KORN FERRY

April 30, 2026

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Korn Ferry, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a global consulting firm that powers individual and business performance. The impact the Company creates spans entire organizations, but it always starts with people. Korn Ferry works across the full organization—from strategy and leadership to hiring, development, rewards, and the roles, skills and workforce models needed for the future. While many firms address individual parts of that system, Korn Ferry looks across and connects them. By aligning leaders, teams and organizations around a common definition of success, Korn Ferry helps organizations make better decisions, execute with confidence and achieve stronger outcomes.

Korn Ferry delivers its services through five solution areas, and together, these areas comprise eight reportable segments, supported by a centralized corporate function that helps connect expertise, intelligence, and delivery across the firm, driving alignment, connectivity and scale. Thefive solution areas are the following:

1. Consulting helps clients design and implement the talent strategies, organizational structures, and workforce capabilities and rewards to drive growth. The consulting teams collaborate across Korn Ferry to deliver integrated solutions that support end-to-end transformation—from strategy through execution.

2. Digital develops and manages the technology, data, platform, and AI capabilities that power Talent Suite and help the Company unlock the value of Korn Ferry's Foundational Assets. Working closely with the Solution teams, Digital enables consultants and clients to access and apply Korn Ferry's insights through embedded and subscription-based offerings.

3. Executive Search delivers industry-leading executive recruitment across global markets, powered by decades of expertise and deep industry/sector specialization and Korn Ferry’s own top-tier executive search professionals. The Company helps organizations recruit board-level, C-suite and senior executive talent, using proprietary assessments, leadership benchmarks and deep functional insight to identify leaders who align with strategy, culture and long-term priorities. This solution is managed and reported on a geographic basis and represents four of the Company’s reportable segments (Executive Search North America, Executive Search Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”), Executive Search Asia Pacific ("APAC") and Executive Search Latin America).

4. Professional Search & Interim focuses on scalable, high impact recruiting and interim talent solutions at the professional level that offer flexibility and speed in dynamic business environments. Korn Ferry helps clients rapidly place permanent professionals and senior/professional interim leaders across business-critical functions such as Finance and Accounting, IT, HR and Operations.

5. Recruitment Process Outsourcing ("RPO")provides high-volume, outsourced hiring solutions that deliver end-to-end talent acquisition services for enterprise clients. These programs are delivered through global Talent Delivery Centers, using a technology-enabled platform and are designed and managed to align with each client’s business objectives, leveraging Korn Ferry’s IP, data, science and deep talent expertise. Advanced technology and artificial intelligence ("AI")-driven tools are used to enhance the platform to drive scale, efficiency and quality, while offering an engaging experience for candidates throughout the hiring process.

Basis of Consolidation and Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority owned/controlled domestic and international subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the consolidated financial statements conform with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and prevailing practice within the Company's industry.

The Company has control of a Mexican subsidiary and consolidates the operations of this subsidiary. Noncontrolling interest, which represents the Mexican partners’51% interest in the Mexican subsidiary, is reflected on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the consolidated financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosures.

Use of Estimates and Uncertainties

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates, and changes in estimates are reported in current operations as new information is learned or upon the amounts becoming fixed or determinable.

Revenue Recognition

Substantially all fee revenue is derived from talent and organizational consulting services and digital sales, stand-alone or as part of a solution, fees for professional services related to executive and professional recruitment performed on a retained basis, interim services and RPO.

Revenue is recognized when control of the goods and services is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods and services. Revenue contracts with customers are evaluated based on the five-step model outlined in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 (“ASC 606”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers: 1) identify the contract with a customer; 2) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; 3) determine the transaction price; 4) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligation(s); and 5) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied.

Consulting fee revenue is primarily recognized as services are rendered, measured by total hours incurred as a percentage of the total estimated hours at completion. It is possible that updated estimates for consulting engagements may vary from initial estimates with such updates being recognized in the period of determination. Depending on the timing of billings and services rendered, the Company accrues or defers revenue as appropriate.

Digital fee revenue is generated from IP-based software products enabling large-scale talent programs for pay, talent development, engagement, and assessment and is consumed directly by an end user or indirectly through a consulting engagement. Revenue is recognized as services are delivered and the Company has a legally enforceable right to payment. Revenue also comes from the sale of the Company’s product subscriptions, which are considered symbolic IP due to the dynamic nature of the content. As a result, revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. Functional IP licenses grant customers the right to use IP content via the delivery of a flat file. Because the IP content license has significant stand-alone functionality, revenue is recognized upon delivery and when an enforceable right to payment exists.

Fee revenue from executive and professional search activities is generally one-third of the estimated first-year cash compensation of the placed candidate, plus a percentage of the fee to cover indirect engagement-related expenses. In addition to the search retainer, an uptick fee is billed when the actual compensation awarded by the client for a placement is higher than the estimated compensation. In the aggregate, upticks have been a relatively consistent percentage of the original estimated fee; therefore, the Company estimates upticks using the expected value method based on historical data on a portfolio basis. In a standard search engagement, there isone performance obligation, which is the promise to undertake a search. The Company generally recognizes such revenue over the course of a search and when it is legally entitled to payment as outlined in the billing terms of the contract. Any revenues associated with services that are provided on a contingent basis are recognized once the contingency is resolved, as this is when control is transferred to the customer. These assumptions determine the timing of revenue recognition for the reported period. In addition to talent acquisition for permanent placement roles, the Professional Search & Interim segment also offers recruitment services for interim roles. Interim roles are short-term in duration, generally less than 12 months. Generally, each interim role is a separate performance obligation. The Company recognizes fee revenue over the duration that the interim resources’ services are provided which also aligns to the contracted invoicing plan and enforceable right to payment.

RPO fee revenue is generated throughtwo distinct phases: 1) the implementation phase and 2) the post-implementation recruitment phase. The fees associated with the implementation phase are recognized over the period that the related implementation services are provided. The post-implementation recruitment phase represents end-to-end recruiting services to clients for which there are both fixed and variable fees, which are recognized over the period that the related recruiting services are performed.

