Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
OR
     
o   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 001-34209
 
MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
     
DELAWARE
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
  13-3906555
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NO.)
     
622 Third Avenue, New York, New York
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
  10017
(ZIP CODE)
(212) 351-7000
(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. þ Yes o 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). o Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes þ No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
         
    Outstanding as of  
Class   October 26, 2010  
Common Stock
    130,035,933  
 
 

 

 


 

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
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 Exhibit 15.1
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32.1
 Exhibit 32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unuadited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Revenue
  $ 228,842     $ 214,533     $ 659,064     $ 691,993  
 
                       
Salaries and related
    119,297       112,833       362,713       348,702  
Office and general
    63,272       59,841       182,326       181,816  
Marketing and promotion
    51,661       45,757       158,167       164,401  
Reversal of legal settlements, net
          (6,850 )           (6,850 )
Restructuring and other special charges
                      16,105  
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    234,230       211,581       703,206       704,174  
 
                       
Operating (loss) income
    (5,388 )     2,952       (44,142 )     (12,181 )
Interest and other, net
    (1,286 )     (48 )     (1,038 )     1,231  
 
                       
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity interests
    (6,674 )     2,904       (45,180 )     (10,950 )
Benefit from income taxes
    (1,823 )     (30,891 )     (14,831 )     (35,463 )
Loss in equity interests, net
    (873 )     (1,044 )     (2,511 )     (3,473 )
 
                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (5,724 )   $ 32,751     $ (32,860 )   $ 21,040  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic (loss) income per share
  $ (0.05 )   $ 0.27     $ (0.27 )   $ 0.18  
 
                       
Diluted (loss) income per share
  $ (0.05 )   $ 0.27     $ (0.27 )   $ 0.17  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    120,796       119,473       120,509       119,206  
Diluted
    120,796       121,676       120,509       120,853  
See accompanying notes.

 

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MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (unaudited)          
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 166,713     $ 275,447  
Marketable securities, current
          9,259  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,753 and $12,660
    282,274       287,698  
Prepaid and other
    66,301       73,089  
 
           
Total current assets
    515,288       645,493  
 
           
Marketable securities, non-current
    4,094       15,410  
Goodwill
    1,123,834       925,758  
Property and equipment, net
    143,973       143,727  
Intangibles, net
    70,067       43,863  
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates
    745       546  
Other assets
    52,108       52,393  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,910,109     $ 1,827,190  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 41,503     $ 32,066  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    159,897       143,403  
Deferred revenue
    312,952       305,898  
Current portion of long-term debt and borrowings on revolving credit facility
    95,000       5,010  
Income taxes payable
    12,162       20,779  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    621,514       507,156  
 
           
Long-term income taxes payable
    95,464       87,343  
Deferred income taxes
    24,222       51,499  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    40,000       45,000  
Other long-term liabilities
    3,176       3,028  
 
           
Total liabilities
    784,376       694,026  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, authorized 800 shares; issued and outstanding: none
           
Common stock, $.001 par value, authorized 1,500,000 shares; issued: 135,556 and 134,380 shares, respectively; outstanding: 120,834 and 119,659 shares, respectively
    136       134  
Class B common stock, $.001 par value, authorized 39,000 shares; issued and outstanding: none
           
Additional paid-in capital
    1,416,547       1,395,969  
Accumulated deficit
    (359,966 )     (327,106 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    69,016       64,167  
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    1,125,733       1,133,164  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,910,109     $ 1,827,190  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

 

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MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
               
Net (loss) income
  $ (32,860 )   $ 21,040  
 
           
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    48,778       50,684  
Reversal of legal settlements, net
          (6,850 )
Provision for doubtful accounts
    2,036       8,566  
Non-cash compensation
    34,677       30,349  
Deferred income taxes
    (26,094 )     5,739  
Non-cash restructuring write-offs, accelerated amortization and loss on disposal of assets
    163       4,744  
Loss in equity interests, net
    2,511       3,473  
Gains on auction rate securities
    (2,415 )      
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    13,279       127,523  
Prepaid and other
    108       856  
Deferred revenue
    (2,586 )     (152,688 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other
    23,927       (81,468 )
 
           
Total adjustments
    94,384       (9,072 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    61,524       11,968  
 
           
Cash flows used for investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (36,656 )     (38,664 )
Cash funded to equity investee
    (4,424 )     (4,953 )
Purchase of marketable securities
          (7,476 )
Sales and maturities of marketable securities and other
    22,995       3,317  
Payments for acquisitions and intangible assets
    (225,000 )     (300 )
Dividends received from unconsolidated investee
    220       763  
 
           
Net cash used for investing activities
    (242,865 )     (47,313 )
 
           
Cash flows provided by (used for) financing activities:
               
Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility
    90,000       199,203  
Payments on borrowings on term loan and revolving credit facility
    (5,000 )     (256,196 )
Proceeds from borrowings on term loan
          50,000  
Excess tax benefits from equity compensation plans
          12  
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and units
    (9,804 )     (4,304 )
Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options
    66       55  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    75,262       (11,230 )
 
           
Effects of exchange rates on cash
    (2,655 )     11,792  
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (108,734 )     (34,783 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    275,447       222,260  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 166,713     $ 187,477  
 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid (refunded) for income taxes
  $ 10,729     $ (664 )
Cash paid for interest
  $ 4,195     $ 4,722  
Non-cash financing and investing activities:
               
Settlement of executive bonuses with common stock
  $     $ 2,275  
See accompanying notes.

 

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MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Business
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Monster”) has continuing operations that consist of three reportable segments: Careers — North America, Careers — International and Internet Advertising & Fees. Revenue in the Company’s Careers segments are primarily earned from the placement of job postings on the websites within the Monster network, access to the Company’s resume databases, recruitment media services and other career-related services. Revenue in the Company’s Internet Advertising & Fees segment is primarily earned from the display of advertisements on the Monster network of websites, “click-throughs” on text based links and leads provided to advertisers. The Company’s Careers segments provide online services to customers in a variety of industries throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, while Internet Advertising & Fees delivers online services primarily in North America.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated interim financial statements included herein are unaudited and have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
These statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for fair presentation of the information contained herein. These consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company adheres to the same accounting policies in preparing interim financial statements. As permitted under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year assumptions. Such amounts are expensed in full in the year incurred. For interim financial reporting purposes, income taxes are recorded based upon estimated annual income tax rates.
Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made for consistent presentation.
2. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. The new standard changes the requirements for establishing separate units of accounting in a multiple element arrangement and requires the allocation of arrangement consideration to each deliverable based on the relative selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price if neither VSOE or third-party evidence is available. ASU 2009-13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company does not expect that the provisions of the new guidance will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which requires additional disclosures about the amounts of and reasons for significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. This standard also clarifies existing disclosure requirements related to the level of disaggregation of fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities and disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring Level 2 and Level 3 measurements. Since this new accounting standard only required additional disclosure, the adoption of the standard in the first quarter of 2010 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Additionally, effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010, this standard will require additional disclosure and require an entity to present disaggregated information about activity in Level 3 fair value measurements on a gross basis, rather than one net amount.

 

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3. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated using the Company’s weighted-average outstanding common shares. When the effects are dilutive, diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted-average outstanding common shares, participating securities and the dilutive effect of all other stock-based compensation awards as determined under the treasury stock method. Certain stock options and stock issuable under employee compensation plans were excluded from the computation of earnings per share due to their anti-dilutive effect. A reconciliation of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(thousands of shares)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    120,796       119,473       120,509       119,206  
Effect of common stock equivalents — stock options and non-vested stock under employee compensation plans (1)
          2,203             1,647  
 
                       
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1)
    120,796       121,676       120,509       120,853  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average anti-dilutive common stock equivalents (1)
    10,259       7,614       7,097       8,701  
 
                       
     
(1)  
For periods in which losses are presented, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of any potential common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, those potential shares totaled 1,477 and 1,718, respectively, which are included in the weighted average anti-dilutive common stock equivalents above, in addition to 8,782 and 5,379 of out of the money anti-dilutive common stock equivalents for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.
4. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures.
The Company awards non-vested stock to employees, directors and executive officers in the form of Restricted Stock Awards (“RSAs”) and Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), market-based RSAs and RSUs, stock options and performance-based RSAs and RSUs. The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approves stock-based compensation awards for all employees and executive officers of the Company. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approves stock-based compensation awards for all non-employee directors of the Company. The Company uses the fair-market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the award is approved to measure fair value for service-based awards, a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine both the fair value and requisite service period of market-based awards and the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. The Company does not capitalize stock-based compensation costs. The Company presents as a financing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows the benefits of tax deductions in excess of the tax-effected compensation of the related stock-based awards for the options exercised and RSAs and RSUs vested.
The Company recognized pre-tax compensation expense in the consolidated statement of operations related to stock-based compensation as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Non-vested stock, included in salaries and related
  $ 13,398     $ 9,924     $ 34,266     $ 29,889  
Stock options, included in salaries and related
    135       157       411       460  
 
                       
Total
  $ 13,533     $ 10,081     $ 34,677     $ 30,349  
 
                       
During the first quarter of 2009, certain accrued bonuses were paid with 339,550 shares of common stock with a fair value of $2,275.

 

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During the first nine months of 2010, the Company granted an aggregate of 5,011,845 RSAs and 1,612,673 RSUs to approximately 3,800 employees, executive officers and directors of the Company. The RSAs and RSUs vest in various increments on the anniversaries of the individual grant dates, through September 2014, subject to the recipient’s continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date. The fair-market value of RSAs and RSUs vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is $26,477.
The Company’s non-vested stock activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
            Average Fair  
            Value at Grant  
(thousands of shares)   Shares     Date  
Non-vested at January 1, 2010
    7,744     $ 15.62  
Granted
    6,625       14.22  
Forfeited
    (594 )     14.76  
Vested
    (1,846 )     18.33  
 
             
Non-vested at September 30, 2010
    11,929     $ 14.47  
 
             
As of September 30, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock was $134,188 which is being amortized over the requisite service periods on a straight-line basis.
The Company’s stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is as follows:
                                 
                    Weighted        
            Weighted     Average     Aggregate  
            Average     Contractual     Intrinsic  
(thousands of shares)   Shares     Exercise Price     Term (in years)     Value  
Outstanding at January 1, 2010
    2,716     $ 29.16                  
Exercised
    (7 )     9.48                  
Forfeited/expired/cancelled
    (607 )     34.52                  
 
                             
Outstanding at September 30, 2010
    2,102     $ 26.75       2.72     $ 1,238  
 
                             
Options exercisable at September 30, 2010
    2,088     $ 26.72       2.69     $ 1,238  
 
                             
Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the closing market price of the Company’s common stock as of September 30, 2010 and the exercise price of the underlying options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised was $52 and $26, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expense for stock options was $446 which is being amortized over the requisite service periods on a straight-line basis.
5. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
On August 24, 2010, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of February 3, 2010 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) by and between Monster and Yahoo! Inc. (“Yahoo!”), Monster completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets exclusive to Yahoo! HotJobs (the “HotJobs Assets”) from Yahoo! The purchase price for the HotJobs Assets was $225,000. We acquired the HotJobs Assets, among other objectives, to expand our business in the North American online recruitment market. Accordingly, the business attributable to the HotJobs Assets has been included in the Careers — North America segment and reporting unit. The results of operations attributable to the HotJobs Assets have been included in our consolidated financial statements since August 24, 2010 and have contributed revenues of $5,947 and break-even operating income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, exclusive of acquisition and integration-related costs. Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, Monster and Yahoo! entered into a three year commercial traffic agreement whereby Monster became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada.
The Company funded the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets with available cash and proceeds from the Company’s revolving credit facility (see Note 11). The Company used the acquisition method to account for the acquisition in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations. Under the acquisition method, the purchase price was allocated to, and we have recognized the fair value of, the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired have been recorded as goodwill. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred $8,605 and $18,211, respectively, of acquisition and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, which were expensed as incurred and are included in office and general expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. These costs primarily relate to legal fees, professional fees and other integration costs associated with the acquisition. We expect to continue to incur significant acquisition and integration-related costs in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 relating to the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.

