Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2012 MARCH 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM             to             

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-34209

 

 

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   13-3906555

(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF

INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)

 

(I.R.S. EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION NO.)

 
622 Third Avenue, New York, New York   10017
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)   (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.    x  Yes    ¨  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).    x  Yes    ¨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   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    ¨  Yes    x  No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

  

Outstanding as of

April 20, 2012

Common Stock    121,250,774

 

 

 


Table of Contents

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page
No.
 
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1. Financial Statements:      3   

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

     3   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     4   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     5   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     18   

Item  2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     19   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     33   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     33   
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     34   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     34   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     42   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     42   

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

     42   

Item 5. Other Information

     42   

Item 6. Exhibits

     42   

Signatures

     43   

 

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Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011  

Revenue

   $ 246,077      $ 261,382   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     121,282        135,661   

Office and general

     57,543        66,570   

Marketing and promotion

     58,399        57,698   

Restructuring and other special charges

     24,406        —     

Recovery of restitution award from former executive

     (5,350     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     256,280        259,929   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (10,203     1,453   

Interest and other, net

     (1,468     (441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes and loss in equity interests

     (11,671     1,012   

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

     (15,613     356   

Loss in equity interests, net

     (200     (578
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 3,742      $ 78   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic income per share

   $ 0.03      $ 0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted income per share

   $ 0.03      $ 0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

    

Basic

     116,199        121,425   

Diluted

     117,611        124,636   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

    

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   $ 11,031      $ 23,007   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 14,773      $ 23,085   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 

     March 31,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
     (unaudited)        
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 252,601      $ 250,317   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,322 and $5,240

     358,004        343,546   

Prepaid and other

     95,972        82,069   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     706,577        675,932   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Goodwill

     1,142,194        1,132,161   

Property and equipment, net

     159,632        156,282   

Intangibles, net

     47,603        51,961   

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

     1,764        1,183   

Other assets

     43,679        40,479   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,101,449      $ 2,057,998   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 41,512      $ 27,411   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     170,481        169,576   

Deferred revenue

     408,334        380,310   

Current portion of long-term debt and borrowings on revolving credit facility

     9,545        188,836   

Income taxes payable

     6,688        16,830   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     636,560        782,963   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term income taxes payable

     96,666        94,750   

Deferred income taxes

     2,053        4,665   

Long-term debt, less current portion

     204,000        —     

Other long-term liabilities

     10,489        11,493   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     949,768        893,871   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

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: 138,750 and 137,855 shares, respectively; outstanding: 114,139 and 117,628 shares, respectively

     139        138   

Class B common stock, $.001 par value, authorized 39,000 shares; issued and outstanding: none

     —          —     

Additional paid-in capital

     1,374,246        1,405,915   

Accumulated deficit

     (301,927     (305,669

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     79,223        63,743   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,151,681        1,164,127   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,101,449      $ 2,057,998   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Cash flows provided by operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 3,742      $ 78   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     17,445        18,401   

Recovery of restitution award from former executive

     (5,350     —     

Provision for doubtful accounts

     698        370   

Non-cash compensation

     8,324        13,180   

Deferred income taxes

     (8,499     (3,984

Non cash restructuring write-offs

     6,383        —     

Loss in equity interests, net

     200        578   

Gains on auction rate securities

     —          (1,120

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

    

Accounts receivable

     (11,608     12,416   

Prepaid and other

     (13,582     (6,718

Deferred revenue

     23,752        14,926   

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other

     (258     1,293   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     17,505        49,342   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     21,247        49,420   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows used for investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (12,700     (16,457

Cash funded to equity investee

     (779     (1,007

Sales and maturities of marketable securities

     —          1,120   

Dividends received from unconsolidated investee

     —          443   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used for investing activities

     (13,479     (15,901
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows used for financing activities:

    

Proceeds from borrowings on credit facilities

     189,700        —     

Payments on borrowings on credit facilities

     (225,022     (4,500

Proceeds from borrowings on term note

     100,000        —     

Payments on borrowings on term note

     (40,000     —     

Repurchase of common stock

     (33,335     —     

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and units

     (2,475     (7,096

Proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options

     23        23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used for financing activities

     (11,109     (11,573
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rates on cash

     5,625        5,887   

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     2,284        27,833   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     250,317        163,169   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 252,601      $ 191,002   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 1,322      $ 4,780   

Cash paid for interest

   $ 2,671      $ 2,089   

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

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 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 advertisements 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, South America 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 (“U.S. GAAP”) 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 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, 2011. The Company adheres to the same accounting policies in preparing interim financial statements. As permitted under U.S. GAAP, 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 June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income — Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU No. 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders’ equity. It requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income — Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05,” to defer the effective date to present items that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income to net income alongside their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. All other provisions of this update, which are to be applied retrospectively, are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASU 2011-05 effective January 1, 2012 whereby the Company now presents the components of net income and the total of comprehensive income in a single continuous consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” This guidance amends U.S. GAAP to conform with measurement and disclosure requirements in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The amendments change the wording used to describe the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, and they include those that clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and those that change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. In addition, to improve consistency in application across jurisdictions, some changes in wording are necessary to ensure that U.S. GAAP and IFRS fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are described in the same way. This amended guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASU No. 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

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 is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March  31,
 

(thousands of shares)

   2012      2011  

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     116,199         121,425   

Effect of common stock equivalents – stock options and non-vested stock under employee compensation plans

     1,412         3,211   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     117,611         124,636   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average anti-dilutive common stock equivalents

     5,540         3,327   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

On October 25, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase program of up to $250,000. Under the share repurchase program, shares of common stock will be purchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time through April 2013. The timing and amount of purchases will be based on market conditions, corporate and legal requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be modified, suspended, extended or discontinued at any time without prior notice. From the date of the inception of the repurchase program through March 31, 2012, the Company repurchased 9,890,019 shares at an average price of $7.59 per share.

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 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 recorded in salaries and related in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income related to stock-based compensation as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012      2011  

Non-vested stock

   $    8,273       $ 13,028   

Stock options

     51         152   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,324       $ 13,180   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company capitalized $448 of stock-based compensation associated with internally developed software for internal use and enhancements to our website.

During the first three months of 2012, the Company granted an aggregate of 2,960,000 RSAs and 1,197,000 RSUs to approximately 204 employees and executive officers of the Company. The RSAs and RSUs vest in various increments on the anniversaries of the individual grant dates, through February 28, 2016, 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 three months ended March 31, 2012 is $10,437.

The Company’s non-vested stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is as follows:

 

(thousands of shares)

   Shares     Weighted
Average
Fair Value
at Grant
Date
 

Non-vested at January 1, 2012

     7,432      $ 13.85   

Granted

     4,157        6.83   

Forfeited

     (480     14.23   

Vested

     (1,407     16.45   
  

 

 

   

Non-vested at March 31, 2012

     9,702      $ 10.45   
  

 

 

   

As of March 31, 2012, the unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock was $69,924, which is being amortized over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. The remaining weighted average term over which the unamortized compensation expense will be recognized is 1.8 years.

The Company’s stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is as follows:

 

(thousands of shares)

   Shares     Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
     Weighted
Average
Contractual
Term (in
years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Outstanding at January 1, 2012

     1,560      $ 24.10         

Granted

     —          —           

Forfeited

     (39     27.83         

Exercised

     (3     9.11         
  

 

 

         

Outstanding at March 31, 2012

     1,518      $ 24.01         2.09       $ 21   
  

 

 

         

Options exercisable at March 31, 2012

     1,518      $ 24.01         2.09       $ 21   
  

 

 

         

Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the closing market price of the Company’s common stock as of March 31, 2012 and the exercise price of the underlying options. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised was $2 and $4, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, all stock options granted have been fully expensed.

5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

The Company values its assets and liabilities using the methods of fair value as described in Accounting Standards Codification (“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. The three levels of fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 — Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

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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, and considers counter-party credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Observable or market inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions based on the best information available. There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement classifications for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The Company has certain assets and liabilities that are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012:

 

xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Bank time deposits

   $ —         $ 90,782       $ —         $ 90,782   

Commercial paper

     —           84,583         —           84,583   

Bankers’ acceptance

     —           7,731         —           7,731   

Government bond—foreign

     —           9,137         —           9,137   

Foreign exchange contracts

     —           79         —           79   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ —         $ 192,312       $ —         $ 192,312   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Lease exit liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,992       $ 17,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,992       $ 17,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011:

 

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Bank time deposits

   $ —         $ 114,839       $ —         $ 114,839   

Commercial paper

     —           75,066         —           75,066   

Bankers’ acceptance

     —           8,630         —           8,630   

Government bond—foreign

     —           7,143         —           7,143   

Foreign exchange contracts

     —           215         —           215   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ —         $ 205,893       $ —         $ 205,893   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Lease exit liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 14,938       $ 14,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 14,938       $ 14,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

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 lease exit liabilities within the Level 3 tier relate to vacated facilities associated with previously discontinued operations and restructuring activities of the Company and are recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The liability is recognized and measured based on a discounted cash flow model when the cease use date has occurred. 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 Company reviews the assumptions within the discounted cash flow model and determines whether any changes to the previously recorded amounts require a change in estimate. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company determined that there were no material changes to the underlying assumptions within the discounted cash flow model.

 

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Table of Contents

The changes in the fair value of the Level 3 liabilities are as follows:

 

     Lease Exit Liability  
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Balance, Beginning of Period

   $ 14,938      $ 13,913   

Expense

     4,145        2,998   

Cash Payments

     (1,091     (940
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

   $ 17,992      $ 15,971   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The carrying value for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, certain accrued expenses 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 facilities and term loan (see Note 10), which approximates fair value due to the debt bearing fluctuating market interest rates.

6. INVESTMENTS

Marketable Securities

As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company did not hold any investments in auction rate securities.

In November 2009, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with RBC Capital Markets Corporation (“RBC”) with respect to auction rate securities previously 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. As part of the settlement agreement, the Company was entitled to receive certain additional monies from RBC if, within the period of November 2009 through November 2011, any of the auction rate securities still held by RBC were redeemed or refinanced by the issuer for sums higher than the amounts RBC paid the Company to repurchase such auction rate securities. Additionally, 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. The Company received $1,120 in the three months ended March 31, 2011, from RBC relating to auction rate securities which were redeemed by the issuer for sums higher than the amounts RBC paid the Company to repurchase such auction rate securities. The amounts received from RBC are reflected in interest and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

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 statements of operations and comprehensive income. 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.

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 $443 in the first quarter 2011 from this investment. The carrying value of the investment was $912 and $688 as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, 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 three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company expended $779 and $1,007, respectively, for additional working capital requirements relating to the Australian investment. The carrying value of the investment was $852 and $495 as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and was recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of investment in unconsolidated affiliates. Since this equity method investment met the income significance test for the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company has presented additional summarized financial information.

