10-Q 1 bpi033119form10-q.htm FORM 10-Q Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
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: 001-34272
___________________________________________________________________________

ZOVIO INC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________________________________________________________________
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
59-3551629
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

8620 Spectrum Center Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(858) 668-2586
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
____________________________________________________________________________

None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 ☒    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 ☒    No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
 
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☒
 
 
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐    No ☒

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
ZVO
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
The total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 3, 2019, was 30,217,370.


ZOVIO INC
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements.
ZOVIO INC
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except par value)
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
141,837

 
$
166,307

Restricted cash
19,252

 
18,619

Investments
2,236

 
2,068

Accounts receivable, net
32,069

 
27,015

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
19,796

 
18,255

Total current assets
215,190

 
232,264

Property and equipment, net
18,778

 
16,860

Operating lease assets
21,189

 
—

Goodwill and intangibles, net
12,050

 
12,441

Other long-term assets
7,968

 
7,927

Total assets
$
275,175

 
$
269,492

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
83,898

 
$
62,792

Deferred revenue and student deposits
55,943

 
63,834

Total current liabilities
139,841

 
126,626

Rent liability
9,842

 
3,183

Lease financing obligation
—

 
8,634

Other long-term liabilities
3,509

 
3,435

Total liabilities
153,192

 
141,878

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 14)

 

Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value:
 
 
 
20,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at both March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018
—

 
—

Common stock, $0.01 par value:
 
 
 
300,000 shares authorized; 65,579 and 65,289 issued, and 27,458 and 27,168 outstanding, at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
656

 
653

Additional paid-in capital
206,165

 
205,157

Retained earnings
423,350

 
429,992

Treasury stock, 38,121 shares at cost at March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively
(508,188
)
 
(508,188
)
Total stockholders' equity
121,983

 
127,614

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
275,175

 
$
269,492

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


3

ZOVIO INC
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Revenue
$
109,764

 
$
116,777

Costs and expenses:
 
 

Instructional costs and services
51,938

 
56,614

Admissions advisory and marketing
49,072

 
48,194

General and administrative
15,920

 
12,748

Restructuring and impairment expense (credit)
29

 
(159
)
Total costs and expenses
116,959

 
117,397

Operating loss
(7,195
)
 
(620
)
Other income, net
599

 
250

Loss before income taxes
(6,596
)
 
(370
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
46

 
(1,680
)
Net income (loss)
$
(6,642
)
 
$
1,310

Income (loss) per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.05

Diluted
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.05

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing income (loss) per share:
 
 
 
Basic
27,180

 
27,164

Diluted
27,180

 
27,564

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


4

ZOVIO INC
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Treasury
Stock
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
64,887

 
$
649

 
$
201,755

 
$
426,356

 
$
(505,764
)
 
$
122,996

Adoption of accounting standards (Note 2)
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,000
)
 
—

 
(1,000
)
Stock-based compensation
—

 
—

 
1,165

 
—

 
—

 
1,165

Stock issued under stock incentive plan, net of shares held for taxes
186

 
2

 
(707
)
 
—

 
—

 
(705
)
Net income
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,310

 
—

 
1,310

Balance at March 31, 2018
65,073

 
$
651

 
$
202,213

 
$
426,666

 
$
(505,764
)
 
$
123,766


 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Treasury
Stock
 
 
 
Shares
 
Par Value
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
65,289

 
$
653

 
$
205,157

 
$
429,992

 
$
(508,188
)
 
$
127,614

Stock-based compensation
—

 
—

 
1,706

 
—

 
—

 
1,706

Exercise of stock options
6

 
1

 
59

 
—

 
—

 
60

Stock issued under stock incentive plan, net of shares held for taxes
284

 
2

 
(757
)
 
—

 
—

 
(755
)
Net loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
(6,642
)
 
—

 
(6,642
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
65,579

 
$
656

 
$
206,165

 
$
423,350

 
$
(508,188
)
 
$
121,983

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


5

ZOVIO INC
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(6,642
)
 
$
1,310

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
 
 
 
Provision for bad debts
3,608

 
6,398

Depreciation and amortization
1,498

 
1,759

Deferred income taxes
115

 
4

Stock-based compensation
1,706

 
1,165

Noncash lease expense
4,299

 
—

Net gain on marketable securities
(146
)
 
(14
)
Reassessment of lease charges
29

 
(506
)
Loss on disposal or impairment of fixed assets
—

 
9

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(8,662
)
 
(15,331
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(3,286
)
 
977

Other long-term assets
(5
)
 
297

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
4,591

 
(4,332
)
Deferred revenue and student deposits
(7,890
)
 
(6,238
)
Operating lease liabilities
(5,599
)
 
—

Other liabilities
(42
)
 
(567
)
   Net cash used in operating activities
(16,426
)
 
(15,069
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(6,495
)
 
(809
)
Purchases of investments
(22
)
 
(747
)
Capitalized costs for intangible assets
(163
)
 
(265
)
Sale of investments
—

 
704

   Net cash used in investing activities
(6,680
)
 
(1,117
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
60

 
—

Tax withholdings on issuance of stock awards
(755
)
 
(705
)
   Net cash used in financing activities
(695
)
 
(705
)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(23,801
)
 
(16,891
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
190,584

 
205,526

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
$
166,783

 
$
188,635

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
 
 
 
Purchase of equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
5,026

 
$
235

Issuance of common stock for vested restricted stock units
$
2,488

 
$
1,957

 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
141,837

 
$
171,178

Restricted cash
19,252

 
17,457

Long-term restricted cash
5,694

 
—

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
166,783

 
$
188,635

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


6


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


1. Nature of Business
Zovio Inc (the “Company”), formerly known as Bridgepoint Education, Inc., is a Delaware corporation, and is an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers to deliver innovative, personalized solutions to help learners and leaders achieve their aspirations. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Ashford University®, is a regionally accredited academic institution, which delivers programs primarily online. Ashford University offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 12, 2019. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the periods presented.
Operating results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Restatement of Previously Issued Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company determined that such financial statements had errors related to: (i) revenue for the Corporate Full Tuition Grant (“FTG”) program portion of our student contracts which was misstated due to allowances that had not been properly determined and computational errors, which also resulted in misstatements in accounts receivable and its provision for bad debts, deferred revenue and student deposits, and the related income tax impact; and (ii) a misstatement in the adjustment to beginning retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 as a result of the incorrect adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (“ASC 606”) as it relates to the FTG program, resulting in a decrease of $2.2 million from the amount previously reported of $3.2 million to $1.0 million, as restated. As a result, the Company has restated the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2018 from amounts previously reported to correct these matters. Management considers the restatement to be immaterial.


7


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The following tables present a summary of the impact of the restatement corrections and other immaterial adjustments on the condensed consolidated statement of income (loss), the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows and the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The following tables are presented in thousands, except per share data:
 
As Reported
 
As Restated
 
Three Months Ended
Condensed consolidated statement of income (loss) data:
March 31, 2018
Revenue
$
118,031

 
$
116,777

Instructional costs and services
$
56,862

 
$
56,614

Total costs and expenses
$
117,645

 
$
117,397

Operating income (loss)
$
386

 
$
(620
)
Income (loss) before income taxes
$
636

 
$
(370
)
Income tax benefit
$
(1,661
)
 
$
(1,680
)
Net income
$
2,297

 
$
1,310

Basic income per share
$
0.08

 
$
0.05

Diluted income per share
$
0.08

 
$
0.05

 
As Reported
 
As Restated
 
Three Months Ended
Condensed consolidated statement of cash flow data:
March 31, 2018
Net income
$
2,297

 
$
1,310

Provision for bad debts
$
6,646

 
$
6,398

Accounts receivable
$
(15,849
)
 
$
(15,331
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
995

 
$
977

Deferred revenue and student deposits
$
(6,973
)
 
$
(6,238
)
Cash flows used in operating activities
$
(15,069
)
 
$
(15,069
)
 
As Reported
 
As Restated
Condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity data:
March 31, 2018
Retained earnings
$
430,964

 
$
426,666

Total stockholders’ equity
$
128,064

 
$
123,766

Comprehensive Income
The Company has no components of other comprehensive income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income.
Leases
In general, leases are evaluated and classified as either operating or finance leases. The Company does not have any finance leases. The Company’s operating leases are included in operating lease assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and noncurrent lease liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the date of adoption in calculating the present value of its existing


8


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is determined using the U.S. Treasury rate adjusted to account for the Company’s credit rating and the collateralized nature of operating leases. The operating lease asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line method over the term of the lease.
Leased property and equipment meeting certain criteria are capitalized as finance lease assets, and the present value of the related lease payments is recognized as a finance lease liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of capitalized leased assets is computed on the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the life of the related asset, whichever is shorter.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update 2018-15 (“ASU 2018-15”), Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which amends ASC 350-40 to address a customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement (“CCA”) that is a service contract. The amendments in ASU 2018-15 align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Specifically, ASU 2018-15 amends ASC 350 to include in its scope implementation costs of a CCA that is a service contract and clarifies that a customer should apply ASC 350-40 to determine which implementation costs should be capitalized in a CCA that is considered a service contract and which costs to expense. This guidance is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim fiscal periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption is permitted.  Entities are permitted to apply a retrospective or a prospective transition approach to adopt the guidance.  The Company has early adopted ASU 2018-15 for the period ended March 31, 2019, on a prospective basis.
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842) (“ASC 842”), as of January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach. The Company elected the ‘comparatives under ASC 840 option’ as a transitional practical expedient, which allows the Company to initially apply the new lease requirements at the effective date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. It also allows the Company to report comparative periods in the financial statements under previous GAAP under ASC 840, Leases (“ASC 840”). The Company also elected the ‘package of practical expedients’ permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed the Company to (i) carry forward the historical lease classification, (ii) forgo reassessment of whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, and (iii) forgo reassessment of whether any previously unamortized initial direct costs continue to meet the definition of initial direct costs under ASC 842. The Company did not, however, elect the ‘hindsight’ practical expedient to reassess the lease term for existing leases. Additionally, the Company does not have land easements, therefore, practical expedients pertaining to land easements is not applicable to the Company.
For the accounting policy practical expedients, the Company elected the short-term lease exemption, under which any lease less than 12 months is excluded from recognition on the balance sheet. The Company elected not to recognize right of use assets and lease liabilities for short term leases, which has a lease term of 12 months or less and does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. Additionally, the Company elected the non-separation of lease and non-lease components, and as a result, the Company does not need to account for lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent) separately from the non-lease components (e.g., common-area maintenance costs).
Upon adoption of ASC 842, the Company recorded right-of-use assets of approximately $25.2 million, with corresponding operating lease liabilities of approximately $31.8 million, respectively, with an offset to accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities of approximately $8.4 million to eliminate accrued rent and an offset to prepaid and other current assets of $1.7 million on the consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. The Company also derecognized an existing construction-in-process of approximately $8.6 million, with a corresponding debt obligation of the same amount for an asset under construction in build-to-suit lease arrangements. Upon completion of the related build-to-suit construction, the Company expects to recognize a new right-of-use asset and lease liability on its balance sheet for the associated lease.


