Q215 10Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
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 May 31, 2015

OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number 001-32511
 ___________________________________________________
IHS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
 ___________________________________________________
Delaware
 
13-3769440
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
15 Inverness Way East
Englewood, CO 80112
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(303) 790-0600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 ___________________________________________________ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    x  Yes    o  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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x  Yes    o  No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
 
x
Accelerated filer
 
o
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company
 
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    o  Yes    x  No
As of May 31, 2015, there were 68,428,175 shares of our Class A Common Stock outstanding.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “aim,” “strive,” “believe,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “expect,” “continue,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “will,” the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding: guidance and predictions relating to expected operating results, such as revenue growth and earnings; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, anticipated benefits from strategic actions, and our success in integrating acquired businesses; anticipated levels of capital expenditures in future periods; our belief that we have sufficient liquidity to fund our ongoing business operations; expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, environmental costs, contingent liabilities and governmental and regulatory investigations and proceedings; and our strategy for customer retention, growth, product development, market position, financial results, and reserves.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates; our ability to manage system failures, capacity constraints, and cyber risks; our ability to successfully manage risks associated with changes in demand for our products and services as well as changes in our targeted industries; our ability to develop new platforms to deliver our products and services, pricing, and other competitive pressures, and changes in laws and regulations governing our business; the extent to which we are successful in gaining new long-term relationships with customers or retaining existing ones and the level of service failures that could lead customers to use competitors' services; our ability to successfully identify and integrate acquisitions into our existing businesses and manage risks associated therewith; our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and our other ongoing business obligations; and the other factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014, along with our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

2

Table of Contents


Website and Social Media Disclosure
 
We use our website (www.ihs.com) and corporate Twitter account (@IHS) as channels of distribution of company information. The information we post through these channels may be deemed material; therefore, investors should monitor these channels in addition to our press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. None of the information provided on our website or through social media channels is incorporated into, or deemed to be a part of, this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
 


3

Table of Contents

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements
IHS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except for share and per-share amounts)
 
As of
 
As of
 
May 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Audited)
Assets

 

Current assets:

 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
225,879

 
$
153,156

Accounts receivable, net
365,265

 
421,374

Income tax receivable

 
2,283

Deferred subscription costs
62,747

 
51,021

Deferred income taxes
71,288

 
81,780

Other
70,490

 
60,973

Total current assets
795,669

 
770,587

Non-current assets:

 

Property and equipment, net
316,999

 
301,419

Intangible assets, net
1,129,553

 
1,091,109

Goodwill
3,426,282

 
3,157,324

Other
24,326

 
27,991

Total non-current assets
4,897,160

 
4,577,843

Total assets
$
5,692,829

 
$
5,348,430

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity


 


Current liabilities:

 

Short-term debt
$
36,001

 
$
36,257

Accounts payable
52,116

 
52,245

Accrued compensation
60,545

 
101,875

Accrued royalties
32,327

 
37,346

Other accrued expenses
118,956

 
131,147

Income tax payable
7,772

 

Deferred revenue
680,863

 
596,187

Total current liabilities
988,580

 
955,057

Long-term debt
2,093,091

 
1,806,098

Accrued pension and postretirement liability
27,867

 
29,139

Deferred income taxes
362,285

 
347,419

Other liabilities
57,852

 
51,171

Commitments and contingencies

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share, 160,000,000 shares authorized, 70,000,939 and 69,391,577 shares issued, and 68,428,175 and 68,372,176 shares outstanding at May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, respectively
700

 
694

Additional paid-in capital
985,796

 
956,381

Treasury stock, at cost: 1,572,764 and 1,019,401 shares at May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014, respectively
(173,396
)
 
(105,873
)
Retained earnings
1,505,541

 
1,415,069

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(155,487
)
 
(106,725
)
Total stockholders’ equity
2,163,154

 
2,159,546

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
5,692,829

 
$
5,348,430

See accompanying notes.

4

Table of Contents

IHS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for per-share amounts)
 
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue
228,903

 
224,945

 
443,849

 
437,870

Selling, general and administrative
210,480

 
203,644

 
406,418

 
401,360

Depreciation and amortization
58,910

 
49,142

 
114,829

 
98,779

Restructuring charges
7,369

 
860

 
21,653

 
4,035

Acquisition-related costs
301

 
77

 
477

 
1,017

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense
497

 
2,834

 
993

 
5,670

Other expense (income), net
2,018

 
(267
)
 
1,094

 
1,308

Total operating expenses
508,478

 
481,235

 
989,313

 
950,039

Operating income
82,929

 
86,773

 
148,355

 
142,427

Interest income
180

 
235

 
340

 
486

Interest expense
(17,454
)
 
(14,610
)
 
(34,448
)
 
(29,855
)
Non-operating expense, net
(17,274
)
 
(14,375
)
 
(34,108
)
 
(29,369
)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
65,655

 
72,398

 
114,247

 
113,058

Provision for income taxes
(14,703
)
 
(16,906
)
 
(23,775
)
 
(25,144
)
Net income
$
50,952

 
$
55,492

 
$
90,472

 
$
87,914

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
$
0.74

 
$
0.81

 
$
1.32

 
$
1.29

Weighted average shares used in computing basic earnings per share
68,802

 
68,216

 
68,752

 
68,015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.74

 
$
0.81

 
$
1.31

 
$
1.28

Weighted average shares used in computing diluted earnings per share
69,111

 
68,697

 
69,258

 
68,730


See accompanying notes.


5

Table of Contents



IHS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

 
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
 
$
50,952

 
$
55,492

 
$
90,472

 
$
87,914

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized loss on hedging activities (1)
 
(1,535
)
 
(2,289
)
 
(2,954
)
 
(4,764
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
(9,344
)
 
2,872

 
(45,808
)
 
3,084

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(10,879
)
 
583

 
(48,762
)
 
(1,680
)
Comprehensive income
 
$
40,073

 
$
56,075

 
$
41,710

 
$
86,234

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Net of tax benefit of $1,002; $1,494; $1,929; and $3,109 for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.


See accompanying notes.

6

Table of Contents


IHS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Operating activities:

 

Net income
$
90,472

 
$
87,914

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

Depreciation and amortization
114,829

 
98,779

Stock-based compensation expense
67,834

 
79,996

Impairment of assets
1,243

 

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
(5,193
)
 
(10,327
)
Net periodic pension and postretirement expense
993

 
5,670

Pension and postretirement contributions
(2,285
)
 
(1,650
)
Deferred income taxes
(3,944
)
 
28,907

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

Accounts receivable, net
67,628

 
38,871

Other current assets
(29,725
)
 
(23,153
)
Accounts payable
(7,002
)
 
119

Accrued expenses
(53,476
)
 
(16,666
)
Income tax
20,242

 
(20,656
)
Deferred revenue
70,140

 
105,570

Other liabilities
2,528

 
1,600

Net cash provided by operating activities
334,284

 
374,974

Investing activities:

 

Capital expenditures on property and equipment
(69,038
)
 
(51,036
)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
(369,908
)
 

Intangible assets acquired

 
(714
)
Change in other assets
(339
)
 
2,762

Settlements of forward contracts
2,419

 
1,309

Net cash used in investing activities
(436,866
)
 
(47,679
)
Financing activities:

 

Proceeds from borrowings
440,000

 
30,000

Repayment of borrowings
(153,263
)
 
(348,086
)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
5,193

 
10,327

Repurchases of common stock
(105,247
)
 
(47,429
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
186,683

 
(355,188
)
Foreign exchange impact on cash balance
(11,378
)
 
(9,476
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
72,723

 
(37,369
)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
153,156

 
258,367

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
$
225,879

 
$
220,998


See accompanying notes.

7

Table of Contents

IHS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
Class A Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
 
 
Shares Outstanding
 
Amount
 
 
Treasury
Stock
 
Retained
Earnings
 
 
Total
Balance at November 30, 2014 (Audited)
68,372

 
$
694

 
$
956,381

 
$
(105,873
)
 
$
1,415,069

 
$
(106,725
)
 
$
2,159,546

Stock-based award activity
56

 
6

 
24,222

 
23

 

 

 
24,251

Excess tax benefit on vested shares

 

 
5,193

 

 

 

 
5,193

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

 
(67,546
)
 

 

 
(67,546
)
Net income

 

 

 

 
90,472

 

 
90,472

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 
(48,762
)
 
(48,762
)
Balance at May 31, 2015
68,428

 
$
700

 
$
985,796

 
$
(173,396
)
 
$
1,505,541

 
$
(155,487
)
 
$
2,163,154

See accompanying notes.


8

Table of Contents

IHS INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of IHS Inc. (IHS, we, us, or our) have been prepared on substantially the same basis as our annual consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014. In our opinion, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented, and such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature.

Our business has seasonal aspects. Our fourth quarter typically generates our highest quarterly levels of revenue and profit. Conversely, our first quarter generally has our lowest levels of revenue and profit. We also experience event-driven seasonality in our business; for instance, IHS Energy CERAWeek, an annual energy executive gathering, is held during our second quarter. Another example is the biennial release of the Boiler Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) engineering standard, which generates revenue for us predominantly in the third quarter of every other year. We most recently recognized a benefit in connection with the BPVC release in the third quarter of 2013.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-08, which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The ASU is intended to reduce the frequency of disposals reported as discontinued operations by focusing on strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2016, although early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements other than changing the classification criteria and related disclosures for any potential future disposals.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which establishes a comprehensive new revenue recognition model designed to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU allows for the use of either the full or modified retrospective transition method, and the standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2018, although the FASB has proposed a one-year deferral of the effective date; early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements, as well as which transition method we intend to use.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, which requires that management evaluate the entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Disclosure is required if there is substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. The standard will be effective for us in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year 2017, although early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of our fiscal 2017, although early adoption is permitted. We expect that the only impact of this ASU on our financial statements will be the change in balance sheet presentation of our debt issuance costs.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, which provides guidance about a customer's accounting for fees paid in cloud computing arrangements. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If the arrangement does not contain a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2017, although early adoption is permitted. We anticipate that we will adopt this standard using the prospective transition method, and do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

2.
Business Combinations

During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we completed the following acquisitions, none of which were material either individually or in the aggregate:

9

Table of Contents


JOC Group Inc. (JOC Group). On December 9, 2014, we acquired JOC Group, a leading global supplier of U.S. seaborne trade intelligence. We acquired JOC Group in support of our strategy to build integrated workflow solutions that target critical industry and government needs relating to global trade.

