Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

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 JUNE 30, 2006

 

¨ 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: 000-50129

 


HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   59-3547281

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

622 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(212) 351-7300

(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.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

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

 

Class

 

Outstanding on

July 31, 2006

Common Stock   24,679,973

 



Table of Contents

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

INDEX

 

          Page No.
   PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.    Financial Statements (unaudited)   
   Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations - Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005    3
   Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets – June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005    4
   Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 and 2005    5
   Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity – June 30, 2006    6
   Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements    7
   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    16
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    29
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    30
   PART II-OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    33
Item 4.    Submission Of Matters To A Vote Of Security Holders    33
Item 6.    Exhibits    33
   Signatures    34
   Exhibit Index    35

First Quarter 2006 Restatement

As described in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company has restated its financial statements and other information for that three month period. Amounts included in this report as of and for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and as of December 31, 2005 were not affected by the restatement.

For further discussion of the effects of the restatement on the Company’s financial statements and other information for the three months ended March 31, 2006, see Part I, Item 1, Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Item 4. Controls and Procedures.


Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Revenue

   $ 365,478     $ 364,835     $ 708,536     $ 717,704  

Direct costs (Note 5)

     224,443       223,668       441,878       448,330  
                                

Gross margin

     141,035       141,167       266,658       269,374  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     131,697       131,759       259,647       257,672  

Depreciation and amortization

     4,341       4,626       8,849       9,483  

Business reorganization expenses (recoveries)

     592       (238 )     595       291  

Merger and integration expenses (recoveries)

     279       8       279       (35 )
                                

Operating income (loss)

     4,126       5,012       (2,712 )     1,963  

Other income (expense):

        

Other, net

     (238 )     271       539       (5 )

Interest, net

     (794 )     (495 )     (1,208 )     (921 )
                                

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

     3,094       4,788       (3,381 )     1,037  

Provision for income taxes

     2,494       1,766       4,099       3,166  
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 600     $ 3,022     $ (7,480 )   $ (2,129 )
                                

Income (loss) per share:

        

Basic earnings (loss)

   $ .02     $ .15     $ (.31 )   $ (.10 )

Diluted earnings (loss)

   $ .02     $ .14     $ (.31 )   $ (.10 )

Weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     24,414,000       20,642,000       24,318,000       20,574,000  

Diluted

     25,172,000       21,635,000       24,318,000       20,574,000  

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 32,310     $ 34,108  

Accounts receivable, net

     241,125       232,081  

Prepaid and other

     11,104       14,330  
                

Total current assets

     284,539       280,519  

Intangibles, net

     37,208       31,100  

Property and equipment, net

     28,541       31,438  

Other assets

     4,767       5,359  
                

Total assets

   $ 355,055     $ 348,416  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 30,911     $ 24,718  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     136,355       140,036  

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

     36,575       32,544  

Accrued business reorganization expenses

     3,844       4,223  

Accrued merger and integration expenses

     930       1,239  
                

Total current liabilities

     208,615       202,760  

Other non-current liabilities

     5,999       5,948  

Accrued business reorganization expenses, non-current

     3,262       4,095  

Accrued merger and integration expenses, non-current

     1,663       2,038  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     351       478  
                

Total liabilities

     219,890       215,319  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; issued 24,539,889 and 24,340,462 shares, respectively

     24       24  

Additional paid-in capital

     423,851       416,448  

Accumulated deficit

     (325,436  )     (317,956 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income — translation adjustments

     36,956       34,811  

Treasury stock, 15,798 shares

     (230 )     (230 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     135,165       133,097  
                
   $ 355,055     $ 348,416  
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (7,480 )   $ (2,129 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     8,849       9,483  

Stock-based compensation

     3,442       2,765  

Net gain on disposal of assets

     —         (559 )

Provision for doubtful accounts

     1,939       1,045  

Deferred income taxes

     (887 )     1,704  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Increase in accounts receivable

     (6,847 )     (33,894 )

Decrease (increase) in other assets

     3,330       (1,915 )

Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     2,347       12,420  

Decrease in accrued business reorganization expenses

     (1,565 )     (3,920 )

Decrease in accrued merger and integration expenses

     (772 )     (1,013 )
                

Total adjustments

     9,836       (13,884 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     2,356       (16,013 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (3,099 )     (5,361 )

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

     (7,231 )     —    
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (10,330 )     (5,361 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowings under credit facility

     279,373       105,151  

Repayments under credit facility

     (274,292 )     (83,237 )

Issuance of common stock – Employee Stock Purchase Plan

     1,318       1,302  

Issuance of common stock – Long Term Incentive Plan option exercises

     570       674  

Payments on short and long-term debt

     (1,186 )     (1,296 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     5,783       22,594  
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     393       (597 )
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,798 )     623  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     34,108       21,064  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 32,310     $ 21,687  
                

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest

   $ 1,756     $ 1,112  

Taxes

   $ 3,983     $ 2,093  

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Common
stock
   Additional
paid-in
capital
   Accumulated
deficit
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
   Treasury
stock
    Total  

Balance January 1, 2006

   $ 24    $ 416,448    $ (317,956 )   $ 34,811    $ (230 )   $ 133,097  

Net loss

     —        —        (7,480 )     —        —         (7,480 )

Other comprehensive income, translation adjustments

     —        —        —         2,145      —         2,145  

Issuance of shares for 401(k) plan

     —        2,073      —         —        —         2,073  

Issuance of shares from exercise of stock options

     —        570      —         —        —         570  

Issuance of shares from employee stock purchase plan

     —        1,318      —         —        —         1,318  

Stock-based compensation

     —        3,442      —         —        —         3,442  
                                             

Balance June 30, 2006

   $ 24    $ 423,851    $ (325,436 )   $ 36,956    $ (230 )   $ 135,165  
                                             

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

NOTE 1 - INTERIM CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

These interim consolidated condensed quarterly financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated audited financial statements and related notes of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2006 (the “Form 10-K”). The consolidated results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any subsequent period. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included.

NOTE 2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Basis of Presentation

Hudson Highland Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries comprise the operations, assets and liabilities of the three Hudson regional businesses (“Hudson Regional Businesses” or “Hudson regions”) and Highland Partners (“Highland”). The Company was historically the combination of 67 acquisitions made between 1999 and 2002, which became the eResourcing and Executive Search divisions (“HH Group”) of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (“Monster”), formerly TMP Worldwide, Inc. Some of the Company’s constituent businesses have operated for more than 20 years. On March 31, 2003, Monster distributed all of the outstanding shares of the newly named HH Group to its stockholders of record on March 14, 2003 on the basis of one share of HH Group common stock for each thirteen and one-third shares of Monster common stock so held (the “Distribution”). Immediately prior to the Distribution, Monster transferred substantially all the assets and liabilities of its eResourcing and Executive Search business segments to HH Group. These assets and liabilities are reflected in HH Group’s financial statements at Monster’s historical cost. Since the Distribution, the Company has operated as an independent publicly held company, has completed several acquisitions, each with fair values in excess of $1,000, and reorganized a number of smaller business units after determining that those businesses were not viable profit centers.

First Quarter 2006 Restatement and Related Matters

As described in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company restated its financial statements and other information for that period to correct errors arising from the Company’s comprehensive second quarter review of the accounting processes supported by the new PeopleSoft accounting and management reporting system implemented last year in the Hudson North America business unit. This review revealed that during the closing process for the March 31, 2006 period, errors occurred in the determination of certain revenues, and in the recording of certain payroll tax and other accrued liabilities. Amounts included in this report as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 and as of December 31, 2005 were not affected by the restatement.

As a further result of its comprehensive review, the Company also determined to reflect in its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 adjustments producing a $1,566 decrease in income for the period in the Hudson North America business unit. Such adjustments include reductions to receivables and revenue of $923 for which the applicable prior period cannot practicably be determined and adjustments of $643 attributable to 2005 receivables and revenue that are considered immaterial to that year, the related 2005 quarterly periods and to the current year.

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing the Company’s earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. When the effects are not anti-dilutive, diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the Company’s net earnings by the weighted average number of shares outstanding and the impact of all dilutive potential common shares, primarily stock options and unvested restricted stock. The dilutive impact of stock options and unvested restricted stock is determined by applying the “treasury stock” method. For periods in which losses are presented, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of any potential common stock were anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share. For the six month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the effect of approximately 972,000 and 1,065,000, respectively, of outstanding stock options and other common stock equivalents was excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because the effect was anti-dilutive.

 

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NOTE 2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Continued)

Description of Reporting Segments

The Company is one of the world’s largest specialized professional staffing, retained executive search and talent management firms. The Company provides professional staffing services on a permanent, contract and temporary basis, as well as executive search and a range of human capital services to businesses operating in a wide variety of industries. The Company reassessed its reportable segments in the fourth quarter of 2005, and prior period results are presented in conformity with the year-end 2005 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 presentation. The Company is organized into four reportable segments, the three Hudson regional businesses of Hudson Americas, Hudson Europe, Hudson Asia Pacific, and Highland which constituted approximately 19%, 40%, 31% and 10% of the Company’s gross margin, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Hudson Regional Businesses. Hudson’s three regions provide temporary and contract personnel and permanent recruitment services to a wide range of clients. With respect to temporary and contract personnel, Hudson focuses on providing candidates with specialized functional skills and competencies, such as accounting and finance, legal and information technology. The length of temporary assignment can vary, but engagements at the professional level tend to be longer than those in the general clerical or industrial sectors. With respect to permanent recruitment, Hudson focuses on mid-level professionals, typically earning between $50,000 and $150,000 annually and possessing the professional skills and/or profile required by clients. Hudson provides permanent recruitment services on both a retained and contingent basis. In larger markets, Hudson’s sales strategy focuses on both clients operating in particular industry sectors, such as financial services, health care, or technology, and candidates possessing particular professional skills, such as accounting and finance, information technology, legal and human resources. Hudson uses both traditional and interactive methods to select potential candidates for its clients, employing a suite of products that assess talent and help predict whether a candidate will be successful in a given role.

