U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

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Form 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016

 

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Commission File Number 000-51371

 

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

200 Executive Drive, Suite 340

West Orange, NJ 07052

(Address of principal executive offices)

(973) 736-9340

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No  ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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).  Yes ☒  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.

The aggregate market value of the 22,107,983 shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $44,658,126. This amount is based on the closing price of the common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market of $2.02 per share on June 30, 2016. Shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors and persons who own 5% or more of outstanding common stock have been excluded since such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not a determination for any other purpose.

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 8, 2017 was 24,719,105.

Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  With the exception of those portions that are specifically incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such Proxy Statement shall not be deemed filed as part of this Report or incorporated by reference herein.

 

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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-K

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding: proposed new programs; expectations that regulatory developments or other matters will or will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results and future economic performance; and statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

·	our failure to comply with the extensive existing regulatory framework applicable to our industry or our failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals in connection with a change of control of our company or acquisitions;

·	the promulgation of new regulations in our industry as to which we may find compliance challenging;

·	our success in updating and expanding the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis;

·	our ability to implement our strategic plan;

·	risks associated with changes in applicable federal laws and regulations including  pending rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Education;

·	uncertainties regarding our ability to comply with federal laws and regulations regarding the 90/10 rule and cohort default rates;

·	risks associated with opening new campuses and closing existing campuses;

·	risks associated with integration of acquired schools;

·	industry competition;

·	conditions and trends in our industry;

·	general economic conditions; and

·	other factors discussed under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made.  Except as required under the federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information.  We caution you not to unduly rely on the forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented herein.

 

PART I.

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 28 schools in 15 states, offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding and computerized numerical control and electronic systems technology, among other programs), healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, medical administrative assistant and pharmacy technician, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics) and business and information technology (which includes information technology and criminal justice programs).  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln College of New England, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (the “DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

In the first quarter of 2015, we reorganized our operations into three reportable business segments:  (a) Transportation and Skilled Trades, (b) Healthcare and Other Professions (“HOPS”), and (c) Transitional which refers to businesses that have been or are currently being taught out.  In November 2015 the Board of Directors approved a plan for the Company to divest the schools included in the HOPS business segment.  Divestiture of the Company’s HOPS business segment marks a strategic shift in business strategy that will enable us to focus energy and resources predominantly on the Transportation and Skilled Trades business segment.  The Company continues to actively market the schools comprising the HOPS business segment and has offers which are under consideration.  The results of operations of the campuses included in the HOPS business segment are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.

The following table lists the schools that are included in the HOPS and Transitional Segments and their status as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

1	In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest these schools and thus they are included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

2

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In December 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school.  The school was included in the Transitional Segment and included in continuing operations until it closed in the fourth quarter of 2016; it is included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016.

3	In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016.

 

4

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest these schools.  In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at these schools which are being taught-out and expected to be closed in 2017.  These schools are included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016.

5

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In the third quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to teach–out certain programs at this school. Then, in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to teach-out the remainder of the programs at this school.  The school is expected to be closed in 2017.  This school’s operations are included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016. However, as part of this plan, the Board of Directors approved the divestiture of the properties for this school and therefore the properties are included in held for sale as of December 31, 2016.

6

On February 27, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school, which was fully taught out and officially closed as of March 31, 2016 and is included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016.  The plan to teach out this school was approved prior to the plan to exit the HOPS segment and as such does not meet the discontinued operations criteria.

As of December 31, 2016, we had 11,235 students enrolled at 28 campuses, 7,295 of those students are enrolled at campuses that are included in continuing operations.  Our average enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 11,864 students which represented a decrease of 8.6% from average enrollment in 2015.  Average enrollment at campuses that are included in continuing operations of 7,725 students represented a decrease of 8.0% from average enrollment in 2015 from such continuing operations.   For the year ended December 31, 2016, our revenues were $285.6 million, which represented a decrease of 6.7 % from the prior year.  Revenues were $196.9 million from continuing operations, which represented a decrease of 5.4% from the prior year. For more information relating to our revenues, profits and financial condition, please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We believe that we provide our students with the highest quality career-oriented training available for our areas of study in our markets. We offer programs in areas of study that we believe are typically underserved by traditional providers of post-secondary education and for which we believe there exists significant demand among students and employers. Furthermore, we believe our convenient class scheduling, career-focused curricula and emphasis on job placement offer our students valuable advantages that have been neglected by the traditional academic sector. By combining substantial hands-on training with traditional classroom-based training led by experienced instructors, we believe we offer our students a unique opportunity to develop practical job skills in many of the key areas of expected job demand. We believe these job skills enable our students to compete effectively for employment opportunities and to pursue on-going salary and career advancement.

The Company was incorporated in New Jersey in 2003 but a predecessor entity had opened its first campus in Newark, New Jersey in 1946.

Our website is www.lincolnedu.com. We make available on this website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, annual proxy statements on Schedule 14A and amendments to those reports and statements as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. You can access this information on our website, free of charge, by clicking on “Investor Relations.” The information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We will provide paper copies of such filings free of charge upon request. The public may read and copy any materials filed by us with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Information regarding the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room is available by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding us, which is available at www.sec.gov.

Our goal is to strengthen our position as a leading provider of career‑oriented post-secondary education by continuing to pursue the following strategy:

 

Expand Existing Areas of Study and Existing Facilities.  We believe we can leverage our operations to expand our program offerings in existing areas of study and expand into new areas of study in the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment to capitalize on demand from students and employers in our target markets. Whenever possible, we seek to replicate programs across our campuses.

 

Maximize Utilization of Existing Facilities.  We are focused on improving capacity utilization of existing facilities through increased enrollments, the introduction of new programs and partnerships with industry.

 

Expand Market.  We believe that we can enter new markets and broaden the Lincoln brand by partnering with nationally recognized brands to provide the skills needed to train our nation’s workforce.  We continue to expand our industry relationships both to attract new students and to offer our graduates more employment opportunities.  We continue to establish partnerships with companies like BMW,

 

Chrysler (FCA), Raytheon, Volkswagen and Audi that will enable graduates to receive higher wages. We expect to continue investing in marketing, recruiting and retention resources to increase enrollment.

 

Concentrate on Transportation and Skilled Trades.  During the fourth quarter of 2015 we announced our plan to sell 17 of the 18 schools comprising our HOPS business segment.  The planned divestiture allows us to concentrate our resources on our Transportation and Skilled Trades business segment.  We believe that we can further penetrate this market and create a more profitable Company.

 

We structure our program offerings to provide our students with a practical, career-oriented education and position them for attractive entry-level job opportunities in their chosen fields. Our diploma/certificate programs typically take between 22 to 136 weeks to complete, with tuition ranging from $6,600 to $36,000.  Our associate’s degree programs typically take between 48 to 156 weeks to complete, with tuition ranging from $20,000 to $70,000.  Our bachelor’s degree programs typically take between 104 and 208 weeks to complete, with tuition ranging from $40,000 to $80,000. As of December 31, 2016, all of our schools offer diploma and certificate programs, 12 of our schools are currently approved to offer associate’s degree programs and one school is approved to offer bachelor’s degree programs. In order to accommodate the schedules of our students and maximize classroom utilization at some of our campuses, we typically offer courses four to five days per week in three shifts per day and start new classes every month.  Other campuses are structured more like a traditional college and start classes every quarter. We update and expand our programs frequently to reflect the latest technological advances in the field, providing our students with the specific skills and knowledge required in the current marketplace. Classroom instruction combines lectures and demonstrations by our experienced faculty with comprehensive hands-on laboratory exercises in simulated workplace environments.

 

The following table lists the programs offered as of December 31, 2016:

Automotive Technology.    Automotive technology is our largest area of study, with 42% of our total average student enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our automotive technology programs are 28 to 136 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $11,500 to $37,000. We believe we are a leading provider of automotive technology education in each of our local markets. Graduates of our programs are qualified to obtain entry level employment ranging from positions as technicians and mechanics to various apprentice level positions. Our graduates are employed by a wide variety of companies, ranging from automotive and diesel dealers, to independent auto body paint and repair shops to trucking and construction companies.

 

As of December 31, 2016, 12 campuses offered programs in automotive technology and most of these campuses offer other technical programs. Our campuses in East Windsor, Connecticut; Nashville, Tennessee; Grand Prairie, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Denver, Colorado are destination campuses, attracting students throughout the United States and, in some cases, from abroad.

Health Sciences.    For the year ended December 31, 2016, health sciences was our second largest area of study, representing 29% of our total average student enrollment. Our health science programs are 32 to 208 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $13,600 to $76,000. Graduates of our programs are qualified to obtain positions such as licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, dental assistant, medical assistant, medical administrative assistant, EKG technician, claims examiner and pharmacy technician. Our graduates are employed by a wide variety of employers, including hospitals, laboratories, insurance companies, doctors' offices and pharmacies. Our practical nursing and medical assistant programs are our largest health science programs. As of December 31, 2016, we offered health science programs at 13 of our campuses.

Skilled Trades.    For the year ended December 31, 2016, 19% of our total average student enrollment was in our skilled trades programs. Our skilled trades programs are 36 to 97 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $16,800 to $32,000. Our skilled trades programs include electrical, heating and air conditioning repair, welding, computerized numerical control and electronic systems technology. Graduates of our programs are qualified to obtain entry level employment positions such as electrician, cable installer, welder, wiring and heating, ventilating and air conditioning, or HVAC installer. Our graduates are employed by a wide variety of employers, including residential and commercial construction, telecommunications installation companies and architectural firms. As of December 31, 2016, we offered skilled trades programs at 13 campuses.

Hospitality Services.    For the year ended December 31, 2016, 7% of our total average student enrollment was in our hospitality services programs. Our hospitality services programs are 22 to 66 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $6,600 to $20,000.  Our hospitality programs include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics.  Graduates work in salons, spas or cruise ships or are self-employed.  We offer massage programs at two campuses and cosmetology programs at one campus.  Our culinary graduates are employed by restaurants, hotels, cruise ships and bakeries.  As of December 31, 2016, we offered culinary programs at one campus.

Business and Information Technology.    For the year ended December 31, 2016, 3% of our total average student enrollment was in our business and information technology programs, which include our diploma and degree criminal justice programs. Our business and information technology programs are 40 to 208 weeks in length, with tuition rates of $13,000 to $80,000.  We have focused our current information technology, or IT, program offerings on occupations that are most in demand, such as computer and network support technician.  Our IT and business graduates work in entry level positions for both small and large corporations.  Our criminal justice graduates work in the security industry and for various government agencies and departments.  As of December 31, 2016, we offered these programs at 8 of our campuses.

We utilize a variety of marketing and recruiting methods to attract students and increase enrollment. Our marketing and recruiting efforts are targeted at prospective students who are high school graduates entering the workforce, or who are currently underemployed or unemployed and require additional training to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Marketing and Advertising.    We utilize an integrated marketing approach in our admissions efforts that includes the use of traditional media such as television, radio, billboards, direct mail, various print media and event marketing campaigns.  Our digital marketing efforts, including paid search, search engine optimization and online video and display advertising, have grown significantly in recent years and currently drive the majority of our new student leads and enrollments. Our website’s integrated marketing campaigns direct prospective students to call or visit the Lincoln website where they may request additional information on a program or campus of interest.  Our internal systems enable us to closely monitor and track the effectiveness of each advertisement on a daily or weekly basis and make adjustments accordingly to enhance efficiency and limit our student acquisition costs.  In 2016, we relaunched our website with a new primary domain. The new structure of the website has enhanced the user experience providing easier access to key content and information. The site was also redesigned using a “mobile first” approach that maintains the website’s format and structure even on smaller devices including smart phones and tablets on which the growing majority of initial online searches for education options are conducted.

Referrals.    Referrals from current students, high school counselors and satisfied graduates and their employers have historically represented 17% of our new enrollments. Our school administrators actively work with our current students to encourage them to recommend our programs to prospective students. We continue to build strong relationships with high school guidance counselors and instructors by offering annual seminars at our training facilities to further familiarize these individuals on the strengths of our programs.

Recruiting.    Our recruiting efforts are conducted by a group of approximately 250 field and campus-based representatives who meet directly with prospective students during presentations conducted at high schools, in the prospective students homes or during a visit to one of our campuses.

 

During 2016, we recruited approximately 24% of our students directly out of high school.  In addition, we have added ten field representatives to our team of 83.  Field sales continues to be a large part of our business and developing local community relationships is one of our most important functions.

Admissions.    In order to attend our schools, students must complete an application and pass an entrance assessment. While each of our programs has different admissions criteria, we screen all applications and counsel the students on the most appropriate program to increase the likelihood that our students complete the requisite coursework and obtain and sustain employment following graduation.

Enrollment.    We enroll students continuously throughout the year, with our largest classes enrolling in late summer or early fall following high school graduation. From continuing operations, we had 7,295 students enrolled as of December 31, 2016 and our average enrollment for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 7,725 students, a decrease of 8.0% in average enrollment from December 31, 2015. We had 7,545 students enrolled as of December 31, 2015 and our average enrollment for that year was 8,395 students, a decrease of 7.1% in average enrollment from December 31, 2014.

We believe that assisting our graduates in securing employment after completing their program of study is critical to our ability to attract high quality students and enhancing our reputation in the industry. In addition, we believe that high job placement rates result in low student loan default rates, an important requirement for continued participation in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“Title IV Programs”). See "Regulatory Environment—Regulation of Federal Student Financial Aid Programs." Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources to maintaining an effective graduate placement program. Our non-destination schools work closely with local employers to ensure that we are training students with skills that employers need. Each school has an advisory council comprised of local employers who provide us with direct feedback on how well we are preparing our students to succeed in the workplace. This enables us to tailor our programs to the marketplace. The placement staff in each of our destination schools maintains databases of potential employers throughout the country, allowing us to more effectively assist our graduates in securing employment in their career field upon graduation. Throughout the year, we hold numerous job fairs at our facilities where we provide the opportunity for our students to meet and interact with potential employers.  In addition, many of our schools have internship programs that provide our students with opportunities to work with employers prior to graduation. For example, some of the students in our automotive programs have the opportunity to complete a portion of their hands-on training in an actual work environment. In addition, some of our healthcare students are required to participate in an externship program during which they work in the field as part of their career training. We also assist students with resume writing, interviewing and other job search skills.

We hire our faculty in accordance with established criteria, including relevant work experience, educational background and accreditation and state regulatory standards. We require meaningful industry experience of our teaching staff in order to maintain the quality of instruction in all of our programs and to address current and industry-specific issues in our course content. In addition, we provide intensive instructional training and continuing education, including quarterly instructional development seminars, annual reviews, technical upgrade training, faculty development plans and weekly staff meetings.

The staff of each school typically includes a school director, a director of graduate placement, an education director, a director of student services, a financial-aid director, an accounting manager, a director of admissions and instructors, all of whom are industry professionals with experience in our areas of study.

As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 2,197 employees, including 533 full-time faculty and 432 part-time instructors.   At six of our campuses, the teaching professionals are represented by unions. These employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements that expire between 2017 and 2020.  We believe that we have good relationships with these unions and with our employees.

