Evercore Inc. (NYSE: EVR):

Evercore Inc. (NYSE: EVR) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

John S. Weinberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "As we start a new year, we continue to be encouraged by the strengthening of market activity and our internal dialogue levels. While 2023 presented a challenging operating environment, we continued to invest heavily in our business and we are committed to do so over the near and long-term."

Roger C. Altman, Founder and Senior Chairman, "We begin 2024 by having advised on three of the four largest global transactions to date and with an exceptional group of newly promoted and externally hired SMDs. We believe we are better positioned than at any point in our history to gain market share across our businesses."

Evercore's quarterly results may fluctuate significantly due to the timing and amount of transaction fees earned, as well as other factors. Accordingly, financial results in any particular quarter may not be representative of future results over a longer period of time.

Business Segments:

Evercore's business results are categorized into two segments: Investment Banking & Equities and Investment Management. Investment Banking & Equities includes providing advice to clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic corporate transactions, as well as services related to securities underwriting, private placement services and commissions for agency-based equity trading services and equity research. Investment Management includes Wealth Management and interests in private equity funds which are not managed by the Company, as well as advising third-party investors through affiliates. See pages A-2 to A-7 for further information and reconciliations of these segment results to our U.S. GAAP consolidated results.

Non-GAAP Measures:

Throughout this release certain information is presented on an adjusted basis, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), and then those results are adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of certain Evercore LP Units into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. Evercore uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs, have been excluded from Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Evercore Inc. These charges in 2023 relate to the write-off of non-recoverable assets in connection with the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.

Evercore's Adjusted Diluted Shares Outstanding for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 were higher than U.S. GAAP as a result of the inclusion of certain Evercore LP Units and Unvested Restricted Stock Units.

Further details of these adjustments, as well as an explanation of similar amounts for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 are included in pages A-2 to A-7.

Selected Financial Data – U.S. GAAP Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's consolidated results on a U.S. GAAP basis. See pages A-4 to A-6 for our business segment results.

Net Revenues

Advisory Fees – Fourth quarter Advisory Fees decreased $44.6 million, or 6%, year-over-year, and full year Advisory Fees decreased $429.1 million, or 18%, year-over-year, reflecting a decline in revenue earned from large transactions during 2023.

Underwriting Fees – Fourth quarter Underwriting Fees decreased $25.0 million, or 57%, year-over-year, and full year Underwriting Fees decreased $11.6 million, or 9%, year-over-year, reflecting a decrease in the number of transactions we participated in during 2023.

Commissions and Related Revenue – Fourth quarter Commissions and Related Revenue increased $2.4 million, or 4%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher trading revenues. Full year Commissions and Related Revenue decreased $3.4 million, or 2%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting lower trading revenues.

Asset Management and Administration Fees – Fourth quarter Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $1.4 million, or 9%, year-over-year, driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 16%, primarily from market appreciation. Full year Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $2.6 million, or 4%, year-over-year, driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 16%, primarily from market appreciation.

Other Revenue – Fourth quarter Other Revenue, net, increased $18.6 million, or 134%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills, and higher performance of our investment funds portfolio. Full year Other Revenue, net, increased $105.5 million year-over-year, primarily reflecting a shift from losses of $29.8 million in 2022 to gains of $34.3 million in 2023 on our investment funds portfolio due to overall market appreciation, as well as higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills. The investment funds portfolio is used as an economic hedge against our deferred cash compensation program.

Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits – Fourth quarter Employee Compensation and Benefits increased $36.9 million, or 7%, year-over-year, reflecting a compensation ratio of 71.4% for the fourth quarter of 2023 versus 62.9% for the prior year period. The increase in Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards, a higher accrual for incentive compensation and higher base salaries. The Compensation Ratio was impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. Full year Employee Compensation and Benefits decreased $40.6 million, or 2%, year-over-year, reflecting a full year compensation ratio of 68.3% versus 61.5% for the prior year period. The decrease in Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects a lower accrual for incentive compensation, partially offset by higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards and higher base salaries. The Compensation Ratio was impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. See "Deferred Compensation" for more information.

Non-Compensation Costs – Fourth quarter Non-Compensation Costs increased $10.9 million, or 11%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher research services and license fees in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was also attributed to the reversal of expense in the fourth quarter of 2022 associated with the decline in the fair value of contingent consideration owed to former equity interest holders in our RECA business. The fourth quarter Non-Compensation ratio of 13.6% increased from 11.5% for the prior year period. The Non-Compensation Ratio was also impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. Full year Non-Compensation Costs increased $41.7 million, or 11%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher license fees and research services in 2023. The increase was also attributed to the reversal of expense in 2022 associated with the decline in the fair value of contingent consideration owed to former equity interest holders in our RECA business. The full year Non-Compensation ratio of 16.8% increased from 13.2% for the prior year period. The Non-Compensation Ratio was also impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period.

Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs – Full year 2023 Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs, relate to the write-off of non-recoverable assets in connection with the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.

Fourth quarter 2022 Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs, relate to separation benefits and other charges related to the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico. Full year 2022 Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs, relate to charges associated with the prepayment of the Company's $67 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.23% Series B senior notes, originally due March 30, 2023 (the "Series B Notes"), during the second quarter, as well as certain professional fees, separation benefits and other charges related to the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.

Effective Tax Rate

The fourth quarter effective tax rate was 23.1% versus 27.7% for the prior year period. The full year effective tax rate was 22.0% versus 24.5% for the prior year period. The effective tax rate for the year is principally impacted by the deduction associated with the appreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price. The full year provision for income taxes for 2023 reflects an additional tax benefit of $13.7 million versus $19.6 million for the prior year period, due to the net impact associated with the appreciation in our share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price.

Selected Financial Data – Adjusted Results

The following is a discussion of Evercore's consolidated results on an Adjusted basis. See pages 3 and A-2 to A-7 for further information and reconciliations of these metrics to our U.S. GAAP results. See pages A-4 to A-6 for our business segment results.

Adjusted Net Revenues

See page 4 for additional business metrics.

Advisory Fees – Fourth quarter adjusted Advisory Fees decreased $44.6 million, or 6%, year-over-year, and full year adjusted Advisory Fees decreased $429.7 million, or 18%, year-over-year, reflecting a decline in revenue earned from large transactions during 2023.

Underwriting Fees – Fourth quarter Underwriting Fees decreased $25.0 million, or 57%, year-over-year, and full year Underwriting Fees decreased $11.6 million, or 9%, year-over-year, reflecting a decrease in the number of transactions we participated in during 2023.

Commissions and Related Revenue – Fourth quarter Commissions and Related Revenue increased $2.4 million, or 4%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher trading revenues. Full year Commissions and Related Revenue decreased $3.4 million, or 2%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting lower trading revenues.

Asset Management and Administration Fees – Fourth quarter adjusted Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $2.2 million, or 13%, year-over-year, primarily driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 16%, primarily from market appreciation. The increase was also driven by an 83% increase in equity in earnings of affiliates. Full year adjusted Asset Management and Administration Fees increased $1.8 million, or 3%, year-over-year, primarily driven by an increase in fees from Wealth Management clients, as associated AUM increased 16%, primarily from market appreciation. This was partially offset by an 11% decrease in equity in earnings of affiliates.

Other Revenue – Fourth quarter adjusted Other Revenue, net, increased $18.6 million, or 103%, year-over-year, primarily reflecting higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills, and higher performance of our investment funds portfolio. Full year adjusted Other Revenue, net, increased $106.6 million year-over-year, primarily reflecting a shift from losses of $29.8 million in 2022 to gains of $34.3 million in 2023 on our investment funds portfolio due to overall market appreciation, as well as higher returns on our fixed income investment portfolios, which primarily consist of U.S. treasury bills. The investment funds portfolio is used as an economic hedge against our deferred cash compensation program.

Adjusted Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits – Fourth quarter adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits increased $36.9 million, or 7%, year-over-year, reflecting an adjusted compensation ratio of 70.8% for the fourth quarter of 2023 versus 62.5% for the prior year period. The increase in adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards, a higher accrual for incentive compensation and higher base salaries. The adjusted Compensation Ratio was impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. Full year adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits decreased $40.6 million, or 2%, year-over-year, reflecting a full year adjusted compensation ratio of 67.6% versus 60.9% for the prior year period. The decrease in adjusted Employee Compensation and Benefits compared to the prior year period principally reflects a lower accrual for incentive compensation, partially offset by higher amortization of prior period deferred compensation awards and higher base salaries. The adjusted Compensation Ratio was impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. See "Deferred Compensation" for more information.

Non-Compensation Costs – Fourth quarter adjusted Non-Compensation Costs increased $10.9 million, or 11%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher research services and license fees in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was also attributed to the reversal of expense in the fourth quarter of 2022 associated with the decline in the fair value of contingent consideration owed to former equity interest holders in our RECA business. The fourth quarter adjusted Non-Compensation ratio of 13.5% increased from 11.4% for the prior year period. The adjusted Non-Compensation Ratio was also impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period. Full year adjusted Non-Compensation Costs increased $41.7 million, or 11%, year-over-year, primarily driven by increases in travel and related expenses, as well as communications and information services, principally reflecting higher license fees and research services in 2023. The increase was also attributed to the reversal of expense in 2022 associated with the decline in fair value of contingent consideration owed to former equity interest holders in our RECA business. The full year adjusted Non-Compensation ratio of 16.6% increased from 13.1% for the prior year period. The adjusted Non-Compensation Ratio was also impacted by lower net revenues, as described above, during the current year period compared to the prior year period.

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate

The fourth quarter adjusted effective tax rate was 25.3% versus 28.2% for the prior year period. The full year adjusted effective tax rate was 23.4% versus 24.5% for the prior year period. The adjusted effective tax rate for the year is principally impacted by the deduction associated with the appreciation in the Firm's share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price. The full year adjusted provision for income taxes for 2023 reflects an additional tax benefit of $14.8 million versus $20.2 million for the prior year period, due to the net impact associated with the appreciation in our share price upon vesting of employee share-based awards above the original grant price.

Liquidity

The Company continues to maintain a strong balance sheet. As of December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents were $596.9 million, investment securities and certificates of deposit were $1.4 billion and current assets exceeded current liabilities by $1.7 billion. Amounts due related to the Notes Payable were $373.9 million at December 31, 2023.

Headcount

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company employed approximately 2,195 and 2,120 people, respectively, worldwide.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company employed 174⁽¹⁾ and 169⁽²⁾ total Senior Managing Directors, respectively, in its Investment Banking & Equities segment, of which 136⁽¹⁾ and 130⁽²⁾, respectively, were Advisory Senior Managing Directors.

Deferred Compensation

During 2023, the Company granted to certain employees 2.5 million unvested restricted stock units ("RSUs") (which were primarily granted in conjunction with the 2022 bonus awards) with a grant date fair value of $338.4 million.

In addition, during 2023, the Company granted $163 million of deferred cash awards to certain employees, related to our deferred cash compensation program, principally pursuant to 2022 bonus awards.

The Company recognized compensation expense related to RSUs and our deferred cash compensation program of $103.6 million and $439.1 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, respectively, and $87.8 million and $369.4 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 5.7 million unvested RSUs with an aggregate grant date fair value of $709.7 million. RSUs are expensed over the service period of the award, subject to retirement eligibility, and generally vest over four years.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company expects to pay an aggregate of $366.9 million related to our deferred cash compensation program at various dates through 2027, subject to certain vesting events. Amounts due pursuant to this program are expensed over the service period of the award, subject to retirement eligibility, and are reflected in Accrued Compensation and Benefits, a component of current liabilities.

Capital Return Transactions

On January 30, 2024, the Board of Directors of Evercore declared a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share to be paid on March 8, 2024 to common stockholders of record on February 23, 2024.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 16 thousand shares from employees for the net settlement of stock-based compensation awards at an average price per share of $143.17. During 2023, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares from employees for the net settlement of stock-based compensation awards at an average price per share of $131.53, and 2.0 million shares at an average price per share of $127.85 in open market transactions pursuant to the Company's share repurchase program. The aggregate 3.0 million shares were acquired at an average price per share of $129.04.

Conference Call

Evercore will host a related conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, accessible via telephone and webcast. Investors and analysts may participate in the live conference call by dialing (800) 274-8461 (toll-free domestic) or (203) 518-9814 (international); passcode: EVRQ423. Please register at least 10 minutes before the conference call begins.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the For Investors section of Evercore’s website at www.evercore.com. The webcast will be archived on Evercore’s website for 30 days.

