Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 0-25837

 

 

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   36-2681268

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

233 South Wacker Drive Suite 4200

Chicago, Illinois

60606-6303

(Address of principal executive offices)

(312) 496-1200

(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 of time 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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-Accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

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

As of October 25, 2012, there were 17,971,420 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 

          PAGE  
PART I.   

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
Item 1.   

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  
  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2011

     1   
  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     2   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012

     3   
  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011

     4   
  

Unaudited Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     5   
Item 2.   

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     12   
Item 3.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     21   
Item 4.   

Controls and Procedures

     22   
PART II.   

OTHER INFORMATION

  
Item 1.   

Legal Proceedings

     22   
Item 2.   

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     23   
Item 6.   

Exhibits

     24   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

     September 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 
     (Unaudited)        

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 127,137      $ 185,390   

Restricted cash

     124        440   

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,757 and $3,805 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

     88,261        69,081   

Other receivables

     9,472        9,404   

Prepaid expenses

     16,782        16,551   

Other current assets

     1,353        1,382   

Income taxes recoverable

     5,990        19,866   

Deferred income taxes

     10,140        8,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     259,259        310,325   

Non-current assets:

    

Property and equipment, net

     42,586        44,781   

Restricted cash

     1,515        1,470   

Assets designated for retirement and pension plans

     22,698        22,883   

Investments

     11,617        9,868   

Other non-current assets

     5,944        6,480   

Goodwill

     91,270        90,696   

Other intangible assets, net

     2,021        2,556   

Deferred income taxes

     23,322        26,506   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current assets

     200,973        205,240   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 460,232      $ 515,565   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 6,009      $ 9,157   

Accrued salaries and employee benefits

     86,119        131,697   

Other current liabilities

     31,913        39,362   

Income taxes payable

     6,120        4,868   

Deferred income taxes

     185        6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     130,346        185,090   

Non-current liabilities:

    

Retirement and pension plans

     33,440        31,747   

Other non-current liabilities

     42,581        47,396   

Deferred income taxes

     94        37   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-current liabilities

     76,115        79,180   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     206,461        264,270   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)

     —          —     

Stockholders' equity:

    

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011

     —          —     

Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 19,585,777 shares issued, 17,971,420 and 17,870,236 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

     196        196   

Treasury stock at cost, 1,614,357 and 1,715,541 shares at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

     (53,269     (58,690

Additional paid in capital

     234,810        238,523   

Retained earnings

     54,481        55,029   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     17,553        16,237   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

     253,771        251,295   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

   $ 460,232      $ 515,565   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenue:

        

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue)

   $ 117,312      $ 142,213      $ 339,903      $ 400,634   

Reimbursements

     5,033        7,092        16,517        19,164   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     122,345        149,305        356,420        419,798   

Operating expenses:

        

Salaries and employee benefits

     79,628        99,700        236,159        287,300   

General and administrative expenses

     27,499        28,782        82,824        93,381   

Reimbursed expenses

     5,033        7,092        16,517        19,164   

Restructuring charges

     —          —          810        —     

Impairment charges

     —          26,366        —          26,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     112,160        161,940        336,310        426,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     10,185        (12,635     20,110        (6,413

Non-operating income (expense):

        

Interest income, net

     149        300        856        853   

Other, net

     (299     (1,803     (949     (3,477
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net non-operating expense

     (150     (1,503     (93     (2,624
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     10,035        (14,138     20,017        (9,037

Provision for income taxes

     5,924        18,263        13,375        20,596   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     4,111        (32,401     6,642        (29,633

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     1,278        (8,038     1,316        (2,064
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 5,389      $ (40,439   $ 7,958      $ (31,697
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

     17,995        17,840        17,969        17,756   

Dilutive common shares

     102        —          167        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     18,097        17,840        18,136        17,756   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.23      $ (1.82   $ 0.37      $ (1.67

Diluted net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.23      $ (1.82   $ 0.37      $ (1.67

Cash dividends paid per share

   $ 0.13      $ 0.13      $ 0.39      $ 0.39   

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

                               Additional          

Accumulated

Other

Compre-

        
     Common Stock      Treasury Stock     Paid in     Retained     hensive         
     Shares      Amount      Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Income      Total  

Balance at December 31, 2011

     19,586       $ 196         1,715      $ (58,690   $ 238,523      $ 55,029      $ 16,237       $ 251,295   

Net income

     —           —           —          —          —          6,642        —           6,642   

Other comprehensive income:

                   

Unrealized gain on available for sale investments

     —           —           —          —          —          —          934         934   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     —           —           —          —          —          —          382         382   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     —           —           —          —          —          6,642        1,316         7,958   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Treasury and common stock transactions:

                   

Stock-based compensation

     —           —           —          —          4,081        —          —           4,081   

Vesting of restricted stock units, net of tax witholdings

     —           —           (162     5,598        (7,202     —          —           (1,604

Purchases of treasury stock

           88        (1,123            (1,123

Re-issuance of treasury stock

     —           —           (27     946        (496     —          —           450   

Cash dividends declared ($0.39 per share)

     —           —           —          —          —          (7,022     —           (7,022

Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units

     —           —           —          —          —          (168     —           (168

Tax deficit related to stock-based compensation

     —           —           —          —          (96     —          —           (96
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

     19,586       $ 196         1,614      ($ 53,269   $ 234,810      $ 54,481      $ 17,553       $ 253,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011  

Cash flows - operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 6,642      $ (29,633

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     8,083        7,207   

Write-off of investment

     —          2,810   

Deferred income taxes

     1,509        9,815   

Net realized losses on investments

     27        488   

Stock-based compensation expense

     4,081        4,161   

Impairment charges

     —          26,366   

Restructuring charges

     810        —     

Cash paid for restructuring charges

     (8,743     (658

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Trade and other receivables, net

     (18,622     (21,154

Accounts payable

     (3,165     889   

Accrued expenses

     (48,861     (12,716

Income taxes recoverable (payable), net

     15,309        1,658   

Retirement and pension assets and liabilities

     956        (290

Prepayments

     (75     (1,988

Other assets and liabilities, net

     (1,110     2,393   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (43,159     (10,652
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows - investing activities:

    

Restricted cash

     282        13   

Capital expenditures

     (6,248     (16,250

Acquisition of business and earnout payments, net of cash acquired

     —          (3,930

Purchases of available for sale investments

     (1,023     (799

Proceeds from sales of available for sale investments

     107        58   

Loan to equity method investment

     —          (1,008

Other, net

     —          89   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (6,882     (21,827
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows - financing activities:

    

Cash dividends paid

     (7,294     (7,380

Payment of employee tax withholdings on equity transactions

     (1,630     (2,752

Purchases of treasury stock

     (1,123     —     

Acquisition earnout payments

     (381     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (10,428     (10,132
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents

     2,216        (3,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (58,253     (45,625

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     185,390        181,124   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 127,137      $ 135,499   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

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Table of Contents

HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(All tables in thousands, except share and per share figures)

(Unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, interim effective tax rate, allowances for deferred tax assets, compensation accruals, and contingent liabilities. Estimates are subject to a greater degree of uncertainty and actual results could differ from these estimates. These financial statements and notes are to be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2012.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A complete listing of the Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2012.