All of the Hudson regional businesses also provide organizational effectiveness and development services through their Talent Management Solutions units. These services encompass candidate assessment, competency modeling, leadership development, performance management, and career transition. These services enable Hudson to offer clients a comprehensive set of management services, across the entire employment life cycle, from attracting, assessing and selecting best-fit employees to engaging and developing those individuals to help build a high-performance organization. The Company also offers leadership solutions designed to assist senior management in enhancing the operating performance of their organizations.

Hudson Americas operates from 48 offices in two countries, with 94% of its first six months of 2006 gross margin generated in the United States. Hudson Europe operates from 48 offices in 17 countries, with 54% of its first six months of 2006 gross margin coming from United Kingdom operations. Hudson Asia Pacific operates from 25 offices in 6 countries. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 66% of its gross margin was earned in Australia.

Highland. Highland, an executive search boutique with global reach, offers a comprehensive range of executive search services on a retained basis aimed exclusively at recruiting senior level executives. Highland also has a specialized practice that assists clients desiring to enhance their boards of directors.

Highland approaches the market through industry sectors, such as financial services, life sciences, retail and consumer products and technology. This industry sector sales approach is designed to enable Highland to better understand the strategic management issues and market conditions faced by clients within their specific business segments. Highland also recruits candidates through functional specialist groups, including those focused on boards of directors and senior officers in the finance, information technology, human resources and legal professions.

Highland operates in 14 practice offices in four countries. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 78% of gross margin in the Highland business was derived in North America.

Corporate expenses are reported separately from the four reportable segments and consist primarily of expenses for compensation, marketing programs, rent, and professional fees.

 

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NOTE 3 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

In the first quarter of 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), which revises SFAS 123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”) and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The Company had adopted the disclosure only provisions of SFAS 123 and SFAS 148 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, which required certain financial statement disclosures, including pro forma operating results, as if the Company had prepared its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. In adopting SFAS 123R, the Company chose to apply the “modified retrospective method,” requiring the Company to recognize stock compensation expense for stock options granted prior to its adoption of SFAS 123R under the fair value method and expense these amounts over the remaining vesting period of the stock options. Prior period results have been adjusted for the application of the modified retrospective method. All employee stock option grants made since the beginning of 2003 have been reflected as an expense in prior years or will be expensed over the related remaining stock option vesting period based on the estimated fair value at the date the options are granted. As a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R using the modified retrospective method, the Company recognized expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 of $1,434 and $1,343, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 of $2,854 and $2,357, respectively. for the stock option and employee stock purchase plans. These expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, SFAS 123R requires the Company to reflect the tax savings resulting from tax deductions in excess of expense as a financing cash flow in its statement of cash flows rather than as an operating cash flow as in prior periods. As a result of the Company’s inability to recognize current tax benefits on reported net losses, total stock-based compensation expense is recorded without tax benefits for all periods presented. As of June 30, 2006, there was approximately $7,700 of compensation expense that has yet to be recognized related to non-vested stock based awards. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 46 months. All share issuances related to stock compensation plans are issued from unissued shares of stockholder approved compensation plans.

The following details the modified retrospective application impact of SFAS 123R on previously reported results:

 

     Post adoption    

As previously

reported

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2005

    

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 131,759     $ 130,416  

Operating income

   $ 5,012     $ 6,355  

Net income

   $ 3,022     $ 4,365  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.15     $ 0.21  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.14     $ 0.20  

For the six months ended June 30, 2005

    

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 257,672     $ 255,315  

Operating income

   $ 1,963     $ 4,320  

Net (loss) income

   $ (2,129 )   $ 228  

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share

   $ (0.10 )   $ 0.01  

As of December 31, 2005

    

Additional paid-in capital

   $ 416,448     $ 404,755  

Accumulated deficit

   $ (317,956 )   $ (306,263 )

Under SFAS 123R, the Company is required to select a valuation technique or option-pricing model that meets the criteria as stated in the standard. Two models that meet the criteria required under SFAS 123R are a lattice model (for example, a binomial model) and a closed-form model (for example, the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model). The Company is continuing to use the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model. SFAS 123R also requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense relating to stock-based compensation as opposed to only recognizing forfeitures and the corresponding reduction in expense as they occur. Volatility is determined using historical prices to estimate the expected future fluctuations in the Company’s share price.

 

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NOTE 3 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION (continued)

The following were the assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted and the details of option activity as of and for the respective periods:

 

 

     Three and Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2006     2005  

Risk free interest rate

     4.4 %     4.0 %

Volatility

     55.0 %     55.0 %

Expected life (years)

     5.0       5.0  

Dividends

     0.0 %     0.0 %

Intrinsic value of vested stock options

   $ 3,354     $ 6,421  

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
     2006    2005    2006    2005

Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period

   $ 8.33    $ 7.56    $ 8.33    $ 6.87

Options granted in the period

     112,500      424,200      362,500      1,249,000

Intrinsic value of options exercised in the period

   $ 144    $ 453    $ 700    $ 687

Options exercised in the period

     21,000      62,113      78,125      87,113

The Company also expensed $588 and $408 in the first six months of 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to restricted stock issuances.

NOTE 4 – RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”) — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company plans to evaluate the effects of the interpretation but does not expect it to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 5 - REVENUES, DIRECT COSTS AND GROSS MARGIN

The Company’s revenue, direct costs and gross margin were as follows:

 

     Quarter Ended June 30, 2006    Quarter Ended June 30, 2005
     Temporary    Other    Total    Temporary    Other    Total

Revenue

   $ 260,390    $ 105,088    $ 365,478    $ 257,605    $ 107,230    $ 364,835

Direct costs (1)

     215,024      9,419      224,443      211,656      12,012      223,668
                                         

Gross margin

   $ 45,366    $ 95,669    $ 141,035    $ 45,949    $ 95,218    $ 141,167
                                         
     Six Months Ended June 30, 2006    Six Months Ended June 30, 2005
     Temporary    Other    Total    Temporary    Other    Total

Revenue

   $ 510,337    $ 198,199    $ 708,536    $ 514,305    $ 203,399    $ 717,704

Direct costs (1)

     422,196      19,682      441,878      423,791      24,539      448,330
                                         

Gross margin

   $ 88,141    $ 178,517    $ 266,658    $ 90,514    $ 178,860    $ 269,374
                                         

(1) Direct costs include the direct staffing costs of salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits, travel expenses and insurance costs for the Company’s temporary contractors and reimbursed out-of-pocket expense and other direct costs. Other than reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses, there are no other direct costs associated with the Other category, which includes the search, permanent placement and other talent management solutions’ revenue. Gross margin represents revenue less direct costs. The region where services are provided, the mix of temporary and permanent placements, and the functional nature of the staffing services provided can affect gross margin. The salaries, commissions, payroll taxes and employee benefits related to recruitment professionals are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

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NOTE 6 - BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Acquisitions

In January 2006, Hudson Americas, through its Talent Management Solutions business, purchased one business for a total cash consideration of $1,315, including expenses. The Company recorded the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired ($25 in assets, $85 in liabilities) with the excess of $1,375 allocated to goodwill. The purchase agreement provides for contingent payouts to the sellers over the next three years, based upon future minimum annual and cumulative earnings thresholds of up to a maximum of $16,550. If and when such payments come due, the amounts paid will be added to the recorded value of goodwill. The results of the acquired business have been included in the Hudson Americas segment of the condensed consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. Pro forma information for this acquisition is not included as it would not have a material impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In April 2006, Hudson Americas purchased one business for a total cash consideration of $4,666, including expenses. The Company recorded the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired ($604 in assets, $371 in liabilities) with the excess of $4,267 allocated to goodwill. The purchase agreement provides for contingent payouts to the sellers over the next three years, based upon future minimum annual and cumulative earnings thresholds of up to a maximum of $13,500. If and when such payments come due, the amounts paid will be added to the recorded value of goodwill. The results of the acquired business have been included in the Hudson Americas segment of the condensed consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. Pro forma information for this acquisition is not included as it would not have a material impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations. There were no acquisitions during the first six months of 2005.

In April 2006, in connection with the previous acquisition of Balance Ervaring op Projectbasis B.V., the Company made a payment of purchase price of $1,250 pursuant to the earn-out provision of such acquisition. This amount was added to goodwill.

Accrued Merger and Integration Expenses

In connection with plans relating to pooled entities, the Company expensed $279 in the first six months of 2006 relating to integration activities for leased properties included as a component of merger and integration expenses, in the Highland and Hudson Americas businesses. All merger and integration accruals, expenses and recoveries consist of obligations from assumed leases on closed facilities.

The following table presents a summary of activity relating to the Company’s integration and restructuring plans for acquisitions made in prior years. Amounts under the “Expense” column represented modifications to plans, subsequent to finalization and have been expensed or (recovered) in the current period. Amounts under the “Utilization” caption of the following tables were primarily the cash payments associated with the plans.

