10-Q 1 a2017q210-q.htm 10-Q Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017
 
OR
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

Commission file number: 1-35335

Groupon, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
27-0903295
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
 
 
600 West Chicago Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, Illinois
 
60654
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
312-334-1579
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  x         No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).         
Yes  x         No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x                           Accelerated filer ☐         
Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) ☐    Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or reused financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐            No  x 
As of July 31, 2017, there were 556,009,762 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.


1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. Financial Information
Page
Forward-Looking Statements
Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2017 (unaudited) and December 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (unaudited)
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. Other Information
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. Unregistered sales of equity securities and use of proceeds
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
Signatures
Exhibits

______________________________________________________




2

PART I
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and our objectives for future operations. The words "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "continue" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, volatility in our revenue and operating results; risks related to our business strategy, including our strategy to grow our local marketplaces, marketing strategy and spend and the productivity of those marketing investments; effectively dealing with challenges arising from our international operations, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates and any potential adverse impact from the United Kingdom's likely exit from the European Union; retaining existing customers and adding new customers; retaining and adding high quality merchants; cyber security breaches; incurring expenses as we expand our business; competing successfully in our industry; maintaining favorable payment terms with our business partners; providing a strong mobile experience for our customers; delivery and routing of our emails; product liability claims; managing inventory and order fulfillment risks; integrating our technology platforms; litigation; managing refund risks; retaining, attracting and integrating members of our executive team; difficulties, delays or our inability to successfully complete all or part of the announced restructuring actions or to realize the operating efficiencies and other benefits of such restructuring actions; higher than anticipated restructuring charges or changes in the timing of such restructuring charges; completing and realizing the anticipated benefits from acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic investments; tax liabilities; tax legislation; compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, including the CARD Act and regulation of the Internet and e-commerce; classification of our independent contractors; maintaining our information technology infrastructure; protecting our intellectual property; maintaining a strong brand; seasonality; customer and merchant fraud; payment-related risks; our ability to raise capital if necessary and our outstanding indebtedness; global economic uncertainty; the impact of our ongoing strategic review and any potential strategic alternatives we may choose to pursue; our senior convertible notes; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the hedge and warrant transactions; and those risks and other factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A: Risk Factors" of our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as in our condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes, and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this report to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
As used herein, "Groupon," "we," "our," and similar terms include Groupon, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.


3

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

GROUPON, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
618,550

 
$
862,977

Accounts receivable, net
60,785

 
71,272

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
107,527

 
94,441

Current assets of discontinued operations
—

 
63,246

Total current assets
786,862

 
1,091,936

Property, equipment and software, net
162,577

 
169,452

Goodwill
282,011

 
274,551

Intangible assets, net
32,256

 
42,915

Investments (including $108,230 and $110,066 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, at fair value)
141,436

 
141,882

Deferred income taxes
4,838

 
5,151

Other non-current assets
17,457

 
23,484

Non-current assets of discontinued operations
—

 
12,006

Total Assets
$
1,427,437

 
$
1,761,377

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
18,389

 
$
28,551

Accrued merchant and supplier payables
606,020

 
770,992

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
328,998

 
366,456

Current liabilities of discontinued operations
—

 
47,052

Total current liabilities
953,407

 
1,213,051

Convertible senior notes, net
184,237

 
178,995

Deferred income taxes
1,833

 
1,714

Other non-current liabilities
101,978

 
99,628

Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations
—

 
2,927

Total Liabilities
1,241,455

 
1,496,315

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 7)

 

Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 2,010,000,000 shares authorized, 743,577,187 shares issued and 557,359,145 shares outstanding at June 30, 2017 and 736,531,771 shares issued and 564,835,863 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016
74

 
74

Additional paid-in capital
2,145,030

 
2,112,728

Treasury stock, at cost, 186,218,042 shares at June 30, 2017 and 171,695,908 shares at December 31, 2016
(858,291
)
 
(807,424
)
Accumulated deficit
(1,135,984
)
 
(1,099,010
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
34,358

 
58,052

Total Groupon, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
185,187

 
264,420

Noncontrolling interests
795

 
642

Total Equity
185,982

 
265,062

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
1,427,437

 
$
1,761,377


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


4

GROUPON, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party and other
 
$
315,854

 
$
294,576

 
$
617,426

 
$
604,205

Direct
 
346,765

 
429,184

 
718,819

 
817,990

Total revenue
 
662,619

 
723,760

 
1,336,245

 
1,422,195

Cost of revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party and other
 
38,478

 
38,109

 
81,351

 
79,169

Direct
 
296,074

 
370,274

 
617,376

 
707,547

Total cost of revenue
 
334,552

 
408,383

 
698,727

 
786,716

Gross profit
 
328,067

 
315,377

 
637,518

 
635,479

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marketing
 
100,658

 
89,180

 
187,000

 
176,475

Selling, general and administrative
 
230,187

 
258,737

 
462,233

 
521,715

Restructuring charges
 
4,584

 
15,702

 
7,315

 
27,215

Gains on business dispositions
 
—

 
(9,339
)
 
—

 
(9,339
)
Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net
 
36

 
850

 
48

 
4,314

  Total operating expenses
 
335,465

 
355,130

 
656,596

 
720,380

Income (loss) from operations
 
(7,398
)
 
(39,753
)
 
(19,078
)
 
(84,901
)
Other income (expense), net
 
5,878

 
(11,253
)
 
1,276

 
(8,635
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
(1,520
)
 
(51,006
)
 
(17,802
)
 
(93,536
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
3,883

 
(2,238
)
 
8,470

 
(1,229
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
(5,403
)
 
(48,768
)
 
(26,272
)
 
(92,307
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
(1,376
)
 
(2,963
)
 
(889
)
 
(5,020
)
Net income (loss)
 
(6,779
)
 
(51,731
)
 
(27,161
)
 
(97,327
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(2,547
)
 
(3,173
)
 
(6,579
)
 
(6,696
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Groupon, Inc.
 
$
(9,326
)
 
$
(54,904
)
 
$
(33,740
)
 
$
(104,023
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
(0.09
)
 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
(0.17
)
Discontinued operations
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
 
—

 
(0.01
)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
559,762,180

 
576,903,004

 
560,978,712

 
579,827,341

Diluted
 
559,762,180

 
576,903,004

 
560,978,712

 
579,827,341


(1)
The structure of the Company's common stock changed during the year ended December 31, 2016. Refer to Note 8, Stockholders' Equity and Compensation Arrangements, and Note 12, Income (Loss) per Share, for additional information.

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


5

GROUPON, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
(5,403
)
 
$
(48,768
)
 
$
(26,272
)
 
$
(92,307
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) from continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain (loss) during the period
 
(6,144
)
 
(272
)
 
(5,527
)
 
(4,068
)
Reclassification adjustments included in income (loss) from continuing operations
 
—

 
(9,459
)
 
(187
)
 
(7,997
)
Net change in unrealized gain (loss)
 
(6,144
)
 
(9,731
)
 
(5,714
)
 
(12,065
)
   Defined benefit pension plan adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Curtailment gain
 
—

 
—

 
583

 
—

Amortization of pension net actuarial gain (loss) to earnings
 
—

 
19

 
2

 
46

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) (net of tax effect of $0 and $5 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $0 and $9 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively)
 
—

 
19

 
585

 
46

   Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain (loss) during the period
 
(952
)
 
(52
)
 
(713
)
 
(168
)
Reclassification adjustment for realized gain on investment included in income (loss) from continuing operations
 
(1,341
)
 
—

 
(1,341
)
 
—

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities (net of tax effect of $147 and $103 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $0 and $103 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively)
 
(2,293
)
 
(52
)
 
(2,054
)
 
(168
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) from continuing operations
 
(8,437
)
 
(9,764
)
 
(7,183
)
 
(12,187
)
Comprehensive income (loss) from continuing operations
 
(13,840
)
 
(58,532
)
 
(33,455
)
 
(104,494
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
(1,376
)
 
(2,963
)
 
(889
)
 
(5,020
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) from discontinued operations - Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized gain (loss) during the period
 
—

 
702

 
(1,793
)
 
273

Reclassification adjustment included in net income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
—

 
—

 
(14,718
)
 
—

Net change in unrealized gain (loss)
 
—

 
702

 
(16,511
)
 
273

Comprehensive income (loss) from discontinued operations
 
(1,376
)
 
(2,261
)
 
(17,400
)
 
(4,747
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
(15,216
)
 
(60,793
)
 
(50,855
)
 
(109,241
)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(2,547
)
 
(3,173
)
 
(6,579
)
 
(6,696
)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Groupon, Inc.
 
$
(17,763
)
 
$
(63,966
)
 
$
(57,434
)
 
$
(115,937
)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


6


GROUPON, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
Groupon, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Treasury Stock
 
Accumulated Deficit
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Total Groupon, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
 
Non-controlling Interests
 
Total Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
Shares
 
Amount
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
736,531,771

 
$
74

 
$
2,112,728

 
(171,695,908
)
 
$
(807,424
)
 
$
(1,099,010
)
 
$
58,052

 
$
264,420

 
$
642

 
$
265,062

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3,234
)
 
—

 
(3,234
)
 
—

 
(3,234
)
Net income (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(33,740
)
 
—

 
(33,740
)
 
6,579

 
(27,161
)
Foreign currency translation
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(22,225
)
 
(22,225
)
 
—

 
(22,225
)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
585

 
585

 
—

 
585

Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,054
)
 
(2,054
)
 
—

 
(2,054
)
Exercise of stock options
9,601

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
—

 
19

Vesting of restricted stock units and performance share units
9,578,738

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan
877,845

 
—

 
2,458

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,458

 
—

 
2,458

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards
(3,420,768
)
 
—

 
(12,745
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(12,745
)
 
—

 
(12,745
)
Stock-based compensation on equity-classified awards
—

 
—

 
42,570

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
42,570

 
—

 
42,570

Purchases of treasury stock
—

 
—

 
—

 
(14,522,134
)
 
(50,867
)
 
—

 
—

 
(50,867
)
 
—

 
(50,867
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(6,426
)
 
(6,426
)
Balance at June 30, 2017
743,577,187

 
$
74

 
$
2,145,030

 
(186,218,042
)
 
$
(858,291
)
 
$
(1,135,984
)
 
$
34,358

 
$
185,187

 
$
795

 
$
185,982




See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


7

GROUPON, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
Operating activities
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(27,161
)
 
$
(97,327
)
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
(889
)
 
(5,020
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(26,272
)
 
(92,307
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software
57,163

 
59,096

Amortization of acquired intangible assets
11,583

 
9,235

Stock-based compensation
41,141

 
66,603

Restructuring-related long-lived asset impairments
—

 
45

Gains on business dispositions
—

 
(9,339
)
Deferred income taxes
759

 
(5,148
)
(Gain) loss, net from changes in fair value of contingent consideration
48

 
4,292

(Gain) loss from changes in fair value of investments
1,145

 
5,707

Amortization of debt discount on convertible senior notes
5,242

 
2,396

Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and dispositions:
 
 
 
Restricted cash
548

 
(695
)
Accounts receivable
16,229

 
(500
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(11,139
)
 
(36,900
)
Accounts payable
(10,723
)
 
(5,693
)
Accrued merchant and supplier payables
(182,954
)
 
(120,629
)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
(41,491
)
 
4,955

Other, net
(18,207
)
 
(6,904
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations
(156,928
)
 
(125,786
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations
(2,195
)
 
(4,949
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(159,123
)
 
(130,735
)
Investing activities
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software
(29,461
)
 
(36,351
)
Cash derecognized upon dispositions of subsidiaries
—

 
(352
)
Proceeds from maturity of investment
1,843

 
—

Acquisitions of businesses, net of acquired cash
—

 
(940
)
Acquisitions of intangible assets and other investing activities
(184
)
 
(1,992
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from continuing operations
(27,802
)
 
(39,635
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations
(9,548
)
 
4

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(37,350
)
 
(39,631
)
Financing activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes
—

 
250,000

Issuance costs for convertible senior notes and revolving credit agreement
—

 
(8,097
)
Purchase of convertible note hedges
—

 
(59,163
)
Proceeds from issuance of warrants
—

 
35,495

Payments for purchases of treasury stock
(51,513
)
 
(90,449
)
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards
(15,356
)
 
(16,535
)
Proceeds from stock option exercises and employee stock purchase plan
2,477

 
2,047

Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders
(6,426
)
 
(7,127
)
Payment of contingent consideration related to acquisitions
(5,689
)
 
(285
)
Payments of capital lease obligations
(16,670
)
 
(14,676
)
Other financing activities
(473
)
 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(93,650
)
 
91,210

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
16,830

 
5,926

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
(273,293
)
 
(73,230
)
Less: Net increase (decrease) in cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
(28,866
)
 
1,402

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(244,427
)
 
(74,632
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
862,977

 
824,307

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
618,550

 
$
749,675



8

Non-cash investing and financing activities
 
 
 
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
Equipment acquired under capital lease obligations
$
16,509

 
$
10,081

Leasehold improvements funded by lessor
402

 
4,990

Liability for purchases of treasury stock
561

 
1,592

Increase (decrease) in liabilities related to purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software
539

 
3,860

Cost method and available-for-sale investments acquired in connection with business dispositions
2,022

 
8,323

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


9

GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION    
Company Information
Groupon, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), which commenced operations in October 2008, operates online local commerce marketplaces throughout the world that connect merchants to consumers by offering goods and services, generally at a discount. Consumers access those marketplaces through the Company's websites, primarily localized groupon.com sites in many countries, and its mobile applications.
The Company's operations are organized into two segments: North America and International. See Note 13, Segment Information.
Prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to reflect discontinued operations presentation. See Note 2, Discontinued Operations, for additional information.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The Company has prepared the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for interim financial reporting. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and, in the Company's opinion, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and stockholders' equity for the periods presented. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2017. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 17, 2017.
Principles of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of all wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and variable interest entities for which the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary. Outside stockholders' interests in subsidiaries are shown on the condensed consolidated financial statements as "Noncontrolling interests." Equity investments in entities in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for under the equity method, the cost method, the fair value option or as available-for-sale securities, as appropriate.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
The Company adopted the guidance in ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, on January 1, 2017. This ASU requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value, rather than the lower of cost or market. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a material impact on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Company adopted the guidance in ASU 2016-16, Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740), on January 1, 2017. This ASU requires immediate recognition of the income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory. The Company recorded a $3.2 million cumulative effect adjustment to increase its accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2017 to recognize the impact of that change in accounting policy.


10
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the condensed consolidated financial statements of prior periods and the accompanying notes to conform to the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingent liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, stock-based compensation, income taxes, valuation of acquired goodwill and intangible assets, investments, customer refunds, contingent liabilities and the useful lives of property, equipment and software and intangible assets. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND OTHER DISPOSITIONS
In October 2016, the Company completed a strategic review of its international markets in connection with its efforts to optimize its global footprint and focus on the markets that it believes have the greatest potential to benefit the Company's long-term financial performance. Based on that review, the Company decided to focus its business on 15 core countries and to pursue strategic alternatives for its operations in the remaining 11 countries, which were primarily based in Asia and Latin America. As described below, the dispositions of the Company's operations in those 11 countries were completed between November 2016 and March 2017.
A business disposition that represents a strategic shift and has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results is reported as a discontinued operation. The Company determined that the decision reached by its management and Board of Directors to exit those 11 non-core countries, which comprised a substantial majority of its operations outside of North America and EMEA, represented a strategic shift in its business. Additionally, based on its review of quantitative and qualitative factors relevant to the dispositions, the Company determined that the disposition of the businesses in those 11 countries will have a major effect on its operations and financial results. As such, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows for its operations in those 11 countries, including the gains and losses on the dispositions and related income tax effects, are presented as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2016 and for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
Groupon Israel

On March 21, 2017, the Company sold an 83% controlling stake in its subsidiary in Israel. The Company recognized a pretax gain on the disposition of $1.8 million, which represents the excess of (a) the sum of (i) $2.3 million in net consideration received, consisting of the $0.4 million fair value of its retained minority investment and $2.0 million to be received in cash, less $0.1 million in transaction costs, and (ii) a $0.2 million cumulative translation gain, which was reclassified to earnings, over (b) the $0.7 million net book value upon the closing of the transaction. The amount of cash proceeds to be received in connection with this transaction may change due to final working capital adjustments. See Note 4, Investments, for additional information about this transaction.

Groupon Singapore

On March 10, 2017, the Company sold its subsidiary in Singapore in exchange for a convertible debt investment in the acquirer. The Company recognized a pretax loss on the disposition of $0.5 million, which represents the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the $0.5 million net book value upon closing of the transaction and (ii) a $1.1 million cumulative translation loss, which was reclassified to earnings, over (b) $1.1 million in net consideration received, consisting of the $1.6 million fair value of the investment acquired, less $0.5 million in transaction costs. The Company did not receive any cash proceeds in connection with the transaction. See Note 4, Investments, for additional information about this transaction.



11
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Groupon Hong Kong

On March 3, 2017, the Company sold its subsidiary in Hong Kong. The Company recognized a pretax gain on the disposition of $0.3 million, consisting of the $0.2 million negative net book value upon closing of the transaction and $0.1 million in net consideration received, consisting of $0.2 million received in cash, less $0.1 million in transaction costs. The amount of cash proceeds to be received in connection with this transaction may change due to final working capital adjustments.
    
Groupon Latin America

On February 16, 2017 and March 9, 2017, the Company sold its subsidiaries in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Brazil in two transactions with the same counterparty. The Company recognized a net pretax loss on the dispositions of $2.9 million, which represents the excess of (a) the sum of (i) a $2.1 million unfavorable contract liability for transition services, (ii) a $5.4 million indemnification liability and (iii) the $13.6 million net book value upon closing of the transactions, over (b) the sum of (i) a $15.7 million cumulative translation gain, which was reclassified to earnings, and (ii) $2.5 million in net consideration received, consisting of $3.2 million in net cash proceeds, less $0.7 million in transaction costs. The amount of net cash proceeds to be received in connection with these transactions may change due to final working capital adjustments.