 

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Reportable financial positions and results of operations attributable to the Company’s equity interest in Australia are as follows:

 

000000000 000000000
     March 31, 2012     December 31, 2011  

Current assets

   $ 2,573      $ 2,216   

Non-current assets

     56        61   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,629      $ 2,277   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities

   $ 1,984      $ 1,835   

Non-current liabilities

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1,984      $ 1,835   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Revenues

   $ 2,172      $ 1,835   

Expenses

     2,830        3,057   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

   $ (658   $ (1,222

Net loss

   $ (650   $ (1,204
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) in equity interests, net, are based upon unaudited financial information and are as follows (by equity investment):

 

0000000000 0000000000
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Australia

   $ (423   $ (783

Finland

     223        205   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss in equity interests, net

   $ (200   $ (578
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER SPECIAL CHARGES

2011 Restructuring

Beginning in the third quarter of 2011, the Company made the strategic decision to no longer engage in arbitrage lead generation activities within the Internet Advertising & Fees segment due to the diminishing profit opportunity and the promulgation of new regulations applicable to the Company’s customers in the for-profit education business. The Company also made the decision to cease operations in one country within the Careers — International segment. As a result of these strategic decisions, the Company reduced its workforce, closed certain office facilities and impaired certain assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a reduction to restructuring expense related to a change in estimated sublease income.

The following table displays a rollforward of the restructuring and other special charges for the period from December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012:

 

     Accrual at
December 31,
2011
     Expense     Cash
Payments
    Non-Cash
Utilization
    Accrual at
March 31,
2012
 

Workforce reduction

   $ 1,298       $ —        $ (593   $ —        $ 705   

Consolidation of office facilities

     1,750         (570     (199     —          981   

Impairment of assets

     130         —          —          (130     —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,178       $ (570   $ (792   $ (130   $ 1,686   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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2012 Restructuring

On January 24, 2012, the Company committed to a plan to take a series of strategic restructuring actions. The Company’s decision to adopt the strategic restructuring actions resulted from the Company’s desire to provide the Company with more flexibility to invest in marketing and sales activities in order to improve its long-term growth prospects and profitability. Through March 31, 2012, the Company has notified approximately 260 associates and approximately 40 associates have voluntarily left the Company, reducing the Company’s workforce by approximately 300 associates. The restructuring actions also included the consolidation of certain office facilities and the impairment of certain fixed assets. The Company anticipates that all of the strategic restructuring actions, and the charges associated with such actions, will be completed in the first six months of 2012.

Restructuring and other special charges and related liability balances are as follows:

 

     Accrual at
December 31,
2011
     Expense      Cash
Payments
    Non-Cash
Utilization
    Accrual at
March 31,
2012
 

Workforce reduction

   $ —         $ 13,857       $ (4,568   $ —        $ 9,289   

Consolidation of office facilities

     —           5,595         —          (880     4,715   

Impairment of assets

     —           5,373         —          (5,373     —     

Other costs and professional fees

     —           151         (8     —          143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ —         $ 24,976       $ (4,576   $ (6,253   $ 14,147   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

The Company’s property and equipment balances net of accumulated depreciation are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Capitalized software costs

   $             165,833       $ 163,688   

Furniture and equipment

     26,763         29,467   

Leasehold improvements

     45,979         49,168   

Computer and communications equipment

     189,885         178,170   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     428,460         420,493   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     268,828         264,211   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 159,632       $ 156,282   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As part of the 2012 restructuring, the Company wrote off fixed assets with a net book value of $4,020 during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Depreciation expense was $13,606 and $14,372 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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9. 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 position (recorded in interest and other, net, in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income) of our derivatives at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2012  
     Notional Balance      Maturity Date      Prepaid Expenses  

Designated as Hedges under
ASC 815

        

None

         $ —     

Not Designated as Hedges under
ASC 815

        

Foreign currency exchange forwards

   $ 47,335 consisting of 11 different currency pairs         April 2012         79   
        

 

 

 

Total Derivative Instruments

         $ 79   
        

 

 

 
     December 31, 2011  
     Notional Balance      Maturity Date      Prepaid Expenses  

Designated as Hedges under
ASC 815

        

None

         $ —     

Not Designated as Hedges under
ASC 815

        

Foreign currency exchange forwards

   $ 52,373 consisting of 13 different currency pairs        
 
January through
February 2012
  
  
     215   
        

 

 

 

Total Derivative Instruments

         $ 215   
        

 

 

 

The amounts of unrealized and realized net gains and changes in the fair value of our forward contracts are as follows:

 

     Location of Unrealized and Realized    Amount of Unrealized and
Realized Net Gains and
Changes in the Fair Value of
Forward Contracts
 
    

Net Gains and Changes in the Fair

   Three Months Ended March 31,  
     Value of Forward Contracts    2012      2011  

Foreign currency exchange forwards

   Interest and Other, net    $ 458       $ 133   

 

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10. FINANCING AGREEMENTS

In December 2007, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility that provided for maximum borrowings of $250,000, including up to a $50,000 sublimit for letters of credit. 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 “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The First 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. On March 22, 2012, the First Amended Credit Agreement was further amended and restated in its entirety (the “Second Amended Credit Agreement”). The Second Amended Credit Agreement provides the Company with a $225,000 revolving credit facility and a $100,000 term loan facility, providing for a total of $325,000 in credit available to the Company. The borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Agreement were used to satisfy the obligations under the First Amended Credit Agreement of $172,500 for the revolving credit facility and $40,000 for the term loan. The revolving credit facility and the term loan facility each mature on March 22, 2015. The Second Amended Credit Agreement does not qualify as a debt extinguishment in accordance with ASC 470 Debt, and all financing fees incurred will be deferred and amortized through March 2015. The Company is required to make quarterly amortization payments on the outstanding principal amount of the term loans, with $1,250 payable on each of June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012, December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, $1,875 payable on each of June 30, 2013, September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, and March 31, 2014, $2,500 payable on each of June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014, and December 31, 2014 and the remaining balance of the term loan due at maturity.

Borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate equal to either (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR (“BBA LIBOR”) Rate plus a margin ranging from 250 basis points to 325 basis points depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio or (ii) the sum of (A) the highest of (1) the Agent’s prime rate, (2) the sum of 0.50% plus the overnight federal funds rate on such day or (3) the BBA LIBOR plus 1.0%, and (B) a margin ranging from 150 basis points to 225 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 250 basis points to 325 basis points (depending on the consolidated leverage ratio); and (ii) a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate per annum ranging from 35 basis points to 50 basis (depending on the consolidated leverage ratio). The Company may repay outstanding borrowings at any time during the term of the credit facility without any prepayment penalty.

The Second Amended Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain: (i) a consolidated leverage ratio of no more than 3.00 to 1.00; and (ii) an interest charge coverage ratio of at least 3.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement also contains various other negative covenants, including restrictions on incurring indebtedness, creating liens, mergers, dispositions of property, dividends and stock repurchases, acquisitions and other investments and entering into new lines of business. The Credit Agreement also contains various affirmative covenants, including covenants relating to the delivery of financial statements and other financial information, maintenance of property, maintenance of insurance, maintenance of books and records and compliance with environmental laws. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants.

At March 31, 2012, the utilized portion of this credit facility was $100,000 in borrowings on the term loan facility, $109,000 of borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and $923 in outstanding letters of credit. The portion of the term loan that is due within one year is $5,000 and is classified as short-term in the consolidated balance sheet. The remaining amount outstanding on the term loan and the utilized portion of the revolving credit facility is classified as long-term in the consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2012, based on the calculation of the maximum consolidated leverage ratio, $115,077 of the Company’s revolving credit facility was available. At March 31, 2012, the BBA LIBOR rate, the Agent’s prime rate, and the overnight federal funds rate were 0.24%, 3.25% and 0.09%, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, the Company used the one month BBA LIBOR rate for the interest rate on these borrowings with an interest rate of 2.99%.

In the second quarter of 2011, the Company’s subsidiary in China entered into a one-year unsecured uncommitted revolving credit facility, guaranteed by the Company that provides for maximum borrowings of $7,489. The expiration date has been extended to March 1, 2013 and each of the Company’s three subsidiaries in China may now borrow under this credit facility. The lender has the right to terminate the facility at any time and demand immediate payment. The Company may prepay outstanding borrowings and accrued interest under the facility only with the consent of the lender. The Company is obligated to indemnify the lender for any costs and losses incurred by the lender as a result of such prepayment. The credit agreement contains covenants which include obtaining, complying and maintaining all verifications, authorizations, approvals, registrations, licenses and consents required by local law to perform its obligations to the lender under the loan agreement, notifying the lender forthwith of the occurrence of any event that may affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under the loan agreement and using the credit facility for financing its working capital requirements. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants. As of March 31, 2012, the interest rate on these borrowings was 6.71%, the utilized portion was $4,545, which is classified as short-term in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2012, and $2,944 was available to be utilized by the Company.

 

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Table of Contents

11. 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 geographic mix of earnings in various tax jurisdictions and the applicable rates. Our interim provision for income taxes is measured using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items that occur within the periods presented. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries with lower statutory rates, increases in recorded valuation allowances of tax assets, or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof.

Our effective tax rate differs from the Federal United States statutory tax rate of 35% due to accrual of state taxes, non-deductible expenses, foreign earnings taxed at different rates, accrual of interest on tax liabilities, accrual of United States residual tax on earnings that are not permanently reinvested and the effect of valuation allowances. The tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was increased by $12,600 of discrete items, consisting primarily of $15,000 of a tax benefit related to certain tax losses arising from the Company’s restructuring. This benefit was partially offset by the effect of valuation allowances and accruals of interest on tax liabilities.

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) as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as long-term income taxes payable of $96,666 and $94,750, respectively. Interest and penalties related to underpayment of income taxes are classified as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that unrecorded tax benefits may be reduced by as much as zero to $16,000 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, the characterization of certain intercompany loans, and the amount of prior year tax loss carryovers.

12. 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 in October 2008, 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 (of which ChinaHR was formerly a part). 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.