Infonetics Research, Inc. (Infonetics). On December 15, 2014, we acquired Infonetics, a global leader in communications technology market intelligence. We acquired Infonetics in order to provide our customers with a global, end-to-end view of the information and communications technology supply chain.

Rushmore Associates Limited (Rushmore Reviews). On February 3, 2015, we acquired Rushmore Reviews, a leading service provider for drilling and completions solutions in the oil and gas industry. We acquired Rushmore Reviews in order to complement our existing set of well information assets and expand them globally.

Dataium. On March 25, 2015, we acquired Dataium, a U.S.-based company that provides business intelligence and analysis to the automotive industry. We acquired Dataium in order to enhance our automotive offerings with Dataium's compilation and analysis of online automotive shopping behavior and markets.

Root Wireless, Inc. (RootMetrics). On April 17, 2015, we acquired RootMetrics, a recognized leader in mobile network analytics. We acquired RootMetrics in order to strengthen our position in telecommunications analytics and market intelligence, particularly related to the mobile user experience.

The aggregate purchase price for these acquisitions was approximately $370 million, net of cash acquired. We have preliminarily allocated $118 million of the purchase price to amortizing intangible assets and $284 million to goodwill.

3.
Intangible Assets

The following table presents details of our intangible assets, other than goodwill, as of May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 (in thousands): 
 
As of May 31, 2015
 
As of November 30, 2014
 
Gross
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
 
Gross
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net
Intangible assets subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information databases
$
653,992

 
$
(240,159
)
 
$
413,833

 
$
607,655

 
$
(210,105
)
 
$
397,550

Customer relationships
569,943

 
(135,482
)
 
434,461

 
511,680

 
(116,138
)
 
395,542

Developed computer software
135,727

 
(70,364
)
 
65,363

 
138,940

 
(63,561
)
 
75,379

Trademarks
169,264

 
(29,865
)
 
139,399

 
163,739

 
(22,937
)
 
140,802

Other
28,075

 
(10,530
)
 
17,545

 
29,579

 
(8,844
)
 
20,735

Total
$
1,557,001

 
$
(486,400
)
 
$
1,070,601

 
$
1,451,593

 
$
(421,585
)
 
$
1,030,008

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trademarks
58,952

 

 
58,952

 
61,101

 

 
61,101

Total intangible assets
$
1,615,953

 
$
(486,400
)
 
$
1,129,553

 
$
1,512,694

 
$
(421,585
)
 
$
1,091,109



10

Table of Contents

Intangible assets amortization expense was $36.7 million and $71.7 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, as compared to $33.1 million and $66.9 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2014. The following table presents the estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets held as of May 31, 2015 (in thousands):
Year
 
Amount
Remainder of 2015
 
$
75,041

2016
 
$
139,626

2017
 
$
125,147

2018
 
$
109,754

2019
 
$
95,841

Thereafter
 
$
525,192

Goodwill, gross intangible assets, and net intangible assets were all subject to foreign currency translation effects. Changes in our goodwill and gross intangible assets from November 30, 2014 to May 31, 2015 were primarily the result of recent acquisitions, net of foreign currency effects. The change in net intangible assets was primarily due to current year amortization, partially offset by the acquisitions made in 2015.

4.
Debt

The following table summarizes total indebtedness as of May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 (in thousands):
 
 
May 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
2013 term loan
 
$
682,500

 
$
700,000

2014 revolving facility
 
690,000

 
385,000

5% senior notes due 2022
 
750,000

 
750,000

Capital leases
 
6,592

 
7,355

Total debt
 
$
2,129,092

 
$
1,842,355

Current portion
 
(36,001
)
 
(36,257
)
Total long-term debt
 
$
2,093,091

 
$
1,806,098


2013 term loan. In October 2014, we amended and restated our $700 million senior unsecured amortizing term loan agreement originally entered into in the third quarter of 2013 (2013 term loan). The 2013 term loan has a maturity date of October 2019. The interest rates for borrowings under the 2013 term loan are the applicable LIBOR plus a spread of 1.00 percent to 1.75 percent, depending upon our Leverage Ratio, which is defined as the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to rolling four-quarter Consolidated Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), as such terms are defined in the term loan agreement.

2014 revolving facility. In October 2014, we entered into a $1.3 billion senior unsecured revolving credit agreement (2014 revolving facility). Commitments of $500 million are available for borrowing by certain of our foreign subsidiaries and $50 million is available for letters of credit. Subject to certain conditions, the 2014 revolving facility may be expanded by up to an aggregate of $500 million in additional commitments. Borrowings under the 2014 revolving facility mature in October 2019 and bear interest at the same rates and spreads as the 2013 term loan. A commitment fee on any unused balance is payable periodically and ranges from 0.13 percent to 0.30 percent based upon our Leverage Ratio. The 2014 revolving facility contains certain financial and other covenants, including a maximum Leverage Ratio and a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio, as such terms are defined in the 2014 revolving facility.

We had approximately $1.8 million of outstanding letters of credit under the 2014 revolving facility as of May 31, 2015, which reduces the available borrowing under the 2014 revolving facility by an equivalent amount.

The 2013 term loan and 2014 revolving facility agreements allow for leverage up to 3.5x, with the ability to temporarily increase that leverage to 3.75x for two quarters.

5% senior notes due 2022 (5% Notes). In October 2014, we issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2022 in an offering not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The 5% Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 5.000 percent and mature on November 1, 2022. Interest on

11

Table of Contents

the 5% Notes is due semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2015. We may redeem the 5% Notes in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus the Applicable Premium, as defined in the indenture governing the 5% Notes. Additionally, at the option of the holders of the notes, we may be required to purchase all or a portion of the notes upon occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event as defined in the indenture, at a price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to, among other things, incur or create liens and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, the indenture contains a covenant that limits our ability to consolidate or merge with another entity or to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. The indenture contains customary default provisions.

In connection with the issuance of the 5% Notes, we also entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which we agreed to conduct a registered exchange offer for the 5% Notes within 365 days of their issuance or, under certain circumstances, to file and cause to become effective a shelf registration statement providing for the resale of the 5% Notes. If we fail to comply with certain obligations under the registration rights agreement, we will be required to pay liquidated damages in the form of additional interest to holders of the 5% Notes.
  
As of May 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We have classified short-term debt based on principal maturities and expected cash availability over the next 12 months. As of May 31, 2015, we had approximately $690 million of outstanding borrowings under the 2014 revolving facility at a current annual interest rate of 1.73 percent and approximately $683 million of outstanding borrowings under the 2013 term loan at a current weighted average annual interest rate of 2.29 percent, including the effect of the interest rate swaps described in Note 5.

The carrying value of our debt instruments other than our 5% Notes approximate their fair value because of the variable interest rates associated with those instruments. The fair value of the 5% Notes as of May 31, 2015 was approximately $759 million, and was measured using observable inputs in markets that are not active; consequently, we have classified the 5% Notes within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

5.
Derivatives

Our business is exposed to various market risks, including interest rate and foreign currency risks. We utilize derivative instruments to help us manage these risks. We do not hold or issue derivatives for speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Swaps

To mitigate interest rate exposure on our outstanding floating rate debt, we utilize the following types of derivative instruments:

Interest rate derivative contracts that effectively swap $200 million of floating rate debt at a 2.24 percent weighted-average fixed interest rate, plus the applicable spread on our floating rate debt. We entered into these swap contracts in 2011 and 2014, and the contracts expire in July 2015 and May 2020.

Forward-starting interest rate derivative contracts that effectively swap $300 million of floating rate debt at a 2.93 percent weighted-average fixed interest rate, plus the applicable spread on our floating rate debt. We entered into these swap contracts in 2013 and 2014. The contracts take effect in August and November 2015, with respective expiration dates in August 2020 and November 2020.

Because the terms of these swaps and the variable rate debt (as amended or extended over time) coincide, we do not expect any ineffectiveness. We have designated and accounted for these instruments as cash flow hedges, with changes in fair value being deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss (AOCI) in our consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency Forwards

To mitigate foreign currency exposure, we utilize the following derivative instruments:

Foreign currency forward contracts that hedge the foreign currency exposure on Euro-denominated receipts and British Pound-denominated expenses. Because the critical terms of the forward contracts and the forecasted cash flows coincide, we do not expect any ineffectiveness associated with these contracts. We have designated and accounted for these derivatives as cash flow hedges, with changes in fair value being deferred in AOCI in our consolidated balance sheets. The notional amount of outstanding foreign currency

12

Table of Contents

forwards under these agreements as of May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 was approximately $17.6 million and $11.0 million, respectively.

