Earnings Call Transcript - LAZ Q3 2021

Operator, Operator

Good morning, and welcome to Lazard's Third Quarter and 9-Month 2021 Earnings Conference Call. This call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Alexandra Deignan, Lazard's Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability. Please go ahead.

Alexandra Deignan, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability

Thank you, and good morning. Welcome to Lazard's earnings call for the third quarter and first 9 months of 2021. I'm Alexandra Deignan, the Company's Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Sustainability. In addition to today's audio comments, we have posted our earnings release and an investor presentation, which you can access on our website. A replay of this call will also be available on our website later today. Before we begin, let me remind you that we may make forward-looking statements about our business performance. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those factors discussed in the company's SEC filings, which you can access on our website. Lazard assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking statements and assumes no duty to update these forward-looking statements. Today's discussion also includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are meaningful when evaluating the company's performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures is provided in our earnings release and investor presentation. Hosting our call today are Kenneth Jacobs, Lazard's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and Evan Russo, our Chief Financial Officer. Evan will start the discussion with an overview of our financial results, then Ken will provide his perspective on the outlook for our business. After that, we will open the call to questions. Now, I'll turn the call over to Evan.

Evan Russo, Chief Financial Officer

Good morning. Today, we reported record operating revenue for the third quarter and first 9 months of 2021, reflecting strong results across the firm. Third quarter revenue was a record $702 million, up 23% from a year ago. Revenue for the first 9 months was a record $2.2 billion, up 30% year-over-year. In Financial Advisory, record third quarter revenue of $381 million increased 24% from last year's period, reflecting broad-based activity across sectors, market cap and regions. Advisory revenue was driven primarily by M&A completions in the Americas and in Europe. A high percentage of these were in the $1 billion to $10 billion range. Private equity-related activity is increasing. Year-to-date, our advisory revenue from transactions involving financial sponsors has more than doubled. Our private and capital advisory franchise continues to show strength as we advise financial sponsors globally on fundraising and innovative secondary market solutions. As we've noted on previous calls, restructuring activity has been relatively subdued, reflecting the high level of liquidity across markets. Our sovereign and capital markets advisory businesses remain active, advising governments and corporations on financing, capital structure and shareholder strategy. Overall, our advisory activity is at an all-time high, and we currently expect record fourth quarter revenue for Financial Advisory with strong momentum going into 2022. Asset Management third quarter operating revenue of $311 million increased 19% from last year's period, reflecting a larger base of assets under management. Average AUM reached a record high of $278 billion for the third quarter, 23% higher than a year ago and 1% higher on a sequential basis. As of September 30, we reported AUM at quarter end of $273 billion, 20% higher than last year's period and 2% lower on a sequential basis. The decrease was primarily driven by negative foreign exchange movement of $3.3 billion and net outflows of $2.3 billion, partly offset by market appreciation of $0.8 billion. The quarter's net outflows were primarily from equities, partly offset by net inflows in fixed income and alternatives. Gross inflows continue to be healthy across our platforms. As of October 22, AUM increased to approximately $279 billion, driven primarily by market appreciation of $6.6 billion and positive foreign exchange movement of $0.9 billion, partly offset by net outflows of $1.1 billion. Our pattern of investment performance has been good this year. Approximately 2/3 of our composite strategies are outperforming their benchmarks on a 1-year basis. Our recent investments in thematic, fixed income and alternative platforms as well as their performance position them well for growth. We see significant opportunities for growth in both of our businesses. In Asset Management, we continue to invest in people, technology and our distribution efforts as well as the development of new and existing funds and the scaling up of our platforms. These include the recent addition of a long short equity team focused on the technology, media and telecom sector, the launch of a global investment-grade convertible bond fund and a new quantitative small-cap fund. In addition, we have recently made senior hires in Global Marketing and ESG and sustainability to support the expansion of U.S. and European distribution. We continue to see substantial opportunities to recruit talented investment teams, adding strategies that are complementary to our existing platforms. In Financial Advisory, we are executing on our growth strategy with an elevated pace of strategic recruiting, especially in high-growth sectors such as biopharma, fintech, alternative energy and private capital. While we continue to focus on internal promotions, year-to-date, we have made more than 20 senior hires, including MDs and senior advisers. Now turning to expenses. Even as we invest for growth, we remain focused on cost discipline. Our adjusted noncompensation ratio for the third quarter was 16.6% compared to 18.1% in last year's third quarter. Noncompensation expenses were 13% higher than the same period last year, reflecting increased business activity and technology investments. We continue to accrue compensation expense at a 59.5% adjusted compensation ratio in the third quarter. Regarding taxes, our adjusted effective tax rate in the third quarter was 25.1%. For the first 9 months of the year, it was 26.2%. We continue to expect this year's annual effective tax rate to be in the mid-20% range. Lazard continues to generate strong cash flow, which supports return of capital to shareholders. In the third quarter, we returned $103 million, which included $52 million in share repurchases. During the quarter, we bought back 1.1 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $46.01 per share. As of September 30, our total outstanding share repurchase authorization was $314 million. Ken will now provide perspective on our outlook.

