Korn/Ferry International Announces Fiscal 2012 and Fourth Quarter Results of Operations

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions, announced near record FY'12 fee revenue of $790.5 million compared to fee revenue of $744.3 million in FY'11. 

"I am pleased with our results for the fiscal year and our overall progress in making the Korn/Ferry brand synonymous with talent management," said Gary Burnison, CEO of Korn/Ferry International.  For the fiscal year, we increased our global revenue 6% to $790 million, with an adjusted operating margin of almost 11 percent. "We have continued to elevate our business.  For Executive Search, we have now increased our average fee nearly 50% over the past five years.  Our newer offerings, Futurestep and Leadership and Talent Consulting, experienced double digit growth for the fiscal year, further validating our differentiated strategy.  Looking forward, most businesses are fighting seemingly increasing headwinds.  Nevertheless, driven by our diversified strategy, we will continue to build a brand for Korn/Ferry that is strongly tied to the attraction, engagement, development and retention of an organization's talent."

Financial Results
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Fiscal 2012 results

Fee revenue was $790.5 million in FY'12 compared to $744.3 million in FY'11, an increase of $46.2 million, or 6%, with increases in fee revenue in all regions of Executive Recruitment, due to increases  in our leadership and talent consulting services, and an increase in Futurestep.  The increase in fee revenue was driven by a 4% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement during FY'12 as compared to FY'11 and a 2% increase in the overall number of engagements billed during the same period.  Weighted-average fees billed are impacted by the mix of engagements by geography and segment, and fluctuating foreign currencies.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $27.9 million, or 4%.

Compensation and benefit expenses were $534.2 million in FY'12, an increase of $26.8 million, or 5%, compared to $507.4 million in FY'11.  The increase in compensation and benefit expenses was primarily due to a 14% increase in salaries and related payroll taxes in FY'12 as compared to FY'11 due in large part to a 12% growth in average worldwide headcount, and to a lesser extent, $1.9 million of separation charges related to changes in certain Corporate and Futurestep leadership positions recorded in FY'12.  The growth in average worldwide headcount was primarily due to an increase in execution and support staff to support our growth in Futurestep and other business activities.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense was partially offset by a decrease in performance related bonus expense, which was impacted by a change in the mix of business.  On a constant currency basis, compensation and benefit expenses increased $13.6 million, or 3%.

General and administrative expenses were $138.9 million in FY'12, an increase of $22.4 million, or 19%, from $116.5 million in FY'11.  The increase was attributable to an increase in legal and other professional fees, premise and office expenses, and business development expenses, which includes costs associated with social media initiatives.  Also contributing to the increase in general and administrative expenses were foreign exchange transaction losses in FY'12 compared to foreign exchange transaction gains in FY'11.  Partially, offsetting these increases was a decrease in bad debt expense due to greater than anticipated collections in FY'12.  On a constant currency basis, general and administrative expenses increased $18.4 million, or 16%.

Operating income was $82.9 million in FY'12 compared to operating income of $85.8 million in FY'11, a decrease of $2.9 million, or 3%.

Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter Results   

Fee revenue was $198.1 million in Q4 FY'12 compared to $197.3 million in Q4 FY'11, an increase of $0.8 million, which reflects a $4.0 million increase in fee revenue in Futurestep offset by a $3.2 million decrease in Executive Recruitment fee revenue.  The increase in fee revenue was driven by a 7% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement, which was partially offset by a 6% decrease in the overall number of engagements billed compared to the year-ago fiscal quarter.  Weighted-average fee billed per engagement is impacted by the mix of engagements by geography and segment, and fluctuating foreign currencies.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $2.0 million.

Compensation and benefit expenses were $139.6 million in Q4 FY'12, an increase of $6.1 million, or 5%, compared to $133.5 million in Q4 FY'11.  The increase in compensation and benefit expenses was primarily due to an increase in salaries and related payroll taxes in Q4 FY'12 compared to Q4 FY'11 due in large part to an increase in the worldwide headcount to support the growth in Futurestep.  Compensation and benefits during Q4 FY'12 included $1.9 million of separation charges related to changes in certain corporate and Futurestep leadership positions.  On a constant currency basis, compensation and benefits increased $7.3 million, or 5%.

