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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2018

[   ]

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission file no. 1-11107

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Utah (State of incorporation)	87-0401551 (I.R.S. employer identification number)
2200 West Parkway Boulevard Salt Lake City, Utah (Address of principal executive offices)	84119-2099 (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, Including area code	(801) 817-1776

 

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   T No   £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).  Yes   T 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 definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	☐
Accelerated filer	T
Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if smaller reporting company)
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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes   £ No   T

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of Common Stock as of the latest practicable date:

 

13,897,409 shares of Common Stock as of March 31, 2018

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except per-share amounts)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(in thousands, except per-share amounts)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

(in thousands)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

FRANKLIN COVEY CO.

(unaudited)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

General

Franklin Covey Co. (hereafter referred to as us, we, our, or the Company) is a global company focused on individual and organizational performance improvement.  Our mission is to "enable greatness in people and organizations everywhere," and our employees worldwide are organized to help individuals and organizations achieve sustained superior performance through changes in human behavior.  We are fundamentally a content and solutions company, and we believe that our offerings and services create the connection between capabilities and results.  Our expertise extends to seven crucial areas: Leadership, Execution, Productivity, Trust, Educational Improvement, Sales Performance, and Customer Loyalty.  We believe that our clients are able to utilize our content to create cultures whose hallmarks are high-performing, collaborative individuals, led by effective, trust-building leaders who execute with excellence and deliver measurably improved results for all of their key stakeholders.

In the training and consulting marketplace, we believe there are three important characteristics that distinguish us from our competitors.

1.

World Class Content – Our content is principle-centered and based on natural laws of human behavior and effectiveness.  When our content is applied consistently in an organization, we believe the culture of that organization will change to enable the organization to achieve their own great purposes.  Our content is designed to build new skillsets, establish new mindsets, and provide enabling toolsets to our clients.

2.

Breadth and Scalability of Delivery Options – We have a wide range of content delivery options, including: subscription offerings, which includes the All Access Pass, The Leader in Me membership, and other subscription offerings; intellectual property licenses; on-site training; training led through certified facilitators; on-line learning; blended learning; and organization-wide transformational processes, including consulting and coaching.

3.

Global Capability – We have sales professionals in the United States and Canada who serve clients in the private sector and in governmental organizations; wholly owned subsidiaries in Australia, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom; and we contract with licensee partners who deliver our content and provide services in over 150 other countries and territories around the world.

We are committed to, and measure ourselves by, our clients' achievement of transformational results.

We have some of the best-known offerings in the training industry, including a suite of individual-effectiveness and leadership-development training content based on the best-selling books, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Speed of Trust, and The 4 Disciplines of Execution, and proprietary content in the areas of Execution, Sales Performance, Productivity, Educational Improvement, and Customer Loyalty.  Our offerings are described in further detail at www.franklincovey.com.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations.  The information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Our fiscal year ends on August 31 of each year.  During fiscal 2017, our Board of Directors approved a change to our fiscal quarter ending dates from a modified 52/53-week calendar, in which quarterly periods ended on different dates from year-to-year, to the last day of the calendar month in each quarter.  The change was made to improve comparability between fiscal periods.  Beginning with the second quarter of fiscal 2017, our fiscal quarters end on the last day of November, February, and May.  We do not believe that the change in quarter ending dates had a material impact on the comparability of financial results for the quarter or two quarters ended February 28, 2018 with the prior year.

Our sales primarily consist of training and consulting services.  In fiscal 2017, we exited the publishing business in Japan, which significantly reduced our sales of tangible products in the first two quarters of fiscal 2018.  Due to the immateriality of product and leasing sales (approximately four percent of consolidated revenues during the first two quarters of 2018 combined) compared with our training and consulting sales, we have condensed our reported sales and cost of sales into one line for presentation purposes.

The results of operations for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the entire fiscal year ending August 31, 2018, or for any future periods.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued and Adopted

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  The guidance in ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of items on the statement of cash flows.  The guidance in ASU 2016-09 is effective for public companies' annual periods, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016.  On September 1, 2017, we adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-09.  The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018.

Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This new standard was issued in conjunction with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and is designed to create a single, principles-based process by which all businesses calculate revenue.  The core principle of this standard is that an entity should recognize

 

revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services.  The standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract.  The new standard replaces numerous individual, industry-specific revenue rules found in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  We are required to adopt this standard on September 1, 2018, and apply the new guidance during interim periods within fiscal 2019.  The new standard may be adopted using the "full retrospective" or "modified retrospective" approach.  We are continuing to assess the impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on our financial position, results of operations, and related disclosures, and we have not yet determined the method of adoption nor the full impact that the standard will have on our reported revenue or results of operations.  We currently believe that the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 will not significantly change the recognition of revenues associated with the delivery of onsite presentations and facilitator material sales.  However, the recognition of revenues associated with intellectual property licenses, such as our All Access Pass, and other revenue streams may be more significantly impacted by the new standard.  The Company will continue to assess the new standard along with industry trends and additional interpretive guidance, and it may adjust its implementation plan accordingly.  We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have any impact on our operating cash flows.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) - Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.  The guidance in ASU 2016-10 clarifies aspects of Topic 606 related to identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related core principles for those areas.  The effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09) discussed above.  As of February 28, 2018, we have not yet determined the full impact that ASU No. 2016-10 will have on our reported revenue or results of operations.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases.  The new lease accounting standard is the result of a collaborative effort with the IASB (similar to the new revenue standard described above), although some differences remain between the two standards.  This new standard will affect all entities that lease assets and will require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases (except for short-term leases that have a duration of less than one year) as of the date on which the lessor makes the underlying asset available to the lessee.  For lessors, accounting for leases is substantially the same as in prior periods.  For public companies, the new lease standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted for all entities.  For leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach.  While we expect the adoption of this new standard will increase reported assets and liabilities, as of February 28, 2018, we have not yet determined the full impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our financial statements.

NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined using the first-in, first-out method, and were comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

At February 28, 2018, the carrying value of our financial instruments approximated their fair values.  The fair values of our contingent consideration liabilities from business acquisitions are considered "level 3" measurements because we use various estimates in the valuation models to project the timing and amount of future contingent payments.  The valuation models described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017 were utilized during the current period (with updated estimates) to arrive at the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities.  The fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities from the fiscal 2017 acquisitions of Robert Gregory Partners (RGP) and Jhana Education (Jhana) changed as follows during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 (in thousands):

Approximately $1.0 million of the RGP and $1.9 million of the Jhana contingent consideration liabilities were recorded as components of accrued liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet at February 28, 2018.  The remainder of our contingent consideration liabilities are classified as other long-term liabilities.  Due to the timing of the first $1.1 million of the Jhana contingent liability payment (within 90 days of the acquisition date), the amount was classified as a component of investing activities on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018.

