EarthLink to cut 900 jobs and buy back shares

By Robert MacMillan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - EarthLink Inc said on Tuesday it will cut about 900 jobs, or nearly half its staff, as part of a restructuring to reduce costs at the Internet service provider.

Additionally, its board authorized an additional $200 million share buyback, sending its shares up as much as 12 percent.

The company said it plans to take charges of about $60 million to $70 million related to the restructuring, most of which it will recognize in the third and fourth quarters.

EarthLink also lowered its annual revenue forecast to below average Wall Street expectations.

"We expect to announce additional steps as we continue our work over the coming weeks and months," EarthLink President and Chief Executive Rolla Huff said in a statement.

"While we recognize this is a difficult time for those affected individuals, this was a needed action for the company to better align our cost structure with our existing business," he added.

The company will have a little less than 1,000 positions after the cuts, a spokeswoman said.

EarthLink said it plans to close offices in Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; San Francisco; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It also will reduce its presence in Pasadena, California, and its home base of Atlanta.