November 2016 Dispositions within Discontinued Operations

In connection with the strategic initiative to exit 11 non-core countries as discussed above, the Company sold its subsidiary in Malaysia and ceased operations in South Africa in November 2016. The results of the Company's operations in Malaysia and South Africa are presented within discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Results of Discontinued Operations and Assets and Liabilities of Discontinued Operations

The following table summarizes the major classes of line items included in income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017 (1) (2)
 
2016
 
2017 (1)
 
2016
Third-party and other revenue
 
$
—

 
$
23,553

 
$
12,602

 
$
48,492

Direct revenue
 
—

 
8,717

 
2,962

 
17,314

Third-party and other cost of revenue
 
—

 
(5,691
)
 
(2,557
)
 
(11,412
)
Direct cost of revenue
 
—

 
(8,368
)
 
(3,098
)
 
(16,957
)
Marketing expense
 
—

 
(2,813
)
 
(1,239
)
 
(5,283
)
Selling, general and administrative expense
 
(1,376
)
 
(18,431
)
 
(11,284
)
 
(36,441
)
Restructuring
 
—

 
(383
)
 
(778
)
 
(1,314
)
Other income, net
 
—

 
492

 
3,852

 
1,360

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before loss on dispositions and provision for income taxes
 
(1,376
)
 
(2,924
)
 
460

 
(4,241
)
Loss on dispositions
 
—

 
—

 
(1,268
)
 
—

Provision for income taxes
 
—

 
(39
)
 
(81
)
 
(779
)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
$
(1,376
)
 
$
(2,963
)
 
$
(889
)
 
$
(5,020
)

(1)
The income (loss) from discontinued operations before loss on dispositions and provision for income taxes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 includes the results of each business through its respective disposition date.
(2)
Selling, general and administrative expense from discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily relates to increases to contingent liabilities under indemnification agreements. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, for information about indemnification obligations related to discontinued operations.


12
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 
 
December 31, 2016
Cash
 
$
28,866

Accounts receivable, net
 
15,386

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
18,994

Property, equipment and software, net
 
1,554

Goodwill
 
9,411

Other non-current assets
 
1,041

Assets of discontinued operations
 
$
75,252

 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
722

Accrued merchant and supplier payables
 
29,705

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
16,625

Deferred income taxes
 
2,501

Other non-current liabilities
 
426

Liabilities of discontinued operations
 
$
49,979


Other Dispositions

Groupon Russia

On April 12, 2016, the Company sold its subsidiary in Russia ("Groupon Russia"). The Company recognized a pretax gain on the disposition of $8.9 million, consisting of Groupon Russia's $1.6 million negative net book value upon the closing of the transaction and its $7.7 million cumulative translation gain, which was reclassified to earnings, less $0.4 million in transaction costs. The Company did not receive any proceeds in connection with the transaction.

Breadcrumb

On May 9, 2016, the Company sold its point of sale business ("Breadcrumb") in exchange for a minority investment in the acquirer. See Note 4, Investments, for information about this transaction. The Company recognized a pretax gain on the disposition of $0.4 million, which represents the excess of (a) $8.2 million in net consideration received, consisting of the $8.3 million fair value of the investment acquired, less $0.1 million in transaction costs, over (b) the $7.8 million net book value of Breadcrumb upon the closing of the transaction. The Company did not receive any cash proceeds in connection with the transaction.

3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The following table summarizes the Company's goodwill activity by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
North America
 
EMEA
 
Rest of World
 
International
 
Consolidated
Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
$
178,685

 
$
89,747

 
$
6,119

 
$
—

 
$
274,551

Foreign currency translation
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7,460

 
7,460

Reallocation to new segment
 
—

 
(89,747
)
 
(6,119
)
 
95,866

 
—

Balance as of June 30, 2017
 
$
178,685

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
103,326

 
$
282,011



13
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

As discussed in Note 13, Segment Information, the Company updated its segments in the first quarter of 2017 to report two segments: North America and International. As a result of the change in segments, the Company combined its Northern EMEA, Southern EMEA and Central EMEA reporting units into a single EMEA reporting unit, which is one level below the International segment. As a result of the change in reporting units, the Company performed a qualitative assessment of potential goodwill impairment for the new EMEA reporting unit and performed separate qualitative assessments of potential goodwill impairment for the Northern EMEA, Southern EMEA and Central EMEA previous reporting units immediately prior to the change. The Company also performed a qualitative assessment of potential goodwill impairment for the remainder of its Asia Pacific reporting unit following the dispositions of businesses in that reporting unit in the current period. Based on those assessments, which considered current market conditions, recent business performance and the amounts by which fair values exceeded carrying values in quantitative impairment tests performed as of October 1, 2016, the Company determined that the likelihood of a goodwill impairment did not reach the more-likely-than not threshold specified in U.S. GAAP for any of the reporting units that were evaluated.  Accordingly, the Company concluded that goodwill related to those reporting units was not impaired and further quantitative testing was not required to be performed.  In addition, the Company sold all of the operations of its Latin America reporting unit in the first quarter of 2017 and the goodwill of that reporting unit was included in the net book value that was derecognized. See Note 2, Discontinued Operations, for information about the dispositions of operations in Asia and Latin America.

The following tables summarize the Company's intangible assets (in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2017
Asset Category
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Value
Customer relationships
 
$
61,011

 
$
45,649

 
$
15,362

Merchant relationships
 
12,489

 
9,713

 
2,776

Trade names
 
11,909

 
9,062

 
2,847

Developed technology
 
36,480

 
32,399

 
4,081

Patents
 
18,117

 
14,572

 
3,545

Other intangible assets
 
14,165

 
10,520

 
3,645

Total
 
$
154,171

 
$
121,915

 
$
32,256

 
 
December 31, 2016
Asset Category
 
Gross Carrying Value
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Value
Customer relationships
 
$
59,340

 
$
40,002

 
$
19,338

Merchant relationships
 
12,015

 
8,475

 
3,540

Trade names
 
11,534

 
8,004

 
3,530

Developed technology
 
38,388

 
30,197

 
8,191

Patents
 
17,259

 
14,020

 
3,239

Other intangible assets
 
14,044

 
8,967

 
5,077

Total
 
$
152,580

 
$
109,665

 
$
42,915



14
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Amortization of intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 1 to 5 years. Amortization expense related to intangible assets from continuing operations was $6.2 million and $4.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $11.6 million and $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There was no amortization expense related to intangible assets from discontinued operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. As of June 30, 2017, the Company's estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):
Remaining amounts in 2017
 
$
9,209

2018
 
14,871

2019
 
6,738

2020
 
1,069

2021
 
325

Thereafter
 
44

Total
 
$
32,256

4. INVESTMENTS
The following table summarizes the Company's investments (dollars in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
Percent Ownership of Voting Stock
 
December 31, 2016
 
Percent Ownership of Voting Stock
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
$
10,868

 
 
 
$
10,038

 
 
Redeemable preferred shares
15,923

 
19%
to
25%
 
17,444

 
19%
to
25%
Total available-for-sale securities
26,791

 
 
 
27,482

 
 
Cost method investments
33,206

 
1%
to
19%
 
31,816

 
1%
to
19%
Fair value option investments
81,439

 
10%
to
36%
 
82,584

 
41%
 
 
Total investments
$
141,436

 
 
 
$
141,882

 
 
The following table summarizes the amortized cost, gross unrealized gain, gross unrealized loss and fair value of the Company's available-for-sale securities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gain
 
Gross Unrealized Loss (1)
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Gross Unrealized Gain
 
Gross Unrealized Loss (1)
 
Fair Value
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
$
9,815

 
$
1,078

 
$
(25
)
 
$
10,868

 
$
8,453

 
$
1,691

 
$
(106
)
 
$
10,038

Redeemable preferred shares
18,375

 
—

 
(2,452
)
 
15,923

 
18,375

 
—

 
(931
)
 
17,444

Total available-for-sale securities
$
28,190

 
$
1,078

 
$
(2,477
)
 
$
26,791

 
$
26,828

 
$
1,691

 
$
(1,037
)
 
$
27,482

(1)
As of June 30, 2017, one security in an unrealized loss position of $2.5 million has been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months.
 


15
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Fair Value Option Investments
In connection with the dispositions of controlling stakes in Ticket Monster, an entity based in the Republic of Korea, in May 2015 and Groupon India in August 2015, the Company obtained minority investments in Monster Holdings LP ("Monster LP") and in GroupMax Pte Ltd. ("GroupMax," d/b/a "Nearbuy"), respectively. The Company has made an irrevocable election to account for both of these investments at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings. The Company elected to apply fair value accounting to these investments because it believes that fair value is the most relevant measurement attribute for these investments, as well as to reduce operational and accounting complexity.
Monster LP

In February 2017, the Company participated in a recapitalization transaction with Monster LP whereby it exchanged all 61,484,539 of its Class B units for 16,609,195 newly issued Class A-1 units. The Class B units previously held by the Company were then distributed from Monster LP to its controlling investor group and certain other existing unit holders. Upon closing of the transaction, the Company owns 57% of the outstanding Class A-1 units, which represents 9% of the total outstanding partnership units.

Following the February 2017 recapitalization transaction, the Class A-1 units are entitled to a $150.0 million liquidation preference, including an $85.0 million liquidation preference attributable to the Class A-1 units held by the Company, which must be paid prior to any distributions to the holders of the Class A-2, Class B and Class C units. Class A-1 unit holders are also entitled to share in distributions between $950.0 million and $1,494.0 million in accordance with the terms of Monster LP's distribution waterfall and in distributions in excess of $1,494.0 million based on their pro rata ownership of total outstanding partnership units. As a result of the February 2017 recapitalization transaction, the Company currently holds an investment in the most senior equity units in Monster LP’s capital structure. However, while providing more downside protection, those Class A-1 units provide less opportunity for appreciation than the Class B units previously held by the Company.
To determine the fair value of the Company’s investment in Monster LP each period, the first step was to estimate the fair value of Monster LP in its entirety. The Company primarily used the discounted cash flow method, which is an income approach, to estimate the fair value of Monster LP. The key inputs to determining fair value under that approach are cash flow forecasts and discount rates. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company applied a discount rate of 22%, in its discounted cash flow valuation of Monster LP. The Company also used a market approach valuation technique, which is based on market multiples of guideline companies, to determine the fair value of Monster LP as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The discounted cash flow and market multiple valuations were then evaluated and weighted to determine the amount that is most representative of the fair value of the investee. Once the Company determined the fair value of Monster LP, it then determined the fair value of its specific investment in that entity. Monster LP has a complex capital structure, so the Company applied an option-pricing model that considers the liquidation preferences of the investee’s respective classes of ownership interests to determine the fair value of the Company’s investment in the entity.

Based on the above procedures, the Company determined that the fair value of its investment in Monster LP was $80.9 million and $78.7 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company recognized losses of $0.1 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and a gain of $2.3 million and a loss of $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from changes in the fair value of its investment.

GroupMax

To determine the fair value of the Company’s investment in GroupMax each period, it applies the same methodology as described above for Monster LP. The Company determined that the fair value of its investment in GroupMax was $0.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The Company recognized losses of $1.3 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and losses of $3.4 million and $4.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, from changes in the fair value of its investment.






16
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Other Investments
In March 2017, the Company acquired a convertible debt instrument of a company that connects consumers with fitness, beauty and wellness businesses in Asia, as consideration for the sale of Groupon Singapore. The convertible debt instrument was recorded at its $1.6 million acquisition date fair value and is accounted for as an available-for-sale security.

In March 2017, in connection with the disposition of Groupon Israel, the Company retained a minority investment in the entity. The investment was recorded at its $0.4 million fair value at initial recognition and is accounted for as a cost method investment.

5. SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION
The following table summarizes the Company's other income (expense), net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Interest income
 
$
659

 
$
376

 
$
1,261

 
$
709

Interest expense
 
(4,948
)
 
(5,232
)
 
(10,267
)
 
(6,074
)
Gains (losses), net on changes in fair value of investments
 
(1,448
)
 
(4,607
)
 
(1,145
)
 
(5,707
)
Foreign currency gains (losses), net (1)
 
10,826

 
(1,636
)
 
10,877

 
4,007

Other
 
789

 
(154
)
 
550

 
(1,570
)
Other income (expense), net
 
$
5,878

 
$
(11,253
)
 
$
1,276

 
$
(8,635
)
(1)
Foreign currency gains (losses), net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 includes a $1.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of cumulative translation gains that were reclassified to earnings as a result of the Company's exit from certain countries as part of its restructuring plan. Refer to Note 9, Restructuring, for additional information.
The following table summarizes the Company's prepaid expenses and other current assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Finished goods inventories
$
24,346

 
$
31,042

Prepaid expenses
49,149

 
34,132

Income taxes receivable
12,093

 
11,495

Value-added tax receivable
10,910

 
5,965

Other
11,029

 
11,807

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
107,527

 
$
94,441

The following table summarizes the Company's accrued merchant and supplier payables as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accrued merchant payables
$
429,925

 
$
428,187

Accrued supplier payables (1)
176,095

 
342,805

Total accrued merchant and supplier payables
$
606,020

 
$
770,992

(1)
Amounts include payables to suppliers of inventories and providers of shipping and fulfillment services.


17

The following table summarizes the Company's accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Refunds reserve
$
26,237

 
$
33,104

Compensation and benefits
52,781

 
55,590

Customer credits
43,399

 
42,003

Restructuring-related liabilities
5,511

 
16,395

Income taxes payable
12,681

 
10,847

Deferred revenue
33,720

 
35,890

Current portion of capital lease obligations
29,497

 
28,889

Other
125,172

 
143,738

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities
$
328,998

 
$
366,456

The following table summarizes the Company's other non-current liabilities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Long-term tax liabilities
$
45,857

 
$
41,611

Capital lease obligations
19,820

 
19,719

Other
36,301

 
38,298

Total other non-current liabilities
$
101,978

 
$
99,628

The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
 
Pension adjustments
 
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2016
$
58,249

 
$
388

 
$
(585
)
 
$
58,052

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification adjustments
(7,320
)
 
(713
)
 
—

 
(8,033
)
Reclassification adjustments included in net income (loss)
(14,905
)
 
(1,341
)
 
585

 
(15,661
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(22,225
)
 
(2,054
)
 
585

 
(23,694
)
Balance as of June 30, 2017
$
36,024

 
$
(1,666
)
 
$
—

 
$
34,358

6. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
Convertible Senior Notes
On April 4, 2016, the Company issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes (the "Notes") in a private placement to A-G Holdings, L.P. ("Atairos"). The net proceeds from this offering were $243.2 million after deducting issuance costs. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.25% per annum, payable annually in arrears on April 1 of each year, which began on April 1, 2017. The Notes will mature on April 1, 2022, subject to earlier conversion or redemption.


18
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Each $1,000 of principal amount of the Notes initially is convertible into 185.1852 shares of common stock, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $5.40 per share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events. Upon conversion, the Company can elect to settle the conversion value in cash, shares of its common stock, or any combination of cash and shares of its common stock. Holders of the Notes may convert their Notes at their option at any time until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. In addition, if specified corporate events occur prior to the maturity date, the Company may be required to increase the conversion rate for holders who elect to convert based on the effective date of such event and the applicable stock price attributable to the event, as set forth in a table contained in the indenture governing the Notes (the "Indenture").
With certain exceptions, upon a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), the holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their Notes for cash at a purchase price equal to the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, the Company may redeem the Notes, at its option, at a purchase price equal to the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on or after April 1, 2020, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock exceeds 150% of the then-current conversion price for 20 or more trading days in the 30 consecutive trading day period preceding the Company’s exercise of this redemption right.
The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company that rank equal in right of payment to all senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and rank senior in right of payment to any indebtedness that is contractually subordinated to the Notes.
The Indenture includes customary events of default. If an event of default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest may be declared immediately due and payable. In the case of bankruptcy or insolvency, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest would automatically become immediately due and payable.
The Company has separated the Notes into their liability and equity components in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an associated conversion feature. The carrying amount of the equity component, representing the conversion option, was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the principal amount of the Notes. The difference between the principal amount of the Notes and the liability component (the "debt discount") is amortized to interest expense at an effective interest rate of 9.75% over the term of the Notes. The equity component of the Notes is included in additional paid-in capital in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification.
The Company incurred transaction costs of approximately $6.8 million related to the issuance of the Notes. Those transaction costs have been allocated to the liability and equity components in the same manner as the allocation of the proceeds from the Notes. Transaction costs attributable to the liability component of $4.8 million were recorded as a debt discount in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the Notes. Transaction costs attributable to the equity component of $2.0 million were recorded in stockholders' equity as a reduction of the equity component.
The carrying amount of the Notes consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Liability component:
 
 
 
Principal amount
$
250,000

 
$
250,000

Less: debt discount
(65,763
)
 
(71,005
)
Net carrying amount of liability component
$
184,237

 
$
178,995

 
 
 
 
Net carrying amount of equity component
$
67,014

 
$
67,014

The estimated fair value of the Notes as of June 30, 2017 was $246.1 million and was determined using a lattice model. The Company classified the fair value of the Notes as a Level 3 measurement due to the lack of observable market data over fair value inputs such as its stock price volatility over the term of the Notes and its cost of debt.


