UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2014

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from          to          

 

Commission file number: 1-13988

 

DeVry Education Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE 36-3150143
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
3005 HIGHLAND PARKWAY 60515
DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS  (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)  

 

Registrant’s telephone number; including area code:

(630) 515-7700

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer £ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ¨

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: April 30, 2014 — 63,495,500 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

 

 

 
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

 

FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page No.
     
PART I – Financial Information  
Item 1 —  Financial Statements (Unaudited)  
  Consolidated Balance Sheets 3
  Consolidated Statements of Income 4
  Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7
Item 2 —  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 28
Item 3 —  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 42
Item 4 —  Controls and Procedures 43
     
PART II – Other Information  
Item 1 —  Legal Proceedings 43
Item 1A —  Risk Factors 45
Item 2 —  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 46
Item 4 —  Mine Safety Disclosures 46
Item 6 —  Exhibits 47
Signatures 48

 

2
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

   March 31,   June 30,   March 31, 
   2014   2013   2013 
   (Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Par Value
Amounts)
 
ASSETS:    
Current Assets:               
Cash and Cash Equivalents  $396,815   $196,576   $278,010 
Marketable Securities and Investments   3,333    2,975    2,952 
Restricted Cash   8,023    7,019    7,151 
Accounts Receivable, Net   161,202    139,778    171,736 
Deferred Income Taxes, Net   29,458    29,758    23,962 
Prepaid Expenses and Other   39,665    49,839    33,263 
Current Assets of Divested Business   -    16,219    30,951 
Total Current Assets   638,496    442,164    548,025 
Land, Building and Equipment:               
Land   66,775    71,122    66,063 
Building   454,099    424,902    389,096 
Equipment   476,688    475,656    472,883 
Construction in Progress   19,957    33,724    64,412 
    1,017,519    1,005,404    992,454 
Accumulated Depreciation   (466,008)   (433,747)   (427,637)
Land, Building and Equipment of Divested Business, Net   -    -    5,146 
Land, Building and Equipment, Net   551,511    571,657    569,963 
Other Assets:               
Intangible Assets, Net   294,497    281,998    292,098 
Goodwill   517,065    508,937    566,497 
Perkins Program Fund, Net   13,450    13,450    13,450 
Other Assets   33,846    33,025    27,953 
Other Assets of Divested Business   -    5,787    848 
Total Other Assets   858,858    843,197    900,846 
TOTAL ASSETS  $2,048,865   $1,857,018   $2,018,834 
                
LIABILITIES:               
Current Liabilities:               
Accounts Payable  $54,594   $55,131   $53,822 
Accrued Salaries, Wages and Benefits   91,811    88,444    80,721 
Accrued Expenses   64,723    74,451    76,408 
Deferred and Advance Tuition   194,560    97,478    195,359 
Current Liabilities of Divested Business   -    713    3,145 
Total Current Liabilities   405,688    316,217    409,455 
Other Liabilities:               
Deferred Income Taxes, Net   54,574    60,103    58,956 
Deferred Rent and Other   89,095    82,576    92,283 
Total Other Liabilities   143,669    142,679    151,239 
Other Liabilities of Divested Business   -    112    - 
TOTAL LIABILITIES   549,357    459,008    560,694 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 12)               
NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   6,189    854    9,017 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY               
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value, 200,000,000 Shares Authorized: 63,465,000, 62,946,000 and 62,989,000 Shares Issued and Outstanding at March 31, 2014, June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, Respectively   754    745    744 
Additional Paid-in Capital   311,851    291,269    285,242 
Retained Earnings   1,655,283    1,575,009    1,616,850 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss   (19,604)   (17,101)   (5,934)
Treasury Stock, at Cost, 11,661,000, 11,581,000 and 11,409,000 Shares, Respectively   (454,965)   (452,766)   (447,779)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   1,493,319    1,397,156    1,449,123 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  $2,048,865   $1,857,018   $2,018,834 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
   (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) 
REVENUES:    
Tuition  $455,422   $467,312   $1,332,627   $1,387,878 
Other Educational   40,695    36,513    105,671    96,533 
Total Revenues   496,117    503,825    1,438,298    1,484,411 
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:                    
Cost of Educational Services   242,631    236,828    727,363    716,525 
Student Services and Administrative Expense   183,949    189,320    558,154    564,082 
Gain on Sale of Assets   -    -    (1,918)   - 
Restructuring Expenses   -    2,029    16,329    11,513 
Total Operating Costs and Expenses   426,580    428,177    1,299,928    1,292,120 
Operating Income   69,537    75,648    138,370    192,291 
INTEREST (EXPENSE) INCOME:                    
Interest Income   605    415    1,498    1,206 
Interest Expense   (1,073)   (756)   (3,125)   (3,006)
Net Interest (Expense) Income   (468)   (341)   (1,627)   (1,800)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes   69,069    75,307    136,743    190,491 
Income Tax Provision   (12,918)   (16,615)   (23,113)   (45,741)
Income from Continuing Operations   56,151    58,692    113,630    144,750 
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (NOTE 3):                    
Loss from Operations of Divested Component   (934)   (2,045)   (18,645)   (6,993)
Income Tax Benefit   327    513    1,790    2,449 
Loss on Discontinued Operations   (607)   (1,532)   (16,855)   (4,544)
                     
NET INCOME   55,544    57,160    96,775    140,206 
Net Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interest   (19)   (339)   (227)   (1,110)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO                    
DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP  $55,525   $56,821   $96,548   $139,096 
                     
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO                    
DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP:                    
Income from Continuing Operations, Net of Income Taxes   56,132    58,353    113,403    143,640 
Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Taxes   (607)   (1,532)   (16,855)   (4,544)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO                    
DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP  $55,525   $56,821   $96,548   $139,096 
                     
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP SHAREHOLDERS                    
Basic:                    
Continuing Operations  $0.87   $0.91   $1.77   $2.23 
Discontinued Operations   (0.01)   (0.02)   (0.26)   (0.07)
   $0.86   $0.89   $1.51   $2.16 
Diluted:                    
Continuing Operations  $0.87   $0.91   $1.75   $2.22 
Discontinued Operations   (0.01)   (0.03)   (0.26)   (0.07)
   $0.86   $0.88   $1.49   $2.15 
                     
Cash Dividends Declared per Common Share  $-   $-   $0.17   $0.17 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
                 
NET INCOME  $55,544   $57,160   $96,775   $140,206 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX                    
Currency Translation Income (Loss)   5,982    651    (2,672)   (218)
Change in Fair Value of Available-For-Sale Securities   (13)   111    169    173 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME   61,513    57,922    94,272    140,161 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE                    
TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST   (219)   (526)   (65)   (1,164)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE                    
TO DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP  $61,294   $57,396   $94,207   $138,997 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013 
   (Dollars in Thousands) 
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:    
Net Income  $96,775   $140,206 
Loss from Discontinued Operations   16,855    4,544 
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:          
Stock Based Compensation Expense   13,672    12,090 
Depreciation   61,541    61,609 
Amortization   5,349    7,605 
Provision for Refunds and Uncollectible Accounts   58,923    60,945 
Deferred Income Taxes   (1,385)   (2,269)
Loss on Disposal of Land, Building and Equipment   3,261    7,914 
Unrealized Loss on Assets Held for Sale   244    - 
Realized Gain on Sale of Assets   (1,918)   - 
Changes in Assets and Liabilities, Net of Effects from Acquisition and Divestiture of Businesses:          
Restricted Cash   (1,004)   (4,653)
Accounts Receivable   (81,588)   (136,197)
Prepaid Expenses and Other   10,103    37,889 
Accounts Payable   (533)   (8,009)
Accrued Salaries, Wages, Benefits and Expenses   (12,383)   10,599 
Deferred and Advance Tuition   96,101    97,105 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities-Continuing Operations   264,013    289,378 
Net Cash Used by Operating Activities- Discontinued Operations   (804)   (6,955)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES   263,209    282,423 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Capital Expenditures   (47,609)   (78,001)
Payment for Purchase of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired   (12,343)   (31,386)
Marketable Securities Purchased   (189)   (268)
Cash Received on Sale of Assets   8,727    - 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities-Continuing Operations   (51,414)   (109,655)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities- Discontinued Operations   -    (1,328)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (51,414)   (110,983)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options   6,236    1,774 
Proceeds from Stock Issued Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan   1,009    1,278 
Repurchase of Common Stock for Treasury   -    (48,353)
Cash Dividends Paid   (10,941)   (20,707)
Excess Tax Benefit from Stock-Based Payments   -    (332)
Payments of Seller Financed Obligations   (6,457)   - 
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES   (10,153)   (66,340)
Effects of Exchange Rate Differences   (1,971)   (1,182)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   199,671    103,918 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period   197,144    174,076 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period   396,815    277,994 
Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents of Discontinued Operations at End of Period   -    16 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period  $396,815   $278,010 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash Paid During the Period For:          
Interest  $1,195   $788 
Income Taxes, Net   13,245    9,383 
Non-cash Investing and Financing Activity:          
Accretion of Non-controlling Interest Put Option   5,108    (335)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

6
 

 

DEVRY EDUCATION GROUP INC.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1:  INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of DeVry Education Group Inc. (“DeVry Group”) and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial condition and results of operations of DeVry Group. The June 30, 2013 data that is presented is derived from audited financial statements.

 

The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in DeVry Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, and DeVry Group’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

 

NOTE 2:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 financial statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses reported during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

DeVry University tuition revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the applicable academic term. Ross University School of Medicine (“RUSM”), Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine ( “RUSVM”) and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (“AUC”) basic science curriculum revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the academic term. The clinical portion of the AUC, RUSM and RUSVM education programs are conducted under the supervision of U.S. teaching hospitals and veterinary schools. RUSM, RUSVM and AUC are responsible for the billing and collection of tuition from its students during the period of clinical education. Revenues are recognized on a weekly basis based on actual program attendance during the period of the clinical program. Fees paid to the hospitals and veterinary schools for supervision of RUSM, RUSVM and AUC students are charged to expense on the same basis. Carrington College and Carrington College California (collectively “Carrington”), Chamberlain College of Nursing (“Chamberlain”) and DeVry Educacional do Brasil S/A (f/k/a Fanor-Faculdades Nordeste S/A) (“DeVry Brasil”) tuition and fee revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the applicable academic term. Becker Professional Review (“Becker”) live classroom and online tuition revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the applicable delivery period. The provision for refunds, which is reported as a reduction to Tuition Revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income, and the provision for uncollectible accounts, which is included in the Cost of Educational Services in the Consolidated Statements of Income, also are recognized in the same ratable fashion as revenue to most appropriately match these costs with the tuition revenue in that term.

 

Estimates of DeVry Group’s expected refunds are determined at the outset of each academic term, based upon actual experience in previous terms, and monitored and adjusted as necessary within the term. If a student leaves school prior to completing a term, federal, state and/or Canadian provincial regulations and accreditation criteria permit DeVry Group to retain only a set percentage of the total tuition received from such student, which varies with, but generally equals or exceeds, the percentage of the term completed by such student. Payment amounts received by DeVry Group in excess of such set percentages of tuition are refunded to the student or the appropriate funding source. All refunds are netted against revenue during the applicable academic term. The allowance for uncollectible accounts is determined by analyzing the current aging of accounts receivable and historical loss rates on collections of accounts receivable. In addition, management considers projections of future receivable levels and collection loss rates. We monitor the inputs to this analysis periodically throughout the year. Provisions required to maintain the allowance at appropriate levels are charged to expense in each period as required. Related reserves with respect to uncollectible accounts and refunds totaled $45.9 million and $55.1 million at March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively.

 

7
 

 

Sales of textbooks, electronic course materials, and other educational products, including training services and the Becker self-study products, are included in Other Educational Revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Textbook, electronic course materials and other educational product revenues are recognized when the sale occurs. Revenues from training services, which are generally short-term in duration, are recognized when the training service is provided. In addition, fees from international licensees of the Becker programs are included in Other Educational Revenues and recognized when confirmation of course delivery is received.

 

Internal-Use Software Development Costs

 

DeVry Group capitalizes certain internal-use software development costs that are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the software, not to exceed seven years. Capitalized costs include external direct costs of equipment, materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal-use software and payroll-related costs for employees directly associated with the internal-use software development project. Capitalization of such costs ceases at the point at which the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended purpose. Capitalized internal-use software development costs for projects not yet complete are included as construction in progress in the Land, Building and Equipment section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Costs capitalized during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 were approximately $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Costs capitalized during the nine months ended March 31, 2013, were approximately $2.4 million. No costs were capitalized in the three months ended March 31, 2013. In the current fiscal year, these costs were primarily related to various application and student support systems for DeVry University and Becker. As of March 31, 2014 and 2013, the net balance of capitalized software development costs was $50.8 million and $65.4 million, respectively.

 

Perkins Program Fund

 

DeVry University is required under federal aid program regulations to make contributions to the Perkins Student Loan Fund, most recently at a rate equal to 33% of new contributions by the federal government. No new federal contributions were received during the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. DeVry Group carries its investment in such contributions at original values, net of allowances for expected losses on loan collections, of $2.6 million at March 31, 2014 and 2013. The allowance for future loan losses is based upon an analysis of actual loan losses experienced since the inception of the program. As previous borrowers repay their Perkins loans, their payments are used to fund new loans, thus creating a revolving loan fund. The federal contributions to this revolving loan program do not belong to DeVry Group and are not recorded in its financial statements. Under current law, upon termination of the program by the federal government or withdrawal from future program participation by DeVry University, subsequent student loan repayments would be divided between the federal government and DeVry University to satisfy their respective cumulative contributions to the fund.

 

Non-Controlling Interest

 

DeVry Group maintains a 96.3 percent ownership interest in DeVry Brasil with the remaining 3.7 percent owned by some of the current DeVry Brasil senior management group. Prior to the June 2013 purchase of additional DeVry Brasil stock, DeVry Group’s ownership percentage was 83.5 percent. Beginning July 1, 2015, DeVry Group has the right to exercise a call option and purchase any remaining DeVry Brasil stock from DeVry Brasil management. Likewise, DeVry Brasil management has the right to exercise a put option and sell its remaining ownership interest in DeVry Brasil to DeVry Group. Since the put option is out of the control of DeVry Group, authoritative guidance requires the non-controlling interest, which includes the value of the put option, to be displayed outside of the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet.

 

The DeVry Brasil management put option is being accreted to its redemption value in accordance with the stock purchase agreement. The adjustment to increase or decrease the put option to its expected redemption value each reporting period is recorded to retained earnings in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The adjustment to increase or decrease the DeVry Brasil non-controlling interest each reporting period for its proportionate share of DeVry Brasil’s profit/loss will continue to flow through the consolidated income statement based on DeVry Group's historical non-controlling interest accounting policy.

 

8
 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the non-controlling interest balance (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Balance at Beginning of period  $5,975   $8,901   $854   $8,242 
Net Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interest   19    339    227    1,110 
Accretion of Non-controlling Interest Put Option   195    (223)   5,108    (335)
Balance at End of period  $6,189   $9,017   $6,189   $9,017 

 

Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus unvested participating restricted share units. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to DeVry Group by the weighted average number of shares assuming dilution. Dilutive shares are computed using the Treasury Stock Method and reflect the additional shares that would be outstanding if dilutive stock options were exercised during the period. Excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share were options to purchase 2,091,000 and 2,000,000 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and 2,037,000 and 2,765,000 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2013, respectively. These outstanding options were excluded because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares or the assumed proceeds upon exercise under the Treasury Stock Method resulted in the repurchase of more shares than would be issued; thus, their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

The following is a reconciliation of basic shares to diluted shares (amounts in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
   Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding   63,389    63,131    63,241    63,615 
Unvested Participating Restricted Shares   895    845    896    755 
Basic Shares   64,284    63,976    64,137    64,370 
Effect of Dilutive Stock Options   557    303    610    269 
Diluted Shares   64,841    64,279    64,747    64,639 

 

Treasury Stock

 

DeVry Group’s Board of Directors has authorized stock repurchase programs on eight occasions. The eighth repurchase program was approved on August 29, 2012 and commenced in November 2012. Share repurchases under this plan were suspended as of May 2013. Shares that are repurchased by DeVry Group are recorded as Treasury Stock at cost and result in a reduction of Shareholders’ Equity.