9


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

There was no adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings upon adoption of the new standard given the nature of the impacts and the other transition practical expedients elected by the Company. Adoption of the standard impacted the Company’s previously reported results on January 1, 2019, as follows (in thousands):
 
Closing balance at December 31, 2018
 
Adjustments due to ASC 842
 
Opening balance at January 1, 2019
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Prepaid and other current assets
$
18,255

 
$
(1,745
)
 
$
16,510

Property and equipment, net
$
16,860

 
$
(8,634
)
 
$
8,226

Operating lease assets (1) (2)
$
—

 
$
25,165

 
$
25,165

Liabilities and stockholder’s equity
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
62,792

 
$
13,177

 
$
75,969

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities (3)
$
3,183

 
$
10,243

 
$
13,426

Lease financing obligation
$
8,634

 
$
(8,634
)
 
$
—

(1) 
Represents the reclassification of prepaid rent to operating lease assets
(2) 
Represents capitalization of operating lease assets
(3) 
Represents recognition of operating lease liabilities; Previously disclosed as rent liability for the portion related to accrued rent.

The standard did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated net earnings and had no material impact on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. For further information regarding leases, refer to Note 9, “Leases Obligations” to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3. Revenue Recognition
Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to the Company’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Determining whether a valid customer contract exists includes an assessment of whether amounts due under the contract are collectible. The Company performs this assessment at the beginning of every contract and subsequently thereafter if new information indicates there has been a significant change in facts and circumstances.
The Company’s contracts with customers generally include multiple performance obligations, which it identifies by assessing whether each good and service promised in the contract is distinct. For each performance obligation, the Company allocates the transaction price, including fixed and variable consideration, on the basis of the relative standalone selling prices of each good and service in the contract, which is determined using observable prices.
The following table presents the Company’s net revenue disaggregated based on the revenue source (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Tuition revenue, net
$
98,957

 
$
107,206

Digital materials revenue, net
6,857

 
6,028

Technology fee revenue, net
3,431

 
3,027

Other revenue, net (1)
519

 
516

Total revenue, net
$
109,764

 
$
116,777

(1) Primarily consists of revenues generated from services such as graduation fees, transcript fees, and other miscellaneous services.


10


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


The following table presents the Company’s net revenue disaggregated based on the timing of revenue recognition (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Over time, over period of instruction
$
90,714

 
$
102,301

Over time, full tuition grant (1)
12,422

 
8,325

Point in time (2)
6,628

 
6,151

Total revenue, net
$
109,764

 
$
116,777

(1)
Represents revenue generated from the FTG program.
(2)
Represents revenue generated from digital textbooks and other miscellaneous fees.

The Company operates under one reportable segment. The Company generates the majority of its revenue from tuition, technology fees, and digital materials related to students whose primary funding source is governmental funding. Tuition represents amounts charged for course instruction, and technology fees represent amounts charged for the students’ use of the technology platform on which course instruction is delivered. Digital materials fees represent amounts charged for the digital textbooks that accompany the majority of courses taught at Ashford University. With the exception of students attending courses within the three-week conditional admission, the majority of tuition and technology fees are recognized as revenue as control of the services is transferred to the student, which occurs over the applicable period of instruction. Similarly, the majority of digital materials fees are recognized as revenue when control of the product has been transferred to the student, which occurs when the student is granted unrestricted access to the digital textbook, generally, on the first day of the course. Revenue generated from students within the conditional admission period is deferred and recognized when the student matriculates into Ashford University, which occurs in the fourth week of the course.
Ashford University’s online students generally enroll in a program that encompasses a series of five to six-week courses that are taken consecutively over the length of the program. With the exception of those students under conditional admission and students enrolled under the FTG program, online students are billed on a payment period basis on the first day of a course. Students under conditional admission are billed for the payment period upon matriculation.
If a student's attendance in a class precedes the receipt of cash from the student's source of funding, the Company establishes an account receivable and corresponding deferred revenue in the amount of the tuition due for that payment period. Cash received either directly from the student or from the student's source of funding reduces the balance of accounts receivable due from the student. Financial aid from sources such as the federal government's Title IV programs pertains to the online student's award year and is generally divided into two disbursement periods. As such, each disbursement period may contain funding for up to four courses. Financial aid disbursements are typically received during the online student's attendance in the first or second course. Since the majority of disbursements cover more courses than for which a student is currently enrolled, the amount received in excess effectively represents a prepayment from the online student for up to four courses. At the end of each accounting period, the deferred revenue and related account receivable balances are reduced to present amounts attributable to the current course.
In certain cases, Ashford University provides scholarships to students who qualify under various programs. These scholarships are recognized as direct reductions of revenue consistent with the timing of recognition associated with the related performance obligations. Also, for some customers, we do not expect to collect 100% of the consideration to which we are contractually entitled and, as a result, those customers may receive discounts or price adjustments that, based on historical Company practice, represent implied price concessions and are accounted for as variable consideration. The majority of these price concessions relate to amounts charged to students for goods and services, which management has determined will not be covered by the student’s primary funding source (generally, government aid) and, as a result, the student will become directly financially responsible for them. The reduction in the transaction price that results from this estimate of variable consideration reflects the amount the Company does not expect to be entitled to in exchange for the goods and services it will transfer to the students, as determined using historical experience and current factors, and includes performing a constraint analysis. These


11


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

estimates of variable consideration are recorded as direct reductions of revenue consistent with the timing of recognition associated with the related performance obligation.
A portion of tuition revenue, technology fee revenue, and digital materials revenue is generated from contracts with students enrolled under the FTG program, which is a 12-month grant that, when combined with a corporate partner’s annual tuition assistance program, enables eligible students to earn their degree without incurring student loan debt. Students enrolled under this program are eligible to take up to ten undergraduate or eight graduate courses per 12-month grant period and must first utilize 100% of the funds awarded under their employer’s annual tuition assistance program before they can be awarded the FTG grant. The grants awarded by Ashford University under the FTG program are considered a material right, and, as such, the Company records a contract liability for a portion of the consideration received or due under these contracts. The contract liability is recorded in deferred revenue and student deposits on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, and further discussed in the deferred revenue section below. The standalone selling price of the material right is determined based on the observable standalone selling price of the courses. The transaction price in each FTG contract is allocated to this material right on a relative standalone selling price basis. The contract liability is recognized as revenue at the earlier of satisfaction of the future obligation or its expiration. Billing of products and services transferred under a FTG student contract generally occurs after the conclusion of a course. There are no material differences between the timing of the products and services transferred and the payment terms.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue consists of cash payments that are received or due in advance of the Company’s performance as well as deferrals associated with certain contracts that include a material right. Below are the opening and closing balances of deferred revenue from the Company’s contracts with customers (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Deferred revenue opening balance, January 1
$
21,768

 
$
22,001

Deferred revenue closing balance, March 31
22,308

 
25,796

Increase (Decrease)
$
540

 
$
3,795

For further information on deferred revenue and student deposits, refer to Note 7, “Other Significant Balance Sheet Accounts - Deferred Revenue and Student Deposits” and for further information on receivables, refer to Note 6, “Accounts Receivable, Net” within the condensed consolidated financial statements.
For the majority of the Company’s customers, payment for products and services is due at the beginning of each course. Under special circumstances, some customers may be offered non-interest bearing payment plan arrangements that can extend for up to a maximum of three years. These payment plan arrangements give rise to significant financing components. However, since the Company historically collects substantially all of the consideration to which it expects to be entitled under such payment plans within one year or less, the impact of these significant financing components is not material to any period presented.
The difference between the opening and closing balances of deferred revenue primarily results from the timing difference between the Company’s performance and the customer’s payment. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recognized $19.6 million of revenue that was included in the deferred revenue balance as of January 1, 2019. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized $20.6 million of revenue that was included in the deferred revenue balance as of January 1, 2018. Amounts reported in the closing balance of deferred revenue are expected to be recognized as revenue within the next 12 months.


12


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4. Restructuring and Impairment Expense (Credit)
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized approximately $29,000 and reversed $0.2 million, respectively, of restructuring and impairment expense (credit), which were comprised of the components described below.
The Company had previously vacated or consolidated properties in San Diego and Denver, and subsequently reassessed its obligations on non-cancelable leases. As a result of these reassessments, during the three months ended March 31, 2019 the Company recognized expense of approximately $29,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized a credit of $0.5 million as a reversal of the original estimated charge, which decreased restructuring charges relating to lease exit costs during that period.
There were no reorganization charges during the three months ended March 31, 2019. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized $0.3 million as restructuring and impairment expense relating to severance costs for wages and benefits, due to the Company’s execution of a strategic reorganization resulting in reductions in force. The reorganization was part of the Company’s overall reassessment of resources based upon benchmarking activities with competitors in the Company’s industry.
The following table summarizes the amounts recorded in the restructuring and impairment charges line item on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Severance costs
$
—

 
$
347

Lease exit and other costs (credits)
29

 
(506
)
Total restructuring and impairment expense (credit)
$
29

 
$
(159
)
The following table summarizes the changes in the Company's restructuring and impairment liability by type during the three months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
Student Transfer Agreement Costs
 
Severance Costs
 
Lease Exit and Other Costs
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
1,503

 
$
267

 
$
2,864

 
$
4,634

Restructuring and impairment expense
—

 
—

 
29

 
29

Payments and adjustments
(12
)
 
(159
)
 
(2,482
)
 
(2,653
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
$
1,491

 
$
108

 
$
411

 
$
2,010

The restructuring liability amounts are recorded within either the (i) accounts payable and accrued liabilities account, (ii) lease liability account or (iii) other long-term liabilities account on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.


13


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

5. Investments
The following tables summarize the fair value information for investments as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively (in thousands):
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Mutual funds
$
2,236

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,236

 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Mutual funds
$
2,068

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,068

The mutual funds in the tables above, represent the deferred compensation asset balances, which are considered to be trading securities. There were no transfers between level categories for investments during the periods presented. The Company’s money market securities are recorded in the cash and cash equivalents line item on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, and are classified as Level 1 securities.
There were no differences between amortized cost and fair value of investments as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. There were no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income during either the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
6. Accounts Receivable, Net
Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Accounts receivable
$
41,655

 
$
39,195

Less allowance for doubtful accounts
9,586

 
12,180

Accounts receivable, net
$
32,069

 
$
27,015

There is an immaterial amount of accounts receivable, net, at each balance sheet date with a payment due date of greater than one year.
The following table presents the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
Beginning
Balance
 
Charged to
Expense
 
Deductions (1)
 
Ending
Balance
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2019
$
12,180

 
$
3,608

 
$
(1,014
)
 
$
9,586

For the three months ended March 31, 2018
$
15,189

 
$
6,398

 
$
(2,258
)
 
$
11,049

(1)
Deductions represent accounts written off, net of recoveries.


14


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7. Other Significant Balance Sheet Accounts
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Prepaid expenses
$
4,217

 
$
5,445

Prepaid licenses
7,336

 
5,840

Income tax receivable
5,068

 
5,044

Prepaid insurance
2,366

 
1,077

Insurance recoverable
758

 
723

Other current assets
51

 
126

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
19,796

 
$
18,255

Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Buildings, build-to-suit
$
—

 
$
10,434

Furniture and office equipment
35,987

 
31,227

Software
8,357

 
7,517

Leasehold improvements
11,127

 
3,430

Vehicles
22

 
22

Total property and equipment
55,493

 
52,630

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(36,715
)
 
(35,770
)
Total property and equipment, net
$
18,778

 
$
16,860

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively.