Short-term foreign currency forward contracts that manage market risks associated with fluctuations in balances that are denominated in currencies other than the local functional currency. We account for these forward contracts at fair value and recognize the associated realized and unrealized gains and losses in other expense (income), net, since we have not designated these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. The following table summarizes the notional amounts of these outstanding foreign currency forward contracts as of May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 (in thousands):

 
 
May 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
Notional amount of currency pair:
 
 
 
 
Contracts to buy USD with CAD
 
$
52,343

 
$
51,194

Contracts to buy CAD with GBP
 
C$
79,000

 
C$
50,000

Contracts to buy USD with EUR
 
$
9,102

 
$
12,517

Contracts to buy CHF with USD
 
CHF
11,000

 
CHF
9,000

Contracts to buy GBP with EUR
 
£
4,349

 
£
4,774

Contracts to buy USD with GBP
 
$
38,000

 
$
48,000

Contracts to buy USD with JPY
 
$
7,434

 
$
8,778

Contracts to buy USD with KRW
 
$
9,536

 
$
10,000

Contracts to buy USD with CNY
 
$
4,017

 
$

Contracts to buy USD with TWD
 
$
5,074

 
$


Fair Value of Derivatives

Since our derivative instruments are not listed on an exchange, we have evaluated fair value by reference to similar transactions in active markets; consequently, we have classified all of our derivative instruments within Level 2 of the fair value measurement hierarchy. The following table shows the classification, location, and fair value of our derivative instruments as of May 31, 2015 and November 30, 2014 (in thousands):

 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
Location on consolidated balance sheets
 
 
May 31, 2015
 
November 30, 2014
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
$
777

 
$
987

 
Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
2,420

 
1,005

 
Other current assets
Total
 
$
3,197

 
$
1,992

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives designated as accounting hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
21,600

 
$
16,662

 
Other accrued expenses and other liabilities
Foreign currency forwards
 
57

 

 
Other accrued expenses
Derivatives not designated as accounting hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
1,540

 
475

 
Other accrued expenses
Total
 
$
23,197

 
$
17,137

 
 

The net (gain) loss on foreign currency forwards that are not designated as hedging instruments for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, was as follows (in thousands):

13

Table of Contents


 
 
Amount of (gain) loss recognized in the consolidated statements of operations
 
 
 
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Location on consolidated statements of operations
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
$
(397
)
 
$
1,274

 
$
(960
)
 
$
(931
)
 
Other expense (income), net

The following table provides information about the cumulative amount of unrecognized hedge losses recorded in AOCI, net of tax, as of May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as well as the activity on our cash flow hedging instruments for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands):
 
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
 
$
(10,901
)
 
$
(4,674
)
 
$
(9,482
)
 
$
(2,199
)
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in AOCI on derivative:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
(1,690
)
 
(2,792
)
 
(3,495
)
 
(5,279
)
Foreign currency forwards
 
312

 
120

 
824

 
(171
)
Amount of loss (gain) reclassified from AOCI into income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps (1)
 
280

 
239

 
508

 
474

Foreign currency forwards (1)
 
(437
)
 
144

 
(791
)
 
212

Ending balance
 
$
(12,436
)
 
$
(6,963
)
 
$
(12,436
)
 
$
(6,963
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Pre-tax amounts reclassified from AOCI into income related to interest rate swaps are recorded in interest expense, and pre-tax amounts reclassified from AOCI into income related to foreign currency forwards are recorded in revenue.

The unrecognized gains relating to the foreign currency forwards are expected to be reclassified into revenue within the next 12 months, and approximately $6.4 million of the $21.6 million unrecognized pre-tax losses relating to the interest rate swaps are expected to be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months.
 
6.
Restructuring Charges

During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we eliminated 302 positions as part of resource refinement and alignment across most of our business functions, and we incurred additional direct and incremental costs related to lease abandonments and further consolidation of our legacy data centers. We expect to continue to incur costs related to these and other similar activities in future periods, resulting in additional restructuring charges.

During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we recorded approximately $21.7 million of restructuring charges for these activities. Of these charges, approximately $16.1 million was recorded in the Americas segment, $4.5 million was recorded in the EMEA segment, and $1.1 million was recorded in the APAC segment.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the restructuring liability as of May 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
Employee
Severance and
Other
Termination
Benefits
 
Contract
Termination
Costs
 
Other
 
Total
Balance at November 30, 2014
$
2,967

 
$
17

 
$
140

 
$
3,124

Add: Restructuring costs incurred
20,389

 
611

 
966

 
21,966

Revision to prior estimates
(313
)
 

 

 
(313
)
Less: Amount paid
(17,325
)
 

 
(998
)
 
(18,323
)
Balance at May 31, 2015
$
5,718

 
$
628

 
$
108

 
$
6,454


As of May 31, 2015, approximately $3.6 million of the remaining restructuring liability was in the Americas segment, approximately $2.6 million was in the EMEA segment, and approximately $0.3 million was in the APAC segment. The remaining $6.5 million restructuring liability is expected to be paid within the next 12 months.

14

Table of Contents

 
7.
Acquisition-related Costs

During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we recorded approximately $0.5 million of direct and incremental costs associated with acquisition-related activities, primarily legal and professional fees, most of which was recorded in the Americas segment.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the acquisition-related costs accrued liability as of May 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
Employee
Severance and
Other
Termination
Benefits
 
Contract
Termination
Costs
 
Other
 
Total
Balance at November 30, 2014
$
586

 
$
115

 
$
417

 
$
1,118

Add: Costs incurred

 
166

 
333

 
499

Revision to prior estimates
2

 
11

 
(35
)
 
(22
)
Less: Amount paid
(450
)
 
(96
)
 
(715
)
 
(1,261
)
Balance at May 31, 2015
$
138

 
$
196

 
$

 
$
334


As of May 31, 2015, the remaining acquisition-related costs accrued liability was primarily in the Americas segment. We expect that the remaining liability will be substantially paid within the next 12 months.

8.
Pensions and Postretirement Benefits

Our net periodic pension expense for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 was comprised of the following (in thousands): 
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Service costs incurred
$
494

 
$
3,048

 
$
989

 
$
6,093

Interest costs on projected benefit obligation
2,070

 
2,140

 
4,147

 
4,241

Expected return on plan assets
(2,168
)
 
(2,134
)
 
(4,345
)
 
(4,224
)
Amortization of prior service credit

 
(338
)
 

 
(676
)
Amortization of transitional obligation

 
11

 

 
22

Net periodic pension expense
$
396

 
$
2,727

 
$
791

 
$
5,456

Our net periodic postretirement expense was comprised of the following for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Service costs incurred
$
4

 
$
4

 
$
8

 
$
8

Interest costs
97

 
103

 
194

 
206

Net periodic postretirement expense
$
101

 
$
107

 
$
202

 
$
214


9.
Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows (in thousands):

15

Table of Contents

 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Cost of revenue
$
1,444

 
$
1,511

 
$
2,858

 
$
3,371

Selling, general and administrative
32,900

 
34,521

 
64,976

 
76,625

Total stock-based compensation expense
$
34,344

 
$
36,032

 
$
67,834

 
$
79,996

Total income tax benefits recognized for stock-based compensation arrangements were as follows (in thousands):
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Income tax benefits
$
11,002

 
$
12,322

 
$
21,745

 
$
27,384

No stock-based compensation cost was capitalized during the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014.
As of May 31, 2015, there was $153.4 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to unvested stock-based awards that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 years. Total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures and changes in estimated achievement of performance goals.
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). The following table summarizes RSU activity during the six months ended May 31, 2015:
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Balance at November 30, 2014
2,518

 
$
102.24

Granted
926

 
$
115.23

Vested
(941
)
 
$
98.25

Forfeited
(88
)
 
$
113.54

Balance at May 31, 2015
2,415

 
$
108.36

The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the six months ended May 31, 2015 was $107.6 million.

10.
Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate is estimated based upon the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full year.
Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 was 22.4 percent and 20.8 percent, respectively, compared to 23.4 percent and 22.2 percent for the same periods of 2014, due to the benefit of certain discrete items.

11.
Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, we are involved in litigation in the ordinary course of our business, including claims or contingencies that may arise related to matters occurring prior to our acquisition of businesses, such as the matter described below. At the present time, we can give no assurance as to the outcome of any pending litigation to which we are currently a party and we are unable to determine the ultimate resolution of or provide a reasonable estimate of the range of possible loss attributable to these matters or the effect they may have on us. However, we do not expect the outcome of such proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. We have and will continue to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.

On April 23, 2013 (prior to our acquisition of R.L. Polk & Co.), our CARFAX subsidiary (CARFAX) was served with a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, purportedly on behalf of certain auto and light truck dealers. The complaint alleges, among other things that, in violation of antitrust laws, CARFAX entered into exclusive arrangements regarding the sale of CARFAX vehicle history reports with certain auto manufacturers and owners of two websites providing classified listings of used autos and light trucks. The complaint seeks three times the actual damages that a jury finds the plaintiffs have sustained, injunctive relief, costs and attorneys’ fees. On October 25, 2013, the plaintiffs served a second amended complaint with similar allegations purporting to name approximately 469 auto dealers as plaintiffs and counsel for plaintiffs have indicated that there may be additional claimants. There are significant legal and factual issues to be

16

Table of Contents

determined. We believe, however, that the probability that the outcome of the litigation will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition is remote.

12.
Common Stock and Earnings per Share
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 were calculated as follows (in thousands):
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares used in basic EPS calculation
68,802

 
68,216

 
68,752

 
68,015

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock units
309

 
481

 
506

 
715

Shares used in diluted EPS calculation
69,111

 
68,697

 
69,258

 
68,730


Share Repurchase Programs
In January 2015, our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $100 million of our Class A common stock in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. The repurchase program does not obligate IHS to repurchase any set dollar amount or number of shares and is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2015, but may be suspended at any time at our discretion. All of our previously announced share repurchase programs have been terminated. During the first six months of 2015, we repurchased 554,407 shares under this program for a total of approximately $67.5 million, at an average price of approximately $121.82 per share. We subsequently completed this program in June 2015.

