8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 19, 2016

 

 

Lazard Ltd

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Bermuda

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

001-32492   98-0437848
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda   HM 11
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 441-295-1422

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 21, 2016, Lazard Ltd (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2016. A copy of the Company’s press release containing this information is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.

 

Item 5.02(e) Approval of Lazard Ltd 2016 French Sub-plan.

On April 19, 2016, the Company held its 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual General Meeting”). As further discussed below, at the Annual General Meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved the Lazard Ltd 2016 French Sub-plan (the “French Sub-plan”), which operates under the existing Lazard Ltd 2008 Incentive Compensation Plan. A description of the French Sub-plan is included in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (File No. 001-32492) filed on March 10, 2016 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

At the Annual General Meeting, the shareholders of the Company (i) elected Richard N. Haass, Jane L. Mendillo and Richard D. Parsons to the Company’s Board of Directors for a three-year term expiring at the conclusion of the Company’s annual general meeting in 2019; (ii) approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, a resolution regarding executive compensation; (iii) approved the French Sub-plan; (iv) ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2016 and authorized the Company’s Board of Directors, acting by its Audit Committee, to set their remuneration; and (v) voted against a non-binding shareholder proposal set forth in the Proxy Statement regarding a proposed policy that would prohibit the vesting of equity-based awards for senior executives of the Company due to a voluntary resignation to enter government service (the “Non-binding Shareholder Proposal”).


The number of votes cast for, against or withheld and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to each matter voted upon, as reported by our tabulation agent, Computershare, Inc., is set forth below.

 

          For      Withheld      Abstain      Broker
Non-Votes
 

1.

  

Election of Directors:

           
  

Richard N. Haass

     93,330,562         2,008,648         *         19,123,779   
  

Jane L. Mendillo

     93,332,716         2,006,494         *         19,123,779   
  

Richard D. Parsons

     91,914,741         3,424,469         *         19,123,779   
          For      Against      Abstain      Broker
Non-Votes
 

2.

  

Non-binding advisory vote regarding executive compensation

     92,599,302         1,676,596         1,063,312         19,123,779   
          For      Against      Abstain      Broker
Non-Votes
 

3.

  

Approval of the French Sub-plan

     63,104,042         32,147,056         88,112         19,123,779   
          For      Against      Abstain      Broker
Non-Votes
 

4.

  

Ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2016 and authorization of the Company’s Board of Directors, acting by its Audit Committee, to set their remuneration

     113,476,425         938,608         47,956         —     
          For      Against      Abstain      Broker
Non-Votes
 

5.

  

Non-binding Shareholder Proposal

     38,212,226         56,493,888         633,096         19,123,779   

 

* Not applicable

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are furnished as part of this Report on Form 8-K:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

99.1    Press Release issued on April 21, 2016.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

LAZARD LTD
(Registrant)
By:  

/s/ Scott D. Hoffman

Name:   Scott D. Hoffman
Title:   Managing Director and General Counsel

Dated: April 21, 2016


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

99.1    Press Release issued on April 21, 2016.
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

LAZARD LTD REPORTS FIRST-QUARTER 2016 RESULTS

Highlights

 

    Net income per share, as adjusted1, of $0.50 (diluted) for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, compared to $0.77 (diluted) for the 2015 first quarter2. Pre-tax income per share (diluted), as adjusted, down 31% from first-quarter 2015

 

    First-quarter operating revenue1 of $506 million, down 13% from first-quarter 2015

 

    First-quarter Financial Advisory operating revenue of $266 million, down 12% from first-quarter 2015

 

    First-quarter M&A and Other Advisory operating revenue of $215 million, down 18% from first-quarter 2015

 

    First-quarter Asset Management operating revenue of $240 million, down 12% from first-quarter 2015; first-quarter management fees of $226 million, down 6% from fourth-quarter 2015

 

    Assets under management (AUM) of $191 billion as of March 31, 2016, down 4% from March 31, 2015, and up 2% from December 31, 2015. Average AUM in first-quarter 2016 of $185 billion. Net outflows of $361 million for first-quarter 2016

 

    Return of capital to shareholders totaling $328 million3 in first-quarter 2016

 

    Increasing quarterly dividend 9% to $0.38 per share, and share repurchase authorization to $300 million

 

($ in millions, except

per share data and AUM)

   Quarter Ended
March 31,
 
     2016      2015      %’16-’15  

As Adjusted1,2

  

Operating revenue

   $ 506       $ 581         (13 )% 

Financial Advisory

   $ 266       $ 302         (12 )% 

Asset Management

   $ 240       $ 271         (12 )% 

Net income

   $ 67       $ 103         (35 )% 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.50       $ 0.77         (35 )% 

U.S. GAAP

  

Net income

   $ 67       $ 56         19

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.50       $ 0.42         19

Assets Under Management

  

Ending AUM ($ in billions)

   $ 191       $ 199         (4 )% 

Average AUM ($ in billions)

   $ 185       $ 198         (7 )% 

 

Media Contact:    Judi Frost Mackey    +1 212 632 1428    judi.mackey@lazard.com
Investor Contact:    Armand Sadoughi    +1 212 632 6358    armand.sadoughi@lazard.com

Note: Endnotes are on page 11 of this release. A reconciliation of adjusted GAAP to U.S. GAAP is on page 16.

