Heidrick & Struggles Reports Strong 2018 First Quarter Results

CHICAGO, April 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of executive search, leadership assessment and development, organization and team effectiveness, and culture shaping services globally, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Consolidated net revenue (revenue before reimbursements) in the 2018 first quarter increased 14.3%, or $20.1 million, to $160.1 million from $140.0 million in the 2017 first quarter.  Excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations which positively impacted results by $5.8 million, or 3.8%, consolidated net revenue increased 10.2% or $14.2 million.

On January 1, 2018, the company adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and applied the modified retrospective method, which involves recognizing the cumulative effect of applying the guidance at the date of initial application with no restatement of the comparative periods presented. This adoption increased consolidated net revenue in the 2018 first quarter by $2.5 million compared to the historical method of revenue recognition.  Additional information about the impact of the adoption of ASC 606 is provided at the end of the release.

Executive Search net revenue increased 17.1% year over year, or $21.3 million, to $145.8 million from $124.5 million in the 2017 first quarter.  All three regions contributed to growth in Search. Net revenue increased 11.9% in the Americas region, 36.2% in Europe, and 12.6% in Asia Pacific.  The Financial Services, Global Technology & Services and Consumer Markets practices were key drivers of growth with billings up 29%, 28% and 17% respectively, compared to the 2017 first quarter.

There were 349 Executive Search consultants at March 31, 2018 compared to 346 at December 31, 2017 and 363 at March 31, 2017.  Productivity, as measured by annualized Executive Search net revenue per consultant, was $1.6 million in the 2018 first quarter compared to $1.4 million in the 2017 first quarter. The number of confirmed searches in the 2018 first quarter increased 4.7% compared to the 2017 first quarter, and the average revenue per executive search was $115,600 compared to $103,300 in the 2017 first quarter. 

Beginning January 1, 2018, the Leadership Consulting and Culture Shaping businesses were combined into one business, Heidrick Consulting.  In the 2018 first quarter, Heidrick Consulting net revenue declined 8.3%, or $1.3 million, to $14.2 million from $15.5 million in the 2017 first quarter.  The year-over-year decline largely reflects the impact of new revenue recognition accounting on enterprise license agreements, which increased deferred revenue compared to prior quarters by approximately $1.0 million.  There were 28 Heidrick Consulting Partners at March 31, 2018, the same as at March 31, 2017.  With the integration complete, the company returned to strategic hiring and is seeing an improvement in its pipeline.

Consolidated salaries and employee benefits expense in the 2018 first quarter increased 14.6%, or $14.2 million, to $111.4 million from $97.2 million in the 2017 first quarter.  Fixed compensation expense increased $2.0 million and variable compensation expense increased $12.2 million, primarily reflecting higher bonus accruals for Executive Search consultant performance. Salaries and employee benefits expense was 69.6% of net revenue for the quarter compared to 69.5% in the 2017 first quarter. 

General and administrative expenses declined 1.6%, or $0.6 million, to $35.5 million from $36.1 million in the 2017 first quarter.   Savings were achieved in a number of expense categories, but the primary drivers of the decline were lower intangible amortization due to intangible asset impairment in the prior year, and a decline in bad debt expense and external third-party consultants to perform client work, partially offset by an increase in office occupancy costs and professional services fees.  As a percentage of net revenue, general and administrative expenses were 22.2% compared to 25.8% in the 2017 first quarter.

Operating income in the 2018 first quarter increased 97.7% or $6.5 million to $13.1 million and the operating margin (operating income as a percentage of net revenue) was 8.2%.  This compares to operating income of $6.6 million and operating margin of 4.7% in the 2017 first quarter.  Adjusted EBITDA in the 2018 first quarter increased $6.1 million to $18.4 million compared to $12.3 million in the 2017 first quarter.  The Adjusted EBITDA margin (Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net revenue) in the 2018 first quarter was 11.5% compared to 8.8% in the 2017 first quarter.  The improvements in operating income and adjusted EBITDA were primarily driven by the increase in revenue from Executive Search.

In the 2018 first quarter, net income was $10.2 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.53 with an effective tax rate of 21.3% in the quarter and a full-year projected tax rate in the mid-30% range excluding one-time items.  This compares to net income of $0.7 million in the 2017 first quarter and diluted earnings per share of $0.03 based on an effective tax rate of 84.1%.

Net cash used by operating activities in the 2018 first quarter, primarily reflecting annual bonus payments, was $137.5 million, compared to $110.5 million in the 2017 first quarter.   Following the payment of bonuses, cash paid for the restructuring, and the acquisition of Amrop A/S in Denmark, cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2018 were $73.4 million ($61.4 million net of debt) compared to $207.5 million at December 31, 2017, and $68.3 million ($43.3 million net of debt) at March 31, 2017. 