15


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Goodwill and Intangibles, Net
Goodwill and intangibles, net, consists of the following (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2019
Definite-lived intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Amount
Capitalized curriculum costs
$
21,239

 
$
(19,583
)
 
$
1,656

Purchased intangible assets
15,850

 
(7,528
)
 
8,322

   Total definite-lived intangible assets
$
37,089

 
$
(27,111
)
 
$
9,978

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles
 
 
 
 
2,072

Total goodwill and intangibles, net
 
 
 
 
$
12,050

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
Definite-lived intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Amount
Capitalized curriculum costs
$
21,076

 
$
(19,338
)
 
$
1,738

Purchased intangible assets
15,850

 
(7,219
)
 
8,631

   Total definite-lived intangible assets
$
36,926

 
$
(26,557
)
 
$
10,369

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles
 
 
 
 
2,072

Total goodwill and intangibles, net
 
 
 
 
$
12,441

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, amortization expense was $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes the estimated remaining amortization expense as of each fiscal year ended below (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
Remainder of 2019
$
1,518

2020
1,844

2021
1,603

2022
1,304

2023
1,236

Thereafter
2,473

Total future amortization expense
$
9,978



16


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Accounts payable
$
6,146

 
$
5,313

Accrued salaries and wages
5,653

 
7,807

Accrued bonus
4,172

 
8,147

Accrued vacation
6,318

 
7,929

Accrued litigation and fees
8,041

 
8,041

Accrued expenses
34,176

 
17,692

Current leases payable
17,314

 
5,768

Accrued insurance liability
2,078

 
2,095

Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
83,898

 
$
62,792

Deferred Revenue and Student Deposits
Deferred revenue and student deposits consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Deferred revenue
$
22,307

 
$
21,768

Student deposits
33,636

 
42,066

Total deferred revenue and student deposits
$
55,943

 
$
63,834

Other Long-Term Liabilities
Other long-term liabilities consists of the following (in thousands):
 
As of
March 31, 2019
 
As of
December 31, 2018
Uncertain tax positions
$
869

 
$
865

Other long-term liabilities
2,640

 
2,570

Total other long-term liabilities
$
3,509

 
$
3,435

8. Credit Facilities
The Company has issued letters of credit that are collateralized with cash (held in restricted cash) in the aggregate amount of $16.4 million as of March 31, 2019. Included in this balance is $5.6 million of letters of credit recorded as long-term restricted cash as of March 31, 2019.
As part of its normal business operations, the Company is required to provide surety bonds in certain states in which the Company does business. The Company has entered into a surety bond facility with an insurance company to provide such bonds when required. As of March 31, 2019, the Company’s total available surety bond facility was $8.5 million and the surety had issued bonds totaling $8.1 million on the Company’s behalf under such facility.


17


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

9. Lease Obligations
Operating Leases
The Company leases various office facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa and Washington D.C, which expire at various dates through 2023. These facilities are used for academic operations, corporate functions, enrollment services and student support services. The Company does not have any leases other than its office facilities. All of the leases were classified as operating leases for the period ended March 31, 2019, and the Company does not have any finance leases. All of the leases, other than those that may qualify for the short-term scope exception of 12 months or less, are recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.
During 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement, which commenced in April 2019, consisting of approximately 131,000 square feet of office space located in Chandler, Arizona, which extends through 2030. The Company is involved in the construction and the build-out of the space, and as such, serves as the construction agent on behalf of the landlord. Under such arrangement, the Company has obligations to fund cost over-runs in its capacity as the construction agent. The Company has determined that under the new lease accounting standard ASC 842, it does not have control during construction, and as such has derecognized the asset and financing obligation as of January 1, 2019.
As of March 31, 2019, the lease amounts on the condensed consolidated balance sheets do not include any options to extend, nor any options for early termination. The Company’s lease agreements do not include rental payments adjusted periodically for inflation. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. The Company is not a party to any related party arrangements with respect to its lease transactions.
Some of the more significant assumptions and judgments in determining the amounts to capitalize include the determination of the discount rate, which is discussed below.
Rental expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $4.4 million, calculated in accordance with ASC 842, and rental expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $3.9 million, calculated in accordance with ASC 840.
The Company has agreements to sublease certain portions of its office facilities, with three active subleases and two subleases that have not yet commenced as of March 31, 2019. The Company’s subleases do not include any options to extend, nor any options for early termination. The Company’s subleases do not contain any residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. All of the subleases were classified as operating leases for the period ended March 31, 2019. The Company is subleasing approximately 28,400 square feet of office space in San Diego, California with a commitment to lease for 13 months and net lease payments of $0.8 million. In addition, the Company is subleasing approximately 72,000 square feet of office space in Denver, Colorado with a commitment to lease for 29 months and net lease payments of $2.7 million. Additionally, the Company has entered into a sublease agreement of approximately 21,000 square feet of office space in Denver, Colorado with a commitment to lease for 47 months and net lease payments of $2.3 million which is expected to commence on April 1, 2019. The Company has entered into a sublease agreement of approximately 20,800 square feet of office space in Denver, Colorado with a commitment to lease for 47 months and net lease payments of $1.8 million which is expected to commence on May 1, 2019. Sublease income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0.7 million (in accordance with ASC 842) and $0.7 million (in accordance with ASC 840), respectively.
The following tables represent the classification and amounts recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Operating lease assets:
 
Arizona
$
121

California
10,696

Colorado
10,119

Iowa
253

Total
$
21,189



18


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Operating lease liabilities:
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
17,168

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities
9,842

Total
$
27,010

The following table represents the classification and amounts recorded on the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Operating lease costs
$
4,299

Short-term lease cost
25

Variable lease costs (1)
111

Less: Sub-lease income
(723
)
Total net lease costs
$
3,712

(1)
Variable components of the lease payments such as utilities, taxes and insurance, parking and maintenance costs.

The following table represents the maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Remainder of 2019
$
14,524

2020
8,117

2021
4,245

2022
1,653

2023 and thereafter
415

Total minimum payments
$
28,954

Less: Interest (2)
(1,944
)
Total net lease liabilities (1) 
$
27,010

(1)
Operating lease payments do not include the lease arrangement in Chandler, Arizona of approximately $26.4 million, which has not commenced as of March 31, 2019; The lease is expected to commence in April 2019.
(2) 
Calculated using an appropriate interest rate for each individual lease.

The following table summarizes the future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements in effect at December 31, 2018 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
$
20,382

2020
9,936

2021
6,460

2022
3,826

2023
2,726

Thereafter
17,710

Total minimum payments
$
61,040



19


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The following table represents the lease term and discount rate used in the calculations as of March 31, 2019:
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):
 
  Operating leases
2.0 years

Weighted-average discount rate:
 
  Operating leases
6.3
%
The following table represents the cash flow information of operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
Operating cash flows from operating leases
$
5,599

10. Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.
Diluted income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders for the period by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, plus (ii) potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period, if the effect is dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities for the periods presented include stock options, unvested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and unvested performance stock units (“PSUs”).
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Numerator:
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(6,642
)
 
$
1,310

Denominator:
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
27,180

 
27,164

Effect of dilutive options and stock units
—

 
400

Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding
27,180

 
27,564

Income (loss) per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.05

Diluted
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.05

The following table sets forth the number of stock options, RSUs and PSUs, excluded from the computation of diluted income (loss) per share for the periods indicated below because their effect was anti-dilutive (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Stock options
1,957

 
2,870

RSUs and PSUs
528

 
11



20


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

11. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recorded $1.7 million and $1.2 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The related income tax benefit was $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company granted 1.1 million RSUs at a grant date fair value of $6.19 and 0.4 million RSUs vested. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company granted 0.7 million RSUs at a grant date fair value of $6.74 and 0.3 million RSUs vested.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, 0.4 million market-based PSUs were granted at a grant date fair value of $8.24 and no performance-based or market-based PSUs vested. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, no performance-based or market-based PSUs were granted and no performance-based or market-based PSUs vested.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, no stock options were granted and no stock options were exercised.
As of March 31, 2019, there was unrecognized compensation cost of $17.9 million related to unvested stock options, RSUs and PSUs.
12. Income Taxes
The Company uses the asset-liability method to account for taxes. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities result from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements that will result in income and deductions in future years.
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets if realization of such assets is more-likely-than-not. In order to make this determination, the Company evaluates a number of factors including the ability to generate future taxable income from reversing taxable temporary differences, forecasts of financial and taxable income or loss, and the ability to carryback certain operating losses to refund taxes paid in prior years. The cumulative loss incurred over the three-year period ended March 31, 2019 constituted significant negative objective evidence against the Company’s ability to realize a benefit from its federal deferred tax assets. Such objective evidence limited the ability of the Company to consider in its evaluation certain subjective evidence such as the Company’s projections for future growth. On the basis of its evaluation, the Company determined that its deferred tax assets were not more-likely-than-not to be realized and that a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets should continue to be maintained as of March 31, 2019.
The Company determines the interim income tax provision by applying the estimated effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year to income before income taxes for the period. In determining the full year estimate, the Company does not include the estimated impact of unusual and/or infrequent items, which may cause significant variations in the customary relationship between income tax expense and income before income taxes.
The Company’s current effective income tax rate that has been applied to normal, recurring operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was (1.8)%. The Company’s actual effective income tax rate after discrete items was (0.7)% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had $0.9 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, of which $0.7 million would impact the effective income tax rate if recognized. Although the Company cannot predict the timing of resolution with taxing authorities, if any, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total of the unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next twelve months due to settlement with tax authorities or expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. Although the Company believes the tax accruals provided are reasonable, the final determination of tax returns under review or returns that may be reviewed in the future and any related litigation could result in tax liabilities that materially differ from the Company’s historical income tax provisions and accruals.