 

The for-profit, post-secondary education industry is highly competitive and highly fragmented with no one provider controlling significant market share. Direct competition between career-oriented schools like us and traditional four-year colleges or universities is limited. Thus, our main competitors are other for-profit, career-oriented schools, not-for-profit public, private schools, public and private two-year junior and community colleges most of which are eligible to receive funding under the federal programs of student financial aid authorized by Title IV Programs. Competition is generally based on location, the type of programs offered, the quality of instruction, placement rates, reputation, recruiting and tuition rates. Public institutions are generally able to charge lower tuition than our school, due in part to government subsidies and other financial sources not available to for-profit schools. In addition, some of our other competitors have a more extensive network of schools and campuses than we do, which enables them to recruit students more efficiently from a wider geographic area. Nevertheless, we believe that we are able to compete effectively in our local markets because of the diversity of our program offerings, quality of instruction, the strength of our brands, our reputation and our graduates’ success in securing employment after completing their program of study.

Our competition differs in each market depending on the curriculum that we offer. For example, a school offering automotive, healthcare and skilled trades programs will have a different group of competitors than a school offering healthcare, business/IT and skilled trades. Also, because schools can add new programs within six to twelve months, competition can emerge relatively quickly. Moreover, with the introduction of online education, the number of competitors in each market has increased because students can now attend classes from an online institution. On average, each of our schools has at least three direct competitors and at least a dozen indirect competitors.

We use hazardous materials at our training facilities and campuses, and generate small quantities of waste such as used oil, antifreeze, paint and car batteries. As a result, our facilities and operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the use, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and waste, and the clean-up of contamination at our facilities or off-site locations to which we send or have sent waste for disposal. We are also required to obtain permits for our air emissions and to meet operational and maintenance requirements. In the event we do not maintain compliance with any of these laws and regulations, or are responsible for a spill or release of hazardous materials, we could incur significant costs for clean-up, damages, and fines or penalties. Climate change has not had and is not expected to have a significant impact on our operations.

Students attending our schools finance their education through a combination of family contributions, individual resources, private loans and federal financial aid programs. Each of our schools participates in the Title IV Programs, which are administered by the DOE. For the year ended December 31, 2016, approximately 79% (calculated based on cash receipts) of our revenues were derived from the Title IV Programs. Students obtain access to federal student financial aid through a DOE prescribed application and eligibility certification process.

In connection with the students' receipt of federal financial aid under the Title IV Programs, our schools are subject to extensive regulation by governmental agencies and licensing and accrediting bodies. In particular, the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the regulations issued thereafter by the DOE, subject us to significant regulatory scrutiny in the form of numerous standards that each of our schools must satisfy in order to participate in the Title IV Programs. To participate in the Title IV Programs, a school must be authorized to offer its programs of instruction by the applicable state education agencies in the states in which it is physically located, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certified as an eligible institution by the DOE. The DOE defines an eligible institution to consist of both a main campus and its additional locations, if any. Each of our schools is either a main campus or an additional location of a main campus. Each of our schools is subject to extensive regulatory requirements imposed by state education agencies, accrediting commissions, and the DOE. Because the DOE periodically revises its regulations and changes its interpretations of existing laws and regulations, we cannot predict with certainty how Title IV Program requirements will be applied in all circumstances. Our schools also participate in other federal and state financial aid programs that assist students in paying the cost of their education and that impose standards that we must satisfy.

State Authorization

Each of our schools must be authorized by the applicable education agencies in the states in which the school is physically located, and in some cases other states, in order to operate and to grant degrees, diplomas or certificates to its students. State agency authorization is also required in each state in which a school is physically located in order for the school to become and remain eligible to participate in Title IV Programs.  If we are found not to be in compliance with the applicable state regulation and a state seeks to restrict one or more of our business activities within its boundaries, we may not be able to recruit or enroll students in that state and may have to stop providing services in that state, which could have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.  Currently, each of our schools is authorized by the applicable state education agencies in the states in which the school is physically located and in which it recruits students.

Our schools are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. State laws typically establish standards for instruction, curriculum, qualifications of faculty, location and nature of facilities and equipment, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, financial operations, student outcomes and other operational matters. State laws and regulations may limit our ability to offer educational programs and to award degrees, diplomas or certificates. Some states prescribe standards of financial responsibility that are different from, and in certain cases more stringent than, those prescribed by the DOE. Some states require schools to post a surety bond. We have posted surety bonds on behalf of our schools and education representatives with multiple states in a total amount of approximately $14.3 million.

 

The DOE published regulations that took effect on July 1, 2011, that expanded the requirements for an institution to be considered legally authorized in the state in which it is physically located for Title IV purposes.  In some cases, the regulations required states to revise their current requirements and/or to license schools in order for institutions to be deemed legally authorized in those states and, in turn, to participate in Title IV Programs.  If the states do not amend their requirements where necessary and if schools do not receive approvals where necessary that comply with these new requirements, then the institution could be deemed to lack the state authorization necessary to participate in Title IV Programs.  The DOE stated when it published the final regulations that it will not publish a list of states that meet, or fail to meet, the requirements, and it is uncertain how the DOE will interpret these requirements in each state.

 

If any of our schools fail to comply with state licensing requirements, they are subject to the loss of state licensure or authorization. If any one of our schools lost its authorization from the education agency of the state in which the school is located, or failed to comply with the DOE’s state authorization requirements, that school would lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, the Title IV eligibility of its related additional locations could be affected, the impacted schools would be unable to offer its programs, and we could be forced to close the schools. If one of our schools lost its state authorization from a state other than the state in which the school is located, the school would not be able to recruit students or to operate in that state.

Due to state budget constraints in certain states in which we operate, it is possible that those states may continue to reduce the number of employees in, or curtail the operations of, the state education agencies that oversee our schools. A delay or refusal by any state education agency in approving any changes in our operations that require state approval could prevent us from making such changes or could delay our ability to make such changes.  States periodically change their laws and regulations applicable to our schools and such changes could require us to change our practices and could have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a non-governmental process through which a school submits to ongoing qualitative and quantitative review by an organization of peer institutions. Accrediting commissions primarily examine the academic quality of the school's instructional programs, and a grant of accreditation is generally viewed as confirmation that the school's programs meet generally accepted academic standards. Accrediting commissions also review the administrative and financial operations of the schools they accredit to ensure that each school has the resources necessary to perform its educational mission.

Accreditation by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE is required for an institution to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs. In order to be recognized by the DOE, accrediting commissions must adopt specific standards for their review of educational institutions. As of December 31, 2016, 15 of our campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, or ACCSC; 12 of our campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, or ACICS; and one of our campuses is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges of Technology, or NEASC.  The following is a list of the dates on which each campus was accredited by its accrediting commission, the date by which its accreditation must be renewed and the type of accreditation.

 

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges Reaccreditation Dates

 

1

Branch campus of main campus in Indianapolis, IN

2

Branch campus of main campus in New Britain, CT

3

Campus undergoing re-accreditation. Campus has received written confirmation that it remains accredited pending consideration of its application for reaccreditation.

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools Reaccreditation Dates

 

1

Branch campus of main campus in Iselin, NJ

2

Campus undergoing re-accreditation.

 

New England Association of Schools and Colleges of Technology Reaccreditation Dates

 

The loss of DOE recognition by an institution’s accrediting agency also could result in a loss of state authorization (and, in turn, Title IV eligibility), programmatic accreditation, and/or authorization to participate in certain state or federal financial aid programs if accreditation by a DOE-recognized accrediting agency is required for the impacted campuses of our ACICS-accredited institution to qualify for such state authorization, programmatic accreditation, or state or federal financial aid programs.  We have not identified any state, federal or accrediting agencies that condition approval of our ACICS-accredited campuses on accreditation by a DOE-recognized accrediting body.  However, agency requirements are imprecise or unclear in some instances and could be subject to different interpretation by one or more agencies.

If one of our schools fails to comply with accrediting commission requirements, the institution and its main and/or branch campuses are subject to the loss of accreditation or may be placed on probation or a special monitoring or reporting status which, if the noncompliance with accrediting commission requirements is not resolved, could result in loss of accreditation. If any one of our schools loses its accreditation, students attending that school would no longer be eligible to receive Title IV Program funding, and we could be forced to close that school.

Programmatic accreditation is the process through which specific programs are reviewed and approved by industry and program-specific accrediting entities. Although programmatic accreditation is not generally necessary for Title IV eligibility, such accreditation may be required to allow students to sit for certain licensure exams or to work in a particular profession or career or to meet other requirements.  Failure to obtain or maintain such programmatic accreditation may lead to a decline in enrollments in such programs.  Under new gainful employment issued by the DOE, institutions may be required to certify that they have programmatic accreditation under certain circumstances.  See “—Regulatory Environment – Gainful Employment.”

Nature of Federal and State Support for Post-Secondary Education

The federal government provides a substantial part of the support for post-secondary education through Title IV Programs, in the form of grants and loans to students who can use those funds at any institution that has been certified as eligible by the DOE. Most aid under Title IV Programs is awarded on the basis of financial need, generally defined as the difference between the cost of attending the institution and the expected amount a student and his or her family can reasonably contribute to that cost. A recipient of Title IV Program funds must maintain a satisfactory grade point average and progress in a timely manner toward completion of his or her program of study and must meet other applicable eligibility requirements for the receipt of Title IV funds. In addition, each school must ensure that Title IV Program funds are properly accounted for and disbursed in the correct amounts to eligible students.

Other Financial Assistance Programs

Some of our students receive financial aid from federal sources other than Title IV Programs, such as programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and under the Workforce Investment Act. In addition, some states also provide financial aid to our students in the form of grants, loans or scholarships. The eligibility requirements for state financial aid and these other federal aid programs vary among the funding agencies and by program. States that provide financial aid to our students are facing significant budgetary constraints. Some of these states have reduced the level of state financial aid available to our students.  Due to state budgetary shortfalls and constraints in certain states in which we operate, we believe that the overall level of state financial aid for our students is likely to continue to decrease in the near term, but we cannot predict how significant any such reductions will be or how long they will last. Federal budgetary shortfalls and constraints, or decisions by federal lawmakers to limit or prohibit access by our institutions or their students to federal financial aid, could result in a decrease in the level of federal financial aid for our students.

In addition to Title IV and other government-administered programs, all of our schools participate in alternative loan programs for their students. Alternative loans fill the gap between what the student receives from all financial aid sources and what the student may need to cover the full cost of his or her education. Students or their parents can apply to a number of different lenders for this funding at current market interest rates.

 

We also extend credit for tuition and fees to many of our students that attend our campuses.

Regulation of Federal Student Financial Aid Programs

To participate in Title IV Programs, an institution must be authorized to offer its programs by the relevant state education agencies in the state in which it is physically located, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE and be certified as eligible by the DOE. The DOE will certify an institution to participate in Title IV Programs only after reviewing and approving an institution’s application to participate in the Title IV Programs. The DOE defines an institution to consist of both a main campus and its additional locations, if any. Under this definition, for DOE purposes, we had the following five institutions as of December 31, 2016, collectively consisting of five main campuses and 23 additional locations:

 

Each institution must periodically apply to the DOE for continued certification to participate in Title IV Programs. The institution also must apply for recertification when it undergoes a change in ownership resulting in a change of control. The institution also may come under DOE review when it undergoes a substantive change that requires the submission of an application, such as opening an additional location or raising the highest academic credential it offers.  All institutions are recertified on various dates for various amounts of time.  The following table sets forth the expiration dates for each of our institutions' current Title IV Program participation agreements:

1

Provisionally certified.

2

Month-to-month certification during review process.

 

The DOE typically provides provisional certification to an institution following a change in ownership resulting in a change of control and also may provisionally certify an institution for other reasons, including, but not limited to, noncompliance with certain standards of administrative capability and financial responsibility.  Two of our five institutions (Iselin and Indianapolis) generate 71% of the Company’s revenues are provisionally certified.  Indianapolis is provisionally certified based on the existence of pending program reviews with DOE.  Iselin is provisionally certified based on its accrediting agency’s loss of DOE recognition.  An institution that is provisionally certified receives fewer due process rights than those received by other institutions in the event the DOE takes certain adverse actions against the institution, is required to obtain prior DOE approvals of new campuses and educational programs, and may be subject to heightened scrutiny by the DOE.  However, provisional certification does not otherwise limit an institution’s access to Title IV Program funds.  Our Iselin campus also is subject to additional conditions on its Title IV participation based on its accrediting agency’s loss of DOE recognition.

The DOE is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IV Program requirements. As a result, each of our schools is subject to detailed oversight and review, and must comply with a complex framework of laws and regulations. Because the DOE periodically revises its regulations and changes its interpretation of existing laws and regulations, we cannot predict with certainty how the Title IV Program requirements will be applied in all circumstances.

Significant factors relating to Title IV Programs that could adversely affect us include the following:

Congressional Action. Political and budgetary concerns significantly affect Title IV Programs. Congress periodically revises the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“HEA”) and other laws governing Title IV Programs.  Congress is currently considering reauthorization of Title IV Programs, but it is unknown when Congress will complete that process or what changes will be made to the HEA or other laws affecting federal student aid.

In addition, Congress reviews and determines federal appropriations for Title IV Programs on an annual basis. Congress can also make changes in the laws affecting Title IV Programs in the annual appropriations bills and in other laws it enacts between the HEA reauthorizations. Because a significant percentage of our revenues are derived from Title IV Programs, any action by Congress or the DOE that significantly reduces Title IV Program funding, that limits or restricts the ability of our schools, programs, or students to receive funding through the Title IV Programs, or that imposes new restrictions or constraints upon our business or operations could reduce our student enrollment and our revenues, and could increase our administrative costs and require us to modify our practices in order for our schools to comply fully with Title IV Program requirements.

In addition, current requirements for student or school participation in Title IV Programs may change or one or more of the present Title IV Programs could be replaced by other programs with materially different student or school eligibility requirements.  If we cannot comply with the provisions of the HEA, as they may be amended, or if the cost of such compliance is excessive, or if funding is materially reduced, our revenues or profit margin could be materially adversely affected.

Gainful Employment.  In October 2014, the DOE issued final gainful employment regulations requiring each educational program offered by our institutions to achieve threshold rates in at least one of two debt measure categories related to an annual debt to annual earnings ratio and an annual debt to discretionary income ratio. The various formulas are calculated under complex methodologies and definitions outlined in the final regulations and, in some cases, are based on data that may not be readily accessible to institutions, such as income information compiled by the Social Security Administration.  The regulations outline various scenarios under which programs could lose Title IV eligibility for failure to achieve threshold rates in one or more measures over certain periods of time ranging from two to four years. The regulations also require an institution to provide warnings to students in programs which may lose Title IV eligibility at the end of an award year. The final regulations also contain other provisions that, among other things, include disclosure, reporting, new program approval, and certification requirements.  The certification requirements require each institution to certify to the DOE, among other things, that each gainful employment program is programmatically accredited, if such accreditation is required by a Federal governmental entity or by governmental entity in the state in which the institution is physically located.

The final regulations had a general effective date of July 1, 2015. In January 2017, the DOE issued the first set of gainful employment rates for each of our programs for the 2015 debt measure year.  Sixty of our programs achieved passing rates, 13 of our programs had rates that are in a category called the “zone,” and five of our programs had failing rates.  Our programs with rates in the zone are not subject to loss of Title IV eligibility unless they accumulate a combination of zone and failing rates for four consecutive years (or failing rates for two out of any three consecutive years). We are in the process of appealing to the DOE one of the five programs that failed; teaching out one of the programs that failed; and the remaining three failing programs are from schools that have closed or are closing.  Each of our programs with failing rates will lose its Title IV eligibility if it receives a failing gainful employment rate for either of the 2016 or 2017 debt measure years.  The gainful employment rates for the 2016 debt measure year are expected to be issued in late 2017.  If, in fact, we lost the appeal to the DOE the applicable school would need to notify its current and future students that it may lose Title IV eligibility.  Moreover, the potential for one or more of these programs to lose their Title IV eligibility could trigger a requirement to submit a letter of credit or other financial protection to the DOE under the new Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations that take effect on July 1, 2017.  On March 6, 2017, the DOE published information in the form of an electronic announcement that provides additional time for institutions to appeal a zone or failing rate and to update disclosures for all gainful employment programs.  The new deadline established by the DOE is now July 1, 2017, for appeals and disclosures.  See “Financial Responsibility Standards.”

