EX-99.2 4 v219770_ex99-2.htm Unassociated Document
Exhibit 99.2
 


April 26, 2011

To: Shareholders, Employees and Friends

Hudson Highland Group 2011 First Quarter Financial Results

During the first quarter of 2011, we reported double-digit top-line growth in every Hudson operating region around the world, delivering the highest levels of revenue and gross margin dollars in more than two years.  Permanent recruitment continued to drive the growth, generating a 32 percent revenue increase, or 26 percent in constant currency, compared with the first quarter of 2010. Temporary contracting revenue grew 21 percent, or 16 percent in constant currency over the same period.  Gross margin growth during the first quarter followed the revenue pattern, with temporary contracting gross margin up 18 percent, or 14 percent in constant currency. Talent management was essentially flat, arresting the declines we have seen for several quarters. All of these signs bode well for continued demand.

The U.K. was our largest EBITDA contributor in the first quarter, with continued strength in permanent recruitment and accelerating growth in temporary contracting. In continental Europe, we saw strength in virtually every country, overcoming concerns of reduced government spending. Our North America business continued to experience steady progress in Legal and IT, and our businesses in both Australia/New Zealand and Asia remained strong EBITDA contributors, with results driven by continued growth in permanent recruitment.

As the recovery progresses, our businesses are successfully capitalizing on growth opportunities in every region.  Our earnings have advanced as well, though they have been hampered by lower contracting margins, new investments, and slower recovery in some of our historic earnings contributors.  Despite those factors, our year is off to a good start with strong revenue growth, and we have confidence in our full-year outlook.


Regional Highlights


Europe

In the first quarter of 2011, Hudson Europe’s gross margin increased 18 percent in constant currency with strong contributions from both the U.K. and continental Europe. On a sequential constant currency basis, Hudson Europe’s gross margin increased 3 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
Our U.K. business generated 21 percent gross margin growth over prior year on a constant currency basis, with 9 percent growth in permanent recruitment and over 40 percent growth in temporary contracting. Results in the quarter were driven by strong demand in Legal, IT, Banking & Finance, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO). Our public sector business accounted for approximately 7 percent of the U.K. business’ gross margin in the first quarter, down from 9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Our continental Europe business generated 16 percent gross margin growth on a constant currency basis, with 32 percent growth in permanent recruitment and flat temporary contracting, both compared with the prior year. Top-line growth occurred in virtually every country in continental Europe, led by France and Belgium, both of which delivered nearly 20 percent top-line growth in local currency. Our temporary contracting business in the Netherlands, Balance, experienced a slow start to the year, with slightly lower gross margin due to a slowdown in the Technical contracting market segment.
 
Hudson Europe produced adjusted EBITDA of $4.1 million, compared with $1.7 million in the prior year period.

Hudson Europe
  
Q1 2011
Q1 2010
(In thousands)
      
Gross margin
  
 $     38,937
 $     32,530
SG&A
  
        34,801
        30,829
Adj. EBITDA
  
          4,136
          1,701
Reorganization cost
  
             351
               87
Non-operating expense (income)
  
           (247)
             190
Corporate administrative charges
  
          1,857
             988
EBITDA
  
          2,175
             436

 
 
Australia and New Zealand

Hudson ANZ generated a constant currency gross margin increase of 22 percent in the first quarter. Results were driven by a 44 percent increase in permanent recruitment, which represented nearly 60 percent of the region’s gross margin, while temporary contracting was flat to the prior year period. Talent management increased 4 percent compared with the prior year period, its first year-over-year increase in five quarters.

Nearly all geographies and practices contributed to the quarter’s results, particularly the industrial, mining and healthcare practices.  Amidst this increase in demand, the quarter’s results were negatively impacted by the flooding in Queensland and the earthquake in Christchurch, together representing approximately 10 percent of the region’s total gross margin in the first quarter of 2011. Sequentially, gross margin displayed a seasonal decline, decreasing 6 percent in constant currency compared with the fourth quarter of 2010. Adjusted EBITDA was $2.1 million compared with $0.7 million in the prior year period, with leverage adversely impacted by turnover as well as additional headcount brought on to further capitalize on areas of growth in the Australian market.