Adjustments to the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities are included in selling, general, and administrative expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

NOTE 4 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The cost of our stock-based compensation plans is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.  The total cost of our stock-based compensation plans was as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):

During the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018, we issued 40,814 shares and 292,048 shares of our common stock to employees for stock-based compensation awards.  Our stock-based compensation plans allow shares to be withheld to cover statutory income taxes if so elected by the award recipient.  During the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018, we withheld 1,934 shares and 104,699 shares, respectively, of our common stock to cover statutory taxes on stock-based compensation awards that vested during fiscal 2018.  The following is a description of the developments in our stock-based compensation plans during the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018.

 

Performance Awards

On November 14, 2017, the Organization and Compensation Committee (the Compensation Committee) of the Board of Directors granted a new performance-based long-term incentive plan (LTIP) award to our executive officers and members of senior management.  The fiscal 2018 LTIP award has three tranches, which consist of the following:  1) shares that vest after three years of service; 2) the achievement of certain levels of fiscal 2020 qualified adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA); and 3) fiscal 2020 subscription sales.  Twenty-five percent of a participant's award vests after three years of service, and the number of shares awarded in this tranche will not fluctuate based on financial measures.  The number of shares granted in this tranche totals 42,883 shares.  The remaining two tranches of the award are divided between the achievement of certain levels of Adjusted EBITDA and subscription sales recognized in fiscal 2020.  The number of shares that will vest to participants for these two tranches is variable and may be 50 percent of the award (minimum award threshold) up to 200 percent of the participant's award (maximum threshold).  The maximum number of shares that may be awarded in connection with these tranches totals 257,300 shares.

The fiscal 2018 LTIP has a three-year life and expires on August 31, 2020.

Compensation expense recognized during the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018, for performance awards includes expense related to awards granted in previous periods for which the performance conditions are probable of being achieved.

Unvested Share Awards

Our annual unvested share award granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors is administered under the terms of the 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, and is designed to provide our non-employee directors, who are not eligible to participate in our employee stock purchase plan, an opportunity to obtain an interest in the Company through the acquisition of shares of our common stock.  The annual unvested award is granted in January (following the annual shareholders' meeting) of each year.  For the fiscal 2018 award, each eligible director received a whole-share grant equal to $100,000 with a one-year vesting period.  Our unvested share activity during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 consisted of the following:

At February 28, 2018, there was approximately $0.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense remaining on the fiscal 2018 Board of Director unvested share award.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) that offers qualified employees the opportunity to purchase shares of our common stock at a price equal to 85 percent of the average fair market value of our common stock on the last trading day of each fiscal quarter.  During the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018, we issued 11,204 shares and 21,091 shares, respectively, of our common stock to participants in the ESPP.

 

At the annual meeting shareholders held on January 26, 2018, our shareholders approved the Franklin Covey Co. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Plan).  The Plan replaced the Franklin Covey Co. 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which previously expired.  The Plan authorized an additional 1,000,000 shares, subject to certain adjustments, of common stock for issuance to ESPP participants.  For further information regarding the Plan, including the full text of the Plan, please refer to our definitive Proxy Statement as filed with the SEC on December 22, 2017.

NOTE 5 – INCOME TAXES

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the 2017 Tax Act) was signed into law on December 22, 2017.  The 2017 Tax Act significantly revises the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the statutory corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; eliminating certain deductions; imposing a mandatory one-time transition tax, or deemed repatriation tax, on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of 2017 that were previously tax deferred; introducing new tax regimes; and changing how foreign earnings are subject to U.S. tax.

Since we have an August 31 fiscal year end, the lower corporate income tax rate will be phased in, resulting in a U.S. statutory federal rate of 25.7 percent for fiscal 2018 and 21 percent rate for subsequent fiscal years.  Other provisions of the 2017 Tax Act will not be effective for us until fiscal 2019, including limitations on the deductibility of interest and executive compensation as well as anti-deferral provisions on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income.

Due to the complexities of implementing the provisions of the 2017 Tax Act, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, which provides guidance on accounting for tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act and permits a measurement period, not to exceed one year from the enactment date, for companies to complete the required analyses and accounting.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2018, we recorded a one-time income tax benefit of $1.2 million as a provisional estimate of the effects of the 2017 Tax Act.  The benefit resulted primarily from the re-measurement of net deferred tax liabilities at the lower enacted U.S. federal corporate tax rate.  We did not establish a provisional valuation allowance against our foreign tax credit carryforward deferred tax asset, notwithstanding the reduced U.S. tax rate.  The 2017 Tax Act allows us to increase our computed foreign-source income, essentially offsetting the impact of the reduced U.S. tax rate on our ability to use foreign tax credit carryforwards in the future.  We did not record any provisional income tax expense related to the deemed repatriation of accumulated earnings from our foreign subsidiaries.  We expect foreign tax credits to fully offset the deemed repatriation tax.

As we complete our analysis of the 2017 Tax Act, finalize our fiscal 2017 federal and state income tax returns, collect and prepare necessary data, and interpret any additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and other standard-setting bodies, we may make adjustments to the provisional tax amounts.  Those adjustments may materially impact our provision or benefit for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made.

 

NOTE 6 – LOSS PER SHARE

The following is a reconciliation from basic loss per share (EPS) to diluted EPS (in thousands, except per-share amounts).

Since we incurred a net loss for the quarter and two quarters ended February 28, 2018, no potentially dilutive securities are included in the calculation of diluted loss per share because such effect would be anti-dilutive.  The number of dilutive stock options and other stock-based awards for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 would have been approximately 223,000 shares.  Other securities, including stock-based compensation instruments, may have a dilutive effect upon our EPS calculation in future periods if we achieve specified performance targets.

NOTE 7 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our sales are primarily comprised of training and consulting services.  Consistent with changes during the first quarter of fiscal 2018 in our organization to promote the sale of subscription-based offerings, our internal reporting structure was revised and is now comprised of three operating segments and a corporate services group.  The former Strategic Markets operating segment was absorbed by the Direct Office operating segment since their target customers and sales methodologies were essentially identical.  The remaining operating segments were determined to be reportable segments under the applicable accounting guidance.  The following is a brief description of our reportable segments:

·	Direct Offices – This segment includes our sales personnel that serve the United States and Canada; our international sales offices located in Japan, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia; our governmental sales channel; and our public program operations.