21


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The Company has analyzed filing positions in all of the federal and state jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as all open tax years in these jurisdictions. The tax years 2001 through 2017 are open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.
The Company is currently under Internal Revenue Service audit examinations of the Company’s income and payroll tax returns for the years 2013 through 2016.
The Company’s income tax returns for the tax years ended December 31, 2013 through 2015 are under examination by the California Franchise Tax Board. The audit examination is currently on hold until the Internal Revenue Service audit examination has been completed.
13. Regulatory
The Company is subject to extensive regulation by federal and state governmental agencies and accrediting bodies. In particular, the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“Higher Education Act”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Department of Education (“Department”) subject the Company to significant regulatory scrutiny on the basis of numerous standards that institutions of higher education must satisfy in order to participate in the various federal student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (“Title IV programs”). Ashford University is regionally accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (“WSCUC”).
Department of Education Open Program Review of Ashford University
On July 7, 2016, Ashford University was notified by the Department that an off-site program review had been scheduled to assess Ashford University’s administration of the Title IV programs in which it participates. The off-site program review commenced on July 25, 2016 and covered students identified in the 2009-2012 calendar year data previously provided by Ashford University to the Department in response to a request for information received from the Multi-Regional and Foreign School Participation Division of the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid (“FSA”) on December 10, 2015, but may be expanded if the Department deems such expansion appropriate.
On December 9, 2016, the Department informed Ashford University that it intended to continue the program review on-site at Ashford University. The on-site program review commenced on January 23, 2017 and initially covered the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 award years, but may be expanded if the Department deems such expansion appropriate. To date, the Company has not received a draft report from the Department.
Program Participation Agreement for Ashford University
On April 23, 2018, Ashford University received an updated Program Participation Agreement from the Department. Based on the updated Program Participation Agreement, Ashford University is provisionally certified to participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs until March 31, 2021. Ashford University is required to submit its reapplication for continued certification by December 31, 2020.
WSCUC Accreditation of Ashford University
In July 2013, WSCUC granted Initial Accreditation to Ashford University for five years, until July 15, 2018. In December 2013, Ashford University effected its transition to WSCUC accreditation and designated its San Diego, California facilities as its main campus and its Clinton, Iowa campus as an additional location. As part of a continuing monitoring process, Ashford University hosted a visiting team from WSCUC on a special visit in April 2015. In July 2015, Ashford University received an Action Letter from WSCUC outlining the findings arising out of its visiting team's special visit. The Action Letter stated that the WSCUC visiting team found evidence that Ashford University continues to make progress in all six areas recommended by WSCUC in 2013. As part of its institutional review process, WSCUC commenced its comprehensive review of Ashford University with an off-site review in March 2018. Ashford University was notified on June 8, 2018 that the Ashford University Accreditation Visit originally scheduled for fall 2018 had been rescheduled to April 3-5, 2019. The visit took place as scheduled and the WSCUC evaluation team will provide a report of the visit. Ashford University will then prepare a response to the


22


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

report. The team report and Ashford University’s response are currently scheduled to be considered at the June 26-28, 2019 WSCUC Commission meeting.
WSCUC also visited Ashford University on May 1, 2019 to conduct its federally mandated, six month post-implementation review, due to the merger of University of the Rockies with and into Ashford University on October 31, 2018.
Additionally, Ashford University submitted a change in control application to WSCUC seeking approval to convert Ashford University to a not-for-profit California public benefit corporation. On March 6, 2019, WSCUC notified Ashford University that, pending the receipt and review of additional documents, WSCUC is deferring any action on the change of control application filed by Ashford University. WSCUC also scheduled a video conference visit for June 5, 2019, related to the conversion transaction. As part of the conversion transaction, Ashford University will separate from the Company.
GI Bill Benefits
On May 20, 2016, the Company received a letter from the Iowa Department of Education (“Iowa DOE”) indicating that, as a result of the planned closure of the Clinton Campus, the Iowa State Approving Agency (“ISAA”) would no longer continue to approve Ashford University’s programs for benefits under the GI Bill after June 30, 2016, and recommending Ashford University seek approval through the State Approving Agency of jurisdiction for any location that meets the definition of a “main campus” or “branch campus.” Ashford University began the process of applying for approval through the State Approving Agency in California (“CSAAVE”), and the Company subsequently disclosed that on June 20, 2016 it received a second letter from the Iowa DOE indicating that the Iowa DOE had issued a stay of the ISAA’s withdrawal of approval of Ashford University’s programs for GI Bill benefits effective immediately until the earlier of (i) 90 days from June 20, 2016 or (ii) the date on which CSAAVE completed its review and issued a decision regarding the approval of Ashford University in California. Ashford University received communication from CSAAVE indicating that additional information and documentation would be required before Ashford University’s application could be considered for CSAAVE approval. Ashford University subsequently withdrew the CSAAVE application and continued working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), the Iowa DOE and the ISAA to obtain continued approval of Ashford University’s programs for GI Bill benefits and to prevent any disruption of educational benefits to Ashford University’s veteran students.
On September 15, 2016, in response to a Petition for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (“Petition”) filed by Ashford University, the Iowa District Court for Polk County entered a written order (“Order”) staying the Iowa DOE’s announced intention to withdraw the approval of Ashford University as a GI Bill eligible institution until the entry of a final and appealable order and judgment in the action. On June 23, 2017, the Iowa District Court held a hearing on Ashford University’s Petition and on July 17, 2017, the Court ruled in favor of the Iowa DOE and denied the petition. Ashford University filed a motion for reconsideration of this ruling, which was denied on August 17, 2017. On August 23, 2017, Ashford University filed a Petition to Vacate or Modify the Iowa District Court’s July 17, 2017 ruling, based on material evidence, newly discovered, which could not with reasonable diligence have been previously discovered by Ashford University (“First Petition to Vacate”). On September 18, 2017, Ashford University appealed, inter alia, the July 17, 2017 ruling to the Iowa Supreme Court and posted an appeal bond, which stayed this matter pending resolution of Ashford University’s appeal. As a result, Ashford University’s approval was not withdrawn, and Ashford University’s programs remain approved for GI Bill purposes. The Assistant Attorney General handling this matter on behalf of the Iowa DOE also advised Ashford University that the Iowa DOE would take no action pending the post-ruling motions and appeal. On October 12, 2017, Judge Eliza Ovrom, the Iowa District Court Judge who issued the July 17, 2017 ruling, filed a Disclosure Statement revealing family ties to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Following motions by Ashford University for her recusal, Judge Ovrom recused herself from all further proceedings. On October 24, 2017, Ashford University filed with the Iowa Supreme Court a Petition to Vacate or, in the Alternative, for Limited Remand (“Second Petition to Vacate”), in which Ashford University argued that the July 17, 2017 ruling and all other material orders entered by Judge Ovrom should be vacated due to her previously undisclosed conflict of interest. On January 8, 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court remanded the Second Petition to Vacate to the District Court, where all proceedings in this matter were consolidated before Judge Michael Huppert. On April 26, 2018, Judge Huppert granted the Second Petition to Vacate and vacated all material rulings by Judge Ovrom, including the July 17, 2017 ruling, thus on June 21, 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a Procedendo stating that the appeal was concluded. Judge Huppert’s decision mooted the First Petition to Vacate and Ashford’s appeal of, inter alia, the July 17, 2017 ruling. The case is now proceeding on the merits de novo before a new judge.


23


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

On July 6, 2017, Ashford University received approval from the Arizona State Approving Agency (“ASAA”) to provide GI Bill benefits to its students. On September 13, 2017, the VA accepted the ASAA’s approval, subject to Ashford University's compliance with the approval requirements, and the University subsequently received a facility code from the VA. On November 9, 2017, the VA informed Ashford University that the ASAA had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that it has jurisdictional authority over Ashford University’s online programs. The VA stated that it intends to suspend payment of educational assistance and approval of new student enrollments and student re-enrollments for Ashford University’s online programs in 60 days unless corrective action was taken.
On November 17, 2017, Ashford University filed a petition for review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit challenging the VA’s actions. In response to that petition, the VA agreed to stay the actions with respect to the suspension and reenrollment it had announced on November 9, 2017 through the entry of judgment in the Federal Circuit case, on the condition that Ashford University request and submit an application for approval to CSAAVE on or before January 8, 2018. Ashford University submitted an application to CSAAVE for approval on January 5, 2018. On February 21, 2018, CSAAVE provided notice of its intention not to act on Ashford University’s initial application for approval for the training of veterans and other eligible persons. The notice directed Ashford University to request approval of its application by the VA. Ashford University continues to work in good faith with the VA while its petition for review remains pending with the Federal Circuit. In keeping with this commitment, Ashford University agreed, at the VA’s request, to submit another application to CSAAVE. Ashford University filed that additional application on November 19, 2018. On December 14, 2018, however, CSAAVE again informed Ashford University that it did not intend to act on Ashford University’s application, and again indicated that Ashford University could request approval of its application directly from the VA.
The parties completed all briefing for the petition for review on May 3, 2019 and the Court may schedule the matter for oral argument.
14. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
From time to time, the Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. When the Company becomes aware of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. In accordance with GAAP, the Company records loss contingencies in its financial statements only for matters in which losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated, the best estimate within that range should be accrued. If no estimate is better than another, the Company records the minimum estimated liability in the range. If the loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the Company discloses the nature of the specific claim if the likelihood of a potential loss is reasonably possible and the amount involved could be material. The Company continuously assesses the potential liability related to the Company’s pending litigation and revises its estimates when additional information becomes available. Below is a list of material legal proceedings to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party.
California Attorney General Investigation of For-Profit Educational Institutions
In January 2013, the Company received from the Attorney General of the State of California (“CA Attorney General”) an Investigative Subpoena relating to the CA Attorney General’s investigation of for-profit educational institutions. Pursuant to the Investigative Subpoena, the CA Attorney General requested documents and detailed information for the time period March 1, 2009 to the date of the Investigative Subpoena. On July 24, 2013, the CA Attorney General filed a petition to enforce certain categories of the Investigative Subpoena related to recorded calls and electronic marketing data. On September 25, 2013, the Company reached an agreement with the CA Attorney General to produce certain categories of the documents requested in the petition and stipulated to continue the hearing on the petition to enforce from October 3, 2013 to January 9, 2014. On January 13, 2014 and June 19, 2014, the Company received additional Investigative Subpoenas from the CA Attorney General, each requesting additional documents and information for the time period March 1, 2009 through each such date.
Representatives from the Company met with representatives from the CA Attorney General’s office on several occasions to discuss the status of the investigation, additional information requests, and specific concerns related to possible unfair business practices in connection with the Company’s recruitment of students and debt collection practices.


24


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

The parties also discussed a potential resolution involving injunctive relief, other non-monetary remedies and a payment to the CA Attorney General and in the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an expense of $8.0 million related to the cost of resolving this matter.
The parties did not reach a resolution and on November 29, 2017, the CA Attorney General filed suit against Ashford University and Bridgepoint Education.
The Company intends to vigorously defend this case and emphatically denies the allegations made by the CA Attorney General that it ever deliberately misled its students, falsely advertised its programs, or in any way was not fully accurate in its statements to investors. However, the outcome of this legal proceeding is uncertain at this point because of the many questions of fact and law that may arise. At present, the Company cannot reasonably estimate any updated range of loss for this action based on currently available information and as such, the prior accrual of $8.0 million remains.
Massachusetts Attorney General Investigation of Bridgepoint Education, Inc. and Ashford University
On July 21, 2014, the Company and Ashford University received from the Attorney General of the State of Massachusetts (“MA Attorney General”) a Civil Investigative Demand (“MA CID”) relating to the MA Attorney General’s investigation of for-profit educational institutions and whether the university’s business practices complied with Massachusetts consumer protection laws. Pursuant to the MA CID, the MA Attorney General has requested from the Company and Ashford University documents and information for the time period January 1, 2006 to present. The Company is cooperating with the investigation and cannot predict the eventual scope, duration or outcome of the investigation at this time. The Company has not accrued any liability associated with this action.
Department of Justice Civil Investigative Demand
On July 7, 2016, the Company received from the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) a Civil Investigative Demand (“DOJ CID”) related to the DOJ's investigation concerning allegations that the Company may have misstated Title IV refund revenue or overstated revenue associated with private secondary loan programs and thereby misrepresented its compliance with the 90/10 rule of the Higher Education Act. Pursuant to the DOJ CID, the DOJ has requested from the Company documents and information for fiscal years 2011 to 2015. The Company is cooperating with the DOJ and cannot predict the eventual scope, duration or outcome of the investigation at this time. The Company has not accrued any liability associated with this action.
Shareholder Derivative Actions
In re Bridgepoint, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Action
On July 24, 2012, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in California Superior Court by Alonzo Martinez. In the complaint, the plaintiff asserts a derivative claim on the Company’s behalf against certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint is captioned Martinez v. Clark, et al. and generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties of candor, good faith and loyalty, wasted corporate assets and were unjustly enriched. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary relief and disgorgement on behalf of the Company, as well as other equitable relief and attorneys’ fees. On September 28, 2012, a substantially similar shareholder derivative complaint was filed in California Superior Court by David Adolph-Laroche. In the complaint, the plaintiff asserts a derivative claim on the Company’s behalf against certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint is captioned Adolph-Laroche v. Clark, et al. and generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties of candor, good faith and loyalty, wasted corporate assets and were unjustly enriched.
On October 11, 2012, the Adolph-Laroche action was consolidated with the Martinez action and the case is now captioned In re Bridgepoint, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Action. A consolidated complaint was filed on December 18, 2012 and the defendants filed a motion to stay the case while the underlying securities class action is pending. The motion was granted by the Court on April 11, 2013. A status conference was held on October 10, 2013, during which the Court ordered the stay continued for the duration of discovery in the underlying securities class action, but permitted the plaintiff to receive copies of any discovery responses served in the underlying securities class action. The stay was lifted following the settlement of the underlying securities class action and all defendants filed demurrers on October 3, 2016, which were granted with leave to amend on October 6, 2017. On October 17, 2017, the plaintiff submitted a litigation demand to the Company's Board of