 

1


NEW YORK, April 21, 2016 – Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ) today reported operating revenue1 of $506 million, and net income, as adjusted1, of $67 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Net income per share, as adjusted1, was $0.50 (diluted) for the quarter, compared to $0.77 (diluted) for the 2015 first quarter2. Pre-tax income per share (diluted), as adjusted1, was 31% lower than the first quarter of 2015.

First quarter 2016 net income on a U.S. GAAP basis was $67 million, or $0.50 per share (diluted). A reconciliation of our U.S. GAAP results to the adjusted results is presented on page 16 of this press release.

“We are advising clients on a record level of transactions in 2016, most of which we expect to be completed in the second half of the year, and our Asset Management business is performing well across investment platforms. In the current macroeconomic environment, we remain confident in the strength of our business for the year, despite a challenging first quarter,” said Kenneth M. Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lazard.

“We have increased the quarterly dividend by 9%, the sixth increase in as many years, as the firm continues to generate substantial cash flow,” said Matthieu Bucaille, Chief Financial Officer of Lazard.

OPERATING REVENUE

Financial Advisory

In the text portion of this press release, we present our Financial Advisory results as Strategic Advisory and Restructuring. Strategic Advisory includes 1) M&A and Other Advisory (Other includes Capital Advisory and Sovereign Advisory) and 2) Capital Raising (includes Capital Markets Advisory and Private Fund Advisory).

Financial Advisory operating revenue was $266 million for the first quarter of 2016, 12% lower than the record first quarter of 2015.

Strategic Advisory operating revenue was $223 million for the first quarter of 2016, 20% lower than the record first quarter of 2015, primarily driven by an 18% decrease in M&A and Other Advisory operating revenue. The decline in M&A and Other Advisory operating revenue primarily reflected a lower level of closings compared to the record first quarter of 2015.

During 2016, Lazard has remained engaged in highly visible, complex M&A transactions and other advisory assignments, including cross-border transactions, spin-offs, distressed asset sales, and capital and sovereign advisory in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.

Among the major M&A transactions that were completed during the first quarter of 2016 were the following (clients are in italics): Shell’s $79.0 billion acquisition of BG; Pepco’s $12.2 billion sale to Exelon; and PartnerRe’s $6.9 billion sale to EXOR.

 

2


Lazard advised or continues to advise on a number of large and complex transactions, including four of the ten largest announced globally in the first quarter: Tyco’s $36.0 billion merger with Johnson Controls; Deutsche Börse on its €27 billion proposed merger with London Stock Exchange; Columbia Pipeline Group’s $13.0 billion sale to TransCanada; and ITC’s $11.3 billion sale to Fortis.

Our Sovereign and Capital Advisory services remained active globally, advising governments and corporations on balance sheet matters, financing strategy and capital raising.

Restructuring operating revenue was $43 million for the first quarter of 2016, compared to $23 million for the first quarter of 2015. The increase primarily reflected the closing of several large assignments as well as a higher level of activity in the U.S. energy sector. During and since the first quarter of 2016 we have been engaged in a broad range of highly visible and complex restructuring and debt advisory assignments, including: Linn Energy; Pacific Exploration & Production; Peabody Energy; and RCS Capital.

Please see a more complete list of Strategic Advisory transactions on which Lazard advised in the first quarter, or continued to advise or completed since March 31, 2016, as well as Restructuring assignments, on pages 7 – 10 of this release.

Asset Management

Asset Management operating revenue was $240 million for the first quarter of 2016, 12% lower than the record first quarter of 2015.

Management fees were $226 million for the first quarter of 2016, 10% lower than the record first quarter of 2015, and 6% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015. The sequential decrease was primarily driven by a change in the mix of our assets under management (AUM). Incentive fees during the period were $2 million, compared to $6 million for the first quarter of 2015.

Average AUM for the first quarter of 2016 was $185 billion, 7% lower than the first quarter of 2015, and 2% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015.

AUM as of March 31, 2016, was $191 billion, down 4% from March 31, 2015, and up 2% from December 31, 2015, primarily driven by foreign exchange movement. Net outflows for the first quarter of 2016 were $361 million.

We continued to win significant new mandates across our major platforms from clients around the world. A sample of these new mandates is reflected in Lazard’s investor presentation on our website.

