JLL Reports Second-Quarter 2020 Results

CHICAGO, August 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE: JLL) today reported operating performance for the second quarter of 2020 with diluted earnings per share of $0.29 and adjusted diluted earnings per share¹ of $0.71.

• Consolidated revenue was $3.7 billion and fee revenue¹ was $1.2 billion, decreases of 13% and 22%, respectively
• Transaction-based service lines heavily impacted by pandemic
• Resilience of Property & Facility Management, led by Corporate Solutions, demonstrated the strength of globally-diversified platform
• LaSalle delivered stable advisory fees
• Significant debt reduction continued to underscore strong balance sheet and liquidity
• Receivables collection efforts in all segments drove impressive quarterly operating cash inflows

"Our second quarter top-line performance demonstrated the benefit of a globally diversified and integrated platform amidst unprecedented operating conditions. Next to the safety of our employees, we have focused our complete attention toward serving our clients during these challenging times, and maximizing the generation and preservation of cash," said Christian Ulbrich, JLL CEO. "Driving a $450 million reduction to net debt this quarter reinforced our financial strength and liquidity. We are well-positioned to withstand the impact of the pandemic and then resume our growth journey."

Consolidated Second-Quarter 2020 Performance Highlights:

The COVID-19 pandemic (the "pandemic") continued to disrupt JLL's operations this quarter as lock-downs and building closures remained in place across the globe. Transaction-based service lines were most impacted as a result of delays to leasing and capital markets transactions. At the same time, professionals across the globe, notably in Corporate Solutions and other annuity businesses, have expanded work with clients to ensure continuity of critical operations, facilitate the rapid deployment of temporary medical facilities, and develop and implement safe return-to-work measures. In response to the pandemic's ongoing disruptions to revenue and business operations, the company expanded cost mitigation efforts initiated in the first quarter across most operating expense categories. In addition, various government relief programs around the world provided both grants/subsidies (approximately $28 million net benefit this quarter, focused in EMEA and Asia Pacific) as well as payment deferral opportunities for cash obligations such as payroll taxes and other social charges. These actions enhanced job retention and financial flexibility, positioning JLL to emerge from the pandemic with strength to capture significant market share.

RES revenue and fee revenue declined across all three geographic segments and in all service lines except Property & Facility Management, which was driven by Corporate Solutions. Capital Markets included $70.8 million of incremental revenue from HFF ($73.3 million of fee revenue), which partially offset the decline in market volumes across the globe.

LaSalle delivered another quarter of solid advisory fees, with an overall decline in revenue primarily due to expected lower incentive fees.

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $15.2 million, compared with $110.5 million last year, and adjusted EBITDA was $198.9 million, compared with $226.7 million in 2019. Diluted earnings per share were $0.29, down from $2.40 in 2019; adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.20, compared with $2.94 last year.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 8.3% in USD (8.1% in local currency), compared with 13.9% in the prior-year quarter. The margin contraction was primarily due to the decline in fee revenue, especially within transaction-based service lines, partially offset by the cost reduction initiatives and government relief programs noted above. Refer to the following segment performance highlights for additional details.

Cash Flows and Balance Sheet:

Cash used by operating activities was $44.7 million for the first half of 2020, compared with $483.1 million used in the prior year. The substantial decrease in cash used was the result of strong cash collection on trade receivables in the second quarter and participation in government relief programs (including deferral of cash payments as noted above). These items were partially offset by lower 2020 net income as well as increased incentive compensation paid in the first quarter of 2020 compared with 2019.

Total net debt was $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2020, representing a decrease of nearly $450 million from March 31, 2020, and an increase of approximately $180 million from June 30, 2019. The significant decrease from the first quarter reflects the operating cash flow drivers noted above. The increase in net debt compared with June 30, 2019, was driven by the residual borrowings on the company's credit facility in conjunction with the Q3 2019 HFF acquisition.

Americas Second-Quarter 2020 Performance Highlights:

The pandemic acutely affected the Americas transaction-based service lines. U.S. Leasing revenue reflected substantial declines in office, however; JLL outperformed market declines in gross absorption. Strong growth in industrial partially offset the lower office leasing activity. Notably reduced investment sales and debt placement activity impacted Capital Markets revenue, which included $70.6 million of incremental revenue contributions from HFF ($73.2 million of fee revenue). Property & Facility Management achieved significant fee revenue growth driven by new client wins, Corporate Solutions client expansions and pandemic-response facility management projects.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 10.8% in USD and local currency, compared with 16.5% in 2019. The decline in profitability was primarily attributable to transaction-based service lines and the timing of incentive compensation expense accruals, partially offset by Property & Facility Management fee revenue growth. The current-quarter margin also reflected a strategic focus on job retention, positioning JLL to emerge from the pandemic with strength.