Recently Adopted Financial Accounting Standards

On January 1, 2012 the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) guidance to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income within the financial statements. The guidance requires entities to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. The option to only present other comprehensive income within the statement of stockholders’ equity was eliminated. The Company has presented the components of net income and other comprehensive income in a single continuous statement.

On January 1, 2012, the FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, became effective. This standard gives an entity the option of performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform step 1 of the annual goodwill impairment test. An entity is required to perform step 1 only if it concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. An entity may choose to perform the qualitative assessment on none, some, or all of its reporting units or an entity may bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to step 1 of the impairment test. The Company performs its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each year.

 

3. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The activity of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

   $ 3,805   

Provision charged to income

     3,019   

Write-offs

     (1,133

Currency

     66   
  

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

   $ 5,757   
  

 

 

 

 

4. Stock-based Compensation

The Company’s 2007 Heidrick & Struggles GlobalShare Program (the “Prior Program”) provided for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards to directors, selected employees, and independent contractors. The Prior Program expired on May 24, 2012. Outstanding awards granted under the Prior Program remain outstanding and subject to the terms of the Prior Program and award agreements until such awards vest, are exercised, terminate or expire pursuant to their terms. As of September 30, 2012, there were 556,408 awards outstanding under the Prior Program, consisting of 64,812 stock options, 379,744 restricted stock units, and 111,852 performance stock units.

On May 24, 2012, the stockholders of the Company approved the 2012 Heidrick & Struggles GlobalShare Program (the “2012 Program”) at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The 2012 Program provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards that are valued based upon the grant date fair value of shares. These awards may be granted to directors, selected employees and independent contractors.

 

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Table of Contents

The total number of shares authorized or reserved for issuance under the 2012 Program is 1,300,000 shares (consisting of a number of shares not previously authorized for issuance under any plan, and the number of shares not subject to awards and remaining available for issuance under the Prior Program, as amended on April 2, 2012), plus any shares subject to the 671,528 outstanding awards as of April 2, 2012 under the Prior Program that on or after the effective date cease for any reason to be subject to such awards. Stock awards forfeited or cancelled under the Prior Program and the 2012 Program are eligible for reissuance under the 2012 Program. As of September 30, 2012, there were 1,350,564 shares remaining available for future awards. The 2012 Program provides that no awards can be granted after May 24, 2022.

The Company measures its stock-based compensation costs based on the grant date fair value of the awards and recognizes these costs in the financial statements over the requisite service period.

A summary of information with respect to stock-based compensation is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Total stock-based compensation expense included in operating income

   $ 1,281       $ 1,013       $ 4,081       $ 4,161   

Income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation included in net income

   $ 495       $ 428       $ 1,576       $ 1,761   

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

 

     Number of
Restricted
Stock Units
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-date
Fair Value
 

Outstanding on December 31, 2011

     489,720      $ 23.99   

Granted

     123,951        19.84   

Vested and converted to common stock

     (186,150     21.61   

Forfeited

     (40,277     24.85   
  

 

 

   

Outstanding on September 30, 2012

     387,244        23.72   
  

 

 

   

As of September 30, 2012, there was $5.2 million of pre-tax unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 1.7 years.

Performance Stock Units

Performance stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

 

     Number of
Peformance
Stock Units
    Weighted-
Average
Grant-date
Fair Value
 

Outstanding on December 31, 2011

     140,230      $ 23.67   

Granted

     50,315        20.62   

Vested and converted to common stock

     (58,487     18.07   

Forfeited

     (20,206     24.75   
  

 

 

   

Outstanding on September 30, 2012

     111,852        25.03   
  

 

 

   

As of September 30, 2012, there was $1.3 million of pre-tax unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested performance stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 2.1 years.

 

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5. Property and Equipment

The components of the Company’s property and equipment are as follows:

 

     September 30,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

Leasehold improvements

   $ 42,300      $ 42,789   

Office furniture, fixtures and equipment

     23,808        24,602   

Computer equipment and software

     39,744        45,270   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, gross

     105,852        112,661   

Accumulated depreciation

     (63,266     (67,880
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 42,586      $ 44,781   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $2.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $7.4 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

 

6. Restricted Cash

The Company had $1.6 million and $1.9 million of restricted cash at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, in support of lease guarantees. In accordance with the terms of the lease agreements, the cash balances are restricted through the termination dates of the leases, which extend through 2018.

 

7. Investments

The components of the Company’s investments are as follows:

 

     September 30,      December 31,  
     2012      2011  

U.S. non-qualified deferred compensation plan

   $ 11,171       $ 9,313   

Warrants and equity securities

     446         555   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 11,617       $ 9,868   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s U.S. non-qualified deferred compensation plan consists primarily of U.S. marketable securities and mutual funds, all of which are valued using Level 1 inputs (Level 1 is described in Note 8 below) and are accounted for as available for sale investments. The aggregate cost basis for these investments was $9.3 million and $8.3 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. The warrants and equity securities primarily consist of cost method investments, none of which were evaluated for impairment since there were no triggering events in the respective periods.

 

8. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

   

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 – Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Substantially all of the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis are measured using Level 1 inputs. The Company considers the recorded value of its financial assets and liabilities, which consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable, to approximate the fair value of the respective assets and liabilities at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 based upon the short-term nature of the assets and liabilities.