·	Education Practice – This group includes our domestic and international Education practice operations, which are focused on sales to educational institutions.

 

·	International Licensees – This segment is primarily comprised of our international licensees' royalty revenues.

·	Corporate and Other – Our corporate and other information includes leasing operations, shipping and handling revenues, and certain corporate administrative expenses.

We determined that the Company's chief operating decision maker continues to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and the primary measurement tool used in business unit performance analysis is Adjusted EBITDA, which may not be calculated as similarly titled amounts disclosed by other companies.  For reporting purposes, our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA may be calculated as our income or loss from operations excluding stock-based compensation, depreciation expense, amortization expense, and certain other charges such as restructuring charges and adjustments for changes in the fair value of contingent liabilities from business acquisitions.  Prior period segment financial information was reclassified to conform to our current reporting and operating structure.

Our operations are not capital intensive and we do not own any manufacturing facilities or equipment.  Accordingly, we do not allocate assets to the reportable segments for analysis purposes.  Interest expense and interest income are primarily generated at the corporate level and are not allocated.  Income taxes are likewise calculated and paid on a corporate level (except for entities that operate in foreign jurisdictions) and are not allocated for analysis purposes.

We account for the following segment information on the same basis as the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (in thousands).

As a result of the change in our segments, all of the goodwill previously included in the Strategic Markets segment was reassigned to the Direct Office segment.  As of February 28, 2018, our goodwill balances were $16.8 million in the Direct Offices segment, $2.3 million in the Education Practice segment, and $5.1 million in the International Licensee segment.  In conjunction with the change in reportable segments, we evaluated goodwill in the Direct Offices and Strategic Markets reportable segments for impairment, both before and after the segment change, and determined that goodwill was not impaired.

A reconciliation of our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net loss is provided below (in thousands).

NOTE 8 – INVESTMENT IN FC ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTS

We own a 19.5 percent interest in FC Organizational Products (FCOP), an entity that purchased substantially all of our consumer solution business unit assets in fiscal 2008 for the purpose of selling planners and related organizational products under a comprehensive licensing agreement.  Due to significant operating losses incurred after the establishment of FCOP, we reconsidered whether FCOP was a variable interest entity as defined under FASC 810, and determined that FCOP was a variable interest entity.  We further determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of FCOP because we do not have the ability to direct the activities that most significantly impact FCOP's economic performance, which primarily consist of the day-to-day sale of planning products and related accessories, and we do not have an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from FCOP that could potentially be significant.

We account for our investment in FCOP using the equity method of accounting.  However, we have not recorded our share of FCOP's losses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations because we have impaired and written off investment balances in previous periods, as defined within the applicable accounting guidance, in excess of our share of FCOP's losses through February 28, 2018.

The operations of FCOP are primarily financed by the sale of planning products and accessories in the normal course of business.  The majority of FCOP's sales and cash flows are seasonal and occur between October and January.  Accordingly, we generally receive payment on outstanding receivables during our second and third quarters of each fiscal year.  At February 28, 2018 we had $0.8 million (net of $0.6 million discount) receivable from FCOP, compared with $1.7 million (net of $0.7 million discount) receivable at August 31, 2017.  These receivables are classified as components of current and long-term assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets based on expected payment dates.  During the quarter ended February 28, 2018, we received $1.1 million of cash from FCOP for payment on these receivables.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management's discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to various uncertainties and changes in circumstances.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are set forth below under the heading "Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995."

We suggest that the following discussion and analysis be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2017.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

At its core, Franklin Covey Co. is a content and solutions company.  During our history, we have created and developed world-class content designed to help our clients solve challenges which require significant and lasting changes in human behavior.  Several years ago, we began moving from simply selling training courses to providing fully-integrated solutions and practices which were focused on helping organizational clients successfully execute on their strategic priorities, develop their leaders, and build winning cultures.  Two years ago, we determined that we could better serve our clients and substantially expand the breadth and depth of our client impact if we moved from selling content on a course-by-course basis, to a subscription basis, such as through the All Access Pass (AAP) in our Enterprise Division, which includes our direct office and international licensee segments, and The Leader in Me membership offered through our Education Division.

The All Access Pass provides our clients with a compelling value proposition under which they receive: (1) unlimited access to our current and continually-updated content and solutions; (2) the ability to assemble, integrate and deliver these solutions through an almost limitless combination of delivery modalities, in 16 languages worldwide; (3) the services of an implementation specialist to help curate and organize the content and solutions into "impact journeys" that exactly meet their needs; (4) at a cost per population trained which is less than or equal to that offered by other providers for just a single course through a single delivery modality; and with (5) an array of affordable add-on implementation services to help them accomplish their key "jobs-to-be-done."  The Leader In Me membership provides our educational institution clients with a portal to access content and tools as well as a coach to help schools successfully develop, implement, and effectively utilize the Leader In Me program.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2018, our subscription and subscription-related revenue grew 55 percent compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  We invoiced $14.4 million of new subscription contracts during the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and recognized $13.7 million of previously deferred revenue.  At February 28, 2018, we had $32.1 million of deferred subscription revenue on our balance sheet, a $16.0 million, or 99 percent, increase compared with deferred revenue on our balance sheet at February 28, 2017.  At February 28, 2018, we had $15.1 million of unbilled deferred revenue compared with only $1.7 million of deferred unbilled revenue at February 28, 2017.  Unbilled deferred revenue represents business that is contracted but unbilled, and excluded from our balance sheet.

 

While the rewards of a subscription-based business model are appealing to our clients and to us, we also recognized that the transition to a subscription model would be disruptive, both to our financial reporting, since subscription revenues are required to be deferred and recognized over the lives of the subscriptions, and to our existing business model as clients transition from traditional delivery channels.  As expected, the transition to the subscription business model has been disruptive, especially to fiscal 2017 financial results, as we deferred a significant amount of revenue.  But we believe that the transition to a subscription model is working well and the benefits of this business model became evident in the first two quarters of fiscal 2018.  For the two quarters ended February 28, 2018, our consolidated sales increased 15 percent to $94.5 million compared with $82.0 million in the first half of fiscal 2017 and our gross profit and gross margins also improved compared with the prior year.  These improvements were partially offset by increased operating expenses as we are transitioning to a subscription model and investing in new personnel, content, and technology to drive future growth.

