Monster Worldwide Reports Third Quarter 2015 Results

WESTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

• Third Quarter Financial Highlights:
  • Company Exceeds Expectations on All Profitability Metrics For the 5th Consecutive Quarter
    • Adjusted EBITDA Including Korea of $32.4 Million Increases 40% Year over Year and 12% Sequentially; Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations of $28.1 Million Increases 45% Year over Year and 9% Sequentially
    • Adjusted EBITDA Margin Including Korea Expands to 18% from 16.1% in Q2 2015; Adjusted EBITDA Margin from Continuing Operations Expands to 16.8% from 15.3%
    • Non-GAAP EPS Including Korea of $0.12; Non-GAAP EPS from Continuing Operations of $0.11; GAAP EPS from Continuing Operations of $0.10
  • Revenue of $167.1 Million Flat Sequentially and Down 3% Year over Year at Constant Currency
  • Cash Flow From Operations of $12.3 Million
  • Improves Financial Flexibility With Sale of Remaining Ownership Stake in South Korean Business for Approximately $85 Million
  • Announces Authorization of $75 Million Share Repurchase Plan

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Third quarter 2015 financial results reflect the completion of the Company's remaining ownership stake in JobKorea, the Company's South Korean operations, which were classified as a discontinued operation.

"We are gratified that we achieved our 18-22% EBITDA margin goal a full quarter earlier than expected and adjusted EPS were at the high end of our guidance range," said Tim Yates, Chief Executive Officer. "Our new product strategy continued to gain traction with wider customer acceptance on a global basis. Revenue was essentially flat as stronger than anticipated results from Europe were offset by weaker than expected results in North America. We are extremely confident of Monster's ability to drive increased revenue and improving EBITDA margins going forward. As a sign of this confidence and our improved liquidity position as a result of the monetization of JobKorea, we are pleased to announce that our Board has authorized a $75 million buyback which we anticipate implementing as we generate free cash flow in the quarters ahead, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2015."

Third Quarter 2015 Results

Revenue from continuing operations of $167 million decreased 3% at constant currency compared to last year's third quarter and decreased 7% at actual rates. Revenue from the Company's Careers – North America operations decreased 4% year over year. Revenue from Careers – International was essentially flat year over year at constant currency and decreased 13% at actual rates. As of the first quarter of 2015, Internet Advertising & Fees revenue and operating results are being reported within the Careers – North America segment. Historical quarterly revenue data is available in the Company's supplemental financial information.

Total GAAP operating expenses from continuing operations decreased to $156 million compared to $180 million in the third quarter of 2014. Net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2015 was $10 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $3 million, or $0.03 per share in the third quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations was $10 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $4 million, or $0.04 per share in the third quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP operating expenses of $150 million decreased 13% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.8% was led by Careers – North America with a 29% margin. Pro-forma items are described in the "Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and are reconciled to the GAAP measure in the accompanying tables.

Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter was $12 million and free cash flow was $5 million. Deferred revenue of our continuing operations declined sequentially to $251 million or 10% compared to $278 million as of June 30, 2015. The Company ended the third quarter with total available liquidity of approximately $157 million.

Third quarter 2015 financial results were impacted by the sale of JobKorea, which was classified as a discontinued operation for accounting purposes. Including the Korean operations, Monster had Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.12 and adjusted EBITDA of $32.4 million, or an 18% margin, representing an Adjusted EBITDA increase of 12% sequentially and 40% year over year. The Adjusted EBITDA margin of 18% met the Company's prior guidance of exiting 2015 with an EBITDA margin of between 18%-22%.

Nine Month Results

Monster Worldwide reported total revenue from continuing operations of $508 million for the first nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $550 million in the same period last year, a 3% decrease on a constant currency basis and 8% at actual rates. Net income from continuing operations was $15 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to a loss of $3 million, or $0.03 per share, in 2014.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company's Board of Directors has authorized a $75 million share repurchase program over a period of 24 months. The Company intends to repurchase shares under the new authorization as a percentage of future generated free cash flow, which can be adjusted periodically.

Reallocate to Accelerate

On February 10, 2015, the Company committed to implement a series of cost savings initiatives to reduce costs globally while continuing to support the Company's new strategy. The initiatives include a global workforce reduction of approximately 300 associates, lease exit costs, impairment of certain assets, and office and general expense controls. Through September 30, 2015, the Company has incurred $29 million of charges relating to this program. These charges have been excluded from the Company's Non-GAAP financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Company anticipates additional charges of approximately $1 million to $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 in connection with this program.

Guidance

The fourth quarter guidance includes the impact of the JobKorea transaction. Fourth quarter 2015 Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of $0.10 to $0.14, which excludes $2 million to $3 million of stock-based compensation, $1.2 million of non-cash debt discount amortization related to the convertible debt and restructuring charges related to the Reallocate to Accelerate program.

Historical data on Non-GAAP EPS is available in the Company's supplemental financial information.