19
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

As of June 30, 2017, the remaining term of the Notes is approximately 4 years, 9 months. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recognized interest cost on the Notes as follows (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Contractual interest cost based on 3.25% of the principal amount per annum
$
2,032

 
$
4,064

 
$
2,031

Amortization of debt discount
2,655

 
5,242

 
2,396

Total interest cost
$
4,687

 
$
9,306

 
$
4,427

Note Hedges and Warrants
In May 2016, the Company purchased convertible note hedges with respect to its Common Stock for a cost of $59.1 million from certain bank counterparties. The convertible note hedges provide the Company with the right to purchase up to 46.3 million shares of the Company's Common Stock at an initial strike price of $5.40 per share, which corresponds to the initial conversion price of the Notes, and are exercisable by the Company upon conversion of the Notes. The convertible note hedges are intended to reduce the potential economic dilution upon conversion of the Notes. The convertible note hedges are separate transactions and are not part of the terms of the Notes. Holders of the Notes do not have any rights with respect to the convertible note hedges.
In May 2016, the Company also sold warrants for total cash proceeds of $35.5 million to certain bank counterparties. The warrants provide the counterparties with the right to purchase up to 46.3 million shares of the Company's Common Stock at a strike price of $8.50 per share. The warrants expire on various dates between July 1, 2022 and August 26, 2022 and are exercisable on their expiration dates. The warrants are separate transactions and are not part of the terms of the Notes or convertible note hedges. Holders of the Notes and convertible note hedges do not have any rights with respect to the warrants.
The amounts paid and received for the convertible note hedges and warrants have been recorded in additional paid-in capital in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2017. The convertible note hedges and warrants are not remeasured as long as they continue to meet the conditions for equity classification. The amounts paid for the convertible note hedges are tax deductible over the term of the Notes, while the proceeds received from the warrants are not taxable. 
Under the if-converted method, the shares of common stock underlying the conversion option in the Notes are included in the diluted earnings per share denominator and the interest expense on the Notes, net of tax, is added to the numerator. However, upon conversion, there will be no economic dilution from the Notes, as exercise of the convertible note hedges eliminates any dilution from the Notes that would have otherwise occurred when the price of the Company’s Common Stock exceeds the conversion price. Taken together, the purchase of the convertible note hedges and sale of warrants are intended to offset any actual dilution from the conversion of these Notes and to effectively increase the overall conversion price from $5.40 to $8.50 per share. Based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock of $3.84 on June 30, 2017, the if-converted value of the Notes was less than the principal amount.
Revolving Credit Agreement
The Company's amended and restated senior secured revolving credit agreement (the "Amended and Restated Credit Agreement") provides for aggregate principal borrowings of up to $250.0 million and matures in June 2019. Borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company's option, at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate (each as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) plus an additional margin ranging between 0.50% and 2.25%. The Company is required to pay quarterly commitment fees ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% per annum of the average daily amount of unused commitments available under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of up to $45.0 million in letters of credit, provided that the sum of outstanding borrowings and letters of credit does not exceed the maximum funding commitment of $250.0 million.
The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the Company's and its subsidiaries' tangible and intangible assets, including a pledge of 100% of the outstanding capital stock of substantially all of its direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the shares or equity interests of first-tier foreign subsidiaries and each U.S. entity whose assets substantially consist of capital stock and/or intercompany debt of one or more foreign subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. Certain of the Company's domestic subsidiaries are guarantors under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.


20
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains various customary restrictive covenants that limit the Company's ability to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness; make dividend and other restricted payments, including share repurchases; enter into sale or leaseback transactions; make investments, loans or advances; grant or incur liens on assets; sell assets; engage in mergers, consolidations, liquidations or dissolutions; and engage in transactions with affiliates. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain compliance with specified financial covenants, comprised of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, a maximum leverage ratio, a maximum senior secured indebtedness ratio and a minimum liquidity ratio, each as set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Company is also required to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, unrestricted cash of at least $400.0 million, including $200.0 million in accounts held with lenders under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement or their affiliates. Non-compliance with these covenants may result in termination of the commitments under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and any then outstanding borrowings may be declared due and payable immediately. The Company has the right to terminate the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement or reduce the available commitments at any time.
As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of $15.0 million and $11.1 million, respectively, under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company's commitments as of June 30, 2017 did not materially change from the amounts set forth in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Legal Matters and Other Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is party to various legal proceedings incident to the operation of its business. For example, the Company currently is involved in proceedings brought by former employees and merchants, intellectual property infringement suits, customer lawsuits, consumer class actions and suits alleging, among other things, violations of state consumer protection or privacy laws. The following is a brief description of significant legal proceedings.
On March 2, 2016, International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM") filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against the Company.  In the complaint, IBM alleges that the Company has infringed and continues to willfully infringe certain IBM patents that IBM claims relate to the presentation of applications and advertising in an interactive service, preserving state information in online transactions and single sign-on processes in a computing environment and seeks unspecified damages (including a request that the amount of compensatory damages be trebled), injunctive relief and costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. On December 13, 2016, the Company filed a motion to invalidate two of IBM’s patents relating to the presentation of applications and advertising on the grounds that such patents are patent-ineligible. The court held a hearing on the motion and a Markman hearing on June 5, 2017, but has not yet ruled on the motion or construed the patent claims. On March 24, 2017, the Company filed a petition for inter partes review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office seeking to invalidate IBM’s asserted patent related to single sign-on processes. IBM filed its preliminary response on July 6, 2017. On May 9, 2016, the Company filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against IBM.  The Company alleges that IBM has infringed and continues to willfully infringe one of the Company’s patents relating to location-based services. On December 20, 2016, IBM filed a motion to dismiss this case, and the court denied that motion. The Company intends to seek damages and injunctive relief for IBM’s infringement of this patent. The court held a Markman hearing on April 3, 2017, but has not yet construed the claims. On May 18, 2017, IBM filed two petitions for inter partes review with the United States Patent and Trademark Office seeking to invalidate the Company’s patent relating to location-based services. The Company’s preliminary response is due September 6, 2017. The Company plans to vigorously defend against the claims filed by IBM and the challenges to the Company’s patent.

In addition, other third parties have from time to time claimed, and others may claim in the future, that the Company has infringed their intellectual property rights. The Company is subject to intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement claims, and expects that it will increasingly be subject to intellectual property infringement claims as its services expand in scope and complexity. The Company has in the past litigated such claims, and the Company is presently involved in several patent infringement and other intellectual property-related claims, including pending litigation or trademark disputes relating to, for example, the Company's Goods category, some of which could involve potentially substantial claims for damages or injunctive relief. The Company may also become more vulnerable to third-party claims as laws such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act are interpreted by the courts, and as the Company becomes subject to laws in jurisdictions where the underlying laws with respect to the potential liability of online intermediaries are either unclear or less favorable. The Company believes that additional


21
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

lawsuits alleging that it has violated patent, copyright or trademark laws will be filed against it. Intellectual property claims, whether meritorious or not, are time consuming and often costly to resolve, could require expensive changes in the Company's methods of doing business or the goods it sells, or could require it to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements.

The Company also is subject to consumer claims or lawsuits relating to alleged violations of consumer protection or privacy rights and statutes, some of which could involve potentially substantial claims for damages, including statutory or punitive damages. Consumer and privacy related claims or lawsuits, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, damage awards, fines and penalties, injunctive relief or increased costs of doing business through adverse judgment or settlement, or require the Company to change its business practices, sometimes in expensive ways.

The Company also is subject to, or in the future may become subject to, a variety of regulatory inquiries, audits, and investigations across the jurisdictions where the Company conducts its business, including, for example, inquiries related to consumer protection, employment matters and/or hiring practices, marketing practices, tax, unclaimed property and privacy rules and regulations. Any regulatory actions against the Company, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, damage awards, fines and penalties, injunctive relief or increased costs of doing business through adverse judgment or settlement, require the Company to change its business practices in expensive ways, require significant amounts of management time, result in the diversion of significant operational resources or otherwise harm the Company's business.

The Company establishes an accrued liability for loss contingencies related to legal and regulatory matters when the loss is both probable and estimable. These accruals represent management's best estimate of probable losses and, in such cases, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of the amounts accrued. For certain of the matters described above, there are inherent and significant uncertainties based on, among other factors, the stage of the proceedings, developments in the applicable facts of law, or the lack of a specific damage claim. However, the Company believes that the amount of reasonably possible losses in excess of the amounts accrued for these matters would not have a material adverse effect on its business, consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company's accrued liabilities for loss contingencies related to legal and regulatory matters may change in the future as a result of new developments, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of new legal matters, changes in the law or regulatory environment, adverse or favorable rulings, newly discovered facts relevant to the matter, or changes in the strategy for the matter. Regardless of the outcome, litigation and other regulatory matters can have an adverse impact on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
    
Indemnifications
         In connection with the dispositions of the Company's operations in Latin America (see Note 2, Discontinued Operations), it agreed to indemnify the buyer for certain tax and other matters. The indemnification liabilities were recorded at their fair value, estimated to be $5.4 million using a probability-weighted expected cash flow approach, upon closing of the transactions as an adjustment to the net loss on the dispositions within discontinued operations. The Company estimates that the total amount of obligations that are reasonably possible of arising under the indemnifications is $25.0 million.

In the normal course of business to facilitate transactions related to its operations, the Company indemnifies certain parties, including employees, lessors, service providers, merchants, and counterparties to investment agreements and asset and stock purchase agreements with respect to various matters. The Company has agreed to hold certain parties harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations or covenants, or other claims made against those parties. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made and the amount of the claim. The Company is also subject to increased exposure to various claims as a result of its divestitures and acquisitions, particularly in cases where the Company is entering into new businesses in connection with such acquisitions. The Company may also become more vulnerable to claims as it expands the range and scope of its services and is subject to laws in jurisdictions where the underlying laws with respect to potential liability are either unclear or less favorable. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers, directors and underwriters, and the Company's bylaws contain similar indemnification obligations that cover officers, directors, employees and other agents.
 
Except as noted above, it is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, any payments that the Company has made under these agreements have not had a material impact on the operating results, financial position or cash flows of the Company.


22
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)


8. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has the authority, without approval by the stockholders, to issue up to a total of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The Board may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may fix the designations, preferences, powers and other rights of the shares of a series of preferred stock. The Board could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could dilute the voting power or rights of the holders of its common stock. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock
Prior to October 31, 2016, the Company's certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized three classes of common stock: Class A common stock, Class B common stock and common stock. On October 31, 2016, each share of the Company's Class A common stock and Class B common stock automatically converted into a single class of common stock pursuant to the terms of the Company's sixth amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Upon conversion, all shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock were retired.
Pursuant to the Company's restated certificate of incorporation, the Board has the authority to issue up to a total of 2,010,000,000 shares of common stock. Each holder of common stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter that is submitted to a vote of stockholders. In addition, holders of the common stock will vote as a single class of stock on any matter that is submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Prior to October 31, 2016, holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock had identical rights, except that holders of Class A common stock were entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B common stock were entitled to 150 votes per share.

Share Repurchase Program

The Board has authorized the Company to repurchase up to $700.0 million of its common stock through April 2018 under its current share repurchase program. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company purchased 7,185,453 and 14,522,134 shares, respectively, for an aggregate purchase price of $24.8 million and $50.9 million (including fees and commissions) under that repurchase program. As of June 30, 2017, up to $144.3 million of common stock remained available for purchase under that program. The timing and amount of any share repurchases are determined based on market conditions, limitations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, share price and other factors, and the program may be discontinued or suspended at any time.

Groupon, Inc. Stock Plans
The Groupon, Inc. Stock Plans (the "Plans") are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, which determines the number of awards to be issued, the corresponding vesting schedule and the exercise price for options. As of June 30, 2017, 67,455,159 shares of common stock were available for future issuance under the Plans.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense from continuing operations of $21.4 million and $36.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $41.1 million and $66.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to stock awards issued under the Plans and acquisition-related awards. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense from discontinued operations of $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and $0.2 million and $1.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company also capitalized $1.8 million and $2.8 million of stock-based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $3.3 million and $5.0 million of stock-based compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, in connection with internally-developed software.


23
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

As of June 30, 2017, a total of $120.0 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested employee stock awards and unvested acquisition-related awards are expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 1.07 years.    
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company is authorized to grant up to 10,000,000 shares of common stock under its employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP"). For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, 877,845 and 618,319 shares of common stock were issued under the ESPP, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
The restricted stock units granted under the Plans generally have vesting periods between one and four years. Restricted stock units are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, except for restricted stock units with performance conditions and ratable vesting, which are amortized using the accelerated method.
The table below summarizes activity regarding unvested restricted stock units granted under the Plans for the six months ended June 30, 2017:

 
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value (per share)
Unvested at December 31, 2016
 
25,407,846

 
$
5.18

    Granted
 
18,147,526

 
$
3.74

    Vested
 
(9,075,003
)
 
$
5.27

    Forfeited
 
(4,060,667
)
 
$
5.15

Unvested at June 30, 2017
 
30,419,702

 
$
4.30

Performance Share Units
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, 503,735 shares of the Company's common stock were issued upon vesting of performance share units granted in the previous year upon the Board's certification of the Company's financial and operational metrics for the year ended December 31, 2016. The weighted average grant date fair value of those shares was $3.78 per share.
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company granted additional performance share units to certain key employees. The vesting of those awards into shares of the Company's common stock is contingent upon the achievement of specified financial and operational targets for the year ending December 31, 2017 and is subject to both continued employment through the performance period and certification by the Board that the specified financial and operational targets have been achieved. The maximum number of common shares issuable upon vesting of those performance share units is 2,505,346 shares, the grant date fair value was $4.01 per share and the total grant date fair value of the shares for which the performance conditions are expected to be met was $5.0 million.
Performance Bonus Awards
If bonus amounts earned under the Company's primary employee bonus plans exceed targeted bonus amounts because specified financial metrics of the Company exceed the performance conditions set forth in those plans, such excess is required to be settled in the Company's common stock. The Company's obligation to issue shares for employee bonus amounts exceeding the specified bonus targets is accounted for separately as a liability-classified stock-based compensation arrangement with performance conditions.
Restricted Stock Awards
The Company has granted restricted stock awards in connection with business combinations. Compensation expense on these awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods, which extend through January 2018. There were no restricted stock awards granted, vested or forfeited during the six months ended June 30, 2017. There were 1,219,018


24
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

unvested restricted stock awards as of June 30, 2017 with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.76.
Stock Options
The exercise price of stock options granted is equal to the fair value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. The contractual term for stock options expires ten years from the grant date. Stock options generally vested over a three or four-year period, with 25% of the awards vesting after one year and the remainder of the awards vesting on a monthly or quarterly basis thereafter.
The table below summarizes the stock option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2017:
 
 
Options
 
Weighted- Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
(in thousands) (1)
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016
 
991,172

 
$
0.77

 
2.83
 
$
2,527

    Exercised
 
(9,601
)
 
1.97

 
 
 
 
    Forfeited
 
(1,501
)
 
1.72

 
 
 
 
Outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2017
 
980,070

 
$
0.77

 
2.34
 
$
3,009

(1)
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the fair value of the Company's stock on the last day of each period and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of options where the fair value exceeds the exercise price) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
9. RESTRUCTURING    
In September 2015, the Company commenced a restructuring plan relating primarily to workforce reductions in its international operations. The Company has also undertaken workforce reductions in its North America segment. In addition to workforce reductions in its ongoing markets, the Company ceased operations in 17 countries within its International segment as part of the restructuring plan between September 2015 and March 2016. Those country exits, which generally comprised the Company's smallest international markets, resulted from a series of separate decisions made at different times during that period that were not part of an overall strategic shift. Costs related to the restructuring plan are classified as "Restructuring charges" on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

From the inception of its restructuring plan in September 2015 through June 30, 2017, the Company has incurred cumulative costs for employee severance and benefits and other exit costs of $68.7 million under the plan. In addition to those costs, the Company has incurred cumulative long-lived asset impairment charges of $7.5 million resulting from its restructuring activities. The Company currently expects the actions under its restructuring plan to be substantially complete by September 2017.

The following table summarizes the costs incurred by segment related to the Company’s restructuring plan for the three months ended June 30, 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
 
Employee Severance and Benefit Costs (1)
 
Asset Impairments
 
Other Exit Costs
 
Total Restructuring Charges
North America
 
$
2,687

 
$
—

 
$
288

 
$
2,975

International
 
86

 
—

 
1,523

 
1,609

Consolidated
 
$
2,773

 
$
—

 
$
1,811

 
$
4,584

(1)
The employee severance and benefit costs for the three months ended June 30, 2017 relates to the termination of approximately 150 employees. Substantially all of the remaining cash payments for those costs are expected to be disbursed through December 31, 2017.


25
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes the costs incurred by segment related to the Company’s restructuring plan for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
 
Employee Severance and Benefit Costs (1)
 
Asset Impairments
 
Other Exit Costs
 
Total Restructuring Charges
North America
 
$
4,465

 
$
—

 
$
465

 
$
4,930

International
 
609

 
—

 
1,776

 
2,385

Consolidated
 
$
5,074

 
$
—

 
$
2,241

 
$
7,315

(1)
The employee severance and benefit costs for the six months ended June 30, 2017 relates to the termination of approximately 350 employees. Substantially all of the remaining cash payments for those costs are expected to be disbursed through December 31, 2017.
The following table summarizes the costs incurred by segment related to the Company’s restructuring plan for the three months ended June 30, 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Employee Severance and Benefit Costs (1)
 
Asset Impairments
 
Other Exit Costs
 
Total Restructuring Charges
North America
 
$
1,488

 
$
—

 
$
1,318

 
$
2,806

International
 
12,565

 
—

 
331

 
12,896

Consolidated
 
$
14,053

 
$
—

 
$
1,649

 
$
15,702


(1)
The employee severance and benefit costs for the three months ended June 30, 2016 related to the termination of approximately 250 employees.
The following table summarizes the costs incurred by segment related to the Company’s restructuring plan for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Employee Severance and Benefit Costs (1)
 
Asset Impairments
 
Other Exit Costs
 
Total Restructuring Charges
North America
 
$
6,213

 
$
45

 
$
2,167

 
$
8,425

International
 
18,165

 
—

 
625

 
18,790

Consolidated
 
$
24,378

 
$
45

 
$
2,792

 
$
27,215


(1)
The employee severance and benefit costs for the six months ended June 30, 2016 related to the termination of approximately 550 employees.


