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Table of Contents

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005

 

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: 0-24484

 


 

MPS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Florida   59-3116655

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Independent Drive, Jacksonville, FL   32202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code): (904) 360-2000

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of April 28, 2005:

 

103,663,682 shares of $0.01 par value Common Stock

 



Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties or assumptions and may be affected by certain factors, including but not limited to the specific factors discussed in Part I, Item 2 of this report under the heading ‘Factors Which May Impact Future Results and Financial Condition.’ In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as ‘will,’ ‘may,’ ‘should,’ ‘could,’ ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘indicates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘appears,’ ‘predicts,’ ‘potential,’ ‘continues,’ ‘can,’ ‘hopes,’ ‘perhaps,’ ‘would,’ or ‘become’ or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.


Table of Contents

MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Index

 

          Page

Part I   

Financial Information

    
Item 1   

Consolidated Financial Statements

    
    

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

   4
    

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

   5
    

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

   6
    

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7
Item 2   

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

   12
Item 3   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   19
Item 4   

Controls and Procedures

   19
Part II   

Other Information

    
Item 1   

Legal Proceedings

   20
Item 2   

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   20
Item 3   

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   20
Item 4   

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   20
Item 5   

Other Information

   20
Item 6   

Exhibits

   20
    

Signatures

   21


Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

 

(dollar amounts in thousands except share amounts)


   March 31,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 

ASSETS

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 115,555     $ 106,497  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $9,745 and $9,836, respectively

     230,984       209,512  

Prepaid expenses

     5,724       6,405  

Deferred income taxes

     948       836  

Other

     15,243       15,532  
    


 


Total current assets

     368,454       338,782  

Furniture, equipment, and leasehold improvements, net

     26,769       26,878  

Goodwill, net

     527,736       529,292  

Deferred income taxes

     44,201       48,518  

Other assets, net

     10,767       11,134  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 977,927     $ 954,604  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

   $ 53,306     $ 51,944  

Accrued payroll and related taxes

     56,944       45,353  

Income taxes payable

     10,013       9,352  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     120,263       106,649  

Other

     12,160       12,292  
    


 


Total liabilities

     132,423       118,941  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 108,728,264 and 108,434,541 shares issued, respectively

     1,087       1,085  

Additional contributed capital

     667,001       664,440  

Retained earnings

     207,315       197,966  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     17,163       18,497  

Deferred stock compensation

     (7,120 )     (6,383 )

Treasury stock, at cost (5,078,514 shares at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004)

     (39,942 )     (39,942 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     845,504       835,663  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 977,927     $ 954,604  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


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MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)


   March 31,
2005


   March 31,
2004


Revenue

   $ 407,709    $ 310,481

Cost of revenue

     305,775      232,246
    

  

Gross profit

     101,934      78,235
    

  

Operating expenses:

             

General and administrative

     83,218      66,294

Depreciation and intangibles amortization

     4,117      3,922
    

  

Total operating expenses

     87,335      70,216
    

  

Income from operations

     14,599      8,019

Other income, net

     602      635
    

  

Income from operations before provision for income taxes

     15,201      8,654

Provision for income taxes

     5,852      3,332
    

  

Net income

   $ 9,349    $ 5,322
    

  

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.05
    

  

Average common shares outstanding, basic

     102,948      104,274
    

  

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.05
    

  

Average common shares outstanding, diluted

     107,074      107,996
    

  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


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MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
March 31,


 

(dollar amounts in thousands)


   2005

    2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 9,349     $ 5,322  

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

                

Deferred income taxes

     4,205       5,039  

Deferred compensation

     888       305  

Depreciation and intangibles amortization

     4,117       3,922  

Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

                

Accounts receivable

     (23,762 )     (17,825 )

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     671       (790 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     3,874       (1,600 )

Accrued payroll and related taxes

     11,673       9,319  

Other, net

     (583 )     (861 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     10,432       2,831  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Sale of assets

     3,674       —    

Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net of disposals

     (3,396 )     (3,097 )