Conference Call and Webcast

Third quarter 2015 results will be discussed on Monster Worldwide's quarterly conference call on October 29, 2015 at 8:30 AM ET. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed online through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.monster.com. To join the conference call by telephone, please dial (888) 317-6003 or (412) 317-6061 and reference conference ID# 3463829. A presentation of financial slides will be referenced during the conference call and will be viewable through the live webcast. A PDF of the financial presentation can also be accessed directly through the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.monster.com.

The Company has also made available certain supplemental financial information which can be accessed directly through the Company's Investor Relations website at http://ir.monster.com.

For a replay of the conference call, please dial (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 and reference ID# 10074711. This number is valid until midnight on November 5, 2015.

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) is a global leader in connecting people to jobs, wherever they are. For more than 20 years, Monster has helped people improve their lives with better jobs, and employers find the best talent. Today, the company offers services in more than 40 countries, providing some of the broadest, most sophisticated job seeking, career management, recruitment and talent management capabilities. Monster continues its pioneering work of transforming the recruiting industry with advanced technology using intelligent digital, social and mobile solutions, including our flagship website monster.com® and a vast array of products and services. For more information visit http://monster.com/about.

Special Note: The statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's strategic direction, prospects and future results, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and, therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied herein and no assurance can be given that the Company will achieve, among other things, its outlook with respect to earnings per share for the fourth quarter 2015. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, economic and other conditions in the markets in which we operate, risks associated with acquisitions or dispositions, competition, and the other risks discussed in our Form 10-K and our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated into this release by reference. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of management to control or predict. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release as they reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has provided certain Non-GAAP financial information as additional information for its operating results. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and may be different from Non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that its presentation of Non-GAAP measures provides useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to its financial condition and results of operations.

Non-GAAP revenue, operating expenses, operating income, operating margin, income from continuing operations, income from discontinued operations, net of tax, net income and diluted earnings per share attributable to Monster Worldwide, Inc. all exclude certain pro-forma items including: non-cash stock based compensation expense; costs incurred in connection with the Company's restructuring programs; separation charges associated with the resignation of the Company's former Chief Executive Officer; non-cash impairment charges; amortization of the debt discount and deferred financing costs associated with our 3.50% convertible senior notes due 2019; write-off of deferred financing costs relating to our former credit facility, amended in October 2014; income tax benefits associated with the reversal of income tax reserves on uncertain tax positions and a tax benefit related to certain losses arising from the Company's restructuring programs; income tax provisions for increased valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries and tax provisions thereon; the results of our South Korean subsidiary as it has been classified as discontinued operations; gain on partial sale of an equity method investment and tax provisions thereon; and charges related to exited facilities.

In the first quarter of the calendar year 2015, the Company began to utilize a fixed long-term projected Non-GAAP tax rate for reporting operating results and for planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. This change provides better consistency across the interim reporting periods by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period-specific items. When projecting this long-term rate, the Company evaluated a five-year financial projection comprising the current and the next four years that exclude the income tax effects of the Non-GAAP pre-tax items described above, eliminates the effects of non-recurring and period specific items which can vary in size and frequency, and is reflective of the anticipated future geographic mix of income among tax jurisdictions. The projected rate also assumes no new acquisitions or disposals in the five-year period, eliminates the effect of tax valuation allowances, and takes into account other factors including the Company's current tax structure, its existing tax positions in various jurisdictions and key legislation in major jurisdictions where the Company operates. The Non-GAAP tax rate is 35%. The Company intends to re-evaluate this long-term rate on an annual basis or if any significant events that may materially affect this long-term rate occur. This long-term rate could be subject to change for a variety of reasons, which may include (but are not limited to) for example, significant changes in the geographic earnings mix including future acquisition or disposition activity, having less income than anticipated, or fundamental tax law changes in major jurisdictions where the Company operates.

Non-GAAP diluted shares includes the impact, based on the average share price for the period, of the Company's outstanding capped call transactions, which are anti-dilutive in GAAP earnings per share, but are expected to mitigate the dilutive effect of the Company's 3.50% convertible senior notes due 2019.

The Company uses these Non-GAAP measures for reviewing the ongoing results of the Company's core business operations and in certain instances, for measuring performance under certain of the Company's incentive compensation plans. These Non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is defined as operating income or loss before depreciation and amortization, non-cash compensation expense, non-cash impairment charges, and non-cash costs incurred in connection with the Company's restructuring programs. Adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of the pro-forma items discussed above. The Company considers EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be important indicators of its operational strength which the Company believes are useful to management and investors in evaluating its operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are Non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures. Free cash flow is considered a liquidity measure and provides useful information about the Company's ability to generate cash after investments in property and equipment. Free cash flow reflected herein is a Non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Free cash flow does not reflect the total change in the Company's cash position for the period and should not be considered a substitute for such a measure.

Net cash is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus short-term and long-term marketable securities, less total debt. Total available liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents, plus short-term and long-term marketable securities, plus unused borrowings under our credit facility. The Company considers net cash and total available liquidity to be important measures of liquidity and indicators of its ability to meet its ongoing obligations. The Company also uses net cash and total available liquidity, among other measures, in evaluating its choices for capital deployment. Net cash and total available liquidity are presented herein as Non-GAAP measures and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.