Core Viewpoint - BTS Group AB is experiencing stable development despite geopolitical uncertainties, with expectations for improved EBITA results in 2025 compared to 2024, although currency fluctuations pose potential challenges [2][3]. Financial Summary - Net sales for Q1 2025 reached MSEK 647, a 4.5% increase from MSEK 619 in Q1 2024, with a currency-adjusted growth of 3% [3][5]. - EBITA for Q1 2025 was MSEK 59, remaining stable compared to MSEK 58 in Q1 2024, resulting in an EBITA margin of 9.1%, down from 9.5% [3][5]. - Profit after tax for Q1 2025 was MSEK 25, significantly lower than MSEK 53 in Q1 2024; however, excluding the reversed provision of earn-out, profit after tax remained unchanged at MSEK 25 [3][5]. - Earnings per share for Q1 2025 were SEK 1.33, down from SEK 2.75 in Q1 2024, but increased by 2% when excluding the reversed provision of earn-out [3][5]. Operational Insights - The company anticipates approximately USD 5 million in cost savings driven by AI and automation, expected to be realized between Q3 2025 and Q1 2026 [2]. - The number of employees at the end of Q1 2025 was 1,178, an increase from 1,103 in Q1 2024 [3][5]. Company Overview - BTS Group AB is a global professional services firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, with around 1,100 professionals across 36 offices worldwide [6][7]. - The company partners with nearly 450 organizations, including over 30 of the world's largest corporations, providing services in talent and HR consulting, leadership development, and strategy implementation [6][7].

Group 1 - FTI Consulting announced the appointment of Julien Wallen as a Senior Managing Director in the Financial Services practice [1] - Mr. Wallen has 25 years of experience in asset management and consultancy, advising financial institutions on complex situations [2] - His role will involve leading balance sheet, portfolio, and risk advisory across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) [3] Group 2 - Mr. Wallen previously served as a Managing Director at BlackRock for over a decade, focusing on financial markets advisory and sustainability initiatives [5] - His appointment aligns with FTI Consulting's strategy to enhance its financial services capabilities, following the addition of several senior directors in the practice [6] - FTI Consulting generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024, indicating strong financial performance [7]

Core Insights - KPMG has launched KPMG AI Trust, a suite of services aimed at ensuring AI reliability, accountability, and transparency as organizations scale AI applications, leveraging the Trusted AI framework and ServiceNow's AI Control Tower [1][2][4] Group 1: AI Governance and Risk Management - The KPMG AI Trust services utilize AI to help clients enhance value and manage risks across various domains including compliance, legal, and security, ensuring AI systems are secure and ethically sound [2][6] - A KPMG survey indicates that 82% of leaders view risk management as their biggest challenge, while 73% prioritize data privacy and security when selecting a Generative AI provider [3][6] - KPMG emphasizes the need for robust governance in AI, stating that it is critical for AI to be trustworthy as it becomes integral to business strategy and value creation [4][5] Group 2: ServiceNow Collaboration - KPMG AI Trust is enabled by ServiceNow's AI technology, which allows for automated compliance processes and continuous monitoring of regulatory adherence [8][10] - The collaboration with ServiceNow aims to create a transformative AI service delivery platform, KPMG Velocity, which will support enterprises in adapting to the intelligent economy [7][10] - The solutions provided are compatible with various large language model platforms and can integrate with ServiceNow's risk management software [9] Group 3: Features of KPMG AI Trust - The KPMG AI Trust suite includes features such as risk-tiered AI solution intake evaluation, AI inventory and controls, pre-launch validations, and dynamic regulatory assessments to ensure compliance and risk management [15] - These capabilities are designed to protect employees, companies, and consumers as AI adoption accelerates [6][10]

NEW YORK, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI” or the “Company”) (NYSE: FCN). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether FTI and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.  [Click here for information about joining the class action] On April 24, 2025, FTI i ...