 

On January 19, 2017, the DOE issued new regulations with an effective date of January 19, 2017 that update the Department’s hearing procedures for actions to establish liability against an institution and to establish procedural rules governing recovery proceedings under the DOE’s borrower defense to repayment regulations.  We are still in the process of evaluating the impact of these new and complex regulations on our business.  Among other things, the precise standards for student loan discharges are unclear and may be subject to unfavorable interpretations that could result in liabilities and other sanctions for our schools.

 

The "90/10 Rule."   Under the HEA, a proprietary institution that derives more than 90% of its total revenue from Title IV Programs (its “90/10 Rule percentage”) for two consecutive fiscal years becomes immediately ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs and may not reapply for eligibility until the end of at least two fiscal years. An institution with revenues exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures.  If an institution violated the 90/10 Rule and became ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs but continued to disburse Title IV Program funds, the DOE would require the institution to repay all Title IV Program funds received by the institution after the effective date of the loss of eligibility.

 

We have calculated that, for our 2016 fiscal year, our institutions' 90/10 Rule percentages ranged from 55% to 84%.  For 2015 and 2014, none of our existing institutions derived more than 90% of their revenues from Title IV Programs.  Our calculations are subject to review by the DOE.

 

If Congress or the DOE were to amend the 90/10 Rule to treat other forms of federal financial aid as Title IV revenue for 90/10 Rule purposes, lower the 90% threshold, or otherwise change the calculation methodology (each of which has been proposed by some Congressional members in proposed legislation), or make other changes to the 90/10 Rule, those changes could make it more difficult for our institutions to comply with the 90/10 Rule.  If any of our institutions loses eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, that loss would have a significant impact on the rate at which our students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

 

Student Loan Defaults.    The HEA limits participation in Title IV Programs by institutions whose former students defaulted on the repayment of federally guaranteed or funded student loans above a prescribed rate (the “cohort default rate”).  The DOE calculates these rates based on the number of students who have defaulted, not the dollar amount of such defaults.  The cohort default rate is calculated on a federal fiscal year basis and measures the percentage of students who enter repayment of a loan during the federal fiscal year and default on the loan on or before the end of the federal fiscal year or the subsequent two federal fiscal years.

Under the HEA, an institution whose Federal Family Education Loan, or FFEL, and Federal Direct Loan, or FDL, cohort default rate is 30% or greater for three consecutive federal fiscal years loses eligibility to participate in the FFEL, FDL, and Pell programs for the remainder of the federal fiscal year in which the DOE determines that such institution has lost its eligibility and for the two subsequent federal fiscal years.  An institution whose FFEL and FDL cohort default rate for any single federal fiscal year exceeds 40% loses its eligibility to participate in the FFEL and FDL programs for the remainder of the federal fiscal year in which the DOE determines that such institution has lost its eligibility and for the two subsequent federal fiscal years.  If an institution’s three-year cohort default rate equals or exceeds 30% in two of the three most recent federal fiscal years for which the DOE has issued cohort default rates, the institution may be placed on provisional certification status and, under new regulations that take effect on July 1, 2017, could be required to submit a letter of credit to the DOE.

 

In September 2016, the DOE released the final cohort default rates for the 2013 federal fiscal year.  These are the most recent final rates published by the DOE.  The rates for our existing institutions for the 2013 federal fiscal year range from 10.5% to 15.4%.  None of our institutions had a cohort default rate equal to or greater than 30% for the 2013 federal fiscal year.

In February 2016, the DOE released draft three-year cohort default rates for the 2014 federal fiscal year.  The draft cohort default rates are subject to change pending receipt of the final cohort default rates, which the DOE is expected to publish in September 2017.  The draft rates for our institutions for the 2014 federal fiscal year range from 5.2% to 13.6%.  None of our institutions had draft cohort default rates of 30% or more.

Financial Responsibility Standards.

All institutions participating in Title IV Programs must satisfy specific standards of financial responsibility. The DOE evaluates institutions for compliance with these standards each year, based on the institution's annual audited financial statements, as well as following a change in ownership resulting in a change of control of the institution.

The most significant financial responsibility measurement is the institution's composite score, which is calculated by the DOE based on three ratios:

·

The equity ratio, which measures the institution's capital resources, ability to borrow and financial viability;

·

The primary reserve ratio, which measures the institution's ability to support current operations from expendable resources; and

·

The net income ratio, which measures the institution's ability to operate at a profit.

The DOE assigns a strength factor to the results of each of these ratios on a scale from negative 1.0 to positive 3.0, with negative 1.0 reflecting financial weakness and positive 3.0 reflecting financial strength. The DOE then assigns a weighting percentage to each ratio and adds the weighted scores for the three ratios together to produce a composite score for the institution. The composite score must be at least 1.5 for the institution to be deemed financially responsible without the need for further oversight.

If an institution's composite score is below 1.5, but is at least 1.0, it is in a category denominated by the DOE as "the zone." Under the DOE regulations, institutions that are in the zone typically may be permitted by the DOE to continue to participate in the Title IV Programs by choosing one of two alternatives:  1) the “Zone Alternative” under which an institution is required to make disbursements to students under the Heightened Cash Monitoring 1 (HCM1) payment method and to notify the DOE within 10 days after the occurrence of certain oversight and financial events or 2) submit a letter of credit to the DOE equal to 50 percent of the Title IV Program funds received by the institution during its most recent fiscal year.  The DOE permits an institution to participate under the “Zone Alternative” for a period of up to three consecutive fiscal years.  Under the HCM1 payment method, the institution is required to make Title IV disbursements to eligible students and parents before it requests or receives funds for the amount of those disbursements from the DOE.  As long as the student accounts are credited before the funding requests are initiated, an institution is permitted to draw down funds through the DOE’s electronic system for grants management and payments for the amount of disbursements made to eligible students.  Unlike the HCM2 and reimbursement payment methods, the HCM1 payment method typically does not require schools to submit documentation to the DOE and wait for DOE approval before drawing down Title IV Program funds.  Effective July 1, 2016, a school under HCM1, HCM2 or reimbursement payment methods must also pay any credit balances due to a student before drawing down funds for the amount of those disbursements from the DOE, even if the student or parent provides written authorization for the school to hold the credit balance.

If an institution's composite score is below 1.0, the institution is considered by the DOE to lack financial responsibility. If the DOE determines that an institution does not satisfy the DOE's financial responsibility standards, depending on its composite score and other factors, that institution may establish its financial responsibility on an alternative basis by, among other things:

·

Posting a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 50% of the total Title IV Program funds received by the institution during the institution's most recently completed fiscal year;

·

Posting a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 10% of such prior year's Title IV Program funds, accepting provisional certification, complying with additional DOE monitoring requirements and agreeing to receive Title IV Program funds under an arrangement other than the DOE's standard advance funding arrangement

The DOE has evaluated the financial responsibility of our institutions on a consolidated basis.  We have submitted to the DOE our audited financial statements for the 2015 and 2014 fiscal year reflecting a composite score of 1.9 and 1.3, respectively, based upon our calculations.  The DOE reviewed our 2015 composite score and concluded that we were no longer required to operate under the Zone Alternative requirements that we had operated under following the DOE’s review of our 2014 composite score.

 

For the 2016 fiscal year, we have calculated our composite score to be 1.5.  This number is subject to determination by the DOE once it receives and reviews our audited financial statements for the 2016 fiscal year.

On November 1, 2016, the DOE published new regulations that establish expanded standards of financial responsibility that could result in a requirement that we submit to DOE a substantial letter of credit or other form of financial protection in an amount determined by the DOE, and be subject to other conditions and requirements, based on any one of an extensive list of triggering circumstances.   The expanded financial responsibility regulations may result in the DOE recalculating and reducing our composite score to account for DOE estimates of potential losses under some of the circumstances listed above and also may result in requirements to provide financial protection in amounts that are difficult to predict, calculated by the DOE under potentially subjective standards, and, in some cases, may be based solely on the existence of proceedings or circumstances that ultimately may lack merit or otherwise not result in liabilities or losses.  For example, the regulations state that the letter of credit or other form of financial protection required for an institution under the provisional certification alternative must equal 10 percent of the total amount of Title IV funds received by the institution during its most recently completed fiscal year plus any additional amount that DOE determines is necessary to fully cover any estimated losses unless the institution demonstrates that the additional amount if unnecessary to protect, or is contrary to, the Federal interest.

Return of Title IV Funds.    An institution participating in Title IV Programs must calculate the amount of unearned Title IV Program funds that have been disbursed to students who withdraw from their educational programs before completing them, and must return those unearned funds to the DOE or the applicable lending institution in a timely manner, which is generally within 45 days from the date the institution determines that the student has withdrawn.

If an institution is cited in an audit or program review for returning Title IV Program funds late for 5% or more of the students in the audit or program review sample, the institution may be required to post a letter of credit in favor of the DOE in an amount equal to 25% of the total amount of Title IV Program funds that should have been returned for students who withdrew in the institution's previous fiscal year.  None of our institutions are currently required to submit a letter of credit to the DOE based on late return of Title IV Program funds.

School Acquisitions.    When a company acquires a school that is eligible to participate in Title IV Programs, that school undergoes a change of ownership resulting in a change of control as defined by the DOE. Upon such a change of control, a school's eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs is generally suspended until it has applied for recertification by the DOE as an eligible school under its new ownership, which requires that the school also re-establish its state authorization and accreditation. The DOE may temporarily and provisionally certify an institution seeking approval of a change of control under certain circumstances while the DOE reviews the institution's application. The time required for the DOE to act on such an application may vary substantially. DOE recertification of an institution following a change of control will be on a provisional basis. Thus, any plans to expand our business through acquisition of additional schools and have them certified by the DOE to participate in Title IV Programs must take into account the approval requirements of the DOE and the relevant state education agencies and accrediting commissions.

Change of Control.   In addition to school acquisitions, other types of transactions can also cause a change of control. The DOE, most state education agencies and our accrediting commissions have standards pertaining to the change of control of schools, but these standards are not uniform. DOE regulations describe some transactions that constitute a change of control, including the transfer of a controlling interest in the voting stock of an institution or the institution's parent corporation. For a publicly traded corporation, DOE regulations provide that a change of control occurs in one of two ways: (a) if a person acquires ownership and control of the corporation so that the corporation is required to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing the change of control or (b) if the corporation has a shareholder that owns at least 25% of the total outstanding voting stock of the corporation and is the largest shareholder of the corporation, and that shareholder ceases to own at least 25% of such stock or ceases to be the largest shareholder.  These standards are subject to interpretation by the DOE.   A significant purchase or disposition of our common stock could be determined by the DOE to be a change of control under this standard.

Most of the states and our accrediting commissions include the sale of a controlling interest of common stock in the definition of a change of control although some agencies could determine that the sale or disposition of a smaller interest would result in a change of control. A change of control under the definition of one of these agencies would require the affected school to reaffirm its state authorization or accreditation. Some agencies would require approval prior to a sale or disposition that would result in a change of control in order to maintain authorization or accreditation.  The requirements to obtain such reaffirmation from the states and our accrediting commissions vary widely.

A change of control could occur as a result of future transactions in which our Company or our schools are involved. Some corporate reorganizations and some changes in the board of directors of the Company are examples of such transactions. Moreover, the potential adverse effects of a change of control could influence future decisions by us and our stockholders regarding the sale, purchase, transfer, issuance or redemption of our stock. In addition, the adverse regulatory effect of a change of control also could discourage bids for shares of our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares.

 

Opening Additional Schools and Adding Educational Programs.    For-profit educational institutions must be authorized by their state education agencies and be fully operational for two years before applying to the DOE to participate in Title IV Programs. However, an institution that is certified to participate in Title IV Programs may establish an additional location and apply to participate in Title IV Programs at that location without reference to the two-year requirement, if such additional location satisfies all other applicable DOE eligibility requirements. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability to open new schools as additional locations of our existing institutions and take into account the DOE's approval requirements.

A student may use Title IV Program funds only to pay the costs associated with enrollment in an eligible educational program offered by an institution participating in Title IV Programs. Generally, unless otherwise required by the DOE, an institution that is eligible to participate in Title IV Programs may add a new educational program without DOE approval if that new program leads to an associate’s level or higher degree and the institution already offers programs at that level, or if that program prepares students for gainful employment in the same or a related occupation as an educational program that has previously been designated as an eligible program at that institution and meets minimum length requirements. Institutions that are provisionally certified may be required to obtain approval of certain educational programs. Two of our institutions (Iselin and Indianapolis) are provisionally certified and required to obtain prior DOE approval of new degree, non-degree, and short-term training educational programs.  Our Iselin institution also is subject to prior approval requirements for substantive changes such as new campuses and educational programs as a result of its accrediting agency’s loss of DOE recognition, and the DOE has indicated that such changes only will be approved in limited circumstances.  If an institution erroneously determines that an educational program is eligible for purposes of Title IV Programs, the institution would likely be liable for repayment of Title IV Program funds provided to students in that educational program. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability to add new educational programs at our existing schools.

Some of the state education agencies and our accrediting commission also have requirements that may affect our schools' ability to open a new campus, establish an additional location of an existing institution or begin offering a new educational program.

Administrative Capability.    The DOE assesses the administrative capability of each institution that participates in Title IV Programs under a series of separate standards. Failure to satisfy any of the standards may lead the DOE to find the institution ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs or to place the institution on provisional certification as a condition of its participation. These criteria require, among other things, that the institution:

·

Comply with all applicable federal student financial aid requirements;

·

Have capable and sufficient personnel to administer the federal student Title IV Programs;

·

Administer Title IV Programs with adequate checks and balances in its system of internal controls over financial reporting;

·

Divide the function of authorizing and disbursing or delivering Title IV Program funds so that no office has the responsibility for both functions;

·

Establish and maintain records required under the Title IV regulations;

·

Develop and apply an adequate system to identify and resolve discrepancies in information from sources regarding a student’s application for financial aid under Title IV;

·

Have acceptable methods of defining and measuring the satisfactory academic progress of its students;

·

Refer to the Office of the Inspector General any credible information indicating that any applicant, student, employee, third party servicer or other agent of the school has been engaged in any fraud or other illegal conduct involving Title IV Programs;

·

Not be, and not have any principal or affiliate who is, debarred or suspended from federal contracting or engaging in activity that is cause for debarment or suspension;

·

Provide adequate financial aid counseling to its students;

·

Submit in a timely manner all reports and financial statements required by the regulations; and

·

Not otherwise appear to lack administrative capability.

Failure by an institution to satisfy any of these or other administrative capability criteria could cause the institution to be subject to sanctions or other actions by the DOE or to lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, which would have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.