Details of merger and integration activity by plan for the six months ended June 30, 2006 follow:

 

     December 31,
2005
   Expense    Utilization     June 30,
2006

2000 Plans

   $ 1,671    $ 207    $ (658 )   $ 1,220

2001 Plans

     456      —        (140 )     316

2002 Plans

     1,150      72      (165 )     1,057
                            

Total

   $ 3,277    $ 279    $ (963 )   $ 2,593
                            

 

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NOTE 7 - BUSINESS REORGANIZATION EXPENSES

In 2002, the Company, as part of Monster, announced two reorganization initiatives; the Second Quarter 2002 Plan for the streamlining of operations, lowering its cost structure, integrating businesses previously acquired and improving return on capital and the Fourth Quarter 2002 Plan to separate from Monster. These reorganization programs included workforce reductions, consolidation of excess facilities and offices and related write-offs, restructuring of certain business functions and other special charges, primarily for exiting activities that were no longer part of the Company’s strategic plan. In 2003, the Company recorded additional charges and credits as a result of changes in estimates related to the prior actions, and as a result of further actions in 2003 to close offices and business units that did not have the size or market capacity to provide future income growth. In the third quarter of 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a reorganization expense program with costs for these actions in the following categories: consolidation of support functions, particularly between the Hudson North America business unit and corporate; closing or reducing redundant sales functions and unprofitable offices; and moves to more economical properties. The Company incurred initial expenses for the program in the second quarter of 2006 of $714 related to workforce reductions of approximately 15 people. The Company expects to have ongoing expenses for the program in the third and fourth quarters of 2006 totaling an additional $3,300 to $6,300.

In the following tables, amounts under the “Utilization” caption are primarily the cash payments associated with the plans, and amounts in the “Changes in estimate” column represent amounts charged to business reorganization expenses (recoveries) in the Company’s statement of operations. Details of business reorganization by activity for the six months ended June 30, 2006 follow:

 

     December 31,
2005
   Changes in
estimate
   Utilization     June 30,
2006

Consolidation of excess facilities

   $ 7,287    $ 110    $ (1,389 )   $ 6,008

Workforce reduction

     362      434      (198 )     598

Professional fees and other

     669      51      (220 )     500
                            

Total

   $ 8,318    $ 595    $ (1,807 )   $ 7,106
                            

Details of business reorganization by plan for the six months ended June 30, 2006 follow:

 

     December 31,
2005
   Changes in
estimate
    Utilization     June 30,
2006

Second Quarter 2002 Plan

   $ 1,409    $ (433 )   $ (571 )   $ 405

Fourth Quarter 2002 Plan

     4,996      152       (770 )     4,378

Fourth Quarter 2003 Plan

     1,913      162       (320 )     1,755

2006 Plan

     —        714       (146 )     568
                             

Total

   $ 8,318    $ 595     $ (1,807 )   $ 7,106
                             

NOTE 8 - TAXES

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $4,099 on a pretax loss of $3,381, compared with a provision of $3,166 on pretax income of $1,037 for the same period of 2005. The higher tax provision in the first six months of 2006 related primarily to an increase in current foreign tax provisions in locations where there were no tax-loss carry-forwards available to offset taxable income, partially offset by lower deferred tax provision related to amortization of acquired intangible assets. In the current period, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% due largely to the inability to recognize tax benefits on net U.S. losses, primarily corporate expenses. This is offset in part by reported income in locations where tax losses are available to offset the income and variations from the U.S. tax rate in foreign jurisdictions. The Company records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

NOTE 9 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company issued 126,950 shares of its common stock to satisfy its 2005 contribution liability to the 401(k) Savings Plan. The value of these shares at issuance was $2,073.

 

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NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company has entered into various consulting, employment and non-compete agreements with certain key management personnel, executive search consultants and former owners of acquired businesses. Agreements with key members of management are on an at will basis, provide for compensation and severance payments under certain circumstances, and are automatically renewed annually unless either party gives sufficient notice of termination. Agreements with certain consultants and former owners of acquired businesses are generally two to five years in length.

The Company is subject to various claims from lawsuits, taxing authorities and other complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company records provisions for losses when the claim becomes probable and the amount due is estimable. Although the outcome of these claims cannot be determined, it is the opinion of management that the final resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

NOTE 11 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Credit Facility

The Company has a senior secured credit facility for $75,000 (the “Credit Facility”). The maturity date of the Credit Facility is March 31, 2009. Outstanding loans bear interest equal to the prime rate plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.00%, at the Company’s option, and had a weighted average interest rate of 7.52% as of June 30, 2006. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and extensions of credit are based on a percentage of the accounts receivable of the Company. The Company expects to continue to use such credit to support its ongoing working capital requirements, capital expenditures and other corporate purposes and to support letters of credit. As of June 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $35,154, and letters of credit issued and outstanding of approximately $11,278 under the Credit Facility. Available credit for use under the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2006 was $26,679.

The Credit Facility contains various restrictions and covenants, including (1) prohibitions on payments of dividends and repurchases of the Company’s stock; (2) requirements that the Company maintain its minimum Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Facility) and capital expenditures within prescribed levels; (3) restrictions on the ability of the Company to make additional borrowings, or to consolidate, merge or otherwise fundamentally change the ownership of the Company; and (4) limitations on investments, dispositions of assets and guarantees of indebtedness. The minimum Adjusted EBITDA covenant generally provides that the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2006 may not be less than $15,000, $15,000, $25,000, $25,000, respectively. The maximum capital expenditure covenant provides that the Company’s capital expenditures for 2006 may not exceed $14,000. These restrictions and covenants could limit the Company’s ability to respond to market conditions, to provide for unanticipated capital investments, to raise additional debt or equity capital, to pay dividends or to take advantage of business opportunities, including future acquisitions.

Derivatives Held for Purposes Other Than Trading

The Company periodically enters into forward contracts to reduce exposure to exchange rate risk related to short-term inter-company loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currency. The fair values for all derivatives are recorded in other assets or other liabilities in the consolidated condensed balance sheets. As of June 30, 2006, the Company did not enter into forward contracts and there were no derivatives outstanding.

NOTE 12 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

    

Quarter Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
     2006    2005     2006     2005  

Net income (loss)

   $ 600    $ 3,022     $ (7,480 )   $ (2,129 )

Other comprehensive income (loss) - translation adjustments

     3,661      (1,386 )     2,145       1,285  
                               

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 4,261    $ 1,636     $ (5,335 )   $ (844 )
                               

 

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NOTE 13 - SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA

The Company operates in four reportable business segments: the three Hudson regional businesses of Hudson Americas, Hudson Europe, Hudson Asia Pacific, and Highland. The Company reassessed its reportable segments in the fourth quarter of 2005 and all results are presented in conformity with the resulting modified presentation.

Segment information is presented in accordance with SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. This standard is based on a management approach that requires segmentation based upon the Company’s internal organization and disclosure of revenue and operating income based upon internal accounting methods. The Company’s financial reporting systems present various data for management to run the business, including internal profit and loss statements prepared on a basis not consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. Accounts receivable, net and long-lived assets are the only significant assets separated by segment for internal reporting purposes.

 

For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2006   

Hudson

Americas

   

Hudson

Europe

   

Hudson

Asia Pacific

    Highland     Corporate     Total  

Revenue

   $ 117,579     $ 122,062     $ 110,877     $ 14,960     $ —       $ 365,478  
                                                

Gross margin

   $ 27,405     $ 56,225     $ 43,430     $ 13,975     $ —       $ 141,035  
                                                

Business reorganization expenses (recoveries)

   $ 249     $ (57 )   $ 152     $ (65 )   $ 313     $ 592  
                                                

EBITDA (loss)(a)

   $ (3,304 )   $ 8,029     $ 9,389     $ 1,511     $ (7,158 )   $ 8,467  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,313       1,776       771       313       168       4,341  
                                                

Operating income (loss)

     (4,617 )     6,253       8,618       1,198       (7,326 )     4,126  

Interest and other income (expense), net

     708       807       (2,301 )     (400 )     154       (1,032 )
                                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ (3,909 )   $ 7,060     $ 6,317     $ 798     $ (7,172 )   $ 3,094  
                                                

As of June 30, 2006

            

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 80,565     $ 99,768     $ 52,569     $ 8,223     $ —       $ 241,125  

Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization (b)

   $ 21,072     $ 32,629     $ 5,631     $ 961     $ 5,456     $ 65,749  
For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2005   

Hudson

Americas

   

Hudson

Europe

   

Hudson

Asia Pacific

    Highland     Corporate     Total  

Revenue

   $ 107,813     $ 124,657     $ 116,325     $ 16,040     $ —       $ 364,835  
                                                

Gross margin

   $ 27,575     $ 54,510     $ 43,848     $ 15,234     $ —       $ 141,167  
                                                

Business reorganization (recoveries)

   $ (99 )   $ —       $ —       $ (139 )   $ —       $ (238 )
                                                

EBITDA (loss)(a)

   $ 2,876     $ 5,615     $ 9,871     $ 633     $ (9,357 )   $ 9,638  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,072       920       2,156       342       136       4,626  
                                                

Operating income (loss)

     1,804       4,695       7,715       291       (9,493 )     5,012  

Interest and other income (expense), net

     (151 )     (178 )     (1,220 )     1,796       (471 )     (224 )
                                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 1,653     $ 4,517     $ 6,495     $ 2,087     $ (9,964 )   $ 4,788  
                                                

As of June 30, 2005

            

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 68,318     $ 94,755     $ 52,306     $ 7,309     $ —       $ 222,688  

Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization (b)

   $ 18,094     $ 7,380     $ 7,405     $ 1,810     $ 6,146     $ 40,835  

 

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NOTE 13 - SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA (continued)

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2006   

Hudson

Americas

   

Hudson

Europe

   

Hudson

Asia Pacific

    Highland     Corporate     Total  

Revenue

   $ 228,184     $ 238,203     $ 211,415     $ 30,734     $ —       $ 708,536  
                                                

Gross margin

   $ 50,260     $ 107,190     $ 80,291     $ 28,917     $ —       $ 266,658  
                                                

Business reorganization expenses (recoveries)

