Aspen Group, Inc. (OTCQB: ASPU) (“AGI” or the "Company"), an
education technology holding company, today announced financial
results for its second quarter fiscal year 2024 ended October 31,
2023.
Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Summary
Results
|
Three Months Ended October 31, |
|
Six Months Ended October 31, |
$ in millions, except per share data |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Revenue |
$ |
13.8 |
|
|
$ |
17.1 |
|
|
$ |
28.5 |
|
|
$ |
36.0 |
|
Gross Profit1 |
$ |
8.7 |
|
|
$ |
10.2 |
|
|
$ |
18.5 |
|
|
$ |
18.4 |
|
Gross Margin (%)1 |
|
63 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
65 |
% |
|
|
51 |
% |
Operating Income (Loss) |
$ |
(0.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(4.7 |
) |
Net Income (Loss) |
$ |
(1.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.0 |
) |
Earnings (Loss) per Share |
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.24 |
) |
EBITDA2 |
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
(0.6 |
) |
|
$ |
1.8 |
|
|
$ |
(2.8 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA2 |
$ |
1.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
3.0 |
|
|
$ |
(0.6 |
) |
_______________________
1 GAAP gross profit calculation includes marketing and promotional
costs, instructional costs and services, and amortization expense
of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, and $1.0 million and $1.0 million
for the three and six months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively.
2 Non-GAAP financial measures. See reconciliations of GAAP to
non-GAAP financial measures under
“Non-GAAP–Financial Measures” starting on page
5.
“In the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, we narrowed our net
loss by 30% on a year-over-year basis, delivered our fourth
consecutive quarter of positive EBITDA and generated cash from
operations,” said Michael Mathews, Chairman and CEO of AGI.
“Healthcare industry dynamics continue to create high demand for
postgraduate nursing degrees from RNs. Notably, enrollments at
Aspen University and United States University increased over the
past two quarters with minimal internet marketing spend, a
testament to the value of our programs and the strength of our
university brands. As we near completion of the Aspen University
pre-licensure program teach-out, we remain focused on sustaining
positive cash flow from operations. We anticipate the pre-licensure
teach-out will be substantially completed in Arizona by the end of
January and completed in all other states by mid-year 2024.”Mr.
Mathews concluded, “Currently, we are graduating our final, and
largest cohorts from the Phoenix pre-licensure program, and I am
thrilled to announce that the NCLEX first-time pass rate in Arizona
for the fourth calendar quarter ended December 31, 2023 has
increased to 89% (N=93/105). The improvement reflects our ongoing
commitments to increased program rigor and improved student test
preparation.”
Fiscal Q2 2024 Financial and Operational Results
(compared to Fiscal Q2 2023)
Revenue decreased by 19% to $13.8 million compared to $17.1
million. The following table presents the Company’s revenue, both
per-subsidiary and total:
|
Three Months Ended October 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
$ Change |
|
% Change |
|
|
2022 |
AU |
$ |
7,293,124 |
|
$ |
(3,048,779 |
) |
|
(29)% |
|
|
$ |
10,341,903 |
USU |
|
6,535,723 |
|
|
(196,921 |
) |
|
(3)% |
|
|
|
6,732,644 |
Revenue |
$ |
13,828,847 |
|
$ |
(3,245,700 |
) |
|
(19)% |
|
|
$ |
17,074,547 |
Aspen University's (“AU”) revenue decline of $3.0 million, or
29%, reflects the enrollment stoppage at the pre-licensure program
campuses, which accounted for $2.3 million of the decrease, and
lower post-licensure enrollments in prior quarters as a result of
the decrease in marketing spend initiated in late Q1 Fiscal 2023.
The active student body at AU decreased by 29% year-over-year to
5,679 at October 31, 2023 from 7,973 at October 31, 2022.
United States University (“USU”) revenue was down 3% compared to
the prior period. MSN-FNP program enrollments decreased in previous
quarters due to lower marketing spend initiated in late Q1 Fiscal
2023. Lower enrollments were offset by higher revenue per student
driven by more students entering their second year of the MSN-FNP
program, which includes clinical rotations, and by tuition
increases. The active student body at USU decreased by 8% to 2,733
at October 31, 2023 from 2,984 at October 31, 2022.
GAAP gross profit decreased 15% to $8.7 million compared to
$10.2 million primarily due to lower revenue associated with the
teach-out of the pre-licensure program.
Gross margin was 63% compared to 60%. AU's gross margin was 61%
versus 60%, and USU's gross margin was 67% versus 67%. The increase
in gross margin is the result of lower marketing spend and lower
instructional costs and services associated with the enrollment
stoppage in the pre-licensure program.
AU instructional costs and services represented 31% of AU
revenue, and USU instructional costs and services represented 30%
of USU revenue. AU marketing and promotional costs represented 3%
of AU revenue, and USU marketing and promotional costs represented
2% of USU revenue.
The following tables present the Company’s net income (loss),
both per subsidiary and total:
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2023 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
(1,611,813 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,807,821 |
) |
|
$ |
581,707 |
|
$ |
1,614,301 |
Net loss per share |
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2022 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
(2,293,640 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,150,209 |
) |
|
$ |
1,067,885 |
|
$ |
1,788,684 |
Net loss per share |
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following tables present the Company’s Non-GAAP Financial
Measures, both per subsidiary and total. See reconciliations of
GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures under
“Non-GAAP–Financial Measures” starting on page
5.
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2023 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
EBITDA |
$419,073 |
|
|
$(2,680,982) |
|
|
$1,339,102 |
|
|
$1,760,953 |
|
EBITDA Margin |
|
3% |
|
|
NM |
|
|
18% |
|
|
|
27% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$1,087,205 |
|
|
$(2,487,843) |
|
|
$1,585,674 |
|
|
$1,989,374 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
8% |
|
|
NM |
|
|
22% |
|
|
|
30% |
|
_____________________NM – Not meaningful
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2022 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
EBITDA |
$(603,364) |
|
|
$(4,362,762) |
|
|
$1,852,192 |
|
|
$1,907,206 |
|
EBITDA Margin |
|
(4)% |
|
|
NM |
|
|
18% |
|
|
|
28% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$537,339 |
|
|
$(3,726,004) |
|
|
$2,114,530 |
|
|
$2,148,813 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
3% |
|
|
NM |
|
|
20% |
|
|
|
32% |
|
EBITDA improved by $1.0 million in Fiscal Q2 2024 to $0.4
million from a loss of $0.6 million. The improvement was primarily
due to cost controls implemented in conjunction with the two
restructurings implemented in Fiscal Q2 2023 and Fiscal Q4 2023 and
the reduction of marketing spend to maintenance levels initiated in
Fiscal Q1 2023. Included in Fiscal Q2 2024 EBITDA are general and
administrative spend reductions of approximately $2.5 million,
including $1.5 million related to decreased headcount associated
with the restructuring plans. Additionally, marketing spend
reductions of approximately $0.5 million are included in Q2 2024
EBITDA. Total EBITDA for the last four fiscal quarters was $2.7
million, as depicted in the table below:
|
Q3'23 |
|
Q4'23 |
|
Q1'24 |
|
Q2'24 |
|
TTM |
Net loss |
$ |
(1,555,040 |
) |
|
$ |
(783,954 |
) |
|
$ |
(639,438 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,611,813 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,590,245 |
) |
EBITDA |
$ |
116,162 |
|
|
$ |
812,041 |
|
|
$ |
1,344,405 |
|
|
$ |
419,073 |
|
|
$ |
2,691,681 |
|
_____________________________TTM – Trailing
twelve months
Operating Metrics
New Student Enrollments
Total enrollments for AGI increased 5% from Q2 Fiscal `23 and
34% sequentially, despite the reduction in internet advertising
spend across all programs to maintenance levels. The increase in
enrollments reflects the demand for postgraduate nursing degrees,
our unique and affordable monthly payment plans and students
obtaining legacy pricing prior to September 2023 tuition price
increases. By the end of Fiscal `24, we anticipate the resumption
of marketing spend to a level necessary to provide enrollments
needed to resume growth of the student body in fiscal 2025 while
allowing for the generation of positive operating cash flow.
New student enrollments for the past five quarters are shown
below:
|
Q2'23 |
|
Q3'23 |
|
Q4'23 |
|
Q1'24 |
|
Q2'24 |
Aspen University |
784 |
|
695 |
|
574 |
|
626 |
|
808 |
USU |
506 |
|
374 |
|
360 |
|
389 |
|
548 |
Total |
1,290 |
|
1,069 |
|
934 |
|
1,015 |
|
1,356 |
New student enrollments, bookings and ARPU for Q2’24 versus
Q2’23 are shown below (rounding differences may occur):
|
First Quarter
Bookings1and Average Revenue Per
Enrollment (ARPU)1 |
|
Q2'23 Enrollments |
|
Q2'23 Bookings1 |
|
Q2'24 Enrollments |
|
Q2'24 Bookings1 |
|
Percent Change Total Bookings &
ARPU1 |
Aspen University |
784 |
|
$ |
8,450,250 |
|
808 |
|
$ |
6,663,300 |
|
|
USU |
506 |
|
|
9,016,920 |
|
548 |
|
|
9,765,360 |
|
|
Total |
1,290 |
|
$ |
17,467,170 |
|
1,356 |
|
$ |
16,428,660 |
|
(6)% |
ARPU |
|
|
$ |
13,540 |
|
|
|
$ |
12,116 |
|
(11)% |
_____________________1 “Bookings” are defined
by multiplying Lifetime Value (LTV) by new student enrollments for
each operating unit. “ARPU” is defined by dividing total Bookings
by total new student enrollments for each operating unit.
Total Active Student Body
Total active student body for the past five quarters is shown
below:
|
Q2'23 |
|
Q3'23 |
|
Q4'23 |
|
Q1'24 |
|
Q2'24 |
Aspen University |
7,973 |
|
7,232 |
|
6,670 |
|
6,001 |
|
5,679 |
USU |
2,984 |
|
2,724 |
|
2,729 |
|
2,590 |
|
2,733 |
Total |
10,957 |
|
9,956 |
|
9,399 |
|
8,591 |
|
8,412 |
Nursing Students
As of October 31, 2023, 6,902 of 8,412, or 82%, of all active
students across both universities are degree-seeking nursing
students. Of the students seeking nursing degrees, 6,624 are RNs
studying to earn an advanced degree, including 4,192 at Aspen
University and 2,432 at USU. The remaining 278 nursing students are
enrolled in Aspen University’s BSN Pre-licensure program in the
Phoenix, Austin, Tampa and Nashville metros. The majority of the
year-over-year Aspen University nursing student body decrease is a
result of the enrollment stoppage and teach out of the
pre-licensure program and the reduction in marketing spend to
maintenance levels.
Nursing student body for the past five quarters is shown
below.
|
Q2'23 |
|
Q3'23 |
|
Q4'23 |
|
Q1'24 |
|
Q2'24 |
Aspen University |
6,640 |
|
5,899 |
|
5,392 |
|
4,766 |
|
4,470 |
USU |
2,752 |
|
2,450 |
|
2,490 |
|
2,349 |
|
2,432 |
Total |
9,392 |
|
8,349 |
|
7,882 |
|
7,115 |
|
6,902 |
Liquidity
On October 31, 2023, the Company had unrestricted cash of $1.9
million and restricted cash of $4.1 million. Included in the
unrestricted cash balance is $1.5 million related to the Second
Amendment to the 15% Debentures under which the purchasers agreed
to unrestrict $1.5 million of restricted cash associated with the
Debentures. Subsequent to the closing of the quarter, AGI received
$1 million from the reduction of the surety bond required by the
state of Arizona. Additionally, prior to the end of January 2024,
the Company is anticipating a $3.9 million student financial aid
reimbursement from the Department of Education (“DoE”) which will
allow the Company to pay down $1.5 million of the Debenture
principal. After the Debenture principal repayment, the
unrestricted cash balance is projected to exceed $2.0 million.
Variability in the unrestricted cash balance is primarily due to
the timing of financial aid reimbursements from the DoE under the
Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (“HCM2”) method of financial aid
reimbursement. HCM2 requires the Company to make
disbursements to students from its own institutional funds, and a
request is then submitted to the DoE for reimbursement of those
funds.
Cash provided by operations in Q2 Fiscal `24 was $0.4 million
due to the receipt of HCM2 payments, and management believes the
Company is positioned to continue generating positive operating
cash flows during the remainder of Fiscal 2024 as a result of
ongoing HCM2 cash receipts and ongoing cost controls. Cash used in
operations for the six months ended October 31, 2023 was $4.2
million. The Company generated approximately $0.8 million of cash
from the net loss adjusted for non-cash activities and used
approximately $5.0 million of cash from changes in working capital
primarily related to the timing of HCM2 payments and increased
long-term monthly payment plan accounts receivable related to
increased enrollments.
Additional Information
For additional information on the financial statements and
performance, please refer to the Aspen Group, Inc. Quarterly Report
for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 published on the
Company’s website at www.aspu.com, or the OTC Markets Aspen Group
Quote page under the Disclosure tab.
Conference Call
Aspen Group, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its
second quarter fiscal year 2024 results and business outlook on
Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 4:30 pm ET. Aspen Group, Inc. will
issue a press release reporting results after the market closes on
that day. The conference call can be accessed by dialing toll-free
(877) 704-4453 (U.S.) or (201) 389-0920 (International), passcode
13743216.
Subsequent to the call, a transcript of the audio cast will be
available from the Company’s website at www.aspu.com. There will
also be a seven-day dial-in replay which can be accessed by dialing
toll-free (844) 512-2921 (U.S.) or (412) 317-6671 (International),
passcode 13743216.
Non-GAAP – Financial Measures
This press release includes both financial measures in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP,
as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP
financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s
performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes
or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in
the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in
accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed
as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternatives to
net income (loss), operating income (loss), and cash flow from
operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures.
They may not be indicative of the historical operating results of
AGI nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future
results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures
in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated
in accordance with GAAP.
Our management uses and relies on EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA Margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We
believe that management, analysts, and shareholders benefit from
referring to the following non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate
and assess our core operating results from period-to-period after
removing the impact of items that affect comparability. Our
management recognizes that the non-GAAP financial measures have
inherent limitations because of the excluded items described
below.
We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial
measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated in
accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP
financial measures, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps
investors make comparisons between AGI and other companies. In
making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be
aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate
their financial performance. Investors should pay close attention
to the specific definition being used and to the reconciliation
between such measure and the corresponding GAAP measure provided by
each.
AGI defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA excluding: (1) bad debt
expense; (2) stock-based compensation; (3) severance; and (4)
non-recurring charges or income. The following table presents a
reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
and of net income (loss) margin to the Adjusted EBITDA margin:
|
Three Months Ended |
|
October 31, 2022 |
|
January 31, 2023 |
|
April 31, 2023 |
|
July 31, 2023 |
|
October 31, 2023 |
Net loss |
$ |
(2,293,640 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,555,040 |
) |
|
$ |
(783,954 |
) |
|
$ |
(639,438 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,611,813 |
) |
Interest expense, net |
|
708,705 |
|
|
|
714,801 |
|
|
|
639,517 |
|
|
|
936,460 |
|
|
|
1,040,720 |
|
Taxes |
|
46,501 |
|
|
|
37,249 |
|
|
|
22,677 |
|
|
|
84,171 |
|
|
|
40,076 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
935,070 |
|
|
|
919,152 |
|
|
|
933,801 |
|
|
|
963,212 |
|
|
|
950,090 |
|
EBITDA |
|
(603,364 |
) |
|
|
116,162 |
|
|
|
812,041 |
|
|
|
1,344,405 |
|
|
|
419,073 |
|
Bad debt expense |
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
458,336 |
|
|
|
394,510 |
|
|
|
387,452 |
|
|
|
87,449 |
|
|
|
218,132 |
|
Severance |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
149,043 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Non-recurring charges -
Other |
|
232,367 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
537,339 |
|
|
$ |
960,672 |
|
|
$ |
1,798,536 |
|
|
$ |
1,881,854 |
|
|
$ |
1,087,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss Margin |
|
(13)% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12)% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
(3)% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8% |
|
The following tables present a reconciliation of net income
(loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and of net income (loss)
margin to the Adjusted EBITDA margin by business unit:
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2023 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
(1,611,813 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,807,821 |
) |
|
$ |
581,707 |
|
$ |
1,614,301 |
Interest expense, net |
|
1,040,720 |
|
|
|
1,040,720 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Taxes |
|
40,076 |
|
|
|
7,997 |
|
|
|
18,601 |
|
|
13,478 |
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
950,090 |
|
|
|
78,122 |
|
|
|
738,794 |
|
|
133,174 |
EBITDA |
|
419,073 |
|
|
|
(2,680,982 |
) |
|
|
1,339,102 |
|
|
1,760,953 |
Bad debt expense |
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
225,000 |
Stock-based compensation |
|
218,132 |
|
|
|
193,139 |
|
|
|
21,572 |
|
|
3,421 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
1,087,205 |
|
|
$ |
(2,487,843 |
) |
|
$ |
1,585,674 |
|
$ |
1,989,374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) Margin |
|
(12)% |
|
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
8% |
|
|
25% |
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
8% |
|
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
22% |
|
|
30% |
_____________________NM – Not meaningful
|
Three Months Ended October 31, 2022 |
|
Consolidated |
|
AGI Corporate |
|
AU |
|
USU |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
(2,293,640 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,150,209 |
) |
|
$ |
1,067,885 |
|
|
$ |
1,788,684 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
708,705 |
|
|
|
710,237 |
|
|
|
(1,239 |
) |
|
|
(293 |
) |
Taxes |
|
46,501 |
|
|
|
8,350 |
|
|
|
27,776 |
|
|
|
10,375 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization |
|
935,070 |
|
|
|
68,860 |
|
|
|
757,770 |
|
|
|
108,440 |
|
EBITDA |
|
(603,364 |
) |
|
|
(4,362,762 |
) |
|
|
1,852,192 |
|
|
|
1,907,206 |
|
Bad debt expense |
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
458,336 |
|
|
|
404,391 |
|
|
|
37,338 |
|
|
|
16,607 |
|
Non-recurring charges -
Other |
|
232,367 |
|
|
|
232,367 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
537,339 |
|
|
$ |
(3,726,004 |
) |
|
$ |
2,114,530 |
|
|
$ |
2,148,813 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) Margin |
|
(13)% |
|
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
10% |
|
|
|
27% |
|
Adjusted EBITDA Margin |
|
3% |
|
|
|
NM |
|
|
|
20% |
|
|
|
32% |
|
Definitions
Lifetime Value ("LTV") – is calculated as the
weighted average total amount of tuition and fees paid by every new
student that enrolls in the Company’s universities, after giving
effect to attrition.
Bookings – is defined by multiplying LTV by new
student enrollments for each operating unit.
Average Revenue per Enrollment ("ARPU") – is
defined by dividing total bookings by total enrollments.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin – is defined as Adjusted
EBITDA divided by revenue. We believe Adjusted EBITDA margin is
useful for management, analysts and investors as this measure
allows for a more meaningful comparison between our performance and
that of our competitors. Adjusted EBITDA margin has certain
limitations in that it does not take into account the impact to our
consolidated statement of operations of certain expenses.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
including our liquidity, receipt of payment from the U.S.
Department of Education, our continuing generating positive cash
flow from operations, and our estimates as to Lifetime Value,
bookings and ARPU, changes in enrollments and the expected use of
proceeds from the drawdown under the revolving credit facility. The
words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,”
“intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is
likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate
to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have
based these forward-looking statements largely on our current
expectations and projections about future events and financial
trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results
of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the
forward-looking statements include the continued demand of nursing
students and for new programs, student attrition, national and
local economic factors including the potential impact of COVID-19,
influenza and other respiratory viruses on the economy, the
effectiveness of our future marketing campaigns, our reliance on
third parties which may have differing priorities, the continued
government spending on healthcare, any regulatory risks including
the reauthorization of Aspen University by its accreditor,
continued improvement in NCLEX scores, competition from nursing
schools in local markets, the competitive impact from the trend of
major non-profit universities using online education and
consolidation among our competitors. Any forward-looking statement
made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made.
Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may
emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict
all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by
law.
About Aspen Group, Inc.
Aspen Group, Inc. is an education technology holding company
that leverages its infrastructure and expertise to allow its two
universities, Aspen University and United States University, to
deliver on the vision of making college affordable again.