 

From time to time, shares of its common stock are delivered back to DeVry Group under a swap arrangement resulting from employees’ exercise of incentive stock options pursuant to the terms of the DeVry Group Stock Incentive Plans (see “Note 4 – Stock-Based Compensation”). These shares are recorded as Treasury Stock at cost and result in a reduction of Shareholders’ Equity.

 

Treasury shares are reissued on a monthly basis, at market value, to the DeVry Group Employee Stock Purchase Plan in exchange for employee payroll deductions. When treasury shares are reissued, DeVry Group uses an average cost method to reduce the Treasury Stock balance. Gains on the difference between the average cost and the reissuance price are credited to Additional Paid-in Capital. Losses on the difference are charged to Additional Paid-in Capital to the extent that previous net gains from reissuance are included therein; otherwise such losses are charged to Retained Earnings.

 

9
 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss is composed of the change in cumulative translation adjustment and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of the effects of income taxes.

 

The Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss balance at March 31, 2014, consists of $19.7 million of cumulative translation losses ($19.0 million attributable to DeVry Group and $0.7 million attributable to non-controlling interests) and $0.1 million of unrealized gains on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of tax of $0.1 million and all attributable to DeVry Group. At March 31, 2013, this balance consisted of $5.9 million of cumulative translation losses ($5.3 million attributable to DeVry Group and $0.6 million attributable to non-controlling interests) and $0.1 million of unrealized losses on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of tax of $0.1 million and all attributable to DeVry Group.

 

Advertising Expense

 

Advertising costs are recognized as expense in the period in which materials are purchased or services are performed. Advertising expense, which is included in student services and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income, was $63.8 million and $204.6 million for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and $68.4 million and $196.0 million for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11: “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists”. This guidance requires an unrecognized tax benefit related to a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward to be presented as a reduction to a deferred tax asset, unless the tax benefit is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes under the tax law of the applicable tax jurisdiction. The guidance is effective for the fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. Management does not believe this guidance will have a significant impact on DeVry Group’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Reclassifications

 

The previously reported amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Advance Tuition Payments and Deferred Tuition Revenue have been combined as Deferred and Advance Tuition to conform to the current presentation format.

 

10
 

 

NOTE 3:  ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF DIVESTED BUSINESS AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

Assets and Liabilities of Divested Business

 

In December 2013, the assets of DeVry Group’s Advanced Academics Inc. (“AAI”) subsidiary, which had previously been disclosed as “held for sale” were divested. These assets were sold for $2.0 million, which approximated the recorded net book value of the assets on the date of sale. The assets and liabilities of AAI are separately disclosed in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013. The following is a summary of balance sheet information of divested assets and liabilities at June 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013 (dollars in thousands).

 

   June 30,   March 31, 
   2013   2013 
ASSETS:          
Current Assets:          
Cash and Cash Equivalents  $568   $(16)
Accounts Receivable, Net   12,050    22,662 
Deferred Income Taxes, Net   2,757    497 
Prepaid Expenses and Other   844    7,808 
Total Current Assets of Divested Business   16,219    30,951 
Land, Building and Equipment of Divested Business, Net   -    5,146 
Other Assets:          
Deferred Income Taxes, Net   2,602    602 
Other Assets   3,185    246 
Total Other Assets of Divested Business   5,787    848 
Total Assets of Divested Business  $22,006   $36,945 
           
LIABILITIES:          
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts Payable  $178   $177 
Accrued Salaries, Wages and Benefits   482    569 
Accrued Expenses   47    34 
Deferred and Advance Tuition   6    2,365 
Total Current Liabilities of Divested Business   713    3,145 
Other Liabilities:          
Deferred Rent and Other   112    - 
Total Other Liabilities of Divested Business   112    - 
Liabilities of Divested Business  $825   $3,145 

 

Discontinued Operations

 

The operating results of AAI are separately disclosed in the Consolidated Income Statements as “Discontinued Operations – Loss from Operations of Divested Component”. The following is a summary of operating results of the discontinued operations for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands).

 

   For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:                    
Loss from Operations of Divested Component  $(904)  $(2,045)  $(4,463)  $(6,993)
Asset Impairment Charge (Note 5)   -    -    (13,477)   - 
Restructuring Expense   (30)   -    (705)   - 
    (934)   (2,045)   (18,645)   (6,993)
Income Tax Benefit   327    513    1,790    2,449 
Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Income Taxes  $(607)  $(1,532)  $(16,855)  $(4,544)

 

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NOTE 4:  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

DeVry Group maintains five stock-based award plans: the 1994 Stock Incentive Plan, the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2005 and the Second Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2013. Under these plans, directors, key executives and managerial employees are eligible to receive incentive stock or nonqualified options to purchase shares of DeVry Group’s common stock. The Second Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2013 and the Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2005 also permit the award of stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance stock and other stock and cash based compensation. Though options remain outstanding under the 1994, 1999, 2003 and 2005 incentive plans, no further stock based awards will be issued from these plans. The Second Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2013 and the Amended and Restated Incentive Plan of 2005 are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Options are granted for terms of up to 10 years and can vest immediately or over periods of up to five years. The requisite service period is equal to the vesting period. The option price under the plans is the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant.

 

DeVry Group accounts for options granted to retirement eligible employees that fully vest upon an employee’s retirement under the non-substantive vesting period approach to these options. Under this approach, the entire compensation cost is recognized at the grant date for options issued to retirement eligible employees.

 

At March 31, 2014, 10,903,761 authorized but unissued shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under DeVry Group’s stock incentive plans.

 

For non-retirement eligible employees, stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee requisite service period, reduced by an estimated forfeiture rate.

 

The following is a summary of options activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2014:

 

           Weighted     
       Weighted   Average   Aggregate 
       Average   Remaining   Intrinsic 
   Options   Exercise   Contractual   Value 
   Outstanding   Price   Life in Years   ($000) 
Outstanding at July 1, 2013   3,327,668   $32.64           
Options Granted   556,050    28.32           
Options Exercised   (298,184)   23.17           
Options Forfeited   (14,824)   26.06           
Options Expired   (54,503)   40.46           
Outstanding at March 31, 2014   3,516,207    32.69    6.13   $40,011 
Exercisable at March 31, 2014   2,100,993   $36.58    4.52   $18,110 

 

The following is a summary of stock appreciation rights activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2014:

 

                 
           Weighted     
   Stock   Weighted   Average   Aggregate 
   Appreciation   Average   Remaining   Intrinsic 
   Rights   Exercise   Contractual   Value 
   Outstanding   Price   Life in Years   ($000) 
Outstanding at July 1, 2013   117,015   $42.87           
Rights Granted   1,050    30.54           
Rights Exercised   -    -           
Rights Canceled   -    -           
Outstanding at March 31, 2014   118,065    42.74    6.20   $94 
Exercisable at March 31, 2014   85,855   $45.25    5.20   $22 

 

12
 

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $4.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

 

The fair value of DeVry Group’s stock-based awards was estimated using a binomial model. This model uses historical cancellation and exercise experience of DeVry Group to determine the option value. It also takes into account the illiquid nature of employee options during the vesting period.

 

The weighted average estimated grant date fair values for options granted at market price under DeVry Group’s stock option plans during the first nine months of fiscal years 2014 and 2013 were $11.68 and $7.62, per share, respectively. The fair value of DeVry Group’s stock option awards were estimated assuming the following weighted average assumptions:

 

   Fiscal Year 
   2014   2013 
Expected Life (in Years)   6.58    6.63 
Expected Volatility   43.76%   43.67%
Risk-free Interest Rate   2.16%   1.03%
Dividend Yield   0.90%   0.61%
Pre-vesting Forfeiture Rate   3.00%   3.00%

 

The expected life of the options granted is based on the weighted average exercise life with age and salary adjustment factors from historical exercise behavior. DeVry Group’s expected volatility is computed by combining and weighting the implied market volatility, the most recent volatility over the expected life of the option grant, and DeVry Group’s long-term historical volatility. The pre-vesting forfeiture rate is based on DeVry Group’s historical stock option forfeiture experience.

 

If factors change and different assumptions are employed in the valuation of stock-based awards in future periods, the stock-based compensation expense that DeVry Group records may differ significantly from what was recorded in previous periods.

 

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, DeVry Group granted 436,320 shares of restricted stock to selected employees and non-employee directors. Of these, 73,010 are performance based shares which are earned by the recipients over a three year period based on achievement of specified academic and student outcome goals when a minimum level of DeVry Group return on invested capital is attained. The remaining 363,310 shares and all other previously granted shares of restricted stock are subject to restrictions which lapse ratably over one, three and four-year periods on the grant anniversary date based on the recipient’s continued service on the Board of Directors or employment with DeVry Group, or upon retirement. During the restriction period, the recipient of the non-performance based shares shall have the right to receive dividend equivalents. This right does not pertain to the performance based shares. The following is a summary of restricted stock activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2014:

 

       Weighted 
   Restricted   Average 
   Stock   Grant Date 
   Outstanding   Fair Value 
Nonvested at July 1, 2013   1,058,443   $27.03 
Shares Granted   436,320   $28.95 
Shares Vested   (320,261)  $31.68 
Shares Forfeited   (43,050)  $27.39 
Nonvested at March 31, 2014   1,131,452   $26.44 

 

13
 

 

The following table shows total stock-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statements of Income (dollars in thousands):

 

   For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Cost of Educational Services  $1,220   $1,190   $4,375   $3,869 
Student Services and Administrative Expense   2,592    2,530    9,297    8,221 
    3,812    3,720    13,672    12,090 
Income Tax Benefit   (1,313)   (1,281)   (4,651)   (3,976)
Net Stock-Based Compensation Expense  $2,499   $2,439   $9,021   $8,114 

 

As of March 31, 2014, $24.9 million of total pre-tax unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years. The total fair value of options and shares vested during the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $16.8 million and $9.0 million, respectively.

 

There were no capitalized stock-based compensation costs at March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

DeVry Group has an established practice of issuing new shares of common stock to satisfy share option exercises. However, DeVry Group also may issue treasury shares to satisfy option exercises under certain of its plans.

 

NOTE 5: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

DeVry Group has elected not to measure any assets or liabilities at fair value other than those required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include goodwill and intangible assets and assets of businesses where the long-term value of the operations have been impaired. Management has fully considered all authoritative guidance when determining the fair value of DeVry Group’s financial assets as of March 31, 2014.

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.  The guidance specifies a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques.  Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions.  The guidance establishes fair value measurement classifications under the following hierarchy:

 

Level 1 Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

Level 2– Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable in active markets.

 

Level 3 – Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value-drivers are unobservable.

 

When available, DeVry Group uses quoted market prices to determine fair value, and such measurements are classified within Level 1.  In some cases where market prices are not available, DeVry Group makes use of observable market-based inputs to calculate fair value, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2.  If quoted or observable market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that use, where possible, current market-based parameters such as interest rates and yield curves.  These measurements are classified within Level 3.

 

Fair value measurements are classified according to the lowest level input or value-driver that is significant to the valuation.  A measurement may therefore be classified within Level 3 even though there may be significant inputs that are readily observable.

 

Assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles arising from a business combination. These assets are not amortized and charged to expense over time. Instead, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles must be reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if circumstances arise indicating potential impairment. This impairment review was most recently completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013. See “Note 8: Intangible Assets” for further discussion on the impairment review including valuation techniques and assumptions.

 

14
 

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, it was determined that net assets of the AAI reporting unit had been further impaired. This determination was made after review of the updated third party offers to purchase the assets of the business. Assets measured at fair value in circumstances where the long-term value of a business has been impaired include the assets of AAI. To determine the fair value of the AAI assets, management incorporated assumptions that a reasonable market participant would use regarding the impact of the current operating losses and the increased uncertainty impacting future operations. We used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in our analysis including third party offers received to acquire the assets of AAI along with estimated costs to dispose of the assets. Based on this analysis, the fair market value of the AAI assets less the costs to sell was determined to be approximately $2.0 million which was approximately $13.5 million less than the carrying value.  As a result, management recorded a pre-tax $13.5 million asset impairment charge in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. The assets of this business were sold in December 2013 for $2.0 million. See “Note 3: Assets and Liabilities of Divested Business and Discontinued Operations” for further discussions on AAI.

 

The following tables present DeVry Group’s assets and liabilities at March 31, 2014, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy (dollars in thousands).

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Cash and Cash Equivalents  $396,815   $-   $- 
Available for Sale Investments:               
Marketable Securities, short-term   3,333    -    - 
Total Financial Assets at Fair Value  $400,149   $-   $- 

 

Cash Equivalents and investments in short-term Marketable Securities are valued using a market approach based on the quoted market prices of identical instruments.

 

The fair value of the institutional loans receivable included in Accounts Receivable, Net and Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2014 is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current rates for similar arrangements. As of March 31, 2014, the carrying value and the estimated fair value of these financial instruments was approximately $44.2 million. See “Note 6: Financing Receivables” for further discussion on these institutional loans receivable.

 

Below is a roll-forward of liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands). The amount recorded as foreign currency translation loss is classified as Student Services and Administrative Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, Unifavip, a DeVry Brasil institution, received official notice that the Brazil Ministry of Education had granted the institution Centro Universitario status. As a result, the institution’s name has been changed from Favip to Unifavip and the Unifavip Contingent Consideration liability of approximately $2.6 million has been paid.

 

   Three Months
Ended March 31,
2014
   Nine Months
Ended March 31,
2014
 
Balance at Beginning of Period  $2,371   $2,509 
Total Unrealized Gains (Losses) Included in AOCI:          
Foreign Currency Translation Changes   203    65 
Unifavip Contingent Consideration Payment   (2,574)   (2,574)
Balance at End of Period  $0   $0 

 

NOTE 6: FINANCING RECEIVABLES

 

DeVry Group’s institutional loan programs are available to students at its DeVry University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Carrington College and Carrington College of California schools as well as selected students at Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. These loan programs are designed to assist students who are unable to completely cover educational costs by other means. These loans may be used for tuition, books, and fees, and are available only after all other student financial assistance has been applied toward those purposes. In addition, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine loans may be used for students’ living expenses. Repayment plans for institutional loan program balances are developed to address the financial circumstances of the particular student. Interest charges accrue each month on the unpaid balance. DeVry University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Carrington College and Carrington College of California require that students begin repaying a small portion of the loans while they are still in school, and then payments increase upon completing or departing the program. After a student leaves school, the student typically will have a monthly installment repayment plan with all balances due within 12 to 60 months. In addition, the Becker CPA Review Course and the United States Medical Licensing Exam Review Course can be financed through Becker with zero percent, 18-month and 6-month, respectively, term loans.

 

15
 

 

Reserves for uncollectible loans are determined by analyzing the current aging of accounts receivable and historical loss rates of loans at each educational institution. Management performs this analysis periodically throughout the year. Since all of DeVry Group’s financing receivables are generated through the extension of credit to students to fund educational costs, all such receivables are considered part of the same loan portfolio.

 

The following table details the institutional loan balances along with the related allowances for credit losses as of March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollars in thousands).

 

   As of March 31, 
   2014   2013 
Gross Institutional Student Loans  $63,303   $58,003 
           
Allowance for Credit Losses   (19,092)   (21,768)
           
Net Institutional Student Loans  $44,211   $36,235 

 

Of the net balances above, $19.5 million and $19.2 million were classified as Accounts Receivable, Net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $24.7 million and $17.0 million, representing amounts due beyond one year, were classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other Assets at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

The following tables detail the credit risk profiles of the institutional student loan balances based on payment activity and provide an aging analysis of past due institutional student loans as of March 31, 2014 and 2013. Loans are considered nonperforming if they are more than 120 days past due (dollars in thousands).

 

   As of March 31, 
   2014   2013 
Institutional Student Loans:          
Performing  $47,520   $42,545 
Nonperforming   15,783    15,458 
Total Institutional Student Loans  $63,303   $58,003 

 

   30-59
Days
Past Due
   60-89
Days
Past Due
   90-119
Days
Past Due
   Greater Than
120 Days
Past Due
   Total
Past Due
   Current   Total
Institutional
Student
Loans
 
Institutional Student Loans:                                   
March 31,  2014  $5,652   $1,169   $1,077   $15,783   $23,681   $39,622   $63,303 
March 31,  2013  $3,838   $1,214   $783   $15,458   $21,293   $36,710   $58,003 

 

NOTE 7: BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

 

Faculdade Diferencial Integral

 

On July 1, 2013, DeVry Educacional do Brasil S/A (f/k/a Fanor-Faculdades Nordeste S/A) (“DeVry Brasil”), a subsidiary of DeVry Group, acquired the stock of Faculdade Diferencial Integral (“Facid”), located in the state of Piaui, Brazil, for approximately $16.1 million in cash. In addition, DeVry Brasil will be required to make additional payments of approximately $9.0 million over the next four years. Facid currently serves approximately 2,500 students at two campuses in the city of Teresina, and offers degree programs primarily in healthcare, including a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program. Facid also offers undergraduate degrees in other healthcare fields such as nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry, as well as a law program. Facid joined DeVry Brasil, which following the acquisition operates six institutions at 13 campuses in northeast Brazil. With the addition of Facid, DeVry Brasil’s institutions collectively provide education programs to approximately 33,000 students.