 

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The Company is responsible for determining the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets. These fair values were based on estimates as of August 24, 2010, the closing date of the acquisition, and were based on a number of factors, including valuations. Identified intangible assets acquired included existing customer relationships, a resume database, trade names and a non-competition agreement. We used variations of the income approach method to value the intangible assets. Under these methods, fair value is estimated based upon the present value of cash flows that the applicable asset is expected to generate. The valuation of the resume database and the trade names were based on the relief-from-royalty method and the existing customer relationships were valued using the excess earnings method. The royalty rates used in the relief from royalty method were based on both a return-on-asset method and market comparable rates. Our estimates of fair value and resulting allocation of purchase price are preliminary as of September 30, 2010.
The following table summarizes our preliminary allocation of the purchase consideration of the HotJobs Assets:
                 
            Estimated  
    Amount     Useful Lives  
Unbilled accounts receivable
  $ 13,511          
Identifiable intangible assets:
               
Customer relationships
    11,900     3 years  
Trade names
    10,600     9 years  
Resume database
    10,000     3 years  
Non-competition agreement
    500     3 years  
 
             
Total identifiable intangible assets
    33,000          
 
               
Deferred revenue
    (13,157 )        
All other net tangible assets (liabilities)
    (65 )        
Goodwill
    191,711          
 
             
Total purchase price
  $ 225,000          
 
             
Among the factors that contributed to the recognition of goodwill in this transaction was the expansion of our market share in the North America online recruitment market, increased reach to both active and passive job seekers, the addition of an assembled workforce and opportunities for future synergies. This goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. The pro forma impact of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets is not material to the Company’s historical consolidated operating results and therefore is not presented.
6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The Company values its assets and liabilities using the methods of fair value as described in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. Level 1 is defined as observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2 is defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counter-party credit risk in its assessment of fair value. There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement classifications in the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

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The Company has certain assets that are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These assets include cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. The following table summarizes those assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:
                               
Money market funds
  $ 1,150     $     $     $ 1,150  
Bank time deposits
          46,622             46,622  
Commercial paper
          62,592             62,592  
Government bonds — foreign
          5,057             5,057  
Tax exempt auction rate securities (See Note 7)
                4,094       4,094  
 
                       
Total Assets
  $ 1,150     $ 114,271     $ 4,094     $ 119,515  
 
                       
The Company has certain liabilities that are required to be recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis, summarized as follows as of September 30, 2010:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Liabilities:
                               
Lease exit liabilities
  $     $     $ 17,952     $ 17,952  
 
                       
Total Liabilities
  $     $     $ 17,952     $ 17,952  
 
                       
The lease exit liabilities relate to vacated facilities associated with previously discontinued operations and realignment activities of the Company and are recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010. The fair value of the Company’s lease exit liabilities within the Level 3 classification is based on a discounted cash flow model applied over the remaining term of the leased property.
The changes in the fair value of the Level 3 assets and liabilities are as follows:
         
    Tax Exempt  
    Auction Rate  
    Bonds  
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 23,560  
Redemptions
    (20,600 )
Realized and unrealized gain included in interest and other, net
    1,134  
 
     
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 4,094  
 
     
         
    Lease Exit  
    Liability  
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 25,112  
Expense
    700  
Cash Payments
    (7,860 )
 
     
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 17,952  
 
     
The carrying value for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenue and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company’s debt relates to borrowings under its revolving credit facility and term loan (see Note 11), which approximates fair value due to market interest rates.
7. INVESTMENTS
Marketable Securities
As of September 30, 2010, the Company held $4,450 (at par and cost value) of investments in an auction rate security. This security is a variable-rate debt instrument whose underlying agreement has a contractual maturity in 24 years that has been issued by state-related higher-education agency and is collateralized by student loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. Since mid-February 2008, liquidity issues in the global credit markets have resulted in the failure of auctions representing all of the Company’s auction rate securities, as the amount of securities submitted for sale in those auctions exceeded the amount of bids. The funds associated with failed auctions will not be accessible until a successful auction occurs, a buyer is found outside of the auction process, the issuers redeem their bonds or the bonds mature according to contractual terms. As a result of the persistent failed auctions, and the uncertainty of when these investments could be successfully liquidated at par, the Company has classified its investments in auction rate bonds as available-for-sale securities, which are recorded as non-current marketable securities (with the exception of the $8,300 par value auction rate securities marketed and sold by UBS as of December 31, 2009, see below) in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Typically, when auctions are successful, the fair value of auction rate securities approximates par value due to the frequent interest rate resets.

 

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While the Company continues to earn interest on its auction rate security at the maximum contractual rate (which was 0.47% at September 30, 2010) and there has been no payment default with respect to such security, this investment is not currently trading and therefore does not currently have a readily determinable market value. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of the auction rate security no longer approximates par value. To estimate the fair value of its auction rate security, the Company used third party valuation and other available market observables. Based on these valuations, the auction rate security with an original par value and cost of $4,450 was recorded at a fair value of $4,094 as of September 30, 2010. The impairment of this security was deemed to be other-than-temporary in the fourth quarter of 2009 and resulted in an unrealized loss of $356 reported in interest and other, net, in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
Included in the Company’s auction rate securities portfolio as of June 30, 2010 was approximately $8,300 of auction rate securities which were marketed and sold by UBS. On November 11, 2008, the Company accepted a settlement with UBS pursuant to which UBS issued to the Company Series C-2 Auction Rate Securities Rights (the “ARS Rights”). The ARS Rights provided the Company the right to receive the par value of our UBS-brokered auction rate securities plus accrued but unpaid interest. The settlement provided that the Company may require UBS to purchase its UBS-brokered auction rate securities at par value at any time between June 30, 2010 and July 2, 2012. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary unrealized loss of $150 relating to the fair value adjustment of these UBS-brokered auction rate securities, which was charged to interest and other, net, in the consolidated statement of operations. On June 30, 2010, the Company exercised its option with UBS and required UBS to purchase its UBS-brokered auction rate securities at par value on June 30, 2010. The Company received $8,300 from UBS on July 1, 2010. Accordingly, the Company reversed the previously recognized unrealized loss of $150 in the second quarter of 2010. Additionally, the Company expensed the fair value of the put option associated with the UBS-brokered auction rate securities of $139 in the second quarter of 2010, which was originally recorded in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
In the first nine months of 2010, excluding the UBS-brokered auction rate securities, the Company received at par value $12,300 from issuer redemptions of auction rate securities. The redemption of these auction rate securities resulted in a $984 benefit recorded in interest and other, net, in the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as the Company previously recorded an other-than-temporary impairment on these auction rate securities in the fourth quarter of 2009.
In November 2009, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with RBC Capital Markets Corporation (“RBC”) with respect to auction rate securities purchased from RBC. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, RBC immediately repurchased the subject auction rate securities from the Company at a certain discount to their par value. The Company will receive certain additional monies from RBC if, within a certain time period of the date of the execution of the settlement agreement, any of the auction rate securities still held by RBC are redeemed or refinanced by the issuer for sums higher than the amounts RBC paid the Company to repurchase such auction rate securities. As part of the settlement agreement, the Company dismissed a lawsuit it had filed against RBC in connection with, and released claims related to, RBC’s sale of the auction rate securities to the Company. Accordingly, the Company recorded a realized loss of $4,824 in the fourth quarter of 2009 relating to the settlement with RBC, which was reflected in interest and other, net in the consolidated statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company received $1,420 from RBC relating to auction rate securities which were redeemed by the issuer or sold by RBC for sums higher than the amounts RBC paid the Company to repurchase such auction rate securities. The Company’s receipt of $1,420 from RBC resulted in a $1,420 benefit recorded in interest and other, net, in the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
The Company’s available-for-sale investments reported as current and non-current marketable securities as of September 30, 2010 are as follows:
                                 
            Gross     Gross        
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Estimated  
    Cost     Losses     Gains     Fair Value  
Non-current
                               
Tax-exempt auction rate bonds
  $ 4,450     $ 356     $     $ 4,094  
 
                       
Total
  $ 4,450     $ 356     $     $ 4,094  
 
                       
The Company reviews impairments associated with the above to determine the classification of the impairment as “temporary” or “other-than-temporary” in accordance with ASC 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.
Equity Investments
The Company accounts for investments through which a non-controlling interest is held using the equity method of accounting, recording its owned percentage of the investment’s net results of operations in loss in equity interests, net, in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Such losses reduce the carrying value of the Company’s investment and gains increase the carrying value of the Company’s investment. Dividends paid by the equity investee reduce the carrying amount of the Company’s investment.

 

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The Company has a 25% equity investment in a company located in Finland related to a business combination completed in 2001. The Company received a dividend of $220 in the first quarter of 2010 for this investment. Additionally, the Company received a dividend of $763 in the second quarter of 2009 for this investment. The carrying value of the investment was $330 as of September 30, 2010 and was recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of investment in unconsolidated affiliates.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company acquired a 50% equity interest in a company located in Australia. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company expended $4,424 and $4,953, respectively, for additional working capital requirements relating to the Australian investment. The carrying value of the investment was $415 as of September 30, 2010 and was recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of investment in unconsolidated affiliates.
Income and loss in equity interests, net, are based upon unaudited financial information and are as follows (by equity investment):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Australia
  $ (969 )   $ (1,085 )   $ (2,837 )   $ (3,615 )
Finland
    96       41       326       142  
 
                       
Loss in equity interests, net
  $ (873 )   $ (1,044 )   $ (2,511 )   $ (3,473 )
 
                       
8. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER SPECIAL CHARGES
On July 30, 2007, the Company announced a strategic restructuring plan intended to position the Company for sustainable long-term growth in the rapidly evolving global online recruitment and advertising industry. The restructuring plan was originally designed to reduce the Company’s workforce by approximately 800 associates. Subsequent to the announcement of this plan, the Company identified approximately 100 associates in the customer service function who would stay with the Company. Through June 30, 2009, when all of the initiatives relating to the 2007 restructuring program were complete, the Company had notified or terminated approximately 700 associates and approximately 140 associates had voluntarily left the Company. These initiatives were implemented to reduce the growth rate of operating expenses and provide funding for investments in new product development and innovation, enhanced technology, global advertising campaigns and selective sales force expansion. Since the inception of the 2007 restructuring program through the completion of the program in the second quarter of 2009, the Company incurred $49,109 of restructuring expenses. The Company will not incur any new charges in the future relating to this program.
Restructuring and other special charges and related liability balances are as follows:
                                         
                    Cash     Non-Cash        
    December 31, 2009     Expense     Payments     Utilization     September 30, 2010  
Workforce reduction
  $ 1,876     $     $ (1,019 )   $     $ 857  
Consolidation of office facilities
    1,982             (1,149 )           833  
Other costs and professional fees
    237             (60 )           177  
 
                             
Total
  $ 4,095     $     $ (2,228 )   $     $ 1,867  
 
                             

 