In June 2015, our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $500 million of our Class A common stock in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. The repurchase program does not obligate IHS to repurchase any set dollar amount or number of shares and is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2017, but may be suspended at any time at our discretion. The amount authorized under this program is inclusive of share repurchases of our Class A common stock surrendered by employees in an amount equal to the statutory tax liability associated with the vesting of their equity awards, for which we pay the statutory tax on behalf of the employee.

13.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI by component (net of tax) for the six months ended May 31, 2015 (in thousands):
 
 
Foreign currency translation
 
Net pension and OPEB liability
 
Unrealized losses on hedging activities
 
Total
Balance at November 30, 2014
 
$
(83,634
)
 
$
(13,609
)
 
$
(9,482
)
 
$
(106,725
)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
 
(45,808
)
 

 
(2,671
)
 
(48,479
)
Reclassifications from AOCI to income
 

 

 
(283
)
 
(283
)
Balance at May 31, 2015
 
$
(129,442
)
 
$
(13,609
)
 
$
(12,436
)
 
$
(155,487
)

14.
Segment Information

We prepare our financial reports and analyze our business results within our three reportable geographic segments: Americas, EMEA, and APAC. We evaluate segment performance primarily at the revenue and operating profit level for each of these three segments. We also evaluate revenues by transaction type and product category.
Information about the operations of our three segments is set forth below. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014. There are no material inter-segment revenues for any period presented. Certain corporate transactions are not allocated to the reportable segments, including such

17

Table of Contents

items as stock-based compensation expense, net periodic pension and postretirement expense, corporate-level impairments, and gain (loss) on sale of corporate assets.
 
Americas
 
EMEA
 
APAC
 
Shared
Services
 
Consolidated
Total
 
(In thousands)
Three months ended May 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
401,881

 
$
136,630

 
$
52,896

 
$

 
$
591,407

Operating income
$
86,200

 
$
31,775

 
$
13,743

 
$
(48,789
)
 
$
82,929

Depreciation and amortization
$
49,408

 
$
6,257

 
$
1,314

 
$
1,931

 
$
58,910

Three months ended May 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
376,787

 
$
138,847

 
$
52,374

 
$

 
$
568,008

Operating income
$
93,587

 
$
34,465

 
$
12,938

 
$
(54,217
)
 
$
86,773

Depreciation and amortization
$
41,395

 
$
5,314

 
$
475

 
$
1,958

 
$
49,142

Six months ended May 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
767,962

 
$
263,677

 
$
106,029

 
$

 
$
1,137,668

Operating income
$
159,541

 
$
56,948

 
$
24,597

 
$
(92,731
)
 
$
148,355

Depreciation and amortization
$
95,502

 
$
12,534

 
$
2,913

 
$
3,880

 
$
114,829

Six months ended May 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
727,207

 
$
265,708

 
$
99,551

 
$

 
$
1,092,466

Operating income
$
171,197

 
$
59,060

 
$
23,000

 
$
(110,830
)
 
$
142,427

Depreciation and amortization
$
82,568

 
$
11,105

 
$
1,088

 
$
4,018

 
$
98,779

Revenue by transaction type was as follows (in thousands):
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Subscription revenue
$
459,681

 
$
426,346

 
$
907,488

 
$
843,720

Non-subscription revenue
131,726

 
141,662

 
230,180

 
248,746

Total revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466

Revenue by product category was as follows (in thousands):
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Resources revenue
$
234,673

 
$
243,876

 
$
452,242

 
$
461,370

Industrials revenue
220,536

 
181,346

 
417,126

 
353,069

Horizontal products revenue
136,198

 
142,786

 
268,300

 
278,027

Total revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466


15.
Supplemental Guarantor Information

Our 5% Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by the following wholly owned subsidiaries of IHS Inc. (collectively, the Guarantor Subsidiaries):

IHS Holding Inc.
IHS Global Inc.
R.L. Polk & Co.
CARFAX, Inc.

The guarantees of our 5% Notes by the Guarantor Subsidiaries contain customary release provisions, which provide for the termination of such guarantees upon (i) the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of the Guarantor Subsidiary or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Guarantor Subsidiary (in each case other than to the parent company (IHS Inc.) or another subsidiary of the parent company), (ii) the defeasance of the 5% Notes,

18

Table of Contents

(iii) at such time as the Guarantor Subsidiary ceases to be a guarantor of any significant indebtedness of the company, or (iv) if approved by the holders of the 5% Notes (except as provided in the indenture governing the 5% Notes).

The following supplemental tables present condensed consolidating financial information for the parent company, the Guarantor Subsidiaries on a combined basis, and the non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis.

19

Table of Contents



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF MAY 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
19,902

 
$
205,977

 
$

 
$
225,879

Accounts receivable, net

 
192,850

 
172,415

 

 
365,265

Income tax receivable
42,138

 

 

 
(42,138
)
 

Deferred subscription costs

 
62,870

 
38,003

 
(38,126
)
 
62,747

Deferred income taxes
49,101

 
28,742

 
5,783

 
(12,338
)
 
71,288

Intercompany receivables
579,244

 
139,795

 
403,381

 
(1,122,420
)
 

Other
2,029

 
45,534

 
22,927

 

 
70,490

Total current assets
672,512

 
489,693

 
848,486

 
(1,215,022
)
 
795,669

Non-current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net

 
262,186

 
54,813

 

 
316,999

Intangible assets, net

 
797,457

 
332,096

 

 
1,129,553

Goodwill

 
2,267,682

 
1,158,600

 

 
3,426,282

Investment in subsidiaries
2,277,486

 
1,919,563

 

 
(4,197,049
)
 

Intercompany notes receivable

 

 
723,292

 
(723,292
)
 

Other
10,680

 
12,213

 
1,433

 

 
24,326

Total non-current assets
2,288,166

 
5,259,101

 
2,270,234

 
(4,920,341
)
 
4,897,160

Total assets
$
2,960,678

 
$
5,748,794

 
$
3,118,720

 
$
(6,135,363
)
 
$
5,692,829

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term debt
$

 
$
36,001

 
$

 
$

 
$
36,001

Accounts payable

 
27,384

 
24,732

 

 
52,116

Accrued compensation

 
40,723

 
19,822

 

 
60,545

Accrued royalties

 
24,162

 
8,165

 

 
32,327

Other accrued expenses
3,446

 
74,843

 
40,667

 

 
118,956

Income tax payable

 
20,547

 
29,363

 
(42,138
)
 
7,772

Deferred revenue

 
370,574

 
348,415

 
(38,126
)
 
680,863

Intercompany payables
23,921

 
1,057,287

 
41,212

 
(1,122,420
)
 

Total current liabilities
27,367

 
1,651,521

 
512,376

 
(1,202,684
)
 
988,580

Long-term debt
750,000

 
1,343,091

 

 

 
2,093,091

Accrued pension and postretirement liability
19,548

 
8,662

 
(343
)
 

 
27,867

Deferred income taxes

 
295,045

 
79,578

 
(12,338
)
 
362,285

Intercompany notes payable

 
723,292

 

 
(723,292
)
 

Other liabilities
609

 
38,864

 
18,379

 

 
57,852

Total stockholders’ equity
2,163,154

 
1,688,319

 
2,508,730

 
(4,197,049
)
 
2,163,154

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
2,960,678

 
$
5,748,794

 
$
3,118,720

 
$
(6,135,363
)
 
$
5,692,829



20

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2014
(In thousands)
 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
32,314

 
$
120,842

 
$

 
$
153,156

Accounts receivable, net

 
212,711

 
208,663

 

 
421,374

Income tax receivable
18,000

 
16,384

 

 
(32,101
)
 
2,283

Deferred subscription costs

 
53,272

 
28,048

 
(30,299
)
 
51,021

Deferred income taxes
59,594

 
28,585

 
5,782

 
(12,181
)
 
81,780

Intercompany receivables
712,976

 
174,161

 
291,873

 
(1,179,010
)
 

Other
1,669

 
41,481

 
17,823

 

 
60,973

Total current assets
792,239

 
558,908

 
673,031

 
(1,253,591
)
 
770,587

Non-current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net

 
246,498

 
54,921

 

 
301,419

Intangible assets, net

 
826,152

 
264,957

 

 
1,091,109

Goodwill

 
2,258,393

 
898,931

 

 
3,157,324

Investment in subsidiaries
2,249,359

 
1,748,795

 

 
(3,998,154
)
 

Intercompany notes receivable

 

 
740,879

 
(740,879
)
 

Other
11,498

 
13,701

 
2,792

 

 
27,991

Total non-current assets
2,260,857

 
5,093,539

 
1,962,480

 
(4,739,033
)
 
4,577,843

Total assets
$
3,053,096

 
$
5,652,447

 
$
2,635,511

 
$
(5,992,624
)
 
$
5,348,430

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term debt
$

 
$
35,974

 
$
283

 
$

 
$
36,257

Accounts payable
93

 
31,083

 
21,069

 

 
52,245

Accrued compensation

 
57,651

 
44,224

 

 
101,875

Accrued royalties

 
24,590

 
12,756

 

 
37,346

Other accrued expenses
3,830

 
91,131

 
36,186

 

 
131,147

Income tax payable

 

 
32,101

 
(32,101
)
 

Deferred revenue

 
317,144

 
309,342

 
(30,299
)
 
596,187

Intercompany payables
119,268

 
1,056,664

 
3,078

 
(1,179,010
)
 

Total current liabilities
123,191

 
1,614,237

 
459,039

 
(1,241,410
)
 
955,057

Long-term debt
750,000

 
1,056,098

 

 

 
1,806,098

Accrued pension and postretirement liability
19,603

 
8,869

 
667

 

 
29,139

Deferred income taxes

 
311,796

 
47,804

 
(12,181
)
 
347,419

Intercompany notes payable

 
740,879

 

 
(740,879
)
 

Other liabilities
756

 
30,887

 
19,528

 

 
51,171

Total stockholders’ equity
2,159,546

 
1,889,681

 
2,108,473

 
(3,998,154
)
 
2,159,546

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
3,053,096

 
$
5,652,447

 
$
2,635,511

 
$
(5,992,624
)
 
$
5,348,430


21

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2015
(In thousands)


 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$
407,400

 
$
196,805

 
$
(12,798
)
 
$
591,407

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue

 
193,161

 
48,540

 
(12,798
)
 
228,903

Selling, general and administrative
2,618

 
137,620

 
70,242

 

 
210,480

Depreciation and amortization

 
40,948

 
17,962

 

 
58,910

Restructuring charges

 
5,556

 
1,813

 

 
7,369

Acquisition-related costs

 
224

 
77

 

 
301

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense (income)
8

 
563

 
(74
)
 

 
497

Other expense (income), net

 
2,209

 
(191
)
 

 
2,018

Total operating expenses
2,626

 
380,281

 
138,369

 
(12,798
)
 
508,478

Operating income (loss)
(2,626
)
 
27,119

 
58,436

 

 
82,929

Interest income
6,442

 
41

 
178

 
(6,481
)
 
180

Interest expense
(9,811
)
 
(8,304
)
 
(5,820
)
 
6,481

 
(17,454
)
Non-operating expense, net
(3,369
)
 
(8,263
)
 
(5,642
)
 

 
(17,274
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(5,995
)
 
18,856

 
52,794

 

 
65,655

Benefit (provision) for income taxes
2,368

 
(7,444
)
 
(9,627
)
 

 
(14,703
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(3,627
)
 
11,412

 
43,167

 

 
50,952

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
54,579

 
(3,356
)
 

 
(51,223
)
 

Net income
$
50,952

 
$
8,056

 
$
43,167

 
$
(51,223
)
 
$
50,952



22

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2014
(In thousands)


 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$
401,353

 
$
180,460

 
$
(13,805
)
 
$
568,008

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue

 
206,164

 
32,586

 
(13,805
)
 
224,945

Selling, general and administrative
3,234

 
122,166

 
78,244

 

 
203,644

Depreciation and amortization

 
33,587

 
15,555

 

 
49,142

Restructuring charges

 
792

 
68

 

 
860

Acquisition-related costs

 
257

 
(180
)
 

 
77

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense (income)
38

 
2,798

 
(2
)
 

 
2,834

Other expense (income), net

 
936

 
(1,203
)
 

 
(267
)
Total operating expenses
3,272

 
366,700

 
125,068

 
(13,805
)
 
481,235

Operating income (loss)
(3,272
)
 
34,653

 
55,392

 

 
86,773

Interest income

 
128

 
218

 
(111
)
 
235

Interest expense

 
(14,498
)
 
(223
)
 
111

 
(14,610
)
Non-operating expense, net

 
(14,370
)
 
(5
)
 

 
(14,375
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(3,272
)
 
20,283

 
55,387

 

 
72,398

Benefit (provision) for income taxes
1,292

 
(8,013
)
 
(10,185
)
 

 
(16,906
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(1,980
)
 
12,270

 
45,202

 

 
55,492

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
57,472

 
14,096

 

 
(71,568
)
 

Net income
$
55,492

 
$
26,366

 
$
45,202

 
$
(71,568
)
 
$
55,492



23

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2015
(In thousands)


 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$
788,764

 
$
377,850

 
$
(28,946
)
 
$
1,137,668

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue

 
405,900

 
66,895

 
(28,946
)
 
443,849

Selling, general and administrative
6,672

 
260,324

 
139,422

 

 
406,418

Depreciation and amortization

 
80,404

 
34,425

 

 
114,829

Restructuring charges

 
13,758

 
7,895

 

 
21,653

Acquisition-related costs

 
350

 
127

 

 
477

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense (income)
15

 
1,131

 
(153
)
 

 
993

Other expense, net

 
361

 
733

 

 
1,094

Total operating expenses
6,687

 
762,228

 
249,344

 
(28,946
)
 
989,313

Operating income (loss)
(6,687
)
 
26,536

 
128,506

 

 
148,355

Interest income
10,349

 
80

 
1,049

 
(11,138
)
 
340

Interest expense
(19,602
)
 
(15,986
)
 
(9,998
)
 
11,138

 
(34,448
)
Non-operating expense, net
(9,253
)
 
(15,906
)
 
(8,949
)
 

 
(34,108
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(15,940
)
 
10,630

 
119,557

 

 
114,247

Benefit (provision) for income taxes
6,296

 
(4,199
)
 
(25,872
)
 

 
(23,775
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(9,644
)
 
6,431

 
93,685

 

 
90,472

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
100,116

 
15,264

 

 
(115,380
)
 

Net income
$
90,472

 
$
21,695

 
$
93,685

 
$
(115,380
)
 
$
90,472



24

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2014
(In thousands)


 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Revenue
$

 
$
761,826

 
$
357,229

 
$
(26,589
)
 
$
1,092,466

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue

 
400,349

 
64,110

 
(26,589
)
 
437,870

Selling, general and administrative
5,841

 
234,752

 
160,767

 

 
401,360

Depreciation and amortization

 
68,825

 
29,954

 

 
98,779

Restructuring charges

 
1,822

 
2,213

 

 
4,035

Acquisition-related costs

 
466

 
551

 

 
1,017

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense
68

 
5,602

 

 

 
5,670

Other expense, net

 
268

 
1,040

 

 
1,308

Total operating expenses
5,909

 
712,084

 
258,635

 
(26,589
)
 
950,039

Operating income (loss)
(5,909
)
 
49,742

 
98,594

 

 
142,427

Interest income

 
471

 
436

 
(421
)
 
486

Interest expense

 
(29,206
)
 
(1,070
)
 
421

 
(29,855
)
Non-operating expense, net

 
(28,735
)
 
(634
)
 

 
(29,369
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
(5,909
)
 
21,007

 
97,960

 

 
113,058

Benefit (provision) for income taxes
2,334

 
(8,299
)
 
(19,179
)
 

 
(25,144
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(3,575
)
 
12,708

 
78,781

 

 
87,914

Equity in net income of subsidiaries
91,489

 
16,000

 

 
(107,489
)
 

Net income
$
87,914

 
$
28,708

 
$
78,781

 
$
(107,489
)
 
$
87,914



25

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Three months ended May 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
40,073

 
$
(2,698
)
 
$
33,698

 
$
(31,000
)
 
$
40,073

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended May 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
$
56,075

 
$
26,753

 
$
48,270

 
$
(75,023
)
 
$
56,075

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended May 31, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
41,710

 
$
(27,100
)
 
$
47,910

 
$
(20,810
)
 
$
41,710

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended May 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
$
86,234

 
$
26,914

 
$
81,980

 
$
(108,894
)
 
$
86,234

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

26

Table of Contents


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2015
(In thousands)

 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Net cash provided by operating activities
$

 
$
186,247

 
$
148,037

 
$

 
$
334,284

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures on property and equipment

 
(60,793
)
 
(8,245
)
 

 
(69,038
)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

 
(324,393
)
 
(45,515
)
 

 
(369,908
)
Change in other assets

 
(339
)
 

 

 
(339
)
Settlements of forward contracts

 

 
2,419

 

 
2,419

Investment in subsidiaries

 
(100
)
 

 
100

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 
(385,625
)
 
(51,341
)
 
100

 
(436,866
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from borrowings

 
440,000

 

 

 
440,000

Repayment of borrowings

 
(152,980
)
 
(283
)
 

 
(153,263
)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

 
5,193

 

 

 
5,193

Repurchases of common stock

 
(105,247
)
 

 

 
(105,247
)
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany equity

 

 
100

 
(100
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 
186,966

 
(183
)
 
(100
)
 
186,683

Foreign exchange impact on cash balance

 

 
(11,378
)
 

 
(11,378
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 
(12,412
)
 
85,135

 

 
72,723

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 
32,314

 
120,842

 

 
153,156

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
$

 
$
19,902

 
$
205,977

 
$

 
$
225,879


27

Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2014
(In thousands)

 
IHS Inc.
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
Eliminating Entries
 
Consolidated
Net cash provided by operating activities
$

 
$
200,858

 
$
174,116

 
$

 
$
374,974

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures on property and equipment

 
(45,841
)
 
(5,195
)
 

 
(51,036
)
Intangible assets acquired

 

 
(714
)
 

 
(714
)
Change in other assets

 
2,762

 

 

 
2,762

Settlements of forward contracts

 

 
1,309

 

 
1,309

Advances provided to other subsidiaries

 

 
(23,420
)
 
23,420

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 
(43,079
)
 
(28,020
)
 
23,420

 
(47,679
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from borrowings

 
30,000

 

 

 
30,000

Repayment of borrowings

 
(208,085
)
 
(140,001
)
 

 
(348,086
)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

 
10,327

 

 

 
10,327

Repurchases of common stock

 
(47,429
)
 

 

 
(47,429
)
Advances received from other subsidiaries

 
23,420

 

 
(23,420
)
 

Net cash used in financing activities

 
(191,767
)
 
(140,001
)
 
(23,420
)
 
(355,188
)
Foreign exchange impact on cash balance

 

 
(9,476
)
 

 
(9,476
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 
(33,988
)
 
(3,381
)
 

 
(37,369
)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 
55,366

 
203,001

 

 
258,367

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
$

 
$
21,378

 
$
199,620

 
$

 
$
220,998



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

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis is intended to help the reader understand the financial condition and results of operations of IHS Inc. (IHS, we, us, or our). The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014 and the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. References to 2015 are to our fiscal 2015, which began on December 1, 2014 and ends on November 30, 2015.

Executive Summary

Business Overview

We are a leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 150 countries around the globe rely on our comprehensive content, expert independent analysis, and flexible delivery methods. Our aim is to embed our solutions within the entire spectrum of our customers’ organization, enabling executive-level capital deployment strategies and following decision-making activities throughout their organizations to front-line employees tasked with managing their company’s complex core daily operations. We have been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, we are committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employ approximately 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.

Inherent in all of our strategies is a firm commitment to put our customers first in everything that we do.  To best serve our customers and be as close to them as possible, we are organized by geographies into three business segments: Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Our integrated global organization is designed to make it easier for our customers to do business with us by providing a cohesive, consistent, and effective sales-and-marketing approach in each local region.


28

Table of Contents

Subscriptions represented approximately 78 percent of our total revenue in the second quarter of 2015. Our subscription agreements are typically annual and non-cancellable for the term of the subscription and may contain provisions for minimum monthly payments. For subscription revenue, the timing of our cash flows generally precedes the recognition of revenue and income, and therefore, we typically have good revenue visibility.

Our business has seasonal aspects. Our fourth quarter typically generates our highest quarterly levels of revenue and profit. Conversely, our first quarter generally has our lowest levels of revenue and profit. We also experience event-driven seasonality in our business; for instance, IHS Energy CERAWeek, an annual energy executive gathering, is held during our second quarter. Another example is the biennial release of the Boiler Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) engineering standard, which generates revenue for us predominantly in the third quarter of every other year. We most recently recognized a benefit in connection with the BPVC release in the third quarter of 2013.

In 2015, we continue to focus on our key strategic priorities:

Operational excellence. Operational excellence encompasses our efforts to continuously improve our internal systems and processes to help us become more efficient, as well as allow us to capture new growth and expand margins as we strive to fully leverage a common global infrastructure.

Commercial expansion. We expect to continue our pace of new and integrated product platform releases and offerings, and we are on track with the development and release of product platforms across the various workflows we service. We also continue to target high potential and new opportunity accounts through our sales initiatives.

Global Operations

Approximately 40 percent of our revenue is generated outside of the United States; however, only about 20 percent of our revenue is transacted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, a strengthening U.S. dollar relative to certain currencies has historically resulted in a negative impact to our revenue; conversely, a weakening U.S. dollar has historically resulted in a positive impact to our revenue. However, the impact on operating income is diminished due to certain operating expenses denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Our largest foreign currency exposures, in order of magnitude, are the British Pound, Canadian Dollar, and Euro.

Key Performance Indicators

We believe that revenue growth, Adjusted EBITDA (both in dollars and margin), and free cash flow are the key financial measures of our success. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP).

Revenue growth. We review year-over-year revenue growth in our segments as a key measure of our success in addressing customer needs in each region of the world in which we operate. We measure revenue growth in terms of organic, acquisitive, and foreign currency impacts. We define these components as follows:

Organic – We define organic revenue growth as total revenue growth from continuing operations for all factors other than acquisitions and foreign currency movements. We drive this type of revenue growth through value realization (pricing), expanding wallet share of existing customers through up-selling and cross-selling efforts, securing new customer business, and through the sale of new or enhanced product offerings.

Acquisitive – We define acquisitive revenue as the revenue generated from acquired products and services from the date of acquisition to the first anniversary date of that acquisition. This type of growth comes as a result of our strategy to purchase, integrate, and leverage the value of assets we acquire. We also include the impact of divestitures in this growth metric.

Foreign currency – We define the foreign currency impact on revenue as the difference between current revenue at current exchange rates and current revenue at the corresponding prior period exchange rates. Due to the significance of revenue transacted in foreign currencies, we measure the impact of foreign currency movements on revenue.

We also measure and report revenue by transaction type. Understanding revenue by transaction type helps us identify broad changes in product mix. We summarize our transaction type revenue into the following two categories:


29

Table of Contents

Subscription revenue represents the significant majority of our revenue, and is comprised of subscriptions to our various information offerings and software maintenance.

Non-subscription revenue represents consulting (e.g., research and analysis, modeling, and forecasting), services, single-document product sales, software license sales and associated services, conferences and events, and advertising. Our non-subscription products and services are an important part of our business because they complement our subscription business in creating strong and comprehensive customer relationships.

We also measure and report revenue by product category, which helps us understand performance based on our capabilities within key vertical industries and horizontal workflows.

Non-GAAP measures. We use non-GAAP financial measures such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow in our operational and financial decision-making, and believe that such measures allow us to focus on what we deem to be more reliable indicators of ongoing operating performance (Adjusted EBITDA) and our ability to generate cash flow from operations (free cash flow). We also believe that investors may find non-GAAP financial measures useful for the same reasons, although we caution readers that non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP financial measures or disclosures. None of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be an alternative to net income or operating cash flow as an indicator of operating performance or any other GAAP measure. Throughout this section on management’s discussion and analysis and on our website (www.ihs.com), we provide reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used by many of our investors, research analysts, investment bankers, and lenders to assess our operating performance. For example, a measure similar to Adjusted EBITDA is required by the lenders under our 2013 term loan and 2014 revolving facility. We define EBITDA as net income plus or minus net interest, plus provision for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA further excludes primarily non-cash items and other items that we do not consider to be useful in assessing our operating performance (e.g., stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, acquisition-related costs, asset impairment charges, gain or loss on sale of assets, gain or loss on debt extinguishment, pension mark-to-market and settlement expense, and income or loss from discontinued operations).

Free Cash Flow. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, these measures can still be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because we believe the measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP financial disclosures. For example, a company with higher GAAP net income may not be as appealing to investors if its net income is more heavily comprised of gains on asset sales. Likewise, excluding the effects of interest income and expense moderates the impact of a company’s capital structure on its performance.

Results of Operations

Total Revenue

Second quarter 2015 revenue increased 4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014, and our year-to-date 2015 revenue also increased 4 percent compared to the same period in 2014. The table below displays the percentage change in revenue due to organic, acquisitive, and foreign currency factors when comparing the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 to the three and six months ended May 31, 2014.
 
Change in Total Revenue
(All amounts represent percentage points)
Organic
 
Acquisitive
 
Foreign
Currency
Second quarter 2015 vs. second quarter 2014
1
%
 
6
%
 
(2
)%
Year-to-date 2015 vs. year-to-date 2014
1
%
 
5
%
 
(2
)%

Organic growth for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, was primarily attributable to organic subscription growth, largely offset by negative non-subscription organic growth. Organic subscription growth was positive across the business, at 5 percent and 6 percent for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, but declined sequentially. We continue to benefit from strength in our

30

Table of Contents

Industrials product category, offset by lower Resources revenue from market pressure in our energy product offerings. Non-subscription organic revenue results were adversely impacted by lower consulting, software, and services revenue, mostly in our Resources product category.

Acquisitive revenue growth for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, was due to acquisitions we made in the last 12 months, including the following:

Global Trade Information Services and PCI Acrylonitrile in the third quarter of 2014;
DisplaySearch/Solarbuzz and PacWest Consulting Partners in the fourth quarter of 2014;
JOC Group, Infonetics, and Rushmore Reviews in the first quarter of 2015; and
Dataium and RootMetrics in the second quarter of 2015.

Foreign currency had an adverse effect on our year-over-year revenue growth as the U.S. dollar continued to maintain its strength against foreign currencies. We anticipate continued negative foreign currency impacts on year-over-year revenue comparisons through the remainder of 2015.

Revenue by Segment
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Americas
$
401,881

 
$
376,787

 
7
 %
 
$
767,962

 
$
727,207

 
6
 %
EMEA
136,630

 
138,847

 
(2
)%
 
263,677

 
265,708

 
(1
)%
APAC
52,896

 
52,374

 
1
 %
 
106,029

 
99,551

 
7
 %
Total revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
4
 %
 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466

 
4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a percent of total revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Americas
68
%
 
66
%
 
 
 
68
%
 
67
%
 
 
EMEA
23
%
 
24
%
 
 
 
23
%
 
24
%
 
 
APAC
9
%
 
9
%
 
 
 
9
%
 
9
%
 
 

The percentage change in each geography segment is due to the factors described in the following table.
 
Increase (decrease) in revenue
 
Second quarter 2015 vs. second quarter 2014
 
Year-to-date 2015 vs. year-to-date 2014
(All amounts represent percentage points)
Organic
 
Acquisitive
 
Foreign
Currency
 
Organic
 
Acquisitive
 
Foreign
Currency
Americas
1
 %
 
7
%
 
(1
)%
 
1
%
 
5
%
 
(1
)%
EMEA
1
 %
 
2
%
 
(5
)%
 
1
%
 
2
%
 
(4
)%
APAC
(2
)%
 
6
%
 
(2
)%
 
2
%
 
7
%
 
(2
)%

Americas revenue for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, experienced steady organic subscription growth at 6 percent for the three and six months, benefiting primarily from strong Industrials performance. Non-subscription organic growth was negative 13 percent for the three months and negative 15 percent for the six months, and was adversely impacted by lower consulting, software, and services revenue, primarily in our Resources product category.

EMEA revenue for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, experienced organic subscription growth at 3 percent for the three and six months. Non-subscription organic growth was negative 7 percent for the three months and negative 8 percent for the six months, and was adversely impacted by lower software and consulting revenue.

