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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - ASPEN GROUP, INC.aspu_8k.htm

 


EXHIBIT 99.1

[aspu_ex99z1001.jpg]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2015




ASPEN GROUP REPORTS 28% YoY INCREASE IN FISCAL 2015 THIRD QUARTER REVENUES AND STRONG REVENUE OUTLOOK


   

School of Nursing Student Body Grows 57% to 1,151 Students



NEW YORK, NY Aspen Group, Inc. (OTCBB: ASPU), a nationally accredited online post-secondary education company (Aspen University), today announced results for its fiscal 2015 third quarter ended January 31, 2015.


Highlights from the third quarter include:


·

Revenues of $1,286,138, a 28% increase from the comparable prior year period;


·

Aspen Universitys School of Nursing student body grew from 733 to 1,151 students or 57% year-over-year; now represents 38% of Aspens total full-time degree-seeking student body of 3,011;


·

Aspens School of Nursing was granted CCNE accreditation for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (RN to BSN) through December, 2019;


·

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) granted accreditation to Aspen University through January, 2019;


·

In the eleven months since Aspens Debt-Free, Monthly Payment Plan announcement, students paying through monthly payment methods has grown to 33% of all course payments.





 


This is an exciting time for Aspen, as our School of Nursing new student enrollments are exceeding our aggressive forecasts, resulting from the success of our recent BSN marketing launch. This sets the foundation for an acceleration of our growth rate in Aspen’s fiscal fourth quarter.” said Aspen Group Chairman and CEO Michael Mathews.


Business Update:


As previously announced, in the current quarter (ending April 30, 2015) new student enrollments at Aspen University are on pace to increase 81% year-over-year, primarily a result of the immediate success of the November 2014 BSN marketing launch offering RNs the ability to pay their tuition at $250/month over 39 months. At the current pace of BSN new student enrollments, Aspen estimates over 50% or the majority of its degree-seeking student body will be enrolled in the School of Nursing by early-2016. In the month of February 2015, typically a seasonally slow month for new student enrollments, Aspen enrolled 141 new students which equals an average of 5.04 enrollments per day.


 

 

New Student Enrollments*

 

 

 

Fiscal Quarter End April 30, 2014

 

235

 

 

 

Fiscal Quarter End July 31, 2014

 

226

 

 

 

Fiscal Quarter End October 31, 2014

 

265

 

 

 

Fiscal Quarter End January 31, 2015

 

315

 

 

 

Fiscal Quarter End April 30, 2015

 

425+

(forecast)

 

 


*New student enrollments defined as those new students that complete their first seven (7) day assignment of their first course in their degree program.


Aspen’s estimated average revenue per new student enrollment is approximately $6,000, earned over 3 years. Aspen delivered 1,008 new student enrollments in calendar year 2014, which equates to revenues of approximately $6 million, earned over three years. However, should the pace of enrollments continue to rise by 81% year-over-year in calendar year 2015, that would equate to 1,704 new student enrollments with a revenue value of approximately $10.2 million, earned over three years.


Third Quarter Financial Highlights:


For the third quarter, revenues increased 28% from the comparable prior period to $1,286,138. Nursing program revenues rose to $541,865, which now represents 42% of Aspen’s total revenues.




 



Gross Profit increased to $499,922 or 39% of revenues as compared to $389,221 or 39% of revenues from the comparable prior year period, and Adjusted Gross Profit (exclusive of amortization), a non-GAAP financial measure, equaled $623,770 or 49% of revenues as compared to $501,856 or 50% of revenues from the comparable prior year period. The flat YoY gross profit margins are a result of Aspen increasing its YoY marketing spend rate in December and January by an average of 41%. The company expects this quarter’s growth spending to improve gross profit margins next quarter and in subsequent quarters.


Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, improved to a loss of ($600,522) as compared to a loss of ($607,382) in the comparable prior year period. Net loss applicable to shareholders was ($1,244,322) as compared to a net loss of ($1,726,587) a year ago. Aspen’s operating income improved to a loss of ($1,212,067) as compared to a loss of ($1,496,412) in the comparable prior year period. The flat YoY Adjusted EBITDA results are primarily a result of Aspen increasing the size of its call center by 64% to effectively manage the increase of new student leads starting in December. The company expects Adjusted EBITDA results to improve next quarter and in subsequent quarters.


Aspen will be holding a conference call this afternoon at 5pm ET that can be accessed by dialing toll-free (844) 452-6823 (U.S.) or (731) 256-5216 (international).  Subsequent to the call, a transcript of the audiocast will be available from Aspen’s website at ir.aspen.edu.   


* Non-GAAP – Financial Measures

This press release includes both financial measures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental to, and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, and cash flow from operating activities, liquidity or any other financial measures. They may not be indicative of the historical operating results of Aspen Group nor are they intended to be predictive of potential future results. Investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.





 


Our management uses and relies on Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Gross Profit, each of which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that both management and shareholders benefit from referring to the following non-GAAP financial measures in planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating its financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparison.  Our management recognizes that the non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations because of the excluded items described below.


Aspen Group defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings (or loss) from continuing operations before the items set forth in the table below. Aspen Group excludes the charges from bad debt expense, depreciation and amortization, and stock based compensation because they are non-cash in nature. In 2014, Aspen Group excludes non-recurring charges because they do not reflect any trend or reflect the ongoing performance of our business. 


Aspen Group defines Adjusted Gross Profit as revenues less cost of revenues (instructional costs and services and marketing and promotional costs), but excluding the amortization of courseware and software. Adjusted Gross Profit excludes non-cash items and permits our management to focus on core operating results.


We have included a reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe that providing the non-GAAP financial measures, together with the reconciliation to GAAP, helps investors make comparisons between Aspen Group and other companies. In making any comparisons to other companies, investors need to be aware that companies use different non-GAAP measures to evaluate their financial performance. Investors should pay close attention to the specific definition being used and to the reconciliation between such measure and the corresponding GAAP measure provided by each company under applicable SEC rules.





 


The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net loss, a GAAP financial measure:


 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

01/31/2015

 

 

 

01/31/2014

 

Net loss allocable to common shareholders

 

$

(1,244,322

)

 

 

$

(1,726,587

)

Interest Expense, net of interest income

 

 

(34,532

)

 

 

 

78,854

 

Loss from debt extinguishment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bad Debt Expense

 

 

12,228

 

 

 

 

120,000

 

Receivable Collateral Valuation Reserve

 

 

 

 

 

 

123,664

 

Depreciation & Amortization

 

 

133,966

 

 

 

 

121,904

 

Amortization of Prepaid Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

105,013

 

Amortization of Debt Issue Costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

56,865

 

Amortization of Debt Discount

 

 

 

 

 

 

124,343

 

Warrant conversion exercise expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

156,952

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

123,085

 

 

 

 

98,609

 

Non-recurring charges

 

 

339,989

 

 

 

 

133,001

 

Adjusted EBITDA (Loss)

 

$

(600,522

)

 

 

$

(607,382

)


The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Profit, a non-GAAP financial measure, to gross profit calculated in accordance with GAAP:


 

 

For the

 

 

Three Months Ended

January 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

Revenues

 

$

1,286,138

 

 

$

1,002,167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately)

 

 

662,368

 

 

 

500,311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

 

623,770

 

 

 

501,856

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses excluded from cost of revenues

 

 

123,848

 

 

 

112,635

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP gross profit

 

$

499,922

 

 

$

389,221



###

 




 


About Aspen Group, Inc.

Aspen Group, Inc. is an online postsecondary education company. Aspen University’s mission is to offer any motivated college-worthy student the opportunity to receive a high quality, responsibly priced distance-learning education for the purpose of achieving sustainable economic and social benefits for themselves and their families. Aspen is dedicated to providing the highest quality education experiences taught by top-tier faculty - 61% of our adjunct faculty hold doctoral degrees. To learn more about Aspen, visit www.aspen.edu.



Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:


This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements regarding our future growth, forecasted student enrollments and other forecasts, and the value of new student enrollments.


The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include competition, ineffective media and/or marketing, failure to comply with regulatory requirements, and failure to generate sufficient revenue. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including the Prospectus dated October 14, 2014.  Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.



Media Contact:

Aspen Group, Inc.

Michael Mathews, CEO

914-906-9159





 


Annex


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


 

 

January 31,

 

 

April 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Assets

  

 

  

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,158,339

 

 

$

247,380

 

Restricted cash

 

 

888,225

 

 

 

868,298

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $241,027 and $221,537, respectively

 

 

888,499

 

 

 

649,890

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

66,019

 

 

 

45,884

 

Net assets from discontinued operations (Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

5,250

 

Total current assets

 

 

3,001,082

 

 

 

1,816,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call center equipment

 

 

132,798

 

 

 

122,653

 

Computer and office equipment

 

 

73,286

 

 

 

66,118

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

 

42,698

 

 

 

36,446

 

Library (online)

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

100,000

 

Software

 

 

2,147,783

 

 

 

1,894,215

 

 

 

 

2,496,565

 

 

 

2,219,432

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(1,268,502

)

 

 

(938,703

)

Total property and equipment, net

 

 

1,228,063

 

 

 

1,280,729

 

Courseware, net

 

 

158,280

 

 

 

108,882

 

Accounts receivable, secured - related party, net of allowance of $625,962, and $625,962, respectively

 

 

146,831

 

 

 

146,831

 

Debt issuance costs, net

 

 

 

 

 

205,515

 

Other assets

 

 

26,678

 

 

 

25,181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

4,560,934

 

 

$

3,583,840

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

458,997

 

 

$

454,783

 

Accrued expenses

 

 

223,072

 

 

 

144,466

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

716,642

 

 

 

653,518

 

Refunds Due Students

 

 

373,161

 

 

 

288,121

 

Deferred rent, current portion

 

 

11,750

 

 

 

13,699

 

Convertible notes payable, current portion

 

 

50,000

 

 

 

175,000

 

Debenture payable, net of discounts of $0 and $452,771

 

 

 

 

 

1,787,229

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

1,833,622

 

 

 

3,516,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Line of credit

 

 

243,989

 

 

 

244,175

 

Loan payable officer - related party

 

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

1,000,000

 

Convertible notes payable - related party

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

600,000

 

Deferred rent

 

 

 

 

 

7,751

 

Total liabilities

 

 

3,677,611

 

 

 

5,368,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies - See Note 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity (deficiency):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 113,298,156 issued and 113,098,156 outstanding at January 31, 2015, 73,414,478 issued and 73,214,478 outstanding at April 30, 2014

 

 

113,298

 

 

 

73,414

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

22,170,190

 

 

 

16,302,118

 

Treasury stock (200,000 shares)

 

 

(70,000

)

 

 

(70,000

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(21,330,165

)

 

 

(18,090,434

)

Total stockholders' equity (deficiency)

 

 

883,323

 

 

 

(1,784,902

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficiency)

 

$

4,560,934

 

 

$

3,583,840

 




 


ASPEN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)


 

 

For the

 

 

For the

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

January 31,

 

 

January 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

1,286,138

 

 

$

1,002,167

 

 

$

3,670,245

 

 

$

2,817,497

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

662,368

 

 

 

500,311

 

 

 

1,524,793

 

 

 

1,390,444

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,701,871

 

 

 

1,752,717

 

 

 

4,160,978

 

 

 

4,866,498

 

Receivable collateral valuation reserve

 

 

 

 

 

123,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

123,647

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

133,966

 

 

 

121,904

 

 

 

389,706

 

 

 

350,990

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

2,498,205

 

 

 

2,498,579

 

 

 

6,075,477

 

 

 

6,731,579

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss from continuing operations

 

 

(1,212,067

)

 

 

(1,496,412

)

 

 

(2,405,232

)

 

 

(3,914,082

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income

 

 

2,277

 

 

 

136

 

 

 

7,157

 

 

 

750

 

Loss on Debt Extinguishment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(452,503

)

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(34,532

)

 

 

(260,062

)

 

 

(389,153

)

 

 

(398,916

)

Total other expense, net

 

 

(32,255

)

 

 

(259,926

)

 

 

(834,499

)

 

 

(398,166

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

(1,244,322

)

 

 

(1,756,338

)

 

 

(3,239,731

)

 

 

(4,312,248

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

 

(1,244,322

)

 

 

(1,756,338

)

 

 

(3,239,731

)

 

 

(4,312,248

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations (Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

29,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

84,663

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,244,322

)

 

$

(1,726,587

)

 

$

(3,239,731

)

 

$

(4,227,585

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share from continuing operations - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.07

)

Income per share from discontinued operations - basic and diluted

 

$

 

 

$

0.00

 

 

$

 

 

$

0.00

 

Net loss per share allocable to common stockholders - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.01

)

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.07

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

basic and diluted

 

 

112,753,454

 

 

 

59,780,884

 

 

 

96,548,329

 

 

 

59,098,885