Hudson Global Reports 2015 Second Quarter Results

Announces $10 Million Share Repurchase Program

NEW YORK, July 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudson Global, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSON), a leading global talent solutions company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

2015 Second Quarter Summary 

• Revenue of $122.7 million, a decrease of 18.8 percent from the second quarter of 2014, and a decrease of 6.9 percent in constant currency.
  
  
• On a retained** basis, excluding Americas IT and the Netherlands which were sold during the quarter, revenue of $113.4 million declined 12.0 percent in reported currency but increased 1.1 percent in constant currency from the prior year period. 
  
  
• Gross margin of $50.2 million or 40.9 percent of revenue, a decrease of 16.1 percent from the same period in 2014, or 4.2 percent in constant currency. 
  
  
• On a retained** basis, excluding Americas IT and the Netherlands which were sold during the quarter, gross margin of $ 48.0 million declined 11.7 percent in reported currency but increased 1.0 percent  in constant currency from the prior year period. 
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA* loss of $0.8 million, compared with adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2014.
   
• EBITDA* of $14.6 million, including a $20.0 million gain on sale of assets, compared with EBITDA loss of $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2014. 
  
  
• Net income of $13.9 million, or $0.41 per basic and diluted share, compared with net loss of $4.4 million, or $0.13 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of 2014.

* Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are defined in the segment tables at the end of this release.

** See reconciliation for retained revenue and gross margin tables at the end of this release.

"We completed the divestitures of our Americas IT staffing business and Netherlands business in the second quarter, as we continued to implement our strategy to narrow our focus on core businesses," said Stephen Nolan, chief executive officer at Hudson. "We delivered constant currency gross margin growth in key markets and practices, including Asia Pacific and RPO. We remain focused on returning to profitability by reducing costs while selectively investing in key markets and practices."

Strategic Actions         

During the second quarter, the company continued to execute on strategic actions in its previously announced efforts to focus on its core business lines and growth opportunities. These completed actions included:

• Completed the divestiture of the company's Netherlands operations to InterBalance Group B.V. for €8.1 million in cash, effective on April 30, 2015.
• Completed the divestiture of the company's Americas IT staffing business to Mastech, Inc. for $17.0 million in cash as well as retained working capital, effective June 15, 2015.
• Substantially completed the exit of the company's non-profitable operations in countries in Central and Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Czech Republic and Slovakia). The company also approved the exit of operations in Luxembourg, which is expected to cease operations during the course of 2015. For the full year 2014, operations in these countries generated a total of $2.9 million, $2.3 million and $0.5 million in Revenue, Gross Margin and EBITDA loss respectively.

With these strategic divestitures complete, the company is now a more streamlined organization that is focused on delivering sustainable profitability in its core businesses, RPO, Talent Management and Recruitment, where we continue to invest in fee earners to drive growth.

During the second quarter, the company incurred $2 million in restructuring charges for headcount and real estate actions in corporate and Europe. These actions will allow the company to continue to lower its corporate support cost structure. The company will take further actions in the second half of 2015 to reduce stranded support costs, particularly in the Americas following the sale of non-core businesses.

Share Repurchase Program

The company ended the quarter with $34.8 million in cash, including divestiture proceeds, and considering the company's current stock price, the board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program, initially for up to $10 million of the company's common stock. The company will commence purchases promptly during the third quarter.

Regional Highlights

Americas

In the second quarter, Hudson Americas' gross margin decreased 5 percent in constant currency on a reported basis and increased 18 percent on a retained** basis as compared with the second quarter in 2014. This was driven by growth in RPO, from continued demand from new and existing clients. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $0.3 million, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $0.8 million for the same period a year ago.

Asia Pacific

Hudson Asia Pacific's gross margin increased 11 percent in constant currency in the second quarter of 2015 from the same period in 2014. This was the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year constant currency gross margin growth. Results were fueled by permanent recruitment, up 22 percent, and temporary contracting, up 11 percent, against the second quarter of 2014. This growth in recruitment was realized in both of the company's major Asia Pacific markets, China and Australia, with gross margin increasing 51 percent and 9 percent, respectively, against the prior year period.  Asia Pacific delivered adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 million, or 3.4 percent of revenue, improving from adjusted EBITDA of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2014.

