XML 47 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.1
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP"), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and include all information and footnotes required for consolidated financial statement presentation, and include all disclosures required under GAAP for annual financial statements.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. These reclassifications had no impact on net income, shareholders' equity or cash flows as previously reported.
Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries where it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company carries its investments in unconsolidated entities over which it has significant influence but does not control using the equity method, and includes its ownership share of the income and losses in Other (income)/expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Management estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Items subject to such estimates and assumptions include: the allowance for doubtful accounts; the valuation of deferred tax assets, goodwill, accrued expenses, and share based compensation; the allocation of goodwill and other assets across the reporting units (segments); and reserves for income tax uncertainties and other contingencies.
Revenues

Revenues consist of fee revenues from advisory services and reimbursed costs incurred in fulfilling the contract. Revenues reflect fees generated from our CF, FR, and FVA business segments.
The Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, on April 1, 2018, which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company used the modified retrospective method that resulted in the Company prospectively changing the presentation of reimbursements of certain out-of-pocket expenses from a net presentation within non-compensation expenses to a gross basis in revenues. This resulted in an increase in both revenues and related out-of-pocket expenses of approximately $33.8 million and $33.6 million for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company generates revenues from contractual advisory services and reimbursed costs incurred in fulfilling those contracts. Revenues for all three business segments (CF, FR, and FVA) are recognized upon satisfaction of the performance obligation, which may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. The amount and timing of the fees paid vary by the type of engagement.

The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those promised services (i.e., the “transaction price”). In determining the transaction price, we consider multiple factors, including the effects of variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainties with respect to the amount are resolved. In determining when to include variable consideration in the transaction price, we consider the range of possible outcomes, the predictive value of our past experiences, the time period of when uncertainties expect to be resolved and the amount of consideration that is susceptible to factors outside of our influence, such as market volatility or the judgment and actions of third parties. The substantial majority of the Company’s advisory fees (i.e., the success related Completion Fees) are considered variable and constrained as they are contingent upon a future event which includes factors outside of our control (e.g., completion of a transaction or third party emergence from bankruptcy or approval by the court).

Revenues for all three business segments are recognized upon satisfaction of the performance obligation and may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. The amount and timing of the fees paid vary by the type of engagement.
Revenues from CF engagements primarily consist of fees generated in connection with advisory services related to corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets offerings. Completion Fees from these engagements are recognized at a point in time when the related transaction has been effectively closed. At that time, the Company has transferred control of the promised service and the customer obtains control. CF contracts generally contain a variety of promised services that may be capable of being distinct, but they are not distinct within the context of the contract as the various services are inputs to the combined output of successfully brokering a specific transaction. Effective April 1, 2018, fees received prior to the completion of the transaction, including Retainer Fees and Progress Fees, are deferred within deferred income in the consolidated balance sheets and not recognized until the performance obligation is satisfied, or when the transaction is deemed by management to be terminated. Management’s judgment is required in determining when a transaction is considered to be terminated. Prior to April 1, 2018, these various fees were generally recognized on a monthly basis, except in situations where there was uncertainty as to the timing of collection of the amount due. Progress Fees were recognized based on management’s estimates of the relative proportion of services provided through the financial reporting date to the total services required to be performed.

Revenues from FR engagements primarily consist of fees generated in connection with advisory services to debtors, creditors and other parties-in-interest involving recapitalization or deleveraging transactions implemented both through bankruptcy proceedings and through out-of-court exchanges, consent solicitations or other mechanisms, as well as in distressed mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activities. Retainer Fees and Progress Fees from restructuring engagements are recognized over time using a time elapsed measure of progress as our clients simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of those services as they are provided. Completion Fees from these engagements are considered variable and constrained until the related transaction has been effectively closed as they are contingent upon a future event which includes factors outside of our control (e.g., completion of a transaction or third party emergence from bankruptcy or approval by the court).

Revenues from FVA engagements primarily consist of fees generated in connection with valuation and diligence services and rendering fairness, solvency and other financial opinions. Revenues are recognized at a point in time as these engagements include a singular objective that does not transfer any notable value to the Company’s clients until the opinions have been rendered and delivered to the client. However, certain engagements consist of advisory services where fees are usually based on the hourly rates of our financial professionals. Such revenues are recognized over time as the benefits of these advisory services are transferred to the Company’s clients throughout the course of the engagement, and, as a practical expedient, the Company has elected to use the ‘as-invoiced’ approach to recognize revenue.

Taxes, including value added taxes, collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis, and therefore, are excluded from revenue in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Operating Expenses

The majority of the Company’s operating expenses are related to compensation for employees, which includes the amortization of the relevant portion of the Company’s share-based incentive plans (Note 14). Other types of operating expenses include: Travel, meals, and entertainment; Rent; Depreciation and amortization; Information technology and communications; Professional fees; and Other operating expenses.
Translation of Foreign Currency Transactions

The reporting currency for the consolidated financial statements of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are included in the consolidation by translating the assets and liabilities at the reporting period-end exchange rates; however, revenues and expenses are translated using the applicable exchange rates determined on a monthly basis throughout the year. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes.
From time to time, we enter into transactions to hedge our exposure to certain foreign currency fluctuations through the use of derivative instruments or other methods. As of March 31, 2020, we had no foreign currency forward contracts. As of March 31, 2019 and 2018, we entered into a foreign currency forward contract between the euro and pound sterling with an aggregate notional value of approximately EUR 1.5 million and EUR 9.0 million. The fair value representing a (loss)/gain included in Other operating expenses of $(1) and $90 during the years ended 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Fair Value Measurements