Our financial results for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 were affected by a number of factors, which are described in further detail throughout this discussion and analysis.  The following is a summary of key financial items for the quarter ended February 28, 2018:

·

Sales – Our consolidated net sales for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 increased 10 percent and totaled $46.5 million, compared with $42.2 million in the second quarter of the prior year.  In addition to the recognition of previously deferred high-margin subscription revenues, our sales were also favorably impacted by increased Education segment revenues, increased international direct office sales, increased revenues from businesses acquired in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2017, increased book and audio sales, and increased government services revenues.  These increases were partially offset by decreased legacy facilitator and onsite revenues during the quarter.

·

Cost of Sales/Gross Profit – Our cost of goods sold was $13.8 million for the quarter ending February 28, 2018, compared with $14.2 million in the prior year.  Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was $32.7 million compared with $28.0 million in the corresponding quarter of fiscal 2017, and increased primarily due to increased sales, as described above.  Our consolidated gross margin was 70.3 percent of sales compared with 66.4 percent in the prior year.  The improvement was primarily due to a change in the mix of revenues as high-margin subscription revenues, including the All Access Pass, continue to grow.

·

Operating Expenses – Our operating expenses for the second quarter increased by $5.4 million compared with the prior year, which was primarily due to a $5.7 million increase in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses, a $0.7 million increase in amortization expense, and a $0.5 million increase in depreciation expense.  These increases were partially offset by $1.5 million of contract termination costs that did not repeat in fiscal 2018.  Increased SG&A expenses were primarily related to increased associate costs resulting from investments in new sales and sales related personnel, especially in our Education Division, new implementation specialists, and increased commission expense resulting from higher sales; $1.4 million of increased expense from the change in the fair value of contingent liabilities from business acquisitions; and increased advertising expense primarily to promote the All Access Pass.

·

Operating Loss and Net Loss – Our loss from operations for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 was $(5.1) million compared with a loss of $(4.5) million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was $(2.7) million, or $(.20) per share, compared with a net loss of $(3.3) million, or $(.24) per share, in the prior year.

Further details regarding these factors and their impact on our operating results and liquidity are provided throughout the following management's discussion and analysis.  The following table sets forth consolidated sales data by category and by our reportable segments for the periods indicated (in thousands).

Our sales primarily consist of training and consulting services.  In fiscal 2017, we exited the publishing business in Japan, which will significantly reduce our sales of tangible products in fiscal 2018 and in future periods.  Due to the immateriality of product and leasing revenues compared with training and consulting sales, we intend to phase out the reporting of those revenue classifications in future periods.

Sales

The following sales analysis for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 is based on activity through our segments as shown above.

Direct Offices – This segment includes our sales personnel that serve clients in the United States and Canada; our directly owned international offices in Japan, China, the United Kingdom, and Australia; and other groups that were formerly included in the Strategic Markets segment, such as our government services office.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we dissolved the Strategic Markets segment and combined those sales groups with the Direct Offices segment since most of these groups have a common focus--selling subscription services.  In addition to the benefit from the recognition of deferred subscription sales, we had $1.0 million of increased revenue from businesses acquired in the second half of fiscal 2017, a $0.5 million increase from book and audio product sales resulting from increased sales of materials and the acquisition of a new foreign distribution arrangement, and a $0.5 million increase in government service sales.  These increases were partially offset by decreased facilitator sales as many of these clients have transitioned to the AAP, and decreased onsite training revenues.

International direct office sales increased $1.5 million compared with the prior year.  Sales increased at all of our direct offices.  Our sales in the United Kingdom and Australia were favorably impacted by the recognition of previously deferred AAP revenues and new contracts.  Our new China offices continue to perform well and recognized a $0.5 million increase in sales compared with the prior year.  Our Japan office sales increased by $0.2 million despite our exit of the publishing business in the second half of fiscal 2017.  Foreign exchange rates had a $0.5 million favorable impact on our international direct offices sales and a $0.1 million favorable impact on our operating income during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.  We launched the All

 

Access Pass in 15 additional languages early in the third quarter of fiscal 2018.  We believe that our international direct offices and international licensees will be favorably impacted by the availability of our content and offerings through the AAP to our foreign clients.

Education Practice – Our Education practice is comprised of our domestic and international Education practice operations (focused on sales to educational institutions) and includes our widely acclaimed The Leader In Me program designed for students primarily in K-6 elementary schools.  We continue to see increased demand for The Leader in Me program in many school districts in the United States as well as in international locations, which contributed to a $1.2 million, or 15 percent, increase in Education practice revenues compared with the prior year.  We continue to make substantial investments in new sales personnel for our Education practice and expect that our sales will continue to grow when compared with prior periods.  Consistent with prior fiscal years, we expect the majority of sales growth from the Education practice to occur during our fourth fiscal quarter.

International Licensees – In countries or foreign locations where we do not have a directly owned office, our offerings are delivered through independent licensees, which may translate and adapt our curriculum to local preferences and customs, if necessary.  Our international licensee revenues increased by $0.1 million, which was primarily due to favorable foreign exchange rates during the quarter.  As mentioned above, we anticipate that the launch of the All Access Pass in additional languages will improve sales at our international licensees, which will increase our royalty revenues.

Corporate and other – Our "corporate and other" sales are primarily comprised of leasing, and shipping and handling revenues.  These sales declined due to a slight decrease in shipping and handling revenues when compared with the prior year.

Gross Profit

Gross profit consists of net sales less the cost of services provided or the cost of products sold.  For the quarter ended February 28, 2018, our gross profit was $32.7 million compared with $28.0 million in the prior year.  The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to increased sales as described above, including the recognition of previously deferred subscription revenue.  Our gross margin for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 was 70.3 percent of sales compared with 66.4 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  The improvement was primarily due to a change in the mix of revenues as higher margin subscription revenues, such as the All Access Pass, continue to grow, and lower margin publishing sales were reduced by our fiscal 2017 decision to exit the publishing business in Japan.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

