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Houlihan Lokey Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Financial Results

February 8, 2022 6:00 AM

Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Revenues of $889 million

Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Diluted EPS of $2.54

Adjusted Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Diluted EPS of $2.90

Announces Dividend of $0.43 per Share for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022

LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE: HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended December 31, 2021.

For the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, revenues were $889 million, compared with $538 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Net income attributable to the Company was $174 million, or $2.54 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $119 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Adjusted net income attributable to the Company for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021 was $198 million, or $2.90 per diluted share, compared with $123 million, or $1.77 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

“We are thrilled with our results for the third fiscal quarter and are proud of how well each of our product lines performed within their service sectors in calendar 2021. Corporate Finance is the #1 global M&A advisor based on number of transactions closed, Financial Restructuring is the #1 global restructuring advisor based on both dollar value and number of transactions closed and Financial and Valuation Advisory is the #1 global fairness opinion advisor measured over the last twenty years based on the number of transactions closed. Also in our third quarter, we made excellent progress on the integration of GCA and could not be happier with the collaboration that exists between our firms,” stated Scott Beiser, Chief Executive Officer of Houlihan Lokey.

Selected Financial Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

U.S. GAAP

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenues by segment

Corporate Finance

$

715,663

$

306,171

$

1,314,064

$

502,191

Financial Restructuring

89,273

177,995

271,232

392,006

Financial and Valuation Advisory

83,862

53,710

213,496

130,551

Revenues

$

888,798

$

537,876

$

1,798,792

$

1,024,748

Operating expenses:

Employee compensation and benefits

$

549,376

$

339,743

$

1,115,054

$

654,113

Non-compensation

90,162

39,717

169,483

102,754

Operating income

249,260

158,416

514,255

267,881

Other (income)/expense, net

253

(187

)

1,005

(1,544

)

Income before provision for income taxes

249,007

158,603

513,250

269,425

Provision for income taxes

74,699

40,088

140,099

56,020

Net income

174,308

118,515

373,151

213,405

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(573

)

(573

)

Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

$

173,735

$

118,515

$

372,578

$

213,405

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

$

2.54

$

1.71

$

5.44

$

3.11

Revenues

For the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, revenues were $889 million, compared with $538 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Revenues increased primarily as a result of (i) the completion of our acquisition of GCA Corporation (“GCA”) during the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, resulting in the consolidation of their operating results and (ii) a significant increase in the number of closed transactions and the average transaction fee on closed transactions for our Corporate Finance (“CF”) business segment. For the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, CF revenues increased 134%, Financial Restructuring (“FR”) revenues decreased (50)%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (“FVA”) revenues increased 56% when compared with the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. All revenues associated with GCA for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021 are included in our CF business segment.

Expenses

The Company’s employee compensation and benefits expenses, non-compensation expenses, and provision for income taxes during the periods presented and described below are on a GAAP and an adjusted basis.

U.S. GAAP

Adjusted (Non-GAAP) *

Three Months Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Expenses:

Employee compensation and benefits

$

549,376

$

339,743

$

546,611

$

334,828

% of Revenues

61.8

%

63.2

%

61.5

%

62.3

%

Non-compensation

$

90,162

$

39,717

$

58,543

$

38,523

% of Revenues

10.1

%

7.4

%

6.6

%

7.2

%

Provision for income taxes

$

74,699

$

40,088

$

85,014

$

41,632

% of Pre-tax income

30.0

%

25.3

%

30.0

%

25.3

%

* Adjusted figures represent non-GAAP information. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the tables at the end of this release for an explanation of the adjustments and reconciliations to the comparable GAAP numbers.

U.S. GAAP

Adjusted (Non-GAAP) *

Nine Months Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Expenses:

Employee compensation and benefits

$

1,115,054

$

654,113

$

1,106,257

$

641,878

% of Revenues

62.0

%

63.8

%

61.5

%

62.6

%

Non-compensation

$

169,483

$

102,754

$

133,548

$

97,262

% of Revenues

9.4

%

10.0

%

7.4

%

9.5

%

Provision for income taxes

$

140,099

$

56,020

$

160,169

$

74,008

% of Pre-tax income

27.3

%

20.8

%

28.7

%

25.8

%

* Adjusted figures represent non-GAAP information. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the tables at the end of this release for an explanation of the adjustments and reconciliations to the comparable GAAP numbers.

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $549 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $340 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $547 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $335 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, versus 62.3% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. The increase in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was primarily a result of an increase in fee revenues for the quarter when compared with the same quarter last year.