Reimbursements

The Company incurs certain out-of-pocket expenses that are reimbursed by its clients, which are accounted for as revenue in the consolidated statements of income.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

An allowance is established for doubtful accounts by taking a charge to general and administrative expenses. The Company’s expected credit loss allowance methodology for accounts receivable is developed using historical collection experience, current and future economic and market conditions and a review of the current status of customers’ trade accounts receivable. Due to the short-term nature of such receivables, the estimate of the amount of accounts receivable that may not be collected is primarily based on historical loss-rate experience. When required, the Company adjusts the loss-rate methodology to account for current conditions and reasonable and supportable expectations of future economic and market conditions. The Company generally assesses future economic conditions for a period of sixty to ninety days, which corresponds with the contractual life of its accounts receivable. After the Company exhausts its collection efforts, the amount of the allowance is reduced for balances written off as uncollectible.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company’s investments in cash equivalents consisted of money market funds and as of April 30, 2025 also consisted of commercial paper with initial maturity of less than 90 days for which market prices are readily available. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts that exceed federally insured FDIC limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Marketable Securities

The Company currently has investments in marketable securities and mutual funds that are classified as either equity securities or available-for-sale debt securities. The classification of the investments in these marketable securities and mutual funds is assessed upon purchase and reassessed at each reporting period. These investments are recorded at fair value and are classified as marketable securities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The investments that the Company may sell within the next 12 months are carried as current assets.

The Company invests in mutual funds (for which market prices are readily available) that are held in trust to satisfy obligations under the Company’s deferred compensation plans. Such investments are classified as equity securities and mirror the employees’ investment elections in their deemed accounts in the Executive Capital Accumulation Plan and similar plans in Asia Pacific and Canada (collectively, “ECAP”) from a pre-determined set of securities. Realized gains (losses) on marketable securities are determined by specific identification. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis; dividends are recorded as earned on the ex-dividend date. Interest, dividend income and the changes in fair value in marketable securities are recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in other income, net.

The Company also invests cash in excess of its daily operating requirements and capital needs primarily in marketable fixed income (debt) securities in accordance with the Company’s investment policy, which restricts the type of investments that can be made. The Company’s investment portfolio includes commercial paper, corporate notes/bonds and U.S. Treasury and Agency securities. These marketable fixed income (debt) securities are classified as available-for-sale securities based on management’s decision, at the date such securities are acquired, not to hold these securities to maturity or actively trade them. The Company carries these marketable debt securities at fair value based on the market prices for these marketable debt securities or similar debt securities whose prices are readily available. The changes in fair values, net of applicable taxes, are recorded as unrealized gains or losses as a component of comprehensive income unless the change is due to credit loss. A credit loss is recorded in the consolidated statements of income in other income, net; any amount in excess of the credit loss is recorded as unrealized losses as a component of comprehensive income. Generally, the amount of the loss is the difference between the cost or amortized cost and its then current fair value; a credit loss is the difference between the discounted expected future cash flows to be collected from the debt security and the cost or amortized cost of the debt security. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, no amount was recognized as a credit loss for the Company’s available-for-sale debt securities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price the Company would receive to sell an asset or transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants. For those assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value, the Company determines the fair value based upon the quoted market price, if available. If a quoted market price is not available for identical assets, the fair value is based upon the quoted market price of similar assets. The fair values are assigned a level within the fair value hierarchy as defined below:

▪Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

▪Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

▪Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included cash equivalents, accounts receivable, marketable securities and foreign currency forward contracts. The carrying amount of cash equivalents and accounts receivable approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair values of marketable securities classified as equity securities are obtained from quoted market prices, and the fair values of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale and foreign currency forward contracts are obtained from a third party, which are based on quoted prices or market prices for similar assets and financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts Not Designated as Hedges

The Company has established a program that primarily utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to offset the risks associated with the effects of certain foreign currency exposures primarily originating from intercompany balances due to cross border work performed in the ordinary course of business. These foreign currency forward contracts are neither used for trading purposes nor are they designated as hedging instruments pursuant to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Accordingly, the fair value of these contracts is recorded as of the end of the reporting period in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, while the change in fair value is recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Business Acquisitions

Business acquisitions are accounted for under the acquisition method. The acquisition method requires the reporting entity to identify the acquirer, determine the acquisition date, recognize and measure the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity, and recognize and measure goodwill or a gain from the purchase. The acquiree’s results are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their fair values and the excess of the purchase price over the amounts recognized is recorded as goodwill, or if the fair value of the assets acquired exceeds the purchase price consideration, a bargain purchase gain is recorded. Among other things, goodwill arises because the purchase prices for businesses acquired reflect a number of factors including the future earnings and cash flow potential of the businesses, the multiple to earnings, cash flow and other factors at which similar businesses have been purchased by other acquirers, the competitive nature of the processes by which the Company acquired the businesses, avoidance of the time and costs which would be required (and the associated risks that would be encountered) to enhance the Company's existing product offerings to key target markets and enter into new and profitable businesses and the complementary strategic fit and resulting synergies these businesses bring to existing operations. Adjustments to fair value assessments that existed about the assets and liabilities at the acquisition date are generally recorded as a purchase price adjustment to goodwill over the measurement period (not longer than 12 months). The acquisition method also requires that acquisition-related transaction and post-acquisition restructuring costs be charged to expense as incurred and requires the Company to recognize and measure at fair value identifiable assets and liabilities including those arising from contingencies and contingent consideration in a business combination.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and current and non-current operating lease liability, in the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, net, other accrued liabilities and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and the lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term on the commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, with variable lease payments recognized in the periods in which they are incurred.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. For all leases with non-lease components the Company accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset, or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Software development costs incurred for internal use projects are capitalized and once placed in service, amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life, generally three to 10 years. All other property and equipment is depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives ofthree to 10 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include property, equipment, ROU assets and software developed or obtained for internal use. Management reviews the Company’s recorded long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. Events relating to recoverability may include significant unfavorable changes in business conditions, recurring losses, or a forecasted inability to achieve break-even operating results over an extended period. The Company determines the extent to which an asset may be impaired based upon its expectation of the asset’s future usability, as well as on a reasonable assurance that the future cash flows associated with the asset will be in excess of its carrying amount. If the total of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, a loss is recognized for the difference between fair value and the carrying value of the asset.

During fiscal 2025 and 2024, the Company reduced its real estate footprint and as a result, the Company recognized an impairment charge of the ROU assets of $2.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and an impairment of leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in general and administrative expenses. During fiscal 2025 and 2024, the Company also recognized a software impairment charge in the Digital segment of $0.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, which was recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in general administrative expenses. There wereno impairments of long-lived assets recorded during fiscal 2026.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. Results of the annual qualitative test performed as of February 1, 2026, indicated that the fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded its carrying value and no indicators of impairment were identified. As a result, no impairment charge was recognized. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, there wereno indicators of potential impairment with respect to the Company's goodwill that would require further testing for impairment.