 

The operations of Facid are included in DeVry Group’s International and Professional Education segment. The results of Facid’s operations have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of DeVry Group since the date of acquisition.

 

16
 

 

The following table summarizes the preliminary estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (dollars in thousands).

 

   At July 1, 2013 
Current Assets  $4,699 
Property and Equipment   2,037 
Other Long-term Assets   167 
Intangible Assets   17,723 
Goodwill   8,238 
Total Assets Acquired   32,864 
Liabilities Assumed   16,801 
Net Assets Acquired  $16,063 

 

Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, was all assigned to the DeVry Brasil reporting unit which is classified within the International and Professional Education segment. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include Facid’s strategic fit into DeVry Group’s expanding presence in northeast Brazil, the reputation of the educational programs and the acquired assembled workforce. None of the goodwill acquired is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Of the $17.7 million of acquired intangible assets, $15.2 million was assigned to Accreditations and $1.9 million was assigned to Trade Names, both of which have been determined not to be subject to amortization. The remaining acquired intangible asset was determined to be subject to amortization with an average useful life of approximately 15 years. Its value and estimated useful life by asset type is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   At July 1, 2013 
   Value
Assigned
   Estimated
Useful Life
 
Clinical Agreement  $583    15 years 

 

There is no pro forma presentation of operating results for this acquisition due to the insignificant effect on consolidated operations.

 

Faculdade do Vale do Ipojuca

 

On September 3, 2012, DeVry Brasil acquired the business operations of Centro Universitario do Vale do Ipojuca (“Unifavip”), which is located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.  Under the terms of the agreement, DeVry Brasil paid approximately $32.2 million in cash in exchange for the stock of Unifavip. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, DeVry Brasil made an additional payment of approximately $2.6 million based on Unifavip receiving status as a university center.

 

Unifavip currently serves about 5,000 students and offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs at two campuses located in Caruaru, the state’s second largest city. The institution’s largest programs are in the areas of law, business, psychology and nutrition. The acquisition of Unifavip is consistent with DeVry Group's growth and diversification strategy, increasing its international presence in Brazil.

 

The operations of Unifavip are included in DeVry Group’s International and Professional Education segment. The results of Unifavip’s operations have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements of DeVry Group since the date of acquisition.

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition (dollars in thousands).

 

   At September 3,
2012
 
Current Assets  $4,414 
Property and Equipment   2,897 
Other Long-term Assets   844 
Intangible Assets   13,571 
Goodwill   16,120 
Total Assets Acquired   37,846 
Liabilities Assumed   5,677 
Net Assets Acquired  $32,169 

 

17
 

 

Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, was all assigned to the DeVry Brasil reporting unit which is classified within the International and Professional Education segment. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include Unifavip’s strategic fit into DeVry Group’s expanding presence in northeast Brazil, the reputation of the educational programs and the acquired assembled workforce. None of the goodwill acquired is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Of the $13.6 million of acquired intangible assets, $10.2 million was assigned to Accreditations and $1.1 million was assigned to Trade Names, both of which have been determined not to be subject to amortization. The remaining acquired intangible assets were determined to be subject to amortization with an average useful life of approximately 4.9 years. Their values and estimated useful lives by asset type are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   At September 3, 2012 
   Value
Assigned
   Estimated
Useful Lives
 
         
Student Relationships  $2,257    5 years 
Curriculum   79    2 years 

 

There is no pro forma presentation of operating results for this acquisition due to the insignificant effect on consolidated operations.

 

NOTE 8:  INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Intangible assets relate mainly to acquired business operations. These assets consist of the acquisition fair value of certain identifiable intangible assets acquired and goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired less liabilities assumed.

 

Intangible assets consist of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

   As of March 31, 2014     
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Weighted Avg.
Amortization
Period
 
Amortizable Intangible Assets:               
Student Relationships  $81,460   $(78,401)   (a) 
Customer Relationships   3,650    (1,019)   12 Years 
Non-compete Agreements   2,522    (1,958)   (b) 
Curriculum/Software   5,674    (4,693)   5 Years 
Outplacement Relationships   3,900    (1,439)   15 Years 
Clinical Agreements   576    (29)   15 Years 
Trade Names   5,808    (4,968)   (c) 
Total  $103,590   $(92,507)     
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:               
Trade Names  $40,826           
Trademark   1,645           
Ross Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   14,100           
Intellectual Property   13,940           
Chamberlain Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   1,200           
Carrington Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   67,200           
AUC Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   100,000           
DeVry Brasil Accreditation   44,503           
Total  $283,414           

 

18
 

 

(a)The total weighted average estimated amortization period for Student Relationships is 5 years for Fanor, Ruy Barbosa and Area 1, 6 years for Faculdade Boa Viagem ("FBV"), 5 years for Unifavip and 4 years for AUC. All other Student Relationships are fully amortized at March 31, 2014.

(b)The total weighted average estimated amortization period for Non-compete Agreements is 5 years for Falcon Physician Review (now operating under the Becker brand). All other Non-compete Agreements are fully amortized at March 31, 2014.
(c)The total weighted average estimated amortization period for Trade Names is 8.5 years for Fanor, Ruy Barbosa and Area 1. All other Trade Names are fully amortized at March 31, 2014.

 

   As of March 31, 2013 
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
 
Amortizable Intangible Assets:          
Student Relationships  $82,719   $(73,818)
Customer Relationships   3,364    (600)
Non-compete Agreements   2,505    (1,749)
Curriculum/Software   5,628    (4,087)
Outplacement Relationships   3,900    (1,179)
Trade Names   6,074    (4,766)
Total   104,190    (86,199)
           
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:          
Trade Names  $39,238      
Trademark   1,645      
Ross Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   14,100      
Intellectual Property   13,940      
Chamberlain Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   1,200      
Carrington Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   71,100      
AUC Title IV Eligibility and Accreditations   100,000      
DeVry Brasil Accreditation   32,884      
Total  $274,107      

 

Amortization expense for amortized intangible assets was $1.6 million and $4.9 million for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014, respectively, and $2.4 million and $7.1 million for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2013, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the next five fiscal years ending June 30, by reporting unit, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Fiscal
Year
  AUC   Becker   DeVry
Brasil
   Carrington   Total 
2014  $3,347   $951   $1,906   $295   $6,499 
2015   387    942    1,089    260    2,678 
2016   -    934    696    260    1,890 
2017   -    636    346    260    1,242 
2018   -    365    205    260    830 
Thereafter   -    1,154    509    1,356    3,019 

 

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All amortizable intangible assets, except for the DeVry Brasil (Fanor, Ruy Barbosa and Area 1) Student Relationships, the FBV Student Relationships, the Unifavip Student Relationships and the AUC Student Relationships, are being amortized on a straight-line basis.

 

The amount being amortized for the AUC, DeVry Brasil, FBV and Unifavip Student Relationships is based on the estimated progression of the students through the respective programs, giving consideration to the revenue and cash flow associated with both existing students and new applicants. This results in the basis being amortized at an annual rate for each of the years of estimated economic life as follows:

 

Fiscal                
Year  AUC   DeVry Brasil   FBV   Unifavip 
2009   -    8.3%   -    - 
2010   -    30.3%   -    - 
2011   -    24.7%   -    - 
2012   38.0%   19.8%   11.9%   - 
2013   38.5%   13.6%   33.7%   27.6%
2014   21.6%   3.3%   25.9%   32.2%
2015   1.9%   -    16.7%   23.0%
2016   -    -    9.0%   13.2%
2017   -    -    2.6%   4.0%
2018   -    -    0.2%   - 

 

Indefinite-lived intangible assets related to Trademarks, Trade Names, Title IV Eligibility, Accreditations and Intellectual Property are not amortized, as there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, economic or other factors that limit the useful life of these intangible assets to the reporting entity.

 

In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles arising from a business combination are not amortized and charged to expense over time. Instead, these assets must be reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if circumstances arise indicating potential impairment. This annual impairment review was most recently completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013. As a result, it was determined that the goodwill and the indefinite-lived intangible asset of the Carrington Colleges Group (“Carrington”) reporting unit had been impaired. As of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 impairment review, there was no impairment loss associated with recorded goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets for any other reporting unit, as estimated fair values exceeded the carrying amounts.

 

Management considers certain triggering events when evaluating whether an interim impairment analysis is warranted. Among these would be a significant long-term decrease in the market capitalization of DeVry Group based on events specific to DeVry Group’s operations. As of March 31, 2014, DeVry Group’s market capitalization exceeded its book value by approximately 80%, which is higher than the 41% premium as of June 30, 2013. Other triggering events that could be cause for an interim impairment review would be changes in the accreditation, regulatory or legal environment; increased competition; innovation changes and changes in the market acceptance of our educational programs and the graduates of those programs.

 

The estimated fair values of DeVry Group’s reporting units exceeded their carrying values by at least 12% as of the end of fiscal year 2013, except that of Carrington. The estimated fair values of the indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeded their carrying values by at least 100% as of the end of fiscal year 2013, except those indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired with the acquisitions of AUC and FBV and where fair values exceeded carrying values by 4% to 67%. The smaller premiums for the AUC and FBV indefinite-lived intangible assets would be expected considering the assets were acquired within two years of the fourth quarter fiscal year 2013 valuation date and there has been less time for these assets to have appreciated in value from their fair market value purchase price. As for Carrington, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, management recorded an impairment loss of $57.0 million for the decline in fair value of this reporting unit and its associated indefinite-lived intangible assets. Therefore, no premiums existed with respect to either the reporting unit’s carrying value or the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets as of June 30, 2013. Accordingly, this situation also requires management to remain cognizant of the fact that if Carrington’s realized and projected operating results do not meet expectations, an interim review and possible further impairment would be necessary.

 

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To improve Carrington’s financial results, management continues to execute a turnaround plan initiated in fiscal year 2012 which includes increasing its focus on building Carrington’s brand awareness, optimizing its marketing approach to emphasize the development of internally-generated inquiries, improving its recruiting process through its student contact center and narrowing its focus geographically and programmatically around Carrington’s core strengths in healthcare. During the past year, evidence of a recovery in enrollments was experienced at Carrington where total student enrollment, excluding programs currently in teach-out, increased in the March 31, 2014 term as compared to the March 31, 2013 term. Revenues at Carrington increased 2% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 compared to the same period last fiscal year and, along with cost control efforts, reduced the operating losses from levels of a year ago in the nine months ended March 31, 2014. The revenue and operating results also exceeded internal plans for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. Management believes its planned business and operational strategies have reversed the negative trend in revenue and operating income declines experienced over the past several years. However, if operating improvements do not continue, all or some of the remaining goodwill could be impaired in the future.

 

Though certain reporting units experienced a decline in operating results in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 compared to the year-ago period, management did not believe business conditions had deteriorated in any of its reporting units such that it was more likely than not that the fair value was below carrying value for those reporting units or their associated indefinite-lived intangible assets at March 31, 2014. In this regard, revenues, operating results and cash flows grew for all reporting units in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 except at DeVry University and DeVry Brasil. The revenue and operating results of DeVry Brasil exceeded internal plans for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 and its revenues grew by more than 25% from the year-ago period. Operating earnings decreased from the year-ago period reflecting investments for expansion and growth.

 

At DeVry University, which carries a goodwill balance of $22.2 million, revenue declined by approximately 16% from the year-ago nine month period. The revenue decline at DeVry University was primarily the result of a decline in undergraduate student enrollments and graduate coursetakers due to lower demand among the university’s target segment of students, believed to be driven by perceptions of the value of a college degree, increased reluctance to take on debt and heightened competition. To improve performance, management continues to execute a turnaround plan at DeVry University which includes:

 

  · Stabilizing enrollments and positioning the university for long-term growth;

  · Reducing DeVry University’s cost structure, while maintaining and enhancing our service to students;

  · Regaining DeVry University’s technology edge; and

  · Developing and supporting the team to execute the strategy.

 

The plan to stabilize enrollments and position DeVry University for long-term growth includes communication of DeVry University’s value proposition, which is educational quality, career prospects and high levels of student service. Also, management continues to enhance DeVry University’s programmatic focus. This means ensuring our programs are designed to best meet the needs of our students and employers and better communicating the programs’ value propositions to the market. DeVry Group is also exploring methods to increase the flexibility of its programs to lower the overall cost of education to its students. This programmatic focus is designed to provide students with successful outcomes.

 

DeVry University is also increasing the emphasis on technology in its programs. This emphasis will enable students to gain an edge that will help them in today’s technology-based careers. Also technology will be further embedded in the campuses and operational processes.

 

Management is implementing a new organization structure to support the programmatic focus and increase decision-making speed. Four program verticals have been created: Engineering & Information Sciences; Undergraduate Business; Keller Graduate School of Management; and Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Media Arts. Each vertical will have a team which will have responsibility for enrollment, program quality and successful student outcomes.

 

DeVry University’s enrollment strategy continues with optimizing pricing, with the goals of increasing new students, and encouraging persistence. A September 2013 “call to action event” included the new Career Catalyst Scholarship. Under the Career Catalyst Scholarship, DeVry University committed up to $15 million over the following three-year period to scholarships that will be awarded to qualifying students who enrolled in the September 2013 session. The scholarships are valued at up to a total of $20,000 per student, depending on the degree and credits required to attain that degree. Students qualifying for DeVry University’s Career Catalyst Scholarship will be eligible to receive scholarship awards in progressive amounts over a period of three years. For example, students in their first year of a bachelor’s degree program can be awarded up to $5,000. During the second year, the available award can increase up to $7,000. For the third year, the award can increase up to $8,000. As a result of positive results from this program in attracting and retaining successful students, DeVry University also offered this Career Catalyst Program to qualifying students who enrolled in the March 2014 session.

 

Tuition rates for fiscal year 2014 at DeVry University remain unchanged from those of fiscal year 2013. Further, beginning July 1, 2014, management is implementing the DeVry University Fixed Tuition Promise. This is a guarantee to each DeVry University student that his or her tuition rate will not increase for as long as he or she is a student. Also, beginning in July 2014, the number of credit hours a student must take per session to receive the full-time rate is increasing from 7 hours to 8.

 

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Management is also finding ways to be more effective in marketing and recruiting efforts. DeVry University’s marketing strategy is shifting toward more digital and social channels and its web site, and away from less effective inquiry vendors. Some positive results of this shift have already been experienced. For the March session, inquiry conversion improved, as DeVry University saw fewer, but better quality, inquiries and improved recruiting efficiency.

 

In aligning the cost structure, management is focused on increasing efficiencies. Over the past year DeVry Group’s institutions in transition (DeVry University and Carrington) have reduced costs through staffing adjustments; managing open positions; optimizing course scheduling to better utilize classrooms; and lowering course materials costs. Management has made the decision to close or consolidate certain DeVry University campuses while balancing the potential impact on enrollment and student satisfaction. Since fiscal 2012, DeVry University has optimized over a dozen locations. Currently there are five additional consolidations underway.

 

Management believes its planned operational strategies will stabilize the negative enrollment trends over the next several years. Cost reduction initiatives since fiscal year 2012 have reduced operating expenses and shifted costs to a more variable model. However, if operating improvements are not realized, all or some of the goodwill could be impaired in the future. The impairment review completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 indicated the fair value exceeded the carrying value of the DeVry University reporting unit by 100%. This excess margin has been rapidly declining in recent periods. Should business conditions at DeVry University continue to deteriorate resulting in the carrying value of this reporting unit exceeding its fair value then goodwill and intangible assets could be impaired. This could require a write-off of up to $22.2 million.