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9. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
The Company’s property and equipment balances net of accumulated depreciation are as follows:
                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
Capitalized software costs
  $ 208,311     $ 190,454  
Furniture and equipment
    32,638       30,128  
Leasehold improvements
    38,603       31,803  
Computer and communications equipment
    186,942       173,720  
 
           
 
    466,494       426,105  
Less: Accumulated depreciation
    322,521       282,378  
 
           
Property and equipment, net
  $ 143,973     $ 143,727  
 
           
Depreciation expense was $42,278 and $43,479 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Additionally, during 2009, the Company recorded $3,848 of restructuring charges relating to accelerated amortization associated with certain capitalized software costs which were abandoned in the second quarter of 2009 as well as $873 of asset impairment write-offs associated with the consolidation of office facilities.
10. FINANCIAL DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company uses forward foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges to offset risks related to foreign currency transactions. These transactions primarily relate to non-functional currency denominated inter-company funding loans and non-functional currency inter-company accounts receivable.
The fair value gain position (recorded in interest and other, net, in the consolidated statements of operations) of our derivatives at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
                         
    September 30, 2010  
    Notional Balance     Maturity Date     Accrued Expenses  
Designated as Hedges under ASC 815
                       
None
              $  
 
                       
Not Designated as Hedges under ASC 815
                       
Foreign currency exchange forwards
  $52,848 consisting of 11
different currency pairs
  October 2010     335  
 
                     
 
                       
Total Derivative Instruments
                  $ 335  
 
                     
                         
    December 31, 2009  
    Notional Balance     Maturity Date     Prepaid Expenses  
Designated as Hedges under ASC 815
                       
None
                  $  
 
                       
Not Designated as Hedges under ASC 815
                       
Foreign currency exchange forwards
  $21,864 consisting of 10
different currency pairs
  January — April 2010     77  
 
                     
 
                       
Total Derivative Instruments
                  $ 77  
 
                     
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, net gains of $796 and net losses of $640, respectively, from realized net gains and net losses and changes in the fair value of our forward contracts, were recognized in other income in the consolidated statement of operations.
11. FINANCING AGREEMENTS
In December 2007, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility that provided for maximum borrowings of $250,000. On August 31, 2009 (the “Amendment Closing Date”), with the objective of availing itself of the benefits of an improved credit market in an ongoing unstable macroeconomic environment, the Company amended certain terms and increased its borrowing capability under its existing credit agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement maintained the Company’s existing $250,000 revolving credit facility and provided for a new $50,000 term loan facility, for a total of $300,000 in credit available to the Company. The revolving credit facility and the term loan facility each mature on December 21, 2012. The term loan is subject to annual amortization of principal, with $5,000 payable on each anniversary of the Amendment Closing Date and the remaining $35,000 due at maturity.

 

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The Amended Credit Agreement provides for increases in the interest rates applicable to borrowings and increases in certain fees. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 300 basis points to 400 basis points depending, on the Company’s ratio of consolidated funded debt to trailing four-quarter consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (the “Consolidated Leverage Ratio”) as defined in Amended Credit Agreement or (ii) for Dollar-denominated loans only, and upon the Company’s election, the sum of (A) the highest of (1) the credit facility’s administrative agent’s prime rate, (2) the sum of 0.50% plus the overnight federal funds rate on such day or (3) subject to certain exceptions, the sum of 1.00% plus the 1-month LIBOR rate, plus (B) a margin ranging from 200 basis points to 300 basis points depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. In addition, the Company will be required to pay the following fees: (i) a fee on all outstanding amounts of letters of credit at a rate per annum ranging from 300 basis points to 400 basis points (depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio); and (ii) a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate per annum ranging from 50 basis points to 75 basis points (depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio). The Company is no longer required to pay a utilization fee on outstanding loans and letters of credit under any circumstances.
The Amended Credit Agreement also increased the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio to: (a) 3.50:1.00 for the period beginning on August 31, 2009 and ending on September 29, 2010; (b) 3.00:1.00 for the period beginning on September 30, 2010 and ending on September 29, 2011; and (c) 2.75:1.00 beginning on September 30, 2011 and any time thereafter. The Company may repay outstanding borrowings at any time during the term of the credit facility without any prepayment penalty. The Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants which restrict, among other things, the ability of the Company to borrow, create liens, pay dividends, repurchase its common stock, acquire businesses and other investments, enter into new lines of business, dispose of property, guarantee debts of others or, lend funds to affiliated companies and contains requirements regarding the maintenance of certain financial statement amounts and ratios, all as provided in the Amended Credit Agreement. In January 2010, the Company received a technical amendment to the permitted investments section of the Amended Credit Agreement to accommodate the particular legal structure of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets (see Note 5). As of September 30, 2010, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants.
Additionally, on the Amendment Closing Date the Company entered into the U.S. Pledge Agreement which along with subsequent separate pledge agreements shall cause the Company’s obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement to be secured by a pledge of: (a) all of the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries (other than certain specified inactive subsidiaries) and (b) 65% of the equity interests of each first-tier material foreign subsidiary of the Company.
At September 30, 2010, the utilized portion of this credit facility was $45,000 in borrowings on the term loan facility, $90,000 of borrowings on the revolving credit facility, primarily relating to the funding of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, and $1,634 for standby letters of credit. The portion of the borrowings on the term loan that is due within one year, which represents $5,000 of the total borrowings, is classified as short-term on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 and the remaining borrowings on the term loan of $40,000 is classified as long-term. As of September 30, 2010, $158,366 was unused on the Company’s revolving credit facility, of which $87,710 is available to the Company to be used based on the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio. At September 30, 2010, the one month US Dollar LIBOR rate, the credit facility’s administrative agent’s prime rate, and the overnight federal funds rate were 0.26%, 3.25% and 0.15%, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, the Company used the one month US Dollar LIBOR rate for the interest rate on these borrowings with an interest rate of 3.51%.

 

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12. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net (loss) income
  $ (5,724 )   $ 32,751     $ (32,860 )   $ 21,040  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    48,408       42,592       4,849       45,026  
Net unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities
          181             306  
 
                       
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 42,684     $ 75,524     $ (28,011 )   $ 66,372  
 
                       
13. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes consists of provisions for federal, state and foreign income taxes. The Company operates globally with operations in various tax jurisdictions outside of the United States. Accordingly, the effective income tax rate is a composite rate reflecting the earnings in the various tax jurisdictions and the applicable rates. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets or liabilities, or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof.

The Company is currently under examination by several domestic and international tax authorities, including the United States Internal Revenue Service. Presently, no material adjustments have been proposed. Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining our provision for income taxes. The gross recorded liability for uncertain tax positions (inclusive of estimated interest and penalties thereon) at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 is recorded as long-term taxes payable of $95,464 and $87,343, respectively. Interest and penalties related to underpayment of income taxes are classified as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that unrecorded tax benefits may be reduced by as much as $25,000 in the next twelve months due to expirations of statutes of limitations or settlement of tax examinations. The tax matters concerned relate to the allocation of income among jurisdictions and the characterization of certain intercompany loans.
Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed $30,599 of accrued tax attributable to uncertain tax positions in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, of which $26,571 impacted the effective tax rate. The Company also reversed accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $8,979 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, which on a net tax basis impacted the effective rate by $5,687. The total benefit reflected in the third quarter of 2009 income tax provision due to the reversal of tax and interest was $32,258. The tax matters primarily concerned tax characterization issues, use of acquired tax attributes, and allocation of income among jurisdictions.
14. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA
The Company conducts business in three reportable segments: Careers — North America, Careers — International and Internet Advertising & Fees. Corporate operating expenses are not allocated to the Company’s reportable segments.
Primarily resulting from the acquisition of ChinaHR, the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (as defined by ASC 280, Segments) began reviewing the operating results of ChinaHR and initiated the process of making resource allocation decisions for ChinaHR separately from the Careers — International operating segment (which ChinaHR was formerly a part of). Accordingly, beginning in 2009, the Company has the following four operating segments: Careers — North America, Careers — International, Careers — China and Internet Advertising & Fees. Pursuant to ASC 280, Segments, due to the economic similarities of both operating segments, the Company aggregates the Careers — International and Careers — China operating segments into one reportable segment: Careers — International. See Note 1 for a description of the Company’s reportable segments. The business attributable to the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets has been assigned to our Careers — North America segment (see Note 5).

 

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The following tables present the Company’s operations by reportable segment and by geographic region:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Revenue   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Careers — North America
  $ 107,229     $ 95,204     $ 301,134     $ 316,187  
Careers — International
    86,683       84,737       259,168       277,000  
Internet Advertising & Fees
    34,930       34,592       98,762       98,806  
 
                       
Revenue
  $ 228,842     $ 214,533     $ 659,064     $ 691,993  
 
                       
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Operating (Loss) Income   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Careers — North America
  $ 18,773     $ 6,057     $ 32,455     $ 17,804  
Careers — International
    (5,882 )     (2,181 )     (23,830 )     (4,871 )
Internet Advertising & Fees
    1,880       5,091       3,662       13,574  
Corporate expenses
    (20,159 )     (6,015 )     (56,429 )     (38,688 )
 
                       
Operating (loss) income
  $ (5,388 )   $ 2,952     $ (44,142 )   $ (12,181 )
 
                       
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Depreciation and Amortization   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Careers — North America
  $ 7,161     $ 7,997     $ 20,502     $ 22,959  
Careers — International
    7,087       7,391       21,501       22,082  
Internet Advertising & Fees
    2,136       1,929       6,504       5,338  
Corporate expenses
    98       102       271       305  
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 16,482     $ 17,419     $ 48,778     $ 50,684  
 
                       
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Restructuring and Other Special Charges   2010     2009     2010     2009  
Careers — North America
  $     $     $     $ 3,758  
Careers — International
                      10,368  
Internet Advertising & Fees
                      616  
Corporate expenses
                      1,363  
 
                       
Restructuring and other special charges
  $     $     $     $ 16,105  
 
                       
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Revenue by Geographic Region (a)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
United States
  $ 136,834     $ 125,322     $ 383,648     $ 401,476  
Germany
    18,343       16,423       50,642       56,322  
Other foreign
    73,665       72,788       224,774       234,195  
 
                       
Revenue
  $ 228,842     $ 214,533     $ 659,064     $ 691,993  
 
                       

 

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The following table reconciles each reportable segment’s assets to total assets reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets:
                 
Total Assets by Segment   September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
Careers — North America
  $ 657,793     $ 614,363  
Careers — International
    870,063       717,574  
Internet Advertising & Fees
    183,228       184,157  
Corporate
    58,531       171,303  
Shared assets (b)
    140,494       139,793  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,910,109     $ 1,827,190  
 
           
                 
Long-lived Assets by Geographic Region (c)   June 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
United States
  $ 105,222     $ 107,004  
International
    38,751       36,723  
 
           
Total long-lived assets
  $ 143,973     $ 143,727  
 
           
 
     
(a)  
Revenue by geographic region is generally based on the location of the Company’s subsidiary.
 
(b)  
Shared assets represent assets that provide economic benefit to all of the Company’s operating segments. Shared assets are not allocated to operating segments for internal reporting or decision-making purposes.
 