 

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9. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are as follows:

 

     Americas      Asia Pacific      Total  

Balance at December 31, 2011

   $ 82,814       $ 7,882       $ 90,696   

Exchange rate fluctuations

     170         404         574   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2012

   $ 82,984       $ 8,286       $ 91,270   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Intangible Assets, Net

The carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization are as follows:

 

            September 30, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Weighted
Average Life
(in years)
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Amount
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Amount
 

Client relationships

     12.6       $ 10,244       $ (8,223   $ 2,021       $ 10,208       $ (7,877   $ 2,331   

Candidate database

     —           1,800         (1,800     —           1,800         (1,575     225   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

     12.6       $ 12,044       $ (10,023   $ 2,021       $ 12,008       $ (9,452   $ 2,556   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intangible asset amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Intangible asset amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $0.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The estimated intangible amortization expense is $0.6 million for fiscal year 2012, $0.4 million for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, and $0.3 million for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. These amounts are based on intangible assets recorded as of September 30, 2012, and actual amortization expense could differ from these estimates as a result of future acquisitions and other factors.

 

10. Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The Company maintains a pension plan for certain current and former employees in Germany. The pensions are individually fixed euro amounts that vary depending on the function and the eligible years of service of the employee.

The components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Service cost

   $ 36      $ 39      $ 111      $ 115   

Interest cost

     253        308        780        921   

Amortization of net gain

     (11     (93     (35     (279
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 278      $ 254      $ 856      $ 757   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The pension benefits are fully reinsured through a group insurance contract with ERGO Lebensversicherung AG. The change in the fair value of these assets approximates the net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

11. Restructuring Charges

The accrued restructuring charges, which are included in Other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities at September 30, 2012 consist of employee-related costs that require cash payments based on severance arrangements and real estate leases that require cash payments through the lease terms reduced by sublease income. Based on current estimates, the Company expects that cash outlays over the next twelve months related to restructuring charges accrued at September 30, 2012 will be $1.2 million, with the remainder payable over the terms of the severance arrangements and remaining lease terms of the vacated properties, which extend through 2016.

 

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Changes in the accrual for restructuring charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are as follows:

 

     Employee
Related
    Office
Related
    Total  

Accrual balance at December 31, 2011

   $ 7,664      $ 2,512      $ 10,176   

Restructuring charges

     1,099        (289     810   

Cash payments

     (7,955     (788     (8,743

Non-cash write-off

     —          (82     (82

Exchange rate fluctuations

     (52     1        (51
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accrual balance at September 30, 2012

   $ 756      $ 1,354      $ 2,110   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

12. Other Current and Non-Current Liabilities

The components of other current liabilities are as follows:

 

     September 30,      December 31,  
     2012      2011  

Deferred revenue

   $ 15,917       $ 16,824   

Accrued restructuring

     1,156         8,881   

Other

     14,840         13,657   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other current liabilities

   $ 31,913       $ 39,362   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of other non-current liabilities are as follows:

 

     September 30,      December 31,  
     2012      2011  

Accrued salaries and employee benefits

   $ 22,894       $ 26,503   

Premise related costs

     16,696         16,763   

Other

     2,991         4,130   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other non-current liabilities

   $ 42,581       $ 47,396   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

13. Income Taxes

In the third quarter of 2012, the Company reported income before taxes of $10.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $5.9 million. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was 59.0%, which reflects an adjusted full-year expected annualized tax rate of approximately 67 percent, up from the second quarter 2012 adjusted full-year expected annualized tax rate of approximately 57 percent. The increase in the anticipated full-year annualized tax rate from the second quarter is primarily due to a change in the projection and mix of income earned worldwide and return to provision adjustments recorded in the third quarter.

For the first nine months of 2012, the Company reported income before taxes of $20.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $13.4 million. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 66.8%, down from an effective income tax rate in the second quarter of 74.6%. The decrease in the tax rate from the second quarter was due to the diluted impact of periodic charges recorded in the first six months of the year as income before tax has increased quarter over quarter. This decrease in the tax rate is offset by an increase in losses not benefited for tax purposes and return to provision adjustments recorded in the third quarter.

In the third quarter of 2011, the Company reported a loss before taxes of $14.1 million and recorded an income tax provision of $18.3 million. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2011 was 129.2%.

For the first nine months of 2011, the Company reported a loss before taxes of $9.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $20.6 million. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 227.9%.

 

14. Segment Information

The Company operates its executive search and leadership consulting services in three geographic regions: the Americas; Europe, which includes Africa; and Asia Pacific, which includes the Middle East.

For segment purposes, reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses classified as revenue, restructuring charges, and impairment charges are reported separately and, therefore, are not included in the results of each geographic region. The

 

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Company believes that analyzing trends in revenue before reimbursements (net revenue), analyzing operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue, and analyzing operating income excluding restructuring charges and impairment charges, more appropriately reflects its core operations. By segment, restructuring charges were $0.8 million in Europe for the first nine months of 2012. There were no restructuring charges for the first nine months of 2011. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded impairment charges of $26.0 million in the Europe region and $0.4 million in the Americas.

The revenue, operating income, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures, by segment, are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenue:

        

Americas

   $ 72,424      $ 76,886      $ 196,614      $ 217,108   

Europe

     21,538        37,780        75,746        99,858   

Asia Pacific

     23,350        27,547        67,543        83,668   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue)

     117,312        142,213        339,903        400,634   

Reimbursements

     5,033        7,092        16,517        19,164   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 122,345      $ 149,305      $ 356,420      $ 419,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss):

        

Americas

   $ 21,293      $ 17,877      $ 49,146      $ 44,254   

Europe

     479        2,410        2,964        (2,012

Asia Pacific

     1,456        2,792        3,908        10,197   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total regions

     23,228        23,079        56,018        52,439   

Global Operations Support

     (13,043     (9,348     (35,098     (32,486
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income before restructuring and impairment charges

     10,185        13,731        20,920        19,953   

Restructuring charges

     —          —          (810     —     

Impairment charges

     —          (26,366     —          (26,366
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 10,185      $ (12,635   $ 20,110      $ (6,413
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization:

        

Americas

   $ 1,090      $ 1,188      $ 3,270      $ 3,270   

Europe

     694        866        2,055        2,044   

Asia Pacific

     672        603        1,885        1,303   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total regions

     2,456        2,657        7,210        6,617   

Global Operations Support

     335        239        873        590   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,791      $ 2,896      $ 8,083      $ 7,207   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital expenditures:

        

Americas

   $ 795      $ 2,527      $ 2,034      $ 7,002   

Europe

     78        2,411        1,249        4,683   

Asia Pacific

     229        990        2,301        1,909   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total regions