 

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit or an intangible asset involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Management bases its fair value estimates on assumptions it believes to be reasonable at the time, but such assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainty. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

The table below summarizes goodwill balances by reporting unit as of March 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

Reporting Unit  As of March
31, 2014
 
DeVry University  $22,196 
Becker Professional Education   33,086 
Ross University   237,173 
Chamberlain College of Nursing   4,716 
Carrington Colleges Group   98,784 
American University of the Caribbean   68,321 
DeVry Brasil   52,789 
Total  $517,065 

 

The table below summarizes goodwill balances by reporting segment as of March 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

Reporting Segment:  As of March
31, 2014
 
Business, Technology and Management  $22,196 
Medical and Healthcare   408,994 
International and Professional Education   85,875 
Total  $517,065 

 

The table below summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment as of March 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

   Business,
Technology and
Management
   Medical and
Healthcare
   International
and Professional
Education
   Total 
Balance at June 30, 2013  $22,196   $408,994   $77,747   $508,937 
Acquisitions   -    -    8,238    8,238 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other   -    -    (110)   (110)
Balance at March 31, 2014  $22,196   $408,994   $85,875   $517,065 

 

22
 

 

The increase in the goodwill balance from June 30, 2013 in the International and Professional Education segment is the result of the addition of goodwill of $8.2 million from the acquisition of Facid partially offset by changes in the value of the Brazilian Real and British Pound Sterling as compared to the U.S. dollar. See “Note 7- Business Combinations” for further explanation of the acquisition of Facid. Since DeVry Brasil and Becker Europe goodwill is recorded in each group’s respective local currency, fluctuations in the respective local currency’s value in relation to the U.S. dollar will cause changes in the balance of this asset.

 

The table below summarizes the indefinite-lived intangible asset balances by reporting unit as of March 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

 

Reporting Unit:  As of March
31, 2014
 
DeVry University  $1,645 
Becker Professional Review   27,912 
Ross University   19,200 
Chamberlain College of Nursing   1,200 
Carrington Colleges Group   67,200 
American University of the Caribbean   117,100 
DeVry Brasil   49,157 
Total  $283,414 

 

Total indefinite-lived intangible assets increased by $16.6 million from June 30, 2013. This increase is the result of the addition of $17.1 million of indefinite-lived intangibles associated with the acquisition of Facid partially offset by the effects of foreign currency translation on the DeVry Brasil assets. Since DeVry Brasil intangible assets are recorded in the local Brazilian currency, fluctuations in the value of the Brazilian Real in relation to the U.S. dollar will cause changes in the balance of these assets.

 

NOTE 9:  RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

 

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, DeVry Group implemented a Voluntary Separation Plan (“VSP”) that reduced its workforce by 66 positions across DeVry University and the DeVry Group home office. This resulted in a pre-tax charge of $10.4 million in the nine month period that represented severance pay and benefits for these employees. In addition, charges related to real estate consolidation of $6.0 million were recorded during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. These restructuring costs were allocated to the following DeVry Group segments: $8.0 million to Business, Technology and Management, $5.5 million to Medical and Healthcare and $2.9 million to the DeVry Group home office, which is classified as “Depreciation and Other” in “Note 13 - Segment Information”.

 

During fiscal year 2013, DeVry Group implemented an involuntary reduction in force (“RIF”), a VSP, and other staff reduction actions that reduced its workforce by approximately 475 positions across all reporting units. This resulted in a pre-tax charge of approximately $10.3 million in fiscal year 2013 that represented severance pay and benefits for those employees who separated from DeVry Group. Also during fiscal year 2013, DeVry Group made decisions to consolidate certain facilities at its Carrington and DeVry University educational institutions. This resulted in pre-tax charges of $6.3 million in fiscal year 2013. In addition, DeVry Group consolidated its administrative offices in the Chicagoland area. As a result, a DeVry Group-owned facility in Wood Dale, Illinois was closed in December 2012, and employees were re-located to other facilities in the area. The Wood Dale facility is held as available for sale. This resulted in a pre-tax charge of $7.9 million in fiscal year 2013 for a write-down of assets to fair market value and an expected loss on this asset sale. Other restructuring charges totaling $1.7 million were also expensed in fiscal year 2013.

 

The following table summarizes the separation and restructuring plan activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, for which cash payments are required (dollars in millions):

 

   Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2014   2013 
Liability balance at Beginning of Period  $13.2   $5.6 
Increase in liability (separation and other charges)   15.3    0.7 
Reduction in liability (payments and adjustments)   (15.2)   (5.8)
           
Liability balance at End of Period  $13.3   $0.5 

 

23
 

 

The remaining liability balances as of March 31, 2014 primarily represent costs for employees that have either not yet separated from DeVry Group or their full severance has not yet been paid. All of these remaining costs are expected to be paid over the next 12 months.

 

NOTE 10:  INCOME TAXES

 

DeVry Group’s effective income tax rate reflects benefits derived from significant operations outside the United States. Earnings of these international operations are subject to local tax systems and are not subject to U.S. federal or state income taxes, so long as such earnings are not repatriated, as discussed below. Four of DeVry Group’s subsidiaries, Ross University School of Medicine (”RUSM”), incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (”RUSVM”), incorporated under the laws of the Federation of St. Christopher, Nevis, St. Kitts in the West Indies, American University of the Caribbean Medical School (“AUC”), incorporated under the laws of St. Maarten, and DeVry Brasil incorporated under the laws of Brazil all benefit from local tax programs. RUSM and RUSVM each have agreements with their respective domestic governments that exempt them from most local income taxation. Both of these agreements have been extended to provide, in the case of RUSM, an indefinite period of exemption and, in the case of RUSVM, exemption until 2037. DeVry Brasil’s effective tax rate reflects benefits derived from its participation in PROUNI, a Brazilian program for providing scholarships to a portion of its undergraduate students. AUC’s effective tax rate reflects benefits derived from local investment programs.

 

DeVry Group has not recorded a U.S. federal or state tax provision for the undistributed earnings of its international subsidiaries. It is DeVry Group’s intention to indefinitely reinvest accumulated cash balances, future cash flows and post-acquisition undistributed earnings and profits to improve the facilities and operations of its international schools and pursue future opportunities outside the United States. In accordance with this plan, cash held by the international subsidiaries will not be available for general company purposes and under current laws will not be subject to U.S. taxation. As of March 31, 2014 and 2013, cumulative undistributed earnings attributable to international operations were approximately $608.4 million and $490.2 million, respectively.

 

Taxes on income from continuing operations were 18.7% of pretax income for the third quarter and 16.9% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, compared to 22.1% for the third quarter and 24.0% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013. The lower effective tax rate in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2014 resulted primarily from the jurisdictional mix of pre-tax earnings from U.S. operations versus the offshore operations of RUSM, RUSVM, AUC and DeVry Brasil as well as the favorable impacts of the American Tax Relief Act of 2012 signed into law on January 2, 2013, in which Congress enacted legislation extending the benefits of Internal Revenue Code Section 954(c)(6) (”CFC Look-through”) for a two year period for tax years beginning after January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013.

 

As of March 31, 2014, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions, including positions impacting only the timing of tax benefits, was $9.3 million, and, if recognized, the total amount would impact the effective tax rate. As of March 31, 2013, gross unrecognized tax benefits, including positions impacting only the timing of benefits, was $10.6 million, and, if recognized, the total amount would impact the effective tax rate. We expect that our unrecognized tax benefits will increase by an insignificant amount during the next twelve months. DeVry Group classifies interest and penalties on tax uncertainties as a component of the provision for income taxes. The total amount of interest and penalties accrued at June 30, 2013 was $1.2 million. The corresponding amount at March 31, 2014 was $1.5 million.

 

NOTE 11: DEBT

 

DeVry Group had no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility at March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013. DeVry Group does have liabilities recorded for deferred purchase price agreements with sellers related to the purchases of FBV, Unifavip and Facid (see “Note 7: Business Combinations” for discussion of Unifavip and Facid acquisitions). This financing is in the form of hold backs of a portion of the purchase price of these acquisitions or installment payments. Payments are made under these agreements based on payment schedules or as various conditions of the purchase are met.

 

24
 

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

DeVry Group maintains a revolving credit facility which expires on May 5, 2016. The facility provides aggregate commitments including borrowings and letters of credit up to $400 million and at the request of DeVry Group, the maximum borrowings and letters of credit can be increased to $550 million. There are no required principal payments under this revolving credit agreement and all borrowings and letters of credit mature in May 2016. As a result of the agreement extending beyond one year, any borrowings would be classified as long-term with the exception of amounts expected to be repaid in the 12 months subsequent to the balance sheet date. DeVry Group letters of credit outstanding under this agreement were $7.8 million as of March 31, 2014, and were $14.7 million as of March 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2014, if there were outstanding borrowings under this agreement they would bear interest, payable quarterly or upon expiration of the interest rate period, at prime rate plus 0.75% or at LIBOR plus 1.75%, at the option of DeVry Group. As of March 31, 2014, DeVry Group is charged an annual fee equal to 0.125% of the undrawn face amount of the outstanding letters of credit under the agreement, payable quarterly. The agreement also requires payment of a commitment fee equal to 0.2% of the undrawn portion of the credit facility as of March 31, 2014. The interest rate, letter of credit fees and commitment fees are adjustable quarterly, based upon DeVry Group’s achievement of certain financial ratios. Interest rate margins can be raised as high as 1.5% on prime rate loans and 2.5% on LIBOR rate loans.

 

The revolving credit agreement contains covenants that, among other things, require maintenance of certain financial ratios, as defined in the agreement. These financial ratios include a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, a consolidated leverage ratio and a composite Equity, Primary Reserve and Net Income Department of Education financial responsibility ratio. Failure to maintain any of these ratios or to comply with other covenants contained in the agreement will constitute an event of default and could result in termination of the agreement and require payment of all outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. DeVry Group was in compliance with the debt covenants as of March 31, 2014.

 

The stock of most subsidiaries of DeVry Group is pledged as collateral for the borrowings under the revolving credit facility.

 

NOTE 12: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

DeVry Group is subject to lawsuits, administrative proceedings, regulatory reviews and investigations associated with financial assistance programs and other matters arising in the normal conduct of its business. The following is a description of pending legal matters that may be considered other than ordinary, routine and incidental to the business.

 

The Boca Raton Firefighters’ and Police Pension Fund filed an initial complaint (the “Shareholder Case”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 1, 2010 (Case No. 1:10-cv-07031). The initial complaint was filed on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased DeVry Group common stock between October 25, 2007, and August 13, 2010. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint (the “First Amended Complaint”) on March 7, 2011 alleging the same categories of claims in the initial complaint. The plaintiff claimed in the First Amended Complaint that DeVry Group, Daniel Hamburger and Richard M. Gunst violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by failing to disclose abusive and fraudulent recruiting and financial aid lending practices, thereby increasing DeVry Group’s student enrollment and revenues and artificially inflating DeVry Group’s stock price during the class period. On March 27, 2012, Judge John F. Grady dismissed the First Amended Complaint without prejudice, granting plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint by May 4, 2012.

 

On May 4, 2012, the plaintiff again amended its allegations in the Shareholder Case (the “Second Amended Complaint”). The Second Amended Complaint alleged a longer putative class period of October 27, 2007 to August 11, 2011, but narrowed the scope of the alleged fraud significantly as compared to the previous two complaints. Plaintiff focused exclusively on DeVry Group’s practices for compensating student Admissions Advisors, alleging DeVry Group misled the market by failing to disclose that its compensation practices violated federal law and by making affirmative misrepresentations that DeVry Group complied with compensation regulations. The Second Amended Complaint was subsequently corrected to add an additional plaintiff, West Palm Beach Firefighters’ Pension Fund, in response to DeVry Group’s challenge of plaintiff’s standing to complain about statements DeVry Group made after plaintiff had purchased its stock.

 

On July 10, 2012, DeVry Group filed a Motion to Dismiss the corrected Second Amended Complaint. On March 27, 2013, Judge Grady granted DeVry Group’s Motion to Dismiss and entered judgment in favor of DeVry Group and against plaintiffs. Judge Grady thereby dismissed the case with prejudice; however, he reserved jurisdiction to examine the question of whether sanctions should be imposed against plaintiffs and/or their counsel. On April 26, 2013, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of Judge Grady’s order of dismissal; however, the appeal has been stayed pending Judge Grady’s resolution of the sanctions issue. The issue of sanctions was fully briefed by the parties as of May 17, 2013, and remains under consideration by Judge Grady.

 

Although DeVry Group believes that the appeal of the dismissed Shareholder Case is without merit, the ultimate outcome of pending litigation is difficult to predict. DeVry Group will vigorously defend any appellate proceedings which may proceed in the Shareholder Case.

 

25
 

 

DeVry Group was served on October 11, 2013, with a complaint in a qui tam action (the “Qui Tam Action”) filed under the federal False Claims Act and the Minnesota False Claims Act by two former employees of a customer of DeVry Group’s subsidiary, Advanced Academics, Inc. (“AAI”). The lawsuit, United States and the State of Minnesota ex rel. Jill Bachmann and Shelley Madore v. Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools, Advanced Academics, Inc., DeVry Education Group Inc., and MN Virtual High School, CA No. 12-cv-01359-DWF-JSM, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The complaint was filed on June 6, 2012 but kept under seal in order for the federal and Minnesota state governments to investigate the allegations and determine if they wished to intervene in the action and pursue the alleged claims. Both the federal and Minnesota state governments declined to intervene, thereby giving the plaintiffs the choice to pursue the alleged claims on behalf of the state and federal governments. The complaint was unsealed and made public on June 6, 2013. The complaint relates to certain federal and state funding received by Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School. The complaint alleges that Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School received certain state and federal funding, which depended on the accurate reporting of student enrollment data. The complaint alleges that Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School received more funding from the federal and state governments for special education and other services than they should have received in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as a result of allegedly non-compliant practices arising from the reporting of student enrollment data. The complaint further alleges that all schools of defendant Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools received over $75 million in total state and federal funding during fiscal years 2008 to 2010, a portion of which related to the school for which AAI provided services; plaintiff does not quantify what portion of the $75 million was obtained as a result of the allegedly fraudulent practices. The complaint alleges that AAI provided certain curriculum and other services to MN Virtual High School and operated the school. The only reference to DeVry Group in the complaint pertains to its status as the parent corporation to AAI. After DeVry Group and AAI filed a motion to dismiss, the Qui Tam Action was dismissed without prejudice pursuant to stipulation by and between plaintiffs, on the one hand, and DeVry Group and AAI on the other.

 

In April 2013, DeVry Group received a subpoena from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Illinois and a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) issued by the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Illinois subpoena concerns potential state law implications in the event violations of federal law took place. It was issued pursuant to the Illinois False Claims Act in connection with an investigation concerning whether the compensation practices of DeVry Group and certain of its affiliates are in compliance with the Incentive Compensation Ban of the Higher Education Act and requires DeVry Group to provide documents relating to these matters for periods on or after January 1, 2002. The Massachusetts demand was issued in connection with an investigation into whether DeVry Group caused false claims and/or false statements to be submitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to student loans, guarantees, and grants provided to DeVry Group’s Massachusetts students and requires DeVry Group to answer interrogatories and to provide documents relating to periods on or after January 1, 2007.  The timing or outcome of the investigations, or their possible impact on DeVry Group’s business, financial condition or results of operations, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

On January 28, 2014, DeVry Group received a compulsory request for information from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) relating to the advertising, marketing, or sale of secondary or postsecondary educational products or services, or educational accreditation products or services. The stated nature and scope of the CID was to determine whether unnamed persons and/or entities have violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, as amended and, if so, whether further FTC action would be in the public interest. Since receiving the CID, DeVry Group has negotiated the scope of the requests with the FTC and has produced, and continues to produce, information responsive to the FTC’s requests. The timing or outcome of this matter, or its possible impact on DeVry Group’s business, financial condition or results of operations, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

NOTE 13:  SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

DeVry Group’s principal business is providing postsecondary education. Our operations are described in more detail in “Note 1- Nature of Operations” to the consolidated financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. DeVry Group presents three reportable segments: “Business, Technology and Management”, which is comprised solely of DeVry University; “Medical and Healthcare” which includes the operations of Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, American University of the Caribbean, Chamberlain College of Nursing and Carrington Colleges Group; and “International and Professional Education”, which includes the operations of DeVry Brasil and Becker Professional Education.

