Release Details

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

 

 

Evercore Inc. (NYSE: EVR) today announced its results for the full year ended December 31, 2018.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

Ralph Schlosstein, President and Chief Executive Officer
"This has been by far the best quarter and full year in the Firm's history and a strong affirmation by our clients of our Firm's business model. We finished 2018 with our tenth consecutive year of growth in Adjusted Revenues, Operating Income and EPS. We had significant growth in both Strategic and Capital Advisory services, and our 2018 Advisory and Underwriting revenues grew by 32% and 56% year over year, respectively. Our Equities team finished 2018 strongly, growing Commissions revenues in the second half of the year," said Ralph Schlosstein, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to deliver significant value to our shareholders, returning more than $376 million of capital in 2018."

John S. Weinberg, Executive Chairman
"We believe our 2018 results reflect our strategy of investing in exceptional talent and expanding our sector coverage and capabilities in the U.S. and globally," said John S. Weinberg, Executive Chairman. "We are pleased to have promoted seven of our talented professionals to Senior Managing Director in January, as we continue to focus on building our next generation of senior leadership."

Roger C. Altman, Founder and Senior Chairman
"The combination of Evercore's deepening capabilities, steadily growing market share and positive financial market conditions were responsible for our record results in 2018, and, these same elements remain in place," said Roger C. Altman, Founder and Senior Chairman.

Selected Financial Data - U.S. GAAP Results:

The following is a discussion of Evercore's results on a U.S. GAAP basis.

Net Revenues
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Net Revenues of $771.4 million increased 43% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, primarily driven by an increase in Advisory Fees. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Net Revenues of $2.065 billion increased 21% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, primarily driven by an increase in Advisory Fees. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of U.S. GAAP Results below for further information.

The Company adopted the new accounting standard, ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," on January 1, 2018. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when all material conditions for completion have been met and it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in a future period. The application of this standard resulted in advisory revenue of $3.4 million being recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018, representing variable consideration under the standard, substantially all of which would have been recognized in the first quarter of 2019 under the legacy accounting standard, and advisory revenue of $50.8 million being recognized in the third quarter of 2018, representing variable consideration under the standard, substantially all of which would have been recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018 under the legacy accounting standard. In addition, beginning in 2018, client related expenses for underwriting transactions are presented gross (previously presented net) in related U.S. GAAP reported revenues and expenses.

On December 31, 2017, the Company exchanged all of its outstanding equity interests in G5 for debentures of G5. Other Revenue, net, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 includes a loss of $16.3 million related to the release of cumulative foreign exchange losses resulting from the restructuring of our equity method investment in G5. Other Revenue, net, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 also includes a gain of $7.8 million related to the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC and an estimated gain of $77.5 million related to a reduction in the liability for amounts due pursuant to our tax receivable agreement, which was re-measured following the decrease in income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years, as discussed below in Effective Tax Rate.

Compensation Ratio
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, the compensation ratio was 55.8% versus 50.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the compensation ratio was 58.0% versus 56.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The compensation ratio for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflects the elevated level of expense associated with the significant investment in Advisory talent in 2018, as well as increased expense from compensation associated with recruiting senior talent in 2016 and 2017. The compensation ratio was lower for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 partially due to the expense reversal associated with acquisition-related LP Interests during the first quarter of 2017. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of U.S. GAAP Results below for further information.

Operating Income
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Operating Income of $250.2 million increased 36% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues, partially offset by increased compensation and non-compensation costs in the Investment Banking business. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Operating Income of $542.1 million increased 26% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues and a reduction in Special Charges, partially offset by increased compensation and non-compensation costs in the Investment Banking business. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of U.S. GAAP Results below for further information.

Effective Tax Rate
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, the effective tax rate was 23.9% versus 100.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the effective tax rate was 19.7% versus 59.1% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in the tax provision from 2017 primarily reflects the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as noted below, which resulted in an increase in the effective tax rate for 2017 related to the re-measurement of net deferred tax assets, as well as the reduction in the effective tax rate in 2018. The effective tax rate is also impacted by the non-deductible treatment of compensation associated with Evercore LP Units/Interests.

In conjunction with the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, which reduced income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years, our effective tax rate for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was reduced by 12 percentage points before the impact of the application of the share-based compensation accounting standard, described below.

