Employee Stock Plans

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated:


	Year Ended April 30,
	2024		2023		2022

	(in thousands)
Restricted stock	$	39,077	$	35,433	$	28,361
ESPP	893		852		849
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	39,970	$	36,285	$	29,210

Stock Incentive Plan

At the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on September 22, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved the Korn Ferry 2022 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2022 Plan"), which, among other things, increased the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for stock-based awards by 1,700,000 shares, leaving 2,248,284 shares available for issuance, subject to certain changes in the Company’s capital structure and other extraordinary events. The 2022 Plan requires a minimum one-year vesting for all future awards, and provides for the grant of awards to eligible participants, designated as either nonqualified or incentive stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, any of which are market-based, and incentive bonuses, which may be paid in cash or stock or a combination thereof.

Restricted Stock

The Company grants time-based restricted stock awards to executive officers and other senior employees that generally vest over a four-year period. In addition, certain key management members typically receive time-based restricted stock awards upon commencement of employment and may receive them annually in conjunction with the Company’s performance review. Time-based restricted stock awards are granted at a price equal to fair value, which is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for time-based restricted stock awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

The Company also grants market-based restricted stock units to executive officers and other senior employees. The market-based units vest after three years depending upon the Company’s total stockholder return over the three-year performance period relative to other companies in its selected peer group. The fair value of these market-based restricted stock units are determined by using extensive market data that is based on historical Company and peer group information. The Company recognizes compensation expense for market-based restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Restricted stock activity is summarized below:


	April 30,
	2024			2023			2022
	Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value		Shares	Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value

	(in thousands, except per share data)
Non-vested, beginning of year	2,063	$	50.12	1,980	$	40.32	2,370	$	34.34
Granted	854	$	51.32	1,143	$	49.12	483	$	65.05
Vested	(682)	$	40.09	(1,006)	$	37.72	(821)	$	43.76
Forfeited	(261)	$	52.22	(54)	$	52.58	(52)	$	34.30
Non-vested, end of year	1,974	$	53.83	2,063	$	50.12	1,980	$	40.32

As of April 30, 2024, there were 0.7 million shares outstanding relating to market-based restricted stock units with total unrecognized compensation totaling $18.9 million.

As of April 30, 2024, there was $61.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested awards of restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years. During fiscal 2024 and 2023, 212,204 shares and 372,556 shares of restricted stock totaling $10.7 million and $22.2 million, respectively, were repurchased by the Company, at the option of the employee, to pay for taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an ESPP that, in accordance with Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, allows eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their salary to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. On June 3, 2020, the Company amended the plan so that the purchase price of the shares purchased could not be less than 85% or more than 100% of the fair market price of the common stock on the last day of the enrollment period. This amendment became effective July 1, 2020. At the Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on September 22, 2022, the Company's stockholders approved the Korn Ferry Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which, among other things, increased the total number of shares of the Company's common stock that may be purchased thereunder by 1,500,000 shares. Employees may not purchase more than $25,000 in stock during any calendar year. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP is 4.5 million shares. During fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022, employees purchased 173,671 shares at an average price of $48.06 per share, 154,720 shares at an average price of $49.16 per share and 103,826 shares at an average price of $66.64 per share, respectively. As of April 30, 2024, the ESPP had approximately 1.6 million shares remaining available for future issuance.

Common Stock

During fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company repurchased (on the open market or privately negotiated transactions) 930,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for $52.5 million, 1,709,867 shares for $93.9 million and 1,470,983 shares for $98.8 million, respectively.