Ambow Education Announces First Quarter 2017 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambow Education Holding Ltd. ("Ambow" or the "Company"), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017.

"We are pleased to achieve significant progress at the beginning of 2017 by launching career-oriented international programs under Ambow International Institution (AII) to further our efforts in helping students achieve outstanding academic results and develop successful careers," commented Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow's President and Chief Executive Officer. "In partnership with high-quality US colleges, our International Advanced Degree Program provides Chinese junior-college students cross-border learning experiences. Upon graduation, students will receive a bachelor's degree in hot majors including management, IT, teaching and nursing that are recognized by both the US and Chinese Ministry of Education. As the pioneer in this innovative model with AII as a credit depository that shares credits between China and US colleges, we aim to prepare students with Ambow's student-centric ESL (English as a Second Language) language training, as well as related qualification for their undergraduate study overseas and their pursuit of international career opportunities."

"We also further strengthened our leadership position in the career enhancement industry, as we were honored to contribute to the research and composition of the 2016-2017 Professionals for China's Integrated Circuit (IC) Industry Whitepaper, which was published in May. Led by China's National Software and Integrated Circuit Promotion Center (CSIP), the Whitepaper was highly recognized by top entrepreneurs, educators and regulators in the IC industry. With our extensive experience in career enhancement and dedication to innovation, we are committed to fostering talent through our Ambow University and promoting the healthy development of China's IC industry," concluded Dr. Huang.

Kia Jing Tan, Chief Financial Officer, added, "In addition to a nice 12.4% top line growth in the first quarter, our efforts to improve operating efficiency and to apply stringent cost controls continued to bear fruit, as operating expenses as percentage of net revenues decreased to 58.7% from 64.4% in the year-ago period. Despite a gross profit margin decline in the quarter due to increased performance-based compensation incentives to key teaching faculties, we are pleased to achieve bottom-line improvement in every segment of our business. Together with strong cash resources of RMB413.3 million, we are well positioned to support Ambow's growth objectives." 

"In the first quarter, we developed two new modules of an operational management platform including a new human resource system and a financial data control system. We believe the new systems will boost our operating efficiency and provide our management team and field managers with better insights into our business in different segments. In the meantime, our R&D and IT teams are building an intelligent office system at our new corporate headquarters, which will enable a more efficient, green and smart working environment. We are also building online content for our learning platform aiming to provide both teachers and students in our partner schools with state-of-the-art technology and the best learning and teaching experience," concluded Chiao-Ling Hsu, Chief Operating Officer. 

Financial Highlights for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

• Net revenues were RMB76.8 million, a 12.4% increase from RMB68.3 million for the first quarter of 2016. The increase was mainly driven by higher student enrollment for the 2016-2017 academic year in the Company's K-12 schools from the fall semester in 2016.
• Gross profit was RMB26.0 million, a 3.2% increase from RMB25.2 million for the first quarter of 2016.  Gross profit margin was 33.9%, compared with 36.9% for the same period of 2016. Gross profit margin decline was mainly due to an increase in performance-based compensation for teaching faculties in the first quarter 2017.
• Operating expenses were RMB45.1 million, a 2.5% increase from RMB44.0 million for the same period of 2016. Operating expenses as percentage of net revenues decreased to 58.7% from 64.4% in the year-ago period, mainly due to stringent cost control.
• Net loss attributable to the Company was RMB15.4 million, or RMB0.40 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of RMB19.1 million, or RMB0.50 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2016.
• As of March 31, 2017, the Company continued to maintain strong cash resources of RMB413.3 million in total, including cash and cash equivalents of RMB255.2 million, short-term investments of RMB155.7 million, and restricted cash of RMB2.4 million.
• As of March 31, 2017, the Company's deferred revenue balance was RMB118.2 million, a 7.9% increase from RMB109.5 million as of December 31, 2016. Deferred revenue represents tuition and course fees collected and recognized as revenue proportionally over the period services are provided. The increase was mainly attributable to the student enrollment growth for the 2016-2017 academic year and associated tuition and course fees collected in the K-12 business segment.

Recent Development

In May 2017, the Company relocated its corporate headquarters to the 12th Floor, Tower 1, Financial Street Chang'an Center, Shijingshan District, Beijing. Conveniently located near public transportation, Ambow's new headquarters covers approximately 16,146 square feet that includes six conference rooms, multiple employee recreational areas, a coffee bar, and open concept work areas to foster employee and team collaboration and promote creativity.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.8832 as of March 31, 2017, according to the noon buying rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 30 out of the 31 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements.  Among other things, the outlook for the second quarter and full year 2017 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
Tel: +86-10-6206-8104

The Piacente Group | Investor Relations
Tel: +1 212-481-2050 or +86 10-5730-6200
Email: ambow@tpg-ir.com

SOURCE Ambow Education Holding Ltd.