Selling, General and Administrative – The increase in our SG&A expenses compared with the second quarter of the prior year was primarily due to 1) a $2.6 million increase in spending related to investments new sales and sales-related personnel (especially in the Education Division), new implementation specialists, increased commissions on higher sales, and new personnel from businesses acquired during fiscal 2017; 2) a $1.4 million change in the fair value of estimated contingent consideration liabilities arising from previous business acquisitions; 3) a $0.9 million increase in advertising expense primarily related to the promotion of the All Access Pass; and 4) a $0.7 million increase in computer and office expenses primarily related to the implementation of our new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.  Consistent with prior years, we continue to invest in new sales and sales support personnel, and we had 220 client partners at February 28, 2018 compared with 216 client partners at February 28, 2017.  During the first two quarters of fiscal 2017, we determined that the likelihood of any further contingent payments arising from the acquisition of NinetyFive 5, LLC was becoming less likely.  Accordingly, we reversed the previously accrued contingent consideration expense associated with the potential payments, which resulted in a significant credit during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2017 that did not repeat in the first or second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Contract Termination Costs – During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we entered into a new 10-year license agreement for Education practice content in a foreign country, with minimum required royalties payable to us totaling approximately $16 million over the life of the arrangement.  Under a previously existing profit-sharing agreement, we would have been obligated to pay one-third of the royalty, or approximately $5.4 million, to an international licensee partner that owns the rights in that country.  For a $1.5 million cash payment, we terminated the previously existing profit sharing arrangement and we will owe no further royalty payments to the licensee.  Based on the guidance for contract termination costs, we expensed the $1.5 million payment.

Depreciation – Depreciation expense increased due to the acquisition of assets in fiscal 2017 and the first two quarters of fiscal 2018, including our new ERP software, which was placed into service on December 1, 2017.  Based on previous property and equipment acquisitions, and expected capital additions during the remainder of fiscal 2018, we expect depreciation expense will total approximately $5.6 million in fiscal 2018.

Amortization – Our amortization expense increased compared with the prior year primarily due to business acquisitions completed during the last two quarters of fiscal 2017.  We currently expect our amortization expense from definite-lived intangible assets will total $5.4 million in fiscal 2018.

Interest Expense

Our interest expense increased $0.1 million over the second quarter of the prior year primarily due to increased borrowings on our line of credit and term loans, combined with increased interest rates on those borrowings.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax benefit rate for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 was 52.5 percent.  Excluding the one-time 20.9 percent, or $1.2 million, benefit from the 2017 Tax Act, our effective benefit rate for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 was 31.6 percent, compared to an effective benefit rate of 33.4 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  The lower tax benefit rate in 2018 was due primarily to the effect of the reduced U.S. federal statutory rate applied to the pre-tax loss for the quarter, partially offset by excess tax benefits related to a payout of deferred compensation.  Computation of a reliable annual effective income tax rate is currently impracticable because of continued uncertainties regarding the amount of All Access Pass revenues for the fiscal year relative to our other revenues.  Therefore, we computed the income tax benefit for the quarter ended February 28, 2018 by applying actual year-to-date adjustments and tax rates to our pre-tax loss.

Sales

For the two quarters ended February 28, 2018, our consolidated net sales increased 15 percent to $94.5 million compared with $82.0 million for the two quarters ended February 28, 2017.  The following sales analysis for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 is based on activity through our segments as previously defined.

Direct Offices – For the first half of fiscal 2018, our direct office sales increased $11.0 million, or 19 percent.  In addition to the benefit from the recognition of deferred sales, we had $2.2 million of increased revenue from businesses acquired in the second half of fiscal 2017, a $1.1 million increase in government services sales, and a $0.5 million increase in books and audio resulting from increased second quarter sales and a new distribution arrangement in a foreign country.  These increases were partially offset by decreased facilitator revenues as many of these clients have transitioned to the All Access Pass and by decreased onsite training revenues.

International direct office sales increased $2.2 million compared with the prior year.  Sales increased at all of our direct offices except for Japan, which declined $0.3 million due to our fiscal 2017 decision to exit the publishing business in that country.  Our sales in the United Kingdom and Australia increased $1.7 million (in total) primarily due to the recognition of previously deferred subscription revenues and new contracts in those countries.  Our China offices, which were opened in fiscal 2017, continue to perform well and we recognized a $0.8 million increase in sales compared with the prior year.  Foreign exchange rates had a $0.5 million favorable impact on our international direct offices sales and a $0.1 million favorable impact on income from operations for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018.  The favorable impact from foreign exchange rates primarily occurred during our second fiscal quarter.

Education Practice – Education practice sales for the first half of fiscal 2018 increased $1.6 million, or 10 percent, compared with the prior year.  Demand for The Leader In Me program continues to remain strong in the United States as well as in international locations.  Consistent with prior fiscal years, we expect the majority of sales growth from our Education practice to occur during our fourth fiscal quarter.

 

International Licensees – For the two quarters ended February 28, 2018, our international licensee revenues were essentially flat when compared with the prior year.  We anticipate that the launch of the All Access Pass in numerous new languages at the beginning of the third quarter, will increase sales at our international licensees and our corresponding royalty revenues.

Corporate and other – These sales decreased due to a slight decrease in shipping and handling revenues when compared with the first two quarters of the prior year.

Gross Profit

For the two quarters ended February 28, 2018, our gross profit was $65.6 million compared with $53.3 million in the first half of fiscal 2017.  The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to sales activity, including the recognition of previously deferred subscription revenue, as described above.  Our gross margin for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 was 69.4 percent of sales compared with 65.1 percent for the first two quarters of the prior year.  The improvement was primarily due to the recognition of deferred high-margin subscription revenue, and our fiscal 2017 decision to exit the publishing business in Japan.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Selling, General and Administrative – The increase in our SG&A expenses for the two quarters ending February 28, 2018, was primarily due to 1) a $6.6 million increase in spending related to investments in new sales and sales-related personnel, new implementation specialists, increased commissions on higher sales, and new personnel from businesses acquired during fiscal 2017; 2) a $2.6 million change in expense from adjusting the fair value of estimated contingent consideration liabilities from previous business acquisitions; and 3) a $0.7 million increase in computer and office expenses primarily related to the implementation of our new ERP system, which launched in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.  During the first two quarters of fiscal 2017, we determined that the likelihood of further contingent payments arising from the acquisition of NinetyFive 5, LLC was becoming less likely.  Accordingly, we reversed the previously accrued contingent consideration expense from these potential payments, which resulted in significant credits during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2017 that did not repeat in the first or second quarter of fiscal 2018.

 

Contract Termination Costs – For further information on these costs, refer to the information presented in the discussion comparing the quarter ended February 28, 2018 with the quarter ended February 28, 2017.

Depreciation – Depreciation expense increased due to the acquisition of assets in fiscal 2017 and the first two quarters of fiscal 2018, including our new ERP software, which was placed into service on December 1, 2017.

