Item 2.05
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Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.
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In light of the continuing uncertainty in worldwide economic conditions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and, as part of a broader program aimed at further enhancing Korn Ferry’s (the “Company”) strong balance sheet and liquidity position, on April 20, 2020, the Company initiated a plan (the “Plan”) intended to adjust its cost base to the current economic environment and to position the Company to invest into the recovery. The Plan includes (i) a reduction in workforce (which is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020), (ii) the temporary furlough of certain employees, (iii) subject to certain exceptions and legal requirements, salary reductions across the organization, and (iv) other cost saving measures relating to general and administrative expenses. The Company initially expects the pay cuts and furloughs to be effective through August 31, 2020. As disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2020, the Company’s named executive officers and Board of Directors previously agreed, effective May 1, 2020, to reductions in base salary and cash retainer, respectively, through August 31, 2020. In mid to late August, the Company will evaluate whether the furloughs and all pay cuts should be continued.
The Plan will initially reduce the Company’s annualized cost base by approximately $300 million and is expected to result in an estimated pre-tax charge of approximately $55 - $65 million, consisting of severance and related employee benefit payments. These charges are expected to include approximately $45- $50 million of cash expenditures, of which approximately $40- $45 million will be paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and the first quarter of fiscal 2021, with the remainder being paid between the second half of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2023.
Forward-Looking Statements
This current report on Form 8-K 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. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “will,” “likely,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timing and scope of the Plan, the amount and timing of the related charges and cash expenditures; the intended objectives of the Plan; and the expected cost savings resulting from the Plan. Many factors could affect the actual results of the Plan, and variances from the Company’s current expectations regarding such factors could cause actual results of the Plan to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. These include, among other things, (i) the preliminary nature of the Company’s estimates of the charges and cash expenditures to be incurred in connection with the Plan, which are subject to change as the Company makes decisions and refines these estimates over time; (ii) timing delays in implementing the Plan because of legal requirements or communication delays as a result of stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and (iii) potential disruption to the Company’s business and operations as it implements the Plan. A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is included in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to revise or update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.