Europe

During the second quarter of 2015, Hudson Europe's gross margin decreased 17 percent in constant currency from the second quarter of 2014 on a reported basis, and 11 percent on a retained** basis. Excluding the impact of the Netherlands sale, Continental Europe gross margin declined 1 percent in constant currency in the quarter. Belgium and Spain continued to deliver gross margin growth, up 2 percent and 40 percent respectively. In the UK, 18 percent growth in RPO was offset by 24 percent declines in recruitment, which was particularly strong a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA of $1.0 million, or 1.8 percent of revenue, was down from $2.7 million, or 3.7 percent of revenue, in the second quarter of 2014.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company ended the second quarter of 2015 with $57.1 million in liquidity, composed of $34.8 million in cash and $22.3 million in availability under its credit facilities.  This compares with $13.9 million in cash and $26.0 million in availability under its credit facilities at the end of the first quarter of 2015. The change in cash was driven primarily by gains from the second quarter sales of the Americas IT business and the Netherlands business, generating $25.9 million in cash during the quarter. The company used $4.6 million in cash flow from operations during the second quarter, unchanged from the second quarter of 2014. The company had $1.3 million in outstanding borrowings at the end of the second quarter of 2015. 

Business Outlook

Given current economic conditions, the company expects third quarter 2015 revenue of between $105 million and $115 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of between breakeven and $2 million at prevailing exchange rates.  This outlook assumes an average exchange rate of 1.56 US Dollars to the British Pound, 1.11 US Dollars to the Euro and 0.73 US Dollars to the Australian Dollar. In the third quarter of 2014, revenue was $149.3 million and adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $2.9 million.  Third quarter 2014 revenue would have been $38 million lower including the impact of prevailing exchange rates cited above and excluding revenue attributable to businesses divested in the second quarter of 2015. The company expects to deliver positive adjusted EBITDA in the second half of 2015.            

Conference Call/Webcast 

Hudson will conduct a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss this announcement.  Individuals wishing to listen can access the webcast on the investor information section of the company's web site atHudson.com. 

The archived call will be available on the investor information section of the company's web site atHudson.com.

About Hudson 

Hudson is a global talent solutions company with expertise in leadership and specialized recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing, talent management and contracting solutions. We help our clients and candidates succeed by leveraging our expertise, deep industry and market knowledge, and proprietary assessment tools and techniques. Operating around the globe through relationships with millions of specialized professionals, we bring an unparalleled ability to match talent with opportunities by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for our clients. We combine broad geographic presence, world-class talent solutions and a tailored, consultative approach to help businesses and professionals achieve higher performance and outstanding results. More information is available atHudson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Financial Tables Follow

(1) Non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-operating income, goodwill and other impairment charges, business reorganization expenses and other expenses ("Adjusted EBITDA") are presented to provide additional information about the company's operations on a basis consistent with the measures which the company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses these measurements to evaluate capital needs and working capital requirements. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, cash flows from operating activities, and other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of the company's profitability or liquidity. Furthermore, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA as presented above may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

(1) Non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-operating income, goodwill and other impairment charges, business reorganization expenses and other expenses ("Adjusted EBITDA") are presented to provide additional information about the company's operations on a basis consistent with the measures which the company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses these measurements to evaluate capital needs and working capital requirements. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, cash flows from operating activities, and other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of the company's profitability or liquidity. Furthermore, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA as presented above may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

(1) Non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-operating income, goodwill and other impairment charges, business reorganization expenses and other expenses ("Adjusted EBITDA") are presented to provide additional information about the company's operations on a basis consistent with the measures which the company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses these measurements to evaluate capital needs and working capital requirements. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, cash flows from operating activities, and other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of the company's profitability or liquidity. Furthermore, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA as presented above may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

HUDSON GLOBAL, INC.
RECONCILIATION FOR CONSTANT CURRENCY
(in thousands) (unaudited)

The company operates on a global basis, with the majority of its gross margin generated outside of the United States. Accordingly, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can affect its results of operations. Constant currency information compares financial results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. The company currently defines the term "constant currency" to mean that financial data for a previously reported period are translated into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate financial data for the current period.  Changes in revenue, gross margin, selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A"), business reorganization expenses and other non-operating income (expense), operating income (loss) and EBITDA (loss) include the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Variance analysis usually describes period-to-period variances that are calculated using constant currency as a percentage. The company's management reviews and analyzes business results in constant currency and believes these results better represent the company's underlying business trends. The company believes that these calculations are a useful measure, indicating the actual change in operations. There are no significant gains or losses on foreign currency transactions between subsidiaries. Therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates generally impact only reported earnings.

(1) SG&A is a measure that management uses to evaluate the segments' expenses.

(1) Retained revenue and gross margin and divested revenue and gross margin are non-GAAP terms that management believes provide a better understanding of the underlying revenue and gross margin trends in the business following the divestitures in the second quarter of 2015. Divested revenue and gross margin includes such items attributable to the following businesses: the Americas IT staffing business, the Netherlands business, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Luxembourg. The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Hudson's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. The above table provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure used in its financial reporting to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. 

Contact:
David F. Kirby
Hudson
212-351-7216
david.kirby@hudson.com