25


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Directors, which appointed a working group to evaluate the demand. The Board refused the demand and the Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint on October 3, 2018. All defendants filed demurrers on December 21, 2018, which are currently under submission with the Court. Based on information available to the Company at present, it cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action.
Reardon v. Clark, et al.
On March 18, 2015, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California in San Diego. The complaint asserts derivative claims on the Company’s behalf against certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint is captioned Reardon v. Clark, et al. and generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties of candor, good faith and loyalty, wasted corporate assets and were unjustly enriched. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary relief and disgorgement, as well as other equitable relief and attorneys’ fees. Following the dismissal of the underlying Zamir securities class action and pursuant to a stipulation among the parties, on May 10, 2018, the Court ordered the case stayed while the Company’s Board of Directors evaluates a litigation demand submitted by the plaintiff. Based on information available to the Company at present, it cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action.
Larson v. Hackett, et al.
On January 19, 2017, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California in San Diego. The complaint asserts derivative claims on the Company's behalf against certain of its current and former officers and directors. The complaint is captioned Larson v. Hackett, et al. and generally alleges that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties of candor, good faith and loyalty, wasted corporate assets and were unjustly enriched. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary relief and disgorgement, as well as other equitable relief and attorneys’ fees. Following the dismissal of the underlying Zamir securities class action and pursuant to a stipulation among the parties, on May 10, 2018, the Court ordered the case stayed while the Company’s Board of Directors evaluates a litigation demand submitted by the plaintiff. Based on information available to the Company at present, it cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action.
Stein Securities Class Action
On March 8, 2019, a securities class action complaint (the “Stein Complaint”) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California by Shiva Stein naming the Company, Andrew Clark, Kevin Royal, and Joseph D’Amico as defendants (the “Defendants”). The Stein Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and materially misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts regarding the Company's business, operations and prospects, specifically that the Company had applied an improper revenue recognition methodology to students enrolled in the FTG program. The Stein Complaint asserts a putative class period stemming from March 8, 2016 to March 7, 2019. The Stein Complaint alleges violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The Stein Complaint has not yet been served.
The Company is evaluating the Stein Complaint and intends to vigorously defend against the Stein Complaint. However, because of the many questions of fact and law that may arise, the outcome of the legal proceeding is uncertain at this point. Based on information available to the Company at present, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action the Stein Complaint.
SEC Informal Inquiry
On March 27, 2019, the Company received notice that the SEC Division of Enforcement began an informal inquiry regarding the Company, requesting various documents relating to the Company’s accounting practices, including FTG revenue recognition, receivables and other matters relating to the Company’s previously disclosed intention to restate its condensed financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Based on these requests, the eventual scope, duration and outcome of the inquiry cannot be predicted at this time. We are cooperating fully with the SEC in connection with the inquiry.


26


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

15. Subsequent Events
Acquisition of FullStack Academy
On April 1, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition (the “Fullstack Acquisition”) of Fullstack Academy, Inc. (“Fullstack”), a coding academy headquartered in New York, New York, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Fullstack Merger Agreement”). As of March 31, 2019, Fullstack had a carrying value of approximately $6.9 million of assets, excluding goodwill. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the business combination accounting considerations, including the consideration transferred and the initial purchase price allocation.
At the closing of the Fullstack Acquisition, the equityholders of Fullstack received consideration consisting of $17.5 million in cash, less purchase price adjustments of approximately $1.1 million (the “Closing Cash Consideration”), and an aggregate of approximately 2,443,260 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to escrow adjustments. If, as and when payable under the Fullstack Merger Agreement, the equityholders of Fullstack will be entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Contingent Consideration”). The Contingent Consideration will become issuable, subject to the terms and conditions of the Fullstack Merger Agreement, upon the final determination of the achievement of certain employee retention, revenue and performance milestones in 2019 and 2020. The Fullstack Merger Agreement contains an employee incentive retention pool of up to $5.0 million in cash, payable at times over a two-year period.
The assets and liabilities of Fullstack will be recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets at their preliminary estimated fair values as of April 1, 2019, the acquisition date, and Fullstack’s results of operations will be included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) from that date. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded acquisition-related expenses of $0.6 million in general and administrative on the condensed consolidated statement of income (loss), associated with the Fullstack Acquisition. The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The initial accounting and determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities resulting from the Fullstack Acquisition was incomplete at the time of this filing due to the timing of the closing of the Fullstack Acquisition in relation to the Company’s required filing deadline for this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”).
Acquisition of TutorMe
On April 3, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition (the “TutorMe Acquisition”) of TutorMe.com, Inc. (“TutorMe”), a provider of on-demand tutoring and online courses, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “TutorMe Merger Agreement”). As of March 31, 2019, TutorMe had a carrying value of approximately $0.7 million of assets, excluding goodwill. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the business combination accounting considerations, including the consideration transferred and the initial purchase price allocation.
At the closing of the TutorMe acquisition, in exchange for all outstanding shares of TutorMe capital stock and other rights to acquire or receive capital stock of TutorMe, the Company (i) paid a total of approximately $2.8 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, (ii) issued a total of 309,852 shares of the Company’s common stock, and (iii) assumed all issued and outstanding options of TutorMe (the “Assumed Options”), of which a total of 231,406 shares of the Company’s common stock are underlying the Assumed Options that are subject to certain time-based vesting requirements and a total of 79,199 shares of the Company’s common stock are underlying the Assumed Options that are subject to certain performance-based vesting requirements. In addition, as part of the transactions contemplated by the TutorMe Merger Agreement, the Company (x) paid a total of approximately $1.1 million in cash to certain service providers of TutorMe as a transaction bonus and (y) issued a total of 293,621 PSUs to certain continuing service providers of TutorMe pursuant to the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended) and a form restricted stock unit agreement.
The assets and liabilities of TutorMe will be recorded on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets at their preliminary estimated fair values as of April 1, 2019, the acquisition date, and TutorMe’s results of operations will be included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) from that date. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded acquisition-related expenses of $0.3 million in general and administrative on the condensed consolidated statement of income (loss), associated with the TutorMe Acquisition. The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The initial accounting and determination of the fair values of the


27


ZOVIO INC
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

assets and liabilities resulting from the TutorMe Acquisition was incomplete at the time of this filing due to the timing of the closing of the acquisition in relation to the Company’s required filing deadline for this Form 10-Q.
The Company evaluated events occurring between the end of its most recent fiscal year and the date of filing, noting no additional subsequent events.


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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this report and reflects the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. For additional information regarding our financial condition and results of operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (“Form 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 12, 2019, as well as our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of the Form 10-K.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, in this report the terms “Zovio,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Zovio Inc, a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned and indirect subsidiaries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding future events, future financial and operating results, strategies, expectations, the competitive environment, regulation and the availability of financial resources, including, without limitation, statements regarding:
•
our ability to successfully convert Ashford University to a not-for-profit university;
•
Ashford University's ability to continue to operate as an accredited institution subject to the requirements of the State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (the “BPPE”);
•
our ability to comply with the extensive and continually evolving regulatory framework applicable to us and Ashford University, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“Higher Education Act”), and its implementing regulations, the gainful employment rules and regulations, the “defense to repayment” regulations, state laws and regulatory requirements, and accrediting agency requirements;
•
projections, predictions and expectations regarding our business, financial position, results of operations and liquidity, and enrollment trends at Ashford University;
•
our ability to obtain continued approval of Ashford’s programs for GI Bill benefits through the Iowa State Approving Agency (“ISAA”), the Arizona State Approving Agency (“ASAA”), or the California State Approving Agency for Veteran's Education (“CSAAVE”), and to prevent any disruption of educational benefits to Ashford’s veteran students;
•
the ability of Ashford to continue participating in the U.S. Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program for active duty military personnel and to prevent any disruption of educational benefits to Ashford’s active duty military students;
•
the outcome of various lawsuits, claims and legal proceedings;
•
initiatives focused on student success, retention and academic quality;
•
expectations regarding the adequacy of our cash and cash equivalents and other sources of liquidity for ongoing operations;
•
expectations regarding capital expenditures;
•
our anticipated seasonal fluctuations in operational results;
•
management's goals and objectives; and
•
other similar matters that are not historical facts.


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Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions, as well as statements in the future tense.
Forward-looking statements should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time such statements are made and the current good faith beliefs, expectations and assumptions of management regarding future events. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of some of these risks and uncertainties, see Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” as well as the discussion of such risks and uncertainties contained in our other filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-K.
All forward-looking statements in this report are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any changes in our assumptions or expectations or any other factors affecting such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update or revise one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
Overview
Zovio Inc is an education technology services company that partners with higher education institutions and employers to deliver innovative, personalized solutions to help learners and leaders achieve their aspirations. We were formerly known as Bridgepoint Education, Inc., and was a provider of postsecondary education services. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ashford University® is a regionally accredited academic institution, which delivers programs primarily online. Ashford University offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs primarily online. As of March 31, 2019, Ashford University offered approximately 1,250 courses and approximately 90 degree programs.
Key operating data
In evaluating our operating performance, management focuses in large part on our (i) revenue, (ii) operating income and (iii) period-end enrollment at Ashford University. The following table, which should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report, presents our key operating data for each of the periods presented (in thousands, except for enrollment data):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
 
Revenue
$
109,764

 
$
116,777

Operating loss
$
(7,195
)
 
$
(620
)
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Other Data:
 
 
 
Period-end enrollment (1)
39,095

 
41,523

(1)
We define period-end enrollment as the number of active students on the last day of the financial reporting period. A student is considered active if the student has attended a class within the prior 15 days or is on an institutionally-approved break not to exceed 45 days, unless the student has graduated or provided notice of withdrawal, or for new students who have completed their third week of attendance, and posted attendance in the fourth week.
Key enrollment trends
Enrollment at Ashford University decreased 5.8% to 39,095 students at March 31, 2019 as compared to 41,523 students at March 31, 2018. Enrollment increased by 2.5% since the end of the preceding fiscal year, from 38,153 students at December 31, 2018 to 39,095 students at March 31, 2019. As described below, we generally experience a seasonal increase in