The following tables present the Company’s operations by reportable segment and by geographic region:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
      2012     2011  

Revenue

    

Careers – North America

   $ 119,774      $ 121,032   

Careers – International

     106,922        107,260   

Internet Advertising & Fees

     19,381        33,090   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue

   $ 246,077      $ 261,382   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
      2012     2011  

Operating (Loss) Income

    

Careers – North America

   $ 3,199      $ 16,989   

Careers – International

     (8,036     5,422   

Internet Advertising & Fees

     3,268        1,503   

Corporate

     (8,634     (22,461
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (Loss) Income

   $ (10,203   $ 1,453   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended  
   March 31,  
      2012      2011  

Depreciation and Amortization

     

Careers – North America

   $ 8,884       $ 8,992   

Careers – International

     6,853         7,100   

Internet Advertising & Fees

     1,531         2,203   

Corporate Expenses

     177         106   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

   $ 17,445       $ 18,401   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
   March 31,  
      2012      2011  

Restructuring and Other Special Charges

     

Careers – North America

   $ 14,170       $ —     

Careers – International

     8,334         —     

Internet Advertising & Fees

     1,083         —     

Corporate

     819         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring and Other Special Charges

   $ 24,406       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended  
   March 31,  
      2012      2011  

Revenue by Geographic Region (a)

     

United States

   $ 133,329       $ 147,849   

Germany

     22,336         24,106   

Other Foreign

     90,412         89,427   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenue

   $ 246,077       $ 261,382   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
      March 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

Total Assets by Segment

     

Careers – North America

   $ 879,640       $ 881,942   

Careers – International

     866,653         825,559   

Internet Advertising & Fees

     167,409         172,456   

Corporate

     36,304         25,073   

Shared Assets (b)

     151,443         152,968   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 2,101,449       $ 2,057,998   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Region (c)

 

     March 31, 2012      December 31, 2011  

United States

   $ 109,797       $ 111,747   

International

     49,835         44,535   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Long-Lived Assets

   $ 159,632       $ 156,282   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(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.

 

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13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Recovery of Restitution Award from Former Executive

In May 2009, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Company was convicted of securities fraud in connection with the Company’s historical stock option granting practices. As a result of his conviction, he was ordered to pay an amount approximating $5,600 in a civil forfeiture to the United States Federal Government. The Company filed a petition with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) seeking such sum in partial restitution for the damages the former Chief Operating Officer caused to the Company. The DOJ granted the Company’s request in the first quarter of 2012 and remitted $5,600 to the Company in April 2012, which resulted in a net $5,350 gain in the three months ended March 31, 2012 after deducting legal fees incurred by the Company.

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, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2012, TQP Development, LLC filed suit against the Company for allegedly infringing a patent relating to the transmission of encrypted data. The lawsuit, entitled TQP Development, LLC v. Monster Worldwide, Inc. (Civil Action No. 2:12-cv-186), is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, monetary damages, pre and post judgment interest, and other costs. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter and is currently unable to estimate any potential losses.

Leases

The Company leases its facilities and a portion of its capital equipment under operating leases that expire at various dates. Some of the operating leases provide for increasing rents over the terms of the leases and total rent expense under these leases is recognized ratably over the initial renewal period of each lease. The following table presents future minimum lease commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and minimum rentals to be received under non-cancelable subleases at March 31, 2012:

 

      Operating
Leases
     Sublease
Income
 

Year ending December 31,

     

2012 (remaining nine months)

   $ 33,064       $ (4,080

2013

     42,448         (5,417

2014

     38,206         (5,334

2015

     28,649         (5,175

2016

     20,191         (4,348

Thereafter

     59,864         (17,263
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 222,422       $ (41,617
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

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 March 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 included in the accompanying Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review 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 which is 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, 2011 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 January 31, 2012, 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, 2011 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
April 27, 2012

 

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Table of Contents
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,” “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 (“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; risks relating to our foreign operations; risks relating to the European debt crisis and market perceptions concerning the instability of the euro; our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brands, particularly Monster; competition; risks related to our exploration of strategic alternatives; 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 or 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; 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 to the SEC, including under Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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 cost effectively 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 advertisements, resume database access, recruitment media solutions through our advertising network and partnerships, and other career-related content. Job seekers can search our job advertisements and post their resumes for free on each of our career websites and mobile applications. Employers pay to advertise available jobs and recruitment related services, search our resume database, and access other career-related services.

Our investments in our technology platform have allowed us to continue delivering innovative products and services on a global basis. Over the last few years, we consolidated several technology systems and created a platform that is more secure, scalable and redundant. Our strategy has been to grow our business both organically and through strategic acquisitions and alliances in which the growth prospects fit our long-term strategic growth plan.

In June 2011, to further extend our global reach and leverage the world’s most popular global social network, we launched BeKnown™, a professional network application available on the Facebook platform. This application allows Facebook members in 50 countries and in 19 languages to establish a professional network on BeKnown. With BeKnown, users can seamlessly identify and connect with professional contacts from multiple sources and enhance their professional identities, while keeping their friends on Facebook separate from their professional contacts.

Our growth strategy includes global geographic expansion. On August 24, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the Yahoo! HotJobs Assets from Yahoo!, Inc. (“Yahoo!”) which we believe has expanded our market share in the North America online recruitment market. 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. This traffic agreement has increased our reach in North America. Separately, we formed a multi-country relationship with Yahoo! across South America to bring career opportunities and resources to Yahoo! users, employers and job-seekers. We are now Yahoo!’s exclusive provider of career and job content in key markets across South America.

 

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In 2008, we acquired Trovix Inc., a business that provides career-related products and services that utilize semantic search technology, focusing on key attributes such as skills, work history and education. Our patented 6Sense® semantic search and matching technology, which is based upon Trovix technology, is the backbone of a growing family of products for both job seekers and employers. Our innovative and proprietary semantic resume search product, Monster Power Resume Search® (“PRS”) has been available to customers in North America since late 2009, and more recently to customers in the United Kingdom and France. We launched PRS in Germany in late 2011 and expect to rollout PRS in the Netherlands and China in the future. Our 6Sense technology transforms traditional keyword-based processes by assisting our customers in matching candidates to their required job specifications. We also introduced 6Sense powered job search, which has changed how seekers explore, find and apply for jobs. We introduced our cloud based search product SeeMore™ in the third quarter of 2011, which allows our customers to utilize our 6Sense technology on their own talent databases and the Company believes that SeeMore represents an incremental growth opportunity.

In North America, the Career Ad Network, or CAN, is now the industry’s largest recruitment-focused online advertising network which reaches nearly 105 million internet users on a global basis. We offer this innovative media product to customers in North America and most major markets in Europe, as well as in Australia and Brazil, and we expect to expand this offering further into South America and Asia. CAN distributes our customers’ job advertisements across a broad array of targeted websites and is an effective way of expanding our customers’ pool of active and passive seekers. Additionally, we offer our customers application tracking services, diversity resume database services and other ancillary services either directly or through alliances to meet the changing needs of our customers.

We believe the long-term growth opportunities overseas are significant and believe that we are positioned to benefit from our expanded reach and broadened product portfolio, increased brand recognition around the world, and the continued secular shift towards online recruiting. Through a balanced mix of investments, strategic acquisitions and disciplined operating focus and execution, we believe Monster Career’s segments can take advantage of this global market opportunity over the next several years. We operate a government solutions business, Monster Government Solutions (“MGS”), which sells online solutions to federal, state and local governments and educational institutions within the United States. We have expanded our MGS business to Europe and recently signed the largest international transaction in the Company’s history with the United Kingdom Government for over $20.0 million. MGS provides recruitment solutions that engage seekers and employers online, enables MGS customers to attract qualified candidates, expedites time to hire and creates online communities using innovative technologies and services. These services primarily include customized career sites hosted by MGS utilizing a “Software as a Service” model.

Our Internet Advertising & Fees business operates 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 monetize this web traffic through display advertising and lead generation. We believe that these properties appeal to advertisers and other third parties as they deliver certain discrete demographics entirely online. Beginning in the third quarter of 2011, the Company no longer engages in arbitrage lead generation activities due to the diminishing profit opportunity and the promulgation of new regulations applicable to the Company’s customers in the for-profit education business.

On March 1, 2012, the Company announced that it had resolved to explore strategic alternatives to maximize value for the Company’s stockholders. There can be no assurance that this process will result in the pursuit or consummation of any strategic transaction. During this process, we do not intend to publicly disclose the status of the evaluation, provide interim updates or announce or otherwise disclose developments (whether or not material) related to the strategic review process.

2012 Restructuring

On January 24, 2012, the Company committed to a plan to take a series of strategic restructuring actions. The Company’s decision to adopt the strategic restructuring actions resulted from the Company’s desire to provide the Company with more flexibility to invest in marketing and sales activities in order to improve its long-term growth prospects and profitability. Through March 31, 2012, the Company has notified approximately 260 associates and approximately 40 associates have voluntarily left the Company, reducing the Company’s workforce by approximately 300 associates. The restructuring actions also included the consolidation of certain office facilities and the impairment of certain fixed assets. To date, the Company has incurred $25.0 million of restructuring costs. The Company anticipates that all of the strategic restructuring actions, and the charges associated with such actions, will be completed in the first six months of 2012.

Recovery of Restitution Award from Former Executive

In May 2009, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Company was convicted of securities fraud in connection with the Company’s historical stock option granting practices. As a result of his conviction, he was ordered to pay an amount approximating $5.6 million in a civil forfeiture to the United States Federal Government. The Company filed a petition with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) seeking such sum in partial restitution for the damages the former Chief Operating Officer caused to the Company. The DOJ granted the Company’s request in the first quarter of 2012 and remitted $5.6 million to the Company in early April 2012, which resulted in a net $5.4 million gain in the three months ended March 31, 2012 after deducting legal fees incurred by the Company.

 

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Results of Operations

Consolidated operating results as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

      Three Months Ended
March  31,
 
      2012     2011  

Revenue

     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     49.3     51.9

Office and general

     23.4     25.5

Marketing and promotion

     23.7     22.1

Restructuring and other special charges

     9.9     0.0

Recovery of restitution award from former executive

     (2.2 )%      0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     104.1     99.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

     (4.1 )%      0.6

Interest and other, net

     (0.6 )%      (0.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income taxes and loss in equity interests

     (4.7 )%      0.4

Benefit from (provision for) income taxes

     6.3     (0.1 )% 

Loss in equity interests, net

     (0.1 )%      (0.2 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     1.5     0.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

Consolidated Revenue, Operating Expenses and Operating (Loss) Income

Consolidated revenue, operating expenses and operating (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   2012     % of
Revenue
    2011      % of
Revenue
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %  Increase
(Decrease)
 
             

Revenue

   $ 246,077        100.0   $ 261,382         100.0   $ (15,305     (5.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     121,282        49.3     135,661         51.9     (14,379     (10.6 )% 

Office and general

     57,543        23.4     66,570         25.5     (9,027     (13.6 )% 

Marketing and promotion

     58,399        23.7     57,698         22.1     701        1.2

Restructuring and other special charges

     24,406        9.9     —           0.0     24,406        n/a   

Recovery of restitution award from former executive

     (5,350     (2.2 )%      —           0.0     (5,350     n/a   
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     256,280        104.1     259,929         99.4     (3,649     (1.4 )% 
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Operating (loss) income

   $ (10,203     (4.1 )%    $ 1,453         0.6   $ (11,656     n/a   
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Our consolidated revenue decreased $15.3 million, or 5.9%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Our Internet Advertising & Fees revenue decreased 41.4%. This decrease was primarily attributable to the Company, as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2011, no longer engaging in arbitrage lead generation activities due to the lack of profitability in such business and in light of new regulations. Our Careers — North America segment experienced a 1.0% decrease mainly due to decreased business activity from our enterprise customers, partially offset by increased business activity from our newspaper and staffing sectors. Our Careers — International segment decreased 0.3%, which includes $3.3 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact, primarily due to decreases within Europe in Germany and the Netherlands, partially offset by increases within Asia in China and India. These decreases in our consolidated Careers segments were primarily due to the deceleration of booking activity beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011 and continuing in 2012, which the Company believes results from the increased global economic uncertainty. Overall bookings (which represent the value of contractual orders received during the relevant period), increased 1% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Overall bookings, excluding amounts related to our arbitrage lead generation activities in the first quarter of 2011 and our transaction with the United Kingdom Government booked in the first quarter of 2012, decreased 4% on a global basis compared to the same period of 2011. Our Careers – North America segment experienced bookings growth of approximately 6% compared to the same period of 2011 primarily in our government, staffing and newspaper sectors. Our Careers – International segment experienced a bookings decline of approximately 11% primarily within Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands and France, while our bookings in Asia were relatively flat compared to the same period of 2011. With the investments that the Company has recently made to further broaden its product portfolio to provide customers a broad array of technology-based solutions for their talent management strategy, including the recent launches of BeKnown and our next generation semantic search product, SeeMore, the Company is poised to assist seekers find better job opportunities and enable employers to attract better talent and assist in the management of their hiring process.