General and administrative expenses were $34.7 million in Q4 FY'12, an increase of $5.7 million, or 20%, from $29.0 million in Q4 FY'11.  This increase was attributable to an increase in legal and other professional fees and a foreign exchange transaction loss in Q4 FY'12 compared to a gain in the same quarter last year.  Offsetting these increases was a decrease in bad debt expense due to greater than anticipated collections in Q4 FY'12.  Also in Q4 FY'11, we decreased the fair value contingent consideration from a prior acquisition, which reduced general and administrative expenses.  There was no corresponding reduction in fair value of contingent consideration in Q4 FY'12.  On a constant currency basis, general and administrative expenses increased $5.9 million, or 20%.

Operating income was $15.4 million in Q4 FY'12 compared to operating income of $26.2 million in Q4 FY'11, a decrease of $10.8 million, or 41%. 

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash and marketable securities were $417.7 million at April 30, 2012 compared to $369.1 million at April 30, 2011.  Cash and marketable securities include $82.2 million and $71.4 million held in trust for deferred compensation plans at April 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Cash and marketable securities increased by $48.6 million from April 30, 2011, mainly due to cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by the payment of FY'11 annual bonuses paid in Q1 FY'12.

Results by Segment

Selected Executive Recruitment Data
(dollars in millions)

Fiscal 2012 Results - Executive Recruitment

Fee revenue was $676.6 million in FY'12 compared to $654.1 million in FY'11, an increase of $22.5 million, or 3%, mainly due to an increase in fee revenue in our leadership and talent consulting services.  The increase in fee revenue was driven by a 2% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement in FY'12 as compared to FY'11 and a 1% increase in the number of executive recruitment engagements billed during the same period.  Weighted-average fees billed are impacted by the mix of engagements by geography and fluctuating foreign currencies.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $9.1 million, or 1%.

Operating income was $128.5 million in FY'12 compared to operating income of $111.4 million in FY'11, an increase of $17.1 million, or 15%.  The increase is primarily attributable to a $22.5 million increase in fee revenue and a decrease of restructuring charges, net of $1.4 million, which was offset by an increase in compensation and benefit expenses and general and administrative expenses of $3.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively, during FY'12 compared to FY'11.  The increase in compensation and benefit expenses primarily resulted from a 7% increase in salaries and related payroll taxes due in large part to a 5% growth in average executive recruitment headcount.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increases in premise and office expenses and an increase in foreign exchange transaction losses, partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense due to greater than anticipated collections in FY'12. 

Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter Results

Fee revenue was $168.8 million in Q4 FY'12, a decrease of $3.2 million, or 2%, when compared to fee revenue of $172.0 million in Q4 FY'11.  Fee revenue decreased primarily due to a 6% decrease in the number of executive recruitment engagements billed driven by decreases in engagements opened in the Asian and European regions, which was partially offset by a 4% increase in the weighted-average fee per engagement billed when compared to Q4 FY'11.  Weighted-average fee billed per engagement is impacted by the mix of engagements by geography and fluctuating foreign currencies.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue decreased $2.2 million, or 1%. 

Operating income was $28.0 million in Q4 FY'12 compared to operating income of $30.7 million in Q4 FY'11, a decrease of $2.7 million.  This decrease is primarily attributed to the $3.2 million decrease in fee revenue and an increase in compensation and benefit expenses of $0.8 million, offset by a $0.9 million decrease in general and administrative expenses, in Q4 FY'12 as compared to Q4 FY'11.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense primarily resulted from an increase in the variable component of compensation when compared to prior year.  The decrease in general and administrative expenses was due to a reduction in bad debt expense due to greater than anticipated collections in Q4 FY'12, offset by a foreign exchange transaction loss in Q4 FY'12 compared to a gain in the same quarter last year.

Selected Futurestep Data
(dollars in millions)

Fiscal 2012 Results - Futurestep

Fee revenue was $113.9 million in FY'12, an increase of $23.7 million, or 26%, from $90.2 million in FY'11.  The increase in Futurestep's fee revenue was driven by a 23% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement, driven by revenue growth in recruitment process outsourcing engagements which have higher average fees per engagement and middle-management recruitment, and a 3% increase in the number of engagements billed in FY'12 compared to FY'11.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $18.8 million, or 21%.