Intangible assets primarily consist of customer lists, non-compete agreements, proprietary databases and IP. Intangible assets are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition and are amortized in a pattern in which the asset is consumed if that pattern can be reliably determined, or using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range fromone to 24 years. For intangible assets subject to amortization, an impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the intangible assets is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. The carrying amount of the intangible assets is considered not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from use of the asset. The Company reviewed its intangible assets and didnot identify any indicators of impairment as of April 30, 2026, 2025 and 2024.

Compensation and Benefits Expense

Compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income consist of compensation and benefits paid to consultants (employees who originate business), executive officers and administrative and support personnel. The most significant portions of this expense are salaries and the amounts paid under the annual performance-related bonus plan to employees. The portion of the expense applicable to salaries is comprised of amounts earned by employees during a reporting period. The portion of the expenses applicable to annual performance-related bonuses refers to the Company’s annual employee performance-related bonus with respect to a fiscal year, the amount of which is communicated and paid to each eligible employee following the completion of the fiscal year.

At the end of each fiscal year, annual performance-related bonuses take into account final individual consultant productivity (including referred work), Company/solution results, including profitability, the achievement of strategic objectives, the results of individual performance appraisals, competitive forces and the current and future economic conditions. Accordingly, each quarter the Company reevaluates the assumptions used to estimate annual performance-related bonus liability and adjusts the carrying amount of the liability recorded on the consolidated balance sheet and reports any changes in the estimate in current operations.

Because annual performance-based bonuses are communicated and paid only after the Company reports its full fiscal year results, actual performance-based bonus payments may differ from the prior year’s estimate. Such changes in the bonus estimate historically have not been significant. The performance-related bonus expense was $433.8 million, $400.2 million and $390.0 million for the years ended April 30, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively, included in compensation and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Other expenses included in compensation and benefits expense are due to changes in deferred compensation and pension plan liabilities, changes in cash surrender value (“CSV”) of company-owned life insurance (“COLI”) contracts, amortization of stock-based compensation awards, commissions, payroll taxes and employee insurance benefits. Unearned compensation on the consolidated balance sheets includes long-term retention awards that are generally amortized over four-to-five years.

The Company estimates the present value of the future benefits payable under the deferred compensation and pension plans as of the estimated payment commencement date. The Company also estimates the remaining number of years a participant will be employed by the Company. Then, each year during the period of estimated employment, the Company accrues a liability and recognizes expense for a portion of the future benefit using the unit credit cost method for the Senior Executive Incentive Plan (“SEIP”), Wealth Accumulation Plan (“WAP”), Enhanced Wealth Accumulation Plan (“EWAP”) and Worldwide Executive Benefit Plan (“WEB”) and the pension plan acquired under Hay Group, while the medical and life insurance plan and Long Term Performance Unit Plan (“LTPU Plan”) uses the projected unit credit cost method. The amounts charged to operations are made up of service and interest costs and the expected return on plan assets. Actuarial gains and losses are initially recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The actuarial gains/losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are amortized to the consolidated statements of income, if at the beginning of the year, the amount exceeds 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation and market-related plan assets. The amortization included in periodic benefit cost is divided by the average remaining service of inactive plan participants, or the period for which benefits will be paid, if shorter. The expected return on plan assets takes into account the current fair value of plan assets and reflects the Company’s estimate for trust asset returns given the current asset allocation and any expected changes to the asset allocation and current and future market conditions.

In calculating the accrual for future benefit payments, management has made assumptions regarding employee turnover, participant vesting, violation of non-competition provisions and the discount rate. Management periodically reevaluates all assumptions. If assumptions change in future reporting periods, the changes may impact the measurement and recognition of benefit liabilities and related compensation expense.

Executive Capital Accumulation Plan

The Company, under the ECAP, makes discretionary contributions and such contributions may be granted to key employees annually based on the employee’s performance. Certain key management may also receive Company contributions upon commencement of employment. The Company amortizes these contributions on a straight-line basis as they vest, generally over afive-year period. The amounts that are expected to be paid to employees over the next 12 months are classified as a current liability included in compensation and benefits payable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The ECAP is accounted for whereby the changes in the fair value of the vested amounts owed to the participants are adjusted with a corresponding charge (or credit) to compensation and benefits costs.

Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance

The Company purchased COLI policies or contracts insuring the lives of certain employees eligible to participate in certain of the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of funding benefits under such plans. The Company purchased both fixed and variable life insurance contracts and does not purchase “split-dollar” life insurance policy contracts. The CSV of these COLI contracts are carried at the amounts that would be realized if the contract were surrendered at the balance sheet date, net of the outstanding loans from the insurer. The Company has the intention and ability to continue to hold these COLI policies and contracts. Additionally, the loans secured by the policies do not have any scheduled payment terms and the Company also does not intend to repay the loans outstanding on these policies until death benefits under the policy have been realized. Accordingly, the investment in COLI is classified as long-term in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The change in the CSV of COLI contracts, net of insurance premiums paid and gains realized, is reported net in compensation and benefits expense. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company held contracts with net CSV of $289.1 million and $252.6 million, respectively. If the issuing insurance companies were to become insolvent,45% of the net CSV would be subject to credit risk as the Company would be considered a general creditor. Management, together with its outside advisors, routinely monitors the claims paying abilities of these insurance companies.

Restructuring Charges, Net

The Company accounts for its restructuring charges as a liability when the obligations are incurred and records such charges at fair value. Changes in the estimates of the restructuring charges are recorded in the period the change is determined.

Earnings Per Share

The Company treats unvested share-based payment awards that have non-forfeitable rights to dividends prior to vesting as a separate class of securities in calculating earnings per share. The Company has granted and expects to continue to grant to certain employees under its restricted stock agreements, grants that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends. Such grants are considered participating securities. Therefore, the Company is required to apply the two-class method in calculating earnings per share. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The dilutive effect of participating securities is calculated using the more dilutive of the treasury method or the two-class method.

Basic earnings per common share was computed using the two-class method by dividing basic net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share was computed using the two-class method by dividing diluted net earnings attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus dilutive common equivalent shares. Dilutive common equivalent shares include all in-the-money outstanding options or other contracts to issue common stock as if they were exercised or converted. Financial instruments that are not in the form of common stock, but when converted into common stock increase earnings per share, are anti-dilutive and are not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has employee compensation plans under which various types of stock-based instruments are granted. These instruments principally include restricted stock units, restricted stock and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The Company recognizes compensation expense related to restricted stock units, restricted stock and the estimated fair value of stock purchases under the ESPP on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Generally, financial results of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured in their local currencies. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenue and expenses are translated using the daily exchange rates during the fiscal year. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in general and administrative expenses in the period incurred. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded foreign currency losses of $4.2 million, $2.8 million and $4.5 million respectively, in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

Income Taxes

There are two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense (benefit) approximates taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period. Deferred income tax expense (benefit) results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. These gross deferred tax assets and liabilities represent decreases or increases in taxes expected to be paid in the future because of future reversals of temporary differences in the basis of assets and liabilities as measured by tax laws and their basis as reported in the consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for tax attributes such as net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented net on the consolidated balance sheets by tax jurisdiction. Valuation allowances are then recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts management concludes are more likely than not to be realized.

