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FTI Consulting Reports Record First Quarter 2016 Results

FCN

  • First Quarter Revenues of $470.3 Million; Revenue Growth of 8.8% Over Prior Year
  • First Quarter Adjusted EPS of $0.83; Fully Diluted EPS of $0.73
  • Company Increases 2016 Guidance to Revenues of Between $1.84 Billion and $1.87 Billion and Adjusted EPS of Between $2.15 and $2.45

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE:FCN) (the “Company”), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today released its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

For the quarter, revenues increased 8.8 percent to $470.3 million compared to $432.3 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of foreign currency translation (“FX”), revenues increased 10.4 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Fully diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were $0.73 compared to $0.57 in the prior year quarter. First quarter 2016 EPS included a special charge of $5.1 million related to the previously announced actions taken to realign the Technology segment and $1.0 million in a fair value adjustment for an acquisition contingent consideration liability, which reduced EPS by $0.08 and $0.02, respectively. Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA were $0.83 and $68.9 million, respectively, compared to $0.57 and $58.7 million respectively, in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was 14.6 percent of revenues as compared to 13.6 percent of revenues in the prior year quarter.

Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA are non-GAAP measures defined elsewhere in this press release and are reconciled to GAAP measures in the accompanying financial tables.

Commenting on these results, Steven H. Gunby, President and Chief Executive Officer of FTI Consulting, said, “In the first quarter, our teams delivered record quarterly revenues and adjusted earnings per share. During the quarter, two businesses, Economic Consulting and Corporate Finance & Restructuring, significantly outperformed expectations. And importantly, no businesses underperformed our expectations.”   

Mr. Gunby added, “Though the quarter benefited from a variety of factors, the core of the success was the result of individuals and teams driving client satisfaction and enhancing our market positions and businesses. Combined, these factors resulted in a quarter with strong organic growth and profitability.” 

Cash Position and Capital Allocation
Net cash used by operating activities for the quarter was $33.1 million compared to net cash used by operating activities of $51.3 million in the prior year quarter. Cash and cash equivalents were $114.5 million at March 31, 2016 compared to $225.3 million at March 31, 2015. During the quarter, the Company spent $2.9 million to repurchase 85,100 shares of its common stock at an average price of $34.12 under its $50 million share repurchase authorization, which expires on May 5, 2016.

First Quarter Segment Results

Corporate Finance & Restructuring
Revenues in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment increased $20.9 million or 19.7 percent to $127.2 million in the quarter compared to $106.2 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of FX, revenues increased $23.0 million or 21.6 percent compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was driven primarily by higher demand and realized rates for the segment’s distressed services in North America. Adjusted Segment EBITDA was $31.6 million, or 24.9 percent of segment revenues, compared to $22.5 million, or 21.2 percent of segment revenues in the prior year quarter. Stronger demand with improved leverage, higher realized rates and success fees in North America distressed services coupled with lower bad debt expenses due to recoveries of amounts previously reserved drove the increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin.

Forensic and Litigation Consulting
Revenues in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment decreased $4.3 million or 3.5 percent to $119.0 million in the quarter compared to $123.3 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of FX, revenues decreased $2.6 million or 2.1 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Lower demand for the segment’s health solutions, construction solutions and global dispute advisory practices were partially offset by higher demand for the segment’s financial and enterprise data analytics and investigations practices. Adjusted Segment EBITDA was $19.8 million, or 16.6 percent of segment revenues, compared to $22.1 million, or 17.9 percent of segment revenues in the prior year quarter. The decline in Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin was due to decreased demand in the segment’s construction solutions and health solutions practices. This was partially offset by higher utilization in the segment’s financial and enterprise data analytics practice coupled with lower bad debt expenses and lower personnel costs related to health solutions overhead reductions taken in the prior year.

Economic Consulting
Revenues in the Economic Consulting segment increased $24.7 million or 23.2 percent to $130.7 million in the quarter compared to $106.1 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of FX, revenues increased $25.9 million or 24.4 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Higher demand for the segment’s mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) related antitrust and financial economics services drove the increase. Adjusted Segment EBITDA was $21.3 million, or 16.3 percent of segment revenues, compared to $11.6 million, or 10.9 percent of segment revenues in the prior year quarter. Higher utilization in North America, higher realized bill rates in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) and North America, lower bad debt expense and a reduced percentage of overhead costs in relation to the revenue increase drove the increase in Adjusted EBITDA margin.

