Bridgepoint Education Reports First Quarter 2009 Results
115.4% year-over-year enrollment growth drives revenues

 

SAN DIEGO, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI) , a provider of postsecondary education services, announced today its results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009.

  --  Total student enrollment increased 115.4% year over year to 42,025 at
      the end of the quarter.
  --  Revenue increased 116.4% to $84.3 million from $38.9 million for the
      same period in 2008.
  --  Operating income increased 91.9% to $7.2 million from $3.7 million for
      the same period in 2008.  Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes a
      charge of $11.1 million taken in the first quarter related to the
      settlement of a stockholder claim (of which $10.6 million was
      non-cash), was $18.2 million, a 388.7% increase from the same period
      in 2008.  See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation
      of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

  --  Net income was $3.9 million, a decrease from $4.0 million from the
      same period in 2008. Non-GAAP net income, which excludes the net
      income effect of $7.0 million related to the settlement charge
      discussed above, was $10.9 million, a 173.9% increase from the same
      period in 2008.  See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and
      "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.


"We are pleased to report strong enrollment and revenue growth for the first quarter of 2009," said Andrew Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgepoint Education. "Our first quarter achievements are a testament to how well our approach is being embraced by our students. We attribute much of our success to three factors: a strong value proposition, a high-quality academic experience and an effective management team."

Initial Public Offering

On April 14, 2009, Bridgepoint Education priced its initial public offering, and on the following day, its common stock commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BPI." The initial public offering closed on April 20, 2009, at which time Bridgepoint Education sold 3,500,000 shares of common stock and selling stockholders sold 12,025,000 shares of common stock, including 2,025,000 shares sold by a selling stockholder pursuant to the exercise in full of the underwriters' over-allotment option.

Student Enrollment

Total student enrollment at Bridgepoint Education's academic institutions, Ashford University and University of the Rockies, increased 115.4% to 42,025 students at March 31, 2009, compared with 19,509 students at the end of first quarter of 2008. As of March 31, 2009, 98% of the total student population accessed their classes exclusively online.

New student enrollments for the first quarter of 2009 at both of Bridgepoint Education's academic institutions were approximately 16,800, an increase of 90.9%, compared with new enrollments of approximately 8,800 for the first quarter of 2008.

Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2009 was $84.3 million, an increase of 116.4% compared with revenue of $38.9 million for the first quarter of 2008.

Operating income in the first quarter of 2009 was $7.2 million, compared with $3.7 million for the same period in 2008. Non-GAAP operating income, which excludes a charge of $11.1 million taken in the first quarter related to the settlement of a stockholder claim (of which $10.6 million was non-cash), was $18.2 million, a 388.7% increase from the same period in 2008. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

Net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $3.9 million compared with net income of $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income, which excludes the settlement charge discussed above, was $10.9 million, a 173.9% increase from the same period in 2008. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

Fully diluted earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2009 was $0.03. Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2009, which excludes the settlement charge discussed above and also reflects the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock as if the conversion happened on January 1, 2009, was $0.20. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

The Company's effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2009 was 46.2%. Before taking into account the settlement charge taken in the first quarter of 2009, the effective tax rate for the quarter was 40.4%. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2009, Bridgepoint had cash and cash equivalents of $79.1 million, compared with $56.5 million as of December 31, 2008. The Company generated $32.3 million of cash from operating activities for the first quarter of 2009, compared with $10.8 million for the same period in 2008.

2009 Outlook

The following guidance for the year ended December 31, 2009, is based on current expectations and actual results may differ materially. This guidance includes non-GAAP financial measures, which (1) exclude charges related to the settlement of a stockholder claim in the first quarter of 2009 and the acceleration of vesting of certain stock options in connection with the closing of the Company's initial public offering in the second quarter of 2009, and (2) reflect the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock as if the conversion happened on January 1, 2009. See "Forward-Looking Statements," "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below. The Company plans to re-affirm or update this guidance quarterly.

  --  Total student enrollment is expected to be between 47,000 and 49,000
      at December 31, 2009.
  --  GAAP revenue is expected to be between $405 million and $410 million.
  --  GAAP net income is expected to be between $22 million and $24 million.
  --  Non-GAAP net income is expected to be between $48 million and $50
      million.
  --  GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share is expected to be between
      $0.37 and $0.39, based on an estimated fully diluted weighted average
      share count of 43.2 million for the year ending December 31, 2009, as
      discussed below.