Income tax benefits are recognized and measured based upon a two-step model: (1) a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits in order to be recognized and (2) the benefit is measured as the largest dollar amount of that position that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized for a position and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. The Company records income tax-related interest and penalties within income tax expense.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, investments, foreign currency forward contracts, receivables due from clients and net CSV due from insurance companies, which are discussed above. Cash equivalents include investments in money market securities and may include commercial papers and U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, while investments include mutual funds, commercial papers, corporate notes/bonds and U.S. Treasury and Agency securities. Investments are diversified throughout many industries and geographic regions. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in bank accounts that exceed federally insured FDIC limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company conducts periodic reviews of its customers’ financial condition and customer payment practices to minimize collection risk on accounts receivable. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company had no other significant credit concentrations.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred, except for certain sponsorship arrangements which are capitalized and amortized over the period in which the related economic benefits are expected to be realized. Advertising costs to be expensed within one year are included in prepaid expenses and other assets, while advertising costs anticipated to be expensed beyond one year are included in investments and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Included in general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of income were advertising expense of $31.5 million, $25.9 million and $23.9 million in fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to the accounting standard update for income taxes disclosures ("ASU 2023-09"). The new amendment provides improvements to annual income tax disclosures by requiring specific categories in the rate reconciliation and disaggregated information for income taxes paid. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and can be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company adopted this guidance on a prospective basis in fiscal 2026 and it did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Standards - Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the FASB issued an accounting update that requires public companies to disclose, in the notes to financial statements, specified information about certain costs and expenses at each interim and annual reporting period. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The Company will adopt this guidance in fiscal 2028 and in the interim periods beginning in fiscal 2029. The adoption of this guidance is not anticipated to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In July 2025, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting update for measurement of credit losses for accounts receivable and contract assets. The amendment provides an accounting policy election when estimating expected credit losses for current accounts receivable and current contract assets arising from transactions accounted for under ASC 606. The amendment will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted in both interim and annual reporting periods in which the financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company will adopt this guidance in the interim periods beginning in fiscal 2027. The adoption of this guidance is not anticipated to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting update for internal-use software. The new amendment removes all references to prescriptive and sequential software development stages and requires the Company to start capitalizing software costs when 1) management has authorized and committed to funding the software project and 2) it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. The amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting guidance on the consolidated financial statements.

2. Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The following table summarizes basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders:

During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, restricted stock awards of 0.6 million shares,0.7 million shares and 1.0 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because they were anti-dilutive.

3. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and all changes to stockholders’ equity, except those changes resulting from investments by stockholders (changes in paid-in capital) and distributions to stockholders (dividends) and is reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, is recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity.

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net were as follows:

The following table summarizes the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net:

(1)The tax effects on unrealized gains (losses) were $0.3 million, $(0.3) million and $1.3 million as of April 30, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The tax effects on reclassifications of realized net (gains) losses were $(0.1) million and $0.1 million as of April 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

(2)The tax effects on unrealized gains was $0.1 million as of April 30, 2024.

4. Employee Stock Plans

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:

Stock Incentive Plan

At the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on September 25, 2024, the Company's stockholders approved the Korn Ferry Amended and Restated 2022 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which among other things, increased the total number of shares of the Company's common stock available for stock-based awards by 1,900,000 shares, leaving 2,848,558 shares available for issuance and extended the term of the Plan to September 25, 2034. The Plan requires a minimumone-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 may be 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 afour-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 thethree-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:

As of April 30, 2026, there were 0.8 million shares outstanding relating to market-based restricted stock units with total unrecognized compensation totaling $26.6 million.

As of April 30, 2026, there was $77.7 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 2.3 years. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024,261,325 shares of restricted stock totaling $19.2 million,262,930 shares of restricted stock totaling $17.4 million, and 212,204 shares of restricted stock totaling $10.7 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. According to the plan 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. 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 2026, 2025, and 2024, employees purchased 119,512 shares at an average price of $62.89 per share,129,940 shares at an average price of $60.56 per share and 173,671 shares at an average price of $48.06 per share, respectively. As of April 30, 2026, the ESPP had approximately 1.4 million shares remaining available for future issuance.

Common Stock

During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, the Company repurchased (on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions)1,790,225 shares of the Company’s common stock for $116.1 million,1,276,500 shares for $88.9 million and 930,000 shares for $52.5 million, respectively.

Cash Dividends

The following table shows the Company's cash dividend declared per share for the periods indicated:

5. Financial Instruments

The following tables show the Company’s financial instruments and balance sheet classification as of April 30, 2026 and 2025:

(1)These investments are held in trust for settlement of the Company’s vested obligations of $222.1 million and $205.3 million as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, under the ECAP (see Note 6 — Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans). Unvested obligations under the deferred compensation plans totaled $18.9 million and $19.5 million as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024 the fair value of the investments increased; therefore, the Company recognized income of $31.9 million, $17.1 million and $29.8 million respectively, which was recorded in other income, net.

Investments in marketable securities classified as available-for-sale securities are made based on the Company’s investment policy, which restricts the types of investments that can be made. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025 marketable securities classified as available-for-sale consisted of commercial paper, corporate notes/bonds, and U.S. Treasury and Agency securities, for which market prices for similar assets are readily available. Investments that have an original maturity of 90 days or less and are considered highly liquid investments are classified as cash equivalents. As of April 30, 2026, available-for-sale marketable securities had remaining maturities ranging from less than 1 month to 24 months. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, there were $31.4 million, $32.7 million and $38.1 million in sales/maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities, respectively. Investments in marketable securities that are held in trust for settlement of the Company’s vested obligations under the ECAP are equity securities and are based upon the investment selections the employee elects from a pre-determined set of securities in the ECAP and the Company invests in equity securities to mirror these elections. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company’s investments in equity securities consisted of mutual funds for which market prices are readily available. Unrealized gains that relate to equity securities still held as of April 30, 2026, 2025 and 2024 were $14.6 million, $1.3 million and $25.1 million, respectively.

6. Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans

The Company has several deferred compensation and retirement plans for eligible consultants and vice presidents that provide defined benefits to participants based on the deferral of current compensation or contributions made by the Company subject to vesting and retirement or termination provisions.

The total benefit obligations for these plans were as follows:

(1)Current portion of benefit obligation is included in Compensation and benefits payable in the consolidated balance sheet.

The EWAP was established in fiscal 1994, which replaced the WAP. Certain vice presidents elected to participate in a “deferral unit” that required the participant to contribute a portion of their compensation for aneight year period, or in some cases, make an after-tax contribution, in return for defined benefit payments from the Company over afifteen year period at retirement age of 65 or later. Participants were able to acquire additional “deferral units” every five years. Vice presidents who did not choose to roll over their WAP units into the EWAP continue to be covered under the earlier version in which participants generally vest and commence receipt of benefit payments at retirement age of 65. In June 2003, the Company amended the EWAP and WAP, so as not to allow new participants or the purchase of additional deferral units by existing participants.

In conjunction with the acquisition of Hay Group, the Company acquired multiple pension and savings plans covering certain of its employees worldwide. Among these plans is a defined benefit pension plan for certain employees in the U.S. The assets of this plan are held separately from the assets of the sponsors in self-administered funds.

On July 8, 2016, the Company established the LTPU Plan in order to promote the success of the Company by providing a select group of management and highly compensated employees with nonqualified supplemental retirement benefits as an additional means to attract, motivate and retain such employees. A unit award has a base value of either $25,000 or $50,000 for the purpose of determining the payment that would be made upon early termination for a partially vested unit award. The units vest 25% on each anniversary date with the unit becoming fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued service as of each anniversary date. Each vested unit award will pay out an annual benefit of either $10,000, $12,500 or $25,000 for each offive years commencing on the seventh anniversary of the grant date.

The following tables reconcile the benefit obligation for the deferred compensation and pension plans:

(1)The Company purchased COLI contracts insuring the lives of certain employees eligible to participate in the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of funding benefits under such plans. As the COLI contracts are held in trust and are not separated from the Company's general corporate assets, they are not included in the funded status. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company held contracts with gross CSV of $361.2 million and $325.5 million, offset by outstanding policy loans of $72.2 million and $72.8 million, respectively.

The pension obligation in fiscal 2026 increased compared to fiscal 2025 due to the ongoing accruals for the LTPU Plan for additional awards issued in fiscal 2026.

The fair value measurements of the defined benefit plan assets fall within the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of April 30, 2026 and 2025:

Plan assets are invested in various asset classes that are expected to produce a sufficient level of diversification and investment return over the long term. The investment goal is a return on assets that is at least equal to the assumed actuarial rate of return over the long term within reasonable and prudent levels of risk. Investment policies reflect the unique circumstances of the respective plans and include requirements designed to mitigate risk including quality and diversification standards. Asset allocation targets are reviewed periodically with investment advisors to determine the appropriate investment strategies for acceptable risk levels. The Company's target allocation ranges are as follows: equity securities 40% to 60% and debt securities 40% to 60%. Korn Ferry establishes its estimated long‑term return on plan assets considering various factors, including the targeted asset allocation percentages, historic returns and expected future returns.

The components of net periodic benefits costs are as follows:

(1)The service cost, interest cost and other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in compensation and benefits expense, interest expense, net and other income, net, respectively, on the consolidated statements of income.

The weighted-average assumptions used in calculating the benefit obligations were as follows:

Benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid over the next ten years as follows:

Medical and Life Insurance Plan

In conjunction with the acquisition of Hay Group, the Company inherited a benefit plan which offers medical and life insurance coverage to 87 retired participants. The medical and life insurance benefit plan is closed to new entrants and is unfunded.

The following table reconciles the benefit obligation for the medical and life insurance plan:

The components of net periodic benefits costs are as follows:

(1)The interest cost and the other components of net periodic benefit costs are included in interest expense, net and other income, net, respectively, on the consolidated statements of income.

The weighted-average assumptions used in calculating the medical and life insurance plan were as follows:

Benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid over the next ten years as follows:

International Retirement Plans

The Company also maintains various retirement plans and other miscellaneous deferred compensation arrangements in 25 foreign jurisdictions. The aggregate of the long-term benefit obligation accrued at April 30, 2026 and 2025 is $11.6 million for 3,823 participants and $13.3 million for 3,879 participants, respectively. The Company’s contribution to these plans was $16.9 million and $16.7 million in fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Executive Capital Accumulation Plan

The Company’s ECAP is intended to provide certain employees an opportunity to defer their salary and/or bonus on a pre-tax basis. In addition, the Company, as part of its compensation philosophy, makes discretionary contributions into the ECAP and such contributions may be granted to key employees annually based on the employee’s performance. Certain key members of management may also receive Company ECAP contributions upon commencement of employment. The Company amortizes these contributions on a straight-line basis over the service period, generally afive-year period. Participants have the ability to allocate their deferrals among a number of investment options and may receive their benefits at termination, retirement or ‘in service’ either in a lump sum or in quarterly installments overone-to-15 years. The ECAP amounts that are expected to be paid to employees over the next 12 months are classified as a current liability included in compensation and benefits payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company issued ECAP awards during fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024 of $5.3 million, $4.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively.

The ECAP is accounted for whereby the changes in the fair value of the vested amounts owed to the participants are adjusted with a corresponding charge (or credit) to compensation and benefits costs. During fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, the deferred compensation liability increased; therefore, the Company recognized a compensation expense of $31.1 million, $16.6 million and $29.5 million, respectively. Offsetting the increase in compensation and benefits expense in fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024 was an increase in the fair value of marketable securities (held in trust to satisfy obligations of the ECAP liabilities) of $31.9 million, $17.1 million and $29.8 million in fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively, recorded in other income, net on the consolidated statements of income.

Changes in ECAP liability were as follows:

As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the unamortized portion of the Company contributions to the ECAP was $13.8 million and $14.2 million, respectively.

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company has a defined contribution plan (“401(k) plan”) for eligible employees. Participants may contribute up to 50% of their base compensation as defined in the plan agreement. In addition, the Company has the option to make matching contributions. The Company matches 10% of the employee contributions each pay period up to the IRS limit (excluding catch-up contributions) and then makes an additional discretionary match after the fiscal year. The Company made $3.4 million in matching contributions during fiscal 2026. In addition, the Company intends to make an additional matching contribution relating to fiscal 2026 of $2.9 million in fiscal 2027, which are accrued in compensation and benefits payable on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company made $3.4 million in matching contributions during fiscal 2025 and an additional $2.7 million in matching contributions in fiscal 2026 related to contributions made by employees in fiscal 2025. The Company made $3.5 million in matching contributions during fiscal 2024 and an additional $2.4 million in matching contributions in fiscal 2025 related to contributions made by employees in fiscal 2024.