26
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes restructuring liability activity for each period (in thousands):


Employee Severance and Benefit Costs
 
Other Exit Costs
 
Total
Balance as of June 30, 2015
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Charges payable in cash
 
18,310

 
2,940

 
21,250

Cash payments
 
(8,862
)
 
(746
)
 
(9,608
)
Foreign currency translation
 
(576
)
 
3

 
(573
)
Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
$
8,872

 
$
2,197

 
$
11,069

Charges payable in cash
 
29,416

 
6,063

 
35,479

Cash payments
 
(23,729
)
 
(5,988
)
 
(29,717
)
Foreign currency translation
 
(424
)
 
(12
)
 
(436
)
Balance as of December 31, 2016

$
14,135

 
$
2,260

 
$
16,395

Charges payable in cash

5,074

 
2,241

 
7,315

Cash payments

(14,448
)
 
(4,305
)
 
(18,753
)
Foreign currency translation

526

 
28

 
554

Balance as of June 30, 2017

$
5,287

 
$
224

 
$
5,511


10. INCOME TAXES
The Company's tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items.
For the three months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $3.9 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $1.5 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit from continuing operations of $2.2 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $51.0 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense from continuing operations of $8.5 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $17.8 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit from continuing operations of $1.2 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $93.5 million.
The Company's U.S. statutory rate is 35%. The primary factor impacting the effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was the pretax losses incurred by the Company's operations in jurisdictions that have valuation allowances against their net deferred tax assets, including the United States.
The Company is currently undergoing income tax audits in multiple jurisdictions. There are many factors, including factors outside of the Company's control, which influence the progress and completion of those audits. As of June 30, 2017, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that reductions of up to $36.1 million in unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months upon closing of income tax audits or the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations.
11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined under U.S. GAAP as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
Level 1 - Measurements that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.


27
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

Level 2 - Measurements that include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3 - Measurements derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. These fair value measurements require significant judgment.
In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches within the fair value measurement framework. The valuation methodologies used for the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value and their classification in the valuation hierarchy are summarized below:
Cash equivalents - Cash equivalents primarily consist of AAA-rated money market funds. The Company classified cash equivalents as Level 1 due to the short-term nature of these instruments and measured the fair value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
Fair value option investments and available-for-sale securities - See Note 4, Investments, for a discussion of the valuation methodologies used to measure the fair value of the Company's investments in Monster LP and GroupMax. The Company measures the fair value of those investments using the discounted cash flow method, which is an income approach, and the market approach. The Company also has investments in redeemable preferred shares and convertible debt securities issued by nonpublic entities. The Company measures the fair value of those available-for-sale securities using the discounted cash flow method.
The Company has classified its fair value option investments and its investments in available-for-sale securities as Level 3 due to the lack of observable market data over fair value inputs such as cash flow projections and discount rates. Increases in projected cash flows and decreases in discount rates contribute to increases in the estimated fair values of the fair value option investments and available-for-sale securities, whereas decreases in projected cash flows and increases in discount rates contribute to decreases in their fair values.

Contingent consideration - The Company had contingent obligations to transfer cash to the former owners of acquired businesses if specified financial results are met over future reporting periods (i.e., earn-outs). Liabilities for contingent consideration were measured at fair value each reporting period, with the acquisition-date fair value included as part of the consideration transferred and subsequent changes in fair value are recorded in earnings within "Acquisition-related expense    (benefit), net" on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Company used an income approach to value contingent consideration obligations based on future financial performance, which was determined based on the present value of probability-weighted future cash flows. The Company classified the contingent consideration liabilities as Level 3 due to the lack of relevant observable market data over fair value inputs such as probability-weighting of payment outcomes.
The following tables summarize the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using
Description
June 30, 2017
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
122,336

 
$
122,336

 
$
—

 
$
—

Fair value option investments
81,439

 
—

 
—

 
81,439

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
10,868

 
—

 
—

 
10,868

Redeemable preferred shares
15,923

 
—

 
—

 
15,923



28
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using
Description
December 31, 2016
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
202,241

 
$
202,241

 
$
—

 
$
—

Fair value option investments
82,584

 
—

 
—

 
82,584

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
10,038

 
—

 
—

 
10,038

Redeemable preferred shares
17,444

 
—

 
—

 
17,444

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 Contingent consideration
14,588

 
—

 
—

 
14,588

The following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of recurring Level 3 fair value measurements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value option investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
82,887

 
$
129,625

 
$
82,584

 
$
130,725

Total gains (losses) included in earnings
 
(1,448
)
 
(4,607
)
 
(1,145
)
 
(5,707
)
Ending Balance
 
$
81,439

 
$
125,018

 
$
81,439

 
$
125,018

Unrealized gains (losses) still held (1)
 
$
(1,448
)
 
$
(4,607
)
 
$
(1,145
)
 
$
(5,707
)
Available-for-sale securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
11,931

 
$
10,173

 
$
10,038

 
$
10,116

Purchase of convertible debt security
 
—

 
—

 
1,612

 
—

Proceeds at maturity of convertible debt security
 
(1,843
)
 
—

 
(1,843
)
 
—

Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(575
)
 
201

 
(533
)
 
220

   Total gains (losses) included in earnings (2)
 
1,355

 
199

 
1,594

 
237

Ending Balance
 
$
10,868

 
$
10,573

 
$
10,868

 
$
10,573

Unrealized gains (losses) still held (1)
 
$
512

 
$
400

 
$
816

 
$
457

Redeemable preferred shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
17,788

 
$
22,699

 
$
17,444

 
$
22,834

Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(1,865
)
 
(356
)
 
(1,521
)
 
(491
)
Ending Balance
 
$
15,923

 
$
22,343

 
$
15,923

 
$
22,343

Unrealized (losses) gains still held (1)
 
$
(1,865
)
 
$
(356
)
 
$
(1,521
)
 
$
(491
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent Consideration:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
 
$
14,600

 
$
13,938

 
$
14,588

 
$
10,781

Settlements of contingent consideration liabilities
 
(7,858
)
 
—

 
(7,858
)
 
—

Reclass to non-fair value liabilities when no longer contingent
 
(6,778
)
 
—

 
(6,778
)
 
(285
)
Total losses (gains) included in earnings (3)
 
36

 
850

 
48

 
4,292

Ending Balance
 
$
—

 
$
14,788

 
$
—

 
$
14,788

Unrealized losses (gains) still held (1)
 
$
—

 
$
850

 
$
—

 
$
4,166



29
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

(1)
Represents the unrealized losses or gains recorded in earnings and/or other comprehensive income (loss) during the period for assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 that are still held (or outstanding) at the end of the period.
(2)
Represents a gain at maturity of a previously impaired convertible debt security, accretion of interest income and changes in the fair value of an embedded derivative.
(3)
Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities are classified within "Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net" on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, including assets that are written down to fair value as a result of an impairment. The Company did not record any significant nonrecurring fair value measurements after initial recognition for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
Estimated Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value
The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements (in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Cost method investments
 
$
33,206

 
$
42,977

 
$
31,816

 
$
35,369

The fair values of the Company's cost method investments were determined using the market approach or the income approach, depending on the availability of fair value inputs such as financial projections for the investees and market multiples for comparable companies. The Company has classified the fair value measurements of its cost method investments as Level 3 measurements within the fair value hierarchy because they involve significant unobservable inputs such as cash flow projections and discount rates.
The Company's other financial instruments not carried at fair value consist primarily of accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued merchant and supplier payables and accrued expenses. The carrying values of these assets and liabilities approximate their respective fair values as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 due to their short-term nature.
12. INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and the effect of potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities include stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units, unvested restricted stock awards, ESPP shares, warrants and convertible senior notes. If dilutive, those potentially dilutive securities are reflected in diluted net income (loss) per share by application of the treasury stock method, except for the convertible senior notes, which are subject to the if-converted method.
Each share of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock automatically converted into a single class of common stock on October 31, 2016. Refer to Note 8, Stockholders’ Equity and Compensation Arrangements, for additional information. Prior to the conversion, the Company computed net income (loss) per share of Class A and Class B common stock using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, the undistributed earnings for each period were allocated based on the contractual participation rights of the Class A and Class B common shares as if the earnings for the period had been distributed. As the liquidation and dividend rights were identical for Class A and Class B common shares, the undistributed earnings were allocated on a proportionate basis. Under the two-class method, the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of Class A common stock would reflect the conversion of Class B common stock, if dilutive, while the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of Class B common stock would not reflect the conversion of those shares.


30
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 (in thousands, except share amounts and per share amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
 
 
 
 
Numerator
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) - continuing operations
 
$
(5,403
)
 
$
(26,272
)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
2,547

 
6,579

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - continuing operations
 
$
(7,950
)
 
$
(32,851
)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - discontinued operations
 
(1,376
)
 
(889
)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
 
$
(9,326
)
 
$
(33,740
)
Denominator
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
 
559,762,180

 
560,978,712

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (1):
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
(0.06
)
Discontinued operations
 
(0.01
)
 
—

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.06
)
(1)
The potentially dilutive impacts of outstanding equity awards, warrants and convertible senior notes have been excluded from the calculation of dilutive net income (loss) per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as their effect on net income (loss) per share from continuing operations was antidilutive.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 (in thousands, except share amounts and per share amounts):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
Class A
 
Class B
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Numerator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allocation of net income (loss) - continuing operations
 
$
(48,565
)
 
$
(203
)
 
$
(91,923
)
 
$
(384
)
Less: Allocation of net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
3,160

 
13

 
6,668

 
28

Allocation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - continuing operations
 
$
(51,725
)
 
$
(216
)
 
$
(98,591
)
 
$
(412
)
Allocation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - discontinued operations
 
(2,951
)
 
(12
)
 
(4,999
)
 
(21
)
Allocation of net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
 
$
(54,676
)
 
$
(228
)
 
$
(103,590
)
 
$
(433
)
Denominator
 

 

 
—

 
—

Weighted-average common shares outstanding
 
574,503,028

 
2,399,976

 
577,427,365

 
2,399,976

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (1):
 


 


 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
(0.09
)
 
$
(0.09
)
 
$
(0.17
)
 
$
(0.17
)
Discontinued operations
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.01
)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.18
)
 
$
(0.18
)
(1)
The potentially dilutive impacts of a conversion of Class B to Class A shares, outstanding equity awards, warrants and convertible senior notes have been excluded from the calculation of dilutive net income (loss) per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 as their effect on net income (loss) per share from continuing operations was antidilutive.


31
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following weighted-average outstanding potentially-dilutive securities are not included in the diluted net income (loss) per share calculations above because they would have had an antidilutive effect on the net income (loss) per share from continuing operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Stock options
 
1,052,147

 
1,241,917

 
1,055,030

 
1,353,100

Restricted stock units
 
30,134,808

 
35,796,752

 
27,247,728

 
36,992,033

Restricted stock
 
1,219,018

 
1,219,018

 
1,219,018

 
1,456,165

ESPP shares
 
1,165,910

 
1,219,133

 
1,225,480

 
1,315,666

Performance share units
 
—

 
—

 
167,912

 
—

Convertible senior notes
 
46,296,300

 
44,261,298

 
46,296,300

 
22,130,649

Warrants
 
46,296,300

 
26,455,029

 
46,296,300

 
13,227,514

Total
 
126,164,483

 
110,193,147

 
123,507,768

 
76,475,127

In addition to the antidilutive securities as set forth in the table above, the Company had outstanding performance share units as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 that were eligible to vest into up to 2,505,346 and 778,092 shares of common stock, respectively, subject to the achievement of specified performance conditions. Contingently issuable shares are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share if, based on current period results, the shares would not be issuable if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period. These outstanding performance share units have been excluded from the table above for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 as the performance conditions were not satisfied as of the end of the period.
13. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The segment information reported in the tables below reflects the operating results that are regularly reviewed by the Company's chief operating decision maker to assess performance and make resource allocation decisions. The Company previously organized its operations into three operating segments: North America, EMEA and Rest of World. As a result of the dispositions discussed in Note 2, Discontinued Operations, which represented a substantial majority of the Company's international operations outside of EMEA and resulted in changes to the Company's internal reporting and leadership structure, the Company updated its segments in the first quarter of 2017 to report two operating segments: North America and International. The Company's operating segments continue to be the same as its reportable segments. In addition, the Company has changed its measure of segment profitability in the first quarter of 2017. Historically, segment operating results reflected operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation and acquisition-related expense (benefit), net. In connection with the internal reporting changes in the first quarter of 2017, the measure of segment profitability has been changed to operating income (loss), unadjusted. Prior period segment information has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect those changes.
The Company offers goods and services through its online local commerce marketplaces in three primary categories: Local, Goods and Travel. The Company also earns advertising revenue and commission revenue generated when customers make purchases with retailers using digital coupons accessed through the Company's websites and mobile applications. Revenue and gross profit from those other sources, which are primarily generated through the Company's relationships with local and national merchants, are included within the Local category in the tables below.
The following table summarizes revenue by reportable segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):


32
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
North America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other
 
$
207,534

 
$
184,139

 
$
408,079

 
$
376,292

Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,112

 
2,364

 
5,816

 
4,354

Direct
 
217,946

 
309,018

 
468,592

 
594,774

Travel - Third-party
 
22,320

 
21,401

 
42,782

 
42,315

Total North America revenue (1)
 
$
451,912

 
$
516,922

 
$
925,269

 
$
1,017,735

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other
 
$
66,108

 
$
67,956

 
$
129,683

 
$
136,863

Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,984

 
7,076

 
9,268

 
20,290

Direct
 
128,819

 
120,166

 
250,227

 
223,216

Travel - Third-party
 
10,796

 
11,640

 
21,798

 
24,091

Total International revenue (1)
 
$
210,707

 
$
206,838

 
$
410,976

 
$
404,460

(1)
North America includes revenue from the United States of $442.7 million and $508.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $907.4 million and $1,001.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. International includes revenue from the United Kingdom of $74.4 million and $78.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $139.9 million and $152.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There were no other individual countries that represented more than 10% of consolidated total revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. In prior periods, revenue was attributed to individual countries based on the domicile of the legal entities within the Company's consolidated group that undertook those transactions. The Company updated its attribution of revenue by country in the current period to be based on the location of the customer. Prior period revenue amounts by country have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect that change in attribution.
The following table summarizes gross profit by reportable segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
North America
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other
 
$
179,609

 
$
158,812

 
$
348,951

 
$
322,830

Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
3,207

 
2,019

 
4,514

 
3,692

Direct
 
33,289

 
40,009

 
68,412

 
74,549

Travel - Third-party
 
17,755

 
16,334

 
32,920

 
32,046

Total North America gross profit
 
$
233,860

 
$
217,174

 
$
454,797

 
$
433,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other
 
$
62,303

 
$
62,970

 
$
121,497

 
$
127,191

Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,506

 
5,848

 
8,161

 
17,551

Direct
 
17,402

 
18,901

 
33,031

 
35,894

Travel - Third-party
 
9,996

 
10,484

 
20,032

 
21,726

Total International gross profit
 
$
94,207

 
$
98,203

 
$
182,721

 
$
202,362



33
GROUPON, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes operating income by reportable segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Operating income (loss) (1) (2) (3):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
 
$
(12,033
)
 
$
(31,284
)
 
$
(26,816
)
 
$
(73,218
)
International
 
$
4,635

 
(8,469
)
 
$
7,738

 
(11,683
)
Total operating income (loss)
 
$
(7,398
)
 
$
(39,753
)
 
$
(19,078
)
 
$
(84,901
)
(1)
Includes stock-based compensation of $20.0 million and $31.8 million for North America and $1.3 million and $4.9 million for International for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $38.3 million and $58.9 million for North America and $2.7 million and $7.7 million for International for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(2)
Includes acquisition-related (benefit) expense, net of $0.8 million and $4.3 million for North America for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.
(3)
Includes restructuring charges of $3.0 million and $2.8 million for North America and $1.6 million and $12.9 million (which includes $2.2 million of stock-based compensation) for International for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $4.9 million and $8.4 million (which includes $2.6 million of stock-based compensation) for North America and $2.4 million and $18.8 million (which includes $2.1 million of stock-based compensation) for International for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The following table summarizes the Company's total assets by reportable segment as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
North America (1)
$
896,077

 
$
1,122,261

International (1)
531,360

 
563,864

Assets of discontinued operations
—

 
75,252

Consolidated total assets
$
1,427,437

 
$
1,761,377

(1)
North America contains assets from the United States of $821.3 million and $1,057.6 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. International contains assets from Ireland of $143.9 million and $203.2 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. There were no other individual countries that represented more than 10% of consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
    
In July 2017, the Company reached a decision to cease most of its food delivery operations by the end of the third quarter 2017 and it entered into a long-term commercial agreement with a subsidiary of Grubhub Inc. ("Grubhub") that will allow the Company to provide customers with the ability to order food delivery through the Company’s websites and mobile applications in the United States from Grubhub’s network of restaurant merchants. Additionally, on July 31, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to sell customer lists and other intangible assets in certain food delivery markets to Grubhub for $20.0 million. The related asset purchase agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants and that sale transaction is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2017. For the quarterly period ending September 30, 2017, the Company’s restructuring cost associated with ceasing most of its food delivery operations is expected to be approximately $2.0 million, primarily relating to employee severance, and its gain on the asset sale is expected to be approximately $17.0 million to $18.0 million.



34

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion contains forward-looking statements about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of many factors, including those we describe under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Overview
Groupon operates online local commerce marketplaces throughout the world that connect merchants to consumers by offering goods and services, generally at a discount. Consumers access those marketplaces through our websites, primarily localized groupon.com sites in many countries, and our mobile applications. Traditionally, local merchants have tried to reach consumers and generate sales through a variety of methods, including online advertising, paid telephone directories, direct mail, newspaper, radio, television and other promotions. By bringing the brick and mortar world of local commerce onto the Internet, Groupon is helping local merchants to attract customers and sell goods and services. We provide consumers with savings and help them discover what to do, eat, see and buy and where to travel.

We offer goods and services through our online local commerce marketplaces in three primary categories: Local, Goods and Travel. During 2017, we began shifting more of the focus on our websites and mobile applications in North America to offerings in our Local category, which we believe provides us with the greatest opportunity for long-term gross profit growth.

Our revenue from transactions in which we act as a third-party marketing agent is the purchase price paid by the customer, generally for a Groupon voucher (a "Groupon"), less an agreed upon portion of the purchase price paid to the merchant. Our direct revenue from transactions in which we sell merchandise inventory in our Goods category as the merchant of record is the purchase price paid by the customer. We generated revenue of $662.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $723.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, and $1,336.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $1,422.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016.