Technology
Revenues in the Technology segment decreased $6.4 million or 11.7 percent to $48.3 million in the quarter compared to $54.7 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of FX, revenues decreased $5.7 million or 10.3 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Declines in demand for cross-border investigations and financial services litigation, were partially offset by an increase in M&A-related “second request” activity. Adjusted Segment EBITDA was $7.8 million, or 16.2 percent of segment revenues, compared to $10.1 million, or 18.4 percent of segment revenues in the prior year quarter. The decline in Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin was due to lower demand for managed review services and lower realized pricing in consulting services, which was partially offset by a decline in research and development expenses.

Strategic Communications
Revenues in the Strategic Communications segment increased $3.0 million or 7.1 percent to $45.1 million in the quarter compared to $42.1 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact of FX, revenues increased $4.4 million or 10.4 percent compared to the prior year quarter. This increase in revenues was primarily driven by increased project-based revenues in North America and EMEA, predominantly in public affairs and financial communications, which was partially offset by a decrease in revenues from crisis mandates. Adjusted Segment EBITDA was $6.1 million, or 13.5 percent of segment revenues, compared to $5.8 million, or 13.7 percent of segment revenues in the prior year quarter.

Revised 2016 Guidance
The Company now estimates that revenues for 2016 will be between $1.84 billion and $1.87 billion, which compares to the previous range of between $1.80 billion and $1.85 billion and Adjusted EPS will be between $2.15 and $2.45, which compares to the previous range of between $1.90 and $2.15.

First Quarter 2016 Conference Call
FTI Consulting will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss first quarter 2016 financial results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2016. The call can be accessed live and will be available for replay over the Internet for 90 days by logging onto the Company's website at www.fticonsulting.com.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,600 employees located in 28 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The Company generated $1.78 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2015. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Note: We define Segment Operating Income (Loss) as a segment’s share of consolidated operating income (Loss). We define Total Segment Operating Income (Loss) as the total of Segment Operating Income (Loss) for all segments, which excludes unallocated corporate expenses. We use Segment Operating Income (Loss) for the purpose of calculating Adjusted Segment EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as consolidated net income (loss) before income tax provision, other non-operating income (expense), depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, special charges, goodwill impairment charges and losses on early extinguishment of debt. We define Adjusted Segment EBITDA as a segment’s share of consolidated operating income (loss) before depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, special charges and goodwill impairment charges. We define Total Adjusted Segment EBITDA as the total of Adjusted Segment EBITDA for all segments, which excludes unallocated corporate expenses. We define Adjusted Segment EBITDA margin as Adjusted Segment EBITDA as a percentage of a segment’s share of revenue. We use Adjusted Segment EBITDA to internally evaluate the financial performance of our segments because we believe it is a useful supplemental measure which reflects current core operating performance and provides an indicator of the segment’s ability to generate cash. We also believe that these measures, when considered together with our GAAP financial results, provide management and investors with a more complete understanding of our operating results, including underlying trends, by excluding the effects of remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, special charges and goodwill impairment charges. In addition, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are common alternative measures of operating performance used by many of our competitors. It is used by investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and others to value and compare the financial performance of companies in our industry. Therefore, we also believe that these measures, considered along with corresponding GAAP measures, provide management and investors with additional information for comparison of our operating results to the operating results of other companies.

We define Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share (“Adjusted EPS”) as net income (loss) and earnings per diluted share, respectively, excluding the impact of remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, special charges, goodwill impairment charges and losses on early extinguishment of debt. We use Adjusted Net Income for the purpose of calculating Adjusted EPS. Management uses Adjusted EPS to assess total Company operating performance on a consistent basis. We believe that this measure, when considered together with our GAAP financial results, provides management and investors with a more complete understanding of our business operating results, including underlying trends, by excluding the effects of remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, special charges, goodwill impairment charges and losses on early extinguishment of debt. Non-GAAP financial measures are not defined in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for or superior to, the information contained in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are included in the financial tables accompanying this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which involve uncertainties and risks. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues, future results and performance, expectations, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions and other matters, business trends and other information that is not historical, including statements regarding estimates of our future financial results. When used in this press release, words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes,” "forecasts" and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, estimates of our future financial results, are based upon our expectations at the time we make them and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs and estimates will be achieved, and the Company's actual results may differ materially from our expectations, beliefs and estimates. Further, preliminary results are subject to normal year-end adjustments. The Company has experienced fluctuating revenues, operating income and cash flow in prior periods and expects that this will occur from time to time in the future. Other factors that could cause such differences include declines in demand for, or changes in, the mix of services and products that we offer, the mix of the geographic locations where our clients are located or where services are performed, adverse financial, real estate or other market and general economic conditions, which could impact each of our segments differently, the pace and timing of the consummation and integration of past and future acquisitions, the Company's ability to realize cost savings and efficiencies, competitive and general economic conditions, retention of staff and clients and other risks described under the heading "Item 1A Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC and in the Company's other filings with the SEC, including the risks set forth under "Risks Related to Our Reportable Segments" and "Risks Related to Our Operations". We are under no duty to update any of the forward looking statements to conform such statements to actual results or events and do not intend to do so.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