30

new enrollments during the first quarter of each year, subsequent to holiday break.
We believe the decline in enrollment is partially attributable to a general strengthening of the economy which drives lower unemployment and increased competition, as well as a general weakening in the overall education industry due in large part to increased regulatory scrutiny.
We also believe new enrollment has been impacted by the deliberate changes in our marketing strategy in which we significantly reduced our spending in the affiliate channel and reinvested some of those savings in other channels. We have been implementing this updated marketing strategy that reflects a shift in our advertising mix, in an effort to attract prospective students who have a higher probability of being academically successful, with the goal of making meaningful improvements to the efficiency of our advertising, admissions and marketing spend.
We continue to focus our efforts on first stabilizing and then restarting enrollment growth. Expanding the course offerings with new programs will be one factor that we believe will contribute to our goal of stabilizing enrollment and then achieving new enrollment growth, and over time total enrollment growth.
One area in which we are experiencing positive enrollment trends is within the Education Partnerships programs with various employers. These programs include the Corporate Full Tuition Grant (“FTG”) program, which provides companies with the opportunity to offer their employees a way to pursue and complete a college degree without incurring any student debt. Enrollments in the Education Partnerships programs account for approximately 25% of our total enrollment as of March 31, 2019. Revenue derived from Education Partnerships is cash pay, and is therefore not considered federal student aid for purposes of calculations under the 90/10 rule.
Trends and uncertainties regarding revenue and continuing operations
Acquisition of FullStack Academy
On April 1, 2019, the Company acquired Fullstack Academy, Inc. (“Fullstack”), a Delaware corporation, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Fullstack Merger Agreement”) entered into by the parties on March 12, 2019 (the “Fullstack Acquisition”). Following the Fullstack Acquisition, Fullstack became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Fullstack Merger Agreement, (i) at the closing of the Fullstack Acquisition, the equityholders of Fullstack received consideration consisting of $17.5 million in cash, less purchase price adjustments of approximately $1.1 million (the “Closing Cash Consideration”), and an aggregate of approximately 2,443,260 shares of our common stock (the “Closing Stock Consideration” and together with the Closing Cash Consideration, the “Closing Consideration”), subject to escrow adjustments, and (ii) if, as and when payable under the Fullstack Merger Agreement, the equityholders of Fullstack will be entitled to receive up to 2,250,000 shares of our common stock (the “Contingent Consideration” and together with the Closing Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”). The Contingent Consideration will become issuable, subject to the terms and conditions of the Fullstack Merger Agreement, upon the final determination of the achievement of certain employee retention, revenue and performance milestones in 2019 and 2020. The Merger Consideration is payable in a mix of cash and shares of our common stock, with (i) holders of Fullstack capital stock and other rights to acquire or receive capital stock of Fullstack (“Fullstack Securityholders”) who are not accredited investors receiving 100% of their consideration in cash and (ii) Fullstack Securityholders who are accredited investors receiving their consideration in a mix of cash and shares of our common stock.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Fullstack Merger Agreement, the Closing Cash Consideration is subject to customary adjustments following the closing of the Fullstack Acquisition, including a working capital adjustment to the extent such amount is greater or less than the estimated net working capital amount determined at the closing of the Fullstack Acquisition. The Fullstack Merger Agreement contains an employee incentive retention pool of up to $5.0 million in cash, payable at times over a two-year period.
Certain portions of the Merger Consideration (both cash and shares of Company Common Stock) will be held in escrow to secure potential adjustments to the Closing Cash Consideration and the indemnification obligations of certain Fullstack Securityholders. The issuance of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Fullstack Merger Agreement will be made solely to accredited investors and thus in reliance on one or more exemptions or exclusions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and the exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws.


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The Fullstack Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of Fullstack and the Company, and the Fullstack Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
A copy of the Fullstack Merger Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 10-Q.
Acquisition of TutorMe
On April 3, 2019, the Company, acquired TutorMe.com, Inc., a California corporation (“TutorMe”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “TutorMe Merger Agreement”) entered into by the parties on April 3, 2019 (“TutorMe Acquisition”). TutorMe is an online education platform that provides on-demand tutoring and online courses. Following the TutorMe Acquisition, TutorMe became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
Under the terms of the TutorMe Merger Agreement, in exchange for all outstanding shares of TutorMe capital stock and other rights to acquire or receive capital stock of TutorMe, the Company (i) paid a total of approximately $2.8 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, (ii) issued a total of 309,852 shares of our common stock, and (iii) assumed all issued and outstanding options of TutorMe (the “Assumed Options”), of which a total of 231,406 shares of our common stock are underlying the Assumed Options that are subject to certain time-based vesting requirements and a total of 79,199 shares of our common stock are underlying the Assumed Options that are subject to certain performance-based vesting requirements. In addition, as part of the transactions contemplated by the TutorMe Merger Agreement, the Company (x) paid a total of approximately $1.1 million in cash to certain service providers of TutorMe as a transaction bonus and (y) issued a total of 293,621 performance-based restricted stock units to certain continuing service providers of TutorMe pursuant to the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended) and a form restricted stock unit agreement.
A portion of the total cash merger consideration was retained by the Company as partial security for the indemnification obligations of the TutorMe shareholders under the TutorMe Merger Agreement. The issuance of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the TutorMe Merger Agreement has been made solely to accredited investors and thus in reliance on one or more exemptions or exclusions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and the exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws. The TutorMe Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of TutorMe and the Company.
A copy of the TutorMe Merger Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Form 10-Q.
Proposed conversion transactions
Ashford University submitted a change in control application to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (“WSCUC”) seeking approval to convert Ashford University to a not-for-profit California public benefit corporation. On March 6, 2019, WSCUC notified Ashford University that, pending the receipt and review of additional documents, WSCUC is deferring any action on the change of control application filed by Ashford University. WSCUC is also scheduling a video conference visit for June 5, 2019, related to the conversion transaction. As part of the conversion transaction, Ashford University will separate from the Company. Following the proposed conversion and separation of Ashford University, the Company plans to operate as a technology services provider that would provide certain services to the nonprofit entity and potentially, in the future, to other customers. The transactions described above are collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Proposed Transaction.”
The Company and Ashford University are continuing to finalize the terms of the Proposed Transaction and review various federal, state and other regulatory requirements that could impact the viability and timing of the Proposed Transaction. The Company and Ashford University's board of trustees are taking steps to protect Ashford University's independence in considering the Proposed Transaction in order to enable Ashford University to act in the best interests of Ashford University and its students.
Restructuring and impairment charges
We have implemented various restructuring plans to better align our resources with our business strategy and the related charges are recorded in the restructuring and impairment expense line item on our condensed consolidated statements of income (loss). Changes to these estimates could have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. For information regarding the restructuring and impairment charges recorded, refer to Note 4, “Restructuring and Impairment Expense” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.


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Valuation allowance
We recognize deferred tax assets if realization of such assets is more-likely-than-not. In order to make this determination, we evaluate factors including the ability to generate future taxable income from reversing taxable temporary differences, forecasts of financial and taxable income or loss. The cumulative loss incurred over the three-year period ended March 31, 2019 constituted significant negative objective evidence against our ability to realize a benefit from our federal deferred tax assets. Such objective evidence limited our ability to consider in our evaluation other subjective evidence such as our projections for future growth. On the basis of our evaluation, we determined that our deferred tax assets were not more-likely-than-not to be realized and that a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets should continue to be maintained as of March 31, 2019.
Recent Regulatory Developments
Negotiated Rulemaking and Other Executive Action
On July 31, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education (“Department”) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee (the “Rulemaking Committee”) to prepare proposed regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. In September 2018, interested parties commented at three public hearings on the topics suggested by the Department in the notice, and suggested additional topics for consideration for action by the Rulemaking Committee.
The Rulemaking Committee met from January through March of 2019 on topics related to accreditation, competency-based education, state approval of online programs, and distance learning. The Rulemaking Committee reached consensus on all topics and the Department may issue proposed regulations based on that consensus by November 1, 2019 to be effective on July 1, 2020.
For additional information regarding negotiated rulemaking, see also the “Gainful Employment” and “Defense to Repayment” sections below.
Gainful Employment
In October 2014, the Department published gainful employment regulations impacting programs required to prepare graduates for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Almost all academic programs offered by Title IV-participating private sector institutions of higher education must prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. The gainful employment regulations became effective July 1, 2015, with certain institutional disclosure requirements which became effective early 2017. The gainful employment regulations have a framework with three components:
•
Certification: Institutions must certify that each of their gainful employment programs meet state and federal licensure, certification and accreditation requirements.
•
Accountability Measures: To maintain Title IV eligibility, gainful employment programs will be required to meet minimum standards for the debt burden versus the earnings of their graduates.
◦
Pass: Programs whose graduates have annual loan payments less than 8% of total earnings or less than 20% of discretionary earnings.
◦
Zone: Programs whose graduates have annual loan payments between 8% and 12% of total earnings or between 20% and 30% of discretionary earnings.
◦
Fail: Programs whose graduates have annual loan payments greater than 12% of total earnings and greater than 30% of discretionary earnings.
Programs that fail in two out of any three consecutive years or are in the zone for four consecutive years will be disqualified from participation in the Title IV programs.
•
Transparency: Institutions will be required to make public disclosures regarding the performance and outcomes of their gainful employment programs. The disclosures will include information such as costs, earnings, debt and completion rates.


