,565

)

 

 

77,505

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

2,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

2,835

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

39,410

 

 

$

32,315

 

 

$

7,436

 

 

$

7,219

 

 

$

2,247

 

 

$

49,217

 

 

$

13,198

 

 

$

(21,485

)

 

$

80,340

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

405,286

 

 

$

225,540

 

 

$

86,351

 

 

$

53,306

 

 

$

15,857

 

 

$

381,054

 

 

$

190,598

 

 

$

 

 

$

976,938

 

Total revenue

 

$

413,242

 

 

$

232,523

 

 

$

87,753

 

 

$

53,836

 

 

$

15,860

 

 

$

389,972

 

 

$

197,161

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,000,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

85,755

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

927

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,959

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,267

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,213

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

54,182

 

 

$

58,446

 

 

$

13,822

 

 

$

12,796

 

 

$

1,801

 

 

$

86,865

 

 

$

30,135

 

 

$

(48,979

)

 

 

122,203

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

16,095

 

 

 

1,770

 

 

 

906

 

 

 

675

 

 

 

643

 

 

 

3,994

 

 

 

1,982

 

 

 

3,421

 

 

 

25,492

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

1,246

 

 

 

1,777

 

 

 

119

 

 

 

87

 

 

 

87

 

 

 

2,070

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

(485

)

 

 

2,959

 

EBITDA

 

 

71,523

 

 

 

61,993

 

 

 

14,847

 

 

 

13,558

 

 

 

2,531

 

 

 

92,929

 

 

 

32,245

 

 

 

(46,043

)

 

 

150,654

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,615

 

 

 

2,615

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

71,523

 

 

$

61,993

 

 

$

14,847

 

 

$

13,558

 

 

$

2,531

 

 

$

92,929

 

 

$

32,245

 

 

$

(43,428

)

 

$

153,269

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

412,464

 

 

$

227,960

 

 

$

91,582

 

 

$

54,231

 

 

$

16,785

 

 

$

390,558

 

 

$

157,751

 

 

$

 

 

$

960,773

 

Total revenue

 

$

421,566

 

 

$

235,079

 

 

$

93,385

 

 

$

54,771

 

 

$

16,815

 

 

$

400,050

 

 

$

163,539

 

 

$

 

 

$

985,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,423

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,302

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,440

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,277

)

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(53,653

)

 

$

61,842

 

 

$

14,288

 

 

$

13,408

 

 

$

2,807

 

 

$

92,345

 

 

$

24,161

 

 

$

(46,985

)

 

 

15,868

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

14,395

 

 

 

1,947

 

 

 

465

 

 

 

745

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

3,365

 

 

 

1,522

 

 

 

3,467

 

 

 

22,749

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

835

 

 

 

(480

)

 

 

362

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

264

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

(1,105

)

 

 

20

 

EBITDA

 

 

(38,423

)

 

 

63,309

 

 

 

15,115

 

 

 

14,405

 

 

 

3,145

 

 

 

95,974

 

 

 

25,709

 

 

 

(44,623

)

 

 

38,637

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

5,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

160

 

 

 

5,942

 

Tradename write-offs

 

 

106,555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

106,555

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

73,914

 

 

$

63,309

 

 

$

15,115

 

 

$

14,405

 

 

$

3,145

 

 

$

95,974

 

 

$

25,709

 

 

$

(44,463

)

 

$

151,134

 

 

22


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

11. Long-Term Debt

On December 19, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent to among other things, provide for enhanced financial flexibility. The Credit Agreement provides for, among other things: (a) a $650.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and (b) certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio (as defined below) and a minimum interest coverage ratio. The Credit Agreement permits the payment of dividends to stockholders and Company share repurchases so long as the pro forma leverage ratio is no greater than 3.25 to 1.00, and the pro forma domestic liquidity is at least $50.0 million. The Company drew down $226.9 million on the Revolver and used the proceeds to pay-off its term loan that was outstanding under its prior credit facility as of December 19, 2018. The payoff of the term loan under the prior credit facility and draw down on the Revolver are considered a debt modification and therefore, the previously incurred unamortized and current debt issuance costs will be amortized over the life of the new issuance. On October 29, 2019, the Company drew down $50.0 million on the Revolver along with cash on hand to finance the recently completed acquisitions.

The principal balance of the Revolver is due on the date of its termination. The Revolver matures on December 19, 2023 and any unpaid principal balance is payable on this date. The Revolver may also be prepaid and terminated early by the Company at any time without premium or penalty (subject to customary LIBOR breakage fees).

At the Company’s option, loans issued under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at either LIBOR or an alternate base rate, in each case plus the applicable interest rate margin. The interest rate applicable to loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may fluctuate between LIBOR plus 1.25% per annum to LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, in the case of LIBOR borrowings (or between the alternate base rate plus 0.25% per annum and the alternate base rate plus 1.00% per annum, in the alternative), based upon the Company’s total funded debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (as set forth in the Credit Agreement, the “consolidated leverage ratio”) at such time. In addition, the Company will be required to pay to the lenders a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.20% to 0.35% per annum on the average daily unused amount of the Revolver, based upon the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio at such time, and fees relating to the issuance of letters of credit. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.37% and 3.53%, respectively. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.39% and 3.31%, respectively.

As of October 31, 2019, $276.9 million was outstanding under the Revolver compared to $226.9 million as of April 30, 2019. The unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the long-term debt were $3.6 million and $4.0 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s Revolver is based on borrowing rates currently required of loans with similar terms, maturity and credit risk. The carrying amount of the Revolver approximates fair value because the base interest rate charged varies with market conditions and the credit spread is commensurate with current market spreads for issuers of similar risk. The fair value of the Revolver is classified as a Level 2 liability in the fair value hierarchy. As of October 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

The Company had a total of $369.9 million available under the Revolver after the Company drew down $276.9 million and after $3.2 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of October 31, 2019. The Company had a total of $420.2 million available under the Revolver after the Company drew down $226.9 million and after $2.9 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of April 30, 2019. The Company had a total of $11.0 million and $8.5 million of standby letters with other financial institutions as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The standby letters of credits were generally issued as a result of entering into office premise leases.

12. Subsequent Event

Quarterly Dividend Declaration

On December 4, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share with a payment date of January 15, 2020 to holders of the Company’s common stock of record at the close of business on December 20, 2019. The declaration and payment of future dividends under the quarterly dividend policy will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions, the terms of the Company’s indebtedness and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem to be relevant. The Board of Directors may amend, revoke or suspend the dividend policy at any time and for any reason.

Restructuring

On November 1, 2019, the “Company adopted a restructuring plan relating to actions in respect to the integration of the recently completed acquisitions. The purpose of this plan is to rationalize the Company’s cost structure as a result of efficiencies and operational improvements that the Company will be positioned to realize upon integration of the Acquired Entities into the Company. The plan will include the elimination of redundant positions and consolidation of office space. The estimated cost of the actions contemplated by the plan is between $20.0 million to $26.0 million, of which $18.0 million to

23


KORN FERRY AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

October 31, 2019 (continued)

 

$22.0 million relates to severance and $2.0 million to $4.0 million relates to office consolidation and abandonment of premises. These charges are expected to include approximately $18.0 million to $24.0 million of cash expenditures. The Company expects to recognize these charges between the three months ended January 31, 2020 and the three months ended July 31, 2020 and expects the restructuring actions to be completed by July 31, 2020.

