Nature of Operations

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

Apollo Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as “the Company,” “Apollo Group,” “Apollo,” “APOL,” “we,” “us” or “our,” has been an education provider since 1973. We offer innovative and distinctive educational programs and services both online and on-campus at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels principally through the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:

• The University of Phoenix, Inc. (“University of Phoenix”)

• Apollo Global, Inc. (“Apollo Global”):

• BPP Holdings Limited (“BPP”)

• Western International University, Inc. (“Western International University” or “WIU”)

• Universidad Latinoamericana (“ULA”)

• Universidad de Artes, Ciencias y Comunicación (“UNIACC”)

• Institute for Professional Development (“IPD”)

• The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corporation (“CFFP”).

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, we purchased the 14.4% noncontrolling ownership interest in Apollo Global from The Carlyle Group (“Carlyle”). We paid $42.5 million cash, plus a contingent payment based on a portion of Apollo Global’s operating results through the fiscal years ending August 31, 2017. As a result of the transaction, Apollo Group owns all of Apollo Global. Refer to Note 11, Shareholders’ Equity.