 

These segments are consistent with the method by which the Chief Operating Decision Maker (DeVry Group’s President and CEO) evaluates performance and allocates resources. Performance evaluations are based, in part, on each segment’s operating income, which is defined as income before non-controlling interest, income taxes, interest income and expense, amortization, and certain corporate-related depreciation and expenses. Income taxes, interest income and expense, amortization, and certain corporate-related depreciation and expenses are reconciling items in arriving at income before income taxes for each segment. Intersegment sales are accounted for at amounts comparable to sales to nonaffiliated customers and are eliminated in consolidation. The consistent measure of segment assets excludes deferred income tax assets and certain depreciable corporate assets. Additions to long-lived assets have been measured in this same manner. Reconciling items are included as corporate assets. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in “Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the consolidated financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

 

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Following is a tabulation of business segment information based on the segmentation for each of the three and nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Corporate information is included where it is needed to reconcile segment data to the consolidated financial statements (dollars in thousands).

 

   For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
   For the Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
Revenues:  2014   2013   2014   2013 
Business, Technology and Management  $241,896   $283,540   $714,118   $848,393 
Medical and Healthcare   204,610    175,125    570,913    501,228 
International and Professional Education   50,782    46,282    155,933    135,912 
Intersegment Revenues   (1,171)   (1,122)   (2,666)   (1,122)
Total Consolidated Revenues  $496,117   $503,825   $1,438,298   $1,484,411 
Operating Income:                    
Business, Technology and Management  $22,517   $34,431   $21,403   $98,836 
Medical and Healthcare   45,605    34,635    106,432    86,522 
International and Professional Education   7,022    10,627    24,511    29,203 
Reconciling Items:                    
Amortization Expense   (1,594)   (2,421)   (4,855)   (7,111)
Depreciation and Other   (4,013)   (1,624)   (9,121)   (15,159)
Total Consolidated Operating Income  $69,537   $75,648   $138,370   $192,291 
Interest Income (Expense):                    
Interest Income  $605   $415   $1,498   $1,206 
Interest Expense   (1,073)   (756)   (3,125)   (3,006)
Net Interest Income (Expense)   (468)   (341)   (1,627)   (1,800)
Total Consolidated Income from Continuing                    
Operations Before Income Taxes  $69,069   $75,307   $136,743   $190,491 
Segment Assets:                    
Business, Technology and Management  $495,711   $526,705   $495,711   $526,705 
Medical and Healthcare   1,110,784    1,075,515    1,110,784    1,075,515 
International and Professional Education   296,915    257,596    296,915    257,596 
Corporate   145,455    122,073    145,455    122,073 
Assets of Divested Business   -    36,945    -    36,945 
Total Consolidated Assets  $2,048,865   $2,018,834   $2,048,865   $2,018,834 
Additions to Long-lived Assets:                    
Business, Technology and Management  $2,497   $10,419   $10,351   $34,637 
Medical and Healthcare   8,559    16,265    27,487    28,722 
International and Professional Education   2,705    2,024    34,246    38,598 
Corporate   422    2,080    3,522    8,637 
Total Consolidated Additions to Long-lived Assets  $14,183   $30,788   $75,606   $110,594 
Reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements                    
Capital Expenditures   14,183   $30,788   $47,609   $78,001 
Increase in Capital Assets from Acquisitions   -    -    2,037    2,897 
Increase in Intangible Assets and Goodwill   -    -    25,960    29,696 
Total Increase in Consolidated Long-lived Assets  $14,183   $30,788   $75,606   $110,594 
Depreciation Expense:                    
Business, Technology and Management  $11,072   $10,978   $32,983   $32,870 
Medical and Healthcare   5,786    5,999    18,407    18,089 
International and Professional Education   1,389    1,317    2,503    3,696 
Corporate   2,575    2,473    7,648    6,954 
Total Consolidated Depreciation  $20,822   $20,767   $61,541   $61,609 
Intangible Asset Amortization Expense:                    
Medical and Healthcare  $901   $1,349   $2,745   $4,044 
International and Professional Education   693    1,072    2,110    3,067 
Total Consolidated Amortization  $1,594   $2,421   $4,855   $7,111 

 

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DeVry Group conducts its educational operations in the United States, the Caribbean Islands (countries of Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Maarten), Brazil, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. Other International revenues, which are derived principally from Canada and Europe, were less than 5% of total revenues for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Revenues and long-lived assets by geographic area are as follows:

 

   For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
   For the Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Revenue from Unaffiliated Customers:                    
Domestic Operations  $379,919   $396,724   $1,098,306   $1,182,504 
International Operations:                    
Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Maarten   85,798    76,607    247,694    225,190 
Brazil   27,018    23,531    83,444    66,431 
Other   3,382    6,963    8,854    10,286 
Total International   116,198    107,101    339,992    301,907 
Consolidated  $496,117   $503,825   $1,438,298   $1,484,411 
Long-lived Assets:                    
Domestic Operations  $382,143   $412,718   $382,143   $412,718 
International Operations:                    
Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Maarten   168,171    148,131    168,171    148,131 
Brazil   46,486    43,282    46,486    43,282 
Other   2,007    2,089    2,007    2,089 
Total International   216,664    193,502    216,664    193,502 
Long-lived Assets of Business Held for Sale   -    5,994    -    5,994 
Consolidated  $598,807   $612,214   $598,807   $612,214 

 

No one customer accounted for more than 10% of DeVry Group's consolidated revenues.

 

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

 

Through its website, DeVry Group offers its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. DeVry Group’s Web site is http://www.devryeducationgroup.com.

 

The following discussion of DeVry Group’s results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with DeVry Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto in Item 1, “FINANCIAL STATEMENTS” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and DeVry Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto in Item 8 “FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA” in DeVry Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. DeVry Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a description of critical accounting policies and estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of DeVry Group’s financial statements. These include, but are not limited to, the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; revenue and expense recognition; allowance for uncollectible accounts; internally developed software; land, building and equipment; stock-based compensation; impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets; valuation of long-lived assets; and income taxes.

 

The seasonal pattern of DeVry Group’s enrollments and its educational program starting dates affect the results of operations and the timing of cash flows. Therefore, management believes that comparisons of its results of operations should primarily be made to the corresponding period in the preceding year. Comparisons of financial position should be made to both the end of the previous fiscal year and to the end of the corresponding quarterly period in the preceding year.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including those that affect DeVry Group’s expectations or plans, may constitute “forward-looking statements” subject to the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as DeVry Group or its management “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “foresees,” “intends,” “plans” or other words or phrases of similar import. Such statements are inherently uncertain and may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause future results to differ materially from those projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could affect DeVry Group’s results are described throughout this report, including those in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, in Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings”, in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, and in DeVry Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2013, including, without limitation, in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and in the subsections of “Item 1 — Business” entitled “Competition,” “Student Admissions,” “Accreditation,” “Approval and Licensing,” “Tuition and Fees,” “Financial Aid and Financing Student Education,” “Student Loan Defaults,” “Career Services,” “Seasonality,” and “Employees.”

 

All forward-looking statements included in this report speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are not under any obligation to update any forward-looking information — whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

 

OVERVIEW

 

DeVry Group’s financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 reflect continued revenue decline within DeVry University, which resulted in decreased earnings as compared to the prior year. This decline was partially offset by continued growth from DeVry Group’s healthcare, international and professional education program offerings. Management believes that it is making progress on DeVry University’s turnaround plan, including further improving academic quality and realigning its cost structure with student enrollment levels. Operational and financial highlights for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 include:

 

  · DeVry Group made progress in aligning its cost structure with its enrollments. Management expects it will achieve $100 million in total expense savings in fiscal year 2014 at the institutions in transition (DeVry University and Carrington) where reduced enrollment levels necessitate such realignment of expense.

 

  · The enrollment decline at DeVry University improved sequentially during the March 2014 session.

 

  · For the March 2014 session, total student enrollments at Chamberlain College of Nursing (“Chamberlain”) increased 37.4% to a record 18,185 students as compared to the same term last year. Chamberlain continues to invest in its programs, student services and campus locations.

 

  · During the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, Unifavip, a DeVry Brasil institution, received official notice that Brazil’s Ministry of Education (the “Ministry”) had granted the institution Centro Universitario status. As a result, the institution’s name has been changed from Favip to Unifavip. This new status is a marker of quality and enables DeVry Brasil to meet student demand for career-oriented education. Also during the quarter, DeVry Brasil received approval to offer nine new degree programs from the Ministry across our DeVry Brasil institutions. These programs cover many high demand career fields such as industrial, electrical and environmental engineering as well as building construction and business administration.

 

  · The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants released its 2013 Elijah Watt Sells Award winners, honoring the candidates with the highest scores on the CPA exam. More than 90 percent of the recipients prepared for the exam using Becker’s industry-leading CPA review materials.

 

  · DeVry Group’s financial position remained strong, generating $263.2 million of operating cash flow during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. As of March 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalents totaled $396.8 million and there were no outstanding borrowings.

 

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USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE

 

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, DeVry Group recorded restructuring expenses related to workforce reductions and real estate consolidations to align its cost structure at DeVry University, Carrington Colleges and the DeVry Group home office with enrollments. DeVry Group also recorded a gain from the sale of a former DeVry University campus in Decatur, Georgia. Additionally, DeVry Group recorded the operating results of its Advanced Academic Inc. reporting unit as discontinued operations. The following table illustrates the effects of the restructuring expense, discontinued operations and gain on the sale of assets on DeVry Group’s earnings. Management believes that the non-GAAP disclosure of net income and earnings per share excluding these discrete items and discontinued operations provides investors with useful supplemental information regarding the underlying business trends and performance of DeVry Group’s ongoing operations and is useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations given the discrete nature of the restructuring charges and gain on the sale of assets. DeVry Group uses these supplemental financial measures internally in its management and budgeting process. However, these non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, DeVry Group’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following table reconciles these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP information (in thousands, except per share data):

 

   For the Three Months   For the Nine Months 
   Ended March 31,   Ended March 31, 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Net Income  $55,525   $56,821   $96,548   $139,096 
Earnings per Share (diluted)  $0.86   $0.88   $1.49   $2.15 
Discontinued Operations (net of tax)  $607   $1,532   $16,855   $4,544 
Earnings per Share (diluted)  $0.01   $0.03   $0.26   $0.07 
Restructuring Charges (net of tax)  $-   $1,271   $10,057   $7,211 
Effect on Earnings per Share (diluted)  $-   $0.02   $0.16   $0.11 
Gain on Sale of Assets (net of tax)  $-   $-   $(1,167)  $- 
Effect on Earnings per Share (diluted)  $-   $-   $(0.02)  $- 
Net Income from Continuing Operations Excluding the Restructuring                    
Expenses and Gain on Sale of Assets (net of tax)  $56,132   $59,624   $122,293   $150,851 
Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations Excluding the Restructuring Expenses and Gain on Sale of Assets (net of tax)  $0.87   $0.93   $1.89   $2.33 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table presents information with respect to the relative size to revenue of each item in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the third quarter and first nine months of both the current and prior fiscal year. Percentages may not add because of rounding.

 

   For the Three
 Months Ended
 March 31,
   For the Nine Months
Ended March 31,
 
   2014   2013   2014   2013 
Revenues   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Cost of Educational Services   48.9%   47.0%   50.6%   48.3%
Student Services and Administrative Expense   37.1%   37.6%   38.8%   38.0%
Gain on Sale of Assets   -    -    (0.1)%   - 
Restructuring Charges   -    0.4%   1.1%   0.8%
Total Operating Costs and Expense   86.0%   85.0%   90.4%   87.0%
Operating Income from Continuing Operations   14.0%   15.0%   9.6%   13.0%
Net Interest (Expense) Income   (0.1)%   (0.1)%   (0.1)%   (0.1)%
Income From Continuing Operations Before Non-controlling                    
Interest and Income Taxes   13.9%   14.9%   9.5%   12.8%
Income Tax Provision   (2.6)%   (3.3)%   (1.6)%   (3.1)%
Income From Continuing Operations Before Non-controlling                    
Interest   11.3%   11.6%   7.9%   9.7%
Loss on Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax   (0.1)%   (0.3)%   (1.2)%   (0.3)%
Net Income   11.2%   11.3%   6.7%   9.4%
Net Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interest   (0.0)%   (0.1)%   (0.0)%   (0.1)%
Net Income Attributable to DeVry Education Group Inc.   11.2%   11.3%   6.7%   9.4%

 

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REVENUES

 

Total consolidated revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 of $496.1 million decreased $7.7 million, or 1.5%, as compared to the year-ago quarter. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, total consolidated revenues decreased $46.1 million or 3.1% to $1,438.3 million. Revenues decreased within the Business, Technology and Management segment as a result of a decline in student enrollments and an increase in scholarships. This decrease was partially offset by revenue increases within the Medical and Healthcare and International and Professional Education segments as a result of growth in total student enrollments and tuition price increases. In addition, the two most recent additions to DeVry Brasil, Unifavip which was acquired on September 3, 2012, and Facid which was acquired on July 1, 2013, along with revenue growth at the existing DeVry Brasil institutions, contributed to offsetting the revenue decline during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014.

 

Management expects that total revenues will be down for fiscal year 2014 as compared to fiscal year 2013, driven by the impact from declines in new and total student enrollments within DeVry University experienced in fiscal year 2013 and which have continued into fiscal year 2014 and are expected to continue into the remainder of fiscal year 2014. These lower revenues will be partially offset by anticipated revenue growth within DeVry Group’s other educational institutions.

 

Business, Technology and Management

 

Revenues in DeVry Group’s Business, Technology and Management segment, which is composed solely of DeVry University, decreased 14.7% to $241.9 million in the third quarter and declined 15.8% to $714.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods as a result of a decline in student enrollments and increased scholarships. This trend is expected to continue into the remainder of fiscal year 2014 which will result in lower revenues for the fiscal year. Key trends in enrollment and tuition pricing are set forth below.

 

Undergraduate new student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 24.7% from July 2012 (7,532 students) to July 2013 (5,674 students);

 

  · Increased by 0.1% from September 2012 (6,580 students) to September 2013 (6,589 students);

 

  · Decreased by 12.0% from November 2012 (5,482 students) to November 2013 (4,824 students);

 

  · Decreased by 7.9% from January 2013 (5,330 students) to January 2014 (4,911 students); and

 

  · Decreased by 2.5% from March 2013 (5,146 students) to March 2014 (5,018 students).

 

Undergraduate total student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 16.1% from July 2012 (50,503 students) to July 2013 (42,374 students);

 

  · Decreased by 16.3% from September 2012 (56,086 students) to September 2013 (46,966 students);

 

  · Decreased by 11.7% from November 2012 (49,515 students) to November 2013 (43,726 students);

 

  · Decreased by 15.1% from January 2013 (53,138 students) to January 2014 (45,097 students); and

 

  · Decreased by 10.4% from March 2013 (47,537 students) to March 2014 (42,583 students).

 

Graduate coursetaker enrollment, principally the Keller Graduate School of Management:

The term “coursetaker” refers to the number of courses taken by a student. Thus, one student taking two courses is counted as two coursetakers.

 

  · Decreased by 18.0% from the July 2012 session (19,635 coursetakers) to the July 2013 session (16,107 coursetakers);

 

  · Decreased by 18.8% from the September 2012 session (22,072 coursetakers) to the September 2013 session (17,925 coursetakers);

 

  · Decreased by 14.1% from the November 2012 session (19,540 coursetakers) to the November 2013 session (16,778 coursetakers);

 

31
 

 

  · Decreased by 18.0% from the January 2013 session (21,131 coursetakers) to the January 2014 session (17,322 coursetakers); and

 

  · Decreased by 15.1% from the March 2013 session (19,075 coursetakers) to the March 2014 session (16,192 coursetakers).

 

Tuition rates:

  · Effective July 2013, DeVry University froze both undergraduate and graduate tuition rates for the school year which ends in June 2014. Management believes this will increase interest from potential students and positively impact persistence among its current students.

 

  · For fiscal year 2014, DeVry University’s U.S. undergraduate tuition is $609 per credit hour for students enrolling in one to six credit hours per session. Tuition is $365 per credit hour for each credit hour in excess of six credit hours. These amounts do not include the cost of books, supplies, transportation and living expenses.

 

  · Keller Graduate School of Management program tuition per course is $2,298.

 

Management believes the decreases in enrollments were due to lower demand from DeVry University’s target student segment driven by negative perceptions of the value of a college degree and increased reluctance to take on debt, resulting in a reduction in interest from potential students. In addition, management believes heightened competition from both public-sector and private-sector education providers contributed to the decreases in DeVry University undergraduate and graduate enrollments. To improve performance at DeVry University, management continues to execute a turnaround plan which includes:

 

  · Stabilizing enrollments and positioning the university for long-term growth;

  · Reducing DeVry University’s cost structure, while maintaining and enhancing our service to students;

  · Regaining DeVry University’s technology edge; and

  · Developing and supporting the team to execute the strategy.