 

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Salary and related expenses decreased $14.4 million, or 10.6%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $1.7 million of favorable foreign exchange. This decrease in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from decreased stock-based compensation, decreased regular salary costs as a result of our 2011 and 2012 restructuring programs as well as decreased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from decreased booking activity.

Office and general expenses decreased $9.0 million, or 13.6%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $0.5 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from decreased professional fees relating to the HotJobs acquisition, decreased occupancy costs relating to charges recorded in the first quarter of 2011 for changes in estimated sublease assumptions for previously exited facilities as well as decreased professional fees. We may incur significant incremental third party consulting, advisory, legal and other expenses in 2012 related to our Board of Director’s announced plan to evaluate strategic alternatives for the Company.

Marketing and promotion expenses increased $0.7 million, or 1.2%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $0.6 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from our focus on brand awareness in Europe and Asia as well as our focus on increasing seeker traffic in the United States. This increase was partially offset by a decrease resulting primarily from the Company, beginning in the third quarter of 2011, no longer engaging in arbitrage lead generation activities within our Internet Advertising & Fees segment.

In the first quarter of 2012, we incurred $24.4 million of restructuring and other special charges, comprised mainly of severance costs, facility charges and the impairment of certain assets as a result of our restructuring program announced in January 2012.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company recorded $5.4 million from the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for partial restitution of damages caused to the Company in connection with the Company’s historical stock option granting practices of which the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer had been convicted of securities fraud in May 2009. This amount had been previously remitted to the DOJ by the Company’s former Chief Operating Officer as a civil forfeiture to the United States Federal Government.

Our consolidated operating loss was $10.2 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to operating income of $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, 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 March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   2012      % of
Revenue
    2011      % of
Revenue
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %  Increase
(Decrease)
 
              

Revenue

   $ 119,774         100.0   $ 121,032         100.0   $ (1,258     (1.0 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     50,406         42.1     55,039         45.5     (4,633     (8.4 )% 

Office and general

     25,848         21.6     24,210         20.0     1,638        6.8

Marketing and promotion

     26,151         21.8     24,794         20.5     1,357        5.5

Restructuring and other special charges

     14,170         11.8     —           0.0     14,170        n/a   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     116,575         97.3     104,043         86.0     12,532        12.0
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Operating income

   $ 3,199         2.7   $ 16,989         14.0   $ (13,790     (81.2 )% 
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Revenue in our Careers — North America segment decreased $1.3 million, or 1.0%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, due to decreased business activity from our enterprise customers, partially offset by increased business activity from our newspaper and staffing sectors. Our Careers — North America bookings in the first quarter of 2012 increased 6% compared to the same period of 2011 primarily in our government, staffing and newspaper sectors. We have, however, experienced decelerated growth in late 2011 and in the first three months of 2012 compared to the first nine months of 2011 resulting from the global economic uncertainty.

Salary and related expenses decreased $4.6 million, or 8.4%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. This decrease in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from $2.0 million of decreased stock-based compensation as well as $1.0 million of decreased regular salary costs as a result of our 2011 and 2012 restructuring programs.

Office and general expenses increased $1.6 million, or 6.8%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. This increase in office and general expenses resulted primarily from increased professional fees of $1.1 million.

 

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Marketing and promotion expenses increased $1.4 million, or 5.5%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from our focus on increasing seeker traffic.

In the first quarter of 2012, we incurred $14.2 million of restructuring and other special charges, comprised mainly of severance costs, facility charges and the impairment of certain assets as a result of our restructuring program announced in January 2012.

Our Careers — North America operating income was $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to operating income of $17.0 million in the first quarter of 2011, as a result of the factors described above.

Careers — International

The operating results of our Careers — International segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   2012     % of
Revenue
    2011      % of
Revenue
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %  Increase
(Decrease)
 
             

Revenue

   $ 106,922        100.0   $ 107,260         100.0   $ (338     (0.3 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     52,708        49.3     55,719         51.9     (3,011     (5.4 )% 

Office and general

     24,163        22.6     25,008         23.3     (845     (3.4 )% 

Marketing and promotion

     29,753        27.8     21,111         19.7     8,642        40.9

Restructuring and other special charges

     8,334        7.8     —           0.0     8,334        n/a   
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     114,958        107.5     101,838         94.9     13,120        12.9
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Operating (loss) income

   $ (8,036     (7.5 )%    $ 5,422         5.1   $ (13,458     n/a   
  

 

 

     

 

 

      

 

 

   

Our Careers — International segment revenue decreased $0.3 million, or 0.3%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $3.3 million of unfavorable foreign exchange impact, primarily due to decreases within Europe in Germany and the Netherlands, partially offset by increases within Asia in China and India. This decrease in our Careers — International segment was primarily due to the unfavorable foreign exchange impact as well as the continued uncertainty in the overall global economy particularly in Europe. Our Careers – International segment experienced a bookings decline of approximately 11% (excluding the impact of the United Kingdom Government transaction in the first quarter of 2012) primarily within Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands and France, while our bookings in Asia were relatively flat compared to the same period of 2011.

Salary and related expenses decreased $3.0 million, or 5.4%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $1.5 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This decrease in salaries and related expenses resulted primarily from $2.2 million of decreased stock-based compensation as well as $1.1 million of decreased variable compensation costs for the Company’s sales force resulting from decreased booking activity.

Office and general expenses decreased $0.8 million, or 3.4%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $0.4 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This decrease in office and general expenses resulted primarily from $0.9 million of decreased professional fees.

Marketing and promotion expenses increased $8.6 million, or 40.9%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011, which includes $0.6 million of favorable foreign exchange impact. This increase in marketing and promotion expenses resulted primarily from our focus on brand awareness in Europe and Asia.

In the first quarter of 2012, we incurred $8.3 million of restructuring and other special charges comprised mainly of severance costs as a result of our restructuring program announced in January 2012.

Our Careers — International operating loss was $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to operating income of $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2011, as a result of the factors discussed above.

 

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Internet Advertising & Fees

The operating results of our Internet Advertising & Fees segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   2012      % of
Revenue
    2011      % of
Revenue
    Increase
(Decrease)
    %  Increase
(Decrease)
 
              

Revenue

   $ 19,381         100.0   $ 33,090         100.0   $ (13,709     (41.4 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Salaries and related

     8,844         45.6     13,267         40.1     (4,423     (33.3 )% 

Office and general

     4,462         23.0     6,742         20.4     (2,280     (33.8 )% 

Marketing and promotion

     1,724         8.9     11,578         35.0     (9,854     (85.1 )% 

Restructuring and other special charges

     1,083         5.6     —           0.0     1,083        n/a   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     16,113         83.1     31,587         95.5     (15,474     (49.0 )% 
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Operating income

   $ 3,268         16.9   $ 1,503         4.5   $ 1,765        117.4
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Revenue in our Internet Advertising & Fees segment decreased $13.7 million, or 41.4%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. This decrease resulted primarily from the Company, beginning in the third quarter of 2011, no longer engaging in arbitrage lead generation activities.

Operating expenses decreased $15.5 million, or 49.0%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This decrease in operating expenses resulted primarily from a decrease in marketing expenses associated with the Company no longer engaging in arbitrage lead generation activities, partially offset by $1.1 million of restructuring and other special charges.

Our Internet Advertising & Fees operating income was $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to operating income of $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, as a result of the factors discussed above.

Interest and Other, net

Interest and other, net, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 resulted in an expense of $1.5 million and $0.4 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 related to the Company’s auction rate securities. The increased expense in interest and other, net, of $1.1 million resulted primarily from gains on auction rate securities in the first quarter of 2011 as well as higher net interest expense in the first quarter of 2012 primarily relating to higher amounts outstanding on our credit facilities. These increases were partially offset by higher interest income primarily from higher interest rates on our cash balances.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

(dollars in thousands)

   2012     2011     $ Change     % Change  

(Loss) income before income taxes

   $ (11,671   $ 1,012      $ (12,683     n/a   

Income taxes

     (15,613     356        (15,969     n/a   

Effective tax rate

     133.8     35.2    

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 geographic mix of earnings in 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, increases in recorded valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets, or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof.

Our effective tax rate differs from the Federal United States statutory tax rate of 35% due to accrual of state taxes, non-deductible expenses, foreign earnings taxed at different rates, accrual of interest on tax liabilities, accrual of United States residual tax on earnings that are not permanently reinvested and the effect of valuation allowances. The tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was increased by $12.6 million of discrete items, consisting primarily of $15.0 million of a tax benefit related to certain tax losses arising from the Company’s restructurings.This benefit was partially offset by the effect of valuation allowances and accruals of interest on tax liabilities.

 

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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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as long-term income taxes payable of $96.7 million and $94.8 million, respectively. Interest and penalties related to underpayment of income taxes are classified as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The Company estimates that it is reasonably possible that unrecorded tax benefits may be reduced by as much as zero to $16.0 million 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, the characterization of certain intercompany loans, and the amount of prior year tax loss carryovers.

Loss in Equity Interests, Net

Loss in equity interests, net, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The Company’s equity investments consist of a 50% equity interest in a company located in Australia and a 25% equity interest in a company located in Finland.

Net Income

Our consolidated net income was $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2011, as a result of the factors discussed above.

Diluted Income Per Share

Diluted income per share in the first quarter of 2012 was $0.03 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.00 in the first quarter of 2011. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was 117.6 million shares and 124.6 million shares, respectively.