 

24


 

 

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain certain statements that we believe are, or may be considered to be, “forward-looking” statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “will,” “likely,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. The principal risk factors that could cause actual performance and future actions to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in demand for our services as a result of automation, dependence on and costs of attracting and retaining qualified and experienced consultants, maintaining our relationships with customers and suppliers and retaining key employees, maintaining our brand name and professional reputation, the expected timing of the consummation of the Plan (as defined below), the impact of the Plan’s rebranding on the Company’s products and services, potential legal liability and regulatory developments, portability of client relationships, global and local political or economic developments in or affecting countries where we have operations, currency fluctuations in our international operations, risks related to growth, restrictions imposed by off-limits agreements, competition, consolidation of the industries we serve, reliance on information processing systems, cyber security vulnerabilities, changes to data security, data privacy, and data protection laws, dependence on third parties for the execution of critical functions, limited protection of our intellectual property (“IP”), our ability to enhance and develop new technology, our ability to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problems, employment liability risk, an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets, the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) and other future changes in tax laws, treaties, or regulations on our business and our company, deferred tax assets that we may not be able to use, our ability to develop new products and services, the impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions, alignment of our cost structure, the utilization and billing rates of our consultants, seasonality, expansion of social media platforms, ability to effect acquisition and integrate recently acquired companies; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of the acquired companies; the costs related to the acquisition of the acquired companies; our indebtedness, the phase-out of LIBOR, and the matters disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Exchange Act reports, including Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019 (“Form 10-K”). Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

The following presentation of management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We also make available on the Investor Relations portion of our website earnings slides and other important information, which we encourage you to review.

Executive Summary

Korn Ferry (referred to herein as the “Company,” or in the first person notations “we,” “our,” and “us”) is a global organizational consulting firm. We currently operate through three global segments: Korn Ferry Advisory (“Advisory”), Executive Search and Korn Ferry RPO and Professional Search (“RPO & Professional Search”). Advisory assists clients to synchronize strategy and talent by addressing four fundamental needs: Organizational Strategy, Assessment and Succession, Leadership Development, and Rewards and Benefits, all underpinned by a comprehensive array of some of the world’s leading IP, products and tools. Executive Search focuses on recruiting board level, chief executive and other senior executive and general management positions, in addition to research-based interviewing and assessment solutions, for clients predominantly in the consumer goods, financial services, industrial, life sciences/healthcare and technology industries. RPO & Professional Search uses data-backed insight and IP, matched with strategic collaboration and innovative technology, to meet people challenges head-on—and succeed. Solutions span all aspects of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (“RPO”), Professional Search and Project Recruitment. We also operate a Corporate segment to record global expenses of the Company.

 

Approximately 71% of the executive searches we performed in fiscal 2019 were for board level, chief executive and other senior executive and general management positions. Our 3,993 search engagement clients in fiscal 2019 included many of the world’s largest and most prestigious public and private companies.

25

 


 

 

 

We have built strong client loyalty, with 90% of the assignments performed during fiscal 2019 having been on behalf of clients for whom we had conducted assignments in the previous three fiscal years.

 

Approximately 70% of our revenues were generated from clients that utilize multiple lines of business.

 

A pillar of our growth strategy is the Digital business. In fiscal 2019, product sales comprised 31% of our Advisory revenue. Our subscription services delivered online, help us generate long-term relationships with our clients through large scale and technology-based human resources programs. We continue to seek ways to further scale these highly profitable products to our global clients.

 

In fiscal 2019, Korn Ferry was recognized as a top five RPO provider in the Baker’s Dozen list, marking our 12th consecutive year on the list. Through decades of experience, we have enhanced our RPO solution to deliver quality candidates that drive our clients’ business strategies. We leverage proprietary IP and data sets to guide clients on the critical skills and competencies to look for, compensation information to align with market demand, and assessment tools to ensure candidate fit.

While most organizations can develop a sound strategy, they often struggle with how to make it stick. That is where we come in: synchronizing an organization’s strategy with its talent to drive superior performance. We help companies design their organization—the structure, roles and responsibilities—to seize these opportunities. In addition, we help organizations select and hire the talent they need to execute their strategy—and show them the best way to compensate, develop and motivate their people.

We do this through our five core solution sets:

Organizational Strategy

We map talent strategy to business strategy by designing operating models and organizational structures that align to them, helping organizations put their plans into action. We make sure they have the right people, in the right roles, engaged and enabled to do the right things.

Assessment and Succession

We provide actionable, research-backed insights that allow organizations to understand the true capabilities of their people so they can make decisions that ensure the right leaders are ready—when and where they are needed—in the future.

Talent Acquisition

From executive search to RPO, we integrate scientific research with our practical experience and industry-specific expertise to recruit professionals of all levels and functions for client organizations.

Leadership Development

We help leaders at all levels of an organization achieve their vision, purpose and strategy. We combine expertise, science and proven techniques with forward thinking and creativity to build leadership experiences that help entry- to senior-level leaders grow and deliver superior results.

Rewards and Benefits

We help organizations design rewards to achieve their strategic objectives. We help them pay their people fairly for doing the right things—with rewards they value—at a cost the organization can afford.

 

On June 12, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the One Korn Ferry rebranding plan for the Company (the “Plan”). This Plan includes going to market under a single, master brand architecture, solely as Korn Ferry and sunsetting all the Company’s sub-brands, including Futurestep, Hay Group and Lominger, among others. This integrated go-to-market approach was a key driver in our fee revenue growth in fiscal year 2018, which led to the decision to further integrate our go-to-market activities under one master brand — Korn Ferry. As a result, the Company discontinued the use of all sub-brands and changed its name, effective January 1, 2019, to “Korn Ferry.” Two of the Company’s former sub-brands, Hay Group and Lominger came to Korn Ferry through acquisitions. In connection with the accounting for these acquisitions, $106.6 million of the purchase price was allocated to indefinite-lived tradename intangible assets. As a result of the decision to discontinue their use, the Company took a one-time, non-cash write-off of tradenames of $106.6 million during the six months ended October 31, 2018.

On November 1, 2019, we adopted a restructuring plan relating to actions in respect of the integration of the recently completed acquisitions. The purpose of this plan is to rationalize our cost structure as a result of efficiencies and operational improvements that we will be in position to realize upon integration of the Acquired Entities. The plan will include the elimination of redundant positions and consolidation of office space. The estimated cost of the actions contemplated by the plan is between $20.0 million to $26.0 million, of which $18.0 million to $22.0 million relates to severance and $2.0 million to $4.0 million relates to office consolidation and abandonment of premises. These charges are expected to include approximately $18.0 million to $24.0 million of cash expenditures. We expect to recognize these charges between the three

26


 

 

months ended January 31, 2020 and the three months ended July 31, 2020 and expects the restructuring actions to be completed by July 31, 2020.

The Company currently operates through three global segments. See Note 10—Segments, in the Notes to Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements for discussion of the Company’s global business segments. The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the chief operating decision maker’s review of (1) fee revenue and (2) adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). To the extent that such charges occur, Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring charges, integration/acquisition costs, certain separation costs and certain non-cash charges (goodwill, intangible asset and other than temporary impairment). In the six months ended October 31, 2018, Adjusted EBITDA excluded $106.6 million of write-off of tradenames related to the Plan.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. They have limitations as analytical tools, should not be viewed as a substitute for financial information determined in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. In addition, they may not necessarily be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful supplemental information regarding Korn Ferry’s performance by excluding certain charges, items of income and other items that may not be indicative of Korn Ferry’s ongoing operating results. The use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitates comparisons to Korn Ferry’s historical performance and the identification of operating trends that may otherwise be distorted by the factors discussed above. Korn Ferry includes these non-GAAP financial measures because management believes it is useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its evaluation of Korn Ferry’s ongoing operations and financial and operational decision-making. The accounting policies for the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, except that the above noted items are excluded from EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA. Management further believes that EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by investors and other interested parties to measure operating performance among companies with different capital structures, effective tax rates and tax attributes and capitalized asset values, all of which can vary substantially from company to company.

Fee revenue was $492.4 million during the three months ended October 31, 2019, a decrease of $2.8 million, or 1%, compared to $495.2 million in the three months ended October 31, 2018. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $9.4 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. During the three months ended October 31, 2019, we recorded operating income of $61.9 million, a decrease of $9.1 million, compared to $71.0 million in the three months ended October 31, 2018, with the Advisory, Executive Search and RPO & Professional Search segments contributing $28.4 million, $41.2 million and $15.1 million, respectively, offset by Corporate expenses of $22.8 million. Net income attributable to Korn Ferry in the three months ended October 31, 2019 was $42.8 million, a decrease of $3.2 million as compared to $46.0 million in the year-ago quarter. During the three months ended October 31, 2019, Adjusted EBITDA was $78.3 million, a decrease of $2.0 million, compared to $80.3 million in the year-ago quarter, with the Advisory, Executive Search and RPO & Professional Search segments contributing $37.0 million, $44.0 million and $16.1 million, respectively, offset by Corporate expenses net of other income of $18.8 million.

Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities decreased by $158.1 million to $609.0 million at October 31, 2019, compared to $767.1 million at April 30, 2019. This decrease was mainly due to annual bonuses earned in fiscal 2019 and paid during the first quarter of fiscal 2020, sign-on and retention payments, $61.9 million for stock repurchases in the open market, $23.8 million in payments for the purchase of property and equipment, $8.7 million paid in tax withholding on restricted stock vestings and $11.7 million in dividends paid during the first half of fiscal 2020. These decreases were partially offset by cash flows from operations and $50 million of additional borrowings under the Revolver. As of October 31, 2019, we held marketable securities to settle obligations under our Executive Capital Accumulation Plan (“ECAP”) with a cost value of $137.6 million and a fair value of $144.6 million. Our vested obligations for which these assets were held in trust totaled $131.5 million as of October 31, 2019 and our unvested obligations totaled $23.2 million.

Our working capital increased by $13.1 million to $599.0 million as of October 31, 2019, as compared to $585.9 million at April 30, 2019. We believe that cash on hand and funds from operations and other forms of liquidity will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital, capital expenditures, general corporate requirements, repayment of the debt obligations and dividend payments under our dividend policy in the next twelve months. We had $369.9 million and $420.2 million available for borrowing under our Revolver at October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, there was $3.2 million and $2.9 million of standby letters of credit issued, respectively, under our long-term debt arrangements. We had a total of $11.0 million and $8.5 million of standby letters of credits with other financial institutions as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively.

27


 

 

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the results of our operations as a percentage of fee revenue:

(Numbers may not total exactly due to rounding)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Fee revenue

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

Reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expenses

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

2.5

 

Total revenue

 

 

102.4

 

 

 

102.3

 

 

 

102.4

 

 

 

102.5

 

Compensation and benefits

 

 

68.5

 

 

 

67.8

 

 

 

68.2

 

 

 

68.5

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

12.6

 

 

 

11.7

 

 

 

13.1

 

 

 

23.6

 

Reimbursed expenses

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

2.3

 

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

2.5

 

Cost of services

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

4.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

2.6

 

 

 

2.4

 

Operating income

 

 

12.6

 

 

 

14.3

 

 

 

12.5

 

 

 

1.7

 

Net income

 

 

8.7

%

 

 

9.6

%

 

 

8.9

%

 

 

0.9

%

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

8.7

%

 

 

9.3

%

 

 

8.8

%

 

 

0.8

%

 

The following tables summarize the results of our operations by business segment:

(Numbers may not total exactly due to rounding)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

Dollars

 

 

%

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

$

209,760

 

 

 

42.6

%

 

$

217,089

 

 

 

43.8

%

 

$

405,286

 

 

 

41.5

%

 

$

412,464

 

 

 

42.9

%

Executive Search:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

 

 

113,818

 

 

 

23.1

 

 

 

115,863

 

 

 

23.4

 

 

 

225,540

 

 

 

23.1

 

 

 

227,960

 

 

 

23.7

 

EMEA

 

 

39,821

 

 

 

8.1

 

 

 

44,928

 

 

 

9.1

 

 

 

86,351

 

 

 

8.8

 

 

 

91,582

 

 

 

9.5

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

25,944

 

 

 

5.3

 

 

 

27,936

 

 

 

5.6

 

 

 

53,306

 

 

 

5.5

 

 

 

54,231

 

 

 

5.7

 

Latin America

 

 

8,272

 

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

8,907

 

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

15,857

 

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

16,785

 

 

 

1.8

 

Total Executive Search

 

 

187,855

 

 

 

38.2

 

 

 

197,634

 

 

 

39.9

 

 

 

381,054

 

 

 

39.0

 

 

 

390,558

 

 

 

40.7

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

94,774

 

 

 

19.2

 

 

 

80,482

 

 

 

16.3

 

 

 

190,598

 

 

 

19.5

 

 

 

157,751

 

 

 

16.4

 

Total fee revenue

 

 

492,389

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

495,205

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

976,938

 

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

960,773

 

 

 

100.0

%

Reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expense

 

 

11,788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,437

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,382

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

504,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

506,793

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,000,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

985,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended

October 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Margin (1)

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Margin (1)

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Margin (1)

 

 

Dollars

 

 

Margin (1)

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

$

28,391

 

 

 

13.5

%

 

$

29,426

 

 

 

13.6

%

 

$

54,182

 

 

 

13.4

%

 

$

(53,653

)

 

 

(13.0

%)

Executive Search:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America

 

 

28,124

 

 

 

24.7

 

 

 

35,328

 

 

 

30.5

 

 

 

58,446

 

 

 

25.9

 

 

 

61,842

 

 

 

27.1

 

EMEA

 

 

6,511

 

 

 

16.4

 

 

 

7,319

 

 

 

16.3

 

 

 

13,822

 

 

 

16.0

 

 

 

14,288

 

 

 

15.6

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

5,803

 

 

 

22.4

 

 

 

6,767

 

 

 

24.2

 

 

 

12,796

 

 

 

24.0

 

 

 

13,408

 

 

 

24.7

 

Latin America

 

 

791

 

 

 

9.6

 

 

 

2,053

 

 

 

23.0

 

 

 

1,801

 

 

 

11.4

 

 

 

2,807

 

 

 

16.7

 

Total Executive Search

 

 

41,229

 

 

 

21.9

 

 

 

51,467

 

 

 

26.0

 

 

 

86,865

 

 

 

22.8

 

 

 

92,345

 

 

 

23.6

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

15,094

 

 

 

15.9

 

 

 

12,516

 

 

 

15.6

 

 

 

30,135

 

 

 

15.8

 

 

 

24,161

 

 

 

15.3

 

Corporate

 

 

(22,845

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,422

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(48,979

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(46,985

)

 

 

 

 

Total operating income

 

$

61,869

 

 

 

12.6

%

 

$

70,987

 

 

 

14.3

%

 

$

122,203

 

 

 

12.5

%

 

$

15,868

 

 

 

1.7

%

 

(1)

Margin calculated as a percentage of fee revenue by business segment.

28


 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

209,760

 

 

$

113,818

 

 

$

39,821

 

 

$

25,944

 

 

$

8,272

 

 

$

187,855

 

 

$

94,774

 

 

$

 

 

$

492,389

 

Total revenue

 

$

213,922

 

 

$

117,077

 

 

$

40,441

 

 

$

26,168

 

 

$

8,273

 

 

$

191,959

 

 

$

98,296

 

 

$

 

 

$

504,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

42,804

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

228

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,133

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,210

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,760

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

28,391

 

 

$

28,124

 

 

$

6,511

 

 

$

5,803

 

 

$

791

 

 

$

41,229

 

 

$

15,094

 

 

$

(22,845

)

 

 

61,869

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

8,042

 

 

 

869

 

 

 

450

 

 

 

329

 

 

 

315

 

 

 

1,963

 

 

 

990

 

 

 

1,720

 

 

 

12,715

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

520

 

 

 

637

 

 

 

107

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

846

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

(287

)

 

 

1,133

 

EBITDA

 

 

36,953

 

 

 

29,630

 

 

 

7,068

 

 

 

6,204

 

 

 

1,136

 

 

 

44,038

 

 

 

16,138

 

 

 

(21,412

)

 

 

75,717

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,615

 

 

 

2,615

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

36,953

 

 

$

29,630

 

 

$

7,068

 

 

$

6,204

 

 

$

1,136

 

 

$

44,038

 

 

$

16,138

 

 

$

(18,797

)

 

$

78,332

 

Operating margin

 

 

13.5

%

 

 

24.7

%

 

 

16.4

%

 

 

22.4

%

 

 

9.6

%

 

 

21.9

%

 

 

15.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.6

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

17.6

%

 

 