(c)  
Total long-lived assets include property and equipment, net.
15. LEGAL MATTERS
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of its business. Aside from the matters discussed below, the Company is not involved in any pending or threatened legal proceedings that it believes could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
In May 2010, Site Update Solutions LLC filed suit against the Company for allegedly infringing a patent relating to search engine databases. The lawsuit-entitled Site Update Solutions LLC v. Accor North America, Inc., et al. (Civil Action No. 2:10-cv-151) is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and there are 34 other defendants named in the plaintiff’s original complaint. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages, attorney’s fees and other costs. The Court has entered a schedule in the case which includes a final pre-trial conference set for March 2012. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter and is currently unable to estimate any potential losses.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Monster Worldwide, Inc.
New York, New York
We have reviewed the consolidated balance sheet of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 included in the accompanying Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2010. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the consolidated balance sheet of Monster Worldwide, Inc. as of December 31, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 4, 2010, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
October 29, 2010

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “Monster Worldwide,” “we,” “our” or “us”) makes forward-looking statements in this report and in other reports and proxy statements that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this report constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including factors outside of our control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, the global economic and financial market environment; our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brands, particularly Monster; competition; fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; our ability to adapt to rapid developments in technology; our ability to continue to develop and enhance our information technology systems; concerns related to our privacy policies and our compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations; intrusions on our systems; interruptions, delays or failures in the provision of our services; our vulnerability to intellectual property infringement claims brought against us by others; our ability to protect our proprietary rights and maintain our rights to use key technologies of third parties; our ability to identify future acquisition opportunities or partners and the risk that future acquisitions or partnerships may not achieve the expected benefits to us; our ability to manage future growth; the ability of our divested businesses to satisfy obligations related to their operations; risks related to our foreign operations; our ability to expand our operations in international markets; our ability to attract and retain talented employees, including senior management; potential write-downs if our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired; adverse determinations by domestic and/or international taxation authorities related to our estimated tax liabilities; effects of anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents that could inhibit the acquisition of Monster Worldwide by others; volatility in our stock price; risks associated with government regulation; the outcome of litigation we may become involved in from time to time; and other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in our reports and other filings made with the SEC, including under Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Overview
Monster is the premier global online employment solution provider, inspiring people to improve their lives, with a presence in approximately 55 countries around the world. We have built on Monster’s brand and created worldwide awareness by offering online recruiting solutions that we believe are redefining the way employers and job seekers connect. For employers, our goal is to provide the most effective solutions and easiest to use technology to simplify the hiring process and deliver access to our community of job seekers. For job seekers, our purpose is to help improve their careers by providing work-related content, services and advice.
Our services and solutions include searchable job postings, resume databases, recruitment media solutions throughout our network and other career-related content. Job seekers can search our job postings and post their resumes for free on each of our career websites. Employers pay to post jobs, search our resume database and access other career-related services.
Our investments in our technology platform have allowed us to deliver these innovative products and services on time and on a global basis. We have consolidated several technology systems and have created a platform that is more secure, scalable and redundant. Additionally, in 2008, we acquired Trovix Inc., a business that provides career-related products and services that utilize advanced search technology, focusing on key attributes such as skills, work history and education. We recently launched our Monster Power Resume Search™ product to customers in the United States, United Kingdom and France, which is our innovative and proprietary semantic resume and job search database product based upon Trovix search technology. Our Power Resume Search product is the first of several new employer products we expect to launch from our 6Sense® technology platform.
Our strategy has been to grow our business both organically and through strategic acquisitions and alliances in which the perceived growth prospects fit our long-term strategic growth plan. On August 24, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets (as defined below), which we believe will expand our market share in the North America online recruitment market. We believe the long-term growth opportunities overseas are significant and believe that we are positioned to benefit from our expanded reach and increased brand recognition around the world. We believe we are positioned to benefit from the continued secular shift towards online recruiting. In addition, through a balanced mix of investment, strategic acquisitions and disciplined operating focus and execution, we believe we can take advantage of this online migration to significantly grow our international business over the next several years.

 

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We also operate a network of websites that connect companies to highly targeted audiences at critical stages in their lives. Our goal is to offer compelling online services for the users of such websites through personalization, community features and enhanced content. We believe there are significant opportunities to monetize this web traffic through lead generation, display advertising and other consumer related products. We believe that these properties appeal to advertisers and other third parties as they deliver certain discrete demographics entirely online.
Acquisition of the HotJobs Assets from Yahoo! Inc.
On August 24, 2010, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of February 3, 2010 (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) by and between Monster and Yahoo! Inc. (“Yahoo!”), Monster completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets exclusive to Yahoo! HotJobs (the “HotJobs Assets”) from Yahoo! The purchase price for the HotJobs Assets was $225.0 million. We acquired the HotJobs Assets, among other objectives, to expand our business in the North American online recruitment market. The results of operations attributable to the HotJobs Assets have been included in our consolidated financial statements since August 24, 2010 and have contributed revenues of $5.9 million and break-even operating income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, exclusive of acquisition and integration-related costs. Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, Monster and Yahoo! entered into a three year commercial traffic agreement whereby Monster became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada.
The Company funded the purchase of the HotJobs Assets with available cash and proceeds from the Company’s revolving credit facility. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred $8.6 million and $18.2 million, respectively, of acquisition and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, which were expensed as incurred and are included in office and general expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. These costs primarily relate to legal fees, professional fees and other integration costs associated with the acquisition. We expect to continue to incur significant acquisition and integration-related costs in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 relating to the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.
Restructuring Program
We have recorded significant charges and accruals in connection with our 2007 restructuring initiatives and prior business reorganization programs. These accruals include estimates pertaining to future lease obligations, employee separation costs and the settlements of contractual obligations resulting from our actions. These initiatives were implemented to reduce the growth rate of operating expenses in certain areas and to focus more of our resources on new product development and innovation, enhanced technology, global advertising campaigns and selective sales force expansion. Since the inception of the 2007 restructuring program, we incurred $49.1 million of restructuring expenses. We completed all of the initiatives relating to the 2007 restructuring program in the second quarter of 2009, and no new charges will be incurred in the future relating to this program.

 

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Results of Operations
Consolidated operating results as a percentage of revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Revenue
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
                       
Salaries and related
    52.1 %     52.6 %     55.0 %     50.4 %
Office and general
    27.6 %     27.9 %     27.7 %     26.3 %
Marketing and promotion
    22.6 %     21.3 %     24.0 %     23.8 %
Reversal of legal settlements, net
    0.0 %     (3.2 )%     0.0 %     (1.0 )%
Restructuring and other special charges
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     2.3 %
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    102.4 %     98.6 %     106.7 %     101.8 %
 
                       
Operating (loss) income
    (2.4 )%     1.4 %     (6.7 )%     (1.8 )%
Interest and other, net
    (0.6 )%     (0.0 )%     (0.2 )%     0.2 %
 
                       
(Loss) income before income taxes and loss in equity interests
    (2.9 )%     1.4 %     (6.9 )%     (1.6 )%
Benefit from income taxes
    (0.8 )%     (14.4 )%     (2.3 )%     (5.1 )%
Loss in equity interests, net
    (0.4 )%     (0.5 )%     (0.4 )%     (0.5 )%
 
                       
Net (loss) income
    (2.5 )%     15.3 %     (5.0 )%     3.0 %
 
                       
The Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
Consolidated Revenue, Operating Expenses and Operating (Loss) Income
Consolidated revenue, operating expenses and operating (loss) income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 228,842       100.0 %   $ 214,533       100.0 %   $ 14,309       6.7 %
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    119,297       52.1 %     112,833       52.6 %     6,464       5.7 %
Office and general
    63,272       27.6 %     59,841       27.9 %     3,431       5.7 %
Marketing and promotion
    51,661       22.6 %     45,757       21.3 %     5,904       12.9 %
Provision for legal settlements, net
          0.0 %     (6,850 )     (3.2 )%     6,850       (100.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    234,230       102.4 %     211,581       98.6 %     22,649       10.7 %
 
                                         
Operating (loss) income
  $ (5,388 )     (2.4 )%   $ 2,952       1.4 %   $ (8,340 )     (282.5 )%
 
                                         
Our consolidated revenue increased $14.3 million, or 6.7%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $4.4 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact and $5.9 million of revenue attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets, which closed on August 24, 2010. This increase in revenue represents the first year over year increase in revenue since the third quarter of 2008. Our Careers — International segment experienced a 2.3% increase in revenue and our Careers — North America segment experienced a 12.6% increase in revenue. Since 2008, both of the Company’s Careers’ segments have been negatively impacted by the global recession, which reduced overall hiring demand and forced our customers to reduce their job posting and resume database usage. However, we are continuing to see improvements in our global business activity, with the third quarter of 2010 generating increased bookings (which represent the value of contractual orders received during the relevant period) of 26% on a global basis compared to the third quarter of 2009. This increase in bookings occurred in most sectors of the North American market (particularly within our large enterprise, staffing and government customer sectors), most countries within Europe (driven by strong bookings growth in central and southern Europe), as well as in our Asian markets (particularly in Korea, India and China). We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the global economy as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. The Company has continued to invest in technology to diversify its product offerings and provide customers a broad array of technology-based solutions for their talent management strategy. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2009, we launched our Power Resume Search product to customers within the United States, which is the first of several new employer products we expect to launch from our 6Sense technology platform. We believe the continued rollout of the Power Resume Search product in 2010, which included the launch in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2010 and France in October 2010, will drive new customer sales in resume search and some of our combined Career product packages. Our Internet Advertising & Fees revenue remained relatively flat in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009.

 

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Salary and related expenses increased $6.5 million, or 5.7%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $2.2 million of favorable foreign exchange impact and $1.9 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from increased booking activity in 2010, increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009 and increased stock-based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs. These increases were partially offset by decreased regular salary costs primarily associated with reduced headcount in 2010 compared to 2009 as well as decreased severance costs.
Office and general expenses increased $3.4 million, or 5.7%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.7 million of favorable foreign exchange impact, $8.6 million of acquisition and integration-related expenses associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets and $0.7 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in office and general expenses resulted primarily from increased legal, professional and other fees relating to acquisition and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, partially offset by decreased bad debt expense, occupancy costs and depreciation expense. The Company does not allocate acquisition and integration-related expenses to their reportable segments. Accordingly, the $8.6 million of acquisition and integration-related expenses incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2010 associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets is recorded as a corporate expense.
Marketing and promotion expenses increased $5.9 million, or 12.9%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.5 million of favorable foreign exchange impact and $3.3 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses in 2010 resulted primarily from our Careers — International segment, where we have continued to invest in the Asian and European markets, as well as increased online media costs in our Internet Advertising & Fees segment, primarily associated with our lead generation business. Marketing and promotion expenses within the Careers — North America segment also increased, primarily related to the traffic agreement with Yahoo!, which became effective on August 24, 2010, whereby the Company became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada.
In the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed a previously recorded accrual of $6.9 million relating to settlement of all actions seeking recoveries from the Company as an outgrowth of the Company’s historical stock option grant practices.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2010.
Our consolidated operating loss was $5.4 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to operating income of $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Careers — North America
The operating results of our Careers — North America segment for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 107,229       100.0 %   $ 95,204       100.0 %   $ 12,025       12.6 %
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    48,062       44.8 %     47,470       49.9 %     592       1.2 %
Office and general
    21,347       19.9 %     23,599       24.8 %     (2,252 )     (9.5 )%
Marketing and promotion
    19,047       17.8 %     18,078       19.0 %     969       5.4 %
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    88,456       82.5 %     89,147       93.6 %     (691 )     (0.8 )%
 
                                         
Operating income
  $ 18,773       17.5 %   $ 6,057       6.4 %   $ 12,716       209.9 %
 
                                         
Revenue in our Careers — North America segment increased $12.0 million, or 12.6%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $5.9 million of revenue attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in revenue represents the first year over year increase since the fourth quarter of 2007. We are continuing to see improvements in most business sectors within North America, including strong bookings growth in our large enterprise, staffing and government customer sectors. We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the economy in North America as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. The Company has continued to invest in technology to diversify its product offerings and provide customers a broad array of technology-based solutions for their talent management strategy. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2009, we launched our Power Resume Search product, powered by our 6Sense technology, to customers within the United States and believe this new technology will continue to attract new customers to Monster and drive future revenue in the form of customers paying a premium price for the efficiency of filling positions.