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement:
Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.
Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.
For Level 3 investments in which pricing inputs are unobservable and limited market activity exists, management's determination of fair value is based on the best information available, may incorporate management's own assumptions and involves a significant degree of judgment.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair value disclosures:
Corporate debt securities: All fair value measurements are obtained from a third-party pricing service and are not adjusted by management.
U.S. Treasury securities: Fair values for U.S. treasury securities are based on quoted prices from recent trading activity of identical or similar securities. All fair value measurements are obtained from a third-party pricing service and are not adjusted by management.
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repair and maintenance charges are expensed as incurred and costs of renewals or improvements are capitalized at cost. Depreciation on furniture and office equipment is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are recorded as prepaid assets and included within fixed lease payments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash held at banks and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had cash balances with banks in excess of insured limits. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to Cash and cash equivalents.
The following table provides a reconciliation of Cash and cash equivalents, and Restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.         
 
As of March 31,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash and cash equivalents
$
380,373

 
$
285,746

Restricted cash (1)
373

 
369

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
$
380,746

 
$
286,115


(1)
Restricted cash as of March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019 consisted of a cash secured letter of credit issued for our Frankfurt office.

Investment Securities

Investment securities consist of corporate debt and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities over 90 days. The Company classifies its investment securities as trading and measures them at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized holding gains and losses for trading securities are included in Other operating expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables reflects management’s best estimate of probable inherent losses determined principally on the basis of historical experience and review of uncollected revenues and is recorded through provision for bad debts which is included in other operating expenses, net in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Amounts deemed to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Income Taxes

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return, as well as consolidated and separate returns in state and local jurisdictions, and the Company reports income tax expense on this basis.

We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of our assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The measurement of the deferred items is based on enacted tax laws and applicable tax rates. A valuation allowance related to a deferred tax asset is recorded if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The Company utilized a comprehensive model to recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements any uncertain tax positions that have been taken or are expected to be taken on a tax return. The impact of an uncertain tax position that is more likely than not of being sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained. No portion of an uncertain tax position will be recognized if the position has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest expense and penalties related to income taxes are included in the provision for income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income tax (“GILTI inclusion”) can be recognized in the financial statements through an accounting policy election by either recording a period cost (permanent item) or providing deferred income taxes stemming from certain basis differences that are expected to result in GILTI inclusion. The Company has elected to account for the tax impacts of the GILTI inclusion as a period cost.

On March 27, 2020 the United States passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. The legislation is meant to address the economic uncertainty as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that all of the provisions of the CARES Act may have on its income tax provision based on the current filing positions.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents an acquired company’s acquisition cost over the fair value of acquired net tangible and intangible assets. Goodwill is the net asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets identified and accounted for include tradenames and marks, backlog, developed technologies, and customer relationships. Those intangible assets with finite lives, including backlog and customer relationships, are amortized over their estimated useful lives.
Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment and more frequently if potential impairment indicators exist. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which permits management to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that one of its reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test. If management concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then management would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit. If the assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, management must test further for impairment utilizing a two-step process. Step 1 compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment exists and is measured in Step 2 as the excess of the recorded amount of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill resulting from the valuation of the reporting unit. Impairment testing of goodwill requires a significant amount of judgment in assessing qualitative factors and estimating the fair value of the reporting unit, if necessary. The fair value is determined using an estimated market value approach, which considers estimates of future after tax cash flows, including a terminal value based on market earnings multiples, discounted at an appropriate market rate. As of March 31, 2020, management concluded that it was not more likely than not that the Company’s reporting units’ fair value was less than their carrying amount and no further impairment testing had been considered necessary.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment in accordance with ASU 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets for Impairment, which provides management the option to perform a qualitative assessment. If it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, the amount that the carrying value exceeds the fair value is recorded as an impairment expense. As of March 31, 2020, management concluded that it was not more likely than not that the fair values were less than the carrying values.
Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group (inclusive of other long-lived assets) be tested for possible impairment, management first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. As of March 31, 2020, no events or changes in circumstances were identified that indicated that the carrying amount of the finite-lived intangible assets were not recoverable.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued the following authoritative guidance amending the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).
Effective April 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and all related amendments. See Note 16 for additional information.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. The amended guidance states an entity should account for the effects of a modification unless certain criteria are met, which include that the modified award has the same fair value, vesting conditions and classification as the original award. The Company adopted guidance effective April 1, 2019 and its application did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amended guidance involves several aspects of the accounting for credit losses related to certain financial assets that are not accounted for at fair value through net income and includes trade receivables and net investments in leases. The new guidance and subsequent updates, broadens the information that an entity must consider in developing its estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of assets measured either collectively or individually to include historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts, replacing the existing incurred credit loss model and other models with the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) model. The new guidance expands the disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s assumptions, models, and methods for estimating credit losses and requires new disclosures of the amortized cost balance for each class of financial asset by credit quality indicator, disaggregated by the year of origination. This new guidance is first effective for our fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2020 and will be adopted under a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of this new guidance will have on our financial position and results of operations, which will depend on, among other things, the current and expected macroeconomic conditions and the nature and characteristics of financial assets held by us on the date of adoption. We do not anticipate any material changes to our consolidated financial statements.