     1,102        5,928        5,584        13,594   

Global Operations Support

     32        535        664        2,656   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,134      $ 6,463      $ 6,248      $ 16,250   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Identifiable assets, and goodwill and other intangible assets, net, by segment, are as follows:

 

     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2011
 

Identifiable assets:

     

Americas

   $ 283,042       $ 298,856   

Europe

     86,723         108,437   

Asia Pacific

     85,710         102,980   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total regions

     455,475         510,273   

Global Operations Support

     4,757         5,292   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 460,232       $ 515,565   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net:

     

Americas

   $ 84,717       $ 85,028   

Asia Pacific

     8,574         8,224   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 93,291       $ 93,252   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

15. Guarantees

The Company has issued guarantees supporting the payment of office lease obligations for certain of its subsidiaries in Europe and Asia Pacific. The guarantees were made to secure the respective lease agreements and are for the terms of the lease agreements, which extend through 2018. For each guarantee issued, should the subsidiary default on a lease payment, the Company would have to perform under the guarantee. The maximum amount of undiscounted payments the Company would be required to make in the event of default on all outstanding guarantees is approximately $1.6 million as of September 30, 2012. The Company has not accrued for these guarantee arrangements as no event of default exists or is expected to exist.

 

16. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has contingent liabilities from various pending claims and litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, some of which involve claims for damages that may be substantial in amount. Some of these matters are covered by insurance. Although the Company’s ultimate liability in the matter discussed below cannot be determined, based upon information currently available, the Company believes the ultimate resolution of such claims and litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

UK Employee Benefits Trust

On January 27, 2010, HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) in the United Kingdom notified the Company that it was challenging the tax treatment of certain of the Company’s contributions in the United Kingdom to an Employee Benefits Trust between 2002 and 2008. HMRC alleges that these contributions should have been subject to Pay As You Earn tax and Class 1 National Insurance Contributions in the United Kingdom; and HMRC is proposing an adjustment to the Company’s payroll tax liability for the affected years. The aggregate amount of HMRC’s proposed adjustment is approximately £3.9 million (equivalent to $6.3 million at September 30, 2012). The Company has appealed the proposed adjustment. At this time, the Company believes that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome with respect to the proposed adjustment is not probable and the potential amount of any loss cannot be reasonably estimated. The Company also believes that the amount of any final adjustment would not be material to the Company’s financial condition.

 

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

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as well as other sections of this annual report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, forecasted or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements include, among other things, our ability to attract, integrate, manage and retain qualified executive search consultants; our ability to develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with our clients; further declines in the global economy and our ability to execute successfully through business cycles; the timing, speed or robustness of any future economic recovery; social or political instability in markets where we operate, the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; unfavorable tax law changes and tax authority rulings; price competition; the ability to forecast, on a quarterly basis, variable compensation accruals that ultimately are determined based on the achievement of annual results; our ability to realize our tax losses; the timing of the establishment or reversal of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; the mix of profit and loss by country; our reliance on information management systems; any further impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets; and the ability to align our cost structure and headcount with net revenue. For more information on the factors that could affect the outcome of forward-looking statements, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, under Risk Factors in Item 1A. We caution the reader that the list of factors may not be exhaustive. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Executive Overview

Our Business

We are a leadership advisory firm providing executive search and leadership consulting services. We help our clients build leadership teams by facilitating the recruitment, management and deployment of senior executives. Focusing on top-level services offers us several advantages that include access to and influence with key decision makers, increased potential for recurring search and consulting engagements, higher fees per search, enhanced brand visibility, and leveraged global footprint, which create added barriers to entry for potential competitors. Working at the top of client organizations also allows us to attract and retain high-caliber consultants.

In addition to executive search, we provide a range of leadership consulting services to clients. Our leadership consulting services, which are currently less than 10% of our net revenue, include succession planning, executive assessment, talent retention management, executive development, transition consulting for newly appointed executives, and mergers and acquisitions human capital integration consulting.

We provide our services to a broad range of clients through the expertise of 332 consultants located in major cities around the world. Our executive search services are provided on a retained basis. Revenue before reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses (“net revenue”) consists of retainers and indirect expenses billed to clients. Typically, we are paid a retainer for our executive search services equal to approximately one-third of the estimated first year compensation for the position to be filled. In addition, if the actual compensation of a placed candidate exceeds the estimated compensation, we often are authorized to bill the client for one-third of the excess. Indirect expenses are calculated as a percentage of the retainer with certain dollar limits per search.

Key Performance Indicators

We manage and assess Heidrick & Struggles’ performance through various means, with the primary financial and operational measures including net revenue growth, operating income, operating margin, consultant headcount, confirmation trends, consultant productivity, and average revenue per search or project.

Revenue growth is driven by market conditions and a combination of an increase in executive search wins and leadership consulting projects, higher average revenue per search or project, and the development and hiring of additional consultants. With the exception of compensation expense, incremental increases in revenue do not necessarily result in proportionate increases in costs, particularly operating and administrative expenses, thus potentially improving operating margins.

The number of consultants, confirmation trends, number of searches or projects completed, productivity levels and the average revenue per search or project will vary from quarter to quarter, affecting revenue growth and operating margin.

 

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Table of Contents

Our Compensation Model

At the consultant level, individuals are largely rewarded for their performance based on a system that directly ties a significant portion of their compensation to the amount of net revenue for which they are responsible. A portion of the reward is based upon individual performance against a series of non-financial measures. Credit towards the variable portion of a consultant’s compensation is earned by generating net revenue for winning and executing work. Each quarter, we review and update the expected annual performance of all consultants and accrue variable compensation accordingly. The amount of variable compensation that is accrued for each consultant is based on a tiered payout model and adjusted for overall Company performance. The more net revenue that is generated by the consultant, the higher the percentage credited towards the consultant’s variable compensation and thus accrued by our Company as expense. The mix of individual consultants who generate revenue can significantly affect the total amount of compensation expense recorded and thus, operating margins. As a result, the variable portion of the compensation expense may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. The total variable compensation is discretionary and is based on company-wide profitability targets that are approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

A portion of our consultants’ and management cash bonuses are deferred and paid over a three-year vesting period. The compensation expense related to the amounts being deferred is recognized on a graded vesting attribution method over the requisite service period. This service period begins on January 1 of the respective fiscal year and continues through the deferral date, which coincides with our bonus payments in the first quarter of the following year, and for an additional three year vesting period. The deferrals are recorded in accrued salaries and employee benefits expense and other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2012 Outlook

We are currently forecasting 2012 fourth quarter net revenue of between $105 million and $115 million. Our 2012 fourth quarter net revenue guidance is based upon management’s assumptions regarding the anticipated volume of new executive search and leadership consulting projects, our current backlog, consultant productivity, consultant retention, the seasonality of our business, the uncertainty in the global economic climate, and no change in future currency rates.