Further, our tax provision for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 includes a charge of $143.3 million primarily resulting from the estimated re-measurement of net deferred tax assets as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017. These deferred tax assets relate principally to temporary differences from the step-up in basis associated with the exchange of partnership units, deferred compensation, accumulated other comprehensive income and depreciation of fixed assets and leasehold improvements. This charge, as well as the reduction in the liability for amounts due pursuant to our tax receivable agreement described above, resulted in an increase in the effective tax rate of 59.3 and 27.1 percentage points for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

The provision for income taxes for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 includes a benefit of $0.5 million and $23.4 million, respectively, and $0.3 million and $24.0 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, following the application of a new accounting standard, effective January 1, 2017, related to share-based compensation, which requires that the tax deduction or expense associated with the appreciation or depreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above or below the original grant price be reflected in income tax expense. This benefit resulted in a decrease in the effective tax rate of 0.2 and 4.2 percentage points for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and 0.2 and 5.5 percentage points for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

Net Income (Loss) and Earnings (Loss) Per Share
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Evercore Inc. and Earnings (Loss) Per Share were $163.3 million and $3.67, respectively, compared to ($19.4) million and ($0.50), respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, principally driven by an increase in Net Revenues in the Investment Banking business and a decrease in the effective tax rate.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Net Income Attributable to Evercore Inc. and Earnings Per Share of $377.2 million and $8.33, respectively, increased 201% and 198%, respectively, versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, principally driven by an increase in Net Revenues in the Investment Banking business and a decrease in the effective tax rate.

Selected Financial Data - Adjusted Results:

The following is a discussion of Evercore's results on an Adjusted basis. See pages 8 to 9 and A-2 to A-12 for further information and reconciliations of these non-GAAP metrics to our U.S. GAAP results.

Adjusted Net Revenues
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Net Revenues of $776.2 million increased 63% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, primarily driven by an increase in Advisory Fees. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Net Revenues of $2.083 billion increased 26% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, primarily driven by an increase in Advisory Fees. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of Adjusted Results below for further information.

The Company adopted the new accounting standard, ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," on January 1, 2018. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when all material conditions for completion have been met and it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in a future period. The application of this standard resulted in advisory revenue of $3.4 million being recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018, representing variable consideration under the standard, substantially all of which would have been recognized in the first quarter of 2019 under the legacy accounting standard, and advisory revenue of $50.8 million being recognized in the third quarter of 2018, representing variable consideration under the standard, substantially all of which would have been recognized in the fourth quarter of 2018 under the legacy accounting standard.

Adjusted Compensation Ratio
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Adjusted compensation ratio was 55.0% versus 56.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Adjusted compensation ratio was 56.7% versus 57.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in the Adjusted compensation ratio for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflects a significant increase in revenues in 2018, partially offset by the elevated level of expense associated with the significant investment in Advisory talent in 2018, as well as increased expense from compensation  associated with recruiting senior talent in 2016 and 2017. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of Adjusted Results below for further information.

Adjusted Operating Income
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Operating Income of $263.6 million increased 96% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues, partially offset by increased compensation and non-compensation costs in the Investment Banking business. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Operating Income of $591.0 million increased 39% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues, partially offset by increased compensation and non-compensation costs in the Investment Banking business. See the Business Line Reporting - Discussion of Adjusted Results below for further information.

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Adjusted effective tax rate was 24.7% versus 37.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Adjusted effective tax rate was 20.8% versus 31.3% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.

In conjunction with the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, which reduced income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years, our Adjusted effective tax rate for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was reduced by 13 percentage points before the impact of the application of the share-based compensation accounting standard, described below.

The Adjusted effective tax rate includes a benefit of $0.3 million and $24.2 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and $0.5 million and $26.6 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively, following the application of a new accounting standard, effective January 1, 2017, related to share-based compensation, which requires that the tax deduction or expense associated with the appreciation or depreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above or below the original grant price be reflected in income tax expense. This benefit resulted in a decrease in the Adjusted effective tax rate of 0.1 and 4.2 percentage points for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and 0.4 and 6.4 percentage points for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

The Adjusted effective tax rate for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017, excludes adjustments related to the impact of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that was signed into law on December 22, 2017, on deferred tax assets and our tax receivable agreement, as described above in Selected Financial Data - U.S. GAAP Results.