Investor Relations Contact
Kim RogersManaging DirectorHayden
IR385-831-7337 Kim@HaydenIR.com
GAAP Financial Statements
ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS |
|
|
October 31, 2023 |
|
April 30, 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
1,906,332 |
|
|
$ |
1,353,635 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
4,100,000 |
|
|
|
4,370,832 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,862,420 and $3,506,895,
respectively |
|
22,654,843 |
|
|
|
22,121,237 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
629,040 |
|
|
|
609,900 |
|
Other current assets |
|
4,921,735 |
|
|
|
3,068,918 |
|
Total current assets |
|
34,211,950 |
|
|
|
31,524,522 |
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
Computer equipment and hardware |
|
1,643,665 |
|
|
|
1,655,130 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
2,190,450 |
|
|
|
2,169,090 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
8,052,440 |
|
|
|
8,055,363 |
|
Instructional equipment |
|
756,568 |
|
|
|
756,568 |
|
Software |
|
12,180,811 |
|
|
|
11,648,505 |
|
|
|
24,823,934 |
|
|
|
24,284,656 |
|
Less: accumulated depreciation
and amortization |
|
(13,765,150 |
) |
|
|
(11,922,435 |
) |
Total property and equipment, net |
|
11,058,784 |
|
|
|
12,362,221 |
|
Goodwill |
|
5,011,432 |
|
|
|
5,011,432 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
7,900,000 |
|
|
|
7,900,000 |
|
Courseware, net |
|
360,628 |
|
|
|
291,438 |
|
Long-term contractual accounts
receivable |
|
17,334,007 |
|
|
|
13,004,428 |
|
Deferred financing costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
73,897 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use
assets, net |
|
12,585,726 |
|
|
|
13,431,074 |
|
Deposits and other assets |
|
594,566 |
|
|
|
210,536 |
|
Total
assets |
$ |
89,057,093 |
|
|
$ |
83,809,548 |
|
ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED) |
|
|
October 31, 2023 |
|
April 30, 2023 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
$ |
2,916,185 |
|
|
$ |
2,250,902 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
2,921,285 |
|
|
|
2,355,370 |
|
Advances on tuition |
|
2,377,593 |
|
|
|
2,975,680 |
|
Deferred tuition |
|
4,762,952 |
|
|
|
2,892,333 |
|
Due to students |
|
2,535,736 |
|
|
|
2,624,831 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
4,684,290 |
|
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
Operating lease obligations, current portion |
|
2,497,946 |
|
|
|
2,502,810 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
688,268 |
|
|
|
109,328 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
23,384,255 |
|
|
|
20,711,254 |
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, net |
|
15,535,401 |
|
|
|
10,000,000 |
|
Operating lease obligations,
less current portion |
|
16,311,827 |
|
|
|
17,551,512 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
55,231,483 |
|
|
|
48,262,766 |
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and
contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
equity: |
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 shares
authorized, |
|
|
|
0 issued and 0 outstanding at October 31, 2023 and
April 30, 2023 |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized, |
|
|
|
25,548,046 issued and 25,548,046 outstanding at October 31,
2023 |
|
|
|
25,592,802 issued and 25,437,316 outstanding at April 30,
2023 |
|
24,061 |
|
|
|
25,593 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
112,144,189 |
|
|
|
113,429,992 |
|
Treasury stock (0 shares at October 31, 2023 and 155,486
shares at April 30, 2023) |
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,817,414 |
) |
Accumulated deficit |
|
(78,342,640 |
) |
|
|
(76,091,389 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
33,825,610 |
|
|
|
35,546,782 |
|
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity |
$ |
89,057,093 |
|
|
$ |
83,809,548 |
|
ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(Unaudited) |
|
|
Three Months Ended October 31, |
|
Six Months Ended October 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
Revenue |
$ |
13,828,847 |
|
|
$ |
17,074,547 |
|
|
$ |
28,468,719 |
|
|
$ |
35,968,460 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown
separately below) |
|
4,584,193 |
|
|
|
6,347,008 |
|
|
|
8,977,048 |
|
|
|
16,552,559 |
|
General and administrative |
|
8,371,546 |
|
|
|
10,883,118 |
|
|
|
16,842,424 |
|
|
|
21,415,138 |
|
Bad debt expense |
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
800,000 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
950,090 |
|
|
|
935,070 |
|
|
|
1,913,302 |
|
|
|
1,856,178 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
14,355,829 |
|
|
|
18,615,196 |
|
|
|
28,632,774 |
|
|
|
40,623,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss |
|
(526,982 |
) |
|
|
(1,540,649 |
) |
|
|
(164,055 |
) |
|
|
(4,655,415 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense |
|
(1,040,720 |
) |
|
|
(710,372 |
) |
|
|
(1,977,201 |
) |
|
|
(1,291,665 |
) |
Other (expense) income, net |
|
(4,035 |
) |
|
|
3,882 |
|
|
|
14,252 |
|
|
|
15,291 |
|
Total other expense, net |
|
(1,044,755 |
) |
|
|
(706,490 |
) |
|
|
(1,962,949 |
) |
|
|
(1,276,374 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
(1,571,737 |
) |
|
|
(2,247,139 |
) |
|
|
(2,127,004 |
) |
|
|
(5,931,789 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
40,076 |
|
|
|
46,501 |
|
|
|
124,247 |
|
|
|
76,822 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
$ |
(1,611,813 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,293,640 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,251,251 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,008,611 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share - basic and
diluted |
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.24 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of
common stock outstanding - basic and diluted |
|
25,548,046 |
|
|
|
25,282,947 |
|
|
|
25,557,646 |
|
|
|
25,242,833 |
|
ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS(Unaudited) |
|
|
Six Months Ended October 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
Cash flows from
operating activities: |
|
|
|
Net loss |
$ |
(2,251,251 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,008,611 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities: |
|
|
|
Bad debt expense |
|
900,000 |
|
|
|
800,000 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
1,913,302 |
|
|
|
1,856,178 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
305,581 |
|
|
|
504,666 |
|
Amortization of warrant-based cost |
|
14,000 |
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
|
156,020 |
|
|
|
269,133 |
|
Amortization of debt discounts |
|
193,020 |
|
|
|
59,000 |
|
Non-cash lease benefit |
|
(399,201 |
) |
|
|
(229,809 |
) |
Common stock issued for services |
|
— |
|
|
|
24,500 |
|
Tenant improvement allowances |
|
— |
|
|
|
418,280 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
(5,763,185 |
) |
|
|
(3,761,463 |
) |
Prepaid expenses |
|
(19,140 |
) |
|
|
(242,310 |
) |
Other current assets |
|
(1,852,817 |
) |
|
|
(26,956 |
) |
Deposits and other assets |
|
(384,030 |
) |
|
|
41,608 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
665,283 |
|
|
|
921,112 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
565,915 |
|
|
|
326,053 |
|
Due to students |
|
(89,095 |
) |
|
|
(898,160 |
) |
Advances on tuition and deferred tuition |
|
1,272,532 |
|
|
|
2,882,106 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
578,940 |
|
|
|
424,685 |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(4,194,126 |
) |
|
|
(2,625,988 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from
investing activities: |
|
|
|
Purchases of courseware and accreditation |
|
(120,863 |
) |
|
|
(48,532 |
) |
Disbursements for reimbursable leasehold improvements |
|
— |
|
|
|
(418,280 |
) |
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
(558,565 |
) |
|
|
(842,044 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
(679,428 |
) |
|
|
(1,308,856 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from
financing activities: |
|
|
|
Proceeds from 15% Senior Secured Debentures, net of original
issuance discount |
|
11,000,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Repayment of 2018 Credit Facility |
|
(5,000,000 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Repayment of portion of 15% Senior Secured Debentures |
|
(100,000 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Payments of deferred financing costs |
|
(744,581 |
) |
|
|
(60,833 |
) |
Payment of commitment fee for 2022 Credit Facility |
|
— |
|
|
|
(200,000 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of underwriter costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
9,535 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities |
|
5,155,419 |
|
|
|
(251,298 |
) |
ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(CONTINUED)(Unaudited) |
|
|
Six Months Ended October 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
Net increase
(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted
cash |
$ |
281,865 |
|
$ |
(4,186,142 |
) |
Cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash at beginning of period |
|
5,724,467 |
|
|
12,916,147 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash at end of period |
$ |
6,006,332 |
|
$ |
8,730,005 |
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
$ |
1,639,701 |
|
$ |
802,167 |
|
Cash paid for income taxes |
$ |
24,525 |
|
$ |
22,522 |
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities: |
|
|
|
Warrants issued as part of the
15% Senior Secured Debentures |
$ |
154,000 |
|
$ |
— |
|
Warrants issued as part of the
15% Senior Secured Debentures as amended |
$ |
56,496 |
|
$ |
— |
|
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash
equivalents and restricted cash reported within the accompanying
consolidated balance sheet to the total amounts shown in the
accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows:
|
October 31, |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
(Unaudited) |
|
(Unaudited) |
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
1,906,332 |
|
$ |
2,306,480 |
Restricted cash |
|
4,100,000 |
|
|
6,423,525 |
Total cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash |
$ |
6,006,332 |
|
$ |
8,730,005 |
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