Kenneth Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Thank you, Evan. Market conditions remain excellent for both of our businesses. In the U.S., economic growth is generally robust and a strong recovery appears likely to continue into next year. In Europe, recovery remains on track as business conditions normalize. The strength of economic demand, combined with pandemic-related labor shortages is leading to supply chain disruptions and growing concerns about inflation, and these developments are driving a new set of discussions with CEOs, boards and institutional investors. As travel restrictions ease, we are having more in-person meetings and reinforcing the personal engagement that's so important to both sides of our business. The M&A environment continues to be as good as we've seen, and we are as active as we've ever been. The forces driving global strategic activity remain in place. Technology-driven disruption continues to be a catalyst for M&A across industries. The global drive to reduce carbon emissions is an emerging catalyst, and an abundance of private capital alongside strategic capital continues to drive activity. On the investor side, demand for risk assets with a growing focus on sustainability continues to create opportunities for active management to drive alpha. Our Asset Management franchise is providing clients with a growing and innovative array of investment strategies and customized solutions. The investments we've been making in both our businesses position us well for further growth. We continue to invest in people, resources and technology to enhance our market capabilities, geographic reach and sector-specific expertise. We remain focused on serving our clients well while managing the firm for profitable growth and shareholder value over the long run. Now, let's open the call to questions.

Operator, Operator

Our first question will come from Richard Ramsden with Goldman Sachs.

Richard Ramsden, Analyst

So Ken, I know you talked about a recovery in M&A in Europe last time you spoke. Can you just update us on whether that has accelerated into the third quarter? And then could you just expand a little bit on your comments around concerns about inflation and supply chain disruptions driving discussions with clients? Is that likely to impact M&A, restructuring or both in your view?

Kenneth Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Sure. So first on Europe, I think the recovery in Europe is largely underestimated in the U.S. by most observers, both from an economic standpoint as well as in terms of activity levels. We're seeing a record level of activity, at least for our business across Europe right now, which is very encouraging. As far as inflation is concerned, look, there are two camps here. One is essentially that this is a transitory inflation where weaker economic growth is going to alleviate some of the pressures. The supply chain issues will diminish and the Fed will be able to control it. Largely speaking, the bond market until recently was more or less in that camp. I think the other camp is that supply chain disruptions are going to last longer. Consumer demand is driving up prices. The Fed is behind the eight ball on this. We’re in for a longer period of inflation. Frankly, I think the debate is wide open at the moment, and we’re going to have a better feel for that as we enter into early next year. The second quarter weakness and perhaps some weakness in China could keep it in check. On the other hand, clearly, the supply chain disruptions, as we heard last night from Amazon and Apple, are concerning.

Operator, Operator

Our next question comes from Manan Gosalia with Morgan Stanley.

Manan Gosalia, Analyst

Can you expand on your comments that advisory activity is at an all-time high and 4Q should be a record? So while this quarter was a record for third quarter revenues, it was lighter compared to peers. But then again, you had a very strong second quarter, and I think you had a similar dynamic going from the first to the second quarter. So I just wanted to assess how much of this is timing more than anything else.