 

3


OPERATING EXPENSES

Compensation and Benefits

In managing compensation and benefits expense, we focus on annual awarded compensation (cash compensation and benefits plus deferred incentive compensation with respect to the applicable year, net of estimated future forfeitures and excluding charges). We believe annual awarded compensation reflects the actual annual compensation cost more accurately than the GAAP measure of compensation cost, which includes applicable-year cash compensation and the amortization of deferred incentive compensation principally attributable to previous years’ deferred compensation. We believe that by managing our business using awarded compensation with a consistent deferral policy, we can better manage our compensation costs, increase our flexibility in the future and build shareholder value over time.

For the first quarter of 2016, we accrued adjusted compensation and benefits expense1 of $298 million, compared to $323 million for the first quarter of 2015, an 8% decrease. This resulted in a 2016 adjusted compensation1 ratio of 58.9%. The first-quarter 2016 ratio reflects lower first-quarter operating revenue and seasonally high amortization expense. For the year, we expect approximately $25 million of additional amortization expense as compared to 2015.

We continue to manage our compensation and benefits expense based on awarded compensation with a consistent deferral policy. Assuming that the performance of both of our businesses, our hiring levels, and the compensation environment are similar to 2015, we expect our 2016 awarded compensation ratio to be in line with the 2015 awarded compensation ratio of 55.8%.

We continue to maintain a disciplined approach to compensation, and our goal is to achieve a compensation-to-operating revenue ratio over the cycle in the mid- to high-50s percentage range on both an awarded and adjusted basis, with consistent deferral policies.

Non-Compensation Expense

For the first quarter of 2016, adjusted non-compensation expense1 was $102 million, 5% lower than the first quarter of 2015.

The ratio of adjusted non-compensation expense to operating revenue was 20.1% for the first quarter of 2016, compared to 18.3% for the first quarter of 2015. The increase in the ratio for the first quarter of 2016 reflected a greater decrease in operating revenue than in non-compensation expense.

Our goal remains to achieve an adjusted non-compensation expense-to-operating revenue ratio over the cycle of 16% to 20%.

 

4


TAXES

The provision for taxes, on an adjusted basis1, was $28 million for the first quarter of 2016. The effective tax rate on the same basis was 29.3% for the first quarter of 2016, compared to 25.0% for the first quarter of 2015.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND BALANCE SHEET

Our primary capital management goals include managing debt and returning capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

In the first quarter of 2016, Lazard returned $328 million to shareholders, which included: $194 million in dividends; $83 million in share repurchases of our Class A common stock; and $51 million in satisfaction of employee tax obligations in lieu of share issuances upon vesting of equity grants.

As of April 20, 2016, we had repurchased 3.4 million shares at an average price of $34.95 per share.

On April 20, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized additional share repurchases, bringing our total share repurchase authorization to $300 million, and voted to increase the quarterly dividend on Lazard’s outstanding Class A common stock by 9%, to $0.38 per share. The dividend is payable on May 13, 2016, to stockholders of record on May 3, 2016.

Lazard’s financial position remains strong. As of March 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents were $701 million, and stockholders’ equity related to Lazard’s interests was $1,165 million.

***

CONFERENCE CALL

Lazard will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 21, 2016, to discuss the company’s financial results for the first quarter of 2016. The conference call can be accessed via a live audio webcast available through Lazard’s Investor Relations website at www.lazard.com, or by dialing 1 (877) 856-1965 (U.S. and Canada) or +1 (719) 325-4800 (outside of the U.S. and Canada), 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

A replay of the conference call will be available by 10:00 a.m. EDT, Thursday, April 21, 2016, via the Lazard Investor Relations website, or by dialing 1 (888) 203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or +1 (719) 457-0820 (outside of the U.S. and Canada). The replay access code is 6742095.

 

5


ABOUT LAZARD

Lazard, one of the world’s preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms, operates from 42 cities across 27 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and South America. With origins dating to 1848, the firm provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, strategic matters, restructuring and capital structure, capital raising and corporate finance, as well as asset management services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, governments and individuals. For more information on Lazard, please visit www.lazard.com.

***

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “target,” “goal”, or “continue”, and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies, business plans and initiatives and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A “Risk Factors,” and also discussed from time to time in our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K, including the following:

 

    A decline in general economic conditions or the global or regional financial markets;

 

    A decline in our revenues, for example due to a decline in overall mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, our share of the M&A market or our assets under management (AUM);

 

    Losses caused by financial or other problems experienced by third parties;

 

    Losses due to unidentified or unanticipated risks;

 

    A lack of liquidity, i.e., ready access to funds, for use in our businesses; and

 

    Competitive pressure on our businesses and on our ability to retain and attract employees at current compensation levels.

Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations and we do not intend to do so.