Purchase of businesses, including additional consideration on acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (540 )     (15,832 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (262 )     (18,929 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Discount realized on employee stock purchase plan

     (89 )     (95 )

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     768       1,586  

Repayments on indebtedness

     (1,283 )     (264 )
    


 


Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (604 )     1,227  
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (508 )     1,244  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     9,058       (13,627 )

Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations

     —         1,490  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     106,497       124,830  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 115,555     $ 112,693  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

 

1. Basis of Presentation.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by MPS Group, Inc. (‘MPS’ or the ‘Company’) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures usually found in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full fiscal year.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for its employee and director stock option plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB Opinion No. 25”), and related interpretations. The Company measures compensation expense for employee and director stock options as the aggregate difference between the fair value of its common stock and exercise prices of the options on the date that both the number of shares the grantee is entitled to receive and the exercise prices are known. Compensation expense associated with restricted stock grants is equal to the fair value of the shares on the date of grant and is recorded pro rata over the required holding period. If the Company had elected to recognize compensation cost for all outstanding options granted by the Company by applying the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘SFAS’) No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure, to stock-based employee compensation, net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below.

 

     Three Months Ended

 

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)


   March 31,
2005


    March 31,
2004


 

Net income

                

As reported

   $ 9,349     $ 5,322  

Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (3,339 )     (683 )
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 6,010     $ 4,639  
    


 


Basic net income per common share

                

As reported

   $ 0.09     $ 0.05  

Pro forma

   $ 0.06     $ 0.04  

Diluted net income per common share

                

As reported

   $ 0.09     $ 0.05  

Pro forma

   $ 0.06     $ 0.04  

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments—(“SFAS 123R”), which replaces SFAS No. 123 and supercedes APB Opinion

 

7


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MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

 

No. 25. SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values, beginning with the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005. In April 2005, the SEC amended the compliance date to the first annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS 123 no longer will be an alternative to financial statement recognition. The Company expects to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 123R in the first quarter of 2006. The Company is evaluating the requirements of SFAS 123R and has not yet determined the method of adoption or the effect of adopting SFAS 123R, and the Company has not determined whether the adoption will result in amounts that are similar to the current pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 109-2, Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“FSP 109-2”). FSP 109-2 provides guidance under FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“FASB Statement No. 109”), with respect to recording the potential impact of the repatriation provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”) on enterprises’ income tax expense and deferred tax liability. FSP 109-2 states that an enterprise is allowed time beyond the financial reporting period of enactment to evaluate the effect of the Jobs Act on its plan for reinvestment or repatriation of foreign earnings for purposes of applying FASB Statement No. 109. Based upon the Company’s preliminary evaluation of the effects of the repatriation provision, the Company does not expect to apply this provision.

 

2. Net Income per Common Share

 

The calculation of basic net income per common share and diluted net income per common share is presented below:

 

     Three Months Ended

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)


   March 31,
2005


   March 31,
2004


Basic net income per common share computation:

             

Net income

   $ 9,349    $ 5,322
    

  

Basic average common shares outstanding

     102,948      104,274

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock awards

     4,126      3,722
    

  

Diluted average common shares outstanding

     107,074      107,996
    

  

Basic net income per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.05
    

  

Diluted net income per common share

   $ 0.09    $ 0.05
    

  

 

Options to purchase 680,000 and 670,000 shares of common stock that were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise prices of these options were greater than the average market price of the common shares.

 

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MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

 

3. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

The Company is a party to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the ordinary conduct of its business. In the opinion of management, based on the advice of in-house and external legal counsel, the lawsuits and claims pending are not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company, its financial position, its results of operations, or its cash flows.

 

4. Segment Reporting

 

The Company discloses segment information in accordance with SFAS No. 131, Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, which requires companies to report selected segment information on a quarterly basis and to report certain entity-wide disclosures about products and services, major customers, and the material countries in which the entity holds assets and reports revenues.

