BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere herein.
Overview
Broadridge, a
We operate our business in two reportable segments: Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations.
Investor Communication Solutions
We provide the following governance and communications solutions through our Investor Communication Solutions business segment: Regulatory Solutions, Data-Driven Fund Solutions, Corporate Issuer Solutions, and Customer Communications Solutions.
A large portion of our Investor Communication Solutions business involves the processing and distribution of proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as the facilitation of related vote processing. ProxyEdge® is our innovative electronic proxy delivery and voting solution for institutional investors and financial advisors that helps ensure the voting participation of the largest stockholders of many companies. We have implemented digital applications to make voting easier for retail investors. We also provide the distribution of regulatory reports, class action and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions that help our clients meet their regulatory compliance needs.
For asset managers and retirement service providers, we offer data-driven
solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and
omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional
information. Our data and analytics solutions provide investment product
distribution data, analytical tools, insights, and research to enable asset
managers to optimize product distribution across retail and institutional
channels globally. Through
In addition, we provide public corporations and mutual funds with a full suite
of solutions to help manage their annual meeting process, including registered
and beneficial proxy materials distribution, proxy processing and tabulation
services, digital voting solutions, proxy and shareholder report document
management solutions, virtual shareholder meeting services, and shareholder data
services. We also offer financial reporting document composition and management
solutions,
We provide omni-channel customer communications solutions, which include print and digital solutions, to modernize technology infrastructures, simplify communications processes, accelerate digital adoption and improve the customer experience. Through one point of integration, the Broadridge Communications CloudSM platform (the "Communications Cloud") helps companies create, deliver, and manage their communications and customer engagement. The platform includes data-driven composition tools, identity and preference management, omni-channel optimization and digital communication experience, archive and information management, digital and print delivery, and analytics and reporting tools.
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Table of Contents Global Technology and Operations
We are a leading global provider of business solutions for capital markets and wealth and investment management firms. We offer advanced solutions that automate firms' transaction lifecycle, from desktop productivity tools, data aggregation, performance reporting, and portfolio management to order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, asset servicing, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral optimization, compliance and regulatory reporting, and portfolio accounting and custody-related services. In addition, we provide business process outsourcing services ("BPO") that support the entire trade lifecycle operations of our buy- and sell-side clients' businesses through a combination of our technology and our operations expertise.
For capital markets firms, we help our clients lower their costs and improve the
effectiveness of their businesses across the front, middle and back office. Our
core post-trade services help financial institutions efficiently and
cost-effectively consolidate their books and records, gather and service assets
under management and manage risk, thereby enabling them to focus on their core
business activities. Provided on a software as a service ("SaaS") basis within
large user communities, our technology is a global solution, processing
clearance and settlement in over 100 countries. Our multi-asset, multi-market,
multi-entity and multi-currency solutions support real-time global trade
processing of equity, fixed income, mutual fund, foreign exchange, and
exchange-traded derivatives. With the recent acquisition of
Our comprehensive wealth management platform offers capabilities across the entire wealth management lifecycle and streamlines all aspects of wealth management services, including account management, fee management and client on-boarding. The wealth management platform enables full-service, regional and independent broker-dealers and investment advisors to better engage with customers through digital marketing and customer communications tools. We also integrate data, content and technology to drive new customer acquisition, support holistic and personalized advice and cross-sell opportunities through the creation of sales and educational content, including seminars as well as customizable advisor websites, search engine marketing and electronic and print newsletters. Our advisor solutions help advisors optimize their practice management through customer and account data aggregation and reporting.
We also offer buy-side technology solutions for the global investment management industry, including portfolio management, compliance and operational workflow solutions for hedge funds, family offices, alternative asset managers, traditional asset managers and the providers that service this space.
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in
Beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, the Company revised the foreign exchange rates used to present segment revenues, segment earnings (loss) before income taxes, and Closed sales, to further allocate the foreign exchange impact to the individual segment revenue and profit metrics. The presentation of segment revenues and earnings (loss) before income taxes for the prior periods provided has been changed to conform to the current period presentation. Total consolidated revenues and earnings before income taxes were not impacted.
The results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily
indicative of the results of operations for the entire year or any subsequent
interim period. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read
in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the
fiscal year ended
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Critical Accounting Policies
In presenting the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Management continually evaluates the accounting policies and estimates used to prepare the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment, available information, and historical experience and are believed to be reasonable. However, actual amounts and results could differ from these estimates made by management. In management's opinion, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results reported. The results of operations reported for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for subsequent periods. Certain accounting policies that require significant management estimates and are deemed critical to our results of operations or financial position are discussed in the "Critical Accounting Policies" section of Part II, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the 2021 Annual Report.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Management focuses on a variety of key indicators to plan, measure and evaluate the Company's business and financial performance. These performance indicators include Revenue and Recurring fee revenue as well as not generally accepted accounting principles measures ("Non-GAAP") of Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net earnings, Adjusted earnings per share, Free Cash flow, and Closed sales. In addition, management focuses on select operating metrics specific to Broadridge of Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth, as defined below.