Company Owned Life Insurance

The Company purchased COLI contracts insuring the lives of certain employees eligible to participate in the deferred compensation and pension plans as a means of setting aside funds to cover such plans. The gross CSV of these contracts of $361.2 million and $325.5 million as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, is offset by outstanding policy loans of $72.2 million and $72.8 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Total death benefits payable, net of loans under COLI contracts, were $604.6 million and $592.8 million at April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Management intends to use the future death benefits from these insurance contracts to fund the deferred compensation and pension arrangements; however, there may not be a direct correlation between the timing of the future cash receipts and disbursements under these arrangements. The CSV of the underlying COLI investments increased by $11.6 million, $11.6 million and $8.8 million during fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and was recorded as a decrease in compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Certain of the policies are held in trusts to provide additional benefit security for the deferred compensation and pension plans. As of April 30, 2026, COLI contracts with a net CSV of $251.5 million and death benefits, net of loans, of $543.1 million were held in trust for these purposes.

7. Fee Revenue

Contract Balances

A contract asset (unbilled receivables) is recorded when the Company transfers control of products or services before there is an unconditional right to payment. A contract liability (deferred revenue) is recorded when cash is received in advance of performance of the obligation. Deferred revenue represents the future performance obligations to transfer control of products or services for which the Company has already received consideration. Deferred revenue is presented in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table outlines the Company’scontract asset and liability balances as of April 30, 2026 and 2025:

During fiscal 2026, 2025, and 2024 the Company recognized revenue of $188.3 million, $184.9 million and $195.2 million, respectively, that were included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the period.

Performance Obligations

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to exclude the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with a duration of one year or less, which applies to all executive search, professional search and to most of the fee revenue from the interim business. As of April 30, 2026, the aggregate transaction price allocated to the performance obligations that are unsatisfied for contracts with an expected duration of greater than one year at inception was $1,287.7 million. Of the $1,287.7 million of remaining performance obligations, the Company expects to recognize approximately $610.7 million in fiscal 2027, $394.0 million in fiscal 2028, $149.5 million in fiscal 2029 and the remaining $133.5 million in fiscal 2030 and thereafter. However, this amount should not be considered an indication of the Company’s future revenue as contracts with an initial term of one year or less are not included. Further, the Company's contract terms and conditions allow clients to increase or decrease the scope of services and such changes do not increase or decrease a performance obligation until the Company has an enforceable right to payment.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company disaggregates its revenue by solution area and further by region for Executive Search. This information is presented in Note 12—Segments.

The following table provides further disaggregation of fee revenue by industry:

8. Credit Losses

The activity in the allowance for credit losses on the Company's trade receivables is as follows:

The fair value and unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities, aggregated by investment category and the length of time the security has been in an unrealized loss position as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, are as follows:

The Company only purchases high grade bonds that have a maturity from the date of purchase of no more thantwo years. The Company monitors the creditworthiness of its investments on a quarterly basis. The Company does not intend to sell the investments and does not believe it will be required to sell the investments before the investments mature and therefore recover the amortized cost basis.

9. Income Taxes

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes was as follows:

The provision for domestic and foreign income taxes was as follows:

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective consolidated tax rate is as follows:

(1)For the year ended April 30, 2026, no single state or local jurisdiction accounted for more than 5% of the total income tax expense. The Company's state tax expense is primarily attributable to operations in Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and New York City, which combined for more than 50% of this category, but none of which individually exceeded 5% of the total income tax expense.

(2)No individual foreign jurisdiction exceeded 5% of total income tax expense for fiscal 2026, either in aggregate or for any individual category of reconciling items.

(3)Reconciling items that are individually less than 5% of the total income tax expense.

The reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective consolidated tax rate is as follows for the years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09:

Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management believes uncertainty exists regarding the realizability of certain deferred tax assets and has, therefore, established a valuation allowance offsetting deferred tax assets that are not more-likely-than-not to be realized. Realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent on the Company generating enough taxable income of the appropriate nature in future years. Although realization is not assured, management believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. In fiscal 2026, the Company’s valuation allowance increased by $0.6 million primarily due to management's conclusion that deferred tax assets in certain jurisdictions, including net operating losses, were not more-likely-than-not to be realized. In fiscal 2025, the Company’s valuation allowance decreased by $3.0 million primarily due to the releases of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, including net operating loss carryforwards, in certain foreign jurisdictions that were more-likely-than-not to be realized. In fiscal 2024, the Company's valuation allowance decreased by $12.7 million, primarily due to the release of a $9.7 million valuation allowance as a result of actions taken in connection with the global minimum tax, and other releases of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, primarily net operating loss carryforwards, in certain foreign jurisdictions that were more-likely-than-not to be realized. Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are presented net on the consolidated balance sheets by tax jurisdiction.

The global minimum tax, which is also known as Pillar Two under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and was first applicable to Korn Ferry in fiscal 2025, did not have a material impact on the Company’s tax provision.

As of April 30, 2026, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $0.4 million, which if unutilized, will begin to expire in fiscal 2036. The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards of $17.1 million, which, if unutilized, will begin to expire in fiscal 2031. The Company also has foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $73.9 million, which, if unutilized, will begin to expire in fiscal 2027.

The Company continues to consider undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested, and accordingly, has not provided deferred taxes on such earnings. While the Company does not anticipate the need to repatriate funds to the U.S. to satisfy domestic liquidity needs, it reviews cash positions regularly and, to the extent that it determines that all or a portion of foreign earnings are not indefinitely reinvested, the Company will record a deferred tax liability. The determination of the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to such undistributed earnings is not practicable.

The Company elected to treat taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income as an expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) as opposed to factoring such amounts in the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”).

The Company and its subsidiaries file federal and state income tax returns in the U.S. as well as in foreign jurisdictions. These income tax returns are subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and various state and foreign tax authorities. Currently, income tax returns of the Company’s subsidiaries are under audit in Germany, Saudi Arabia, India, United Kingdom and United States. The Company’s income tax returns are not otherwise under examination in any material jurisdiction. The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction in which the Company operates. With few exceptions, however, the Company’s tax returns for years prior to fiscal 2019 are no longer open to examination by tax authorities (including U.S. federal, state and foreign).