 

The Company has four reportable segments: North American Professional services, European Professional services, North American IT services, and European IT services. The Company’s reportable segments offer different services, have different client bases, experience differing economic characteristics, and are managed separately as each requires different resources and marketing strategies. The North American Professional services segment provides specialized staffing and recruiting in the disciplines of accounting, finance, law, engineering and healthcare in North America. The European Professional services segment provides specialized staffing and recruiting for accounting, financial services, legal, human resources, not-for-profit and public-sector positions in Europe, principally in the United Kingdom. The North American IT services segment offers value-added solutions such as IT project support and staffing, recruitment of full-time positions, project-based solutions, supplier management solutions, on-site recruiting support, IT strategy consulting, design and branding, application development, and integration in North America. The European IT services segment provides value-added solutions such as IT project support and staffing, and recruitment of full-time positions, specialized staffing and solutions in Europe, principally in the United Kingdom.

 

The North American Professional services division’s results for 2005 include the results from the acquisitions of two health care staffing businesses, which were acquired by the Company in February and March of 2004, two legal staffing businesses, which were acquired in September and October of 2004, and three accounting and finance businesses, which were acquired in February, July and October of 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

 

The Company evaluates segment performance based on revenues, gross profit, and income before provision for income taxes. The Company does not allocate income taxes, interest or unusual items to the segments. In addition, the Company does not report total assets by segment. No one customer represents more than 5% of the Company’s overall revenue, and as a result, the Company does not believe it has a material reliance on any one customer. The following tables summarize performance, identifiable assets, and long-lived assets by segment and revenue by geographic location:

 

     Three Months Ended

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)


   March 31,
2005


    March 31,
2004


 

Revenue

                

North American Professional services

   $ 125,409     $ 92,803  

European Professional services

     84,586       63,765  

North American IT services

     125,493       101,789  

European IT services

     72,221       52,124  
    


 


Total revenue

   $ 407,709     $ 310,481  
    


 


Gross profit

                

North American Professional services

   $ 35,906     $ 25,817  

European Professional services

     23,839       17,664  

North American IT services

     32,957       27,752  

European IT services

     9,232       7,002  
    


 


Total gross profit

   $ 101,934     $ 78,235  
    


 


Income from operations before provision for income taxes

                

North American Professional services

   $ 7,227     $ 4,395  

European Professional services

     5,386       2,907  

North American IT services

     7,990       5,827  

European IT services

     1,005       204  
    


 


       21,608       13,333  

Corporate expenses (1)

     (7,009 )     (5,314 )

Other income, net

     602       635  
    


 


Total income from operations before provision for income taxes

   $ 15,201     $ 8,654  
    


 


Geographic Areas

                

Revenue

                

North America

   $ 250,902     $ 194,592  

Europe

     156,807       115,889  
    


 


Total revenue

   $ 407,709     $ 310,481  
    


 



(1) Corporate expenses include unallocated expenses not directly related to the segments’ operations.

 

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Table of Contents

MPS Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)—(Continued)

(dollar amounts in thousands except per share amounts)

 

(dollar amounts in thousands)


   March 31,
2005


   December 31,
2004


Accounts receivable, net

             

North American Professional services

   $ 67,028    $ 60,623

European Professional services

     36,012      32,433

North American IT services

     84,378      78,367

European IT services

     43,566      38,089
    

  

Total accounts receivable, net

   $ 230,984    $ 209,512
    

  

Long-lived assets

             

North American Professional services

   $ 155,856    $ 154,412

European Professional services

     106,196      105,542

North American IT services

     250,556      253,378

European IT services

     36,363      35,904
    

  

       548,971      549,236

Corporate

     5,534      6,934
    

  

Total long-lived assets

   $ 554,505    $ 556,170
    

  

 

5. Comprehensive Income

 

The Company discloses other comprehensive income in accordance with SFAS No. 130, ‘Reporting Comprehensive Income’. Comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation adjustments. A summary of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended

     March 31,
2005


    March 31,
2004


Net income

   $ 9,349     $ 5,322

Unrealized (loss) gain on foreign currency translation adjustments (1)

     (1,334 )     2,908
    


 

Comprehensive income

   $ 8,015     $ 8,230
    


 


(1) The currency translation adjustments are not adjusted for income taxes as they relate to indefinite investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries.

