Houlihan Lokey(US:HLI)2023-05-13 21:12Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the fiscal year, Corporate Finance revenues were $1.13 billion, down significantly from the previous fiscal year but still the second-best year in the firm's history [3] - Revenues for the fourth quarter were $445 million, down 6% year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per share were $1.11, down 15% from a year earlier [7][10] - Adjusted compensation expenses for the fourth quarter were $274 million, down from $290 million in the same quarter last year, with an adjusted compensation expense ratio of 61.5% [4][9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Corporate Finance revenues for the quarter were $256 million, down 8% compared to the same quarter last year, with 140 transactions closed [4][7] - Financial Restructuring revenues were $120 million for the quarter, slightly down from the same period last year, but up 22% from the previous quarter [4][30] - Financial and Valuation Advisory (FVA) revenues were $68 million for the quarter, a 4% decrease from the same period last year, but fiscal year revenues of $287 million were a record for FVA [8][30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The current environment for financial restructuring is not crisis-driven but influenced by various factors, allowing this business segment to perform well for an extended period [8] - The disruption in regional banking is negatively impacting FVA in the short term, but increased banking regulations are expected to benefit FVA in the long term [8][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on hiring talent, having added 8 new managing directors globally, and is selective in acquisitions to ensure cultural and strategic fit [8][10] - The firm is maintaining a conservative approach to share repurchases to retain balance sheet flexibility for acquisitions and hiring opportunities [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the second half of fiscal 2023 did not see the typical increase in results due to current market conditions, but the diversified service and geographic platform helped achieve strong yearly revenues [7][8] - The firm expects continued strong new business activity, although the time to close transactions has extended due to market uncertainties [30] Other Important Information - The Board approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.55 per share from $0.53, to be paid in June [10] - The company has approximately $752 million in unrestricted cash and equivalents, with a significant portion earmarked for accrued bonuses [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company view the potential for corporate finance revenue in a challenging environment? - Management indicated that if the market conditions remain unchanged, fiscal 2023 revenue levels could be a reasonable expectation for fiscal 2024 [34] Question: What is the outlook for the restructuring business given current market conditions? - Management believes the restructuring environment is not crisis-driven and expects a long tail of business opportunities due to fundamental market changes [42] Question: How is the recruiting environment affecting the company? - The company noted a somewhat better recruiting environment but acknowledged challenges in attracting talent from competitors [18] Question: What impact do tighter capital markets have on deal closures? - Management stated that while there are headwinds due to tighter capital markets, they believe the market remains open for the deals they are working on, albeit with longer closing times [16][62] Question: How does the company view acquisition opportunities in the current market? - Management sees increased acquisition activity as more attractive in the current environment but remains cautious and selective in their approach [64]