___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to ______
Commission File Number 1-31923
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | | | | | |
| Delaware | | 86-0226984 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) | | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
4225 East Windrose Drive, Suite 200
Phoenix, Arizona 85032
(Address of principal executive offices)
(623) 445-9500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, $0.0001 par value | UTI | New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☑
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☑
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | | |
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☑ |
Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
| Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements
of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant
to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☑
At December 3, 2024, 54,026,995 shares of common stock were outstanding. The aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter (March 31, 2024) was approximately $690,000,000 (based upon the closing price of the common stock on such date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange). For purposes of this calculation, the registrant has excluded the market value of all common stock beneficially owned by all executive officers and directors of the registrant.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”) and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. From time to time, we also provide forward-looking statements in other materials we release to the public as well as verbal forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions (including the negative form of such expressions) intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, do not strictly relate to historical or current facts, any of which may not prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in our forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
•failure of our schools to comply with the extensive regulatory requirements for school operations;
•our failure to maintain eligibility for or our ability to process federal student financial assistance funds;
•the effect of current and future Title IV Program regulations arising out of negotiated rulemakings, including any potential reductions in funding or restrictions on the use of funds received through Title IV Programs;
•the effect of future legislative or regulatory initiatives related to veterans’ benefit programs;
•continued Congressional examination of the for-profit education sector;
•regulatory investigations of, or actions commenced against, us or other companies in our industry;
•changes in the state regulatory environment or budgetary constraints;
•our failure to execute on our growth and diversification strategy, including effectively identifying, establishing and operating additional schools, programs or campuses;
•our failure to realize the expected benefits of our acquisitions, or our failure to successfully integrate our acquisitions;
•our failure to improve underutilized capacity at certain of our campuses;
•enrollment declines or challenges in our students’ ability to find employment as a result of macroeconomic conditions;
•our failure to maintain and expand existing industry relationships and develop new industry relationships;
•our ability to update and expand the content of existing programs and develop and integrate new programs in a timely and cost-effective manner while maintaining positive student outcomes;
•a loss of our senior management or other key employees;
•failure to comply with the restrictive covenants and our ability to pay the amounts when due under our credit agreements;
•the effect of our principal stockholder owning a significant percentage of our capital stock, and thus being able to influence certain corporate matters and the potential in the future to gain substantial control over our company;
•the effect of public health pandemics, epidemics or outbreak, including COVID-19; and
•risks related to other factors discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including those described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
The factors above are not exhaustive, and new factors may emerge or changes to the foregoing factors may occur that could impact our business. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions. Many events beyond our control may determine whether results we anticipate will be achieved. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the factors discussed under Part 1, Item 1. “Business” and Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” and Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” You should bear this in mind as you consider forward-looking statements.
Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of the document containing the applicable statement. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Thus, you should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the documents that we incorporate by reference herein, by these cautionary statements. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Universal Technical Institute, Inc., which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our,” was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. We offer the majority of our programs in a blended learning model that combines instructor-facilitated online teaching and demonstrations with hands-on labs. Our reporting structure has two reportable segments (also referred to as “divisions”) as follows:
Universal Technical Institute (“UTI”): UTI operates 16 campuses located in nine states and offers a wide range of degree and non-degree transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (collectively, “MMI”), NASCAR Technical Institute (“NASCAR Tech”), and MIAT College of Technology (“MIAT”). UTI also offers manufacturer specific advanced training programs, which include student-paid electives at our campuses and manufacturer or dealer sponsored training at certain campuses and dedicated training centers. Lastly, UTI provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers.
Concorde Career Colleges (“Concorde”): Concorde operates 17 campuses located in eight states and online, offering degree, non-degree, certificate and continuing education programs in the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic fields. The Company has designated campuses that offer degree granting programs “Concorde Career College;” where allowed by State regulation. The remaining campuses are designated as “Concorde Career Institute.” Concorde believes in preparing students for their healthcare careers with practical, hands-on experiences including opportunities to learn while providing care to real patients. Prior to graduation, students will complete a number of hours in a clinical setting or externship, depending upon their program of study. We acquired Concorde on December 1, 2022.
“Corporate” includes corporate related expenses that are not allocated to the UTI or Concorde reportable segments.
All of our campuses are institutionally accredited and are eligible for federal student financial assistance funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“HEA”), commonly referred to as Title IV Programs, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”). Many of our programs also are eligible for financial aid from federal sources other than Title IV Programs, such as the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) and under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Business Model and Industry Partnerships
We serve students, partners and communities by providing quality education and training for in-demand careers. We continue to evolve our business model to provide our students with accessible, affordable training with a focus on bringing education to the students at convenient locations.
Market served by UTI
The market for qualified transportation or skilled trades technicians across the programs that UTI offers is large and growing. The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (“U.S. DOL BLS”) estimates that an average of approximately 107,300 new job openings, due to growth and net replacements, will exist annually for newly trained technicians in the automotive, diesel, and collision fields through 2033. Additionally, for skilled trades and other transportation programs, the U.S. DOL BLS estimates that an average of 45,800 new job openings for welders, 43,500 new jobs openings for industrial machinery mechanics, 42,500 new job openings in the HVAC industry, 15,200 new job openings for computer-controlled machine tool operators, 13,400 new job openings for avionic technicians, 6,300 new job openings for robotics, 4,600 new job openings for marine and motorcycle technicians and 2,100 new job openings for wind turbine service technicians will exist annually for new entrants through 2033 in these fields.
Market served by Concorde
The market for qualified healthcare support occupations across the programs that Concorde offers is growing even faster, with the U.S. DOL BLS estimating an annual average of 1,261,100 new jobs annually through 2033. Specifically, the U.S. DOL BLS estimates that an average of 194,500 new job openings for registered nurses, 119,800 new job openings for
medical assistants, 54,900 new job openings for dental assistants, 54,000 new job openings for practical and licensed vocational nurses, 47,400 new job openings for pharmacy technicians, 35,300 new job openings for occupational therapy and physical therapist assistants and aides, 26,500 new job openings for diagnostic related technologists and technicians, 24,200 new job openings for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, 22,800 new job openings for massage therapists, 19,600 new job openings for phlebotomists and 16,400 new job openings for dental hygienists will exist annually for new entrants through 2033 in these fields.
Recruitment
Our student recruitment efforts begin with our commitment to positive outcomes, both for our students and our industry relationships. We use a multi-touch media approach across our admissions channels. For UTI, there are three primary admissions channels (high school, adult, and military) to enroll and start students, which involves national and local outreach to generate a high quality and quantity of prospective students. For Concorde, adults are the primary admissions channel, with an emphasis on those prospective adult students within the local proximity to a Concorde campus. To maximize the likelihood of student retention and graduation, our admissions process is intended to identify students who have the desire and ability to succeed in their chosen program. Prior to enrolling, many potential Concorde students complete a test which helps determine their expected success rate in a given program. In addition, we have established processes to identify students who may be in need of assistance to succeed in and complete their chosen program. To assist these students in graduating, we employ student service professionals that provide tutoring, and academic, financial, personal, and employment advisement. Additionally, as our campus locations do not offer housing for students, we have service professionals who leverage third-party relationships and assist our students in finding affordable housing near our campuses.
Industry Partnerships
To ensure the UTI programs provide students with the necessary hard and soft skills needed upon graduation, UTI has relationships with multiple original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and industry brand partners across the country to understand their needs for qualified service professionals. Through these industry relationships, UTI is able to continuously refine and expand its programs and curricula. We believe the UTI industry-focused educational model and national presence has enabled the UTI division to develop valuable industry relationships, which provide it with significant competitive advantages and supports its market leadership, along with enabling the division to provide highly specialized education to its students, resulting in enhanced employment opportunities and the potential for higher wages for its graduates.
The industry relationships for the UTI division also extend to thousands of local employers, after-market retailers, fleet service providers and enthusiast organizations. Other target groups for relationship-building, such as parts and tools suppliers, provide UTI with a variety of strategic and financial benefits that include equipment sponsorship, new product support, licensing and branding opportunities and financial sponsorship for the UTI campuses and students.
Concorde partners with dental and medical offices, clinics, and hospitals to provide technical and professional skills through quality clinical experiences. These clinical externship experiences are embedded in the program coursework to provide hands-on, real-world healthcare experiences and connect students with potential employers. Concorde has relationships with thousands of clinical affiliate partners nationwide that provide robust and varied exposure to patient populations and healthcare models. Many of these clinical affiliate partners participate in program advisory councils and contribute to Concorde’s efforts to continuously improve its program curriculum and resources. These partnerships provide early employment and graduate employment opportunities and have resulted in customized curricula to assist in upskilling partners' employees.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy, internally known as our “North Star strategy,” has three core tenets: to grow the business by more deeply penetrating existing target markets and adding new markets; to diversify the business by adding new locations, programs, and offerings that maximize the lifetime value of our students; and to continually optimize the business by constantly enhancing operational efficiency.
Growth, Diversification and Optimization
Our organization has a number of key levers to grow, diversify, and optimize the business. Organically, we have been successful by adding new locations and new programs. In the last two years, UTI has launched fourteen new programs throughout existing campuses and opened two new transportation and skilled trades campuses, further expanding its geographical footprint and opening access to highly populated locations in growing economies. Inorganically, in November
2021, we acquired MIAT College of Technology which has served both as a growth strategy by expanding into the Canton, Michigan market and a diversification strategy by adding additional program areas in rapidly expanding skilled trades professions. This acquisition also has allowed us to expand and diversify our existing UTI campus offerings to include aviation, energy, HVACR and other skilled trade options.
In December 2022, we continued to diversify by expanding into healthcare education through the acquisition of Concorde. This acquisition enabled us to expand our program offerings into the high-growth and high-demand healthcare education market. Throughout 2024, we have expanded partnerships in the healthcare market and completed five program expansions within Concorde’s existing campuses.
Continually optimizing program offerings and operations serves to further enhance overall operating margins and is a foundational element of our strategy. Since acquiring Concorde, we have built a multi-division and corporate operating model that provides transparency, accountability, the ability to be nimble and adapt as we continue to evolve, while also serving as a platform for expansion into new areas.
As we look towards the second phase of our North Star strategy, we are continuing to focus on these core tenets. Pending regulatory approval, we expect to launch a minimum of six programs annually at our existing campuses beginning in fiscal year 2025 and open at least two new campuses each year between fiscal years 2026 and 2029, which includes expanding both UTI’s and Concorde’s campus offerings and footprint. We believe this strategy will allow us to reach even more students with industry-aligned workforce and professional programs that demonstrate strong student outcomes, while also increasing the financial strength of the company.
Return on Education Investment
We provide an excellent return on our students’ education investment by working with corporate partners and local communities to offer educational programs that are tailored to professional and industry standards. With a high focus on offering programs for in-demand careers, our graduates are well prepared to enter or re-enter the workforce in high demand areas that offer well-paying jobs. We actively engage corporate partners in defining our program outcomes, program offerings, and ongoing educational requirements to ensure students have the requisite skills to succeed in the workplace of today and have a foundation for tomorrow. We regularly evaluate program offerings, schedules and locations that are most appealing to students and aligned with employer expectations. For our Concorde offerings, where appropriate, we ensure that our courses are aligned with licensure requirements to ensure our students are provided the greatest opportunity for success. Where appropriate, these professionally aligned programs enable our students to gain licensure, certification, and credentials in high-demand healthcare professions. As a result, we believe we are well positioned to better meet the market’s demand for skilled technicians and healthcare workers.
In addition, we provide relevant services to assist students with possible tuition financing options, educational and career counseling, opportunities for part-time work while attending school, and ultimately graduate employment. Our career services teams identify job opportunities and outreach, advise active students on employment search and interviewing skills, facilitate employer visits to campuses, provide access to reference materials, assist with the composition of resumes, and help students prepare for applicable certification or licensure exams.
Shared Success Model
Overall, our strategy and business model are built around the key principle of, “If you succeed, we succeed.” While operationally the Company has developed core competencies in marketing and enrollment management, the success of the business is not based solely on recruiting students, but rather retaining students through the program to graduation and facilitating their transition to employment in their field of study. Providing high-quality instruction in engaging curriculum aligned to industry and professional standards and delivering exemplary student support services to ensure students have everything they need to be successful serves as the foundation of our model. Retaining our students through to graduation and supporting them through to employment is the key principle of our business.
UTI Schools and Programs
UTI offers certificate, diploma or degree programs at campuses across the United States under the banner of several well-known brands. The majority of the UTI programs are designed to be completed in 30 to 100 weeks. The UTI advanced training programs range from 8 to 26 weeks in duration and are completed subsequent to satisfying the core UTI program requirements. These programs culminate in a certificate, diploma, associate of occupational studies degree, or associate of
applied science degree depending on the program and campus. Tuition rates vary by type and length of our programs and the program level, such as core or advanced training.
The table below sets forth the current locations that operate under the UTI division, the year the campus opened, and the principal programs taught at each location.
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| UTI Location | | Brand | | Year Campus Opened | | Current Principal Programs |
| Arizona (Avondale) | | UTI | | 1965 | | Airframe & Powerplant; Automotive; Diesel; HVACR; Welding |
| Arizona (Avondale) | | MMI | | 1973 | | Motorcycle |
| California (Long Beach) | | UTI | | 2015 | | Airframe & Powerplant; Automotive; Diesel; Collision Repair and Refinishing; HVACR; Welding |
| California (Rancho Cucamonga) | | UTI | | 1998 | | Automotive; Diesel; Industrial Maintenance; Robotics & Automation; Welding; Wind Power |
| California (Sacramento) | | UTI | | 2005 | | Automotive; Diesel; HVACR; Welding |
| Florida (Miramar) | | UTI | | 2022 | | Airframe & Powerplant; Automotive; Diesel; Welding |
| Florida (Orlando) | | UTI/MMI | | 1986 | | Automotive; Diesel; Motorcycle; Marine |
| Illinois (Lisle) | | UTI | | 1988 | | Automotive; Diesel; Industrial Maintenance; Robotics & Automation; Welding; Wind Power |
| Michigan (Canton) | | MIAT | | 1969 | | Airframe and Powerplant; Aviation Maintenance; Energy; HVACR; Industrial Maintenance; Robotics & Automation; Wind Power; Welding |
| New Jersey (Bloomfield) | | UTI | | 2018 | | Automotive; Diesel; HVACR; Welding |
North Carolina (Mooresville) | | NASCAR Tech | | 2002 | | Automotive; CNC Machining; HVACR; NASCAR; Robotics & Automation; Welding |
| Pennsylvania (Exton) | | UTI | | 2004 | | Automotive; Diesel; Robotics & Automation; Welding |
| Texas (Austin) | | UTI | | 2022 | | Automotive; Diesel; HVACR; Welding |
| Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) | | UTI | | 2010 | | Automotive; Diesel; Welding |
Texas (Houston) 1 | | UTI | | 1983 | | Automotive; Collision Repair and Refinishing; Diesel; Energy; Welding |
Texas (Houston) 1 | | MIAT | | 2010 | | Airframe and Powerplant; Aviation Maintenance; Energy; HVACR; Industrial Maintenance; Non-Destructive Testing; Robotics & Automation; Welding; Wind Power |
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(1) During 2024, we began efforts to consolidate the MIAT Houston campus into the previously existing UTI Houston campus. This consolidation is expected to be complete in fiscal 2025.
Description of Current UTI Programs Offered
Many of the UTI students receive their training in a blended learning model that combines instructor-facilitated online teaching and demonstrations with hands-on labs. The blended learning model not only increases access for students, but better prepares them to be life-long learners as technicians today perform many day-to-day tasks and continuing education courses online or on a digital device.
The table below provides an overview of the programs taught by UTI owned and operated institutions, including the year a program was first offered at one of the campuses, the focus of the program, and the type of employment the program is designed to prepare graduates to obtain.
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| UTI Program | | Year Established | | Program Focus | | Target Job Placement(1) |
| Automotive | | 1965 | | Diagnose, service and repair automobiles | | Entry-level service technicians in automotive dealer service departments or automotive repair facilities |
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| UTI Program | | Year Established | | Program Focus | | Target Job Placement(1) |
| Diesel | | 1968 | | Diagnose, service and repair diesel systems and industrial equipment | | Entry-level service technicians in medium and heavy truck facilities, truck dealerships, or in service and repair facilities |
| Airframe and Powerplant | | 1969 | | Aircraft troubleshooting, hydraulics and pneumatics, powerplant lubrication systems and turbine engine operation | | Entry-level opportunities in various areas of the aviation industry |
| Automotive/Diesel | | 1970 | | Diagnose, service and repair automobiles and diesel systems | | Entry-level service technicians in automotive repair facilities, automotive dealer service departments, diesel engine repair facilities, medium and heavy truck facilities, truck dealerships, or in service and repair facilities |
| Motorcycle | | 1973 | | Diagnose, service and repair motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles | | Entry-level service technicians in motorcycle dealerships and independent repair facilities |
| Marine | | 1991 | | Diagnose, service and repair boats | | Entry-level service technicians for marine dealerships and independent repair shops, as well as for marinas, boat yards and yacht clubs |
| Collision Repair and Refinishing | | 1999 | | How to repair non-structural and structural automobile damage as well as how to prepare cost estimates on all phases of repair and refinishing | | Entry-level technicians at OEM dealerships and independent repair facilities |
| NASCAR | | 2002 | | Automotive training along with additional NASCAR-specific elective courses | | Entry-level service technicians in automotive dealer service departments or automotive repair facilities, or opportunities in racing-related industries |
| Energy Technology | | 2007 | | Associate of Applied Science degree which focuses on power generation, wind power, compression technology and powerplant operations | | Entry-level positions in the wind, nuclear, gas, coal, power distribution, or solar industries |
| Industrial Maintenance | | 2007 | | Diagnose, service, test and repair various types of machinery | | Entry-level industrial maintenance technician in a wide range of industries including gas, coal, nuclear and solar industries |
| Wind Power | | 2007 | | Diagnose, service and repair wind turbine towers | | Entry-level service technicians for the wind power industry |
| Aviation Maintenance Technology | | 2012 | | Perform inspections, routine maintenance and repairs to keep aircraft in operating condition | | Entry-level service technicians in aviation repair stations and hangers, and on airfields |
| Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) | | 2012 | | An awareness of safety procedures, knowledge of heating and cooling, familiarity with tools used in the industry, and the ability to perform a variety of manual skills | | Entry-level service technicians in the heating and cooling industry |
| Welding | | 2017 | | How to weld various materials using a wide range of welding processes | | Entry-level welders in the construction, structural, pipe, mechanical contracting and fabrication industries. |
| CNC Machining | | 2017 | | How to produce precision parts used in high-performance engines and a wide variety of trucks, motorcycles, cars and boats, and also in industrial applications, aerospace components and medical and surgical equipment | | Entry-level CNC operators in the manufacturing and mechanical fabrication industries |
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| UTI Program | | Year Established | | Program Focus | | Target Job Placement(1) |
| Robotics & Automation | | 2018 | | Robotics is the process of creating and using robots to complete certain tasks. Automation refers to the process of using technology to perform tasks typically completed by humans. | | Entry-level technician in a variety of industries |
| Non-Destructive Testing | | 2019 | | Training in the discipline focused on the quality and serviceability of materials and structures | | Entry-level technicians in a variety of industries, from oil and gas and manufacturing to power generation and aviation |
(1) Target job placement describes the type of employment the program is designed to prepare graduates to obtain. UTI graduates may also secure positions outside of the target job placement, including, for example, parts associate, service technician, fabricator, paint and preparation, and shop owner or operator, among others.
UTI Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training (“MSAT”) Programs
In addition to the program offerings noted above, UTI also offers advanced training programs in the form of manufacturer-paid post-graduate MSAT programs and in the form of student-paid MSAT courses, which may be added as electives to a student’s core automotive, diesel or motorcycle program.
UTI Manufacturer-Paid MSATs
A select number of UTI students are offered manufacturer-paid MSATs, which are paid for by the manufacturer and/or its dealers in return for a commitment by the student to work for a dealer of that manufacturer for a certain period of time upon completion of the program. UTI students who are high performing graduates of an automotive or diesel program may apply to be selected for these programs. The programs range from 8 to 26 weeks in duration. UTI’s manufacturer-paid MSATs are intended to offer in-depth instruction on specific manufacturers’ products, qualifying a graduate for employment with a dealer seeking highly specialized, entry-level technicians with brand-specific skills.
UTI currently offers the following manufacturer-paid MSAT programs using vehicles, equipment, specialty tools and curricula provided by its manufacturer brand partners:
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| UTI Manufacturer-Paid MSAT Programs Offered | | Location |
| Mercedes-Benz DRIVE | | Mercedes-Benz facilities in Long Beach, California; Jacksonville, Florida; Carol Stream, Illinois; Robbinsville, New Jersey; and Grapevine, Texas |
| Peterbilt Technician Institute (PTI) | | Lisle, Illinois; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas |
| Porsche Technician Apprenticeship Program (PTAP) | | Porsche facilities in Eastvale, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Volvo Tekniker Apprenticeship Program | | Avondale, Arizona and Volvo facility in Ridgeville, South Carolina |
UTI Student-Paid MSATs
UTI students may participate in student-paid MSAT programs upon successfully completing the necessary core curriculum prerequisites. UTI currently offers the following student-paid MSAT programs using vehicles, equipment, specialty tools and curricula provided by and/or developed in collaboration with its manufacturer brand partners:
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| UTI Student-Paid MSAT Programs Offered | | Location |
| Advanced Training | | |
| BMW FastTrack | | Avondale, Exton, Houston, Long Beach, Orlando, Lisle, Miramar |
| Cummins Engines | | Avondale, Exton, Houston |
| Cummins Power Generation | | Avondale |
| Daimler Trucks Finish First Program | | Avondale, Lisle, Orlando |
| Ford Accelerated Credential Training (FACT) | | Avondale, Rancho Cucamonga, Sacramento, Orlando, Lisle, Mooresville, Bloomfield, Exton, Houston |
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| UTI Student-Paid MSAT Programs Offered | | Location |
| General Motors Technician Career Training | | Avondale |
| Mopar TEC by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC | | Mooresville |
| Toyota Professional Automotive Technician (TPAT) | | Lisle, Rancho Cucamonga |
| Manufacturer Specific Training | | |
| American Honda Motor Company, Inc. | | Avondale, Orlando |
| BMW Motorrad of North America, LLC | | Avondale, Orlando |
| Harley-Davidson Motor Company | | Avondale, Orlando |
| Kawasaki Motors Corporation, USA | | Avondale, Orlando |
| Mercury Marine | | Orlando |
| Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. | | Avondale, Orlando |
| Volvo Penta of the Americas | | Orlando |
| Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA | | Avondale, Orlando |
UTI Military Base Programs
In addition to the MSATs noted above, in partnership with the military and select industry partners, UTI has been developing and implementing advanced training programs for transitioning veterans at select military base locations. Military base programs differ from UTI’s traditional MSATs in that the students do not complete the traditional core programs at a UTI campus before entering these advanced training programs. These programs range from 12 to 16 weeks and are available to all men and women transitioning out of the military. Candidates are interviewed and selected for these programs. Additionally, to be considered, candidates must be within six months of their separation dates from the military. There is no tuition cost to the participating service members.
UTI currently offers the following military base programs using vehicles, equipment, specialty tools and curricula provided by and/or developed in collaboration with certain manufacturer brand partners:
| | | | | | | | |
| UTI Military Base Programs Offered | | Location |
| BMW Military Service Technician Education Program | | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California
U.S. Army Base Fort Liberty in North Carolina |
| Penske Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program | | Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas |
UTI Affordability and Accessibility
During the year ended September 30, 2024, tuition for UTI programs ranged from approximately $20,000 for the Industrial Maintenance Technician or Wind Turbine Technician programs (lasting 30 weeks) to $67,000 for the Automotive and Diesel program (lasting 90 weeks). During the year ended September 30, 2024, the average annual revenue per UTI student was approximately $34,000, net of scholarships or grants funded by the institution. We are focused on making our training more affordable and accessible for the UTI students through financing options, proprietary loans, institutional and relocation grants, scholarships based on need and merit, and employer sponsored training and tuition reimbursement. During the year ended September 30, 2024, approximately 35% of active UTI students received a UTI-funded scholarship or grant, approximately 39% of active UTI students participated in an “in school” cash payment plan, and approximately 19% of active UTI students received funding from UTI’s proprietary loan program.
In response to growing demand for trained technicians, UTI industry partners and employers are increasingly willing to participate in the UTI students’ cost of education by providing them with scholarship money and relocation assistance to attend school and by offering UTI graduates tuition reimbursement plans and competitive compensation and benefit packages, including signing bonuses, relocation grants and tool incentives. There are nearly 7,100 employer location incentive opportunities for UTI students, which when made available make the UTI training programs more affordable for students and may provide them with valuable relationships or employment opportunities following graduation.
Concorde Schools and Programs
Concorde offers certificate, diploma or degree programs in the healthcare field at campuses across the United States under the Concorde Career Colleges or Concorde Career Institute brands. The majority of Concorde’s short and core programs are 8 to
36 weeks in duration. Clinical programs are 60 to 90 week programs. The programs offered culminate in a diploma, associate of applied science degree or associate of science degree depending on the program and campus. Tuition rates vary by type and length of our programs and the program level, such as core or advanced training.
The table below sets forth the current locations that operate under the Concorde brand, the year the campus opened, and the principal programs taught at each location.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Location | | Year Campus Opened | | Current Principal Programs |
| California (Garden Grove) | | 1968 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Pharmacy Technician; Vocational Nursing; Dental Hygiene; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Sterile Processing Technician |
| California (North Hollywood) | | 1968 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Vocational Nursing; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Sterile Processing Technician; Surgical Technology |
| California (San Bernardino) | | 1968 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Vocational Nursing; Polysomnographic Technology; Dental Hygiene; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology; Neurodiagnostic Technology; Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
| California (San Diego) | | 1968 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Vocational Nursing; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Physical Therapist Assistant; Surgical Technology |
| Colorado (Aurora) | | 1969 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Practical Nursing; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Physical Therapist Assistant; Radiologic Technology; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology; Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
| Florida (Jacksonville) | | 1978 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Phlebotomy Technician; Practical Nursing; Sterile Processing Technician; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology |
| Florida (Miramar) | | 1987 | | Dental Assistant; Dental Hygiene; Medical Assistant; Pharmacy Technician; Phlebotomy Technician; Sterile Processing Technician; Occupational Therapist Assistant; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology |
| Florida (Orlando) | | 2010 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Pharmacy Technician; Phlebotomy Technician; Sterile Processing Technician; Dental Hygiene; Surgical Technology; Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
| Florida (Tampa) | | 1987 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Pharmacy Technician; Phlebotomy Technician; Sterile Processing Technician; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology |
| Mississippi (Southaven) | | 2013 | | Dental Assistant; Massage Therapy; Medical Assistant; Medical Office Professional; Medical Assisting; Medical Office Professional; Phlebotomy Technician; Sterile Processing Technician |
| Missouri (Kansas City) | | 1986 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Medical Office Administration; Phlebotomy Technician; Practical Nursing; Sterile Processing Technician; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology; Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
| Oregon (Portland) | | 1969 | | Dental Assistant; Dental Hygiene; Medical Assistant; Practical Nursing; Polysomnographic Technology; Cardiovascular Sonography; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology |
| Tennessee (Memphis) | | 1981 | | Dental Assistant; Massage Therapy; Medical Assistant; Medical Office Professional; Pharmacy Technician; Phlebotomy Technician; Polysomnographic Technology; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Neurodiagnostic Technology; Nursing Practice; Occupational Therapy Assistant; Physical Therapist Assistant; Radiologic Technology; Respiratory Therapy; Sterile Processing Technician; Surgical Technology |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Location | | Year Campus Opened | | Current Principal Programs |
| Texas (Dallas) | | 2010 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Vocational Nursing; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Phlebotomy Technician; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Sterile Processing Technician; Surgical Technology |
| Texas (Grand Prairie) | | 2001 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Phlebotomy Technician; Polysomnographic Technology; Sterile Processing Technician; Vocational Nursing; Dental Hygiene; Surgical Technology; Neurodiagnostic Technology |
| Texas (San Antonio) | | 2010 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Assistant; Cardiovascular Sonography; Dental Hygiene; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Phlebotomy Technician; Physical Therapist Assistant; Respiratory Therapy; Sterile Processing Technician; Surgical Technology |
| Online | | 2013 | | Dental Assistant; Medical Office Administration; Nursing Practice; Surgical Technology; Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
Description of Current Concorde Programs Offered
Many of Concorde’s students receive their training in a blended training model that combines instructor-facilitated online teaching and demonstrations with hands-on labs. The blended learning model not only increases access for students, but better prepares them to be life-long learners as students today perform many day-to-day tasks and continuing education courses online or on a digital device.
The table below provides an overview of the programs taught by Concorde institutions, including the year a program was first offered at one of the campuses, the focus of the program, and the type of employment the program is designed to prepare graduates to obtain.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Program | | Year Established | | Program Focus | | Target Job Placement(1) |
| Short Programs | | | | | | |
| Phlebotomy Technician | | 2021 | | Phlebotomists prepare patients, collect blood samples, and transport specimens for analysis. | | Entry-level phlebotomist in clinical laboratories, physician offices, blood donation centers, and hospitals. |
| Sterile Processing Technician | | 2021 | | Sterile Processing Technicians clean and sterilize medical instruments and durable equipment to ensure the safety of patients and medical staff. | | Entry-level sterile processing technicians in dental offices, physician offices, outpatient health centers, and hospitals. |
| Core Programs | | | | | | |
| Dental Assistant | | 1995 | | Overall operations of a dental office | | Entry-level dental assistant |
| Massage Therapy | | 2002 | | Massage techniques and manipulations designed to enhance the physical health of patients | | Entry-level massage therapist in massage clinics, hospital rehabilitation departments, public practice, wellness centers, and chiropractic offices |
| Medical Assistant, Medical Assisting or Medical Office Professional | | 1995 | | Basic knowledge of a medical practice and the operations of a medical office | | Entry-level medical assistant in a clinic or physician’s office, long-term care facility, hospital or medical insurance company |
| Pharmacy Technician | | 1999 | | Pharmacy Technician acts as an intermediary between the doctor and the pharmacist and between the pharmacist and the patient | | Entry-level pharmacy technician in hospital, home healthcare, and retail environments |
| Clinical Programs | | | | | | |
| Cardiovascular Sonography | | 2021 | | Use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions | | Entry-level cardiovascular sonographers |
| Dental Hygiene | | 2011 | | Qualifications for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist | | Entry-level dental hygienist |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Program | | Year Established | | Program Focus | | Target Job Placement(1) |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography | | 2021 | | Use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions | | Entry-level obstetrics and gynecology sonographer or entry-level abdominal sonographer |
| Neurodiagnostic Technology | | 2012 | | Advanced diagnostic procedures including EEGs, PSGs and others. Upon completion of the program, professional certifications may be required | | Entry-level neurodiagnostic technician in neurology-related departments of hospitals, clinics and the private offices of neurologists and neurosurgeons |
| Nursing Practice | | 2016 | | Qualifications for licensure as a registered nurse | | Entry-level registered nurse positions after passing the state board licensure exam |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | | 2012 | | To provide quality occupational therapy services to assigned individuals under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist | | Entry-level occupational therapy assistants in hospitals, clinics, schools, client homes, and community settings |
| Pharmacy Technician | | 1999 | | Pharmacy Technician acts as an intermediary between the doctor and the pharmacist and between the pharmacist and the patient | | Entry-level pharmacy technician in hospital, home healthcare, and retail environments |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | | 2011 | | Physical Therapist Assistants provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist | | Entry-level physical therapist assistant in a variety of settings, including hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, skilled nursing facilities, schools, sports facilities, and more |
| Polysomnographic Technology | | 2012 | | Perform sleep tests and work with physicians to provide information needed for the diagnosis of sleep disorders | | Entry-level positions as Polysomnographic Technologists |
| Practical/Vocational Nursing | | 1996 | | Perform as entry-level nursing staff in an acute-care hospital, extended-care facility, physician’s office, or other healthcare agency | | Entry-level positions as a licensed practical/vocational nurse |
| Radiologic Technology | | 2012 | | Perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients | | Entry-level diagnostic radiographer positions |
| Respiratory Therapy | | 2011 | | Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Prepare students for licensure as a registered respiratory therapist | | Respiratory therapists may serve as asthma educators, patient educators, case managers, hyperbaric oxygen specialists, extra corporeal membrane oxygenation specialists and sleep specialists. Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and diagnostic labs |
| Surgical Technology | | 2012 | | Surgical technologist is a highly skilled and knowledgeable allied health professional who, as an essential member of the surgical team, works with surgeons, anesthesia providers, operating room nurses, and other professionals in providing safe care to the surgical patient | | Entry-level surgical technologist in acute-care hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, surgical clinics, central sterile processing departments, birthing centers, and other healthcare settings |
(1) Target job placement describes the type of employment the program is designed to prepare graduates to obtain. Concorde graduates may also secure positions outside of the target job placement, including various other healthcare related positions.
Concorde Affordability and Accessibility
During the year ended September 30, 2024, tuition for Concorde programs ranged from approximately $1,000 for the Phlebotomy program (lasting approximately 8 weeks) to $96,000 for the Dental Hygiene program in California (lasting approximately 90 weeks). During the year ended September 30, 2024, the average annual revenue per Concorde student was
approximately $29,000, net of scholarships or grants funded by the institution. We are focused on making the Concorde training more affordable and accessible through financing options, institutional and relocation grants, and scholarships based on need and merit. Concorde currently and historically offers certain students retail installment contracts for payment of their tuition that is not covered by federal student financial aid or other funding sources. During the year ended September 30, 2024, approximately 17% of Concorde’s active students received a Concorde-funded scholarship or grant and approximately 68% of Concorde active students received funding through Concorde sponsored retail installment contracts.