Non-compensation expenses were $90 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $40 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. The increase in GAAP non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA, amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection the acquisition of GCA, integration and acquisition related costs associated with our acquisition of GCA and an increase in travel, meals, and entertainment expenses and other operating expenses. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $59 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $39 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. The increase in adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA and an increase in travel, meals, and entertainment expenses and other operating expenses.

The provision for income taxes was $75 million, representing an effective tax rate of 30.0% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $40 million, representing an effective tax rate of 25.3% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

The increase in the Company’s tax rate during the third quarter ended December 31, 2021 relative to the same period in 2020 was primarily a result of increased state taxes, increased non-deductible expenses and increased foreign taxes. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $85 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 30.0% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $42 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 25.3% for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Segment Reporting for the Third Fiscal Quarter

Corporate Finance

CF revenues were $716 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $306 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020, representing an increase of 134%. Revenues increased primarily due to (i) the completion of our acquisition of GCA during the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, resulting in the consolidation of their revenues into our CF business segment and (ii) a significant increase in the number of closed transactions and the average transaction fee on closed transactions.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Corporate Finance

Revenues

$

715,663

$

306,171

$

1,314,064

$

502,191

# of Managing Directors

198

123

198

123

# of Closed transactions (1)

238

121

456

209

Financial Restructuring

FR revenues decreased (50)% to $89 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $178 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in the number of closed transactions.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Financial Restructuring

Revenues

$

89,273

$

177,995

$

271,232

$

392,006

# of Managing Directors

52

47

52

47

# of Closed transactions (1)

21

44

65

103

Financial and Valuation Advisory

FVA revenues increased 56% to $84 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared with $54 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. Revenues increased primarily due to an increase in the number of fee events.

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

($ in thousands)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Financial and Valuation Advisory

Revenues

$

83,862

$

53,710

$

213,496

$

130,551

# of Managing Directors

34

31

34

31

# of Fee Events (1)

901

639

1,673

1,134

1. A Fee Event includes any engagement that involves revenue activity during the measurement period based on a revenue minimum of one thousand dollars. References in this press release to closed transactions should be understood to be the same as transactions that are “effectively closed” as described in our periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation

The Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 per share of Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on March 15, 2022 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 2, 2022.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $1,098 million of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, and $134 million of other liabilities and loans payable to former shareholders.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, to discuss its third quarter fiscal 2022 results. The number to call is 1-877-407-4018 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8471 (international). A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. A replay of the conference call will be available from February 8, 2022 through February 15, 2022, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 13726446#. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available on the Company’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by our use of the words “assumes,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “guidance,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. For a further description of such factors, you should read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net income, total and on a per share basis, and certain adjusted items used to determine adjusted net income, are presented and discussed in this earnings press release and are non-GAAP measures that management believes, when presented together with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors in understanding the Company’s operating results. These adjusted items remove the significant accounting impact of one-time or non-recurring charges associated with the Company’s one-time/non-recurring matters, as set forth in the tables at the end of this release.

The adjusted items included in this earnings press release as calculated by the Company are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Additionally, these adjusted amounts are not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the Company’s financial information determined under GAAP. For a description of the Company’s use of these adjusted items and a reconciliation with comparable GAAP items, see the section of this press release titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information.” Please refer to our financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, for purposes of evaluating our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past seven consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past eight consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv.

For more information, please visit www.HL.com.

Appendix

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income (Unaudited)
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information (Unaudited)

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share data and par value)

December 31, 2021

March 31, 2021

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,058,603

$

846,851

Restricted cash

373

373

Investment securities

39,829

208,618

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses

195,912

108,409

Unbilled work in process, net of allowance for credit losses

86,504

118,115

Deferred income taxes

39,575

28,332

Property and equipment, net

51,750

46,370

Operating lease right-of-use assets

161,997

152,031

Goodwill

1,082,934

671,065

Other intangible assets, net

263,493

195,156

Other assets

64,792

50,747

Total assets

$

3,045,762

$

2,426,067

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Liabilities:

Accrued salaries and bonuses

$

986,043

$

648,399

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

123,395

67,468

Deferred income

27,319

27,868

Income taxes payable

57,617

68,339

Deferred income taxes

1,159

52

Loans payable to former shareholders

539

818

Operating lease liabilities

187,264

174,516

Other liabilities

133,010

55,046

Total liabilities

1,516,346

1,042,506

Stockholders' equity:

Class A common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 50,924,798 and 51,245,442 shares, respectively

51

51

Class B common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 16,727,176 and 16,951,696 shares, respectively

17

17

Additional paid-in capital

668,765

803,573

Retained earnings

886,995

600,096

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(26,412

)

(20,176

)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,529,416

1,383,561

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

3,045,762

$

2,426,067

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenues

$

888,798

$

537,876

$

1,798,792

$

1,024,748

Operating expenses:

Employee compensation and benefits

549,376

339,743

1,115,054

654,113

Travel, meals, and entertainment

11,090

1,338

17,464

4,416

Rent

14,352

10,086

33,627

30,010

Depreciation and amortization

20,074

3,949

28,589

11,291

Information technology and communications

12,398

9,281

28,217

22,532

Professional fees

14,372

6,188

27,988

16,422

Other operating expenses

17,876

8,875

33,598

18,083

Total operating expenses

639,538

379,460

1,284,537

756,867

Operating income

249,260

158,416

514,255

267,881

Other (income)/expense, net

253

(187

)

1,005

(1,544

)

Income before provision for income taxes

249,007

158,603

513,250

269,425

Provision for income taxes

74,699

40,088

140,099

56,020

Net income

174,308

118,515

373,151

213,405

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(573

)

(573

)

Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

$173,735

$118,515

$372,578

$213,405

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:

Basic

64,914,373

66,547,587

65,259,927

65,680,516

Fully diluted

68,279,939

69,356,347

68,520,849

68,596,503

Earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

Basic

$

2.68

$

1.78

$

5.71

$

3.25

Fully diluted

$

2.54

$

1.71

$

5.44

$

3.11

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended December 31,

Nine Months Ended December 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2021

2020

2021

2020

Revenues

$

888,798

$

537,876

$

1,798,792

$

1,024,748

Employee compensation and benefits expenses

Employee compensation and benefits expenses (GAAP)

$

549,376

$

339,743

$

1,115,054

$

654,113

Less: Acquisition related retention payments

(2,765

)

(4,915

)

(8,797

)

(12,235

)

Employee compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted)

546,611

334,828

1,106,257

641,878

Non-compensation expenses

Non-compensation expenses (GAAP)

$

90,162

$

39,717

$

169,483

$

102,754

Less: Secondary offering related costs

(418

)

Less: Integration and acquisition related costs

(16,165

)

(17,805

)

(1,258

)

Less: Acquisition amortization

(15,454

)

(1,194

)

(18,130

)

(3,080

)

Less: Oracle ERP implementation

(736

)

Non-compensation expenses (adjusted)

58,543

38,523

133,548

97,262

Operating income

Operating income (GAAP)

$

249,260

$

158,416

$

514,255

$

267,881

Plus: Adjustments (1)

34,384

6,109

44,732

17,727

Operating income (adjusted)

283,644

164,525

558,987

285,608

Other (income)/expense, net

Other (income)/expense, net (GAAP)

$

253

$

(187

)

$

1,005

$

(1,544

)

Other (income)/expense, net (adjusted)

253

(187

)

1,005

(1,544

)

Provision for income taxes

Provision for income taxes (GAAP)

$

74,699

$

40,088

$

140,099

$

56,020

Plus: Impact of the excess tax benefit for stock vesting

6,922

13,408

Adjusted provision for income taxes

74,699

40,088

147,021

69,428

Plus: Resulting tax impact (2)

10,315

1,544

13,148

4,580

Provision for income taxes (adjusted)

85,014

41,632

160,169

74,008

Net income

Net income (GAAP)

$

174,308

$

118,515

$

373,151

$

213,405

(Less)/plus: adjustments (3)

24,069

4,565

24,662

(261

)

Net income (adjusted)

198,377

123,080

397,813

213,144

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(573

)

(573

)

Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (GAAP)

173,735

118,515

372,578

213,405

Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (adjusted)

197,804

123,080

397,240

213,144

Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (GAAP)

$

2.54

$

1.71

$

5.44

$

3.11

Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (adjusted)

$

2.90

$

1.77

$

5.79

$

3.11

1. The aggregate of adjustments from employee compensation and benefits and non-compensation expenses.
2. Reflects the tax impact of utilizing the adjusted effective tax rate on the non-tax adjustments identified above.
3. Consists of all adjustments identified above net of the associated tax impact.

Investor Relations

212.331.8225

[email protected]

OR

Public Relations

212.331.8223

[email protected]

Source: Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

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