First Quarter Results in Line with Our Expectations; University Group Operating Income Increases 7.6%

Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ: CECO) today reported operating and financial results for the first quarter 2015. In a separate news release issued today, the company also disclosed its plan to teach-out or divest its remaining Career Colleges in order to focus resources on its University Group.

Business Highlights:

  • University Group operating income increased 7.6% year-over-year to $11.7 million for the quarter
  • For our continuing operations, lowered operating expenses by $13.2 million or 6.0% during the first quarter as compared to the prior year with 2015 operating expenses tracking in-line with the company's expectations
  • On track against key objectives to generate modest total student enrollment growth within our University segments; to strengthen academic outcomes, to enhance regulatory compliance and simplify our business model; to reduce the organizational cost structure; and to successfully continue to complete the teach-out of our Transitional campuses
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $11.4 million for the University Group and Corporate for the first quarter of 2015, an improvement of $1.2 million as compared to the prior year quarter
  • Adjusted EBITDA for Career Colleges, Transitional Group and discontinued operations improved to ($23.2) million, compared to ($43.0) million in the same quarter last year, as a result of the completion of teach-outs and continued focus on reducing lease obligations
  • Company continues its sale process for Le Cordon Bleu and is engaged in discussions with numerous interested parties
  • Initiated strategy to divest and/or teach-out remaining Career Colleges and expects cumulative actions to be accretive to 2015 results excluding restructuring charges

Chairman and Interim CEO Ron McCray commented, "Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as the progress of our turnaround continues to gain traction. The announcements we are making today regarding our Career Colleges will accelerate the company's path to profitability. This process will also enable us to right-size the company's corporate overhead expenses and sharpen our focus on costs within the University Group to be more in line with comparable leading education peers. At the same time, the way we are approaching the dissolution of our Career Colleges through a gradual teach-out or sale of institutions provides students with a reasonable opportunity to complete their programs of study."

"Career Education has a bright future, with a strong University platform that positions us for long-term success. Further, our strong balance sheet will enable us to responsibly invest in initiatives that will result in positive outcomes for our University students and help us grow our University Group in the future," McCray said.

See the entire Q1 2015 release here.

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