Operating income was $6.3 million in FY'12 compared to operating income of $5.0 million in FY'11, an increase of $1.3 million, primarily due to the $23.7 million increase in Futurestep fee revenue during FY'12, as compared to FY'11, which was offset by increases of $19.1 million and $3.1 million in Futurestep compensation and benefit expenses and general and administrative expenses, respectively.  The increase in compensation and benefit expenses was primarily due to a 30% increase in average headcount.  The increase in general and administrative expenses was due to an increase in premise and office expense and an increase in business development related to the increase in the overall business activities.

Fiscal 2012 Fourth Quarter Results

Fee revenue was $29.3 million in Q4 FY'12, an increase of $4.0 million, or 16%, from $25.3 million in Q4 FY'11.  The improvement in fee revenue was driven by a 24% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement, which was driven by revenue growth in recruitment process outsourcing engagements, which have higher average fees per engagement, and partially offset by a 7% decrease in the number of engagements billed.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $4.2 million, or 17%.

Operating income was $0.8 million in Q4 FY'12 compared to operating income of $1.5 million in Q4 FY'11, a decrease of $0.7 million, primarily due to a decrease in operating income in the European region, partially offset by an increase in operating income in the other Futurestep regions.  This decrease was primarily attributed to separation charges related to changes in certain leadership positions of $0.9 million offset by $0.2 million in incremental margin relating to the increase in fee revenue.

Outlook

Given the uncertainty and challenges facing the global economy and financial markets, it is particularly difficult to accurately forecast business results.  Assuming economic conditions, financial markets and foreign exchange rates remain steady, Q1 FY'13 fee revenue is likely to be in the range of $172 million to $188 million and diluted earnings per share is likely to be in the range of $0.14 to $0.22. 

Earnings Conference Call Webcast

The earnings conference call will be held today at 5:00 PM (EDT) and hosted by CEO Gary Burnison, CFO Robert Rozek and SVP Finance Gregg Kvochak.  The conference call will be webcast and available online at www.kornferry.com, accessible through the Investor Relations section.

Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), with a presence throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions.  Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to attract, deploy, develop and reward their talent.  Visit www.kornferry.com for more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, and www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release and our conference call that relate to future results and events ("forward-looking statements") are based on Korn/Ferry's current expectations.  These statements, which include words such as "believes", "expects" or "likely" include references to our outlook.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.  Actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the control of Korn/Ferry.  The potential risks and uncertainties include those relating to competition, the dependence on attracting and retaining qualified and experienced consultants, maintaining our brand name and professional reputation, potential legal liability, the 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 the growth, alignment of our cost structure with our growth, restrictions imposed by off-limits agreements, reliance on information processing systems, cyber security vulnerabilities, limited protection of our intellectual property, our ability to enhance and develop new technology, the successful integration of acquired businesses, our ability to develop new products and services, our ability to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problems,  changes in our accounting estimates/assumptions, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, deferred tax assets and employment liability risk.  For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties that could cause differences, please refer to Korn/Ferry's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Korn/Ferry disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information calculated other than in accordance with U.S.  Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").  In particular, it includes:

• adjusted operating income and operating margin, adjusted to exclude separation and restructuring charges, net;
• adjusted net income, adjusted to exclude separation and restructuring charges, net of the income tax effect, and certain tax adjustments;
• adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share, adjusted to exclude separation and restructuring charges, net, and certain tax adjustments; and
• constant currency amounts that represent the outcome that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reported period been the same as those in effect in the comparable prior year period.

This non-GAAP disclosure has limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for financial information determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Management believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures in this press release provides meaningful supplemental information regarding Korn/Ferry's performance by excluding certain charges that may not be indicative of Korn/Ferry's ongoing operating results.  The use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate comparisons to Korn/Ferry's historical performance.  Korn/Ferry includes these non-GAAP financial measures because management believes they are 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.  In the case of constant currency amounts, management believes the presentation of such amount provides meaningful supplemental information regarding Korn/Ferry's performance as excluding the impact of exchange rate changes on Korn/Ferry's financial performance allows investors to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the Company's operating results, to better identify operating trends that may otherwise be masked or distorted by exchange rate changes and to perform related trend analysis, and provides a higher degree of transparency of information used by management in its evaluation of Korn/Ferry's ongoing operations and financial and operational decision-making.

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SOURCE Korn/Ferry International

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