 

6. Excess Real Estate Obligations

 

In 2002, management determined that the Company would not be able to utilize certain vacated office space, thus eliminating the economic benefit associated with the vacated office space. As a result, the Company recorded a charge for contract termination costs, in accordance with SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, mainly due to costs that will continue to be incurred under the lease contract for its remaining term without economic benefit to the Company. As of December 31, 2004, there were $1.5 million of contract termination costs remaining, all under the North America IT Services reporting segment. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, $218,000 were paid or otherwise settled, which reduced the outstanding termination costs to $1.3 million at March 31, 2005.

 

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

 

References to “we”, “our”, “us”, “MPS” or the “Company” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to MPS Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

 

MPS Group, Inc. is a leading provider of business services with over 185 offices throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe. We deliver specialty staffing, consulting and business solutions to virtually all industries in the following disciplines, through the following primary brands:

 

Discipline


  

Brand(s)


Information Technology (IT) Services

   Modis®

Accounting and Finance

   Badenoch & Clark® , Accounting Principals®

Engineering

   Entegee®

Legal

   Special Counsel®

IT Solutions

   Idea Integration®

Health Care

   Soliant Health®

Human Capital Automation

   Beeline®

 

Executive Summary

 

We believe that economic conditions strengthened during 2004, both in the United States and abroad, which favorably impacted both MPS and our industry. In the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004, we were able to grow revenue in all of our segments. In addition to the improved macroeconomic conditions, we believe this growth resulted from our investments in additional sales and recruiting staff, the ability to execute our acquisition strategy, new service offerings, and new office openings. Specifically for 2004, we acquired seven businesses for our North American Professional services segment (together, the ‘Acquisitions’): two legal staffing businesses acquired in August and October of 2004; two health care staffing businesses acquired in February and March of 2004; and three accounting staffing businesses acquired in February, July, and October of 2004. For 2005, while we continue to believe we will experience future revenue growth, our revenue will be impacted by general macroeconomic conditions. Most recently, our IT services division experienced a flattening of demand in March of 2005, resulting from a slowdown in spending at certain clients, after two months of growth in January and February.

 

Our revenue increased 31.3% and our operating income increased 82.1% from the first quarter of 2004. However, our gross margin decreased 20 basis points due to lower gross margins in our IT services division, and a higher contribution of revenue being generated from our lowest gross margin segment, the European IT services segment. Throughout 2005, we will continue to look for opportunities to increase gross margin along with increasing operating leverage within each segment. Specifically within the European IT services segment, we have begun the process of scaling back relationships with certain low-margin, high-volume clients in order to focus on higher-margin clients. In addition, we have a foundation for growth with more than $115 million of cash on hand at quarter end, a $150 million credit facility with no outstanding borrowings, no long-term debt, and working capital of $248.2 million.

 

The following detailed analysis of operations should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto included in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and the 2004 Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Results Of Operations For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 And 2004

 

Consolidated revenue was $407.7 million and $310.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 31.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

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Consolidated gross profit was $101.9 million and $78.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 30.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Consolidated gross margin was 25.0% and 25.2% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Consolidated operating expenses were $87.3 million and $70.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 24.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. General and administrative (G&A) expenses, which are included in operating expenses, were $83.2 million and $66.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 25.5% during the three months ended March 31, 2005

 

Consolidated operating income was $15.2 million and $8.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 75.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 3.7% and 2.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Segment Results

 

Professional Services division

 

North American Professional Services Segment

 

Revenue in our North American Professional services segment was $125.4 million and $92.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 35.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Acquisitions contributed $18.6 million in revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2005. The following contributed to the increase in revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2005: throughout 2004, we executed on our acquisition strategy; made considerable investments in sales and recruiting staff; and introduced additional service offerings. We completed seven acquisitions during 2004, and between these acquisitions and internal staff investments, we increased our staff headcount by 33% from March 31, 2004 to March 31, 2005. The internal staff investments were in anticipation of increased demand and were coupled with the added service offerings to our Special Counsel, Accounting Principals, and Soliant Health brands/operating units during 2004.

