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LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK - August 3, 2021 - Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2021. For the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, revenues were $373 million, compared with $211 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Net income was $86 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $46 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. Adjusted net income for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021 was $82 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared with $38 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020.

“We are pleased to report record first quarter results as we kick-off our fiscal year 2022. Over the last five quarters, our bull/bear, cyclically balanced model performed as we expected it to, and we continue to experience strong market momentum coming out of the pandemic. In addition to reporting earnings, we made a separate announcement yesterday regarding our acquisition agreement with GCA Corporation (“GCA”). We are excited about the prospect of acquiring GCA, which we believe solidifies our presence in the technology industry and continues to expand our global reach. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the firm once we close the tender offer process.” stated Scott Beiser, Chief Executive Officer of Houlihan Lokey.


(In thousands, except per share data)	U.S. GAAP
	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2021		2020
Revenues	$	372,722	$	211,136
Operating expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	232,304		137,121
Non-compensation	32,742		31,425
Operating income	107,676		42,590
Other income, net	(101)		(1,161)
Income before provision/(benefit) for income taxes	107,777		43,751
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	21,817		(2,349)
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.	$	85,960	$	46,100

Diluted earnings per share	$	1.25	$	0.69

For the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, revenues were $373 million, compared with $211 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. For the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, Corporate Finance (“CF”) revenues increased 139%, Financial Restructuring (“FR”) revenues increased 11%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (“FVA”) revenues increased 85% when compared with the first quarter ended June 30, 2020.


	U.S. GAAP						Adjusted (Non-GAAP) *
	Three Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2021			2020			2021			2020
Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	$	232,304		$	137,121		$	229,225		$	131,960
% of Revenues	62.3		%	64.9		%	61.5		%	62.5		%
Non-compensation	$	32,742		$	31,425		$	31,678		$	30,009
% of Revenues	8.8		%	14.9		%	8.5		%	14.2		%
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	$	21,817		$	(2,349)		$	29,844		$	12,721
% of Pre-tax income	20.2		%	(5.4)		%	26.7		%	25.3		%

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $232 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $137 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $229 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $132 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, versus 62.5% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. The increases in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were primarily a result of an increase in fee revenues for the quarter when compared with the same quarter last year.

Non-compensation expenses were $33 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $31 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $32 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $30 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. The increase in GAAP and adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of an increase in professional fees, rent and information technology and communications expenses, partially offset by a decrease in other operating expenses and travel, meals, and entertainment expenses.

The provision for income taxes was $22 million, representing an effective tax rate of 20.2% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with ($2) million, representing an effective tax rate of (5.4)% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020. The increase in the Company’s tax rate during the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, relative to the same period in 2020, was primarily a result of a decreased stock compensation deduction. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $30 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 26.7% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with $13 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 25.3% for the first quarter ended June 30, 2020.

(1)A Fee Event includes any engagement that involves revenue activity during the measurement period based on a revenue minimum of $1,000. References in this press release to closed transactions should be understood to be the same as transactions that are “effectively closed” as described in our periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2022 results. The number to call is 1-855-327-6837 (domestic) or 1-631-891-4304 (international). A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. A replay of the conference call will be available from August 3, 2021 through August 10, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 10015775#. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available on the Company’s website.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by our use of the words “assumes,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “guidance,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors (including the significant effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our business and is expected to continue to have on our business) which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and could materially affect actual results, performance, or achievements. For a further description of such factors, you should read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Adjusted net income, total and on a per share basis, and certain adjusted items used to determine adjusted net income, are presented and discussed in this earnings press release and are non-GAAP measures that management believes, when presented together with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors in understanding the Company’s operating results. These adjusted items remove the significant accounting impact of one-time or non-recurring charges associated with the Company’s one-time/non-recurring matters, as set forth in the tables at the end of this release.