   $ 249     $ (57 )   $ 152     $ (62 )   $ 313     $ 595  
                                                

EBITDA (loss)(a)

   $ (9,279 )   $ 13,579     $ 14,121     $ 2,796     $ (15,080 )   $ 6,137  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,819       3,515       1,546       636       333       8,849  
                                                

Operating income (loss)

     (12,098 )     10,064       12,575       2,160       (15,413 )     (2,712 )

Interest and other income (expense), net

     707       1,343       (3,474 )     (576 )     1,331       (669 )
                                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ (11,391 )   $ 11,407     $ 9,101     $ 1,584     $ (14,082 )   $ (3,381 )
                                                
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005   

Hudson

Americas

   

Hudson

Europe

   

Hudson

Asia Pacific

    Highland     Corporate     Total  

Revenue

   $ 219,918     $ 247,056     $ 219,826     $ 30,904     $ —       $ 717,704  
                                                

Gross margin

   $ 55,149     $ 104,961     $ 79,964     $ 29,300     $ —       $ 269,374  
                                                

Business reorganization expenses (recoveries)

   $ 510     $ (79 )   $ —       $ (140 )   $ —       $ 291  
                                                

EBITDA (loss)(a)

   $ 4,582     $ 8,795     $ 16,567     $ 1,009     $ (19,507 )   $ 11,446  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,048       1,898       4,573       696       268       9,483  
                                                

Operating income (loss)

     2,534       6,897       11,994       313       (19,775 )     1,963  

Interest and other income (expense), net

     (178 )     (270 )     (1,121 )     1,777       (1,134 )     (926 )
                                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

   $ 2,356     $ 6,627     $ 10,873     $ 2,090     $ (20,909 )   $ 1,037  
                                                

 

Information by geographic region

   United
States
   Australia    United
Kingdom
   Continental
Europe
  

Other

Asia

   Other
Americas
   Total

Quarter Ended June 30, 2006

                    

Revenue

   $ 127,062    $ 85,512    $ 86,890    $ 36,928    $ 26,615    $ 2,471    $ 365,478

Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization (b)(c)

   $ 26,868    $ 4,320    $ 4,312    $ 28,617    $ 1,429    $ 203    $ 65,749

Quarter Ended June 30, 2005

                    

Revenue

   $ 118,113    $ 87,451    $ 99,442    $ 28,449    $ 29,778    $ 1,602    $ 364,835

Long-lived assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization (b)(c)

   $ 25,178    $ 6,587    $ 5,162    $ 2,827    $ 819    $ 262    $ 40,835

Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

                    

Revenue

   $ 247,640    $ 163,782    $ 171,653    $ 70,828    $ 49,830    $ 4,803    $ 708,536

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005

                    

Revenue

   $ 240,368    $ 169,001    $ 195,428    $ 56,783    $ 52,887    $ 3,237    $ 717,704

(a) Non-GAAP earnings before interest, income taxes, other non-operating expense, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) are presented to provide additional information about the company’s operations on a basis consistent with the measures which the company uses to manage its operations and evaluate its performance. Management also uses these measurements to evaluate capital needs and working capital requirements. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, cash flows from operating activities, and other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of the company’s profitability or liquidity. Furthermore, EBITDA as presented above may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
(b) Comprised of property and equipment and intangibles.
(c) Corporate assets are included in the United States.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors

Hudson Highland Group, Inc.

New York, New York

We have reviewed the consolidated condensed balance sheet of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. as of June 30, 2006, the related consolidated condensed statements of operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the related consolidated condensed statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 and the consolidated condensed statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006 included in the accompanying Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with 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 reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the consolidated condensed financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2005, 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 March 10, 2006, 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, 2005 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived. As discussed in Note 3, the Company changed its accounting policy for stock-based compensation awards exchanged for employee services and accordingly the accompanying December 31, 2005 balance sheet reflects adjustments relating to this change. We have not audited the accompanying balance sheet.

 

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP

BDO Seidman, LLP

New York, New York

August 7, 2006

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated condensed financial statements and the notes thereto, included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements. Please see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations also uses the non-GAAP measure EBITDA. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for EBITDA segment reconciliation information.

We have operated as an independent publicly traded company since April 1, 2003 (the “Distribution Date”), when we were spun-off from Monster Worldwide, Inc. (“Monster”). At the Distribution Date, we were the combination of 67 acquisitions (the “Constituent Companies”) made between 1999 and 2002, which became the eResourcing and Executive Search divisions (“HH Group”) of Monster. Our businesses are specialized professional staffing, retained executive search and talent management solutions services, which operate in over 20 countries around the world, with our largest operations being in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. We are organized into four reportable segments, the three Hudson regional businesses of Hudson Americas, Hudson Europe, Hudson Asia Pacific, and Highland which constituted approximately 19%, 40%, 31% and 10% of the Company’s gross margin, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Note all financial statements are reported with the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), under the modified retrospective method.

Strategic Goals and Actions

With the focus of our management being to continue the Company’s recent profitability, we are continuing with several initiatives in 2006 to meet our long-term strategic goals.

 

    Continue to focus on high-margin, high-growth service lines in professional service practices and sectors, and exit low margin operations. In January 2006, the Company acquired Alder Nova, LLC, an organizational performance and talent management consulting firm with locations in the eastern United States and Canada.

 

    Increase the portion of our revenues attributable to temporary contracting in higher margin specializations to offset the volatility inherent in permanent recruitment. In April 2006, we completed the acquisition of Professional Solutions LLC, a Cleveland, Ohio-based professional services firm, for the Hudson Americas segment.

 

    Grow our revenue in the North American market.

 

    Realign our expense structure and infrastructure costs in various markets including office relocations and closures, and management staff reductions, to better match our business mix and improve the potential profitability of those operations.

 

    Continue to reposition our Highland business as a global boutique. The strategic direction that we are following with our Highland businesses is to become an executive search boutique with global capabilities, operating at the highest end of the executive search market with a limited number of highly experienced partners.

 

    In the third quarter of 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring program designed to reduce costs and increase the long term profitability of the Company with actions in the following categories: consolidation of support functions, particularly between the Hudson North America business unit and corporate; closing or reducing redundant sales functions and unprofitable offices; and moves to more economical properties. The Company expects to have ongoing expenses for the program in the third and fourth quarters of 2006 for a total of between $3.3 million to $6.3 million.

 

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Hudson Regional Businesses. Hudson’s three regions provide temporary and contract personnel and permanent recruitment services to a wide range of clients. With respect to temporary and contract personnel, Hudson focuses on providing candidates with specialized functional skills and competencies, such as accounting and finance, legal and information technology. The length of temporary assignments can vary, but engagements at the professional level tend to be longer than those in the general clerical or industrial sectors. With respect to permanent recruitment, Hudson focuses on mid-level professionals, typically earning between $50,000 and $150,000 annually, and possessing professional skills and/or profile required by clients. Hudson provides permanent recruitment services on both a retained and contingent basis. In larger markets, Hudson’s sales strategy focuses on both clients operating in particular industry sectors, such as financial services, health care, or technology, and candidates possessing particular professional skills, such as accounting and finance, information technology, legal and human resources. Hudson uses both traditional and interactive methods to select potential candidates for its clients, employing a suite of products that assess talent and help predict whether a candidate will be successful in a given role.

All of the Hudson regional businesses also provide organizational effectiveness and development services through their Talent Management Solutions units. These services encompass candidate assessment, competency modeling, leadership development, performance management, and career transition. These services enable Hudson to offer clients a comprehensive set of management services, across the entire employment life cycle, from attracting, assessing and selecting best-fit employees to engaging and developing those individuals to help build a high-performance organization. The Company also offers leadership solutions designed to assist senior management in enhancing the operating performance of their organizations.

Hudson Americas operates from 48 offices in two countries, with 94% of its first six months of 2006 gross margin generated in the United States. Hudson Europe operates from 48 offices in 17 countries, with 54% of its first six months of 2006 gross margin coming from the United Kingdom operations. Hudson Asia Pacific operates from 25 offices in 6 countries, with 66% of its first six months of 2006 gross margin earned in Australia.

Highland. Highland, an executive search boutique with global reach, offers a comprehensive range of executive search services on a retained basis aimed exclusively at recruiting senior level executives. Highland also has a specialized practice that assists clients desiring to enhance their boards of directors.

Highland approaches the market through industry sectors, such as financial services, life sciences, retail and consumer products and technology. This industry sector sales approach is designed to enable Highland to better understand the strategic management issues and market conditions faced by clients within their specific business segments. Highland also recruits candidates through functional specialist groups, including those focused on boards of directors and senior officers in the finance, information technology, human resources and legal professions.

Highland operates in 14 practice offices in four countries. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 78% of gross margin in the Highland business was derived in North America.

Corporate expenses are reported separately from the four reportable segments and consist primarily of expenses for compensation, marketing programs, rent and professional fees.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected financial results for the Company (dollars in thousands).