26.0

%

 

 

17.7

%

 

 

23.9

%

 

 

13.7

%

 

 

23.4

%

 

 

17.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.9

%

 

 

 

Three Months Ended October 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

217,089

 

 

$

115,863

 

 

$

44,928

 

 

$

27,936

 

 

$

8,907

 

 

$

197,634

 

 

$

80,482

 

 

$

 

 

$

495,205

 

Total revenue

 

$

221,419

 

 

$

119,322

 

 

$

45,636

 

 

$

28,146

 

 

$

8,912

 

 

$

202,016

 

 

$

83,358

 

 

$

 

 

$

506,793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

46,034

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,283

 

Other loss, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,500

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,337

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,833

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

29,426

 

 

$

35,328

 

 

$

7,319

 

 

$

6,767

 

 

$

2,053

 

 

$

51,467

 

 

$

12,516

 

 

$

(22,422

)

 

 

70,987

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

6,964

 

 

 

968

 

 

 

95

 

 

 

375

 

 

 

101

 

 

 

1,539

 

 

 

761

 

 

 

1,754

 

 

 

11,018

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

265

 

 

 

(3,981

)

 

 

22

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

(3,789

)

 

 

(79

)

 

 

(897

)

 

 

(4,500

)

EBITDA

 

 

36,655

 

 

 

32,315

 

 

 

7,436

 

 

 

7,219

 

 

 

2,247

 

 

 

49,217

 

 

 

13,198

 

 

 

(21,565

)

 

 

77,505

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

2,755

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

 

 

 

2,835

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

39,410

 

 

$

32,315

 

 

$

7,436

 

 

$

7,219

 

 

$

2,247

 

 

$

49,217

 

 

$

13,198

 

 

$

(21,485

)

 

$

80,340

 

Operating margin

 

 

13.6

%

 

 

30.5

%

 

 

16.3

%

 

 

24.2

%

 

 

23.0

%

 

 

26.0

%

 

 

15.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

18.2

%

 

 

27.9

%

 

 

16.6

%

 

 

25.8

%

 

 

25.2

%

 

 

24.9

%

 

 

16.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

16.2

%

 

29


 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

405,286

 

 

$

225,540

 

 

$

86,351

 

 

$

53,306

 

 

$

15,857

 

 

$

381,054

 

 

$

190,598

 

 

$

 

 

$

976,938

 

Total revenue

 

$

413,242

 

 

$

232,523

 

 

$

87,753

 

 

$

53,836

 

 

$

15,860

 

 

$

389,972

 

 

$

197,161

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,000,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

85,755

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

927

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,959

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,267

 

Income tax provision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,213

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

54,182

 

 

$

58,446

 

 

$

13,822

 

 

$

12,796

 

 

$

1,801

 

 

$

86,865

 

 

$

30,135

 

 

$

(48,979

)

 

 

122,203

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

16,095

 

 

 

1,770

 

 

 

906

 

 

 

675

 

 

 

643

 

 

 

3,994

 

 

 

1,982

 

 

 

3,421

 

 

 

25,492

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

1,246

 

 

 

1,777

 

 

 

119

 

 

 

87

 

 

 

87

 

 

 

2,070

 

 

 

128

 

 

 

(485

)

 

 

2,959

 

EBITDA

 

 

71,523

 

 

 

61,993

 

 

 

14,847

 

 

 

13,558

 

 

 

2,531

 

 

 

92,929

 

 

 

32,245

 

 

 

(46,043

)

 

 

150,654

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,615

 

 

 

2,615

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

71,523

 

 

$

61,993

 

 

$

14,847

 

 

$

13,558

 

 

$

2,531

 

 

$

92,929

 

 

$

32,245

 

 

$

(43,428

)

 

$

153,269

 

Operating margin

 

 

13.4

%

 

 

25.9

%

 

 

16.0

%

 

 

24.0

%

 

 

11.4

%

 

 

22.8

%

 

 

15.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.5

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

17.6

%

 

 

27.5

%

 

 

17.2

%

 

 

25.4

%

 

 

16.0

%

 

 

24.4

%

 

 

16.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.7

%

 

 

 

Six Months Ended October 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory

 

 

North

America

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

Latin

America

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

RPO & Professional Search

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Fee revenue

 

$

412,464

 

 

$

227,960

 

 

$

91,582

 

 

$

54,231

 

 

$

16,785

 

 

$

390,558

 

 

$

157,751

 

 

$

 

 

$

960,773

 

Total revenue

 

$

421,566

 

 

$

235,079

 

 

$

93,385

 

 

$

54,771

 

 

$

16,815

 

 

$

400,050

 

 

$

163,539

 

 

$

 

 

$

985,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

7,423

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,302

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,440

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,277

)

Operating income (loss)

 

$

(53,653

)

 

$

61,842

 

 

$

14,288

 

 

$

13,408

 

 

$

2,807

 

 

$

92,345

 

 

$

24,161

 

 

$

(46,985

)

 

 

15,868

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

14,395

 

 

 

1,947

 

 

 

465

 

 

 

745

 

 

 

208

 

 

 

3,365

 

 

 

1,522

 

 

 

3,467

 

 

 

22,749

 

Other income (loss), net

 

 

835

 

 

 

(480

)

 

 

362

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

264

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

(1,105

)

 

 

20

 

EBITDA

 

 

(38,423

)

 

 

63,309

 

 

 

15,115

 

 

 

14,405

 

 

 

3,145

 

 

 

95,974

 

 

 

25,709

 

 

 

(44,623

)

 

 

38,637

 

Integration/acquisition costs

 

 

5,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

160

 

 

 

5,942

 

Tradename write-offs

 

 

106,555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

106,555

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

73,914

 

 

$

63,309

 

 

$

15,115

 

 

$

14,405

 

 

$

3,145

 

 

$

95,974

 

 

$

25,709

 

 

$

(44,463

)

 

$

151,134

 

Operating margin

 

 

(13.0

%)

 

 

27.1

%

 

 

15.6

%

 

 

24.7

%

 

 

16.7

%

 

 

23.6

%

 

 

15.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

17.9

%

 

 

27.8

%

 

 

16.5

%

 

 

26.6

%

 

 

18.7

%

 

 

24.6

%

 

 

16.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.7

%

 

Three Months Ended October 31, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended October 31, 2018

Fee Revenue

Fee Revenue. Fee revenue decreased by $2.8 million, or 1%, to $492.4 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $495.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $9.4 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The lower fee revenue was attributable to decline in Executive Search and Advisory offset by growth in RPO & Professional Search.

Advisory. Advisory reported fee revenue of $209.8 million, a decrease of $7.3 million, or 3%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $217.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $4.3 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in fee revenue was primarily due to lower fee revenue in digital and consulting services of $3.9 million and $3.4 million, respectively, during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

Executive Search. Executive Search reported fee revenue of $187.9 million, a decrease of $9.7 million, or 5%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $197.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted

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fee revenue by $3.4 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. As detailed below, there was lower fee revenue in all regions in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to the year-ago quarter. The overall decrease in fee revenue was driven by decreases in fee revenue from the financial services, industrial, and consumer sectors.

North America reported fee revenue of $113.8 million, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $115.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $0.2 million in three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in fee revenue was due to a 1% decrease in the number of engagements billed and a 1% decrease in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement (calculated using local currency) during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”) reported fee revenue of $39.8 million, a decrease of $5.1 million, or 11%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $44.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $2.1 million, or 5%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in fee revenue was due to a 7% decrease in the number of engagements billed during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The performance in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the primary contributors to the decrease in fee revenue, partially offset by increases in Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

Asia Pacific reported fee revenue of $25.9 million, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 7%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $27.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $0.6 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in fee revenue was due to an 8% decrease in the weighted-average fees billed per engagement (calculated using local currency), offset by a 3% increase in the number of engagements billed during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The performance in Australia and China were the primary contributors to the decrease in fee revenue, partially offset by an increase in fee revenue in Singapore and India in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

Latin America reported fee revenue of $8.3 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 7%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $8.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $0.5 million, or 6%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in fee revenue in the region was due to lower fee revenue in Brazil and Mexico, partially offset by higher fee revenue in Chile in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

RPO & Professional Search. RPO & Professional Search reported fee revenue of $94.8 million, an increase of $14.3 million, or 18%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $80.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $1.7 million, or 2% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. Higher fee revenues in RPO & Professional Search of $11.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively, drove the increase in fee revenue.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits expense increased by $1.6 million, to $337.4 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from $335.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $6.0 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase in compensation and benefits was primarily due to an increase in salaries and related payroll taxes related to an increase in average headcount, partially offset by a decrease in performance-related bonus expense in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.  