Financial Condition

The following tables detail our cash and cash equivalents:

 

     March  31,
2012
    December  31,
2011
    Change  

(dollars in thousands)

       $      %  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 252,601      $ 250,317      $ 2,284         0.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Percentage of total assets

     12.0     12.2     
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

As of March 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $252.6 million, compared to $250.3 million as of December 31, 2011. Our increase in cash and cash equivalents of $2.3 million in the first three months of 2012 primarily resulted from $24.7 million of net proceeds from borrowings on our term note and credit facilities as well as $21.2 million provided by operating activities, partially offset by $33.3 million of common stock repurchases as well as $12.7 million of capital expenditures.

Cash Flows

Consolidated cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

 

     March  31,
2012
    March  31,
2011
    Change  

(dollars in thousands)

       $     %  

Cash provided by operating activities

   $ 21,247      $ 49,420      $ (28,173     (57.0 )% 

Cash used for investing activities

     (13,479     (15,901     2,422        (15.2 )% 

Cash used for financing activities

     (11,109     (11,573     464        (4.0 )% 

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     5,625        5,887        (262     (4.5 )% 

Cash provided by operating activities was $21.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $28.2 million from the $49.4 million of cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This decrease resulted primarily from reduced cash flows of $23.6 million provided by working capital items primarily resulting from changes in accounts receivable, prepaid and other and accounts payable, partially offset by deferred revenue as well as $4.9 million of non-cash compensation, partially offset by $6.4 million of non cash restructuring write-offs as well as $3.7 million of net income.

 

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Cash used for investing activities was $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $2.4 million from cash used for investing activities of $15.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This decrease resulted primarily from $3.8 million of decreased capital expenditures, partially offset by $1.1 million of decreased sales and maturities of marketable securities.

Cash used for financing activities was $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $0.5 million from cash used for financing activities of $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This decrease resulted primarily from $33.3 million used for common stock repurchases, partially offset by $29.2 million of net proceeds from borrowings on our term note and credit facilities as well as $4.6 million of tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and units.

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 and commercial paper that matures within three months of its origination date. Due to the turmoil in the financial markets, we have redeployed our excess cash during 2010, 2011 and the first three months of 2012 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.

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.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, revolving credit facilities 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 Facilities

In December 2007, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility that provided for maximum borrowings of $250.0 million, including up to a $50.0 million sublimit for letters of credit. 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 “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The First 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. On March 22, 2012, the First Amended Credit Agreement was further amended and restated in its entirety (the “Second Amended Credit Agreement”). The Second Amended Credit Agreement provides the Company with a $225.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million term loan facility, providing for a total of $325.0 million in credit available to the Company. The borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Agreement were used to satisfy the obligations under the First Amended Credit Agreement of $172.5 million for the revolving credit facility and $40.0 million for the term loan. The revolving credit facility and the term loan facility each mature on March 22, 2015. The Second Amended Credit Agreement does not qualify as a debt extinguishment in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470 Debt, and all financing fees incurred will be deferred and amortized through March 2015. The Company is required to make quarterly amortization payments on the outstanding principal amount of the term loans, with $1.3 million payable on each of June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012, December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, $1.9 million payable on each of June 30, 2013, September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, and March 31, 2014, $2.5 million payable on each of June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014, and December 31, 2014 and the remaining balance of the term loan due at maturity.

Borrowings under the Second Amended Credit Agreement will bear interest at a rate equal to either (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR (“BBA LIBOR”) Rate plus a margin ranging from 250 basis points to 325 basis points depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio or (ii) the sum of (A) the highest of (1) the Agent’s prime rate, (2) the sum of 0.50% plus the overnight federal funds rate on such day or (3) the BBA LIBOR plus 1.0%, and (B) a margin ranging from 150 basis points to 225 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 250 basis points to 325 basis points (depending on the consolidated leverage ratio); and (ii) a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate per annum ranging from 35 basis points to 50 basis (depending on the consolidated leverage ratio). The Company may repay outstanding borrowings at any time during the term of the credit facility without any prepayment penalty.

 

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The Second Amended Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain: (i) a consolidated leverage ratio of no more than 3.00 to 1.00; and (ii) an interest charge coverage ratio of at least 3.00 to 1.00. The Credit Agreement also contains various other negative covenants, including restrictions on incurring indebtedness, creating liens, mergers, dispositions of property, dividends and stock repurchases, acquisitions and other investments and entering into new lines of business. The Credit Agreement also contains various affirmative covenants, including covenants relating to the delivery of financial statements and other financial information, maintenance of property, maintenance of insurance, maintenance of books and records and compliance with environmental laws. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants.

At March 31, 2012, the utilized portion of this credit facility was $100.0 million in borrowings on the term loan facility, $109.0 million of borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and $0.9 million in outstanding letters of credit. The portion of the term loan that is due within one year is $5.0 million and is classified as short-term in the consolidated balance sheet. The remaining amount outstanding on the term loan and the utilized portion of the revolving credit facility is classified as long-term in the consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2012, based on the calculation of the maximum consolidated leverage ratio, $115.1 million of the Company’s revolving credit facility was available. At March 31, 2012, the BBA LIBOR rate, the Agent’s prime rate, and the overnight federal funds rate were 0.24%, 3.25% and 0.09%, respectively. As of March 31, 2012, the Company used the one month BBA LIBOR rate for the interest rate on these borrowings with an interest rate of 2.99%.

In the second quarter of 2011, the Company’s subsidiary in China entered into a one-year unsecured uncommitted revolving credit facility, guaranteed by the Company that provides for maximum borrowings of $7.5 million. The expiration date has been extended to March 1, 2013 and each of the Company’s three subsidiaries in China may now borrow under this credit facility. The lender has the right to terminate the facility at any time and demand immediate payment. The Company may prepay outstanding borrowings and accrued interest under the facility only with the consent of the lender. The Company is obligated to indemnify the lender for any costs and losses incurred by the lender as a result of such prepayment. The credit agreement contains covenants which include obtaining, complying and maintaining all verifications, authorizations, approvals, registrations, licenses and consents required by local law to perform its obligations to the lender under the loan agreement, notifying the lender forthwith of the occurrence of any event that may affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under the loan agreement and using the credit facility for financing its working capital requirements. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in full compliance with its covenants. As of March 31, 2012, the interest rate on these borrowings was 6.71%, the utilized portion was $4.5 million, which is classified as short-term in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2012, and $2.9 million was available to be utilized by the Company.

Income Taxes

The Company has earned a significant portion of its income outside the United States, which the Company has asserted to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations. The Company evaluates its permanent reinvestment assertions each reporting period. In the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company changed its permanent reinvestment assertion with respect to its subsidiary in South Korea and plans to repatriate earnings in 2012. This determination was made by reviewing investment opportunities and expected financing needs in South Korea and the United States as well as considering the tax cost of repatriating from South Korea. United States residual taxes have been provided on unremitted earnings through March 31, 2012.

The amount of cash in subsidiaries offshore for which the Company maintains the permanent reinvestment assertion at March 31, 2012 was approximately $196.0 million. While we have not determined the total United States and foreign tax liabilities on such a repatriation, generally, if this cash were repatriated, a United States tax liability would be incurred for the excess of United States tax over local taxes paid, if any, on the portion characterized as a taxable dividend for United States tax purposes. The Company reviewed its liquidity needs in the United States and does not presently intend to repatriate these funds. In addition to the expected repatriation from South Korea in 2012 and cash expected from 2012 domestic operations, the Company can borrow from its credit facility in the United States should additional liquidity needs arise. We have borrowed funds domestically and continue to have the ability to borrow funds domestically at reasonable interest rates.

Thus far in 2012, the Company has paid $1.3 million of taxes in domestic state and international income taxes. We expect to utilize our tax loss carryovers to offset most domestic cash tax liability in 2012. We expect to have taxable income in certain domestic states and foreign tax jurisdictions in which we pay taxes on a quarterly basis.

Restructuring Activities

On January 24, 2012, the Company committed to take a series of strategic restructuring actions. The Company’s decision to adopt the strategic restructuring actions resulted from the Company’s desire to provide the Company with more flexibility to invest in marketing and sales activities in order to improve its long-term growth prospects and profitability. Through March 31, 2012, the Company has notified or terminated approximately 260 associates and approximately 40 associates have voluntarily left the Company, reducing the Company’s workforce by approximately 300 associates. The reduction of the Company’s workforce resulted in the consolidation of certain office facilities and the impairment of certain project related assets. The Company anticipates that all of the strategic restructuring actions, and the charges associated with such actions, will be completed in the first six months of 2012.

 

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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.

Share Repurchase Plan

On October 25, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized a share repurchase program of up to $250.0 million. Under the share repurchase program, shares of common stock will be purchased on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time through April 2013. The timing and amount of purchases will be based on market conditions, corporate and legal requirements and other factors. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be modified, suspended, extended or discontinued at any time without prior notice. Through March 31, 2012, the Company has repurchased 9.9 million shares for a total repurchase of $75.1 million at an average price of $7.59 per share.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company values its assets and liabilities using the methods of fair value as described in Accounting Standards Codification (“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. The three levels of fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 — Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

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, and considers counter-party credit risk in its assessment of fair value. Observable or market inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions based on the best information available. There have been no transfers of assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement classifications for the three months ended March 31, 2012. The Company has certain assets and liabilities that are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2012:

 

XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX

(in thousands)

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Bank time deposits

   $ —         $ 90,782       $ —         $ 90,782   

Commercial paper

     —           84,583         —           84,583   

Bankers’ acceptance

     —           7,731         —           7,731   

Government bond - foreign

     —           9,137         —           9,137   

Foreign exchange contracts

     —           79         —           79   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ —         $ 192,312       $ —         $ 192,312   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Lease exit liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,992       $ 17,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ —         $ —         $ 17,992       $ 17,992   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2011:

 

(in thousands)

     Level 1        Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Bank time deposits

   $   —         $ 114,839       $ —         $ 114,839   

Commercial paper

       —           75,066         —           75,066   

Bankers’ acceptance

       —           8,630         —           8,630   

Government bond - foreign

       —           7,143         —           7,143   

Foreign exchange contracts

       —           215         —           215   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $   —         $ 205,893       $ —         $ 205,893   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Lease exit liabilities

   $   —         $ —         $ 14,938       $ 14,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $   —         $ —         $ 14,938       $ 14,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The lease exit liabilities relate to vacated facilities associated with previously discontinued operations and restructuring activities of the Company and are recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. 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, inclusive of certain sublet assumptions.