 

The plan to stabilize enrollments and position DeVry University for long-term growth includes communication of DeVry University’s value proposition, which is educational quality, career prospects and high levels of student service. Also, management continues to enhance DeVry University’s programmatic focus. This means ensuring our programs are designed to best meet the needs of our students and employers and better communicating the programs’ value propositions to the market. DeVry Group is also exploring methods to increase the flexibility of its programs to lower the overall cost of education to its students. This programmatic focus is designed to provide students with successful outcomes.

 

DeVry University is also increasing the emphasis on technology in its programs. This emphasis will enable students to gain an edge that will help them in today’s technology-based careers. Also technology will be further embedded in the campuses and operational processes.

 

Management is implementing a new organization structure to support the programmatic focus and increase decision-making speed. Four program verticals have been created: Engineering & Information Sciences; Undergraduate Business; Keller Graduate School of Management; and Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Media Arts. Each vertical will have a team which will have responsibility for enrollment, program quality and successful student outcomes.

 

DeVry University’s enrollment strategy continues with optimizing pricing, with the goals of increasing new students, and encouraging persistence. A September 2013 “call to action event” included the new Career Catalyst Scholarship. Under the Career Catalyst Scholarship, DeVry University committed up to $15 million over the following three-year period to scholarships that will be awarded to qualifying students who enrolled in the September 2013 session. The scholarships are valued at up to a total of $20,000 per student, depending on the degree and credits required to attain that degree. Students qualifying for DeVry University’s Career Catalyst Scholarship will be eligible to receive scholarship awards in progressive amounts over a period of three years. For example, students in their first year of a bachelor’s degree program can be awarded up to $5,000. During the second year, the available award can increase up to $7,000. For the third year, the award can increase up to $8,000. As a result of positive results from this program in attracting and retaining successful students, DeVry University also offered this Career Catalyst Program to qualifying students who enrolled in the March 2014 session.

 

Tuition rates for fiscal year 2014 at DeVry University remain unchanged from those of fiscal year 2013. Further, management implemented the DeVry University Fixed Tuition Promise. This is a guarantee to each DeVry University student that his or her tuition rate will not increase as for long as he or she is a student. Also, beginning in July 2014, the number of credit hours a student must take per session to receive the full-time rate is increasing from 7 hours to 8.

 

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Management is also finding ways to be more effective in marketing and recruiting efforts. DeVry University’s marketing strategy is shifting toward more digital and social channels and its web site, and away from less effective inquiry vendors. Some positive results of this shift have already been experienced. For the March session, inquiry conversion improved, as DeVry University saw fewer, but better quality, inquiries and improved recruiting efficiency.

 

In aligning the cost structure, management is focused on increasing efficiencies. Over the past year DeVry Group’s institutions in transition (DeVry University and Carrington) have reduced costs through staffing adjustments; managing open positions; optimizing course scheduling to better utilize classrooms; and lowering course materials costs. Management has made the decision to close or consolidate certain DeVry University campuses while balancing the potential impact on enrollment and student satisfaction. Since fiscal 2012, DeVry University has optimized over a dozen locations. Currently there are five additional consolidations underway.

 

Medical and Healthcare

 

Medical and Healthcare segment revenues increased 16.8% to $204.6 million in the third quarter and increased 13.9% to $570.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective prior year periods. Higher total student enrollments at several of the institutions that comprise this segment (Chamberlain College of Nursing (“Chamberlain”) and DeVry Medical International (which is composed of Ross University Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (“AUC”)) were the key drivers of the segment revenue growth. Key trends for DeVry Medical International, Chamberlain and Carrington are set forth below. See discussion following the enrollment information for explanation of the trends.

 

DeVry Medical International new student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 19.4% from May 2012 (643 students) to May 2013 (518 students);

 

  · Increased by 5.7% from September 2012 (925 students) to September 2013 (978 students); and

 

  · Decreased by 3.5% from January 2013 (603 students) to January 2014 (582 students).

 

DeVry Medical International total student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 2.4% from May 2012 (5,944 students) to May 2013 (5,800 students);

 

  · Increased by 4.0% from September 2012 (6,209 students) to September 2013 (6,458 students); and

 

  · Increased by 5.6% from January 2013 (6,318 students) to January 2014 (6,673 students).

 

Chamberlain College of Nursing new student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 34.9% from July 2012 (1,974 students) to July 2013 (1,285 students);

 

  · Increased by 108.0% from September 2012 (1,625 students) to September 2013 (3,380 students);

 

  · Decreased by 8.0% from November 2012 (2,121 students) to November 2013 (1,952 students);

 

  · Increased by 65.1% from January 2013 (2,120 students) to January 2014 (3,501 students); and

 

  · Increased by 55.0% from March 2013 (1,350 students) to March 2014 (2,092 students)

 

Chamberlain College of Nursing total student enrollment by term:

  · Increased by 16.5% from July 2012 (10,852 students) to July 2013 (12,648 students);

 

  · Increased by 30.2% from September 2012 (12,050 students) to September 2013 (15,690 students);

 

  · Increased by 28.5% from November 2012 (12,247 students) to November 2013 (15,732 students);

 

  · Increased by 32.2% from January 2013 (13,714 students) to January 2014 (18,136 students); and

 

  · Increased by 37.4% from March 2013 (13,235 students) to March 2014 (18,185 students).

 

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Carrington new student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 1.5% from June 2012 (1,632 students) to June 2013 (1,607 students);

 

  · Decreased by 19.5% from September 2012 (3,396 students) to September 2013 (2,733 students);

 

  · Decreased by 3.2% from December 2012 (1,763 students) to December 2013 (1,706 students); and

 

  · Decreased by 6.0% from March 2013 (2,391 students) to March 2014 (2,247 students).

 

Carrington total student enrollment by term:

  · Increased by 9.6% from June 2012 (6,486 students) to June 2013 (7,111 students);

 

  · Increased by 1.0% from September 2012 (7,628 students) to September 2013 (7,706 students);

 

  · Decreased by 0.6% from December 2012 (7,405 students) to December 2013 (7,358 students); and

 

  · Decreased by 2.4% from March 2013 (7,951 students) to March 2014 (7,758 students).

 

Tuition rates:

 

  · Effective September 2013, tuition and fees for the basic sciences and clinical rotation portions of AUC’s medical program are $18,975 and $21,250, respectively, per semester. These tuition rates represent an increase from the September 2012 rates of approximately 5.9%.

 

  · Effective September 2013, tuition and fees for the basic sciences portion of the programs at the Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine are $18,825 and $17,725, respectively, per semester. Tuition and fees for the clinical portion of the programs are $20,775 per semester for the medical school, and $22,250 per semester for the veterinary school. These tuition rates represent an increase from September 2012 rates of 6.5% for the medical school and 5.5% for the veterinary school. These amounts do not include the cost of books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses.

 

  · Effective July 2013, tuition is $665 per credit hour for students enrolling one to six credit hours per session in the Chamberlain Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“BSN”) (onsite), Associate Degree in Nursing (“ADN”) and Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse (“LPN-to-RN”) programs. This rate is unchanged as compared to the prior year. Tuition is $200 per credit hour per session for each credit hour in excess of six credit hours. This excess credit hour rate represents a $100 increase as compared to the prior year. These amounts do not include the cost of books, supplies, transportation and living expenses.

 

  · Effective July 2013, tuition is $590 per credit hour for students enrolled in the Chamberlain Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (“RN-to-BSN”) online degree program. This tuition rate is unchanged from the July 2012 tuition rate. Tuition for students enrolled in the online Master of Science in Nursing (“MSN”) program is $650 per credit hour, which is unchanged from the prior year.

 

  · On a per credit hour basis, tuition for the Carrington College and Carrington College California programs ranges from $254 per credit hour to $1,651 per credit hour, with the wide range due to the nature of the programs. General Education courses are charged at $325 per credit hour at Carrington College, and $364 per credit hour at Carrington College California. Students are charged a non-refundable registration fee of $100, and they are also charged separately for books and special (program specific) supplies and/or testing. A student services fee ranging from $75 to $150 is charged at Carrington College and Carrington College California as well, depending on the program. Total program tuition at each institution ranges from approximately $13,000 to $15,000 for most certificate programs up to approximatley$60,000 for a few advanced programs.

 

Continued demand for medical doctors and veterinarians positively influenced career decisions of new students towards these respective fields of study. Also, there currently exists a supply and demand imbalance in medical education. Over the past few semesters, DeVry Medical International new student enrollments were negatively impacted by a transition of key roles within marketing and enrollment management. Management believes that the historical enrollment increases at DeVry Medical International were a result of the reputation of its academic programs and student outcomes, enhancements made to its marketing and recruiting functions, and steps taken to meet student demand such as adding faculty and classrooms, which reduced capacity constraints that existed in the prior fiscal year. Management expects that future enrollment trends will produce growth in the low single digits; however, heightened competition may adversely affect DeVry Medical International’s ability to continue to attract qualified students to its programs.

 

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Continued demand for nurses positively influenced career decisions of new students towards this field of study. The historical trend of increases in new student enrollments is attributable to increased demand for its RN-to-BSN online completion program, the addition of several new campus locations, capacity expansion and organic growth at existing locations and the introduction of new graduate and doctoral degree programs. New student enrollment at Chamberlain for the July 2013 and November 2013 terms as compared to the July 2012 and November 2012 terms were impacted by the realignment of the academic calendar, with September, January and May intakes. As a result there were no onsite enrollments for the July and November terms. These enrollments were shifted to the September 2013 and the January 2014 terms which partially accounts for the 110 percent increase in new student enrollments from September 2012 to September 2013. In the March, 2014 term, Chamberlain new student enrollment grew 55 percent and total students grew more than 37 percent. These increases reflect the strong demand for its Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs.

 

Management believes the declines in total student enrollments experienced at Carrington in previous fiscal years were the result of heightened competition, the prolonged economic downturn and persistent unemployment, which has resulted in reductions in the volume of inquiries from potential students. To address these issues, Carrington continues to execute a turnaround plan, which includes increasing its focus on building awareness of Carrington’s brand, optimizing its marketing approach to emphasize the development of internally-generated inquiries, improving its recruiting process through its new student contact center and narrowing its focus geographically and programmatically around Carrington’s core strengths in healthcare. Carrington continues to make targeted investments in enhancing its students’ academic experience. These initiatives contributed to growth in new student enrollments for several successive three month periods in fiscal year 2013, which resulted in an increase in total student enrollment for four consecutive three month periods through September 2013. In the June 2013 term, new student enrollments declined as a result of the decision to focus Carrington’s program offerings and suspend recruiting for certain non-core programs. In the September 2013 term, new student enrollments decreased as a result of the number of session starts in the current year period as compared to the year-ago period. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, Carrington had four session starts as compared to five in the year-ago period. The decrease in new student enrollments for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014 compared to the respective year-ago periods was also a result of the narrowed program focus, market consolidations and program teach outs. Total student enrollments for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014 decreased from the respective year-ago periods due to the declines in new student enrollments for the past year. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, excluding programs currently in teach out, new student enrollments at Carrington increased nearly 1.0 percent and total students increased 8.5 percent

 

International and Professional Education

 

International and Professional Education segment revenues rose 9.7% to $50.8 million in the third quarter and increased 14.7% to $155.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective prior year periods. DeVry Brasil was the primary driver of revenue growth in this segment. In addition to revenue growth within existing institutions, the recent acquisitions of Unifavip, which was acquired on September 3, 2012 and Facid, which was acquired on July 1, 2013, contributed to this revenue growth. Becker Professional Education revenues grew, driven primarily by increases in Becker CPA self-study and the United States Medical Licensing Exam (“USMLE”) review course revenues. Key enrollment trends for DeVry Brasil are set forth below.

 

DeVry Brasil new student enrollment by term:

  · Decreased by 9.4% from September 2012 (4,179 students) to September 2013 (3,785 students). The acquisition of Facid accounted for 309 new students. Excluding the impact of the Facid acquisition, new student enrollments decreased by 16.8%; and

 

  · Increased by 19.7% from March 2013 (7,390 students) to March 2014 (8,845 students).

 

DeVry Brasil total student enrollment by term:

  · Increased by 11.4% from September 2012 (26,343 students) to September 2013 (29,340 students). The acquisition of Facid accounted for 2,582 new students. Excluding the impact of the Facid acquisition, total student enrollments increased by 1.6%; and

 

  · Increased by 13.5% from March 2013 (29,083 students) to March 2014 (33,013 students).

 

A large percentage of DeVry Brasil’s program offerings are subject to limitations by Brazil’s Ministry of Education as to the number of students who can be enrolled in the programs. The new student enrollment decline experienced in the September 2013 term was primarily the result of a temporary admissions restriction for three programs at one of its institutions, Area 1. As of December 31, 2013, these restrictions have been removed for two of the three programs. Management has applied for approval to have the third enrollment limitation removed and expects this to occur within the next several months. The increase in new and total enrollment at DeVry Brasil for the March 2014 term was driven by organic growth at its institutions and the acquisition of Facid.

 

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COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

Cost of Educational Services

 

The largest component of Cost of Educational Services is the cost of faculty and staff who support educational operations. This expense category also includes the costs of facilities, adjunct faculty, supplies, bookstore and other educational materials, student education-related support activities, and the provision for uncollectible student accounts.

 

DeVry Group’s Cost of Educational Services increased 2.5% to $242.6 million during the third quarter and grew 1.5% to $727.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. Lower Costs of Educational Services within DeVry University and Carrington as a result of savings from cost reduction measures were offset by the increase in costs necessary to support the operations of the growth institutions. This increase includes costs that were incurred to support a higher number of total student enrollments for Chamberlain as compared to the prior year and the need to support continued growth at DeVry Medical International and DeVry Brasil. The costs at DeVry Brasil for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 include the full nine month’s effect of expense from the acquisition of Unifavip, which was acquired on September 3, 2012, compared to seven months of expense during the same period in fiscal year 2013, along with the expenses of Facid, which was acquired on July 1, 2013.

 

As a percentage of revenue, Cost of Educational Services increased to 48.9% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 from 47.0% during the prior year period. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, Cost of Educational Services increased to 50.6% from 48.3% during the prior year period. The increase was the result of decreased operating leverage as a result of revenue declines primarily at DeVry University.

 

Student Services and Administrative Expense

 

This expense category includes student admissions, marketing and advertising costs, general and administrative costs, expenses associated with curriculum development, and the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets related to acquisitions of businesses.

 

Student Services and Administrative Expense decreased 2.8% to $184.0 million during the third quarter and declined 1.1% to $558.2 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The decrease in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2014 was the result of cost reduction measures. Over the past year, DeVry Group has reduced costs through staffing adjustments; restructuring and optimizing course scheduling to better utilize classrooms; and lowering course materials costs. Also, management is finding ways to be more effective in marketing and recruiting efforts. These reductions were partially offset by the expense growth necessary to support the operations of DeVry Group’s growth institutions (DeVry Medical International, Chamberlain, DeVry Brasil, and Becker Professional Education) and costs from the most recent acquisitions of Unifavip and Facid. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets in connection with acquisitions of businesses decreased by $0.8 million during the third quarter and decreased $2.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. Amortization expense is included entirely in the Student Services and Administrative Expense category.

 

As a percentage of revenue, Student Services and Administrative Expense decreased to 37.1% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 from 37.6% during the year-ago quarter. The decrease was a result of the effectiveness of the cost reduction measures noted above along with a slowing of the revenue decline at DeVry University in the third quarter as compared to the first six months of fiscal year 2014. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, Student Services and Administrative Expense increased to 38.8% from 38.0% during the prior year period. The increase was the result of decreased operating leverage from declining revenues primarily at DeVry University.

 

Gain on the Sale of Assets

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, management completed the sale of the former DeVry University campus in Decatur, GA, which was vacated a number of years ago. The net proceeds on this sale were approximately $6.7 million, which resulted in the recording of a pre-tax gain of $1.9 million.

 

Restructuring Expenses

 

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, DeVry Group home office, DeVry Medical International and Carrington recorded charges related to real estate consolidations of $1.3 million, $0.3 million and $4.4 million, respectively. Also, DeVry Group implemented a reduction in its workforce that resulted in a pre-tax charge of $10.4 million that represented severance pay and benefits for these employees. These restructuring costs were allocated to the segments in the first nine months as follows: $8.0 million to Business Technology and Management, $5.5 million to Medical and Healthcare, $2.9 million to the DeVry Group home office which is classified as “Depreciation and Other” in “Note 13 - Segment Information” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Cash payments for these charges were approximately $15.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2014. The remaining accrual for these charges is $13.3 million as of March 31, 2014. The balance is expected to be paid within the next 12 months.