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Revenue:

        

Hudson Americas

   $ 117,579     $ 107,813     $ 228,184     $ 219,918  

Hudson Europe

     122,062       124,657       238,203       247,056  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     110,877       116,325       211,415       219,826  

Highland

     14,960       16,040       30,734       30,904  
                                

Total

   $ 365,478     $ 364,835     $ 708,536     $ 717,704  
                                

Gross margin:

        

Hudson Americas

   $ 27,405     $ 27,575     $ 50,260     $ 55,149  

Hudson Europe

     56,225       54,510       107,190       104,961  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     43,430       43,848       80,291       79,964  

Highland

     13,975       15,234       28,917       29,300  
                                

Total

   $ 141,035     $ 141,167     $ 266,658     $ 269,374  
                                

Operating income (loss):

        

Hudson Americas

   $ (4,617 )   $ 1,804     $ (12,098 )   $ 2,534  

Hudson Europe

     6,253       4,695       10,064       6,897  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     8,618       7,715       12,575       11,994  

Highland

     1,198       291       2,160       313  

Corporate expenses

     (7,326 )     (9,493 )     (15,413 )     (19,775 )
                                

Total

   $ 4,126     $ 5,012     $ (2,712 )   $ 1,963  
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 600     $ 3,022     $ (7,480 )   $ (2,129 )
                                

Temporary Contracting Data (a):

        

Temporary contracting revenue:

        

Hudson Americas

   $ 108,732     $ 101,910     $ 213,510     $ 208,329  

Hudson Europe

     74,404       72,960       146,655       146,363  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     77,254       82,735       150,172       159,613  
                                

Total

   $ 260,390     $ 257,605     $ 510,337     $ 514,305  
                                

Direct costs of temporary contracting:

        

Hudson Americas

   $ 90,035     $ 80,101     $ 177,472     $ 164,415  

Hudson Europe

     60,118       62,264       118,938       125,368  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     64,871       69,291       125,786       134,008  
                                

Total

   $ 215,024     $ 211,656     $ 422,196     $ 423,791  
                                

Temporary contracting gross margin:

        

Hudson Americas

   $ 18,697     $ 21,809     $ 36,038     $ 43,914  

Hudson Europe

     14,286       10,696       27,717       20,995  

Hudson Asia Pacific

     12,383       13,444       24,386       25,605  
                                

Total

   $ 45,366     $ 45,949     $ 88,141     $ 90,514  
                                

Gross margin as a percent of revenue:

        

Hudson Americas

     17.2 %     21.3 %     16.9 %     21.1 %

Hudson Europe

     19.2 %     14.7 %     18.9 %     14.3 %

Hudson Asia Pacific

     16.0 %     16.3 %     16.2 %     16.0 %

(a) Temporary contracting revenues are a component of Hudson revenue. Temporary contracting gross margin and gross margin as a percent of revenue are shown to provide additional information on the Company’s ability to manage its cost structure and provide further comparability relative to the Company’s peers. Temporary contracting gross margin is derived by deducting the direct costs of temporary contracting from temporary contracting revenue. The Company’s calculation of gross margin may differ from those of other companies.

 

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Constant currency

The Company defines the term “constant currency” to mean that financial data for a period are translated into U.S. Dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate financial data for the previously reported period. Changes in revenues, direct costs, gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses include the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Variance analysis usually describes period-to-period variances that are calculated using constant currency as a percentage. The Company’s management reviews and analyzes business results in constant currency and believes these results better represent the Company’s underlying business trends.

The Company believes that these calculations are a useful measure, indicating the actual change in operations. Earnings from subsidiaries are rarely repatriated to the United States, and there are no significant gains or losses on foreign currency transactions between subsidiaries. Therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates generally impact only reported earnings and not the Company’s economic condition (dollars in thousands).

 

     Quarter Ended June 30,
     2006    2005
     As
Reported
   Currency
Translation
    Constant
Currency
   As
Reported

Revenue:

          

Hudson Americas

   $ 117,579    $ (114 )   $ 117,465    $ 107,813

Hudson Europe

     122,062      1,361       123,423      124,657

Hudson Asia Pacific

     110,877      4,946       115,823      116,325

Highland

     14,960      (35 )     14,925      16,040
                            

Total

     365,478      6,158       371,636      364,835

Direct costs:

          

Hudson Americas

     90,174      190       90,364      80,238

Hudson Europe

     65,837      830       66,667      70,147

Hudson Asia Pacific

     67,447      3,294       70,741      72,477

Highland

     985      (5 )     980      806
                            

Total

     224,443      4,309       228,752      223,668

Gross margin:

          

Hudson Americas

     27,405      (304 )     27,101      27,575

Hudson Europe

     56,225      531       56,756      54,510

Hudson Asia Pacific

     43,430      1,652       45,082      43,848

Highland

     13,975      (30 )     13,945      15,234
                            

Total

   $ 141,035    $ 1,849     $ 142,884    $ 141,167
                            

Selling, general and administrative (a):

          

Hudson Americas

   $ 31,687    $ (251 )   $ 31,436    $ 25,694

Hudson Europe

     50,030      617       50,647      49,839

Hudson Asia Pacific

     34,660      1,408       36,068      36,182

Highland

     12,648      105       12,753      15,177

Corporate

     7,013      —         7,013      9,493
                            

Total

   $ 136,038    $ 1,879     $ 137,917    $ 136,385
                            

(a) Selling, general and administrative expenses include depreciation and amortization.

Quarter Ended June 30, 2006 Compared to Quarter Ended June 30, 2005

Hudson Americas

Hudson Americas’ revenue was $117.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, higher by $9.8 million or 9.1% from $107.8 million for the same period of 2005. Revenues increased on strong demand for permanent placement services (+62%) and growth from temporary contracting services (+7%). Hudson America’s revenue was higher in 2006 as a result of increases in the Legal (+38%), Management Search (+80%), Energy (+8%), and Financial Solutions (+6%) practice groups, partially offset by a decrease in the Information Technology (“IT”) practice group (-15%) resulting from a decline in contractors on billing.

 

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Hudson Americas’ direct costs for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $90.2 million compared to $80.2 million for 2005, an increase of 12.4%. The increase in the direct costs relates to the increase in Hudson Americas’ temporary contracting costs (+12.2%) compared to 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs increased 12.6% for the second quarter of 2006 in comparison to 2005.

Hudson Americas’ gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $27.4 million, lower by $0.2 million, or 0.6%, from $27.6 million reported for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin decreased by 1.7% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. Hudson Americas reported a decrease in gross margin from the IT (-25%) and Energy (-13%) practice groups. These decreases were partially offset by increases in the Legal (+26%) and Management Search (+73%) practice groups. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 23.3% for the second quarter of 2006, a decrease from 25.6% for the same period in 2005, primarily as a result of a decrease in the temporary contracting gross margin as a percent of temporary contracting revenue by 4.1 percentage points. Permanent placement gross margin as a percentage of total gross margin increased to approximately 30.3% in 2006 compared to 20.6% in the same period of 2005, reflecting the growth in Management Search.

Hudson Americas’ selling, general and administrative costs were $31.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, higher by 23.3% from $25.7 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 26.9% and 23.8% as a percentage of revenue for the second quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The principal factors for the increase in the selling, general and administrative costs were increases for compensation and market-related costs for higher revenue ($2.5 million), costs associated with the PeopleSoft stabilization ($1.7 million), and expenses for client and product development in the Financial Solutions practice ($1.0 million).

Hudson Americas’ EBITDA loss was $3.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of $6.2 million compared to EBITDA income of $2.9 million for the comparable period of 2005. The primary reason for the second quarter 2006 EBITDA loss was the increase in the selling, general and administrative costs ($5.7 million), excluding depreciation and amortization. The Company undertook a comprehensive second quarter review of the accounting processes supported by the new PeopleSoft accounting and management reporting system the Company implemented last year in its Hudson North America business. As a result of its review, the Company reflected in its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 net charges of $1.6 million, consisting of adjustments to receivables for which the applicable prior period cannot practicably be determined ($0.9 million) and adjustments to 2005 revenue that are considered immaterial to that year or to any of the 2005 quarterly periods ($0.7 million).

Hudson Americas’ operating loss was $4.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared to operating income of $1.8 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Americas’ loss in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the second quarter of 2005 was due to the same factors as discussed with respect to EBITDA loss as well as increased amortization expenses related primarily to the amortization of PeopleSoft ($0.2 million)

Hudson Europe

Hudson Europe’s revenue was $122.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, down 2.1% from $124.7 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Hudson Europe’s revenue decreased approximately 1.0% comparing the second quarter of 2006 to the second quarter of 2005. The decrease was the result of the strategic action in the UK to exit lower margin temporary contracting business lines (-11%) and the change in the relevant law governing how the Dutch reintegration businesses are funded

(-55%). Revenue increases from the inclusion of the results of the Balance Ervaring op Projectbasis B.V. (“Balance”) acquisition (acquired August 2005) and increases in Belgium (+16%) and France (+18%) partially offset the revenue decreases.

Hudson Europe’s direct costs for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $65.8 million, a decrease of $4.3 million or 6.1% compared to $70.1 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs decreased 5.0% for the second quarter of 2006 in comparison to the same period of 2005. The decrease was the result of the strategic action in the UK to exit lower margin temporary contracting business lines (-13%) and the change in the relevant law governing the Dutch reintegration businesses (-47%). The decreases were partially offset by the inclusion of the results for the Balance acquisition.

Hudson Europe’s gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $56.2 million, an increase of 3.1% from the comparable period in 2005. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 46.1% for the second quarter of 2006, an increase from 43.7% for the same period in 2005, primarily due to the inclusion of the higher margin Balance business in 2006 and a reduction in lower margin temporary contracting business lines in the UK. On a constant currency basis, gross margin increased by 4.1% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005. Hudson Europe’s largest constant currency increases were the inclusion of Balance in the 2006 results, higher gross margin growth in temporary contracting services in the UK (+3%), and improved trends in France (+19%) and Belgium (+12%). This was partially offset by a decrease in the Dutch reintegration business (-63%).

 

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Table of Contents

Hudson Europe’s selling, general and administrative costs were $50.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, essentially unchanged from $49.8 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 41.0% and 40.0% as a percentage of revenue for the second quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the second quarter 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.6% compared to the same period of 2005. The increase resulted from the inclusion of Balance in the results, partially offset by expense savings in the U.K. and the Dutch reintegration business.

