Acquisition and Goodwill - The acquisition of Irwin was completed for a purchase price of 123.2million,whichincludescontingentconsiderationof12.7 million[81]. - Goodwill increased to 1.092billionasofNovember30,2024,reflectingtheacquisitionofIrwinandforeigncurrencytranslations[86].−TheacquisitionofIrwinisexpectedtoenhancethecompany′scapabilitiesinaddressingtheworkflowneedsofinvestorrelationsprofessionals[83].−ThecompanyanticipatesfinalizingthepurchasepriceallocationforIrwinwithinoneyearfromtheacquisitiondate[83].FinancialPerformance−Revenuesforthefirstquarteroffiscal2025were568.7 million, representing a 4.9% increase from the prior year, driven by a 4.7% increase in organic revenues[170]. - The company reported income before income taxes of 179,739,000forthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024,comparedto175,196,000 for the same period in 2023, indicating a growth of approximately 1.4%[92]. - Net income for the three months ended November 30, 2024, was 150.0million,a1.03.95, an increase from 3.91inthesameperiodof2023[140].−DilutedEPSforthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024,was3.89, an increase of 1.3% from 3.84intheprioryear[191].CashFlowandLiquidity−NetcashprovidedbyoperatingactivitiesforthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024,was86.4 million, a decrease of 68.8millioncomparedto155.1 million for the same period in 2023[249]. - The company generated free cash flow of 60.5millionduringthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024,adecreaseof78.2 million compared to 138.7millionforthesameperiodin2023[256].−Cashandcashequivalentsdecreasedto289.2 million from 423.0millionasofAugust31,2024[224].−AsofNovember30,2024,thecompanyhadshort−termliquidityrequirementsof62.5 million related to the outstanding balance of the 2022 Term Facility due March 1, 2025[230]. Debt and Interest Rates - Total debt as of November 30, 2024, was 1,359,103,000,aslightdecreasefrom1,365,973,000 as of August 31, 2024[104]. - The company entered into a new interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of 200million,whichwilldeclineby50 million quarterly, with a fixed interest rate of 5.145%[75]. - Interest expense on outstanding debt for the three months ended November 30, 2024, was 14.367million,comparedto16.729 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting a decrease of approximately 8.1%[121]. - The company entered into a 2024 Swap Agreement to hedge a portion of its floating SOFR debt with a fixed interest rate of 5.145%, maturing on February 28, 2025[115]. Taxation - The provision for income taxes for the three months ended November 30, 2024, was 29,717,000,resultinginaneffectivetaxrateof16.588.0 million to stockholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends during the three months ended November 30, 2024[240]. - The company repurchased 104,475 shares for 48.8millionduringthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024[241].−TheBoardofDirectorsapprovedadividendof1.04 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, totaling 39.572million,comparedto0.98 per share and 37.299millionforthesameperiodinfiscal2024[138].SegmentPerformance−TheAmericassegmentgeneratedrevenuesof367.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024, compared to 348.4millioninthesameperiodof2023,reflectingagrowthof5.3143.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024, up from 139.6millionintheprioryear,markingagrowthof2.457.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2024, compared to 54.3millioninthesameperiodof2023,agrowthof6.9191.3 million, with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations decreasing operating income by 1.1million[206].−Costofservicesasapercentageofrevenuesdecreasedto45.5118.6 million, driven by higher employee compensation costs and professional fees[205]. Assets and Capital Expenditures - Total assets as of November 30, 2024, were 4,048.6million,slightlydownfrom4,055.0 million as of August 31, 2024[161]. - Capital expenditures for the three months ended November 30, 2024, totaled 25.9million,comparedto16.5 million in the same period of 2023[160]. - Capital expenditures increased by 57.1% to 25.9millionforthethreemonthsendedNovember30,2024,comparedto16.5 million for the same period a year ago[244]. Derivative Instruments and Foreign Currency - The fair value of derivative instruments included in the balance sheet as of November 30, 2024, showed total derivative liabilities of 1.925million[78].−AsofNovember30,2024,thegrossnotionalvalueofforeigncurrencyforwardcontractswas180.4 million, a decrease from 188.2millionasofAugust31,2024[78].−Thecompanyrecognizedapre−taxderivativelossof4.1 million in cash flow hedge accounting for the three months ended November 30, 2024[79]. - The total gross notional value of foreign currency forward contracts amounted to 180,419,000,comparedto188,155,000 as of August 31, 2024[260]. Employee and Stock-Based Compensation - Total stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended November 30, 2024, was 13.6million,downfrom14.3 million in the same period of 2023[148]. - The company had 3.3 million employee stock-based awards available for grant under the LTIP as of November 30, 2024[154]. - The estimated fair value of stock options granted on November 1, 2024, was 133.10,withaweightedaverageexercisepriceof458.80[150].