 
 
 
 
Hudson ANZ
  
Q1 2011
Q1 2010
(In thousands)
      
Gross margin
  
 $     24,019
 $     17,776
SG&A
  
        21,933
        17,061
Adj. EBITDA
  
          2,086
             715
Reorganization cost
  
                -
           (116)
Non-operating expense (income)
  
                 3
               28
Corporate administrative charges
  
          1,042
             554
EBITDA
  
          1,041
             249


Asia

Our Asia business generated a gross margin increase of 9 percent in constant currency in the first quarter. While China and Hong Kong were the main contributors to the quarter’s results, we saw some financial institutions as well as other multinational clients slow hiring during the first half of the quarter for a variety of reasons, though all resumed hiring by the end of the quarter.  Nonetheless, Banking & Finance and Industrials were the largest growth drivers in the quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 million, or 13 percent of revenue, an improvement from $0.8 million, or 11 percent of revenue in the prior year period. Our investment in additional revenue-generating headcount negatively impacted the quarter’s leverage, but we consider these investments valuable in a strongly profitable market.

Hudson Asia
  
Q1 2011
Q1 2010
(In thousands)
      
Gross margin
  
 $       7,886
 $       6,836
SG&A
  
          6,822
          6,051
Adj. EBITDA
  
          1,064
             785
Reorganization cost
  
                -
                -
Non-operating expense (income)
  
           (252)
                 7
Corporate administrative charges
  
             343
             181
EBITDA
  
             973
             597


Americas

Hudson Americas’ gross margin increased 11 percent compared with the prior year period, driven by 9 percent growth in temporary contracting and 27 percent growth in our permanent recruitment business. Improvements were driven by our Legal practice, which reported higher average contractors on billing compared with the fourth quarter of 2010, and a 22 percent increase compared with the prior year period. Sequentially, gross margin declined 4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010, a smaller decline than the typical seasonal pattern. The temporary contracting gross margin percentage declined 120 basis points compared with the prior year to 19.6 percent, largely due to a lower margin Legal project that is expected to end in the second quarter.

 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA was $0.2 million, representing a $0.8 million improvement from the prior year period on a gross margin increase of $1.1 million.

Hudson Americas
  
Q1 2011
Q1 2010
(In thousands)
      
Gross margin
  
 $     10,356
 $       9,279
SG&A
  
        10,152
          9,887
Adj. EBITDA
  
             204
           (608)
Reorganization cost
  
                -
             142
Non-operating expense (income)
  
               41
           (884)
Corporate administrative charges
  
             542
             375
EBITDA
  
           (379)
           (241)
 

Corporate

Corporate expenses in the first quarter were $1.3 million after corporate allocations to the regions, or $5.1 million before allocations, and were up nearly $0.6 million compared with prior year and $0.2 million on a sequential basis. The corporate bonuses are accrued at a more normal level this quarter than they were in the first quarter of last year, a pattern that will even out through the year, though sequentially the main driver was higher legal fees.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company ended the first quarter of 2011 with $71.0 million in liquidity, composed of $28.3 million in cash and $42.7 million in availability under its credit facilities.  The company used $10.3 million in cash flow from operations during the quarter and increased its outstanding borrowings from $1.3 million at the end of the fourth quarter to $11.2 million at the end of the first quarter.  Cash usage in the first quarter was driven by revenue more weighted to the end of the quarter and payment of annual bonuses. Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) rose to 55 days from 49 at the end of 2010 and 53 a year ago.

Guidance
 
 
The company currently expects second quarter 2011 revenue of $230 - $240 million and EBITDA of $5 - $8 million at prevailing exchange rates.  This compares with revenue of $195.0 million and EBITDA of $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2010.

 
 
 

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that the company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including statements regarding the company’s future financial condition, results of operations, business operations and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe” and similar words, expressions and variations of these words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including industry and economic conditions’ that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, global economic fluctuations; risks related to fluctuations in the company’s operating results from quarter to quarter; the ability of clients to terminate their relationship with the company at any time; competition in the company’s markets; risks associated with the company’s investment strategy; risks related to international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; the company’s dependence on key management personnel; the company’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals; risks in collecting the company’s accounts receivable; the company’s history of negative cash flows and operating losses may continue; restrictions on the company’s operating flexibility due to the terms of its credit facility; implementation of the company’s cost reduction initiatives effectively; the company’s heavy reliance on information systems and the impact of potentially losing or failing to develop technology; risks related to our dependence on uninterrupted service to clients; the company’s exposure to employment-related claims from both clients and employers and limits on related insurance coverage; volatility of the company’s stock price; the impact of government regulations; and restrictions imposed by blocking arrangements. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. The company assumes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


###
Financial Tables Follow
 
 
 
 
 
HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
SEGMENT ANALYSIS - QUARTER TO DATE
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                   
                   
 
For The Three Months Ended March 31,  2011
  
Hudson
Europe
    
Hudson ANZ
    
Hudson
Americas
    
Hudson Asia
    
Corporate
    
Total
  
Revenue, from external customers
   $ 93,710     $ 70,804     $ 45,812     $ 8,213     $ -     $ 218,539  
Gross margin, from external customers
   $ 38,937     $ 24,019     $ 10,356     $ 7,886     $ -     $ 81,198  
Business reorganization and integration expenses
   $ 351     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 351  
Non-operating expense (income), including corporate administration charges
     1,610       1,045       583       91       (3,816 )     (487 )
EBITDA (Loss) (1)
   $ 2,175     $ 1,041     $ (379 )   $ 973     $ (1,284 )   $ 2,526  
Depreciation and amortization expenses
                                             1,576  
Interest expense (income), net
                                             206  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
                                             750  
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                                             -  
Net income (loss)
                                           $ (6 )
                                                 
For The Three Months Ended March 31,  2010
  
Hudson
Europe
    
Hudson ANZ
    
Hudson
Americas
    
Hudson Asia
    
Corporate
    
Total
  
Revenue, from external customers
   $ 76,654     $ 56,822     $ 39,507     $ 7,135     $ -     $ 180,118  
Gross margin, from external customers
   $ 32,530     $ 17,776     $ 9,279     $ 6,836     $ -     $ 66,421  
Business reorganization and integration expenses
   $ 87     $ (116 )   $ 142     $ -     $ -     $ 113  
Non-operating expense (income), including corporate administration charges
     1,178       582       (509 )     188       (2,097 )     (658 )
EBITDA (Loss) (1)
   $ 436     $ 249     $ (241 )   $ 597     $ (2,408 )   $ (1,367 )
Depreciation and amortization expenses
                                             2,287  
Interest expense (income), net
                                             232  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
                                             252  
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                                             69  
Net income (loss)
                                           $ (4,207 )
                                                 
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2010
  
Hudson
Europe
    
Hudson ANZ
    
Hudson
Americas
    
Hudson Asia
    
Corporate
    
Total
  
Revenue, from external customers
   $ 90,616     $ 74,338     $ 44,268     $ 9,839     $ -     $ 219,061  
Gross margin, from external customers
   $ 37,468     $ 25,231     $ 10,775     $ 9,450     $ -     $ 82,924  
Business reorganization and integration expenses
   $ 865     $ 102     $ 21     $ -     $ -     $ 988  
Non-operating expense (income), including corporate administration charges
     1,337       886       (1,298 )     243       (2,980 )     (1,812 )
EBITDA (Loss) (1)
   $ 314     $ 1,254     $ 2,386     $ 1,524     $ (1,922 )   $ 3,556  
Depreciation and amortization expenses
                                             1,730  
Interest expense (income), net
                                             306  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
                                             116  
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                                             213  
Net income (loss)
                                           $ 1,191  
                                                 
                                                 
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010
  
Hudson
Europe
    
Hudson ANZ
    
Hudson
Americas
    
Hudson Asia
    
Corporate
    
Total
  
Revenue, from external customers
   $ 80,717     $ 65,249     $ 40,819     $ 8,184     $ -     $ 194,969  
Gross margin, from external customers
   $ 34,559     $ 21,723     $ 10,039     $ 7,916     $ -     $ 74,237  
Business reorganization and integration expenses
   $ 450     $ -     $ 101     $ -     $ -     $ 551  
Non-operating expense (income), including corporate administration charges
     1,148       1,015       393       38       (3,440 )     (846 )
EBITDA (Loss) (1)
   $ 2,466     $ 1,369     $ (991 )   $ 1,311     $ (1,034 )   $ 3,121  
Depreciation and amortization expenses
                                             2,186  
Interest expense (income), net
                                             243  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
                                             515  
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                                             (52 )
Net income (loss)
                                           $ 229  
 
(1)
Non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) are presented to provide additional information about the company’s operations on a basis consistent with the measures which the company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses these measurements to evaluate capital needs and working capital requirements. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, cash flows from operating activities, and other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of the company’s profitability or liquidity. Furthermore, EBITDA as presented above may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
 
 
 
 
 
HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
Reconciliation For Constant Currency
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
The Company operates on a global basis, with the majority of our gross margin generated outside of the United States. Accordingly, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can affect our results of operations. Constant currency information compares financial results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. The Company currently defines the term “constant currency” to mean that financial data for a previously reported period are translated into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate financial data for the current period.
 
Changes in revenue, direct costs, gross margin, and selling, general and administrative expenses include the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Variance analysis usually describes period-to-period variances that are calculated using constant currency as a percentage. The Company’s management reviews and analyzes business results in constant currency and believes these results better represent the Company’s underlying business trends.
                       
The company believes that these calculations are a useful measure, indicating the actual change in operations. Earnings from subsidiaries are rarely repatriated to the United States, and there are no significant gains or losses on foreign currency transactions between subsidiaries. Therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates generally impact only reported earnings and not the company’s economic condition.
                       
 
   
For The Three Months Ended March 31,
  
   
2011
    
2010
  
   
As reported
    
As reported
    
Currency
    
Constant
  
 
translation
    
currency
  
Revenue:
                        
Hudson Europe
   $ 93,710     $ 76,654     $ 1,470     $ 78,124  
Hudson ANZ
     70,804       56,822       6,113       62,935  
Hudson Americas
     45,812       39,507       10       39,517  
Hudson Asia
     8,213       7,135       389       7,524  
Total
     218,539       180,118       7,982       188,100  
                                 
Direct costs:
                                
Hudson Europe
     54,773       44,124       1,034       45,158  
Hudson ANZ
     46,785       39,046       4,194       43,240  
Hudson Americas
     35,456       30,228       (14 )     30,214  
Hudson Asia
     327       299       19       318  
Total
     137,341       113,697       5,233       118,930  
                                 
Gross margin:
                                
Hudson Europe
     38,937       32,530       436       32,966  
Hudson ANZ
     24,019       17,776       1,919       19,695  
Hudson Americas
     10,356       9,279       24       9,303  
Hudson Asia
     7,886       6,836       370       7,206  
Total
   $ 81,198     $ 66,421     $ 2,749     $ 69,170  
                                 
    Selling, general and administrative (a):
                                
Hudson Europe
   $ 35,271     $ 31,453     $ 353     $ 31,806  
Hudson ANZ
     22,582       17,608       1,899       19,507  
Hudson Americas
     10,472       10,785       17       10,802  
Hudson Asia
     6,890       6,224       322       6,546  
Corporate
     5,169       4,550       (2 )     4,548  
Total
   $ 80,384     $ 70,620     $ 2,589     $ 73,209  
 
(a) Selling, general and administrative expenses include depreciation and amortization expenses.