Our 2012 guidance is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under Item 1A - Risk Factors in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. As such, actual results could vary from these projections.

 

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Table of Contents

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, the results of our operations as a percentage of revenue before reimbursements (net revenue):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,     September 30,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenue:

        

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue)

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0

Reimbursements

     4.3        5.0        4.9        4.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     104.3        105.0        104.9        104.8   

Operating expenses:

        

Salaries and employee benefits

     67.9        70.1        69.5        71.7   

General and administrative expenses

     23.4        20.2        24.4        23.3   

Reimbursements

     4.3        5.0        4.9        4.8   

Restructuring charges

     —          —          0.2        —     

Impairment charges

     —          18.5        —          6.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     95.6        113.9        98.9        106.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     8.7        (8.9     5.9        (1.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-operating income (expense):

        

Interest income, net

     0.1        0.2        0.3        0.2   

Other, net

     (0.2     (1.3     (0.3     (0.9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net non-operating income (expense)

     (0.1     (1.1     (0.0     (0.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     8.6        (9.9     5.9        (2.3

Provision for income taxes

     5.1        12.8        3.9        5.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     3.5     (22.8 )%      2.0     (7.4 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Note: Totals and sub-totals may not equal the sum of individual line items due to rounding.

 

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Table of Contents

We operate our executive search and leadership consulting services in three geographic regions: the Americas; Europe, which includes Africa; and Asia Pacific, which includes the Middle East.

For segment purposes, reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses classified as revenue, restructuring charges and impairment charges are reported separately and, therefore, are not included in the results of each geographic region. We believe that analyzing trends in revenue before reimbursements (net revenue), analyzing operating expenses as a percentage of net revenue, and analyzing operating income excluding restructuring charges and impairment charges, more appropriately reflects our core operations.

By segment, restructuring charges were $0.8 million in Europe for the first nine months of 2012. There were no restructuring charges for the first nine months of 2011. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded impairment charges of $26.0 million in the Europe region and $0.4 million in the Americas.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our revenue and operating income by segment (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenue:

        

Americas

   $ 72,424      $ 76,886      $ 196,614      $ 217,108   

Europe

     21,538        37,780        75,746        99,858   

Asia Pacific

     23,350        27,547        67,543        83,668   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue)

     117,312        142,213        339,903        400,634   

Reimbursements

     5,033        7,092        16,517        19,164   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 122,345      $ 149,305      $ 356,420      $ 419,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss):

        

Americas

   $ 21,293      $ 17,877      $ 49,146      $ 44,254   

Europe

     479        2,410        2,964        (2,012

Asia Pacific

     1,456        2,792        3,908        10,197   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total regions

     23,228        23,079        56,018        52,439   

Global Operations Support

     (13,043     (9,348     (35,098     (32,486
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income before restructuring and impairment charges

     10,185        13,731        20,920        19,953   

Restructuring charges

     —          —          (810     —     

Impairment charges

     —          (26,366     —          (26,366
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 10,185      $ (12,635   $ 20,110      $ (6,413
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

Total revenue. Consolidated total revenue decreased $27.0 million, or 18.1%, to $122.3 million in 2012 from $149.3 million in 2011. The decrease in total revenue was due primarily to the decrease in revenue before reimbursements (net revenue).

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue). Consolidated net revenue decreased $24.9 million, or 17.5%, to $117.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $142.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations resulted in approximately 2 percentage points of the decrease. All practices except the Education & Social Enterprise practice contributed to the decline. The number of confirmed executive searches decreased 20.2% compared to the third quarter of 2011 due in part to a decrease in consultant headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 332 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 386 as of September 30, 2011. Productivity, as measured by annualized net revenue per consultant, was $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2011, and average revenue per executive search was $123,700 in the 2012 third quarter compared to $117,600 in the 2011 third quarter.

Net revenue in the Americas was $72.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 5.8%, from $76.9 million in the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to declines in the Financial Services, Life Sciences, Global Technology & Services practices and Leadership Consulting, partially offset by growth in the Industrial practice.

Net revenue in Europe was $21.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $16.2 million, or 43.0%, from $37.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in net revenue reflects declines in all industry practices and Leadership Consulting. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations in Europe was approximately 5 percentage points in the third quarter of 2012.

 

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Net revenue in Asia Pacific was $23.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $4.2 million, or 15.2%, from $27.5 million in the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in net revenue primarily reflects declines in the Consumer Markets and Financial Services practices, partially offset by growth in the Global Technology & Services practice and Leadership Consulting. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations in Asia Pacific was approximately 3 percentage points in the third quarter of 2012.

Salaries and employee benefits. Consolidated salaries and employee benefits expense decreased $20.1 million, or 20.1%, to $79.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $99.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is due to decreases in fixed compensation of $9.1 million and performance-related compensation of $11.0 million. Fixed compensation decreased $9.1 million due to a decrease in base compensation and payroll taxes primarily associated with a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The $11.0 million decrease in performance-related compensation reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in consultant headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. At September 30, 2012 we had 1,465 total employees, compared to 1,614 total employees as of September 30, 2011.

The decrease in salary and employee benefits expense of 20.1% includes a positive impact of $2.3 million or 2.3% due to exchange rate fluctuations.

As a percentage of net revenue, salaries and employee benefits expense was 67.9% in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 70.1% in the third quarter of 2011.

General and administrative expenses. Consolidated general and administrative expenses decreased $1.3 million, or 4.5%, to $27.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 from $28.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease reflects declines of $2.2 million of travel and entertainment expenses, $1.4 million of premise-related costs, and $0.2 million in other operating expenses, partially offset by $2.5 million of costs associated with the global partner meeting held during the third quarter of 2012.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses of 4.5% includes a positive impact of $0.8 million or 2.9% due to exchange rate fluctuations.

As a percentage of net revenue, general and administrative expenses were 23.4% in the third quarter of 2012 compared to 20.2% in the third quarter of 2011.

