QUINSTREET, INC - Quarter Report: 2015 December (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2015

or

For the transition period from                 to               

Commission File No. 001-34628

QuinStreet, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

650-578-7700

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

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

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

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.

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

Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2016: 45,233,509

QUINSTREET, INC.

INDEX

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUINSTREET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

3

QUINSTREET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

4

QUINSTREET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

5

QUINSTREET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

6

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. The Company

QuinStreet, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leader in performance marketing online. The Company was incorporated in California in April 1999 and reincorporated in Delaware in December 2009. The Company provides customer acquisition programs for clients in various industry verticals such as financial services and education. The corporate headquarters are located in Foster City, California, with additional offices throughout the United States, Brazil and India.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company also evaluates its ownership in entities to determine if they are variable interest entities (“VIEs”), if the Company has a variable interest in those entities, and if the nature and extent of those interests result in consolidation. Refer to Note 4 for more information on VIEs. The Company applies the cost method of accounting for investments in entities if the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the entities. The interests held at cost are periodically evaluated for other-than-temporary declines in value. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are unaudited. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, as filed with the SEC on August 19, 2015. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2015 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date, but does not include all disclosures, including notes, required by GAAP.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015, its condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, its condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, and its condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, or any other future period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates, judgments and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, contingencies, and income taxes. The Company bases these estimates on historical and anticipated results and trends and on various other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances, including assumptions as to future events. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and recorded revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could affect the results of operations reported in future periods.

7

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. There have been no significant changes in the accounting policies subsequent to June 30, 2015.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

No client accounted for 10% or more of net revenue for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 or for the same period in fiscal year 2015. No client accounted for 10% or more of net accounts receivable as of December 31, 2015 or June 30, 2015.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, an acquisition-related promissory note and a revolving loan facility. The fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents is determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets for its money market funds. The recorded values of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their current fair values due to the relatively short-term nature of these accounts. The fair value of the acquisition-related promissory note approximates its recorded amount as the interest rates on similar financing arrangements available to the Company at December 31, 2015 approximate the interest rates implied when this acquisition-related promissory note was originally issued and recorded. The Company believes that the fair value of the revolving loan facility approximates its recorded amount at December 31, 2015 as the interest rate on the revolving loan facility is variable and is based on market interest rates and after consideration of default and credit risk.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard update on revenue from contracts with clients. The new guidance provides that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new guidance.

In June 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard update on accounting for share-based payments when the terms of an award provide that a performance target could be achieved after the requisite service period, which amends ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” The amendment provides guidance on the treatment of shared-based payment awards with a specific performance target, requiring that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. The new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to the disclosures around going concern. The new standard provides guidance around management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard update on consolidating legal entities in which a reporting entity holds a variable interest. The amended guidance modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are VIEs and affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new guidance.

In November 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard update on the balances sheet classification of deferred taxes. The new standard requires entities to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The new guidance becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

8

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

3. Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders and Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, including potential dilutive shares of common stock assuming the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and restricted stock units using the treasury stock method.

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share:

4. Fair Value Measurements, Marketable Securities and Variable Interest Entities

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received on sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The FASB has established a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the guidance for fair value measurement are described below:

Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Pricing inputs are based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. The valuations are based on quoted prices of the underlying security that are readily and regularly available in an active market, and accordingly, a significant degree of judgment is not required. As of December 31, 2015, the Company used Level 1 assumptions for its money market funds.

Level 2 — Pricing inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. As of December 31, 2015, the Company used Level 2 assumptions for its acquisition-related promissory note and revolving loan facility.

9

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Level 3 — Pricing inputs are generally unobservable for the assets or liabilities and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require management’s judgment or estimation of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques. As of December 31, 2015, the Company did not have any Level 3 financial assets or liabilities.

The Company’s financial instruments as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015 were categorized as follows in the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

Marketable Securities

All liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. Investments with maturities greater than three months at the date of purchase are classified as marketable securities. Historically, the Company’s marketable securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates the available-for-sale designation as of each balance sheet date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity.

The Company holds money market funds of $20.2 million as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015. Gross unrealized gains and losses were not material as the carrying value approximated estimated fair value due to its short maturities. The Company did not hold any marketable securities as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.

The Company did not realize any material gains or losses from sales of its securities in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. As of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, the Company did not hold securities that had maturity dates greater than one year.

10

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Variable Interest Entities

A VIE is consolidated by its primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The assessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE requires significant assumptions and judgments, including the identification of significant activities and an assessment of our ability to direct those activities. The Company has an equity interest in a privately held entity that is a VIE, of which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the interest of $2.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015 is recognized at cost within other assets, noncurrent on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s interest was evaluated for impairment as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015 which did not result in any indications of impairment. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of the unconsolidated VIE is $2.5 million at December 31, 2015, which represents the carrying value of the Company’s investment in the VIE.

5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

During the three months ended December 31, 2015, the Company entered into a 10-year partnership agreement with a large online customer acquisition marketing company focused on the U.S. insurance industry to be their exclusive click monetization partner for the majority of its insurance categories. The agreement included a one-time upfront cash payment of $10.0 million. The payment will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has recorded $1.0 million within prepaid expenses and other assets and $8.8 million in other assets, noncurrent on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Amortization expense was $0.2 million in both the three and six months ended December 31, 2015.

6. Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Intangible assets, net balances, excluding goodwill, consisted of the following (in thousands):

Amortization of intangible assets was $2.3 million and $4.7 million in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and $3.3 million and $7.1 million in the three and six months ended December 31, 2014.

Future amortization expense for the Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2015 was as follows (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, goodwill was $56.1 million.

11

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

7. Income Taxes

The Company recorded a valuation allowance against the majority of the Company’s deferred tax assets at the end of fiscal year 2014 and continues to maintain that full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015 as the Company believes it is not more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be fully realizable.

The Company recorded an immaterial provision for income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2015. The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2015 primarily due to a state tax examination which concluded as of December 31, 2015.

Due to the full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets for the three and six months ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded an immaterial benefit from income taxes.

8. Debt

Loan Facility

In November 2011, the Company entered into a credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with Comerica Bank (the “Bank”), the administrative agent and lead arranger. The Credit Agreement consisted of a $100.0 million five-year term loan facility, with annual principal amortization of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 50%, and a $200.0 million five-year revolving loan facility maturing on November 4, 2016.

On February 15, 2013, the Company entered into the First Amendment to Credit Agreement and Amendment to Guaranty (“First Amendment”) with the Bank to, among other things: (1) amend the definition of EBITDA; and (2) reduce the $200.0 million five-year revolving loan facility to $100.0 million.

On July 17, 2014, the Company entered into the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (“Second Amendment”) with the Bank to, among other things, amend the financial covenants and reduce the revolving loan facility from $100.0 million to $50.0 million, each effective as of June 30, 2014. Upfront arrangement fees incurred in connection with the Second Amendment totaled $0.3 million and were deferred and amortized over the remaining term of the arrangement. In connection with the reduction of the revolving loan facility, the Company accelerated amortization of approximately $0.3 million of unamortized deferred upfront costs.

On June 11, 2015, the Company entered into the Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (“Third Amendment”) with the Bank to, among other things, pay off in full and terminate the term loan facility, reduce the revolving loan facility from $50.0 million to $25.0 million, amend the financial covenants, and extend the expiration date of the Credit Agreement from November 4, 2016 to June 11, 2017. Pursuant to the Third Amendment, each of the revolving loan facility lenders (other than the Bank) assigned its revolving loan facility commitments to the Bank, resulting in the Bank remaining as sole lender under the Credit Agreement. Upfront arrangement fees incurred in connection with the Third Amendment were not material. In connection with the termination of the term loan facility, the Company accelerated amortization of approximately $0.5 million of unamortized deferred upfront costs.

The Credit Agreement, as amended from time to time, is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. Borrowings under the revolving loan facility are subject to a borrowing base consisting of eligible receivables and certain other customary conditions.

Pursuant to the Second Amendment, (1) the applicable margin for base rate borrowings was set at (a) 1.375% for the revolving loan facility or (b) 1.75% for the term loan facility, and (2) the applicable margin for Eurodollar rate borrowings was set at (a) 2.375% for the revolving loan facility or (b) 2.75% for the term loan facility.