Amortization – Our amortization expense increased compared with the prior year primarily due to business acquisitions completed during the last two quarters of fiscal 2017.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax benefit rate for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 was 46.0 percent.  Excluding the transitional 12.7 percent, or $1.2 million, benefit from the 2017 Tax Act, our effective benefit rate for the first two quarters of fiscal 2018 was 33.3 percent, compared with a benefit rate of 33.0 percent for the first two quarters of fiscal 2017.  The difference in the tax benefit rate for fiscal 2018 was primarily due to excess tax benefits related to a payout of deferred compensation, offset by the effect of the reduced U.S. federal statutory rate applied to the pre-tax loss for the period.  Computation of a reliable annual effective income tax rate is currently impracticable because of uncertainties regarding the amount of All Access Pass revenues for the fiscal year relative to our other revenues.  Therefore, we computed the income tax benefit for the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 by applying actual year-to-date adjustments and tax rates to our pre-tax loss.

Although we paid $1.2 million in cash for income taxes during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018, we anticipate that our total cash paid for income taxes over the coming three to five years will be less than our total income tax provision as we continue to emphasize subscription service sales.  The reduced taxable income from the deferral of subscription revenues will extend the time over which we utilize our net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards, as well as other deferred income tax assets, resulting in lower total cash payments for income taxes than our income tax provision amounts over the coming three to five years.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Introduction

Our cash balance at February 28, 2018 was $10.8 million, with $20.1 million available on our line of credit facility.  Of our $10.8 million in cash at February 28, 2018, $9.7 million was held at our foreign subsidiaries.  We routinely repatriate cash from our foreign subsidiaries and consider cash generated from foreign activities a key component of our overall liquidity position.  Our net working capital (current assets less current liabilities) was $3.9 million at February 28, 2018 compared with $11.2 million at August 31, 2017.  The decrease was primarily due to the collection of accounts receivable from seasonally high August 31 balances.  Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from the sale of services in the normal course of business, available proceeds from our revolving line of credit facility, and term loans.  Our primary uses of liquidity include payments for operating activities, capital expenditures (including curriculum development), debt payments, business acquisitions, working capital expansion, and purchases of our common stock.

We may use the proceeds from our line of credit facility for general corporate purposes as well as for other transactions, unless specifically prohibited by the terms of the line of credit agreement.  Our restated credit agreement contains customary representations and guarantees, as well as provisions for repayment and liens.  In addition to customary non-financial terms and conditions,

 

the restated credit agreement requires compliance with specified covenants, including (i) a funded debt to EBITDAR ratio of less than 3.0 to 1.0; (ii) a fixed charge coverage ratio greater than 1.15 to 1.0; (iii) an annual limit on capital expenditures (excluding capitalized curriculum development) of $8.0 million; and (iv) consolidated accounts receivable must be at least 150 percent of outstanding borrowings on the revolving line of credit.  We believe that we were in compliance with the financial covenants and other terms applicable to the restated credit agreement at February 28, 2018.

In addition to our revolving line of credit facility and term-loan obligations, we have a long-term lease on our corporate campus that is accounted for as a financing obligation.

The following discussion is a description of the primary factors affecting our cash flows and their effects upon our liquidity and capital resources during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018.

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Our primary source of cash from operating activities was the sale of services to our customers in the normal course of business.  Our primary uses of cash for operating activities were payments for selling, general, and administrative expenses, payments for direct costs necessary to conduct training programs, payments to suppliers for materials used in training manuals sold, and to fund working capital needs.  Our cash provided by operating activities during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018 totaled $9.4 million compared with $6.8 million in the first half of fiscal 2017.  The improvement in cash flows from operating activities was primarily attributable to improved operating results when compared with the prior year.  While we are required to defer AAP and other subscription revenues over the lives of the underlying contracts, we invoice the entire contract amount and collect the associated receivable at the inception of the agreement.  Our cash flows during the first quarter of each fiscal year are also routinely impacted by payments of seasonally high accrued liability (primarily due to year-end bonuses) and accounts payable balances.

Cash Flows From Investing Activities and Capital Expenditures

Our cash used for investing activities during the first two quarters of fiscal 2018 totaled $7.6 million.  The primary uses of cash for investing activities included purchases of property and equipment in the normal course of business, additional spending on the development of our offerings, and a contingent consideration payment associated with the acquisition of Jhana Education, which was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Our purchases of property and equipment, which totaled $4.3 million, consisted primarily of computer software costs related to significant upgrades in our AAP portal and the replacement of our existing ERP software.  Our new ERP system was successfully launched on December 1, 2017.  We currently anticipate that our purchases of property and equipment will total approximately $7.5 million in fiscal 2018; however, we are still in the process of making significant upgrades to our AAP portal, which may increase capital asset spending over our current expectations.

We spent $2.2 million during the first half of fiscal 2018 on the development of various offerings, including our new leadership curriculum and the continued development and expansion of our subscription offerings.  We believe continued investment in our offerings is critical to our future success and anticipate that our capital spending for curriculum development will total $5.0 million during fiscal 2018.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we paid $1.1 million to the former owners of Jhana Education as contingent consideration related to this acquisition.  Due to the close proximity of this payment to the acquisition date, we classified the $1.1 million as a component of investing activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.  Future contingent consideration payments from this acquisition will be classified as a component of financing activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

For the first two quarters of fiscal 2018, our net cash used for financing activities totaled $0.2 million.  Our primary uses of financing cash during the first half of fiscal 2018 included $4.0 million of cash used for payments on our term loans and the financing obligation on our corporate campus, and $2.0 million used to purchase shares of our common stock, which consisted entirely of shares withheld for statutory taxes on stock-based compensation awards that vested during fiscal 2018.  These uses of cash were partially offset by $5.5 million of cash provided by our revolving line of credit and $0.3 million of cash from participants in our employee stock purchase program.

On January 23, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a new plan to repurchase up to $10.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock.  All previously existing common stock repurchase plans were canceled and the new common share repurchase plan does not have an expiration date.  On March 27, 2015, our Board of Directors increased the aggregate value of shares of Company common stock that may be purchased under the January 2015 plan to $40.0 million so long as we have either $10.0 million in cash and cash equivalents or have access to debt financing of at least $10.0 million.  Under the terms of this expanded common stock repurchase plan, we have purchased 1,539,828 shares of our common stock for $26.8 million through February 28, 2018.  Future purchases of common stock under the terms of this Board approved plan will increase the amount of cash used for financing activities.

