Press Release Details

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) today reported financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018ⁱ and provided 2019 guidance:

• Revenue for the full year 2018 was $8.2 billion, up 19% (19% local currencyⁱⁱ). Fee revenue was $6.0 billion, up 12% (12% local currency).
• Full year Net loss decreased $35.5 million to $(185.8) million, with Net loss per share of $(1.09) and Adjusted earnings per share of $1.67.
• Full year Adjusted EBITDA was $659.1 million, up 25% (26% local currency). Adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.1% was up 115 bps.
• Revenue for the fourth quarter was $2.4 billion, up 17% (19% local currencyⁱⁱ). Fee revenue was $1.8 billion, up 8% (10% local currency).
• 2019 Adjusted EBITDA expected to be in the range of $685 million to $735 millionⁱⁱⁱ.

“We have strong momentum and are extremely pleased with the performance of our business in 2018, highlighted by double-digit growth in Fee revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and significant margin expansion,” said Brett White, Executive Chairman & CEO. “In addition, we completed one of the largest IPOs of the year based on offering size and made outstanding progress on our financial, operational and growth objectives."

Consolidated Results (unaudited)

⁽¹⁾ See the end of this press release for reconciliations of (i) Fee revenue to revenue; (ii) Fee-based operating expenses to total costs and expenses; (iii) Adjusted EBITDA to net loss; and (iv) Adjusted net income to net loss; and for explanations on the calculations of Adjusted EBITDA margin and Adjusted earnings per share, diluted. See also the definition of, and a description of the purposes for which our management uses these non-GAAP measures under the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures section in this press release.

⁽²⁾For all periods with GAAP net loss, weighted average shares outstanding, diluted is used to calculate Adjusted earnings per share, diluted.

Fourth Quarter Results (unaudited)

Revenue

Revenue was $2.4 billion, an increase of $349.2 million or 17%. Gross contract costs, primarily in the Property, facilities and project management service line, increased $210.1 million driven by the $98.2 million impact of the adoption of Topic 606. Foreign currency had a $45.3 million or 2%, unfavorable impact on Revenue.

Fee revenue was $1.8 billion, an increase of $164.8 million or 10% on a local currency basis, reflecting increases primarily in Capital markets, Property, facilities and project management and Leasing. Capital markets Fee revenue increased by $67.0 million or 27%, on a local currency basis, driven by an Americas increase of $44.3 million or 27%, on a local currency basis. Property, facilities and project management Fee revenue increased $46.4 million or 7% on a local currency basis, driven by an EMEA increase of $19.4 million or 28%, on a local currency basis, with the remainder of the Fee revenue growth primarily in Americas. Leasing Fee revenue increased $38.9 million or 7%, on a local currency basis, driven by an Americas increase of $36.4 million or 9%, on a local currency basis, with the remainder of the Fee revenue growth primarily in APAC.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses were $2.4 billion, an increase of $343.2 million or 17%. The increase in operating expenses reflected increased cost associated with revenue growth and the $98.2 million increase to gross contract costs resulting from the adoption of Topic 606.

Fee-based operating expenses, excluding Depreciation and amortization, integration and other costs related to acquisitions and stock-based compensation, were $1.5 billion, a 14% increase on a local currency basis. The growth in Fee-based operating expenses reflected higher cost of services associated with Fee revenue growth.

Interest expense

Net interest expense was $39.7 million, a decrease of $8.5 million, driven by lower average borrowings during the quarter. Net interest expense does not include accounts receivable securitization costs of $2.4 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Provision/benefit from income taxes

The provision for income taxes was $23.0 million, a change of $46.0 million. The change was driven by the one-time deferred tax benefit received from the decrease in the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the subsequent re-measurement of deferred tax liabilities; as well as establishment of additional valuation allowances.

Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA

Net loss was $18.0 million, a change of $40.2 million, primarily driven by the increase in Fee-based operating expenses exceeding the increase in Fee revenue and a higher provision for income taxes, partially offset by lower interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA was $235.5 million, a decrease of $25.1 million or 9%, on a local currency basis, driven by the increase in Fee-based operating expenses exceeding the increase in Fee revenue, partially offset by the $8.6 million local currency impact of the adoption of Topic 606. Adjusted EBITDA margin, calculated on a Fee revenue basis, was 13.4%, compared to 16.4% in the prior year, driven by Fee revenue mix and operating leverage.

Full Year Results

Revenue

Revenue was $8.2 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion or 19%. Gross contract costs, primarily in the Property, facilities and project management service line, increased $644.5 million driven by the $400.2 million impact of the adoption of Topic 606. Foreign currency had an insignificant impact on Revenue growth.

Fee revenue was $6.0 billion, an increase of $643.0 million or 12%, on a local currency basis, reflecting increases in Leasing, Capital markets and Property, facilities and project management. Leasing Fee revenue increased by $272.7 million or 16%, on a local currency basis driven primarily by the Americas increase of $240.5 million or 19.3% on a local currency basis, with the remainder of Fee revenue growth primarily in APAC. Capital markets Fee revenue increased by $219.2 million or 29%, on a local currency basis, driven by an Americas increase of $169.1 million or 32% on a local currency basis, with the remainder of Fee revenue growth primarily in APAC. Property, facilities and project management increased by $145.7 million or 6% on a local currency basis, driven primarily by an Americas increase of $72.0 million or 4%, on a local currency basis, with the remainder of the Fee revenue growth primarily in EMEA.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses were $8.2 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion or 16%. The increase in operating expenses reflected increased cost associated with revenue growth and the $400.2 million increase to gross contract costs resulting from the adoption of Topic 606.

Fee-based operating expenses, excluding Depreciation and amortization, integration and other costs related to acquisitions and stock-based compensation, were $5.3 billion, a 10% increase on a local currency basis. The growth in Fee-based operating expenses reflected higher cost of services associated with Fee revenue growth.

Interest expense

Net interest expense was $228.8 million, an increase of $45.7 million, driven by $53.8 million of charges related to the 2018 debt refinancing and extinguishment activities. Net interest expense does not include accounts receivable securitization costs of $6.7 million and $8.2 million for the years ending December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Benefit from income taxes

The benefit from income taxes was $25.0 million, a decrease of $95.5 million. The decrease was driven by the 2017 one-time deferred tax benefit received from the decrease in the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and the subsequent re-measurement of deferred tax liabilities, a lower net loss before taxes in 2018 and the establishment of additional valuation allowances.

Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA

Net loss was $185.8 million, a decrease of $35.5 million, primarily driven by the increase in Fee revenue exceeding the increase in Fee-based operating expenses, partially offset by higher interest expense and a lower benefit from income taxes.

Adjusted EBITDA was $659.1 million, an increase of $137.1 million or 26%, on a local currency basis, driven by the increase in Fee revenue exceeding the increase in Fee-based operating expenses and the $10.9 million local currency impact of the adoption of Topic 606. Adjusted EBITDA margin, calculated on a Fee revenue basis, was 11.1%, compared to 9.9% in the prior year, driven by Fee revenue mix and operating leverage.

Balance Sheet

• The Company's outstanding 2018 First Lien debt, net of deferred financing fees, was $2.7 billion as of December 31, 2018, which net of cash and cash equivalents, resulted in a net debt position of approximately $1.8 billion.
• Total ending liquidity for the fourth quarter was $1.7 billion with the majority of the balance being made up of an $810 million undrawn revolving credit facility, and $895 million of cash and cash equivalents.

Change in Accounting Principle - Stock-based Compensation

In the fourth quarter of 2018 the Company changed its policy for recognizing stock-based compensation expense for awards with service conditions only from the graded attribution method to the straight-line attribution method. We are presenting our financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the previously reported financial information included herein on a basis consistent with the adoption of this change in accounting principle. Going forward, beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 2018, our financial information will reflect this change with prior periods adjusted ("recast") accordingly. The impacts to our financial statements resulting in the adoption of this new policy are discussed below.

Balance Sheet: The change impacts the balance sheet primarily through a decrease in both additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, total equity decreased by $5.6 million and $4.5 million as a result of the application of this policy.

Cash Flows: Changes to our cash flows are driven primarily by lower stock-based compensation and lower net loss. Total cash flows from operating activities are not affected by this change.

Income Statement: Income statement impacts are driven by the shift to straight-line expense attribution which affect the timing of expense recognition. For the three months and the years ended 2018 and 2017, this change increased (decreased) net (loss)/income by $(1.4) million and $(3.0) million and $(3.6) million and $0.8 million, respectively. The change had an immaterial impact on net loss per share for all periods presented.