Adjusted Net Income and Earnings Per Share
For the three months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Evercore Inc. and Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $194.2 million and $3.93, respectively, increased 149% and 154%, respectively, versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues in the Investment Banking business and a decrease in the effective tax rate.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Evercore Inc. and Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $454.0 million and $9.01, respectively, increased 64% and 65%, respectively, versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven by an increase in Net Revenues in the Investment Banking business and a decrease in the effective tax rate.

Evercore's quarterly results may fluctuate significantly due to the timing and amount of transaction fees earned, as well as other factors. Accordingly, financial results in any particular quarter may not be representative of future results over a longer period of time.

Non-GAAP Measures:

Throughout this release certain information is presented on an Adjusted basis, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), and then those results are adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of vested and certain unvested Evercore LP Units and Interests into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. Evercore uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Evercore's Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Evercore Inc. for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was higher than U.S. GAAP as a result of the exclusion of expenses associated with awards granted in conjunction with certain of the Company's acquisitions, and certain other business acquisition-related charges and Special Charges.

Acquisition-related compensation charges for 2018 include expenses associated with awards granted in conjunction with the Company's acquisition of ISI. Acquisition-related charges for 2018 also include professional fees incurred and amortization of intangible assets.

Special Charges for 2018 relate to separation benefits and costs of terminating certain contracts associated with closing the agency trading platform in the U.K. and separation benefits and related charges associated with the Company's businesses in Mexico, as well as the acceleration of depreciation expense for leasehold improvements in conjunction with the previously announced expansion of our headquarters in New York.

Evercore's Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were higher than U.S. GAAP as a result of the inclusion of certain Evercore LP Units.

This release also presents changes in Adjusted Investment Management Operating Income and Adjusted Investment Management Operating Margin from the prior-year periods assuming that the restructuring of certain Investment Management affiliates occurred on December 31, 2016. This includes the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC that occurred on October 18, 2017. Evercore believes this is useful additional information for investors because it improves the comparability of period-over-period results and aligns with management's view of business performance.

Further details of these adjustments, as well as an explanation of similar amounts for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 are included in Annex I, pages A-2 to A-12.

Reclassifications:

Certain balances in the prior period were reclassified to conform to their current presentation in this release.  "Investment Banking Revenue" has been disaggregated into "Advisory Fees," "Underwriting Fees" and "Commissions and Related Fees" and "Investment Management Revenue" has been renamed to "Asset Management and Administration Fees." "Other Revenue, Including Interest" has been renamed to "Other Revenue, Including Interest and Investments" and principal trading gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on private equity investments have been reclassified from Investment Banking Revenue and Investment Management Revenue to "Other Revenue, Including Interest and Investments."

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company's Adjusted presentation for current and prior periods was revised to eliminate the netting of client related expenses, expenses associated with revenue sharing engagements with third parties and provisions for uncollected receivables with their related revenue. The revised presentation reflects the expense and related revenue gross. The Company revised its presentation for these expenses in order to align with the treatment under U.S. GAAP. There was no impact on Adjusted Operating Income, Net Income or Earnings Per Share.

Business Line Reporting - Discussion of U.S. GAAP Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's segment results on a U.S. GAAP basis.

Revenues

During the three months ended December 31, 2018, fees for Advisory services increased 81% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, reflecting an increase in the number of Advisory fees in excess of $1 million. Underwriting Fees of $8.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 43% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017. We participated in 7 underwriting transactions during the three months ended December 31, 2018 (vs. 18 in Q4 2017); 4 as a bookrunner (vs. 13 in Q4 2017). Commissions and Related Fees for the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased 7% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, fees for Advisory services increased 32% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, as we continued to advise clients on a wide variety of matters including strategic M&A, activism, restructuring and capital raising. Underwriting Fees of $71.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 increased 56% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. We participated in 50 underwriting transactions during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 (vs. 58 in 2017); 35 as a bookrunner (vs. 33 in 2017). Commissions and Related Fees for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 3% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, principally driven by the trend of institutional clients adjusting the level of payments for research services.