APAC revenue for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, experienced organic subscription growth at 4 percent for the three months and 7 percent for the six months. Non-subscription organic growth was negative 19 percent for the three months and negative 13 percent for the six months, and was adversely impacted by lower software and consulting revenue in our Resources product category.

31

Table of Contents


Revenue by Transaction Type
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percent change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percent change
(in thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
Total
 
Organic
 
2015
 
2014
 
Total
 
Organic
Subscription revenue
$
459,681

 
$
426,346

 
8
 %
 
5
 %
 
$
907,488

 
$
843,720

 
8
 %
 
6
 %
Non-subscription revenue
131,726

 
141,662

 
(7
)%
 
(12
)%
 
230,180

 
248,746

 
(7
)%
 
(13
)%
Total revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466

 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a percent of total revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subscription
78
%
 
75
%
 
 
 
 
 
80
%
 
77
%
 
 
 
 
Non-subscription
22
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
 
 
20
%
 
23
%
 
 
 
 

Subscription revenue grew at 5 percent and 6 percent organically for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, with Industrials subscription offerings providing the largest contribution to the growth. We expect that our Resources subscription base will be flat for the remainder of the year.
 
Non-subscription revenue decreased 12 percent and 13 percent organically for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, due to lower consulting, software, and services revenue, primarily in our Resources product category and energy market headwinds in our Horizontal Products category.

Revenue by Product Category
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percent change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percent change
(in thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
Total
 
Organic
 
2015
 
2014
 
Total
 
Organic
Resources revenue
$
234,673

 
$
243,876

 
(4
)%
 
(4
)%
 
$
452,242

 
$
461,370

 
(2
)%
 
(2
)%
Industrials revenue
220,536

 
181,346

 
22
 %
 
8
 %
 
417,126

 
353,069

 
18
 %
 
7
 %
Horizontal products revenue
136,198

 
142,786

 
(5
)%
 
(1
)%
 
268,300

 
278,027

 
(3
)%
 
(1
)%
Total revenue
$
591,407

 
$
568,008

 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
$
1,137,668

 
$
1,092,466

 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a percent of total revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Resources
40
%
 
43
%
 
 
 


 
40
%
 
42
%
 
 
 
 
Industrials
37
%
 
32
%
 
 
 


 
37
%
 
32
%
 
 
 
 
Horizontal products
23
%
 
25
%
 
 
 


 
24
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
 

Total Resources revenue decreased 4 percent and 2 percent for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, and included organic subscription growth at 2 percent for the three months and 4 percent for the six months. We continue to see moderating Resources subscription growth due to industry dynamics, and expect that our Resources subscription base will be flat for the remainder of the year. Subscription base pressure for the quarter came largely from our smaller customer accounts. Non-subscription organic growth was negative 23 percent for the three months and negative 25 percent for the six months, and was adversely impacted by lower energy software, consulting, and services revenue.

Total Industrials revenue growth was 22 percent and 18 percent for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, and included organic subscription growth at 10 percent for the three months and 9 percent for the six months, benefiting primarily from strong performance in our automotive product offerings. Non-subscription organic growth was 2 percent for the three months and 1 percent for the six months, also mostly due to performance in our automotive product offerings.

Total Horizontal Products revenue growth was negative 5 percent and negative 3 percent for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2014, and included organic subscription growth at 3 percent for the three months and 4 percent for the six months. Non-subscription organic growth was negative 14 percent for the

32

Table of Contents

three and six months, and was adversely impacted by lower product design revenue and energy market headwinds in our other Horizontal Products category offerings.

Operating Expenses

The following table shows our operating expenses and the associated percentages of revenue.
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue
$
228,903

 
$
224,945

 
2
 %
 
$
443,849

 
$
437,870

 
1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SG&A expense
$
210,480

 
$
203,644

 
3
 %
 
$
406,418

 
$
401,360

 
1
 %
Stock-based compensation expense allocated to SG&A
32,900

 
34,521

 
(5
)%
 
64,976

 
76,625

 
(15
)%
SG&A expense, excluding stock-based compensation
$
177,580

 
$
169,123

 
5
 %
 
$
341,442

 
$
324,735

 
5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
$
58,910

 
$
49,142

 
20
 %
 
$
114,829

 
$
98,779

 
16
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a percent of revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue
39
%
 
40
%
 
 
 
39
%
 
40
%
 
 
SG&A expense
36
%
 
36
%
 
 
 
36
%
 
37
%
 
 
SG&A expense excluding stock-based compensation
30
%
 
30
%
 
 
 
30
%
 
30
%
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
10
%
 
9
%
 
 
 
10
%
 
9
%
 
 

Cost of Revenue

For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, cost of revenue was slightly down as a percentage of revenue, compared to the same periods in the prior year, reflecting operating efficiencies associated with our scaled infrastructure, as well as cost management across all areas. We continue to invest in areas such as our automotive offerings, energy asset valuation offerings, and selected sales investments to drive future growth in the business.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expense

We evaluate our SG&A expense after excluding stock-based compensation expense in order to focus on the ongoing operating performance of our SG&A activities. For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue was largely unchanged.

For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, stock-based compensation expense decreased primarily due to the timing of changes in the number of shares expected to vest for performance-based awards in 2014, as well as the impact of forfeitures associated with restructuring activities. Please refer to Note 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of stock-based compensation.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily as a result of an increase in depreciable and amortizable assets from capital expenditures and acquisitions.


33

Table of Contents

Restructuring

Please refer to Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of our restructuring activities. During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we incurred approximately $21.7 million of restructuring charges, primarily for severance related to resource refinement and alignment across most of our business functions, as well as other restructuring costs related to lease abandonments and further consolidation of our legacy data centers.

During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we eliminated 302 positions related to these activities. We expect to continue to incur costs related to similar activities in future periods, resulting in additional restructuring charges.

Acquisition-related Costs

Please refer to Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of costs associated with our integration and other acquisition-related activities. During the six months ended May 31, 2015, we recorded approximately $0.5 million of direct and incremental costs associated with acquisition-related activities, primarily legal and professional fees.

Pension and Postretirement Expense

Net periodic pension and postretirement expense decreased from $2.8 million and $5.7 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2014, respectively, to $0.5 million and $1.0 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, primarily as a result of the pension freeze we implemented on our U.S. Retirement Income Plan (U.S. RIP) and Supplemental Income Plan (SIP) in July 2014. As a result of the pension freeze, we no longer have any expense related to participant service accruals, but continue to incur pension and postretirement expense related to plan administration, interest costs, and regulatory fees.

Our pension expense and associated pension liability as calculated under GAAP requires the use of assumptions about the estimated long-term rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate. Our pension investment strategy is designed to align the majority of our pension assets with the underlying pension liability and minimize volatility caused by changes in asset returns and discount rates. Our pension expense estimates are updated to reflect actual experience through the remeasurement process in the fourth quarter, or sooner if earlier remeasurements are required. For the six months ended May 31, 2015, we used a 4.7 percent expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and a 4.2 percent discount rate for the U.S. RIP; the actual return on plan assets during that period was 1.5 percent. We anticipate that the difference between actual return on plan assets and expected return on plan assets will be largely mitigated by the offsetting change in the pension liability resulting from movements in the discount rate.

Operating Income by Segment (geography)
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Operating income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Americas
$
86,200

 
$
93,587

 
(8
)%
 
$
159,541

 
$
171,197

 
(7
)%
EMEA
31,775

 
34,465

 
(8
)%
 
56,948

 
59,060

 
(4
)%
APAC
13,743

 
12,938

 
6
 %
 
24,597

 
23,000

 
7
 %
Shared services
(48,789
)
 
(54,217
)
 
 
 
(92,731
)
 
(110,830
)
 
 
Total operating income
$
82,929

 
$
86,773

 
(4
)%
 
$
148,355

 
$
142,427

 
4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a percent of segment revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Americas
21
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
21
%
 
24
%
 
 
EMEA
23
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
22
%
 
22
%
 
 
APAC
26
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
23
%
 
23
%
 
 

For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, operating income as a percentage of revenue for the Americas segment was negatively impacted by severance expense associated with restructuring activities, as well as higher depreciation and amortization expense associated with recent acquisitions and capital expenditures.

34

Table of Contents

For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, the EMEA segment operating income as a percentage of revenue decreased primarily as a result of product mix, increased restructuring expense, and increased depreciation and amortization expense. For the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, the APAC segment operating income as a percentage of revenue was largely unchanged.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 was 22.4 percent and 20.8 percent, respectively, compared to 23.4 percent and 22.2 percent for the same periods of 2014, due to the benefit of certain discrete items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP measures)

The following table provides reconciliations of our net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
Three months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
 
Six months ended May 31,
 
Percentage
Change
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
Net income
$
50,952

 
$
55,492

 
(8
)%
 
$
90,472

 
$
87,914

 
3
%
Interest income
(180
)
 
(235
)
 
 
 
(340
)
 
(486
)
 
 
Interest expense
17,454

 
14,610

 
 
 
34,448

 
29,855

 
 
Provision for income taxes
14,703

 
16,906

 
 
 
23,775

 
25,144

 
 
Depreciation
22,259

 
16,090

 
 
 
43,172

 
31,880

 
 
Amortization
36,651

 
33,052

 
 
 
71,657

 
66,899

 
 
EBITDA
$
141,839

 
$
135,915

 
4
 %
 
$
263,184

 
$
241,206

 
9
%
Stock-based compensation expense
34,344

 
36,032

 
 
 
67,834

 
79,996

 
 
Restructuring charges
7,369

 
860

 
 
 
21,653

 
4,035

 
 
Acquisition-related costs
301

 
77

 
 
 
477

 
1,017

 
 
Impairment of assets
1,243

 

 
 
 
1,243

 

 
 
Loss (gain) on sale of assets

 
(151
)
 
 
 

 
2,654

 
 
Adjusted EBITDA
$
185,096

 
$
172,733

 
7
 %
 
$
354,391

 
$
328,908

 
8
%
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue
31.3
%
 
30.4
%
 
 
 
31.2
%
 
30.1
%
 
 

Our Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014, increased primarily because of our continued focus on realization of operating efficiencies and cost containment.