Student Enrollment
UTI enrolls students throughout the year with courses typically starting every three to eleven weeks. Concorde enrolls students throughout the year with core terms starting every month and clinical terms starting every ten weeks. The table below outlines our new student starts, average full-time students, and end of period full-time students for both UTI and Concorde.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, | | % |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | Change |
| UTI | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 15,138 | | | 14,181 | | | 6.7 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 13,810 | | | 12,614 | | | 9.5 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 15,873 | | | 14,833 | | 7.0 | % |
Concorde(1) | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 11,747 | | | 8,432 | | | 39.3 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 8,475 | | | 7,654 | | | 10.7 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 9,747 | | | 8,369 | | | 16.5 | % |
| Consolidated | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 26,885 | | | 22,613 | | 18.9 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 22,285 | | | 20,268 | | 10.0 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 25,620 | | | 23,202 | | 10.4 | % |
(1) Student data for Concorde presented in the year ended September 30, 2023 column represents the period of UTI’s ownership, or December 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
Due to the seasonality of our business and normal fluctuations in student populations, we expect variability in our quarterly results. See "Seasonality" within Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of seasonal fluctuations in our revenues and operating results.
Graduate Employment
Identifying employment opportunities and preparing our graduates for their future careers is critical to our ability to deliver value to our graduates from their education. Additionally, we are required to meet certain graduate placement standards by location and program by both our national and programmatic accreditors. Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources to maintaining an effective career services team. Our campus-based staff facilitate several career development processes, including instruction and coaching for interview skills, interview etiquette and professionalism. Additionally, the career services team provides students with reference materials and assistance with the composition of resumes. Finally, we place emphasis on and devote significant time to assisting students with part-time and graduate job searches.
We also have centralized departments for each segment whose focus is to build and maintain relationships with potential and existing national employers and develop graduate job opportunities and, where possible, relocation assistance, sign-on bonuses, tool packages and tuition reimbursement plans with our manufacturer brand partners and other industry employers. Together, the campuses and centralized departments coordinate and host career fairs, industry awareness presentations, interview days and employer visits to our campus locations. We believe that our graduate career services provide our students with a compelling value proposition and enhance the employment opportunities for our graduates and are a competitive differentiator from other education institutions.
Competition
The for-profit, postsecondary education industry is highly competitive and highly fragmented, with no one provider controlling significant market share. We compete with other institutions that are eligible to receive Title IV funding, including not-for-profit public and private schools, community colleges and for-profit institutions which offer programs similar to ours. Our competition differs in each market depending on the curriculum we offer and the availability of other choices, including job prospects. Other competitive factors that influence our ability to attract new students include the employment market, community colleges, other career-oriented and technical schools, and the military.
Prospective students may choose to forego additional education and enter the workforce directly, especially during periods when the unemployment rate declines or remains stable as it has in recent years. This may include employment with our industry partners or with other manufacturers and employers of our graduates.
We compete with local community colleges for students seeking programs that are similar to ours, mainly due to local accessibility, low tuition rates and in certain cases free tuition. Public institutions are generally able to charge lower tuition than our schools, due in part to government subsidies and other financial sources not available to for-profit schools. No single community college is a significant competitor; rather, the sector as a whole provides competition.
Within the for-profit education sector, some of our public company competitors are Adtalem Global Education, Inc., American Public Education, Inc., Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, Perdoceo Education Corporation, and Strategic Education, Inc. We also consider other regional or single location institutions with a larger local presence near one of our campuses to be competitors. Competition is generally based on location, tuition rates, the type of programs offered, the quality of instruction and instructional facilities, graduate employment rates, reputation and recruiting. Additionally, the military often recruits or retains potential students when branches of the military offer enlistment or re-enlistment bonuses.
Human Capital Management
As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately 3,700 full-time employees, including approximately 1,400 instructors, 550 admissions representatives, and 1,200 student support employees.
Each of our employees plays a key role in our mission to serve students, partners and communities by providing quality education and training for in-demand careers. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DE&I”) among our employees is essential in this process, as a truly innovative educational institution relies on a wealth of backgrounds and experiences to enhance student outcomes. We have a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion who is responsible for setting the DE&I strategy and roadmap to ensure that we meet our objectives both internally, of creating a company where everyone feels they belong, and externally, by working closely with our marketing and talent acquisition functions to attract diverse talent. To attract a truly diverse workforce, we strive to instill a culture where employees are encouraged to draw upon their own unique skills and perspectives when engaging with our growing and diverse student population.
Faculty members are hired nationally in accordance with established criteria, applicable accreditation standards and applicable state regulations. Members of our faculty are primarily industry professionals and are hired based on their prior work and educational experience. We require a specific level of industry experience in order to enhance the quality of the programs we offer and to address current and industry-specific issues in our course content. We provide intensive instructional training and continuing education to our faculty members to maintain the quality of instruction in all fields of study. A majority of our existing instructors have a minimum of five years’ experience in the industry and an average of six years of experience teaching at UTI and four years of experience teaching at Concorde.
We employ field, military and campus-based admissions representatives who work directly with prospective students to facilitate the enrollment process. Additionally, each campus has a support team that typically includes a campus president, an education director, a financial aid director, a student services director, and a career services director.
We believe our corporate and divisional management teams have the experience necessary to effectively implement our growth and diversification strategy and continue to drive positive educational and employment outcomes for our students. For discussion of the risks relating to the attraction and retention of management and executive management employees, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Environmental Matters
UTI uses hazardous materials at its training facilities and campuses and generates small quantities of regulated waste, including, but not limited to, used oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, paint, solvents, car batteries and aircraft batteries. As a
result, the UTI facilities and operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, the use, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and waste, and the clean-up of contamination at UTI facilities or off-site locations to which UTI sends or has sent waste for disposal. Certain of the UTI campuses are required to obtain permits for air emissions. In the event UTI does not maintain compliance with any of these laws and regulations, or if UTI is responsible for a spill or release of hazardous materials, UTI could incur significant costs for clean-up, damages, and fines or penalties.
Concorde monitors and follows all regulatory guidelines for any bloodborne pathogens, chemicals, or gases that the school purchases and uses. Concorde has biohazardous waste that is produced in many of its programs including, but not limited to, disposables contaminated with blood and body fluids and contaminated sharps such as needles. Where applicable, the programs use appropriate decontamination, cleaning, and sterilizing methods and processes on all required reusable products or equipment. Concorde programs also purchase and use many different chemicals and substances for skills practice and cleaning. These chemicals and substances are handled per the manufacturer guidelines, and the MSDS lists are maintained at the campus per regulations in the event of any adverse reaction. Concorde contracts with several vendors for approved and appropriate disposal of any chemical products or contaminated bloodborne pathogen items. Some of Concorde’s programs utilize gases including, but not limited to, Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide. These gases are purchased from commercial vendors and are stored, maintained, and disposed of per the manufacturer and regulatory guidelines.
Regulatory Environment
Our institutions are subject to extensive regulatory requirements imposed by a wide range of federal and state agencies, as well as by institutional and programmatic accreditors. These regulatory requirements cover the vast majority of our operations, including our educational programs, facilities, instructional and administrative staff, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, financial operations and financial condition. These regulatory requirements also affect our ability to acquire, expand or open additional institutions or campuses, to revise or expand our educational programs, and to change our corporate structure and ownership.
The approvals granted by these entities permit our schools to operate and to participate in a variety of government-sponsored financial aid programs that assist students in paying for their education. The most significant of these is the federal student aid programs administered by ED pursuant to HEA Title IV Programs. Generally, to participate in Title IV Programs, an institution must be licensed or otherwise legally authorized to operate in the state where it is physically located, be accredited by an accreditor recognized by ED, be certified as an eligible institution by ED, offer at least one eligible program of education, and comply with other statutory and regulatory requirements.
We also are subject to oversight by other federal agencies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the Internal Revenue Service and the Departments of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), Defense (“DOD”), Treasury, Labor, and Justice. Below, we discuss certain elements of this regulatory environment.
State and Accreditor Approvals
State Authorization
To operate and offer postsecondary programs, and to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs, each of our institutions must obtain and maintain authorization from the state in which it is physically located (“Home State”). To engage in educational or recruiting activities outside of its Home State, each institution also may be required to obtain and maintain authorization from the states in which it is educating or recruiting students. The level of regulatory oversight varies substantially from state to state and is extensive in some states. State laws may establish standards for instruction, qualifications of faculty, location and nature of facilities and equipment, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, student outcomes reporting, disclosure obligations to students, limitations on mandatory arbitration clauses in enrollment agreements, financial operations, and other operational matters. Some states prescribe standards of financial responsibility and mandate that institutions post surety bonds. Many states have requirements for institutions to disclose institutional data to current and prospective students, as well as to the public, and some states require that our schools meet prescribed performance standards as a condition of continued approval. States can and often do revisit, revise, and expand their regulations governing postsecondary education and recruiting.
Institutions that offer distance education instruction outside of their Home State must comply with federal regulations governing state authorization for distance education in order to participate in the Title IV student financial aid programs. All UTI institutions and the Concorde Jacksonville, Florida, Kansas City, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee institutions are
authorized to participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories of the United States of America that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. SARA is overseen by a national council (“NC-SARA”) and administered by four regional education compacts. Forty-nine states (all but California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have joined SARA.
Each of our institutions holds the state or SARA authorizations required to operate and offer postsecondary education programs, and to recruit in the states in which it engages in recruiting activities. We also have received approval from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (“ACCSC”) and the Council on Occupational Education (“COE”) to offer blended format programs that utilize both distance and on-ground education. Additionally, we have received approvals from all required state education authorizing agencies to offer blended format programs. We continue to work to ensure that we comply with applicable distance education rules and standards. We also will closely monitor any new rulemakings that concern state authorization or distance education.
State Licensing Boards
Many educational programs leading to professional licensure in a regulated profession require approval from, and are subject to, ongoing oversight by state agencies or boards. For example, certain Concorde healthcare programs, such as the Vocational Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, and Nursing Practice (RN) programs, require and have obtained state licensure. Such programs are required to meet the standards of the state licensure agency or board and Concorde must periodically renew these licenses by completing a comprehensive license renewal process.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is a non-governmental process through which an institution voluntarily submits to ongoing qualitative reviews by an organization of peer institutions. Institutional accreditation by an ED-recognized accreditor is required for an institution to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs. All of the UTI institutions and 14 of the Concorde institutions are accredited by the ACCSC. The remaining two Concorde institutions are accredited by the COE. Both ACCSC and COE are accrediting agencies recognized by ED.
ACCSC and COE review the academic quality of each institution’s instructional programs, as well as the administrative and financial operations of the institution to ensure that it has the resources necessary to perform its educational mission, implement continuous improvement processes, and support student success. Our institutions are subject to periodic review to confirm accreditation standards are met, and must submit annual reports, and at times, supplemental reports, to demonstrate ongoing compliance and improvement. ACCSC and COE require institutions to disclose certain institutional information to current and prospective students, as well as to the public, and require that our schools and programs meet various performance standards as a condition of continued accreditation. ACCSC and COE often revisit, revise, and expand their standards and policies. Institutions must periodically renew their accreditation by completing a comprehensive renewal of accreditation process. Due to scheduling and resource limitations, an institution’s grant of accreditation at times may expire on its face prior to the completion of a renewal cycle. In such cases, the institution’s accreditation remains in place until the renewal cycle is complete, and a new grant of accreditation is issued.
We strive to maintain the highest standards. Currently 16 of our campuses are classified as ACCSC Schools of Excellence or ACCSC Schools of Distinction. Five of our campuses have achieved this award twice in their history, and two campuses have received this award three times in their history.
The tables below set out the renewal of accreditation cycle for each of our schools:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UTI Campus | | Accreditation Expiration | | Renewal Status | | |
Miramar, Florida(3) | | September 2024 | | In Process | | |
Houston, Texas (MIAT)(1) | | October 2024 | | Renewed | | |
Avondale, Arizona(2) | | February 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Orlando, Florida(2) | | February 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Houston, Texas(2) | | February 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Lisle, Illinois(2) | | February 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Rancho Cucamonga, California(2) | | February 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Avondale, Arizona; Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI)(2) | | May 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Bloomfield, New Jersey(1) | | May 2025 | | Renewed | | |
Canton, Michigan (MIAT)(1) | | July 2026 | | Renewed | | |
Long Beach, California(1) | | September 2027 | | Renewed | | |
Exton, Pennsylvania(2) | | October 2028 | | Renewed | | |
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas(2) | | March 2029 | | Renewed | | |
| Austin, Texas | | May 2029 | | Renewed | | |
Sacramento, California(2) | | December 2029 | | Renewed | | |
Mooresville, North Carolina; NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech)(2) | | December 2029 | | Renewed | | |
(1) Indicates a school that has achieved School of Distinction status during its most recent renewal of accreditation, which recognizes accredited member schools that demonstrated a commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation, as well as a commitment to delivering quality educational programs to students.
(2) Indicates a school that has achieved School of Excellence status during its most recent renewal of accreditation, which recognizes ACCSC-accredited institutions for their commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation, as well as the efforts made by the institution in maintaining high levels of achievement among their students.
(3) Due to scheduling and resource limitations, an institution’s grant of accreditation at times may expire on its face prior to the completion of a renewal cycle. In such cases, the institution’s accreditation remains in place until the renewal cycle is complete, and a new grant of accreditation is issued.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Campus | | Accreditor | | Accreditation Expiration | | Renewal Status | | |
Tampa, Florida(5) | | ACCSC | | May 2024 | | In Process | | |
Jacksonville, Florida(5) | | ACCSC | | August 2024 | | In Process | | |
| Garden Grove, California | | ACCSC | | May 2025 | | In Process | | |
| Miramar, Florida | | ACCSC | | May 2025 | | In Process | | |
| San Bernardino, California | | ACCSC | | November 2025 | | In Process | | |
| Grand Prairie, Texas | | ACCSC | | December 2025 | | In Process | | |
| Aurora, Colorado | | ACCSC | | February 2026 | | Renewed | | |
| Kansas City, Missouri (including Online) | | ACCSC | | November 2026 | | Renewed | | |
Orlando, Florida(4) | | ACCSC | | December 2026 | | Renewed | | |
| Portland, Oregon | | ACCSC | | February 2027 | | Renewed | | |
| Dallas, Texas | | ACCSC | | April 2027 | | Renewed | | |
San Antonio, Texas(4) | | ACCSC | | April 2027 | | Renewed | | |
| San Diego, California | | ACCSC | | May 2027 | | Renewed | | |
| Memphis, Tennessee | | COE | | September 2027 | | Renewed | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde Campus | | Accreditor | | Accreditation Expiration | | Renewal Status | | |
| Southaven, Mississippi | | COE | | September 2027 | | Renewed | | |
| North Hollywood, California | | ACCSC | | June 2028 | | Renewed | | |
(4) Indicates a school that has achieved School of Excellence status during its most recent renewal of accreditation, which recognizes ACCSC-accredited institutions for their commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation, as well as the efforts made by the institution in maintaining high levels of achievement among their students.
(5) Due to scheduling and resource limitations, an institution’s grant of accreditation at times may expire on its face prior to the completion of a renewal cycle. In such cases, the institution’s accreditation remains in place until the renewal cycle is complete, and a new grant of accreditation is issued.
Programmatic Accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation may be required for particular educational programs. Programmatic accreditors review specialized and professional programs in a range of fields and disciplines within an institution to ensure the public that an academic program has undergone a rigorous review process and been found to meet high standards for educational quality. Certain Concorde healthcare programs, including the Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Neurodiagnostic Technology, Polysomnographic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Cardiovascular Sonography, Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, have obtained programmatic accreditation. Such programs are required to meet the standards of their programmatic accreditor and Concorde must periodically renew these accreditations by completing a comprehensive programmatic accreditation renewal process.
Title IV Programs
The federal government provides a substantial part of its support for postsecondary education through Title IV Programs in the form of grants and loans to students who can use those funds at any institution that has been certified as eligible to participate by ED.
Title IV grants include Federal Pell Grants (the “Pell Grants”) and Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (“FSEOG”). Pell Grants are available to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and who have not already received a baccalaureate degree. FSEOG grants are designed to supplement Pell Grants for students with the greatest financial need. Institutions must provide matching funding equal to 25% of all awards made under the FSEOG program. Pell Grants generally do not need to be repaid.
Title IV loans include Direct Subsidized loans, Direct Unsubsidized loans, and Direct Parent PLUS loans. Direct Subsidized loans and Direct Unsubsidized loans are federal student loans offered to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school. Direct Subsidized loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. Direct Unsubsidized loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students, and there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. Direct Parent PLUS loans are federal loans that parents of dependent undergraduate students can use to help pay for schools that participate in the Direct Loan program.
All of our institutions are certified to participate in Title IV Programs. The HEA, which authorizes Title IV Programs, has not been comprehensively reauthorized since 2008. Despite repeated attempts, Congress has not completed a full reauthorization since then. In addition to HEA reauthorization, policies directly related to Title IV Programs and funding for those programs may be impacted by the annual budget and appropriations process as well as by other legislation. At this time, we cannot predict all or any of the changes that Congress may ultimately make, and any of those changes could potentially have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
Overall, in fiscal year 2024, across our institutions, we derived approximately 78% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from Title IV Programs and various veterans’ programs. We derived approximately 45% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from the Direct Loan program, pursuant to which ED makes loans to students or their parents. We derived approximately 21% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from the Pell Program. We derived approximately 11% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from veterans’ programs. And we derived less than 1% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from FSEOG.
The Title IV Program statutes and regulations are applied primarily on an institutional basis. The HEA defines an “institution” as a main campus and its additional locations. Pursuant to this definition, ED recognizes the Company as owning and operating sixteen institutions (“OPE IDs”), organized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Institution | | Main Campus | | Additional Campuses (if any) |
| Universal Technical Institute of Arizona | | Universal Technical Institute, Avondale, Arizona | | Universal Technical Institute, Lisle, Illinois;
Universal Technical Institute, Long Beach, California;
Universal Technical Institute, Miramar, Florida; Universal Technical Institute, Rancho Cucamonga, California;
NASCAR Technical Institute, Mooresville, North Carolina |
| Universal Technical Institute of Phoenix | | Universal Technical Institute DBA Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Motorcycle & Marine Mechanics Institute, Avondale, Arizona | | Universal Technical Institute, Sacramento, California;
Universal Technical Institute, Orlando, Florida for the following divisions:
Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Orlando, Florida; Marine Mechanics Institute, Orlando, Florida; Automotive, Orlando, Florida |
| Universal Technical Institute of Texas | | Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas | | Universal Technical Institute, Exton, Pennsylvania; Universal Technical Institute, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; Universal Technical Institute, Bloomfield, New Jersey; Universal Technical Institute, Austin, Texas |
| Michigan Institute of Aeronautics | | MIAT College of Technology, Canton, Michigan | | MIAT College of Technology, Houston, Texas |
| Concorde Career College, North Hollywood, California | | Concorde Career College, North Hollywood, California | | |
| Concorde Career College, San Diego, California | | Concorde Career College, San Diego, California | | |
| Concorde Career College, Garden Grove, California | | Concorde Career College, Garden Grove, California | | |
| Concorde Career College, San Bernardino, California | | Concorde Career College, San Bernardino, California | | |
| Concorde Career College, Aurora, Colorado and Dallas, Texas | | Concorde Career College, Aurora, Colorado | | Concorde Career College, Dallas, Texas |
| Concorde Career College, Portland, Oregon | | Concorde Career College, Portland, Oregon | | |
| Concorde Career Institute, Jacksonville, Florida | | Concorde Career Institute, Jacksonville, Florida | | Concorde Career Institute, Orlando, Florida |
| Concorde Career College, Memphis, Tennessee and Southaven, Mississippi | | Concorde Career College, Memphis, Tennessee | | Concorde Career College, Southaven, Mississippi |
| Concorde Career Institute, Tampa, Florida | | Concorde Career Institute, Tampa, Florida | | |
| Concorde Career Institute, Miramar, Florida | | Concorde Career Institute, Miramar, Florida | | |
| Concorde Career College, Kansas City, Missouri and San Antonio, Texas | | Concorde Career College, Kansas City, Missouri | | Concorde Career College, San Antonio, Texas |
| Concorde Career College, Grand Prairie, Texas | | Concorde Career College, Grand Prairie, Texas | | |
To obtain and maintain certification as eligible to participate in Title IV Programs, institutions must demonstrate ongoing compliance with the HEA and its extensive and complex implementing regulations, which ED frequently revisits, revises, and expands. Because all of our institutions are certified to participate in Title IV Programs, they must comply with this complex framework of statutes, regulations, and guidance, and undergo detailed oversight and review. Below, we discuss the core components of the Title IV Programs’ regulatory framework.
Eligibility and Recertification
All institutions seeking to participate in the Title IV Programs must first establish their eligibility to do so. The Program Participation Agreement (“PPA”) document serves as ED’s formal recognition that an institution and its associated additional locations have satisfied this requirement and are authorized to participate in Title IV Programs for a specified period of time. An institution seeking to expand its activities in certain ways, such as opening an additional location or raising the highest academic credential it offers, must obtain approval from ED. Every participating institution is also required to periodically renew its certification by applying for continued certification before its current term of certification expires. Terms of certification are typically six years but can be three years or shorter. Each of our institutions participates in the Title IV Programs through a PPA. Those institutions that recently have been acquired (MIAT and Concorde) participate pursuant to a provisional PPA, which is standard for institutions that have recently undergone a change in ownership or control. ED may, in certain circumstances, also place an institution on a provisional PPA if it finds that the institution does not fully satisfy all of the eligibility and certification standards. A provisional PPA attaches additional requirements and limitations to participation for the duration of the provisional period, which typically is three years. If ED determines that a provisionally certified institution is unable to meet its responsibilities under its PPA, it may impose additional limitations and restrictions, up to and including revoking the institution’s certification to participate in Title IV Programs.
The 90/10 Rule
As a condition of participation in Title IV Programs, proprietary institutions must agree when they sign their PPA to comply with the 90/10 rule. Under the 90/10 rule, to remain eligible to participate in the federal student aid programs, a proprietary institution must derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than “Federal education assistance funds.” “Federal education assistance funds” are defined as “federal funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student to be used to attend such institution.”
We regularly monitor compliance with the 90/10 requirement to minimize the risk that any of our institutions would derive more than the allowable maximum percentage of its revenue from Federal education assistance funds for any fiscal year. As of September 30, 2024, our institutions’ annual percentages of Federal education assistance funds, as calculated under the current 90/10 rule, ranged from approximately 65% to approximately 88%.
Administrative Capability
To continue its participation in Title IV Programs, an institution must demonstrate that it remains administratively capable of providing the education it promises and of properly managing its Title IV Programs. ED assesses the administrative capability of each institution that participates in Title IV Programs under a series of standards listed in the regulations, which cover a wide range of operational and administrative topics, including the designation of capable and qualified individuals, the quality and scope of written procedures, the adequacy of institutional communication and processes, the timely resolution of issues, the sufficiency of recordkeeping, the provision of adequate career services, and the frequency of findings of noncompliance. ED’s administrative capability standards also include thresholds and expectations for federal student loan cohort default rates (discussed below), satisfactory academic progress, clinical and externship opportunities, gainful employment programs (discussed below) and loan counseling. Failure to satisfy any of the standards may lead ED to find the institution ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs, require the institution to repay Title IV Program funds, change the method of payment of Title IV Program funds, place the institution on provisional certification as a condition of its continued participation in Title IV Programs, or take other actions against the institution.
Three-Year Student Loan Default Rates
To remain eligible to participate in Title IV Programs, institutions also must maintain federal student loan cohort default rates below specified levels. ED calculates an institution’s cohort default rate on an annual basis. Under the current calculation, the cohort default rate is derived from student borrowers who first enter loan repayment during a federal fiscal year (“FFY”) ending September 30 and subsequently default on those loans within the two following years; parent borrowers are excluded from the calculation. This represents a three-year measuring period.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ED paused all loan payments from March 13, 2020 through October 1, 2023. This has significantly decreased the default rates starting with the 2019 Cohort, and resulted in a 0% default rate for the 2020 and 2021 Cohort Rate for all UTI institutions.
An institution whose cohort default rate exceeds 30% in consecutive fiscal years may be subject to conditions and restrictions and will lose eligibility if the rate remains above 30% three years in a row. An institution also will lose eligibility if its rate
exceeds 40% for any fiscal year. An institution whose three-year cohort default rate is 15% or greater for any one of the three preceding years is subject to a 30-day delay in receiving the first disbursement on federal student loans for first-time borrowers. None of our institutions had a three-year cohort default rate of 7% or greater for 2021, 2020, or 2019, which are the three most recent FFYs with published rates.
Financial Responsibility
All institutions participating in Title IV Programs also must satisfy specific ED standards of financial responsibility. Among other things, an institution must meet all of its financial obligations, including required refunds to students and any Title IV Program liabilities and debts, be current in its debt payments, comply with certain past performance requirements, and not receive an adverse, qualified, or disclaimed opinion by its accountants in its audited financial statements. Each year, ED also evaluates institutions’ financial responsibility by calculating a “composite score,” which measures an institution’s overall financial health. The composite score utilizes information provided in the institutions’ annual audited financial statements and is based on three ratios: (1) the equity ratio which measures the institution’s capital resources, ability to borrow and financial viability; (2) the primary reserve ratio which measures the institution’s ability to support current operations from expendable resources; and (3) the net income ratio which measures the institution’s ability to operate at a profit.
ED assigns a strength factor to the results of each of these ratios on a scale from negative 1.0 to positive 3.0, with negative 1.0 reflecting financial weakness and positive 3.0 reflecting financial strength. ED then assigns a weighting percentage to each ratio and adds the weighted scores for the three ratios together to produce a composite score for the institution. If an institution’s composite score is above 1.5, and it meets all other requirements, it is deemed financially responsible. If its composite score is below 1.5, but at least 1.0, the institution is still considered to be financially responsible, but must agree to additional oversight by ED in the form of cash monitoring and other participation requirements.
If an institution’s composite score is below 1.0, the institution is considered by ED to lack financial responsibility. ED may permit the institution to continue to participate in the Title IV Programs if it agrees to, among other things: (1) post a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 50% of the total Title IV Program funds received by the institution during its most recently completed fiscal year; or (2) post a letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 10% of such prior year’s Title IV Program funds, accept provisional certification for a period of no more than three years, comply with additional ED notification and operating requirements and conditions, and agree to receive Title IV Program funds under an arrangement other than ED’s standard advance funding arrangement. If an institution is unable to establish financial responsibility on an alternative basis, the institution may be subject to financial penalties, restrictions on operations and loss of external financial aid funding.
ED has historically evaluated the financial condition of our institutions on a consolidated basis based on the financial statements of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. as the parent company. ED’s regulations permit ED to examine the financial statements of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., the financial statements of each institution and the financial statements of any related party. For our year ended September 30, 2024, we calculated our composite score to be 2.3. However, the composite score calculations and resulting requirements imposed on our institutions are subject to determination by ED once it receives and reviews our audited financial statements.
On October 31, 2023, ED published new regulations on financial responsibility that became effective July 1, 2024. Among other things, the new financial responsibility regulations significantly modify and expand the mandatory and discretionary triggering events that require an institution to post a letter of credit or other form of financial protection with ED. The rules provide that a separate letter of credit of not less than 10% of the institution’s prior year Title IV receipts is required for each mandatory or discretionary triggering event, such that multiple triggering events could subject an institution to substantial cumulative financial protection obligations.
Examples of mandatory triggering events in the new regulations include an action by ED to recoup adjudicated borrower defense to repayment claims where the potential amount of recovery would cause the institution’s recalculated composite score to drop below 1.0. Specified discretionary triggers, which provide ED flexibility on whether to require a letter of credit based on the financial impact the triggering event would have on the institution, include the existence of pending group-process borrower defense to repayment claims. We did not have any triggering events for our year ended September 30, 2024.
Borrower Defense to Repayment
Under the HEA and its implementing regulations, students may file a claim with ED to discharge their federal Direct Loans (or Direct Consolidated Loans) if, generally, they believe their institution misled them or engaged in other misconduct related
to the making of their federal loans or the provision of their educational services. This is referred to as a “borrower defense to repayment” or “BDR” claim. The regulations governing the standards and processes pursuant to which BDR claims are adjudicated have been revised multiple times since their introduction in 1994, with the result that the current regulatory framework is extraordinarily complex. It is generally the case that an individual BDR claim would be adjudicated by an ED staff member and any subsequent recoupment process initiated by ED would be overseen by a hearing official. But the specific standards and processes that apply vary depending on when the underlying loan was made, and certain versions of the law permit the formation of a group claims process by ED.
On November 1, 2022, the Biden administration promulgated a revised version of the BDR rule, which took effect on July 1, 2023. On August 7, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, enjoining the implementation of the borrower defense and closed school provisions of that rule. While this case is decided, the previous versions of the borrower defense and closed school provisions are in effect.
According to data released by ED in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, over 600,000 BDR claims had been filed against 4,900 institutions of higher education (or about 83% of Title IV-eligible institutions of higher education) by December 31, 2022. Frustrated with ED’s inability to process BDR claims, a group of former borrowers sued ED in federal district court in California. On June 22, 2022, the parties in Sweet, et al. v. Miguel Cardona and the United States Department of Education reached a settlement agreement which generally provided that all BDR claims filed prior to June 22, 2022 would be discharged with no or minimal adjudication by July 28, 2025. Also, because these discharges would be managed without input from the schools alleged to have engaged in misconduct, such claims could not serve as the basis of a recoupment action against a school. For any borrower who attended Concorde, as well as 152 other named schools, and had a BDR claim pending as of June 22, 2022, the borrower will receive “Full Settlement Relief.” Full Settlement Relief means that the federal student loan(s) associated with the borrower’s attendance at the school will be discharged, ED will refund any amounts paid to ED on those loans, and the credit tradeline for those loans will be deleted from the borrower’s credit report.
The Sweet settlement also provided that BDR claims filed between June 22, 2022 and November 15, 2022 would be adjudicated no later than January 28, 2026, or would be automatically discharged. Schools would have the opportunity to review and respond to this group of claims, and also could be subject to recoupment actions for any loan amounts discharged. In fall 2023, ED began providing institutions with BDR claims filed in the June to November 2022 period. In doing so, ED acknowledged that it was not conducting any substantive review of the applications (e.g., determining whether an application asserts a valid basis for a BDR claim) before sending them to institutions.
In late 2023, ED provided us with a de minimis number of BDR claims that had been filed by former UTI and MIAT students. Then, in late February 2024, ED began providing us with approximately 2,500 BDR claims from former students of our Concorde institutions. While these BDR claims were filed with ED during the June 22, 2022 to November 15, 2022 time period noted above, the borrowers filing the claims may have been in attendance many years prior to that date, including, in some instances, more than 20 years ago. With regard to Concorde, all the claims were made by students who attended Concorde prior to the Company’s acquisition of the Concorde schools in December 2022.
We have reviewed and responded to every BDR complaint received. All BDR claims made against MIAT have been denied by ED. Claims made against UTI or Concorde have yet to be adjudicated. If ED were to discharge some amount of loans, ED will, at a later date, determine whether to engage in a separate proceeding to recoup such amount from the applicable school. This process would take place before a hearing official, and the school would have an opportunity to contest the recoupment.
Substantial Misrepresentation
The regulatory definitions of “misrepresentation” and “substantial misrepresentation” enforced by ED are exceptionally broad and do not require intent by the institution to misrepresent, or actual reliance by the person to whom the alleged misrepresentation was made. Therefore, it is possible that a statement made by the institution or one of its service providers or representatives could be construed by ED to constitute a substantial misrepresentation, even if the statement was made in error, without intent to misrepresent, and the person to whom it was made did not actually rely upon it.
Incentive Compensation
The “incentive compensation” prohibition forbids institutions from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based in any part, directly or indirectly, on success in securing enrollments or the award of financial aid to any person or entity engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds. We believe our compensation practices for our admissions representatives comply with the current
regulations and ED’s guidance. We will continue to evaluate other compensation options under these regulations and guidance.
Gainful Employment/Financial Value Transparency
The HEA requires all programs offered by proprietary institutions, and all non-degree programs offered by public and private non-profit institutions, to “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” On October 10, 2023, ED published its Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Rule (the “GE Rule”), effective July 1, 2024. This rule covers all Title IV-participating programs at all Title IV-participating institutions of higher education.
Under the GE Rule, all institutions will be required to report to ED an extraordinary array of data for their Title IV-participating programs and students. Utilizing the reported data, ED will calculate and disclose debt-to-earnings (“D/E”) rates and an “Earnings Premium” for every Title IV-participating program on a new “program information website.” Upon finalizing the D/E rates and Earnings Premium, ED will issue a notice of determination to the institution informing it of the D/E rates and Earnings Premium measure for each program, as well as whether each program is passing or failing, and the consequences of that determination. Failing programs will be subject to a range of sanctions. Most significantly, a GE Program, meaning Title IV non-degree programs offered by public and private non-profit institutions and all Title IV programs offered by proprietary institutions, becomes ineligible for federal financial aid if the program (1) fails the D/E rates test in two out of any three consecutive award years for which the program’s D/E rates are calculated, or (2) fails the Earnings Premium test in two out of any three consecutive award years for which the program’s Earnings Premium is calculated. D/E rates and an Earnings Premium for each program also will be calculated and disclosed to prospective and current students and will be labeled “low-earning” or “high-debt-burden,” per ED determination. As of September 30, 2024, ED has pushed back twice the reporting by schools of this information: first from July 31, 2024 to October 1, 2024, and then from October 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025.
Title IV Program Rulemakings
ED is almost continuously engaged in one or more negotiated rulemakings, which is the process pursuant to which the agency revisits, revises, and expands the complex and voluminous Title IV Program regulations. We devote significant effort to understanding the effects of ED regulations and rulemakings on our business and to developing compliant solutions that also are congruent with our business, culture, and mission to serve our students and industry relationships. ED has recently undertaken, or proposed to undertake, rulemakings on the following topics:
•On October 28, 2022, ED published a final rule amending regulations governing Pell Grants for prison education programs, the 90/10 rule, and changes in ownership and control, effective July 1, 2023. On November 1, 2022, ED published a final rule governing borrower defense to repayment claims, closed school loan discharges, pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver clauses, interest capitalization on Federal student loans, Public Student Loan Forgiveness, total and permanent disability discharges, and false certification discharges, also effective July 1, 2023.
•On October 10, 2023, ED published a final rule related to financial value transparency and gainful employment, effective July 1, 2024. On October 31, 2023, ED published final rules relating to (1) financial responsibility, (2) administrative capability, (3) certification procedures, and (4) ability to benefit, effective July 1, 2024.