Pursuant to the Third Amendment, borrowings under the revolving loan facility bear interest at a Eurodollar rate plus 3.00%.

EBITDA under the Credit Agreement is defined as net loss less (provision for) benefit from taxes, depreciation expense, amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, interest and other expense, net, acquisition costs for business combinations, extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses including, without limitation, goodwill impairments, and any extraordinary or non-recurring cash expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0 million for the life of the Credit Agreement, as amended from time to time. The Company must pay an annual facility fee of $62,500 and an annual unused fee of 0.25% of the undrawn revolving loan facility commitments. The Company has the right to prepay the revolving loan facility or permanently reduce the revolving loan facility commitments without premium or penalty, in whole or in part at any time.

12

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The Credit Agreement, as amended, contains limitations on the Company’s ability to sell assets, make acquisitions, pay dividends, incur capital expenditures, and also requires the Company to comply with certain additional covenants. In addition, pursuant to the Third Amendment, the Company is required to maintain financial covenants as follows when there are amounts outstanding under the revolving loan facility and at the time the Company draws down amounts under the revolving loan facility:

1. Minimum EBITDA as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the trailing twelve month period of not less than:

(a) $1 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015;

(b) $2,000,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2015;

(c) $3,000,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015;

(d) $4,000,000 for the quarter ending March 31, 2016;

(e) $5,000,000 for the quarter ending June 30, 2016.

Thereafter, minimum EBITDA increases each quarter in $1,000,000 increments; provided that there shall be no loss in EBITDA greater than $2,000,000 in any fiscal quarter during such trailing four quarter period.

2. Minimum adjusted quick ratio as of the end of each month of not less than 1.25 to 1.00.

The Company was in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Agreement, as amended, as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.

As of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, $15.0 million was outstanding under the revolving loan facility.

Interest Rate Swap

During fiscal year 2015, the Company held an interest rate swap to reduce its exposure to the financial impact of changing interest rates under its term loan facility. The swap encompassed the principal balances outstanding as of January 1, 2014 and scheduled to be outstanding thereafter, such principal and notional amount totaling $85.0 million in January 2014 and amortizing to $35.0 million in November 2016. The swap agreement exchanged a variable interest rate base (Eurodollar rate) for a fixed interest rate of 0.97% over the term of the agreement. This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge of the interest rate risk attributable to forecasted variable interest payments. The effective portion of the fair value gains or losses on this swap was included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss with any hedge ineffectiveness immediately recognized in earnings in the current period.

In June 2015, in connection with the repayment in full and termination of the term loan facility, the Company also terminated the interest rate swap agreement. Upon settlement, the Company recognized an expense of $0.3 million within other income, net, in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Debt Maturities

The maturities of the Company’s debt as of December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

Letters of Credit

The Company has a $0.4 million letter of credit agreement with a financial institution that is used as collateral for fidelity bonds placed with an insurance company and a $0.5 million letter of credit agreement with a financial institution that is used as collateral for

13

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

the Company’s corporate headquarters’ operating lease. The letters of credit automatically renew annually without amendment unless cancelled by the financial institutions within 30 days of the annual expiration date.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company leases office space under non-cancelable operating leases with various expiration dates through fiscal year 2021. Rent expense was $0.9 million and $1.7 million for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and $0.9 million and $1.8 million for the three and six months ended December 31, 2014. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period and accrues for rent expense incurred but not paid.

Future annual minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

Guarantor Arrangements

The Company has agreements whereby it indemnifies its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer or director’s lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company has a director and officer insurance policy that limits its exposure and enables the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts under certain circumstances and subject to deductibles and exclusions. As a result of its insurance policy coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is not material. Accordingly, the Company had no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company from time to time enters into standard indemnification provisions in its agreements with its clients. Pursuant to these provisions, the Company may be obligated to indemnify its clients for certain losses suffered or incurred, including losses arising from violations of applicable law by the Company or by its third-party publishers, losses arising from actions or omissions of the Company or its third-party publishers, and for third-party claims that a Company product infringed upon any United States patent, copyright or other intellectual property rights. Where practicable, the Company limits its liabilities under such indemnities. Subject to these limitations, the term of such indemnification provisions is generally coterminous with the corresponding agreements and survives for the duration of the applicable statute of limitations after termination of the agreement. The potential amount of future payments to defend lawsuits or settle indemnified claims under these indemnification provisions is generally limited and the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnity provisions is not material. Accordingly, the Company had no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015.

10. Stock Benefit Plans

Stock Incentive Plans

The Company may grant incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonstatutory stock options (“NQSOs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance-based stock awards, and other forms of equity compensation, as well as performance cash awards, under its 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Incentive Plan”). The Company may grant NQSOs and restricted stock units to non-employee directors under the 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Award Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”). In fiscal year 2016, the Company began granting to employees restricted stock units with a market condition that requires that the Company’s stock

14

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

price achieve a specified price above the grant date stock price before it can be eligible for service vesting conditions. To date, the Company has issued only ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock units and performance-based stock awards under its stock incentive plans.

As of December 31, 2015, 13,642,714 shares were reserved and 12,097,530 shares were available for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan; 2,789,628 shares were reserved and 1,265,463 shares were available for issuance under the Directors’ Plan.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Options are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the common stock at the date of grant. The weighted average Black-Scholes model assumptions for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

The Company estimates the fair value of restricted stock units with a market condition at the date of the grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The weighted average Monte Carlo simulation model assumptions for the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Compensation expense is amortized net of estimated forfeitures on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the stock-based compensation awards.

11. Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its chief executive officer. The Company’s chief executive officer reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about operating segments, including net sales and operating income before depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.

The Company determined its reportable operating segment is DMS, which derives revenue from fees earned through the delivery of qualified leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, customers and, to a lesser extent, impressions. The remaining segment does not meet the quantitative threshold for an individually reportable segment and is therefore included in the “All Other” line in the following table.

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on operating income before depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.

15

QUINSTREET, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The Company does not allocate most of its assets, nor its depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, interest income, interest expense, other income, net, or (provision for) benefit from taxes by segment. Accordingly, the Company does not report such information.

Summarized information by segment was as follows (in thousands):

The following tables set forth net revenue and long-lived assets by geographic area (in thousands):

16

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

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not materialize or if they prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or variations intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified in “Part II —Item 1A. Risk Factors” below, and those discussed in the sections titled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, filed with the SEC. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Management Overview

QuinStreet, Inc. is a leader in performance marketing online. We have built a strong set of capabilities to engage Internet visitors in targeted media and to connect our marketing clients with their potential customers online. We focus on serving clients in large, information-intensive industry verticals where relevant, targeted media and offerings help visitors make informed choices, find the products that match their needs, and thus become qualified customer prospects for our clients.

We deliver cost-effective marketing results to our clients most typically in the form of a qualified lead, inquiry, click, call, application, or customer. Leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, and applications can then convert into a customer or sale for clients at a rate that results in an acceptable marketing cost to them. We are typically paid by clients when we deliver qualified leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, applications, or customers as defined by our agreements with them. References to the delivery of customers means a sale or completed customer transaction (e.g., bound insurance policies or customer appointments with clients). Because we bear the costs of media, our programs must deliver value to our clients and provide for a media yield, or generation of an acceptable margin on our media costs, that provides a sound financial outcome for us. To deliver leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, applications, and customers to our clients, generally we:

Our primary financial objective has been and remains creating revenue growth from sustainable sources, at target levels of profitability. Our primary financial objective is not to maximize profits, but rather to achieve target levels of profitability while investing in various growth initiatives, as we continue to believe we are in the early stages of a large, long-term market opportunity.

Our Direct Marketing Services (“DMS”) business accounted for all of our net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and substantially all of our net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2014. Our DMS business derives its

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net revenue from fees earned through the delivery of qualified leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, applications, or customers and, to a lesser extent, display advertisements, or impressions. Through a vertical focus, targeted media presence and our technology platform, we are able to deliver targeted, measurable marketing results to our clients.

Our two largest client verticals within our DMS business are financial services and education. Our financial services client vertical represented 50% and 47% of net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 44% of net revenue in both the three and six months ended December 31, 2014. Our education client vertical represented 32% and 35% of net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 35% and 36% of net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2014. Other DMS client verticals, consisting primarily of business-to-business technology, home services and medical, represented 18% of net revenue in both the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 and 21% and 20% of net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2014.

We generated the majority of our revenue from sales to clients in the United States.

No client accounted for 10% or more of our net revenue in the three and six months ended December 31, 2015 or 2014.

Trends Affecting our Business

Client Verticals

To date, we have generated the majority of our revenue from clients in our financial services and education client verticals. We expect that a majority of our revenue for the remainder of fiscal year 2016 will continue to be generated from clients in these two client verticals.

Our financial services client vertical has been challenged by a number of factors over the past several years, including the limited availability of high quality media at acceptable margins caused by changes in search engine algorithms, acquisition of media sources by competitors and increased competition for quality media. These effects may continue to impact our business in the near future. To offset this impact, we have broadened our product set with enhanced click, lead, call and policy products that have enabled better monetization to provide greater access to high quality media sources. Moreover, we have entered into strategic partnerships to increase and diversify our access to quality media and client budgets.

Our education client vertical has been significantly challenged by regulations and enforcement activity affecting U.S. for-profit education institutions over the past several years. For example, in January 2014, the Department of Education initiated an investigation of a publicly traded U.S. for-profit education client with respect to its enrollment activities and job placement, among other things, and in July 2014, the Department of Education signed an agreement with the client requiring it to wind down or sell its campuses. In addition, in October 2014, the Department of Education announced final regulations on gainful employment which went into effect on July 1, 2015. The regulations require career college programs to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation which requires the programs’ graduates’ annual loan payments to be less than a defined percentage of earnings. Programs that do not pass the test could lose access to federal financial aid, which typically constitutes an important source of funding for these programs. As a result, such programs may be modified, curtailed or eliminated. In July 2015, the Federal Trade Commission initiated an investigation of another publicly traded U.S. for-profit education client with respect to its recruiting and enrollment practices. These and other similar regulatory and enforcement activities have affected and are expected to continue to affect our clients’ businesses and marketing practices, which have and may continue to result in a decrease in these clients’ spending with us, and fluctuations in the volume and mix of our business with these clients. To offset the impact these activities have had on the U.S. for-profit education clients, we have broadened our product set from our traditional lead business with the addition of better qualified and matched leads or inquiries, clicks and calls; we believe these new enhanced products better match U.S. for-profit education client needs in the current regulatory environment. We have also broadened our markets in education to include not-for-profit schools and international markets in Brazil and India. Moreover, we have entered into strategic partnerships to increase and diversify our access to quality media and client budgets.

Development and Acquisition of Targeted Media

One of the primary challenges of our business is finding or creating media that is high quality and targeted enough to attract prospects for our clients at costs that provide a sound financial outcome for us. In order to grow our business, we must be able to find, develop or retain quality targeted media on a cost-effective basis. Consolidation of media sources, changes in search engine algorithms

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and increased competition for available media has, during some periods, limited and may continue to limit our ability to generate revenue at acceptable margins. To offset this impact, we have developed new sources of media, including entering into strategic partnerships with other marketing and media companies. Such partnerships include takeovers of performance marketing functions for large web media properties; backend monetization of unmatched traffic for clients with large media buys; and white label products for other performance marketing companies. We have also grown our revenue from mobile and social traffic sources.

Seasonality

Our results are subject to significant fluctuation as a result of seasonality. In particular, our quarters ending December 31 (our second fiscal quarter) are typically characterized by seasonal weakness. In our second fiscal quarters, there is lower availability of lead supply from some forms of media during the holiday period on a cost effective basis and some of our clients have lower budgets. In our quarters ending March 31 (our third fiscal quarter), this trend generally reverses with better lead availability and often new budgets at the beginning of the year for our clients with fiscal years ending December 31.

Regulations

Our revenue has fluctuated in part as a result of federal, state and industry-based regulations and developing standards with respect to the enforcement of those regulations. Our business is affected directly because we operate websites and conduct telemarketing and email marketing, and indirectly affected as our clients adjust their operations as a result of regulatory changes and enforcement activity that affect their industries.

Clients in our financial services vertical have been affected by laws and regulations and the increased enforcement of new and pre-existing laws and regulations. In addition, our education client vertical has been significantly affected by the adoption of regulations affecting U.S. for-profit education institutions over the past several years, and a high level of governmental scrutiny is expected to continue. The effect of these regulations, or any future regulations, may continue to result in fluctuations in the volume and mix of our business with these clients.

An example of a regulatory change that may affect our business is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the “TCPA”). Our efforts to comply with the TCPA have thus far had a relatively small negative effect on traffic conversion rates. However, our clients may make business decisions based on their own experiences with the TCPA regardless of our products, and the changes we implemented to comply with the regulations. Those decisions may negatively affect our revenue or profitability.

Basis of Presentation

General

We operate as one reportable segment, DMS. The remainder of our business, which has historically been immaterial, is classified as “All Other.” See Note 11, Segment Information, to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion and financial information regarding our reportable segment.

Net Revenue

Our DMS business generates revenue from fees earned through the delivery of qualified leads, inquiries, clicks, calls, applications, customers and, to a lesser extent, display advertisements, or impressions. We deliver targeted and measurable results through a vertical focus that we classify into the following client verticals: financial services, education and “other” (which includes business-to-business technology, home services and medical).

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of media costs, personnel costs, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation expense, and amortization of internal software development costs related to revenue-producing technologies. Media costs consist primarily of fees paid to third-party publishers, media owners or managers, or to strategic partners that are directly related to a revenue-generating event and of pay-per-click, or PPC, ad purchases from Internet search companies. We pay these third-party publishers, strategic partners and Internet search companies on a revenue-share, a cost-per-lead, or CPL, cost-per-click, or CPC, and cost-per-thousand-impressions, or CPM, basis. Personnel costs include salaries, stock-based compensation expense, bonuses, and employee benefit costs. Personnel costs are primarily related to individuals associated with maintaining our servers and websites, our call center operations, our editorial

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staff, client management, creative team, content, compliance group, and media purchasing analysts. Costs associated with software incurred in the development phase or obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized in cost of revenue over the software’s estimated useful life.

Operating Expenses

We classify our operating expenses into three categories: product development, sales and marketing and general and administrative. Our operating expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and, to a lesser extent, professional services fees, rent and other costs. Personnel costs for each category of operating expenses generally include salaries, stock-based compensation expense, bonuses, commissions, and employee benefit costs.

Product Development. Product development expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and rent. We are constraining expenses generally to the extent practicable; however we expect product and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the future as we accelerate revenue growth and profitability.

Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, advertising, professional services fees, and rent. We are constraining expenses generally to the extent practicable; however we expect sales and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the future as we accelerate revenue growth and profitability.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs of our finance, legal, employee benefits and compliance, technical support and other administrative personnel, as well as accounting and legal professional services fees, and insurance. We are constraining expenses generally to the extent practicable; however we expect general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the future as we accelerate revenue growth and profitability.

Interest and Other Income, Net

Interest and other income, net, consists primarily of interest expense, interest income, and other income and expense. Interest expense is related to our revolving loan facility, term loan facility, and the related interest rate swap. Borrowings under our revolving loan facility and related interest expense could increase if, among other things, we make additional acquisitions through debt financing. Interest income represents interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, which may increase or decrease depending on market interest rates and the amounts invested. Other income and expense includes gains and losses on foreign currency exchange, gains and losses on sales of websites and domain names that were not considered to be strategically important to our business, and other non-operating items.

(Provision for) Benefit from Income Taxes

We are subject to tax in the United States as well as other tax jurisdictions or countries in which we conduct business. Earnings from our limited non-U.S. activities are subject to local country income tax and may be subject to U.S. income tax.

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

In presenting our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.

Some of the estimates and assumptions we are required to make relate to matters that are inherently uncertain as they pertain to future events. We base these estimates and assumptions on historical experience or on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we reconsider and evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

We believe that the critical accounting policies listed below involve our more significant judgments, assumptions and estimates and, therefore, could have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies, estimates and judgments disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K subsequent to June 30, 2015. For further information on our critical and other significant accounting policies and estimates, see Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2015, filed with the SEC.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the periods indicated:

Net Revenue