Financial Condition
(In thousands, except percentages)
As of May 31, 2015
 
As of November 30, 2014
 
Dollar change
 
Percent change
Accounts receivable, net
$
365,265

 
$
421,374

 
$
(56,109
)
 
(13
)%
Accrued compensation
$
60,545

 
$
101,875

 
$
(41,330
)
 
(41
)%
Deferred revenue
$
680,863

 
$
596,187

 
$
84,676

 
14
 %

The decrease in accounts receivable is primarily due to the timing of billings and cash collections in the second quarter of 2015. We continue to experience the historical trend of seeing seasonal decreases in our accounts receivable balances in the second and third fiscal quarters, as we typically have the most subscription renewals in our first and fourth fiscal quarters. The decrease in accrued compensation was primarily due to the 2014 bonus payout made in the first quarter of 2015 (partially offset by the current year accrual), as well as lower commission accruals. The increase in deferred revenue was primarily due to seasonal increases associated with subscription renewals, as well as acquired deferred revenue balances.


35

Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of May 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $226 million, of which approximately $194 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Cash held by our foreign subsidiaries could be subject to U.S. federal income tax if we decided to repatriate any of that cash to the U.S.; however, our intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside of the U.S. and our current plans do not indicate a need to repatriate cash to fund our operations in jurisdictions outside of where they are held. We also had approximately $2.13 billion of debt as of May 31, 2015, comprised primarily of $750 million of senior notes, $690 million of revolving facility debt, and $683 million of term loan debt. As of May 31, 2015, we had approximately $610 million available under our revolving credit facility.

Due to our recent refinancing, a larger portion of our debt is now carried at a fixed interest rate, which has resulted in a higher average interest rate for overall debt and is the primary reason for the increase in interest expense for the three and six months ended May 31, 2015, compared to the same periods of 2014. We expect that our increased debt, coupled with the higher effective interest rate, will result in higher interest expense in the near future. On a trailing twelve-month basis, the ratio of free cash flow to Adjusted EBITDA was approximately 64 percent. Over the longer term, we anticipate that this ratio will be in the mid-60s range, reflecting increased interest expense and an increase in our cash taxes.

In the first quarter of 2015, our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $100 million of outstanding stock. We completed this repurchase program in June 2015 and announced a new $500 million repurchase program for share repurchases through November 2017. This new repurchase program does not obligate us to repurchase any set dollar amount or number of shares. The amount authorized under the new program is inclusive of open market share repurchases, as well as repurchases for stock surrendered by employees in an amount equal to the statutory tax liability associated with the vesting of their equity awards, for which we pay the statutory tax on behalf of the employee. Because of our cash, debt, and cash flow positions, we believe we will have sufficient liquidity to meet our ongoing working capital and capital expenditure needs.

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the number and magnitude of future acquisitions and share repurchase programs, the need for additional facilities or facility improvements, the timing and extent of spending to support product development efforts, information technology infrastructure investments, investments in our internal business applications, and the continued market acceptance of our offerings. We could be required, or could elect, to seek additional funding through public or private equity or debt financings; however, additional funds may not be available on terms acceptable to us. We expect that our capital expenditures for 2015 will be approximately 5 to 6 percent of revenue.

Cash Flows
 
Six months ended May 31,
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
Dollar change
 
Percent change
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
334,284

 
$
374,974

 
$
(40,690
)
 
(11
)%
Net cash used in investing activities
$
(436,866
)
 
$
(47,679
)
 
$
(389,187
)
 
816
 %
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
$
186,683

 
$
(355,188
)
 
$
541,871

 
(153
)%

The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to increased cash payments associated with restructuring activities and interest expense in 2015, as well as activities associated with working capital. Our subscription-based business model continues to be a cash-flow generator that is aided by positive working capital characteristics that do not generally require substantial working capital increases to support our growth.

The increase in net cash used in investing activities was principally due to the acquisitions of JOC Group, Infonetics, Rushmore Reviews, Dataium, and RootMetrics in the first half of 2015, as well as an increase in capital expenditures.

The increase in net cash provided by (used in) financing activities in 2015 was principally to help finance our acquisitions and share repurchase activities in the first six months of 2015, versus our focus on reducing our debt leverage in 2014.

Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP measure)

The following table reconciles our non-GAAP free cash flow measure to net cash provided by operating activities.

36

Table of Contents

 
Six months ended May 31,
(In thousands, except percentages)
2015
 
2014
 
Dollar change
 
Percent change
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
334,284

 
$
374,974

 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures on property and equipment
(69,038
)
 
(51,036
)
 
 
 
 
Free cash flow
$
265,246

 
$
323,938

 
$
(58,692
)
 
(18
)%

Our free cash flow has historically been positive due to the robust cash generation attributes of our business model, and we expect that it will continue to be a significant source of funding for our business strategy of growth through organic and acquisitive means.

Credit Facility and Other Debt

Please refer to Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of the current status of our debt arrangements.

Share Repurchase Programs

Please refer to Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and to Part II, Item 2 in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of our share repurchase programs.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

We have no off-balance sheet transactions.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our management makes a number of significant estimates, assumptions and judgments in the preparation of our financial statements. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2014 for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in our accounting for revenue recognition, business combinations, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes, pension and postretirement benefits, and stock-based compensation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Please refer to Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and their anticipated effect on our business.

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For information regarding our exposure to certain market risks, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2014.

Borrowings under the 2014 revolving facility and 2013 term loan are subject to variable interest rates. We use interest rate swaps in order to fix a portion of our variable rate debt as part of our overall interest rate risk management strategy. As of May 31, 2015, we had approximately $1.373 billion of floating-rate debt at a 1.73 percent weighted-average interest rate, of which $200 million was subject to effective floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps. A hypothetical increase in interest rates of 100 basis points applied to our floating rate indebtedness would increase annual interest expense by approximately $12 million ($14 million without giving effect to any of our interest rate swaps).


37

Table of Contents

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act are effective at a reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports required to be filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

Please refer to Note 11 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for information about legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors associated with our business previously disclosed in Part I of our annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2014.


38

Table of Contents

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The following table provides detail about our share repurchases during the three months ended May 31, 2015.
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands)
March 1 - March 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase programs (1)
40,000

 
$
111.71

 
40,000

 
$
77,993

Employee transactions (2)
6,668

 
$
113.51

 
N/A

 
N/A

April 1 - April 30, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase programs (1)
137,231

 
$
123.28

 
137,231

 
$
61,075

Employee transactions (2)
5,511

 
$
117.76

 
N/A

 
N/A

May 1 - May 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share repurchase programs (1)
225,873

 
$
126.68

 
225,873

 
$
32,461

Employee transactions (2)
4,948

 
$
125.72

 
N/A

 
N/A

Total share repurchases
420,231

 
$
123.81

 
403,104

 
 

(1) In January 2015, our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $100 million of our Class A common stock (the January 2015 Program). We may repurchase shares in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other relevant factors. The repurchase program does not obligate us to repurchase any set dollar amount or number of shares and is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2015, but may be suspended at any time at our discretion. We completed this repurchase program in June 2015.

In June 2015, our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $500 million of our Class A common stock (the June 2015 Program). We may repurchase shares in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other relevant factors. The June 2015 Program does not obligate us to repurchase any set dollar amount or number of shares and is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2017, but may be suspended at any time at our discretion. The amount authorized under the June 2015 Program is inclusive of share repurchases of our Class A common stock surrendered by employees in an amount equal to the statutory tax liability associated with the vesting of their equity awards, for which we pay the statutory tax on behalf of the employee, as previously approved by our board of directors.

(2) Amounts represent common shares surrendered by employees in an amount equal to the statutory tax liability associated with the vesting of their equity awards. We then pay the statutory tax on behalf of the employee. Our board of directors approved this program in 2006 in an effort to reduce the dilutive effects of employee equity grants.

Item 5.    Other Information

Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act Disclosure
 
Under the Iran Threat Reduction and Syrian Human Rights Act of 2012, which added Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act, we are required to include certain disclosures in our periodic reports if we or any of our affiliates knowingly engaged in certain specified activities during the period covered by the report. Disclosure is generally required even if the transactions or dealings were conducted in compliance with applicable law and regulations. During the third quarter of 2014, we acquired Global Trade Information Services, a Virginia corporation (“GTIS”). GTIS publishes the Global Trade Atlas (the “GTA”), an online trade data system offering global merchandise trade statistics such as import and export data from official sources in more than 65 countries. Included in the GTA is certain trade data sourced from Iran for which GTIS pays an annual fee of approximately $30,000. The procurement of this information is exempt from applicable economic sanctions laws and regulations as a funds transfer related to the exportation or importation of information and informational materials. Sales attributable to this Iranian trade data represented approximately $75,000 in gross revenue for GTIS in the second quarter of 2015 and would have represented approximately 0.01% of our company’s second quarter 2015 consolidated revenues and gross profits. Subject to any changes in the exempt status of such activities, we intend to continue these business activities as permissible under applicable export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations.


39

Table of Contents

Item 6.
Exhibits

(a)
Index of Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act
 
 
32
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer 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.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF  
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB  
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE  
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


40

Table of Contents

SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on June 24, 2015.
 
IHS INC.
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Heather Matzke-Hamlin
 
 
Name:
 
Heather Matzke-Hamlin
 
 
Title:
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer


41