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

Total consolidated operating income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 of $69.5 million decreased 8.1% as compared to the prior year quarter. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, total consolidated operating income of $138.4 million decreased 28.0% as compared to the prior year period. For the first nine months, operating income declines were experienced at the Business, Technology and Management and the International and Professional Education segments. The largest driver of the decline in operating income during fiscal year 2014 was the revenue decline at DeVry University and the restructuring expenses. This decline more than offset the increases in revenue and operating income resulting from recent acquisitions and growth in other institutions. The revenue decline was partially offset by the decrease in expenses from cost reduction measures, as discussed above. Operating income also declined for the first nine months at DeVry Brasil primarily driven by investments for expansion and growth. DeVry Brasil is a part of the International and Professional Education segment.

 

Business, Technology and Management

 

Business, Technology and Management segment operating income decreased 34.6% to $22.5 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, and decreased 78.3% to $21.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The decrease in operating income was the result of lower revenue and decreased operating leverage and a restructuring charge of $7.9 million recorded in the first six months of fiscal year 2014 (as discussed earlier). Total segment expenses for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2014, excluding the restructuring charges and gain on the sale of assets decreased 11.6% and 8.2% as compared to the respective year-ago periods, as a result of savings from cost reduction measures, as discussed above. Excluding special charges and the gain on the sale of assets, the Business, Technology and Management segment generated operating income of $27.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. Management continues to mitigate the effects of this challenging environment by aligning its cost structure with student enrollments. Management believes that consolidations of DeVry University locations and further cost control measures will be necessary for the remainder of fiscal year 2014 and beyond.

 

Medical and Healthcare

 

Medical and Healthcare segment operating income increased 31.7% to $45.6 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, and grew 23.0% to $106.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The increase in operating income was the result of increased operating income at DeVry Medical International and Chamberlain as a result of increased revenues which were partially offset by investments to drive future enrollment growth. Also, operating losses at Carrington decreased as a result of cost reduction measures, as discussed above.

 

International and Professional Education

 

International and Professional Education segment operating income decreased 33.9% to $7.0 million during the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 and decreased 16.1% to $24.5 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The decreased operating income for third quarter and the first nine months were primarily driven by acquisitions and investments for expansion and growth.

 

NET INTEREST (EXPENSE) INCOME

 

Interest income for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2014 of $0.6 million and $1.5 million, increased $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The changes in interest income are attributable to fluctuations in interest rates on invested cash balances at DeVry Brasil.

 

Interest expense increased by $0.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 and increased by $0.1 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 as compared to the respective year-ago periods. The changes in interest expense are attributable to fluctuations in interest rates at DeVry Brasil where interest is accrued on installment payments related to recent acquisitions, as discussed above.

 

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INCOME TAXES

 

Taxes on income from continuing operations were 18.7% of pretax income for the third quarter and 16.9% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, compared to 22.1% for the third quarter and 24.0% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013. The lower effective tax rate in the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2014 resulted primarily from the jurisdictional mix of pre-tax earnings from U.S. operations versus the offshore operations of Ross University School of Medicine (“RUSM”), Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (“RUSVM”), AUC and DeVry Brasil as well as the favorable impacts of the American Tax Relief Act of 2012 signed into law on January 2, 2013, in which Congress enacted legislation extending the benefits of Internal Revenue Code Section 954(c)(6) (“CFC Look-through”) for a two year period for tax years beginning after January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013.

 

DeVry Group’s effective income tax rate reflects benefits derived from significant operations outside the United States. Earnings of these international operations are subject to local tax systems and are not subject to U.S. federal or state income taxes, so long as such earnings are not repatriated, as discussed below. Four of DeVry Group’s subsidiaries, RUSM, incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica; RUSVM, incorporated under the laws of the Federation of St. Christopher, Nevis, St. Kitts in the West Indies; AUC, incorporated under the laws of St. Maarten; and DeVry Brasil, incorporated under the laws of Brazil; all benefit from local tax programs. RUSM and RUSVM have agreements with their respective domestic governments that exempt them from most local income taxation. Both of these agreements have been extended to provide, in the case of RUSM, an indefinite period of exemption and, in the case of RUSVM, exemption until 2037. DeVry Brasil’s effective tax rate reflects benefits derived from its participation in PROUNI, a Brazilian program for providing scholarships to a portion of its undergraduate students. AUC’s effective tax rate reflects benefits derived from local investment programs.

 

DeVry Group intends to indefinitely reinvest international earnings and cash flow to improve and expand facilities and operations at RUSM, RUSVM, AUC and DeVry Brasil, and pursue other business opportunities outside the United States. Accordingly, DeVry Group has not recorded a provision for the payment of U.S. income taxes on these earnings.

 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, management determined that the operations of Advanced Academics Inc. (“AAI”) no longer aligned with the strategic direction of DeVry Group. At that time, management committed to divest the AAI business. As a result, it was determined that the net assets of AAI would be classified as “held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the results of operations of AAI would be classified in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as discontinued operations retroactive to full fiscal year 2013.

 

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, management wrote down the net assets of AAI to their fair market value based on the estimated selling price of the assets as of September 30, 2013. As a result of its review of the preliminary purchase offers for the assets of the business, management determined that the market value of this business had been significantly diminished. This resulted in a $13.5 million pre-tax impairment charge. In December 2013, the assets of AAI were sold for $2.0 million which was approximately $0.4 million higher than the fair value of the net assets on the date of the sale. This gain on the sale was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014 and is included in the Loss from Operations of Divested Component in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, additional pre-tax expense of $0.9 million related to the operations of AAI was recorded. The reported loss on discontinued operations in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 is comprised of $5.5 million in operating losses and a pre-tax impairment charge of $13.1 million for the net fair market write-down of AAI’s net assets.

 

See “Note 3 – Assets and Liabilities of Divested Business and Discontinued Operations” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional disclosures.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Student Payments

 

DeVry Group’s primary source of liquidity is the cash received from payments for student tuition, books, other educational materials and fees. These payments include funds originating as financial aid from various federal and state loan and grant programs; student and family educational loans (“private loans”); employer educational reimbursements; and student and family financial resources. Private loans as a percentage of DeVry Group’s total revenue are relatively small. DeVry Group continues to pursue available financing options for its students, including DeVry Group’s institutional loan programs.

 

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The following table summarizes DeVry Group’s cash receipts from tuition and related fee payments by fund source as a percentage of total revenue for the fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

   Fiscal Year 
   2013   2012 
Funding Source:          
Federal Assistance (Title IV) Program Funding (Grants and Loans)   66%   69%
State Grants   1%   1%
Private Loans   1%   1%
Student accounts, cash payments, private scholarships, employer and  military provided tuition assistance and other   32%   29%
Total   100%   100%

 

The pattern of cash receipts during the year is seasonal. DeVry Group’s accounts receivable peak immediately after bills are issued each semester/session. Historically, accounts receivable reach their lowest level at the end of each semester/session, generally dropping to their lowest point during the year at the end of June.

 

At March 31, 2014, total accounts receivable, net of related reserves, was $161.2 million compared to $171.7 million at March 31, 2013. The decrease in net accounts receivable was attributable to revenue declines at DeVry University, partially offset by the impact of continued revenue growth at Chamberlain and DeVry Brasil.

 

Financial Aid

 

Like other higher education institutions, DeVry Group is highly dependent upon the timely receipt of federal financial aid funds. All financial aid and assistance programs are subject to political and governmental budgetary considerations. In the United States, the Higher Education Act (“HEA”) guides the federal government’s support of postsecondary education. If there are changes to financial aid programs that restrict student eligibility or reduce funding levels, DeVry Group’s financial condition and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Please see Item 1A Risk Factors in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a discussion of student financial aid related risks. In addition, please see Item 1A Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for an update on the discussion of the U.S. Department of Education negotiated rule making committee process on Gainful Employment.

 

In addition, government-funded financial assistance programs are governed by extensive and complex regulations in the United States, Brazil and Canada. Like any other educational institution, DeVry Group’s administration of these programs is periodically reviewed by various regulatory agencies and is subject to audit or investigation by other governmental authorities. Any violation could be the basis for penalties or other disciplinary action, including initiation of a suspension, limitation or termination proceeding. Previous Department of Education and state regulatory agency program reviews have not resulted in material findings or adjustments against any DeVry Group institution. A comprehensive program review of DeVry University’s administration of its Title IV programs, initiated in May 2011, was completed in September 2013 with no material adverse findings.  Carrington College was notified by the U. S. Department of Education in March 2014 of a scheduled program review of its Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico locations.  That review was concluded in April 2014 with no material adverse findings.  Ross University School of Medicine has also been notified of a scheduled review to be conducted in May 2014.

 

A U.S. Department of Education regulation known as the “90/10 Rule” affects only proprietary postsecondary institutions, such as DeVry University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, AUC, Chamberlain, Carrington College and Carrington College California. Under this regulation, an institution that derives more than 90% of its revenues from Title IV student financial assistance programs in any year may not participate in these programs for the following year.

 

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The following table details the percentage of revenue from federal financial assistance programs for each of DeVry Group’s Title IV eligible institutions for fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

   Fiscal Year 
   2013   2012 
DeVry University:          
Undergraduate   72%   75%
Graduate   70%   73%
Ross University School of Medicine   80%   80%
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine   87%   89%
Chamberlain College of Nursing   66%   66%
Carrington College   79%   80%
Carrington College California   81%   81%
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine   80%   81%

 

Under the terms of DeVry Group institutions’ participation in financial aid programs, certain cash received from state governments and the U.S. Department of Education is maintained in restricted bank accounts. DeVry Group receives these funds either after the financial aid authorization and disbursement process for the benefit of the student is completed, or just prior to that authorization. Once the authorization and disbursement process for a particular student is completed, the funds may be transferred to unrestricted accounts and become available for DeVry Group to use in operations. This process generally occurs during the academic term for which such funds have been authorized. At March 31, 2014, cash in the amount of $8.0 million was held in restricted bank accounts, compared to $7.2 million at March 31, 2013.

 

A separate financial responsibility test for continued participation by an institution’s students in federal financial assistance programs is based upon a composite score of three ratios: an equity ratio that measures the institution’s capital resources; a primary reserve ratio that measures an institution’s ability to fund its operations from current resources; and a net income ratio that measures an institution’s ability to operate profitably. A minimum score of 1.5 is necessary to meet the Department of Education’s financial standards. Institutions with scores of less than 1.5 but greater than or equal to 1.0 are considered financially responsible, but require additional oversight. These schools are subject to cash monitoring and other participation requirements. An institution with a score less than 1.0 is considered not financially responsible. However, a school with a score less than 1.0 may continue to participate in the Title IV programs under provisional certification. In addition, this lower score typically requires that the school be subject to cash monitoring requirements and post a letter of credit (equal to a minimum of 10 percent of the Title IV aid it received in the institution's most recent fiscal year).

 

For the past several years, DeVry Group’s composite score has exceeded the required minimum of 1.5. If DeVry Group were unable to meet requisite financial responsibility standards or otherwise demonstrate, within the regulations, its ability to continue to provide educational services, then DeVry Group could be subject to heightened monitoring or required to post a letter of credit to enable its students to continue to participate in federal financial assistance programs.

 

Cash from Operations

 

Cash generated from continuing operations in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 was $264.0 million, compared to $289.4 million in the year-ago period. This decrease in operating cash flows from continuing operations was primarily the result of a $31.1 million decrease from the prior year in net income from continuing operations. Also contributing to the decrease in cash generated from continuing operations were changes in prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses that were $43.3 million less than the year-ago changes. Variations in the levels of accrued and prepaid expenses and accounts payable from period to period are caused, in part, by the timing of the period-end relative to DeVry Group’s payroll and bill payment cycles. These decreases in cash generated from operations were partially offset by the positive effect of the changes in net accounts receivable, deferred and advance tuition and restricted cash that were $55.2 million greater than prior year changes. The receivables balance decreased due to declining revenues at DeVry University. The decline was partially offset by the impact of revenue growth primarily at Chamberlain and DeVry Brasil, compared to the year-ago period.

 

Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

Capital expenditures for continuing operations in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 were $47.6 million compared to $78.0 million in the year-ago period. The decrease in capital spending was driven by a focus on prudent capital deployment. DeVry Group continues to invest capital in facility expansion at the Ross University School of Medicine and the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and AUC; spending for the new Chamberlain campuses and expanding existing facilities; and facility improvements at DeVry University and DeVry Brasil.

 

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Capital spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2014 is expected to support continued investment at Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and AUC; and facility improvements and planned new locations for Chamberlain and DeVry Brasil. Management anticipates full year fiscal year 2014 capital spending to be in the $70 to $80 million range.

 

On July 1, 2013, DeVry Brasil acquired the stock of Facid.  Under the terms of the agreement, DeVry Brasil paid approximately $16.1 million in cash in exchange for the stock of Facid. In addition, DeVry Brasil is required to make additional payments of approximately $9.0 million over the next four years. Facid currently serves approximately 2,500 students at two campuses in the city of Teresina, and offers degree programs primarily in healthcare, including a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program. Facid is part of DeVry Brasil, which now operates six institutions at 13 campuses in northeast Brazil. With the addition of Facid, these institutions provide education programs to approximately 33,000 students. Along with its M.D. program, Facid offers undergraduate degrees in other healthcare fields such as nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry, as well as a law program.

 

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, management completed the sale of the former DeVry University campus in Decatur, GA, which was vacated a number of years ago. The net proceeds on this sale were approximately $6.7 million which resulted in the recording of a pre-tax gain of $1.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2014.

 

Cash Used in Financing Activities

 

DeVry Group’s consolidated cash balances of $396.8 million at March 31, 2014, included approximately $195.7 million of cash attributable to DeVry Group’s international operations. It is DeVry Group’s intention to indefinitely reinvest this cash and subsequent earnings and cash flow to improve and expand facilities and operations of its international schools and pursue future business opportunities outside the United States. Therefore, cash held by international operations will not be available for domestic general corporate purposes. Management does not believe that this policy will adversely affect DeVry Group’s overall liquidity.

 

Historically, DeVry Group has produced positive domestic cash flows from operating activities sufficient to fund the delivery of its domestic educational programs and services as well as to fund capital investment and other activities including share repurchases and dividend payments. In addition, DeVry Group maintains a $400 million revolving line of credit which can be expanded with bank approval to $550 million at the option of DeVry Group. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2014, cash flows from domestic operating activities were approximately $172 million which when added to DeVry Group’s beginning of the year domestic cash balances, was sufficient to fund $24.5 million of domestic capital investment and pay dividends of $10.9 million in addition to funding other investment and financing activities.

 

Management believes that current balances of unrestricted cash, cash generated from operations and the revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund both DeVry Group’s current domestic and international operations and growth plans, and current share repurchase program, for the foreseeable future unless future significant investment opportunities should arise.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

DeVry Group maintains a revolving credit facility which expires on May 5, 2016. This facility provides aggregate commitments including borrowings and letters of credit of up to $400 million and, at the request of DeVry Group, can be increased to $550 million. Borrowings under this agreement will bear interest at prime rate or at LIBOR, at the option of DeVry Group, plus a pre-established margin. Outstanding letters of credit under the revolving credit agreement are charged a fee for the undrawn face amount of the letter of credit, payable quarterly. The agreement also requires payment of a commitment fee for the undrawn portion of the credit facility. The interest rate margin, letter of credit fees and commitment fees are adjustable quarterly, based upon DeVry Group’s achievement of certain financial ratios. DeVry Group’s letters of credit outstanding under the revolving credit facility were approximately $7.8 million as of March 31, 2014.

 

The revolving credit agreement contains certain covenants that, among other things, require maintenance of financial ratios, as defined in the agreement. These financial ratios include a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, a consolidated leverage ratio and a composite Equity, Primary Reserve and Net Income Department of Education financial responsibility ratio. Failure to maintain any of these ratios or to comply with other covenants contained in the agreement will constitute an event of default and could result in termination of the agreements and require payment of all outstanding borrowings. DeVry Group was in compliance with all debt covenants as of March 31, 2014.

 

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Other Contractual Arrangements

 

DeVry Group’s long-term contractual obligations consist of its $400 million revolving line of credit (discussed above), operating leases on facilities and equipment, and agreements for various services.

 

In addition, DeVry Group has recorded liabilities for deferred purchase price agreements with sellers related to the acquisitions of FBV, Unifavip and Facid (see “Note 7: Business Combinations” of the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements). This financing is in the form of hold backs of a portion of the purchase price of these acquisitions or installment payments. Payments are made under these agreements based on payment schedules or as various conditions of the purchase are met.

 

DeVry Group is not a party to any off-balance sheet financing or contingent payment arrangements, nor are there any unconsolidated subsidiaries. DeVry Group has not extended any loans to any officer, director or other affiliated person. DeVry Group has not entered into any synthetic leases, and there are no residual purchase or value commitments related to any facility lease. DeVry Group did not enter into any significant derivatives, swaps, futures contracts, calls, hedges or non-exchange traded contracts during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. DeVry Group had no open derivative positions at March 31, 2014.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11: “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists”. This guidance requires an unrecognized tax benefit related to a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward to be presented as a reduction to a deferred tax asset, unless the tax benefit is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes under the tax law of the applicable tax jurisdiction. The guidance is effective for the fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. Management does not believe the guidance will have a significant impact on DeVry Group’s consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 3 — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

DeVry Group is not dependent upon the price levels, nor affected by fluctuations in pricing, of any particular commodity or group of commodities. However, more than 50% of DeVry Group’s costs are in the form of employee wages and benefits. Changes in employment market conditions or escalations in employee benefit costs could cause DeVry Group to experience cost increases at levels beyond what it has historically experienced.

 

The financial position and results of operations of Ross University’s Caribbean operations as well as those of AUC are measured using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. Substantially all Ross University and AUC financial transactions are denominated in the U.S. dollar.

 

The financial position and results of operations of DeVry Group’s Canadian educational operation are measured using the Canadian dollar as the functional currency. The Canadian operation has not entered into any material long-term contracts to purchase or sell goods and services. DeVry Group does not have any foreign exchange contracts or derivative financial instruments designed to mitigate changes in the value of the Canadian dollar. Because Canada-based assets and liabilities constitute less than 1.0% of DeVry Group’s overall assets and liabilities, changes in the value of Canada’s currency at rates experienced during the past several years are unlikely to have a material effect on DeVry Group’s results of operations or financial position. Based upon the current value of the net assets in the Canadian operations, a change of $0.01 in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would result in a translation adjustment of less than $100,000.

 

The financial position and results of operations of DeVry Group’s investment in DeVry Brasil are measured using the Brazilian Real as the functional currency. DeVry Brasil has not entered into any material long-term contracts to purchase or sell goods and services, other than the lease agreements on teaching facilities and contingencies relating to prior acquisitions. Currently, DeVry Group does not have any foreign exchange contracts or derivative financial instruments designed to mitigate changes in the value of the Brazilian Real. Since Brazilian-based assets constitute approximately 8.7% of DeVry Group’s overall assets, and its Brazilian liabilities constitute approximately 7.4% of overall liabilities, and because there are very few transactions between DeVry Brasil and DeVry Group’s U.S. based subsidiaries, changes in the value of Brazil’s currency at rates experienced during the past several years are unlikely to have a material effect on DeVry Group’s results of operations; however, the volatility of the Brazilian Real over the past 12 months resulted in a $15.7 million charge to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income over that time period and a charge of $4.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. Based upon the current value of the net assets in DeVry Brasil’s operations, a change of $0.01 in the value of the Brazilian Real relative to the U.S. dollar would result in a translation adjustment to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income of approximately $3.5 million.

 

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The interest rate on DeVry Group’s revolving credit facility is based upon prime rate or LIBOR for periods typically ranging from one to three months. Based upon borrowings of $50 million, a 100 basis point increase in short-term interest rates would result in approximately $0.5 million of additional annual interest expense. At March 31, 2014, DeVry Group had no outstanding borrowings under this facility. However, future investment opportunities and cash flow generated from operations may affect the level of outstanding borrowings and the effect of a change in interest rates.

 

DeVry Group’s customers are principally individual students enrolled in its various educational programs. Accordingly, concentration of accounts receivable credit risk is small relative to total revenues or accounts receivable.

 

DeVry Group’s cash is held in accounts at various large, financially secure depository institutions. Although the amount on deposit at a given institution typically will exceed amounts subject to guarantee, DeVry Group has not experienced any deposit losses to date, nor does management expect to incur such losses in the future.

 

ITEM 4 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officer Certificates

 

The required compliance certificates signed by the DeVry Group’s CEO and CFO are included as Exhibits 31 and 32 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to help ensure that all the information required to be disclosed in DeVry Group’s reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the applicable rules and forms.

 

DeVry Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, that DeVry Group’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that DeVry Group files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to DeVry Group’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first nine months of fiscal year 2014 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, DeVry Group’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II – Other Information

 

ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

DeVry Group is subject to lawsuits, administrative proceedings, regulatory reviews and investigations associated with financial assistance programs and other matters arising in the normal conduct of its business. The following is a description of pending legal matters that may be considered other than ordinary, routine and incidental to the business.

 

The Boca Raton Firefighters’ and Police Pension Fund filed an initial complaint (the “Shareholder Case”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 1, 2010 (Case No. 1:10-cv-07031). The initial complaint was filed on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased DeVry Group common stock between October 25, 2007, and August 13, 2010. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint (the “First Amended Complaint”) on March 7, 2011 alleging the same categories of claims in the initial complaint. The plaintiff claimed in the First Amended Complaint that DeVry Group, Daniel Hamburger and Richard M. Gunst violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by failing to disclose abusive and fraudulent recruiting and financial aid lending practices, thereby increasing DeVry Group’s student enrollment and revenues and artificially inflating DeVry Group’s stock price during the class period. On March 27, 2012, Judge John F. Grady dismissed the First Amended Complaint without prejudice, granting plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint by May 4, 2012.

 

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On May 4, 2012, the plaintiff again amended its allegations in the Shareholder Case (the “Second Amended Complaint”). The Second Amended Complaint alleged a longer putative class period of October 27, 2007 to August 11, 2011, but narrowed the scope of the alleged fraud significantly as compared to the previous two complaints. Plaintiff focused exclusively on DeVry Group’s practices for compensating student Admissions Advisors, alleging DeVry Group misled the market by failing to disclose that its compensation practices violated federal law and by making affirmative misrepresentations that DeVry Group complied with compensation regulations. The Second Amended Complaint was subsequently corrected to add an additional plaintiff, West Palm Beach Firefighters’ Pension Fund, in response to DeVry Group’s challenge of plaintiff’s standing to complain about statements DeVry Group made after plaintiff had purchased its stock.

 

On July 10, 2012, DeVry Group filed a Motion to Dismiss the corrected Second Amended Complaint. On March 27, 2013, Judge Grady granted DeVry Group’s Motion to Dismiss and entered judgment in favor of DeVry Group and against plaintiffs. Judge Grady thereby dismissed the case with prejudice; however, he reserved jurisdiction to examine the question of whether sanctions should be imposed against plaintiffs and/or their counsel. On April 26, 2013, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal of Judge Grady’s order of dismissal; however, the appeal has been stayed pending Judge Grady’s resolution of the sanctions issue. The issue of sanctions was fully briefed by the parties as of May 17, 2013, and remains under consideration by Judge Grady.

 

Although DeVry Group believes that the appeal of the dismissed Shareholder Case is without merit, the ultimate outcome of pending litigation is difficult to predict. DeVry Group will vigorously defend any appellate proceedings which may proceed in the Shareholder Case.

 

DeVry Group was served on October 11, 2013, with a complaint in a qui tam action (the “Qui Tam Action”) filed under the federal False Claims Act and the Minnesota False Claims Act by two former employees of a customer of DeVry Group’s subsidiary, Advanced Academics, Inc. (“AAI”). The lawsuit, United States and the State of Minnesota ex rel. Jill Bachmann and Shelley Madore v. Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools, Advanced Academics, Inc., DeVry Education Group Inc., and MN Virtual High School, CA No. 12-cv-01359-DWF-JSM, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The complaint was filed on June 6, 2012 but kept under seal in order for the federal and Minnesota state governments to investigate the allegations and determine if they wished to intervene in the action and pursue the alleged claims. Both the federal and Minnesota state governments declined to intervene, thereby giving the plaintiffs the choice to pursue the alleged claims on behalf of the state and federal governments. The complaint was unsealed and made public on June 6, 2013. The complaint relates to certain federal and state funding received by Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School. The complaint alleges that Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School received certain state and federal funding, which depended on the accurate reporting of student enrollment data. The complaint alleges that Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools and MN Virtual High School received more funding from the federal and state governments for special education and other services than they should have received in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as a result of allegedly non-compliant practices arising from the reporting of student enrollment data. The complaint further alleges that all schools of defendant Minnesota Transitions Charter Schools received over $75 million in total state and federal funding during fiscal years 2008 to 2010, a portion of which related to the school for which AAI provided services; plaintiff does not quantify what portion of the $75 million was obtained as a result of the allegedly fraudulent practices. The complaint alleges that AAI provided certain curriculum and other services to MN Virtual High School and operated the school. The only reference to DeVry Group in the complaint pertains to its status as the parent corporation to AAI. After DeVry Group and AAI filed a motion to dismiss, the Qui Tam Action was dismissed without prejudice pursuant to stipulation by and between plaintiffs, on the one hand, and DeVry Group and AAI on the other.

 

In April 2013, DeVry Group received a subpoena from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Illinois and a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) issued by the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Illinois subpoena concerns potential state law implications in the event violations of federal law took place. It was issued pursuant to the Illinois False Claims Act in connection with an investigation concerning whether the compensation practices of DeVry Group and certain of its affiliates are in compliance with the Incentive Compensation Ban of the Higher Education Act and requires DeVry Group to provide documents relating to these matters for periods on or after January 1, 2002. The Massachusetts demand was issued in connection with an investigation into whether DeVry Group caused false claims and/or false statements to be submitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts relating to student loans, guarantees, and grants provided to DeVry Group’s Massachusetts students and requires DeVry Group to answer interrogatories and to provide documents relating to periods on or after January 1, 2007.  The timing or outcome of the investigations, or their possible impact on DeVry Group’s business, financial condition or results of operations, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

On January 28, 2014, DeVry Group received a compulsory request for information from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) relating to the advertising, marketing, or sale of secondary or postsecondary educational products or services, or educational accreditation products or services. The stated nature and scope of the CID was to determine whether unnamed persons and/or entities have violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, as amended and, if so, whether further FTC action would be in the public interest. Since receiving the CID, DeVry Group has negotiated the scope of the requests with the FTC and has produced, and continues to produce, information responsive to the FTC’s requests. The timing or outcome of this matter, or its possible impact on DeVry Group’s business, financial condition or results of operations, cannot be predicted at this time.

 

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ITEM 1A — RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, and the update to the risk factors described below, the factors discussed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in DeVry Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, which could materially affect DeVry Group’s business, financial condition or future results, should be carefully considered.  Such risks are not the only risks facing DeVry Group.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to DeVry Group or that management currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

DeVry Group’s goodwill and intangible assets could potentially be impaired if our business results and financial condition were materially and adversely impacted by the risks and uncertainties.

 

At March 31, 2014, intangible assets from business combinations totaled $294.5 million, and goodwill totaled $517.1 million. Together, these assets equaled approximately 40% of total assets as of such date. If DeVry Group’s or any of its subsidiaries’ business results and financial condition were materially and adversely impacted, then such goodwill and intangible assets could be impaired, requiring possible write-off of up to $294.5 million of intangible assets and up to $517.1 million of goodwill.

 

The U.S. Department of Education may adopt gainful employment regulations that could cause programs at some of our institutions to lose access to federal financial aid.

 

As a provider of higher education, DeVry Group is subject to extensive regulation on both the federal and state levels.  In particular, the Higher Education Act, as amended and reauthorized, (“the Higher Education Act”) subjects DeVry Group’s U.S. degree granting institutions (DeVry University, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Carrington College and Carrington College California) and all other higher education institutions, including DeVry Group’s Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, that participate in the various federal student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (“Title IV”) to significant regulatory scrutiny.

 

To participate in Title IV, an institution must receive and maintain authorization by the appropriate state education agencies, be accredited by an accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”), and be certified by the ED as an eligible institution, which ultimately is accomplished through the execution of a Program Participation Agreement.  If any DeVry Group institution were to lose its Title IV eligibility the impacted institution would experience a dramatic and adverse decline in revenue and would be unable to continue business as it is currently conducted.  In the fall of 2009, the ED initiated the process of negotiated rulemaking with respect to Program Integrity Issues to consider changes to certain provisions of the regulations governing the Title IV Programs.  The resulting program integrity rules promulgated in October 2010 and June 2011 address fourteen topics, including standards for programs that prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation, commonly referred to as “gainful employment.”  On June 30, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in the case captioned Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (“APSCU”) v. Duncan, issued a decision that vacated most of the gainful employment regulations that the ED published on October 29, 2010 and June 13, 2011 and remanded those regulations to the ED for further action. On June 12, 2013, the ED announced its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to negotiate the rules vacated by the Court.  The negotiated rulemaking panel met three times, in September, November and December of 2013.  At its final meeting, the ED called for a vote on proposed rules developed over the course of the rulemaking sessions and the rulemaking panel failed to reach consensus.  Because the panel failed to agree on the proposed rule, the ED is free to issue proposed gainful employment regulations free of any of the recommendations agreed to within the negotiated rulemaking process. On March 27, 2014, the ED issued draft regulations on this subject under a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”).  The proposed rules are now open for public comment until May 27, 2014.  The ED is required to consider input it receives to the proposed rules and is expected to issue a final rule by October 31, 2014.  The expected final rule is expected to be effective July 1, 2015.  We cannot predict with certainty whether final regulations will be issued, the timeframe in which any such final regulations would be promulgated and become effective, the final content of such new regulations, whether they would be challenged in court, or whether they will withstand legal challenge.

 

If final rules are promulgated by the ED in a manner that withstands challenge, such new gainful employment regulations might, at the point that they become effective, limit the ability of our institutions to offer programs in their current form, at current pricing levels or to offer new programs in accordance with their operating and strategic plans.  Such programs may be determined to be out of compliance with new gainful employment regulations, and ultimately at risk for loss of Title IV funding, when they become effective.  In addition, programs that are in compliance with new gainful employment regulations when they become effective could later become at risk for loss of Title IV funding eligibility due to factors beyond our control, such as changes in the actual or deemed income level of our graduates, changes in student borrowing levels, increases in interest rates, changes in the federal poverty income level relevant for calculating discretionary income, changes in the percentage of our former students who are currently in default on their student loans, and other factors.  Our exposure to these external factors could reduce our ability to offer or continue certain types of programs for which there is market demand, and therefore could impact our ability to maintain or grow our business.

 

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ITEM 2 — UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period  Total Number of
Shares Purchased 
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number 
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs (1)
   Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
 (1) 
 
January 2014   -   $-    -   $- 
February 2014   -   $-    -    - 
March 2014   -   $-    -    - 
Total   -   $-    -   $79,723,028 

 

(1) On August 29, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to buy back up to $100 million of DeVry Group common stock through December 31, 2014.  The total remaining authorization under this share repurchase program was $79,723,028 million as of March 31, 2014. DeVry Group suspended repurchases under this plan in May 2013.

 

Other Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period  Total Number of
Shares Purchased 
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number 
of Shares

Purchased as 
Part of Publicly

Announced
Plans or

Programs (2) 
  Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
(2) 
January 2014   660   $36.78   N/A   N/A
February 2014   6,890   $37.54   N/A   N/A
March 2014   774   $40.41   N/A   N/A
Total   8,324   $37.75   N/A   N/A

 

(2) Represents shares delivered back to the issuer for payment of withholding taxes from employees for vesting restricted shares and shares swapped for payment on exercise of incentive stock options pursuant to the terms of DeVry Group’s stock incentive plans.

 

ITEM 4 — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit 10.1 Executive Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Robert Paul dated March 18, 2014 and effective July 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2014)
   
Exhibit 31 Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
   
Exhibit 32 Certification Pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code Section 1350

 

101.INSXBRL Instance Document

101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  DeVry Education Group Inc.
     
Date: May 5, 2014 By  /s/  Timothy J. Wiggins
    Timothy J. Wiggins
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) and Treasurer
     
Date: May 5, 2014 By /s/  Patrick J. Unzicker
    Patrick J. Unzicker
    Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting
Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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