On December 31, 2017, the Company exchanged all of its outstanding equity interests in G5 for debentures of G5. Other Revenue, net, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 includes a loss of $16.3 million related to the release of cumulative foreign exchange losses resulting from the restructuring of our equity method investment in G5. Other Revenue, net, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 also includes an estimated gain of $77.5 million related to a reduction in the liability for amounts due pursuant to our tax receivable agreement, which was re-measured following the decrease in income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years upon the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017.

Expenses

Compensation costs were $423.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 59% from the fourth quarter of last year. The compensation ratio was 55.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared to 51.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2017. Compensation costs were $1.166 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 26% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The compensation ratio was 58.0% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, compared to 56.7% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The compensation ratio for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflects the elevated level of expense associated with the significant investment in Advisory talent in 2018, as well as increased expense from compensation associated with recruiting senior talent in 2016 and 2017. The compensation ratio was lower for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 partially due to the expense reversal associated with acquisition-related LP Interests during the first quarter of 2017.

Non-compensation Costs for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $86.1 million, up 16% compared to the fourth quarter of last year. The increase in Non-compensation Costs versus last year reflects the addition of personnel, increased occupancy costs, increased professional fees and the inclusion of underwriting expenses in 2018 pursuant to the new accounting requirements. The ratio of Non-compensation Costs to Net Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018 of 11.3% decreased from 14.3% for the fourth quarter of last year, driven by higher revenue in 2018. Non-compensation Costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $307.5 million, up 14% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The increase in Non-compensation Costs versus last year reflects the addition of personnel, increased occupancy costs, increased professional fees and the inclusion of underwriting expenses in 2018 pursuant to the new accounting requirements. The ratio of Non-compensation Costs to Net Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 of 15.3% decreased from 16.6% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven by higher revenue in 2018.

Special Charges for the three months ended December 31, 2018 primarily reflect the acceleration of depreciation expense for leasehold improvements in conjunction with the previously announced expansion of our headquarters in New York. Special Charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflect separation benefits and costs of terminating certain contracts associated with closing the agency trading platform in the U.K. and separation benefits and related charges associated with the Company's businesses in Mexico, as well as the acceleration of depreciation expense for leasehold improvements in conjunction with the previously announced expansion of our headquarters in New York. Special Charges for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 reflect an impairment charge related to our former equity method investment in G5, resulting from the sustained negative economic and political climate in Brazil.

 

 

 

On October 18, 2017, the Company completed the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC.

On December 31, 2017, the Company exchanged all of its outstanding equity interests in G5 for debentures of G5.

Asset Management and Administration Fees of $11.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 8% compared to the fourth quarter of last year, following the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017. Fees from Wealth Management clients increased 5%, as associated AUM increased 3%.

Asset Management and Administration Fees of $48.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 19% compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, following the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017. Fees from Wealth Management clients increased 11%, as associated AUM increased 3%.

Expenses

Investment Management's expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $11.0 million, a decrease of 29% compared to the fourth quarter of last year, principally due to the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017 and a reduction in Special Charges. Investment Management expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $44.0 million, down 31% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, principally due to the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017 and a reduction in Special Charges.

Business Line Reporting - Discussion of Adjusted Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's segment results on an Adjusted basis. See pages 8 to 9 and A-2 to A-12 for further information and reconciliations of these metrics to our U.S. GAAP results.

Adjusted Revenues

During the three months ended December 31, 2018, fees for Advisory services increased 81% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017, reflecting an increase in the number of Advisory fees in excess of $1 million. Underwriting Fees of $8.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 43% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017. We participated in 7 underwriting transactions during the three months ended December 31, 2018 (vs. 18 in Q4 2017); 4 as a bookrunner (vs. 13 in Q4 2017). Commissions and Related Fees for the three months ended December 31, 2018 increased 7% versus the three months ended December 31, 2017.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, fees for Advisory services increased 32% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, as we continued to advise clients on a wide variety of matters including strategic M&A, activism, restructuring and capital raising. Underwriting Fees of $71.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 increased 56% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. We participated in 50 underwriting transactions during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 (vs. 58 in 2017); 35 as a bookrunner (vs. 33 in 2017). Commissions and Related Fees for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 3% versus the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, principally driven by the trend of institutional clients adjusting the level of payments for research services.