Core Insights - FTI Consulting is expanding its Financial Services practice by appointing seven senior professionals in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment in the U.S. and Germany [1][2] Group 1: Appointments and Expertise - Alma Angotti and Michael Peters have been appointed as Senior Managing Directors, while Steven Hansen, Laura Huntley, Wolfgang Konkel, Creighton Oswald, and Syed Raza have been appointed as Managing Directors [2] - The new appointments enhance FTI Consulting's capabilities in financial crime compliance, regulatory and risk management [2][3] - Angotti has over 30 years of experience in financial crime compliance and has held roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of the Treasury [4][5] - Peters brings more than 35 years of experience in financial crime compliance and investigations, recognized as an expert in crime prevention [6][7] Group 2: Service Offerings and Focus Areas - The Financial Services practice advises banks and financial institutions on various stages of the business cycle, focusing on consumer financial services, risk management, regulatory compliance, and governance [3] - Hansen specializes in payment platforms and will support large-scale programs for financial institutions, focusing on strategy, technology, and operations [8] - Huntley, a former bank regulatory attorney, will advise on regulatory risk and compliance transformation [9][10] - Konkel has over 25 years of experience in financial crime compliance and will assist in implementing regulatory requirements [11] - Oswald, a Certified Mortgage Banker, will support strategic growth and transformation initiatives in mortgage and consumer lending [12] - Raza has over 30 years of experience in risk management and regulatory compliance, having served in various regulatory roles [13] Group 3: Recent Developments - The addition of these seven experts follows the recent appointments of Michael Herde as a Senior Managing Director and Tom Anapolis as a Senior Advisor, indicating the firm's commitment to enhancing its service offerings [14] - FTI Consulting generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024, reflecting its strong market position [15]

Company Overview - BTS Group AB is a leading global consultancy specializing in strategy execution, change, and people development [1][2] - The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has approximately 1,200 professionals across 38 offices on six continents [2] - BTS competes in talent and HR consulting as well as traditional consulting markets, addressing a wide range of client challenges [2] Upcoming Events - BTS Group AB will present its interim report and hold a conference call with CEO Jessica Skon on May 16 at 08:00 am CET [1] - The report will be published at 07:00 am CET on the same day, and the presentation will be available online afterward [2] Market Position - BTS partners with nearly 1,200 organizations, including over 40 of the world's 100 largest global corporations [2] - The company has been focused on the people-side of change for over 35 years, utilizing proprietary methodologies for simulation, learning, coaching, and assessment [2]

Core Insights - BTS Group AB has agreed to acquire Nexo Pesquisa e Consultoria Ltda., a boutique consulting firm based in São Paulo, Brazil, enhancing its capabilities in strategy execution and culture transformation [1][4]. Company Overview - Nexo, founded in 2017, has shown continuous growth, with projected revenues of approximately 12 million Brazilian Reales (around 2.1 million USD) in 2024 and a team of 21 members [2]. - Nexo has established a strong reputation for delivering transformative projects across various sectors, including financial services, consumer goods, and technology [3]. Strategic Implications - The acquisition will expand BTS's footprint in Brazil and significantly enhance its culture and transformation service offerings, with limited overlap in client bases, indicating strong growth potential and synergy opportunities [4]. - Nexo's founders will take on senior management roles in the merged entity, ensuring continuity and leveraging their expertise [6]. Financial Structure - The acquisition involves a limited initial cash consideration, with additional payments contingent on Nexo meeting specific performance targets between 2026 and 2028, including a portion to be paid in newly issued BTS shares [7]. Future Growth Strategy - BTS's acquisition strategy aims to broaden its service portfolio, expand geographic reach, and enhance capabilities to support future organic growth in a fragmented market [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross revenues for Q1 2025 increased by 10% to $234 million compared to $212.6 million in Q1 2024, marking record first-quarter results for the company [14] - Gross profit rose to $123.2 million, a 10% increase from $111.7 million in the prior year [14] - Net income was $428,000 in Q1 2025, up from $77,000 in Q1 2024, with GAAP diluted earnings per share at $0.10 compared to $0.00 in the prior year [15] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 8% to $29.7 million from $27.6 million in the previous year [15] - Strong cash flows from operations reached $38.4 million, representing a 96% increase over the first quarter of last year [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Infrastructure