Unrecognized tax benefits are the differences between the amount of benefits of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on a tax return and the amount of benefits recognized for financial reporting purposes. As of April 30, 2026, the Company had a liability of $13.0 million for unrecognized tax benefits.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

As of April 30, 2026, the Company had $13.0 million of unrecognized tax benefits. The full amount of unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective income tax rate if recognized. The Company classifies interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. The Company had accruals of $4.0 million, $2.7 million and $2.1 million for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as of April 30, 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company had an accrual of $0.4 million and $0.4 million as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, for penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognized tax expense of $1.4 million and $0.8 million for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits during fiscal 2026 and 2025, respectively. The Company didnot recognize a tax expense for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits during fiscal 2024.

Cash paid during the year for income taxes, net of refunds, is as follows:

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds, were $106.9 million and $72.1 million for fiscal years 2025 and 2024, respectively.

10. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment include the following:

(1)Depreciation expense for capitalized software was $60.8 million, $41.0 million and $36.5 million during fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Depreciation expense for capitalized software includes $13.8 million of accelerated depreciation associated with the decision to sunset our Digital platform during fiscal 2026. The net book value of the Company’s computer software costs included in property and equipment, net was $162.0 million and $144.0 million as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Depreciation expense for property and equipment was $74.5 million, $55.3 million and $52.4 million during fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

11. Long-Term Debt

4.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027

On December 16, 2019, the Company completed a private placement of 4.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) with a $400.0 million principal amount pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes were issued with a $4.5 million discount and will mature December 15, 2027, with interest payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2020. The Notes represent senior unsecured obligations that rank equally in right of payment to all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Company may redeem the Notes prior to maturity, subject to certain limitations and premiums defined in the indenture governing the Notes. The Company may redeem the Notes at the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Notes allow the Company to pay $25.0 million of dividends per fiscal year with no restrictions, plus an unlimited amount of dividends so long as the Company’s consolidated total leverage ratio is not greater than 3.50 to 1.00, and the Company is not in default under the indenture governing the Notes. The Notes are guaranteed by each of the Company's existing and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries to the extent such subsidiaries guarantee the Company's credit facilities. The indenture governing the Notes requires that, upon the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Decline (each as defined in the indenture), the Company shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes at 101% of their principal amount, and accrued and unpaid interest. The Company used the proceeds from the offering of the Notes to repay $276.9 million outstanding under the Company’s prior revolving credit facility and to pay expenses and fees in connection therewith. The remainder of the proceeds were used for general corporate requirements. The effective interest rate on the Notes was 4.86% as of April 30, 2026. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, the fair value of the Notes was$396.5 million and $389.0 million, respectively, based on borrowing rates then required of notes with similar terms, maturity and credit risk. The fair value of the Notes was classified as a Level 2 measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

Long-term debt, at amortized cost, consisted of the following:

Credit Facilities

The Company was party to a credit agreement dated as of December 16, 2019 (as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified, the “Prior Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, National Association as administrative agent and other lenders party thereto. The Prior Credit Agreement provided for a $650.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility maturing June 24, 2027 (the “Prior Facility”).

On July 1, 2025, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent and other lender parties thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for an $850.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility and other revolving commitments, as specified in the Credit Agreement (the “Facility” and together with the Prior Facility, the "Facilities"). The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and those of its subsidiaries that are guarantors under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement replaced the Prior Credit Agreement, and the Company repaid all outstanding obligations under the Prior Credit Agreement, and expenses and fees in connection therewith. Since the borrowing capacity under the new arrangement increased, the previously incurred unamortized and current debt issuance costs will be amortized over the life of the new arrangement.

The principal balance of the Facility, if any, is due at maturity. The Credit Agreement matures on July 1, 2030 and any unpaid principal balance is payable on this date. The Facilities may also be prepaid and terminated early by the Company at any time without premium or penalty (subject to customary breakage fees).

Amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either Term SOFR plus an interest rate margin between 1.125% per annum and 2.00% per annum, depending on the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio, or base rate plus an interest rate margin between 0.125% per annum and 1.00% per annum, depending on the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio. In addition, the Company will be required to pay to the lenders a quarterly commitment fee ranging from 0.175% to 0.30% per annum on the actual daily unused amount of the Facility based upon the Company’s consolidated net leverage ratio at such time, and fees relating to the issuance of letters of credit.

As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, there wereno borrowings outstanding under the Facility or Prior Facility and the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants. The unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the Credit Agreement were $3.6 million as of April 30, 2026 and $2.2 million under the Prior Credit Agreement as of April 30,2025. The debt issuance costs were included in other current assets and other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company had a total of $845.7 million available under the Facility and $645.6 million available under the Prior Credit Agreement as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, after $4.3 million and $4.4 million of standby letters of credit were issued as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The Company had a total of $15.5 million and $13.1 million of standby letters with other financial institutions as of April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The standby letters of credit were generally issued as a result of entering into office premise leases.

The Company has outstanding borrowings against the CSV of COLI contracts of $72.2 million and $72.8 million at April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. CSV reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is net of the outstanding borrowings, which are secured by the CSV of the life insurance policies. Principal payments are not scheduled and interest is payable at least annually at various fixed and variable rates ranging from 4.76% to 8.00%.

12. Segments

The Company haseight reportable segments: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search North America, Executive Search EMEA, Executive Search Asia Pacific, Executive Search Latin America, Professional Search & Interim and RPO.

Executive Search is managed by geographic regional leaders. Worldwide operations for Consulting, Professional Search & Interim and RPO are managed by their Chief Executive Officers while Digital is led by the President of Technology. The Executive Search geographic regional leaders, the Chief Executive Officers of Consulting, Professional Search & Interim and RPO and the President of Technology report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company also operates Corporate to record global expenses.

The Company's chief executive officer is the Company's chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), which evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the review of the Company’s 1) fee revenue and 2) adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”). To the extent that such costs or charges occur, Adjusted EBITDA excludes restructuring charges, integration/acquisition costs, certain separation costs and certain non-cash charges (goodwill, intangible asset, gain on modification of office lease and other impairment charges). The CODM is not provided asset information by reportable segment, because asset information is not used for purposes of evaluating segment performance or allocating resources among segments.