Sources of Liquidity

We expect to meet our projected capital expenditures, service our existing financing obligations, including our term loans payable, and meet other working capital requirements during the remainder of fiscal 2018 and into fiscal 2019 through current cash balances, future cash flows from operating activities, and from borrowings on our existing secured credit agreement.  Going forward, we will continue to incur costs necessary for the day-to-day operation and potential growth of the business and may use our available line of credit and other financing alternatives, if necessary, for these expenditures.  Our existing credit agreement expires on March 31, 2020 and we expect to renew this credit agreement regularly in future periods to maintain the long-term availability of this credit facility.  Additional potential sources of liquidity available to us include factoring receivables, issuance of additional equity, or issuance of debt from public or private sources.  If necessary, we will evaluate all of these options and select one or more of them depending on overall capital needs and the associated cost of capital.

Considering the foregoing, we anticipate that our existing capital resources should be adequate to enable us to maintain our operations for at least the upcoming 12 months.  However, our ability to maintain adequate capital for our operations in the future is dependent upon a number of factors, including sales trends, macroeconomic activity, our ability to contain costs, levels of capital expenditures, collection of accounts receivable, and other factors.  Some of the factors that influence our operations are not within our control, such as general economic conditions and the introduction of new curriculums and technology by our competitors.  We will continue to monitor our liquidity position and may pursue additional financing alternatives, as described above, to maintain sufficient resources for future growth and capital requirements.  However, there can be no assurance such financing alternatives will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.

Contractual Obligations

We have not structured any special purpose entities, or participated in any commodity trading activities, which would expose us to potential undisclosed liabilities or create adverse consequences to our liquidity.  Our required contractual payments primarily consist of 1) lease payments resulting

 

from the sale of our corporate campus (financing obligation); 2) principal and interest payments on term loans payable; 3) potential contingent consideration payments resulting from previous business acquisitions; 4) short-term purchase obligations for inventory items and other products and services used in the ordinary course of business; 5) minimum operating lease payments primarily for domestic regional and foreign office space; and 6) payments for outsourcing services related to warehousing and distribution services.  For further information on our contractual obligations, please refer to the table included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.

ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS ISSUED NOT YET ADOPTED

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).  This new standard was issued in conjunction with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and is designed to create a single, principles-based process by which all businesses calculate revenue.  The core principle of this standard is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of goods or services equal to the amount that it expects to be entitled to receive for those goods or services.  The standard also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract.  The new standard replaces numerous individual, industry-specific revenue rules found in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  We are required to adopt this standard on September 1, 2018, and apply the new guidance during interim periods within fiscal 2019.  The new standard may be adopted using the "full retrospective" or "modified retrospective" approach.  We are continuing to assess the impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on our financial position, results of operations, and related disclosures, and we have not yet determined the method of adoption nor the full impact that the standard will have on our reported revenue or results of operations.  We currently believe that the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 will not significantly change the recognition of revenues associated with the delivery of onsite presentations and facilitator material sales.  However, the recognition of revenues associated with intellectual property licenses, such as our All Access Pass, and other revenue streams may be more significantly impacted by the new standard.  We will continue to assess the new standard along with industry trends and additional interpretive guidance, and we may adjust our implementation plan accordingly.  We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have any impact on our operating cash flows.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) - Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.  The guidance in ASU 2016-10 clarifies aspects of Topic 606 related to identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related core principles for those areas.  The effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2016-10 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for Topic 606 (ASU 2014-09) discussed above.  As of February 28, 2018, we have not yet determined the full impact that ASU No. 2016-10 will have on our reported revenue or results of operations.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases.  The new lease accounting standard is the result of a collaborative effort with the IASB (similar to the new revenue standard described above), although some differences remain between the two standards.  This new standard will affect all entities that lease assets and will require lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases (except for short-term leases that have a duration of less than one year) as of the date on which the lessor makes the underlying asset available to the lessee.  For lessors, accounting for leases is substantially the same as in prior periods.  For public companies, the new lease standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted for all entities.  For leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach.  While we expect the adoption of this new standard will increase reported assets and liabilities, as of February 28, 2018, we have not yet determined the full impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our financial statements.

 

USE OF ESTIMATES AND CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The significant accounting policies used to prepare our consolidated financial statements, including our revenue recognition policy, are outlined primarily in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements presented in Part II, Item 8 of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.  Please refer to disclosures found in our Form 10-K for further information regarding our uses of estimates and critical accounting policies.  There have been no significant changes to our previously disclosed estimates or critical accounting policies.

Estimates

Some of the accounting guidance we use requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements.  We regularly evaluate our estimates and assumptions and base those estimates and assumptions on historical experience, factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, including changes in economic conditions and other circumstances that are not within our control, but which may have an impact on these estimates and our actual financial results.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Certain oral and written statements made by the Company in this report are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the Exchange Act).  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements, and may contain words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "project," or words or phrases of similar meaning.  In our reports and filings we may make forward-looking statements regarding our expectations about future sales levels and financial results, future training and consulting sales activity, expected sales and benefits from the All Access Pass, anticipated renewals of subscription offerings, the expected transition period for revenue recognition and the change in the business plan associated with subscription offerings, the timing of the expected release of the upgraded AAP portal with additional languages, the expected growth of our Education practice, the impact of new accounting standards on our financial condition and results of operations, the amount and timing of capital expenditures, anticipated expenses, future gross margins, the release of new services or products, the adequacy of existing capital resources, our ability to extend our line of credit facility, the amount of cash expected to be paid for income taxes, the impact of the new tax reform changes recently signed into law, our ability to maintain adequate capital for our operations for at least the upcoming 12 months, expected levels of depreciation and amortization expense, expectations regarding tangible and intangible asset valuations, the seasonality of future sales, the seasonal fluctuations in cash used for and provided by operating activities, future compliance with the terms and conditions of our line of credit, the ability to borrow on our line of credit, expected collection of amounts receivable from FC Organizational Products LLC and others, estimated capital expenditures, and cash flow estimates used to determine the fair value of long-lived assets.  These, and other forward-looking statements, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to

 

differ materially from the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties are disclosed from time to time in reports filed by us with the SEC, including reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q, and 10-K.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017, entitled "Risk Factors."  In addition, such risks and uncertainties may include unanticipated developments in any one or more of the following areas:  unanticipated costs or capital expenditures; delays or unanticipated outcomes relating to our strategic plans; dependence on existing products or services; the rate and consumer acceptance of new product introductions, including the All Access Pass; competition; the impact of foreign exchange rates; the number and nature of customers and their product orders, including changes in the timing or mix of product or training orders; pricing of our products and services and those of competitors; adverse publicity; and other factors which may adversely affect our business.