•ED established a Student Loan Relief Committee to consider revisions to sections of 34 C.F.R. Parts 30, 682 and 685 addressing provisions related to the modification, waiver, release or compromise of Federal student loans. The Student Loan Relief Committee completed four negotiating sessions in October, November and December 2023 and February 2024. On April 17, 2024, ED issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing proposed regulatory changes addressing the Secretary’s discretionary authority to waive loan repayment obligations. ED has collected comments on the proposed regulatory changes but has not yet issued final regulatory updates.
•ED established a Program Integrity and Institutional Quality Committee to consider proposed changes to regulations addressing (1) the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies; (2) institutional eligibility, including State authorization; (3) distance education; (4) return of Title IV funds; (5) cash management; and (6) the Federal TRIO Programs. ED also announced a Federal TRIO Programs Subcommittee to include additional expertise and to make recommendations to the full committee on the subject. The full Committee met for three negotiating sessions in January, February and March 2024, and the Subcommittee met twice in January and February 2024. On July 24, 2024, ED issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing proposed regulatory changes addressing (1) distance education; (2) return of Title IV funds; and (3) the Federal TRIO Programs. ED has collected comments on the proposed regulatory changes but has not yet issued final regulatory updates. ED also has not yet announced any
proposed regulatory changes addressing (1) the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies; (2) institutional eligibility, including State authorization; and (3) cash management.
ED Non-Discrimination Rulemakings
As a condition of receiving federal financial assistance, we are responsible for complying with applicable laws and regulations promulgated by ED regarding non-discrimination. On April 29, 2024, ED published a final rule (the “2024 Title IX Rule”) amending the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, effective August 1, 2024 (the “Title IX Rules”). This rule represents a significant revision of the Title IX Rules. As of September 30, 2024, pursuant to various Federal court orders, ED enjoined from enforcing the 2024 Title IX Rule in 26 states, including Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, and at schools of a list of institutions identified by a federal district court in Kansas, including Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc. As of September 30, 2024, ED also has indicated that it will be proposing a rule to amend regulations related to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability.
Other Benefit or Aid Programs
Some of our students receive financial aid from federal sources other than Title IV or VA Programs, such as from the DOD or under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. All of our institutions must comply with the eligibility and participation requirements applicable to each of these funding programs, which vary by funding agency and program.
Department of Veterans Affairs Benefit Programs
Some of our students receive financial aid from VA benefit programs. In 2024, we derived approximately 11% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from veterans’ benefits programs, which include the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Education Assistance Program (“REAP”) and VA Vocational Rehabilitation. To continue participation in veterans’ benefits programs, an institution must comply with certain requirements established by the VA, including that the institution report on the enrollment status of eligible students; maintain student records and make such records available for inspection; follow rules applicable to the individual benefits programs; and comply with applicable limits on the percentage of students receiving certain veterans’ benefits on a program and campus basis.
The VA shares responsibility for VA benefit approval and oversight with designated State Approving Agencies (“SAAs”). SAAs play a critical role in evaluating institutions and their programs to determine if they meet VA benefit eligibility requirements. Processes and approval criteria, as well as interpretation of applicable requirements, can vary from state to state. Therefore, approval in one state does not necessarily result in approval in all states.
The VA imposes limitations on the percentage of students per program receiving benefits under certain veterans’ benefits programs, unless the program qualifies for certain exemptions. This rule, the 85/15 Rule, prohibits paying VA benefits to students enrolling in a program when more than 85% of the students enrolled in that program are having any portion of their tuition, fees, or other charges paid for them by the school or VA. If the ratio of supported students to non-supported students exceeds 85% at the time a new VA student enters or reenters (such as after a break in enrollment), the student cannot be certified to receive benefits in the program.
If the VA determines that a program is out of compliance with these limitations, the VA will continue to provide benefits to current students, but new students will not be eligible to use their veterans’ benefits for an affected program until we demonstrate compliance. Additionally, the VA requires a campus be in operation for two years before it can apply to participate in VA benefit programs. With the exception of our two newest campuses in Austin, Texas and Miramar, Florida which opened between May and August 2022, all of our campuses are eligible to participate in VA education benefit programs.
In 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing the DOD, VA and ED to establish “Principles of Excellence” (“Principles”), based on certain guidelines set forth in the Executive Order, to apply to educational institutions receiving federal funding for service members, veterans and family members. As requested, we provided written confirmation of our intent to comply with the Principles to the VA in June 2012. We are required to comply with the Principles to continue recruitment activities on military installations. Additionally, there is a requirement to possess a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the DOD as well as with certain individual installations. Our access to bases for student recruitment has become more limited due to recent changes in the Transition Assistance Program (Transition Goals, Plans, Success) and increased enforcement of the MOU requirement. Each of our institutions has an MOU with the DOD. We have MOUs with certain key individual installations and are pursuing MOUs at additional locations; however, some installations will not provide MOUs to institutions that do not teach at the installation. We continue to strengthen and
develop relationships with our existing contacts and with new contacts in order to maintain and rebuild our access to military installations.
State Financial Aid Programs
Some states provide financial aid to our students in the form of grants, loans or scholarships. The UTI campuses in Long Beach, Rancho Cucamonga and Sacramento, California, as well as the Concorde campuses in Garden Grove, North Hollywood, and San Diego, California for example, are currently eligible to participate in the Cal Grant program. All of our institutions must comply with the eligibility and participation requirements applicable to each of these state financial aid programs.
Regulatory Approval of Acquisitions
When we acquire an institution, the acquired school typically experiences a change of control under the standards of applicable federal and state agencies, including its institutional accreditor and ED. These agencies have varying processes and criteria for evaluating a change of control and may elect to attach conditions to the continued approval of the acquired school following the closing of the transaction. The approvals granted by ED after completing the acquisitions of both MIAT and Concorde, for example, include increased reporting and notification obligations, as well as requirements that neither school group may add new programs or locations, or change existing programs. Existing program content at each school group may be changed so long as the credit and contact hours reported to ED do not change. Existing campuses may be moved to new locations in the area, which allows schools to keep program content current and to relocate to improved facilities. Such restrictions on new campuses and programs typically remain in place for the time required for ED to review two years of audited financials for the acquired school under the new ownership.
Consumer Protections Laws and Regulations
As a postsecondary educational institution, we are subject to a broad range of consumer protection and other laws, such as those that relate to recruiting, marketing, the protection of personal information, student financing and payment servicing. Such laws and regulations are enforced by federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and by various state agencies and state attorneys general.
We received a January 18, 2022 letter from the CFPB explaining that it was assessing whether UTI “is subject to the CFPB’s supervisory authority based on its activities related to student lending.” The CFPB’s letter then requested certain information about extensions of credit to our students; generally explained the source and scope of the CFPB’s regulatory authority; and advised that, after it reviewed the requested materials, the CFPB “anticipates providing guidance regarding whether UTI is subject to CFPB’s supervisory authority.” We have provided the requested information and are awaiting further guidance, if any, from the CFPB.
Both UTI and Concorde, along with 68 other proprietary institutions, received an October 6, 2021 letter from the FTC providing notice that engaging in deceptive or unfair conduct in the education marketplace violates consumer protection laws and could lead to significant civil penalties. The notice stated that an institution’s receipt of the letter “does not reflect any assessment as to whether they have engaged in deceptive or unfair conduct,” and the FTC did not request any information.
We devote significant effort to complying with state and federal consumer protection laws.
Available Information
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge on our website at www.uti.edu under the “Investor Relations - Financial Information - SEC Filings” captions, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Reports of our executive officers, directors and any other persons required to file securities ownership reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act are also available through our website. Information contained on our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We provide the following cautionary discussion of risks and uncertainties relevant to our business. These are factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. We note these factors for investors within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider the following to be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below in addition to other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes.
Risks Related to the Extensive Regulation of Our Business
Our failure to comply with the extensive regulatory requirements for school operations could result in financial requirements or penalties, restrictions on our operations and loss of external financial aid funding.
As detailed in “Business - Regulatory Environment,” our institutions are subject to extensive regulatory requirements imposed by a wide range of federal and state agencies, as well as by our institutional accreditors. These requirements, which are subject to frequent change, cover virtually every aspect of our schools’ operations. The approvals granted by these entities permit our schools to operate and to participate in a variety of government-sponsored financial aid programs, including Title IV Programs and veterans’ programs, from which we derived approximately 78% of our revenues, on a cash basis, in fiscal year 2024. If our institutions fail to comply with any of these regulatory requirements, our regulators could take an array of actions, including, without limitation, issuing fines or penalties, requiring reimbursement for discharged loan obligations, requiring letter(s) of credit, halting certain business practices, or suspending or terminating our eligibility to participate in the Title IV Programs. Any such action could adversely affect our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition, and could include the imposition of significant operating restrictions upon us. It could also result in negative publicity that could negatively affect student enrollment. We cannot predict with certainty how each regulatory body will apply its requirements or whether each of our schools will be able to comply with all of the requirements in the future.
Failure to maintain eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs could materially and adversely affect our business.
Title IV Program requirements, as described in “Business - Regulatory Environment-Title IV Programs,” are complex, at times imprecise, and subject to changing interpretations. In the event an institution violates these requirements, ED could impose sanctions or limitations, or terminate an institution’s Title IV Program eligibility. Forms of noncompliance that could result in sanctions or limitations, or cause the institution to lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV Programs, include, without limitation, failures to: maintain state authorizations; maintain institutional accreditations; satisfy ED’s administrative capability standards; satisfy ED’s loan default rate thresholds; correctly calculate and timely return unearned Title IV Program funds received for students who withdraw before completing their educational programs; correctly determine whether students are making satisfactory academic progress in their programs and, as such, remain eligible to receive Title IV Program funds; satisfy ED’s financial responsibility standards; and comply with the 90/10 rule, the substantial misrepresentation rules or the incentive compensation rule. Certain actions or reviews may also be triggered automatically based on ED’s standards. Types of sanctions or limitations ED might impose upon an institution include, without limitation: requiring the repayment of Title IV Program funds; imposing a less favorable payment system for the institution’s receipt of Title IV Program funds; placing an institution on provisional certification status; commencing a proceeding to impose a fine or to limit, suspend, or terminate the institution’s participation in Title IV Programs; or declining to renew the institution’s program participation agreement. Such sanctions or limitations, including the loss of Title IV Program eligibility by any of our current or future institutions, could have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Failure to maintain state authorizations or institutional accreditation could also preclude participation in Title IV Programs. For more information, see “Business - Regulatory Environment - Title IV Programs.”
Current and future Title IV Program regulations arising out of negotiated rulemakings could materially and adversely affect our business.
ED is almost continuously engaged in negotiated rulemakings, which is the process by which it revisits, revises, and expands the complex and voluminous Title IV Program regulations. These regulations also are frequently challenged through litigation, creating significant uncertainty as to when and what part of the regulations have taken effect, how they should be implemented, and how they will be interpreted and enforced. New Borrower Defense to Repayment, Financial Responsibility, or Gainful Employment regulations, in particular, may increase risks of financial liability or reputational harm. We devote significant effort to understanding the effects of these regulations on our business and to developing
compliant solutions that also are congruent with our business, culture, and mission to serve our students and industry relationships. However, we cannot predict with certainty how these new and developing regulatory requirements will be applied or whether each of our schools will be able to comply with all of the requirements in the future. Significant negotiated rulemakings that could materially and adversely affect our business are discussed in “Business - Regulatory Environment - Title IV Program Rulemakings.”
The loss of funds from Veterans' benefits programs could materially and adversely affect our business.
As discussed in “Business - Regulatory Environment - Department of Veterans Affairs Benefit Programs,” to participate in veterans’ benefits programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the REAP, and VA Vocational Rehabilitation, our institutions must comply with certain requirements applicable to these programs. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we could lose our eligibility to participate in veterans’ benefits programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Future legislative or regulatory initiatives that could negatively impact the funding we receive from veterans’ benefits programs include, without limitation: (i) proposals to restrict access to military installations for student recruitment; (ii) a reduction in appropriations for veterans’ benefits programs, or an extended government shutdown; (iii) an inability to secure approvals in one or more states, delays in the process for obtaining approvals, or the revocation of an approval; (iv) changes in the interpretation and application of the 85/15 rule, which prohibits paying VA benefits to students enrolling in a program where more than 85% of the students enrolled in that program have any portion of their tuition, fees, or other charges paid for them by the institution or the VA; and (v) changes in the interpretation and application of the VA rules governing the classification and treatment of blended coursework, and the eligibility of such coursework for veterans’ benefits programs.
Congress may change the law or reduce funding for or place restrictions on the use of funds received through Title IV Programs, which could reduce our student population, revenues and/or profit margin.
Congress periodically revises the HEA and other laws, and enacts new laws, governing Title IV Programs and determining the funding level for each Title IV Program. Congress most recently reauthorized the HEA in 2008. Despite repeated attempts, Congress has not completed a full reauthorization since then. In addition to HEA reauthorization, policies directly related to Title IV Programs and funding for those programs may be impacted by the annual budget and appropriations process as well as by other legislation. Additionally, a shutdown of government agencies, such as ED, responsible for administering student financial aid programs under Title IV could lead to delays in student eligibility determinations and delays in origination and disbursement of government-funded student loans to our students. Any action by Congress that significantly affects Title IV Programs or the ability of our schools or students to receive funding through these programs or places restrictions on the use of funds received by an institution through these programs could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Such action may occur during HEA reauthorization as part of separate technical amendments to the HEA or during Congress’ annual budget and appropriations cycle. These uncertainties could reduce our student population, revenues and/or profit margin.
Continued or increased examination of the for-profit education sector could result in further legislation, appropriations, regulations, and enforcement actions that could materially and adversely affect our business.
Over the last decade, Congress and state legislatures have focused significantly on for-profit education institutions, specifically regarding participation in Title IV Programs and DOD or VA oversight of tuition assistance for military service members attending for-profit colleges. Continued or increased Congressional activity could result in the enactment of more stringent legislation, further rulemakings affecting participation in Title IV Programs and other governmental actions, increasing regulation of the for-profit sector. In addition, concerns generated by this activity may adversely affect enrollment in for-profit educational institutions such as ours. Any laws that are adopted that limit our or our students’ participation in Title IV Programs or in programs to provide funds for active duty service members and veterans or the amount of student financial aid for which our students are eligible, or any decreases in enrollment related to the Congressional activity concerning this sector, could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
Our business could be harmed if we experience a disruption in our ability to process student loans under the Federal Direct Loan Program.
Because all Title IV Program student loans (other than Perkins loans) are now processed under the Direct Loan (“DL”) program, any disruption in our ability to process student loans through the DL program, either because of administrative challenges on our part or the inability of ED to process the increased volume of loans through the DL program on a timely
basis, could impact our students’ ability to timely obtain their student loans and have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
Government and regulatory agencies and third parties may conduct compliance reviews, bring claims or initiate litigation against us.
Because we operate in a highly regulated industry, we are subject to compliance reviews and claims of noncompliance by governmental regulatory agencies, accrediting agencies, and third parties alleging noncompliance with applicable standards. Each of our institutions’ administration of Title IV Program funds must be audited annually by independent accountants and the resulting audit report must be submitted to ED for review. Moreover, we may be subject to program reviews from ED, audits by the ED Office of Inspector General, or a compliance audit as a condition of participation in the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”). We are also subject to various lawsuits, investigations and claims, covering a wide range of matters, including, but not limited to, alleged violations of federal and state laws, including consumer protection laws applicable to activities of postsecondary educational institutions, false claims made to the federal government and routine employment matters. We may also face borrower defense to repayment claims or complaints from students or prospective students. While we are committed to strict compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and accrediting standards, if the results of government, regulatory or third party reviews or proceedings are unfavorable to us, or if we are unable to successfully defend against lawsuits or claims, we may be required to pay monetary damages, be held liable for a student’s discharged debt, or be subject to fines, limitations, loss of regulatory approvals or Title IV Program funding or other federal and state funding, injunctions or other penalties. We could also incur substantial legal costs that are not covered or are in excess of our insurance coverage. Even if we adequately address issues raised by an agency review or successfully defend a lawsuit or claim, we may have to divert significant financial and management resources from our ongoing business operations to address issues raised by those reviews or defend those lawsuits or claims. Additionally, given the significant public scrutiny being placed on the sector we operate in, numerous state attorneys general have initiated investigations of for-profit schools operating in their state. Changes occurring at the federal or state level, as well as our financial performance in recent years, may spur further action or additional reporting requirements by state attorneys general, Congressional leadership or state licensing bodies.
We cannot predict the outcome of unsettled matters, and we may incur significant defense costs and other expenses in connection with them in excess of our insurance coverage related to these matters. We may be required to pay substantial damages, settlement costs or fines or penalties. Such costs and expenses could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition and could also result in negative publicity that could negatively affect student enrollment. An adverse outcome in any of these matters could also materially and adversely affect our licenses, accreditation and eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs.
Our business and stock price could be adversely affected as a result of regulatory investigations of, or actions commenced against, us or other companies in our industry.
The operations of companies in the education and training services industry, including us, are subject to intense regulatory scrutiny. In some cases, allegations of wrongdoing on the part of such companies have resulted in formal or informal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, the FTC, state governmental agencies and attorneys general, ED and other federal agencies. These allegations have attracted adverse media coverage and have been the subject of legislative hearings and regulatory actions at both the federal and state levels, focusing not only on the individual schools but in some cases on the for-profit postsecondary education sector as a whole. These investigations of, or regulatory actions against, specific companies in the education and training services industry could have a negative impact on our industry as a whole and on our stock price. Furthermore, the outcome of such investigations and any accompanying adverse publicity could negatively affect student enrollment and heighten the risk of class action lawsuits against us, which could have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
Changes in the state regulatory environment, state and agency budget constraints and increased regulatory requirements, may affect our ability to obtain and maintain necessary authorizations or approvals from those states to conduct or change our operations.
Due to state budget constraints and changes in the regulatory environment in some of the states in which we operate, it is possible that some states may reduce the number of employees in, or curtail the operations of, the state education agencies that authorize our schools. A delay or refusal by any state education agency in approving any changes in our operations that require state approval, such as the opening of a new campus, the introduction of new programs or the revision of existing
programs, a change of control or the hiring of new admissions representatives, could prevent us from making such changes or delay our ability to make such changes, or could require substantial additional costs to accommodate such delay.
State education agencies that authorize our schools continue to revise or issue new regulations requiring significant additional reporting and monitoring of student outcomes. Additionally, state education agencies may request additional information or supplemental reporting as a result of our recent financial performance. The regulations and reporting requirements may lengthen the time to obtain necessary state approvals and require us to modify our operations in order to comply with the requirements. This could impose substantial additional costs on our institutions, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
State legislatures also continue to contemplate creating new performance metrics that would have to be satisfied to maintain eligibility. The enactment of one or more of these proposed laws or similar laws could create compliance challenges and impose substantial additional costs on our institutions, which could have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
Budget constraints in states that provide state financial aid to our students could reduce the amount of such financial aid that is available to our students, which could reduce our student population and negatively affect our 90/10 Rule calculation and other compliance metrics.
Some states are facing budget constraints that are causing them to reduce state appropriations in a number of areas including financial aid provided to students that may attend one of our programs. We cannot predict how significant any of these reductions will be or how long they will last. If the level of state funding available to our students decreases and our students are not able to secure alternative sources of funding, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition, negatively impact our cohort default rates, or impact our performance under the federal 90/10 Rule calculation.
If we acquire an institution that participates in Title IV Programs or open an additional location, one or more of our regulators could decline to approve the acquired institution or additional location, or could impose material conditions or restrictions, which could impair our ability to operate the acquired institution and/or the additional location as planned or to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition of that institution and/or opening of the additional location.
If we acquire an institution that participates in Title IV Program funding or open an additional location, we must obtain approval from ED and applicable state education agencies and accrediting agencies in order for the institution or additional location to be able to operate and participate in Title IV Programs. An acquisition can result in the temporary suspension of the acquired institution’s participation in Title IV Programs and opening an additional location can result in a delay of the campus’ participation in Title IV Programs unless we submit a timely and materially complete application for approval of the acquisition or the opening of the new location. If we were unable to timely establish or re-establish the state authorization, accreditation or ED certification of the acquired institution or obtain approval for the new location, our ability to operate the acquired institution or open the additional location as planned or to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition of that institution or the opening of the additional location could be significantly impaired.
Further, ED and applicable state education agencies and accrediting agencies could impose material conditions or restrictions on us and the acquired institution or the additional location, including, but not limited to, a material letter of credit, limitations or prohibitions on the ability to add new campuses or add or change educational programs, placement of the institution on the heightened cash monitoring or reimbursement method of payment and reporting and notification requirements. Additionally, an acquired institution may have known or unknown instances of noncompliance with federal, state or accrediting agency requirements, including, but not limited to, noncompliance with requirements included in the borrower defense to repayment regulations that could result in liabilities, sanctions, or material conditions or restrictions that we may inherit by acquiring the institution. Further, our due diligence efforts relating to institutions that we intend to acquire may fail to identify noncompliance or other facts that could result in liabilities, sanctions, or material conditions or restrictions. The imposition of liabilities, sanctions, or material conditions or restrictions by one or more regulators could impair our ability to operate the acquired institution or open the additional location as planned or to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition of that institution or the opening of the additional location.
If regulators do not approve additional or revised programs, it could have an adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives.
A student may only use Title IV Program funds to pay the costs associated with enrollment in an eligible educational program offered by an institution participating in Title IV Programs. Our expansion plans are based, in part, on our ability to add new
educational programs at our existing institutions. Generally, an institution that is eligible to participate in Title IV Programs, and is not provisionally certified, may obtain ED approval if the new program is licensed by the applicable state agency and accredited by an agency recognized by ED. However, ED, state education agencies, or our accreditors could decline to approve a new program or impose material conditions or restrictions on us. Any such denial or material limitation could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
If regulators do not approve or delay their approval of transactions involving a change of control of our company or any of our schools, our ability to participate in Title IV Programs may be impaired.
If we or any of our schools experience a change of control under the standards of applicable federal and state agencies, our accrediting agencies or ED, we or the affected schools must seek the approval of the relevant regulatory agencies. These agencies do not have uniform criteria for what constitutes a change of control. Transactions or events that constitute a change of control include significant acquisitions or dispositions of our common stock or significant changes in the composition of our board of directors. Some of these transactions or events may be beyond our control. Our failure to obtain, or a delay in receiving, approval of any change of control from ED, our accrediting agencies or any state in which our schools are located would impair our ability to participate in Title IV Programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Our failure to obtain, or a delay in obtaining, approval of any change of control from any state in which we do not have a school but in which we recruit students could require us to suspend our recruitment of students in that state until we receive the required approval. The potential adverse effects of a change of control with respect to participation in Title IV Programs could influence future decisions by us and our stockholders regarding the sale, purchase, transfer, issuance or redemption of our stock.
If our vendors do not comply with Title IV Program regulations, our business could be harmed and our ability to participate in Title IV Programs may be impaired.
The failure of any of our vendors charged with administering any aspect of our participation in the Title IV Programs could lead to fines or penalties and the loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs. Such outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition.
Failure to comply with private education loan requirements may impair our business.
Concorde offers students the opportunity to finance all or part of their education using institutional credit, including retail installment contracts. If such arrangements qualify as a “private education loan” under federal law, a multitude of regulations must be followed, including from ED and the CFPB. State attorneys general and other regulators also scrutinize such arrangements. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition, and could also result in negative publicity that could negatively affect student enrollment.
“Borrower defense to repayment” regulations may subject us to significant repayment liability to ED for discharged federal student loans.
Under the HEA and its implementing regulations, students may file a claim with ED to discharge their federal Direct Loans (or Direct Consolidated Loans) on the basis that their institution misled them or engaged in other misconduct related to the making of their federal loans or the provision of their educational services. Such claims are known as “borrower defense to repayment” or “BDR” claims. If ED grants a BDR claim, it may seek to recoup the amount discharged from the school that engaged in the alleged misconduct.
We cannot predict how many claims will be submitted, which applications ED may grant in the future, whether ED will seek recoupment of any discharged amounts, or whether our defenses to any recoupment action will succeed. If ED were to discharge a significant number of loans and thereafter successfully assert recoupment against the Company, we could be subject to significant repayment liability to ED, which may limit our ability to make investments in our business and negatively impact our financial condition and future growth. A failure to demonstrate "Financial Responsibility" as a result of loan discharge applications under the BDR Rule would have negative impacts on our operations. For additional information regarding the Company’s BDR claims (and responses thereto), please see “Business - Regulatory Environment - Borrower Defense to Repayment.”
The postsecondary education regulatory environment has changed and may change in the future as a result of U.S. federal elections.
Changes in Presidential administrations and control of Congress as a result of the outcome of elections or other events could result in changes in or new legislation, appropriations, regulations, standards, policies and enforcement actions that could materially affect our business, including material consequences for our institutions’ accreditation, authorization to operate in various states, permissible activities, receipt of funds under student financial assistance programs, and cost of doing business. We cannot predict the extent to which the current administration and Congress, or any future administration or Congress, will act to change or eliminate or to implement new laws, regulations, standards, policies, and practices, nor can we predict the form that new laws, regulations, standards, policies, or practices may take or the extent to which those regulations, practices or policies may impact us or our institutions.
Risks Related to Our Business
Failure to execute on our growth and diversification strategy.
As part of our business strategy, we anticipate opening and operating new schools or campuses. Establishing new schools or campuses poses unique challenges and requires us to make investments in management and capital expenditures, incur marketing expenses and devote other resources that are different, and in some cases greater, than those required with respect to the operation of acquired schools. Accordingly, when we open new schools, initial investments could reduce our profitability. To open a new school or campus, we would be required to obtain appropriate state and accrediting agency approvals, which may be conditioned or delayed in a manner that could significantly affect our growth plans. Additionally, to be eligible for Title IV Program funding, a new school or campus would have to be certified by ED. We cannot be sure that we will be able to identify suitable expansion opportunities to maintain or accelerate our current growth rate or that we will be able to successfully integrate or profitably operate any new schools or campuses. Our failure to effectively identify, establish, obtain necessary regulatory approvals and manage the operations of newly established schools or campuses could slow our growth and make any newly established schools or campuses more costly to operate than we have historically experienced.
We may be unable to successfully complete or integrate future acquisitions.
We may consider selective acquisitions in the future. We may not be able to complete any acquisitions on favorable terms or, even if we do, we may not be able to successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our business. Integration challenges include, among others, regulatory approvals, significant capital expenditures, assumption of known and unknown liabilities, our ability to control costs and our ability to integrate new personnel. The successful integration of future acquisitions may also require substantial attention from our senior management and the senior management of the acquired schools, which could decrease the time that they devote to the day-to-day management of our business. If we do not successfully address risks and challenges associated with acquisitions, including integration, future acquisitions could harm, rather than enhance, our operating performance. Additionally, if we consummate an acquisition, our capitalization and results of operations may change significantly. A future acquisition could result in the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, an increase in interest expenses, amortization expenses, goodwill and other intangible assets, charges relating to integration costs or an increase in the number of shares outstanding. In addition, our acquisition of a school is a change of ownership of that school, which may result in the temporary suspension of that school’s participation in federal student financial aid programs until it obtains ED’s approval. These results could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition or result in dilution to current stockholders.
If we fail to reduce our underutilized capacity, we may experience a deterioration of our profitability and operating margins.
We have underutilized capacity at a number of our campuses. Our ongoing efforts to increase utilization may strain our management, operations, employees or other resources. We may not be able to maintain our current capacity utilization rates, effectively manage our operations or achieve planned capacity utilization on a timely or profitable basis. If we are unable to improve our underutilized capacity, we may experience operating inefficiencies at a level that would result in higher than anticipated costs, which would adversely affect our profitability and operating margins.
Macroeconomic conditions and aversion to debt could adversely affect our business.
We believe that our enrollment, which tends to be counter cyclical, is affected by changes in economic conditions. During periods when the unemployment rate declines or remains stable, prospective students have more employment options and
recruiting new students has traditionally been more challenging. In addition, affordability concerns associated with increased living expenses, relocation expenses and the availability of full- and part-time jobs for students attending classes have made it more challenging for us to attract and retain students.
Conversely, an increase in the unemployment rate and weaker macroeconomic conditions could reduce the willingness of employers to sponsor educational opportunities for their employees and affect the ability of our students to find employment in the industries that we serve. Any of which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
Adverse market conditions for consumer and federally guaranteed student loans could negatively impact the ability of borrowers with little or poor credit history, such as many of our students, to borrow the necessary funds at an acceptable interest rate. These events could adversely affect the ability or willingness of our former students to repay student loans, which could increase our student loan cohort default rate and require increased time, attention and resources to manage these defaults.
Failure on our part to maintain and expand existing industry relationships and develop new industry relationships with our industry customers could impair our ability to attract and retain students.
We have extensive industry relationships that we believe afford us significant competitive strength and support our market leadership. These relationships enable us to support enrollment in our core programs by attracting students through brand name recognition and the associated prospect of high-quality employment opportunities. Additionally, these relationships allow us to diversify funding sources, expand the scope and increase the number of programs we offer and reduce our costs and capital expenditures due to the fact that, pursuant to the terms of the underlying contracts with manufacturer brand partners, we provide a variety of specialized training programs and typically do so using tools, equipment and vehicles provided by the manufacturer brand partners. These relationships also provide additional incremental revenue opportunities from training the employees of our industry customers. Our success depends in part on our ability to maintain and expand our existing industry relationships and to enter into new industry relationships. Certain of our UTI segment’s existing industry relationships, including those with American Honda Motor Company, Inc.; Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation; Volvo Penta of the Americas, Inc. and Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, are not memorialized in writing and are based on verbal understandings. As a result, the rights of the parties under these arrangements are less clearly defined than they would be if they were in writing. Additionally, certain of our written agreements may be terminated without cause by the OEM. Finally, certain of our existing industry relationship agreements expire within the next six months. We are currently negotiating to renew these agreements and intend to renew them to the extent we can do so on satisfactory terms. The reduction or elimination of, or failure to renew any of our existing industry relationships, or our failure to enter into new industry relationships, could impair our ability to attract and retain students, require additional capital expenditures or increase expenses and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
Our success depends in part on our ability to update and expand the content of existing programs and develop and integrate new programs in a cost-effective manner and on a timely basis.
Prospective employers of our graduates demand that their entry-level employees possess appropriate technological skills. These skills are becoming more sophisticated in line with technological advancements in the transportation, skilled trades, energy and healthcare industries Accordingly, educational programs at our schools must keep pace with those technological advancements. Additionally, the method used to deliver curriculum has evolved to include online delivery. The updates to our existing programs and the development of new programs, and changes in the method in which we deliver them, may not be accepted by our students, prospective employers or the technical education market. Even if we are able to develop acceptable new programs, we may not be able to introduce these new programs as quickly as the industries we serve require or as quickly as our competitors. If we are unable to adequately respond to changes in market requirements due to unusually rapid technological changes or other factors, our ability to attract and retain students could be impaired and our graduate employment rates could suffer.
Additionally, if we are unable to address and respond to requirements for new or updated curricula such as training instructors to teach the curricula, obtaining the appropriate equipment to teach the curricula to our students, or obtaining the appropriate regulatory approvals, we may not be able to successfully roll out the curricula to our campuses in a timely and cost-effective manner. If we are not able to effectively and efficiently integrate curricula, this could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to retain our key personnel or hire and retain the personnel we need to sustain and grow our business.
Our success to date has depended, and will continue to depend, largely on the experience, skills, efforts and motivation of our executive officers. Our success also depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified faculty, campus presidents, administrators and corporate management. Due to the nature of our business, we face significant competition in the attraction and retention of personnel who possess the skill sets that we seek. The for-profit education sector can experience periods of significant regulatory and government scrutiny, which may make it more difficult to attract and retain talent. If we are unable to, or are perceived to be unable to, attract and retain experienced and qualified personnel, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. Additionally, key personnel may leave us and subsequently compete against us. Because we do not currently carry “key man” life insurance, the loss of the services of any of our key personnel, or our failure to attract and retain other qualified and experienced personnel on acceptable terms, could impair our ability to successfully manage our business.
We are party to debt arrangements that contain restrictive covenants, and if we are unable to comply with these covenants then the lenders could declare an event of default wherein we may need to immediately repay the amounts due under the respective debt arrangements.
Our term loans and revolving credit facility impose various restrictions and contain customary affirmative and restrictive covenants, including, without limitation, certain reporting obligations and certain limitations on restricted payments and limitations on liens, encumbrances and indebtedness. If we fail to comply with the covenants or payments specified in the agreements, the lenders could declare an event of default, which would give them the right to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be immediately due and payable. The amount of our outstanding indebtedness could have an adverse effect on our operations and liquidity, including by, among other things: (i) making it more difficult for us to pay or refinance our debts as they become due during adverse economic and industry conditions, because we may not have sufficient cash flows to make our scheduled debt payments; (ii) causing us to use a larger portion of our cash flows to fund interest and principal payments, thereby reducing the availability of cash to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other business activities; (iii) making it more difficult for us to take advantage of significant business opportunities, such as acquisition opportunities or other strategic transactions, and to react to changes in market or industry conditions; and (iv) limiting our ability to borrow additional monies in the future to fund the activities and expenditures described above and for other general corporate purposes as and when needed, which could force us to suspend, delay or curtail business prospects, strategies or operations.
Competition could decrease our market share and create tuition pricing concerns.
The postsecondary education market is highly competitive. We continue to experience a high level of competition for higher quality students not only from similar programs, but also from the overall employment market and the military. Some traditional public and private colleges, universities and community colleges, as well as other private career-oriented schools, offer programs that may be perceived by students to be similar to ours. We compete with local community colleges for students seeking programs that are similar to ours, mainly due to local accessibility, low tuition rates and in certain cases free tuition. Most public institutions are able to charge lower tuition than our schools, due in part to government subsidies and other financial sources not available to for-profit schools.
Prospective students may choose to forego additional education and enter the workforce directly, especially during periods when the unemployment rate declines or remains stable as it has in recent years. This may include employment with our industry partners or with other manufacturers and employers of our graduates. Additionally, the military often recruits or retains potential students when branches of the military offer enlistment or re-enlistment bonuses.