Refer to the section "Explanation and Reconciliation of the Company's Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net earnings, Adjusted earnings per share, and Free Cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, and an explanation for why these Non-GAAP metrics provide useful information to investors and how management uses these Non-GAAP metrics for operational and financial decision-making. Refer to the section "Results of Operations" for a description of Closed sales and an explanation of why Closed sales is a useful performance metric for management and investors.
Revenues
Revenues are primarily generated from fees for processing and distributing investor communications and fees for technology-enabled services and solutions. The Company monitors revenue in each of our two reportable segments as a key measure of success in addressing our clients' needs. Fee revenues are derived from both recurring and event-driven activity. The level of recurring and event-driven activity the Company processes directly impacts distribution revenues. While event-driven activity is highly repeatable, it may not recur on an annual basis. Event-driven fee revenues are based on the number of special events and corporate transactions the Company processes. Event-driven activity is impacted by financial market conditions and changes in regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in fluctuations in the timing and levels of event-driven fee revenues. Distribution revenues primarily include revenues related to the physical mailing of proxy materials, interim communications, transaction reporting, customer communications and fulfillment services as well as Matrix administrative services.
Recurring fee revenue growth represents the Company's total annual fee revenue growth, less growth from event-driven fee revenues. We distinguish recurring fee revenue growth between organic and acquired:
•Organic - We define organic revenue as the recurring fee revenue generated from Net New Business and internal growth. •Acquired - We define acquired revenue as the recurring fee revenue generated from acquired services in the first twelve months following the date of acquisition. This type of growth comes as a result of our strategy to purchase, integrate, and leverage the value of assets we acquire.
Revenues and Recurring fee revenue are useful metrics for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates the Company's ongoing operational performance. See "Results of Operations" as well as Note 3, "Revenue Recognition" to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.
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Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth
The Company uses select operating metrics specific to Broadridge of Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth in evaluating its business results and identifying trends affecting its business. Record Growth is defined as stock record growth and interim record growth which measure the estimated annual change in total positions eligible for equity proxy materials and mutual fund and exchange traded fund interim communications, respectively, for equities and mutual fund position data reported to Broadridge in both the current and prior year periods. Internal Trade Growth represents the estimated change in daily average trade volumes for Broadridge securities processing clients whose contracts are linked to trade volumes and who were on Broadridge's trading platforms in both the current and prior year periods. Record Growth and Internal Trade Growth are useful non-financial metrics for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates Broadridge's ongoing operational performance within its Investor Communication Solutions and Global Technology and Operations reportable segments, respectively.
The key performance indicators for the three and nine months ended
Select Operating Metrics
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
March 31, March 31,
2022 2021 2022 2021
Record Growth
Equity proxy 17 % 20 % 21 % 20 %
Mutual fund interims 10 % 7 % 15 % 9 %
Internal Trade Growth (6) % 12 % (1) % 16 %
Results of Operations
The following discussions of Analysis of Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Earnings and Analysis of Reportable Segments refer to the three and nine months
ended
The following references are utilized in the discussions of Analysis of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Analysis of Reportable Segments:
"Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Purchased Intellectual Property" and "Acquisition and Integration Costs" represent certain non-cash amortization expenses associated with acquired intangible assets and purchased intellectual property assets, as well as certain transaction and integration costs associated with the Company's acquisition activities, respectively.
"Real Estate Realignment and Covid-19 Related Expenses" are comprised of two major components: Real Estate Realignment Expenses, and Covid-19 Related Expenses. Real Estate Realignment Expenses are expenses associated with the exit of certain of the Company's leased facilities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which consist of the impairment of certain right of use assets, leasehold improvements and equipment, as well as other related facility exit expenses directly resulting from, and attributable to, the exit of these leased facilities. Covid-19 Related Expense are direct and incremental expenses incurred by the Company to protect the health and safety of Broadridge associates during the Covid-19 outbreak, including expenses associated with monitoring the temperatures for associates entering our facilities, enhancing the safety of our office environment in preparation for workers to return to Company facilities on a more regular basis, ensuring proper social distancing in our production facilities, personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning measures in our facilities, and other safety related expenses.
"Investment Gains" represents non-operating, non-cash gains on privately held investments.
"Software Charge" represents a charge related to an internal use software product that is no longer expected to be used.