Hudson Europe’s EBITDA was $8.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $2.4 million compared to $5.6 million for the same period in 2005. The group achieved an EBITDA as a percentage of revenue of 6.6% compared to 4.5% in the second quarter of 2005. Increased EBITDA contributors included the UK, Balance, Belgium and France, partially offset by a decline in the Dutch reintegration business.

Hudson Europe’s operating income was $6.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared to $4.7 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Europe’s 2006 improvement in operating results was due to the same factors as discussed with respect to EBITDA, partially offset by the amortization of intangibles related to the Balance acquisition.

Hudson Asia Pacific

Hudson Asia Pacific’s revenue was $110.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 4.7% from $116.3 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Hudson Asia Pacific’s revenue remained essentially unchanged from the second quarter of 2005. Revenue on a constant currency basis was essentially flat, reflecting minimal growth in Australia with an increase in permanent placement revenue (+18%) offset by a decrease in temporary contracting and other revenue (-2%), a decline in New Zealand (-6%) as economic conditions softened, and increases in Asia (+5%), primarily in China (+58%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s direct costs for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $67.4 million, a decrease of $5.0 million or 6.9% compared to $72.5 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs decreased by 2.4% in comparison to the same period of 2005, primarily as a result of a decrease in Australia (-3%) for temporary contractors.

Hudson Asia Pacific’s gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $43.4 million, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 1.0%, from $43.8 million reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, was 39.2% for the second quarter of 2006, an increase from 37.7% for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin increased by 2.8% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Constant currency gross margin growth in the quarter was a result of increases in Australia (+7%), primarily from permanent placement (+19%), and China (+65%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s selling, general and administrative costs were $34.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 4.2% from $36.2 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 31.3% and 31.1% as a percentage of revenue for the second quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the second quarter 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 0.3% from the same period in 2005.

Hudson Asia Pacific’s EBITDA was $9.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 4.9% or $0.5 million, from $9.9 million for the same period of 2005. EBITDA decreased as a result of lower gross margin. EBITDA as a percentage of revenue remained essentially unchanged at 8.5% in the second quarter of 2006 from the same period of 2005.

Hudson Asia Pacific’s operating income was $8.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase of 11.7% from $7.7 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Asia Pacific’s increase in operating results for the second quarter of 2006 was primarily due to the decrease in depreciation ($1.4 million) as a result of the absence of certain capital lease assets due to vacating a long-term office lease in Australia in connection with moving to a more economical property.

 

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Table of Contents

Highland

Highland’s revenue was $15.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 6.7% from $16.0 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Highland’s revenue decreased approximately 7.0% comparing the second quarter of 2006 to the second quarter of 2005. The decrease in revenue on a constant currency basis was predominantly due to a decrease in the UK (-44%), partially offset by increases in Australia (+42%) and Canada (+22%). Revenue in the U.S. decreased by 3%.

Highland’s direct costs for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $1.0 million, an increase of $0.2 million or 22.2% compared to $0.8 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs increased by 21.6% for the second quarter of 2006 in comparison to the same period of 2005, as a result of increases in the U.S. (+18%) and the UK (+79%).

Highland’s gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $14.0 million, lower by $1.2 million or 8.3% from $15.2 million reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, was 93.4% for the second quarter of 2006, a decrease from 95.0% for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin decreased by 8.5% for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Gross margin decline in the quarter was a result of decreases in the UK (-47%) and the U.S. (-4%). Australia’s gross margin increased (+50%) as did Canada’s (+27%).

Highland’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $12.6 million, lower by 16.7% from $15.2 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 84.6% and 94.6% as a percentage of revenue for the second quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the second quarter 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 16.0%, compared to the same period of 2005. The largest decrease in costs were for sales compensation (-15%), primarily related to the lower gross margin.

Highland’s EBITDA was $1.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $0.9 million from $0.6 million for the same period of 2005. The increase was due to lower selling general and administrative expenses, partially offset by lower gross margin. Highland Partners achieved EBITDA equal to 10.1% of revenue in the second quarter of 2006, an increase from 3.9% for the same period of 2005.

Highland’s operating income was $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase from $0.3 million for the same period of 2005. Highland’s improvement in operating results in the second quarter of 2006 was primarily due to the same factors as discussed in EBITDA.

Corporate and Other

Corporate expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $7.3 million compared to $9.5 million for the same period of 2005. The decrease in corporate expenses was primarily the result of cost control measures and a decrease in certain corporate wide projects.

Other non-operating expenses, including net interest expense, were $1.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $0.8 million when compared to the same period of 2005.

The provision for income taxes for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $2.5 million on a pretax income of $3.1 million, compared with a provision of $1.8 million on a pretax income of $4.8 million for the same period of 2005. The higher tax provision in the second quarter of 2006 related primarily to an increase in current foreign tax provisions in locations where there were no tax-loss carry-forwards available to offset taxable income, partially offset by lower deferred tax provision related to amortization of acquired intangible assets. In the current period, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% due largely to the inability to recognize tax benefits on net U.S. losses, including corporate expenses. This is offset in part by reported income in locations where tax losses are available to offset the income and variations from the U.S. tax rate in foreign jurisdictions.

Net income was $0.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared to net income of $3.0 million for the same period in 2005. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.02 for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared to basic earnings of $0.15 per share and diluted earnings of $0.14 per share in the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

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Table of Contents
     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2006    2005
     As
Reported
   Currency
Translation
    Constant
Currency
   As
Reported

Revenue:

          

Hudson Americas

   $ 228,184    $ (168 )   $ 228,016    $ 219,918

Hudson Europe

     238,203      11,060       249,263      247,056

Hudson Asia Pacific

     211,415      10,683       222,098      219,826

Highland

     30,734      130       30,864      30,904
                            

Total

     708,536      21,705       730,241      717,704

Direct costs:

          

Hudson Americas

     177,924      185       178,109      164,769

Hudson Europe

     131,013      6,177       137,190      142,095

Hudson Asia Pacific

     131,124      6,972       138,096      139,862

Highland

     1,817      (3 )     1,814      1,604
                            

Total

     441,878      13,331       455,209      448,330

Gross margin:

          

Hudson Americas

     50,260      (353 )     49,907      55,149

Hudson Europe

     107,190      4,883       112,073      104,961

Hudson Asia Pacific

     80,291      3,711       84,002      79,964

Highland

     28,917      133       29,050      29,300
                            

Total

   $ 266,658    $ 8,374     $ 275,032    $ 269,374
                            

Selling, general and administrative (a):

          

Hudson Americas

   $ 62,023    $ (408 )   $ 61,615    $ 51,973

Hudson Europe

     97,184      4,599       101,783      98,167

Hudson Asia Pacific

     67,564      3,080       70,644      68,019

Highland

     26,625      369       26,994      29,221

Corporate

     15,100      —         15,100      19,775
                            

Total

   $ 268,496    $ 7,640     $ 276,136    $ 267,155
                            

(a) Selling, general and administrative expenses include depreciation and amortization.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2005

Hudson Americas

Hudson Americas’ revenue was $228.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $8.3 million, or 3.8% compared to $219.9 million for the same period of 2005. Revenues increased in permanent placement services (+41.9%) and temporary contracting services (+2.5%). Hudson Americas’ revenue was higher in 2006 as a result of increases in the Legal (+32%), Management Search (+70%) and Energy (+4%) practice groups, partially offset by a decrease in the IT practice group (-20%) resulting from a decline in contractors on billing.

Hudson Americas’ direct costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $177.9 million compared to $164.8 million for 2005, an increase of 8.0%. The increase in the direct costs relates to the increase in Hudson Americas’ temporary contracting costs (+7.9%) compared to 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs increased 8.1% for the first six months of 2006 in comparison to 2005.

 

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Hudson Americas’ gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $50.3 million, lower by $4.9 million, or 8.9%, from $55.1 million reported for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin decreased by 9.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. Hudson Americas reported a decrease in gross margin from its IT (-31%), Energy (-8%) and Engineering, Aerospace & Defense (-17%) practice groups. These decreases were partially offset by increases in the Legal (+18%) and Management Search (+62%) practice groups. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, was 22.0% for the first six months of 2006, a decrease from 25.1% for the same period in 2005, primarily as a result of a 4.1% decrease in the temporary contracting gross margin as a percent of temporary contracting revenue. Permanent placement gross margin, as a percentage of total gross margin, increased to approximately 28% in 2006, compared to 19% in the same period of 2005.

Hudson Americas’ selling, general and administrative costs were $62.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, higher by 19.3% from $52.0 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 27.2% and 23.6% as a percentage of revenue for the first six months of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The principal factors for the increase in the selling, general and administrative costs were increases for compensation and market-related costs for higher revenue ($4.7 million), costs associated with the PeopleSoft stabilization ($3.7 million), expenses for client and product development in the Financial Solutions practice ($2.0 million) and increased amortization of the PeopleSoft software system installed in 2005 ($0.7 million).

Hudson Americas’ EBITDA loss was $9.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of $13.9 million compared to income of $4.6 million for the comparable period of 2005. The primary reasons for the first six months of 2006 EBITDA loss was the decrease in the gross margin, as discussed above, and the increased selling, general and administrative costs. The Company undertook a comprehensive second quarter review of the accounting processes supported by the new PeopleSoft accounting and management reporting system the Company implemented last year in its Hudson North America business. As a result of its review, the Company reflected in its results for the six months ended June 30, 2006 net charges of $1.6 million, consisting of adjustments to receivables for which the applicable prior period cannot practicably be determined ($0.9 million) and adjustments to 2005 revenue that are considered immaterial to that year or to any of the 2005 quarterly periods ($0.7 million).