Advisory compensation and benefits expense decreased by $7.3 million, or 5%, to $134.3 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from $141.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $2.6 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The decrease in compensation and benefits expense was due to a lower performance-related bonus expense and a decrease in integration costs. The decreases in compensation and benefits expense was partially offset by higher salaries and related payroll taxes in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. Advisory compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, decreased to 64% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from 65% in the year-ago quarter.

Executive Search compensation and benefits expense was $124.2 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $124.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $2.1 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. Executive Search compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, increased to 66% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from 63% in the year-ago quarter.

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RPO & Professional Search compensation and benefits expense increased by $9.5 million, or 16%, to $67.3 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from $57.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $1.2 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase was due to higher salaries and related payroll taxes resulting from a 28% increase in the average headcount in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The higher average headcount was driven by the need to service an increase in fee revenue in the RPO business. The increase in compensation and benefits expense was partially offset by lower performance-related bonus expense. RPO & Professional Search compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, decreased to 71% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from 72% in the year-ago quarter.

Corporate compensation and benefits expense decreased by $0.8 million, or 7%, to $11.5 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from $12.3 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a lower performance-related bonus expense in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses was $62.0 million, an increase of $4.3 million, or 7%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $57.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Exchange rates favorably impacted general and administrative expenses by $1.4 million, or 2%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase in general and administrative expenses was due to higher marketing and business development expenses, premise and office expenses and integration and acquisition costs. General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 13% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to 12% in the year-ago quarter.

Advisory general and administrative expenses was $25.4 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $24.1 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase of $1.3 million was mainly due to an increase in marketing and business development expenses. Advisory general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, increased to 12% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from 11% in the year-ago quarter.

Executive Search general and administrative expenses was $18.9 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $19.1 million in the year-ago quarter.  Executive Search general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 10% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

RPO & Professional Search general and administrative expenses was $8.2 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $6.1 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily due to an increase in foreign exchange loss and higher premise and office expenses. RPO & Professional Search general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, increased to 9% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 from 8% in the year-ago quarter.

Corporate general and administrative expenses increased $1.2 million, or 14%, to $9.6 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $8.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily due to an increase in integration/acquisition costs, offset by a decrease in legal and other professional fees during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter.

Cost of Services Expense

Cost of services expense consists primarily of non-billable contractor and product costs related to the delivery of various services and products, primarily in RPO & Professional Search and Advisory. Cost of services expense was $18.4 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $19.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Cost of services expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 4% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses were $12.7 million, an increase of $1.7 million, or 15%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $11.0 million in the year-ago quarter.  The increase relates primarily to technology investments made in the current and prior year in software and computer equipment, in addition to increases in leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures.

Operating Income

Operating income decreased by $9.1 million, or 13%, to $61.9 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $71.0 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease in operating income was primarily driven by decreases in fee revenue and increases in marketing and business development expenses and premise and office expenses.

Advisory operating income was $28.4 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 3%, as compared to $29.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Advisory operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 14% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

32


 

 

Executive Search operating income decreased $10.3 million, or 20%, to $41.2 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $51.5 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease in Executive Search operating income was mainly driven by lower fee revenue. Executive Search operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 22% and 26% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

RPO & Professional Search operating income was $15.1 million, an increase of $2.6 million, or 21%, in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $12.5 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase in operating income was mainly driven by higher fee revenue, offset by increases in compensation and benefits expense and general and administrative expenses. RPO & Professional Search operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 16% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Net Income Attributable to Korn Ferry

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry decreased by $3.2 million, or 7% to $42.8 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $46.0 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses of $4.3 million, lower fee revenue of $2.8 million and an increase in compensation and benefits expense of $1.6 million. This was offset by an increase in other income (loss) of $5.6 million from other income, net of $1.1 million during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to other loss, net of $4.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income attributable to Korn Ferry, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 9% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $2.0 million, or 2%, to $78.3 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $80.3 million in the year-ago quarter. This decrease was driven by lower fee revenue, increases in compensation and benefits expense (excluding integration/acquisition costs) and general and administrative expenses (excluding integration/acquisition costs), offset by an increase in other income (loss), net due to gains generated from the change in the fair value of our marketable securities during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to other loss, net in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 16% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Advisory Adjusted EBITDA was $37.0 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019, a decrease of $2.4 million, or 6%, as compared to $39.4 million in the year-ago quarter. This decrease was driven by lower fee revenue, partially offset by a decrease in compensation and benefits expense during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. Advisory Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 18% in both the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA decreased $5.2 million, or 11%, to $44.0 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $49.2 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was mainly driven by a decrease in fee revenue, during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 23% and 25% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

RPO & Professional Search Adjusted EBITDA was $16.1 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019, an increase of $2.9 million, or 22%, as compared to $13.2 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was driven by higher fee revenue, offset by increases in compensation and benefits expense and general and administrative expenses during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago quarter. RPO & Professional Search Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 17% and 16% in the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Other Income (Loss), Net

Other income, net was $1.1 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to other loss, net of $4.5 million in the year-ago quarter. The difference was primarily due to gains in the fair value of our marketable securities during the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to losses in the year-ago quarter.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net primarily relates to our credit agreement and borrowings under COLI policies, which are partially offset by interest earned on cash and cash equivalent balances. Interest expense, net was $4.2 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $4.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

Income Tax Provision

The provision for income tax was $15.8 million in the three months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $14.8 million in the year-ago quarter. This reflects a 26.8% and 23.9% effective tax rate for the three months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In both periods, the Company’s effective tax rate was higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0%,

33


 

 

primarily due to the impact of U.S. state income taxes and the recognition of taxable income outside the U.S. at higher statutory rates.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest represents the portion of a subsidiary’s net earnings that are attributable to shares of a subsidiary not held by Korn Ferry that are included in the consolidated results of operations. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the three months ended October 31, 2019 was $0.2 million as compared to $1.3 million the three months ended October 31, 2018.

Six Months Ended October 31, 2019 Compared to Six Months Ended October 31, 2018

Fee Revenue

Fee Revenue. Fee revenue increased by $16.1 million, or 2%, to $976.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $960.8 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $20.9 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The higher fee revenue was attributable to growth in RPO & Professional Search offset by decreases in Advisory and Executive Search.

Advisory. Advisory reported fee revenue of $405.3 million, a decrease of $7.2 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $412.5 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $10.0 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Fee revenue from consulting services was lower by $4.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period, with the remaining decrease of $2.5 million was generated by our digital business.

Executive Search. Executive Search reported fee revenue of $381.1 million, a decrease of $9.5 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $390.6 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $7.1 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. As detailed below, Executive Search fee revenue was lower in all regions in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to the year-ago period. The overall decrease in fee revenue was driven by decreases in fee revenue from consumer, financial services, education/non-profit and technology sectors.

North America reported fee revenue of $225.5 million, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 1%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $228.0 million in the year-ago period. North America’s fee revenue was lower due to a 3% decrease in the number of engagements billed, offset by a 2% increase in the weighted-average fees billed per engagement (calculated using local currency) during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

EMEA reported fee revenue of $86.4 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 6%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $91.6 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $4.2 million, or 5%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The change in fee revenue was due to a 2% decrease in the weighted-average fees billed per engagement (calculated using local currency), offset by a 1% increase in the number of engagements billed during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The performance in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden were the primary contributors to the decrease in fee revenue, partially offset by increases in fee revenue in the United Arab Emirates in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Asia Pacific reported fee revenue of $53.3 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $54.2 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $1.5 million, or 3%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The decrease in fee revenue was due to a 4% decrease in the weighted-average fees billed per engagement (calculated using local currency), offset by a 6% increase in the number of engagements billed during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The performance in China and Australia were the primary contributors to the decrease in fee revenue, partially offset by increases in fee revenue in Singapore and Hong Kong in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Latin America reported fee revenue of $15.9 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 5%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $16.8 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $1.0 million, or 6%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The decrease in fee revenue in the region was due to lower fee revenue in Brazil and Colombia in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period, partially offset by higher fee revenue in Chile.