 

Revenue contribution from the North American Professional services operating units for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 as a percentage of the total North American Professional services segment revenues were as follows:

 

     Three months ended
March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Entegee

   47.3 %   52.3 %

Special Counsel

   22.4     27.1  

Accounting Principals

   18.9     9.0  

Soliant Health

   11.4     9.0  

Other

   —       2.6  

 

Gross profit in our North American Professional services segment was $35.9 million and $25.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 39.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Acquisitions contributed $6.2 million in gross profit in the three months ended March 31, 2005. Gross margin in our North American Professional services segment was 28.6% and 27.8% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in gross margin in the three months ended March 31, 2005 was due primarily to an increase in direct hire fees. Direct hire fees, which generate higher margin, increased to 5.4% of the segment’s revenue, from 3.6% in the year earlier period.

 

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G&A expenses in our North American Professional services segment were $27.2 million and $20.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 33.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, G&A expenses were 21.7% and 22.0% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses was due primarily to the increase in compensation expense related to the increases in the segment’s revenue, our investment in additional sales and recruiting personnel, and additional G&A from Acquisitions.

 

Operating income was $7.2 million and $4.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 64.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 5.8% and 4.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

European Professional Services Segment

 

Revenue in our European Professional services segment was $84.6 million and $63.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 32.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed $2.3 million in revenue from the three months ended March 31, 2004 to the three months ended March 31, 2005. The remaining increase in revenue was due to both an overall improvement of the economic environment, and our investment in sales and recruiting personnel across our service lines. Specifically, we increased our staff headcount by 17%, from March 31, 2004 to March 31, 2005, in anticipation of increased demand.

 

Gross profit in our European Professional services segment was $23.8 million and $17.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 34.5% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed $634,000 in gross profit from the three months ended March 31, 2004 to the three months ended March 31, 2005. Gross margin in our European Professional services segment was 28.2% and 27.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in gross margin in the three months ended March 31, 2005 was due primarily to an increase in direct hire fees. Direct hire fees, which generate higher margin, increased to 8.0% of the segment’s revenue, from 5.9% in the year earlier period.

 

G&A expenses in our European Professional services segment were $18.0 million and $14.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 25.0% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, G&A expenses were 21.3% and 22.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses was due primarily to the following: the increase in compensation expense related to the increases in the segment’s revenue, our investment in additional sales and recruiting personnel, and the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Operating income was $5.4 million and $2.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 85.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 6.4% and 4.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

IT Services division

 

North American IT Services Segment

 

Revenue in our North American IT services segment was $125.5 million and $101.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 23.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in revenue was due to a combination of increased spending on IT initiatives by our clients and our additional investment in sales and recruiting staff. In order to capitalize on the improving macroeconomic trends, we increased our staff headcount by 9% from March 31, 2004 to March 31, 2005.

 

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Revenue within the North American IT services segment is generated primarily from Modis, as it generated 84.8% and 82.3% of the segment’s revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Idea Integration and Beeline are responsible for the remainder of this segment’s revenue.

 

Gross profit for the North American IT services segment was $33.0 million and $27.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 18.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Gross margin in our North American IT services segment was 26.3% and 27.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in gross margin is due to the lower utilization of Idea Integration’s salaried consultants.

 

The North American IT services segment’s G&A expenses were $23.2 million and $19.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 17.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, G&A expenses were 18.5% and 19.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in the segment’s G&A expenses was due to the increase in compensation expense related to the increase in revenue and our investment in additional sales and recruiting personnel.

 

Operating income was $8.0 million and $5.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 37.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 6.4% and 5.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

European IT Services Segment

 

Revenue in our European IT services segment was $72.2 million and $52.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 38.6% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed $1.9 million in revenue from the three months ended March 31, 2004 to the three months ended March 31, 2005. The remaining increase in revenue is due primarily to increased spending on IT initiatives by our UK market clients.

 

Gross profit in our European IT services segment was $9.2 million and $7.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 31.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates contributed $246,000 in gross profit from the three months ended March 31, 2004 to the three months ended March 31, 2005. Gross margin in our European IT services segment was 12.8% and 13.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in gross margin was due primarily to a higher proportion of the segment’s growth being in the UK market, compared to the continental European market. Our gross margins from revenue generated in the UK market are generally lower than those in the continental European market as the UK market has a higher concentration of low-margin high-volume clients. Going forward, we have begun the process of scaling back relationships with certain low-margin, high-volume clients in order to focus on higher-margin clients.

 

G&A expenses in our European IT services segment were $7.9 million and $6.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 21.6% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, G&A expenses were 10.9% and 12.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses was due to the increase in compensation expense related to the increases in the segment’s revenue, and the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

Operating income was $1.0 million and $204,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing by 390.2% during the three months ended March 31, 2005. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 1.4% and 0.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

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Corporate expenses

 

Unallocated corporate expenses pertain to certain functions, such as executive management, accounting, administration, tax, and treasury, that are not attributable to our operating units. Unallocated corporate expense was $7.0 million and $5.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, increasing 32.1%. The increase in unallocated corporate expense in the three months ended March 31, 2005, was due primarily to the following: expenses related to compliance with the new internal control requirements mandated by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and an increase in non-cash compensation expense derived from our use of restricted stock. As a percentage of revenue, unallocated corporate expense was 1.7% for both the three months ending March 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Consolidated other income, net, was $602,000 and $635,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Other income, net, primarily includes interest income related to our investments and cash on hand, net of interest expense related to notes issued in connection with acquisitions and fees and interest on our credit facility.

 

The consolidated income tax provision was $5.9 million and $3.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The effective tax rate was 38.5% in both the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.

 

Consolidated net income from operations was $9.3 million and $5.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

Factors Which May Impact Future Results And Financial Condition

 

Demand for our services is affected by the economic climate in the industries and markets we serve. The demand for our services, in particular our staffing services, is highly dependent upon the state of economy and upon the staffing needs of our clients. Any variation in the economic condition or unemployment levels of the United States, United Kingdom or of any of the other foreign countries in which we do business, may severely reduce the demand for our services and thereby significantly decrease our revenues and profits.

 

Our market is highly competitive with low barriers to entry. Our industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented, and because it is a service business, the barriers to entry are quite low. There are many competitors, and new ones are entering the market constantly. In addition, some of these competitors have greater resources than us. Competition arises locally, regionally, nationally, internationally and in certain cases from remote locations, particularly from offshore locations such as India.

 

Certain of our contracts are awarded on the basis of competitive proposals, which can be periodically re-bid by the client. There can be no assurance that existing contracts will be renewed on satisfactory terms or that additional or replacement contracts will be awarded to us. In addition, long-term contracts form a negligible portion of our revenue. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain clients or market share in the future. Nor can there be any assurance that we will, in light of competitive pressures, be able to remain profitable or, if profitable, maintain our current profit margins.

 

Our business requires a qualified candidate pool, which we may not be able to recruit or maintain. Our staffing services consist of the placement of individuals seeking employment in specialized IT and professional positions. Some of these sectors are characterized by a shortage of qualified candidates. There can be no assurance that suitable candidates for employment will continue to be available or will continue to seek employment through us. Candidates generally seek temporary or regular positions through multiple sources, including us and our competitors. Any shortage of qualified candidates could materially adversely affect us.