segment grew by 12% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year, driven by strong performance in utilities and transportation [23] - Buildings and Technology segment reported a 17% revenue growth in Q1 2025 versus Q1 2024, with data centers now comprising 15% of buildings revenues [28] - Geospatial segment growth was slowed due to delays in federal contract awards, but is expected to accelerate as the year progresses [11][33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The infrastructure sector is seeing robust investments, particularly in the Northeast and Southeast, with funding secured before project initiation [24] - The Geospatial segment is experiencing high growth in utilities, transportation, and forestry, with a focus on asset management [34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for organic growth of 5% to 9% in 2025, with margin expansion of 150 basis points and free cash flow conversion of 60% of adjusted EBITDA [12][48] - Strategic acquisitions are being pursued to densify the platform and accelerate organic growth, with three acquisitions completed in Q1 2025 [13][39] - The company is focusing on cross-selling initiatives with a target of $40 million in revenues over the next twelve months [12][47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt to economic conditions, emphasizing the non-discretionary nature of their services [8][51] - The outlook for the remainder of the year remains positive, with reaffirmed guidance of $1.026 billion to $1.045 billion in gross revenues [48][112] - Management noted that the impact of federal spending changes has been minimal, with opportunities arising from increased defense spending [36][64] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with net leverage reduced to 1.3 times and over $53 million in cash on hand [16][110] - Significant investments in technology and software are expected to drive growth and profitability in 2025 and beyond [45] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for the Geospatial segment in Q2 and beyond? - Management indicated that the slow start in Q1 was primarily due to internal integration issues rather than market conditions, with expectations for improvement in Q2 [57][59] Question: What is the typical size of commissioning service contracts in the data center business? - Typical contracts range from $1 million to $2 million, often done in phases as data centers grow [68] Question: How are funding sources for infrastructure projects distributed? - Funding varies by state, with significant reliance on gas taxes in some areas, while other projects may be funded through federal sources [75] Question: What are the profit margin expectations for the year? - Management reaffirmed the goal of 150 basis points margin expansion, with gradual improvements expected in the second half of the year [78][82] Question: Is stock buyback considered in the capital allocation strategy? - The company announced a $20 million buyback plan and intends to utilize cash for acquisitions while maintaining flexibility in capital allocation [90][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, total revenues were approximately flat at $145.5 million, with net revenues also flat at $137.4 million compared to Q1 2024 [15][21] - Net income decreased to $26.7 million or $0.52 per diluted share, down from $30.1 million or $0.59 per diluted share in the prior year [15][16] - EBITDA for the quarter decreased by 6% to $37.5 million, producing a margin of 27.3% of net revenues, compared to 29.2% in Q1 2024 [16][20] - Billable hours decreased by 4% year over year to approximately 376,000, and average technical full-time equivalent employees decreased by 4% to 966 [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Engineering and Scientific segment represented 84% of revenues before reimbursement, with revenues flat in Q1 2025 [21] - The Environmental and Health segment represented 16% of revenues before reimbursement, with a 2% increase driven by engagements in the chemicals industry [21][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer products industry accounts for approximately 25% of revenue, with two-thirds being proactive work for consumer electronics clients [9] - The energy industry represents about 20% of revenue, split evenly between reactive and proactive services, with growing demand driven by AI and infrastructure development [10] - The transportation industry contributes mid-teens percentage of revenue, with 90% being reactive, driven by disputes in advanced vehicle technologies [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company maintains a diversified business model, with 60% of work being reactive and 40% proactive, allowing it to navigate economic cycles effectively [7][14] - The focus remains on advancing capabilities, investing in talent, and delivering insights to help clients adapt to changes in their industries [31] - The company is strategically hiring in areas with increasing demand, such as automated vehicles and digital health [64] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted macroeconomic uncertainty but expressed confidence in the company's resilience and ability to generate long-term profitable growth [14][30] - The company expects revenue before reimbursements to decline in the low single digits for Q2 2025, with EBITDA margins projected at 26% to 