  --  Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share is expected to be
      between $0.87 and $0.90, based on an estimated fully diluted weighted
      average share count of 55.8 million for the year ending December 31,
      2009.


Weighted Average Share Count Estimate. At the closing of the Company's initial public offering, all shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock were converted into common shares, increasing the common shares outstanding on April 20, 2009, by 44.7 million shares. The Company's expectations for fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding for 2009 and each quarter therein are listed below:

  Quarter Ending:        Quarterly Fully Diluted
                          Weighted Average Share
                             Count Estimate:
  March 31, 2009*             8.1 million*
  June 30, 2009               46.1 million
  September 30, 2009          58.7 million
  December 31, 2009           59.2 million

  Year Ending:             Annual Fully Diluted
                          Weighted Average Share
                             Count Estimate:

  December 31, 2009           43.2 million

  *Actual.

The numbers shown in the table above reflect the 1-for-4.5 reverse stock split, which occurred on March 31, 2009.

Estimated 2009 Tax Rate. The Company's effective tax rate for 2009 is estimated to be 46.2%. Before taking into account the settlement charge taken in the first quarter of 2009, the Company estimates the effective tax rate would have been 40.4%. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which statements are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share.

The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's performance by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of its recurring core business operating results and may help in comparing its current-period results with those of prior periods. Management believes that they and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company's performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making and (2) they are used by institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the results of the Company's business.

The material limitations of these non-GAAP financial measures are as follows: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share are not recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be alternatives to operating income, net income or fully diluted earnings per common share, respectively, as an indicator of operating performance or any other GAAP measure. Moreover, because not all companies use identical measures and calculations, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. These limitations are compensated for by using non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with traditional GAAP operating performance and cash-flow measures.

The following is a description of the non-GAAP financial measures the Company uses in this press release:

Non-GAAP operating income. Non-GAAP operating income is defined as operating income, plus (1) a charge of $11.1 million taken in the first quarter of 2009 related to the settlement of a stockholder claim (of which $10.6 million was non-cash), and (2) a non-cash expense of $30.4 million taken in the second quarter of 2009 related to the acceleration of certain "exit options" in connection with our initial public offering, as discussed below.

  --  Settlement of stockholder claim.  In February 2009, certain holders of
      common stock and warrants to purchase common stock asserted various
      claims against us, our directors and officers and our majority
      stockholder. On March 29, 2009, the Company reached a settlement with
      the claimants regarding these claims. The Company recorded a total
      expense of $11.1 million related to the settlement, of which $10.6
      million was a non-cash expense, in the first quarter of 2009.

  --  Acceleration of exit options.  In March 2009, our board of directors
      amended certain exit options awarded to members of our management team
      to add an additional vesting condition so that the number of shares
      underlying the options that would not have vested upon the closing of
      our initial public offering, under the original terms of the options,
      would vest in full upon the closing of the offering. The amendment to
      the exit options resulted in additional estimated compensation expense
      of $30.4 million, a non-cash expense which was recorded upon the
      completion of the offering in the second quarter of 2009.


Non-GAAP net income. Non-GAAP net income is defined as net income, plus (1) the net income effect of $7.0 million related to the $11.1 million expense taken in the first quarter of 2009 in connection with the settlement of the stockholder claim, and (2) the net income effect of $19.3 million related to the $30.4 million expense to be taken in the second quarter of 2009 resulting from the acceleration of certain exit options in connection with our initial public offering.

Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share. Non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share is defined to mean non-GAAP net income, plus the allocation of net income to preferred stockholders for the period, divided by fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding assuming the conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock as if the conversion happened on January 1, 2009, for the applicable period. We believe non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per common share provides a meaningful comparison to future results because all redeemable convertible preferred stock was converted to common stock at the closing of our initial public offering.

These non-GAAP financial measures have been reconciled to the related GAAP measures as required under the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" below.

Earnings Conference Call and Webcast

Bridgepoint Education will host a conference call at 11:30 a.m. EDT today to discuss its latest financial results and recent highlights. The dial-in number for callers in the United States is (877) 719-9801 and the dial-in number for international callers is (719) 325-4746. The access code for all callers is 2533844. A live webcast will also be available on the Company's website at ir.bridgepointeducation.com.

A replay of the call will be available over the telephone through May 28, 2009. To access the replay, please dial (888) 203-1112 in the United States and (719) 457-0820 outside the United States, and then enter the access code 2533844.

About Bridgepoint Education

Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the disciplines of business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences. Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of financial resources. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and estimates including, without limitation, those regarding: proposed new programs; expectations that regulatory developments or other matters will not have a material adverse effect on our enrollments, financial position, results of operations and our liquidity; projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results and future economic performance; management's goals and objectives and other similar matters that are not historical facts. 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, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

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 those statements are made and management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and 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. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory framework applicable to our industry, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act and its regulations, state laws and regulatory requirements and accrediting agency requirements; our ability to continue to develop awareness among, to recruit and to retain students; competition in the postsecondary education market and its potential impact on our market share, recruiting cost and tuition rates; reputational and other risks related to potential compliance audits, regulatory actions, negative publicity or service disruptions; our ability to attract and retain the personnel needed to sustain and grow our business; our ability to develop new programs or expand our existing programs in a timely and cost-effective manner; economic or other developments potentially impacting demand in our core disciplines or the availability or cost of Title IV or other; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our IPO prospectus dated April 14, 2009, and in periodic reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update 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.

                          BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION, INC.
                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                                  (Unaudited)

                                             Three Months Ended
                                                   March 31,
                                              2009           2008
                                            (In thousands, except
                                              per share amounts)
   Revenue                                  $84,275        $38,948
   Costs and expenses:
     Instructional costs and services        22,134         12,948
     Marketing and promotional               29,106         15,063
     General and administrative              25,882          7,210
       Total costs and expenses              77,122         35,221
   Operating income                           7,153          3,727
   Other income (expense), net                   72            (54)
   Income before income taxes                 7,225          3,673
   Income tax expense (benefit)               3,338           (309)
   Net income                                 3,887          3,982
   Accretion of preferred dividends            (541)          (501)
   Net income available to common
    stockholders                             $3,346         $3,481
   Earnings per common share:
       Basic                                  $0.07          $0.05
       Diluted                                $0.03          $0.03
   Weighted average common shares
    outstanding
    used in computing earnings per
    common share:
       Basic                                  3,498          3,335
       Diluted                                8,136          6,376


                              BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION, INC.
                         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                      (Unaudited)

                                          As of March 31, As of December 31,
                                                2009             2008
                                           (In thousands, except par value)
                ASSETS
   Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                  $79,125            $56,483
     Restricted cash                                691                666
     Accounts receivable, net                    38,513             28,946
     Inventories                                    301                288
     Current portion of deferred income
      taxes                                       2,734              2,734
     Prepaid expenses and other current
      assets                                     10,757              6,773
   Total current assets                         132,121             95,890
   Property and equipment, net                   34,701             27,715
   Intangibles                                    1,897              1,897
   Deferred income taxes                          2,434              2,366
   Other long term assets                         1,482              1,378
   Total assets                                $172,635           $129,246

      LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE
    PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Current liabilities:
     Accounts payable                            $3,851             $4,705
     Accrued liabilities                         18,864             16,543
     Deferred revenue and student deposits       94,599             67,425
     Current portion of leases payable              157                142
     Current maturities of notes payable             74                 74
     Other liabilities                               37                 40
   Total current liabilities                    117,582             88,929
   Leases payable, less current portion             250                308
   Notes payable, less current
    maturities                                      140                160
   Other long term liabilities                    3,311              2,740
   Rent liability                                 4,757              3,938
   Total liabilities                            126,040             96,075
   Commitments and contingencies                      -                  -
   Redeemable convertible preferred
    stock                                        27,539             27,062
   Total stockholders' equity                    19,056              6,109
   Total liabilities and redeemable
    convertible preferred stock and
   stockholders' equity                        $172,635           $129,246


                            BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION, INC.
                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                    (Unaudited)

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                            March 31,
                                                       2009           2008
                                                         (In thousands)
   Operating activities
   Net income                                         $3,887         $3,982
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
     Provision for bad debts                           4,515          2,957
     Depreciation and amortization                     1,109            375
     Deferred income taxes                               (68)          (911)
     Stock-based compensation                             19             43
     Settlement of stockholder litigation
      expense                                         10,577              -
     Changes in operating assets and
      liabilities:
       Accounts receivable                           (14,082)        (5,675)
       Inventories                                       (13)           (10)
       Prepaid expenses and other assets                (713)        (1,176)
       Other long term assets                           (104)           538
       Accounts payable and accrued liabilities       (1,382)         1,346
       Deferred revenue and student deposits          27,174          9,436
       Other liabilities                               1,387            (69)
   Net cash provided by operating activities          32,306         10,836
   Investing activities
   Capital expenditures                               (7,223)        (1,019)
   Restricted cash                                       (25)          (666)
   Net cash used in investing activities              (7,248)        (1,685)
   Financing activities
   Proceeds from the issuance of common stock             63              -
   Costs incurred in connection with IPO              (2,352)             -
   Payments on conversion of preferred stock             (64)             -
   Payments of capital lease obligations                 (43)           (30)
   Payments of notes payable                             (20)           (91)
   Net cash used in financing activities              (2,416)          (121)
   Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          22,642          9,030
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
    period                                            56,483          7,351
   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period        $79,125        $16,381
   Supplemental disclosure of noncash
    transactions:
     Purchase of equipment included in accounts
      payable and accrued liabilities                   $872           $217
     IPO costs included in accounts payable             $919             $-



  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Historical

                                            Adjustment
                                               for
                                             Assumed
                                            Conversion               As
                                           of Redeemable Adjusted  Reported
                  As Reported               Convertible    Three    Three
                  Three Months  Adjustment   Preferred     Months   Months
                     ended         for      Stock as of    ended    ended
                   March 31,    Settlement   January 1,  March 31, March 31,
                      2009        Charge        2009        2009     2008

                      (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)


  Revenue            $84,275           $-         -        $84,275  $38,948

  Cost and
   expenses:
    Instructional
     costs and
     services         22,134            -         -         22,134   12,948
    Marketing
     and
     promotional      29,106            -         -         29,106   15,063
    General and
     administrative   25,882      (11,060)        -         14,822    7,210

      Total costs
       and
       expenses       77,122      (11,060)        -         66,062   35,221

  Operating
   income              7,153       11,060         -         18,213    3,727

  Other
   income
   (expense),
   net                    72            -         -             72      (54)

  Income
   before tax          7,225       11,060         -         18,285    3,673
  Income tax
   expense
   (benefit)           3,338        4,040         -          7,378     (309)
  Net income           3,887        7,020         -         10,907    3,982
  Accretion
   of
   preferred
   dividends            (541)           -         -           (541)    (501)
  Net income
   available
   to common
  stockholders        $3,346       $7,020         -        $10,366   $3,481

  Net income
   used in
   earnings
   per common
   share
   calculation          $234         $490    $9,642        $10,366     $182

  Earnings
   per common
   share:
     Basic             $0.07        $0.14        $-          $0.22    $0.05
     Diluted           $0.03        $0.06        $-          $0.20    $0.03

  Weighted
   average
   common
   shares
   outstanding
   used in
   computing
   earnings
   per common
   share:
    Basic              3,498            -    44,693         48,191    3,335
    Diluted            8,136            -    44,693         52,829    6,376



  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Forward-Looking

                                           Adjustment   Adjustment
                           GAAP               for        for Exit
                        Year Ended         Settlement     Option
                    December 31, 2009        Charge       Charge

                 (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)


  Revenue           $405,000 - $410,000

  Net income         $22,000 -  $24,000      $7,020       $19,295

  Net income used
   in earnings
   per common
   share
   calculation       $16,000 -  $17,000      $5,111       $14,047


  Earnings per
   common share:
     Basic             $0.41 -    $0.43       $0.13         $0.36
     Diluted           $0.37 -    $0.39       $0.12         $0.32

  Pro-forma
   weighted
   average shares
     Basic                 39,403                 -             -
     Diluted               43,228                 -             -



                          Adjustment for
                             Assumed
                           Conversion of
                            Redeemable
                            Convertible                Non-GAAP
                         Preferred Stock as           Year Ended
                         of January 1, 2009        December 31, 2009

                      (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)


  Revenue                                         $405,000 - $410,000

  Net income                   $-        $-        $48,315 -  $50,315

  Net income used in
   earnings per common
   share calculation      $13,157 - $14,157        $48,315 -  $50,315


  Earnings per common
   share:
     Basic                     $-        $-          $0.93 -    $0.97
     Diluted                   $-        $-          $0.87 -    $0.90

  Pro-forma weighted
   average shares
     Basic                       12,613                   52,016
     Diluted                     12,613                   55,841

Source: Bridgepoint Education

CONTACT: Diane Salucci, Vice President of Corporate Communications and
Investor Relations, +1-858-668-2586, ext. 3690, or J. Spencer Davis, Director
of Investor Relations, +1-858-668-2586, ext. 4190, both of Bridgepoint
Education, investorrelations@bridgepointeducation.com

Web Site: http://www.bridgepointeducation.com/