About Evercore

Evercore (NYSE: EVR) is a premier global independent investment banking advisory firm. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve superior results through trusted independent and innovative advice on matters of strategic significance to boards of directors, management teams and shareholders, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic shareholder advisory, restructurings, and capital structure. Evercore also assists clients in raising public and private capital and delivers equity research and equity sales and agency trading execution, in addition to providing wealth and investment management services to high net worth and institutional investors. Founded in 1995, the Firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and affiliate offices in major financial centers in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit www.evercore.com.

Basis of Alternative Financial Statement Presentation

Our Adjusted results are a non-GAAP measure. As discussed further under "Non-GAAP Measures", Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and better reflects how management views its operating results. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation of our U.S. GAAP results to Adjusted results is presented in the tables included in the following pages.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, Evercore's operations and financial performance. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "backlog," "believes," "expects," "potential," "probable," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in Evercore's business. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Evercore believes these factors include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" discussed in Evercore's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and Registration Statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Evercore to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can Evercore assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and Evercore does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Evercore undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Adjusted Results

Throughout the discussion of Evercore's business and elsewhere in this release, information is presented on an Adjusted basis, which is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measure. Adjusted results begin with information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), adjusted to exclude certain items and reflect the conversion of certain Evercore LP Units, as well as Unvested Restricted Stock Units, into Class A shares. Evercore believes that the disclosed Adjusted measures and any adjustments thereto, when presented in conjunction with comparable U.S. GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare Evercore's results across several periods and facilitate an understanding of Evercore's operating results. The Company uses these measures to evaluate its operating performance, as well as the performance of individual employees. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These Adjusted amounts are allocated to the Company's two business segments: Investment Banking & Equities and Investment Management. The differences between the Adjusted and U.S. GAAP results are as follows:

1. Assumed Exchange of Evercore LP Units into Class A Shares. The Adjusted results assume substantially all Evercore LP Units have been exchanged for Class A shares. Accordingly, the noncontrolling interest related to these units is converted to a controlling interest. The Company's management believes that it is useful to provide the per-share effect associated with the assumed conversion of substantially all of these previously granted equity interests and IPO related restricted stock units, and thus the Adjusted results reflect their exchange into Class A shares.
2. Adjustments Associated with Business Combinations and Divestitures. The following charges resulting from business combinations and divestitures have been excluded from the Adjusted results because the Company's Management believes that operating performance is more comparable across periods excluding the effects of these charges:
   1. Gain on Sale of Interests in ABS. The gain on the sale of a portion of the Company's interests in ABS in the first quarter of 2022 is excluded from the Adjusted presentation.
3. Special Charges, Including Business Realignment Costs. Expenses during 2023 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to the write-off of non-recoverable assets in connection with the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico. Expenses during 2022 that are excluded from the Adjusted presentation relate to charges associated with the prepayment of the Company's Series B Notes during the second quarter, as well as certain professional fees, separation benefits and other charges related to the wind-down of the Company's operations in Mexico.
4. Income Taxes. Evercore is organized as a series of Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, C-Corporations and a Public Corporation in the U.S. as the ultimate parent. Certain of the subsidiaries, particularly Evercore LP, have noncontrolling interests held by management or former members of management. As a result, not all of the Company’s income is subject to corporate level taxes and certain other state and local taxes are levied. The assumption in the Adjusted earnings presentation is that substantially all of the noncontrolling interest is eliminated through the exchange of Evercore LP units into Class A common stock of the ultimate parent. As a result, the Adjusted earnings presentation assumes that the allocation of earnings to Evercore LP’s noncontrolling interest holders is substantially eliminated and is therefore subject to statutory tax rates of a C-Corporation under a conventional tax structure in the U.S. and that certain state and local taxes are reduced accordingly.
5. Presentation of Interest Expense. The Adjusted results present Adjusted Investment Banking & Equities Operating Income before interest expense on debt, which is included in interest expense on a U.S. GAAP basis.
6. Presentation of Income from Equity Method Investments. The Adjusted results present Income from Equity Method Investments within Revenue as the Company's Management believes it is a useful presentation.