The changes in the fair value of the Level 3 liabilities are as follows:

 

     Lease Exit Liability  
     (in thousands)  
     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2012     2011  

Balance, Beginning of Period

   $ 14,938      $ 13,913   

Expense

     4,145        2,998   

Cash Payments

     (1,091     (940
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, End of Period

   $ 17,992      $ 15,971   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The carrying value for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, certain accrued expenses 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 facilities and term loan (see Note 10 to the Company’s financial statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), which approximates fair value due to the debt bearing fluctuating market interest rates.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. 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 U.S. 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 for the year ended December 31, 2011. 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.

 

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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, recruitment media services, applicant tracking services and other career-related services. We recognize revenue at the time that job postings and related accessories are displayed on the Monster network websites, based upon customer usage patterns. Revenue earned from subscriptions to the Monster network’s resume database, applicant tracking services and other career-related services are recognized over the length of the underlying subscriptions, typically from two weeks to twelve months.

In accordance with ASU No. 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which was effective January 1, 2011, revenue associated with multiple element contracts is based on the selling price hierarchy, which includes vendor-specific objective evidence or (“VSOE”) when available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available and then the best estimate of selling price if neither VSOE or TPE is available. Under this new accounting guidance, to treat elements in a multi-element arrangement as separate units of accounting, each element must have standalone value upon delivery. If the element has standalone value, the Company accounts for each element separately. In determining whether elements have standalone value, the Company considers the availability of the elements from other vendors, the nature of the elements, the timing of execution of contracts for customers and the contractual dependence of the element related to a customer’s acceptance.

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.

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, certain accrued expenses 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 facilities, which approximates fair value due to the debt bearing fluctuating market interest rates.

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 on 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.

The Company tests the recorded amount of goodwill for recovery on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Goodwill is tested more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. The Company continually assesses whether any indicators of impairment exist, which requires a significant amount of judgment. Such indicators may include: a sustained significant decline in its share price and market capitalization; a decline in its expected future cash flows; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; the testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within a reporting unit; or slower growth rates, among others. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of these assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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The goodwill impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level. The Company has four reporting units: Careers — North America, Careers — International, Careers — China and Internet Advertising & Fees. The goodwill impairment test is a two step analysis. In Step One, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its book value. Management must apply judgment in determining the estimated fair value of these reporting units. Fair value is determined using a combination of present value techniques (income approach) and quoted market prices of comparable businesses. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its book value, goodwill is not deemed to be impaired for that reporting unit, and no further testing would be necessary. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its book value, the Company performs Step Two. Step Two uses the calculated fair value of the reporting unit to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The difference between the fair value of the reporting unit calculated in Step One and the fair value of the underlying assets and liabilities of the reporting unit is the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. A charge is recorded in the financial statements if the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is greater than its implied fair value. The determination of fair value of the reporting units and assets and liabilities within the reporting units requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions primarily include, but are not limited to, the discount rate, terminal growth rates, earnings before depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures forecasts. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates.

To determine fair value using the income approach, the Company discounts the expected future cash flows of the reporting units. The discount rate used represents the estimated weighted average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk involved in our operations and the rate of return a market participant would expect to earn. To estimate cash flows beyond the final year of our model, the Company uses a terminal value approach. Under this approach, the Company uses estimated operating income before interest, depreciation and amortization in the final year of its model, adjusts it to estimate a normalized cash flow, applies a perpetuity growth assumption and discounts it by a perpetuity discount factor to determine the terminal value. The Company incorporates the present value of the resulting terminal value into its estimate of fair value. To corroborate the results of the income approach, the Company estimated the fair value of its reporting units using several market-based approaches.

The Company evaluated the merits of each significant assumption, both individually and in the aggregate, used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit, as well as the fair values of the corresponding assets and liabilities within the reporting unit, and concluded they are reasonable. The Company has utilized the income approach in determining the fair value of the reporting units consistent with prior periods. The Company believes that this is appropriate since it is often difficult to find other appropriate companies that are similar to our reporting units and it is our view that future discounted cash flows are more reflective of the value of the reporting units.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Company updated the assumptions utilized in the annual goodwill impairment test performed in the fourth quarter of 2011 and determined that the updated inputs and assumptions were not materially different than the assumptions utilized in the annual impairment test.

The Company recognizes during certain periods our market capitalization has been below our book value. Accordingly, we monitor changes in our share price between annual impairment tests to ensure that our market capitalization continues to exceed or is not significantly below the carrying value of our net assets. We consider a decline in our market capitalization that corresponds to an overall deterioration in stock market conditions to be less of an indicator of goodwill impairment than a unilateral decline in our market capitalization which would reflect adverse changes in our underlying operating performance, cash flows, financial condition and/or liquidity. In the event that our market capitalization does decline below its book value, we consider the length and severity of the decline and the reason for the decline when assessing whether a potential goodwill impairment exists. We believe that short-term fluctuations in share prices may not necessarily reflect underlying values. However, if a decline in our market capitalization below book value persists for an extended period of time, we would likely consider the decline to be indicative of a decline in the aggregate fair value at the reporting unit level.

Differences in the Company’s actual future cash flows, operating results, growth rates, capital expenditures, cost of capital and discount rates as compared to the estimates utilized for the purpose of calculating the fair value of each reporting unit, as well as a decline in the Company’s stock price and related market capitalization, could affect the results of our annual goodwill assessment and, accordingly, potentially lead to future goodwill impairment charges.

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 evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdictions from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of taxable temporary items, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations.

 

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Assumptions used in making this evaluation require significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying business. When we determine that we are not able to realize our recorded deferred tax assets, an increase in the valuation allowance is recorded, decreasing earnings in the period in which such determination is made.

Our interim provisions for income taxes is measured using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items that occur within the periods presented.

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.

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 March 31, 2012, 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 June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income — Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU No. 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders’ equity. It requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income — Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05,” to defer the effective date to present items that are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income to net income alongside their respective components of net income and other comprehensive income. All other provisions of this update, which are to be applied retrospectively, are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASU 2011-05 effective January 1, 2012 whereby the Company now presents the components of net income and the total of comprehensive income in a single continuous consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” This guidance amends U.S. GAAP to conform with measurement and disclosure requirements in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The amendments change the wording used to describe the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, and they include those that clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and those that change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. In addition, to improve consistency in application across jurisdictions, some changes in wording are necessary to ensure that U.S. GAAP and IFRS fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are described in the same way. This amended guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASU No. 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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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, 2011.

Foreign Exchange Risk

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, revenue from our international operations accounted for 46% 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, Korean Won, Chinese Renminbi and Swedish Krona. 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 March 31, 2012 negatively impacted reported revenue by approximately $3.4 million and negatively impacted reported operating income by approximately $0.3 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011.

We have foreign exchange risk related to foreign-denominated cash and cash equivalents (“foreign funds”). Based on the balance of foreign funds at March 31, 2012 of $245.3 million, an assumed 5%, 10% and 20% negative currency movement would result in fair value declines of $12.3 million, $24.5 million and $49.1 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 months ended March 31, 2012, our cumulative translation adjustment account increased $15.5 million, primarily attributable to the foreign currency movements of the U.S. dollar against the Swedish Krona, Euro and Korean Won.

Interest Rate Risk

Credit Facilities

As of March 31, 2012, our debt was comprised primarily of borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility, term loan facility and borrowings of our subsidiary in China under an unsecured uncommitted revolving credit facility that we guarantee. The credit facilities’ interest rates may be reset due to fluctuation in a market-based index, such as the federal funds rate, the British Bankers Association LIBOR (“BBA LIBOR”), the administrative agent’s prime rate or the People’s Bank of China rate. Assuming the amount of borrowings provided for under our credit facilities were fully drawn during the first quarter of 2012, we would have had $332.5 million outstanding under such facilities, and a hypothetical 1.00% (100 basis-point) change in the interest rate of our credit facilities would have changed our quarterly pre-tax earnings by approximately $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012. Assuming the amount of borrowings under our credit facilities was equal to the amount of outstanding borrowings on March 31, 2012, we would have had $213.5 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 $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012. 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 short-term investments in a variety of debt instruments of high quality issuers, top sovereign, regional, national and supra-national bank commercial paper, bank time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and government bonds that mature within three months of their origination date. 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 $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

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 at a reasonable assurance level.

 

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There have been no significant changes in Monster’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012 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, no legal proceedings were commenced during the period covered by this report that the Company believes could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2012, TQP Development, LLC filed suit against the Company for allegedly infringing a patent relating to the transmission of encrypted data. The lawsuit, entitled TQP Development, LLC v. Monster Worldwide, Inc. (Civil Action No. 2:12-cv-186), is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, monetary damages, pre and post judgment interest, and other costs. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter and is currently unable to estimate any potential losses.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting the Company’s financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

The existing global economic and financial market environment has had, and may continue to have, a negative effect on our business and operations.

Because demand for our services is sensitive to changes in the level of economic activity, our business has suffered during economic downturns. Many companies hire fewer employees when economic activity is slow. As a result, demand for our services is reduced, which leads to lower sales. If the economy does not fully recover or worsens, or unemployment remains at high levels, demand for our services and our sales may be further reduced. In addition, lower demand for our services may lead to lower prices for our services.

The volatility in global financial markets may also limit our ability to access the capital markets at a time when we would like, or need, to raise capital, which could have an impact on our ability to react to changing economic and business conditions. Accordingly, if the economy does not fully recover or worsens, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

We face risks relating to our foreign operations.

We have a presence in approximately 55 countries around the world. We earned 45%, 42% and 42% of our total revenue outside of the United States in the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Such amounts are generally collected in local currencies. In addition, we generally pay operating expenses in local currencies. Therefore, we are at risk for exchange rate fluctuations between such local currencies and the United States dollar. Global foreign exchange markets have been experiencing heightened volatility in recent quarters and we cannot predict the direction or magnitude of future currency fluctuations. A weakening of the currencies in which we generate sales relative to the currencies in which our costs are denominated may lower our results of operations.

We are also subject to taxation in foreign jurisdictions. In addition, transactions between our foreign subsidiaries and us may be subject to United States and foreign withholding taxes. Applicable tax rates in foreign jurisdictions differ from those of the United States, and change periodically. The extent, if any, to which we will receive credit in the United States for taxes we pay in foreign jurisdictions will depend upon the application of limitations set forth in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as well as the provisions of any tax treaties that may exist between the United States and such foreign jurisdictions.

Our current or future international operations might not succeed or might fail to meet our expectations for a number of reasons, including:

 

   

general political uncertainty;

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

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competition from local recruiting services;

 

   

operational issues such as longer customer payment cycles and greater difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;

 

   

seasonal reductions in business activity;

 

   

language and cultural differences;

 

   

taxation issues;

 

   

complex legal and regulatory requirements that may be uncertain and may change; and

 

   

issues relating to uncertainties of laws and enforcement relating to the regulation and protection of intellectual property.

If we are forced to discontinue any of our international operations, we could incur material costs to close down such operations.