2019 Outlook

Cushman & Wakefield provides guidance on a non-GAAP basis, as the Company cannot predict some elements that are included in reported GAAP results, including the impact of foreign exchange. Refer to the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures section for a more detailed discussion of non-GAAP financial measures in more detail. The Company expects full year 2019 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $685.0 million to $735.0 millionⁱⁱⁱ, reflecting strong market fundamentals.

ⁱ The Company adopted Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (together with all subsequent amendments, "Topic 606") effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition approach. Comparative information continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for periods prior to 2018. The impact to GAAP revenue for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018 was an increase of $81.4 million and $432.8 million, respectively, over the GAAP revenue that would have been reported if Topic 606 was not applicable. This impact included increases of $98.2 million and $400.2 million related to reimbursed expenses due to implementation of the updated principal versus agent considerations in Topic 606, which had no impact on Fee revenue, Operating loss, Adjusted EBITDA or Net loss, and the acceleration in the timing of revenue recognition related to variable consideration primarily for leasing services of $(16.8) million and $32.6 million, which impacted both Revenue and Fee Revenue. The adoption of Topic 606 resulted in a (provision)/benefit to Net loss of $(8.4) million and $6.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $(8.6) million and $10.9 million for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2018, respectively.

ⁱⁱ In order to assist our investors and improve comparability of results, we present the year-over-year changes in certain of our financial measures, such as Fee revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, in "local" currency. The local currency change represents the year-over-year change assuming no movement in foreign exchange rates from the prior year. We believe that this presentation provides our management and investors with a better view of comparability and trends in the underlying operating business.

ⁱⁱⁱ The Company has not reconciled the (non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA forward-looking guidance included in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because this cannot be done without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low visibility with respect to costs related to integration and other costs related to acquisitions and share-based compensation, which are potential adjustments to future earnings. We expect the variability of these items to have a potentially unpredictable, and a potentially significant, impact on our future GAAP financial results.

Conference Call

The Company’s Fourth Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call will be held today, February 27, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A webcast, along with an associated slide presentation, will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://ir.cushmanwakefield.com.

The direct dial-in number for the conference call is 877-683-2081 for U.S. callers and 647-689-5424 for international callers. The Conference ID is 9656185. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the conference call by accessing http://ir.cushmanwakefield.com. A transcript of the call will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.cushmanwakefield.com.

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 51,000 employees in 400 offices and 70 countries. In 2018, the firm had revenue of $8.2 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this release other than historical facts are forward-looking statements, which rely on a number of estimates, projections and assumptions concerning future events. Such statements are also subject to a number of uncertainties and factors outside Cushman & Wakefield’s control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainty regarding and changes in global economic or market conditions and changes in government policies, laws, regulations and practices. Should any Cushman & Wakefield estimates, projections and assumptions or these other uncertainties and factors materialize in ways that Cushman & Wakefield did not expect, there is no guarantee of future performance and the actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this presentation, including the possibility that recipients may lose a material portion of the amounts invested. While Cushman & Wakefield believes the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable under current circumstances, recipients should bear in mind that such assumptions are inherently uncertain and subjective and that past or projected performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this presentation, and nothing shall be relied upon as a promise or representation as to the performance of any investment. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or other information in this presentation and should rely on your own assessment of an investment or a transaction. Any estimates or projections as to events that may occur in the future are based upon the best and current judgment of Cushman & Wakefield as actual results may vary from the projections and such variations may be material. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of the date of this release.

Consolidated Results (unaudited)

⁽¹⁾ For all periods with a GAAP net loss, Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted is used to calculate Adjusted earnings per share, diluted.

Segment Results

The following tables summarize our results of operations for our operating segments for the three months and the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Corporate expenses are allocated to the segments based upon Fee revenue of each segment. Gross contract costs are excluded from operating expenses in determining “Fee-based operating expenses”. Adjusted EBITDA is the profitability metric reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocation of resources to each segment and assessing performance of each segment. Adjusted EBITDA excludes depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net of interest income, income taxes, as well as integration and other costs related to acquisitions, expenses related to the Cassidy Turley deferred payment obligation, stock-based compensation for plans enacted before the Company's initial public offering and other charges.