We may limit tuition increases or increase spending in response to competition in order to retain or attract students or pursue new market opportunities; however, if we cannot effectively respond to competitor changes, it could reduce our enrollments and our student populations. We cannot be sure that we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive pressures faced by us will not adversely affect our market share, revenues and operating margin.
Our financial performance depends in part on our ability to continue to develop awareness and acceptance of our programs among high school graduates, military personnel and adults seeking advanced training.
The awareness of our programs among high school graduates, military personnel and working adults seeking advanced training is critical to the continued acceptance and growth of our programs. Factors that could impact our ability to increase
such awareness include: continued school district limitations on access to students by for-profit institutions; actions that would limit our access to military bases and installations; and our failure to maintain relationships with automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine manufacturers and suppliers, as well as hospitals, long-term care facilities and medical and dental offices. Our inability to continue to develop awareness of our programs could reduce our enrollments, which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
Expanding our blended learning format could be difficult for us.
The expansion of existing and creation of new blended programs may not be accepted by students or employers. Our efforts may be materially adversely affected by increased competition in the online or blended education market, or because of performance or reliability issues with our blended program infrastructure.
We are heavily dependent on the reliability and performance of an internally developed student management and reporting system, and any difficulties in maintaining this system may result in service interruptions, decreased customer service or increased expenditures.
The software that underlies our student management and reporting for our UTI schools has been developed primarily by our own employees. The reliability and continuous availability of this internal system and related integrations are critical to our business. Any interruptions that hinder our ability to timely deliver our services, or that materially impact the efficiency or cost with which we provide these services, or our ability to attract and retain computer programmers with knowledge of the appropriate computer programming language, would adversely affect our reputation and profitability and our ability to conduct business and prepare financial reports.
System disruptions and security threats to our computer networks, including breach of the personal information we collect, could have a material adverse effect on our business and our reputation.
Our computer systems as well as those of our service providers are vulnerable to interruption, malfunction or damage due to events beyond our control, including malicious human acts committed by foreign or domestic persons, natural disasters, and network and communications failures. We have established a written data breach incident response policy, which we test informally and formally at least annually. Additionally, we periodically perform vulnerability self-assessments and engage service providers to perform independent vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. However, despite network security measures, our servers and the servers at our service providers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic unauthorized access, computer hackers, computer viruses, malicious code, organized cyber attacks and other security problems and system disruptions. Increasing socioeconomic and political instability in some countries has heightened these risks. Despite the precautions we and our service providers have taken, our systems may still be vulnerable to these threats. A user who circumvents security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions or malfunctions in operations.
Additionally, the personal information that we collect subjects us to additional risks and costs that could harm our business and our reputation. We collect, retain and use personal information regarding our students and their families and our employees, including personally identifiable information, tax return information, financial data, bank account information and other data. Although we employ various network and business security measures to limit access to and use of such personal information, we cannot guarantee that a third party will not circumvent such security measures, resulting in the breach, loss or theft of the personal information of our students and their families and our employees. Possession and use of personal information in our operations also subjects us to legislative and regulatory burdens that could restrict our use of personal information and require notification of data breaches. A violation of any laws or regulations relating to the collection, retention or use of personal information could also result in the imposition of fines or lawsuits against us.
Sustained or repeated system failures or security breaches that interrupt our ability to process information in a timely manner or that result in a breach of proprietary or personal information could have a material adverse effect on our operations and our reputation. Although we maintain insurance in respect of these types of events, available insurance proceeds may not be adequate to compensate us for damages sustained due to these events.
Our success depends, in part, on the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs in recruiting new students.
In order to maintain and increase our revenues and margins, we must continue to develop our admissions programs and attract new students in a cost-effective manner. The level of marketing and advertising and types of strategies used are affected by the specific geographic markets, regulatory compliance requirements and the specific individual nature of each institution and its students. The complexity of these marketing efforts contributes to their cost. If we are unable to advertise
and market our institutions and programs successfully, our ability to attract and enroll new students could be materially adversely affected and, consequently, our financial performance could suffer. We use marketing tools such as the Internet, radio, television and print media advertising to promote our institutions and programs. Our representatives also make presentations at high schools and career fairs. Additionally, we rely on the general reputation of our institutions and referrals from current students, alumni and employers as a source of new enrollment. As part of our marketing and advertising, we also subscribe to lead-generating databases in certain markets, the cost of which may increase. Among the factors that could prevent us from marketing and advertising our institutions and programs successfully are the failure of our marketing tools and strategies to appeal to prospective students, regulatory constraints on marketing, current student and/or employer dissatisfaction with our program offerings or results and diminished access to high school campuses and military bases. In order to maintain our growth, we will need to attract a larger percentage of students in existing markets and increase our addressable market by adding locations in new markets and rolling out new academic programs. Any failure to accomplish this may have a material adverse effect on our future growth.
If we are unable to hire, retain and continue to develop and train our admissions representatives, the effectiveness of our student recruiting efforts would be adversely affected.
In order to support revenue growth and student enrollment, we need to hire and train new admissions representatives, as well as retain and continue to develop our existing admissions representatives, who are our employees dedicated to student recruitment. Our ability to develop a strong admissions representative team may be affected by a number of factors, including: competition in hiring qualified persons; limitations on compensation payable to admissions representatives arising from the incentive compensation rule; and our ability to adequately train and motivate our admissions representatives. If we are unable to hire, develop or retain quality admissions representatives, the effectiveness of our student recruiting efforts would be adversely affected.
An increase in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.
Our revolving credit facility and a portion of our term loans bear interest at variable rates. For our term loans, we entered into interest rate swap agreements with the lenders at the time of inception that effectively fix the interest rates on 50% of the principal amount of the loan. However, increases in interest rates with respect to any amount of our debt not covered by the interest rate swaps could increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability and cash flows. Such increases may occur from changes in regulatory standards or industry practices.
Restrictions on, the inability to offer, or degraded collection performance for our proprietary loan program could have a negative effect on our results of operations.
The proprietary loan program offered by the UTI schools enables students who have utilized all available government-sponsored or other financial aid and have not been successful in obtaining private loans from other financial institutions, for independent students, or PLUS loans, for dependent students, to borrow a portion of their tuition if they meet certain criteria.
Under the proprietary loan program, the bank originates loans for our students who meet specific credit criteria with the related proceeds to be used exclusively to fund a portion of their tuition. We then purchase all such loans from the bank at least monthly and assume all the related credit and collection risk. See Note 2 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II. Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of activity under the proprietary loan program.
Factors that may impact our ability to collect these loans include the following, without limitation: current economic conditions; compliance with laws applicable to the origination, servicing and collection of loans; the quality of our loan servicers’ performance; and a decline in graduate employment opportunities and the priority that the borrowers under this loan program attach to repaying these loans as compared to other obligations, particularly borrowers who did not complete or were dissatisfied with their programs of study.
The portion of a student's tuition revenue related to the proprietary loan program is treated as a form of variable consideration. We estimate the amount we ultimately expect to collect from the portion of tuition that is funded by the proprietary loan program, resulting in a note receivable. The estimated amount is determined at the inception of the contract, and we recognize the related revenue as the student progresses through school. Each reporting period, we update our assessment of the variable consideration associated with the proprietary loan program. Estimating the collection rate requires significant management judgment. If we are unable to accurately assess the variable consideration, our revenues and profitability may be adversely impacted.
Federal, state and local laws and general legal and equitable principles relating to the protection of consumers can apply to the origination, servicing and collection of the loans under the proprietary loan program. Any violation of various federal, state or local laws, including, in some instances, violations of these laws by parties not under our control, may result in losses on the loans or may limit our ability to collect all or part of the principal or interest on the loans. This may be the case even if we are not directly responsible for the violations by such parties.
The proprietary loan program may also be subject to oversight by the CFPB, which could result in additional reporting requirements or increased scrutiny. Other proprietary postsecondary institutions have been subject to information requests from the CFPB with regard to their private student loan programs. The possibility of litigation, and the associated cost, are risks associated with the proprietary loan program. At least two other proprietary education institutions have been subject to lawsuits under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010; the institutions are accused of having unfair private student loan programs and of allegedly engaging in certain abusive practices, including interfering with students' ability to understand their debt obligations and failing to provide certain material information.
Changes in laws or public policy could negatively impact the viability of the proprietary loan program and cause us to delay or suspend the program. Additionally, depending on the terms of the loans, state consumer credit regulators may assert that our activities in connection with the proprietary loan program require us to obtain one or more licenses, registrations or other forms of regulatory approvals, any of which may not be able to be obtained in a timely manner, if at all. All of these factors could result in the proprietary loan program having a material adverse effect on our cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.
We rely on third parties to originate, process and service loans under our proprietary loan program. If these companies fail or discontinue providing such services, our business could be harmed.
A state chartered bank with a small market capitalization originates loans under the proprietary loan program for the UTI schools. If the bank no longer provides service under the contract, we do not currently have an alternative bank to fulfill the demand. There are a limited number of banks that are willing to participate in a program such as the proprietary loan program. The time it could take us to replace the bank could result in an interruption in the loan origination process, which could result in a decrease in our student populations. Furthermore, a single company processes loan applications and services the loans under the proprietary loan program. There is a 90-day termination clause in the contract under which it provides these services. If this company were to terminate the contract, we could experience an interruption in loan application processing or loan servicing, which could result in a decrease in our student populations.
We have goodwill, which may become impaired and subject to a write-down.
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is reviewed at least annually for impairment, which might result from the deterioration in the operating performance of acquired businesses, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations and a variety of other circumstances. Any resulting impairment charge is recognized as an expense in the period in which impairment is identified. Our total recorded goodwill of $28.5 million as of September 30, 2024 resulted from our MMI, MIAT and Concorde acquisitions. We perform our annual goodwill impairment assessment as of August 1 of each fiscal year. Future assessments of goodwill could result in reductions. Any reduction in net income and operating income resulting from the write-down or impairment of goodwill could adversely affect our financial results. If economic or industry conditions deteriorate or if market valuations decline, including with respect to our common stock, we may be required to impair goodwill in future periods.
The occurrence of natural or man-made catastrophes, including those caused by climate change and other climate-related causes, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our business and operations could be materially adversely affected in the event of earthquakes, hurricanes, severe storms, blackouts or other power losses, floods, fires, telecommunications failures, break-ins, acts of terrorism, public health crises, other inclement weather or similar events.
We teach our UTI and Concorde programs at campus locations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miramar, and Tampa, Florida, all areas that can experience tropical storms and hurricanes, severe storms, floods, coastal storms, tornadoes and power outages. We also have seven campus locations in California and seven campus locations in Texas, all in areas that have historically been susceptible to severe weather events or other natural disasters.
If floods, fire, inclement weather, including extreme rain, wind, heat, or cold, or accidents due to human error were to occur and cause damage to our campus facilities, or limit the ability of our students or faculty to participate in or contribute to our academic programs or our ability to comply with federal and state educational requirements or our agreements with our vendors, our business may be adversely effected, especially if such events were to occur in the midst of ongoing academic programs during an academic cycle. Such disruptions may also result in increases in student attrition, voluntary or mandatory closure of some or all of our facilities, or our inability to procure essential supplies or travel during the pendency of mandated travel restrictions. We may not be able to effectively shift our operations due to disruptions arising from the occurrence of such events, and our business and results of operations could be affected adversely as a result. Moreover, damage to or total destruction of our campus facilities from various weather events may not be covered in whole or in part by any insurance we may have.
Increased scrutiny and changing expectations from regulators, investors, industry customers, employees, and others regarding our environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices and reporting may cause us to incur additional costs, devote additional resources, expose us to new or additional risks, or harm our reputation.
Companies across all industries are facing increasing scrutiny related to their ESG practices and reporting. Regulators, investors, industry customers, employees and other stakeholders have focused increasingly on ESG practices and placed increasing importance on the implications and social cost of their investments, purchases and other interactions with companies. If our ESG practices and reporting do not meet investor, industry customer, employee or stakeholder expectations and standards, which continue to evolve, our brand, reputation, and student and employee retention may be negatively impacted. We also expect to incur additional costs and devote additional resources to monitor, report and implement various ESG practices, including as a result of regulatory developments.
Public health pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting containment measures caused economic and financial disruptions globally. The extent to which a similar pandemic may impact our business and operations will depend on a variety of factors beyond our control, including the actions of governments, businesses and other enterprises in response to the pandemic, the effectiveness of those actions, and vaccine availability, distribution and adoption, all of which cannot be predicted with any level of certainty.
Risks Related to Investing in Our Common Stock
The price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly in the past and may continue to do so in the future. As a result, you could lose all or part of your investment.
Volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent you from being able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for your shares. The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly in the past, and may continue to fluctuate significantly for a variety of different reasons, including, without limitation, developments in our industry; our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry; changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by research analysts who track our common stock or the stocks of other companies in our industry; negative publicity, including government hearings and other public lawmaker or regulator criticism, regarding our industry or business; changes in enrollment; and changes in general conditions in the United States and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting from health epidemics, war, incidents of terrorism or responses to such events. In addition, in recent years, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in our industry. Changes may occur without regard to the operating performance of these companies. The price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with our company.
Seasonal and other fluctuations in our results of operations could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
In reviewing our results of operations, you should not focus on quarter-to-quarter comparisons. Our results in any quarter may not indicate the results we may achieve in any subsequent quarter or for the full year. Our revenues normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population. Student population varies as a result of new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lower student populations in our third fiscal quarter than in the remainder of our fiscal year because fewer students are enrolled during the summer months. Our expenses, however, do not generally vary at the same rate as changes in our student population and revenues and, as a result, such expenses do not fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis. We expect
quarterly fluctuations in results of operations to continue as a result of seasonal enrollment patterns. Such patterns may change, however, as a result of acquisitions, new school openings, new program introductions and increased enrollments of adult students. Additionally, our revenues for our first fiscal quarter are adversely affected by the fact that we do not recognize revenue during the calendar year-end holiday break, which falls primarily in that quarter. These fluctuations may result in volatility or have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Our board of directors recognizes the importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of our customers, clients, business partners and employees. Our board of directors, through the Audit Committee, oversees our cybersecurity program as part of our enterprise-wide approach to risk management. Our cybersecurity policies, standards, processes and practices are fully integrated into our risk management approach and are based on recognized frameworks established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In general, we seek to address cybersecurity risks through a comprehensive, cross-functional approach that is focused on preserving the confidentiality, security and availability of the information that we collect and store by identifying, preventing and mitigating cybersecurity threats and effectively responding to cybersecurity incidents when they occur.
Risk Management and Strategy
As one of the critical elements of enterprise-wide approach to risk management, our cybersecurity program is focused on the following key areas:
Governance: As discussed in more detail under the heading “Governance” below, our cybersecurity program is overseen by our Chief Information Officer (CIO), who reports to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and is responsible for publishing cybersecurity policies and standards, conducting annual risk assessments and maintaining our compliance. Our CIO regularly reports to our Audit Committee on the status of the cybersecurity program.
Collaboration: We have implemented a comprehensive, cross-functional approach to identifying, preventing and mitigating cybersecurity threats and incidents, while also implementing controls and procedures that provide for the prompt escalation of certain cybersecurity incidents so that decisions regarding the public disclosure and reporting of such incidents can be made by management in a timely manner.
Technical Safeguards: We deploy technical safeguards that are designed to protect our information systems from cybersecurity threats, including firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, anti-malware functionality and access controls, which are evaluated and improved through vulnerability assessments, certifications, audits and cybersecurity threat intelligence.
Incident Response and Recovery Planning: We have established and maintained comprehensive incident response and recovery plans that fully address our response to a cybersecurity incident, and such plans are tested and evaluated on a regular basis.
Third-Party Risk Management: We maintain a comprehensive, risk-based approach to identifying and overseeing cybersecurity risks presented by third parties, including vendors, service providers and other external users of our systems, as well as the systems of third parties that could adversely impact our business in the event of a cybersecurity incident affecting those third-party systems.
Education and Awareness: We provide regular, mandatory training for personnel regarding cybersecurity threats as a means to equip our personnel with effective tools to address cybersecurity threats, and to communicate our evolving information security policies, standards, processes and practices.
We engage in the periodic assessment and testing of our policies, standards, processes and practices that are designed to address cybersecurity threats and incidents. These efforts include a wide range of activities, including audits, assessments, tabletop exercises, threat modeling, vulnerability testing and other exercises focused on evaluating the effectiveness of our cybersecurity measures and planning. We regularly engage third parties to perform assessments on our cybersecurity measures, including information security maturity assessments, audits and independent reviews of our information security
control environment and operating effectiveness. The results of such assessments, audits and reviews are reported to our board of directors and Audit Committee by CIO, and we adjust our cybersecurity policies, standards, processes and practices as necessary based on the information provided by these assessments, audits and reviews.
Governance
Our board of directors, through the Audit Committee, oversees our enterprise-wide approach to risk management, including the risks arising from cybersecurity threats. Our Audit Committee regularly receives presentations and reports on cybersecurity risks, which address a wide range of topics, including recent developments, evolving standards, vulnerability assessments, third-party and independent reviews, technological trends and information security considerations arising with respect to our third party partners. Our Audit Committee also receives prompt and timely information regarding any cybersecurity incident that meets established reporting thresholds, as well as ongoing updates regarding any such incident until it has been addressed. On an annual basis, our Audit Committee discusses our approach to cybersecurity risk management with management.
Our Audit Committee, in connection with management led by CIO, works collaboratively across our Company to implement a program designed to protect our information systems from cybersecurity threats and to promptly respond to any cybersecurity incidents in accordance with our incident response and recovery plans. To facilitate the success of our cybersecurity risk management program, multidisciplinary teams are deployed to address cybersecurity threats and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Through ongoing communications with these teams, our Information Security Team monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity threats and incidents in real-time and report such threats and incidents to management when appropriate.
Our CIO holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and has served in various roles in Information Technology for over 15 years and has been overseeing the cybersecurity program for 5 years. Our VP information Security hold an undergraduate degree in Information Systems Security and has served in various roles in cybersecurity for over 15 years. Our Chief Executive Officer, interim Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Legal Officer each hold undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in their respective fields, and each has experience managing risks at our Company and at similar companies, including risks arising from cybersecurity threats.
Cybersecurity Threats
To date, we are not aware of any cybersecurity threats, including as a result of previous cybersecurity incidents, that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on us, our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. Despite our security measures, however, there can be no assurance that we, or third parties with which we interact, will not experience a cybersecurity incident in the future that will materially affect us.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The following sets forth certain information relating to our campuses and corporate headquarters as of September 30, 2024. Many of the leases are renewable for additional terms at our option. Our facilities are utilized consistent with management’s expectations, and we believe such facilities are suitable and adequate for currently identifiable requirements and that additional space, if needed, can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms to meet any future requirements.
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| Location | | Brand | | Approximate Square Footage | | Leased or Owned | | Lease Expiration Date |
| Campus locations: | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona (Avondale) | | UTI/MMI | | 283,000 | | Owned | | N/A |
| California (Garden Grove) | | Concorde | | 45,000 | | Leased | | March 2032 |
| California (Long Beach) | | UTI | | 137,000 | | Leased | | August 2030 |
| California (North Hollywood) | | Concorde | | 35,000 | | Leased | | May 2027 |
| California (Rancho Cucamonga) | | UTI | | 148,000 | | Leased | | September 2031 |
| California (Sacramento) | | UTI | | 117,000 | | Leased | | February 2033 |
| California (San Bernardino) | | Concorde | | 48,000 | | Leased | | March 2028 |
| California (San Diego) | | Concorde | | 34,000 | | Leased | | January 2027 |
| Colorado (Aurora) | | Concorde | | 55,000 | | Leased | | December 2025 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | | Brand | | Approximate Square Footage | | Leased or Owned | | Lease Expiration Date |
| Florida (Jacksonville) | | Concorde | | 46,000 | | Leased | | December 2027 |
| Florida (Miramar) | | UTI | | 103,000 | | Leased | | March 2032 |
| Florida (Miramar) | | Concorde | | 33,000 | | Leased | | April 2028 |
| Florida (Orlando) | | UTI/MMI | | 154,000 | | Owned | | N/A |
| Florida (Orlando) | | UTI/MMI | | 34,000 | | Leased | | March 2031 |
| Florida (Orlando) | | Concorde | | 41,000 | | Leased | | April 2030 |
| Florida (Tampa) | | Concorde | | 30,000 | | Leased | | January 2027 |
| Illinois (Lisle) | | UTI | | 187,000 | | Owned | | N/A |
| Michigan (Canton) | | MIAT | | 125,000 | | Leased | | April 2036 |
| Mississippi (Southaven) | | Concorde | | 23,000 | | Leased | | March 2027 |
| Missouri (Kansas City) | | Concorde | | 40,000 | | Leased | | June 2032 |
| Missouri (St. Joseph) | | Concorde | | 50,000 | | Leased | | June 2036 |
| New Jersey (Bloomfield) | | UTI | | 102,000 | | Leased | | December 2030 |
| North Carolina (Mooresville) | | NASCAR Tech | | 146,000 | | Leased | | October 2030 |
| Oregon (Portland) | | Concorde | | 33,000 | | Leased | | July 2034 |
| Pennsylvania (Exton) | | UTI | | 129,000 | | Leased | | October 2029 |
| Tennessee (Memphis) | | Concorde | | 72,000 | | Leased | | August 2031 |
| Texas (Austin) | | UTI | | 107,000 | | Leased | | October 2032 |
| Texas (Dallas) | | Concorde | | 47,000 | | Leased | | March 2031 |
| Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) | | UTI | | 95,000 | | Owned | | N/A |
| Texas (Houston) | | UTI | | 172,000 | | Owned | | N/A |
| Texas (Houston) | | MIAT | | 54,000 | | Leased | | June 2029 |
| Texas (Grand Prairie) | | Concorde | | 50,000 | | Leased | | January 2029 |
Texas (San Antonio)1 | | Concorde | | 48,000 | | Leased | | February 2033 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Other locations: | | | | | | | | |
| Arizona (Phoenix) | | UTI and Corporate | | 21,000 | | Leased | | February 2027 |
Missouri (Overland Park)2 | | Concorde | | 8,000 | | Leased | | November 2030 |
(1) In December 2023, we renewed our lease on the Concorde San Antonio, Texas campus for an additional eight year term.
(2) In July 2024, we came to an early lease termination agreement on the Concorde Kansas City, Missouri corporate office, which had been vacated for a smaller space in July 2023.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are periodically subject to lawsuits, demands in arbitrations, investigations, regulatory proceedings or other claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving current and former students, routine employment matters, business disputes and regulatory demands. When we are aware of a claim or potential claim, we assess the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we would accrue a liability for the loss. When a loss is not both probable and estimable, we do not accrue a liability. Where a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible, including if a loss in excess of an accrued liability is reasonably possible, we determine whether it is possible to provide an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claim. Because we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of the legal proceedings (including lawsuits, investigations, regulatory proceedings or claims) asserted against us, it is not currently possible to provide such an estimate. The ultimate outcome of pending legal proceedings to which we are a party may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations or financial condition.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “UTI.”
The closing price of our common stock as reported by the NYSE on December 3, 2024 was $24.17 per share. As of December 3, 2024, there were 18 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividends
On June 9, 2016, our board of directors voted to eliminate the quarterly cash dividend on our common stock. Any future common stock dividends require the approval from our board of directors.
Pursuant to the Certificate of Designations of the Series A Preferred Stock, we paid preferred stock cash dividends of $1.1 million during the year ended September 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024, no shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remained outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated due to the combination of the repurchase and conversion of all outstanding preferred shares as of December 18, 2023. See Note 18 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on the preferred share conversion.
We continuously evaluate our cash position in light of growth opportunities, operating results and general market conditions.
Repurchase of Securities
On December 10, 2020, our board of directors authorized a new share repurchase plan that would allow for the repurchase of up to $35.0 million of our common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. Any repurchases under this new stock repurchase program require the approval of our board of directors. We did not repurchase any shares during the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Stock Performance Graph
The following Stock Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor should such information be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference in such filing.
The graph below compares our annual percentage change in cumulative total return on common shares over the past five years with the cumulative total return of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index and our peer group index. The peer group consists of the companies identified below, which were selected on the basis of similar nature of their business. This presentation assumes that $100 was invested in shares of the relevant issuers on September 30, 2019, and that dividends received were immediately invested in additional shares. The graph plots the value of the initial $100 investment at one-year intervals for the fiscal years shown.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CRSP Total Returns Index for: | | 09/2019 | 09/2020 | 09/2021 | 09/2022 | 09/2023 | 09/2024 |
| Universal Technical Institute, Inc. | | $ | 100.00 | | $ | 93.38 | | $ | 124.26 | | $ | 100.00 | | $ | 154.03 | | $ | 298.83 | |
| Russell 2000 | | 100.00 | | 100.39 | | 148.25 | | 113.42 | | 123.55 | | 156.61 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Peer Group | | 100.00 | | 73.31 | | 74.91 | | 66.08 | | 84.31 | | 125.25 | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Companies in the Self-Determined Peer Group: |
| Adtalem Global Education, Inc. | | Perdoceo Education Corporation |
| American Public Education, Inc. | | Strategic Education, Inc. |
| Lincoln Educational Services Corporation | | |
| | |
| Notes: |
•The lines represent monthly index levels derived from compounded daily returns that include all dividends. |
•The indexes are reweighted daily, using the market capitalization on the previous trading day. |
•If the monthly interval, based on the fiscal year-end, is not a trading day, the preceding trading day is used. |
•The index level for all series was set to $100.00 on 9/30/2019. |
|
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| Prepared by Zacks Investment Research, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. |
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion together with the "Selected Financial Data" and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those we discuss under “Risk Factors” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Overview
Universal Technical Institute, Inc., which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our,” was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. We offer the majority of our programs in a blended learning model that combines instructor-facilitated online teaching and demonstrations with hands-on labs.
Our reporting structure includes two reportable segments as follows:
Universal Technical Institute (“UTI”): UTI operates 16 campuses located in nine states and offers a wide range of degree and non-degree transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute (collectively, “MMI”), NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology (“MIAT”). UTI also offers manufacturer specific advanced training programs (“MSAT”), which include student-paid electives, at our campuses and manufacturer or dealer sponsored training at certain campuses and dedicated training centers. Lastly, UTI provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers. UTI works closely with multiple original equipment manufacturers and industry brand partners to understand their needs for qualified service professionals.
Concorde Career Colleges (“Concorde”): On December 1, 2022, we acquired Concorde which operates 17 campuses located in eight states and online, offering degree, non-degree, and continuing education programs in the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic fields. The Company has designated campuses that offer degree granting programs “Concorde Career College;” where allowed by State regulation. The remaining campuses are designated as “Concorde Career Institute.” Concorde believes in preparing students for their healthcare careers with practical, hands-on experiences including opportunities to learn while providing care to real patients. Prior to graduation, students will complete a number of hours in a clinical setting or externship, depending upon their program of study.
“Corporate” includes corporate related expenses that are not allocated to the UTI or Concorde reportable segments. See Note 22 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details on our segments.
All of our campuses are accredited and are eligible for federal student financial assistance funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, commonly referred to as Title IV Programs, which are administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Our programs are also eligible for financial aid from federal sources other than Title IV Programs, such as the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
We believe that our industry-focused educational model and national presence has enabled us to develop valuable industry relationships, which provide us with significant competitive advantages and supports our market leadership, and enables us to provide highly specialized education to our students, resulting in enhanced employment opportunities and the potential for higher wages for our graduates.
Revenues
Our revenues consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we provide after reductions are made for discounts and scholarships that we sponsor and for refunds to students who withdraw from our programs prior to specified dates. Tuition and fee revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the course or program offered. Approximately 99% of our revenues for each of the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, consisted of gross tuition. We supplement our tuition and fee revenues with additional revenues from sales of textbooks and program supplies and other revenues, which are recognized as the transfer of goods or services occurs. Tuition revenue and fees generally vary based on the average number of students enrolled and average tuition charged per program.
For students at our UTI schools, we offer a proprietary loan program, where we provide the students who participate in this program with extended payment terms for a portion of their tuition for up to ten years. UTI also provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers where revenue is recognized as the transfer of services occurs.
Student Enrollment and Tuition
Average full-time enrollments vary depending on, among other factors, the number of continuing students at the beginning of a period, new student enrollments during the period, students who have previously withdrawn but decide to re-enroll during the period, and graduations and withdrawals during the period. Our average full-time enrollments are influenced by the:
•Attractiveness of our program offerings to high school graduates and potential adult students;
•Effectiveness of our marketing efforts;
•Depth of our industry relationships;
•Strength of employment markets and long-term career prospects;
•Quality of our instructors and student services professionals;
•Persistence of our students;
•Length of our education programs;
•Availability of federal and alternative funding for our programs; and
•Number of graduates of our programs who elect to attend the advanced training programs we offer and general economic conditions.
The introduction of additional program offerings at existing campuses and the opening of additional campuses is expected to influence our average full-time enrollment. UTI currently offers start dates at its campuses that range from every three to eleven weeks throughout the year in the core programs. The number of start dates of UTI advanced training programs varies by the duration of those programs and the needs of the manufacturers that sponsor them. Concorde enrolls students throughout the year with core terms starting every month and clinical terms starting every ten weeks. Concorde’s new short courses are starting three to five times a year, depending on the campus. Although Concorde operates year-round with lower seasonality than UTI, Concorde experiences population fluctuations dictated by its clinical programmatic accreditors and how many student starts are allowed and the time required between those starts.
Our tuition charges vary by type, length and level of the programs, such as core or advanced training. The UTI segment implemented average tuition rate increases of up to 3.0%, 6.0% and 2.5% for each of the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and the Concorde segment implemented average tuition rate increases of approximately 2.5% and 3.0% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We regularly evaluate our tuition pricing based on individual campus markets, the competitive environment and ED regulations.
Financial Aid
Most students at our campuses rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, predominantly Title IV Programs and various veterans' benefits programs, to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. Approximately 78% of our revenues, on a cash basis, were collected from funds distributed under Title IV Programs and various veterans' benefits programs for the year ended September 30, 2024 as calculated under the 90/10 rule.
The Company extends credit for tuition and fees, for a limited period of time, to the majority of our students. Our credit risk is mitigated through the students’ participation in federally funded financial aid and veterans' benefit programs unless students withdraw prior to the receipt by us of Title IV or veterans' benefit funds for those students. The financial aid and veterans' benefits programs are subject to political and budgetary considerations. There is no assurance that such funding will be maintained at current levels. Extensive and complex regulations govern the financial assistance programs in which our students participate. Our administration of these programs is periodically reviewed by various regulatory agencies. Any regulatory violation could be the basis for the initiation of potential adverse actions, including a suspension, limitation, placement on reimbursement status or termination proceeding, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If any of our institutions were to lose its eligibility to participate in federal student financial aid or veterans' benefit programs, the students at that institution, and other locations of that institution, would lose access to funds derived from those programs and would have to seek alternative sources of funds to pay their tuition and fees. The receipt of financial aid and veterans’ benefit funds reduces the students’ amounts due to us and has no impact on revenue recognition, as the transfer relates to the source of funding for the costs of education which may occur through Title IV, veterans’ benefit or other funds and resources available to the student. Additionally, we bear all credit and collection risk for the portion of our student tuition that is funded through the proprietary loan program.
Operating Expenses
We categorize our operating expenses as (i) educational services and facilities and (ii) selling, general and administrative.
Major components of educational services and facilities expenses include: faculty and other campus administration employees’ compensation and benefits; facility rent; maintenance; utilities; depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in the provision of educational services; tools; training aids; royalties under our licensing arrangements; and other costs directly associated with teaching our programs and providing educational services to our students.
Selling, general and administrative expenses include: compensation and benefits, including stock-based compensation, of employees who are not directly associated with the provision of educational services, such as executive management, finance and central accounting, information technology, legal, human resources, marketing and student admissions; marketing and student enrollment expenses; professional services; provision for credit losses; costs associated with the implementation and operation of our student management and reporting system; rent for our corporate office headquarters; depreciation and amortization of property and equipment that is not used in the provision of educational services; and other costs that are incidental to our operations. All marketing and student enrollment expenses are recognized in the period incurred. Costs related to the opening of new facilities, excluding related capital expenditures, are expensed in the period incurred or when services are provided.
2024 Overview
Student Metrics
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2024 | | September 30, 2023(1) | | % Change |
| UTI | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 15,138 | | | 14,181 | | | 6.7 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 13,810 | | | 12,614 | | | 9.5 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 15,873 | | | 14,833 | | | 7.0 | % |
| Concorde | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 11,747 | | | 8,432 | | | 39.3 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 8,475 | | | 7,654 | | | 10.7 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 9,747 | | | 8,369 | | | 16.5 | % |
| Consolidated | | | | | | |
| Total new student starts | | 26,885 | | | 22,613 | | | 18.9 | % |
| Average full-time active students | | 22,285 | | | 20,268 | | | 10.0 | % |
| End of period full-time active students | | 25,620 | | | 23,202 | | | 10.4 | % |
(1) New student starts and average student data for Concorde presented in the year ended September 30, 2023 column represents the period of UTI’s ownership, or December 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
The increase in consolidated total and segment new student starts, average full-time active students and end of period full-time active students was primarily due to new program rollouts and increased student demand for existing programs across both segments. In the UTI segment, our student population was positively impacted during the current year by the successful launch of 14 new programs across nine campuses during fiscal 2023, and three new HVAC and refrigeration programs launched in the back half of 2024. The Concorde segment benefited from the roll out seven new programs at three campuses during the current and prior year, and also introduced new cash pay “short programs” at a number of campuses. Concorde’s short programs offer an affordable, fast-track pathway into the workforce and provide essential foundational skills that prepare students for entry-level roles in healthcare. Additionally, Concorde benefited from two additional months during fiscal 2024 due the December 1, 2022 close of the acquisition.
Our ability to start new students can be influenced by various factors including: the state of the general macro-economic environment and its impact on price sensitivity and the ability and willingness of students and their families to incur debt to fund their education; unemployment rates; competition; adverse media coverage; legislative, or regulatory actions and investigations by attorneys general and various agencies related to allegations of wrongdoing on the part of other companies
within the education and training services industry, which can cast the aggregate “for-profit” education industry in a negative light; and pandemics and or other national, state or local emergencies as declared by various government authorities. For more information, see Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
Operations
Our revenues for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $732.7 million, an increase of $125.3 million, or 20.6%, from the prior year. UTI revenues increased by $57.1 million, or 13.3%, driven primarily by the higher average full-time active students compared to the prior year. Concorde revenues increased by $68.2 million, or 38.3%, primarily due to the inclusion of two extra months of revenue compared to the prior year period, along with higher average full-time active students.