Financial highlights by reportable segments are as follows:

(1)Includes salaries and payroll taxes, employee insurance benefits, commissions, annual performance-related bonus expense, amortization of unearned compensation, stock-based compensation awards, changes in deferred compensation and pension plan liabilities and changes in CSV of COLI contracts. Excludes integration/acquisition costs as they are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

(2)Mainly includes premise and office expense, marketing and business development expense, bad debts, legal and other professional fees and foreign exchange gains/losses. Excludes gain on modification of office lease as it is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

(1)Includes salaries and payroll taxes, employee insurance benefits, commissions, annual performance-related bonus expense, amortization of unearned compensation, stock-based compensation awards, changes in deferred compensation and pension plan liabilities and changes in CSV of COLI contracts. Excludes integration/acquisition costs and management separation charges as they are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

(2)Mainly includes premise and office expense, marketing and business development expense, bad debts, legal and other professional fees and foreign exchange gains/losses. Excludes impairment of right-of-use assets and fixed assets and integration/acquisition costs as they are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

(1)Includes salaries and payroll taxes, employee insurance benefits, commissions, annual performance-related bonus expense, amortization of unearned compensation, stock-based compensation awards, changes in deferred compensation and pension plan liabilities and changes in CSV of COLI contracts. Excludes integration/acquisition costs as they are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

(2)Mainly includes premise and office expense, marketing and business development expense, bad debts, legal and other professional fees and foreign exchange gains/losses. Excludes impairment of right-of use-assets and fixed assets and integration/acquisition costs as they are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA.

Fee revenue attributed to an individual customer or country, other than the U.S. and United Kingdom in fiscal 2026 and 2025, and in the U.S. in fiscal 2024, did not account for more than 10% of the total fee revenue in those fiscal years. Fee revenue classified by country in which the Company derives revenues are as follows:

Depreciation and amortization by reportable segments are as follows:

Other than the U.S. and United Kingdom in fiscal 2026, 2025, and 2024, no single country had over 10% of the total long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments and tax assets. Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments and tax assets, classified by location of the controlling statutory country are as follows:

(1)Includes Corporate long-lived assets.

Change in Reportable Segments in Fiscal 2027

Effective May 1, 2026 for the Company's fiscal year 2027, the Company realigned its organizational structure by geography into three reportable segments: (i) The Americas, (ii) EMEA, and (iii) Asia Pacific. The Company will report financial information for these new reporting segments in fiscal 2027. This change in reporting is to occur beginning with periods commencing May 1, 2026.

13. Restructuring Charges, Net

In fiscal 2024, in light of the challenging macroeconomic business environment arising from persistent inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, on October 23, 2023, the Company initiated a plan (the “Plan”) intended to align its workforce with its current business realities through position eliminations. Due to the implementation of the Plan, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $68.6 million in fiscal 2024 across all segments related to severance for positions that were eliminated. During fiscal 2025, the Company made adjustments to previously recorded restructuring accruals resulting in restructuring charges of $1.9 million. During fiscal 2026, no restructuring charges were recorded.

Changes in the restructuring liability were as follows:

As of April 30, 2026, there isno restructuring liability. As of April 30, 2025, the restructuring liability is included in the current portion of other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Restructuring charges incurred by segment were as follows:

14. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable segment were as follows:

(1)Additions to goodwill in fiscal 2025 were due to $36.9 million from the acquisition of Trilogy International ("Trilogy").

Tax deductible goodwill from acquisitions were as follows:

Intangible assets include the following:

(1)In fiscal 2026, there wereno intangible assets additions. In fiscal 2025, there were intangible assets additions of $6.0 million from the acquisition of Trilogy.

Acquisition-related intangible assets acquired in fiscal 2025 consists of customer relationships and tradenames of $5.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively, with weighted-average useful lives from the date of purchase offive years andtwo years, respectively.

Amortization expense for amortized intangible assets was $24.4 million, $25.0 million and $25.6 million during fiscal 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense related to amortizing intangible assets is as follows:

All amortizable intangible assets will be fully amortized by the end of fiscal 2032.

15. Leases

The Company’s lease portfolio is comprised of operating leases for office space and equipment and finance leases for equipment. Equipment leases are comprised of vehicles and office equipment. The majority of the Company’s leases include both lease and non-lease components. Non-lease components primarily include maintenance, insurance, taxes and other utilities. The Company combines fixed payments for non-lease components with its lease payments and accounts for them as a single lease component, which increases its ROU assets and lease liabilities. Some of the leases include one or more options to renew or terminate the lease at the Company’s discretion. Generally, the renewal and termination options are not included in the ROU assets and lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise. The Company has elected not to recognize a ROU asset or lease liability for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less.

As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The Company applies the portfolio approach when determining the incremental borrowing rate since it has a centrally managed treasury function. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate is estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments in a similar economic environment.

Operating leases contain both office and equipment leases and have remaining terms that range from less thanone year to 11 years, some of which also include options to extend or terminate the lease. Finance leases are comprised of equipment leases and have remaining terms that range from less thanone year tofive years. Finance lease assets are included in property and equipment, net while finance lease liabilities are included in other accrued liabilities and other liabilities.

During fiscal 2026, at the request of a landlord, the Company modified an office lease to shorten the lease term and in return the landlord agreed to pay the Company a fixed cash incentive. As a result of the office lease modification, the Company recorded a $13.9 million gain during fiscal 2026 that was included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. During fiscal 2025 and 2024, the Company reduced its real estate footprint and as a result recorded an impairment charge of the ROU assets of $2.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income.

The components of lease expense were as follows:

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:

16. Acquisition

On November 1, 2024, the Company completed its acquisition of Trilogy for $44.4 million, net of cash acquired and recognized goodwill of $36.9 million. Headquartered in London, Trilogy provides digital interim talent across EMEA and in the United States. Results of operations of Trilogy are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements from November 1, 2024, the effective date of the acquisition in the Professional Search & Interim segment.

17. Commitments and Contingencies

Employment Agreements

The Company has a policy of entering into offer letters of employment or letters of promotion with vice presidents, which provide for an annual base salary and discretionary and incentive bonus payments. Certain key vice presidents who typically have been employed by the Company for several years may also have a standard form employment agreement. Upon termination without cause, the Company is required to pay the amount of severance due under the employment agreement, if any. The Company also requires its vice presidents to agree in their employment letters and their employment agreement, if applicable, not to compete with the Company during the term of their employment and for a certain period after their employment ends.

Litigation

From time to time, the Company has been and is involved in litigation incidental to its business. The Company is currently not a party to any litigation which, if resolved adversely against the Company, would, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

18. Subsequent Event

Quarterly Dividend Declaration

On June 22, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") declared a cash dividend of $0.55 per share with a payment date of July 31, 2026 to holders of the Company’s common stock of record at the close of business on July 6, 2026. The declaration and payment of future dividends under the quarterly dividend policy will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, the terms of the Company’s indebtedness and other factors that the Board may deem to be relevant. The Board may amend, revoke or suspend the dividend policy at any time and for any reason.