Also, we could be exposed to fines and penalties under United States laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to governmental officials. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws, we cannot be sure that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate our policies. Any such violations could materially damage our reputation, our brand, our international expansion efforts, our business and our operating results.

Concerns regarding the European debt crisis and market perceptions concerning the instability of the euro could adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financing.

Concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain Eurozone countries and their ability to meet future financial obligations, the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances in individual Eurozone countries. These concerns, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the Company’s euro- denominated assets and obligations and lead to future economic slowdowns.

We rely on the value of our brands, particularly Monster, and the costs of maintaining and enhancing our brand awareness are increasing.

Our success depends on our brands and their value. Our business would be harmed if we were unable to adequately protect our brand names, particularly Monster. We believe that maintaining and expanding the Monster brand is an important aspect of our efforts to attract and expand our user and client base. We also believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase due to the growing number of Internet sites and the relatively low barriers to entry. We have spent considerable money and resources to date on the establishment and maintenance of the Monster brand. We are devoting substantial resources to advertising, marketing and other brand-building efforts to preserve and enhance consumer awareness of the Monster brand. Despite this, we may not be able to successfully maintain or enhance consumer awareness of the Monster brand and, even if we are successful in our branding efforts, such efforts may not be cost-effective. If we are unable to maintain or enhance consumer awareness of the Monster brand in a cost-effective manner, our business, operating results and financial condition may be harmed significantly.

We also are susceptible to others imitating our products and brands, particularly our Monster brand, and infringing on our intellectual property rights. We may not be able to successfully protect our intellectual property rights, upon which we are dependent. While we believe we have strong trademark protection in the Monster brand worldwide in the careers and recruitment business, that protection does not extend fully to other businesses. Other companies and organizations use the “Monster” name, and more may do so in the future. This use could adversely affect our brand recognition and reputation if employers or job seekers confuse us with these other organizations. In addition, the laws of foreign countries do not necessarily protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Imitation of our products or brands, particularly our Monster brand, or infringement of our intellectual property rights could diminish the value of our brands or otherwise reduce our revenues.

Our markets are highly competitive.

The markets for our services are highly competitive. They are characterized by pressures to:

 

   

reduce prices;

 

   

incorporate new capabilities and technologies; and

 

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accelerate hiring timelines.

Furthermore, we face competition from a number of sources. These sources include:

 

   

other employment-related websites, including large national and international competitors, niche career websites targeted at specific industry verticals, and jobs aggregator websites that aggregate job postings from multiple company websites and job boards;

 

   

professional networking and social networking websites;

 

   

general classified advertising websites, some of which offer a low-cost or free alternative to our offerings;

 

   

traditional media companies, including newspapers; and

 

   

Internet portals, search engines and general-interest websites such as blogs.

In addition to traditional competitors that provide products and services that are very similar to Monster’s core products and services, we face increasing competition from a broad range of competitor types. Jobs aggregator websites have become a significant source of competition, as they permit job seekers to search multiple company websites and job boards. Professional networking websites have had significant success over the past several years in gaining large numbers of members and attracting employer customers with products that compete directly with our products. Low-cost and free classified advertising websites have also gained increased acceptance with employers. Additionally, many niche career websites have been launched targeted at specific industry verticals, and many industry blogs and websites now provide employment advertising opportunities for employers within specific industries.

Some of our competitors or potential competitors may have greater financial resources, management, technological development, sales, marketing and other resources than we do. Some of our competitors have more diversified businesses or may be owned by entities engaged in other lines of business, allowing them to operate their directly competitive operations at lower margins than our operations. In addition, our ability to maintain our existing clients and attract new clients depends to a large degree on the quality of our services and our reputation among our clients and potential clients.

Due to competition, we may experience reduced margins on our products and services, loss of market share or diminished use of our services by job seekers and our customers. If we are not able to compete effectively with current or future competitors as a result of these and other factors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly harmed.

We have no significant proprietary technology that would preclude or inhibit competitors from entering the online advertising market. Existing or future competitors may develop or offer services and products that provide significant performance, price, creative or other advantages over our services. If we do not keep pace with product and technology advances, there could be a material adverse effect on our competitive position, revenue and prospects for growth. This could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our ongoing review of strategic alternatives may pose additional risks to our business.

On March 1, 2012, the Company announced that it had resolved to explore strategic alternatives to maximize value for the Company’s stockholders. This process is ongoing, and the Board of Directors has not set a definitive timetable for the completion of its evaluation. Our exploration of strategic alternatives, including any uncertainty created by this process, involves a number of risks, including distraction of management during this process; significant fluctuations in our stock price could occur in response to developments relating to the strategic review process or market speculation regarding any such developments; we may encounter difficulties in hiring, retaining and motivating key personnel during this process or as a result of uncertainties generated by this process or any developments or actions relating to it; we may incur substantial increases in general and administrative expense associated with increased legal fees and the need to retain and compensate third party consultants; and we may experience difficulties in preserving the commercially sensitive confidential information that may need to be disclosed to competitors and other persons during this process or in connection with an assessment of our strategic alternatives.

There can be no assurance that this process will result in the pursuit or consummation of any strategic transaction. During this process, we do not intend to publicly disclose the status of the evaluation, provide interim updates or announce or otherwise disclose developments (whether or not material) related to the strategic review process. The occurrence of any one or more of the above risks could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.

 

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Our operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may fluctuate in the future. These fluctuations are a result of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

 

   

the timing and amount of existing clients’ subscription renewals;

 

   

entering new markets;

 

   

enhancements to existing services;

 

   

the hiring cycles of employers;

 

   

changes in general economic conditions, such as recessions, that could, among other things, affect recruiting efforts generally and online recruiting efforts in particular;

 

   

the magnitude and timing of marketing initiatives;

 

   

the maintenance and development of our strategic relationships;

 

   

our ability to manage our anticipated growth and expansion;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain customers;

 

   

technical difficulties or system downtime affecting the Internet generally or the operation of our products and services specifically;

 

   

enhancements to technology to safeguard against security breaches; and

 

   

the timing and integration of our acquisitions.

We face risks relating to developing technology.

The market for our products and services is characterized by rapid technological developments, frequent new product introductions and evolving industry standards. The emerging character of these products and services and their rapid evolution will require continuous improvement in the performance, features and reliability of our Internet and mobile content, particularly in response to competitive offerings. We may not be successful in responding quickly, cost effectively and sufficiently to these developments. In addition, the widespread adoption of new technologies or standards (including several different mobile and smart phone operating systems) could require us to make substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our websites, applications and services. Each manufacturer or distributor of a mobile device or smart phone may establish unique technical standards for its devices, and our products and services may not work or be viewable on these devices as a result. As new devices and new platforms are continually being released, it is difficult to predict the problems we may encounter in developing versions of our products and services for use on these alternative devices and we may need to devote significant resources to the creation, support, and maintenance of such devices. If we are slow to develop products and technologies that are compatible with such devices, we might fail to capture a significant share of an increasingly important portion of the market for our products and services. This could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

New Internet services or enhancements that we have offered or may offer in the future may contain design flaws or other defects that could require expensive modifications or result in a loss of client confidence. Any disruption in Internet access or in the Internet generally could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results. Slower response times or system failures may also result from straining the capacity of our software, hardware or network infrastructure. To the extent that we do not effectively address any capacity constraints or system failures, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be significantly harmed.

Trends that could have a critical impact on our success include:

 

   

rapidly changing technology in online recruiting;

 

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evolving industry standards relating to online recruiting;

 

   

developments and changes relating to the Internet and mobile devices;

 

   

evolving government regulations;

 

   

competing products and services that offer increased functionality;

 

   

changes in employer and job seeker requirements; and

 

   

customer privacy protection concerning transactions conducted over the Internet.

We rely heavily on our information systems and if our access to this technology is impaired, or we fail to further develop our technology, our business could be significantly harmed.

Our success depends in large part upon our ability to store, retrieve, process and manage substantial amounts of information, including our client and candidate databases. To achieve our strategic objectives and to remain competitive, we must continue to develop and enhance our information systems. Our future success will depend on our ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies, to adapt our information systems to evolving industry standards and to improve the performance and reliability of our information systems. This may require the acquisition of equipment and software and the development, either internally or through independent consultants, of new proprietary software. Our inability to design, develop, implement and utilize, in a cost-effective manner, information systems that provide the capabilities necessary for us to compete effectively could significantly harm our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Concerns relating to our privacy policies and our compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations could damage our reputation and deter current and potential customers, job seekers and other Internet users from using our products and services and subject us to fines.

Concerns about our practices with regard to the collection, use, disclosure or security of personal information or other privacy-related matters, even if unfounded, could damage our reputation, which in turn could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

While we strive to comply with all applicable data protection laws and regulations, as well as our own posted privacy policies, any failure or perceived failure to comply may result in proceedings or actions against us by government entities or others, which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business. Moreover, failure or perceived failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, requirements or our policies related to the collection, use, sharing or security of personal information or other privacy-related matters could result in a loss of confidence in us by customers, job seekers and other Internet users and could expose us to fines and penalties and could require us to expend significant sums in connection with any failure or perceived failure, each of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Laws related to data protection continue to evolve. It is possible that certain jurisdictions may enact laws or regulations that impact our ability to offer our products and services and/or result in reduced traffic or contract terminations in those jurisdictions, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Intrusions on our systems could damage our business.

Despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers are vulnerable to cyber attacks, computer viruses, worms and other malicious software programs, physical and electronic break-ins, sabotage and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. Unauthorized access could jeopardize the security of information stored in our systems relating to our customers, job seekers and other website users, and can lead to “phishing” schemes whereby unauthorized persons pose as employers or Monster representatives and seek to obtain personal information from our customers and job seekers. In addition, malware or viruses could jeopardize the security of information stored or used in a user’s computer.

We have experienced these intrusions in the past. We may also experience these intrusions in the future and may be required to expend significant sums and resources to safeguard against or remediate them. Moreover, negative publicity arising from any intrusion is damaging to our reputation and may adversely impact traffic to our sites. Accordingly, any intrusion could significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Interruptions, delays or failures in the provision of our services could damage our brand and harm our operating results.

Our systems are susceptible to outages and interruptions due to fire, floods, power loss, telecommunications failures, terrorist attacks and similar events. Our systems’ continuing and uninterrupted performance is critical to our success. Customers, job seekers and other website users may become dissatisfied by any system failure that interrupts our ability to provide our services to them, including failures affecting our ability to serve web page requests without significant delay to the viewer. Sustained or repeated system failures would reduce the attractiveness of our solutions to customers, job seekers and other Internet users and result in reduced traffic, contract terminations, fee rebates and make goods, thereby reducing revenue. Moreover, negative publicity arising from these types of disruptions is damaging to our reputation and may adversely impact traffic to our sites.

