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 FOR: SSI INVESTMENTS II LIMITED
     
   
 COMPANY CONTACT:
   
 Tom McDonald
   
 Chief Financial Officer
   
 (603) 324-3000, x4232

SSI Investments II Limited Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Results

NASHUA, NH, August 30, 2012 - SSI Investments II Limited (“SSI II”), a parent company of Skillsoft Limited (formerly Skillsoft PLC), a provider of cloud based learning solutions for customers worldwide, today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter of fiscal 2013.

Basis of Presentation

On May 26, 2010, SSI Investments III Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SSI II, completed its acquisition of Skillsoft PLC (the “Acquisition”), which was subsequently re-registered as a private limited company and whose corporate name changed from Skillsoft PLC to Skillsoft Limited (“Skillsoft”).

On October 14, 2011, the Company announced that its indirect subsidiaries, Skillsoft Corporation and Skillsoft Ireland Limited, completed their acquisition of the Element K business from NIIT Ventures, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of NIIT Limited (the “Element K acquisition”).

The Company's management has furnished in this press release and the accompanying financial information certain financial measurements that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States, such as non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and days sales outstanding (DSOs) from non-GAAP revenue.  As used herein, EBITDA represents net income (loss) plus (i) interest expense, (ii) (benefit) provision for income taxes and (iii) depreciation and amortization, less interest income.  Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of expense and deducting from EBITDA certain items of income that the Company's management believes are not indicative of the Company's future operating performance, including merger and integration related expenses, revenue reductions and incremental expenses related to purchase accounting as a result of the Acquisition and the Element K acquisition and business realignment strategy charges.  DSOs from non-GAAP revenue exclude fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenue in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition and the Element K acquisition and include revenues from the business prior to the Element K acquisition.

These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.  These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as alternative means for assessing the Company’s results of operations and believes that they may also provide useful information to the Company’s investors.  In addition, certain covenants in the Company’s credit agreement are based on non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA, and evaluating and presenting these measures allows the Company and its investors to assess the Company’s compliance with the covenants in the Company’s credit agreement and the Company’s ability to meet its future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements.  The Company’s management believes that DSOs are useful as a comparison of DSOs from the current period to the prior period in order for the Company’s management to adequately assess the Company’s collection efforts, taking into account the seasonality of the Company’s business.
 
 
 

 
 
Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter Results

The Company reported total revenue of $93.8 million for its second quarter ended July 31, 2012 of its fiscal year ending January 31, 2013 (fiscal 2013), which represented a $13.6 million increase from the $80.2 million reported in its second quarter ended July 31, 2011 of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012).  The components of revenues are as follows (amounts in millions):

   
Second Quarter Fiscal 2013
   
Second Quarter Fiscal 2012
 
Revenues
$
97.2
   
$
82.4
 
Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue from the Acquisition
 
(0.3
)
   
(2.2
Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue from the Element K acquisition
 
(3.1
)
   
-
 
 
$
93.8
   
$
80.2
 

Of the $13.6 million increase in revenues, approximately $12.4 million is related to revenues generated from the Element K business following the Element K acquisition and approximately $2.4 million is related to additional revenues generated from an increase in current and prior period bookings, as compared to revenues generated from bookings in the same period in fiscal 2012.  This was partially offset by $1.2 million related to the net reduction in fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenue in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition and the Element K acquisition.

The Company’s deferred revenue at July 31, 2012 was approximately $189.8 million, which represented a $30.3 million increase from the $159.5 million reported at July 31, 2011.  The components of deferred revenues are as follows (amounts in millions):

   
July 31, 2012
   
July 31, 2011
 
Deferred revenue
$
192.3
   
$
161.9
 
Unamortized fair value adjustments to deferred revenue from the Acquisition
 
(0.3
)
   
(2.4
)
Unamortized fair value adjustments to deferred revenue from the Element K acquisition
 
(2.2
)
   
-
 
 
$
189.8
   
$
159.5
 

Of the $30.3 million increase in deferred revenue, approximately $22.2 million is related to deferred revenues from the Element K business and approximately $8.2 million is related to additional current and prior period bookings, which was offset by a net increase from the unamortized fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenue in purchase accounting related to the Acquisition and the Element K acquisition of approximately $0.1 million.

The Company’s net loss was $20.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as compared to $21.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  The Company’s net loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 includes the impact of the Acquisition and the Element K acquisition, the significant components of which are as follows (amounts in millions):

   
Second Quarter Fiscal 2013
 
Second Quarter Fiscal 2012
 
Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue in purchase accounting
$
3.4
 
$
2.2
 
Amortization of intangible assets related to content and technology
 
14.9
   
16.0
 
Merger, integration and related costs
 
7.9
   
-
 
Acquisition related expenses
 
-
   
0.5
 
Amortization of intangible assets
 
15.3
   
15.7
 
Interest expense from new borrowings
 
16.7
   
15.0
 
 
$
58.2
 
$
49.4
 

 
 
 

 
 
Gross margin was 75% for the Company’s fiscal 2013 second quarter as compared to 71% for the fiscal 2012 second quarter.  The increase in gross margin for the fiscal 2013 second quarter is primarily due to the overall increase in revenues primarily as a result of the Element K acquisition as well as a decrease in the amortization of intangible assets related to content and technology from purchase accounting of $1.1 million from the Acquisition.

Research and development expenses decreased to $12.8 million in the fiscal 2013 second quarter from $13.1 million in the fiscal 2012 second quarter.  This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in outsourced software and content development expenses of approximately $1.5 million, which was partially offset by incremental software and content development related headcount expenses of approximately $1.2 million.  Research and development expenses were 14% of revenue for the fiscal 2013 second quarter as compared to 16% for the fiscal 2012 second quarter, primarily due to the increase in revenues and net decrease in expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses increased to $33.5 million in the fiscal 2013 second quarter from $29.4 million in the fiscal 2012 second quarter. Approximately $2.7 million of this increase represents incremental costs related to the Element K business. In addition, we incurred $1.4 million of incremental investments in Skillsoft’s core business, which includes headcount costs, commission expense and marketing expenses primarily related to our sales growth initiatives for fiscal 2013. Sales and marketing expenses were 36% of revenue for the fiscal 2013 second quarter as compared to 37% for the fiscal 2012 second quarter, primarily due to the increase in revenues offset by the aforementioned net increase in expenses.

General and administrative expenses increased to $8.5 million in the fiscal 2013 second quarter from $7.7 million in the fiscal 2012 second quarter.  Approximately $0.4 million of this increase is related to administrative costs associated with the Element K acquisition and approximately $0.4 million is related to compensation and administrative related expenses from Skillsoft’s core business.  General and administrative expenses were 9% of revenue for the fiscal 2013 second quarter as compared to 10% for the fiscal 2012 second quarter, primarily due to the increase in revenues offset by the aforementioned net increase in expenses.

Merger and integration related expenses of approximately $7.9 million in the fiscal 2013 second quarter includes approximately $6.4 million of costs associated with exiting vendor obligations, professional fees and headcount costs associated with transition activities and process integration activities from the Element K acquisition and approximately $1.5 million of expenditures for long-term cost savings initiatives, which can be added back to adjusted EBITDA under our debt covenants.

Interest expense increased to $16.7 million for the fiscal 2013 second quarter from $15.0 million in the fiscal 2012 second quarter.  The increase in interest expense is primarily due to the incremental borrowings under our senior credit facilities incurred in connection with the Element K acquisition.

For the six months ended July 31, 2012, the Company’s tax benefit was $7.9 million and consisted of a cash tax provision of $2.2 million and a non-cash tax benefit of $10.1 million.  This compares to an $8.9 million tax benefit reported for the six months ended July 31, 2011, which consisted of a cash tax provision of approximately $2.0 million and a non-cash tax benefit of approximately $10.9 million.  The Company recorded a tax benefit in both the fiscal 2013 second quarter and the fiscal 2012 second quarter due to the Company’s loss from operations.


 
 

 
 
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2013 second quarter was $36.6 million as compared to $27.2 million for the fiscal 2012 second quarter.  The components of Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA are calculated as follows (amounts in millions):

   
Second Quarter Fiscal 2013
   
Second Quarter Fiscal 2012
 
Net loss, as reported
$
(20.1
)
 
$
(21.0
)
Interest expense, net
 
16.7
     
15.0
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
1.2
     
1.1
 
Amortization of intangible assets
 
30.2
     
31.7
 
Benefit for income taxes
 
(2.9
)
   
(4.1
)
EBITDA
 
25.1
     
22.7
 
               
Other expense, net
 
-
     
0.3
 
Sponsor fees
 
0.4
     
0.4
 
Consulting and advisory fees
 
0.2
     
1.1
 
Acquisition related expenses
 
-
     
0.5
 
Merger, integration and related costs
 
7.9
     
-
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
(0.1
   
-
 
Fair value adjustments to prepaid commissions in purchase accounting
 
(0.3
   
-
 
Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue in purchase accounting
 
3.4
     
2.2
 
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA
$
36.6
   
$
27.2
 

The Company’s senior credit facilities require the Company to comply on a quarterly basis with a single financial covenant for the benefit of the revolving credit facility lenders only.  The financial covenant requires the Company to maintain a maximum secured leverage ratio tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter (but failure to maintain the required ratio would not result in a default under the revolving credit facility so long as the revolving credit facility is undrawn at such time). The maximum secured leverage ratio will reduce over time, subject to increase in connection with certain material acquisitions. The Company’s senior credit facilities and senior notes also include various nonfinancial covenants.  As of July 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with this financial covenant and all nonfinancial covenants.

The Company had approximately $53.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of July 31, 2012 as compared to $29.0 million as of January 31, 2012.  This increase is primarily due to cash provided by operations of $29.3 million, which was partially offset by purchases of property and equipment, net of dispositions, of $3.8 million.

In order to adequately assess the Company’s collection efforts, taking into account the seasonality of the Company’s business, the Company believes that it is most useful to compare current period days sales outstanding (DSOs) to the prior year period.  Given the quarterly seasonality of bookings, the deferral from revenue of subscription billings may increase or decrease the DSOs on sequential quarterly comparisons.

The Company’s DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were in the targeted range for the fiscal 2013 second quarter. On a net basis, which considers only receivable balances for which revenue has been recorded; DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were 6 days in the fiscal 2013 second quarter as compared to 4 days in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and 7 days in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.  On a gross basis, which considers all items billed as receivables, DSOs from non-GAAP revenues were 79 days in the fiscal 2013 second quarter, as compared to 69 days as in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, and was 87 days in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

 
 
 

 
 
Supplemental financial information will be available on the Company’s web site, www.skillsoft.com, at the time of the earnings call.

Conference Call

In conjunction with this release, management will conduct a conference call on Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss the Company’s fiscal 2013 second quarter financial and operating results.  Chuck Moran, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tom McDonald, Chief Financial Officer, will host the call.

To participate in the conference call, dial 800-322-9079 or 973-582-2717 for international callers and use the following passcode: 23683440.  The live conference call will be available via the Internet by accessing the Skillsoft Web site at www.skillsoft.com.  Please go to the Web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

A replay will be available from 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 31, 2012 until 11:59 p.m. EDT on September 7, 2012. The replay number is 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 for international callers, passcode: 23683440. A webcast replay will also be available on Skillsoft’s Web site at www.skillsoft.com.

 
About SSI II
 
SSI Investments II Limited is an indirect parent of Skillsoft Limited, a pioneer in the field of learning with a long history of innovation. Skillsoft provides cloud based learning solutions for its customers worldwide, ranging from global enterprises, government, and education to mid-sized and small businesses. Skillsoft's customer support teams draw on a wealth of in-house experience and a comprehensive learning e-library to develop off-the-shelf and custom learning programs tailored to cost-effectively meet customer needs. Skillsoft's courses, books and videos have been developed by industry leading learning experts to ensure that they maximize business skills, performance, and talent development.
 
Skillsoft currently serves over 5,000 customers and more than 13,000,000 learners around the world.  Skillsoft is on the web at www.skillsoft.com.
 
Skillsoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Skillsoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.

 
Skillsoft, the Skillsoft logo, Skillport, Search & Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives, ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide, Dialogue, Quickskill and inGenius are trademarks or registered trademarks of Skillsoft Ireland Limited in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 

 
 

 

From time to time, including in this press release, we may make forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategy, plans, regulatory, market and industry trends, liquidity and similar matters. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “target” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. We note that a variety of factors, including known and unknown risks and uncertainties as well as incorrect assumptions, could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, that we are highly leveraged; that our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business; that our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly; the effect of past and future acquisitions on our operations; volatility in the global market and economic conditions; that increased competition may result in decreased demand for our products and services; our ability to meet the needs of a rapidly changing, developing market; our ability to introduce new products; that our business is subject to currency fluctuations that could adversely affect our operating results; that we may be unable to protect our proprietary rights and other factors, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012, as filed with the SEC on April 30, 2012.  You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.  Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on those statements.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our expectations as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 
###
 

 
 

 
 
 
                         
SSI Investments II and Subsidiaries
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
 
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
                         
                         
 
Three Months Ended July 31,
   
Six Months Ended July 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
Revenues
  $ 93,755     $ 80,241     $ 183,059     $ 156,636  
Cost of revenues
    8,718       7,551       19,146       14,836  
Cost of revenues - amortization of intangible assets
    14,866       15,986       32,534       31,972  
                                 
    Gross profit
    70,171       56,704       131,379       109,828  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
    Research and development
    12,849       13,114       26,836       26,068  
    Selling and marketing
    33,486       29,428       66,843       56,560  
    General and administrative
    8,459       7,708       17,436       15,776  
    Amortization of intangible assets
    15,320       15,717       30,706       31,386  
    Acquisition related expenses
    -       551       399       859  
    Merger and integration related expenses
    6,413       -       8,718       -  
    Restructuring
    15       -       482       -  
                                 
Total operating expenses
    76,542       66,518       151,420       130,649  
                                 
                                 
Other (expense) income, net
    (25 )     (319 )     (947 )     (1,654 )
Interest income
    13       41       40       71  
Interest expense
    (16,707 )     (15,022 )     (33,268 )     (29,936 )
                                 
Loss before provision for income taxes
    (23,090 )     (25,114 )     (54,216 )     (52,340 )
                                 
Provision for income taxes - cash
    765       608       2,243       2,000  
Benefit for income taxes - non-cash
    (3,616 )     (4,696 )     (10,179 )     (10,883 )
                                 
Net loss before discontinued operations
  $ (20,239 )   $ (21,026 )   $ (46,280 )   $ (43,457 )
                                 
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of an income tax (provision) benefit of ($58) and $358 for the three and six months ended July 31, 2012, respectively
    (118 )     -       537       -  
                                 
Net loss
  $ (20,121 )   $ (21,026 )   $ (46,817 )   $ (43,457 )
                                 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
SSI Investments II
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
             
   
July 31, 2012
   
January 31, 2012
 
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
     Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 53,305     $ 28,908  
     Restricted cash
    138       108  
     Accounts receivable, net
    88,136       181,574  
     Deferred tax assets
    8,134       5,236  
     Assets held for sale
    -       8,686  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    28,026       33,098  
                 
Total current assets
    177,739       257,610  
                 
     Property and equipment, net
    10,364       9,305  
     Goodwill
    595,748       597,395  
     Intangible assets, net
    476,959       540,826  
     Deferred tax assets
    1,213       3,072  
     Other assets
    23,910       22,358  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,285,933     $ 1,430,566  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
                 
     Current maturities of long term debt
  $ 16,600     $ 2,384  
     Accounts payable
    4,589       10,997  
     Accrued expenses
    41,939       63,982  
     Deferred tax liabilities
    20,023       4,176  
     Liabilities held for sale
    -       4,940  
     Deferred revenue
    189,795       242,130  
                 
Total current liabilities
    272,946       328,609  
                 
     Long term debt
    697,666       712,309  
     Deferred tax liabilities
    27,709       54,489  
     Other long term liabilities
    7,027       6,172  
Total long-term liabilities
    732,402       772,970  
                 
Total stockholders' equity
    280,585       328,987  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,285,933     $ 1,430,566  
                 
 
 
 
 

 
 
SSI Investments II
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows  
(Unaudited, In thousands)
 
             
             
   
Six Months Ended
July 31,
   
Six Months Ended
July 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
             
     Net loss
  $ (46,817 )   $ (43,457 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
         
          Depreciation and amortization
    2,631       2,069  
          Amortization of intangible assets
    63,240       63,358  
          Recovery of bad debts
    20       (137 )
          Benefit for income taxes - non-cash
    (10,537 )     (10,883 )
          Non-cash interest expense
    2,612       2,210  
          Loss on disposition of assets
    152       -  
     Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
               
          Accounts receivable
    96,093       81,133  
          Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    6,585       82  
          Accounts payable
    (10,092 )     (666 )
          Accrued expenses, including long-term
    (23,114 )     (12,999 )
          Deferred revenue
    (51,484 )     (40,610 )
                 
     Net cash provided by operating activities
    29,289       40,100  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
                 
     Purchases of property and equipment
    (3,900 )     (2,315 )
     Proceeds on disposition of assets
    96       -  
     Purchase of investments
    -       (9 )
     Acquisition of 50 Lessons, net of cash received
    -       (3,820 )
     Increase in restricted cash, net
    (30 )     (69 )
                 
     Net cash used in investing activities
    (3,834 )     (6,213 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
                 
     Proceeds from capital contribution
    -       325  
     Principal payments on Senior Credit Facilities
    (731 )     (4,605 )
                 
     Net cash used in financing activities
    (731 )     (4,280 )
                 
     Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (327 )     1,085  
                 
     Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    24,397       30,692  
     Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    28,908       35,199  
                 
     Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 53,305     $ 65,891