Lazard Ltd is committed to providing timely and accurate information to the investing public, consistent with our legal and regulatory obligations. To that end, Lazard and its operating companies use their websites to convey information about their businesses, including the anticipated release of quarterly financial results, quarterly financial, statistical and business-related information, and the posting of updates of assets under management in various mutual funds, hedge funds and other investment products managed by Lazard Asset Management LLC and Lazard Frères Gestion SAS. Investors can link to Lazard and its operating company websites through www.lazard.com.

***

 

6


FINANCIAL ADVISORY ASSIGNMENTS

Mergers and Acquisitions (Completed in the first quarter of 2016)

Among the large, publicly announced M&A Advisory transactions or assignments completed during the first quarter of 2016 on which Lazard advised were the following:

 

    Shell’s $79.0 billion acquisition of BG

 

    Alcatel-Lucent’s €15.6 billion combination with Nokia

 

    Pepco’s $12.2 billion sale to Exelon

 

    PartnerRe’s $6.9 billion sale to EXOR

 

    Reynolds American’s $5.0 billion sale of Natural American Spirit international businesses to Japan Tobacco

 

    Kraton Performance Polymers’ $1.4 billion acquisition of Arizona Chemical

 

    Guardian Digital Communications in Motorola Solutions’ £818 million acquisition of Airwave

 

    IFS’s sale of an 87% stake to EQT Holding, valuing IFS at SEK 9.1 billion

 

    Blackstone and KIRKBI’s €955 million acquisition of Armacell

 

    The Riberas Family in its €875 million acquisition of a 35% stake in Gestamp Automoción from ArcelorMittal

 

    TCC’s €655 million acquisition of METRO Vietnam

 

    The UK Government on the £371 million sale of its investment in the King’s Cross development to AustralianSuper

 

    Wesfarmers’ £340 million acquisition of Homebase

 

    Atlantik on the full integration of Pfleiderer Grajewo and Pfleiderer GmbH

 

    Jacobs Douwe Egberts’ sale of Carte Noire to Lavazza

Mergers and Acquisitions (Announced)

Among the ongoing, large, publicly announced M&A transactions and assignments on which Lazard advised during or since the 2016 first quarter, or completed since March 31, 2016, are the following:

 

    Dow Chemical’s $130 billion merger of equals with DuPont

 

    Anheuser-Busch InBev’s $106 billion recommended acquisition of SABMiller

 

    Dell’s $67.0 billion acquisition of EMC

 

    The Williams Companies in its $37.7 billion combination with Energy Transfer Equity

 

    Aetna’s $37.0 billion acquisition of Humana

 

    Tyco’s $36.0 billion merger with Johnson Controls

 

    Delhaize’s €31.0 billion merger with Ahold

 

    Deutsche Börse on its €27 billion proposed merger with London Stock Exchange

 

    Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim’s proposed swap of businesses valued at €11.4 billion and €6.7 billion, respectively

 

    Starwood’s $14.9 billion sale to Marriott

 

    Columbia Pipeline Group’s $13.0 billion sale to TransCanada

 

    Anheuser-Busch InBev on the $12.0 billion divestiture of SABMiller’s interest in MillerCoors, including ownership of the Miller brand globally

 

7


    ITC’s $11.3 billion sale to Fortis

 

    Banca Popolare di Milano’s €5.5 billion merger with Banco Popolare

 

    TNT Express on the €4.4 billion public offer by FedEx

 

    SNI’s $4.5 billion JV with LafargeHolcim in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa

 

    VimpelCom in the $3.3 billion merger of Mobilink and Warid Telecom

 

    Dynegy on the formation of a JV with Energy Capital Partners for the $3.3 billion acquisition of ENGIE’s U.S. fossil portfolio

 

    Anheuser-Busch InBev’s €2.6 billion divestiture of SABMiller brands Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime to Asahi

 

    China Huaxin in the $2.3 billion consortium acquisition of a 51% stake in H3C

 

    Vedanta Limited’s $2.3 billion merger with Cairn India

 

    Sacyr’s €1.8 billion sale of Testa to Merlin Properties

 

    Freudenberg’s acquisition of the remaining interest in TrelleborgVibracoustic from Trelleborg, valuing TrelleborgVibracoustic at €1.8 billion

 

    Anheuser-Busch InBev on the $1.6 billion divestiture of SABMiller’s stake in China Resources Snow Breweries

 

    WL Ross Holding Corp.’s $1.6 billion acquisition of Nexeo Solutions

 

    BTG Pactual’s CHF 1.5 billion sale of BSI to EFG International

 

    Skyepharma’s £1.0 billion recommended merger with Vectura

 

    Investcorp on the €1.0 billion sale of Icopal to GAF*

 

    MKS Instruments’ $980 million acquisition of Newport Corporation

 

    Darty on the £673 million recommended offer by Conforama

 

    Eurazeo in the €654 million consortium acquisition of Novacap

 

    Armour Residential REIT’s $726 million acquisition of Javelin Mortgage Investment*