Adjusted Expenses

Adjusted compensation costs were $419.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 61% from the fourth quarter of last year. The Adjusted compensation ratio was 55.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2018, compared to the Adjusted compensation ratio reported for the fourth quarter of last year of 56.4%. Adjusted compensation costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $1.151 billion, an increase of 26% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. The Adjusted compensation ratio was 56.9% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, compared to the Adjusted compensation ratio reported for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 of 57.8%. The decrease in the Adjusted compensation ratio for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 reflects a significant increase in revenues in 2018, partially offset by the elevated level of expense associated with the significant investment in Advisory talent in 2018, as well as increased expense from compensation associated with recruiting senior talent in 2016 and 2017.

Adjusted Non-compensation Costs for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $82.4 million, up 15% from the fourth quarter of last year. The increase in Adjusted Non-compensation Costs versus last year reflects the addition of personnel, increased occupancy costs and increased professional fees. The ratio of Adjusted Non-compensation Costs to Adjusted Net Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2018 of 10.8% decreased from 15.5% for the fourth quarter of last year, driven by higher revenue in 2018. Adjusted Non-compensation Costs for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $297.4 million, up 14% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 due to the addition of personnel, increased occupancy costs and increased professional fees. The ratio of Adjusted Non-compensation Costs to Adjusted Net Revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 of 14.7% decreased from 16.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven by higher revenue in 2018.

 

 

 

On October 18, 2017, the Company completed the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC.

On December 31, 2017, the Company exchanged all of its outstanding equity interests in G5 for debentures in G5.

Adjusted Asset Management and Administration Fees of $13.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 11% compared to the fourth quarter of last year, following the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017. Fees from Wealth Management clients increased 5%, as associated AUM increased 3%.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates of $2.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 decreased relative to the fourth quarter of last year, driven principally by lower income earned in the fourth quarter of 2018 by ABS.

Adjusted Asset Management and Administration Fees of $57.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 decreased 16% compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, following the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017. Fees from Wealth Management clients increased 11%, as associated AUM increased 3%.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates of $8.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 increased relative to the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, driven principally by higher income earned by Atalanta Sosnoff in 2018.

Adjusted Expenses

Investment Management's Adjusted expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2018 were $11.0 million, down 2% compared to the fourth quarter of last year. Adjusted Investment Management expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 were $43.9 million, down 15% from the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, principally due to the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Assuming the restructuring of our Investment Management affiliate noted above had occurred on December 31, 2016, Investment Management's Adjusted Operating Income for the three months ended December 31, 2018 would have decreased 38% when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2017, and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 would have increased 16% when compared to the twelve months ended December 31, 2017; Investment Management's Adjusted Operating Margin would have been 35.5% for the fourth quarter of last year, compared to 23.4% for the fourth quarter of 2018, and 27.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, compared to 28.5% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018.

Balance Sheet

The Company continues to maintain a strong balance sheet, holding cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and certificates of deposit of $1.097 billion at December 31, 2018. Current assets exceed current liabilities by $739.4 million at December 31, 2018. Amounts due related to the Long-Term Notes Payable were $168.6 million at December 31, 2018.

Capital Transactions

On January 29, 2019, the Board of Directors of Evercore declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share to be paid on March 8, 2019 to common stockholders of record on February 22, 2019.

During the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased approximately 25 thousand shares from employees for the net settlement of stock-based compensation awards at an average price per share of $88.02 and approximately 1.2 million shares at an average price per share of $85.29 in open market transactions pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program. The aggregate approximately 1.2 million shares were acquired at an average price per share of $85.35. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares primarily from employees for the net settlement of stock-based compensation awards at an average price per share of $99.64 and approximately 2.0 million shares/units at an average price per share/unit of $89.81 in open market transactions pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program. The aggregate approximately 3.1 million shares/units were acquired at an average price per share/unit of $93.24.

During January 2019, the Company repurchased approximately 270 thousand shares at an average price per share of $74.07 in open market transactions pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted to certain existing and new employees approximately 2.0 million unvested RSUs. The total shares available to be granted in the future under the Amended and Restated 2016 Evercore Inc. Stock Incentive Plan was approximately 5.3 million as of December 31, 2018.