 

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Salary and related expenses increased by $0.6 million, or 1.2%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $1.9 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in salaries and related expense resulted primarily from $3.0 million of increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from increased booking activity in 2010, $1.5 million of increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009 and $1.0 million of increased stock-based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs. These increased costs are partially offset by decreased regular salary costs of $1.9 million, primarily associated with reduced headcount in 2010 compared to 2009, and decreased severance costs of $2.8 million.
Office and general expenses decreased by $2.3 million, or 9.5%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.7 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from $1.5 million of decreased depreciation expense in 2010, resulting from certain assets that were abandoned and fully expensed in 2009, and $0.6 million of decreased bad debt expense in 2010 primarily associated with increased bad debt charges recorded in 2009 relating to customers negatively impacted by the global recession. These decreases were partially offset by increased amortization expense of $0.6 million associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.
Marketing and promotion expenses increased $1.0 million, or 5.4%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $3.3 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. The increase in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from the traffic agreement the Company entered into with Yahoo!, which became effective on August 24, 2010, whereby the Company became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada. The Company has reduced costs in other areas of marketing and promotion, including our decision not to renew certain sponsorships, the reduction of the number of Keep America Working events, the refinement of our alliance partnership arrangements and the continued focus on the efficiency of our media investments.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2010.
Our Careers — North America operating income was $18.8 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to operating income of $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the factors described above.
Careers — International
The operating results of our Careers — International segment for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 86,683       100.0 %   $ 84,737       100.0 %   $ 1,946       2.3 %
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    50,600       58.4 %     45,915       54.2 %     4,685       10.2 %
Office and general
    23,887       27.6 %     25,373       29.9 %     (1,486 )     (5.9 )%
Marketing and promotion
    18,078       20.9 %     15,630       18.4 %     2,448       15.7 %
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    92,565       106.8 %     86,918       102.6 %     5,647       6.5 %
 
                                         
Operating loss
  $ (5,882 )     (6.8 )%   $ (2,181 )     (2.6 )%   $ (3,701 )     169.7 %
 
                                         
Our Careers — International segment revenue increased $1.9 million, or 2.3%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $4.6 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in revenue represents the first year over year increase in our Careers — International segment since the third quarter of 2008. We are continuing to see improvements in bookings in Asia (particularly in Korea, India and China) as well as in most countries within Europe, with particularly strong growth within central and southern Europe. We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the global economy as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. We believe that the roll-out of Power Resume Search to certain European countries in 2010, which included the launch within the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2010 and in France in October 2010, will drive new customer sales in resume search and some of our combined Career product packages.

 

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Salary and related expenses increased $4.7 million, or 10.2%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $2.2 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from $2.9 million of increased regular salary costs in 2010, primarily relating to 2009 including a benefit associated with a change in actuarial assumptions related to a statutory pension plan, $1.0 million of increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force relating to increased booking activity in 2010 as well as $1.0 million of increased stock based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs, partially offset by $1.6 million of decreased severance costs in 2010.
Office and general expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 5.9%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.5 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from $1.0 million of decreased bad debt expense, primarily associated with increased bad debt charges recorded in 2009 relating to customers negatively impacted by the global recession, as well as $1.0 of decreased occupancy costs in 2010, partially offset by $0.5 million of increased legal fees.
Marketing and promotion expenses increased $2.4 million, or 15.7%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.6 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses in 2010 results primarily from our continued expansion of our investments in Asia, particularly in China, as well as increased online marketing activities in Europe.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2010.
Our Careers — International operating loss was $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Internet Advertising & Fees
The operating results of our Internet Advertising & Fees segment for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 34,930       100.0 %   $ 34,592       100.0 %   $ 338       1.0 %
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    12,406       35.5 %     11,516       33.3 %     890       7.7 %
Office and general
    6,291       18.0 %     6,064       17.5 %     227       3.7 %
Marketing and promotion
    14,353       41.1 %     11,921       34.5 %     2,432       20.4 %
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    33,050       94.6 %     29,501       85.3 %     3,549       12.0 %
 
                                         
Operating income
  $ 1,880       5.4 %   $ 5,091       14.7 %   $ (3,211 )     (63.1 )%
 
                                         
Revenue in our Internet Advertising & Fees segment increased $0.3 million, or 1.0%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, resulting primarily from modest growth in our lead generation business. We continue to concentrate our resources on revenues from lead generation and online display advertising, innovation of new product and increased audience reach.
Operating expenses increased $3.5 million, or 12.0%, in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. This increase in operating expenses primarily resulted from $2.4 million of increased marketing and promotion costs, primarily associated with growing the lead generation business particularly within the education channel, and increased salary and related costs of $0.9 million, primarily relating to the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the third quarter of 2010.
Our Internet Advertising & Fees operating income was $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to operating income of $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.

 

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Interest and Other, net
Interest and other, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 resulted in an expense of $1.3 million and $0.0 million, respectively. Interest and other, net, primarily relates to interest expense on the Company’s outstanding debt, interest income associated with the Company’s various investments, foreign currency gains or losses and gains or losses on the Company’s auction rate securities. The increased expense in interest and other, net, of $1.3 million resulted primarily from higher credit facility borrowing costs, resulting from the funding of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, higher unused fees, increased amortization costs associated with capitalized deferred financing costs and foreign currency losses in 2010 resulting mainly from losses on intercompany settlements and hedging activity.
Income Taxes
Income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                 
(dollars in thousands)   2010     2009     $ Change     % Change  
Loss (income) before income taxes
  $ (6,674 )   $ 2,904     $ (9,578 )     (329.8 )%
Income taxes
    (1,823 )     (30,891 )     29,068       94.1 %
Effective tax rate
    27.3 %     -1,063.7 %                
Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate due to the impact of state and local income taxes, tax exempt interest income, certain nondeductible expenses, foreign earnings taxed at different tax rates, valuation allowances and accrual of interest on accrued tax liabilities. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets or liabilities, or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. In addition, our filed tax returns are subject to examination by the United States Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes.
The Company is currently under examination in several domestic and international tax jurisdictions. Presently, no material adjustments have been proposed. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that unrecorded tax benefits may be reduced by as much as $25.0 million in the next twelve months due to the expiration of the statute of limitations or settlement of examinations. The tax matters concerned relate to the allocation of income among jurisdictions and the characterization of certain intercompany loans.
Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed $30.6 million of accrued tax attributable to uncertain tax positions in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, of which $26.6 million impacted the effective tax rate. The Company also reversed accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $9.0 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, which on a net tax basis impacted the effective rate by $5.7 million. The total benefit reflected in the third quarter of 2009 income tax provision due to the reversal of tax and interest was $32.3 million. There were no reversals of uncertain tax positions in the third quarter of 2010 which impacted the tax provision.
Loss in Equity Interests, Net
Loss in equity interests, net, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The Company’s equity investments consist of a 50% equity interest in a company located in Australia and a 25% investment in a company located in Finland.
Net (Loss) Income
Our consolidated net loss was $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to net income of $32.8 million in the third quarter of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Diluted (Loss) Income Per Share
Diluted loss per share in the third quarter of 2010 was $0.05 compared to diluted income per share of $0.27 in the third quarter of 2009. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was 120.8 million shares and 121.7 million shares, respectively. For periods in which losses are presented, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of any potential common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share.

 

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The Nine months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to the Nine months Ended September 30, 2009
Consolidated Revenue, Operating Expenses and Operating Loss
Consolidated revenue, operating expenses and operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 659,064       100.0 %   $ 691,993       100.0 %   $ (32,929 )     (4.8 )%
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    362,713       55.0 %     348,702       50.4 %     14,011       4.0 %
Office and general
    182,326       27.7 %     181,816       26.3 %     510       0.3 %
Marketing and promotion
    158,167       24.0 %     164,401       23.8 %     (6,234 )     (3.8 )%
Provision for legal settlements, net
          0.0 %     (6,850 )     (1.0 )%     6,850       (100.0 )%
Restructuring and other special charges
          0.0 %     16,105       2.3 %     (16,105 )     (100.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    703,206       106.7 %     704,174       101.8 %     (968 )     (0.1 )%
 
                                         
Operating loss
  $ (44,142 )     (6.7 )%   $ (12,181 )     (1.8 )%   $ (31,961 )     262.4 %
 
                                         
Our consolidated revenue decreased $32.9 million, or 4.8%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $2.0 million of favorable foreign exchange impact and $5.9 million of revenue attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets, which closed on August 24, 2010. Our Careers — International segment experienced a 6.4% decrease in revenue and our Careers — North America segment experienced a 4.8% decrease in revenue. The deferred revenue balance at the beginning of 2009 was $414.3 million, or $108.4 million higher than the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of 2010 of $305.9 million. As such, revenue recognized in the first nine months of 2010 was negatively impacted by the lower beginning deferred revenue balance when compared to the first nine months of 2009. We are continuing to see improvements in our global business activity, with the first nine months of 2010 generating increased bookings of 21% on a global basis compared to the first nine months of 2009. This increase in bookings occurred in most sectors of the North American market (particularly within our large enterprise, staffing, e-commerce and government customer sectors), most countries within Europe (driven by strong bookings growth in central and southern Europe), as well as in our Asian markets (particularly in Korea, India and China). We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the global economy as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. The Company has continued to invest in technology to diversify its product offerings and provide customers a broad array of technology-based solutions for their talent management strategy. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2009, we launched our Power Resume Search product to customers within the United States, which is the first of several new employer products we expect to launch from our 6Sense technology platform. We believe the continued rollout of the Power Resume Search product in 2010, which included the launch in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2010 and France in October 2010, will drive new customer sales in resume search and some of our combined Career product packages. Our Internet Advertising & Fees revenue remained relatively flat in first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009.
Salary and related expenses increased $14.0 million, or 4.0%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $1.6 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact and $1.9 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009, increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from increased booking activity in 2010, and increased stock-based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs. These increases were partially offset by decreased regular salary costs primarily associated with reduced headcount in 2010 compared to 2009.
Office and general expenses increased $0.5 million, or 0.3%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which included $0.7 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact, $18.2 million of acquisition and integration-related expenses associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets and $0.7 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This increase in office and general expenses resulted primarily from increased legal, professional and other fees relating to acquisition and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, partially offset by decreased bad debt expense, decreased occupancy costs and decreased legal fees in 2010 due to the completion of the investigation of our historical stock option grant practices. The Company does not allocate acquisition and integration-related expenses to their reportable segments. Accordingly, the $18.2 million of acquisition and integration-related expenses incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets is recorded as a corporate expense.