Restrictions on Payment of Commissions, Bonuses and Other Incentive Payments.    An institution participating in Title IV Programs may not provide any commission, bonus or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any person or entity engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds. The DOE’s regulations established twelve “safe harbors” identifying types of compensation that could be paid without violating the incentive compensation rule.  On October 29, 2010, the DOE adopted final rules that took effect on July 1, 2011 and amended the incentive compensation rule by, among other things, eliminating the twelve safe harbors (thereby reducing the scope of permissible compensatory payments under the rule) and expanding the scope of compensatory payments and employees subject to the rule.  The DOE has stated that it does not intend to provide private guidance regarding particular compensation structures in the future and will enforce the regulations as written.  We cannot predict how the DOE will interpret and enforce the revised incentive compensation rule.  The implementation of the final regulations required us to change our compensation practices and has had and will continue to have a significant impact on the rate at which students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

 

Compliance with Regulatory Standards and Effect of Regulatory Violations.    Our schools are subject to audits, program reviews, site visits, and other reviews by various federal and state regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the DOE, the DOE's Office of Inspector General, state education agencies and other state regulators, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies, and by our accrediting commissions. In addition, each of our institutions must retain an independent certified public accountant to conduct an annual audit of the institution's administration of Title IV Program funds. The institution must submit the resulting audit report to the DOE for review.

On January 2, 2013, the DOE notified our New Britain, Connecticut, campus that an on-site Program Review was scheduled to begin on January 28, 2013.  The Program Review assessed the institution’s administration of Title IV Programs for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 award years.  The Program Review concluded on January 31, 2013.  On April 22, 2013, the DOE issued a Program Review Report that required our New Britain campus to respond to information requests made in such report.  Our New Britain campus responded to the Program Review Report in correspondence delivered to the DOE on July 18, 2013.   On September 29, 2014, the DOE issued a Final Program Review Determination (“FPRD”) that closed the review, identified liabilities resulting from the DOE’s review, and also noted some issues that required our New Britain campus to provide further responses to the DOE.  Our New Britain campus responded to the DOE’s request and is currently waiting for the DOE’s response. The liabilities calculated in the FPRD resulted in a payment of $102.75 to the DOE.

On January 7, 2013, the DOE notified our Columbia, Maryland campus that an on-site Program Review was scheduled to begin on March 4, 2013. The Program Review assessed the institution’s administration of Title IV Programs in which the campus participated for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 award years.  On June 29, 2015, the DOE issued a Program Review Report that required our Columbia campus to respond to information in the report.  Our Columbia campus responded on September 11, 2015, and is waiting for the DOE’s response.

On April 26, 2013, the DOE notified our Union, New Jersey campus that an on-site Program Review was scheduled to begin on May 20, 2013. The Program Review assessed the institution’s administration of Title IV Programs in which the campus participated for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 award years.  On September 30, 2016, the Union, New Jersey campus received the Program Review Report from the DOE.  Subsequently, the campus responded to the DOE and are awaiting a response.

If one of our schools fails to comply with accrediting or state licensing requirements, such school and its main and/or branch campuses could be subject to the loss of state licensure or accreditation, which in turn could result in a loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs. If the DOE or another agency determined that one of our institutions improperly disbursed Title IV Program funds or violated a provision of the HEA or DOE regulations, the institution could be required to repay such funds and related costs to the DOE and lenders, and could be assessed an administrative fine. The DOE could also place the institution on provisional certification status and/or transfer the institution to the reimbursement or cash monitoring system of receiving Title IV Program funds, under which an institution must disburse its own funds to students and document the students' eligibility for Title IV Program funds before receiving such funds from the DOE.  See “Regulatory Environment – Financial Responsibility Standards.”

Significant violations of Title IV Program requirements by the Company or any of our institutions could be the basis for DOE to limit, suspend or terminate the participation of the affected institution in Title IV Programs or to seek civil or criminal penalties. Generally, such a termination of Title IV Program eligibility extends for 18 months before the institution may apply for reinstatement of its participation. There is no DOE proceeding pending to fine any of our institutions or to limit, suspend or terminate any of our institutions' participation in Title IV Programs.

We and our schools are also subject to claims and lawsuits relating to regulatory compliance brought not only by federal and state regulatory agencies and our accrediting bodies, but also by third parties, such as present or former students or employees and other members of the public. If we are unable to successfully resolve or defend against any such claim or lawsuit, we may be required to pay money damages or be subject to fines, limitations, loss of federal funding, injunctions or other penalties. Moreover, even if we successfully resolve or defend against any such claim or lawsuit, we may have to devote significant financial and management resources in order to reach such a result.

 

Item 1A.

RISK FACTORS

The risk factors described below and other information included elsewhere in this Form 10-K are among the numerous risked faced by our Company and should be carefully considered before deciding to invest in, sell or retain shares of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face.

Our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory requirements for participation in Title IV Programs and school operations could result in financial penalties, restrictions on our operations and loss of external financial aid funding, which could affect our revenues and impose significant operating restrictions on us.

Our industry is highly regulated by federal and state governmental agencies and by accrediting commissions. In particular, the HEA and DOE regulations specify extensive criteria and numerous standards that an institution must satisfy to establish to participate in the Title IV Programs.  For a description of these criteria, see “Regulatory Environment.”

If we are found not to have satisfied the DOE's requirements for Title IV Programs funding, one or more of our institutions, including its additional locations, could be limited in its access to, or lose, Title IV Program funding could adversely affect our revenue, as we received approximately 79% of our revenue (calculated based on cash receipts) from Title IV Programs in 2016, which would have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.  Furthermore, if any of our schools fails to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the school and its related main campus and/or additional locations could be subject to, among other things, the loss of state licensure or accreditation, the loss of eligibility to participate in and receive funds under the Title IV Programs, the loss of the ability to grant degrees, diplomas and certificates, provisional certification, or the imposition of liabilities or monetary penalties, each of which could adversely affect our revenues and impose significant operating restrictions upon us. In addition, the loss by any of our schools of its accreditation, its state authorization or license, or its eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs would constitute an event of default under our credit agreement with our lender which could result in the acceleration of all amounts then outstanding with respect to our outstanding loan obligations.  The various regulatory agencies applicable to our business periodically revise their requirements and modify their interpretations of existing requirements and restrictions. We cannot predict with certainty how any of these regulatory requirements will be applied or whether each of our schools will be able to comply with these requirements or any additional requirements instituted in the future.

If we fail to demonstrate "administrative capability" to the DOE, our business could suffer.

DOE regulations specify extensive criteria an institution must satisfy to establish that it has the requisite "administrative capability" to participate in Title IV Programs. For a description of these criteria, see “Regulatory Environment – Administrative Capability.”

If we are found not to have satisfied the DOE's "administrative capability" requirements, or otherwise failed to comply with one or more DOE requirements, one or more of our institutions, including its additional locations, could be limited in its access to, or lose, Title IV Program funding.  A loss or decrease in Title IV funding could adversely affect our revenue, as we received approximately 79% of our revenue (calculated based on cash receipts) from Title IV Programs in 2016, which would have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.

Congress and the DOE may make changes to the laws and regulations applicable to, or reduce funding for, Title IV Programs, which could reduce our student population, revenues or profit margin.

Congress periodically revises the HEA and other laws governing Title IV Programs and annually determines the funding level for each Title IV Program. We cannot predict what if any legislative or other actions will be taken or proposed by Congress in connection with the reauthorization of the HEA or with other activities of Congress.  See “Regulatory Environment – Congressional Action.”  Because a significant percentage of our revenues are derived from the Title IV programs, any action by Congress or the DOE that significantly reduces funding for Title IV Programs or that limits or restricts the ability of our schools, programs, or students to receive funding through those Programs or that imposes new restrictions or constraints upon our business or operations could reduce our student enrollment and our revenues, and could increase our administrative costs and require us to modify our practices in order for our schools to comply fully with Title IV program requirements.  In addition, current requirements for student or school participation in Title IV Programs may change or one or more of the present Title IV Programs could be replaced by other programs with materially different student or school eligibility requirements.  If we cannot comply with the provisions of the HEA, as they may be revised, or if the cost of such compliance is excessive, or if funding is materially reduced, our revenues or profit margin could be materially adversely affected.

 

The DOE has changed its regulations, and may make other changes in the future, in a manner which could require us to incur additional costs in connection with our administration of the Title IV Programs, affect our ability to remain eligible to participate in the Title IV Programs, impose restrictions on our participation in the Title IV Programs, affect the rate at which students enroll in our programs, or otherwise have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.

In October 2014, the DOE issued final regulations on gainful employment requiring each educational program to achieve threshold rates in two debt measure categories related to an annual debt to annual earnings ratio and an annual debt to discretionary income ratio. The regulations outline various scenarios under which programs could lose Title IV eligibility for failure to achieve threshold rates in one or more measures over certain periods of time ranging from two to four years. The regulations also require an institution to provide warnings to students in programs which may lose Title IV eligibility at the end of an award year. The final regulations also contain other provisions that, among other things, include disclosure, reporting, new program approval, and certification requirements.  See “Regulatory Environment – Gainful Employment.”

In January 2016, the DOE began negotiated rulemaking to develop proposed regulations regarding a borrower’s ability to allege acts or omissions by an institution as a defense to the repayment of certain Title IV loans and the consequences to the borrower, the DOE, and the institution.  On November 1, 2016, the DOE published in the Federal Register the final version of these regulations with a general effective date of July 1, 2017 and which, among other things, include rules for:

On January 19, 2017, the DOE issued new regulations with an effective date of January 19, 2017 that update the Department’s hearing procedures for actions to establish liability against an institution and to establish procedural rules governing recovery proceedings under the DOE’s borrower defense to repayment regulations.  We are still in the process of evaluating the impact of these new and complex regulations on our business.  Among other things, the precise standards for student loan discharges are unclear and may be subject to unfavorable interpretations that could result in liabilities and other sanctions for our schools.  The expanded financial responsibility regulations may result in the DOE recalculating and reducing our composite score to account for DOE estimates of potential losses under some of the circumstances listed above and also may result in requirements to provide financial protection in amounts that are difficult to predict, calculated by the DOE under potentially subjective standards, and, in some cases, may be based solely on the existence of proceedings or circumstances that ultimately may lack merit or otherwise not result in liabilities or losses.  For example, the regulations state that the letter of credit or other form of financial protection required for an institution under the provisional certification alternative must equal 10 percent of the total amount of Title IV funds received by the institution during its most recently completed fiscal year plus any additional amount that DOE determines is necessary to fully cover any estimated losses unless the institution demonstrates that the additional amount if unnecessary to protect, or is contrary to, the Federal interest.

We cannot predict the ultimate content of any new regulations the DOE may propose and implement in the future, or the potential impact of such regulations on us or our institutions. The implementation of any new regulations by the DOE could have a significant impact on the rate at which students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

If we or our eligible institutions do not meet the financial responsibility standards prescribed by the DOE, we may be required to post letters of credit or our eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs could be terminated or limited, which could significantly reduce our student population and revenues.

To participate in Title IV Programs, an eligible institution must satisfy specific measures of financial responsibility prescribed by the DOE or post a letter of credit in favor of the DOE and possibly accept other conditions on its participation in Title IV Programs.  The DOE published new regulations that establish expanded standards of financial responsibility that could result in a requirement that we submit to DOE a substantial letter of credit or other form of financial protection in an amount determined by the DOE, and be subject to other conditions and requirements, based on any one of an extensive list of triggering circumstances.  See “Regulatory Environment – Financial Responsibility Standards.”  Any obligation to post one or more letters of credit would increase our costs of regulatory compliance.  Our inability to obtain a required letter of credit or limitations on, or termination of, our participation in Title IV Programs could limit our students' access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, which could significantly reduce our student population and revenues.

 

We are subject to fines and other sanctions if we pay impermissible commissions, bonuses or other incentive payments to individuals involved in certain recruiting, admissions or financial aid activities, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and adversely affect our results of operations.

An institution participating in Title IV Programs may not provide any commission, bonus or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in enrolling students or securing financial aid to any person involved in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds. See “Regulatory Environment -- Restrictions on Payment of Commissions, Bonuses and Other Incentive Payments.”  We cannot predict how the DOE will interpret and enforce the incentive compensation rule.  The implementation of these regulations has required us to change our compensation practices and has had and may continue to have a significant impact on the rate at which students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.  If we are found to have violated this law, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by the DOE or we could face litigation filed under the qui tam provisions of the Federal False Claims Act.

 

If our schools do not maintain their accreditation, they may not participate in Title IV programs, which could adversely affect our student population and revenues.

 

An institution must be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the DOE in order to participate in Title IV Programs. See “Regulatory Environment – Accreditation.”  If one of our schools fails to comply with accrediting commission requirements, the institution and its main and/or branch campuses are subject to the loss of accreditation or may be placed on probation or a special monitoring or reporting status which, if the noncompliance with accrediting commission requirements is not resolved, could result in loss of accreditation. Loss of accreditation by any of our main campuses would result in the termination of eligibility of that school and all of its branch campuses to participate in Title IV Programs and could cause us to close the school and its branches, which could have a significant impact on our business and operations.

Programmatic accreditation is the process through which specific programs are reviewed and approved by industry- and program-specific accrediting entities. Although programmatic accreditation is not generally necessary for Title IV eligibility, such accreditation may be required to allow students to sit for certain licensure exams or to work in a particular profession or career or to meet other requirements.    Failure to obtain or maintain such programmatic accreditation may lead to a decline in enrollments in such programs.  Moreover, under new gainful employment regulations issued by the DOE, institutions are required to certify that they have programmatic accreditation under certain circumstances.  See “Regulatory Environment – Gainful Employment.”  Failure to comply with these new requirements could impact the Title IV eligibility of educational programs that are required to maintain such programmatic accreditation.

Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if the percentage of their revenues derived from those programs exceeds 90%, which could reduce our student population and revenues.

 

Under the HEA reauthorization, a proprietary institution that derives more than 90% of its total revenue from Title IV Programs for two consecutive fiscal years becomes immediately ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs and may not reapply for eligibility until the end of at least two fiscal years. An institution with revenues exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures.  See “Regulatory Environment – 90/10 Rule.” If any of our institutions loses eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, that loss would cause an event of default under our credit agreement, would also adversely affect our students’ access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, and would have a significant impact on the rate at which our students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if their former students defaulted on repayment of their federal student loans in excess of specified levels, which could reduce our student population and revenues.

An institution may lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV Programs if the rates at which the institution's current and former students default on their federal student loans exceed specified percentages.  See “Regulatory Environment – Student Loan Defaults.”  If former students defaulted on repayment of their federal student loans in excess of specified levels, our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, would cause an event of default under our credit agreement, would also adversely affect our students’ access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, and would have a significant impact on the rate at which our students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.  .

 

We are subject to sanctions if we fail to correctly calculate and timely return Title IV Program funds for students who withdraw before completing their educational program, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and decrease our profit margin.