Our operating expenses for fiscal 2024 were $673.8 million, a 15.0% increase over the prior year. In fiscal 2024, we had operating income of $58.9 million, a 175.2% increase when compared to $21.4 million in the prior year. This increase in operating income was primarily driven by productivity improvements and proactive cost reductions, which have been a key part of our operating model for the past several years. Net income for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $42.0 million compared to $12.3 million in the prior year.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy has three key tenets: to grow the business by more deeply penetrating existing target markets and adding new markets; to diversify the business by adding new locations, programs, and offerings that maximize the lifetime value of our students; and to continually optimize the business by constantly enhancing operational efficiency.
During the year ended September 30, 2024, we executed the following as part of our growth, diversification and optimization strategy:
•Concorde announced the launch of additional dental hygiene program offerings in Jacksonville, Florida, Miramar, Florida, and Portland, Oregon and sonography program offerings in Orlando, Florida and San Bernardino, California.
•UTI announced additional HVAC and refrigeration program expansions in Avondale, Arizona, Bloomfield, New Jersey, Long Beach, California and Sacramento, California. Avondale, Bloomfield and Long Beach first launched in the third quarter of 2024, with Sacramento expected to launch in the first half of fiscal 2025.
•UTI announced plans to consolidate the two Houston, Texas campuses to align the curriculum, student facing systems, and support services to better serve students. As part of the transition, the MIAT Houston campus, acquired in November 2021, began operating under the UTI brand and implemented a phased teach-out agreement starting in May 2024. Both facilities will remain in use post-consolidation. See Note 16 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on the restructuring.
•UTI obtained Federal Aviation Administration approval for the Airframe and Powerplant Technician program at the Miramar, Florida campus and started the first cohort of students during the first quarter of 2024, which completed the rollout of the 14 new programs announced in fiscal 2023.
•UTI Wind Turbine Technician programs were the first in the United States to earn Certified Training Center status from the Global Wind Organisation.
•UTI announced new partnerships with United Service Organization, Hawaiian Airlines, iRacing, Crown Equipment, The Associated company and several other companies for early employment programs. These partnerships will provide additional career transition and placement opportunities for UTI students.
•UTI announced the integration of Electric Vehicle curriculum into BMW’s manufacturer specific advanced training program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
In addition, we continue to pursue other opportunities that align with our growth, diversification and optimization strategy.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth selected statements of operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended September 30, |
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Revenues | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % | | 100.0 | % |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | |
| Educational services and facilities | | 52.5 | % | | 54.3 | % | | 49.5 | % |
| Selling, general and administrative | | 39.5 | % | | 42.2 | % | | 45.2 | % |
| Total operating expenses | | 92.0 | % | | 96.5 | % | | 94.7 | % |
| Income from operations | | 8.0 | % | | 3.5 | % | | 5.3 | % |
| Interest (expense) income, net | | (0.4) | % | | (0.6) | % | | (0.4) | % |
| Other income (expense) | | 0.1 | % | | 0.1 | % | | (0.1) | % |
| Total other (expense) income, net | | (0.3) | % | | (0.5) | % | | (0.5) | % |
| Income before income taxes | | 7.7 | % | | 3.0 | % | | 4.8 | % |
| Income tax (expense) benefit | | (1.9) | % | | (0.9) | % | | 1.3 | % |
| Net income | | 5.8 | % | | 2.1 | % | | 6.1 | % |
| Preferred stock dividends | | (0.1) | % | | (0.8) | % | | (1.2) | % |
| Income available for distribution | | 5.7 | % | | 1.3 | % | | 4.9 | % |
| Income allocated to participating securities | | (0.4) | % | | (0.4) | % | | (1.9) | % |
| Net income available to common shareholders | | 5.3 | % | | 0.9 | % | | 3.0 | % |
Year Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2023
Revenues
The following table presents revenue by segment (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, 2024 | | Year ended September 30, 2023 | | Year over Year % Change | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UTI | | $ | 486,376 | | | $ | 429,317 | | | 13.3 | % | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Concorde | | 246,311 | | | 178,091 | | | 38.3 | % | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated | | 732,687 | | | 607,408 | | | 20.6 | % | | | | | | | | | | | |
Our revenues for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $732.7 million, an increase of $125.3 million, or 20.6%, as compared to revenues of $607.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2023.
UTI
Revenues for UTI for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $486.4 million, an increase of $57.1 million, or 13.3%, versus the prior year. Revenue increased primarily due to a 9.5% increase in overall average full-time active students and an overall increase in average revenue per student.
We recognized $12.0 million on an accrual basis related to revenues and interest under the proprietary loan program for the year ended September 30, 2024, as compared to $8.8 million recognized for the year ended September 30, 2023.
Concorde
Revenues for Concorde for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $246.3 million, an increase of $68.2 million, or 38.3%, versus the prior period. The primary drivers of the increase for Concorde were the inclusion of two additional months of revenue during the current year and a 10.7% increase in overall average full-time active students.
Educational services and facilities expenses
Our educational services and facilities expenses for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $384.5 million, representing an increase of $54.6 million, or 16.6%, as compared to $329.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to the increase in student volumes during the current period and the inclusion of Concorde results for two additional months in the current year.
The following table sets forth the significant components of our educational services and facilities expenses (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, 2024 |
| | UTI | | Concorde | | Consolidated |
| Salaries, employee benefits and tax expense | | $ | 118,638 | | | $ | 93,671 | | | $ | 212,309 | |
| Bonus expense | | 1,954 | | | 1,155 | | | 3,109 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 481 | | | — | | | 481 | |
| Compensation and related costs | | 121,073 | | | 94,826 | | | 215,899 | |
| Occupancy costs | | 30,519 | | | 21,847 | | | 52,366 | |
| Supplies, maintenance and student expense | | 33,204 | | | 17,479 | | | 50,683 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | | 22,456 | | | 4,346 | | | 26,802 | |
| Contract services expense | | 3,611 | | | 2,126 | | | 5,737 | |
| Other educational services and facilities expenses | | 23,159 | | | 9,883 | | | 33,042 | |
| Total educational services and facilities expense | | $ | 234,022 | | | $ | 150,507 | | | $ | 384,529 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, 2023 |
| | UTI | | Concorde | | Consolidated |
| Salaries, employee benefits and tax expense | | $ | 111,030 | | | $ | 68,238 | | | $ | 179,268 | |
| Bonus expense | | 2,027 | | | — | | | 2,027 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 192 | | | — | | | 192 | |
| Compensation and related costs | | 113,249 | | | 68,238 | | | 181,487 | |
| Occupancy costs | | 30,798 | | | 18,612 | | | 49,410 | |
| Supplies, maintenance and student expense | | 27,357 | | | 14,114 | | | 41,471 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | | 19,738 | | | 3,618 | | | 23,356 | |
| Contract services expense | | 3,763 | | | 431 | | | 4,194 | |
| Other educational services and facilities expenses | | 21,666 | | | 8,286 | | | 29,952 | |
| Total educational services and facilities expense | | $ | 216,571 | | | $ | 113,299 | | | $ | 329,870 | |
UTI
Compensation and related costs increased $7.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 primarily due to additional instructors and other personnel hired to support the new programs added in fiscal 2023 and 2024.
Supplies, maintenance and student expense increased by $5.8 million primarily due to approximately $6.5 million in additional grants for student housing during the current year. This increase was offset by a decrease of approximately $0.6 million in expenses for student laptops.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.7 million during the year ended September 30, 2024 primarily due to the purchase of the three primary buildings at our UTI Orlando, Florida campus in March 2023 and increased capital expenditures related to the new program launches during fiscal 2023 and 2024.
Other educational services and facilities expense increased by $1.5 million. The increase is primarily due to a higher Snap-on tool voucher expense of $1.8 million.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2024 were $289.3 million, representing an increase of $33.2 million, or 12.9%, as compared to $256.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to the increase in student volumes during the current period and the inclusion of Concorde results for two additional months in the current year.
During fiscal 2023, in coordination with the integration of Concorde, we began to reassess our operating model to determine the organizational structure that would best help the Company achieve future growth goals and optimally support the business. Beginning in fiscal 2024, we have executed an internal reorganization to fully transition our operating and reporting model to support a multi-divisional business. As part of the internal reorganization, each of the reportable segments now have dedicated accounting, finance, information technology, and human resources teams. Additionally, human resources and information technology costs that benefit the entire organization are now allocated across UTI, Concorde and Corporate each period based upon relative headcount. As a result, additional costs have moved from Corporate into the UTI segment and to a lesser extent the Concorde segment as resources were redirected to support the segment’s objectives. Due to these changes in allocation methodology, the prior year amounts for selling, general and administrative expenses have been recast for comparability to the current year presentation.
The following table sets forth the significant components of our selling, general and administrative expenses (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year ended September 30, 2024 |
| | UTI | | Concorde | | Corporate | | Consolidated |
| Salaries, employee benefits and tax expense | | $ | 78,900 | | | $ | 27,688 | | | $ | 15,857 | | | $ | 122,445 | |
| Bonus expense | | 9,849 | | | 2,352 | | | 4,977 | | | 17,178 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 1,599 | | | 213 | | | 6,267 | | | 8,079 | |
| Compensation and related costs | | 90,348 | | | 30,253 | | | 27,101 | | | 147,702 | |
| Advertising and marketing expense | | 51,940 | | | 25,744 | | | 577 | | | 78,261 | |
| Professional and contract services expense | | 6,810 | | | 7,557 | | | 11,861 | | | 26,228 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Other selling, general and administrative expenses | | 25,500 | | | 11,446 | | | 130 | | | 37,076 | |
| Total selling, general and administrative expenses | | $ | 174,598 | | | $ | 75,000 | | | $ | 39,669 | | | $ | 289,267 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year ended September 30, 2023 |
| | UTI | | Concorde | | Corporate | | Consolidated |
| Salaries, employee benefits and tax expense | | $ | 72,577 | | | $ | 21,401 | | | $ | 13,777 | | | $ | 107,755 | |
| Bonus expense | | 11,257 | | | 2,594 | | | 5,141 | | | 18,992 | |
| Stock-based compensation | | 877 | | | — | | | 2,779 | | | 3,656 | |
| Compensation and related costs | | 84,711 | | | 23,995 | | | 21,697 | | | 130,403 | |
| Advertising and marketing expense | | 52,809 | | | 19,358 | | | — | | | 72,167 | |
| Professional and contract services expense | | 8,093 | | | 4,537 | | | 9,110 | | | 21,740 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Other selling, general and administrative expenses | | 24,371 | | | 6,369 | | | 1,089 | | | 31,829 | |
| Total selling, general and administrative expenses | | $ | 169,984 | | | $ | 54,259 | | | $ | 31,896 | | | $ | 256,139 | |
UTI
Compensation and related costs increased by $5.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year, primarily due to an increase in headcount to support our growth, diversification and optimization initiatives.
Advertising and marketing expense decreased by $0.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the prior year. We continue to fine tune our marketing strategy by selecting cost-effective marketing options. Advertising expense as a percentage of revenues decreased to 10.7% for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to 12.3% in the prior year.
Professional and contract services decreased by $1.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2024. The decreases were primarily due to one-time costs incurred in the prior year related to our business strategies.
Other selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the prior year. This increase is in line with the growth in headcount to support the UTI segment and our business strategies.
Concorde
Compensation and related costs increased by $6.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year, primarily due to the inclusion of two additional months of expense in the current year and an increase in headcount to support our growth, diversification and optimization initiatives.
Advertising and marketing expense increased by $6.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the prior year primarily due to the inclusion of two additional months of expense in the current year and to support overall growth in the student population. Advertising expense as a percentage of revenues decreased to 10.5% for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to 10.9% in the prior year.
Other selling, general and administrative expenses for Concorde for the year ended September 30, 2024 increased across all categories as the current year period includes two additional months of expenses compared to the prior year. This increase was also partially due to the continued integration of Concorde during 2024.
Corporate
Corporate compensation and related costs increased by $5.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year, primarily due to additional headcount hired to support our business strategies and higher expected achievement on our performance stock-based compensation awards.
Professional and contract services expense increased by $2.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year, due to an increase of $2.3 million in contract services primarily related to optimization and integration projects and an increase of $0.4 million in accounting and legal fees.
Other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $1.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the prior year, primarily due to the completion of integration projects.
Other (expense) income, net
Other expense for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $2.7 million, compared to $3.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2023. The $2.7 million of other expense in fiscal 2024 is primarily comprised of $9.5 million of interest expense from our revolving credit facility and term loans, partially offset by interest income of $6.3 million.
Income taxes
Our income tax expense for the year ended September 30, 2024 was $14.2 million, or 25.3% of pre-tax income, compared to $5.8 million, or 31.9% of pre-tax income, for the year ended September 30, 2023. The effective income tax rate for the year ended September 30, 2024 differed from the federal statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to non-deductible executive compensation, stock compensation, change in valuation allowance, federal research and development tax credits and state and local income and franchise taxes. The effective income tax rate for the year ended September 30, 2023 differed from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to non-deductible executive compensation, transaction costs, federal research and development tax credits and state and local income and franchise taxes. See Note 15 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
Preferred stock dividends
As of September 30, 2024, no shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remained outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated due to the combination of the repurchase and conversion of all outstanding preferred shares as of December 18, 2023. As of September 30, 2023, 675,885 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Pursuant to the Certificate of Designations of the Series A Preferred Stock, we paid preferred stock cash dividends of $1.1 million and $5.1 million during the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See
Note 18 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of the preferred stock.
Income available for distribution
Income available for distribution refers to net income reduced by dividends on our Series A Preferred Stock. As a result of the foregoing, we reported income available for distribution for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 of $40.9 million and $7.3 million, respectively.
Income allocated to participating securities
Our Series A Preferred Stock is considered a participating security because, in the event that we pay a dividend or make a distribution on the outstanding common stock, we must also pay each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock a dividend on an as-converted basis. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common stock and participating securities according to dividend and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, all earnings, distributed and undistributed, are allocated to common shares and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends.
As noted above, no shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated as of the December 18, 2023 conversion date. The amount of income allocated to the participating securities for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $2.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
Net income available to common shareholders
After allocating the income to the participating securities, we had $38.0 million and $4.5 million of net income available to common shareholders for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
For a discussion of the financial results of operations for the year ended September 30, 2023 compared to the year ended September 30 2022, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Position and Results of Operations,” of our 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023 which discussion is incorporated herein by reference and which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Our earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $88.7 million, $47.1 million and $38.8 million, respectively. We define EBITDA as net income (loss) for the year, before interest (income) expense, income tax expense (benefit), and depreciation and amortization.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which is provided to supplement, but not substitute for, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. We choose to disclose this non-GAAP financial measure because it provides an additional analytical tool to clarify our results from operations and helps to identify underlying trends. Additionally, this measure helps compare our performance on a consistent basis across time periods. Management also utilizes EBITDA as an internal performance measure. To obtain a complete understanding of our performance, this measure should be examined in connection with net income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP. Since the items excluded from this measure are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance under GAAP, this measure should not be considered to be an alternative to net income (loss) or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our operating performance or profitability. Exclusion of items in our non-GAAP presentation should not be construed as an inference that these items are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. Other companies, including other companies in the education industry, may calculate EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure across companies. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating our financial performance.
EBITDA reconciles to net income as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended September 30, |
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Net income | | $ | 42,001 | | | $ | 12,322 | | | $ | 25,848 | |
| Interest expense (income), net | | 3,157 | | | 3,795 | | | 1,495 | |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | | 14,229 | | | 5,765 | | | (5,407) | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 29,324 | | | 25,215 | | | 16,883 | |
| | | | | | |
| EBITDA | | $ | 88,711 | | | $ | 47,097 | | | $ | 38,819 | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview of Liquidity
Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe that our cash flows from operations, cash on hand and investments will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, commitments and other liquidity requirements associated with our existing operations, as well as announced growth, diversification and optimization initiatives through the next fiscal year and beyond. Our cash position is available to fund strategic long-term growth initiatives, including opening additional campuses in new markets and the creation and expansion of new programs in existing markets where we continue to optimize utilization of our campus facilities.
Our aggregate liquidity as of September 30, 2024 totaled $230.9 million and was comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $161.9 million and undrawn revolving credit facility capacity of $69.0 million. This represents an increase of $71.2 million from our total liquidity as of September 30, 2023.
Strategic Uses of Cash
We believe that uses of our cash resources may include consideration of strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives, purchase of real estate assets, subsidizing funding alternatives for our students, and the repurchase of common stock, among others. To the extent that potential acquisitions are large enough to require financing beyond cash from operations, cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, or available revolving credit facility capacity, or we need capital to fund operations, new campus openings or expansion of programs at existing campuses, we may enter into additional credit facilities, issue debt or issue additional equity.
Long-term Debt
As of September 30, 2024, we had $126.1 million of long-term debt outstanding, which is comprised of two term loans, a finance lease and our revolving credit facility. Of the $126.1 million outstanding, $28.4 million relates to a term loan that bears interest at the rate of Term SOFR plus 2.0% and a tranche rate adjustment of 0.046% over the seven-year term secured in connection with the UTI Avondale, Arizona campus property purchased in December 2020. Approximately $36.9 million relates to a term loan that bears interest at the rate of Term SOFR plus 2.0% over the seven-year term, secured in connection with the purchase of the UTI Lisle, Illinois campus property in February 2022. Approximately $4.8 million relates to a finance lease for a campus within our Concorde segment. The remaining $56.0 million relates to funds drawn from the revolving credit facility that was secured in connection with the Concorde acquisition. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we increased the capacity of our revolving credit facility by $25.0 million to $125.0 million, adding an additional accordion feature. See Note 13 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details on the term loans and the revolving credit facility.
Dividends
We currently do not pay a cash dividend on our common stock. For our outstanding Series A preferred shares, we paid preferred stock cash dividends of $1.1 million and $5.1 million during the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. With the Series A Preferred Stock repurchase and subsequent conversion of remaining shares to common stock in December 2023, there will be no further dividend payments related to the Series A Preferred Stock going forward. See Note 18 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details on the conversion of our preferred stock.
Principal Sources of Liquidity
Our principal source of liquidity is operating cash flows and existing cash and cash equivalents. A majority of our revenues are derived from Title IV Programs and various veterans’ benefits programs. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs. Students must apply for new funding for each academic year consisting of 30-week periods. Loan funds are generally provided in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement for first-time borrowers is usually received 30 days after the start of a student’s academic year, and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the 16th week from the start of the student’s academic year. Under our UTI proprietary loan program, we bear all credit and collection risk and students are not required to begin repayment until six months after the student completes or withdraws from his or her program. Similarly, we bear all credit and collection risk for students paying through cash payment plans and those under retail installment contracts. These factors, together with the timing of when our students begin their programs, affect the timing and seasonality of our operating cash flow.
Surety Bonds
Each of our campuses must be authorized by the applicable state education agency in which the campus is located to operate and to grant certificates, diplomas or degrees to its students. Our campuses are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. Additionally, our campuses are required to be authorized by the applicable state education agencies of certain other states in which our campuses recruit students. Our insurers issue surety bonds for us on behalf of our campuses and admissions representatives with multiple states to maintain authorization to conduct our business. We are obligated to reimburse our insurers for any surety bonds that are paid by the insurers. As of September 30, 2024, the total face amount of these surety bonds was approximately $22.9 million.
Operating Activities
Our net cash provided by operating activities was $85.9 million and $49.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Net income, after adjustments for non-cash items, provided cash of $114.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2024. The non-cash items included $29.3 million for depreciation and amortization expense, $21.9 million for amortization of right-of-use assets for operating leases, $8.6 million for stock-based compensation expense, $7.5 million for provision for credit losses and $4.4 million of deferred taxes.
Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the year ended September 30, 2024 used cash of $28.3 million primarily due to the following:
•Changes in our operating lease liability as a result of rent payments used cash of $22.4 million.
•The increase in receivables used cash of $12.1 million and was primarily due to the timing of Title IV disbursements and other cash receipts on behalf of our students.
•Changes in our accounts payable and accrued expenses due to the timing of payments provided cash of $13.2 million.
•The change in deferred revenue provided cash of $6.8 million and was primarily attributable to the timing of student starts, the number of students in school and where they were at period end in relation to completion of their program at September 30, 2024 as compared to September 30, 2023.
•The increase in notes receivable used cash of $5.8 million and was primarily due to higher utilization of UTI’s proprietary loan program.
Net income, after adjustments for non-cash items, for the year ended September 30, 2023 provided cash of $71.8 million. The non-cash items included $25.2 million for depreciation and amortization expense, $20.6 million for amortization of right-of -use assets for operating leases, $4.6 million of deferred taxes, $3.8 million for stock-based compensation expense and $3.3 million for provision for credit losses.
Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the year ended September 30, 2023 used cash of $22.7 million primarily due to the following:
•Changes in our operating lease liability as a result of rent payments used cash of $20.5 million.
•The change in deferred revenue provided cash of $11.4 million and was primarily attributable to the timing of student starts, the number of students in school and where they were at period end in relation to completion of their program at September 30, 2023 as compared to September 30, 2022.
•Changes in our accounts payable and accrued expenses due to the timing of payments used cash of $5.9 million.
•The increase in receivables used cash of $4.9 million and was primarily due to the timing of Title IV disbursements and other cash receipts on behalf of our students.
Investing Activities
For the year ended September 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $24.0 million. The cash outflow was primarily related to the purchase of property and equipment of $24.3 million to support new program expansions at both UTI and Concorde.
For the year ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $44.1 million. The cash outflow was primarily related to the purchase of property and equipment of $56.7 million. During the year ended September 30, 2023, we purchased three buildings and the associated land at our UTI Orlando, Florida campus for $26.2 million. Additionally, we had continued capital expenditures for further construction at the UTI Austin, Texas and Miramar, Florida campuses, and program expansion costs for both UTI and Concorde. Further, on December 1, 2022, we completed the acquisition of Concorde which resulted in $16.4 million of cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired. Partially offsetting the cash outflows, is the $29.0 million in proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity securities.
Financing Activities
For the year ended September 30, 2024, net cash used by financing activities was $51.3 million which was primarily related to $34.0 million in net payments on the revolving credit facility, or $75.0 million in payments offset by $41.0 million in proceeds. Additionally, $11.5 million was used to repurchase Series A Preferred Stock. See Note 18 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details on the repurchase. Other uses of cash included payroll taxes paid for stock-based compensation through shares withheld of $2.2 million, the payment of long-term debt of $2.5 million, and the payment of preferred stock dividends of $1.1 million.
For the year ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $81.8 million, which was primarily related to proceeds from our revolving credit facility of $90.0 million, offset by payment of preferred stock dividends of $5.1 million, and the repayment of long-term debt of $1.8 million.
For a discussion of our liquidity for the year ended September 30 2022, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Position and Results of Operations,” of our 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 1, 2023 which discussion is incorporated herein by reference and which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Share Repurchase Program
On December 10, 2020, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase plan that would allow for the repurchase of up to $35.0 million of our common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. We did not repurchase any shares under this plan during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Seasonality
Our operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population and costs associated with opening or expanding our campuses. Our student population varies as a result of new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, we have had lower student populations in our third quarter than in the remainder of our year because fewer students are enrolled during the summer months. Additionally, we have had higher student populations in our fourth quarter than in the remainder of the year because more students enroll during this period. Our expenses, however, do not vary significantly with changes in student population and revenues and, as a result, such expenses do not fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis. We expect quarterly fluctuations in operating results to continue as a result of seasonal enrollment patterns. Such patterns may change, however, as a result of new school openings, new program introductions, increased enrollments of adult students or acquisitions. Furthermore, our revenues for the first quarter ending December 31 are impacted by the closure of our campuses for a week in December for a holiday break and during which we do not earn revenue.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues |
| (Dollars shown in thousands) | Year Ended September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Three Month Period Ending: | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent |
| December 31 | $ | 174,695 | | | 23.8 | % | | $ | 120,004 | | | 19.8 | % | | $ | 105,075 | | | 25.1 | % |
| March 31 | 184,176 | | | 25.1 | % | | 163,820 | | | 27.0 | % | | 102,086 | | | 24.4 | % |
| June 30 | 177,458 | | | 24.2 | % | | 153,286 | | | 25.2 | % | | 100,966 | | | 24.1 | % |
| September 30 | 196,358 | | | 26.9 | % | | 170,298 | | | 28.0 | % | | 110,638 | | | 26.4 | % |
| Total fiscal year | $ | 732,687 | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 607,408 | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 418,765 | | | 100.0 | % |
The increase in revenues for each of the three months ended December 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, as compared to the same periods in fiscal 2023, was due to an increase in student population during fiscal 2024.
The increase in revenues for each of the three months ended December 31, 2022, March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, as compared to the same periods in fiscal 2022, was due to an increase in student population during fiscal 2023 primarily related to the acquisition of Concorde.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Income from Operations |
| (Dollars shown in thousands) | Year Ended September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Three Month Period Ending: | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent | | Amount | | Percent |
| December 31 | $ | 14,231 | | | 24.2 | % | | $ | 4,448 | | | 20.8 | % | | $ | 13,578 | | | 60.7 | % |
| March 31 | 11,192 | | | 19.0 | % | | 5,949 | | | 27.8 | % | | 3,377 | | | 15.1 | % |
| June 30 | 7,446 | | | 12.6 | % | | 663 | | | 3.1 | % | | 1,954 | | | 8.7 | % |
| September 30 | 26,022 | | | 44.2 | % | | 10,339 | | | 48.3 | % | | 3,465 | | | 15.5 | % |
| Total fiscal year | $ | 58,891 | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 21,399 | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 22,374 | | | 100.0 | % |
The increase in income from operations for fiscal year 2024 was primarily due to increased revenues as a result of higher student population as well as continued execution of cost control measures.
The decrease in income from operations for fiscal year 2023 was primarily due to increased compensation related costs primarily due to an increase in headcount to support our growth, diversification and optimization initiatives.
Effect of Inflation
To date, inflation has not had a significant effect on our operations.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. During the preparation of these financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, the proprietary loan program, and allowance for credit losses. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of our analysis form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and the impact of such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements.
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that the following accounting estimates are the most critical to aid
in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require management’s most subjective and complex judgments in estimating the effect of inherent uncertainties.
Revenue recognition
Revenues consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we provide after reductions are made for discounts and scholarships that we sponsor and for refunds for students who withdraw from our programs prior to specified dates. We apply the five-step model outlined in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers (“ASC 606”). Tuition and fee revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the course or program offered. Approximately 99% of our revenues for each of the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, consisted of gross tuition.
The majority of the UTI programs are designed to be completed in 30 to 100 weeks. The UTI advanced training programs range from 8 to 26 weeks in duration. UTI also provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers. Revenues are recognized as transfer of the services occurs. The majority of Concorde’s short and core programs are 8 to 36 weeks in duration, Concorde’s clinical programs are completed in 60 to 90 weeks. In addition to revenue from tuition and fees, UTI and Concorde derive supplemental revenues from sales of textbooks and program supplies and other revenues, which are recognized as the transfer of goods or services occurs. Deferred revenue represents the excess of tuition and fee payments received as compared to tuition and fees earned and is reflected as a current liability on our consolidated balance sheets because it is expected to be earned within the next 12 months.
All of our revenues are generated within the United States. The impact of economic factors on the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows is consistent across our various programs for both the UTI and Concorde segments.
Proprietary Loan Program
In order to provide funding for students who are not able to fully finance the cost of their education under traditional governmental financial aid programs, commercial loan programs or other alternative sources, we established a private loan program with a bank. This program is currently offered to students at our UTI schools. Through the proprietary loan program, the bank originates the loans to the students who participate in this program for a portion of their tuition. Based on historical collection rates, we can demonstrate that a portion of these loans are collectible. Accordingly, we recognize tuition and loan origination fees financed by the loan and any related interest revenue under the effective interest method required under the loan based on this collection rate.
Under the terms of the proprietary loan program, the bank originates loans for our students who meet specific criteria with the related proceeds used exclusively to fund a portion of their tuition. We then purchase all such loans from the bank at least monthly and assume all of the related credit risk. The loans bear interest at market rates ranging from approximately 6% to 10%; however, principal and interest payments are not required until six months after the student completes or withdraws from his or her program. After the deferral period, monthly principal and interest payments are required over the related term of the loan. The repayment term is generally up to 10 years.
Under ASC 606, the portion of tuition revenue related to the proprietary loan program is considered a form of variable consideration. We estimate the amount we ultimately expect to collect from the portion of tuition that is funded by the proprietary loan program, resulting in a note receivable. Estimating the collection rate requires significant management judgment. Our estimated collection rate includes historical collections from the past ten years as we determined that such population better represents our current expected collections and aligns with the typical term of the loan. The estimated amount is determined at the inception of the contract and we recognize the related revenue as the student progresses through school. Each reporting period, we update our assessment of the variable consideration associated with the proprietary loan program.
Allowance for credit losses
We maintain an allowance for expected credit losses resulting from the inability, failure or refusal of our students to make required payments. We offer a variety of payment plans, including retail installment contracts, to help students pay that portion of their education expenses not covered by financial aid programs or alternate fund sources, which are unsecured and not guaranteed.
We use estimates that are subjective and require judgment in determining the allowance for credit losses, which represent an estimate of the lifetime expected credit losses inherent in our receivables as of each balance sheet date. We principally utilize
historical percentages of uncollectible accounts, customer credit worthiness, and changes in payment history when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. We also monitor and consider external factors such as changes in the economic and regulatory environment. We use an internal group of collectors, augmented by third party collectors as deemed appropriate, in our collection efforts. When a student with Title IV loans withdraws, Title IV rules determine if we are required to return a portion of Title IV funds to the lender. We are then entitled to collect these funds from the students, but collection rates for these types of receivables is significantly lower than our collection rates for receivables for students who remain in our programs.
Although we believe that our allowance is adequate, if we underestimate the allowances required, additional allowances may be necessary, which would result in increased selling, general and administrative expenses in the period such determination is made.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information concerning recently issued accounting pronouncements which are not yet effective is included in Note 3 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As indicated in Note 3, we are still evaluating the impact of the recently issued accounting pronouncements on our financial statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our principal exposure to market risk relates to changes in interest rates.
We invest our cash and cash equivalents in money market funds. As of September 30, 2024, we held $161.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, we earned interest income of $6.3 million. As we have a conservative investment policy, our financial exposure to fluctuations in interest rates related to our interest income is expected to remain low. We do not believe that the value or liquidity of our cash and cash equivalents and investments have been significantly impacted by current market events.
Details regarding our outstanding debt agreements are discussed in Note 13 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, we recorded interest expense of $9.5 million on our outstanding debt. Assuming all terms of our outstanding long-term debt remained the same, a hypothetical 10.0% change (up or down) in the variable rates would result in a $8.9 million change to our annual interest expense for the portion of the long-term debt not hedged by the interest rate swap agreements. For a discussion of our hedging strategy related to interest rate risk, please refer to Note 14 of the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The following financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries are included below on pages F-2 to F-46 of this report:
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2024. Based upon that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2024, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and the attestation report of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting are included on pages F-2 and F-3, respectively, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
Our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, misstatements, errors and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been or will be prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls also can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks that internal controls may become inadequate as a result of changes in conditions, or through the deterioration of the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Management’s Certifications
The Company has filed as exhibits to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC, the certifications of the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer of the Company required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The Company has submitted to the NYSE the most recent Annual Chief Executive Officer Certification as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the quarter ended September 30, 2024, no director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not Applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Below is a list of our Executive Officers and Board of Directors as of the filing of this report:
| | | | | | | | |
| Name | | Position |
| Jerome A. Grant | | Chief Executive Officer |
| Christine C.S. Kline | | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer |
| Sherrell E. Smith | | Executive Vice President, Chief Academic Officer |
| Christopher E. Kevane | | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer |
| Todd A. Hitchcock | | Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer |
| Carolyn Frank | | Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer |
| Lori B. Smith | | Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer |
| Tracy K. Lorenz | | Senior Vice President, UTI Division President |
| Kevin Prehn | | Senior Vice President, Concorde Division President |
| | |
| Name | | Position |
| Robert T. DeVincenzi | | Chairman of the Board |
| George W. Brochick | | Director |
| Jerome A. Grant | | Chief Executive Officer |
| LTG (R) William J. Lennox | | Director |
| Shannon L. Okinaka | | Director |
| Loretta L. Sanchez | | Director |
| Christopher S. Shackelton | | Director |
| Michael A. Slubowski | | Director |
| Linda J. Srere | | Director |
| Kenneth R. Trammell | | Director |
The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days after the end of fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days after the end of fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days after the end of fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days after the end of fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days after the end of fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
(1) The financial statements required to be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are included in Item 8 of this Report.
(2) All other schedules have been omitted because they are not required, are not applicable, or the required information is shown on the financial statements or the notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits:
| | | | | |
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 2.1 | Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May 3, 2022, by and among Universal Technical Institute, Inc., Concorde Career Colleges, Inc., Liberty Partners Holdings 28, L.L.C., Liberty Investment IIC, LLC, and Liberty Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 3, 2022). |
| 3.1 | |
| 3.2 | |
| 3.3 | |
| 3.4 | |
| 4.1 | |
| 4.2 | |
| 4.3 | |
| 4.4 | |
| 4.5+ | |
| 10.1* | |
| 10.2* | |
| 10.3* | |
| 10.4* | |
| 10.5.1* | |
| | | | | |
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 10.5.2* | |
| 10.5.3* | |
| 10.5.4* | |
| 10.5.5* | |
| 10.5.6* | |
| 10.6* | |
| 10.7* | |
| 10.8.1* | |
| 10.8.2* | |
| 10.9* | |
| 10.10* | |
| 10.11 | |
| 10.12* | |
| 10.13 | |
| 10.14 | |
| 10.15 | |
| 10.16 | |
| 10.17 | |
| 10.18 | |
| 10.19 | |
| 10.20 | |
| 10.21 | |
| | | | | |
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 10.22 | |
| 10.23* | |
| 10.24* |
|
| 10.25* | |
| 10.26 | |
| 10.27+ | |
| 19.1+ | |
| 21.1+ | |
| 23.1+ | |
| 24.1 | |
| 31.1+ | |
| 31.2+ | |
| 32.1+ | |
| 32.2+ | |
| 97.1* | |
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document. |
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
| 101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
* Indicates a contract with management or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+ Filed herewith.