Evan Russo, Chief Financial Officer

Sure. Manan, it's Evan. Let me start there. Look, I think at the end of the day, what we're saying is, as Ken pointed out, we've got a high level of activity across the firm. There's lots of business activity. As you mentioned, we had a great second quarter coming in. It's a record third quarter for us. Lots of positives coming out, and we just see a terrific outlook on the business side. And what's shaping up, as you can see from the visible pipeline that you guys observe, you can certainly see that things are very, very busy here. We're expecting to have a record Q4 for financial advisory for us and then strength into 2022 as well. So I think this is just a continuation of what we've seen across the last couple of quarters. The significant strength we had in Q2 was terrific, and then Q3, again, a record quarter. We always experience a little bit of slowdown in Q3 just in terms of closings, but the pipeline we have and the opportunity set we see across the continent, as Ken just mentioned in Europe as well as in the Americas, shows very high levels of activity.

Manan Gosalia, Analyst

If I can just follow up on that. In terms of cross-border M&A, with more economies opening up, are you seeing that starting to accelerate? Or do you think that's yet to pick up and we need to see supply chain issues resolved before things really accelerate on that front?

Kenneth Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

I'd say cross-Atlantic, not as much as we've seen in the past. Within Europe, for sure. A lot of that is driven by supply chain, private equity of course. Importantly, I think it's the beginnings of energy transition. I think we're going to see a lot more within Europe, eventually probably more across the Atlantic, but I'm not sure that we'll see as much as we've seen in the past for a little while.

Operator, Operator

Our next question comes from Brennan Hawken with UBS.

Brennan Hawken, Analyst

Ken, you’ve spoken in the past about an effort to hire more MDs in certain sectors in advisory, a bit of a bias to the U.S. geographically. Evan referenced 20 senior hires in his prepared remarks, but maybe could you give us a little bit more specifics on how that’s proceeding? I believe your advisory MD headcount ended last year at 171. So given the hires you made pipelines, any that you might expect could be joining here a little late in the year? But maybe there are a few. Where do you think you’ll end the year? And where are you adding? Is that in the places that you’ve identified? Could you maybe just give a little bit on that front?

Kenneth Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Sure. So this has been a very aggressive year for us in terms of growth and outside hires. I think actually, we're close to two dozen outside hires now, not quite there, but almost, and senior hires between partners or MDs and senior advisers. The focus for us has been on the areas we've outlined in the past. Clearly, the growth in private equity opens the aperture for us of people that will succeed on the Lazard platform and also opens the aperture for many of our younger partners and directors, which others have talked about as well because of the ability to pursue that business for them. That's been a real positive for us. As you've seen, we've made several hires, and this accelerated group of hires and promotions in the last year will impact the MD headcount. In terms of other areas, clearly, biopharma is important. Technology is important, and anything around energy transition is important. As you can see, we made a recent hire just in the last week in London around that. This has been a very good year for recruiting for us. I think it will slow down a little bit in the fourth quarter, as it always does, but we have a good pipeline for next year ahead of us.

Brennan Hawken, Analyst

Great. And there also was a comment, I believe, Evan, that you made about sponsor activity doubling. And Ken, that’s clearly an area where you’re looking to grow. Do you have an estimate for how much of your advisory revenue either today or has involved or touched a sponsor in one way or another? And do you have a sense for where that stands and where you’re interested in driving that as you continue to build out that business and make hires in places that you think can move the needle there? Do you have any parameters?

Evan Russo, Chief Financial Officer

Sure. So we’ve doubled it this year. I think we're getting close to 40% for the first 9 months. We were in the low 20s last year, just above 20%. Many of our competitors are indexing up around 60% to 80%. So there's a lot of white space ahead of us. And frankly speaking, if you look at that, it's been historically more skewed towards Europe for us. So there's a lot of growth potential for us in the United States on sponsors. That's an area where we think there's significant growth right now.

Brennan Hawken, Analyst

And is the goal to just eliminate that gap to the 60% to 80% and therefore essentially potentially double again from the 40%?

Kenneth Jacobs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

I think there’s room for a lot more growth in that business. Look, there are ups and downs in the markets. And obviously, you have to modulate between the activities in the strategic and private side, and a lot of it is growing out these sleeves in private equity. But yes, there’s a lot of room for growth for us here.

Operator, Operator

At this time, I’m showing no further questions. This now concludes the Lazard conference call. Thank you for joining. Have a good day.