 

    Xchanging’s £480 million recommended cash offer from CSC

 

    American Fruits & Flavors’ $690 million sale to Monster Beverage Corporation*

 

    SDIC Power Holdings’ acquisition of Repsol Nuevas Energias and investment in Beatrice Project (offshore renewables UK) for a total value of £452 million

 

    Suramericana’s £403 million acquisition of the Latin American operations of RSA Insurance

 

    Atlas Copco’s €486 million acquisition of Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum

 

    Baxter in respect of its ownership stake in Baxalta and the pending combination of Baxalta with Shire

 

    Xerox’s separation into two publicly traded companies

 

    Coca-Cola Enterprises’ three-way merger to form Coca-Cola European Partners

 

    Air Products’ spin-off of Versum Materials

 

    The Catelli Family on the sale of a majority stake in Artsana to Investindustrial

 

    Orange’s acquisition of Bharti Airtel’s subsidiaries in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone

 

    Bekaert’s steel ropes businesses joint venture with Bridon

 

    Riello’s sale of a 70% stake to United Technologies

 

    Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation in the enhancement of its strategic partnership with Vallourec

 

* Transaction completed since March 31, 2016

 

8


Capital Advisory

Among the publicly announced Capital Advisory transactions or assignments on which Lazard completed or advised during or since the first quarter of 2016 were the following:

 

    Advent International and Bain Capital on the £740 million secondary disposal of a stake in Worldpay

 

    Whiting Petroleum’s $477 million exchange of unsecured notes for convertible debt

 

    CGG’s €350 million rights offering

 

    Forest City Realty Trust’s $154 million repurchase of convertible senior notes

Sovereign Advisory

Among the publicly announced Sovereign Advisory assignments on which Lazard advised during or since the first quarter of 2016 were the following:

 

    The State of Alaska

 

    The Land of Carinthia (Austria)

 

    Southern Gas Corridor CJSC of Azerbaijan

 

    Alucam (The Republic of Cameroon)

 

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

    The Republic of the Congo

 

    Refineria del Pacifico (The Republic of Ecuador)

 

    The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

 

    The Gabonese Republic

 

    Sotrader (joint venture between the government of Gabon and Olam International)

 

    The Hellenic Financial Stability Fund

 

    The Islamic Republic of Mauritania

 

    The Central Bank of Nicaragua

 

    The Sultanate of Oman

 

    The Republic of Slovenia

 

    Ukraine and certain sub-sovereign entities

Restructuring and Debt Advisory Assignments

Restructuring and debtor or creditor advisory assignments completed during the first quarter of 2016 on which Lazard advised include: Hovensa; Vantage Drilling; and Walter Energy in connection with their Chapter 11 or similar bankruptcy restructurings.

Notable Chapter 11 or similar bankruptcies, on which Lazard advised debtors or creditors, or related parties, during or since the first quarter of 2016, are the following: Energy Future Holdings; Goodrich Petroleum; Horsehead Holding; Paragon Offshore; Peabody Energy; Primorsk; RCS Capital; Sabine Oil & Gas; and Swift Energy.

 

9


Among other publicly announced restructuring and debt advisory assignments on which Lazard has advised debtors or creditors during or since the first quarter of 2016, are the following:

 

    Abengoa – on its debt restructuring

 

    African Bank – advising Tier 2 Noteholders’ Committee on its restructuring*

 

    Atlas Iron – on its financial restructuring

 

    Excelsia Nove – on its debt restructuring*

 

    Linn Energy – on strategic alternatives related to its capital structure

 

    Premuda – on its debt restructuring

 

    Pacific Exploration & Production – on strategic alternatives related to its capital structure

 

    Seventy Seven Energy – on strategic alternatives related to its capital structure

 

    Stone Energy – on strategic alternatives

 

* Assignment completed since March 31, 2016

***

 

10


ENDNOTES

 

1 A non-U.S. GAAP measure. See attached financial schedules and related notes for a detailed explanation of adjustments to corresponding U.S. GAAP results. We believe that presenting our results on an adjusted basis, in addition to the U.S. GAAP results, is the most meaningful and useful way to compare our operating results across periods.
2 First-quarter 2015 results exclude a charge of $63 million relating to a debt refinancing by Lazard Ltd’s subsidiary Lazard Group LLC, which completed a refinancing of a substantial majority of the outstanding $548 million of 6.85% senior notes maturing on June 15, 2017 (the “2017 Notes”). The charge was comprised primarily of an extinguishment loss of $60 million and other related costs.
3 In the first quarter of 2016, Lazard returned $328 million to shareholders, which included: $194 million in dividends; $83 million in share repurchases of our Class A common stock; and $51 million in satisfaction of employee tax obligations in lieu of share issuances upon vesting of equity grants.

LAZ-EPE

###

 

11


LAZARD LTD

SELECTED SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (a)

(Non-GAAP - unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     % Change From  
     March 31,     December 31,     March 31,     December 31,     March 31,  
($ in thousands, except per share data)    2016     2015     2015     2015     2015  

Revenues:

          

Financial Advisory

          

M&A and Other Advisory

   $ 214,591      $ 282,083      $ 260,804        (24 %)      (18 %) 

Capital Raising

     8,873        17,837        17,584        (50 %)      (50 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Strategic Advisory

     223,464        299,920        278,388        (25 %)      (20 %) 

Restructuring

     42,550        30,973        23,146        37     84
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

     266,014        330,893        301,534        (20 %)      (12 %) 

Asset Management

          

Management fees

     226,450        241,387        252,087        (6 %)      (10 %) 

Incentive fees

     1,806        9,109        6,283        (80 %)      (71 %) 

Other

     11,294        10,110        12,707        12     (11 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total

     239,550        260,606        271,077        (8 %)      (12 %) 

Corporate

     502        6,779        8,345        (93 %)      (94 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Operating revenue (b)

   $ 506,066      $ 598,278      $ 580,956        (15 %)      (13 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Expenses:

          

Compensation and benefits expense (c)

   $ 297,972      $ 327,665      $ 323,149        (9 %)      (8 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Ratio of compensation to operating revenue

     58.9     54.8     55.6    

Non-compensation expense (d)

   $ 101,589      $ 115,800      $ 106,434        (12 %)      (5 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Ratio of non-compensation to operating revenue

     20.1     19.3     18.3    

Earnings:

          

Earnings from operations (e)

   $ 106,505      $ 154,813      $ 151,373        (31 %)      (30 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Operating margin (f)

     21.0     25.9     26.1    

Net income (g)

   $ 66,823      $ 122,910      $ 103,034        (46 %)      (35 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.50      $ 0.92      $ 0.77        (46 %)      (35 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Diluted weighted average shares

     132,891,284        133,320,774        133,735,946        (0 %)      (1 %) 

Effective tax rate (h)

     29.3     13.5     25.0    

This presentation includes non-U.S. GAAP (“non-GAAP”) measures. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a detailed explanation of the adjustments made to the corresponding U.S. GAAP measures, see Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Selected Summary Financial Information and Notes to Financial Schedules.

 

12


LAZARD LTD

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(U.S. GAAP)

 

     Three Months Ended     % Change From  
     March 31,     December 31,     March 31,     December 31,     March 31,  
($ in thousands, except per share data)    2016     2015     2015     2015     2015  

Total revenue

   $ 510,116      $ 604,977      $ 593,885        (16 %)      (14 %) 

Interest expense

     (11,898     (11,728     (16,136    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net revenue

     498,218        593,249        577,749        (16 %)      (14 %) 

Operating expenses:

          

Compensation and benefits

     297,210        334,960        328,502        (11 %)      (10 %) 

Occupancy and equipment

     27,007        28,978        27,339       

Marketing and business development

     19,688        25,783        19,190       

Technology and information services

     22,931        26,678        22,893       

Professional services

     9,762        13,429        11,459       

Fund administration and outsourced services

     13,435        13,355        16,148       

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions

     644        2,420        1,033       

Other

     9,164        8,297        69,987       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Subtotal

     102,631        118,940        168,049        (14 %)      (39 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Provision pursuant to tax receivable agreement

     —          —          6,535       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Operating expenses

     399,841        453,900        503,086        (12 %)      (21 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Operating income

     98,377        139,349        74,663        (29 %)      32

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     27,654        (15,992     12,017        NM        NM   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net income

     70,723        155,341        62,646        (54 %)      13

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     3,900        (2,445     6,693       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net income attributable to Lazard Ltd

   $ 66,823      $ 157,786      $ 55,953        (58 %)      19
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Attributable to Lazard Ltd Common Stockholders:

          

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     126,040,441        125,671,749        123,655,689        0     2

Diluted

     132,891,284        133,320,774        133,735,946        (0 %)      (1 %) 

Net income per share:

          

Basic

   $ 0.53      $ 1.26      $ 0.45        (58 %)      18

Diluted

   $ 0.50      $ 1.18      $ 0.42        (58 %)      19

 

13


LAZARD LTD

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(U.S. GAAP)

 

     March 31,      December 31,  
($ in thousands)    2016      2015  
ASSETS      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 701,324       $ 1,132,083   

Deposits with banks and short-term investments

     387,550         389,861   

Cash deposited with clearing organizations and other segregated cash

     34,034         34,948   

Receivables

     514,522         497,213   

Investments

     460,281         541,911   

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     332,621         326,976   

Deferred tax assets

     1,126,019         1,130,595   

Other assets

     455,240         424,187   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 4,011,591       $ 4,477,774   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      

Liabilities

     