 

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Our business depends on key personnel, including executive officers, local managers and field personnel. We are engaged in a services business. As such, our success or failure is highly dependent upon the performance of our management personnel and employees, rather than upon technology or upon tangible assets (of which we have few). There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract and retain the personnel that are essential to our success.

 

We have to comply with existing government regulation and are exposed to increased regulation of the workplace. Our business is subject to regulation or licensing in many states and in certain foreign countries. While we have had no material difficulty complying with regulations in the past, there can be no assurance we will be able to continue to obtain all necessary licenses or approvals or that the cost of compliance will not prove to be material in the future. Any inability to comply with government regulation or licensing requirements, or increase in the cost of compliance, could materially adversely affect us. Additionally, our staffing services entail employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients’ workplaces. Increased government regulation of the workplace or of the employer-employee relationship could materially adversely affect us.

 

We are exposed to employment-related claims and costs and other litigation. Our staffing services entail employing individuals on a temporary basis and placing such individuals in clients’ workplaces. Our ability to control the workplace environment is limited. As the employer of record of our temporary employees, we incur a risk of liability to our temporary employees for various workplace events, including claims of physical injury, discrimination, harassment, or retroactive entitlement to employee benefits. We also incur a risk of liability to our clients resulting from allegations of errors, omissions, misappropriation, or theft of property or information by our temporary employees. While we maintain insurance with respect to many of such claims and such claims have not historically had a material adverse effect on us, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be able to obtain insurance at a cost that does not have a material adverse effect upon us or that such claims (whether by reason of us not having insurance or by reason of such claims being outside the scope of our insurance) will not have a material adverse effect upon us.

 

We depend on our reputation to sell our services. The success of our brands is highly dependent upon their reputations. The reputations of our staffing businesses in turn depend upon the perceived quality of the professionals we employ and staff with our customers. Consequently, if our customers are dissatisfied with our employees, our brands will be harmed. Any event that adversely impacts the reputation of a brand could materially affect our results of operations.

 

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly. The market price for our common stock can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, including factors listed in these “Risk Factors,” many of which are beyond our control. These factors include actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; announcements of new services by our competitors or us; announcements relating to strategic relationships or acquisitions; changes in financial estimates or other statements by securities analysts; and other changes in general economic conditions. Because of this, we may fail to meet or exceed the expectations of our shareholders or of our securities analysts, and the market price for our common stock could fluctuate as a result.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Changes to our liquidity for both the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, are due primarily to the net effect of (i) funds generated by operations, a sale of assets, and stock option exercises, and (ii) funds used for acquisitions, repurchases of common stock and capital expenditures.

 

In the three months ended March 31, 2005, cash of $10.4 million provided from operating activities exceeded the $1.4 million of cash used in investing activities, financing activities, and the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our net increase of cash in the three months ended March 31, 2005 was due primarily to a higher level of cash provided by operations and proceeds from a sale of assets. In the three months

 

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ended March 31, 2004, cash of $18.9 million used in investing activities exceeded the $6.8 million of cash provided from operating activities, financing activities, the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and discontinued operations. Our net use of cash in the three months ended March 31, 2004 was due primarily to our acquisitions and a lower level of cash provided by operations. The below table highlights working capital and cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively:

 

(dollar amounts in millions)


   March 31, 2005

   December 31, 2004

Working capital

   $ 248.2    $ 232.1

Cash and cash equivalents

     115.6      106.5

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, we generated $10.4 million and $2.8 million of cash flow from operations, respectively. The increase in cash flow from operations, from 2004 to 2005, is primarily due to our increased level of income.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2005, we used $262,000 of cash for investing activities, including $3.4 million for capital expenditures and $540,000 for acquisitions, net of $3.7 million generated from a sale of certain assets within our North American IT Services segment.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2004, we used $18.9 million of cash for investing activities including $15.8 million for acquisitions and $3.1 million for capital expenditures.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2005, we used $604,000 of cash for financing activities, primarily for $1.3 million of repayments on indebtedness, net of $768,000 generated from stock option exercises. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, we generated $1.2 million of cash from financing activities, primarily from stock option exercises.