Hudson Americas’ operating loss was $12.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to operating income of $2.5 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Americas’ increased loss in the first six months of 2006, compared to the same period of 2005, was due to the same factors as discussed with respect to EBITDA loss and the increased amortization expenses related to the accounting and management software installed in the third quarter of 2005.

Hudson Europe

Hudson Europe’s revenue was $238.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, down 3.6% from $247.1 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Hudson Europe’s revenue increased approximately 0.9% comparing the first six months of 2006 to the same period of 2005. The largest constant currency revenue increases were achieved primarily from the Balance acquisition (acquired August 2005), Belgium (+11%), and France (+18%). The increases were partially offset by a decrease in the Dutch reintegration businesses (-50%) due to the change in the relevant law governing how this business is funded and lower temporary contracting revenue in the UK (-9%), primarily as a result of the strategic action in the UK to exit lower margin temporary contracting business lines.

Hudson Europe’s direct costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $131.0 million, a decrease of $11.1 million or 7.8% compared to $142.1 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs decreased 3.5% for the first six months of 2006 in comparison to the same period of 2005. The decrease was the result of lower temporary contracting costs in the UK (-11%), primarily as a result of the strategic action in the UK to exit lower margin temporary contracting business lines and the change in the relevant law governing the Dutch reintegration businesses (-45%), partially offset by the inclusion of the direct costs of Balance.

Hudson Europe’s gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $107.2 million, an increase of 2.1% from the comparable period in 2005. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 45.0% for the first six months of 2006, an increase from 42.5% for the same period in 2005, primarily due to a reduction in lower margin business in the UK and the inclusion of the higher margin Balance business in 2006. On a constant currency basis, gross margin increased by 6.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005. Hudson Europe’s largest constant currency increases were in the Netherlands ($1.9 million, primarily the result of the inclusion of Balance in 2006 results, partially offset by lower gross margin from the reintegration business), higher gross margin growth in temporary contracting services in the other European countries, primarily the UK (+6%), as a result of improved temporary contracting margins, up from 14% a year ago to 18.9% in the first six months of 2006, and improved trends in permanent placement in France (+22%) and Belgium (+7.5%). The increases in temporary contracting margins were a product of both the addition of the Balance acquisition and the strategic focus in the UK on exiting lower margin contracts.

 

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Hudson Europe’s selling, general and administrative costs were $97.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, lower by 1.0% from $98.2 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 40.8% and 39.7% as a percentage of revenue for the first six months of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the first six months of 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 3.7% compared to the same period of 2005. The increase in 2006 selling, general and administrative costs, compared to 2005 was a result of the inclusion of Balance’s costs, which have no comparable costs in 2005, increases in Belgium (+6%), France (+7%) and the Central European region (+48%), essentially offset by decreases in the UK (-6%) and the Dutch reintegration business line (-41%).

Hudson Europe’s EBITDA was $13.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $4.8 million compared to $8.8 million for the same period in 2005. The group achieved an EBITDA of 5.7 percent of revenue compared to 3.6 percent in the first six months of 2005. Key EBITDA contributors included the UK (+52%), the Balance acquisition, Belgium (+23%) and France, which had EBITDA in 2006 compared to 2005 breakeven results. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in the Dutch reintegration business (-111%).

Hudson Europe’s operating income was $10.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to $6.9 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Europe’s 2006 improvement in operating results was due to the same factors as discussed with respect to EBITDA, partially offset by the amortization of intangibles related to the Balance acquisition.

Hudson Asia Pacific

Hudson Asia Pacific’s revenue was $211.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 3.8% from $219.8 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Hudson Asia Pacific’s revenue increased approximately 1.0% comparing the first six months of 2006 to the first six months of 2005. The higher revenue on a constant currency basis was predominantly due to increases from permanent placement services in Australia (+14%), China (+42%), Hong Kong (+19%), and Singapore (+5%), partially offset by a decrease in temporary contracting revenue in Australia (-2%) and permanent placement revenue in New Zealand (-2%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s direct costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $131.1 million, a decrease of $8.7 million or 6.2% compared to $139.9 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs decreased by 1.3% for the first six months of 2006 in comparison to the same period of 2005, as a result of a decrease in Australia temporary contracting costs  (-2%), partially offset by an increase in New Zealand (+3%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $80.3 million, essentially unchanged from $80.0 million reported for the same period in 2005. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, was 38.0% for the first six months of 2006, an increase from 36.4% for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin increased by 5.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005. Gross margin growth in the six months was a result of increases in Australia’s permanent placement (+15%) and temporary contracting (+2%) and in China (+47%) and Hong Kong (+22%). This was partially offset a decrease in New Zealand (-10%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s selling, general and administrative costs were $67.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, lower by 0.7% from $68.0 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 32.0% and 30.9% as a percentage of revenue for the first six months of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the first six months of 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 3.9% compared to the same period of 2005. The largest increases in costs were in Australia (+6%) primarily for sales compensation and in China (+41%). These were partially offset by decreases in New Zealand (-12%).

Hudson Asia Pacific’s EBITDA was $14.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 14.8% or $2.4 million, from $16.6 million for the same period of 2005. EBITDA as a percentage of revenue decreased to 6.7% in the first six months of 2006 from 7.5% for the same period of 2005, primarily due to a decline in Australia. The decrease in EBITDA was the result of higher selling, general and administrative costs for sales compensation and higher occupancy costs in Australia from the absence of certain lease termination credits recorded in 2005 when vacating a long-term office lease.

Hudson Asia Pacific’s operating income was $12.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of 4.8% from $12.0 million for the same period of 2005. Hudson Asia Pacific’s increase in operating results for the first six months of 2006 was primarily due to lower depreciation and amortization expenses in Australia due to the absence of certain capital lease assets from vacating a long-term office lease, more than offsetting the factors that caused the decrease in EBITDA.

 

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Highland

Highland’s revenue was $30.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease of 0.6% from $30.9 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, Highland’s revenue was essentially unchanged comparing the first six months of 2006 to the comparable period in 2005. The decrease in revenue on a constant currency basis in the UK (-12%) and the US (-1%) were offset by increases in Canada (+28%) and Australia (+11%).

Highland’s direct costs for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $1.8 million, an increase of $0.2 million or 13.3% compared to $1.6 million for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, direct costs increased by 13.1% for the six months of 2006 in comparison to the same period of 2005, as a result of an increase in the United States (+22%) and an increase in the U.K. (+59%).

Highland’s gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $28.9 million, lower by $0.4 million, or 1.3%, from $29.3 million reported for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, was 94.1% for the first six months of 2006, a decrease from 94.8% for the same period of 2005. On a constant currency basis, gross margin decreased by 0.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2005. The gross margin decline in the six months was a result of decreases in the U.K. (-14%) and the U.S. (-2%). Australia’s gross margin increased (+16%) as did Canada’s (+33%).

Highland’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $26.6 million lower by 8.9% from $29.2 million for the same period in 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 86.6% and 94.6% as a percentage of revenue for the first six months of 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the first six months of 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 7.6%, compared to the same period of 2005. The largest decrease in costs was in sales compensation (-7%), primarily related to the lower gross margin.

Highland’s EBITDA was $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $1.8 million, from $1.0 million for the same period of 2005. The increase was due to lower selling general and administrative expenses. Highland Partners achieved EBITDA equal to 9.0% of revenue in the first six months of 2006, an increase from 3.2% for the same period of 2005.

Highland’s operating income was $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, an increase of $1.9 million from $0.3 million for the same period of 2005. Highland’s improvement in operating results in the first six months of 2006 was primarily due to the same factors as discussed in EBITDA.

Corporate and Other

Corporate expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were $15.1 million compared to $19.8 million for the same period of 2005. The decrease in corporate expenses was primarily the result of cost control measures and a decrease in certain corporate wide projects.

Other non-operating expenses, including net interest expense, were $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, a decrease from $0.9 million when compared to the same period of 2005.

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $4.1 million on a pretax loss of $3.4 million, compared with a provision of $3.2 million on a pretax income of $1.0 million for the same period of 2005. The higher tax provision in the first six months of 2006 related primarily to an increase in current foreign tax provisions in locations where there were no tax-loss carry-forwards available to offset taxable income, partially offset by lower deferred tax provision related to amortization of acquired intangible assets. In the current period, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. Federal statutory rate of 35% due largely to the inability to recognize tax benefits on net U.S. losses, including corporate expenses. This is offset in part by reported income in locations where tax losses are available to offset the income and variations from the U.S. tax rate in foreign jurisdictions.

Net loss was $7.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to a net loss of $2.1 million for the same period in 2005. Basic and diluted loss per share were $0.31 for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to basic and diluted loss of $0.10 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2005. For the first six months of 2006 and 2005, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of approximately 972,000 and 1,065,000 of potential common stock were anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s liquidity needs arise primarily from funding working capital requirements.

The Company has a senior secured credit facility for $75,000 (the “Credit Facility”). The maturity date of the Credit Facility is March 31, 2009. Outstanding loans bear interest equal to the prime rate plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.00%, at the Company’s option, and had a weighted average interest rate of 7.52% as of June 30, 2006. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and extensions of credit are based on a percentage of the accounts receivable of the Company. The Company expects to continue to use such credit to support its ongoing working capital requirements, capital expenditures and other corporate purposes and to support letters of credit. As of June 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $35.2 million and letters of credit issued and outstanding of approximately $11.3 million under the Credit Facility. Available credit for use under the Credit Facility as of June 30, 2006 was $26.7 million.

