NEW YORK, May 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudson Global, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSON), a leading global talent solutions company, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

2015 First Quarter Summary

• Revenue of $124.3 million, a decrease of 13.8 percent from the first quarter of 2014, and a decrease of 3.3 percent in constant currency, as currency changes alone led to $15.6 million reduction in revenue from a year ago.
  
  
  
• Gross margin of $47.9 million or 38.5 percent of revenue, a decrease of 11.3 percent from the same period in 2014, or 0.2 percent in constant currency. 
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA^* loss of $4.3 million, including $0.7 million of severance costs related to the chief executive officer transition, compared with adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2014. 
  
  
• Restructuring charges of $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2015.
  
  
• Net loss^** of $6.8 million, or $0.21 per basic and diluted share, compared with net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.14 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2014.
  

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

“We have continued to implement our strategy narrowing the focus on core businesses, recently entering into an agreement to divest our Americas IT staffing business and divesting the project solutions business in the Netherlands,” said Manolo Marquez, chairman and chief executive officer at Hudson. “In the first quarter, with the exception of the UK, we continued to deliver constant currency growth in the rest of our key markets, most notably in Asia Pacific where we made the majority of our investments last year. As Stephen Nolan starts to lead the company from May 13th, I wish him and the rest of Hudson's leadership team great success going forward.”

“We are pleased with the progress we are making in key markets, but know there is more work to do to reach our goals,” said Stephen Nolan,  chief financial officer at Hudson. “We are focused on investing in our core markets to drive growth, and continuing to reduce our cost structure.”

Strategic Actions         

The company's strategic actions are focused on driving consistent, sustainable growth and profitability. To accelerate the implementation of the company's strategy, the company has engaged in the following initiatives:

• Investing in the core businesses and practices that present the greatest potential for profitable growth.
• Further improving the company’s cost structure and efficiency of its support functions and infrastructure.
• Building and differentiating the company's brand through its unique talent solutions offerings.

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

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

To better align the organization model and support profitable growth in core areas, the company continued driving cost reductions in the expense base, particularly in support and real estate.  The Hudson Board of Directors has approved restructuring charges of up to $11.1 million to be taken by the third quarter of 2015 and an additional $1.5 million was approved in March 2015 related to the exit of Americas IT and some European countries. During the first quarter, the company incurred restructuring charges in continuing operations totaling $1.3 million for headcount reductions primarily in Europe and the Americas and $0.4 million in discontinued operations.  The company expects an ongoing annualized return of 1.5x to 2x on continuing operations restructuring charges.

Regional Highlights

Americas

In the first quarter, Hudson Americas' gross margin increased 3 percent as compared with the first quarter in 2014. This was driven by growth in RPO, up 19 percent in the first quarter against prior year, partially offset by an 18 percent decline in IT. RPO remained strong, with first quarter growth driven by continued demand from new and existing clients.  The company announced that it signed an agreement to sell its Americas IT staffing business and expects the sale to be completed during the second quarter.  Adjusted EBITDA declined to a loss of $0.9 million, compared with $0.0 million for the same period a year ago.

Asia Pacific

Hudson Asia Pacific's gross margin increased 11 percent in constant currency in the first quarter of 2015 from the same period in 2014. This was the fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year constant currency gross margin growth. Results were fueled by permanent recruitment, up 27 percent, and temporary contracting, up 10 percent, against the first quarter of 2014. This growth in recruitment was realized in both of the company’s major Asia Pacific markets, China and Australia, with gross margin increasing 30 percent and 24 percent, respectively, against the prior year.  Asia Pacific delivered adjusted EBITDA of $0.9 million, or 1.7 percent of revenue, improving from adjusted EBITDA of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2014.  

Europe

During the first quarter of 2015, Hudson Europe's gross margin decreased 9 percent in constant currency from the first quarter of 2014. Continental Europe was flat in the quarter with growth in permanent recruitment and strength in Belgium and Spain, up 5 percent and 51 percent respectively. The company announced that it sold its Netherlands business as of April 30 and that it has also ceased operations in Ukraine, Czech Republic and Slovakia, in order to narrow its strategic focus on its core operations. The results in Continental Europe were offset by softer results in the UK, as permanent recruitment was particularly strong a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA of $0.0 million was down from $1.9 million, or 2.5 percent of revenue, in the first quarter of 2014.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company ended the first quarter of 2015 with $39.9 million in liquidity, composed of $13.9 million in cash and $26.0 million in availability under its credit facilities.  This compares with $34.0 million in cash and $24.0 million in availability under its credit facilities at the end of 2014. The change in cash was driven primarily by a $9.8 million increase in accounts receivable from the end of 2014, consistent with a typical, seasonal pattern for Hudson in the first quarter, as days sales outstanding (DSO) increased to 52 days from 43 days.  The company used $18.4 million in cash flow from operations during the first quarter compared with $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2014. The company had no outstanding borrowings at the end of the first quarter of 2015. 

Business Outlook

Given current economic conditions, the company expects second quarter 2015 revenue of between $117 million and $127 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of between breakeven and $2.0 million at prevailing exchange rates.  This adjusted EBITDA outlook excludes the impact of costs related to possible change of control based on director nominations, as discussed in the company’s Proxy Statement.  This outlook assumes an average exchange rate of 1.52 US Dollars to the British Pound, 1.11 US Dollars to the Euro and 0.79 US Dollars to the Australian Dollar. In the second quarter of 2014, revenue was $151.1 million and adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $0.3 million.  Second quarter 2014 revenue would have been $28.7 million lower including the impact of prevailing exchange rates cited above and lesser revenue from the divestitures announced today.

Conference Call/Webcast

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

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

About Hudson

Hudson is a global talent solutions company with expertise in leadership and specialized recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing, talent management and contracting solutions. We help our clients and candidates succeed by leveraging our expertise, deep industry and market knowledge, and proprietary assessment tools and techniques. Operating in nearly 20 countries through relationships with millions of specialized professionals, we bring an unparalleled ability to match talent with opportunities by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for our clients. We combine broad geographic presence, world-class talent solutions and a tailored, consultative approach to help businesses and professionals achieve higher performance and outstanding results. More information is available at Hudson.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Financial Tables Follow

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hudson Global, Inc.