 

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Marketing and promotion expenses decreased $6.2 million, or 3.8%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.6 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact and $3.3 million of costs attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. The reduction in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from a more focused spending program in the first quarter of 2010, which included significant reductions in all categories of marketing and promotion and concentration on effective and productive investments. These reductions in the first quarter of 2010 were partially offset by increased investment in the second and third quarter of 2010 in our Careers — International segment, increased online media costs in our Internet Advertising & Fees segment, primarily related to our lead generation business, and increased costs within our Careers — North America segment primarily related to the traffic agreement with Yahoo!, which became effective on August 24, 2010.
In the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed a previously recorded accrual of $6.9 million relating to settlement of all actions seeking recoveries from the Company as an outgrowth of the Company’s historical stock option grant practices.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the first nine months of 2010.
Our consolidated operating loss was $44.1 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $12.2 million in the first nine months of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Careers — North America
The operating results of our Careers — North America segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 301,134       100.0 %   $ 316,187       100.0 %   $ (15,053 )     (4.8 )%
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    143,373       47.6 %     145,606       46.1 %     (2,233 )     (1.5 )%
Office and general
    60,821       20.2 %     69,467       22.0 %     (8,646 )     (12.4 )%
Marketing and promotion
    64,485       21.4 %     79,552       25.2 %     (15,067 )     (18.9 )%
Restructuring and other special charges
          0.0 %     3,758       1.2 %     (3,758 )     (100.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    268,679       89.2 %     298,383       94.4 %     (29,704 )     (10.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating income
  $ 32,455       10.8 %   $ 17,804       5.6 %   $ 14,651       82.3 %
 
                                         
Revenue in our Careers — North America segment decreased $15.1 million, or 4.8%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $1.7 million of favorable foreign exchange impact and $5.9 million of revenue attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. Revenue recognized in the first nine months of 2010 was negatively impacted by the lower beginning deferred revenue balance when compared to the first nine months of 2009. We are continuing to see improvements in most business sectors within North America, including strong bookings growth in our large enterprise, e-commerce, government and staffing customer sectors. We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the economy in North America as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. The Company has continued to invest in technology to diversify its product offerings and provide customers a broad array of technology-based solutions for their talent management strategy. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2009, we launched our Power Resume Search product to customers within the United States and believe this new technology will continue to attract new customers to Monster and drive future revenue in the form of customers paying a premium price for the efficiency of filling positions.
Salary and related expenses decreased $2.2 million, or 1.5%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $1.1 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact and $1.9 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This decrease in salaries and related expense resulted primarily from decreased regular salary costs of $12.3 million, resulting from reduced headcount in 2010 compared to 2009. These decreases were partially offset by $4.8 million of increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009, $4.5 million of increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from increased booking activity in 2010 and $1.1 million of increased stock-based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs.

 

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Office and general expenses decreased by $8.6 million, or 12.4%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.7 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from $4.2 million of decreased bad debt expense in 2010, primarily associated with increased bad debt charges recorded in 2009 relating to customers negatively impacted by the global recession, as well as $3.1 million of decreased depreciation expense in 2010 resulting from certain assets that were abandoned and fully expensed in 2009. These decreases were partially offset by increased travel related expenses of $1.0 million and increased amortization expense of $0.6 million associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.
Marketing and promotion expenses decreased $15.1 million, or 18.9%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.3 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact and $3.3 million of expenses attributable to the operations of the HotJobs Assets. The reduction in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from a more focused spending program in the first nine months of 2010, which included significant reductions in all categories of marketing and promotion, including the reduced number of Keep America Working tour events, the decision not to renew certain sponsorship agreements and the significant reduction in offline marketing costs incurred in the first quarter of 2009 to support the redesigned seeker website and employer product. This was partially offset by increased costs in the third quarter of 2010 resulting from the traffic agreement the Company entered into with Yahoo!, which became effective on August 24, 2010, whereby the Company became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the first nine months of 2010.
Our Careers — North America operating income was $32.5 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to $17.8 million in the first nine months of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Careers — International
The operating results of our Careers — International segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 259,168       100.0 %   $ 277,000       100.0 %   $ (17,832 )     (6.4 )%
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    157,094       60.6 %     144,449       52.1 %     12,645       8.8 %
Office and general
    71,484       27.6 %     75,208       27.2 %     (3,724 )     (5.0 )%
Marketing and promotion
    54,420       21.0 %     51,846       18.7 %     2,574       5.0 %
Restructuring and other special charges
          0.0 %     10,368       3.7 %     (10,368 )     (100.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    282,998       109.2 %     281,871       101.8 %     1,127       0.4 %
 
                                         
Operating loss
  $ (23,830 )     (9.2 )%   $ (4,871 )     (1.8 )%   $ (18,959 )     389.2 %
 
                                         
Our Careers — International segment revenue decreased $17.8 million, or 6.4%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.3 million of favorable foreign exchange impact, with revenue recognized in the first nine months of 2010 negatively impacted by the lower beginning deferred revenue balance when compared to the first nine months of 2009. We are continuing to see improvements in bookings in Asia (particularly Korea, India and China) as well as most countries within Europe, with particularly strong growth in central and southern Europe. We believe the increased bookings in these areas are a result of the improvement in the global economy as well as the improvements the Company has made in the customer value proposition. We believe that the roll-out of Power Resume Search to certain European countries in 2010, which included the launch in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2010 and in France in October 2010, will drive new customer sales in resume search and some of our combined Career product packages.
Salary and related expenses increased $12.6 million, or 8.8%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.5 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from $4.9 million of increased regular salary costs in 2010, primarily relating to 2009 including a benefit associated with a change in actuarial assumptions related to a statutory pension plan, $3.5 million of increased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force relating to increased bookings activity in 2010, $1.6 million of increased severance costs associated with our targeted global headcount reductions, $1.5 million of increased stock based compensation resulting from our broader equity and incentive programs and $1.1 of increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009. These increases were partially offset by decreased costs for temporary labor of $1.4 million.

 

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Office and general expenses decreased $3.7 million, or 5.0%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.6 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from $2.7 million of decreased bad debt expense, primarily associated with certain bad debt charges recorded in 2009 relating to customers negatively impacted by the global recession, decreased occupancy costs of $0.9 million and $0.6 million of decreased travel related expenses, partially offset by increased legal costs of $0.9 million.
Marketing and promotion expenses increased $2.6 million, or 5.0%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, which includes $0.3 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses in 2010 results primarily from our continued expansion of our investments in Asia, particularly in China, as well as increased online marketing activities in Europe, partially offset by decreased costs in the first quarter of 2010.
The 2007 restructuring program was completed in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the first nine months of 2010.
Our Careers — International operating loss was $23.8 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to an operating loss of $4.9 million in the first nine months of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Internet Advertising & Fees
The operating results of our Internet Advertising & Fees segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                                 
            % of             % of     Increase     % Increase  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     Revenue     2009     Revenue     (Decrease)     (Decrease)  
Revenue
  $ 98,762       100.0 %   $ 98,806       100.0 %   $ (44 )     (0.0 )%
 
                                   
Salaries and related
    37,152       37.6 %     34,674       35.1 %     2,478       7.1 %
Office and general
    19,201       19.4 %     17,670       17.9 %     1,531       8.7 %
Marketing and promotion
    38,747       39.2 %     32,272       32.7 %     6,475       20.1 %
Restructuring and other special charges
          0.0 %     616       0.6 %     (616 )     (100.0 )%
 
                                         
Operating expenses
    95,100       96.3 %     85,232       86.3 %     9,868       11.6 %
 
                                         
Operating income
  $ 3,662       3.7 %   $ 13,574       13.7 %   $ (9,912 )     (73.0 )%
 
                                         
Revenue in our Internet Advertising & Fees segment remained flat at $98.8 million. In the first nine months of 2010, we experienced a decrease in offline display advertising revenues which were offset by an increase in revenue associated with lead generation. We continue to concentrate our resources on revenues from lead generation and online display advertising, innovation of new products and increased audience reach.
Operating expenses increased $9.9 million, or 11.6%, in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. This increase in operating expenses primarily resulted from $6.5 million of increased marketing and promotion costs, primarily associated with expanding our reach and growing the lead generation business and $1.6 million of increased costs associated with the reintroduction of certain employee incentive programs which were modified in 2009.
The 2007 restructuring program was complete in the second quarter of 2009 and, accordingly, no restructuring charges were recorded in the first nine months of 2010.
Our Internet Advertising & Fees operating income was $3.7 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to operating income of $13.6 million in the first nine months of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Interest and Other, net
Interest and other, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 resulted in an expense of $1.0 million and income of $1.2 million, respectively. Interest and other, net, primarily related to interest expense on the Company’s outstanding debt, interest income associated with the Company’s various investments, foreign currency gains or losses and gains or losses on the Company’s auction rate securities. The decrease in interest and other, net, of $2.2 million resulted primarily from decreased interest income, primarily associated with the significant decline in investment interest rates experienced during 2010, higher credit facility borrowing costs, higher unused fees, higher amortization costs associated with capitalized deferred financing fees and foreign currency losses in 2010 resulting mainly from losses on intercompany settlements and hedging activity. These reductions in interest and other, net were partially offset by funds received in 2010 from RBC related to auction rate security contingent settlements and gains from auction rate security redemptions.

 

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Income Taxes
Income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                 
(dollars in thousands)   2010     2009     $ Change     % Change  
Loss before income taxes
  $ (45,180 )   $ (10,950 )   $ (34,230 )     (312.6 )%
Income taxes
    (14,831 )     (35,463 )     20,632       58.2 %
Effective tax rate
    32.8 %     323.9 %                
Our effective tax rates differ from the statutory rate due to the impact of state and local income taxes, tax exempt interest income, certain nondeductible expenses, foreign earnings taxed at different tax rates, valuation allowances and accrual of interest on accrued tax liabilities. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets or liabilities, or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. In addition, our filed tax returns are subject to the examination by the United States Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes.
The Company is currently under examination in several domestic and international tax jurisdictions. Presently, no material adjustments have been proposed. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that unrecorded tax benefits may be reduced by as much as $25.0 million in the next twelve months due to the expiration of the statute of limitations or settlement of examinations. The tax matters concerned relate to the allocation of income among jurisdictions and the characterization of certain intercompany loans.
Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations in the third quarter of 2009, the Company reversed $30.6 million of accrued tax attributable to uncertain tax positions in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, of which $26.6 million impacted the effective tax rate. The Company also reversed accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $9.0 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, which on a net tax basis impacted the effective rate by $5.7 million. The total benefit reflected in the third quarter of 2009 income tax provision due to the reversal of tax and interest was $32.3 million. There were no reversals of uncertain tax positions in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 which impacted the tax provision.
Loss in Equity Interests, Net
Loss in equity interests, net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $2.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The Company’s equity investments consist of a 50% equity interest in a company located in Australia and a 25% investment in a company located in Finland. This decreased loss in the first nine months of 2010 primarily related to our Australian equity investment, which recorded a decreased loss from operations in 2010.
Net (Loss) Income
Our consolidated net loss was $32.9 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to net income of $21.0 million in the first nine months of 2009, as a result of the factors discussed above.
Diluted (Loss) Income Per Share
Diluted loss per share in the first nine months of 2010 was $0.27 compared to diluted income per share of $0.17 in the first nine months of 2009. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was 120.5 million shares and 120.9 million shares, respectively. For periods in which losses are presented, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of any potential common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share.