Reclassifications

During the first quarter of 2018, the Company changed its U.S. GAAP and Adjusted presentation such that "Investment Banking Revenue" was disaggregated into "Advisory Fees," "Underwriting Fees" and "Commissions and Related Fees" and "Investment Management Revenue" was renamed to "Asset Management and Administration Fees." "Other Revenue, Including Interest" has been renamed to "Other Revenue, Including Interest and Investments" and principal trading gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses on private equity investments have been reclassified from Investment Banking Revenue and Investment Management Revenue to "Other Revenue, net." The Company has reclassified prior periods to conform to their current presentation in this release.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company's Adjusted presentation for current and prior periods was revised to eliminate the netting of client related expenses, expenses associated with revenue sharing engagements with third parties and provisions for uncollected receivables with their related revenue. The revised presentation reflects the expense and related revenue gross. The Company revised its presentation for these expenses in order to align with the treatment under U.S. GAAP. There was no impact on Adjusted Operating Income, Net Income or Earnings Per Share. Further details of these reclassifications, as well as a revised Adjusted presentation for the quarterly and full year results for 2018, 2017 and 2016 are available on the For Investors section of Evercore's website at www.evercore.com.

Conference Call

Evercore will host a related conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, January 30, 2019, accessible via telephone and the Internet. Investors and analysts may participate in the live conference call by dialing (877) 359-9508 (toll-free domestic) or (224) 357-2393 (international); passcode: 2195487. Please register at least 10 minutes before the conference call begins. A replay of the call will be available for one week via telephone starting approximately one hour after the call ends. The replay can be accessed at (855) 859-2056 (toll-free domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international); passcode: 2195487. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the For Investors section of Evercore's website at www.evercore.com. The webcast will be archived on Evercore's website for 30 days after the call.

About Evercore

Evercore (NYSE: EVR) is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings, and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital and delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, in addition to providing wealth and investment management services to high net worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the Firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.evercore.com.

 

Basis of Alternative Financial Statement Presentation

Our Adjusted results are a non-GAAP measure. As discussed further under "Non-GAAP Measures", Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and better reflect management's view of operating results. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of our U.S. GAAP results to Adjusted results is presented in the tables included in Annex I.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, Evercore's operations and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "backlog," "believes," "expects," "potential," "probable," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this presentation are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in Evercore's business. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Evercore believes these factors include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" discussed in Evercore's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and Registration Statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Evercore to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can Evercore assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and Evercore does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Evercore undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

With respect to any securities offered by any private equity fund referenced herein, such securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

 

 

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Adjusted Results

Throughout the discussion of Evercore's business segments and elsewhere in this release, information is presented on an Adjusted basis (formerly called "Adjusted Pro Forma"), which is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of vested and certain unvested Evercore LP Units and Interests, as well as Acquisition Related Share Issuances and Unvested Restricted Stock Units granted to ISI employees, into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. The Company uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These Adjusted amounts are allocated to the Company's two business segments: Investment Banking and Investment Management. The differences between the Adjusted and U.S. GAAP results are as follows:

1.  Assumed Vesting of Evercore LP Units and Exchange into Class A Shares.  The Company incurred expenses, in Employee Compensation and Benefits, resulting from the vesting of Class E LP Units issued in conjunction with the acquisition of ISI, as well as Class G and H LP Interests and Class J LP Units. The amount of expense or the reversal of expense for the Class G and H LP Interests was based on the determination if it was probable that Evercore ISI would achieve certain earnings and margin targets in 2017 and in future periods. The Adjusted results assume these LP Units and certain Class G and H LP Interests have vested and have been exchanged for Class A shares. Accordingly, any expense or reversal of expense associated with these units and interests, and related awards, is excluded from the Adjusted results, and the noncontrolling interest related to these units is converted to a controlling interest. The Company's management believes that it is useful to provide the per-share effect associated with the assumed conversion of these previously granted equity interests, and thus the Adjusted results reflect the exchange of certain vested and unvested Evercore LP partnership units and interests and IPO related restricted stock unit awards into Class A shares.