2018 Outlook
The company is forecasting 2018 second quarter consolidated net revenue of between $160 million and $170 million. This forecast is based on the average currency rates in March 2018 and reflects, among other factors, management's assumptions for the anticipated volume of new Executive Search confirmations, Heidrick Consulting assignments, the current backlog, consultant productivity, consultant retention, and the seasonality of its business.  

Rajagopalan added, "Our outlook for the market demand for executive search and leadership advisory services remains positive. The strategic actions that we took at the end of 2017 are enabling us to execute our plan to drive profitable growth and operating excellence. Our digital transformation – driving and leveraging our propriety IP-based solutions and data—will continue to distinguish Heidrick & Struggles in the market."

Impact of Adoption of ASC 606
On January 1, 2018, the company adopted ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and applied the modified retrospective method, which involves recognizing the cumulative effect of applying the guidance at the date of initial application with no restatement of the comparative periods presented. This adoption increased consolidated net revenue in the 2018 first quarter by $2.5 million compared to the historical method of revenue recognition.  The new guidance primarily impacts the company's revenue recognition methodology for executive search upticks and for enterprise licenses to use its culture shaping proprietary tools, referred to as enterprise agreements.  The company now estimates uptick revenue and recognizes this revenue over the life of the executive search as opposed to recognition upon the placement of a candidate.  Enterprise agreements are now recognized over a longer term due to certain renewal options included in the contract.  The following is a summary of the impact on revenue by segment:

• Executive Search- The adoption of the new revenue recognition standard increased revenue in the 2018 first quarter by approximately $3.5 million, with approximately $1.8 million in the Americas, $1.1 million in Europe, and $0.6 million in Asia Pacific.
• Heidrick Consulting-- The adoption of the new revenue recognition standard decreased enterprise revenue in the 2018 first quarter by approximately $1.0 million.

For the year ending December 31, 2018, the company anticipates that the change in revenue recognition will not be material to consolidated net revenue, subject to variability in the number, timing and value of Executive Search confirmations as well as enterprise license agreements.

Dividend
The Board of Directors has declared the second quarter cash dividend of $0.13 per share payable on May 18, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 4, 2018. 

Quarterly Conference Call
Executives of Heidrick & Struggles will host a conference call to review its 2018 first quarter financial results today, April 23, at 4:00 pm Central Time. Participants may access the company's call and supporting slides through its website at www.heidrick.com.  For those unable to participate on the live call, a webcast and copy of the slides will be archived at www.heidrick.com and available for up to 30 days following the investor call.

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) serves the senior-level talent and leadership needs of the world's top organizations as a trusted advisor across executive search, leadership assessment and development, organization and team effectiveness, and culture shaping services. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, the firm provides integrated leadership solutions to help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time.® www.heidrick.com

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), Heidrick & Struggles presents certain non-GAAP financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance that excludes or includes amounts different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of comprehensive income, balance sheets or statements of cash flow of the company. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, this earnings release contains the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to the non-GAAP financial measure.

The non-GAAP financial measures used within this earnings release are Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin. 

• Adjusted EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, intangible amortization, stock-based compensation expense, earnout accretion expense related to acquisitions, and other non-operating income (expense).
• Adjusted EBITDA margin refers to Adjusted EBITDA (as explained above) as a percentage of net revenue in the same period. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income is provided on the last schedule of this release.

These measures are presented because management uses this information to monitor and evaluate financial results and trends. Management believes this information is also useful for investors.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, forecasted or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements include, among other things, leadership changes, our ability to attract, integrate, manage and retain qualified consultants and senior leaders; our ability to develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with our clients; declines in the global economy and our ability to execute successfully through business cycles; the timing, speed or robustness of any future economic recovery; social or political instability in markets where we operate; the impact of the U.K. referendum to leave the European Union (Brexit); the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; unfavorable tax law changes and tax authority rulings; price competition; the ability to forecast, on a quarterly basis, variable compensation accruals that ultimately are determined based on the achievement of annual results; our ability to utilize our tax losses; the timing of the establishment or reversal of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; the mix of profit and loss by country; our reliance on information management systems; any impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets; and the ability to align our cost structure and headcount with net revenue. For more information on the factors that could affect the outcome of forward-looking statements, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, under Risk Factors in Item 1A and our quarterly filings with the SEC. We caution the reader that the list of factors may not be exhaustive. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Press Release Contacts:
H&S Investors & Analysts Contact:
Julie Creed - Vice President, Real Estate & Investor Relations
1 312 496 1774, jcreed@heidrick.com

H&S Media Contact:
Jon Harmon - Vice President, Corporate Communications
1 312 496 1593, jharmon@heidrick.com

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SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.