An institution participating in Title IV Programs must correctly calculate the amount of unearned Title IV Program funds that have been credited to students who withdraw from their educational programs before completing them and must return those unearned funds in a timely manner, generally within 45 days of the date the institution determines that the student has withdrawn. If the unearned funds are not properly calculated and timely returned, we may have to post a letter of credit in favor of the DOE or may be otherwise sanctioned by the DOE, which could increase our cost of regulatory compliance and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Regulatory agencies or third parties may conduct compliance reviews, bring claims or initiate litigation against us. If the results of these reviews or claims are unfavorable to us, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Because we operate in a highly regulated industry, we are subject to compliance reviews and claims of noncompliance and lawsuits by government agencies and third parties. If the results of these reviews or proceedings are unfavorable to us, or if we are unable to defend successfully against third-party lawsuits or claims, we may be required to pay money damages or be subject to fines, limitations on the operations of our business, loss of federal and state funding, injunctions or other penalties. Even if we adequately address issues raised by an agency review or successfully defend a third-party lawsuit or claim, we may have to divert significant financial and management resources from our ongoing business operations to address issues raised by those reviews or defend those lawsuits or claims.  Certain of our institutions are subject to ongoing reviews and proceedings.  See “Regulatory Environment – State Authorization,” “Regulatory Environment – Accreditation,” and “Regulatory Environment - Compliance with Regulatory Standards and Effect of Regulatory Violations.”

A decline in the overall growth of enrollment in post-secondary institutions, or in our core disciplines, could cause us to experience lower enrollment at our schools, which could negatively impact our future growth.

Enrollment in post-secondary institutions over the next ten years is expected to be slower than in the prior ten years.  In addition, the number of high school graduates eligible to enroll in post-secondary institutions is expected to fall before resuming a growth pattern for the foreseeable future. In order to increase our current growth rates in degree granting programs, we will need to attract a larger percentage of students in existing markets and expand our markets by creating new academic programs. In addition, if job growth in the fields related to our core disciplines is weaker than expected, as a result of any regional or national economic downturn or otherwise, fewer students may seek the types of diploma or degree granting programs that we offer or seek to offer. Our failure to attract new students, or the decisions by prospective students to seek diploma or degree programs in other disciplines, would have an adverse impact on our future growth.

Our business could be adversely impacted by additional legislation, regulations, or investigations regarding private student lending because students attending our schools rely on private student loans to pay tuition and other institutional charges.

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, has supervisory authority over private education loan providers.  The CFPB has been active in conducting investigations into the private student loan market and issuing several reports with findings that are critical of the private student loan market.  The CFPB has initiated investigations into the lending practices of other institutions in the for-profit education sector.  The CFPB has issued procedures for further examination of private education loans and published requests for information regarding repayment plans and regarding arrangements between schools and financial institutions.  We cannot predict whether any of this activity, or other activities, will result in Congress, the CFPB or other regulators adopting new legislation or regulations, or conducting new investigations, into the private student loan market or into the loans received by our students to attend our institutions.  Any new legislation, regulations, or investigations regarding private student lending could limit the availability of private student loans to our students, which could have a significant impact on our business and operations.

If we are unable to sell our Healthcare and Other Professions segment, our cash flows and operations could be adversely affected.

For the last several years, the Company and the proprietary school sector have faced deteriorating earnings. In light of this, the Company has incurred significant operating losses as a result of a lower student population. To fund the Company’s business plans and improve cash flow by aligning cost structure to our lower student population, the Company intends to divest our Healthcare and Other Professions segment.  If we are unable to sell our Healthcare and Other Professions segment, our cash flows and operations could be adversely affected.  The Company continues to actively market these schools and has offers which are under consideration.

 

Our success depends in part on our ability to update and expand the content of existing programs and develop new programs in a cost-effective manner and on a timely basis.

Prospective employers of our graduates increasingly demand that their entry-level employees possess appropriate technological skills. These skills are becoming more sophisticated in line with technological advancements in the automotive, diesel, information technology, and skilled trades. Accordingly, educational programs at our schools must keep pace with those technological advancements. The expansion of our existing programs and the development of new programs may not be accepted by our students, prospective employers or the technical education market. Even if we are able to develop acceptable new programs, we may not be able to introduce these new programs as quickly as our competitors or as quickly as employers demand. If we are unable to adequately respond to changes in market requirements due to financial constraints, unusually rapid technological changes or other factors, our ability to attract and retain students could be impaired, our placement rates could suffer and our revenues could be adversely affected.

In addition, if we are unable to adequately anticipate the requirements of the employers we serve, we may offer programs that do not teach skills useful to prospective employers or students seeking a technical or career-oriented education which could affect our placement rates and our ability to attract and retain students, causing our revenues to be adversely affected.

We may not be able to retain our key personnel or hire and retain the personnel we need to sustain and grow our business.

Our success has depended, and will continue to depend, largely on the skills, efforts and motivation of our executive officers who generally have significant experience within the post-secondary education industry. Our success also depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified faculty, school directors, administrators and corporate management. Due to the nature of our business, we face significant competition in the attraction and retention of personnel who possess the skill sets that we seek. In addition, key personnel may leave us and subsequently compete against us. Furthermore, we do not currently carry "key man" life insurance on any of our employees. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel, or our failure to attract and retain other qualified and experienced personnel on acceptable terms, could have an adverse effect on our ability to operate our business efficiently and to execute our growth strategy.

Competition could decrease our market share and cause us to lower our tuition rates.

The post-secondary education market is highly competitive. Our schools compete for students and faculty with traditional public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities and other proprietary schools, many of which have greater financial resources than we do. Some traditional public and private colleges and universities, as well as other private career-oriented schools, offer programs that may be perceived by students to be similar to ours. Most public institutions are able to charge lower tuition than our schools, due in part to government subsidies and other financial resources not available to for-profit schools. Some of our competitors also have substantially greater financial and other resources than we have which may, among other things, allow our competitors to secure strategic relationships with some or all of our existing strategic partners or develop other high profile strategic relationships, or devote more resources to expanding their programs and their school network, or provide greater financing alternatives to their students, all of which could affect the success of our marketing programs. In addition, some of our competitors have a larger network of schools and campuses than we do, enabling them to recruit students more effectively from a wider geographic area. If we are unable to compete effectively with these institutions for students, our student enrollment and revenues will be adversely affected.

We may be required to reduce tuition or increase spending in response to competition in order to retain or attract students or pursue new market opportunities. As a result, our market share, revenues and operating margin may be decreased. We cannot be sure that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or that the competitive pressures we face will not adversely affect our revenues and profitability.

Our financial performance depends in part on our ability to continue to develop awareness and acceptance of our programs among high school graduates and working adults looking to return to school.

The awareness of our programs among high school graduates and working adults looking to return to school is critical to the continued acceptance and growth of our programs. Our inability to continue to develop awareness of our programs could reduce our enrollments and impair our ability to increase our revenues or maintain profitability. The following are some of the factors that could prevent us from successfully marketing our programs:

·

Student dissatisfaction with our programs and services;

·

Diminished access to high school student populations;

·

Our failure to maintain or expand our brand or other factors related to our marketing or advertising practices; and

·

Our inability to maintain relationships with employers in the automotive, diesel, skilled trades and IT services industries.

An increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain students.

Interest rates have reached historical lows in recent years, creating a favorable borrowing environment for our students. Much of the financing our students receive is tied to floating interest rates. Increases in interest rates result in a corresponding increase in the cost to our existing and prospective students of financing their education which could result in a reduction in the number of students attending our schools and could adversely affect our results of operations and revenues. Higher interest rates could also contribute to higher default rates with respect to our students' repayment of their education loans. Higher default rates may in turn adversely impact our eligibility for Title IV Program participation or the willingness of private lenders to make private loan programs available to students who attend our schools, which could result in a reduction in our student population.

 

Our total assets include substantial intangible assets. In the event that our schools do not achieve satisfactory operating results, we may be required to write-off of a significant portion of unamortized intangible assets which would negatively affect our results of operations.

Our total assets reflect substantial intangible assets. At December 31, 2016, goodwill and identified intangibles, net, associated with our acquisitions increased to approximately 8.9% from 7.0% of total assets at December 31, 2015.  On at least an annual basis, we assess whether there has been an impairment in the value of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives. If the carrying value of the tested asset exceeds its estimated fair value, impairment is deemed to have occurred.  In this event, the amount is written down to fair value.  Under current accounting rules, this would result in a charge to operating earnings. Any determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of goodwill or unamortized identified intangible assets would negatively affect our results of operations and total capitalization, which could be material.

We cannot predict our future capital needs, and if we are unable to secure additional financing when needed, our operations and revenues would be adversely affected.

We may need to raise additional capital in the future to fund acquisitions, working capital requirements, expand our markets and program offerings or respond to competitive pressures or perceived opportunities. We cannot be sure that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all particularly during times of uncertainty in the financial markets similar to that which is currently being experienced. If adequate funds are not available when required or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to forego attractive acquisition opportunities, cease our operations and, even if we are able to continue our operations, our ability to increase student enrollment and revenues would be adversely affected.

A substantial decrease in student financing options, or a significant increase in financing costs for our students, could have a significant impact on our student population, revenues and financial results.

The consumer credit markets in the United States have recently suffered from increases in default rates and foreclosures on mortgages.  Adverse market conditions for consumer and federally guaranteed student loans could result in providers of alternative loans reducing the attractiveness and/or decreasing the availability of alternative loans to post-secondary students, including students with low credit scores who would not otherwise be eligible for credit-based alternative loans. Prospective students may find that these increased financing costs make borrowing prohibitively expensive and abandon or delay enrollment in post-secondary education programs. Private lenders could also require that we pay them new or increased fees in order to provide alternative loans to prospective students. If any of these scenarios were to occur, our students’ ability to finance their education could be adversely affected and our student population could decrease, which could have a significant impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In addition, any actions by the U.S. Congress or by states that significantly reduce funding for Title IV Programs or other student financial assistance programs, or the ability of our students to participate in these programs, or establish different or more stringent requirements for our schools to participate in those programs, could have a significant impact on our student population, results of operations and cash flows.

Anti-takeover provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and New Jersey law could discourage a change of control that our stockholders may favor, which could negatively affect our stock price.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws and applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act may make it more difficult and expensive for a third party to acquire control of us even if a change of control would be beneficial to the interests of our stockholders. These provisions could discourage potential takeover attempts and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. For example, applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of five years after the person becomes an interested stockholder. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws:

·

authorize the issuance of blank check preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to thwart a takeover attempt;

·

prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow holders of less than a majority of stock to elect some directors;

·

require super-majority voting to effect amendments to certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation;

·

limit who may call special meetings of both the board of directors and stockholders;

·

prohibit stockholder action by non-unanimous written consent and otherwise require all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders;

 

·

establish advance notice requirements for nominating candidates for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholders' meetings; and

·

require that vacancies on the board of directors, including newly created directorships, be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office.

We can issue shares of preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could adversely affect the rights of common stockholders.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation permits us to establish the rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions, including voting rights, of future series of our preferred stock and to issue such stock without approval from our stockholders. The rights of holders of our common stock may suffer as a result of the rights granted to holders of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. In addition, we could issue preferred stock to prevent a change in control of our Company, depriving common stockholders of an opportunity to sell their stock at a price in excess of the prevailing market price.

System disruptions to our technology infrastructure could impact our ability to generate revenue and could damage the reputation of our institutions.

The performance and reliability of our technology infrastructure is critical to our reputation and to our ability to attract and retain students. We license the software and related hosting and maintenance services for our online platform and our student information system from third-party software providers. Any system error or failure, or a sudden and significant increase in bandwidth usage, could result in the unavailability of systems to us or our students. Any such system disruptions could impact our ability to generate revenue and affect our ability to access information about our students and could also damage the reputation of our institutions.

We are subject to privacy and information security laws and regulations due to our collection and use of personal information, and any violations of those laws or regulations, or any breach, theft or loss of that information, could adversely affect our reputation and operations.

Our efforts to attract and enroll students result in us collecting, using and keeping substantial amounts of personal information regarding applicants, our students, their families and alumni, including social security numbers and financial data. We also maintain personal information about our employees in the ordinary course of our activities. Our services, the services of many of our health plan and benefit plan vendors, and other information can be accessed globally through the Internet. We rely extensively on our network of interconnected applications and databases for day to day operations as well as financial reporting and the processing of financial transactions. Our computer networks and those of our vendors that manage confidential information for us or provide services to our student may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, inadvertent access or display, theft or misuse, hackers, computer viruses, or third parties in connection with hardware and software upgrades and changes. Such unauthorized access, misuse, theft or hacks could evade our intrusion detection and prevention precautions without alerting us to the breach or loss for some period of time or may never be detected. Regular patching of our computer systems and frequent updates to our virus detection and prevention software with the latest virus and malware signatures may not catch newly introduced malware and viruses or “zero-day” viruses, prior to their infecting our systems and potentially disrupting our data integrity, taking sensitive information or affecting financial transactions. While we utilize security and business controls to limit access to and use of personal information, any breach of student or employee privacy or errors in storing, using or transmitting personal information could violate privacy laws and regulations resulting in fines or other penalties. A wide range of high profile data breaches in recent years has led to renewed interest in federal data and cybersecurity legislation that could increase our costs and/or require changes in our operating procedures or systems. A breach, theft or loss of personal information held by us or our vendors, or a violation of the laws and regulations governing privacy could have a material adverse effect on our reputation or result in lawsuits, additional regulation, remediation and compliance costs or investments in additional security systems to protect our computer networks, the costs of which may be substantial.

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

As of December 31, 2016, we leased all of our facilities, except for our campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida, Nashville, Tennessee, Grand Prairie, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, all of which we own.  We continue to re-evaluate our facilities to maximize our facility utilization and efficiency and to allow us to introduce new programs and attract more students. As of December 31, 2016, all of our existing leases expire between May 2017 and May 2030.

Our Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at our campuses in Henderson, Nevada; West Palm Beach, Florida; Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  These properties are expected to be sold, subleased or the lease is expected to expire in 2017.

The following table provides information relating to our facilities as of December 31, 2016, including our corporate office:

We believe that our facilities are suitable for their present intended purposes.

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On November 21, 2012, the Company received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to its investigation of whether the Company and certain of its academic institutions have complied with certain Massachusetts state consumer protection laws.  On July 29, 2013 and January 17, 2014, the Company received additional Civil Investigative Demands, pursuant to which the Attorney General requested from the Company and certain of its academic institutions in Massachusetts documents and detailed information for the time period from January 1, 2008 to the present.

On July 13, 2015, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a complaint against the Company in the Suffolk County Superior Court alleging certain violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act since at least 2010 and continuing through 2013.  At the same time, the Company agreed to the entry of a Final Judgment by Consent in order to avoid the time, burden, and expense of contesting such liability.  As part of the Final Judgment by Consent, the Company denied all allegations of wrongdoing and any liability for the claims asserted in the complaint.  The Company, however, paid the sum of $850,000 to the Attorney General and has agreed to forgive $165,000 of debt consisting of unpaid balances owed to the Company by certain graduates in the sole discretion of the Massachusetts Attorney General.  The Final Judgment by Consent also provided certain requirements for calculation of job placement rates in Massachusetts and imposed certain disclosure obligations that are consistent with the regulations that have been previously enacted by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

On December 15, 2015, the Company received an administrative subpoena from the Attorney General of the State of Maryland. Pursuant to the subpoena, Maryland’s Attorney General has requested from the Company documents and detailed information relating to its Columbia, Maryland campus.  The Company has responded to this request and intends to continue cooperating with the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters.  Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

PART II.

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market for our Common Stock

Our common stock, no par value per share, is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “LINC”.

The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices per share for our common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, for the periods indicated and the cash dividends per share declared on our common stock:

On March 7, 2017, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $2.17 per share.  As of March 7, 2017, based on the information provided by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, there were 39 stockholders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

On February 27, 2015, our Board of Directors discontinued the quarterly cash dividend.