# Certain schedules and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Date: | December 5, 2024 | | UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. |
| | | | |
| | | By: | /s/ Jerome A. Grant |
| | | | Jerome A. Grant, Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jerome A. Grant and Christine C.S. Kline, or either of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and any documents related to this report and filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| SIGNATURE | | TITLE | | DATE |
| | | | |
| /s/ Jerome A. Grant | | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | | December 5, 2024 |
| Jerome A. Grant | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Christine C.S. Kline | | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer) | | December 5, 2024 |
| Christine C.S. Kline | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Robert T. DeVincenzi | | Chairman of the Board | | December 5, 2024 |
| Robert T. DeVincenzi | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ George W. Brochick | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| George W. Brochick | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ William J. Lennox, Jr. | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| William J. Lennox, Jr. | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Shannon L. Okinaka | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Shannon L. Okinaka | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Loretta L. Sanchez | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Loretta L. Sanchez | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Christopher S. Shackelton | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Christopher S. Shackelton | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Michael A. Slubowski | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Michael A. Slubowski | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Linda J. Srere | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Linda J. Srere | | | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Kenneth R. Trammell | | Director | | December 5, 2024 |
| Kenneth R. Trammell | | | | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the company and for assessing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to maintaining records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of the company’s assets; providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of company assets are made in accordance with management and director authorization; and providing reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2024.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2024 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2024, of the Company and our report dated December 5, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Tempe, Arizona
December 5, 2024
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, other comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated December 5, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Revenues - Proprietary Loan Program Revenue Recognition - Refer to Note 2 in the FY 2024 Form 10K
Critical Audit Matter Description
The portion of tuition revenue related to the Company’s proprietary loan program is considered a form of variable consideration, in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company estimates the amount it expects to collect on these loans by calculating the amount due compared to historical loan collections over the past 10 years, and recognizes that amount of estimated revenue over the student’s program, resulting in a Notes Receivable balance of $42.5 million as of September 30, 2024. We identified the expected collection rate for the proprietary loan program as a critical audit matter, because the Company evaluates the collection rate of its outstanding loans each quarter, which requires significant management judgment. The Company currently uses the actual collection experience over the past 10 years to determine the expected collection rate.
The key judgment made by management is the length of historical collection experience used to calculate the expected collection rate and requires a high degree of auditor judgement in determining the reasonableness of the period of time used by management to estimate the expected collection rate.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the expected collection rate for the proprietary loan program included the following, among others:
•Tested the design and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls related to the Company’s evaluation of the proprietary loan program expected collection rate.
•Considered how the expected collection rate might change if the Company had used a different time period in the calculation of the expected collection rate, and the impact it would have on the financial statements.
•Recalculated the expected collection rate based on the actual collection rates of the loan portfolio for the most recent 10 years.
•Evaluated the reasonableness of the length of historical collection experienced used by comparing it to the weighted average term of the portfolio of loans.
•Evaluated the underlying historical loan data by making selections of loans included in the data population and traced to source documentation, and recalculated the amount of the loan due as of the reporting date.
•Agreed monthly loan collection amounts for selected months to bank statements.
•Tested completeness of the loan data population by tracing a selection of students from historical accounting records to the underlying population used to calculate the expected collection rate.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Tempe, Arizona
December 5, 2024
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2015.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value and per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2024 | | September 30, 2023 |
| Assets | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 161,900 | | | $ | 151,547 | |
| Restricted cash | 5,572 | | | 5,377 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Receivables, net | 31,096 | | | 25,161 | |
| Notes receivable, current portion | 6,200 | | | 5,991 | |
| | | |
| Prepaid expenses | 11,945 | | | 9,412 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Other current assets | 5,238 | | | 7,497 | |
| Total current assets | 221,951 | | | 204,985 | |
| | | |
| Property and equipment, net | 264,797 | | | 266,346 | |
| Goodwill | 28,459 | | | 28,459 | |
| Intangible assets, net | 18,229 | | | 18,975 | |
| Notes receivable, less current portion | 36,267 | | | 30,672 | |
| Right-of-use assets for operating leases | 158,778 | | | 176,657 | |
| Deferred tax assets | 3,563 | | | 3,768 | |
| Other assets | 12,531 | | | 10,823 | |
| Total assets | $ | 744,575 | | | $ | 740,685 | |
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | | | |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 83,866 | | | $ | 69,941 | |
| | | |
| Deferred revenue | 92,538 | | | 85,738 | |
| | | |
| Operating lease liability, current portion | 22,210 | | | 22,481 | |
| | | |
| Long-term debt, current portion | 2,697 | | | 2,517 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Other current liabilities | 3,652 | | | 4,023 | |
| Total current liabilities | 204,963 | | | 184,700 | |
| Deferred tax liabilities | 4,696 | | | 663 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Operating lease liability | 146,831 | | | 165,026 | |
| | | |
| Long-term debt | 123,007 | | | 159,600 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Other liabilities | 4,847 | | | 4,729 | |
| Total liabilities | 484,344 | | | 514,718 | |
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 17) | | | |
| Shareholders’ equity: | | | |
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 53,899 and 34,157 shares issued, and 53,817 and 34,075 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively | 5 | | | 3 | |
| Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; 0 and 676 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, liquidation preference of $100 per share as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively | — | | | — | |
| | | |
| | | |
| Paid-in capital - common | 220,976 | | | 151,439 | |
| Paid-in capital - preferred | — | | | 66,481 | |
| Treasury stock, at cost, 82 shares as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 | (365) | | | (365) | |
| Retained earnings | 38,509 | | | 5,946 | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,106 | | | 2,463 | |
| Total shareholders’ equity | 260,231 | | | 225,967 | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 744,575 | | | $ | 740,685 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Revenues | $ | 732,687 | | | $ | 607,408 | | | $ | 418,765 | |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | |
| Educational services and facilities | 384,529 | | | 329,870 | | | 207,233 | |
| Selling, general and administrative | 289,267 | | | 256,139 | | | 189,158 | |
| Total operating expenses | 673,796 | | | 586,009 | | | 396,391 | |
| Income from operations | 58,891 | | | 21,399 | | | 22,374 | |
| Other (expense) income: | | | | | |
| Interest income | 6,314 | | | 5,861 | | | 507 | |
| Interest expense | (9,471) | | | (9,656) | | | (2,002) | |
| | | | | |
| Other income (expense) | 496 | | | 483 | | | (438) | |
| Total other (expense) income, net | (2,661) | | | (3,312) | | | (1,933) | |
| Income before income taxes | 56,230 | | | 18,087 | | | 20,441 | |
| Income tax (expense) benefit | (14,229) | | | (5,765) | | | 5,407 | |
| Net income | 42,001 | | | 12,322 | | | 25,848 | |
| Preferred stock dividends | (1,097) | | | (5,069) | | | (5,159) | |
| Income available for distribution | 40,904 | | | 7,253 | | | 20,689 | |
| Income allocated to participating securities | (2,855) | | | (2,712) | | | (7,847) | |
| Net income available to common shareholders | $ | 38,049 | | | $ | 4,541 | | | $ | 12,842 | |
| | | | | |
| Earnings per share (See Note 20): | | | | | |
| Net income per share - basic | $ | 0.77 | | | $ | 0.13 | | | $ | 0.39 | |
| Net income per share - diluted | $ | 0.75 | | | $ | 0.13 | | | $ | 0.38 | |
| | | | | |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | | | | | |
| Basic | 49,429 | | | 33,985 | | | 33,218 | |
| Diluted | 50,851 | | | 34,479 | | | 33,743 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Net income | | $ | 42,001 | | | $ | 12,322 | | | $ | 25,848 | |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income: | | | | | | |
| Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps, net of taxes | | (1,357) | | | 250 | | | 2,492 | |
| | | | | | |
| Comprehensive income | | $ | 40,644 | | | $ | 12,572 | | | $ | 28,340 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
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| | Common Stock | | Preferred Stock | | Paid-in
Capital - Common | | Paid-in
Capital - Preferred | | Treasury Stock | | Retained Earnings (Deficit) | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | | Total
Shareholders’
Equity |
| | Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | | | Shares | | Amount | |
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| Balance as of September 30, 2021 | 32,915 | | | $ | 3 | | | 700 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 142,314 | | | $ | 68,853 | | | (82) | | | $ | (365) | | | $ | (21,996) | | | $ | (279) | | | $ | 188,530 | |
| Net income | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 25,848 | | | — | | | 25,848 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans | 300 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Shares withheld for payroll taxes | (82) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (651) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (651) | |
| Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4,337 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 4,337 | |
| Preferred stock conversion | 724 | | | — | | | (24) | | | — | | | 2,372 | | | (2,372) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Preferred stock cash dividends declared | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (5,159) | | | — | | | (5,159) | |
| Unrealized gain on interest rate swap, net of taxes | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 2,492 | | | 2,492 | |
| Balance as of September 30, 2022 | 33,857 | | | $ | 3 | | | 676 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 148,372 | | | $ | 66,481 | | | (82) | | | $ | (365) | | | $ | (1,307) | | | $ | 2,213 | | | $ | 215,397 | |
| Net income | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 12,322 | | | — | | | 12,322 | |
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| Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans | 410 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Shares withheld for payroll taxes | (110) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (781) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (781) | |
| Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3,848 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 3,848 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Preferred stock cash dividends declared | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (5,069) | | | — | | | (5,069) | |
| Unrealized gain on interest rate swap, net of taxes | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 250 | | | 250 | |
| Balance as of September 30, 2023 | 34,157 | | | $ | 3 | | | 676 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 151,439 | | | $ | 66,481 | | | (82) | | | $ | (365) | | | $ | 5,946 | | | $ | 2,463 | | | $ | 225,967 | |
| Net income | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 42,001 | | | — | | | 42,001 | |
| Issuance of common stock under employee plans | 634 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Shares withheld for payroll taxes | (189) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,227) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,227) | |
| Preferred stock conversion | 19,297 | | | 2 | | | (643) | | | — | | | 63,204 | | | (63,206) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Stock-based compensation | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,560 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 8,560 | |
| Preferred stock dividends | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,097) | | | — | | | (1,097) | |
| Preferred share repurchase | — | | | — | | | (33) | | | — | | | — | | | (3,275) | | | — | | | — | | | (8,341) | | | — | | | (11,616) | |
| Unrealized loss on interest rate swap, net of taxes | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,357) | | | (1,357) | |
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | 53,899 | | | $ | 5 | | | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 220,976 | | | $ | — | | | (82) | | | $ | (365) | | | $ | 38,509 | | | $ | 1,106 | | | $ | 260,231 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended September 30, | |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Net income | $ | 42,001 | | | $ | 12,322 | | | $ | 25,848 | | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 29,324 | | | 25,215 | | | 16,884 | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Amortization of right-of-use assets for operating leases | 21,861 | | | 20,604 | | | 15,893 | | |
| Intangible asset impairment expense | — | | | — | | | 2,000 | | |
| | | | | | |
| Provision for credit losses | 7,547 | | | 3,319 | | | 2,510 | | |
| Stock-based compensation | 8,560 | | | 3,848 | | | 4,337 | | |
| Deferred income taxes | 4,439 | | | 4,636 | | | (6,014) | | |
| | | | | | |
| Training equipment credits earned, net | 1,371 | | | 1,375 | | | 180 | | |
| | | | | | |
| Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps, net of taxes | (1,357) | | | 250 | | | 2,492 | | |
| Other losses, net | 431 | | | 276 | | | 663 | | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Receivables | (12,123) | | | (4,194) | | | 564 | | |
| Notes receivable | (5,804) | | | (791) | | | 252 | | |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (3,651) | | | (2,013) | | | (1,737) | | |
| Other assets | (1,418) | | | 740 | | | (1,673) | | |
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 13,195 | | | (5,718) | | | 7,115 | | |
| Deferred revenue | 6,800 | | | 11,370 | | | (5,268) | | |
| Income tax payable/receivable | (2,066) | | | (908) | | | 222 | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Operating lease liability | (22,449) | | | (20,474) | | | (13,952) | | |
| Other liabilities | (766) | | | (709) | | | (4,285) | | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 85,895 | | | 49,148 | | | 46,031 | | |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | |
| Purchase of property and equipment | (24,298) | | | (56,685) | | | (79,450) | | |
| | | | | | |
| Purchase of held-to-maturity investments | — | | | — | | | (28,821) | | |
| Proceeds received upon maturity of investments | — | | | 29,000 | | | — | | |
| Proceeds from insurance policy | 296 | | | — | | | — | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | — | | | (16,381) | | | (26,514) | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Return of capital contribution from unconsolidated affiliate | — | | | — | | | 188 | | |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (24,002) | | | (44,066) | | | (134,597) | | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from revolving credit facility | 41,000 | | | 90,000 | | | — | | |
| Proceeds from term loans | — | | | — | | | 38,000 | | |
| Debt issuance costs related to long-term debt | — | | | (516) | | | (378) | | |
| Payment of term loans and finance leases | (2,518) | | | (1,788) | | | (19,227) | | |
| Payments on revolving credit facility | (75,000) | | | — | | | — | | |
| | | | | | |
| Payment of preferred stock cash dividend | (1,097) | | | (5,069) | | | (5,159) | | |
| | | | | | |
| Preferred share repurchase | (11,503) | | | — | | | — | | |
| Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld | (2,227) | | | (781) | | | (651) | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (51,345) | | | 81,846 | | | 12,585 | | |
| Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 10,548 | | | 86,928 | | | (75,981) | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 151,547 | | | 66,452 | | | 133,721 | | |
| Restricted cash, beginning of period | 5,377 | | | 3,544 | | | 12,256 | | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | 156,924 | | | 69,996 | | | 145,977 | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | 161,900 | | | 151,547 | | | 66,452 | | |
| Restricted cash, end of period | 5,572 | | | 5,377 | | | 3,544 | | |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ | 167,472 | | | $ | 156,924 | | | $ | 69,996 | | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(In thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | | | | | | |
| Income taxes paid, net of refunds | | $ | 10,683 | | | $ | 658 | | | $ | 859 | |
| Interest paid | | 10,391 | | | 9,069 | | | 1,937 | |
| Training equipment obtained in exchange for services | | 1,130 | | | 1,082 | | | 1,454 | |
| Depreciation of training equipment obtained in exchange for services | | 625 | | | 692 | | | 918 | |
| Change in accrued capital expenditures during the period | | (2,479) | | | 3,621 | | | (2,592) | |
| Conversion of Series A Preferred Stock | | 63,206 | | | — | | | — | |
| CARES Act funds received for student emergency grants (See Note 24) | | — | | | — | | | 6,689 | |
| CARES Act funds disbursed for student emergency grants (See Note 24) | | — | | | — | | | (6,919) | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 1 - Business Description
Universal Technical Institute, Inc., which together with its subsidiaries is referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our,” was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. We offer the majority of our programs in a blended learning model that combines instructor-facilitated online teaching and demonstrations with hands-on labs. Our reporting structure has two reportable segments (also referred to as “divisions”) as follows:
Universal Technical Institute (“UTI”): UTI operates 16 campuses located in nine states and offers a wide range of degree and non-degree transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (“MMI”), NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology (“MIAT”). UTI also offers manufacturer specific advanced training programs, which include student-paid electives, at our campuses and manufacturer or dealer sponsored training at certain campuses and dedicated training centers. Lastly, UTI provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers. UTI works closely with multiple original equipment manufacturers and industry brand partners to understand their needs for qualified service professionals.
Concorde Career Colleges (“Concorde”): Concorde operates 17 campuses located in eight states and online, offering degree, non-degree, certificate and continuing education programs in the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic fields. The Company has designated campuses that offer degree granting programs “Concorde Career College;” where allowed by State regulation. The remaining campuses are designated as “Concorde Career Institute.” Concorde believes in preparing students for their healthcare careers with practical, hands-on experiences including opportunities to learn while providing care to real patients. Prior to graduation, students will complete a number of hours in a clinical setting or externship, depending upon their program of study. We acquired Concorde on December 1, 2022. See Note 4 on “Acquisitions” for additional information.
“Corporate” includes corporate related expenses that are not allocated to the UTI or Concorde reportable segments. Additional information about our reportable segments is presented in Note 22.
Our primary source of revenues is currently tuition and fees paid by students. To pay for a substantial portion of their tuition, the majority of students rely on funds received from federal financial aid programs under Title IV Programs of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (“HEA”), as well as from various veterans’ benefits programs. For further discussion, see Note 2 on “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Concentration of Risk” and Note 23 on “Government Regulation and Financial Aid.”
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, the proprietary loan program, allowance for credit losses, investments, property and equipment, goodwill recoverability, self-insurance claim liabilities, income taxes, contingencies and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of our analysis form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and the impact of such differences may be material to our consolidated financial statements.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred tuition, and debt approximates their respective fair value as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 due to the short-term nature of these instruments or variable interest rates which approximate market rates.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash includes funds held as collateral for certain of the surety bonds that our insurers issue on behalf of our campuses and admissions representatives with multiple states which are required to maintain authorization to conduct our business, funds transferred in advance of loan purchases under the proprietary loan program and funds held for students from Title IV financial aid program funds that result in credit balances on a student’s account. Additionally, we have letters of credit with some of our landlords in connection with leased campuses.
Proprietary Loan Program
In order to provide funding for students who are not able to fully finance the cost of their education under traditional governmental financial aid programs, commercial loan programs or other alternative sources, we established a private loan program with a bank. This program is currently offered to students at our UTI schools. Through the proprietary loan program, the bank originates the loans to the students who participate in this program for a portion of their tuition. Based on historical collection rates, we can demonstrate that a portion of these loans are collectible. Accordingly, we recognize tuition and loan origination fees financed by the loan and any related interest revenue under the effective interest method required under the loan based on this collection rate.
Under the terms of the proprietary loan program, the bank originates loans for our selected UTI students who meet specific criteria with the related proceeds used exclusively to fund a portion of their tuition. We then purchase all such loans from the bank at least monthly and assume all of the related credit risk. The loans bear interest at market rates ranging from approximately 6% to 10%; however, principal and interest payments are not required until six months after the student completes or withdraws from his or her program. After the deferral period, monthly principal and interest payments are required over the related term of the loan. Current repayment terms are generally up to 10 years.
The bank provides these services in exchange for a fee at a percentage of the principal balance of each loan and related fees. Under the terms of the related agreement, we transfer funds for loan purchases to a deposit account with the bank in advance of the bank funding the loan, which secures our related loan purchase obligation. Such funds are classified as restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets.
All related expenses incurred with the bank or other service providers are expensed as incurred within educational services and facilities expense in the consolidated statements of operations and were approximately $1.2 million, $1.0 million, and $1.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
The portion of tuition revenue related to the proprietary loan program is considered a form of variable consideration. We estimate the amount we ultimately expect to collect from the portion of tuition that is funded by the proprietary loan program, resulting in a note receivable. These amounts are presented as “Notes receivable, current portion” and “Notes receivable, less current portion” on our consolidated balance sheets. Estimating the collection rate requires significant management judgment. Our estimated collection rate includes historical collections from the past ten years as we determined that such population best represents our current expected collections and aligns with the typical term of the loan. The estimated amount is determined at the inception of the contract, and we recognize the related revenue as the student progresses through school. As the loan is repaid, after graduation typically, the amount reserved based on the collection rate is reduced and additional revenue could be recognized. Each reporting period, we update our assessment of the variable collection rate associated with the proprietary loan program.
Retail Installment Contract Receivables
Both Concorde and UTI offer certain students retail installment contracts as a payment vehicle for the portion of the tuition that is not covered by federal student financial aid or other funding sources. The retail installment contracts are due from current and former students, are generally due over a period of up to five years, and bear interest at market rates ranging from
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
0 percent to 15 percent. Starting in fiscal year 2023, retail installment contracts are being issued at interest rates between 0 percent to 9 percent. Due to the fact that there is no interest imposed on certain of the retail installment contracts, primarily while students are actively completing their selected programs, we calculate the imputed interest expense on the retail installment contracts. However, the imputed interest expense is not considered material for such retail installment contracts. Retail installment contract receivables are recorded at amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed each reporting period. The short-term portion of the retail installment contract receivable and related allowance for credit losses are included in “Receivables, net” while the long-term portion of the retail installment contract receivable and related allowance for credit losses is presented in “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.
Allowance for Credit Losses
We maintain an allowance for credit losses for expected credit losses resulting from the inability, failure or refusal of our students to make required payments. As previously noted, we offer a variety of payment plans to help students pay the portion of their education expenses not covered by financial aid programs or alternate fund sources, which are unsecured and not guaranteed. Management analyzes accounts receivable, historical percentages of uncollectible accounts, customer credit worthiness and changes in payment history when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. We use an internal group of collectors, augmented by third party collectors as deemed appropriate, in our collection efforts. Although we believe that our allowance is adequate, if the financial condition of our students deteriorates, resulting in their ability to make payments, or if we underestimate the allowances required, additional allowances may be necessary, which would result in increased selling, general and administrative expenses in the period such determination is made.
Property and Equipment
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is calculated using the straight-line method over the remaining useful life of the asset or term of lease, whichever is shorter. Costs relating to software developed for internal use and curriculum development are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives. Such costs include direct costs of materials and services, as well as payroll and related costs for employees who are directly associated with the projects. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.
We review the carrying value of our property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment by examining estimated future cash flows. These cash flows are evaluated by using probability weighting techniques as well as comparisons of past performance against projections. Assets may also be evaluated by identifying independent market values. If we determine that an asset’s carrying value is impaired, we will write-down the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value and record the impairment as an operating expense in the period in which the determination is made. There were no impairment charges recorded for property and equipment for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Our goodwill balance of $28.5 million as of September 30, 2024 resulted from our MMI, MIAT and Concorde acquisitions. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We also have both indefinite and definite-lived intangible assets, which primarily consist of purchased intangibles such as accreditations and regulatory approvals, trademarks and trade names, and curriculum. The definite-lived intangible assets are recognized at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives of the related assets.
We test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually as of August 1, or more frequently if events and circumstances warrant. Under ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, to evaluate the impairment of goodwill, we first assess qualitative factors, such as deterioration in the operating performance of the acquired business, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in the applicable laws or regulations and a variety of other circumstances, to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If we conclude that it is more
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount based on our qualitative assessment, or that a qualitative assessment should not be performed, we proceed with the quantitative impairment tests for goodwill to compare the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying value of its net assets. An impairment charge is recorded in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying amount over its estimated fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. To evaluate the impairment of the indefinite-lived intangible assets, we assess the fair value of the assets to determine whether they were greater or less than the carrying values.
Determining the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible assets is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. We believe the most critical assumptions and estimates in determining the estimated fair value include, but are not limited to, future tuition revenues, operating costs, working capital changes, capital expenditures and a discount rate. The assumptions used in determining our expected future cash flows consider various factors such as historical operating trends particularly in student enrollment and pricing and long-term operating strategies and initiatives. Based on our qualitative assessment, there were no indicators of impairment for our goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets as of September 30, 2024.
See Note 9 and Note 10 for additional details on our goodwill and intangible assets.
Self-Insurance Plans
We are self-insured for claims related to employee health and dental care and claims related to workers’ compensation. Liabilities associated with these plans are estimated by management with consideration of our historical loss experience, severity factors and independent actuarial analysis. Our claim liabilities are based on estimates, and while we believe the amounts accrued are adequate, the ultimate losses may differ from the amounts provided. Our recorded liability related to self-insurance plans was $4.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and are included in accrued compensation and benefits within “Accounts payable and accrued expenses”.
Leases
We lease the majority of our administrative and educational facilities under operating lease agreements. ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”) requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for substantially all leases, with the exception of short-term leases which are defined as those less than 12 months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statements of operations.
To determine if a contract is or contains a lease, we consider whether (1) explicitly or implicitly identified assets have been deployed in the contract and (2) we obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of that underlying asset and direct how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the contract. If we determine a contract is, or contains, a lease, we assess whether the contract contains multiple lease components. We consider a lease component to be separate from other lease components in the contract if (a) we can benefit from the right of use either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to us and (b) the right of use is neither highly dependent on nor highly interrelated with the other right(s) to use underlying assets in the contract. In contracts involving the use of real estate, we separate the right to use land from other underlying assets unless the effect of separating the land is insignificant to the resulting lease accounting. We have elected to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
Some of the facility leases are subject to annual changes in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). While lease liabilities are not remeasured as a result of changes to the CPI, changes to the CPI are treated as variable lease payments and recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments was incurred. Many of our lease agreements include options to extend the lease, which we do not include in our minimum lease terms unless they are reasonably certain to be exercised. There are no early termination with penalties, residual value guarantees, restrictions or covenants imposed by our facility leases.
The components of lease expense are included in “Educational services and facilities” and “Selling, general and administrative” on the consolidated statements of operations, with the exception of interest on finance lease liabilities, which is included in “Interest expense.”
For all our leases the discount rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. Therefore, we use our incremental borrowing rate for each lease to determine the present value of the lease. We calculate the incremental borrowing rate
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
applicable to each lease through a model that represents the rate of interest we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The incremental borrowing rate applied to each lease is based on the remaining term of the lease. See Note 11 for additional disclosures on our leases.
Derivative Financial Instruments
On occasion, we may use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk and limit the impact of future interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows, primarily with variable-rate debt. We recognize all derivatives at fair value within the line items “Other current assets,” “Other assets,” “Other current liabilities,” and “Other liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheets. Management reviews our derivative positions and overall risk management strategy on a regular basis. We only enter into transactions that we believe will be highly effective at offsetting the underlying risk, and we do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.
We may choose to designate our derivative financial instruments, which are generally interest rate swaps, to hedge future interest payments on variable debt. At inception of the transaction, we formally designate and document the derivative financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure, the risk management objective, and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction. We formally assess both at inception and at least quarterly thereafter, the effectiveness of our hedging transactions. Due to the high degree of effectiveness between the hedging instruments and the underlying exposures hedged, fluctuations in the value of the derivative financial instruments will generally be offset by the changes in the cash flows or fair value of the underlying exposures being hedged.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the consolidated balance sheets. For cash flow hedges, we report the effective portion of the gain or loss as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and reclassify it to “Interest expense” in the consolidated statements of operations over the corresponding period of the underlying hedged item. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative financial instrument is recognized in “Interest expense” at the time the ineffectiveness occurs. To the extent the hedged forecasted interest payments on debt related to our interest rate swap is paid off, the remaining balance in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” is recognized in “Interest expense” in the consolidated statements of operations.
See Note 14 for additional disclosures related to our derivative financial instruments.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we provide after reductions are made for discounts and scholarships that we sponsor and for refunds for students who withdraw from our programs prior to specified dates. We apply the five-step model outlined in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts from Customers (“ASC 606”). Tuition and fee revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the course or program offered. Approximately 99% of our revenues for each of the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, consisted of gross tuition. See Note 5 for further information on our revenues.
Advertising and Marketing Costs
Costs related to advertising and marketing are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $78.3 million, $72.2 million, and $54.5 million for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
We issue stock-based compensation awards to certain members of management as well as our non-employee directors. We granted restricted stock units with service only conditions (“RSUs”) and restricted stock units with both service and performance conditions (“Performance PSUs”) during the year ended September 30, 2024. We granted RSUs and restricted stock units with service, performance, and market conditions (“Market PSUs”) during the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. We did not grant any stock options during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 or 2022. Shares issued under our equity compensation plans are new shares.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Compensation expense associated with RSUs is measured based on the grant date fair value of our common stock and recognized on straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period.
The fair value of Performance PSUs is measured based on the grant date fair value of our common stock.
We estimate the fair value of Market PSUs using a Monte Carlo simulation which requires assumptions for expected volatility, risk-free rates of return, and dividend yields. Expected volatilities are derived using a method that calculates historical volatility over a period equal to the length of the measurement period. We use a risk-free rate of return that is equal to the yield of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill that is commensurate with each measurement period, and we assume that any dividends paid were reinvested.
For Performance PSUs and Market PSUs (collectively “PSUs”), actual results against the performance condition are measured at the end of the performance period, which typically coincides with the vesting period. The fair value of the PSUs is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period based upon the fair market value on the date of grant, adjusted on a quarterly basis for the anticipated or actual achievement against the established performance condition.
Stock-based compensation expense of $8.6 million, $3.8 million and $4.4 million was recorded for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The tax benefit related to stock-based compensation recognized was $2.1 million, $1.0 million, and $1.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 19 for further discussion.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences of events attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We also recognize deferred tax assets for net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced through a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. See Note 15 for additional details.
Concentration of Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and receivables. We do also on occasion invest in short-term held-to-maturity investments.
We place our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash with high quality financial institutions and limit the amount of credit exposure with any one financial institution. As of September 30, 2024, we held cash and cash equivalents of $161.9 million and restricted cash of $5.6 million. There were no short-term held-to-maturity investments outstanding as of September 30, 2024.
We extend credit for tuition and fees, for a limited period of time, to a majority of our students. A substantial portion is repaid through the student’s participation in federally funded financial aid programs. Transfers of funds from the financial aid programs to us are made in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) requirements. Approximately 78% of our revenues, on a cash basis, were collected from funds distributed under Title IV Programs and various veterans’ benefits programs for the year ended September 30, 2024 as calculated under the 90/10 rule.
The financial aid and veterans’ benefits programs are subject to political and budgetary considerations. There is no assurance that such funding will be maintained at current levels. Extensive and complex regulations govern the financial assistance programs in which our students participate. Our administration of these programs is periodically reviewed by various regulatory agencies. Any regulatory violation could be the basis for the initiation of potential adverse actions, including a suspension, limitation, placement on reimbursement status or termination proceeding, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. ED and other regulators have increased the frequency and severity of their enforcement actions against postsecondary schools which have resulted in the imposition of material liabilities, sanctions, letter of credit requirements and other restrictions and, in some cases, resulted in the loss of schools’ eligibility to receive Title IV funds or in closure of the schools.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
If any of our institutions were to lose its eligibility to participate in federal student financial aid programs, the students at that institution would lose access to funds derived from those programs and would have to seek alternative sources of funds to pay their tuition and fees. Students obtain access to federal student financial aid through an ED prescribed application and eligibility certification process. Student financial aid funds are generally made available to students at prescribed intervals throughout their predetermined expected length of study. Students typically apply the funds received from the federal financial aid programs to pay their tuition and fees. The transfer of funds is from the financial aid program to the student, who then uses those funds to pay for a portion of the cost of their education. The receipt of financial aid funds reduces the student’s amounts due to us and has no impact on revenue recognition, as the transfer relates to the source of funding for the costs of education, which may occur either through Title IV or other funds and resources available to the student.
Reclassifications
During fiscal 2023, in coordination with the integration of Concorde, we began to reassess our operating model to determine the optimal structure to achieve future growth goals and support the business. In furtherance of the foregoing, we executed an internal reorganization of our operations to fully transition our operating and reporting model to support a multi-divisional business. Each of the reportable segments now has dedicated accounting, finance, information technology, and human resources teams. Additionally, certain human resources and information technology costs that benefit the entire organization are now allocated across the UTI, Concorde and Corporate segments each period based upon relative headcount. As a result, additional costs have moved from the Corporate segment into the UTI segment and to a lesser extent the Concorde segment, as resources were redirected to support each segment’s objectives. Due to these changes in allocation methodology, the segment disclosures in Note 22 for the and year ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have been recast from the prior years presentation for comparability to the current year presentation.
Note 3 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the SEC periodically issue new accounting standards or disclosure requirements in a continuing effort to improve standards of financial accounting and reporting. We have reviewed the recently issued pronouncements and concluded the following new accounting standard updates (“ASU”) or SEC rules apply to us.
Effective in Fiscal 2025
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. This ASU will be effective for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 and our Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.
Effective in Fiscal 2026
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which provides qualitative and quantitative updates to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures, among others, in order to enhance the transparency of income tax disclosures, including consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and disaggregation by jurisdiction of income taxes paid. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively; however, retrospective application is also permitted. This ASU will be effective for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.
Effective in Fiscal 2027
In March 2024, the SEC issued final rules to enhance public company disclosures related to the risks and impacts of climate-related matters. In April 2024, the SEC voluntarily stayed the new rules as a result of pending legal challenges. The new rules, if adopted, include requirements to disclose Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions and other climate-related
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
topics in annual reports and registration statements, when material. Disclosure requirements will begin phasing in for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2027. We are currently evaluating the impact this rule may have on our financial statement disclosures.
Effective in Fiscal 2028
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Topic 220): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires additional disclosure of certain amounts included in the expense captions presented on the statement of operations, as well as disclosures about selling expenses. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis, with the option for retrospective application, for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.
Note 4 - Acquisitions
Concorde Career Colleges
On December 1, 2022, we completed the acquisition of Concorde. Concorde operates 17 campuses across eight states with approximately 7,600 students, and offers its programs via in-person, hybrid and online formats. Concorde offers more than 20 programs across the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care, and diagnostic fields. The acquisition expands our portfolio of offerings into the higher-growth healthcare arena and creates the opportunity to bring workforce educational solutions to a broader array of students and employers.
Under the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 3, 2022, by and among the Company, Concorde, Liberty Partners Holdings 28, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, and Liberty Investment IIC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each a “Seller,” and collectively, the “Sellers”); and Liberty Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, in its capacity as a representative of the Sellers, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Concorde for a base purchase price of $50.0 million, less $1.9 million of net adjustments including the post-closing working capital adjustment, for total cash consideration paid of $48.1 million. As a result of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, Concorde is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. We funded the consideration paid for Concorde by the Revolving Credit Facility entered into on November 18, 2022. See Note 13 for further details on the Revolving Credit Facility.
In connection with the acquisition, we incurred total transaction costs of $5.3 million, of which $3.0 million was incurred during the year ended September 30, 2022 and $2.3 million was incurred during the year ended September 30, 2023. These costs are included in “Selling, general and administrative” expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the applicable period.
Allocation of the purchase price
Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price was allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on our valuation estimates of the fair values as of the acquisition date. As of December 1, 2023, the fair value and the purchase price allocation are considered final.