Deposits and other customer payables

   $ 525,439       $ 506,665   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     234,741         570,409   

Senior debt

     989,735         989,358   

Tax receivable agreement obligation

     513,648         523,962   

Other liabilities

     525,280         520,074   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,788,843         3,110,468   

Commitments and contingencies

     

Stockholders’ equity

     

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share

     —           —     

Common stock, par value $.01 per share

     1,298         1,298   

Additional paid-in capital

     526,298         600,034   

Retained earnings

     970,808         1,123,728   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     (221,572      (234,356
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     1,276,832         1,490,704   

Class A common stock held by subsidiaries, at cost

     (111,504      (177,249
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Lazard Ltd stockholders’ equity

     1,165,328         1,313,455   

Noncontrolling interests

     57,420         53,851   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,222,748         1,367,306   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 4,011,591       $ 4,477,774   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

14


LAZARD LTD

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT (“AUM”)

(unaudited)

($ in millions)

 

     As of      Variance  
     March 31,     December 31,      March 31,            1Q 2016 vs.  
     2016     2015      2015      Qtr to Qtr     1Q 2015  

Equity:

            

Emerging Markets

   $ 38,823      $ 36,203       $ 46,916         7.2     (17.2 %) 

Global

     32,407        31,407         33,595         3.2     (3.5 %) 

Local

     31,232        31,354         32,000         (0.4 %)      (2.4 %) 

Multi-Regional

     53,350        52,531         50,341         1.6     6.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total Equity

     155,812        151,495         162,852         2.8     (4.3 %) 

Fixed Income:

            

Emerging Markets

     14,110        14,378         15,130         (1.9 %)      (6.7 %) 

Global

     4,341        4,132         3,895         5.1     11.5

Local

     3,867        3,899         3,910         (0.8 %)      (1.1 %) 

Multi-Regional

     8,052        7,978         8,787         0.9     (8.4 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total Fixed Income

     30,370        30,387         31,722         (0.1 %)      (4.3 %) 

Alternative Investments

     3,150        3,297         3,446         (4.5 %)      (8.6 %) 

Private Equity

     929        858         1,057         8.3     (12.1 %) 

Cash Management

     293        343         104         (14.6 %)      181.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total AUM

   $ 190,554      $ 186,380       $ 199,181         2.2     (4.3 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

      
                         Year Ended        
     Three Months Ended March 31,             December 31,        
     2016     2015             2015        

AUM - Beginning of Period

   $ 186,380      $ 197,103          $ 197,103     

Net Flows

     (361     1,041            906     

Market and foreign exchange appreciation (depreciation)

     4,535        1,037            (11,629  
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

AUM - End of Period

   $ 190,554      $ 199,181          $ 186,380     
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

Average AUM

   $ 184,801      $ 198,406          $ 195,987     
  

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

% Change in average AUM

     (6.9 %)           
  

 

 

           

Note: Average AUM generally represents the average of the monthly ending AUM balances for the period.

 

15


LAZARD LTD

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP TO SELECTED SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (a)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     March 31,     December 31,     March 31,  
($ in thousands, except per share data)    2016     2015     2015  
Operating Revenue   

Net revenue - U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 498,218      $ 593,249      $ 577,749   

Adjustments:

      

Revenue related to noncontrolling interests (i)

     (6,212     (275     (8,734

(Gains) losses related to Lazard Fund Interests (“LFI”) and other similar arrangements

     2,514        (6,076     (4,136

Interest expense

     11,546        11,380        16,077   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating revenue, as adjusted (b)

   $ 506,066      $ 598,278      $ 580,956   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Compensation & Benefits Expense   

Compensation & benefits expense - U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 297,210      $ 334,960      $ 328,502   

Adjustments:

      

(Charges) credits pertaining to LFI and other similar arrangements

     2,514        (6,076     (4,136

Compensation related to noncontrolling interests (i)

     (1,752     (1,219     (1,217
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Compensation & benefits expense, as adjusted (c)

   $ 297,972      $ 327,665      $ 323,149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Non-Compensation Expense   

Non-compensation expense - Subtotal - U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 102,631      $ 118,940      $ 168,049   

Adjustments:

      

Charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (j)

     —          —          (60,219

Expense related to partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (k)

     —          (355     —     

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions

     (644     (2,420     (1,033

Non-compensation expense related to noncontrolling interests (i)

     (398     (365     (363
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-compensation expense, as adjusted (d)

   $ 101,589      $ 115,800      $ 106,434   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Pre-Tax Income and Earnings From Operations   

Operating Income (loss) - U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 98,377      $ 139,349      $ 74,663   

Adjustments:

      

Loss on partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (k)

     —          355        —     

Accrual of tax receivable agreement obligation (“TRA”)

     —          —          6,535   

Charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (j)

     —          —          62,874   

Net loss (income) related to noncontrolling interests (i)

     (3,900     2,445        (6,693
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pre-tax income, as adjusted

     94,477        142,149        137,379   

Interest expense

     11,546        11,380        13,422   

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (LAZ only)

     482        1,284        572   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings from operations, as adjusted (e)

   $ 106,505      $ 154,813      $ 151,373   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Net Income attributable to Lazard Ltd   

Net income attributable to Lazard Ltd - U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 66,823      $ 157,786      $ 55,953   

Adjustments:

      

Loss on partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (k)

     —          355        —     

Charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (j)

     —          —          62,874   

Recognition of deferred tax assets (net of TRA accrual) (l)

     —          (38,896     —     

Tax expense (benefit) allocated to adjustments

     —          3,665        (15,793
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income, as adjusted (g)

   $ 66,823      $ 122,910      $ 103,034   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share:

      

U.S. GAAP Basis

   $ 0.50      $ 1.18      $ 0.42   

Non-GAAP Basis, as adjusted

   $ 0.50      $ 0.92      $ 0.77   

Diluted pre-tax income per share, as adjusted:

   $ 0.71      $ 1.07      $ 1.03   

This presentation includes non-U.S. GAAP (“non-GAAP”) measures. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable U.S. GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a detailed explanation of the adjustments made to comparable U.S. GAAP measures, see Notes to Financial Schedules.

 

16


LAZARD LTD

Notes to Financial Schedules

 

(a) Selected Summary Financial Information are non-U.S. GAAP (“non-GAAP”) measures. Lazard believes that presenting results and measures on an adjusted basis in conjunction with U.S. GAAP measures provides the most meaningful basis for comparison of its operating results across periods.
(b) A non-GAAP measure which excludes (i) revenue related to non-controlling interests (see (i) below), (ii) (gains)/losses related to the changes in the fair value of investments held in connection with Lazard Fund Interests and other similar deferred compensation arrangements for which a corresponding equal amount is excluded from compensation & benefits expense, (iii) interest expense primarily related to corporate financing activities, and (iv) for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, excess interest expense pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (see (j) below).
(c) A non-GAAP measure which excludes (i) (charges)/credits related to the changes in the fair value of the compensation liability recorded in connection with Lazard Fund Interests and other similar deferred compensation arrangements, and (ii) compensation and benefits related to noncontrolling interests (see (i) below).
(d) A non-GAAP measure which excludes (i) for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (see (j) below), (ii) for the three month period ended December 31, 2015, expenses related to partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (see (k) below), (iii) amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions, and (iv) expenses related to noncontrolling interests.
(e) A non-GAAP measure which excludes (i) for the three month period ended December 31, 2015 , loss related to partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (see (k) below), (ii) for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, a provision pursuant to the tax receivable agreement (“TRA”), (iii) for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing (see (j) below), (iv) revenue and expenses related to noncontrolling interests (see (i) below), (v) interest expense primarily related to corporate financing activities, and (vi) amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (LAZ only).
(f) Represents earnings from operations as a percentage of operating revenue, and is a non-GAAP measure.
(g) A non-GAAP measure which excludes (i) for the three month period ended December 31, 2015, expenses related to partial extinguishment of TRA obligation (see (k) below), (ii) for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, charges pertaining to Senior Debt refinancing, net of tax benefits (see (j) below), and (iii) for the three month period ended December 31, 2015, a release of deferred tax valuation allowance, net of the related provision for TRA (see (l) below).
(h) Effective tax rate is a non-GAAP measure based upon the U.S. GAAP rate with adjustments for the tax applicable to the non-GAAP adjustments to operating income, generally based upon the effective marginal tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction of the adjustments. The computation is based on a quotient, the numerator of which is the provision for income taxes of $27,654, $19,239 and $34,345 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and March 31, 2015, respectively, and the denominator of which is pre-tax income of $94,477, $142,149 and $137,379 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2016, December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015, respectively. The numerator also included a provision pursuant to the tax receivable agreement (“TRA”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 (see (e) above) and for the three month period ended December 31, 2015, excludes a release of deferred tax valuation allowance (see (l) below).
(i) Noncontrolling interests include revenue and expenses principally related to Edgewater, and is a non-GAAP measure.
(j) Represents charges related to the extinguishment of $450 million of the Company’s 6.85% Senior Notes maturing in June 2017 and the issuance of $400 million of 3.75% notes maturing in February 2025. The charges include a pre-tax loss on the extinguishment of $60.2 million and excess interest expense of $2.7 million (due to the delay between the issuance of the 2025 notes and the settlement of the 2017 notes).
(k) In July of 2015 the Company extinguished approximately 47% of the outstanding TRA obligation.
(l) For the three month period ended December 31, 2015, primarily represents the recognition of deferred tax assets of $39 million relating to the release of valuation allowance.

 

NM Not meaningful

 

17