The Credit Facility contains various restrictions and covenants, including (1) prohibitions on payments of dividends and repurchases of the Company’s stock; (2) requirements that the Company maintain its minimum Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Facility) and capital expenditures within prescribed levels; (3) restrictions on the ability of the Company to make additional borrowings, or to consolidate, merge or otherwise fundamentally change the ownership of the Company; and (4) limitations on investments, dispositions of assets and guarantees of indebtedness. The minimum Adjusted EBITDA covenant generally provides that the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve-month periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2006 may not be less than $15.0 million, $15.0 million, $25.0 million, $25.0 million, respectively. The maximum capital expenditure covenant provides that the Company’s capital expenditures for 2006 may not exceed $14.0 million. These restrictions and covenants could limit the Company’s ability to respond to market conditions, to provide for unanticipated capital investments, to raise additional debt or equity capital, to pay dividends or to take advantage of business opportunities, including future acquisitions.

During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company generated cash in operating activities of $2.4 million compared to net cash used of $16.0 million during the same period of 2005. Cash usage decreased in the first six months of 2006 from the first six months of 2005 primarily as a result of lower cash requirements to fund working capital, primarily accounts receivable in Hudson Americas ($23.9 million), Hudson Europe ($9.9 million), and lower cash requirements for business reorganization expenses ($2.6 million), partially offset by higher working capital used in accounts receivable in Hudson Asia Pacific ($7.7 million).

During the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company used cash in investing activities of $10.3 million and $5.4 million, respectively. This use of cash was related to capital expenditures ($3.1 million), the purchase of businesses ($5.9 million), as well as an earn-out payment ($1.3 million) in the first six months of 2006.

During the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company generated cash from financing activities of $5.8 million and $22.6 million, respectively. The cash provided from financing was lower in the first six months of 2006 as a result of the lower net borrowing under the credit facility ($16.8 million).

The Company believes that the cash and cash equivalents on hand at June 30, 2006, supplemented by the Credit Facility, will provide it with sufficient liquidity to satisfy its working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements and commitments through at least the next twelve months. Cash generated from operating activities is subject to the Company’s management of its operating growth and working capital, fluctuations in the global economy and unemployment rates. Total third-party capital lease debt and related capital lease assets, net of accumulated amortization, were $1.8 million and $6.8 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2006. The Company’s existing acquisition shelf registration statement to issue up to 1,350,000 shares of its common stock can provide an additional mechanism of funding acquisitions.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the future prospects of a company and make informed investment decisions. This Form 10-Q contains these types of statements, which the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q, including statements regarding the Company’s future financial condition, results of operations, business operations and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe” and similar words, expressions and variations of these words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including industry and economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, (1) the Company’s history of negative cash flows and operating losses may continue, (2) the ability of clients to terminate their relationship with the Company at any time, (3) the impact of global economic fluctuations on the Company’s temporary contracting operations, (4) restrictions on the Company’s operating flexibility due to the terms of its credit facility, (5) risks relating to the Company’s foreign operations, including foreign currency fluctuations, (6) risks and financial impact associated with acquisitions and dispositions of non-strategic assets; (7) the Company’s heavy reliance on information systems and the impact of potentially losing or failing to develop technology, (8) competition in the Company’s markets and the Company’s dependence on highly skilled professionals, (9) fluctuations in the Company’s operating results from quarter to quarter, (10) the impact of employees departing with existing executive search clients, (11) restrictions imposed by blocking arrangements, (12) the Company’s exposure to employment-related claims from both clients and employers and limits on related insurance coverage, (13) the Company’s dependence on key management personnel (14) the impact of government regulations and, (15) the Company’s ability to implement remedial actions with respect to internal control weaknesses. Please see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2006 for more information.

The Company cautions that undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. The Company assumes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The majority of the Company’s borrowings are loans under the Credit Facility, fixed rate leases and seller financed notes. The carrying amounts of long-term debt approximate fair value, generally due to the short-term nature of the underlying instruments. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company borrowed $279.4 million and repaid $274.3 million under its credit facility, which bears interest equal to the prime rate plus 0.25% or LIBOR plus 2.00%, at the Company’s option. The Company does not trade derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

The Company also conducts operations in various foreign countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, approximately 65.1% of gross margin was earned outside the United States and collected in local currency, and related operating expenses also were paid in such corresponding local currency. Accordingly, the Company is subject to increased risk for exchange rate fluctuations between such local currencies and the U.S. dollar.

The financial statements of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using current rates of exchange, with translation gains or losses included in the cumulative translation adjustment account, a component of stockholders’ equity. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, the Company had a translation gain of $2.1 million, primarily attributable to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and the euro.

The Company’s objective is to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with foreign exchange rate changes. Accordingly, from time to time, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to minimize the impact of foreign exchange movements on intercompany loan balances. At June 30, 2006, the Company had no outstanding foreign currency forward contracts.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the quarter ended June 30, 2006 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Remediation of a Previously Disclosed Material Weakness. The Company’s management previously concluded that as of March 31, 2006, the Company did not maintain effective controls with respect to the determination of certain revenues and in recording of certain payroll tax and other accrued liabilities in the Company’s Hudson North America business unit and that such control deficiency constituted a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Starting in the second quarter of 2006, the Company made enhancements to its internal control over financial reporting. The Company has taken the following steps to remediate the material weakness in the areas of the determination of certain revenue and in the recording of certain payroll and other accrued liabilities.

 

    Management has re-prepared reconciliations for all of its balance sheet accounts as of May 31, 2006 using the resources from the corporate accounting group and other company business units, selected outside consultants, internal audit and Hudson Financial Solutions contractors, with an independent review of selected accounts.

 

    Management is expanding the documentation of the processes by which it obtains data and prepares and documents its general ledger reconciliations for key areas including accounts receivable, payroll and other accrued liabilities.

 

    The established review framework has been strengthened to include a review and sign-off of all significant reconciliations by a higher level of supervisory and management level personnel, including divisional officers.

These control procedures have been utilized in the preparation of the financial statements as of June 30, 2006. Based on these enhanced control procedures, the Company’s management has determined that the material weakness has been remediated as of June 30, 2006. Because the enhanced controls have been recently implemented, the Company’s management will continue to actively monitor the application of these controls over the ensuing quarter. In addition, over the next several months, the Company intends to implement supplemental automated controls in conjunction with the overall review of its PeopleSoft system. The Company’s management will also be reviewing its Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 test procedures to ensure that they provide sufficient early warning signs of any deficiencies so those deficiencies can be remediated in a timely manner.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. Other than the steps taken to remediate the material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting described above, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Risk factors relating to the Company are contained in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. No material change to such risk factors has occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2006.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. was held on May 5, 2006. At the meeting, the following matters were submitted to a vote of the stockholders of Hudson Highland Group, Inc.:

 

  (1) To elect two directors to hold office until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The vote with respect to each nominee was as follows:

 

Nominee

   For    Withheld

John J. Haley

   20,218,524    1,576,204

David G. Offensend

   20,300,072    1,494,656

The individuals continuing in the office of director after the annual meeting were Jon F. Chait, Robert Dubner and Jennifer Laing.

 

  (2) To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as independent registered public accountants:

 

For   Against   Abstain   Broker Non Vote
21,748,581   43,498   2,649   0

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits: The following Exhibits are filed herewith.

 

10.1    Form of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Stock Option Agreement (Directors) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Form 8-K filed May 12, 2006 (File No. 0-50129)).
10.2    Settlement Agreement and General Release, dated May 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Form 8-K filed May 12, 2006 (File No. 0-50129)).
15    Letter from BDO Seidman, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
31.1    Certification by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
31.2    Certification by the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.1    Certification of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2    Certification of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

(Registrant)

  By:  

/s/ JON F. CHAIT

   

Jon F. Chait

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Dated: August 9, 2006    
  By:  

/s/ MARY JANE RAYMOND

   

Mary Jane Raymond

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Dated: August 9, 2006    

 

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HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

10.1   Form of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Stock Option Agreements (Directors) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Form 8-K filed May 12, 2006 (File No. 0-50129)).
10.2   Settlement Agreement and General Release, dated May 8, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Form 8-K filed May 12, 2006 (File No. 0-50129)).
15   Letter from BDO Seidman, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
31.1   Certification by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
31.2   Certification by the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
32.1   Certification of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2   Certification of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

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Letter from BDO Seidman, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information

Exhibit 15

August 7, 2006

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

We are aware that Hudson Highland Group, Inc. has incorporated by reference in its Registration Statements on Form S-4 (No. 333-119563) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-104209, 333-104210, 333-104212, 333-117005, 333-117006 and 333-126915) our report dated August 7, 2006, relating to the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated condensed financial statements appearing in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Pursuant to Regulation C under the Securities Act of 1933, that report is not considered a part of the registration statement prepared or certified by our firm or a report prepared or certified by our firm within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act. It should be noted that we have not performed any procedures subsequent to August 7, 2006.

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP

New York, New York

Certification by Chairman & CEO pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Jon F. Chait, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hudson Highland Group, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: August 9, 2006  

/s/ JON F. CHAIT

 

Jon F. Chait

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Certification by the Executive Vice President & CFO pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Mary Jane Raymond, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hudson Highland Group, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: August 9, 2006  

/s/ MARY JANE RAYMOND

 

Mary Jane Raymond

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Certification of the Chairman & CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350.

EXHIBIT 32.1

Written Statement of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section .1350, as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Solely for the purposes of complying with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, I, the undersigned Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify, based on my knowledge, that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ JON F. CHAIT

Jon F. Chait
August 9, 2006
Certification of the Executive Vice President & CFO pursuant to Section 1350

EXHIBIT 32.2

Written Statement of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section .1350, as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Solely for the purposes of complying with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, I, the undersigned Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify, based on my knowledge, that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ MARY JANE RAYMOND

Mary Jane Raymond
August 9, 2006