33

The accountability measures will typically weigh a calculated debt burden from graduates who completed their studies three and four years prior to the measuring academic year and earnings from the most recent calendar year prior to the conclusion of the measuring academic year. Thus, for the 2014-2015 academic year, the two-year cohort will include graduates from the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years and earnings for those graduates from calendar year 2014.
On October 20, 2016, we received draft debt-to-earnings rates and certain underlying data from the Department for the first gainful employment measurement year. On January 8, 2017, we received Ashford University’s final debt-to-earnings rates for the first gainful employment measurement year. Based on the final rates, none of Ashford University’s programs were determined to fail. Two of our current programs, the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education/Administration, were determined to be in the zone. As of March 31, 2019, approximately 3.2% of Ashford University’s students were enrolled in the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and approximately 8.4% of Ashford University’s students were enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education/Administration. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we derived revenue of approximately $4.4 million from the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and approximately $11.9 million from the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education/Administration.
The fact that none of our programs were determined to fail and only two of our current programs were determined to be in the zone is significant given the framework discussed above, as a program would be disqualified from participation in Title IV programs only if it were to fail for two out of three consecutive years, or either fail or be in the zone for three out of four consecutive years. The gainful employment regulations contemplate a transition period in the first several years to afford institutions the opportunity to make changes to their programs and retain Title IV eligibility.
On June 15, 2017, the Department announced its intention to conduct additional negotiated rulemaking on certain issues related to gainful employment. Because the negotiated rulemaking committee did not reach consensus, the Department planned to publish a proposed regulation through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), take public comment, and issue final regulations by November 1, 2018, with the final regulations effective July 1, 2019. This did not occur.
On June 30, 2017, the Department granted institutions until July 1, 2018 to comply with disclosure provisions related to promotional materials and prospective students, and extended the deadline for all programs to file alternate earnings appeals. The Department did not change a July 1, 2017 deadline requiring institutions to provide a completed disclosure template, or a link thereto, on gainful employment program web pages and our schools complied with this requirement. In January 2018, the Department announced the release of the 2018 gainful employment template. While the aesthetic of the template remained the same, the Department removed certain data points. This included the amount for off-campus room and board, the percentage of students who borrow money to pay for the degree program, and the typical annual earnings after leaving the program.
On March 16, 2018, the Department announced it would release a new draft gainful employment completers list in late spring. On April 27, 2018, the Department announced that it would send institutions their completers lists on April 30, 2018. Schools had until June 13, 2018 to review, correct, and submit the lists back to the Department. The Department has not announced when schools can expect the next round of draft debt-to-earnings rates.
On June 18, 2018, the Department announced it will allow additional time, until July 1, 2019, for institutions to comply with the requirements of the gainful employment regulations in 34 CFR 668.412 (d) and (e) that include the disclosure template, or a link thereto, in their gainful employment program promotional materials; and directly distribute the disclosure template to prospective students. Because the Department intends to develop proposed regulations that would replace the gainful employment regulations, and as part of that rulemaking process, the Department continues to evaluate the efficacy of these disclosures to students and the implementation of these requirements. Institutions must continue to comply with the requirements in 34 CFR 668.412(a), (b), and (c) to post disclosures on their gainful employment program web pages using the approved disclosure template provided by the Department. The deadline for these actions was April 6, 2018 and, as discussed above, Ashford University has complied with this requirement.
On August 14, 2018, the Department proposed to rescind the gainful employment regulations and update the College Scorecard, a web-based tool, to provide program-level outcomes for all higher education programs at all institutions that participate in Title IV.
On August 24, 2018, the Department announced that it would still require institutions to comply with the October 1, 2018 reporting requirement. Schools were to submit gainful employment program data for the 2017-18 Award Year to the National Student Loan Data System by October 1, 2018. Ashford University submitted this reporting timely.


34

On February 13, 2019, the Department published a draft of the newly proposed gainful employment disclosure template (“GEDT”). The comment period on the draft GEDT ended on March 15, 2019. Institutions are still awaiting an announcement regarding when they will be required to use the new template.
On April 5, 2019, the Department distributed final GE Completers Lists. These lists are the final versions of those released by the Department on April 30, 2018. However, since the Memorandum of Understanding under which the Social Security Administration shared earnings data with the Department has expired, the Department is unable to calculate new rates.
We continue to review the information provided by the Department to understand the potential impact of the gainful employment regulations on Ashford University’s programs. We will also continue to evaluate options related to new programs or adjustments to current programs that could help mitigate the potential adverse consequences of the regulations. We will also continue to monitor changes to the existing regulations.
Defense to Repayment
On June 18, 2015, the Department announced processes that will be established to assist students in gaining relief under the “defense to repayment” provisions of the Direct Loan Program regulations. The defense to repayment provisions then in effect allowed a student to assert as a defense against repayment of federal direct loans any commission of fraud or other violation of applicable state law by the school related to such loans or the educational services for which the loans were provided.
On June 16, 2016, the Department published proposed regulations regarding borrower defense to repayment and related matters, and on October 28, 2016, the Department published its final regulations with an effective date of July 1, 2017.
On June 14, 2017, the Department announced a postponement of the 2016 defense to repayment regulations and its intention to resubmit the regulations through the negotiated rulemaking process. The Department announced an additional postponement on October 24, 2017. On February 14, 2018, the Department announced that it was postponing the effective date of this rule until July 1, 2019 so that it could complete the negotiated rulemaking process and develop the new regulations. Because the negotiated rulemaking committee did not reach consensus, the Department published a proposed regulation through an NPRM, took public comment, and planned to issue final regulations by November 1, 2018, effective July 1, 2019. This did not occur.
In September and October of 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a series of orders and opinions holding these procedural delays by the Department to be improper. The Court reinstated the 2016 repayment regulations as of October 16, 2018.
The 2016 regulations allow a borrower to assert a defense to repayment on the basis of a substantial misrepresentation, any other misrepresentation in cases where certain other factors are present, a breach of contract or a favorable nondefault contested judgment against a school for its act or omission relating to the making of the borrower’s loan or the provision of educational services for which the loan was provided. In addition, the financial responsibility standards contained in the new regulations establish the conditions or events that trigger the requirement for an institution to provide the Department with financial protection in the form of a letter of credit or other security against potential institutional liabilities. Triggering conditions or events include, among others, certain state, federal or accrediting agency actions or investigations, and in the case of publicly traded companies, receipt of certain warnings from the SEC or the applicable stock exchange, or the failure to timely file a required annual or quarterly report with the SEC. The new regulations also prohibit schools from requiring that students agree to settle future disputes through arbitration.
On March 15, 2019, the Department issued guidance for the implementation of parts of the regulations. The guidance covers an institution's responsibility in regard to reporting mandatory and discretionary triggers as part of the financial responsibility standards, class action bans and pre-dispute arbitration agreements, submission of arbitral and judicial records, and repayment rates. We will continue to monitor guidance on or changes to the existing regulations.
Cohort Default Rate
For each federal fiscal year, the Department calculates a rate of student defaults over a three-year measuring period for each educational institution, which is known as a “cohort default rate.” An institution may lose its eligibility to participate in the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Pell Grant Program if, for each of the three most recent federal fiscal years, 30% or


35

more of its students who became subject to a repayment obligation in that federal fiscal year defaulted on such obligation by the end of the following federal fiscal year.
The most recent official three-year cohort default rates for Ashford University for the 2015, 2014 and 2013 federal fiscal years were 13.5%, 14.9% and 14.5%, respectively. The draft three-year cohort default rate for Ashford University for the 2016 federal fiscal year is 13.7%.
For additional information regarding the regulatory environment and related risks, see Part I, Item 1, “Business” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Form 10-K.
Seasonality
Our operations are generally subject to seasonal trends. We generally experience a seasonal increase in new enrollments during the first quarter of each year, subsequent to holiday break, as well as during the third quarter each year, when most other colleges and universities begin their fall semesters. While we enroll students throughout the year, our fourth quarter revenue generally is lower than other quarters due to the holiday break in December, with an increase in the first quarter of each year.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
The critical accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” included in Part II, Item 7 of the Form 10-K.
On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842), using the modified retrospective method. For information regarding the impact of this recent accounting pronouncements, refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recent Accounting Pronouncements” as well as Note 9, “Lease Obligations” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. There were no other material changes to these critical accounting policies and estimates during the three months ended March 31, 2019.


36

Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our condensed consolidated statements of income data as a percentage of revenue for each of the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Revenue
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
Instructional costs and services
47.3

 
48.5

Admissions advisory and marketing
44.7

 
41.3

General and administrative
14.5

 
10.9

Restructuring and impairment expense (credit)
0.0

 
(0.1
)
Total costs and expenses
106.5

 
100.6

Operating loss
(6.5
)
 
(0.6
)
Other income, net
0.5

 
0.2

Loss before income taxes
(6.0
)
 
(0.4
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
0.0

 
(1.5
)
Net income (loss)
(6.1
)%
 
1.1
 %
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Revenue. Our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, was $109.8 million and $116.8 million, respectively, representing a decrease of $7.0 million, or 6.0%. The decrease between periods was primarily due to a decrease of 7.0% in average weekly enrollment from 41,376 students for the three month period ended March 31, 2018 to 38,488 students for the three month period ended March 31, 2019. As a result of the decrease in enrollments, tuition revenue decreased by approximately $2.1 million. The decrease in revenue between periods was also due to higher scholarships for the period, an increase of $5.1 million. The overall revenue decrease was partially offset by a tuition increase, effective January 1, 2019, as well as an increase in net revenue generated from course digital materials of approximately $0.9 million.
Instructional costs and services. Our instructional costs and services for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were $51.9 million and $56.6 million, respectively, representing a decrease of $4.7 million, or 8.3%. In addition to the decline in enrollment, specific decreases between periods primarily include bad debt of $2.8 million, direct compensation (including financial aid processing fees) of $1.2 million, corporate support services of $1.1 million, and instructor fees of $0.5 million, partially offset by an increase in instructional supplies of $1.0 million. Instructional costs and services, as a percentage of revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were 47.3% and 48.5%, respectively, representing a decrease of 1.2%. This decrease primarily included decreases in bad debt of 2.2%, corporate support services of 0.4%, and facilities costs of 0.2%, partially offset by an increase in information technology costs of 1.0% and instructional supplies of 0.9%. As a percentage of revenue, bad debt expense was 3.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to 5.5% for three months ended March 31, 2018.
Admissions advisory and marketing. Our admissions advisory and marketing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were $49.1 million and $48.2 million, respectively, representing an increase of $0.9 million, or 1.8%. Specific factors contributing to the overall increase between periods were increases in advertising costs of $1.4 million, transaction costs of $0.4 million, professional fees of $0.4 million, license fees of $0.3 million, information technology costs of $0.2 million and corporate support services of $0.2 million, primarily offset by decreases in compensation of $1.8 million and facilities costs of $0.3 million. Admissions advisory and marketing, as a percentage of revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were 44.7% and 41.3%, respectively, representing an increase of 3.4%. This increase primarily included increases in advertising costs of 2.5%, professional fees of 0.4%, license fees of 0.4%, transaction costs of 0.3%, and information technology costs of 0.3%, partially offset by a decrease in compensation of 0.5%.


37

General and administrative. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were $15.9 million and $12.7 million, respectively, representing an increase of $3.2 million, or 24.9%. The increase between periods was primarily due to increases in corporate support services of $0.9 million, administrative compensation of $0.7 million, transaction costs of $0.7 million, information technology costs of $0.3 million, and other administrative costs (which include acquisition costs) of $0.2 million. General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, were 14.5% and 10.9%, respectively, representing an increase of 3.6%. This increase was primarily due to increases in administrative compensation of 1.1%, transaction costs of 0.7%, other administrative costs of 0.5%, information technology costs of 0.4%, and corporate support services of 0.4%.
Restructuring and impairment charges. We recorded a charge of approximately $29,000 to restructuring and impairment for the three months ended March 31, 2019, comprised primarily of revised estimates of lease charges. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded a credit of $0.2 million of restructuring and impairment charges, comprised of a credit of $0.5 million as a reversal of previously recorded estimated lease charges, offset by a charge of $0.3 million relating to severance costs for wages and benefits.
Other income, net. Our other income, net, was approximately $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and approximately $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase between periods was primarily due to increased interest income on average cash balances.
Income tax expense (benefit). We recognized an income tax expense of approximately $46,000 and an income tax benefit of $1.7 million, at effective tax rates of (0.7)% and 454.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net income (loss). Our net loss was $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net income of $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, a $7.9 million decrease in net income as a result of the factors discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We finance our operating activities and capital expenditures primarily through cash on hand and through cash provided by operating activities. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our cash and cash equivalents were $141.8 million and $166.3 million, respectively. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had total restricted cash of $24.9 million and $24.3 million, which included long-term restricted cash of $5.7 million and $5.7 million, respectively, and investments of $2.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively. At March 31, 2019, we had no long-term debt.
We manage our excess cash pursuant to the quantitative and qualitative operational guidelines of our cash investment policy. Our cash investment policy, which is managed by our Chief Financial Officer, has the following primary objectives: (i) preserving principal, (ii) meeting our liquidity needs, (iii) minimizing market and credit risk, and (iv) providing after-tax returns. Under the policy’s guidelines, we invest our excess cash exclusively in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated financial instruments. For a discussion of the measures we use to mitigate the exposure of our cash investments to market risk, credit risk and interest rate risk, see Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this Form 10-Q.
There was a slight increase in the fair value of our investments at March 31, 2019 as compared to December 31, 2018. We believe that any fluctuations we have recently experienced are temporary in nature and that while some of our securities are classified as available-for-sale, we have the ability and intent to hold them until maturity, if necessary, to recover their full value.
Title IV and other governmental funding
Ashford University derives the substantial majority of its respective revenues from students who enroll and are eligible for various federal student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Ashford University is subject to significant regulatory scrutiny as a result of numerous standards that must be satisfied in order to participate in Title IV programs. For additional information regarding Title IV programs and the regulation thereof, see “Business—Regulation” included in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K. The balance of revenues derived by Ashford University is from government tuition assistance programs for military personnel, including veterans, payments made in cash by individuals, reimbursement from corporate affiliates and private loans.
If we were to become ineligible to receive Title IV funding or other governmental funding, our liquidity would be significantly impacted. The timing of disbursements under Title IV programs is based on federal regulations and our ability to


