Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net sales of $201.1 million for Q1 2025, a decrease of $2.3 million or 1.1% from Q1 2024 [18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $68.2 million, an increase of $13 million or 23.6% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.9%, up approximately 680 basis points from the previous year [20] - Adjusted non-GAAP gross margin was 63.7%, approximately 310 basis points higher than Q1 2024, driven by a favorable sales mix and cost control initiatives [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software Solutions net sales represented 42.1% of total net sales, an increase of approximately 260 basis points from the previous year, with organic growth of about 6% [6][7] - ActiveDisclosure sales grew approximately 11%, while Venue sales declined by about 9% year-over-year [20][21] - Capital Markets Compliance and Communications Management segment net sales decreased by $7.2 million or 7.6% on an organic basis, primarily due to lower compliance volume [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Approximately 75% of the company's revenue is based on recurring sources, providing stability during market volatility [14] - The global deal environment remained soft, with capital markets transactional revenue at $48.6 million, a modest increase from the previous year [24] - The company maintained a strong market share despite the challenging transactional environment [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to derive approximately 60% of total net sales from Software Solutions by 2028, focusing on becoming a software-centric company [7] - Investments are being made in software offerings and technologies, including automation and AI-driven tools, to modernize operations and enhance client experience [12] - The company is prioritizing high-quality transactions and has seen a reduction in bad debt expense due to this strategy [19][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates a challenging operating environment driven by market volatility and ongoing uncertainty, with expectations for Q2 2025 net sales in the range of $215 million to $235 million [31] - The company does not foresee significant impacts from recently announced tariffs due to its predominantly U.S.-based operations [13] - Management remains optimistic about the latent demand for transactions and a favorable regulatory landscape supporting future growth [15][34] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 861,000 shares for $41.8 million during Q1 2025, with an additional 657,000 shares repurchased in April [30] - Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $51 million, primarily due to unfavorable working capital timing [28][29] - The company amended and extended its credit agreement, providing for a $115 million Term Loan A and extending the maturity of a $300 million revolving credit facility [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the higher margins and revenue performance? - Management attributed the higher margins to incremental cost reduction actions and higher capital markets transactional sales, which exceeded guidance [36][37] Question: Can you provide more detail on Q2 guidance by segment? - Management expects ActiveDisclosure to perform well, while Venue will face tough comparisons. Compliance revenue is expected to decline modestly [40][41] Question: How is the competitive landscape for ActiveDisclosure? - Management noted that they are seeing good progress in client acquisition and pricing, with a strong market position due to their ability to invest in software features [51][52] Question: What is the outlook for ARC Suite growth? - Management indicated that growth is expected to continue, driven by the tailored shareholder report regulation and strong fundamentals in the ARC Suite platform [67][70] Question: Will share buybacks continue at the current pace? - Management confirmed that they will remain aggressive with share repurchases at lower prices while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital deployment [77][81]