2.   Adjustments Associated with Business Combinations and Divestitures.  The following charges resulting from business combinations and divestitures have been excluded from the Adjusted results because the Company's Management believes that operating performance is more comparable across periods excluding the effects of these acquisition-related charges:

a.  Amortization of Intangible Assets and Other Purchase Accounting-related Amortization.  Amortization of intangible assets and other purchase accounting-related amortization from the acquisition of ISI and certain other acquisitions.

b.  Acquisition and Transition Costs.  Primarily professional fees incurred and costs related to transitioning acquisitions or divestitures.

c.  Fair Value of Contingent Consideration.  The expense, or reversal of expense, associated with changes in the fair value of contingent consideration issued to the sellers of certain of the Company's acquisitions.

d.  Gain on Sale of Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC.  The gain resulting from the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC in the fourth quarter of 2017.

e.  Foreign Exchange Gains / (Losses).  Release of cumulative foreign exchange losses resulting from the restructuring of our equity method investment in G5 in the fourth quarter of 2017.

3.   Special Charges.  Expenses during 2018 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to separation benefits and costs of terminating certain contracts associated with closing the agency trading platform in the U.K. and separation benefits and related charges associated with the Company's businesses in Mexico, as well as the acceleration of depreciation expense for leasehold improvements in conjunction with the previously announced expansion of our headquarters in New York. Expenses during 2017 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to a charge for the impairment of goodwill in the Institutional Asset Management reporting unit and a charge for the impairment of our investment in G5 in the second quarter and the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter of 2017.

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4.   Income Taxes.  Evercore is organized as a series of Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, C-Corporations and a Public Corporation and therefore, not all of the Company's income is subject to corporate-level taxes. As a result, adjustments have been made to the Adjusted earnings to assume that the Company is subject to the statutory tax rates of a C-Corporation under a conventional corporate tax structure in the U.S. at the prevailing corporate rates and that all deferred tax assets relating to foreign operations are fully realizable within the structure on a consolidated basis. This assumption is consistent with the assumption that certain Evercore LP Units and Interests are vested and exchanged into Class A shares, as discussed in Item 1 above, as the assumed exchange would change the tax structure of the Company.

Excluded from the Company's Adjusted results are adjustments related to the impact of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law on December 22, 2017, which resulted in a reduction in income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years. The enactment of this tax reform resulted in a charge to the Provision for Income Taxes for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $143.3 million primarily resulting from the estimated re-measurement of net deferred tax assets, which relates primarily to temporary differences from the step-up in basis associated with the exchange of partnership units, deferred compensation, accumulated other comprehensive income and depreciation of fixed assets and leasehold improvements. The tax reform also resulted in an estimated adjustment to Other Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $77.5 million related to the re-measurement of amounts due pursuant to our tax receivable agreement, which was reduced due to the lower enacted income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years.

5.  Presentation of Interest Expense.  The Adjusted results present interest expense on short-term repurchase agreements, within the Investment Management segment, in Other Revenues, net, as the Company's Management believes it is more meaningful to present the spread on net interest resulting from the matched financial assets and liabilities. In addition, Adjusted Investment Banking and Investment Management Operating Income are presented before interest expense on debt, which is included in interest expense on a U.S. GAAP basis.

6.  Presentation of Income from Equity Method Investments.  The Adjusted results present Income from Equity Method Investments within Revenue as the Company's Management believes it is a more meaningful presentation.

This release also presents changes in Adjusted Investment Management Operating Income and Adjusted Investment Management Operating Margin from the prior-year periods assuming that the restructuring of certain Investment Management affiliates occurred on December 31, 2016. This includes the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC that occurred on October 18, 2017. Evercore believes this is useful additional information for investors because it improves the comparability of period-over-period results and aligns with management's view of business performance.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company's Adjusted presentation for current and prior periods was revised to eliminate the netting of client related expenses, expenses associated with revenue sharing engagements with third parties and provisions for uncollected receivables with their related revenue. The revised presentation reflects the expense and related revenue gross. The Company revised its presentation for these expenses in order to align with the treatment under U.S. GAAP. There was no impact on Adjusted Operating Income, Net Income or Earnings Per Share.

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Adjusted Financial Data

For further information on these adjustments, see page A-2.

(1)     Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments has been reclassified to Revenue in the Adjusted presentation.