38

successfully and timely arrange financial aid for Ashford University’s students. Title IV funds are generally provided in multiple disbursements before we earn a significant portion of tuition and fees and incur related expenses over the period of instruction. Students must apply for new loans and grants each academic year. These factors, together with the timing at which Ashford University’s students begin their programs, affect our revenues and operating cash flow.
Stock repurchase programs
The Company's board of directors may authorize us to repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock from time to time in the open market through block trades or otherwise depending on market conditions and other considerations, pursuant to the applicable rules of the SEC. The Company's policy is to retain these repurchased shares as treasury shares and not to retire them. The amount and timing of future share repurchases, if any, will be made as market and business conditions warrant. The timing and extent of any repurchases will depend upon market conditions, the trading price of our shares and other factors, and subject to the restrictions relating to volume, price and timing under applicable law. We may commence or suspend share repurchases at any time or from time to time.
Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $15.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an overall increase between periods in net cash used in operating activities of $1.4 million. This increase in cash used in operating activities is primarily attributable to the $8.0 million decrease in net income between periods, changes in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to timing of prepaids, lower net bad debt than in prior year, and a decrease in deferred revenue to do lower average enrollments. These changes were partially offset by an increase in the accounts payable and accrued liabilities balance at year end, due to the implementation of ASC 842, and a smaller decrease in the accounts receivable balances in current year versus prior year period end.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we had capitalized costs for intangibles of $0.2 million, purchases of investments of approximately $22,000, and no sales of investments. This is compared to capitalized costs for intangibles of $0.3 million, purchases of investments of $0.7 million, and sales of investments of $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $6.5 million, compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We expect our capital expenditures to be approximately $30.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2019.
Financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. During each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, net cash used included tax withholdings related to the issuance of restricted stock units vesting. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the cash used was partially offset by the cash provided by stock option exercises.
Based on our current level of operations, we believe that our future cash flows from operating activities and our existing cash and cash equivalents will provide adequate funds for ongoing operations, planned capital expenditures and working capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, changes could occur that would consume our available capital resources before that time. Our capital requirements depend on numerous factors, including our ability to continue to generate revenue. There can be no assurance that additional funding, if necessary, will be available to us on favorable terms, if at all.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As part of our normal business operations, we are required to provide surety bonds in certain states where we do business. In May 2009, we entered into a surety bond facility with an insurance company to provide such bonds when required. As of March 31, 2019, our total available surety bond facility was $8.5 million and the surety had issued bonds totaling $8.1 million on our behalf under such facility.


39

Significant Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2019, certain significant cash and contractual obligations that will affect our future liquidity:
 
Payments Due by Period
(In thousands)
Total
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
Thereafter
Operating lease obligations
$
54,919

 
$
14,558

 
$
9,749

 
$
6,351

 
$
3,826

 
$
2,726

 
$
17,709

Other contractual obligations
47,315

 
13,196

 
12,596

 
6,580

 
5,014

 
4,929

 
5,000

Uncertain tax positions
869

 
—

 
869

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
$
103,103

 
$
27,754

 
$
23,214

 
$
12,931

 
$
8,840

 
$
7,655

 
$
22,709

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market and Credit Risk
Pursuant to our cash investment policy, we attempt to mitigate the exposure of our cash and investments to market and credit risk by (i) diversifying concentration to ensure we are not overly concentrated in a limited number of financial institutions, (ii) monitoring and managing the risks associated with the national banking and credit markets, (iii) investing in U.S. dollar-denominated assets and instruments only, (iv) diversifying account structures so that we maintain a decentralized account portfolio with numerous stable, highly rated and liquid financial institutions and (v) ensuring that our investment procedures maintain a defined and specific scope such that we will not invest in higher-risk investment accounts, including financial swaps or derivative and corporate equities. Accordingly, pursuant to the guidelines established by our cash investment policy, we invest our excess cash exclusively in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated financial instruments.
Despite the investment risk mitigation strategies we employ, we may incur investment losses as a result of unusual and unpredictable market developments, and we may experience reduced investment earnings if the yields on investments that are deemed to be low risk remain low or decline further in this time of economic uncertainty. Unusual and unpredictable market developments may also create liquidity challenges for certain of the assets in our investment portfolio.
We have no derivative financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments.
Interest Rate Risk
To the extent we borrow funds, we would be subject to fluctuations in interest rates. As of March 31, 2019, we had no outstanding borrowings.
Our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates. At March 31, 2019, a hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would not have a material impact on our future earnings, fair value or cash flows related to interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents or investments.


40

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of any possible controls and procedures.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2019.
Material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting
Management has concluded that there were matters that constituted material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. These material weaknesses relate to (i) control design in the accounting of the student contracts for the FTG program whereby revenue was misstated due to allowances that had not been properly determined and contained computational errors, which also resulted in misstatements in accounts receivable and its provision for bad debts and deferred revenue and student deposits; and (ii) operating effectiveness of review controls in the determination of the accounting for nonrecurring transactions and new accounting standards. Specifically, our controls were not effective as management misapplied accounting guidance and did not arrive at the proper accounting conclusions, resulting in misstatement of restricted cash and other long-term assets as of September 30, 2018 related to a long-term letter of credit issued as collateral for the build-to-suit lease; and management incorrectly applied ASC 606 upon adoption on January 1, 2018 as it relates to the FTG program, specifically the period of time for which to recognize revenue in the fiscal year 2018 related to FTG students that become inactive. These material weaknesses resulted in the restatement of the Company’s financial statements. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of March 31, 2019 due to material weaknesses.
Management's Remediation Efforts
We are committed to remediating the material weaknesses by implementing changes to our internal control over financial reporting. Our Principal Financial Officer is responsible for implementing changes and improvements in internal control over financial reporting and for remediating the control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses.
Throughout the first quarter of 2019, we have implemented measures to remediate the underlying causes of the control deficiencies. These measures include (i) improving the internal communication procedures between operations and accounting personnel; (ii) enhancing our controls over the FTG accounting models, including more detailed steps to evaluate and revise critical assumptions and estimates to be more precise; (iii) implementing enhanced analytical controls to compensate for the manual processes; (iv) technical accounting training for key financial management; and (v) engaging external consultants, as needed, to provide support related to more complex applications of GAAP related to nonrecurring transactions and new accounting standards.
We believe these measures will remediate the underlying control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses. We are committed to continuing to improve our internal control processes and will continue to review, optimize and enhance our financial reporting controls and procedures. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may take additional measures to address control deficiencies, or we may modify, or in appropriate circumstances not complete, certain of the remediation measures described above. These material weaknesses will not be


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considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We continually assess the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting and make improvements as deemed appropriate. As discussed above, during the three months ended March 31, 2019, management began to implement certain remediation measures to improve our internal control over financial reporting and to remediate the previously identified material weaknesses. Aside from the above, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting, during the three months ended March 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.
For information regarding our legal proceedings, refer to Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report, which note is incorporated by reference into this Part II, Item 1.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves risk. Before making an investment in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Form 10-K. The risks described in the Form 10-K are those which we believe are the material risks we face, and such risks could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may impact us. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in the Form 10-K.
If we fail to effectively identify, pursue and consummate acquisitions, either in the U.S. or outside of the U.S., our ability to grow could be impacted and our profitability may be adversely affected.
Acquisitions are one component of our overall long-term growth strategy. The successful implementation of this strategy depends upon the Company’s ability to identify suitable domestic and international acquisition candidates, acquire such businesses on acceptable terms and finance such acquisitions. There can be no assurance that such candidates will be available or, if such candidates are available, that the price will be attractive or that the Company will be able to identify, acquire or finance such businesses successfully. In addition, in pursuing such acquisition opportunities, the Company may compete with other entities with similar growth strategies; these competitors may be larger and have greater financial and other resources than the Company. Competition for these acquisition targets could also result in increased prices of acquisition targets and/or a diminished pool of companies available for acquisition. There may be particular difficulties and complexities (regulatory or otherwise) associated with our expansion into international markets, and our strategies may not succeed beyond our current markets. If we are unable to effectively address these challenges, our ability to execute this component of our long-term strategy will be impaired, which could have an adverse effect on our ability to grow and our profitability.
The acquisition, integration and growth of acquired businesses may present challenges that could harm our business.
The successful integration and profitable operation of an acquired institution or business, including the realization of anticipated cost savings and additional revenue opportunities, can present challenges, and the failure to overcome these challenges can have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Some of these challenges include:
•
the inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, policies and procedures;
•
distraction of management's attention from normal business operations during the integration process;
•
the inability to attract and/or retain key management personnel to operate the acquired entity;
•
the inability to obtain, or delay in obtaining, regulatory or other approvals necessary to operate the business;
•
the inability to correctly estimate the size of a target market or accurately assess market dynamics;
•
the inability to retain the clients of the acquired entity;
•
the lingering effects of poor client relations or service performance by the acquired entity, which also may negatively affect the Company’s existing business;
•
the inability to fully realize the desired efficiencies and economies of scale;
•
expenses associated with the integration efforts; and


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•
unidentified issues not discovered in the due diligence process, including legal contingencies.
An acquisition related to an institution or other educational business often requires one or multiple regulatory approvals. If we are unable to obtain such approvals, or we obtain them on unfavorable terms, our ability to consummate a transaction may be impaired or we may be unable to operate the acquired entity in a manner that is favorable to us. If we fail to properly evaluate an acquisition, we may be required to incur costs in excess of what we anticipated, and we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of such acquisition.
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.
None.
Item 5.  Other Information.
None.


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Item 6.  Exhibits.
Exhibit

 
Description
3.1

 
3.2

 
10.1

 
10.2

 
31.1

 
31.2

 
32.1

 
101

 
The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2019, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018; and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
*Certain confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted




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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.
 
ZOVIO INC
 
 
May 9, 2019
/s/ KEVIN ROYAL
 
Kevin Royal
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal financial officer and duly authorized to
sign on behalf of the registrant)


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