In October 2016, we completed a strategic review of our remaining international markets in connection with our efforts to optimize our global footprint and focus on the markets that we believe to have the greatest potential to benefit our long-term financial performance. Based on that review, we decided to focus our business on 15 core countries, which are primarily based in North America and EMEA, and to pursue strategic alternatives for our operations in the remaining 11 countries, which were primarily based in Asia and Latin America. The dispositions of our operations in those 11 countries were completed between November 2016 and March 2017. A business disposition that represents a strategic shift and has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results is reported as a discontinued operation. We determined that the decision reached by our management and Board of Directors to exit those 11 non-core countries, which comprised a substantial majority of our operations outside of North America and EMEA, represented a strategic shift in our business. Based on our review of quantitative and qualitative factors, we also believe that the disposition of the businesses in those 11 countries will have a major effect on our operations and financial results. As such, the financial results of our operations in those countries, including gains and losses on the dispositions, are presented as discontinued operations in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Unless otherwise stated, all financial information discussed herein represents results from continuing operations.

We previously organized our operations into three operating segments: North America, EMEA and Rest of World. As a result of the dispositions discussed above, which represented a substantial majority of our international operations outside of EMEA and resulted in changes to our internal reporting and leadership structure, we updated our segment disclosures in the first quarter of 2017 to report two operating segments: North America and International. See Note 13, Segment Information, for further information. For the three months ended June 30, 2017, we derived 68.2% of our revenue from our North America segment and 31.8% of our revenue from our International segment. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we derived 69.2% of our revenue from our North America segment and 30.8% of our revenue from our International segment.
In September 2015, we commenced a restructuring plan relating primarily to workforce reductions in our international operations. We have also undertaken workforce reductions in our North America segment. In addition to workforce reductions in our ongoing markets, we ceased operations in 17 countries within our International segment from September 2015 through March 2016 in connection with our restructuring actions. Those country exits, which generally comprised our smallest international markets, resulted from a series of separate decisions made at different times during that period that were not part of an overall strategic shift. See Note 9, Restructuring, for additional information about our restructuring plan. As a result of the restructuring actions that we have taken, our operating expenses have decreased significantly in recent periods on a year-over-year basis and


35

we expect that trend to continue through 2017. We currently expect our actions under this restructuring plan to be substantially complete by September 2017.
How We Measure Our Business
We measure our business with several financial and operating metrics. We use these metrics to assess the progress of our business, make decisions on where to allocate capital, time and technology investments and assess the long-term performance of our marketplaces. Certain of the financial metrics are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP and certain of these metrics are considered non-GAAP financial measures. As our business evolves, we may make changes to our key financial and operating metrics used to measure our business in future periods. For further information and a reconciliation to the most applicable financial measure under U.S. GAAP, refer to our discussion under Non-GAAP Financial Measures in the Results of Operations section.

Financial Metrics
•
Gross billings. This metric represents the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services. For third- party revenue transactions, gross billings differs from third-party revenue reported in our consolidated statements of operations, which is presented net of the merchant's share of the transaction price. For direct revenue transactions, gross billings is equivalent to direct revenue reported in our consolidated statements of operations. We consider this metric to be an important indicator of our growth and business performance as it measures the dollar volume of transactions generated through our marketplaces. Tracking gross billings on third-party revenue transactions also allows us to monitor the percentage of gross billings that we are able to retain after payments to merchants.
•
Revenue. Third-party revenue, which is earned from transactions in which we act as a marketing agent, is reported on a net basis as the purchase price received from the customer less an agreed upon portion of the purchase price paid to the featured merchant. Direct revenue, which is earned from sales of merchandise inventory directly to customers through our online marketplaces, is reported on a gross basis as the purchase price received from the customer.
•
Gross profit. Gross profit reflects the net margin earned after deducting our cost of revenue from our revenue. Due to the lack of comparability between third-party revenue, which is presented net of the merchant's share of the transaction price, and direct revenue, which is reported on a gross basis, we believe that gross profit is an important measure for evaluating our performance.
•
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP performance measure that we define as net income (loss) from continuing operations excluding income taxes, interest and other non-operating items, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition-related expense (benefit), net and other special charges and credits, including items that are unusual in nature or infrequently occurring. For further information and a reconciliation to the most applicable financial measure under U.S. GAAP, refer to our discussion under Non-GAAP Financial Measures in the Results of Operations section.
•
Free cash flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that comprises net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations less purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software from continuing operations. For further information and a reconciliation to the most applicable financial measure under U.S. GAAP, refer to our discussion under Non-GAAP Financial Measures in the Results of Operations section.
The following table presents the above financial metrics for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Gross billings
 
$
1,364,233

 
$
1,389,539

 
$
2,722,209

 
$
2,759,225

Revenue
 
662,619

 
723,760

 
1,336,245

 
1,422,195

Gross profit
 
328,067

 
315,377

 
637,518

 
635,479

Adjusted EBITDA
 
53,293

 
35,586

 
98,073

 
67,123

Free cash flow
 
(36,080
)
 
(67,508
)
 
(186,389
)
 
(162,137
)


36

The most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measure for Adjusted EBITDA is "Income (loss) from continuing operations" and the most comparable U.S. GAAP liquidity measure for Free cash flow is "Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations." For further information and a reconciliation to the most applicable measure under U.S. GAAP, refer to our discussion under Non-GAAP Financial Measures in the Results of Operations section. The following table provides income (loss) from continuing operations and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
(5,403
)
 
$
(48,768
)
 
$
(26,272
)
 
$
(92,307
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations
 
(20,695
)
 
(51,009
)
 
(156,928
)
 
(125,786
)
Operating Metrics
•
Active customers. We define active customers as unique user accounts that have made a purchase through one of our online marketplaces during the trailing twelve months ("TTM"). We consider this metric to be an important indicator of our business performance as it helps us to understand how the number of customers actively purchasing our offerings is trending. Some customers could establish and make purchases from more than one account, so it is possible that our active customer metric may count certain customers more than once in a given period. For entities that we have acquired in a business combination, active customers include unique user accounts that have made a purchase through the acquired entity's website during the trailing twelve months, which includes customers who have made purchases prior to our acquisition of the entity.
•
Gross billings and gross profit per average active customer. These metrics represent the trailing twelve months gross billings and gross profit generated per average active customer. We use these metrics to evaluate average customer spend and resulting gross profit generation.
•
Units. This metric represents the number of purchases made through our online marketplaces, before refunds and cancellations. We consider unit growth to be an important indicator of the total volume of business conducted through our marketplaces.
Our active customers, gross billings per average active customer and gross profit per average active customer for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
 
 
Trailing Twelve Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017 (1)
 
2016 (2)
TTM Active customers (in thousands)
 
48,346

 
44,867

TTM Gross billings per average active customer
 
$
121.24

 
$
128.81

TTM Gross profit per average active customer
 
$
27.52

 
$
29.26

(1)
TTM Active customers for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017 includes approximately 0.7 million incremental active customers from the acquisition of LivingSocial, Inc.
(2)
TTM Active customers for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2016 has been reduced from 50.0 million active customers previously reported to 44.9 million active customers due to the exclusion of customers from our operations in 11 countries that have been presented as discontinued operations. The exclusion of those countries' gross billings and active customers increased the TTM gross billings per average active customer for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016 from $124.51 previously reported to $128.81.

Our units for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016 (1)
 
2017
 
2016 (1)
Units (in thousands)
 
44,461

 
46,210

 
90,192

 
93,409

(1)
Units have been reduced from 50.9 million to 46.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and from 103.1 million to 93.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 due to the exclusion of the units from our operations in 11 countries that have been presented as discontinued operations.


37

Factors Affecting Our Performance
Deal sourcing and quality. We consider our merchant relationships to be a vital part of our business model. We depend on our ability to attract and retain merchants that are prepared to offer products or services on compelling terms, particularly as we attempt to expand our product and service offerings in order to create more complete online marketplaces for local commerce. Our online marketplaces, which we sometimes refer to as "pull" marketplaces, enable customers to search and browse for deal offerings on our websites and mobile applications. In North America and many of our international markets, merchants often have a continuous presence on our websites and mobile applications by offering vouchers on an ongoing basis for an extended period of time. Currently, a substantial majority of our merchants in North America elect to offer deals in this manner, and we expect that trend to continue. However, merchants have the ability to withdraw their deal offerings, and we generally do not have noncancelable long-term arrangements to guarantee availability of deals. In order to attract merchants that may not have run deals on our platform or would have run deals on a competing platform, we have been willing to accept lower deal margins across both of our segments and we expect that trend to continue. Additionally, we have been developing product enhancements to reduce friction related to the voucher redemption process, which we believe could make our services more attractive to merchants, as well as customers, once broadly implemented. If new merchants do not find our marketing and promotional services effective, or if our existing merchants do not believe that utilizing our services provides them with a long-term increase in customers, revenue or profit, they may stop making offers through our marketplaces or they may only continue offering deals if we accept lower margins.
We continue to focus more of our efforts on sourcing local deal offerings in subcategories that provide the best opportunities for high frequency customer purchase behavior. Those "high frequency use cases" include food and drink, health, beauty and wellness, and events and activities. In connection with those efforts, we may be willing to offer more attractive terms to local merchants that could reduce our deal margins in future periods.

International operations. Operating a global business requires management attention and resources and requires us to localize our services to conform to a wide variety of local cultures, business practices, laws and policies. We have reduced our global footprint from 47 countries as of December 31, 2014 to 15 countries as of June 30, 2017. Notwithstanding our reduced global footprint, different commercial and regulatory environments in other countries can make it difficult for us to successfully operate our business. In addition, many of the automation tools and technology enhancements that we have implemented in North America are not yet fully implemented in our international markets.
Our international operations have increased as a percentage of our total revenue compared to the prior year period, primarily due to a higher proportion of direct revenue transactions in the Goods category of our International segment. For the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, 31.8% and 28.6% of our revenue was generated from our International segment, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, 30.8% and 28.4% of our revenue was generated from our International segment, respectively.
Marketing activities. We must continue to acquire and retain customers in order to increase revenue and achieve profitability. If consumers do not perceive the offerings on our marketplaces to be attractive, or if we fail to introduce new or more relevant deals, we may not be able to acquire or retain customers. In addition, as we continue to build out more complete marketplaces, our success will depend on our ability to increase consumer awareness of offerings available through those marketplaces. We significantly increased our marketing spending throughout 2016 and the first half of 2017 in order to drive customer growth. Our increased levels of marketing spending in recent periods has included significant offline campaigns intended to increase customer awareness of the Groupon brand and our product and service offerings. We expect to continue our use of such offline campaigns for the foreseeable future.
As discussed under "Components of Results of Operations," we consider order discounts, free shipping on qualifying merchandise sales and reducing margins on our deals to be marketing-related activities, even though these activities are not presented as marketing expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. We have continued to increase our use of order discounts as a marketing tool in recent periods because we believe that this is an effective method of driving transaction activity through our marketplaces and acquiring new customers. Additionally, we have, and expect to continue to, reduce our deal margins when we believe that by doing so we can offer our customers a product or service from a merchant who might not have otherwise been willing to conduct business through our marketplaces. We consider such margin reductions to be a marketing-related activity because we believe that offering compelling deals from top merchants on our marketplaces is an effective method of retaining, activating and acquiring customers.

Investment in growth. We intend to continue to invest in product enhancements and infrastructure to support our growth. We also have invested in business acquisitions to grow our merchant and customer base, expand and advance our product and service offerings and enhance our technology capabilities. We anticipate that we will make substantial investments in the foreseeable future as we continue to increase our offerings and improve the quality of active deals available through our marketplaces, broaden


38

our customer base and develop our technology. We are currently developing and testing a number of product enhancements intended to make our offerings easier to use for both customers and merchants, including "voucherless" offerings that are linked to customer credit cards and functionality enabling appointment booking at the time an offering is purchased. Deals that offer cash back on a customer's credit card may involve Groupon collecting a net fee from the merchant, rather than selling a voucher to the customer and then remitting a portion of the proceeds to the merchant. We report the sale of vouchers to customers as gross billings, so while we believe that "voucherless" offerings have the potential to increase customer purchase frequency and generate gross profit growth, our gross billings could be adversely impacted when those offerings begin to scale.
Additionally, we believe that our restructuring actions and efforts to automate internal processes, which have allowed us to centralize many of our back office activities in lower cost shared service centers, will enable us to run our business more efficiently with an improved cost structure. We intend to use some of that cost savings to continue to invest in marketing and product enhancements to drive the growth of our online marketplaces.
Competitive pressure. We face competition from a variety of sources. Some of our competitors offer deals as an add-on to their core businesses, and others have adopted a business model similar to ours. In addition to such competitors, we expect to increasingly compete against other large Internet and technology-based businesses that have launched initiatives which are directly competitive to our core business. We also expect to compete against other Internet sites that are focused on specific communities or interests and offer coupons or discount arrangements related to such communities or interests. Further, as our business continues to evolve, we anticipate facing new competition. Increased competition in the future may adversely impact our gross billings, revenue and profit margins.
Results of Operations
Gross Billings
Gross billings represents the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services. Gross billings is presented net of customer refunds, order discounts and sales and related taxes.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Gross billings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
$
997,076

 
$
941,010

 
$
56,066

 
6.0
 %
Direct
346,765

 
429,158

 
(82,393
)
 
(19.2
)
Other
20,392

 
19,371

 
1,021

 
5.3

Total gross billings
$
1,364,233

 
$
1,389,539

 
$
(25,306
)
 
(1.8
)
The effect on our gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Gross billings
$
1,377,294

 
$
(13,061
)
 
$
1,364,233

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.


39

Total gross billings decreased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to gross billings in the prior year period as a result of a $33.5 million decrease in our International segment, partially offset by an $8.2 million increase in our North America segment. See below for information about gross billings by segment.
    
Gross Billings by Segment

Gross billings by category and segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
615,833

 
$
542,439

 
$
73,394

 
13.5
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
27,978

 
9,409

 
18,569

 
197.4

Direct
 
217,946

 
309,018

 
(91,072
)
 
(29.5
)
Travel - Third-party
 
112,670

 
105,388

 
7,282

 
6.9

Total North America gross billings
 
974,427

 
966,254

 
8,173

 
0.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
189,408

 
196,857

 
(7,449
)
 
(3.8
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
25,598

 
49,879

 
(24,281
)
 
(48.7
)
Direct
 
128,819

 
120,140

 
8,679

 
7.2

Travel - Third-party
 
45,981

 
56,409

 
(10,428
)
 
(18.5
)
Total International gross billings
 
389,806

 
423,285

 
(33,479
)
 
(7.9
)
Total gross billings
 
$
1,364,233

 
$
1,389,539

 
$
(25,306
)
 
(1.8
)

(1)
Includes gross billings from deals with local and national merchants and from local events.
The percentages of gross billings by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017
 
Q2 2016
a2017q210-q_chartx50438.jpg                                                                      a2017q210-q_chartx51544.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International
 
North America
The increase in North America segment gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects increases from third party and other revenue transactions across all three of our categories. Those increases were primarily attributable to the following:
•
an increase in active customers, primarily attributable to our continued investments in customer acquisition marketing initiatives;


40

•
an increase from our acquisition of LivingSocial, which contributed $19.6 million of Local gross billings, $1.5 million of Goods gross billings, and $3.1 million of Travel gross billings;
•
we shifted more of the focus on our websites and mobile applications toward offerings in our Local category; and
•
in our Goods category, there was a shift to more third-party revenue transactions in which merchants offer their products through our online marketplaces.

The increases in third party and other revenue transactions were partially offset by the following:
•
a $91.1 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. We continued our efforts to de-emphasize lower margin product offerings, which resulted in a shift in focus toward offerings in our Local category and adversely impacted Goods gross billings in the current period. Gross billings from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category were also adversely impacted by the increased proportion of third-party revenue transactions in that category, as discussed above; and
•
gross billings per average active customer decreased to $30.66 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from $35.26 in the prior year period.

Order discounts, which are presented as a reduction of gross billings and revenue, increased by $7.8 million to $46.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $38.9 million in the prior year period.

International
The decrease in International segment gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects decreases across all three of our categories. Those decreases were primarily attributable to the following:

•
a decrease in active customers;
•
a decrease in gross billings per average active customer, which declined to $23.54 in the current year period from $24.72 in the prior year period; and
•
a $12.8 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign currency rates.

During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we continued to shift an increasing proportion of our Goods category to direct revenue transactions, as we believe that such transactions frequently result in a better customer experience.

Order discounts, which are presented as a reduction of gross billings and revenue, decreased by $1.4 million to $9.1 million for three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $10.5 million for the prior year period.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Gross billings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
$
1,967,628

 
$
1,903,022

 
$
64,606

 
3.4
 %
Direct
718,819

 
817,927

 
(99,108
)
 
(12.1
)
Other
35,762

 
38,276

 
(2,514
)
 
(6.6
)
Total gross billings
$
2,722,209

 
$
2,759,225

 
$
(37,016
)
 
(1.3
)

The effect on our gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 YTD Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Gross billings
$
2,747,295

 
$
(25,086
)
 
$
2,722,209



41

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
Total gross billings decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to total gross billings in the prior year period as a result of a $72.6 million decrease in our International segment, partially offset by a $35.6 million increase in our North America segment. See below for information about gross billings by segment.
    
Gross Billings by Segment

Gross billings by category and segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
1,203,599

 
$
1,082,062

 
$
121,537

 
11.2
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
39,920

 
17,714

 
22,206

 
125.4

Direct
 
468,592

 
594,774

 
(126,182
)
 
(21.2
)
Travel - Third-party
 
226,833

 
208,778

 
18,055

 
8.6

Total North America gross billings
 
1,938,944

 
1,903,328

 
35,616

 
1.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
380,627

 
396,998

 
(16,371
)
 
(4.1
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
53,269

 
115,614

 
(62,345
)
 
(53.9
)
Direct
 
250,227

 
223,153

 
27,074

 
12.1

Travel - Third-party
 
99,142

 
120,132

 
(20,990
)
 
(17.5
)
Total International gross billings
 
783,265

 
855,897

 
(72,632
)
 
(8.5
)
Total gross billings
 
$
2,722,209

 
$
2,759,225

 
$
(37,016
)
 
(1.3
)

(1)
Includes gross billings from deals with local and national merchants and from local events.
The percentages of gross billings by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017 YTD
 
Q2 2016 YTD
a2017q210-q_chartx19530.jpg                                                                                 a2017q210-q_chartx20288.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International
 




42

North America
The increase in North America segment gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects increases from third party and other revenue transactions across all three of our categories. Those increases were primarily attributable to the following:
•
an increase in active customers, primarily attributable to our continued investments in customer acquisition marketing initiatives;
•
an increase from our acquisition of LivingSocial, which contributed $38.5 million of Local gross billings, $2.1 million of Goods gross billings, and $8.9 million of Travel gross billings;
•
we shifted more of the focus on our websites and mobile applications toward offerings in our Local category; and
•
in our Goods category, there was a shift to more third-party revenue transactions in which merchants offer their products through our online marketplaces.