Impairment charges. During the third quarter of 2011, we recorded impairment charges of $26.4 million. As a result of the restructuring initiatives that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2011, which primarily related to Europe, and the volatility associated with the economic outlook for Europe, including political and economic uncertainty in the region during 2011, we performed a goodwill and intangible asset impairment evaluation as of September 30, 2011. Based on this evaluation, we recorded goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in Europe of $26.0 million, resulting in a write-off of all the goodwill within Europe, and an intangible asset impairment charge of $0.4 million in the Americas.

Operating income. Consolidated operating income was $10.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to an operating loss of $12.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The $22.8 million increase in operating income is primarily due to 2011 impairment charges of $26.4 and decreases in salaries and employee benefits expense of $20.1 million and general and administrative expenses of $1.3 million, partially offset by a decrease in net revenue of $24.9 million.

For segment purposes, restructuring charges and impairment charges are not included in operating income by geographic region. We believe that analyzing trends in operating income excluding restructuring charges and impairment charges more appropriately reflects our core operations.

In the Americas, operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $3.4 million to $21.3 million from $17.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase is due to decreases in salaries and employee benefits expense of $6.0 million and general and administrative expenses of $1.9 million, partially offset by lower net revenue of $4.5 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense reflects a decrease of $3.3 million in fixed compensation and a decrease of $2.7 million in performance-related compensation. Fixed compensation decreased primarily due to lower headcount as a result of our 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The performance-related compensation decrease reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 156 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 176 as of September 30, 2011.

 

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The decrease in general and administrative expenses is due to a $1.0 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses, a $0.6 million decrease in premise-related costs, a $0.4 million reduction of professional service costs, and a $0.4 million decrease in other operating expenses, partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in bad debt expense.

In Europe, operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $1.9 million to $0.5 million from $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is due to lower net revenue of $16.2 million, partially offset by declines in salaries and employee benefits expense of $12.6 million and general and administrative expenses of $1.7 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense reflects a decrease of $7.8 million in fixed compensation and a decrease of $4.8 million in performance-related compensation. Fixed compensation decreased primarily due to lower headcount as a result of our 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The performance-related compensation decrease reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 91 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 126 as of September 30, 2011. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily due to a $1.1 million reduction in premise-related costs, and a $0.5 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses.

In Asia Pacific, operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2012 decreased $1.3 million to $1.5 million from $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in net revenue of $4.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in salaries and benefits of $3.0 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is due to a decrease in performance-related compensation of $3.4 million associated with lower net revenue, partially offset by an increase in fixed compensation of $0.4 million. The number of consultants was 85 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 84 as of September 30, 2011.

Global Operations Support expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2012 increased $3.7 million to $13.0 million from $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $1.4 million primarily due to $1.1 million of severance expense in the third quarter of 2012. General and administrative expenses increased $2.3 million due to $2.5 million of costs associated with the global partner meeting held during the third quarter of 2012, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in other operating costs.

Net non-operating income (expense). Net non-operating expense was $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Net interest income was $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Net other non-operating expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. Net other non-operating expense consists of exchange gains and losses on cash and intercompany balances, which are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency and are not considered permanent in nature.

Income taxes. In the third quarter of 2012, we reported income before taxes of $10.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $5.9 million. Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was 59.0%, which reflects an adjusted full-year expected annualized tax rate of approximately 67 percent, up from the second quarter 2012 adjusted full-year expected annualized tax rate of approximately 57 percent. The increase in the full-year expected annualized tax rate from the second quarter is primarily due to a change in the projection and mix of income earned worldwide and return to provision adjustments recorded in the third quarter.

In the third quarter of 2011, we reported a loss before taxes of $14.1 million and recorded an income tax provision of $18.3 million. Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2011 was 129.2%.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

Total revenue. Consolidated total revenue decreased $63.4 million, or 15.1%, to $356.4 million in 2012 from $419.8 million in 2011. The decrease in total revenue was due primarily to the decrease in revenue before reimbursements (net revenue).

Revenue before reimbursements (net revenue). Consolidated net revenue decreased $60.7 million, or 15.2%, to $339.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $400.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations resulted in approximately 2 percentage points of the decrease. All practices, except the Education & Social Enterprise practice contributed to the decline. Net revenue decreased in all regions. The number of confirmed executive searches decreased 18.0% compared to the nine months ended 2011, due in part to a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 332 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 386 as of September 30, 2011. Productivity, as measured by annualized net revenue per consultant, decreased to $1.3 million for the nine months ended 2012 from $1.4 million for the nine months ended 2011, and average revenue per executive search was $112,600 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $108,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

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Net revenue in the Americas was $196.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $20.5 million, or 9.4%, from $217.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to declines in the Financial Services and Global Technology & Services practices, and Leadership Consulting.

Net revenue in Europe was $75.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $24.1 million, or 24.1%, from $99.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to declines in the Consumer Markets, Financial Services, and Industrial practices. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations contributed to the decrease in net revenue in Europe by approximately 5 percentage points for the nine months ended 2012.

Net revenue in Asia Pacific was $67.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $16.1 million, or 19.3%, from $83.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to declines in the Consumer Markets, Financial Services, and Industrial practices, partially offset by an increase in the Global Technology & Services practice. The negative impact of exchange rate fluctuations decreased net revenue in Asia Pacific by approximately 2 percentage points for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Salaries and employee benefits. Consolidated salaries and employee benefits expense decreased $51.1 million, or 17.8%, to $236.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $287.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is a result of decreases in fixed compensation of $26.0 million and performance-related compensation of $25.1 million. Fixed compensation decreased $26.0 million due to a decrease in base compensation and payroll taxes primarily associated with a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The $25.1 million decrease in performance-related compensation reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in consultant headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. At September 30, 2012 we had 1,465 total employees, compared to 1,614 total employees as of September 30, 2011.

The decrease in salary and employee benefits expense of 17.8% includes a positive impact of $5.5 million or 1.9% due to exchange rate fluctuations.

As a percentage of net revenue, salaries and employee benefits expense was 69.5% in the first nine months of 2012, compared to 71.7% in the first nine months of 2011.

General and administrative expenses. Consolidated general and administrative expenses decreased $10.6 million, or 11.3%, to $82.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 from $93.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. General and administrative expenses decreased due to declines of $4.7 million in travel and entertainment expenses, $3.0 million in fees for professional services, $2.8 million in other operating and infrastructure costs, and $2.6 million in premise-related costs. These decreases were partially offset by $2.5 million of costs associated with the global partner meeting held during the third quarter of 2012.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses of 11.3% includes a positive impact of $1.9 million or 2.1% due to exchange rate fluctuations.