The adjusted items included in this earnings press release as calculated by the Company are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Additionally, these adjusted amounts are not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the Company’s financial information determined under GAAP. For a description of the Company’s use of these adjusted items and a reconciliation with comparable GAAP items, see the section of this press release titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information.” Please refer to our financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, for purposes of evaluating our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past six consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past seven consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv.


(In thousands, except share data and par value)	June 30, 2021		March 31, 2021
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	782,194	$	846,851
Restricted cash	373		373
Investment securities	47,856		208,618
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses	90,795		108,409
Unbilled work in process, net of allowance for credit losses	87,755		118,115


Deferred income taxes	33,327		28,332
Property and equipment, net	45,073		46,370
Operating lease right-of-use assets	146,734		152,031
Goodwill and other intangibles, net	866,043		866,221
Other assets	48,929		50,747
Total assets	$	2,149,079	$	2,426,067

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Accrued salaries and bonuses	$	390,894	$	648,399
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	70,259		67,468
Deferred income	29,845		27,868
Income taxes payable	58,783		68,339
Deferred income taxes	21		52


Loans payable to former shareholders	744		818

Operating lease liabilities	168,622		174,516
Other liabilities	45,313		55,046
Total liabilities	764,481		1,042,506

Stockholders' equity:
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 51,091,269 and 51,245,442 shares, respectively	51		51
Class B common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 17,745,973 and 16,951,696 shares, respectively	18		17

Additional paid-in capital	745,705		803,573
Retained earnings	657,375		600,096
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)	(18,551)		(20,176)
Total stockholders' equity	1,384,598		1,383,561
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	2,149,079	$	2,426,067


	Three Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	2021		2020
Revenues	$	372,722	$	211,136
Operating expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	232,304		137,121
Travel, meals, and entertainment	1,687		2,114
Rent	10,225		9,623
Depreciation and amortization	4,171		3,672
Information technology and communications	6,961		6,383
Professional fees	6,701		5,007
Other operating expenses	2,997		4,626
Total operating expenses	265,046		168,546
Operating income	107,676		42,590
Other income, net	(101)		(1,161)
Income before provision/(benefit) for income taxes	107,777		43,751
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes	21,817		(2,349)
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.	$	85,960	$	46,100

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic	65,713,370		63,684,431
Fully diluted	68,718,629		66,798,560
Earnings per share
Basic	$	1.31	$	0.72
Fully diluted	$	1.25	$	0.69


	Three Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)	2021		2020
Revenues	$	372,722	$	211,136

Employee compensation and benefits expenses
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (GAAP)	$	232,304	$	137,121

(Less)/plus: Acquisition related retention payments	(3,079)		(5,161)
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted)	229,225		131,960

Non-compensation expenses
Non-compensation expenses (GAAP)	$	32,742	$	31,425
(Less)/plus: Secondary offering related costs	—		(418)

(Less)/plus: Acquisition amortization	(1,064)		(998)


Non-compensation expenses (adjusted)	31,678		30,009

Operating income
Operating income (GAAP)	$	107,676	$	42,590
(Less)/plus: Adjustments (1)	4,143		6,577
Operating income (adjusted)	111,819		49,167

Other income, net
Other income, net (GAAP)	$	(101)	$	(1,161)

Other income, net (adjusted)	(101)		(1,161)

Provision/(benefit) for income taxes
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes (GAAP)	$	21,817	$	(2,349)

(Less)/plus: Impact of the excess tax benefit for stock vesting	6,922		13,408
Adjusted provision/(benefit) for income taxes	28,739		11,059
(Less)/plus: Resulting tax impact (2)	1,105		1,662
Provision/(benefit) for income taxes (adjusted)	29,844		12,721

Net income
Net income (GAAP)	$	85,960	$	46,100
(Less)/plus: adjustments (3)	(3,884)		(8,493)
Net income (adjusted)	82,076		37,607

Diluted EPS (GAAP)	$	1.25	$	0.69
Diluted EPS (adjusted)	$	1.19	$	0.56


Investor Relations 212.331.8225 IR@HL.com			OR			Public Relations 212.331.8223 PR@HL.com