RPO & Professional Search. RPO & Professional Search reported fee revenue of $190.6 million, an increase of $32.8 million, or 21%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $157.8 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates unfavorably impacted fee revenue by $3.8 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Higher fee revenues in RPO & Professional Search of $23.4 million and $9.4 million, respectively, drove the increase in fee revenue.

34


 

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits expense increased $8.2 million, or 1%, to $665.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from $657.7 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $12.9 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The increase in compensation and benefits was primarily due to a 12% increase in average headcount, which contributed to higher salaries and related payroll taxes, offset by a lower performance related bonus expense and a decrease in integration/acquisition costs for the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Advisory compensation and benefits expense decreased by $9.5 million, or 4%, to $257.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from $267.3 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $6.0 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The change was primarily due to a lower performance-related bonus expense and a decrease in integration/acquisition costs, offset by a 3% increase in average headcount, which contributed to higher salaries and related payroll taxes. Advisory compensation and benefits expense as a percentage of fee revenue decreased to 64% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from 65% in the year-ago period.

Executive Search compensation and benefits expense decreased by $3.9 million, or 2%, to $249.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $253.1 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $4.5 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The decrease was primarily due to a lower performance-related bonus expense, partially offset by a 3% increase in average headcount, which contributed to higher salaries and related payroll taxes during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Executive Search compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 65% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

RPO & Professional Search compensation and benefits expense increased by $23.3 million, or 21%, to $136.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from $112.7 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates favorably impacted compensation and benefits by $2.5 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The increase was due to higher salaries and related payroll taxes resulting from a 31% increase in the average headcount in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Also contributing to the increase in compensation and benefits was a higher performance-related bonus expense. RPO & Professional Search compensation and benefits expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 71% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Corporate compensation and benefits expense decreased by $1.8 million, or 7%, to $22.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from $24.6 million in the year-ago period. The decrease was primarily due to lower performance related bonus expense in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $98.7 million, or 44%, to $127.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $226.5 million in the year-ago period. Exchange rates favorably impacted general and administrative expenses by $3.6 million, or 2%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was due to the write-off of tradenames of $106.6 million in the year-ago period related to the Plan, with no such charge in the current period. The decrease in general and administrative expense was partially offset by an increase in marketing and business development expenses and premise and office expenses. General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 13% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to 24% in the six months ended October 31, 2018.

Advisory general and administrative expenses decreased by $104.6 million, or 67%, to $50.5 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 from $155.1 million in the year-ago period. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the write-off of tradenames related to the Plan of $106.6 million in the six months ended October 31, 2018 with no such charge in the current period. Advisory general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 12% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to 38% in the six months ended October 31, 2018.

Executive Search general and administrative expenses was $38.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019, a decrease of $0.9 million, compared to $39.6 million in the year-ago period. The decrease was primarily due to lower legal and other professional fees during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Executive Search general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 10% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

RPO & Professional Search general and administrative expenses increased by $3.0 million, or 23%, to $15.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 and $12.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in premise and office expense.  RPO & Professional Search general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 8% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

35


 

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses increased by $3.8 million, or 20%, to $22.7 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $18.9 million in the year-ago period. The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to integration/acquisition costs and an increase in marketing and business development expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Cost of Services Expense

Cost of services expense consists primarily of non-billable contractor and product costs related to the delivery of various services and products, primarily in RPO & Professional Search and Advisory. Cost of services expense decreased by $2.5 million, or 7%, to $35.5 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $38.0 million in the year-ago period. Cost of services expense, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 4% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses were $25.5 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 12%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $22.7 million in the year-ago period. The increase related primarily to technology investments made in the current and prior year in software and computer equipment, in addition to increases in leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures

Operating Income

Operating income increased by $106.3 million to $122.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to operating income of $15.9 million in the year-ago period. The increase in operating income was primarily driven by the write-off of tradenames of $106.6 million in the year-ago period and higher fee revenue of $16.1 million, offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expense, marketing and business development expenses and premise and office expenses.

Advisory operating income was $54.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019, an increase of $107.9 million, as compared to an operating loss of $53.7 million in the year-ago. The change from operating loss to operating income was primarily due to the write-off of tradenames related to the Plan of $106.6 million in year-ago period and a decrease in compensation and benefits expense, offset by lower fee revenue. Advisory operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 13% in the six months ended October 31, 2018 compared to an operating loss, as a percentage fee revenue, of 13% in the year-ago period. Excluding the tradename write-offs, operating income as a percentage of fee revenue, was 13% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Executive Search operating income decreased by $5.4 million, or 6%, to $86.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $92.3 million in the year-ago period. The decrease in Executive Search operating income was driven by lower fee revenue, offset by a decrease in compensation and benefits expense. Executive Search operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 23% and 24% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

RPO & Professional Search operating income was $30.1 million, an increase of $5.9 million, or 24%, in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $24.2 million in the year-ago period. The increase in operating income was driven by higher fee revenue, offset by increases in compensation and benefits expense and general and administrative expenses. RPO & Professional Search operating income, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 16% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to 15% in the year-ago period.

Net Income Attributable to Korn Ferry

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry increased by $78.4 million to $85.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $7.4 million in the year-ago period. The increase was due to a decrease in operating expenses of $91.1 million and increases in total revenue of $15.2 million and other income (loss), net of $3.0 million, offset by an increase in income tax provision of $31.5 million during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Net income attributable to Korn Ferry, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 9% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to 1% in the six months ended October 31, 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $2.2 million to $153.3 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $151.1 million in the year-ago period. This increase was driven by higher fee revenue and an increase in other income (loss), net, offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expense (excluding integration/acquisition costs) and general and administrative expenses (excluding write-off on tradenames and integration/acquisition costs). Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 16% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Advisory Adjusted EBITDA was $71.5 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019, a decrease of $2.4 million, or 3%, as compared to $73.9 million in the year-ago period. The decrease was driven by lower fee revenue partially offset by a decrease in compensation and benefits expense (excluding integration/acquisition costs) during the six months ended October 31, 2019

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compared to the year-ago period. Advisory Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 18% in both the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018.

Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $3.1 million, or 3%, to $92.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to $96.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2018. The decrease in Executive Search was driven by lower fee revenue, partially offset by decreases in compensation and benefits expense and general administrative expenses, as well as an increase in other income (loss) during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period. Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 24% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 as compared to 25% in the six months ended October 31, 2018.

RPO & Professional Search Adjusted EBITDA was $32.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019, an increase of $6.5 million, or 25%, as compared to $25.7 million in the year-ago period. The increase was driven by higher fee revenue, offset by increases in compensation and benefits expense and general and administrative expenses. RPO & Professional Search Adjusted EBITDA, as a percentage of fee revenue, was 17% in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to 16% in the year-ago period.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net was $3.0 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to minimal income in the year-ago period. The increase was primarily due to gains in the fair value of our marketable securities during the six months ended October 31, 2019.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net primarily relates to our credit agreement and borrowings under our COLI policies, which is partially offset by interest earned on cash and cash equivalent balances. Interest expense, net was $8.3 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $8.4 million in the year-ago period.

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

The provision for income tax was an expense of $30.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to a benefit of $1.3 million in the year-ago period. This reflects a 25.8% (provision) and 17.1% (benefit) effective tax rate for the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In the six months ended October 31, 2019, the Company’s effective tax rate was higher than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% primarily due to the impact of U.S. state income taxes and the recognition of taxable income outside the U.S. at higher statutory tax rates. The effective tax rate for the six months ended October 31, 2018 was affected by the tradename impairment charge related to the Plan and the excess tax benefit on vested stock-based awards, both of which were recorded as discrete during the three months ended July 31, 2018. The excess tax benefit was the amount by which the Company’s tax deduction for these awards, based on the fair market value of the awards on the date of vesting, exceeded the expense recorded in the Company’s financial statements over the awards’ vesting period.

