Korn/Ferry International Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results of Operations

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions, announced Q2 FY'12 diluted earnings per share of $0.32 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.30 in Q2 FY'11.  Excluding net adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges of $2.1 million, diluted earnings per share was $0.33 in Q2 FY'11.

"I am proud of Korn/Ferry's accomplishments during the quarter, which includes eight percent year over year growth and an operating margin of 12.7 percent," said Gary D. Burnison, CEO of Korn/Ferry International.  "With regard to talent, the business world continues to operate a two-speed labor cycle.  Businesses today are doing more with less, placing ever-increasing demands on leaner, skilled workforces highlighting the universal need to attract, develop and retain top people.  Through our diversified business, we are well positioned to not only assist our clients in solving these complex human capital needs but by doing so, ensure their competitive success."

Financial Results

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Fee revenue was $200.2 million in Q2 FY'12 compared to $185.4 million in Q2 FY'11, an increase of $14.8 million or 8%.  This increase reflects increases in fee revenue from all operating segments of the business driven primarily by a 10% increase in the overall number of engagements billed, which was partially offset by a 2% decrease in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement compared to the year-ago fiscal quarter.  Weighted-average fee billed is impacted by the mix of engagements by segment, fluctuating foreign currencies and in the current quarter was driven by growth in Futurestep which has lower average fees than Executive Recruitment.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $9.2 million, or 5%.

Compensation and benefit expenses were $131.5 million in Q2 FY'12, an increase of $3.9 million, or 3%, compared to $127.6 million in Q2 FY'11.  The increase is attributable mainly to a 17% increase in salaries and benefits due in large part to a 14% increase in worldwide average headcount compared to the year-ago fiscal quarter, partially offset by a reduction in the variable component of compensation.  The increase in worldwide headcount is primarily driven by the growth in Futurestep.  On a constant currency basis, compensation and benefits decreased $0.3 million.

General and administrative expenses were $34.2 million in Q2 FY'12, an increase of $6.8 million from $27.4 million in Q2 FY'11.  This increase is largely attributable to an increase in legal and other professional fees, and to a lesser extent, an increase in premise and office expenses (due primarily to the timing of renewals of existing leases) and business development expenses.  On a constant currency basis, general and administrative expenses increased $5.5 million.

Operating income was $25.4 million in Q2 FY'12 compared to operating income of $19.8 million in Q2 FY'11, an increase of $5.6 million, or 28%.  After excluding restructuring charges of $2.1 million in Q2 FY'11, operating income was $21.9 million, an increase of $3.5 million, or 16%, compared to Q2 FY'12.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash and marketable securities were $318.1 million at October 31, 2011 compared to $369.1 million at April 30, 2011.  Cash and marketable securities include $78.4 million and $71.4 million held in trust for deferred compensation plans at October 31, 2011 and April 30, 2011, respectively.  Cash and marketable securities decreased by $51.0 million from April 30, 2011, mainly due to payment of FY'11 annual bonuses paid in Q1 FY'12, partially offset by cash provided by operating activities.

Results by Segment

Selected Executive Recruitment Data

(dollars in millions)

Fee revenue was $171.6 million in Q2 FY'12, an increase of $7.5 million, or 5%, when compared to fee revenue of $164.1 million in Q2 FY'11.  Fee revenue increased in all regions due to a 14% increase in the number of executive recruitment engagements billed, which was partially offset by an 8% decrease in the weighted-average fee per engagement billed when compared to Q2 FY'11.  Weighted-average fee billed is impacted by the mix of engagements by region and fluctuating foreign currencies.  The decrease in weighted-average fee per engagement was due to strong growth in leadership and talent consulting services which have a lower average fee per engagement.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $3.0 million, or 2%. 

Operating income was $36.8 million in Q2 FY'12 compared to operating income of $23.9 million in Q2 FY'11, an increase of $12.9 million.  After excluding $2.2 million of restructuring charges in Q2 FY'11, operating income in Q2 FY'12 increased $10.7 million, or 41%, from Q2 FY'11.  This increase is primarily attributed to the $7.5 million increase in fee revenue and a $5.5 million decrease in compensation and benefits expense in Q2 FY'12 as compared to Q2 FY'11, which was partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in general and administrative expenses.  The decrease in compensation and benefits expense primarily resulted from a decrease in the variable component of compensation when compared to prior year which was partially offset by an increase in salaries and benefits.  The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily driven by an increase in premise and office expense, which was due to an increase in overall business activities.

The total number of consultants at October 31, 2011 and 2010 was 461 and 475, respectively.

Selected Futurestep Data

(dollars in millions)

Fee revenue was $28.6 million in Q2 FY'12, an increase of $7.3 million, or 34%, from $21.3 million in Q2 FY'11.  The improvement in fee revenue was driven by a 33% increase in the weighted-average fee billed per engagement, as well as a 1% increase in the number of engagements billed.  The increase in fee revenue was also positively impacted by an increase in engagement activity for existing clients in Q2 FY'12 compared to Q2 FY'11.  On a constant currency basis, fee revenue increased $6.2 million, or 29%.

Operating income was $2.3 million in Q2 FY'12 compared to operating income of $1.2 million in Q2 FY'11, an increase of $1.1 million, or 92%.  Excluding $0.1 million in recoveries of restructuring charges in Q2 FY'11, operating income was $1.1 million.  This increase is primarily attributed to the $7.3 million increase in fee revenue in Q2 FY'12 as compared to Q2 FY'11, which was partially offset by a $6.1 million increase in compensation and benefits expenses.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense was attributable to a 45% increase in average headcount when compared to the year-ago fiscal quarter. 

Outlook

Given the uncertainty caused by the global economy and financial markets, it is particularly challenging to accurately forecast business results.  However, assuming economic conditions, financial markets and foreign exchange rates do remain steady; Q3 FY'12 fee revenue is likely to be in the range of $183 million to $203 million and diluted earnings per share is likely to be in the range of $0.25 to $0.33. 

Earnings Conference Call Webcast

The earnings conference call will be held today at 9:00 AM (EST) and hosted by CEO Gary Burnison, CFO Mike DiGregorio 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, our ability to enhance and develop new technology, the successful integration of acquired businesses, our ability to develop new products and services,  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 net income;
• adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share; 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