FTI CONSULTING, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
(unaudited) 
     
 Three Months Ended 
 March 31, 
  2016   2015  
     
Revenues$  470,285  $  432,338  
     
Operating expenses    
Direct cost of revenues   305,636     279,030  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   103,609     102,214  
Special charges   5,061     -   
Acquisition-related contingent consideration   1,134     234  
Amortization of other intangible assets   2,606     3,012  
    418,046     384,490  
     
Operating income   52,239     47,848  
     
Other income (expense)    
Interest income and other   2,557     (137) 
Interest expense   (6,229)    (12,368) 
    (3,672)    (12,505) 
     
Income  before income tax provision   48,567     35,343  
     
Income tax provision   18,386     11,657  
     
Net income $  30,181  $  23,686  
     
Earnings per common share - basic$  0.75  $  0.59  
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic   40,506     40,384  
     
Earnings per common share - diluted$  0.73  $  0.57  
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted   41,148     41,324  
     
     
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:    
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax $0$  (358) $  (20,482) 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax   (358)    (20,482) 
Comprehensive income$  29,823  $  3,204  
     


FTI CONSULTING, INC.  
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES  
(in thousands, except per share data)  
(unaudited)  
          
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
      2016   2015   
        
Net income     $  30,181  $  23,686   
Add back:         
Special charges, net of tax (1)    3,269     -    
Remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, net of tax  (2)    600     -    
Adjusted Net Income    $  34,050  $  23,686   
          
Earnings per common share – diluted  $  0.73  $  0.57   
Add back:         
Special charges, net of tax (1)    0.08     -    
Remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, net of tax  (2)    0.02     -    
Adjusted earnings per common share– diluted $  0.83  $  0.57   
          
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted    41,148     41,324   
          
          
(1) The tax effect takes into account the tax treatment and related tax rates that apply to each adjustment in the applicable tax jurisdiction. As a result, the effective tax rates for the adjustments related to special charges for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 35.4%. The tax expense related to the adjustments for special charges for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $1.8 million or $0.04 impact on adjusted earnings per diluted share. There were no special charges for 2015.  
   
(2) The tax effect takes into account the tax treatment and related tax rates that apply to each adjustment in the applicable tax jurisdiction. As a result, the effective tax rate for the adjustments related to the remeasurement of acquistion-related contingent consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 38.8%.  The tax expense related to the adjustment for the remeasurement of acquistion-related contingent consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were $0.4 million  and $0.01 impact on adjusted earnings per diluted share. There were no adjustments related to the remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration in 2015.  
   


FTI CONSULTING, INC. 
OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT 
(unaudited) 
            Average  Revenue- 
  Segment  Adjusted Adjusted EBITDA    Billable  Generating 
  Revenues EBITDA  Margin Utilization  Rate  Headcount 
    (in thousands)        (at period end) 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016             
Corporate Finance & Restructuring  $  127,156  $  31,603   24.9%  74% $  384    857 
Forensic and Litigation Consulting     119,004     19,808   16.6%  64% $  333    1,132 
Economic Consulting    130,731     21,319   16.3%  79% $  531    607 
Technology  (1)    48,281     7,823   16.2% N/M N/M   313 
Strategic Communications  (1)    45,113     6,108   13.5% N/M N/M   601 
  $  470,285     86,661   18.4%       3,510 
Corporate       (17,804)         
Adjusted EBITDA    $  68,857   14.6%       
              
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015             
Corporate Finance & Restructuring  $  106,212  $  22,480   21.2%  74% $  374    735 
Forensic and Litigation Consulting     123,265     22,071   17.9%  68% $  318    1,145 
Economic Consulting    106,081     11,556   10.9%  73% $  501    566 
Technology  (1)    54,654     10,073   18.4% N/M N/M   360 
Strategic Communications  (1)    42,126     5,752   13.7% N/M N/M   556 
  $  432,338     71,932   16.6%       3,362 
Corporate       (13,264)         
Adjusted EBITDA    $  58,668   13.6%       
              
  
(1)The majority of the Technology and Strategic Communications segments' revenues are not generated based on billable hours.  Accordingly, utilization and average billable rate metrics are not presented as they are not meaningful as a segment-wide metric. 


RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AND OPERATING INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA 
(in thousands) 
(unaudited) 
                    
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016  Corporate Finance & Restructuring Forensic and Litigation Consulting Economic Consulting Technology  Strategic Communications Corp HQ Total  
                    
Net income                $  30,181   
 Interest income and other                 (2,557)  
 Interest expense                 6,229   
 Income tax provision                 18,386   
Operating income (loss)   $  30,076  $  18,213  $  20,211  $  (1,180) $  3,665  $  (18,746) $  52,239   
 Depreciation and amortization    722     1,079     925     3,784     519     942     7,971   
 Amortization of other intangible assets    805     516     183     158     944     -      2,606   
 Special charges     -      -      -      5,061     -      -      5,061   
 Fair Value Remeasurement of Contingent Consideration   -      -      -      -      980     -      980   
Adjusted EBITDA    $  31,603  $  19,808  $  21,319  $  7,823  $  6,108  $  (17,804) $  68,857   
                    
                    
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015  Corporate Finance / Restructuring Forensic and Litigation Consulting Economic Consulting Technology  Strategic Communications Corp HQ Total  
                    
Net income                 $  23,686   
 Interest income and other                 137   
 Interest expense                 12,368   
 Income tax provision                 11,657   
Operating income    $  20,764  $  20,474  $  10,296  $  6,198  $  4,197  $  (14,081) $  47,848   
 Depreciation and amortization    782     1,015     952     3,677     565     817     7,808   
 Amortization of other intangible assets    934     582     308     198     990     -      3,012   
Adjusted EBITDA    $  22,480  $  22,071  $  11,556  $  10,073  $  5,752  $  (13,264) $  58,668   
                    
                    


FTI CONSULTING, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
(in thousands) 
(unaudited) 
     
 Three Months Ended 
 March 31, 
  2016   2015  
Operating activities    
Net income $  30,181  $  23,686  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization   7,971     7,808  
Amortization of other intangible assets   2,606     3,012  
Acquisition-related contingent consideration   1,134     234  
Provision for doubtful accounts    437     2,998  
Non-cash share-based compensation    6,158     6,736  
Non-cash interest expense   497     671  
Other   (81)    (132) 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:    
Accounts receivable, billed and unbilled   (52,047)    (41,330) 
Notes receivable   3,853     (1,003) 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   3,824     3,583  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other   5,619     15,959  
Income taxes    17,561     5,524  
Accrued compensation   (65,511)    (74,987) 
Billings in excess of services provided   4,699     (4,092) 
  Net cash used in operating activities   (33,099)    (51,333) 
     
Investing activities    
Purchases of property and equipment   (6,362)    (8,876) 
Other   34     71  
  Net cash used in investing activities   (6,328)    (8,805) 
     
Financing activities    
Borrowings under revolving line of credit, net   7,000     -   
Purchase and retirement of common stock   (2,903)    -   
Net issuance of common stock under equity compensation plans   (1,371)    4,031  
Deposits   2,590     1,380  
Other   (135)    (85 
  Net cash provided by financing activities   5,181     5,326  
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,063)    (3,573) 
     
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (35,309)    (58,385) 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   149,760     283,680  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$  114,451  $  225,295  
     


FTI CONSULTING, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
     
 March 31, December 31, 
  2016   2015  
Assets    
Current assets    
  Cash and cash equivalents$  114,451  $  149,760  
  Accounts receivable:    
Billed receivables   420,824     405,000  
Unbilled receivables   329,933     280,538  
 Allowance for doubtful accounts and unbilled services   (197,527)    (185,754) 
  Accounts receivable, net   553,230     499,784  
  Current portion of notes receivable   31,474     36,115  
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets   45,196     55,966  
 Total current assets   744,351     741,625  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation   71,263     74,760  
Goodwill   1,198,070     1,198,298  
Other intangible assets, net of amortization   61,193     63,935  
Notes receivable, net of current portion   108,095     106,882  
Other assets   42,072     43,518  
Total assets$  2,225,044  $  2,229,018  
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other$  95,606  $  89,845  
Accrued compensation   157,687     227,783  
Billings in excess of services provided   34,226     29,449  
Total current liabilities   287,519     347,077  
Long-term debt, net   501,961     494,772  
Deferred income taxes   150,557     139,787  
Other liabilities   103,761     99,779  
Total liabilities   1,043,798     1,081,415  
     
Stockholders' equity    
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; shares authorized ― 5,000; none outstanding   -      -   
Common stock, $0.01 par value; shares authorized ― 75,000; shares issued and
  outstanding ― 41,385 (2016) and 41,234 (2015) 
   414     412  
Additional paid-in capital   404,523     400,705  
Retained earnings   885,662     855,481  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (109,353)    (108,995) 
Total stockholders' equity   1,181,246     1,147,603  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  2,225,044  $  2,229,018  
     
FTI Consulting, Inc.
1101 K Street NW 
Washington, DC 20005 
+1.202.312.9100

Investor & Media Contact: 
Mollie Hawkes
+1.617.747.1791
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

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