Cash and cash equivalents of $244.0 million at March 31, 2024 compared to $238.5 million at March 31, 2023 and $303.2 million at December 31, 2023. Total debt, net of cash and short-term investments, of ($39.0) million at March 31, 2024 compared to $122.7 million at March 31, 2023 and ($328.7) million at December 31, 2023. The sequential increase in total debt, net of cash and short-term investments, was primarily due to higher borrowings under the Company’s senior secured bank revolving credit facility, which were primarily used for annual bonus payments.
There were no share repurchases during the quarter ended March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, approximately $460.7 million remained available for common stock repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program.
First Quarter 2024 Segment Results
Corporate Finance & Restructuring
Revenues in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment increased $50.4 million, or 16.0%, to $366.0 million in the quarter compared to $315.7 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher restructuring, business transformation & strategy and transactions revenues. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $75.2 million, or 20.6% of segment revenues, compared to $51.8 million, or 16.4% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation and SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.
Forensic and Litigation Consulting
Revenues in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment increased $18.3 million, or 11.6%, to $176.1 million in the quarter compared to $157.7 million in the prior year quarter. Acquisition-related revenues contributed $0.5 million in the quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand and realized bill rates for investigations and disputes services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $33.7 million, or 19.1% of segment revenues, compared to $21.8 million, or 13.8% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation compared to the prior year quarter.
Economic Consulting
Revenues in the Economic Consulting segment increased $35.0 million, or 20.6%, to $204.5 million in the quarter compared to $169.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand and realized bill rates for non-merger and acquisition (“M&A”)-related antitrust and financial economics services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $14.2 million, or 6.9% of segment revenues, compared to $14.2 million, or 8.4% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to an increase in compensation, which includes an increase in variable compensation and the impact of a 5.8% increase in billable headcount, higher contractor costs and an increase in SG&A expenses, primarily related to an increase in bad debt, compared to the prior year quarter.
Technology
Revenues in the Technology segment increased $10.1 million, or 11.1%, to $100.7 million in the quarter compared to $90.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for M&A-related “second request” and information governance, privacy & security services, which was partially offset by lower demand for investigations services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $14.6 million, or 14.5% of segment revenues, compared to $15.4 million, or 17.0% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to an increase in compensation, which includes the impact of an 11.2% increase in billable headcount, higher as-needed consultant costs and an increase in SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.
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