The increases in gross billings from third party and other revenue transactions were partially offset by the following:
•
a $126.2 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. We continued our efforts to de-emphasize lower margin product offerings, which resulted in a shift in focus toward offerings in our Local category and adversely impacted Goods gross billings in the current period. Gross billings from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category were also adversely impacted by the increased proportion of third-party revenue transactions in that category, as discussed above; and
•
gross billings per average active customer decreased to $61.40 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from $70.77 in the prior year period.

Order discounts, which are presented as a reduction of gross billings and revenue, increased by $19.0 million to $97.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $78.0 million in the prior year period.

International
The decrease in International segment gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects decreases across all three of our categories. Those decreases were primarily attributable to the following:

•
a decrease in active customers;
•
a decrease in gross billings per average active customer, which declined to $47.06 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from $49.38 in the prior year period; and
•
a $25.0 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign currency rates.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we continued to shift an increasing proportion of our Goods category to direct revenue transactions, as we believe that such transactions frequently result in a better customer experience.

Order discounts, which are presented as a reduction of gross billings and revenue, decreased by $1.6 million to $18.4 million for six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to $20.0 million for the prior year period.

Revenue
Third-party revenue arises from transactions in which we are acting as a marketing agent primarily by selling vouchers through our online local commerce marketplaces that can be redeemed for goods or services with third-party merchants. Our third-party revenue from those transactions is reported on a net basis as the purchase price received from the customer, less an agreed upon portion of the purchase price paid to the merchant.
Direct revenue arises from transactions in our Goods category in which we sell merchandise inventory directly to customers through our online marketplaces. The direct revenue that we earn from those transactions is reported on a gross basis as the purchase price we receive from the customer.
Other revenue primarily consists of commission revenue earned when customers make purchases with retailers using digital coupons accessed through our websites and mobile applications and advertising revenue. The prior year period also includes payment processing revenue.    


43

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
$
295,462

 
$
277,132

 
$
18,330

 
6.6
 %
Direct
346,765

 
429,184

 
(82,419
)
 
(19.2
)
Other
20,392

 
17,444

 
2,948

 
16.9

Total revenue
$
662,619

 
$
723,760

 
$
(61,141
)
 
(8.4
)
The effect on revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Revenue
$
669,362

 
$
(6,743
)
 
$
662,619

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The decrease in total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily resulted from a $65.0 million decrease in our North America segment. See below for information about revenue by segment.

Revenue by Segment
Revenue by category and segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
207,534

 
$
184,139

 
$
23,395

 
12.7
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,112

 
2,364

 
1,748

 
73.9

Direct
 
217,946

 
309,018

 
(91,072
)
 
(29.5
)
Travel - Third-party
 
22,320

 
21,401

 
919

 
4.3

Total North America revenue
 
451,912

 
516,922

 
(65,010
)
 
(12.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
66,108

 
67,956

 
(1,848
)
 
(2.7
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,984

 
7,076

 
(2,092
)
 
(29.6
)
Direct
 
128,819

 
120,166

 
8,653

 
7.2

Travel - Third-party
 
10,796

 
11,640

 
(844
)
 
(7.3
)
Total International revenue
 
210,707

 
206,838

 
3,869

 
1.9

Total revenue
 
$
662,619

 
$
723,760

 
$
(61,141
)
 
(8.4
)
(1)
Includes revenue from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.


44

The percentages of revenue by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
Q2 2017
 
Q2 2016
a2017q210-q_chartx21000.jpg                                                                                 a2017q210-q_chartx22001.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International
    
The percentages of third-party and other gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant's share for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
North America
 
International
a2017q210-q_chartx22830.jpg         a2017q210-q_chartx23661.jpg          
North America
The decrease in North America segment revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $91.1 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category, resulting from the decrease in Goods gross billings as discussed above. We have begun to increasingly focus the business on initiatives that are intended to optimize for gross profit to a greater extent than revenue, particularly in our North America segment, including shifting more of the focus on our websites and mobile applications toward offerings in our Local category. The resulting shift in North America gross billings away from our Goods category adversely impacted revenue in the current period, as direct revenue transactions in our Goods category are presented on a gross basis.
    
The decrease in direct revenue in our Goods category was partially offset by an increase in third party and other revenue in our Local category. The increase in Local revenue was primarily attributable to the increases in Local gross billings as discussed above. The percentage of gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant’s share remained consistent at 33.7% for the three months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to 33.9% in the prior year period.



45

International
The increase in International segment revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects an $8.7 million increase in direct revenue transactions in our Goods category, resulting from the continued shift toward a greater proportion of Goods gross billings arising from direct revenue transactions, as discussed above. The resulting shift in Goods gross billings to direct revenue transactions favorably impacted revenue in the current period, as direct revenue transactions in our Goods category are presented on a gross basis.
The increase in direct revenue in our Goods category was partially offset by decreases in third party and other revenue across all three of our categories. Those decreases were primarily attributable to the decreases in gross billings as discussed above. The percentage of gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant’s share on third party and other revenue transactions across our three categories increased to 31.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from 28.6% for the prior year period. This increase in the percentage of gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant's share reflects the overall results of individual deal-by-deal negotiations with merchants and can vary significantly from period-to-period.

There was a $6.7 million unfavorable impact on International segment revenue from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the three months ended June 30, 2017.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
$
581,664

 
$
567,856

 
$
13,808

 
2.4
 %
Direct
718,819

 
817,990

 
(99,171
)
 
(12.1
)
Other
35,762

 
36,349

 
(587
)
 
(1.6
)
Total revenue
$
1,336,245

 
$
1,422,195

 
$
(85,950
)
 
(6.0
)
The effect on revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 YTD Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Revenue
$
1,350,034

 
$
(13,789
)
 
$
1,336,245

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The decrease in total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from a $92.5 million decrease in our North America segment, partially offset by a $6.5 million increase in our International segment. See below for information about revenue by segment.



46

Revenue by Segment
Revenue by category and segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
408,079

 
$
376,292

 
$
31,787

 
8.4
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
5,816

 
4,354

 
1,462

 
33.6

Direct
 
468,592

 
594,774

 
(126,182
)
 
(21.2
)
Travel - Third-party
 
42,782

 
42,315

 
467

 
1.1

Total North America revenue
 
925,269

 
1,017,735

 
(92,466
)
 
(9.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
129,683

 
136,863

 
(7,180
)
 
(5.2
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
9,268

 
20,290

 
(11,022
)
 
(54.3
)
Direct
 
250,227

 
223,216

 
27,011

 
12.1

Travel - Third-party
 
21,798

 
24,091

 
(2,293
)
 
(9.5
)
Total International revenue
 
410,976

 
404,460

 
6,516

 
1.6

Total revenue
 
$
1,336,245

 
$
1,422,195

 
$
(85,950
)
 
(6.0
)
(1)
Includes revenue from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.
The percentages of revenue by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
Q2 2017 YTD
 
Q2 2016 YTD
a2017q210-q_chartx24709.jpg                                                                            a2017q210-q_chartx25481.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International
    


47

The percentages of third-party and other gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant's share for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
North America
 
International
  a2017q210-q_chartx26480.jpg            a2017q210-q_chartx28011.jpg       
North America
The decrease in North America segment revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $126.2 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category, resulting from the decrease in Goods gross billings as discussed above. We have begun to increasingly focus the business on initiatives that are intended to optimize for gross profit to a greater extent than revenue, particularly in our North America segment, including shifting more of the focus on our websites and mobile applications toward offerings in our Local category. The resulting shift in North America gross billings away from our Goods category adversely impacted revenue in the current period, as direct revenue transactions in our Goods category are presented on a gross basis.
    
The decrease in direct revenue in our Goods category was partially offset by an increase in third party and other revenue in our Local category. The increase in Local revenue was primarily attributable to the increases in Local gross billings as discussed above, partially offset by a reduction in the percentage of gross billings that we retained after deducting the merchant’s share to 31%, as compared to 32% in the prior year period. That reduction in deal margins was driven by the year-over-year increase in order discounts as discussed above.

International
The increase in International segment revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $27.0 million increase in direct revenue transactions in our Goods category, resulting from the continued shift toward a greater proportion of Goods gross billings arising from direct revenue transactions, as discussed above. The resulting shift in Goods gross billings to direct revenue transactions favorably impacted revenue in the current period, as direct revenue transactions in our Goods category are presented on a gross basis.
The increase in direct revenue in our Goods category was partially offset by decreases in third party and other revenue across all three of our categories. Those decreases were primarily attributable to the decreases in gross billings as discussed above.
There was a $13.8 million unfavorable impact on International segment revenue from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Cost of Revenue

For direct revenue transactions, cost of revenue includes the cost of inventory, shipping and fulfillment costs and inventory markdowns. Fulfillment costs are comprised of third-party logistics provider costs, as well as rent, depreciation, personnel costs and other costs of operating our fulfillment center. For third-party revenue transactions, cost of revenue includes estimated refunds for which the merchant's share is not recoverable. Other costs incurred to generate revenue, which include credit card processing fees, editorial costs, compensation expense for technology support personnel who are responsible for maintaining the infrastructure of the Company's websites, amortization of internal-use software relating to customer-facing applications, web hosting and other


48

processing fees, are attributed to cost of third-party revenue, direct revenue and other revenue in proportion to gross billings during the period.
    
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

Cost of revenue on third-party, direct revenue and other revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Cost of revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
$
38,197

 
$
36,103

 
$
2,094

 
5.8
 %
Direct
 
296,074

 
370,274

 
(74,200
)
 
(20.0
)
Other
 
281

 
2,006

 
(1,725
)
 
(86.0
)
Total cost of revenue
 
$
334,552

 
$
408,383

 
$
(73,831
)
 
(18.1
)
The effect on cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Cost of revenue
$
337,719

 
$
(3,167
)
 
$
334,552

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The decrease in total cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from an $81.7 million decrease in our North America segment, partially offset by a $7.9 million increase in our International segment. See below for information about cost of revenue by segment.

Cost of Revenue by Segment
Cost of revenue by category and segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:


49

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
27,925

 
$
25,327

 
$
2,598

 
10.3
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
905

 
345

 
560

 
162.3

Direct
 
184,657

 
269,009

 
(84,352
)
 
(31.4
)
Travel - Third-party
 
4,565

 
5,067

 
(502
)
 
(9.9
)
Total North America cost of revenue
 
218,052

 
299,748

 
(81,696
)
 
(27.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
3,805

 
4,986

 
(1,181
)
 
(23.7
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
478

 
1,228

 
(750
)
 
(61.1
)
Direct
 
111,417

 
101,265

 
10,152

 
10.0

Travel - Third-party
 
800

 
1,156

 
(356
)
 
(30.8
)
Total International cost of revenue
 
116,500

 
108,635

 
7,865

 
7.2

Total cost of revenue
 
$
334,552

 
$
408,383

 
$
(73,831
)
 
(18.1
)

(1)
Includes cost of revenue from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.    
The percentages of cost of revenue by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017
 
Q2 2016
a2017q210-q_chartx28954.jpg                                                                            a2017q210-q_chartx29854.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International

North America
The decrease in North America segment cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects an $84.4 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. That decrease was attributable to the following:

•
the decrease in direct revenue from our Goods category as discussed above; and
•
our efforts to de-emphasize lower margin product offerings.

International

The increase in International segment cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $10.2 million increase from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. That increase was attributable to the following:

•
the increase in direct revenue from our Goods category as discussed above; and
•
a higher average unit cost based on the product mix sold during the current year period.


50

There was a $3.2 million favorable impact on International segment cost of revenue from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the three months ended June 30, 2017.
    
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

Cost of revenue on third-party, direct revenue and other revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Cost of revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
$
80,770

 
$
72,783

 
$
7,987

 
11.0
 %
Direct
 
617,376

 
707,547

 
(90,171
)
 
(12.7
)
Other
 
581

 
6,386

 
(5,805
)
 
(90.9
)
Total cost of revenue
 
$
698,727

 
$
786,716

 
$
(87,989
)
 
(11.2
)
The effect on cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 YTD Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Cost of revenue
$
705,626

 
$
(6,899
)
 
$
698,727

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The decrease in total cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from a $114.1 million decrease in our North America segment, partially offset by a $26.2 million increase in our International segment. See below for information about cost of revenue by segment.



51

Cost of Revenue by Segment
Cost of revenue by category and segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
59,128

 
$
53,462

 
$
5,666

 
10.6
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
1,302

 
662

 
640

 
96.7

Direct
 
400,180

 
520,225

 
(120,045
)
 
(23.1
)
Travel - Third-party
 
9,862

 
10,269

 
(407
)
 
(4.0
)
Total North America cost of revenue
 
470,472

 
584,618

 
(114,146
)
 
(19.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
8,186

 
9,672

 
(1,486
)
 
(15.4
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
1,107

 
2,739

 
(1,632
)
 
(59.6
)
Direct
 
217,196

 
187,322

 
29,874

 
15.9

Travel - Third-party
 
1,766

 
2,365

 
(599
)
 
(25.3
)
Total International cost of revenue
 
228,255

 
202,098

 
26,157

 
12.9

Total cost of revenue
 
$
698,727

 
$
786,716

 
$
(87,989
)
 
(11.2
)

(1)
Includes cost of revenue from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.    
The percentages of cost of revenue by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017 YTD
 
Q2 2016 YTD
 a2017q210-q_chartx30995.jpg                                                                                 a2017q210-q_chartx31714.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International

North America
The decrease in North America segment cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $120.0 million decrease from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. That decrease was attributable to the following:

•
the decrease in direct revenue from our Goods category as discussed above; and
•
our efforts to de-emphasize lower margin product offerings.

International



52

The increase in International segment cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $29.9 million increase from direct revenue transactions in our Goods category. That increase was attributable to the following:

•
the increase in direct revenue from our Goods category as discussed above; and
•
a higher average unit cost based on the product mix sold during the current year period.

There was a $6.9 million favorable impact on International segment cost of revenue from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Gross Profit

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

Gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Gross profit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
$
257,265

 
$
241,029

 
$
16,236

 
6.7
 %
Direct
 
50,691

 
58,910

 
(8,219
)
 
(14.0
)
Other
 
20,111

 
15,438

 
4,673

 
30.3

Total gross profit
 
$
328,067

 
$
315,377

 
$
12,690

 
4.0

    
The effect on gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Gross profit
$
331,643

 
$
(3,576
)
 
$
328,067

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The increase in total gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from a $16.7 million increase in our North America segment, partially offset by a $4.0 million decrease in our International segment. See below for information about gross profit by segment.

Gross Profit by Segment
        
Gross profit by category and segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:


53

 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
179,609

 
$
158,812

 
$
20,797

 
13.1
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
3,207

 
2,019

 
1,188

 
58.8

Direct
 
33,289

 
40,009

 
(6,720
)
 
(16.8
)
Travel - Third-party
 
17,755

 
16,334

 
1,421

 
8.7

Total North America gross profit
 
$
233,860

 
$
217,174

 
$
16,686

 
7.7

% of gross billings
 
24.0
%
 
22.5
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
51.7
%
 
42.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
62,303

 
$
62,970

 
$
(667
)
 
(1.1
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,506

 
5,848

 
(1,342
)
 
(22.9
)
Direct
 
17,402

 
18,901

 
(1,499
)
 
(7.9
)
Travel - Third-party
 
9,996

 
10,484

 
(488
)
 
(4.7
)
Total International gross profit
 
$
94,207

 
$
98,203

 
$
(3,996
)
 
(4.1
)
% of gross billings
 
24.2
%
 
23.2
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
44.7
%
 
47.5
%
 
 
 
 

(1)
Includes gross profit from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.
The percentages of gross profit by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017
 
Q2 2016
a2017q210-q_chartx32403.jpg a2017q210-q_chartx33262.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International

North America
    
The increase in North America segment gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $20.8 million increase in gross profit from our Local category, which was attributable to the increase in third party and other revenue from our Local category as discussed above.

International

The decrease in International segment gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2017 reflects lower gross profit across all three of our categories. That decrease was attributable to the decrease in third party and other revenue across all three of our categories as discussed above.



54

There was a $3.5 million unfavorable impact on International segment gross profit from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Gross profit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
$
500,894

 
$
495,073

 
$
5,821

 
1.2
 %
Direct
 
101,443

 
110,443

 
(9,000
)
 
(8.1
)
Other
 
35,181

 
29,963

 
5,218

 
17.4

Total gross profit
 
$
637,518

 
$
635,479

 
$
2,039

 
0.3

    
The effect on gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 from changes in exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar was as follows:
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
At Avg. Q2 2016 YTD Rates (1)
 
Exchange Rate Effect (2)
 
As Reported
 
(in thousands)
Gross profit
$
644,408

 
$
(6,890
)
 
$
637,518

(1)
Represents the financial statement balance that would have resulted had exchange rates in the reporting period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.
(2)
Represents the increase or decrease in the reported amount resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the prior year period.
The increase in total gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from a $21.7 million increase in our North America segment, partially offset by a $19.6 million decrease in our International segment. See below for information about gross profit by segment.

Gross Profit by Segment

Gross profit by category and segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:


55

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
348,951

 
$
322,830

 
$
26,121

 
8.1
 %
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
4,514

 
3,692

 
822

 
22.3

Direct
 
68,412

 
74,549

 
(6,137
)
 
(8.2
)
Travel - Third-party
 
32,920

 
32,046

 
874

 
2.7

Total North America gross profit
 
$
454,797

 
$
433,117

 
$
21,680

 
5.0

% of gross billings
 
23.5
%
 
22.8
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
49.2
%
 
42.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
International:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Local - Third-party and other (1)
 
$
121,497

 
$
127,191

 
$
(5,694
)
 
(4.5
)
Goods:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party
 
8,161

 
17,551

 
(9,390
)
 
(53.5
)
Direct
 
33,031

 
35,894

 
(2,863
)
 
(8.0
)
Travel - Third-party
 
20,032

 
21,726

 
(1,694
)
 
(7.8
)
Total International gross profit
 
$
182,721

 
$
202,362

 
$
(19,641
)
 
(9.7
)
% of gross billings
 
23.3
%
 
23.6
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
44.5
%
 
50.0
%
 
 
 
 

(1)
Includes gross profit from deals with local and national merchants and through local events.
The percentages of gross profit by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017 YTD
 
Q2 2016 YTD
a2017q210-q_chartx33981.jpg                                                                             a2017q210-q_chartx34667.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International

North America
    
The increase in North America segment gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects a $26.1 million increase in gross profit from our Local category, which was attributable to the increase in third party and other revenue from our Local category as discussed above.

International

The decrease in International segment gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflects lower gross profit across all three of our categories. That decrease was attributable to the following:

•
the decrease in third party and other revenue across all three of our categories as discussed above; and


56

•
the increase in cost of revenue on direct revenue transactions in our Goods category, partially offset by increased direct revenue, both as discussed above.

There was a $6.9 million unfavorable impact on International segment gross profit from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Marketing
Marketing expense consists primarily of online marketing costs, such as search engine marketing, advertising on social networking sites and affiliate programs, and offline marketing costs, such as television and radio advertising. Additionally, compensation expense for marketing employees is classified within marketing expense. We record these costs within "Marketing" on the consolidated statements of operations when incurred. From time to time, we offer deals with well-known national merchants for customer acquisition and activation purposes, for which the amount we owe the merchant for each voucher sold exceeds the transaction price paid by the customer. Our gross billings from those transactions generate no third-party revenue and our net cost (i.e., the excess of the amount owed to the merchant over the amount paid by the customer) is classified as marketing expense. We evaluate marketing expense as a percentage of gross billings and revenue because it gives us an indication of how well our marketing spend is driving gross billings and revenue growth.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Marketing expense by segment as a percentage of gross billings and as a percentage of segment revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
% of Gross Billings
 
% of Segment Revenue
 
2016
 
% of Gross Billings
 
% of Segment Revenue
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America
 
$
78,461

 
8.1
%
 
17.4
%
 
$
67,367

 
7.0
%
 
13.0
%
 
$
11,094

 
16.5
%
International
 
22,197

 
5.7

 
10.5

 
21,813

 
5.2

 
10.5

 
384

 
1.8

Total marketing
 
$
100,658

 
7.4

 
15.2

 
$
89,180

 
6.4

 
12.3

 
$
11,478

 
12.9

In November 2015, we launched a strategic initiative to significantly increase our marketing expenses to drive customer growth and we expect to continue to invest heavily in marketing throughout 2017. The increase in total marketing for the three months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from an $11.1 million increase in our North America segment and a $0.4 million increase in our International segment. See below for information about marketing by segment.
The percentages of marketing expense by segment for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017
 
Q2 2016
a2017q210-q_chartx35623.jpg                                                                    a2017q210-q_chartx36443.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International



57

North America

The increases in North America segment marketing expense and marketing expense as a percentage of gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 were attributable to an increase in investments in offline marketing to drive customer growth and awareness of the Groupon brand and our product and service offerings. For the full year 2017, we expect marketing expense as a percentage of North America gross billings to increase as compared to the full year 2016.

International

The increases in International segment marketing expense and marketing expense as a percentage of gross billings for the three months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from the expansion of our strategic initiative to increase our marketing expenses to drive customer growth. For the full year 2017, we expect marketing expense as a percentage of International gross billings to increase as compared to the full year 2016.

There was a $0.6 million favorable impact on International segment marketing expense from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Marketing expense by segment as a percentage of gross billings and as a percentage of segment revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
% of Gross Billings
 
% of Segment Revenue
 
2016
 
% of Gross Billings
 
% of Segment Revenue
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America
 
$
142,004

 
7.3
%
 
15.3
%
 
$
135,562

 
7.1
%
 
13.3
%
 
$
6,442

 
4.8
%
International
 
44,996

 
5.7

 
10.9

 
40,913

 
4.8

 
10.1

 
4,083

 
10.0

Total marketing
 
$
187,000

 
6.9

 
14.0

 
$
176,475

 
6.4

 
12.4

 
$
10,525

 
6.0

The increase in total marketing for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from a $6.4 million increase in our North America segment and a $4.1 million increase in our International segment. See below for information about marketing by segment.
The percentages of marketing expense by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Q2 2017 YTD
 
Q2 2016 YTD
a2017q210-q_chartx37351.jpg                a2017q210-q_chartx38026.jpg
 
North America
 
 
International

North America



58

The increases in North America segment marketing expense and marketing expense as a percentage of gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 were attributable to an increase in investments in offline marketing to drive customer growth, partially offset by decreased investments in online marketing.

International

The increases in International segment marketing expense and marketing expense as a percentage of gross billings for the six months ended June 30, 2017 resulted from our strategic initiative to increase our marketing expenses to drive customer growth in our International segment.

There was a $1.2 million favorable impact on International segment marketing expense from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Selling, General and Administrative
Selling expenses reported within "Selling, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations consist of sales commissions and other compensation expenses for sales representatives, as well as costs associated with supporting the sales function such as technology, telecommunications and travel. General and administrative expenses include compensation expense for employees involved in customer service, operations and technology and product development, as well as general corporate functions, such as finance, legal and human resources. Additional costs included in general and administrative include depreciation and amortization, rent, professional fees, litigation costs, travel and entertainment, recruiting, certain technology costs and other general corporate costs.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A") for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Selling, general and administrative
 
$
230,187

 
$
258,737

 
$
(28,550
)
 
(11.0
)%
% of gross billings
 
16.9
%
 
18.6
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
34.7
%
 
35.7
%
 
 
 
 
The decrease in SG&A was primarily attributable to the following:

•
an $19.5 million decrease in compensation-related costs due to headcount reductions as part of our restructuring plan; and
•
a $3.2 million favorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

SG&A as a percentage of gross billings and revenue decreased for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the prior year period. We currently expect that SG&A costs will generally continue to decrease in the second half of 2017 as a result of the cost savings from our restructuring program and other initiatives.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

SG&A for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Selling, general and administrative
 
$
462,233

 
$
521,715

 
$
(59,482
)
 
(11.4
)%
% of gross billings
 
17.0
%
 
18.9
%
 
 
 
 
% of revenue
 
34.6
%
 
36.7
%
 
 
 
 
The decrease in SG&A was primarily attributable to the following:


59


•
a $44.7 million decrease in compensation-related costs due to headcount reductions as part of our restructuring plan; and
•
an $8.5 million favorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

SG&A as a percentage of gross billings and revenue decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the prior year period.

Restructuring Charges
Restructuring charges represent severance and benefit costs for workforce reductions, impairments of long-lived assets and other exit costs resulting from our restructuring activities. See Note 9, Restructuring, for information about our restructuring plan.

Income (Loss) from Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Income (loss) from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America
 
$
(12,033
)
 
$
(31,284
)
 
$
19,251

 
61.5
%
International
 
4,635

 
(8,469
)
 
13,104

 
154.7

Total income (loss) from operations
 
$
(7,398
)
 
$
(39,753
)
 
$
32,355

 
81.4

North America
The reduction in our loss from operations was primarily attributable to the following:
•
a $16.7 million increase in gross profit; and
•
a $13.1 million decrease in SG&A.

The reduction in our loss from operations was partially offset by an $11.1 million increase in marketing expense.

Income (loss) from operations includes $20.0 million and $31.8 million of stock-based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

International

The improvement in our income (loss) from operations was primarily attributable to the following:
•
a $15.5 million decrease in SG&A; and
•
an $11.3 million decrease in restructuring charges.

Those items were partially offset by the following:

•
a $9.3 million decrease in gains on business dispositions; and
•
a $4.0 million decrease in gross profit.

Income (loss) from operations includes $1.3 million and $4.9 million of stock-based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:

Income (loss) from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:


60

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
North America
 
$
(26,816
)
 
$
(73,218
)
 
$
46,402

 
63.4
%
International
 
7,738

 
(11,683
)
 
19,421

 
166.2

Total income (loss) from operations
 
$
(19,078
)
 
$
(84,901
)
 
$
65,823

 
77.5

North America
The reduction in our loss from operations was attributable to the following:
•
a $23.5 million decrease in SG&A;
•
a $21.7 million increase in gross profit;
•
a $4.3 million decrease in acquisition-related expenses; and
•
a $3.5 million decrease in restructuring charges.

The reduction in our loss from operations was partially offset by a $6.4 million increase in marketing expense.

Income (loss) from operations includes $38.3 million and $58.9 million of stock-based compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

International

The improvement in our income (loss) from operations was primarily attributable to the following:
•
a $36.0 million decrease in SG&A; and
•
a $16.4 million decrease in restructuring charges.

Those items were partially offset by the following:

•
a $19.6 million decrease in gross profit;
•
a $9.3 million decrease in gains on business dispositions; and
•
a $4.1 million increase in marketing expense.

Income (loss) from operations includes $2.7 million and $7.7 million of stock-based compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net includes interest income, interest expense, gains and losses on fair value option investments and foreign currency gains and losses, primarily resulting from intercompany balances with our subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:    

Other income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Other income (expense), net
 
$
5,878

 
$
(11,253
)
 
$
17,131

 
152.2
%
Other income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of $10.8 million in net foreign currency gains, which primarily resulted from intercompany balances with our subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency gains on those intercompany balances were primarily driven by the appreciation of the Euro against the U.S. dollar from an exchange rate of 1.0671 on March 31, 2017 to 1.1409 on June 30, 2017. The foreign currency gains


61

were partially offset by $4.9 million of interest expense and $1.4 million of losses on our fair value option investments. Interest expense was consistent with the prior year period and primarily related to interest on our convertible notes (See Note 6, Financing Arrangements).

Other income (expense), net for the three months ended June 30, 2016 included $5.2 million of interest expense, $4.6 million of losses on fair value option investments and $3.4 million in foreign currency losses. The foreign currency losses were partially offset by a $1.8 million cumulative translation gain that was reclassified to earnings for countries that we exited as part of our restructuring plan. The foreign currency losses primarily resulted from intercompany balances with our subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency losses on those intercompany balances were primarily driven by the decline of the Euro against the U.S. dollar from an exchange rate of 1.1365 on March 31, 2016 to 1.1126 on June 30, 2016. Interest expense primarily related to interest on our convertible notes.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:    

Other income (expense), net for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Other income (expense), net
 
$
1,276

 
$
(8,635
)
 
$
9,911

 
114.8
%
Other income (expense), net for the six months ended June 30, 2017 primarily consisted of $10.9 million in foreign currency gains, which primarily resulted from intercompany balances with our subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency gains on those intercompany balances were primarily driven by the appreciation of the Euro against the U.S. dollar from an exchange rate of 1.0513 on December 31, 2016 to 1.1409 on June 30, 2017. The foreign currency gains were partially offset by $10.3 million of interest expense and $1.1 million of losses on our fair value option investments. Interest expense increased by $4.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, as compared to the prior year period, due to our issuance of convertible notes on April 4, 2016 (See Note 6, Financing Arrangements).

Other income (expense), net for the six months ended June 30, 2016 included $6.1 million of interest expense and $5.7 million of losses on fair value option investments, partially offset by $3.7 million in foreign currency gains and a $0.3 million net cumulative translation gain that was reclassified to earnings for countries that we exited as part of our restructuring plan. The foreign currency gains primarily resulted from intercompany balances with our subsidiaries that are denominated in foreign currencies. The foreign currency gains on those intercompany balances were primarily driven by the appreciation of the Euro against the U.S. dollar from an exchange rate of 1.0913 on December 31, 2015 to 1.1126 on June 30, 2016. Interest expense primarily related to interest on our convertible notes.

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
$
3,883

 
$
(2,238
)
 
$
6,121

 
(273.5
)%
Effective tax rate
 
(255.5
)%
 
4.4
%
 
 
 
 
The pretax losses incurred by our operations in jurisdictions that have valuation allowances against their net deferred tax assets, including the United States, was the primary factor impacting our effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. We expect that our consolidated effective tax rate in future periods will continue to differ significantly from the U.S. federal income tax rate as a result of our tax obligations in jurisdictions with profits and valuation allowances in jurisdictions with losses.
We are currently undergoing income tax audits in multiple jurisdictions. There are many factors, including factors outside


62

of our control, which influence the progress and completion of those audits. As of June 30, 2017, we believe that it is reasonably possible that reductions of up to $36.1 million in unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016:
Provision (benefit) for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
$
8,470

 
$
(1,229
)
 
$
9,699

 
789.2
%
Effective tax rate
 
(47.6
)%
 
1.3
%
 
 
 
 
The pretax losses incurred by our operations in jurisdictions that have valuation allowances against their net deferred tax assets, including the United States, was the primary factor impacting our effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. We expect that our consolidated effective tax rate in future periods will continue to differ significantly from the U.S. federal income tax rate as a result of our tax obligations in jurisdictions with profits and valuation allowances in jurisdictions with losses.
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations
From November 2016 through March 2017, we exited our operations in 11 non-core countries and their results have been presented as discontinued operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. See Note 2, Discontinued Operations, for additional information.
Selling, general and administrative expense from discontinued operations for the three months ended June 30, 2017 primarily relates to increases to contingent liabilities under indemnification agreements. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, for information about indemnification obligations related to discontinued operations.




63

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to financial results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have provided the following non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and foreign currency exchange rate neutral operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures, which are presented on a continuing operations basis, are intended to aid investors in better understanding our current financial performance and prospects for the future as seen through the eyes of management. We believe that these non- GAAP financial measures facilitate comparisons with our historical results and with the results of peer companies who present similar measures (although other companies may define non-GAAP measures differently than we define them, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures). However, these non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be a substitute for those reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP performance measure that we define as net income (loss) from continuing operations excluding income taxes, interest and other non-operating items, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition-related expense (benefit), net and other special charges and credits, including items that are unusual in nature or infrequently occurring. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by our management and Board of Directors to evaluate operating performance, generate future operating plans and make strategic decisions for the allocation of capital. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and Board of Directors. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a substitute for income (loss) from continuing operations.
We exclude stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization because they are primarily non-cash in nature and we believe that non-GAAP financial measures excluding these items provide meaningful supplemental information about our operating performance and liquidity. Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net is comprised of the change in the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements and external transaction costs related to business combinations, primarily consisting of legal and advisory fees. The composition of our contingent consideration arrangements and the impact of those arrangements on our operating results vary over time based on a number of factors, including the terms of our business combinations and the timing of those transactions. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, special charges and credits included charges related to our restructuring plan. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, special charges and credits included gains from business dispositions and charges related to our restructuring plan. We exclude special charges and credits from Adjusted EBITDA because we believe that excluding those items provides meaningful supplemental information about our core operating performance and facilitates comparisons with our historical results.
The following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, "Income (loss) from continuing operations" for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Income (loss) from continuing operations
 
$
(5,403
)
 
$
(48,768
)
 
$
(26,272
)
 
$
(92,307
)
Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation (1)
 
21,392

 
34,210

 
41,042

 
61,503

Depreciation and amortization
 
34,679

 
33,916

 
68,746

 
68,331

Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net
 
36

 
850

 
48

 
4,314

Restructuring charges (1)
 
4,584

 
15,702

 
7,315

 
27,215

Gains on business dispositions
 
—

 
(9,339
)
 
—

 
(9,339
)
Other (income) expense, net (1)
 
(5,878
)
 
11,253

 
(1,276
)
 
8,635

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
3,883

 
(2,238
)
 
8,470

 
(1,229
)
Total adjustments
 
58,696

 
84,354

 
124,345

 
159,430

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
53,293

 
$
35,586

 
$
98,073

 
$
67,123

(1)
Represents stock-based compensation expense recorded within "Selling, general and administrative," "Cost of revenue," and "Marketing". "Restructuring charges" includes $2.1 million and $4.7 million of additional stock-based compensation for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. "Other (income) expense, net" includes $0.0 million and $0.2 million of additional stock-based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.4 million of additional stock-based compensation for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


64

Free cash flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure that comprises net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software from continuing operations. We use free cash flow to conduct and evaluate our business because, although it is similar to cash flow from continuing operations, we believe that it typically represents a more useful measure of cash flows because purchases of fixed assets, software developed for internal use and website development costs are necessary components of our ongoing operations. Free cash flow is not intended to represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for the applicable period.
Free cash flow has limitations due to the fact that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. For example, free cash flow does not include cash payments for business acquisitions. In addition, free cash flow reflects the impact of the timing difference between when we are paid by customers and when we pay merchants and suppliers. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a complement to our entire consolidated statements of cash flows.
The following is a reconciliation of free cash flow to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, "Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations," for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
Trailing Twelve Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations
 
$
(20,695
)
 
$
(51,009
)
 
$
(156,928
)
 
$
(125,786
)
 
$
97,786

 
$
128,889

Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software from continuing operations
 
(15,385
)
 
(16,499
)
 
(29,461
)
 
(36,351
)
 
(61,397
)
 
(78,641
)
Free cash flow
 
$
(36,080
)
 
$
(67,508
)
 
$
(186,389
)
 
$
(162,137
)
 
$
36,389

 
$
50,248

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from continuing operations
 
$
(13,782
)
 
$
(18,957
)
 
$
(27,802
)
 
$
(39,635
)
 
$
(43,753
)
 
$
(167,949
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
$
(47,924
)
 
$
169,225

 
$
(93,650
)
 
$
91,210

 
$
(199,525
)
 