We do not have multiple site redundancy for all of our services and some of our systems are not fully redundant in the event of any such occurrence. In an effort to reduce the likelihood of a geographical or other disaster impacting our business, we have distributed, and intend to continue assessing the need to distribute, our servers among additional data centers. Failure to execute these changes properly or in a timely manner could result in delays or interruptions to our service, which could result in a loss of users and damage to our brand, and harm our operating results. We may not carry sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate us for losses that may occur as a result of any events that cause interruptions in our service.

We are vulnerable to intellectual property infringement claims brought against us by others.

Successful intellectual property infringement claims against us could result in monetary liability or a material disruption in the conduct of our business. We cannot be certain that our products, content and brand names do not or will not infringe valid patents, trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We expect that infringement claims in our markets will increase in number. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time relating to the intellectual property of others in the ordinary course of our business. If we were found to have infringed the intellectual property rights of a third party, we could be liable to that party for license fees, royalty payments, lost profits or other damages, and the owner of the intellectual property might be able to obtain injunctive relief to prevent us from using the technology or software in the future. If the amounts of these payments were significant or we were prevented from incorporating certain technology or software into our products, our business could be significantly harmed.

We may incur substantial expenses in defending against these third party infringement claims, regardless of their merit. As a result, due to the diversion of management time, the expense required to defend against any claim and the potential liability associated with any lawsuit, any significant litigation could significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights or maintain our rights to use key technologies of third parties, our business may be harmed.

A degree of uncertainty exists concerning the application and enforcement of trademark, trade dress and copyright laws to the Internet, and existing laws may not provide us adequate protection for our original content or the appearance of our Internet sites. In addition, because copyright laws do not prohibit independent development of similar content, copyright laws may not provide us with any competitive advantage. We have obtained patents and applied for other patents with respect to certain of our software systems, methods and related technologies, but our pending applications may not be granted and any patents issued to us may in the future be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights granted under patents may not provide us with a competitive advantage. We also face risks associated with our trademarks, particularly trademarks covering the Monster brand. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary technology and other intellectual property rights could involve significant expense and could be difficult or impossible, particularly given the global nature of the Internet and the fact that the laws of certain other countries may afford us little or no effective protection of our intellectual property. Moreover, certain amendments to the United States patent law made by the America Invents Act of 2011, when they become effective, may affect our ability to protect our innovations and defend against claims of patent infringement.

In addition, we rely on certain technology licensed from third parties, and may be required to license additional technology in the future for use in managing our Internet sites and providing related services to users and advertising customers. Our ability to generate fees from Internet commerce may also depend on data encryption, authentication and other technologies that we may be required to license from third parties. These third-party technology licenses may not continue to be available to us on acceptable commercial terms or at all. The inability to enter into and maintain any of these technology licenses could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

We have made strategic acquisitions and entered into alliances and joint ventures in the past and intend to do so in the future. If we are unable to find suitable acquisitions or partners or to achieve expected benefits from such acquisitions or partnerships, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, growth rates and results of operations.

As part of our ongoing business strategy we engage in discussions from time to time with third parties regarding, and enter into agreements relating to, possible acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures. If we are unable to identify future acquisition opportunities or reach agreements with such third parties, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, growth rates and results of operations.

 

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Even if we are able to complete acquisitions or enter into alliances and joint ventures that we believe will be successful, such transactions, especially those involving companies like ChinaHR, are inherently risky. Our acquisitions can be accompanied by a number of risks, including:

 

   

the difficulty of integrating the operations and personnel of our acquired companies into our operations;

 

   

the potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;

 

   

the difficulty of integrating acquired technology and rights into our services and unanticipated expenses related to such integration;

 

   

the impairment of relationships with customers and partners of the acquired companies or our customers and partners as a result of the integration of acquired operations;

 

   

the impairment of relationships with employees of the acquired companies or our employees as a result of integration of new management personnel;

 

   

the difficulty of integrating the acquired companies’ accounting, management information, human resources and other administrative systems;

 

   

in the case of foreign acquisitions, uncertainty regarding foreign laws and regulations and difficulty integrating operations and systems as a result of cultural, systems and operational differences; and

 

   

the impact of known potential liabilities or unknown liabilities associated with the acquired companies.

Our failure to be successful in addressing these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, incur unanticipated liabilities and significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations generally.

We have had and may face future difficulties managing growth.

Our business has experienced periods of rapid growth, both internally and through acquisitions. This expansion has resulted in substantial growth in the number of our employees, and put a significant strain on our management and operations. If our business experiences similar periods of rapid growth in the future, we expect it to result in increased responsibility for management personnel, and incremental strain on our operations, and financial and management systems. Our success under such conditions will depend, to a significant extent, on the ability of our executive officers and other members of senior management to operate effectively both independently and as a group. If we are not able to manage future growth, our business, financial condition and operating results may be significantly harmed.

Our future growth depends on our ability to expand operations in international markets. We may have limited experience or we may need to rely on business partners in these markets, and our future growth will be materially adversely affected if we are unsuccessful in our international expansion efforts.

We currently have a presence in approximately 55 countries around the world. Our future growth will depend significantly on our ability to expand Monster-branded product offerings in additional international markets. As we expand into new international markets, we will have only limited experience (if any) in marketing and operating our products and services in such markets. In other instances, including our CareerOne joint venture with News Limited in Australia, we have had to rely, and may have to continue to rely, on the efforts and abilities of foreign business partners in such markets. Certain international markets may be slower than domestic markets in adopting the online career and commerce medium and as a result, our operations in international markets may not develop at a rate that supports our level of investment.

Our business depends largely on our ability to attract and retain talented employees, including senior management.

We are substantially dependent on the continued services of our executive officers and senior management. The loss of any of these individuals could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our business is also dependent on our ability to retain, hire, motivate and develop talented, highly skilled personnel. Experienced management and technical, marketing and support personnel in our industry are in high demand, and competition for their talents is intense. If we are less successful in our recruiting efforts, or if we are unable to retain key employees, our ability to develop and deliver successful products and services may be adversely affected. On March 1, 2012, the Company announced that it had resolved to explore strategic alternatives to maximize value for the Company’s stockholders. This strategic review process creates uncertainty which may impact our ability to recruit and retain executive talent.

 

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We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired.

We are required under generally accepted accounting principles to review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, slower growth rates in our industry or other materially adverse events. We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined. This may adversely impact our results of operations. As of December 31, 2011, our goodwill and amortizable intangible assets were $1,184.1 million, which represented 58% of total consolidated assets. We refer the reader to Footnote 1 of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for the results of our annual impairment evaluation.

We estimate tax liabilities, the final determination of which is subject to review by domestic and international taxation authorities.

We are subject to income taxes and other taxes in both the United States and the foreign jurisdictions in which we currently operate or have historically operated. We are also subject to review and audit by both domestic and foreign taxation authorities. The determination of our worldwide provision for income taxes and current and deferred tax assets and liabilities requires judgment and estimation. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax outcome may materially differ from the tax amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements.

Effects of anti-takeover provisions could inhibit the acquisition of Monster Worldwide by others.

Some of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and Delaware law could, together or separately:

 

   

discourage potential acquisition proposals;

 

   

delay or prevent a change in control; and/or

 

   

limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock.

In particular, our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of up to 800,000 shares of Preferred Stock with rights and privileges that might be senior to our Common Stock, without the consent of the holders of the Common Stock. In addition, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide, among other things, for advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

There is volatility in our stock price.

The market for our Common Stock has, from time to time, experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. Factors such as announcements of variations in our quarterly financial results and fluctuations in revenue could cause the market price of our Common Stock to fluctuate significantly. In addition, the stock market in general, and the market prices for Internet-related companies in particular, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our stock, regardless of our operating performance. Additionally, volatility or a lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, many of whom have been granted equity compensation.

The market price of our Common Stock can be influenced by stockholders’ expectations about the ability of our business to grow and to achieve certain profitability targets. If our financial performance in a particular quarter does not meet the expectations of our stockholders, it may adversely affect their views concerning our growth potential and future financial performance and, therefore, result in a drop in the market price of our Common Stock. In addition, if the securities analysts who regularly follow our Common Stock lower their ratings of our Common Stock, the market price of our Common Stock is likely to drop significantly.

 

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We face risks associated with government regulation.

The application of existing laws and regulations to our websites relating to issues such as user privacy, security of data, defamation, advertising, taxation, promotions, content regulation, and intellectual property ownership and infringement can be unclear. In addition, we will also be subject to new laws and regulations directly applicable to our activities. Any existing or new legislation applicable to us could expose us to substantial liability, including significant expenses necessary to comply with such laws and regulations, and dampen growth in Internet usage.

The federal CAN-SPAM Act and state anti-spam laws impose certain requirements on the use of e-mail. The implications of these laws have not been fully tested. Portions of our business rely on e-mail to communicate with consumers on our behalf and for our clients. We may face risk if our use of e-mail is found to violate the federal law or applicable state law.

We post our privacy policy and practices concerning the use and disclosure of user data on our websites. Any failure by us to comply with our posted privacy policy or other privacy-related laws and regulations could result in proceedings which could potentially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. In this regard, there are a large number of legislative proposals before the United States Congress, various state legislative bodies as well as various European Union institutions, bodies and agencies regarding privacy issues related to our business. It is not possible to predict whether or when such legislation may be adopted, and certain proposals, if adopted, could significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations through a decrease in user registrations and revenues. This could be caused by, among other possible provisions, the required use of disclaimers or other requirements before users can utilize our services.

Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate its transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. We might unintentionally violate such laws or such laws may be modified and new laws may be enacted in the future. Any such developments (or developments stemming from enactment or modification of other laws) may significantly harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Legal proceedings may significantly harm our business.

From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other proceedings in the ordinary course of business. It is possible that such litigation or proceedings may significantly harm our future results of operations or financial condition due to expenses we may incur to defend ourselves or the ramifications of an adverse decision.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None

 

ITEM  4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  10.1    Form of Monster Worldwide, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice for Executive Officers and Senior Employees.
  10.2    Form of Monster Worldwide, Inc. Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice for Executive Officers and Senior Employees.
  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 James M. Langrock 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 James M. Langrock pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* XBRL information is deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under such sections.

 

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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: April 27, 2012   By:  

/S/    SALVATORE IANNUZZI

    Salvatore Iannuzzi
   

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

Dated: April 27, 2012   By:  

/S/    JAMES M. LANGROCK

    James M. Langrock
   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

Dated: April 27, 2012   By:  

/S/    MICHAEL B. MCGUINNESS

    Michael B. McGuinness
   

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Global Controller

(principal accounting officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  10.1   

Form of Monster Worldwide, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice for Executive Officers and Senior Employees.

  10.2    Form of Monster Worldwide, Inc. Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice for Executive Officers and Senior Employees.
  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 James M. Langrock 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 James M. Langrock pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* XBRL information is deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under such sections.

 

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