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Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest represents the portion of a subsidiary’s net earnings that are attributable to shares of a subsidiary not held by Korn Ferry that are included in the consolidated results of operations. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the six months ended October 31, 2019 was $0.9 million as compared to $1.3 million for the six months ended October 31, 2018.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company and its Board of Directors endorse a balanced approach to capital allocation. The Company’s priority is to invest in growth initiatives, such as the hiring of consultants, the continued development of IP and derivative products and services, and the investment in synergistic, accretive merger and acquisition transactions that earn a return that is superior to the Company's cost of capital. Next, the Company’s capital allocation approach contemplates the return of a portion of excess capital to stockholders, in the form of a regular quarterly dividend, subject to the factors discussed below and in the “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019. Additionally, the Company considers share repurchases on an opportunistic basis and subject to the terms of our Credit Agreement (defined below).

On December 19, 2018, we entered into a senior secured $650.0 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent to among other things, provide for enhanced financial flexibility. See Note 11—Long-Term Debt for a description of the Credit Agreement. We drew down $226.9 million on the Revolver (defined below) and used the proceeds to pay-off the term loan under our prior credit facility that was outstanding as of December 19, 2018.  On October 29, 2019, we drew down an additional $50.0 million on the Revolver along with cash on hand to finance the recently completed acquisitions. We have $369.9 million available under the Revolver after we drew down $276.9 million and after $3.2 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of October 31, 2019. We had $3.2 million and $2.9 million in standby letters of credit issued under our long-term debt arrangements as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. We had a total of $11.0 million and $8.5 million of standby letters of credits with other financial institutions as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The standby letters of credits were generally issued as a result of entering into office premise leases.

The Board of Directors has adopted a dividend policy to distribute to our stockholders a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share. Every quarter since the adoption of the dividend policy, the Company has declared a quarterly dividend. The declaration and payment of future dividends under the quarterly dividend program will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our earnings, capital requirements, financial conditions, the terms of our indebtedness and other factors our Board of Directors may deem to be relevant. Our Board of Directors may, however, amend, revoke or suspend our dividend policy at any time and for any reason.

On March 6, 2019, our Board of Directors approved an increase to the share repurchase program of approximately $200 million, which brings our available capacity to repurchase shares in the open market or privately negotiated transactions to approximately $250 million. The Company repurchased approximately $61.9 million and $22.7 million of the Company’s stock during the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of October 31, 2019, $188.8 million remained available for common stock repurchases under our share repurchase program. Any decision to continue to execute our currently outstanding share repurchase program will depend on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors. The Credit Agreement permits us to pay dividends to our stockholders and make share repurchases so long as our pro forma net leverage ratio, defined as, the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness minus up to $50 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Company and domestic subsidiaries to consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, is no greater than 3.25 to 1.00, and our pro forma domestic liquidity is at least $50.0 million, including the revolving credit commitment minus amounts outstanding on the Revolver, issued letters of credit and swing loans.

Our performance is subject to the general level of economic activity in the geographic regions and the industries we service. We believe, based on current economic conditions, that our cash on hand and funds from operations and the Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet anticipated working capital, capital expenditures, general corporate requirements, repayment of the debt, share repurchases and dividend payments under our dividend policy during the next twelve months. However, if the national or global economy, credit market conditions and/or labor markets were to deteriorate in the future, such changes could put negative pressure on demand for our services and affect our operating cash flows. If these conditions were to persist over an extended period of time, we may incur negative cash flows and it might require us to access additional borrowings under the Credit Agreement to meet our capital needs and/or discontinue our share repurchases and dividend policy.

Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $609.0 million and $767.1 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. Net of amounts held in trust for deferred compensation plans and accrued bonuses, cash and marketable securities were $345.8 million and $382.1 million at October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, we held $224.4 million and $267.0 million, respectively of cash and cash equivalents in

38


 

 

foreign locations, net of amounts held in trust for deferred compensation plans and to pay fiscal 2020 and 2019 annual bonuses. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less. Marketable securities consist of mutual funds. The primary objectives of our investment in mutual funds are to meet the obligations under certain of our deferred compensation plans.

As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, marketable securities of $144.6 million (net of gross unrealized gains of $7.6 million and gross unrealized losses of $0.6 million) and $140.8 million (net of gross unrealized gains of $6.3 million and gross unrealized losses of $1.0 million), respectively, were held in trust for settlement of our obligations under certain deferred compensation plans, of which $138.1 million and $132.5 million, respectively, are classified as non-current. These marketable securities were held to satisfy vested obligations totaling $131.5 million and $122.3 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. Unvested obligations under the deferred compensation plans totaled $23.2 million and $24.6 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively.

The net increase in our working capital of $13.1 million as of October 31, 2019 compared to April 30, 2019 is primarily attributable to the decrease in compensation and benefits payable and an increase in accounts receivable, offset by a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and an increase in operating lease liability, current as a result of implementing the new lease accounting standard. The increase in accounts receivable was due to an increase in days of sales outstanding, which went from 61 days to 71 days (which is consistent with historical experience) from April 30, 2019 to October 31, 2019. Cash used by operating activities was $104.1 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019, an increase of $71.9 million, compared to $32.2 million in the six months ended October 31, 2018.

Cash used in investing activities was $22.8 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $53.4 million in the year-ago period. A decrease in cash used in investing activities was primarily due to a decrease on premiums on COLI policies, partially offset by a decrease in proceeds from COLI policies during the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Cash used in financing activities was $31.4 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $27.4 million in the six months ended October 31, 2018. The increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the repurchase of common stock of $61.9 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to $22.7 million in the year-ago period and a decrease in borrowings under COLI policies of $31.9 million, partially offset by proceeds from long term debt of $50.0 million, a decrease in cash used to make principal payments on the term loan of $12.0 million and lower cash used to repurchase shares of common stock to satisfy tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of restricted stock of $4.5 million in the six months ended October 31, 2019 compared to the year-ago period.

Cash Surrender Value of Company-Owned Life Insurance Policies, Net of Loans

We purchased COLI policies or contracts insuring the lives of certain employees eligible to participate in the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of funding benefits under such plans. As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, we held contracts with gross CSV of $220.9 million and $219.2 million, respectively. Total outstanding borrowings against the CSV of COLI contracts were $92.3 million and $93.2 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. Such borrowings do not require annual principal repayments, bear interest primarily at variable rates and are secured by the CSV of COLI contracts. At October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, the net cash value of these policies was $128.6 million and $126.0 million, respectively.

Long-Term Debt

On December 19, 2018, we entered into the Credit Agreement to among other things, provide for enhanced financial flexibility. The Credit Agreement provides for, among other things: (a) a $650.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) and (b) certain customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio (as defined below) and a minimum interest coverage ratio. Our Credit Agreement permits payment of dividends to stockholders and share repurchases so long as the pro forma net leverage ratio is no greater than 3.25 to 1.00, and the pro forma domestic liquidity is at least $50.0 million. We drew down $226.9 million on the Revolver and used the proceeds to pay-off the term loan that was outstanding as of December 19, 2018. The pay-off of term loan outstanding under our prior credit facility and draw-down on the Revolver is considered a debt modification and therefore, the previously incurred unamortized and current debt issuance costs will be amortized over the life of the new issuance. On October 29, 2019, we drew down an additional $50.0 million on the Revolver along with cash on hand to finance the recently completed acquisitions.

The principal balance of the Revolver is due on the date of its termination. The Revolver matures on December 19, 2023 and any unpaid principal balance is payable on this date. The Revolver may also be prepaid and terminated early by us at any time without premium or penalty (subject to customary LIBOR breakage fees).

At our option, loans issued under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at either LIBOR or an alternate base rate, in each case plus the applicable interest rate margin. The interest rate applicable to loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may fluctuate between LIBOR plus 1.25% per annum to LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, in the case of LIBOR borrowings (or

39


 

 

between the alternate base rate plus 0.25% per annum and the alternate base rate plus 1.00% per annum, in the alternative), based upon our total funded debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (as set forth in the Credit Agreement, the “consolidated leverage ratio”) at such time. In addition, we will be required to pay to the lenders a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.20% to 0.35% per annum on the average daily unused amount of the Revolver, based upon our consolidated leverage ratio at such time, and fees relating to the issuance of letters of credit. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.37% and 3.53%, respectively. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.39% and 3.31%, respectively.

As of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, $276.9 million and $226.9 million was outstanding under the Revolver. The unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the long-term debt were $3.6 million and $4.0 million as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The fair value of our Revolver is based on borrowing rates currently required of loans with similar terms, maturity and credit risk. The carrying amount of the Revolver approximates fair value because the base interest rate charged varies with market conditions and the credit spread is commensurate with current market spreads for issuers of similar risk. The fair value of the Revolver is classified as a Level 2 liability in the fair value hierarchy. As of October 31, 2019, we were in compliance with our debt covenants.

We had a total of $369.9 million available under the Revolver after we drew down $276.9 million and after $3.2 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of October 31, 2019. We had a total of $420.2 million available under the Revolver after we drew down $226.9 million and after $2.9 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of April 30, 2019. We had a total of $11.0 million and $8.5 million of standby letters of credits with other financial institutions as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively. The standby letters of credits were generally issued as a result of entering into office premise leases.

We are not aware of any other trends, demands or commitments that would materially affect liquidity or those that relate to our resources as of October 31, 2019.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements and have not entered into any transactions involving unconsolidated, special purpose entities. We had no material changes in contractual obligations as of October 31, 2019, as compared to those disclosed in our table of contractual obligations included in our Annual Report.

Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions and changes in the estimates are reported in current operations as new information is learned or upon the amounts becoming fixed or determinable. In preparing our interim consolidated financial statements and accounting for the underlying transactions and balances, we apply our accounting policies as disclosed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. We consider the policies related to revenue recognition, performance related bonuses, deferred compensation, carrying values of receivables, goodwill, intangible assets and recoverability of deferred income taxes as critical to an understanding of our interim consolidated financial statements because their application places the most significant demands on management’s judgment and estimates. Specific risks for these critical accounting policies are described in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies since fiscal 2019.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

As a result of our global operating activities, we are exposed to certain market risks, including foreign currency exchange fluctuations and fluctuations in interest rates. We manage our exposure to these risks in the normal course of our business as described below.

Foreign Currency Risk

Substantially all our foreign subsidiaries’ operations are measured in their local currencies. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the end of each reporting period, and revenue and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange during the reporting period. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net on our consolidated balance sheets.

Transactions denominated in a currency other than the reporting entity’s functional currency may give rise to foreign currency gains or losses that impact our results of operations. Historically, we have not realized significant foreign currency gains or losses on such transactions. During the six months ended October 31, 2019 and 2018, we recorded foreign currency losses of $1.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

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Our exposure to foreign currency exchange rates is primarily driven by fluctuations involving the following currencies — U.S. Dollar, Pound Sterling, Swiss Franc, Euro, Canadian Dollar, Singapore Dollar, Brazilian Real and South Korean Won. Based on balances exposed to fluctuation in exchange rates between these currencies as of October 31, 2019, a 10% increase or decrease in the value of these currencies could result in a foreign exchange gain or loss of $10.9 million. We have a program that primarily utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to offset the risks associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures. These foreign currency forward contracts are neither used for trading purposes nor are they designated as hedging instruments pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

 

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate risk is limited to our Revolver and borrowings against the CSV of COLI contracts. As of October 31, 2019, there was $276.9 million outstanding under the Revolver. At our option, loans issued under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either LIBOR or an alternate base rate, in each case plus the applicable interest rate margin. The interest rate applicable to loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may fluctuate between LIBOR plus 1.25% per annum to LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, in the case of LIBOR borrowings (or between the alternate base rate plus 0.25% per annum and the alternate base rate plus 1.00% per annum, in the alternative), based upon our total funded debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (as set forth in the Credit Agreement, the “consolidated net leverage ratio”) at such time. A 100-basis point increase in LIBOR rates would have increased our interest expense by approximately $0.6 million and $1.2 million for the three and six months ended October 31, 2019. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2019, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.37% and 3.53% respectively. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2018, the average interest rate on our long-term debt arrangements was 3.39% and 3.31%, respectively.

To mitigate this interest rate risk, we entered into an interest rate swap contract in March 2017 with an initial notional amount of $129.8 million to hedge the variability to changes in cash flows attributable to interest rate risks caused by changes in interest rates related to our variable rate debt. We have designated the swap as a cash flow hedge. As of October 31, 2019, the notional amount was $99.7 million. The interest rate swap agreement matures on June 15, 2021 and locks the interest rates on a portion of our outstanding debt at 1.919%, exclusive of the credit spread on the debt.

We had $92.3 million and $93.2 million of borrowings against the CSV of COLI contracts as of October 31, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively, bearing interest primarily at variable rates. The risk of fluctuations in these variable rates is minimized by the fact that we receive a corresponding adjustment to our borrowed funds crediting rate which has the effect of increasing the CSV on our COLI contracts.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

a)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) conducted as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.

b)

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended October 31, 2019 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, we are involved in litigation both as a plaintiff and a defendant, relating to claims arising out of our operations. As of the date of this report, we are not engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In our Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2019, we described material risk factors facing our business. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. As of the date of this report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in our Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuers Purchases of Equity Securities

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table summarizes common stock repurchased by us during the quarter ended October 31, 2019:

 

 

Shares

Purchased (1)

 

 

Average

Price Paid

Per Share

 

 

Shares Purchased

as Part of Publicly-

Announced

Programs (2)

 

 

Approximate Dollar

Value of Shares

That May Yet be

Purchased Under

the Programs (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 1, 2019 — August 31, 2019

 

 

598,592

 

 

$

38.06

 

 

 

598,592

 

 

$215.2 million

September 1, 2019— September 30, 2019

 

 

369,096

 

 

$

38.13

 

 

 

367,500

 

 

$201.2 million

October 1, 2019— October 31, 2019

 

 

344,986

 

 

$

36.15

 

 

 

343,000

 

 

$188.8 million

Total

 

 

1,312,674

 

 

$

37.58

 

 

 

1,309,092

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents withholding of a portion of restricted shares to cover taxes on vested restricted shares and shares purchased as part of our publicly announced programs.

(2)

On March 6, 2019, our Board of Directors approved an increase to the share repurchase program to an aggregate of $250 million. The shares can be repurchased in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions at the Company’s discretion. The share repurchase program has no expiration date. We repurchased approximately $49.2 million of the Company’s common stock under the program during the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Our Credit Agreement, dated December 19, 2018, permits us to pay dividends to our stockholders and make share repurchases so long as our pro forma net leverage ratio, defined as, the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness minus up to $50 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Company and domestic subsidiaries to consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, is no greater than 3.25 to 1.00, and our pro forma domestic liquidity is at least $50.0 million, including the revolving credit commitment minus amounts outstanding on the revolver, issued letters of credit and swing loans.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

3.1*

 

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, effective January 1, 2019, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 13, 2018.

 

3.2*

 

Seventh Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective January 1, 2019, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 13, 2018.

 

3.3*

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, effective January 7, 2019, filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed March 11, 2019.

 

10.1*

 

Fourth Amendment and Restated Korn Ferry 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, effective August 19, 2019, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 7, 2019.

 

31.1

 

Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.

 

31.2

 

Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act.

 

32.1

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

101.INS

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

104

 

The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2019, has been formatted in Inline XBRL and included as Exhibit 101.

 

 

*

Incorporated herein by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

Korn Ferry

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert P. Rozek

 

 

Robert P. Rozek

 

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Corporate Officer

(Duly Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Date: December 6, 2019

 

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