The risks included here are not exhaustive.  Other sections of this report may include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance.  Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.  New risk factors may emerge and it is not possible for our management to predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any single factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements.  Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.

The market price of our common stock has been and may remain volatile.  In addition, the stock markets in general have experienced increased volatility.  Factors such as quarter-to-quarter variations in revenues and earnings or losses and our failure to meet expectations could have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock.  In addition, the price of our common stock can change for reasons unrelated to our performance.  Due to our low market capitalization, the price of our common stock may also be affected by conditions such as a lack of analyst coverage and fewer potential investors.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date made, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any of these statements in the future except as required by law.  Actual future performance and results will differ and may differ materially from that contained in or suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere in our filings with the SEC.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Sensitivity

At February 28, 2018, we had $9.9 million drawn on our revolving line of credit.  Our other long-term obligations at February 28, 2018 primarily consisted of a long-term lease agreement (financing obligation) associated with the sale of our corporate headquarters facility, $15.9 million of term loans payable, and potential contingent consideration payments resulting from business acquisitions completed in fiscal 2017.  Our overall interest rate sensitivity is primarily influenced by any amounts borrowed on term loans or our revolving line of credit facility, and the prevailing interest rates on these instruments.  The effective interest rate on our term loans payable and line of credit facility was 3.5 percent at February 28, 2018, and we may incur additional expense if interest rates increase in future periods.  For example, a one-percent increase in the effective interest rate on our term loans and the amount outstanding on our line of credit facility at February 28, 2018 would result in approximately $0.2 million of additional interest expense over the next 12 months.  Our financing obligation has a payment structure equivalent to a long-term leasing arrangement with a fixed interest rate of 7.7 percent, and our contingent consideration liabilities are not subject to interest rates.

 

There have been no other material changes from the information previously reported under Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017.  We did not utilize any foreign currency or interest rate derivative instruments during the two quarters ended February 28, 2018.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

We evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In connection with the launch of our new ERP software in December 2017, we have made changes to our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f)) to accommodate the new processes and procedures associated with the new software.  For example, we enhanced our internal controls over revenue recognition in the system, procedures surrounding accounts payable, and manual journal entries to accommodate processes and workflows in the new system.  We believe that the changes to our internal controls made during the quarter ending February 28, 2018 were necessary to maintain effective internal controls over our financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

The information presented below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the detailed discussion of risks associated with our business in our recent SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for August 31, 2017.

We could have liability or our reputation could be damaged if we do not protect client data or if our information systems are breached.

We are dependent on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit, and store electronic information and to communicate between our locations around the world and with our clients.  Security breaches of this infrastructure could lead to shutdowns or disruptions of our systems and potential unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.  We are also required at times to manage, utilize, and store sensitive or confidential client or employee data.  As a result, we are subject to numerous U.S. and foreign jurisdiction laws and regulations designed to protect this information, such as the various U.S. federal and state laws governing the protection of individually identifiable information.  If any person, including any of our associates, negligently disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to such data or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates that data, we could be subject to monetary damages, fines, and/or criminal prosecution.  Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or employee data, whether through systems failure, employee negligence, fraud, or misappropriation could damage our reputation and cause us to lose clients.

Legal requirements relating to the collection, storage, handling, and transfer of personal data continue to evolve.  For example, the European Union and the U.S. formally entered into a new framework in July 2016 that provides a mechanism for companies to transfer data from European Union member states to the U.S.  This new framework, called the Privacy Shield, is intended to address shortcomings identified by the European Court of Justice in a predecessor mechanism.  The Privacy Shield and other mechanisms are likely to be reviewed by the European courts, which may lead to uncertainty about the legal basis for data transfers across the Atlantic.  Ongoing legal reviews may result in burdensome or inconsistent requirements affecting the location and movement of our customer and internal employee data as well as the management of that data.  Compliance may require changes in services, business practices, or internal systems that may result in increased costs, lower revenue, reduced efficiency, or greater difficulty in competing with foreign-based firms.  Failure to comply with existing or new rules may result in significant penalties or orders to stop the alleged noncompliant activity.

In addition, in April 2016 the European Union adopted a new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) designed to unify data protection within the European Union under a single law, which may result in significantly greater compliance burdens and costs for companies with users and operations in the European Union.  Under GDPR, fines of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of the annual global revenues of the infringer, whichever is greater, could be imposed.  This government action is typically intended to protect the privacy of personal data that is collected, processed, and transmitted in or from the governing jurisdiction.  In many cases, these laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between us and our subsidiaries, including employee information.  We expect to be in compliance with the GDPR requirements, which will apply to us beginning in May 2018.

 

The following table summarizes the purchases of our common stock during the fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2018:

(1)

On January 23, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a new plan to repurchase up to $10.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock.  All previously existing common stock repurchase plans were canceled and the new common share repurchase plan does not have an expiration date.  On March 27, 2015, our Board of Directors increased the aggregate value of shares of Company common stock that may be purchased under the January 2015 plan to $40.0 million so long as we have either $10.0 million in cash and cash equivalents or have access to debt financing of at least $10.0 million.  Under the terms of this expanded common stock repurchase plan, we have purchased 1,539,828 shares of our common stock for $26.8 million through February 28, 2018.

The actual timing, number, and value of common shares repurchased under this plan will be determined at our discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including, among others, general market and business conditions, the trading price of common shares, and applicable legal requirements.  The Company has no obligation to repurchase any common shares under the authorization, and the repurchase plan may be suspended, discontinued, or modified at any time for any reason.

(2)

Amount excludes 1,934 shares of our common stock that were withheld for statutory taxes on stock-based compensation awards vested to employees during the quarter ended February 28, 2018.  The withheld shares were valued at the market price on the date that the shares were distributed to participants and were acquired at a weighted average price of $19.58 per share.

(A)

Exhibits:

10.1

Franklin Covey Co. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A in the Company's Proxy Statement (File No. 001-11107) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2017).

31.1	Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer.**

31.2	Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications of the Chief Financial Officer.**

32	Section 1350 Certifications.**

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document.

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

**Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

Exhibit 31.1

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, Robert A. Whitman, certify that:

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, Stephen D. Young, certify that:

 

 

Exhibit 32 

CERTIFICATION

In connection with the quarterly report of Franklin Covey Co. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended  February 28, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), we, Robert A. Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Stephen D. Young, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify as of the date hereof, solely for purposes of Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the United States Code, that to the best of our knowledge:

This Certification has not been, and shall not be deemed, "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission.