EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Contacts: For investors:

Gregg Kvochak (310) 556-8550

For media:

Anneli Ballard (212) 984-9350

Korn/Ferry International Announces a 21% Increase in Fee Revenue in the First Quarter

Highlights

 

   

First quarter fiscal 2008 fee revenue was $185.4 million, an increase of $32.6 million, or 21%, from $152.8 million in the same quarter last year.

 

   

First quarter fiscal 2008 diluted earnings per share was $0.36, an increase of 16% over Q1’07 diluted earnings per share of $0.31.

Los Angeles, CA, September 6, 2007 - Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY), a premier global provider of talent management solutions, announced first quarter fiscal 2008 diluted earnings per share of $0.36 compared to $0.31 in Q1’07.

“Despite the recent volatility in the global financial markets, worldwide demand remained steady across all of our lines of business during the first quarter,” said Gary D. Burnison, CEO, Korn/Ferry. “While we are monitoring the economic climate with some caution, we remain committed to the strategic transformation of Korn/Ferry into a diversified human capital solutions firm. We will prudently invest in our businesses and people to strengthen relationships with clients and drive long-term shareholder value.”


Financial Results

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

 

     First Quarter  
     Q1’08     Q1’07  

Fee Revenue

   $ 185.4     $ 152.8  

Revenue

   $ 196.3     $ 161.1  

Operating Income

   $ 25.1     $ 20.3  

Operating Margin

     13.5 %     13.3 %

Net Income

   $ 17.1     $ 13.7  

Basic Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.38     $ 0.35  

Diluted Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.36     $ 0.31  

Fee revenue of $185.4 million in Q1’08 increased $32.6 million, or 21% (17.3% on a constant currency basis), from $152.8 million in Q1’07. Fee revenue improved globally due to an increase in revenues from all segments of the business with an increase in the number of search engagements opened as well as an 11% increase in the average fee billed per executive search engagement compared to the prior year. Exchange rates impacted fee revenue in Q1’08 favorably by $6.2 million compared to Q1’07.

Excluding the $3.4 million unfavorable impact of exchanges rates, compensation and benefits were $119.6 million in Q1’08, an increase of $15.2 million, or 14.6%, compared to $104.4 million in Q1’07. The increase is attributable to profitability based compensation and higher headcount in all segments of the Company. Actual compensation and benefits for Q1’08 was $123.0 million in Q1’08 compared to $104.4 million in Q1’07, an increase of 18%.

General and administrative expenses of $31.7 million in Q1’08 increased by $7.3 million, or 30.0%, from $24.4 million in Q1’07 as a result of an increase in business volume across all regions and segments and an unfavorable impact of exchange rates of $0.1 million.

Operating income was $25.1 million in Q1’08, an increase of $4.8 million or 23.6%, over Q1’07.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $245.3 million at July 31, 2007 compared to $210.8 million at July 31, 2006. The increase was due primarily to improved operating cash flows.

Through July 31, 2007, the Company has used approximately $88.4 million of the $125 million of share repurchase funds authorized by the Board of Directors to buy back approximately 4.1 million shares.


Interest expense was $1.2 million in Q1’08 compared to $2.5 million in the same period last year. Interest expense in the prior year related primarily to borrowings under Korn/Ferry’s convertible securities and COLI policies. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to the conversion of all of the Company’s convertible securities to common shares during Q4’07. At July 31, 2007, Korn/Ferry had no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility.

Results by Segment

Selected Executive Recruitment Data

(dollars in millions)

 

     First Quarter  
     Q1’08     Q1’07  

Fee Revenue

   $ 159.8     $ 132.5  

Revenue

   $ 166.7     $ 139.3  

Operating Income

   $ 32.7     $ 26.7  

Operating Margin

     20.5 %     20.2 %

Average number of consultants

     512       453  

Engagements (a)

     1,774       1,719  

 

(a) Represents new engagements opened in the respective period.

Fee revenue was $159.8 million in Q1’08, an increase of $27.3 million, or 20.6%, from $132.5 million in Q1’07. Fee revenue improved in all regions due to an increase in the overall number of engagements and average fee per engagement. Exchange rates impacted fee revenue in Q1’08 favorably by $4.8 million compared to Q1’07.

Operating income improved $6.0 million in Q1’08, or 22.5%, to $32.7 million compared to $26.7 million in Q1’07.

The total number of consultants at July 31, 2007 was 516, an increase of 50 from July 31, 2006.

Selected Futurestep Data

(dollars in millions)

 

     First Quarter  
     Q1’08     Q1’07  

Fee Revenue

   $ 25.6     $ 20.3  

Revenue

   $ 29.6     $ 21.8  

Operating Income

   $ 2.1     $ 1.0  

Operating Margin

     8.2 %     5.1 %

Fee revenue was $25.6 million in Q1’08, an increase of $5.3 million, or 26.1%, from $20.3 million in Q1’07. Improvements in fee revenue were driven by an increase in


the average fee per engagement. Exchange rates impacted fee revenue in Q1’08 favorably by $1.4 million compared to Q1’07.