 

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Financial Condition
The following tables detail our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities:
                                 
    September 30,     December 31,     Change  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     2009     $     %  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 166,713     $ 275,447     $ (108,734 )     (39.5 )%
Marketable securities (current and non-current)
    4,094       24,669       (20,575 )     (83.4 )%
 
                       
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 170,807     $ 300,116     $ (129,309 )     (43.1 )%
 
                       
Percentage of total assets
    8.9 %     16.4 %                
 
                           
Cash Flows
Consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
                                 
    September 30,     September 30,     Change  
(dollars in thousands)   2010     2009     $     %  
 
                               
Cash provided by operating activities
  $ 61,524     $ 11,968     $ 49,556       414.1 %
 
                               
Cash used for investing activities
    (242,865 )     (47,313 )     (195,552 )     413.3 %
 
                               
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities
    75,262       (11,230 )     86,492       (770.2 )%
Effect of exchange rates on cash
    (2,655 )     11,792       (14,447 )     (122.5 )%
As of September 30, 2010, we had cash, cash equivalents and total marketable securities of $170.8 million, compared to $300.1 million as of December 31, 2009. Our decrease in cash, cash equivalents and total marketable securities of $129.3 million in the first nine months of 2010 primarily resulted from the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets. The payment to Yahoo! of $225.0 million was funded by utilizing existing cash of $135.0 million and the remaining $90.0 million was funded from borrowings under the revolving credit facility.
Cash provided by operating activities was $61.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $49.6 million from the $12.0 million of cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase in cash provided by operating activities resulted primarily from increased cash flows provided by working capital items in 2010 of $140.5 million, primarily resulting from changes in accounts receivable, deferred revenue and accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other. These increases were partially offset by $53.9 million of reduced cash flows provided by operating activities in 2010 due to a net loss in 2010 of $32.9 million compared to net income in 2009 of $21.0 million, as well as the reduced operating cash flows provided by deferred income taxes in 2010 of $31.8 million.
Cash used for investing activities was $242.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $195.6 million from cash used for investing activities of $47.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase is primarily a result of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets in the third quarter of 2010 for $225.0 million, partially offset by decreased purchases of marketable securities of $7.5 million and increased sales and maturities of marketable securities of $19.7 million.
Cash provided by financing activities was $75.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $86.5 million from cash used for financing activities of $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase is primarily a result of the Company utilizing $90.0 million of the revolving credit facility to partially fund the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal capital requirements have been to fund (i) working capital, (ii) marketing and development of our Monster network, (iii) acquisitions, (iv) capital expenditures and (v) share repurchases.
Historically, we have relied on funds provided by operating activities, equity offerings, short and long-term borrowings and seller-financed notes to meet our liquidity needs. We invest our excess cash predominantly in bank time deposits, U.S. treasury bills, money market funds and commercial paper that matures within three months of its origination date and marketable securities. Due to the current state of the financial markets, we have redeployed our excess cash during 2009 and 2010 in conservative investment vehicles such as money market funds that invest solely in U.S. treasuries, top foreign sovereign regional, national and supra-national bank debt obligations and bank deposits at prime money center banks. We actively monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and cash equivalents. Our emphasis is primarily on safety of principal while secondarily on maximizing yield on those funds. We can provide no assurances that access to our invested cash and cash equivalents will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets.

 

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At any point in time we have funds in our operating accounts and customer accounts that are with third party financial institutions. These balances in the United States may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. While we monitor the cash balances in our operating accounts and adjust the cash balances as appropriate, these cash balances could be impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or could be subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets.
As of September 30, 2010, the Company held $4.5 million (at par and cost value) of investments in an auction rate security. This security is a variable-rate debt instrument whose underlying agreement has a contractual maturity in 24 years that has been issued by a state-related higher-education agency and is collateralized by student loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. While the Company continues to earn interest on its auction rate securities at the maximum contractual rate (which was a blended rate of 0.47% at September 30, 2010) and there has been no payment default with respect to such securities, these investments are not currently trading and therefore do not currently have a readily determinable market value. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of these auction rate securities no longer approximates par value. Based on third party valuations and other market observable inputs, the auction rate securities with an original par value and cost of $4.5 million were recorded at a fair value of $4.1 million as of September 30, 2010.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, revolving credit facility and cash we anticipate generating from operating activities will provide us with sufficient liquidity to satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures and meet our investment requirements and commitments through at least the next twelve months. Our cash generated from operating activities is subject to fluctuations in the global economy and overall hiring demand.
Credit Facility
Borrowings under our credit facility were $135.0 million as of September 30, 2010 and $50.0 million as of December 31, 2009.
In December 2007, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility that provided for maximum borrowings of $250.0 million. On August 31, 2009 (the “Amendment Closing Date”), with the objective of availing itself of the benefits of an improved credit market in an ongoing unstable macroeconomic environment, the Company amended certain terms and increased its borrowing capability under its existing credit agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement maintained the Company’s existing $250.0 million revolving credit facility and provided for a new $50.0 million term loan facility, for a total of $300.0 million in credit available to the Company. The revolving credit facility and the term loan facility each mature on December 21, 2012. The term loan is subject to annual amortization of principal, with $5.0 million payable on each anniversary of the Amendment Closing Date and the remaining $35.0 million due at maturity.
The Amended Credit Agreement provides for increases in the interest rates applicable to borrowings and increases in certain fees. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate equal to (i) LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 300 basis points to 400 basis points depending, on the Company’s ratio of consolidated funded debt to trailing four-quarter consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (the “Consolidated Leverage Ratio”) as defined in Amended Credit Agreement or (ii) for Dollar-denominated loans only, and upon the Company’s election, the sum of (A) the highest of (1) the credit facility’s administrative agent’s prime rate, (2) the sum of 0.50% plus the overnight federal funds rate on such day or (3) subject to certain exceptions, the sum of 1.00% plus the 1-month LIBOR rate, plus (B) a margin ranging from 200 basis points to 300 basis points depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. In addition, the Company will be required to pay the following fees: (i) a fee on all outstanding amounts of letters of credit at a rate per annum ranging from 300 basis points to 400 basis points (depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio); and (ii) a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate per annum ranging from 50 basis points to 75 basis points (depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio). The Company is no longer required to pay a utilization fee on outstanding loans and letters of credit under any circumstances.

 

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The Amended Credit Agreement also increased the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio to: (a) 3.50:1.00 for the period beginning on August 31, 2009 and ending on September 29, 2010; (b) 3.00:1.00 for the period beginning on September 30, 2010 and ending on September 29, 2011; and (c) 2.75:1.00 beginning on September 30, 2011 and any time thereafter. The Company may repay outstanding borrowings at any time during the term of the credit facility without any prepayment penalty. The Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants which restrict, among other things, the ability of the Company to borrow, create liens, pay dividends, repurchase its common stock, acquire businesses and other investments, enter into new lines of business, dispose of property, guarantee debts of others or, lend funds to affiliated companies and contains requirements regarding the maintenance of certain financial statement amounts and ratios, all as provided in the Amended Credit Agreement. In January 2010, the Company received a technical amendment to the permitted investments section of the Amended Credit Agreement to accommodate the particular legal structure of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets (see Note 5). As of September 30, 2010, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants.
Additionally, on the Amendment Closing Date the Company entered into the U.S. Pledge Agreement which along with subsequent separate pledge agreements shall cause the Company’s obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement to be secured by a pledge of: (a) all of the equity interests of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries (other than certain specified inactive subsidiaries) and (b) 65% of the equity interests of each first-tier material foreign subsidiary of the Company.
At September 30, 2010, the utilized portion of this credit facility was $45.0 million in borrowings on the term loan facility, $90.0 million of borrowings on the revolving credit facility, primarily relating to the funding of the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, and $1.6 million for standby letters of credit. The portion of the borrowings on the term loan that is due within one year, which represents $5.0 million of the total borrowings, is classified as short-term on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 and the remaining borrowings on the term loan of $40.0 million is classified as long-term. As of September 30, 2010, $158.4 million was unused on the Company’s revolving credit facility, of which $87.7 million is available to the Company to be used based on the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio. At September 30, 2010, the one month US Dollar LIBOR rate, the credit facility’s administrative agent’s prime rate, and the overnight federal funds rate were 0.26%, 3.25% and 0.15%, respectively. As of September 30, 2010, the Company used the one month US Dollar LIBOR rate for the interest rate on these borrowings with an interest rate of 3.51%.
Acquisition of the HotJobs Assets from Yahoo! Inc.
On August 24, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of HotJobs Assets for a purchase price of $225.0 million. Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, Monster and Yahoo! entered into a three year commercial traffic agreement whereby Monster became Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content on the Yahoo! homepage in the United States and Canada. The Company funded the purchase of the HotJobs Assets with available cash and proceeds from the Company’s revolving credit facility. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred $8.6 million and $18.2 million, respectively, of acquisition and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets, which were expensed as incurred. These costs primarily relate to legal fees, professional fees and other integration costs associated with the acquisition. We expect to continue to incur significant acquisition and integration-related costs in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 relating to the acquisition of the HotJobs Assets.
Income Taxes
Thus far in 2010, we have incurred tax losses and have not paid significant taxes in the United States. We expect to carry any 2010 tax losses forward to future years. We continue to have taxable income in certain foreign tax jurisdictions in which we pay taxes on a quarterly basis.
Restructuring Activities
We have recorded significant charges and accruals in connection with our 2007 restructuring initiatives, prior business reorganization plans and discontinued operations. These accruals include estimates pertaining to future lease obligations, employee separation costs and the settlements of contractual obligations resulting from our actions. Although we do not anticipate significant changes, the actual costs may differ from these estimates. As of June 30, 2009, the Company had completed all of the initiatives relating to the 2007 restructuring program and no new charges will be incurred in the future relating to this program.
Operating Lease Obligations
We have recorded significant charges and accruals relating to terminating certain operating lease obligations before the end of their terms once the Company no longer derives economic benefit from the lease. The liability is recognized and measured at its fair value when we determine that the cease use date has occurred and the fair value of the liability is determined based on the remaining lease rentals due, reduced by estimated sublease rental income that could be reasonably obtained for the property. The estimate of subsequent sublease rental income may change and require future changes to the fair value of the liabilities for the lease obligations.

 

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Share Repurchase Plan
As of September 30, 2010, we have no authorization to purchase shares of our Common Stock under any share repurchase plan.
Fair Value Measurement
The Company values its assets and liabilities using the methods of fair value as described in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. Level 1 is defined as observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2 is defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, as well as considering counter-party credit risk in its assessment of fair value. There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement classifications in the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
The Company has certain assets that are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These assets include cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. The following table summarizes those assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets:
                               
Money market funds
  $ 1,150     $     $     $ 1,150  
Bank time deposits
          46,622             46,622  
Commercial paper
          62,592             62,592  
Government bonds — U.S.
                       