27% [22][24] - Management highlighted ongoing opportunities in regulatory consulting and compliance work, particularly in the chemicals industry [29] Other Important Information - The company anticipates a tax rate of approximately 28% for Q2 2025, up from 26% in the same quarter last year [27] - Capital expenditures for the full year 2025 are expected to be between $10 million and $12 million [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Growth rates in proactive and reactive work - The reactive business saw low single-digit growth, offset by a slight decline in proactive services overall [35][36] Question: Changes in productivity across end markets - Clients are exploring supply chain diversification, which may lead to increased demand, but changes take time to manifest [38][39] Question: Second quarter outlook and utilization - Utilization is expected to be slightly below last year, impacted by the July 4 holiday and some delays in client projects [44][46] Question: FTE growth in a choppy environment - The company plans to continue hiring in areas of increasing demand, expecting a 4% increase in headcount by year-end [64][66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company's first quarter revenues declined by 1.4% year over year to $487.6 million, which is within the guidance range [16] - Adjusted EBITDA margin on total revenues expanded by 10 basis points to 11.3%, reflecting careful cost management [6][19] - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 9.6% year over year to $1.90, significantly outpacing revenue performance [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues from commercial clients increased by 22.1% year over year, accounting for 29.5% of total first quarter revenues, up from 23.9% in the previous year [6][17] - Revenues from commercial energy clients rose by 21% year over year, driven by strong demand for energy efficiency programs [5][6] - Revenues from state and local government clients remained stable year on year, with disaster management revenues experiencing lower pass-through revenues [11] - Revenues from international government clients increased by 7.2% in the first quarter, aided by recent contract wins with the European Union and the UK government [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported that revenues from commercial, state and local, and international government clients collectively accounted for 51% of total revenues, up from approximately 45% in the prior year [17] - Federal client revenues declined by 12.6% year over year, impacted by contract funding curtailments and a slower pace of new RFPs [13][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain its adjusted EBITDA margins at levels comparable to 2024 margins while navigating a dynamic federal government business environment [14][29] - The company expects revenues from commercial energy, state and local, and international government clients to grow at least 15% in aggregate for the year, partially offsetting lower revenues from federal clients [27][28] - The company is focused on organic growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions in targeted markets, particularly in the energy sector [24][73] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management indicated that the federal business environment remains fluid and unsettled, with expectations for continued activity in the coming quarters [32] - The company reaffirmed its revenue guidance for 2025, projecting a decline of flat to 10% from last year, primarily due to federal government revenue losses [14][27] - Management expressed confidence in the growth prospects for the commercial energy business, citing increased budgets from utility clients for energy efficiency programs [10][29] Other Important Information - The company completed the integration of AEG, a leading energy technology and advisory firm, which is expected to enhance growth opportunities [9] - The backlog at the end of the first quarter was $3.4 billion, with $1.9 billion funded, indicating stability in the business [22] - The company repurchased 313,000 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $35 million, demonstrating confidence in its long-term outlook [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance on the impact of federal business - Management expects Q2 and Q3 to have similar impacts as Q1, with no significant increase in federal business impact [32] Question: Update on stop work orders - The figure for stop work orders has increased to approximately $375 million [33] Question: Contribution of Applied Energy Group to revenues - The contribution of Applied Energy Group was not disclosed separately, but management expressed satisfaction with its integration and performance [35][36] Question: Outlook for IT modernization business - The IT modernization business is expected to decline by 5% to 10% for the year due to delays in awards [40] Question: Growth outlook for commercial energy - Management expects commercial energy to continue being a strong performer with high margins [46] Question: Insights on disaster recovery business - The disaster recovery business is expected to grow this year, supported by a robust pipeline of opportunities [60] Question: Potential for acquisitions - Future acquisitions are likely to focus on the energy sector, with smaller tuck-in acquisitions being more probable [73]