Operating income improved $1.1 million to $2.1 million compared to $1.0 million in Q1’08. Operating margin for the quarter increased to 8.2% from 5.1% in Q1’07.

Outlook

Assuming constant foreign exchange rates, Korn/Ferry estimates that second quarter fiscal 2008 fee revenue is likely to be in the range of $174 million to $185 million and diluted earnings per share is likely to be in the range of $0.30 to $0.36.

Earnings Conference Call Webcast

The earnings conference call will be held today at 10:00 AM (EDT) and hosted by Gary Burnison, Chief Executive Officer, and Gregg Kvochak, Vice President, Finance. 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 more than 70 offices in 40 countries, is a premier global provider of talent management solutions. Based in Los Angeles, the firm delivers an array of solutions that help clients to identify, deploy, develop, retain and reward their talent. For more information on the Korn/Ferry International family of companies, visit www.kornferry.com.


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. 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 which are beyond the control of Korn/Ferry. The potential risks and uncertainties relate to competition, the dependence on attracting and retaining qualified and experienced consultants, the portability of client relationships, local political or economic developments in or affecting countries where we have operations, risks related to the growth and results of Futurestep, restrictions imposed by off-limits agreements, reliance on information systems 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.

[Tables attached]


KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended July 31,  
     2007    2006  

Fee revenue

   $ 185,353    $ 152,763  

Reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expenses

     10,924      8,383  
               

Total revenue

     196,277      161,146  

Compensation and benefits

     122,986      104,437  

General and administrative expense

     31,701      24,365  

Out-of-pocket engagement expense

     14,127      9,707  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,350      2,289  
               

Total operating expense

     171,164      140,798  
               

Operating income

     25,113      20,348  

Interest and other income (expense), net

     1,498      (81 )
               

Income before provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     26,611      20,267  

Provision for income taxes

     10,434      7,600  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries

     923      996  
               

Net income

   $ 17,100    $ 13,663  
               

Interest expense on convertible securities, net of taxes

     38      784  
               

Net income adjusted for computation of diluted EPS

   $ 17,138    $ 14,447  
               

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.38    $ 0.35  
               

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

     45,041      39,021  
               

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.36    $ 0.31  
               

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     47,063      46,768  
               


KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL AND SUBSIDIARIES

FINANCIAL SUMMARY BY SEGMENT

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

    

Quarter Ended

July 31,

 
     2007           2006        

Fee Revenue:

        

Executive recruitment:

        

North America

   $ 87,314       $ 75,484    

Europe

     44,722         34,187    

Asia/Pacific

     22,661         18,264    

South America

     5,070         4,479    
                    

Total executive recruitment

     159,767         132,414    

Futurestep

     25,586         20,349    
                    

Total fee revenue

     185,353         152,763    

Reimbursed out-of-pocket engagement expenses

     10,924         8,383    
                    

Total revenue

   $ 196,277       $ 161,146    
                    
           Margin           Margin  

Operating Income (Loss):

        

Executive recruitment:

        

North America

   $ 19,791     23 %   $ 17,080     23 %

Europe

     7,691     17 %     5,204     15 %

Asia/Pacific

     4,537     20 %     3,690     20 %

South America

     661     13 %     738     16 %
                    

Total executive recruitment

     32,680     20 %     26,712     20 %

Futurestep

     2,084     8 %     1,044     5 %

Corporate

     (9,651 )       (7,408 )  
                    

Total operating income

   $ 25,113     14 %   $ 20,348     13 %
                    


KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     As of
July 31, 2007
    As of
April 30, 2007
 
     (unaudited)        
ASSETS     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 199,576     $ 289,106  

Marketable securities

     45,752       35,161  

Receivables due from clients, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,644 and $9,822, respectively

     130,931       107,751  

Income taxes and other receivables

     5,889       6,357  

Deferred income taxes

     10,377       9,524  

Prepaid expenses

     17,441       16,861  
                

Total current assets

     409,966       464,760  
                

Property and equipment, net

     26,875       25,999  

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

     77,356       76,478  

Deferred income taxes

     41,863       42,013  

Goodwill

     128,879       124,268  

Intangible assets, net

     17,934       18,040  

Investments and other

     10,263       9,933  
                

Total assets

   $ 713,136     $ 761,491  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Accounts payable

   $ 11,665     $ 10,383  

Income taxes payable

     24,875       22,432  

Compensation and benefits payable

     83,989       158,145  

Other accrued liabilities

     32,084       38,529  
                

Total current liabilities

     152,613       229,489  
                

Deferred compensation and other retirement plans

     99,703       91,360  

Other liabilities

     7,368       7,687  
                

Total liabilities

     259,684       328,536  

Shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock: $0.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 54,183 and 52,323 shares issued and 48,336 and 47,174 shares outstanding, respectively

     423,917       400,126  

Retained earnings

     45,903       32,344  

Unearned restricted stock compensation

     (39,230 )     (19,567 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     23,413       20,605  
                

Shareholders’ equity

     454,003       433,508  

Less: Notes receivable from shareholders

     (551 )     (553 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     453,452       432,955  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 713,136     $ 761,491