Government bonds — foreign
          5,057             5,057  
Tax exempt auction rate securities
                4,094       4,094  
 
                       
Total Assets
  $ 1,150     $ 114,271     $ 4,094     $ 119,515  
 
                       
The Company has certain liabilities that are required to be recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis, summarized as follows as of September 30, 2010:
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Liabilities:
                               
Lease exit liabilities
  $     $     $ 17,952     $ 17,952  
 
                       
Total Liabilities
  $     $     $ 17,952     $ 17,952  
 
                       
The lease exit liabilities relate to vacated facilities associated with previously discontinued operations and realignment activities of the Company and are recorded as accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010. The fair value of the Company’s lease exit liabilities within the Level 3 classification is based on a discounted cash flow model applied over the remaining term of the leased property.
The changes in the fair value of the Level 3 assets and liabilities are as follows:
         
    Tax Exempt  
    Auction Rate  
    Bonds  
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 23,560  
Redemptions
    (20,600 )
Realized and unrealized gain included in interest and other, net
    1,134  
 
     
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 4,094  
 
     
         
    Lease Exit  
    Liability  
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 25,112  
Expense
    700  
Cash Payments
    (7,860 )
 
     
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 17,952  
 
     

 

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The carrying value for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenue and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company’s debt relates to borrowings under its revolving credit facility and term loan, which approximates fair value due to market interest rates.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). In connection with the preparation of our financial statements, we are required to make assumptions and estimates about future events, and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and the related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material.
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in “Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data", of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
The Company recognizes revenue on agreements in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition.
Careers — North America and Careers — International. Our Careers — North America and Careers — International segments primarily earn revenue from the placement of job postings on the websites within the Monster network, access to the Monster network’s online resume database and other career-related services. We recognize revenue at the time that job postings are displayed on the Monster network websites, based upon customer usage patterns. Revenue earned from subscriptions to the Monster network’s resume database and other career-related services are recognized over the length of the underlying subscriptions, typically from two weeks to twelve months. Revenue associated with multiple element contracts is allocated based on the relative fair value of the services included in the contract. Unearned revenues are reported on the balance sheet as deferred revenue. We review accounts receivable for those that may potentially be uncollectible and any accounts receivable balances that are determined to be uncollectible are included in our allowance for doubtful accounts. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written off against the allowance.
Internet Advertising & Fees. Our Internet Advertising & Fees segment primarily earns revenue from the display of advertisements on the Monster network of websites, “click-throughs” on text based links, leads provided to advertisers and subscriptions to premium services. We recognize revenue for online advertising as “impressions” are delivered. An “impression” is delivered when an advertisement appears in pages viewed by our users. We recognize revenue from the display of click-throughs on text based links as click-throughs occur. A click-through occurs when a user clicks on an advertiser’s listing. Revenue from lead generation is recognized as leads are delivered to advertisers. In addition, we recognize revenue for certain subscription products ratably over the length of the subscription. We review accounts receivable for those that may potentially be uncollectible and any accounts receivable balances that are determined to be uncollectible are included in our allowance for doubtful accounts. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written off against the allowance.
Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expense and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our debt consists of borrowings under our credit facility, which approximates fair value due to market interest rates.

 

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Asset Impairment
Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets. We account for business combinations in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The acquisition method of accounting requires that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at their fair values on the date of a business acquisition. Our consolidated financial statements and results of operations reflect an acquired business from the completion date of an acquisition.
The judgments that we make in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact net income in periods following a business combination. We generally use either the income, cost or market approach to aid in our conclusions of such fair values and asset lives. The income approach presumes that the value of an asset can be estimated by the net economic benefit to be received over the life of the asset, discounted to present value. The cost approach presumes that an investor would pay no more for an asset than its replacement or reproduction cost. The market approach estimates value based on what other participants in the market have paid for reasonably similar assets. Although each valuation approach is considered in valuing the assets acquired, the approach ultimately selected is based on the characteristics of the asset and the availability of information.
We evaluate our goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist. The first step of the impairment review process compares the fair value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to the carrying value of that reporting unit. The second step of the impairment review measures the amount of impairment loss, if any, by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with its carrying amount. The determination of whether or not goodwill has become impaired involves a significant level of judgment in the assumptions underlying the approach used to determine the value of our reporting units. Changes in our strategy and/or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments and require reductions to recorded amounts of intangible assets. As of September 30, 2010, none of our reporting units with significant goodwill were at risk of failing step one of the goodwill impairment test.
Long-lived assets. We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Determining whether an impairment has occurred typically requires various estimates and assumptions, including determining which cash flows are directly related to the potentially impaired asset, the useful life over which cash flows will occur, their amount and the asset’s residual value, if any. In turn, measurement of an impairment loss requires a determination of fair value, which is based on the best information available. We use internal discounted cash flows estimates, quoted market prices when available and independent appraisals, as appropriate, to determine fair value. We derive the required cash flow estimates from our historical experience and our internal business plans and apply an appropriate discount rate.
Income Taxes
We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes as set forth in ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In determining the need for valuation allowances we consider projected future taxable income and the availability of tax planning strategies. If in the future we determine that we would not be able to realize our recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance would be recorded, decreasing earnings in the period in which such determination is made.
We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon our evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where there is a greater than 50% likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the largest amount of tax benefit that may potentially be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where there is a 50% or less likelihood that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Stock Compensation. Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards and measure non-vested stock awards using the fair market value of our common stock on the date the award is approved. For certain 2008 awards, which were market-based grants, we estimated the fair value of the award utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model. We award stock options, non-vested stock, market-based non-vested stock and performance-based non-vested stock to employees, directors and executive officers.
Restructuring and Other Operating Lease Obligations
We recognize a liability for costs to terminate an operating lease obligation before the end of its term when we no longer derive economic benefit from the lease. The liability is recognized and measured at its fair value when we determine that the cease use date has occurred and the fair value of the liability is determined based on the remaining lease rentals due, reduced by estimated sublease rental income that could be reasonably obtained for the property. The estimate of subsequent sublease rental income may change and require future changes to the fair value of the liabilities for the lease obligations.
Equity Investments
Gains and losses in equity interest for the three months ended September 30, 2010, resulting from our equity method investments in businesses in Finland and Australia, are based on unaudited financial information of those businesses. Although we do not anticipate material differences, audited results may differ.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. The new standard changes the requirements for establishing separate units of accounting in a multiple element arrangement and requires the allocation of arrangement consideration to each deliverable based on the relative selling price. The selling price for each deliverable is based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) if available, third-party evidence if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price if neither VSOE or third-party evidence is available. ASU 2009-13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The Company does not expect that the provisions of the new guidance will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which requires additional disclosures about the amounts of and reasons for significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. This standard also clarifies existing disclosure requirements related to the level of disaggregation of fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities and disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring Level 2 and Level 3 measurements. Since this new accounting standard only required additional disclosure, the adoption of the standard in the first quarter of 2010 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Additionally, effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010, this standard will require additional disclosure and require an entity to present disaggregated information about activity in Level 3 fair value measurements on a gross basis, rather than one net amount.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information in this section should be read in connection with the information on financial market risk related to non-U.S. currency exchange rates, changes in interest rates and other financial market risks in Part II, Item 7A, “ Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Foreign Exchange Risk
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenue from our international operations accounted for 40.2% and 41.8%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue. Revenue and related expenses generated from our international websites are generally denominated in the functional currencies of the local countries. Our primary foreign currencies are Euros, British Pounds and Czech Korunas. The functional currency of our subsidiaries that either operate or support these websites is the same as the corresponding local currency. The results of operations of, and certain of our intercompany balances associated with, our internationally-focused websites are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Upon consolidation, as exchange rates vary, revenue and other operating results may differ materially from expectations, and we may record significant gains or losses on the remeasurement of intercompany balances. The effect of the strengthening U.S. dollar in the three months ended September 30, 2010 negatively impacted reported revenue and operating income by approximately $4.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, compared to the corresponding 2009 period. The effect of the weakening U.S. dollar in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 favorably impacted reported revenue by approximately $2.0 million and negatively impacted reported operating income by approximately $0.7 million, compared to the corresponding 2009 period.

 

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We have foreign exchange risk related to foreign-denominated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (“foreign funds”). Based on the balance of foreign funds at September 30, 2010 of $150 million, an assumed 5%, 10% and 20% negative currency movement would result in fair value declines of $7.5 million, $15.0 million and $29.9 million, respectively.
We use forward foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges to offset risks related to certain foreign currency transactions. These transactions primarily relate to non-functional currency denominated inter-company funding loans, non-functional currency denominated accounts receivable and non-functional currency denominated accounts payable. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
The financial statements of our non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using current rates of exchange, with gains or losses included in the cumulative translation adjustment account, a component of stockholders’ equity. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, our cumulative translation adjustment account increased $48.4 million and $4.8 million, respectively, primarily attributable to the foreign currency movements of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, British Pound, Swedish Krona and Korean Won.
Interest Rate Risk
Credit Facility
As of September 30, 2010, our debt was comprised primarily of borrowings under our credit facility. The interest rates under our credit facility may be reset due to fluctuation in a market-based index, such as the federal funds rate, the 1-month LIBOR rate or the credit facility’s administrative agent’s prime rate. Assuming the amount of borrowings available under our credit facility was fully drawn during the third quarter of 2010, we would have had $295.0 million outstanding under such facility, and a hypothetical 1.00% (100 basis-point) change in the interest rate of our credit facility would have changed our quarterly pre-tax earnings by approximately $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Assuming the amount of borrowings under our credit facility was equal to the amount of outstanding borrowings on September 30, 2010, we would have had $137.6 million of total usage and a hypothetical 1.00% (100 basis-point) change in the interest rate of our credit facility would have changed our pre-tax earnings by approximately $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. We do not manage the interest rate risk on our debt through the use of derivative instruments.
Investment Portfolio
Our investment portfolio is comprised primarily of cash and cash equivalents and investments in a variety of debt instruments of high quality issuers, money market funds which invest in U.S Treasuries, top sovereign, regional, national and supra-national bank commercial paper, bank time deposits and government bonds that mature within nine months of their origination date, as well as auction rate securities. A hypothetical 1.00% (100 basis-point) change in interest rates applicable to our investment portfolio would have changed our quarterly pretax earnings by approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.
Other Market Risks
Investments in Auction Rate Securities
As of September 30, 2010, the Company held $4.5 million (at par and cost value) of an investment in an auction rate security. Given current conditions in the auction rate securities market as described in Note 7, Investments, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the auction rate security with the original par value and cost of $4.5 million was written down to an estimated fair value of $4.1 million. We may incur additional other-than-temporary realized losses in the future if market conditions persist and we are unable to recover the cost of our auction rate bond investment. A hypothetical 1.00% (100-basis-point) loss from the par value of this investment would have resulted in a minimal impairment as of September 30, 2010.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Monster maintains “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’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 disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, Monster’s management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and Monster’s management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Monster has carried out an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of Monster’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Monster’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon their evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Monster’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
There have been no significant changes in Monster’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is involved in various legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of its business. Aside from the matters discussed below, the Company is not involved in any pending or threatened legal proceedings that it believes could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
In May 2010, Site Update Solutions LLC filed suit against the Company for allegedly infringing a patent relating to search engine databases. The lawsuit-entitled Site Update Solutions LLC v. Accor North America, Inc., et al. (Civil Action No. 2:10-cv-151) is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and there are 34 other defendants named in the plaintiff’s original complaint. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages, attorney’s fees and other costs. The Court has entered a schedule in the case which includes a final pre-trial conference set for March 2012. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which could materially affect our business, financial position and results of operations. There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, “Item 1A., Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:
         
Exhibit    
Number   Description
       
 
  15.1    
Letter from BDO USA, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
       
 
  31.1    
Certification by Salvatore Iannuzzi 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 by Timothy T. Yates pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.1    
Certification by Salvatore Iannuzzi pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.2    
Certification by Timothy T. Yates pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
         
  MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC. (Registrant)
 
 
Dated: October 29, 2010  By:   /s/ SALVATORE IANNUZZI    
    Salvatore Iannuzzi   
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer) 
 
     
Dated: October 29, 2010  By:   /s/ TIMOTHY T. YATES    
    Timothy T. Yates   
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer) 
 
     
Dated: October 29, 2010  By:   /s/ JAMES M. LANGROCK    
    James M. Langrock   
    Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer) 
 
 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
         
Exhibit    
Number   Description
       
 
  15.1    
Letter from BDO USA, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
       
 
  31.1    
Certification by Salvatore Iannuzzi 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 by Timothy T. Yates pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.1    
Certification by Salvatore Iannuzzi pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
       
 
  32.2    
Certification by Timothy T. Yates pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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