The final allocation of the purchase price at December 1, 2022 is summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| Assets acquired: | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 30,064 | |
| Restricted cash | | 1,689 | |
| Accounts receivable, net | | 6,800 | |
| Prepaid expenses | | 2,957 | |
| Other current assets | | 827 | |
| Property and equipment | | 23,238 | |
| Right-of-use assets for operating leases | | 71,153 | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | |
| Goodwill | | 11,600 | |
| Intangible assets | | 5,400 | |
| Deferred tax assets | | 5,112 | |
| Other assets | | 4,997 | |
| Total assets acquired | | $ | 163,837 | |
| | |
| Less: Liabilities assumed | | |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 15,482 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 20,145 | |
| Operating lease liability, current portion | | 10,011 | |
Long-term debt, current portion (1) | | 807 | |
| Other current liabilities | | 208 | |
| | |
Long-term debt (1) | | 5,468 | |
| Operating lease liability | | 63,582 | |
| | |
| Total liabilities assumed | | 115,703 | |
| Net assets acquired | | $ | 48,134 | |
(1) Long-term debt consists of one lease classified as a finance lease under ASC 842.
Since September 30, 2023, we further adjusted the purchase price allocation by approximately $0.1 million for income taxes receivable and approximately $0.6 million for deferred income taxes due to completing and filing the final stub period income tax return for Concorde, which results in a $0.7 million adjustment to property and equipment. These adjustments did not have a material impact on the financial statements since the date of acquisition.
The amount allocated to goodwill of $11.6 million represents the acquired assembled workforce. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include Concorde’s strategic fit into our growth and diversification strategy, which is focused on offering a broader array of high-quality, in-demand workforce education solutions which both prepare students for a variety of careers in fast-growing fields and help close the country's skills gap by leveraging key industry partnerships.
The purchase price allocation requires subjective estimates that, if incorrectly estimated, could be material to our consolidated financial statements including the amount of depreciation and amortization expense. The fair value of the property and equipment was estimated using the cost and market approaches as of the valuation date. The fair value of the leases were estimated using the income and market approaches to determine if there was any favorable or unfavorable terms in place.
The intangible assets acquired, which primarily consist of the accreditations and regulatory approvals, trademarks and trade names, and curriculum, were valued using different valuation techniques depending upon the nature of the intangible asset acquired, all of which are considered level 3 as defined in Note 7. The accreditations and regulatory approvals were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method (“MPEEM”) under the income approach. The MPEEM is a variation of discounted cash-flow analysis. Rather than focusing on the whole entity, the MPEEM isolates the cash flows that can be associated with a single intangible asset and measures fair value by discounting them to present value. The trademarks and trade names were valued using the relief from royalty method. The value of the trade name encompasses all items necessary to generate revenue utilizing the trade name. The curriculum was valued using the cost approach.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The table below presents the final summary of the intangible assets acquired and the useful lives of these assets:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Intangible Asset | | Useful life | | Amount |
| Accreditations and regulatory approvals | | Indefinite | | $ | 3,500 | |
| Trademarks and trade names | | 10 years | | 500 | |
| Curriculum | | 5 years | | 1,400 | |
| Total | | | | $ | 5,400 | |
See Note 9 and Note 10 and for additional details on goodwill and intangible assets.
Student receivables
When financial assets are acquired in connection with a business combination, we evaluate whether those acquired financial assets have experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. Financial assets acquired with evidence of such credit deterioration are referred to as purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) assets and reflect the acquirer’s assessment at the acquisition date. The student receivables acquired in the Concorde acquisition were reviewed to determine if any had experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. Student receivables of approximately $2.3 million met the established criteria to indicate a more-than insignificant deterioration in credit quality and were identified as PCD assets. Using our best estimate of projected losses over the term of the contracts, we calculated an allowance for credit losses on these PCD assets of approximately $1.0 million.
Pro forma financial information
The following unaudited pro forma financial information summarizes our results of operations as though the acquisition occurred on October 1, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Twelve Months Ended |
| | | | | | | | September 30, 2023 | | September 30, 2022 |
| Revenue | | | | | | | | $ | 643,429 | | | $ | 618,949 | |
| Net income | | | | | | | | 12,749 | | | 28,173 | |
The unaudited pro forma financial information includes adjustments to reflect the additional amortization that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to intangible assets and the finance lease asset had been applied from October 1, 2020, with the related tax effects. The unaudited pro forma financial information also includes adjustments to reflect the additional interest expense on the Revolving Credit Facility issued to fund the acquisition (see Note 13). Lastly, the unaudited pro forma financial information includes adjustments to reflect the reduction in depreciation expense assuming the fair value adjustments to property and equipment assets had been applied from October 1, 2020.
This unaudited pro forma financial information is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the integration of the business or any synergies or incremental costs that may result from the acquisition. As such, it is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved had the acquisition been consummated on October 1, 2020. In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information amounts are not indicative of future operating results.
MIAT College of Technology
On November 1, 2021, using available operating cash, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of MIAT for $26.0 million base purchase price plus $2.8 million working capital surplus for total cash consideration paid of $28.8 million. MIAT is a post-secondary school that offers vocational and technical certificates and degrees across aviation maintenance, energy technology, wind energy technology, robotics and automation, non-destructive testing, heating ventilation air conditioning and refrigeration, and welding disciplines.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
In connection with this acquisition, we incurred total transaction costs of $1.7 million of which $0.9 million were incurred during the year ended September 30, 2022 and $0.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2021. These costs are included in “Selling, general and administrative” expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the applicable period.
The final allocation of the purchase price at November 1, 2021 is summarized as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| Assets acquired: | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 2,301 | |
| Accounts receivable, net | | 3,230 | |
| Prepaid expenses | | 268 | |
| Other current assets | | 507 | |
| Property and equipment | | 3,043 | |
| Goodwill | | 8,637 | |
| Intangible assets | | 16,200 | |
| Right-of-use assets for operating leases | | 14,979 | |
| Other assets | | 314 | |
| Total assets acquired | | $ | 49,479 | |
| | |
| Less: Liabilities assumed | | |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 1,720 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 1,843 | |
| Operating lease liability, current portion | | 817 | |
| Deferred tax liabilities, net | | 1,975 | |
| Operating lease liability | | 14,216 | |
| Other liabilities | | 93 | |
| Total liabilities assumed | | 20,664 | |
| Net assets acquired | | $ | 28,815 | |
The goodwill of $8.6 million arising from the acquisition consists largely of the growth and operating synergies expected from integrating MIAT into UTI. The total amount of goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes is approximately $0.6 million. See Note 9 for additional details on goodwill.
The accreditations and regulatory approvals were valued using the MPEEM under the income approach. The trademarks and trade names were valued using the relief from royalty method. The curriculum was valued using the cost approach. The table below presents a summary of the intangible assets acquired and the useful lives of these assets:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Intangible Asset | | Useful life | | Amount |
| Accreditations and regulatory approvals | | Indefinite | | $ | 12,800 | |
Trademarks and trade names (1) | | Indefinite | | 3,000 | |
| Curriculum | | 5 years | | 400 | |
| Total | | | | $ | 16,200 | |
(1) During the fourth quarter of 2022, in conjunction with our growth and diversification initiatives, we completed a branding study and determined that the useful life of the MIAT trademarks and trade name was no longer indefinite, and a four-year finite useful life was more appropriate. We completed the required impairment testing when changing from an indefinite to a finite useful life for an intangible asset and determined that the carrying value of the MIAT trademarks
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
and trade name exceeded its fair value. We determined the fair value of intangible asset to be $1.0 million as of September 30, 2022 using the relief from royalty method and recorded an intangible asset impairment charge of $2.0 million during the year ended September 30, 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we determined it would be appropriate to further shorten the remaining useful life by one year of this trade name given the Company’s rebranding plans.
Pro forma financial information is not presented as revenues and earnings of MIAT were not material to our consolidated statements of operations. MIAT is included in the “UTI” reportable segment disclosed in Note 22 on Segments.
Note 5 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Nature of Goods and Services
As previously described in Note 2, revenues across the UTI and Concorde segments consist primarily of student tuition and fees derived from the programs we provide after reductions are made for discounts and scholarships that we sponsor and for refunds for students who withdraw from our programs prior to specified dates. We apply the five-step model outlined in ASC 606. Tuition and fee revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the course or program offered.
The majority of the UTI programs are designed to be completed in 30 to 100 weeks. The UTI advanced training programs range from 8 to 26 weeks in duration and are completed subsequent to satisfying the core UTI program requirements. UTI also provides dealer technician training or instructor staffing services to manufacturers. The majority of Concorde’s short and core programs are 8 to 36 weeks in duration and are billed in full at the start of the program. Clinical programs are 60 to 90 week programs that are billed by academic term. Revenues for both divisions are recognized as transfer of the services occurs. In addition to revenue from tuition and fees, UTI and Concorde derive supplemental revenues from sales of textbooks and program supplies and other revenues, which are recognized as the transfer of goods or services occurs.
Deferred revenue represents the excess of tuition and fee payments received as compared to tuition and fees earned and is reflected as a current liability in our consolidated balance sheets because it is expected to be earned within the next 12 months.
All of our revenues are generated within the United States. The impact of economic factors on the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows is consistent across our various programs for both the UTI and Concorde segments. See Note 22 for disaggregated segment revenue information.
Revenues from our Proprietary Loan Program
As previously described in Note 2, certain UTI students participate in a proprietary loan program that extends repayment terms for their tuition beyond the time that they are in school. We purchase said loans from the lender. Based on historical collection rates, we believe at least a portion of these loans are collectible. Accordingly, we recognize tuition and loan origination fees financed by the loan and any related interest revenue as variable consideration under the effective interest method required by the loan based on the amount we expect to collect, and we recognize these revenues ratably over the term of the course or program offered.
Contract Balances
Contract assets primarily relate to our rights to consideration for a student’s progress through our training program in relation to our services performed but not billed at the reporting date. The contract assets are transferred to the receivables when the rights become unconditional. We do not have any contract assets that have not transferred to a receivable for either of the reporting periods. Our deferred revenue is considered a contract liability and primarily relates to our enrollment agreements where we received payments for tuition, but we have not yet delivered the related training programs to satisfying the related performance obligations. The advance consideration received from students or Title IV funding is deferred revenue until the training program has been delivered to the students.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The following table provides information about receivables and deferred revenue resulting from our enrollment agreements with students:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
Receivables (1) | | $ | 72,080 | | | $ | 59,863 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 92,538 | | | 85,738 | |
(1) Receivables, net of allowances, includes tuition receivables, retail installment contract receivables and notes receivable, both current and long term.
During the year ended September 30, 2024, the deferred revenue balance included decreases for revenues recognized during the period, offset by increases related to new students who started their training programs during the period.
Note 6 - Receivables, net
Receivables, net consist of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Tuition and fees receivables | | $ | 35,290 | | | $ | 29,616 | |
| Tax receivables | | 2,333 | | | 740 | |
| Other receivables | | 3,849 | | | 3,858 | |
| Total receivables | | 41,472 | | | 34,214 | |
| Less: allowance for credit losses | | (10,376) | | | (9,053) | |
| Receivables, net | | $ | 31,096 | | | $ | 25,161 | |
The allowance for credit losses is estimated using our expected uncollectible loss rate applied to the receivable balances for students who are no longer attending school due to graduation or withdrawal or who are in school and have receivable balances in excess of financial aid available to them. We write off receivable balances against the allowance for credit losses at the time we transfer the balance to a third-party collection agency.
The following table summarizes the activity for our allowance for credit losses for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 9,053 | | | $ | 5,634 | | | $ | 2,787 | |
| Additions due to opening balance of Concorde acquisition | | — | | | 6,740 | | | — | |
| Additions due to opening balance of MIAT acquisition | | — | | | — | | | 1,682 | |
| Provision for credit losses | | 7,547 | | | 3,319 | | | 2,510 | |
| Write-offs of credit losses, net of recoveries | | (6,224) | | | (6,640) | | | (1,345) | |
| Balance at end of period | | $ | 10,376 | | | $ | 9,053 | | | $ | 5,634 | |
The long-term portion of the retail installment contract receivables and related allowance for credit losses is presented in “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets and consists of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Long-term receivables | | $ | 8,461 | | | $ | 5,927 | |
| Less: allowance for credit losses | | (1,956) | | | (1,445) | |
| Long-term receivables, net | | $ | 6,505 | | | $ | 4,482 | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 7 - Fair Value Measurements
The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers:
Level 1: Defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3: Defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
Any transfers of investments between levels occurs at the end of the reporting period. Assets measured or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using |
| | | September 30, 2024 | | Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) |
Money market funds(1) | | $ | 94,772 | | | $ | 94,772 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Notes receivable(2) | | 42,467 | | | — | | | — | | | 42,467 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis | | $ | 137,239 | | | $ | 94,772 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 42,467 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Revolving credit facility and term loans (3) | | 121,319 | | | — | | | 121,319 | | | — | |
| Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis | | $ | 121,319 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 121,319 | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using |
| | | September 30, 2023 | | Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) | | Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2) | | Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) |
Money market funds(1) | | $ | 29,687 | | | $ | 29,687 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Notes receivable(2) | | 36,663 | | | — | | | — | | | 36,663 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Total assets at fair value on a recurring basis | | $ | 66,350 | | | $ | 29,687 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 36,663 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Revolving credit facility and term loans (3) | | 156,991 | | | — | | | 156,991 | | | — | |
| Total liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis | | $ | 156,991 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 156,991 | | | $ | — | |
(1) Money market funds and other highly liquid investments with maturity dates less than 90 days are reflected as “Cash and cash equivalents” on our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023.
(2) Notes receivable relate to the proprietary loan program and are reflected as “Notes receivable, current portion” and “Notes receivable, less current portion” on our consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023. See Note 2 for further discussion over the proprietary loan program.
(3) The revolving credit facility and term loans bear interest at rates commensurate with market rates, and therefore, the respective carrying values approximate fair value (Level 2).
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 8 - Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Depreciable Lives (in years) | | September 30, |
| | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Land | | — | | $ | 25,601 | | | $ | 25,601 | |
| Building and building improvements | | 3-30 | | 165,667 | | | 160,920 | |
| Leasehold improvements | | 1-20 | | 94,473 | | | 87,525 | |
| Training equipment | | 3-10 | | 119,171 | | | 110,292 | |
| Office and computer equipment | | 3-10 | | 36,454 | | | 37,251 | |
| Curriculum development | | 3-5 | | 5,127 | | | 2,478 | |
| Software developed for internal use | | 1-5 | | 13,045 | | | 12,573 | |
| Vehicles | | 5 | | 1,546 | | | 1,406 | |
| Right-of-use assets for finance leases | | 15 | | 5,603 | | | 5,603 | |
| Construction in progress | | — | | 6,314 | | | 9,061 | |
| | | | 473,001 | | | 452,710 | |
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | | | | (208,204) | | | (186,364) | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | | $ | 264,797 | | | $ | 266,346 | |
Depreciation expense related to property and equipment was $28.6 million and $24.6 million for years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Note 9 - Goodwill
Our goodwill balance of $28.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are presented in the table below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 28,459 | | | $ | 16,859 | |
| Additions to goodwill for acquisition of Concorde | | $ | — | | | $ | 11,600 | |
| Balance at end of period | | $ | 28,459 | | | $ | 28,459 | |
Of the $28.5 million recorded as goodwill as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, $16.9 million relates to the UTI reporting unit and $11.6 million relates to the Concorde reporting unit.
Note 10 - Intangible Assets
The following table provides the gross carrying value, accumulated amortization, net book value and remaining useful life for intangible assets subject to amortization as of September 30, 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gross Carrying Value | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Book Value | | Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) |
| Accreditations and regulatory approvals | | $ | 16,300 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 16,300 | | | Indefinite |
| Trademarks, trade names and other | | 1,942 | | | (1,066) | | | 876 | | | 4.33 |
| Curriculum | | 1,800 | | | (747) | | | 1,053 | | | 3.00 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Total | | $ | 20,042 | | | $ | (1,813) | | | $ | 18,229 | | | 3.60 |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The following table provides the gross carrying value, accumulated amortization, net book value and remaining useful life for those intangible assets that were subject to amortization as of September 30, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gross Carrying Value | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Book Value | | Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life (Years) |
| Accreditations and regulatory approvals | | $ | 16,300 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 16,300 | | | Indefinite |
| Trademarks, trade names and other | | 1,942 | | | (680) | | | 1,262 | | | 5.17 |
| Curriculum | | 1,800 | | | (387) | | | 1,413 | | | 3.98 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Total | | $ | 20,042 | | | $ | (1,067) | | | $ | 18,975 | | | 4.54 |
Amortization expense for the year ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022 was $0.7 million, $0.6 million, and $0.1 million, respectively.
Intangible assets subject to amortization as of September 30, 2024, will be amortized as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2027 | | 2028 | | 2029 | | Thereafter |
| Estimated future amortization expense | | $ | 877 | | | $ | 410 | | | $ | 337 | | | $ | 97 | | | $ | 50 | | | $ | 158 | |
Of the $18.2 million net book value recorded as intangible assets as of September 30, 2024, $4.8 million relates to the Concorde asset group and $13.4 million relates to the UTI asset group. The weighted average remaining useful lives are calculated based on the net book value and the remaining amortization period of each respective intangible asset.
Note 11 - Leases
As of September 30, 2024, we have facility leases at 29 of our 33 campuses and two non-campus locations under non-cancelable operating or finance leases, some of which contain escalation clauses and requirements to pay other fees associated with the leases. Our facility leases have original lease terms ranging from 5 to 20 years and expire at various dates through 2036. In addition, the leases commonly include lease incentives in the form of rent abatements and tenant improvement allowances. We sublease certain portions of unused building space to third parties, which as of September 30, 2024, resulted in minimal income. All of the leases, other than those that may qualify for the short-term scope exception of 12 months or less, are recorded on our consolidated balance sheets.
The components of lease expense during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022 are presented below. The operating lease expense excludes expense for short-term leases not accounted for under ASC 842, which was not significant for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, or 2022.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, |
| Lease Expense | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Operating lease expense | | $ | 30,394 | | | $ | 29,450 | | | $ | 22,424 | |
| Finance lease expense: | | | | | | |
| Amortization of leased assets | | 908 | | | 779 | | | 72 | |
| Interest on lease liabilities | | 311 | | | 296 | | | 2 | |
| Variable lease expense | | 10,805 | | | 8,725 | | | 5,469 | |
| Sublease income | | (118) | | | (114) | | | (155) | |
| Total net lease expense | | $ | 42,300 | | | $ | 39,136 | | | $ | 27,812 | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Supplemental balance sheet, cash flow and other information related to our leases was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | September 30, |
| Leases | | Classification | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Assets: | | | | | | |
| Operating lease assets | | Right-of-use assets for operating leases | | $ | 158,778 | | | $ | 176,657 | |
| Finance lease assets | | Property and equipment, net(1) | | 3,937 | | | 4,846 | |
| Total leased assets | | | | $ | 162,715 | | | $ | 181,503 | |
| | | | | | |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Current | | | | | | |
| Operating lease liabilities | | Operating lease liability, current portion | | $ | 22,210 | | | $ | 22,481 | |
| Finance lease liabilities | | Long-term debt, current portion | | 934 | | | 844 | |
| Noncurrent | | | | | | |
| Operating lease liabilities | | Operating lease liability | | 146,831 | | | 165,026 | |
| Finance lease liabilities | | Long-term debt | | 3,834 | | | 4,757 | |
| Total lease liabilities | | | | $ | 173,809 | | | $ | 193,108 | |
(1) The finance lease assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2024 consisted of one facility lease. Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $1.7 million and $0.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| Lease Term and Discount Rate | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years): | | | | |
| Operating leases | | 7.14 | | 7.91 |
| Finance leases | | 4.33 | | 5.33 |
| | | | |
| Weighted average discount rate: | | | | |
| Operating leases | | 4.87 | % | | 4.76 | % |
| Finance leases | | 6.02 | % | | 6.02 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended September 30, |
| Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information and Other Information | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | | $ | 22,449 | | | $ | 20,474 | | | $ | 13,952 | |
| Financing cash flows from finance leases | | 845 | | | 696 | | | 73 | |
| | | | | | |
| Non-cash activity related to lease liabilities: | | | | | | |
| Lease assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | | $ | 3,982 | | | $ | 4,568 | | | $ | 3,313 | |
| | | | | | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | As of September 30, 2024 |
| Years ending September 30, | | Operating Leases | | Finance Leases |
| 2025 | | $ | 29,712 | | | $ | 1,190 | |
| 2026 | | 30,059 | | | 1,226 | |
| 2027 | | 28,565 | | | 1,263 | |
| 2028 | | 26,743 | | | 1,301 | |
| 2029 | | 26,032 | | | 439 | |
| 2030 and thereafter | | 58,837 | | | — | |
| Total future minimum lease payments | | 199,948 | | | 5,419 | |
| Less: interest | | (30,907) | | | (651) | |
| Present value of lease liabilities | | 169,041 | | | 4,768 | |
| Less: current lease liabilities | | (22,210) | | | (934) | |
| Long-term lease liabilities | | $ | 146,831 | | | $ | 3,834 | |
Note 12 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Accounts payable | | $ | 26,273 | | | $ | 14,438 | |
| Accrued compensation and benefits | | 35,660 | | | 36,332 | |
| Accrued tool sets | | 4,807 | | | 4,096 | |
| Other accrued expenses | | 17,126 | | | 15,075 | |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 83,866 | | | $ | 69,941 | |
Note 13 - Debt
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2024 | | September 30, 2023 |
| | Interest Rate | | Maturity Date | | Carrying Value of Debt (6) | | Carrying Value of Debt (6) |
Revolving Credit Facility(1) | | 6.81 | % | | Nov 2027 | | $ | 56,000 | | | $ | 90,000 | |
Avondale Term Loan(2) | | 7.24 | % | | May 2028 | | 28,390 | | | 29,251 | |
Lisle Term Loan(3) | | 7.20 | % | | Apr 2029 | | 36,929 | | | 37,740 | |
Finance lease(4) | | 6.02 | % | | Jan 2029 | | 4,768 | | | 5,601 | |
| Total debt | | | | | | 126,087 | | | 162,592 | |
Debt issuance costs presented with debt (5) | | | | | | (383) | | | (475) | |
| Total debt, net | | | | | | 125,704 | | | 162,117 | |
| Less: current portion of long-term debt | | | | | | (2,697) | | | (2,517) | |
| Long-term debt | | | | | | $ | 123,007 | | | $ | 159,600 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
(1) Interest on the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below) accrues at annual rate equal to Term SOFR plus a margin of 1.85%.
(2) Interest on the Avondale Term Loan (as defined below) accrues at annual rate equal to Term SOFR plus 2.0% and a tranche adjustment of 0.046%.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(3) Interest on the Lisle Term Loan (as defined below) accrues at annual rate equal to the Term SOFR plus 2.0%.
(4) The finance lease balance as of September 30, 2024 is related to a facility lease with an annual interest rate of 6.02% that matures in 2029. See Note 11 for additional details on our finance leases.
(5) The unamortized debt issuance costs as of September 30, 2024 relate to the Avondale Term Loan and the Lisle Term Loan.
(6) The Revolving Credit Facility, Avondale Term Loan, Lisle Term Loan and finance leases bear interest at rates commensurate with market rates, and therefore, the respective carrying values approximate fair value (Level 2).
Revolving Credit Facility
On November 18, 2022, we entered into a $100.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with Fifth Third Bank (the “Credit Facility” or “Revolving Credit Facility”), which includes a $20.0 million sub facility that is available for letters of credit, for a term of three years.
This agreement provides that borrowings under the Credit Facility will amortize on an interest-only basis during its term with principal able to be borrowed, re-paid and re-borrowed throughout the term of the Credit Facility and with the outstanding principal due and payable at maturity. Borrowings under the Credit Facility can bear interest at a variable rate of either (a) the greater of 3.50% or the lender’s Prime rate or (b) either one-month or three-month Term SOFR plus an adjustment of 0.10-0.15%. Any borrowings will also have an applicable margin that varies from 1.75% up to 2.25% based on our total leverage ratio at the time of the borrowing. In executing the Credit Facility, we incurred $0.5 million in debt issuance costs which have been recorded in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024. On November 28, 2022, we drew $90.0 million from the Credit Facility in support of the closing of the Concorde Acquisition. In December 2022, a $1.8 million letter of credit was issued on the Credit Facility, which expired in March 2024.
On September 26, 2024, the Credit Facility was amended to increase the commitment amount to $125.0 million and extend the maturity date to November 30, 2027. We also have the option to request an increase of up to an additional $25.0 million, subject to the lender’s discretion to grant such increase. Under the amended agreement, advances made under the Credit Facility bear interest at per annum rate equal to (i) the Tranche Rate (Term SOFR), (ii) the Daily Simple SOFR rate, or (iii) the Base Rate. In each case a SOFR rate is selected, an applicable margin that varies from 1.85% up to 2.35%, based on our then-current total leverage ratio, is applied. In executing the amendment, we incurred $0.3 million in debt issuance costs which have been recorded in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024.
During the year ended September 30, 2024, we made payments on the Credit Facility of $75.0 million and we received proceeds of $41.0 million at a base interest rate of 8.0%. The remaining availability under the Credit Facility as of September 30, 2024 was $69.0 million.
In October 2024, we used cash on hand to pay $5.0 million on the Credit Facility, which increased the availability under the Credit Facility to $74.0 million. It is likely that we will borrow from the Credit Facility in future periods based on future working capital or other needs.
Avondale Term Loan
In connection with the Avondale, Arizona building purchase in December 2020, we entered into a credit agreement with Fifth Third Bank, national banking association (the “Avondale Lender”) on May 12, 2021 in the maximum principal amount of $31.2 million with a maturity of seven years (the “Avondale Term Loan”). Originally, the Avondale Term Loan bore interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 2.0%. On April 3, 2023 in connection with applying the guidance in ASU 2020-04, we executed an amendment for our Avondale Term Loan to convert the stated rate from LIBOR to Term SOFR. As of April 3, 2023, the Avondale Term Loan bears interest at the rate of Term SOFR plus 2.0% and a tranche rate adjustment of 0.046%. Principal and interest payments are due monthly. The Avondale Term Loan is secured by a first priority lien on our Avondale, Arizona property, including all land and improvements. Additionally, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the Avondale Lender. See Note 14 below for further discussion on the interest rate swap.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Lisle Term Loan
On April 14, 2022, our consolidated subsidiary, 2611 Corporate West Drive Venture LLC (the “Borrower”), entered into a new Loan Agreement (“Lisle Loan Agreement”) with Valley National Bank (the “Lisle Lender”), to fund the acquisition and retire the prior loan agreement with Western Alliance bank, via a term loan in the original principal amount of $38.0 million with a maturity of seven years (the “Lisle Term Loan”). The Lisle Term Loan bears interest at a rate of one-month Term SOFR plus 2.0%. The Lisle Term Loan is secured by a mortgage on the Lisle, Illinois campus and is guaranteed by the Company. In connection with the Lisle Term Loan, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement. See Note 14 below for further discussion on the interest rate swap.
Debt Covenants
We are subject to certain customary affirmative and negative covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Avondale Term Loan and the Lisle Term Loan. As of September 30, 2024, we were in compliance with all debt covenants.
Debt Maturities
Scheduled principal payments due on our debt for each year through the period ended September 30, 2029, and thereafter were as follows at September 30, 2024:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maturity | | Revolving Credit Facility & Term Loans | | Finance Leases | | Total |
| 2025 | | $ | 1,763 | | | $ | 934 | | | $ | 2,697 | |
| 2026 | | 1,837 | | | 1,029 | | | 2,866 | |
| 2027 | | 57,909 | | | 1,131 | | | 59,040 | |
| 2028 | | 26,610 | | | 1,239 | | | 27,849 | |
| 2029 | | 33,200 | | | 435 | | | 33,635 | |
| 2030 and thereafter | | — | | | — | | | — | |
| Subtotal | | 121,319 | | | 4,768 | | | 126,087 | |
| Debt issuance costs presented with debt | | (383) | | | — | | | (383) | |
| Total | | $ | 120,936 | | | $ | 4,768 | | | $ | 125,704 | |
Note 14 - Derivative Financial Instruments
In the normal course of business, our operations are exposed to market risks, including the effect of changes in interest rates. We may enter into derivative financial instruments to offset these underlying market risks. See Note 2 for our derivative financial instruments policy.
On May 12, 2021, in connection with the Avondale Term Loan discussed in Note 13, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the Lender that effectively fixes the interest rate on 50% of the principal amount of the Avondale Term Loan, or approximately $15.6 million, at 3.5% for the entire loan term, or seven years (the “Avondale Swap”). On May 12, 2021, the Avondale Swap was designated as an effective cash flow hedge for accounting and tax purposes. On March 31, 2023 in connection with applying the guidance in ASU 2020-04, we terminated our existing interest rate swap and entered into a new interest rate swap agreement, effective April 3, 2023, with the Avondale Lender that effectively fixes the interest rate we pay on 50% of the principal amount of the Avondale Term Loan at 1.45% for the entire loan term. Further, the floating rate we receive under this new swap has been converted to one month Term SOFR, versus one month LIBOR under the previous swap. In executing the amendment, we adopted several of the practical expedients allowed under ASU 2020-04, including updating the designated hedged risk in our outstanding cash flow hedging relationship to match the risk presented in the modified interest payments and to continue our hedging relationship that falls within the scope of ASU 2020-04. The adoption of the new guidance in ASU 2020-04 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and the Avondale Swap is still designated as an effective cash flow hedge for accounting and tax purposes.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
On April 14, 2022, in connection with the Lisle Term loan described in Note 13, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the Lisle Lender that effectively fixes the interest rate on 50% of the principal amount of the Lisle Term Loan at 4.69% for the entire loan term, or seven years (the “Lisle Swap”). On April 14, 2022, the Lisle Swap was designated as an effective cash flow hedge for accounting and tax purposes.
Of the net amount of the existing gains that are reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” as of September 30, 2024, we estimate that $0.5 million will be reclassified to “Interest expense” within the next twelve months. As of September 30, 2024, the notional amounts of the Avondale Swap and Lisle Swap were approximately $14.2 million and $18.5 million, respectively.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
The following table presents the fair value of our Avondale Swap and Lisle Swap (Level 2), both of which are designated as cash flow hedges, and the related classification on the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| Interest Rate Swaps | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Other current assets | | $ | 497 | | | $ | 957 | |
| Other assets | | 726 | | | 2,075 | |
| Total fair value of assets designated as hedging instruments | | $ | 1,223 | | | $ | 3,032 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Effect of Cash Flow Hedge Accounting on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The table below presents the effect of cash flow hedge accounting for our Avondale Swap and Lisle Swap on the consolidated statements of operations and accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Derivative | | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income |
| Year Ended September 30, 2024 |
| Avondale and Lisle Swaps | $ | (291) | | | $ | 1,066 | |
| | | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2023 |
| Avondale and Lisle Swaps | $ | (1,169) | | | $ | (835) | |
| | | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2022 |
| Avondale and Lisle Swaps | $ | 2,787 | | | $ | (192) | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 15 - Income Taxes
The components of income tax (expense) benefit for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Current (expense) benefit: | | | | | |
| United States federal | $ | (6,256) | | | $ | (97) | | | $ | (17) | |
| State | (2,629) | | | (1,032) | | | (1,065) | |
| Total current (expense) benefit | (8,885) | | | (1,129) | | | (1,082) | |
| Deferred (expense) benefit: | | | | | |
| United States federal | (4,682) | | | (4,190) | | | 2,380 | |
| State | (662) | | | (446) | | | 4,109 | |
| Total deferred (expense) benefit | (5,344) | | | (4,636) | | | 6,489 | |
| Total income tax (expense) benefit | $ | (14,229) | | | $ | (5,765) | | | $ | 5,407 | |
The income tax provision differs from the tax that would result from application of the statutory federal tax rate of 21% to pre-tax income for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022. The reasons for the differences are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Income tax expense at statutory rate | $ | (11,808) | | | $ | (3,798) | | | $ | (4,293) | |
| State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit | (2,611) | | | (1,188) | | | (1,356) | |
| Excess officers compensation | (659) | | | (387) | | | (276) | |
| Transaction Costs | — | | | (479) | | | — | |
| Adjustment to deferred taxes | (801) | | | (322) | | | (345) | |
| R&D Credits Generated | 500 | | | 546 | | | — | |
| Decrease in valuation allowance | 808 | | | 236 | | | 12,075 | |
| | | | | |
| Other, net | 342 | | | (373) | | | (398) | |
| Total income tax (expense) benefit | $ | (14,229) | | | $ | (5,765) | | | $ | 5,407 | |
The components of the deferred tax assets (liabilities) recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Gross deferred tax assets: | | | | |
| Operating lease liability | | $ | 42,749 | | | $ | 47,349 | |
| Deferred compensation | | 596 | | | 558 | |
| Accrued compensation | | 2,497 | | | 2,636 | |
| Accrued tool sets | | 1,255 | | | 1,069 | |
| Other reserves and accruals | | 5,750 | | | 4,464 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 3,501 | | | 4,733 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Net operating losses | | 5,044 | | | 9,232 | |
| Tax credit carryforwards | | 632 | | | 929 | |
| Capitalized R&D costs | | 3,085 | | | 3,109 | |
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 |
| Charitable contribution carryovers | | 628 | | | 1,223 | |
| Deductions limited by Section 382 | | — | | | 5 | |
| | | | |
| Other | | 86 | | | 84 | |
| Valuation allowance | | (2,012) | | | (3,192) | |
| Total gross deferred tax assets | | 63,811 | | | 72,199 | |
| Gross deferred tax liabilities: | | | | |
| Right of use assets for operating leases | | (40,189) | | | (44,726) | |
| Amortization of goodwill and intangibles | | (5,513) | | | (5,540) | |
| Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment | | (17,401) | | | (16,829) | |
| Prepaid and other expenses deductible for tax | | (1,535) | | | (1,241) | |
| Other comprehensive income | | (306) | | | (758) | |
| Total gross deferred tax liabilities | | (64,944) | | | (69,094) | |
| Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets | | $ | (1,133) | | | $ | 3,105 | |
The following table summarizes the activity for the valuation allowance for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 3,192 | | | $ | 1,200 | | | $ | 13,492 | |
| Reductions to income tax | | — | | | (236) | | | (12,075) | |
Write-offs/Adjustments(1) | | (1,180) | | | 2,228 | | | (217) | |
| Balance at end of period | | $ | 2,012 | | | $ | 3,192 | | | $ | 1,200 | |
(1) The fiscal year 2024 balance primarily relates to finalizing the purchase accounting for the Concorde acquisition.