 

Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $65.0 million of our Common Stock. We did not repurchase any shares during the first quarter of 2005. At April 28, 2005, the total amount repurchased under this plan was 5.1 million shares at a cost of $40.0 million. We anticipate that we will continue to purchase shares under this authorization in the future.

 

We anticipate that capital expenditures for furniture and equipment, including improvements to our management information and operating systems, during the remainder of 2005 will be approximately $6.0 million.

 

While there can be no assurance in this regard, we believe that funds provided by operations, available borrowings under the credit facility, and current amounts of cash will be sufficient to meet our presently anticipated needs for working capital, capital expenditures, repurchases of common stock and acquisitions for at least the next 12 months.

 

Indebtedness of the Company

 

In 2003, we closed on a $150 million revolving credit facility syndicated by a group of leading financial institutions. The credit facility contains certain financial and non-financial covenants relating to our operations, including maintaining certain financial ratios. Repayment, if applicable, of funds borrowed under the credit facility is guaranteed by substantially all of our subsidiaries. The facility matures in November 2006. To date, there have been no borrowings outstanding under this facility, other than $4.0 million of standby letters of credit for certain operational matters.

 

Seasonality

 

Our quarterly operating results are affected by the number of billing days in the quarter and the seasonality of our customers’ businesses. Demand for our services has historically been lower during the calendar year-end,

 

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as a result of holidays, through February of the following year, as our customers approve annual budgets. Extreme weather conditions may also adversely affect demand in the early part of the year as certain of our clients’ facilities are located in geographic areas subject to closure or reduced hours due to inclement weather. In addition, we experience an increase in our cost of sales and a corresponding decrease in gross profit and gross margin in the first fiscal quarter of each year, as a result of certain state and federal employment tax resets.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments—(“SFAS 123R”), which replaces SFAS No. 123 and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25. SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values, beginning with the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005. In April 2005, the SEC amended the compliance date to the first annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS 123 no longer will be an alternative to financial statement recognition. The Company expects to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 123R in the first quarter of 2006. The Company is evaluating the requirements of SFAS 123R and has not yet determined the method of adoption or the effect of adopting SFAS 123R, and the Company has not determined whether the adoption will result in amounts that are similar to the current pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 109-2, Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (“FSP 109-2”). FSP 109-2 provides guidance under FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“FASB Statement No. 109”), with respect to recording the potential impact of the repatriation provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”) on enterprises’ income tax expense and deferred tax liability. FSP 109-2 states that an enterprise is allowed time beyond the financial reporting period of enactment to evaluate the effect of the Jobs Act on its plan for reinvestment or repatriation of foreign earnings for purposes of applying FASB Statement No. 109. Based upon the Company’s preliminary evaluation of the effects of the repatriation provision, the Company does not expect to apply this provision.

 

Item 3. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes to the disclosure on this matter that was made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Item 4. Controls And Procedures

 

Our management with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control structure over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

No disclosure required.

 

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

 

No disclosure required.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

No disclosure required.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No disclosure required.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

No disclosure required.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

A. Exhibits Required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

 

See Index of Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


10.1   Form of Supplement to Restricted Stock Agreement with Richard L. White, Gregory D. Holland and Tyra H. Tutor, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005.
10.2   2004 Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Stock Option Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005.
10.3   2004 Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005.
10.4   2004 Non-Employee Director Equity Incentive Plan – Form of Stock Option Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 16, 2005.
31.1*   Certification of Timothy D. Payne pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
31.2*   Certification of Robert P. Crouch pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
32.1*   Certification of Timothy D. Payne pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
32.2*   Certification of Robert P. Crouch pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

* Copy of Exhibit is filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

MPS GROUP, INC.

By:   /s/    ROBERT P. CROUCH        
    Robert P. Crouch
    Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and
Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer and
duly authorized signatory)

 

Date: May 10, 2005

 

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