Americas Results

EMEA Results

APAC Results

Cushman & Wakefield plc

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following measures are considered "non-GAAP financial measures" under SEC guidelines:

i. Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses;

ii. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA margin;

iii. Adjusted net income and Adjusted earnings per share; and

iv. Local currency.

Our management principally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate operating performance, develop budgets and forecasts, improve comparability of results and assist our investors in analyzing the underlying performance of our business. These measures are not recognized measurements under GAAP. When analyzing our operating results, investors should use them in addition to, but not as an alternative for, the most directly comparable financial results calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Because the Company’s calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from other companies, our presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

The Company believes that these measures provide a more complete understanding of ongoing operations, enhance comparability of current results to prior periods and may be useful for investors to analyze our financial performance. The measures eliminate the impact of certain items that may obscure trends in the underlying performance of our business. The Company believes that they are useful to investors, for the additional purposes described below.

Fee revenue: The Company believes that investors may find this measure useful to analyze the financial performance of our Property, facilities and project management service line and our business generally. Fee revenue is GAAP revenue excluding costs reimbursable by clients which have substantially no margin, and as such provides greater visibility into the underlying performance of our business.

Additionally, pursuant to business combination accounting rules, certain fees that may have been deferred by the acquiree may be recorded as a receivable on the acquisition date by the Company. Such fees are included in Fee revenue as acquisition accounting adjustments based on when the acquiree would have recognized revenue in the absence of being acquired by the Company.

Fee-based operating expenses: Consistent with GAAP, reimbursed costs for certain customer contracts are presented on a gross basis (“gross contract costs”) in both revenue and operating expenses. As described above, gross contract costs are excluded from revenue in determining “Fee revenue.” Gross contract costs are similarly excluded from operating expenses in determining “Fee-based operating expenses.” Excluding gross contract costs from Fee-based operating expenses more accurately reflects how we manage our expense base and operating margins and, accordingly, is useful to investors and other external stakeholders for evaluating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin: We have determined Adjusted EBITDA to be our primary measure of segment profitability. We believe that investors find this measure useful in comparing our operating performance to that of other companies in our industry because these calculations generally eliminate integration and other costs related to acquisitions, stock-based compensation for plans enacted before the Company's IPO (“pre-IPO stock-based compensation”), the deferred payment obligation related to the acquisition of Cassidy Turley and other items. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the effects of financings, income tax and the non-cash accounting effects of depreciation and intangible asset amortization. Adjusted EBITDA margin, a non-GAAP measure of profitability as a percent of revenue, is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by Fee revenue.

Adjusted net income/loss (“Adjusted net income”) and Adjusted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”): Management also assesses the profitability of the business using Adjusted net income. We believe that investors find this measure useful in comparing our profitability to that of other companies in our industry because this calculation generally eliminates integration and other costs related to acquisitions, pre-IPO stock-based compensation, the deferred payment obligation related to the acquisition of CT and other items. Similarly, depreciation and amortization related to merger and acquisition activity and one-time financing related to debt extinguishment and modification are excluded from this measure. Income tax, as adjusted, reflects management’s expectation about our long-term effective rate as a public company. The Company also uses Adjusted EPS as a significant component when measuring operating performance. Management defines Adjusted EPS as Adjusted net income, divided by total basic and diluted weighted-average outstanding shares.

Local currency: In discussing our results, we refer to percentage changes in local currency. These metrics are calculated by holding foreign currency exchange rates constant in year-over-year comparisons. Management believes that this methodology provides investors with greater visibility into the performance of our business excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations.

The interim financial information for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 is unaudited. All adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise noted, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial information for these periods have been included. Users of all of the aforementioned unaudited interim financial information should refer to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Please see the following tables for reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Adjustments to GAAP financial measures used to calculate non-GAAP financial measures

Reconciliation of Net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA:

Reconciliation of Net (loss) income to Adjusted Net Income:

Reconciliation of Revenue to Fee revenue:

Reconciliation of Total costs and expenses to Fee-based operating expenses:

Reconciliation of Fee-based operating expenses by segment to Consolidated Fee-based operating expenses:

Source: Cushman & Wakefield

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INVESTOR RELATIONS
Bill Knightly
Investor Relations
+1 312 338 7860
[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT
Brad Kreiger
Corporate Communications
+1 312 424 8010
[email protected]

Source: Cushman & Wakefield