We had a valuation allowance of $2.0 million and $3.2 million against the deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, based on our assessment of the ability to utilize the deferred tax assets. The change in valuation allowance during the year is primarily a result of purchase accounting in conjunction with the Concorde acquisition. We continue to maintain a valuation allowance on certain federal and state attributes for which we determined that it was more likely than not that a benefit will not be realized prior to expiration. In assessing whether a valuation allowance was required, we considered the weight of all available positive and negative evidence.
As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $13.5 million and $70.8 million in net operating losses for federal and state tax purposes, respectively. The federal net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely, while the state net operating losses will expire at various dates through 2044 if not utilized or carried forward indefinitely.
We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities. The determination is based on the technical merits of the position and presumes that each uncertain tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Although we believe the estimates are reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final outcome of these matters will not be different than what is reflected in the historical income tax provisions and accruals.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The following table summarizes the activity related to the gross unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 496 | | | $ | 387 | |
| Increases relates to current year tax positions | | 100 | | | 109 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Balance at end of period | | $ | 596 | | | $ | 496 | |
The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $0.6 million as of September 30, 2024, of which $0.5 million, if fully recognized, would decrease our effective tax rate. The current year increase relates to research and development tax credits generated in the current year.
We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits through income tax expense. No interest or penalties were accrued as of September 30, 2024. We do not expect a significant decrease in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.
We file income tax returns for federal purposes and in many states. Our tax filings remain subject to examination by applicable tax authorities for certain length of time, generally three to four years, following the tax year to which these filings relate.
Note 16 - Restructuring
On December 5, 2023, UTI announced plans to consolidate the two Houston, Texas campus locations to align the curriculum, student facing systems, and support services to better serve students seeking careers in in-demand fields. As part of the transition, the MIAT Houston campus, acquired in November 2021, began a phased teach-out in May 2024, and such campus began operating under the UTI brand. Both facilities will remain in use post-consolidation.
The total costs of the restructuring plan are estimated to be approximately $2.1 million and relate to the UTI segment. Approximately $0.2 million of expenses, primarily related to employee termination costs and tools, were incurred during the twelve months ended September 30, 2024. Of the $0.2 million recorded during the twelve months ended September 30, 2024, approximately $0.1 million was reported in “Educational services and facilities” while approximately $0.1 million was reported in “Selling, general and administrative” in the consolidated statements of operations. Additional estimated costs of $1.9 million are expected to be recorded during fiscal 2025 and beyond as incurred.
Note 17 - Commitments and Contingencies
Licensing Agreements
We have entered into various licensing agreements with varying expiration dates that give us the right to use certain materials, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, and other intellectual property in connection with the operation of our campuses and the development of our courses. The expense for the license fees under these various agreements totaled $2.4 million, $2.3 million, and $2.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and were recorded in “Educational services and facilities expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations.
Snap-on Tools Product Support Agreement
We have an agreement with Snap-on Industrial (“Snap-on Tools”) that allows UTI to purchase promotional tool kits for its students at a discount from the list price. In addition, UTI earns credits that are redeemable for Snap-on Tools equipment that is utilized in UTI training programs. Credits are earned on UTI’s purchases as well as purchases made by students enrolled in the UTI programs. As part of the agreement, UTI has agreed to grant Snap-on Tools exclusive access to its campuses, to display advertising and primarily use their tools to train UTI students. Additionally, per the agreement, UTI receives a quarterly product donation allowance towards the purchase of tools and equipment which are to be utilized in the UTI training programs at its campuses. The credits and allowances under this agreement may be redeemed in multiple ways. This agreement will expire in December 2027. A net prepaid expense with Snap-on Tools has resulted from an excess of credits
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
earned over credits used of $0.3 million and $1.9 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, included in “Other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.
UTI students are provided a Career Starter Tool Set Voucher which can be redeemed for a tool set near graduation. The cost of the tool sets, net of the discount, is accrued during the time period in which the UTI students begin attending school until they have progressed to the point that the promotional tool set vouchers are provided. The consolidated balance sheets include a liability in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” for the tool sets that are expected to be redeemed of $4.8 million and $4.1 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, UTI’s liability to Snap-on Tools for vouchers redeemed by students was $0.6 million and $0.5 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is included in “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” on our consolidated balance sheets.
Surety Bonds
Each of our campuses must be authorized by the applicable state education agency in which the campus is located to operate and to grant certificates, diplomas or degrees to its students. Our campuses are subject to extensive, ongoing regulation by each of these states. Additionally, our campuses are required to be authorized by the applicable state education agencies of certain other states in which our campuses recruit students. Our insurers issue surety bonds for us on behalf of our campuses and admissions representatives with multiple states to maintain authorization to conduct our business. We are obligated to reimburse our insurers for any surety bonds that are paid by the insurers. As of September 30, 2024, the total face amount of these surety bonds was approximately $22.9 million.
Legal
In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are periodically subject to lawsuits, demands in arbitration, investigations, regulatory proceedings or other claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving current or former students, routine employment matters, business disputes and regulatory demands. When we are aware of a claim or potential claim, we assess the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for the loss. When a loss is not both probable and estimable, we do not accrue a liability. Where a loss is not probable but is reasonably possible, including if a loss in excess of an accrued liability is reasonably possible, we determine whether it is possible to provide an estimate of the amount of the loss or range of possible losses for the claims. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings, but note that legal proceedings could, generally, have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, results of operations or financial condition.
Note 18 - Shareholders' Equity
Common Stock
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors and have the right to one vote per share on all matters requiring shareholder approval. On June 9, 2016, our board of directors voted to eliminate the quarterly cash dividend on our common stock.
Preferred Stock
As of September 30, 2024, no shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with a $0.0001 par value each (“Series A Preferred Stock”) remain outstanding and all right of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated.
Under the terms of the Certificate of Designations for the Series A Preferred Stock, we had the right to convert the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to common stock when our common stock achieved a stated volume weighted average price per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days. On December 18, 2023, upon satisfying the stock price condition, we entered into a preferred stock repurchase agreement with Coliseum Capital Partners, L.P. and Blackwell Partners LLC – Series A (collectively the “Selling Stockholders”), pursuant to which we repurchased, directly from the Selling Stockholders, 33,300 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $11.3 million. Additionally, we incurred approximately $0.3 million in fees related to excise taxes and other professional services related to the repurchase, which are recorded in equity. Following the repurchase of those shares of Series A Preferred Stock, we issued a notice of conversion causing all remaining outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted into Common
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Stock. In connection with the conversion, each share of Series A Preferred Stock was cancelled and converted into the right to receive 30.03003 shares of our Common Stock, no par value per share, and we made a final dividend payment of $1.1 million to the Series A Preferred Stock holders of record as of December 18, 2023. As a result of the conversion, the aggregate 642,585 remaining shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding were converted into 19,296,843 shares of Common Stock. Following the repurchase and subsequent conversion, the Selling Stockholders held less than 25% of our outstanding shares of common stock (a threshold above which we would have been required to seek regulatory approval for the conversion).
As of September 30, 2023, 675,885 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. The liquidation preference associated with the Series A Preferred Stock was $100 per share at September 30, 2023.
Dividends
Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, accrue at a rate of 7.5% per year, and are to be paid semi-annually in arrears on September 30 and March 31 of each year. We paid cash dividends of $1.1 million, $5.1 million, and $5.2 million during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. With the Series A Preferred Stock repurchase and subsequent conversion of remaining shares to common stock, there will be no further dividend payments related to the Series A Preferred Stock going forward.
Share Repurchase Program
On December 10, 2020, our board of directors authorized a new share repurchase plan that would allow for the repurchase of up to $35.0 million of our common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. This new share
repurchase plan replaced the previously authorized plan from fiscal 2012. We have not repurchased any
shares under this plan during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
Note 19 - Stock-Based Compensation
Our stock-based compensation is governed by the 2021 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (“2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan was adopted by our board of directors in January 2021 and approved by our shareholders at the February 2021 annual meeting. The 2021 Plan replaced the Management 2002 Stock Option Program and the 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the “Former Plans”). The 2021 Plan was amended on March 7, 2024, increasing the maximum aggregate number of shares of stock that may be issued to 5.3 million shares of common stock. Additionally, subject to and in accordance with the 2021 Plan, any shares for outstanding awards that are subsequently expired, forfeited, or are otherwise terminated will also become available for new awards under the 2021 Plan. As of September 30, 2024, 4.0 million shares remained available for future grants under the 2021 Plan.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
As previously discussed in Note 2, compensation expense associated with RSUs, PSUs or stock options is measured based on the grant date fair value of our common stock. The fair value of the RSUs is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of the PSUs is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period based upon the fair market value on the date of grant, adjusted quarterly for the anticipated or actual achievement against the established performance condition.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
For all stock-based compensation expense, we account for forfeitures as they occur. The following table summarizes the operating expense line in which stock-based compensation expense has been recorded and the impact on net income in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended September 30, |
| 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Educational services and facilities | | $ | 481 | | | $ | 192 | | | $ | 240 | |
| Selling, general and administrative | | 8,079 | | | 3,656 | | | 4,172 | |
| Total stock-based compensation expense | | $ | 8,560 | | | $ | 3,848 | | | $ | 4,412 | |
| | | | | | |
| Income tax benefit | | $ | 2,140 | | | $ | 962 | | | $ | 1,103 | |
Stock Options
We have not issued stock options since fiscal 2019. Outstanding options under the Former Plans have an expiration date of seven years. Under the 2021 Plan, the maximum term of any option granted is ten years and, unless otherwise permitted by our Compensation Committee, an option generally will remain exercisable for three months following the participant’s termination of service, provided that if service terminates as a result of the participant’s death or disability, the option generally will remain exercisable for 12 months, but in any event the option must be exercised no later than its expiration date.
The following table summarizes stock option activity under the Former Plans and the 2021 Plan for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Number of
Shares | | Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price | | Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life | | Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value | |
| (In thousands) | | (per Share) | | (Years) | | (In thousands) | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2022 | 210 | | | $ | 3.14 | | | 3.18 | | $ | 483 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 | 210 | | | $ | 3.14 | | | 2.18 | | $ | 1,100 | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2024 | 210 | | | $ | 3.14 | | | 1.18 | | $ | 2,755 | | |
| Stock options exercisable as of September 30, 2024 | 210 | | | $ | 3.14 | | | 1.18 | | $ | 2,755 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Units
Restricted Stock Units
Our RSUs are issued at fair market value, which is based on the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. RSUs generally vest ratably over a three-year service period from the date of grant. As of September 30, 2024, unrecognized stock compensation expense related to RSUs was $6.2 million which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.
Performance Share Units
Our outstanding Performance PSUs vest over a three-year service period from the date of the grant and are based upon a mix of certain pre-established targets for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. On the settlement date for each measurement period, participants will receive shares of our common stock equal to 0% to 187.5% of the Performance PSUs originally granted depending on the actual achievement against the performance metrics for that measurement period.
Our outstanding Market PSUs vest over a three-year service period from the date of the grant and are based upon a mix of certain pre-established targets for revenue, compounded annual total shareholder return for the measurement period and net income. On the settlement date for each measurement period, participants will receive shares of our common stock equal to 0% to 187.5% of the Market PSUs originally granted depending on the actual achievement against the performance metrics
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
for that measurement period. The Market PSUs vest subject to a market condition and on the settlement date which is expected to be no later than two and a half months after the end of each measurement period.
As of September 30, 2024, unrecognized stock compensation expense related to all PSUs was $4.2 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
The following table summarizes the activity for RSUs and PSUs granted under the Former Plans and 2021 Plan for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| RSUs | | PSUs | |
| Number of
Shares
(In thousands) | | Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
per Share | | Number of
Shares
(In thousands) | | Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
per Share | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2021 | 548 | | | $ | 6.56 | | | 642 | | | $ | 6.97 | | |
| Granted | 377 | | | 8.34 | | | 377 | | | 8.75 | | |
| Adjustment to grant based on achieved attainment level | — | | | — | | | (256) | | | — | | |
| Vested | (209) | | | 6.69 | | | (24) | | | 7.73 | | |
| Forfeited | (21) | | | 7.21 | | | (23) | | | 7.14 | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2022 | 695 | | | $ | 7.47 | | | 716 | | | $ | 7.60 | | |
| Granted | 596 | | | 7.17 | | | 475 | | | 7.49 | | |
| Adjustment to grant based on achieved attainment level | — | | | — | | | (304) | | | — | | |
| Vested | (325) | | | 7.31 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Forfeited | (121) | | | 7.37 | | | (144) | | | 7.65 | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 | 845 | | | $ | 7.33 | | | 743 | | | $ | 7.55 | | |
| Granted | 541 | | | 12.19 | | | 231 | | | 11.99 | | |
| Adjustment to grant based on achieved attainment level | — | | | — | | | 184 | | | — | | |
| Vested | (386) | | | 7.21 | | | (187) | | | 6.35 | | |
| Forfeited | (94) | | | 9.60 | | | (54) | | | 8.17 | | |
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2024 | 906 | | | $ | 10.04 | | | 917 | | | $ | 9.02 | | |
Note 20 - Earnings per Share
We calculate basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) pursuant to the two-class method as a result of the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock on June 24, 2016. Our Series A Preferred Stock is considered a participating security because, in the event that we pay a dividend or make a distribution on the outstanding common stock, we shall also pay each holder of the Series A Preferred Stock a dividend on an as-converted basis. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for common stock and participating securities according to dividend and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, all earnings, distributed and undistributed, are allocated to common shares and participating securities based on their respective rights to receive dividends.
Diluted earnings per common share is calculated using the more dilutive of the two-class method or as-converted method. The two-class method uses net income available to common shareholders and assumes conversion of all potential shares other than the participating securities. The as-converted method uses net income and assumes conversion of all potential shares including the participating securities. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options, unvested restricted share units and convertible preferred stock. As noted above in Note 18, no shares of the Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding and all rights of the holders to receive future dividends have been terminated as of the December 18, 2023 conversion date.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
The following table summarizes the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share under the two-class or as-converted method, as well as the anti-dilutive shares excluded: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended September 30, |
| | | 2024 | | 2023 | | 2022 |
| Basic earnings per common share: | | | | | | |
| Net income | | $ | 42,001 | | | $ | 12,322 | | | $ | 25,848 | |
| Less: Preferred stock dividend declared | | (1,097) | | | (5,069) | | | (5,159) | |
| Income available for distribution | | 40,904 | | | 7,253 | | | 20,689 | |
| Income allocated to participating securities | | (2,855) | | | (2,712) | | | (7,847) | |
| Net income available to common shareholders | | $ | 38,049 | | | $ | 4,541 | | | $ | 12,842 | |
| | | | | | |
| Weighted average basic shares outstanding | | 49,429 | | | 33,985 | | | 33,218 | |
| | | | | | |
| Basic income per common share | | $ | 0.77 | | | $ | 0.13 | | | $ | 0.39 | |
| | | | | | |
| Diluted earnings per common share: | | | | | | |
| Method used: | | Two-class | | Two-class | | Two-class |
| Net income available to common shareholders | | $ | 38,049 | | | $ | 4,541 | | | $ | 12,842 | |
| | | | | | |
| Weighted average basic shares outstanding | | 49,429 | | | 33,985 | | | 33,218 | |
| Dilutive effect related to employee stock plans | | 1,422 | | | 494 | | | 525 | |
| Weighted average diluted shares outstanding | | 50,851 | | | 34,479 | | | 33,743 | |
| | | | | | |
| Diluted income per common share | | $ | 0.75 | | | $ | 0.13 | | | $ | 0.38 | |
| | | | | | |
| Anti-dilutive shares excluded: | | | | | | |
| Outstanding stock-based grants | | 4 | | | 180 | | | 9 | |
| Convertible preferred stock | | — | | | 20,297 | | | 20,297 | |
| Total anti-dilutive shares excluded | | 4 | | | 20,477 | | | 20,306 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Note 21 - Employee Benefit Plans
We sponsor a defined contribution 401(k) plan, under which our employees elect to withhold specified amounts from their wages to contribute to the plan and we have a fiduciary responsibility with respect to the plan. The plan provides for matching a portion of employees’ contributions at management’s discretion. We made matching contributions of approximately $2.4 million, $1.7 million, and $1.5 million to the 401(k) plan for the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Additionally, we have a legacy deferred compensation plan into which certain members of management were eligible to defer a maximum of 75% of their regular compensation and a maximum of 100% of their incentive compensation. No new members have been added to the deferred compensation plan in the past three years. We are not obligated to fund the deferred compensation plan; however, we have purchased life insurance policies on the participants in order to fund the related benefits and such policies have been placed into a rabbi trust. Our obligations under the deferred compensation plan totaled $2.4 million and $2.2 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and are included in “Other liabilities” while the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies totaled $3.3 million and $2.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and are included in “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Note 22 - Segment Information
We operate our business in two reportable segments: (i) the UTI segment, and (ii) the Concorde segment. Our reportable segments reflect the manner in which Jerome Grant, our CEO and the chief operating decision-maker, evaluates performance and allocates resources. These segments are organized by key market segments to enhance operational alignment to more effectively execute our strategic plan. Each reportable segment represents a group of post-secondary education providers that offer a variety of degree and non-degree academic programs. “Corporate” includes corporate related expenses that are not allocated to the UTI or Concorde reportable segments and is included to reconcile segment results to the consolidated financial statements.
As previously discussed in Note 2, the segment disclosures for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 have been recast from prior years presentation for comparability to the current year presentation.
Summary information by reportable segment is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UTI | | Concorde | | Corporate | | Consolidated | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2024 | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues | $ | 486,376 | | | $ | 246,311 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 732,687 | | |
| Income (loss) from operations | 77,756 | | | 20,804 | | | (39,669) | | | 58,891 | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 22,917 | | | 5,158 | | | 1,249 | | | 29,324 | | |
| Net income (loss) | 71,646 | | | 21,048 | | | (50,693) | | | 42,001 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues | $ | 429,317 | | | $ | 178,091 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 607,408 | | |
| Income (loss) from operations | 42,762 | | | 10,533 | | | (31,896) | | | 21,399 | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 21,113 | | | 4,077 | | | 25 | | | 25,215 | | |
| Net income (loss) | 38,324 | | | 10,700 | | | (36,702) | | | 12,322 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended September 30, 2022 | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues | $ | 418,765 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 418,765 | | |
| Income (loss) from operations | 55,493 | | | — | | | (33,119) | | | 22,374 | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 16,822 | | | — | | | 62 | | | 16,884 | | |
| Net income (loss) | 53,581 | | | — | | | (27,733) | | | 25,848 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| As of September 30, 2024 | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | $ | 440,764 | | | $ | 125,212 | | | $ | 178,599 | | | $ | 744,575 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| As of September 30, 2023 | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | $ | 442,507 | | | $ | 130,813 | | | $ | 167,365 | | | $ | 740,685 | | |
Note 23 - Government Regulation and Financial Aid
Our institutions are subject to extensive regulatory requirements imposed by a wide range of federal and state agencies, as well as by institutional and programmatic accreditors. These requirements, which are frequently being revisited, revised, and expanded, cover virtually every aspect of our schools’ operations, and our institutions are subject to periodic audits and program compliance reviews by various external agencies for compliance with these requirements. Each of our institutions’ administration of the federal programs of student financial assistance under Title IV of the HEA (“Title IV Programs”) also
UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
must be audited annually by independent accountants and the resulting audit report submitted to ED for review. The approvals granted by these regulatory entities permit our schools to operate and to participate in a variety of government-sponsored financial aid programs, including Title IV Programs. If our institutions fail to comply with any of these regulatory requirements, our regulators could take an array of adverse actions, up to and including revocation of the approval granted by the agency. Such adverse actions could have a material adverse effect on our academic or operational initiatives, cash flows, results of operations, or financial condition. Below, we discuss certain, specific elements of this regulatory environment.
State Authorization
To operate and offer postsecondary programs, and to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs, each of our institutions must obtain and maintain authorization from the state in which it is physically located (“Home State”). To engage in educational or recruiting activities outside of its Home State, each institution also may be required to obtain and maintain authorization from the states in which it is educating or recruiting students. The level of regulatory oversight varies substantially from state to state and is extensive in some states. State laws may establish standards for instruction, qualifications of faculty, location and nature of facilities and equipment, administrative procedures, marketing, recruiting, student outcomes reporting, disclosure obligations to students, limitations on mandatory arbitration clauses in enrollment agreements, financial operations, and other operational matters. Some states prescribe standards of financial responsibility and mandate that institutions post surety bonds. Many states have requirements for institutions to disclose institutional data to current and prospective students, as well as to the public, and some states require that our schools meet prescribed performance standards as a condition of continued approval. States can and often do revisit, revise, and expand their regulations governing postsecondary education and recruiting.
Institutions that offer distance education instruction outside of their Home State must comply with federal regulations governing state authorization for distance education in order to participate in the Title IV student financial aid programs. All UTI institutions and the Concorde, Kansas City and Memphis institutions are authorized to participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories of the United States of America that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. SARA is overseen by a national council (“NC-SARA”) and administered by four regional education compacts. Forty-nine states (all but California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have joined SARA.
Each of our institutions holds the state or SARA authorizations required to operate and offer postsecondary education programs, and to recruit in the states in which it engages in recruiting activities. We also have received approval from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (“ACCSC”) and the Council on Occupational Education (“COE”) to offer blended format programs that utilize both distance and on-ground education. Additionally, we have received approvals from all required state education authorizing agencies to offer blended format programs. We continue to work to ensure that we comply with applicable distance education rules and standards. We also will closely monitor any new rulemakings that concern state authorization or distance education.
State Licensing Boards
Many educational programs leading to professional licensure in a regulated profession require approval from, and are subject to, ongoing oversight by state agencies or boards. For example, certain Concorde healthcare programs, such as the Vocational Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Nursing Practice (RN) programs, require and have obtained state licensure. Such programs are required to meet the standards of the state licensure agency or board and must periodically renew their licenses by completing a comprehensive license renewal process.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is a non-governmental process through which an institution voluntarily submits to ongoing qualitative reviews by an organization of peer institutions. Institutional accreditation by an ED-recognized accreditor is required for an institution to be certified to participate in Title IV Programs. All of the UTI institutions and 14 of the Concorde institutions are accredited by the ACCSC. The remaining two Concorde institutions are accredited by the COE. Both ACCSC and COE are accrediting agencies recognized by ED. ACCSC and COE review the academic quality of each institution’s instructional programs, as well as the administrative and financial operations of the institution to ensure that it has the resources necessary to perform its educational mission, implement continuous improvement processes, and support
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student success. Our institutions are subject to periodic review to confirm accreditation standards are met, and must submit annual reports, and at times, supplemental reports, to demonstrate ongoing compliance and improvement. ACCSC and COE require institutions to disclose certain institutional information to current and prospective students, as well as to the public, and require that our schools and programs meet various performance standards as a condition of continued accreditation. ACCSC and COE often revisit, revise, and expand their standards and policies. Institutions must periodically renew their accreditation by completing a comprehensive renewal of accreditation process.
Programmatic Accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation may be required for particular educational programs. Programmatic accreditors review specialized and professional programs in a range of fields and disciplines within an institution to ensure the public that an academic program has undergone a rigorous review process and been found to meet high standards for educational quality. Certain Concorde healthcare programs, including the Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Neurodiagnostic Technology, Polysomnographic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology, Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Cardiovascular Sonography, Practical Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, and Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, have obtained programmatic accreditation. Such programs are required to meet the standards of their programmatic accreditor and must periodically renew their accreditation by completing a comprehensive programmatic accreditation renewal process.
Title IV Programs
The federal government provides a substantial part of its support for postsecondary education through Title IV Programs in the form of grants and loans to students who can use those funds at any institution that has been certified as eligible to participate by ED. All of our institutions are certified to participate in Title IV Programs. Significant factors relating to Title IV Programs that could adversely affect us include:
•The 90/10 Rule. As a condition of participation in Title IV Programs, proprietary institutions must agree when they sign their PPA to comply with the 90/10 rule. Under the 90/10 rule, to remain eligible to participate in the federal student aid programs, a proprietary institution must derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than “Federal education assistance funds.” “Federal education assistance funds” are defined as “federal funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student to be used to attend such institution.”
•Administrative Capability. To continue its participation in Title IV Programs, an institution must demonstrate that it remains administratively capable of providing the education it promises and of properly managing its Title IV Programs. ED assesses the administrative capability of each institution that participates in Title IV Programs under a series of standards listed in the regulations, which cover a wide range of operational and administrative topics, including the designation of capable and qualified individuals, the quality and scope of written procedures, the adequacy of institutional communication and processes, the timely resolution of issues, the sufficiency of recordkeeping, the provision of adequate career services, and the frequency of findings of noncompliance. ED’s administrative capability standards also include thresholds and expectations for federal student loan cohort default rates, satisfactory academic progress, clinical and externship opportunities, gainful employment programs, and loan counseling. Failure to satisfy any of the standards may lead ED to find the institution ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs, require the institution to repay Title IV Program funds, change the method of payment of Title IV Program funds, place the institution on provisional certification as a condition of its continued participation in Title IV Programs, or take other actions against the institution.
•Three-Year Student Loan Default Rates. An institution whose cohort default rate exceeds 30% in consecutive fiscal years may be subject to conditions and restrictions and will lose eligibility if the rate remains above 30% three years in a row. An institution also will lose eligibility if its rate exceeds 40% for any fiscal year. None of our institutions had a three-year cohort default rate of 30% or greater for 2021, 2020 and 2019, the three most recent FFYs with published rates. An institution whose three-year cohort default rate is 15% or greater for any one of the three preceding years is subject to a 30-day delay in receiving the first disbursement on federal student loans for first-time borrowers. None of our institutions had a three-year cohort default rate of 7% or greater for 2021, 2020, or 2019, which are the three most recent FFYs with published rates.
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•Financial Responsibility. All institutions participating in Title IV Programs also must satisfy specific ED standards of financial responsibility. Among other things, an institution must meet all of its financial obligations, including required refunds to students and any Title IV Program liabilities and debts, be current in its debt payments, comply with certain past performance requirements, and not receive an adverse, qualified, or disclaimed opinion by its accountants in its audited financial statements. Each year, ED also evaluates institutions’ financial responsibility by calculating a “composite score,” which measures an institution’s overall financial health. The composite score utilizes information provided in the institutions’ annual audited financial statements and is based on three ratios: (1) the equity ratio which measures the institution’s capital resources, ability to borrow and financial viability; (2) the primary reserve ratio which measures the institution’s ability to support current operations from expendable resources; and (3) the net income ratio which measures the institution’s ability to operate at a profit. Between composite score calculations, ED also will reevaluate the financial responsibility of an institution following the occurrence of certain “triggering events,” which must be timely reported to the agency.
•Borrower Defense to Repayment. Under the HEA and its implementing regulations, students may file a claim with ED to discharge their federal Direct Loans (or Direct Consolidated Loans) if, generally, their institution misled them or engaged in other misconduct related to the making of their federal loans or the provision of their educational services. This is referred to as a “borrower defense to repayment” or “BDR” claim. On November 1, 2022, the Biden administration promulgated a revised version of the BDR rule, which took effect on July 1, 2023. On August 7, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, enjoining the implementation of the borrower defense and closed school provisions of that rule. While this case is decided, the previous versions of the borrower defense and closed school provisions are in effect.
•Substantial Misrepresentation. The regulatory definitions of “misrepresentation” and “substantial misrepresentation” enforced by ED are exceptionally broad and do not require intent by the institution to misrepresent, or actual reliance by the person to whom the alleged misrepresentation was made. Therefore, it is possible that a statement made by an institution or one of its service providers or representatives could be construed by ED to constitute a substantial misrepresentation, even if the statement was made in error, without intent to misrepresent, and the person to whom it was made did not actually rely upon it.
•Incentive Compensation. The “incentive compensation” prohibition forbids institutions from providing any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based in any part, directly or indirectly, on success in securing enrollments or the award of financial aid to any person or entity engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the awarding of Title IV Program funds. We believe our compensation practices for our admissions representatives comply with the current regulations and ED’s guidance. We will continue to evaluate other compensation options under these regulations and guidance.
•Title IV Program Rulemaking. ED is almost continuously engaged in one or more negotiated rulemakings, which is the process pursuant to which it revisits, revises, and expands the complex and voluminous Title IV Program regulations. We devote significant effort to understanding the effects of ED regulations and rulemakings on our business and to developing compliant solutions that also are congruent with our business, culture, and mission to serve our students and industry relationships. ED has recently undertaken, or proposed to undertake, rulemakings on the following topics:
◦On October 28, 2022, ED published a final rule amending regulations governing Pell Grants for prison education programs, the 90/10 rule, and changes in ownership and control, effective July 1, 2023. On November 1, 2022, ED published a final rule governing borrower defense to repayment rule, closed school loan discharges, pre-dispute arbitration and class action waiver clauses, interest capitalization on Federal student loans, Public Student Loan Forgiveness, total and permanent disability discharges, and false certification discharges, also effective July 1, 2023.
◦On October 10, 2023, ED published a final rule related to financial value transparency and gainful employment, effective July 1, 2024. On October 31, 2023, ED published final rules relating to (1) financial responsibility, (2) administrative capability, (3) certification procedures; and (4) ability to benefit, effective July 1, 2024.
◦ED established a Student Loan Relief Committee to consider revisions to sections of 34 C.F.R. Parts 30, 682 and 685 addressing provisions related to the modification, waiver, release or compromise of Federal student loans. The Student Loan Relief Committee completed four negotiating sessions in October, November and
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December 2023 and February 2024. On April 17, 2024, ED issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing proposed regulatory changes addressing the Secretary’s discretionary authority to waive loan repayment obligations. ED has collected comments on the proposed regulatory changes but has not yet issued final regulatory updates.
◦ED established a Program Integrity and Institutional Quality Committee to consider proposed changes to regulations addressing (1) the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies; (2) institutional eligibility, including State authorization; (3) distance education; (4) return of Title IV funds; (5) cash management; and (6) the Federal TRIO Programs. ED also announced a Federal TRIO Programs Subcommittee to include additional expertise and to make recommendations to the full committee on the subject. The full Committee met for three negotiating sessions in January, February and March 2024, and the Subcommittee met twice in January and February 2024. On July 24, 2024, ED issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing proposed regulatory changes addressing (a) distance education; (b) return of Title IV funds; and (c) the Federal TRIO Programs. ED has collected comments on the proposed regulatory changes but has not yet issued final regulatory updates. ED also has not yet announced any proposed regulatory changes addressing (x) the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies; (y) institutional eligibility, including State authorization; and (z) cash management.
•Non-Discrimination Rulemakings. On April 29, 2024, ED published a final rule amending the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, effective August 1, 2024. This rule represents a significant revision of the Title IX rules. As of September 30, 2024, pursuant to various Federal court orders, ED was enjoined from enforcing the 2024 Title IX rule in 26 states, including Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, and at a list of institutions identified by a federal district court in Kansas, including Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc. ED also has indicated that it will be proposing a rule to amend regulations related to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability.
Other Benefit or Aid Programs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education (through non-Title IV programs), and certain states provide support to postsecondary students through programs, grants, benefits, loans, or scholarships. All of our institutions that engage in such programs must comply with the eligibility and participation requirements applicable to each of these funding programs, which vary by funding agency and program.
In 2024, we derived approximately 11% of our revenues, on a cash basis, from veterans’ benefits programs, which include the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Education Assistance Program (“REAP”) and VA Vocational Rehabilitation. To continue participation in veterans’ benefits programs, an institution must comply with certain requirements established by the VA.
Additionally, some states provide financial aid to our students in the form of grants, loans or scholarships. For example, the UTI campuses in Long Beach, Rancho Cucamonga and Sacramento, California, as well as the Concorde campuses in Garden Grove, North Hollywood, San Bernardino and San Diego, California, for example, are currently eligible to participate in the Cal Grant program. All of our institutions must comply with the eligibility and participation requirements applicable to each of these funding programs, which vary by funding agency and program.
Consumer Protections Laws and Regulations
As a postsecondary educational institution, we are subject to a broad range of consumer protection and other laws, such as those that relate to recruiting, marketing, the protection of personal information, student financing and payment servicing. Such laws and regulations are enforced by federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and by various state agencies and state attorneys general.
We received a January 18, 2022 letter from the CFPB explaining that it was assessing whether UTI “is subject to the CFPB’s supervisory authority based on its activities related to student lending.” The CFPB’s letter then requested certain information about extensions of credit to UTI students; generally explained the source and scope of the CFPB’s regulatory authority; and advised that, after it reviewed the requested materials, the CFPB “anticipates providing guidance regarding whether UTI is
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subject to CFPB’s supervisory authority.” We have provided the requested information and are awaiting further guidance, if any, from the CFPB.
Both UTI and Concorde, along with 68 other proprietary institutions, received an October 6, 2021 letter from the FTC providing notice that engaging in deceptive or unfair conduct in the education marketplace violates consumer protection laws and could lead to significant civil penalties. The notice stated that an institution’s receipt of the letter “does not reflect any assessment as to whether they have engaged in deceptive or unfair conduct,” and the FTC did not request any information.
We devote significant effort to complying with state and federal consumer protection laws and regulations.
Note 24 - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
During fiscal 2020 and 2021, various pieces of legislation were issued related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2021 (“CRRSAA”) and the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). In 2020, the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) I, and in 2021 the CRRSAA established HEERF II and the ARPA established HEERF III, all of which included relief funds to be distributed directly to institutions of higher education. The original HEERF I grants required that 50% be used to provide students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19 with the remaining 50% to be used to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to COVID-19 as institutional funds. HEERF II and HEERF III grants were only to be used to provide financial aid grants to students for proprietary institutions. During the year ended September 30, 2022, UTI awarded approximately $7.0 million, in HEERF II and HEERF III grants to over 15,500 students. The HEERF II and HEERF III funds were drawn down as student grants were distributed.