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"Loss on Acquisition-Related Financial Instrument" represents a non-operating
loss on a financial instrument designed to minimize the Company's foreign
exchange risk associated with the acquisition of
"Net New Business" refers to recurring revenue from Closed sales for the initial twelve-month contract period after which the client goes live with the Company's service(s), less recurring revenue from client losses.
"Internal Growth" is a component of recurring fee revenue and generally reflects year over year changes in existing services to our existing customers' multi-year contracts beyond the initial twelve month period in which it was included in Net New Business.
The following definitions describe the Company's Revenues:
Fee revenues in the Investor Communication Solutions segment are derived from both recurring and event-driven activity. In addition, the level of recurring and event-driven activity we process directly impacts distribution revenues. While event-driven activity is highly repeatable, it may not recur on an annual basis. The types of services we provide that comprise event-driven activity are:
•Mutual Fund Proxy: The proxy and related services we provide to mutual funds when certain events occur requiring a shareholder vote including changes in directors, sub-advisors, fee structures, investment restrictions, and mergers of funds.
•Mutual Fund Communications: Mutual fund communications services consist primarily of the distribution on behalf of mutual funds of supplemental information required to be provided to the annual mutual fund prospectus as a result of certain triggering events such as a change in portfolio managers. In addition, mutual fund communications consist of notices and marketing materials such as newsletters.
•Equity Proxy Contests and Specials, Corporate Actions, and Other: The proxy services we provide in connection with shareholder meetings driven by special events such as proxy contests, mergers and acquisitions, and tender/exchange offers.
Event-driven fee revenues are based on the number of special events and corporate transactions we process. Event-driven activity is impacted by financial market conditions and changes in regulatory compliance requirements, resulting in fluctuations in the timing and levels of event-driven fee revenues. As such, the timing and level of event-driven activity and its potential impact on revenues and earnings are difficult to forecast.
Generally, mutual fund proxy activity has been subject to a greater level of
volatility than the other components of event-driven activity. For the nine
months ended
Distribution revenues primarily include revenues related to the physical mailing of proxy materials, interim communications, transaction reporting, customer communications and fulfillment services, as well as Matrix administrative services.
Distribution cost of revenues consists primarily of postage-related expenses incurred in connection with our Investor Communication Solutions segment, as well as Matrix administrative services expenses. These costs are reflected in Cost of revenues.
Closed sales represent an estimate of the expected annual recurring fee revenue for new client contracts that were signed by Broadridge in the current reporting period. Closed sales does not include event-driven or distribution activity. We consider contract terms, expected client volumes or activity, knowledge of the marketplace and experience with our clients, among other factors, when determining the estimate. Management uses Closed sales to measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing programs, as an indicator of expected future revenues and as a performance metric in determining incentive compensation.
Closed sales is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for revenue or other income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Closed sales is a useful metric for investors in understanding how management measures and evaluates our ongoing operational performance.
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The inherent variability of transaction volumes and activity levels can result
in some variability of amounts reported as actual achieved Closed sales. Larger
Closed sales can take up to 12 to 24 months or longer to convert to revenues,
particularly for the services provided by our Global Technology and Operations
segment. For the three and nine months ended
Closed sales for the three months ended
Closed sales for the nine months ended
Recent Developments
Global Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to persist throughout the world including the
The safety and well-being of our associates and our ability to fulfill our client service commitments are our highest priorities. After addressing the initial surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are now focused on running our business effectively in the new work from home paradigm while preparing for a more flexible workplace model in the future. Accordingly, the Company has taken several measures and expects to take further actions designed to protect the health of our employees and to minimize our operational disruption and resulting provision of services to our clients from the Covid-19 pandemic, including adopting masking, social distancing and cleaning measures in our production facilities. We are compliant with applicable federal, state and local Covid-19 rules, restrictions, orders and guidance, and are promoting vaccination among our associates.
In fiscal year 2022 to date, there has not been a material impact as a result of Covid-19 on our consolidated revenues and pre-tax income. In addition, all of our production-related facilities remain operational and are continuing to provide ongoing services to our clients. Further, we have not experienced any significant supply chain issues as our critical vendors have also remained operational and continue to meet their on-going service level requirements. We continue to engage with our clients to assist with their service demands, including our clients' needs for any supplemental operational services and/or changes to existing service requirements in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are unable to precisely predict the impact that Covid-19 will have in the future due to numerous uncertainties, including the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities, the impact to the business of our clients, and other factors identified in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our 2021 Annual Report. Given these uncertainties, the global pandemic could disrupt the business of certain of our clients, decrease our clients' demand for our services, impact our business operations and our ability to execute on our associated business strategies and initiatives, and adversely impact our consolidated results of operations and/or our financial condition in the future. We will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the nature and extent of the impact of the global pandemic to our business, consolidated results of operations, and financial condition.
Conflict in
We are monitoring the events related to
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