As a percentage of net revenue, general and administrative expenses were 24.4% in the first nine months of 2012, compared to 23.3% in the first nine months of 2011.

Restructuring charges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we recorded restructuring charges of $0.8 million related to adjustments associated with our 2011 restructuring plan. These charges consist of $1.1 million of employee-related costs associated with severance arrangements, partially offset by $0.3 million of adjustments to premise-related costs.

Impairment charges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded $26.4 million of impairment charges. As a result of the restructuring initiatives that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2011, which primarily related to Europe, and the volatility associated with the economic outlook for Europe, including political and economic uncertainty in the region, we performed a goodwill and intangible asset impairment evaluation. Based on the evaluation, we recorded goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges in Europe of $26.0 million, resulting in a write-off of all the goodwill within Europe, and an intangible asset impairment charge of $0.4 million in the Americas.

Operating income. Our consolidated operating income was $20.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to an operating loss of $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in operating income is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense of $51.1 million, 2011 impairment charges of $26.4 million, and a decrease in general and administrative expenses of $10.6 million, partially offset by lower net revenue of $60.7 million and $0.8 million of restructuring charges.

 

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For segment purposes, restructuring charges and impairment charges are not included in operating income by geographic region. We believe that analyzing trends in operating income excluding restructuring charges and impairment charges more appropriately reflects our core operations.

The Americas reported operating income of $49.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $44.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase of $4.9 million is due to a $20.4 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense and a $5.0 million decrease in general and administrative expenses partially offset by lower net revenue of $20.5 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is due to a $10.9 million reduction in fixed compensation and a $9.5 million decrease in performance-related compensation. Fixed compensation decreased primarily due to lower headcount as a result of our 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The performance-related compensation decrease reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 156 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 176 as of September 30, 2011. The decrease in general and administrative costs is primarily due to decreases in fees for professional services of $2.1 million, $2.1 million in other operating and infrastructure costs, $1.1 million of premise-related costs, and travel and entertainment expenses of $1.0 million, partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in bad debt expense.

Europe reported an operating income of $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to an operating loss of $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in operating income is due to decreases in salaries and employee benefits expense of $23.6 million and general and administrative expense of $5.5 million, partially offset by a decrease in net revenue of $24.1 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense is due to a $17.3 million reduction in fixed compensation and a $6.3 million decrease in performance-related compensation. Fixed compensation decreased primarily due to lower headcount as a result of our 2011 restructuring, as well as consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The performance-related compensation decrease reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue, a decrease in worldwide headcount as a result of the 2011 restructuring, and consultant turnover that exceeded new hires and promotions. The number of consultants was 91 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 126 as of September 30, 2011. The decrease in general and administrative costs is due to a $2.0 million decrease in premise-related costs, a $1.9 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses, a $0.9 million decrease in other operating and infrastructure costs, and a $0.7 million decrease in bad debt expense.

Asia Pacific reported operating income of $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a decrease of $6.3 million compared to operating income of $10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease is due to a $16.1 million decrease in revenue, partially offset by decreases in salaries and employee benefits expense of $8.9 million and general and administrative expenses of $0.9 million. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense primarily reflects a decrease in accruals for variable compensation associated with lower net revenue. The number of consultants was 85 as of September 30, 2012 compared to 84 as of September 30, 2011. The decrease in general and administrative costs is primarily due to decreases in bad debt expense and professional fees.

Global Operations Support expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $35.1 million, an increase of $2.6 million, compared to $32.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $1.7 million and general and administrative expense increased $0.9 million. The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense is primarily due to increases in base compensation and associated payroll taxes and benefits as well as amortization of deferred compensation. The increase in general and administrative expense is primarily due to $2.5 million of costs associated with the global partner meeting held during the third quarter of 2012 and a $0.8 million increase in other operating and infrastructure costs, partially offset by a decrease of $1.4 million in travel and entertainment expenses and a decrease of $1.0 million in professional fees.

Net non-operating income (expense). Net non-operating expense was $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Net interest income was $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

Net other non-operating expense was $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Net other non-operating expense consists of exchange gains and losses on cash and intercompany balances, which are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency and are not considered permanent in nature. During 2011, we wrote-off our $1.8 million investment in JobKoo and our $1.0 million loan to JobKoo made in the first quarter of 2011. JobKoo was a joint venture in which the Company held an equity method investment.

Income taxes. For the first nine months of 2012, we reported income before taxes of $20.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $13.4 million. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 66.8%, down from the second quarter rate of 74.6%. The decrease in the tax rate from the second quarter was due to the diluted impact of periodic charges recorded in the first six months of the year as income before tax has increased quarter over quarter. This decrease in the tax rate is offset by an increase in losses not benefited for tax purposes and return to provision adjustments recorded in the third quarter.

 

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For the first nine months of 2011, we reported a loss before taxes of $9.0 million and recorded an income tax provision of $20.6 million. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 227.9%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General. We continually evaluate our liquidity requirements, capital needs and availability of capital resources based on our operating needs. We believe that our existing cash balances together with the funds expected to be generated from operations and funds available under our committed revolving credit facility will be sufficient to finance our operations for the foreseeable future, as well as to finance the cash payments associated with our cash dividends and stock repurchase program.

We pay the non-deferred portion of annual bonuses in the first quarter following the year in which they are earned. Employee bonuses are accrued throughout the year and are based on our performance and the performance of the individual employee.

Lines of credit. On June 22, 2011, the Company and certain foreign subsidiary borrowers of the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Agreement”) with its lenders. The Agreement provides the terms under which the lenders will make available to the Company a committed unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $75 million (the “Facility”). The Agreement includes an expansion feature that allows the Company to seek to increase the aggregate commitment under the Facility by up to $25 million provided that the Company is in compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Agreement. The Agreement also provides for the issuance of letters of credit. The Facility matures on June 22, 2016. Under the Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow U.S. dollars, euros, British pound sterling, Australian dollars or other major traded currencies as agreed by the lenders. Borrowings under the Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s election, at the existing Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Agreement) or Adjusted LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Agreement) plus a spread as determined by the Company’s leverage ratio.

There were no borrowings made or outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 or 2011. We were in compliance with the financial and other covenants under the Agreement and no event of default existed at September 30, 2012.

Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2011 were $127.1 million, $185.4 million and $135.5 million, respectively. The $127.1 million of cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2012, includes $59.1 million held by our foreign subsidiaries. A portion of the $59.1 million is considered permanently reinvested in these foreign subsidiaries. If these funds were required to satisfy obligations in the U.S., the repatriation of these funds could cause us to incur additional U.S. income taxes or foreign withholding taxes. Any additional taxes could be offset, in part or in whole, by foreign tax credits. The amount of such taxes and application of tax credits would be dependent on the income tax laws and other circumstances at the time these amounts are repatriated. Based on these variables, it is not practicable to determine the income tax liability that might be incurred if these earnings were to be repatriated.

Cash flows used in operating activities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, cash used in operating activities was $43.2 million, primarily reflecting a decrease in accrued expenses due to approximately $109 million of 2011 bonuses that were paid during 2012, partially offset by approximately $64 million of 2012 accruals for variable compensation and a $18.6 million increase in trade and other receivables.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, cash used in operating activities was $10.7 million, primarily reflecting a decrease in accrued expenses due to approximately $99 million of 2010 bonuses that were paid during 2011 and our net loss of $29.6 million, partially offset by approximately $83 million of 2011 accruals for variable compensation, impairment charges of $26.4 million, and a $21.2 million increase in trade and other receivables.

Cash flows used in investing activities. Cash used in investing activities was $6.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 primarily due to capital expenditures of $6.2 million and purchases of available for sale investments of $1.0 million.

Cash used in investing activities was $21.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 primarily due to capital expenditures of $16.3 million, a $3.9 million earnout payment related to the Iron Hill acquisition, a $1.0 million loan to JobKoo, an equity method investment, and purchases of available for sale investments of $0.8 million.

Cash flows used in financing activities. Cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $10.4 million primarily due to $7.3 million of quarterly cash dividends to shareholders, $1.6 million of payments for employee tax withholdings on equity transactions, and $1.1 million of purchases of treasury stock.

Cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $10.1 million primarily due to $7.4 million of quarterly cash dividends to shareholders and $2.8 million of payments for employee tax withholdings on equity transactions.

 

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On February 8, 2008, our Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase shares of our common stock with an aggregate purchase price up to $50 million. We intend from time to time and as business conditions warrant, to purchase shares of our common stock on the open market or in negotiated or block trades. No time limit has been set for completion of this program. As of September 30, 2012, we have purchased 1,038,670 shares of our common stock for a total of $28.3 million, and $21.7 million remains available under the February 2008 authorization. Unless terminated or extended earlier by resolution of the board of directors, the program will expire when the amount authorized for repurchases has been spent.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, special purpose entities, trading activities of non-exchange traded contracts or transactions with related parties.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2012, and in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. If actual amounts are ultimately different from previous estimates, the revisions are included in our results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known.

An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. Management believes its critical accounting policies that reflect its more significant estimates and assumptions relate to revenue recognition, accruals for consultant bonuses, income taxes, contingent liabilities, and the allowance for doubtful accounts. See Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2012.

Recently Adopted Financial Accounting Standards

On January 1, 2012 we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s guidance to increase the prominence of other comprehensive income within the financial statements. The guidance requires entities to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income. The option to only present other comprehensive income within the statement of stockholders’ equity was eliminated. We have presented the components of net income and other comprehensive income in a single continuous statement.

On January 1, 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment, became effective. This standard gives an entity the option of performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform step 1 of the annual goodwill impairment test. An entity is required to perform step 1, only if it concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. An entity may choose to perform the qualitative assessment on none, some, or all of its reporting units or an entity may bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to step 1 of the impairment test. We perform our annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each year.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Currency market risk. With our operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific we conduct business using various currencies. Revenue earned in each country is generally matched with the associated expenses incurred, thereby reducing currency risk to earnings. However, because certain assets and liabilities are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, changes in currency rates may cause fluctuations in the valuation of such assets and liabilities. As the local currency of our subsidiaries has generally been designated as the functional currency, we are affected by the translation of foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars. A 1% change in the average exchange rate for currencies of all foreign countries in which we operate would have increased or decreased our net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 by less than $0.2 million. For financial information by geographic segment, see Note 14, Segment Information, in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Any system of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

Management of the Company, with the participation of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2012. Based on the evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2012.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We have contingent liabilities from various pending claims and litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of our business, some of which involve claims for damages that may be substantial in amount. Some of these matters are covered by insurance. Although our ultimate liability in the matter discussed below cannot be determined, based upon information currently available, we believe the ultimate resolution of such claims and litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

UK Employee Benefits Trust

On January 27, 2010, HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) in the United Kingdom notified us that it was challenging the tax treatment of certain of our contributions in the United Kingdom to an Employee Benefits Trust between 2002 and 2008. HMRC alleges that these contributions should have been subject to Pay As You Earn tax and Class 1 National Insurance Contributions in the United Kingdom; and HMRC is proposing an adjustment to our payroll tax liability for the affected years. The aggregate amount of HMRC’s proposed adjustment is approximately £3.9 million (equivalent to $6.3 million at September 30, 2012). We have appealed the proposed adjustment. At this time, we believe that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome with respect to the proposed adjustment is not probable and the potential amount of any loss cannot be reasonably estimated. We also believe that the amount of any final adjustment, if any, would not be material to our financial condition.

 

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table provides information related to the Company’s purchase of common shares for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. For further information of the Company’s share repurchase activity, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
     Average Price
Paid Per Share
     Total Number
of Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicaly
Announced Plans or
Programs (1)
     Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
 

Jul. 1, 2012 - Jul. 31, 2012

     —         $ —           —         $ 22,788,650   

Aug. 1, 2012 - Aug. 31, 2012

     87,510         12.83         87,510         21,665,535   

Sept. 1, 2012 - Sept. 30, 2012

     —           —           —           21,665,535   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     87,510         —           87,510      
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

(1) Our common stock repurchase program was announced on February 11, 2008 and has a total authorization of $50 million. The program has no stated expiration date.

 

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     ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

       3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of this Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-61023)
       3.2    Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registration (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.02 of the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed March 26, 2003)
  *31.1    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  *31.2    Certification of the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  *32.1    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  *32.2    Certification of the Company’s 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
 **101    The following financial information from the Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) related Footnotes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

* Filed herewith.
** Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

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SIGNATURE

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

Date: November 5, 2012

 

Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
                    (Registrant)
By:  

/s/ Richard W. Pehlke

  Richard W. Pehlke
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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