Share Repurchases

The Company did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Stock Performance Graph

This stock performance graph compares our total cumulative stockholder return on our common stock during the period from December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2016 with the cumulative return on the Russell 2000 Index and a Peer Issuer Group Index. The peer issuer group consists of the companies identified below, which were selected on the basis of the similar nature of their business. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2011 and any dividends were reinvested on the date on which they were paid.

The information provided under the heading "Stock Performance Graph" shall not be considered "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into a filing.

Companies in the Peer Group include Apollo Group, Inc., Career Education Corp., DeVry, Inc., ITT Educational Services, Inc., Strayer Education, Inc. and Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

We have various equity compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance. Information regarding these securities as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

Plan Category		Number of Securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights				Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights				Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
		(a)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders			218,167			$	12.11				2,315,016
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders			-				-				-
Total			218,167			$	12.11				2,315,016

 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated financial and operating data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. You should read these data together with Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016 and historical consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2016 and 2015 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected historical consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and historical consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 have been derived from our consolidated financial information not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

 

All amounts have been restated to give effect to discontinued operations in 2015, 2014 and 2013.

(1)          Provision (benefit) for income taxes includes a valuation allowance from continuing operations of $54.6 million, $43.9 million, $46.7 million and $23.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(2)          Average student population includes diploma and above students and excludes short certificate programs.

(3)          Working (deficit) capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.

(4)          Total debt consists of long-term debt including current portion, capital leases, auto loans and a finance obligation of $9.7 million for each of the years in the four-year period ended December 31, 2015 incurred in connection with a sale-leaseback transaction as further described in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion together with the “Selected Financial Data,” “Forward-Looking Statements” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those we discuss under “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our” and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 28 schools in 15 states, offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding and computerized numerical control and electronic systems technology, among other programs), healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, medical administrative assistant and pharmacy technician, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics) and business and information technology (which includes information technology and criminal justice programs).  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln College of New England, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (the “DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

In the first quarter of 2015, we reorganized our operations into three reportable business segments:  (a) Transportation and Skilled Trades, (b) Healthcare and Other Professions (“HOPS”), and (c) Transitional which refers to businesses that have been or are currently being taught out.  In November 2015 the Board of Directors approved a plan for the Company to divest the schools included in the HOPS business segment.  Divestiture of the Company’s HOPS business segment marks a strategic shift in business strategy that will enable us to focus energy and resources predominantly on the Transportation and Skilled Trades business segment.  The Company continues to actively market the schools comprising the HOPS business segment and has offers which are under consideration.  The results of operations of the campuses included in the HOPS business segment are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.

The following table lists the schools that are included in the HOPS and Transitional Segments and their status as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

1	In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest these schools and thus they are included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

2

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In December 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school.  The school was included in the Transitional Segment and included in continuing operations until it closed in the fourth quarter of 2016; it is included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016.

3	In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school, which closed in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is included in discontinued operations as of December 31, 2016.

4

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest these schools.  In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at these schools which are being taught-out and expected to be closed in 2017.  These schools are included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016.

5

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to divest this school.  In the third quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to teach–out certain programs at this school. Then, in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to teach-out the remainder of the programs at this school.  The school is expected to be closed in 2017.  This school’s operations are included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016. However, as part of this plan, the Board of Directors approved the divestiture of the properties for this school and therefore the properties are included in held for sale as of December 31, 2016.

6

On February 27, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at this school, which was fully taught out and officially closed as of March 31, 2016 and is included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations as of December 31, 2016. The plan to teach out this school was approved prior to the plan to exit the HOPS segment and as such does not meet the discontinued operations criteria.

As of December 31, 2016, we had 11,235 students enrolled at 28 campuses, 7,295 students enrolled at campuses that are included in continuing operations.

Our campuses, a majority of which serve major metropolitan markets, are located throughout the United States. Five of our campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. Our other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas. All of our schools are either nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs.

Our revenues consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we offer.  Our revenues are reduced by scholarships granted to our students. We recognize revenues from tuition and one-time fees, such as application fees, ratably over the length of a program, including internships or externships that take place prior to graduation. We also earn revenues from our bookstores, dormitories, cafeterias and contract training services. These non-tuition revenues are recognized upon delivery of goods or as services are performed and represent less than 10% of our revenues.

From both continuing and discontinued operations, our revenues are directly dependent on the average number of students enrolled in our schools and the courses in which they are enrolled. Our average enrollment is impacted by the number of new students starting, re-entering, graduating and withdrawing from our schools. In addition, our diploma/certificate programs range from 22 to 136 weeks, our associate’s degree programs range from 48 to 156 weeks, and our bachelor’s degree programs range from 104 to 208 weeks, and students attend classes for different amounts of time per week depending on the school and program in which they are enrolled. Because we start new students every month, our total student population changes monthly. The number of students enrolling or re-entering our programs each month is driven by the demand for our programs, the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising, the availability of financial aid and other sources of funding, the number of recent high school graduates, the job market and seasonality. Our retention and graduation rates are influenced by the quality and commitment of our teachers and student services personnel, the effectiveness of our programs, the placement rate and success of our graduates and the availability of financial aid. Although similar courses have comparable tuition rates, the tuition rates vary among our numerous programs.

The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The largest of these programs are Title IV Programs which represented approximately 79% and 80% of our revenue on a cash basis while the remainder is primarily derived from state grants and cash payments made by students during 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the “HEA”) requires institutions to use the cash basis of accounting when determining its compliance with the 90/10 rule.

We extend credit for tuition and fees to many of our students that attend our campuses. Our credit risk is mitigated through the students’ participation in federally funded financial aid programs unless students withdraw prior to the receipt by us of Title IV Program funds for those students. Under Title IV Programs, the government funds a certain portion of a student’s tuition, with the remainder, referred to as “the gap,” financed by the students themselves under private party loans, including credit extended by us. The gap amount has continued to increase over the last several years as we have raised tuition on average for the last several years by 2-3% per year and restructured certain programs to reduce the amount of financial aid available to students, while funds received from Title IV Programs increased at lower rates.

 

The additional financing that we are providing to students may expose us to greater credit risk and can impact our liquidity. However, we believe that these risks are somewhat mitigated due to the following:

·

Our internal financing is provided to students only after all other funding resources have been exhausted; thus, by the time this funding is available, students have completed approximately two-thirds of their curriculum and are more likely to graduate;

·

Funding for students who interrupt their education is typically covered by Title IV funds as long as they have been properly packaged for financial aid; and

·

Creditworthy criteria to demonstrate a student’s ability to pay.

The operating expenses associated with an existing school do not increase or decrease proportionally as the number of students enrolled at the school increases or decreases. We categorize our operating expenses as:

·

Educational services and facilities.  Major components of educational services and facilities expenses include faculty compensation and benefits, expenses of books and tools, facility rent, maintenance, utilities, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in the provision of education services and other costs directly associated with teaching our programs excluding student services which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

·

Selling, general and administrative.  Selling, general and administrative expenses include compensation and benefits of employees who are not directly associated with the provision of educational services (such as executive management and school management, finance and central accounting, legal, human resources and business development), marketing and student enrollment expenses (including compensation and benefits of personnel employed in sales and marketing and student admissions), costs to develop curriculum, costs of professional services, bad debt expense, rent for our corporate headquarters, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment that is not used in the provision of educational services and other costs that are incidental to our operations. Selling, general and administrative expenses also includes the cost of all student services including financial aid and career services.  All marketing and student enrollment expenses are recognized in the period incurred.

2016/2015

In November 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan for the Company to divest the schools included in the Healthcare and Other Professions business segment.  In December 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations of the school in this segment located in Hartford, Connecticut which closed in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is included in discontinued operations.  In addition, in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at our schools in Henderson (Green Valley), Nevada, Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach, Florida.  The Henderson, Nevada campus also closed in the fourth quarter of 2016 and is included in discontinued operations.  Divestiture of the Company’s Healthcare and Other Professions business segment marks a strategic shift in business strategy that will enable us to focus energy and resources predominantly on Transportation and Skilled Trades segment.  The results of operations of the 15 campuses included in Healthcare and Other Professions business segment are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.  The Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach, Florida campuses, which were previously included in the Healthcare and Other Professions segment are now included in the Transitional segment and continuing operations.  Completion of the plan would result in the Company’s operations focused solely on the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment.

The results of operations at these campuses for the three year periods ended December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

Amounts include impairments of goodwill and long-lived assets for these campuses of $17.5 million and $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2014, respectively.

2014

In December 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations at five training sites in Florida.  The Company performed a cost benefit analysis on several schools and concluded that the training sites contained a high fixed cost component and have had difficulty attracting enough students due to high competition to maintain a stable profit margin. Accordingly, the Company ceased operations at these campuses as of December 31, 2014.  This was a strategic shift to close all of the Company’s training sites and all locations that do not accept Title IV payments.  The results of operations of these campuses are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.

 

The results of operations at these five training sites for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):

Amounts include impairments of goodwill and long-lived assets for these campuses of $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Our discussions of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. 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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, bad debts, fixed assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes and certain accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The critical accounting policies discussed herein are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP and does not result in significant management judgment in the application of such principles. We believe that the following accounting policies are most critical to us in that they represent the primary areas where financial information is subject to the application of management's estimates, assumptions and judgment in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue recognition.    Revenues are derived primarily from programs taught at our schools.  Tuition revenues, textbook sales and one-time fees, such as nonrefundable application fees and course material fees, are recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the applicable program as the student proceeds through the program, which is the period of time from a student’s start date through his or her graduation date, including internships or externships that take place prior to graduation, and we complete the performance of teaching the student which entitles us to the revenue.   Other revenues, such as tool sales and contract training revenues are recognized as services are performed or goods are delivered. On an individual student basis, tuition earned in excess of cash received is recorded as accounts receivable, and cash received in excess of tuition earned is recorded as unearned tuition.

We evaluate whether collectability of revenue is reasonably assured prior to the student attending class and reassess collectability of tuition and fees when a student withdraws from a course.  We calculate the amount to be returned under Title IV and its stated refund policy to determine eligible charges and, if there is a balance due from the student after this calculation, we expect payment from the student and we have a process to pursue uncollected accounts whereby, based upon the student’s financial means and ability to pay, a payment plan is established with the student to ensure that collectability is reasonable.  We continuously monitor our historical collections to identify potential trends that may impact our determination that collectability of receivables for withdrawn students is realizable.  If a student withdraws from a program prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition is refunded. Refunds are calculated and paid in accordance with federal, state and accrediting agency standards. Generally, the amount to be refunded to a student is calculated based upon the period of time the student has attended classes and the amount of tuition and fees paid by the student as of his or her withdrawal date. These refunds typically reduce deferred tuition revenue and cash on our consolidated balance sheets as we generally do not recognize tuition revenue in our consolidated statements of income (loss) until the related refund provisions have lapsed. Based on the application of our refund policies, we may be entitled to incremental revenue on the day the student withdraws from one of our schools. Prior to the year-ended December 31, 2015, we recorded this incremental revenue, any related student receivable and any estimate of the amount we did not expect to collect as bad debt expense during the quarter a student withdrew based on our analysis of the collectability of such amounts on an aggregate student portfolio basis, for which we had significant historical experience. Beginning in October 2015, we now record revenue for students who withdraw from one of our schools when payment is received because collectability on an individual student basis is not reasonably assured. We determined incremental revenue recognized for students who withdrew during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 to be an immaterial error which was corrected during the fourth quarter of 2015. This resulted in a reduction of net revenues by $0.3 million and bad debt expense by $0.2 million, which resulted in an increase to the loss from continuing operations of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Additionally, this correction reduced net student receivables from continuing operations by $0.1 million.  Prior year amounts, including quarterly financial results were not restated because the effects were not material.

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts.    Based upon experience and judgment, we establish an allowance for uncollectible accounts with respect to tuition receivables. We use an internal group of collectors in our collection efforts. In establishing our allowance for uncollectible accounts, we consider, among other things, current and expected economic conditions, a student's status (in-school or out-of-school), whether or not a student is currently making payments, and overall collection history. Changes in trends in any of these areas may impact the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The receivables balances of withdrawn students with delinquent obligations are reserved for based on our collection history. Although we believe that our reserves are adequate, if the financial condition of our students deteriorates, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be necessary, which will result in increased selling, general and administrative expenses in the period such determination is made.

Our bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was 5.1%, 4.8% and 5.3%, respectively. Our exposure to changes in our bad debt expense could impact our operations. A 1% increase in our bad debt expense as a percentage of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 would have resulted in an increase in bad debt expense of $2.0 million, $2.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

We do not believe that there is any direct correlation between tuition increases, the credit we extend to students and our loan commitments.  Our loan commitments to our students are made on a student-by-student basis and are predominantly a function of the specific student’s financial condition.   We only extend credit to the extent there is a financing gap between the tuition and fees charged for the program and the amount of grants, loans and parental loans each student receives.  Each student’s funding requirements are unique.  Factors that determine the amount of aid available to a student include whether they are dependent or independent students, Pell grants awarded, Federal Direct loans awarded, Plus loans awarded to parents and family contributions. As a result, it is extremely difficult to predict the number of students that will need us to extend credit to them. Our tuition increases have averaged 2-3% annually and have not meaningfully impacted overall funding requirements, since the amount of financial aid funding available to students in recent years has increased at greater rates than our tuition increases.

Because a substantial portion of our revenues are derived from Title IV Programs, any legislative or regulatory action that significantly reduces the funding available under Title IV Programs or the ability of our students or schools to participate in Title IV Programs could have a material effect on the realizability of our receivables.

Goodwill.    We test our goodwill for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred, by comparing its fair value to its carrying value. Impairment may result from, among other things, deterioration in the performance of the acquired business, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes that restrict the activities of the acquired business, and a variety of other circumstances. If we determine that impairment has occurred, we are required to record a write-down of the carrying value and charge the impairment as an operating expense in the period the determination is made. In evaluating the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, we must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the acquired assets. Changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these judgments in the future and require an adjustment to the recorded balances.

Goodwill represents a significant portion of our total assets. As of December 31, 2016, goodwill was approximately $14.5 million, or 8.9%, of our total assets, which was flat from approximately $14.5 million, or 7.0%, at December 31, 2015.

We test our goodwill for impairment using a two-step approach.  The first step is conducted utilizing the multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow approach and comparing the carrying value of our reporting units to their implied fair value.  If necessary, the second step is conducted comparing the implied fair value of goodwill for our reporting units with the carrying amount of that goodwill.

At December 31, 2016, we conducted our annual test for goodwill impairment and determined we did not have an impairment for continuing operations.  The fair value of our reporting units were determined using Level 3 inputs included in its multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow approach.  Our disposal group assets held for sale are required to be measured at the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell.  As a result of the consideration of offers received on our disposal group assets held for sale, we concluded that a pre-tax non-cash impairment charge of $9.9 million was required for our goodwill and intangible assets relating to this group ($9.9 million was included in discontinued operations).

At December 31, 2015, we conducted our annual test for goodwill impairment and determined we did not have an impairment.  The fair value of our reporting units were determined using Level 3 inputs included in our multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow approach.  We concluded that as of September 30, 2015 there was an indicator of potential impairment as a result of a decrease in market capitalization and, accordingly, we tested goodwill for impairment.  The test indicated that one of our reporting units was impaired, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.

At December 31, 2014, we conducted our annual test for goodwill impairment and determined we did not have an impairment.  The fair value of our reporting units were determined using Level 3 inputs included in our multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow approach.  We concluded that as of September 30, 2014 there was an indicator of potential impairment as a result of a decrease in market capitalization and, accordingly, we tested goodwill for impairment.  The test indicated that ten of our reporting units were impaired, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $39.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 ($38.8 million of which is included in discontinued operations).

 

Stock-based compensation.    We currently account for stock-based employee compensation arrangements by using the Black-Scholes valuation model and utilize straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant.  We make an estimate of expected forfeitures at the time options are granted.

We measure the value of service and performance-based restricted stock on the fair value of a share of common stock on the date of the grant. We amortize the fair value of service-based restricted stock utilizing straight-line amortization of compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant.

We amortize the fair value of the performance-based restricted stock based on determination of the probable outcome of the performance condition.  If the performance condition is expected to be met, then we amortize the fair value of the number of shares expected to vest utilizing the straight-line basis over the requisite performance period of the grant.  However, if the associated performance condition is not expected to be met, then we do not recognize the stock-based compensation expense.

Income taxes.    We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.

 

In accordance with ASC 740, we assess our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable.  A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets we considered, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns.  Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.  Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates, or future income levels could materially impact our valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

 

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.  During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions are not significant to our results of operations or financial position.

Results of Continuing Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2016

The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of continuing operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenue.   Revenue decreased by $11.3 million, or 5.5%, to $196.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 from $208.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.  The decrease in revenue can mainly be attributed to two main reasons.  The first is due to our Transitional Segment which accounted for 47.7% of the total revenue decline.  The second is a result of a lower carry in population which has been one of the main contributing factors to the declines in revenue over the past several years.  We started 2016 with approximately 900 fewer students than we had on January 1, 2015 which led to an 8.0% decline in average student population to approximately 7,700 as of December 31, 2016 from 8,400 in the comparable period of 2015.

Partially offsetting the revenue decline from lower student population was a 2.7% increase in average revenue per student due to program mix.

Student start results decreased by 6.2% to approximately 8,464 from 9,021 for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year comparable period.  Excluding the Transitional segment, student starts were down 2.2%.  The decline in student starts was mainly a result of the underperformance of one campus.  Excluding this one campus and the Transitional segment our starts for the year would have grown 1.3% over the prior year.

For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality and Outlook” below.

Educational services and facilities expense.   Our educational services and facilities expense remained essentially flat at $94.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 when compared to the prior year comparable period.

Instructional expenses decreased by $3.4 million, or 7.3%, as a result of a reduction in the number of instructors and other related costs resulting from lower average student population primarily attributable to the teach-out of the Company’s Fern Park, Florida which was completed in the first quarter of 2016.

Offsetting the decrease in instructional expense was an increase in books and tools expense and an increase in facilities expense.  Books and tools expense increased by $1.3 million, or 13.6% from the purchase of laptops which were provided to newly enrolled students in certain programs to enhance and expand the student overall learning experience.

Facilities expense increased by $2.0 million, or 5.3% primarily resulting from two main factors: a) increased rent expense of $1.3 million which was the result of a modification of a lease at three of our campuses.  These leases were previously accounted for as finance obligations and rent payments under the finance obligation were previously included in interest expense; and b) $0.6 million in additional depreciation expense resulting from the reclassification of two facilities out of held for sale as of December 31, 2015.

Our educational expenses contain a high fixed cost component and are not as scalable as some of our other expenses.  As our student population decreases, we typically experience a reduction in average class size and therefore, are not always able to align these expenses with the corresponding decrease in population.  Educational services and facilities expenses, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 48.2% from 45.6% in the prior year comparable period.

Selling, general and administrative expense.    Our selling, general and administrative expense decreased by $2.3 million, or 2.1%, to $103.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 from $105.4 million in the prior year.  This decrease was primarily the result of $1.8 million in reduced costs relating to our Transitional Segment, and $0.8 million in reduced salaries.  Partially offsetting the decrease is an increase in marketing expense.  The increase in marketing expense was the result of additional spending made in an effort to reach more potential students, expand brand awareness, and increase enrollments.

Bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue was 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 4.8% for the same period in 2015.  This increase was mainly the result of incurring additional bad debt expense from increased reserves placed on our newly reclassified transitional campuses.

As a percentage of revenues, selling, general and administrative expense increased to 52.4% for the year ended December 31, 2016 from 50.6% in the comparable prior year period.

As of December 31, 2016, we had total outstanding loan commitments to our students of $40.0 million, as compared to $33.4 million at December 31, 2015.  Loan commitments, net of interest that would be due on the loans through maturity, were $30.0 million at December 31, 2016, as compared to $24.8 million at December 31, 2015.

Loss on sale of fixed assets.    Loss on sale of assets decreased by $1.6 million primarily as a result of a non-cash charge in relation to two of our campuses that were previously classified as held for sale in 2014.  During 2015 the Company re-classed these campuses out of held for sale and booked catch-up depreciation in the amount of $2.0 million.  This was partially offset by a non-cash charge in relation to three of our campuses that were previously classified as held for sale in 2015.  During 2016 the Company re-classed these campuses out of held for sale and booked catch-up depreciation in the amount of $0.4 million.

 

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.    At December 31, 2016, we tested long-lived assets and determined that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that an impairment existed at two properties, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $3.9 million.   As of September 30, 2015 we tested goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment and determined that one of the Company’s reporting units relating to goodwill was impaired, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $0.2 million.

Net interest expense.    For the year ended December 31, 2016, our net interest expense increased by $0.2 million.  The increase in interest expense was primarily the result of interest paid under our new term loan agreement which was entered into on July 31, 2015.  Partially offsetting this expense was the transition of our finance obligation at three of our campuses to operating leases coupled with the lease termination agreement at our Fern Park, Florida facility which was previously accounted for as capital leases.

Income taxes.    Our provision for income taxes was $0.2 million, or 4.7% of pretax loss, for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $0.2 million, or 63.2% of pretax income, in the prior year comparable period. No federal or state income tax benefit was recognized for the current period loss due to the recognition of a full valuation allowance.  Income tax expense resulted from various minimal state tax expenses.

Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenue.   Revenue decreased by $9.8 million, or 4.5%, to $208.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $218.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The decrease was a result of lower student population levels of approximately 100, or 1%, as we began 2015 coupled with fewer new student starts of 929 which decreased to 9,021 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 9,950 for the year ended December 31, 2014.  These two factors led to a decline of 7.1% in average student population to approximately 8,400 students from 9,040 students in the comparable period of 2014.

Offsetting the revenue decline from lower student population was a 2.7% increase in average revenue per student due to improved student retention and a shift in program mix.

In addition, revenue was lower in 2015 due to higher scholarship recognition in comparison to 2014. Scholarships are recognized ratably over the term of the student’s program.  Scholarship discounts increased by $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the prior year.  While scholarships have negatively impacted revenue, we believe we provide more students with the opportunity to pursue their educational goals by assisting in their affordability challenge.

We continue to face several challenges in sustaining our student population levels including the impact DOE incentive compensation regulations have on compensation practices for our admissions representatives, a low national unemployment rate and increased competition from peers and community colleges.  We remain focused on our strategy to expand corporate training and form partnership relationships to increase student population.

For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality and Outlook” below.

Educational services and facilities expense.   Our educational services and facilities expense decreased by $8.3 million, or 8.1%, to $94.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $103.3 million in the prior comparable period.

The expense reductions were primarily due to a $4.8 million, or 11.2%, decrease in facilities costs due to lower depreciation expense as a result of discontinued depreciation expense in connection with two campuses classified as assets held for sale at December 31, 2014.  Prior long-lived asset impairment expenses and lower capital expenditures also contributed to the decrease.

Our instructional and books and tools expense decreased by $3.5 million, or 5.8%, as a result of instructional savings which were a result of a reduction in the number of instructors and other related costs resulting from lower average student population.  The decrease in books and tools expense is also attributable to lower student starts.

 

Our educational expenses contain a high fixed cost component and are not as scalable as some of our other expenses.  As our student population decreases, we typically experience a reduction in average class size and, therefore, are not always able to align these expenses with the corresponding decrease in population.  Educational services and facilities expenses, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 45.6% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 47.4% in the prior year comparable period.

Selling, general and administrative expense.    Our selling, general and administrative expense decreased by $11.2 million, or 9.6%, to $105.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $116.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Administrative expense was lower by $7.0 million, or 11.0%, after giving consideration to a $3.7 decrease in salaries and benefit expenses as a result of management restructuring designed to help align our cost structure.  Furthermore, sales expense decreased by $3.4 million, or 13.4%.  The reduction in sales expense was mainly attributable to a reduction in the number of admissions representatives, dedicated to the destination schools being replaced with a centralized call center, thereby reducing travel costs and salary expense. These costs savings were offset slightly by an increase in marketing expenses.

Bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue was 4.8% for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to 5.3% for the same period in 2014.  The improvement in bad debt expense was mainly the result of improvement in current collections and collections history.

Student services expense also decreased by $1.1 million, or 10.6%, to $9.4 million as a result of our smaller student population.

As a percentage of revenues, selling, general and administrative expense decreased to 50.6% for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 53.5% in the prior year comparable period.

As of December 31, 2015, we had total outstanding loan commitments to our students of $33.4 million, as compared to $34.1 million at December 31, 2014.  Loan commitments, net of interest that would be due on the loans through maturity, were $24.8 million at December 31, 2015, as compared to $24.1 million at December 31, 2014.

Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets.    Loss on sale of assets increased by $1.8 million primarily as a result of a one-time charge in relation to two of our campuses that were previously classified as held for sale in 2014.  During 2015 the Company re-classed these campuses out of held for sale and booked catch-up depreciation in the amount of $2.0 million.

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.    We tested our goodwill and long-lived assets as of December 31, 2015 and determined that there is no goodwill impairment. The fair value of the Company’s reporting units were determined using Level 3 inputs included in its multiple of earnings and discounted cash flow approach.  As of September 30, 2015 we tested goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment and determined that one of the Company’s reporting units relating to goodwill was impaired, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $0.2 million.

As of September 30, 2014 we tested goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment and determined that ten of the Company’s reporting units were impaired, which resulted in a pre-tax non-cash charge of $39.0 million relating to goodwill ($38.8 million of which is included in discontinued operations).

Operating Income:  Operating income increased by $29.6 million, or 125.2% to $6.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from an operating loss of $23.7 million for the prior year comparable period.  The primary cause for the decrease was due to a $21.9 million non-cash impairment charge realized in 2014 in combination with a $1.8 million non-cash charge relating to catch-up depreciation for two of our campuses that were re-classed out of held for sale during 2015.

Net interest expense.    Our net interest expense increased by $2.3 million due to a higher outstanding loan balance and financing fees expense associated with our new term loan agreement.

Income taxes.    Our provision for income taxes was $0.2 million, or 63.2% of pretax income for the year-ended December 31, 2015, compared to a benefit for income taxes of $1.5 million, or 5.5% of pretax loss in the same period in 2014. No federal or state income tax benefit was recognized for the current period loss due to the recognition of a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.  Income tax expense for 2015 resulted from various minimal state tax expenses.

 

 

The for-profit education industry has been impacted by numerous regulatory changes, the changing economy and an onslaught of negative media attention. As a result of these actions, student populations have declined and operating costs have increased.  Over the past few years, the Company has closed over ten locations and exited its online business.  On November 3, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan for the divestiture of the Company’s schools included in the Healthcare and Other Professions business segment.  In December 2015, the Board of Directors approved a plan to cease operations of the school located in Hartford, Connecticut which closed in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Then, in the fourth quarter of 2016, the Board of Directors approved plans to cease operations at our schools in Henderson (Green Valley), Nevada, Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach, Florida.  The Henderson, Nevada campus closed in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Divestiture of the Company’s Healthcare and Other Professions business segment marks a strategic shift in business strategy.  The results of operations of the 15 campuses included in Healthcare and Other Professions business segment are reflected as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.  The Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and West Palm Beach, Florida campuses, which were previously included in the Healthcare and Other Professions segment are now included in the Transitional segment except the West Palm Beach, Florida properties which remain held-for-sale.  Implementation of the plan would result in the Company’s operations focused solely on the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment.

In the past, we offered any combination of programs at any campus.  We have changed our focus to program offerings that create greater differentiation and attain excellence to attract more students and gain market share.  Also strategically, we began offering continuing education training to employers who hire our students and this is best achieved at campuses focused on their profession.

As a result of the regulatory environment, market forces and strategic decisions, we now operate in two reportable segments: a) Transportation and Skilled Trades and b) Transitional.

Our reportable segment represents a group of post-secondary education providers that offer a variety of degree and non-degree academic programs.  These segments are organized by key market segments to enhance operational alignment within each segment to more effectively execute our strategic plan.  Each of the Company’s schools is a reporting unit and an operating segment which have been determined based on a method by which we evaluate performance and allocate resources.  Our operating segments have been aggregated into two reportable segments because, in our judgment, the operating segments have similar services, types of customers, regulatory environment and economic characteristics.  Our reportable segments are described below.

Transportation and Skilled Trades – Transportation and Skilled Trades offers academic programs mainly in the career-oriented disciplines of transportation and skilled trades (e.g. automotive, diesel, HVAC, welding and manufacturing).

Transitional – Transitional refers to operations that are being phased out and consists of our campuses that are currently being taught out.  These schools are employing a gradual teach-out process that enables the schools to continue to operate while current students complete their course of study.  These schools are no longer enrolling new students.  During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company had announced the closing of our Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center City, Pennsylvania; and West Palm Beach, Florida facilities.  These schools are expected to be fully taught out on August 31, 2017, August 31, 2017, and September 30, 2017 respectively.  In the first quarter of 2016 we had completed the teach-out of our Fern Park, Florida campus.

We evaluate segment performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included under the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

 

The following table present results for our two reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015

Student start results decreased by 2.2% to 7,626 from 7,794 for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year.  The decline in student starts is mainly the result of the underperformance of one campus.  Excluding this campus student starts for the year would have grown 1.3% year over year

Operating income decreased by $5.5 million, or 20.5%, to $21.3 million from $26.8 million mainly driven by the following factors:

 

·

Revenue decreased to $177.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $183.8 million in the comparable period, primarily driven by a 5.3% decrease in average student population, which decreased to approximately 6,900 from 7,200 in the prior comparable year.  The decrease in average population was a result of starting 2016 with approximately 600 fewer students than we had on January 1, 2015.  The revenue decline from a lower population was slightly offset by a 2.2% increase in average revenue per student due to a shift in program mix.

·

Educational services and facilities expense increased by $1.9 million mainly due to a $2.0 million, or 5.9%, increase in facilities expense primarily due to (a) increased rent expense of $1.3 million which was the result of a modification of a lease at three of our campuses which were previously accounted for as finance obligations under which rent payments were previously included in interest expense; (b) $0.6 million in additional depreciation expense resulting from the reclassification of one of our facilities out of held for sale as of December 31, 2015; and (c) a $1.5 million, or 17.4% increase in books and tools expenses resulting from the purchase of laptops provided to newly enrolled students in certain programs to enhance and expand their overall learning experience.   Partially offsetting the above increases was a $1.6 million, or 4.1%, decrease in instructional expense as a result of realigning our cost structure to meet our population.

·

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.5 million primarily as a result of a $1.6 million decrease in administrative and student services expense due to reduced salary and benefits.  Partially offsetting the decrease was a $1.1 million increase in marketing expense which was largely the result of additional spending in a strategic effort to reach more potential students, expand brand awareness and increase enrollments.

 

·

Loss on sale of asset decreased by $1.6 million as a result of a one-time charge in relation to one of our campuses that previously classified as held for sale.  During 2015 the company had reclassified this campus out of held for sale and recorded catch-up depreciation in the amount of $1.6 million.

·

Impairment of goodwill and long lived asset decreased by $0.2 million as a result of one-time charges in relation to one of our campuses during the year ended December 31, 2015.

This segment consists of our Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center City, Pennsylvania; West Palm, Florida; and our Fern Park, Florida campuses.  The Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center City, Pennsylvania; West Palm, Florida are expected to be taught out in 2017.  The Fern Park, Florida campus has fully taught out all of its existing students and was officially closed as of March 31, 2016.

Revenue decreased by $5.4 million, or 22.1%, to $19.0 million as of December 31, 2016 from $24.4 million in the prior year period, primarily attributable to the closure of the Fern Park, Florida campus in the first quarter of 2016 and the suspension of new student enrollments in 2016 relating to the Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the West Palm Beach, Florida campuses.

Operating loss increased by $4.6 million, or 275.0% to $6.3 million from $1.7 million primarily as a result of a non-cash impairment charge of $2.5 million in 2016 coupled with a decrease in revenue due to a declining student population offset by minimized expenses including sales and marketing.

This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire company.  Corporate and Other costs increased by $1.0 million, or 5.1% to $20.1 million from $19.1 million, respectively, as compared to the prior year.  This increase was primarily the result of a $1.4 million non-cash impairment charge in relation to one of our Corporate properties.

The following table present results for our two reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

Operating income improved by $7.3 million, or 37.2%, to $26.8 million from $19.5 million driven by the following expense reductions:

·

Revenue decreased to $183.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to $188.7 million in the comparable period, primarily driven by a 4.8% decline in average student population, which decreased to approximately 7,200 from 7,600 in the prior comparable year.  In addition, we had fewer new starts of 495 which decreased our new student population to 7,794 for the year ended December 31, 2015 from 8,289 for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The revenue decline from lower population was slightly offset by a 2.3% increase in average revenue per student due to improved student retention and a shift in program mix.  In addition, revenue was lower in 2015 due to higher scholarship recognition in comparison to 2014. Scholarships are recognized ratably over the term of the student’s program.  Scholarship discounts increased by $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the prior year.  While scholarships have negatively impacted revenue, we believe we provide more students with the opportunity to pursue their educational goals by assisting in their affordability challenge

·

Educational services and facilities expense reduced by $6.5 million comprised of: (a) $3.7 million, or 9.8%, reduction in facilities expense, primarily due to lower depreciation expense as a result of discontinued depreciation for one campus included in assets held for sale and lower asset base due to prior long-lived asset impairments; and (b) lower instructional expenses of $2.4 million, or 5.8%, and books and tools expense of $0.4 million, or 4.7% as a result of lower student population.

·

Selling, general and administrative expenses reduced by $5.7 million comprised of: (a) $2.6 million, or 11.8%, reduction in sales expenses offset by a $0.8 million, or 5.9%, increase in marketing.  The decrease in sales expense was attributable to a reduction in the number of admissions representatives dedicated to the destination schools replaced with a centralized call center thus reducing travel costs and salary expense, while the marketing increase was a result of increased spending on production costs associated with our new marketing campaign as “Lincoln Tech, America’s Technical Institute”; (b) $1.1 million reduction in student services driven by lower student population; and (c) $2.8 million, or 8.2%, reduction in administrative expenses primarily as a result of a reduction in bad debt expense.  The improvement in bad debt expense was mainly the result of improvement in current collections and collections history.

·

Gain on sale of assets increased by $1.6 million as a result of a non-cash charge in relation to one of our campuses that was previously classified as held for sale in 2014.  During 2015 the Company had re-classified this campus out of held for sale and recorded catch-up depreciation in the amount of $1.6 million.

·

Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets of $0.2 million compared to $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

We continue to face several challenges in sustaining our population levels including DOE incentive compensation regulations that impact our compensation decisions with respect to our admissions representatives, a low unemployment rate and increased competition from peers and community colleges.  We remain focused on our strategy to expand corporate training and form partnerships relationship to increase student population.

This segment consists of our Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Center City, Pennsylvania; West Palm, Florida; and our Fern Park, Florida campuses.

Revenue decreased by $4.9 million, or 16.8%, to $24.4 million as of December 31, 2015 from $29.4 million in the comparable prior year period.  This decrease is primarily attributed to a 19.3% decrease in average student population due to suspension of new student enrollments at our Fern Park, Florida location effective February 2015.

Operating loss decreased by $18.1 million, or 91.5%, to $1.7 million as of December 31, 2015 compared to $19.8 million in the comparable prior year period primarily as a result of a non-cash impairment charge of $20.2 million in 2014 coupled with a decrease in overall expenses as a result of ceased student enrollments.

This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire company.  Corporate and Other costs decreased by $4.2 million, or 18.1%, to $19.1 million from $23.4 million, respectively, as compared to the prior year. This decrease was primarily a result of cost restructuring efforts during the second half of 2014.

 

Our primary capital requirements are for facilities expansion and maintenance, and the development of new programs. Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our term loan. The following chart summarizes the principal elements of our cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016:

The Company had $47.7 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at December 31, 2016 ($26.7 million of restricted cash at December 31, 2016) as compared to $61.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of December 31, 2015 ($22.6 million of restricted cash at December 31, 2015).  This decrease is primarily the result of a net loss during the year ended December 31, 2016; $11.5 million of campus closing costs; $0.7 million loan modification fee paid to the Company’s lender in connection with an amendment of a new term loan agreement resulting in more favorable covenants; and $0.7 million in severance paid during the year ended December 31, 2016.

For the last several years, we and the proprietary school sector generally have faced deteriorating earnings growth. Government regulations have negatively impacted earnings by making it more difficult for prospective students to obtain loans, which when coupled with the overall economic environment have hindered prospective students from enrolling in our schools. In light of these factors, we have incurred significant operating losses as a result of lower student population.  Despite these events, we believe that our likely sources of cash should be sufficient to fund operations for the next twelve months. At December 31, 2016, our available sources of cash primarily included cash from operations, cash and cash equivalents of $21.1 million.

To fund our business plans, including any anticipated future losses, purchase commitments, capital expenditures and principal and interest payments on borrowings, we leveraged our owned real estate that is not classified as held for sale. We are also continuing to take actions to improve cash flow by aligning our cost structure to our student population.

In addition to the aforementioned current sources of capital that will provide short term liquidity, we also plan to sell approximately $13.2 million in net assets which are currently classified as assets held for sale and are expected to be sold within one year from the date of classification.  The Company continues to actively market these schools and has offers which are under consideration.  Some of the net proceeds of future sales of real property by the Company and its subsidiaries must be used to prepay and permanently reduce the principal amount of our term loan.

Our primary source of cash is tuition collected from our students. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The largest of these programs are Title IV Programs which represented approximately 79% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2016. Students must apply for a new loan for each academic period. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs and loan funds are generally provided by lenders in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement is usually received approximately 31 days after the start of a student's academic year and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the sixteenth week from the start of the student's academic year. Certain types of grants and other funding are not subject to a 30-day delay.  In certain instances, if a student withdraws from a program prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition or prorated Title IV financial aid is refunded according to federal, state and accrediting agency standards.

As a result of the significance of the Title IV funds received by our students, we are highly dependent on these funds to operate our business. Any reduction in the level of Title IV funds that our students are eligible to receive or any impact on our ability to be able to receive Title IV funds would have a significant impact on our operations and our financial condition.  See “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $14.3 million for the comparable period of 2015.  For the year ended December 31, 2016, changes in our operating assets and liabilities resulted in cash outflows of $20.6 million primarily attributable to changes in deferred revenue, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The decrease in deferred revenue resulted in a cash outflow of $6.9 million primarily attributable to the timing of student starts, the number of students in school and the status of students in relation to the completion of their program at December 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015. The decrease in receivables resulted in a cash outflow of $15.7 million primarily due to the timing of Title IV disbursements and other cash receipts on behalf of our students. The increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses resulted in a cash inflow of $1.9 million. This increase was primarily attributable to the timing of invoices.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $2.2 million compared to $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our primary use of cash in investing activities was capital expenditures associated with investments in training technology classroom furniture, and new program build outs.  The use of cash for capital expenditures was partially offset by a reclassification of restricted cash to unrestricted cash during the year ended December 31, 2016.

We currently lease a majority of our campuses. We own our campuses in Grand Prairie, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; West Palm Beach, Florida, Suffield, Connecticut; and Denver, Colorado.  We have 13 campuses that are held for sale.

Capital expenditures are expected to approximate 2% of revenues in 2017.  We expect to fund future capital expenditures with cash generated from operating activities, our term loan agreement, and cash from our real estate monetization.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $9.1 million as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $13.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease of $22.7 million was primarily due to net borrowings of $22.0 million under our new term loan agreement for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Credit Agreement

On July 31, 2015, the Company entered into a credit agreement with three lenders, Alostar Bank of Commerce (“Alostar”), HPF Holdco, LLC and Rushing Creek 4, LLC, led by HPF Service, LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Agent”), for an aggregate principal amount of $45 million (the “Term Loan”).  The July 31, 2015 credit agreement, along with subsequent amendments to the Credit Agreement dated December 31, 2015 and February 29, 2016, are collectively referred to as the “Credit Agreement.”  As of December 31, 2015 and prior to the effectiveness of a second amendment to the Credit Agreement on February 29, 2016 (the “Second Amendment”), the Term Loan consisted of a $30 million term loan (the “Term Loan A”) from HPF Holdco, LLC, Rushing Creek 4, LLC and Tiger Capital Group, LLC, secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Agent on substantially all of the real and personal property owned by the Company, and a $15 million term loan (the “Term Loan B”) from Alostar secured by a $15.3 million cash collateral account. Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Company received an additional $5 million term loan from Alostar with which the Company repaid $5 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan A.  Accordingly, upon the effectiveness of the Second Amendment, the aggregate term loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement were approximately $45 million, consisting of an approximate $25 million Term Loan A and a $20 million Term Loan B.  In addition, pursuant to the Second Amendment, the amount of cash collateral securing the Term Loan B was increased to $20.3 million.  At the Company’s request, a percentage of the cash collateral may be released to the Company at the Agent’s sole discretion and with the consent of Alostar upon the satisfaction of certain criteria as outlined in the Credit Agreement.  The Term Loan, which matures on July 31, 2019, replaced a previously existing $20 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders, which was due to expire on April 5, 2016.

A portion of the proceeds of the Term Loan was used by the Company to (i) repay approximately $6.3 million in outstanding principal, accrued interest and fees due under the previously existing revolving credit facility, (ii) fund the $20.3 million cash collateral account securing the portion of the Term Loan provided by Alostar, (iii) fund approximately $7.4 million in a cash collateral account securing the letters of credit issued under the previously existing revolving credit facility that remain outstanding after the termination of that facility and (iv) pay transaction expenses in connection with the Term Loan and the termination of the previously existing revolving credit facility.  The remaining proceeds of the Term Loan of approximately $11.0 million may be used by the Company to finance capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes consistent with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

Interest will accrue on the Term Loan at a per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) 11% or (ii) 90-day LIBOR plus 9%  determined monthly by the Agent and will be payable monthly in arrears.  The principal balance of the Term Loan will be repaid in equal monthly installments, commencing on August 1, 2017, determined as the quotient of (i) 10% of the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan as of July 2, 2017 divided by (ii) 12.  A final installment of principal and all accrued and unpaid interest will be due on the maturity date of the Term Loan.

The Term Loan may be prepaid, in whole or in part, at any time, subject to the payment of a prepayment premium equal to (i) 5% of the principal amount prepaid at any time up to but not including the second anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) 3% of the principal amount prepaid at any time commencing on the second anniversary of the Closing Date up to but not including the third anniversary of the Closing Date.  In the event of any sale or other disposition of a school or real property by the Company permitted under the Term Loan, the net proceeds of such sale or disposition must be used to prepay the Loan in an amount determined pursuant to the Credit Agreement, subject to the applicable prepayment premium; provided, however, that no prepayment premium will be due with respect to up to $15 million of aggregate repayments of the Term Loan made during the first year that the Term Loan is outstanding.  A portion of the net cash proceeds of any disposition of a school in an amount determined pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan, must be deposited and held as cash collateral in a deposit account controlled by the Agent until the conditions for release set forth in the Term Loan are satisfied.  In connection with the assets which are currently classified as held for sale and are expected to be sold within one year, the Company is required to classify $10 million as short term debt due to the Term Loan prepayment minimum required with respect to any such disposition.

 

The Term Loan contains customary representations, warranties and covenants such as minimum financial responsibility composite score, cohort default rate, and other financial covenants, including minimum liquidity, maximum capital expenditures, maximum 90/10 ratio and minimum EBITDA (as defined in the Term Loan), as well as affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for facilities of this type.  Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the financial covenants were adjusted and, at the Company’s election, will be adjusted for fiscal year 2017 and for each subsequent fiscal year until the maturity of the Term Loan at either the levels applicable to fiscal year 2016 (and each fiscal quarter thereof) contained in the Credit Agreement as of the Closing Date or the levels applicable to fiscal year 2016 (and each fiscal quarter thereof) contained in the Second Amendment.  The Company elected to re-set the financial covenants at the 2016 covenant levels contained in the Second Amendment and as required paid $4 million before January 15, 2017, without prepayment penalty.  The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2016.  In addition, in February 2017 the Company elected to repay $5 million of restricted cash without prepayment penalty.

The Credit Agreement contains events of default, the occurrence and continuation of which provide the Company’s lenders with the right to exercise remedies against the Company and the collateral securing the Term Loan, including the Company’s cash. These events of default include, among other things, the Company’s failure to pay any amounts due under the Term Loan, a breach of covenants under the Credit Agreement, the Company’s insolvency and the insolvency of its subsidiaries, the occurrence of a material adverse event, the occurrence of any default under certain other indebtedness, and a final judgment against the Company in an amount greater than $1 million.

Also, in connection with the Term Loan, the Company paid to the Agent a commitment fee of $1 million on the Closing Date and is required to pay to the Agent other customary fees for facilities of this type. Total fees for the Term Loan were $2.8 million during the fiscal year 2015, which are included in deferred finance charges on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  During the first quarter of 2016, in connection with the effectiveness of the Second Amendment, the Company paid to the Agent a loan modification fee of $0.5 million.

Letter of Credit Agreement

On April 12, 2016, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “L/C Agreement”) with Sterling National Bank (“Sterling”) under which Sterling has agreed to issue letters of credit from time to time at 100% margin against available funds in a cash collateral account maintained by the Company at Sterling.  The maximum availability under the L/C Agreement is $9.5 million.  The Company will pay Sterling a letter of credit fee equal to 1.75% on the daily amount available to be drawn under each outstanding letter of credit, which fee is payable in quarterly installments in arrears.  The L/C Agreement matures on April 1, 2017 and replaces a letter of credit facility with a prior lender.  The L/C Agreement contains representations, warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for facilities of this type. As of December 31, 2016, there were letters of credit in the aggregate principal amount of $6.1 million outstanding under the L/C Agreement.

Long-term debt and lease obligations consist of the following:

Climate Change

Climate change has not had and is not expected to have a significant impact on our operations.

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table contains supplemental information regarding our total contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016: