Revenue Increased by 69.0% and Net Income Increased by 29.0%

Adjusted EBITDA Increased 62.1% Year over Year

FOSHAN, China, Jan. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar," the "Company," "we" or "our") (NYSE: BEDU), a global premier education service company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2019.

First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 Financial Highlights

(in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal year):

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Domestic K-12 Schools Highlights

(in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal year):

• The domestic K-12 schools comprises of international schools, bilingual schools and kindergartens in China
• Average number of students increased by 17.4% to 48,645 with average tuition and fees increased by 3.2% to RMB13,711
• Revenue increased by 21.7% to RMB669.7 million and accounted for 60.9% of total revenue
• Gross margin increased from 47.8% to 48.5%, and operating margin increased from 34.3% to 37.4%
• Plan to open 7 kindergartens in FY2020, with 4 to be operated in collaboration with Country Garden

Overseas Schools  Highlights

• The overseas schools comprises all overseas schools such as Bournemouth, St. Michael's, Bosworth and CATS
• The average number of students of our overseas schools amounted to 3,220
• Revenue from all acquired business⁽⁶⁾ fully reflected in the first fiscal quarter amounted to RMB259.2 million and accounted for 23.6% of total revenue
• Gross margin was 32.2% for the quarter and operating margin was 3.4% including impact from transition related expenses

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Complementary Education Services Highlights

(in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal year):

• The complementary education services comprises language training, overseas study counselling, career counselling, study tours and camps and others
• Revenue increased by 69.7% to RMB169.1 million and accounted for 15.5% of total revenue
• Gross margin increased from 33.7% to 38.6%, and operating margin increased from 18.1% to 22.3%

"We are very pleased with the tremendous progress we continue to make as we transform and scale Bright Scholar to better serve the evolving needs of our students in a fast-changing education industry," said Jerry He, Executive Vice Chairman of Bright Scholar. "The strategic investments we made across our business segments in the past years have given us a strong start in the 2020 fiscal year. We scaled our business significantly with acquired business contributed to over RMB315 million in revenue and RMB46 million in adjusted EBITDA in the first fiscal quarter of 2020. Revenue from domestic K-12 schools only accounted for less than 61% of our total revenue in the first fiscal quarter of 2020. The impact is transformational as these acquisitions also served as catalysts to expand our geographic footprint, portfolio, and organization, as well as business opportunities." 

"In the 2020 fiscal year, we remain firmly focused on 3 fronts. First, capitalize on synergistic opportunities from our domestic and overseas acquired business. Second, continue our organic growth initiatives in optimizing operational efficiency, accelerating ramp up to improve utilization and broadening our service offerings. Third, continue to pursue strategic investments domestically and overseas. We are fully committed to delivering sustainable long-term value for our students, employees, shareholders and stakeholders."

"We are off to a very strong start in the first fiscal quarter. Our overall revenue grew by 69.0% and operating income grew by 46.7% year over year," said Derek Feng, Chief Executive Officer of Bright Scholar. "More importantly, the revenue and operating income of our China based operations, including domestic K-12 schools and complementary education services grew 29.1% and 39.3% year over year respectively. The adjusted SG&A of headquarter⁽⁷⁾ as % of total revenue declined by 2.6%  year over year. These are the early results from the operational improvement initiatives that we started last year. Meanwhile, as we expand our business to reduce risk exposure to domestic K-12 related regulations as well as enhance competitive advantages, our overall margin profile is also changing in the near term driven by the different cost structure of the acquired overseas business. However, we have a number of operating initiatives underway including setting up shared-service centre in the UK to achieve both revenue and cost synergies among all our business segments that will enhance the overall margin over time."

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"Our performance reflects our commitment to delivering quality education. As of December 19, 2019, approximately 57.1% of students in the 2020 graduating class of our international schools⁽⁸⁾ have received over 310 offers from global top 50 institutions. As of the release date, our flagship school Guangdong Country Garden School received 3 conditional offers from  the University of Oxford, 3 conditional offers from  the University of Cambridge and 1 unconditional offer from the University of Chicago. We expect more students will receive offers from these elite institutions, and the grades of our students will continue to improve across all age groups."

Mr. Feng concluded, "In the first quarter, we made great strides in improving school utilization, enhancing cost management, integrating acquired business and expanding education service offerings. We are on track to deliver results within our guided range for the 2020 fiscal year, i.e., annual revenue growth of 56% to 60%, average student enrollment growth of 14% to 15%, and 7 kindergartens scheduled to open in the 2020 fiscal year."

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UNAUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FIRST FISCAL QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2019

Revenue

Revenue for the first fiscal quarter was RMB1,098.0 million. It represented a 69.0% increase from RMB649.9 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. 

Domestic K-12 Schools: Revenue contribution for the quarter was RMB669.7 million and accounted for 60.9% of the total revenue. It represented a 21.7% increase from RMB550.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year, which accounted for 84.7% of the total revenue in that period.

International Schools: Revenue contribution for the quarter was RMB273.9 million and accounted for 24.9% of the total revenue. It represented a 25.3% increase from RMB218.6 million for the same period of the last fiscal year, which accounted for 33.6% of the total revenue in that period.

Bilingual Schools: Revenue contribution for the quarter was RMB229.8 million and accounted for 20.9% of the total revenue. It represented an 18.5% increase from RMB194.0 million for the same period of the last fiscal year, which accounted for 29.9% of the total revenue in that period.

Kindergartens: Revenue contribution for the quarter was RMB166.0 million and accounted for 15.1% of the total revenue. It represented a 20.5% increase from RMB137.7 million for the same period of the last fiscal year, which accounted for 21.2% of the total revenue in that period.

Overseas Schools: Revenue for the quarter was RMB259.2 million, which accounted for 23.6% of total revenue.

Complementary Education: Revenue for the quarter was RMB169.1 million and accounted for 15.5% of total revenue. It represented a 69.7% increase from RMB99.6 million for the same period of the last fiscal year, which accounted for 15.3% of the total revenue in that period.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue for the quarter was RMB624.2 million, representing a 76.7% increase from RMB353.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Gross Profit, Gross Margin and Adjusted Gross Profit

Gross profit for the quarter was RMB473.8 million. It represented a 59.7% increase from RMB296.6 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 43.1%, as compared to 45.6% for the same period of the last fiscal year. 

Adjusted gross profit for the quarter was RMB484.8 million, representing a 62.0% increase from RMB299.3 million for the same quarter of the last fiscal year. Adjusted gross margin was 44.2% for the quarter, as compared to 46.1% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Domestic K-12 Schools: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB325.1 million, representing a 23.6% increase from RMB263.0 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 48.5%, as compared to 47.8% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

International Schools: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB 140.5 million, representing a 30.9% increase from RMB107.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 51.3%, as compared to 49.1% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Bilingual Schools: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB103.9 million, representing an 18.9% increase from RMB87.4 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 45.2%, as compared to 45.0% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Kindergartens: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB80.7 million, representing an 18.1% increase from RMB68.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 48.6%, as compared to 49.6% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Overseas Schools: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB83.4 million, with a gross margin of 32.2%.

Complementary Education: Gross profit for the quarter was RMB65.3 million, representing a 94.4% increase from RMB33.6 million for the same period of last fiscal year. Gross margin for the quarter was 38.6%, as compared to 33.7% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses and Adjusted SG&A Expenses ⁽⁹⁾

Total selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were RMB209.9 million, of which RMB90.1 million was incremental from the acquired business, as compared to RMB121.6 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. These expenses amounted to 19.1% of the total revenue as compared to 18.7% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted SG&A expenses ⁽⁹⁾ for the quarter were RMB199.9 million, as compared to RMB115.1 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. These expenses amounted to 18.2% of the total revenue as compared to 17.7% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

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Operating Income, Operating Income Margin and Adjusted Operating Income

Operating income for the quarter was RMB267.2 million. It represents a 46.7% increase from RMB182.2 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 24.3%, as compared to 28.0% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was RMB288.3 million. It represents a 50.6% increase from RMB191.4 million for the same quarter of the last fiscal year. Adjusted operating margin was 26.3% for the quarter, as compared to 29.5% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Domestic K-12 Schools: Operating income for the quarter was RMB250.5 million, representing a 32.6% increase from RMB188.8 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 37.4%, as compared to 34.3% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

International Schools: Operating income for the quarter was RMB110.3 million, representing a 38.5% increase from RMB79.6 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 40.3%, as compared to 36.4% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Bilingual Schools: Operating income for the quarter was RMB78.4 million, representing a 27.6% increase from RMB61.4 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 34.1%, as compared to 31.7% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Kindergartens: Operating income for the quarter was RMB61.8 million, representing a 29.3% increase from RMB47.8 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 37.2%, as compared to 34.7% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Overseas Schools: Operating income for the quarter was RMB8.8 million, with an operating margin of 3.4%.

Complementary Education: Operating income for the quarter was RMB37.7 million, representing a 108.5% increase from RMB18.1 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was 22.3%, as compared to 18.1% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Unallocated Corporate Expenses: Unallocated corporate expenses for the quarter was RMB29.8 million, as compared to RMB24.7 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income   

Net income for the quarter was RMB204.3 million, representing a 29.0% increase from RMB158.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was RMB225.4 million, representing a 34.5% increase from RMB167.5 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Earnings per ordinary share/ADS and Adjusted Earnings per ordinary share/ADS

Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders/ADS holders for the quarter were RMB1.59 and RMB1.59, respectively, as compared to earnings per share of RMB1.22 and RMB1.22, respectively, for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders/ADS holders for the quarter were RMB1.76 and RMB1.76, respectively, as compared to earnings per share of RMB1.30 and RMB1.30, respectively, for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was RMB352.5 million, of which RMB46.4 million was attributable to acquired business, representing a 62.1% increase from RMB217.4 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Cash and Working Capital

As of November 30, 2019, the Company's cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash were RMB2,426.6 million (US$345.1 million), as compared to RMB3,265.0 million as of August 31, 2019. For the first quarter ended November 30, 2019, the Company's capital expenditure was approximately RMB60.9 million, up 90.8% compared to the same period of the last fiscal year.

New Accounting Standards

On September 1, 2019, the Company adopted the new lease accounting standard (ASC 842), using modified retrospective transition method. The adoption of the new lease standard results in the recording of operating lease right-of-use assets of RMB1,756.3 million and operating lease liabilities of RMB1,753.9 million on the balance sheet as of September 1, 2019. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the previous accounting guidance. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material effect on the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows.

GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2020

The Company reaffirms its guidance for the 2020 fiscal year and expects its revenue to be in a range of RMB4.0 billion and RMB4.1 billion for the 2020 fiscal year, representing a year-over-year growth of 56% to 60%, and its average student enrollment to be between approximately 53,200 and 53,600, representing a year-over-year increase of 14% to 15%. The Company also expects to open seven new kindergartens for the 2020 fiscal year.

This guidance is based on the current market and operating conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of such market and operating conditions and market demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

BEDU's management will host a conference call at 8:00 am US Eastern Time (9:00 pm Beijing/Hong Kong Time) on January 17, 2020 to discuss its quarterly results and recent business activities.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time:

*No passcode is required for the call. Please request to join Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.'s call as you dial in.

The Company will also broadcast a live audio webcast of the conference call. The webcast will be available at https://ir.brightscholar.com/.

Following the earnings conference call, an archive of the call will be available by dialing:

CONVENIENCE TRANSLATION

The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and the significant majority of revenue generated are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). However, periodic reports made to shareholders will include current period amounts translated into U.S. dollars using the prevailing exchange rates at the balance sheet date, for the convenience of readers. Translations of balances in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, and cash flows from RMB into U.S. dollars as of and for the quarter ended November 30, 2019 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB7.0308, representing the noon buying rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on November 29, 2019. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on November 29, 2019 or at any other rate.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In evaluating our business, we consider and use certain non-GAAP measures, including primarily adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss), adjusted gross profit/(loss), adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted as supplemental measures to review and assess our operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define adjusted gross profit/(loss) as gross profit/(loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets and adjusted gross margin as adjusted gross profit/(loss) divided by revenue. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income/(loss) excluding interest income, net; income tax expense/benefit; depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation expense, and adjusted net income/(loss) as net income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets. We define adjusted SG&A as selling, general and administration expense excluding share-based compensation expense and adjusted operating income/(loss) as net operating income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets. Additionally, we define adjusted net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted, as adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders (net income/(loss) to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets) divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted ordinary shares or American depositary shares (each an "ADS"), each representing one Class A ordinary share of the Company, on an as-converted basis.

We incur amortization expense of intangible assets related to various acquisitions that have been made in recent years. These intangible assets are valued at the time of acquisition and are then amortized over a period of several years after the acquisition. We believe that exclusion of these expenses allows greater comparability of operating results that are consistent over time for the Company's newly-acquired and long-held business as the related intangibles does not have significant connection to the growth of the business. Therefore, we provide additional exclusion of amortization of intangible assets to redefine adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net income/(loss), and adjusted net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted.

We present the non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Such non-GAAP measures include adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss), adjusted gross profit/(loss), adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted. Non-GAAP financial measures enable our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of non-cash charges, including depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expense, and without considering the impact of non-operating items such as interest income, net; income tax expense/benefit and share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP measures facilitates investors' assessment of our operating performance.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Interest income, net; income tax expense/benefit; depreciation and amortization; and share-based compensation expense, have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of these non-GAAP measures, including adjusted EBITDA or adjusted net income/(loss). Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited

Bright Scholar is a global premier education service company. The Company is dedicated to providing quality international education to global students and equipping them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Bright Scholar also complements its international offerings with Chinese government-mandated curriculum for students who wish to maintain the option of pursuing higher education in China. As of November 30, 2019, Bright Scholar operated 80 schools across ten provinces in China and eight schools overseas, covering the breadth of K-12 academic needs of its students. In the quarter ended November 30, 2019, Bright Scholar had an average of 51,865 students enrolled at its schools. As of November 30, 2019, Bright Scholar has a global network of 88 schools, and a total student capacity of 67,194 students.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans and development, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, unce

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