EMEA Second-Quarter 2020 Performance Highlights:

EMEA's revenue and fee revenue for the quarter were meaningfully impacted by pandemic-related mandatory country shut-downs. Transaction-based revenues were significantly lower, especially in the UK and France. The decline in Property & Facility Management fee revenue was primarily due to (i) approximately $20 million of lower fee revenue in the UK mobile engineering business, largely a result of work delays from client office closures, and (ii) the absence of approximately $9 million of prior-year fee revenue relating to property management businesses in continental Europe that were sold in late 2019. Pandemic-driven work stoppages across EMEA more than offset continued growth in MENA within Project & Development Services fee revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was negative 8.8% in USD (negative 8.9% in local currency), compared with 2.5% last year. The decline in profitability resulted primarily from transaction-based revenue declines and losses recognized on three discrete contracts nearing completion or termination, partially offset by the impact of government relief programs (nearly $14 million). These relief programs, many of which involved temporary furloughs that reduced costs while preserving jobs, helped JLL retain its ability to efficiently restore operations to pre-pandemic levels.

Asia Pacific Second-Quarter 2020 Performance Highlights:

Asia Pacific's transaction-based revenue was substantially impacted by the pandemic. In particular, office leasing revenue was significantly lower, most notably in India, Australia and Greater China. Capital Markets revenue declines were primarily realized in Australia and Singapore, reflecting the pause on deal activity, especially large transactions. Resiliency in Property & Facility Management fee revenue was driven by new client wins and expansion of existing mandates for Corporate Solutions as the business continued to deliver services to clients. Delays in project activity within Project & Development Services continued from the first quarter as a result of pandemic-driven office closures and work stoppages.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 13.1% in USD (12.6% in local currency), compared with 12.8% in 2019. The decline in transaction-based revenue was more than offset by lower operating expenses, which included nearly $14 million of net benefit from government relief programs. These programs required or supported the retention of employees which helped position JLL to emerge from the pandemic with strength.

LaSalle Second-Quarter 2020 Performance Highlights:

LaSalle's solid advisory fees reflected strong private equity capital raising over the trailing twelve months offset by recent valuation declines in assets under management. An outsized 2019 performance drove the expected decline in incentive fees.

Equity earnings in the current quarter were substantially attributable to an increased share price of a co-investment in a LaSalle-managed publicly traded REIT in Japan.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 28.2% in USD (27.9% in local currency), compared with 33.7% last year. The margin decline was largely attributable to the lower incentive fees.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion in 2019, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of nearly 93,000 as of June 30, 2020. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit ir.jll.com.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding, among other things, future financial results and performance, achievements, plans, objectives and dividend payments may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including but not limited to, the material adverse effect that the pandemic is having on our business, which may cause the company's actual results, performance, achievements, plans, objectives and dividend payments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For additional information concerning risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and risks to the company's business in general, please refer to those factors discussed under "Business," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," and elsewhere in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, management expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations or results, or any change in events.

JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED
Financial Statement Notes

1.   Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to develop budgets and forecasts, measure and reward performance against those budgets and forecasts, and enhance comparability to prior periods. These measures are believed to be useful to investors and other external stakeholders as supplemental measures of core operating performance and include the following:

(i)  Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses,

(ii)  Adjusted EBITDA attributable to common shareholders ("Adjusted EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA margin,

(iii)  Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, and

(iv)  Percentage changes against prior periods, presented on a local currency basis.

However, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to measures determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Any measure that eliminates components of a company's capital structure, cost of operations or investments, or other results has limitations as a performance measure. In light of these limitations, management also considers GAAP financial measures and does not rely solely on non-GAAP financial measures. Because the company's non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjustments to GAAP Financial Measures Used to Calculate non-GAAP Financial Measures

Gross Contract Costs represent certain costs associated with client-dedicated employees and third-party vendors and subcontractors and are indirectly reimbursed through the fees we receive. These costs are presented on a gross basis in Operating expenses with the corresponding fees in Revenue before reimbursements. However, as we generally earn little to no margin on such costs, excluding gross contract costs from both Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses more accurately reflects how the company manages its expense base and operating margins and also enables a more consistent performance assessment across a portfolio of contracts with varying payment terms and structures, including those with direct versus indirect reimbursement of such costs.

Net Non-Cash Mortgage Servicing Rights ("MSR") and Mortgage Banking Derivative Activity consists of the balances presented within Revenue composed of (i) derivative gains/losses resulting from mortgage banking loan commitment and warehousing activity and (ii) gains recognized from the retention of MSR upon origination and sale of mortgage loans, offset by (iii) amortization of MSR intangible assets over the period that net servicing income is projected to be received. Non-cash derivative gains/losses resulting from mortgage banking loan commitment and warehousing activity are calculated as the estimated fair value of loan commitments and subsequent changes thereof, primarily represented by the estimated net cash flows associated with future servicing rights. MSR gains and corresponding MSR intangible assets are calculated as the present value of estimated cash flows over the estimated mortgage servicing periods. The above activity is reported entirely within Revenue of the Capital Markets service line of the Americas segment. Excluding net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity reflects how the company manages and evaluates performance because the excluded activity is non-cash in nature.

Restructuring and Acquisition Charges primarily consist of: (i) severance and employment-related charges, including those related to external service providers, incurred in conjunction with a structural business shift, which can be represented by a notable change in headcount, change in leadership or transformation of business processes; (ii) acquisition, transaction and integration-related charges, including fair value adjustments, which are generally non-cash in the periods such adjustments are made, to assets and liabilities recorded in purchase accounting such as earn-out liabilities and intangible assets; and (iii) lease exit charges. Such activity is excluded as the amounts are generally either non-cash in nature or the anticipated benefits from the expenditures would not likely be fully realized until future periods. Restructuring and acquisition charges are excluded from segment operating results and therefore not a line item in the segments' reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA.

Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangibles, primarily composed of the estimated fair value ascribed at closing of an acquisition to assets such as acquired management contracts, customer backlog and relationships, and trade name, is more notable following the company's increase in acquisition activity in recent years. Such non-cash activity is excluded as the change in period-over-period activity is generally the result of longer-term strategic decisions and therefore not necessarily indicative of core operating results.

Gain on Disposition reflects the net gain recognized on the sale of property management businesses in continental Europe. Given the low frequency of business disposals by the company historically, the gain directly associated with such activity is excluded as it is not considered indicative of core operating performance.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Below are reconciliations of (i) Revenue to Fee revenue and (ii) Operating expenses to Fee-based operating expenses:

Below is (i) a reconciliation of Net income attributable to common shareholders to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) the Net income margin attributable to common shareholders (against Revenue before reimbursements), and (iii) the Adjusted EBITDA margin (presented on a local currency and on a fee-revenue basis). Following this is the (i) reconciliation to adjusted net income and (ii) components of adjusted diluted earnings per share.

Operating Results - Local Currency

In discussing operating results, the company reports Adjusted EBITDA margins and refers to percentage changes in local currency, unless otherwise noted. Amounts presented on a local currency basis are calculated by translating the current period results of foreign operations to U.S. dollars using the foreign currency exchange rates from the comparative period. Management believes this methodology provides a framework for assessing performance and operations excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations.

The following table reflects the reconciliation to local currency amounts for consolidated (i) revenue, (ii) fee revenue, (iii) operating income and (iv) Adjusted EBITDA.

2.   The company considers "annuity revenue" to be (i) 100% of Property & Facility Management, (ii) 50% of Leasing, (iii) 50% of Project & Development Services, (iv) 50% of Advisory, Consulting and Other Revenue, and (v) 100% of LaSalle Advisory and Transaction fees. For purposes of distinguishing organic from acquisition-related contributions, the population of acquisitions includes those completed in the trailing four quarters inclusive of the current reported quarter.

3.   Each geographic segment offers the company's full range of RES businesses consisting primarily of (i) tenant representation and agency leasing, (ii) capital markets, (iii) property management and facilities management, (iv) project and development services, and (v) advisory, consulting and valuations services. LaSalle provides investment management services to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals.

4.   Restructuring and acquisition charges are excluded from the company's measure of segment operating results, although they are included within consolidated Operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of segment operating results, the allocation of restructuring and acquisition charges to the segments is not a component of management's assessment of segment performance.

The table below shows restructuring and acquisition charges. Included in the following table was $20.1 million and $41.4 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $3.2 million and $9.7 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 of charges relating to the acquisition and integration of HFF (including transaction/deal costs, retention and severance expense, early lease termination costs, and other integration expenses).

5.   The consolidated statements of cash flows are presented in summarized form. For complete consolidated statements of cash flows, please refer to the company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, to be filed with the SEC in the near future.

6.   As of June 30, 2020, LaSalle had $65.0 billion of real estate assets under management (AUM), composed of $30.9 billion invested in separate accounts, $30.4 billion invested in fund management vehicles and $3.7 billion invested in public securities. The geographic distribution of separate accounts and fund management investments was $20.9 billion in North America, $15.0 billion in the UK, $10.6 billion in Asia Pacific and $8.4 billion in continental Europe. The remaining $6.4 billion relates to Global Partner Solutions which is a global business line.

AUM decreased 6% in USD (decreased 4% in local currency) from $69.5 billion as of March 31, 2020. The decrease in AUM resulted from (i)$3.1 billion of dispositions and withdrawals, (ii) $1.9 billion of net valuation decreases, and (iii) $1.6 billion of foreign currency decreases, partially offset by (iv) $2.1 billion of acquisitions.

Assets under management data for separate accounts and fund management amounts are reported on a one-quarter lag. In addition, LaSalle raised $1.7 billion in private equity capital for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

7.   EMEA: Europe, Middle East and Africa. MENA: Middle East and North Africa. Greater China: China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

8.   n/m: not meaningful, represented by a percentage change of greater than 100%, favorably or unfavorably.

SOURCE JLL-IR