(2)     Interest Expense on Debt is excluded from Net Revenues and presented below Operating Income in the Adjusted results and is included in Interest Expense on a U.S. GAAP basis.

(3)     The gain resulting from the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC in the fourth quarter of 2017 is excluded from the Adjusted presentation.

(4)     Release of cumulative foreign exchange losses resulting from the restructuring of our equity method investment in G5 in the fourth quarter of 2017 are excluded from the Adjusted presentation.

(5)     Expenses or reversal of expenses incurred from the assumed vesting of Class E LP Units, Class G and H LP Interests and Class J LP Units issued in conjunction with the acquisition of ISI are excluded from the Adjusted presentation.

(6)     Expenses during 2018 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to separation benefits and costs of terminating certain contracts associated with closing the agency trading platform in the U.K. and separation benefits and related charges associated with the Company's businesses in Mexico, as well as the acceleration of depreciation expense for leasehold improvements in conjunction with the previously announced expansion of our headquarters in New York. Expenses during 2017 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to a charge for the impairment of goodwill in the Institutional Asset Management reporting unit and a charge for the impairment of our investment in G5 in the second quarter and the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC during the fourth quarter.

(7)     Non-compensation Costs on an Adjusted basis reflect the following adjustments:

 

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(7a)   The exclusion from the Adjusted presentation of expenses associated with amortization of intangible assets and other purchase accounting-related amortization from the acquisition of ISI and certain other acquisitions.

(7b)   Primarily the exclusion from the Adjusted presentation of professional fees incurred and costs related to transitioning acquisitions or divestitures.

(7c)   The exclusion from the Adjusted presentation of the expense, or reversal of expense, associated with the changes in fair value of contingent consideration issued to the sellers of certain of the Company's acquisitions.

(8)     Evercore is organized as a series of Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, C-Corporations and a Public Corporation and therefore, not all of the Company's income is subject to corporate-level taxes. As a result, adjustments have been made to the Adjusted earnings to assume that the Company is subject to the statutory tax rates of a C-Corporation under a conventional corporate tax structure in the U.S. at the prevailing corporate rates and that all deferred tax assets relating to foreign operations are fully realizable within the structure on a consolidated basis. This assumption is consistent with the assumption that certain Evercore LP Units and Interests are vested and exchanged into Class A shares, as the assumed exchange would change the tax structure of the Company.

Excluded from the Company's Adjusted results are adjustments, described below, related to the impact of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law on December 22, 2017, which resulted in a reduction in income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years. The enactment of this tax reform resulted in a charge to the Provision for Income Taxes for the fourth quarter of 2017 of $143.3 million primarily resulting from the estimated re-measurement of net deferred tax assets, which relates principally to temporary differences from the step-up in basis associated with the exchange of partnership units, deferred compensation, accumulated other comprehensive income and depreciation of fixed assets and leasehold improvements. The tax reform also resulted in an estimated adjustment to Other Revenue of $77.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to the re-measurement of amounts due pursuant to our tax receivable agreement, which was reduced due to the lower enacted income tax rates in the U.S. in 2018 and future years.

(9)     Reflects an adjustment to eliminate noncontrolling interest related to all Evercore LP partnership units which are assumed to be converted to Class A common stock in the Adjusted presentation.

(10)   Assumes the vesting, and exchange into Class A shares, of certain Evercore LP partnership units and interests and IPO related restricted stock unit awards in the Adjusted presentation. In the computation of outstanding common stock equivalents for U.S. GAAP net income per share, the Evercore LP partnership units are anti-dilutive. Further, as a result of the Company incurring a loss on a U.S. GAAP basis for the three months ended December 31, 2017, the additional shares of the Company's common stock assumed to be issued per the computation of diluted shares outstanding were antidilutive and consequently the additional shares have been excluded from the calculation of Diluted Shares Outstanding - U.S. GAAP.  These shares have been included in the reconciliation to Diluted Shares Outstanding - Adjusted.

(11)   Assumes the sale of the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC had occurred as of the beginning of the prior period presented and reflects adjustments to eliminate revenue and expenses that were previously consolidated from the Institutional Trust and Independent Fiduciary business of ETC. Management believes this adjustment is useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across periods.

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SOURCE Evercore