$
(247,180
)
Foreign currency exchange rate neutral operating results. Foreign currency exchange rate neutral operating results show current period operating results as if foreign currency exchange rates had remained the same as those in effect in the prior year period. These measures are intended to facilitate comparisons to our historical performance. For a reconciliation of foreign currency exchange rate neutral operating results to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, see "Results of Operations" above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2017, we had $618.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, which primarily consisted of cash and government money market funds.
Since our inception, we have funded our working capital requirements primarily with cash flows provided by operations and through public and private sales of common and preferred stock, which have yielded net proceeds of approximately $1,857.1 million.
In connection with our third-party and direct revenue sales transactions, we collect cash from credit card payment processors shortly after a sale occurs and remit payment to merchants and inventory suppliers at a later date in accordance with the related contractual payment terms. We expect this favorable working capital cycle to continue for the foreseeable future for voucher-based third-party revenue transactions and direct revenue sales of merchandise inventory. We are currently developing and testing a number of product enhancements intended to make our offerings easier to use for both customers and merchants, including "voucherless" offerings that are linked to customer credit cards. Those voucherless offerings may involve Groupon collecting a net fee from the merchant, rather than selling a voucher to the customer and then remitting a portion of the proceeds to the merchant. As a result of that working capital profile, our free cash flow could be adversely impacted in future periods as those offerings begin to scale.
Our merchant arrangements are structured as either a redemption payment model or a fixed payment model defined as follows:
Redemption payment model - We typically pay our merchants upon redemption for the majority of third-party offerings available through our online marketplaces in our International segment. Under our redemption merchant payment model, we


65

collect payments at the time customers purchase vouchers and make payments to merchants at a subsequent date. Using this payment model, merchants are not paid until the customer redeems the voucher that has been purchased. If a customer does not redeem the voucher under this payment model, we retain all of the gross billings from the unredeemed voucher. The redemption model generally improves our overall cash flow because we do not pay our merchants until the customer redeems the voucher.
Fixed payment model - We typically pay merchants under the fixed payment model for a majority of offerings available through our online marketplace in North America. Under the fixed payment model, merchants are paid regardless of whether the voucher is redeemed. For third-party revenue deals in which the merchant has a continuous presence on our websites and mobile applications by offering deals for an extended period of time, which currently represents a substantial majority of our third-party offerings in North America, we remit payments to the merchant on an ongoing basis, generally bi-weekly, throughout the term of the offering. For product offerings in our Goods category, payment terms with inventory suppliers across our three segments typically range from net 30 days to net 60 days.
We experience fluctuations in accrued merchant and supplier payables associated with our revenue-generating activities, including both third-party and direct revenue sales transactions, that can cause volatility in working capital levels and impact cash balances more or less than our operating income or loss would indicate. Additionally, the impact of the transactions in our Goods category on our operating cash flows varies from period to period. For example, the cash flows from transactions in our Goods category are impacted by seasonality, with strong cash inflows typically generated during the fourth quarter holiday season followed by subsequent cash outflows in the following period when payments are made to suppliers of the merchandise.
    
We generally use our cash flows to fund our operations, make acquisitions, purchase capital assets, purchase stock under our share repurchase program and meet our other cash operating needs. Cash flow used in operating activities, including discontinued operations, was $159.1 million and $130.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We consider the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries as of June 30, 2017 to be indefinitely reinvested and, accordingly, no U.S. income taxes have been provided thereon. As of June 30, 2017, the amount of cash and cash equivalents held in foreign jurisdictions was approximately $225.1 million. We have not, nor do we anticipate the need to, repatriate funds to the United States to satisfy domestic liquidity needs arising in the ordinary course of business.
In April 2016, we issued 3.25% senior convertible notes due 2020 (the "Notes") with an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million. We received net proceeds of $243.2 million from the issuance of the Notes. We have used the proceeds from the Notes for general corporate purposes, including repurchases of shares of our common stock. Additionally, we entered into note hedge and warrant transactions with certain bank counterparties that are designed to offset, in part, the potential dilution from conversion of the Notes. See Note 6, Financing Arrangements, for additional information.

Our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for aggregate principal borrowings of up to $250.0 million and matures in July 2019. As of June 30 2017, we had no borrowings under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and were in compliance with all covenants. See Note 6, Financing Arrangements, for additional information.

Although we can provide no assurances, we believe that our available cash and cash equivalents balance and cash generated from operations should be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements and other capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months.

Uses of Cash
We expect to continue to make significant investments in our technology platforms and business processes, as well as internal tools aimed at improving the efficiency of our operations. We will also continue to invest in sales and marketing as we seek to increase deal coverage, improve the quality of active deals and increase the volume of transactions through our marketplaces.
The Board has authorized us to repurchase up to $700.0 million of our common stock through April 2018 under our share repurchase program. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we purchased 7,185,453 and 14,522,134 shares of our common stock, respectively, for an aggregate purchase price of $24.8 million and $50.9 million (including fees and commissions), respectively, under the share repurchase program. As of June 30, 2017, up to $144.3 million of our common stock remained available for purchase under that program. The timing and amount of any share repurchases are determined based on market conditions, limitations under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, share price and other factors, and the program may be discontinued or suspended at any time. Repurchases will be made in compliance with SEC rules and other legal requirements and may be made, in part, under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which permits share repurchases when the Company might otherwise be precluded from doing so.


66

We currently plan to use our cash and cash equivalents and cash flows generated from our operations to fund share repurchases, strategic minority investments, business acquisitions and other transactions and investments in technology and marketing. Additionally, we have the ability to borrow funds under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as described above. We could also seek to raise additional financing, if available on terms that we believe are favorable, to increase the amount of liquid funds that we can access for share repurchases, future acquisitions or other strategic investment opportunities.
Cash Flow
Our net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
 
(in thousands)
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities from continuing operations
 
$
(156,928
)
 
$
(125,786
)
 
$
(31,142
)
Operating activities from discontinued operations
 
(2,195
)
 
(4,949
)
 
2,754

Operating activities
 
(159,123
)
 
(130,735
)
 
(28,388
)
Investing activities from continuing operations
 
(27,802
)
 
(39,635
)
 
11,833

Investing activities from discontinued operations
 
(9,548
)
 
4

 
(9,552
)
Investing activities
 
(37,350
)
 
(39,631
)
 
2,281

Financing activities
 
(93,650
)
 
91,210

 
(184,860
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
 
16,830

 
5,926

 
10,904

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
 
(273,293
)
 
(73,230
)
 
(200,063
)
Less: Net increase (decrease) in cash classified within current assets of discontinued operations
 
(28,866
)
 
1,402

 
(30,268
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(244,427
)
 
$
(74,632
)
 
$
(169,795
)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities primarily consists of our net loss adjusted for certain items, including depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring charges, deferred income taxes and the effect of changes in working capital and other items.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, our net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations was $156.9 million, which resulted from the following:

•
a $247.7 million net decrease related to changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities. That net decrease primarily resulted from a $183.0 million decrease in accrued merchant and supplier payables due to the timing of payments to suppliers of merchandise and the seasonally high levels of Goods transactions in the fourth quarter of 2016, as well as the shift in focus on our websites and mobile applications toward offerings in our Local category, which further contributed to the decline in Goods gross billings in the current period; and
•
a $26.3 million net loss from continuing operations.
    
These items were partially offset by $117.1 million of non-cash items, primarily consisting of depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, our net cash used in operating activities from continuing operations was $125.8 million, which resulted from the following:

•
a $166.4 million net decrease related to changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities. That net decrease primarily resulted from a $120.6 million in accrued merchant and supplier payables due to the timing of payments to suppliers of merchandise and the seasonally high levels of Goods transactions in the fourth


67

quarter of 2015. The net decrease was also impacted by a $39.5 million payment into an escrow account to fund our securities litigation settlement and $21.3 million of payments for restructuring actions.
•
a $92.3 million net loss from continuing operations.

These items were partially offset by $132.9 million of non-cash items, primarily consisting of depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation.

Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities from continuing operations primarily consists of capital expenditures, including capitalized internally-developed software.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, our net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations of $27.8 million and $39.6 million primarily consisted of $29.5 million and $36.4 million in capital expenditures, respectively.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities primarily consists of proceeds from the issuance of convertible senior notes, payments for issuance costs related to the convertible senior notes and the amended and restated revolving credit agreement, payments for the purchase of convertible note hedges, proceeds from the issuance of warrants, payments for purchases of treasury stock, taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards, proceeds from stock option exercises and our employee stock purchase plan, distributions to noncontrolling interest holders and payments of capital lease obligations.
For the six months ended June 30, 2017, our net cash used in financing activities of $93.7 million was driven by the following:
•
purchases of treasury stock under our share repurchase program of $51.5 million;
•
payments of capital lease obligations of $16.7 million;
•
taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards of $15.4 million; and
•
payment of contingent consideration that included $5.7 million classified within financing activities.

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, our net cash provided by financing activities of $91.2 million was driven by the following:

•
proceeds from issuance of the Notes of $250.0 million;
•
payments for issuance costs related to the Notes and the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $8.1 million;
•
payments for the purchase of convertible note hedges of $59.2 million;
•
proceeds from the issuance of warrants of $35.5 million;
•
purchases of treasury stock under our share repurchase program of $90.4 million;
•
payments of capital lease obligations of $14.7 million; and
•
taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards of $16.5 million.

Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure that comprises net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software from continuing operations. Free cash flow for the six months and trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
    
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Free cash flow
 
$
(186,389
)
 
$
(162,137
)
 
$
(24,252
)
 
(15.0
)%
Free cash flow TTM
 
$
36,389

 
$
50,248

 
$
(13,859
)
 
27.6
 %
The decrease in free cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was primarily due to a $31.1 million decrease in our operating cash flows from continuing operations.


68

The decrease in free cash flow for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2017 was due to a $31.1 million decrease in our trailing twelve months operating cash flows from continuing operations.
For further information and a reconciliation to the most applicable financial measure under U.S. GAAP, refer to our discussion under Non-GAAP Financial Measures above.  


69

Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our contractual obligations and commitments as of June 30, 2017 did not materially change from the amounts set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2017.


70

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 17, 2017. In addition, refer to the critical accounting policies and estimates under Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Gross versus Net), which is effective upon adoption of ASU 2014-09. This ASU clarifies the implementation guidance in ASU 2014-09 on principal versus agent considerations. These ASUs are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not expect that the ASUs will change our presentation of revenue on a gross or net basis. Additionally, for merchant payment arrangements that are structured under a redemption model, we expect that we will be required to estimate the incremental revenue from vouchers that will not ultimately be redeemed and recognize that amount as revenue at the time of sale under the new guidance, rather than when our legal obligation expires. The potential impact of that change could increase or decrease our revenue in any given period as compared to our current policy depending on the relative amounts of the estimated incremental revenue from unredeemed vouchers on current transactions as compared to the actual incremental revenue from vouchers that expire unredeemed in that period. The ASUs are also expected to impact the timing and recognition of costs to obtain contracts with customers, such as sales commissions, which we currently expense as incurred. Under the new ASUs, we expect that such costs will be deferred and recognized over the expected period of benefit. We are still evaluating these ASUs for other potential impacts on our condensed consolidated financial statements, including the timing of revenue recognition from hotel bookings in our Travel category. We currently plan to adopt the ASUs using the "modified retrospective" approach, which requires the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance to be recognized as an adjustment to our accumulated deficit as of the January 1, 2018 adoption date.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments (Topic 825-10) - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This ASU requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through net income and will eliminate the cost method for equity securities without readily determinable fair values. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The impact of the ASU on our cost method investments will depend on changes in their fair values in periods after the adoption date. See Note 4, Investments, for information about our cost method investments. While we are still assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01, we do not expect that the adoption of this guidance will otherwise have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The ASU will require lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases, including operating leases, to be recognized on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual periods, and requires a modified retrospective transition method. We are still assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02. See Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, in our Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 17, 2017, for information about our lease commitments.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) - Restricted Cash. This ASU requires that companies include amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, along with cash and cash equivalents, when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. 


71

The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods, and requires a retrospective transition method. We had $11.8 million and $12.0 million of restricted cash as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business. This ASU provides clarification on the definition of a business and adds guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The ASU is effective for transactions in annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including during interim periods. We do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and requires a goodwill impairment to be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of its goodwill. The ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  We do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20) - Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets.  This ASU is meant to clarify the scope of ASC Subtopic 610-20, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets, and to add guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets.  The Company is required to adopt ASU 2017-05 at the same time that it adopts the guidance in ASU 2014-09. We do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU requires employers to include only the service cost component of net periodic pension cost in operating expenses, together with other employee compensation costs. The other components of net periodic pension cost, including interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of prior service cost and settlement and curtailment effects, are to be included in non-operating expenses. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. While we are still assessing the impact of ASU 2017-07, we do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting. This ASU clarifies the changes to terms or conditions of a share-based payment award that require an entity to apply modification accounting. The ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. We do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

There are no other accounting standards that have been issued but not yet adopted that we believe could have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations.



72

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have operations both within the United States and internationally, and we are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, including the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, interest rate changes and inflation. Information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosures about these market risks is set forth below.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We transact business in various foreign currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the euro, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar, which exposes us to foreign currency risk. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we derived approximately 31.8% and 30.8%, respectively, of our revenue from our International segment. Revenue and related expenses generated from our international operations are generally denominated in the local currencies of the corresponding countries. The functional currencies of our subsidiaries that either operate or support these markets are generally the same as the corresponding local currencies. The results of operations of, and certain of our intercompany balances associated with, our international operations are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Upon consolidation, as exchange rates vary, our revenue and other operating results may differ materially from expectations, and we may record significant gains or losses on the re-measurement of intercompany balances. The British pound sterling has declined significantly against the U.S. dollar following the U.K.’s non-binding "Brexit" referendum on June 23, 2016, whereby a majority of voters supported its withdrawal from the European Union. As a result of the decline in sterling, the gross billings and revenue from our U.K. operations have been adversely impacted and the expenses from our U.K. operations have been favorably impacted in future periods because our financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars.
We assess our foreign currency exchange risk based on hypothetical changes in rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis that measures the potential impact on working capital based on a 10% change (increase and decrease) in currency rates. We use a current market pricing model to assess the changes in the value of the U.S. dollar on foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. The primary assumption used in this model is a hypothetical 10% weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar against those currency exposures as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.    
As of June 30, 2017, our net working capital deficit (defined as current assets less current liabilities) from subsidiaries that are subject to foreign currency translation risk was $21.1 million. The potential increase in this working capital deficit from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates would be $2.1 million. This compares to a $61.6 million working capital deficit subject to foreign currency exposure as of December 31, 2016, for which a 10% adverse change would have resulted in a potential increase in this working capital deficit of $6.2 million.
Interest Rate Risk
Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash and government money market funds. Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates is limited because our cash and cash equivalents have a short-term maturity and are used primarily for working capital purposes. In April 2016, we issued convertible notes with an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million (see Note 6, Financing Arrangements). The convertible notes bear interest at a fixed rate, so we have no financial statement impact from changes in interest rates. However, changes in market interest rates impact the fair value of the convertible notes along with other variables such as our credit spreads and the market price and volatility of our common stock. In June 2016, we entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that provides for aggregate principal borrowings of up to $250.0 million. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement replaced our previous $250.0 million credit agreement that was scheduled to expire in August 2017. As of June 30, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Because our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bears interest at a variable rate, we are exposed to market risk relating to changes in interest rates if we borrow under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. We also have $49.3 million of capital lease obligations and $10.9 million of investments in convertible debt securities issued by nonpublic entities that are classified as available-for-sale. We do not believe that the interest rate risk on the long-term capital lease obligations and investments is significant.
 
Impact of Inflation
We believe that our results of operations are not materially impacted by moderate changes in the inflation rate. Inflation and changing prices did not have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.


73

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that, as of June 30, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.


74

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For a description of our material pending legal proceedings, please see Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.




75

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we did not issue any unregistered securities.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we purchased 7,185,453 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $24.8 million (including fees and commissions) under our share repurchase program. A summary of our common stock repurchases during the three months ended June 30, 2017 under our share repurchase program is set forth in the following table:
Date
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program
 
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under Program
April 1-30, 2017
 
2,085,842

 
$
3.83

 
2,085,842

 
$
161,072,951

May 1-31, 2017
 
2,662,220

 
3.41

 
2,662,220

 
$
152,015,517

June 1-30, 2017
 
2,437,391

 
3.19

 
2,437,391

 
$
144,279,668

Total
 
7,185,453

 
$
3.46

 
7,185,453

 
$
144,279,668

See Note 8, Stockholders' Equity and Compensation Arrangements, for discussion regarding our share repurchase program.
The following table provides information about purchases of shares of our common stock during the three months ended June 30, 2017 related to shares withheld upon vesting of restricted stock units for minimum tax withholding obligations:
Date
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program
 
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under Program
April 1-30, 2017
 
531,507

 
$
3.65

 
—

 
$
—

May 1-31, 2017
 
177,077

 
3.01

 
—

 
$
—

June 1-30, 2017
 
691,547

 
3.04

 
—

 
$
—

Total
 
1,400,131

 
$
3.27

 
—

 
$
—

(1)
Total number of shares delivered to us by employees to satisfy the mandatory tax withholding requirement upon vesting of stock-based compensation awards.



76

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
In July 2017, the Company reached a decision to cease most of its food delivery operations by the end of the third quarter 2017 and entered into a long-term commercial agreement with a subsidiary of Grubhub Inc. ("Grubhub") to provide customers with the ability to order food delivery through the Company’s websites and mobile applications in the United States from Grubhub’s network of restaurant merchants. Additionally, on July 31, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to sell customer lists and other intangible assets in certain food delivery markets to Grubhub. For additional information regarding these actions, see Note 14, Subsequent Event, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on this 2nd day of August 2017.
GROUPON, INC.
By:
 
/s/ Michael Randolfi
 
 
Name:
 
Michael Randolfi
 
 
Title:
 
Chief Financial Officer



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EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number

 
 
Description
31.1
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
 
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
 
 
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
 
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
 
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document







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