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HMH Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results

BOSTON, February 24, 2022 – HMH (Nasdaq: HMHC), a learning technology company, announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

Q4 and Full Year 2021 Financial Results:

 

     Three Months Ended December 31,     Years Ended December 31,  
(in millions of dollars)    2021 1     2020 1     Change     2021 1     2020 1     Change  

Net sales

   $ 179     $ 141       26.7   $ 1,051     $ 840       25.0

Change in deferred revenue

     (47     (48     (3.0 )%      59       58       2.1

Billings 2

     132       93       42.0     1,110       899       23.5

Impairment charge for goodwill

           17       NM             279       NM  

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (46     (88     47.4     2       (471     NM  

Adjusted EBITDA 3

     24       (7     NM       270       89       NM  

Pre-publication or content development costs

     (14     (10     41.7     (56     (61     (7.7 )% 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     71       40       75.7     264       106       NM  

Free cash flow 3

     47       15       NM       168       (5     NM  

 

1

All amounts exclude the impact of the HMH Books & Media business which has been removed from continuing operations and classified as discontinued operations since the first quarter of 2021.

2

An operating measure. Please refer to “Operating Metrics” for an explanation.

3

A non-GAAP measure. Please refer to Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for an explanation and reconciliation. We are unable to reconcile forward looking unlevered free cash flow without unreasonable efforts.

NM = not meaningful

Additional information regarding Q4 and full year 2021 financial results will be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Conference Call:

Given the recently announced agreement for HMH to be acquired by entities affiliated with The Veritas Capital Fund VII, L.P., the Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss its financial results.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and to provide additional insights into our performance, we have presented adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and free cash flow. These measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP. This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors regarding our results of operations and/or our expected results of operations because it assists both investors and management in analyzing and benchmarking the performance and value of our business.

Management believes that the presentation of adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to our investors and management as an indicator of our performance that is not affected by debt restructurings, fluctuations in interest rates or effective tax rates, gains or losses on investments, non-cash charges and impairment charges, levels of depreciation or amortization, and acquisition/disposition-related activity costs, legal settlement costs, restructuring costs and integration costs. Accordingly, management believes that this measure is useful for comparing our performance from period to period and makes decisions based on it. In addition, targets in adjusted EBITDA (further adjusted to include the change in deferred revenue) are used as performance measures to determine certain incentive compensation of management. Management also believes that the presentation of free cash flow provides useful information to our investors because management regularly reviews these metrics as an important indicator of how much cash is generated by general business operations, excluding capital expenditures, and makes decisions based on it.


Other companies may define these non-GAAP measures differently and, as a result, our use of these non-GAAP measures may not be directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow used by other companies. Although we use these non-GAAP measures as financial measures to assess our business, the use of non-GAAP measures is limited as they include and/or do not include certain items not included and/or included in the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income or loss prepared in accordance with GAAP as a measure of performance; and free cash flow should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net cash from operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity nor is free cash flow intended to be a measure of residual cash flow available for discretionary use. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and related disclosure is provided in the appendix to this news release.

Operating Metrics:

Billings is an operating measure which we derive from net sales taking into account the change in deferred revenue. Billings for Core Solutions and Extensions is an operating measure based on invoiced sales adjusted for returns, other publishing income and change in deferred revenue.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Nasdaq: HMHC) is a learning technology company committed to delivering connected solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental and intervention solutions, and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and 3 million educators in 150 countries. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com

Follow HMH on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact

Investor Relations

Chris Symanoskie, IRC

VP, Investor Relations

(410) 215-1405

chris.symanoskie@hmhco.com

Media Relations

Bianca Olson

SVP, Corporate Affairs

(617) 351-3841

bianca.olson@hmhco.com

Important Information

On February 22, 2022, HMH announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with certain affiliates of Veritas Capital, a leading private equity investment firm, for the acquisition of the Company via a tender offer. The tender offer for the outstanding shares of HMH common stock has not yet commenced. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of HMH common stock. The solicitation and offer to buy shares of HMH common stock will only be made pursuant to the tender offer materials that Veritas intends to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). At the time the tender offer is commenced, Veritas will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the SEC, and HMH will file a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer. HMH’s STOCKHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES THERETO. Both the tender offer statement and the solicitation/recommendation statement will be mailed to HMH’s stockholders free of charge. Investors and stockholders may obtain free copies of the Schedule TO and Schedule 14D-9, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and other documents filed by the parties (when available) at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov, by contacting HMH’s Investor Relations either by telephone at 410-215-1405 or e-mail at Chris.Symanoskie@hmhco.com or on HMH’s website at www.hmhco.com.


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     December 31,  
(in thousands of dollars, except share information)    2021     2020  

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 463,131     $ 281,200  

Accounts receivable, net of allowances

     135,495       88,830  

Inventories

     117,469       145,553  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     43,339       19,276  

Assets of discontinued operations

     —         160,053  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     759,434       694,912  

Property, plant, and equipment, net

     80,445       88,801  

Pre-publication costs, net

     150,652       202,820  

Goodwill

     437,977       437,977  

Other intangible assets, net

     360,290       402,484  

Operating lease assets

     110,572       126,850  

Deferred income taxes

     4,997       2,415  

Deferred commissions

     35,083       30,659  

Other assets

     34,830       34,208  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,974,280     $ 2,021,126  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ —       $ 19,000  

Accounts payable

     37,449       38,751  

Royalties payable

     45,166       34,765  

Salaries, wages, and commissions payable

     41,253       21,723  

Deferred revenue

     357,864       342,605  

Interest payable

     11,235       11,017  

Severance and other charges

     405       19,590  

Accrued pension benefits

     185       1,593  

Accrued postretirement benefits

     1,618       1,555  

Operating lease liabilities

     7,539       9,669  

Other liabilities

     43,297       22,912  

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     —         30,662  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     546,011       553,842  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of discount and issuance costs

     317,579       624,692  

Operating lease liabilities

     127,426       132,014  

Long-term deferred revenue

     606,811       562,679  

Accrued pension benefits

     8,484       24,061  

Accrued postretirement benefits

     15,940       16,566  

Deferred income taxes

     21,393       16,411  

Other liabilities

     212       398  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,643,856       1,930,663  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.01 par value: 380,000,000 shares authorized; 152,267,951 and 150,459,034 shares issued at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; 127,690,917 and 125,882,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively

     1,523       1,505  

Treasury stock, 24,577,034 shares as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, at cost

     (518,030     (518,030

Capital in excess of par value

     4,931,357       4,918,542  

Accumulated deficit

     (4,042,252     (4,255,830

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (42,174     (55,724
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     330,424       90,463  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,974,280     $ 2,021,126  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

    (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Years Ended December 31,  
(in thousands of dollars, except share and per share information)   2021     2020     2021     2020  

Net sales

  $ 178,805     $ 141,167     $ 1,050,802     $ 840,454  

Costs and expenses

       

Cost of sales, excluding publishing rights and pre-publication amortization

    63,316       60,235       398,706       370,586  

Publishing rights amortization

    2,517       3,468       10,688       14,800  

Pre-publication amortization

    29,444       32,047       108,621       125,838  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of sales

    95,277       95,750       518,015       511,224  

Selling and administrative

    106,707       102,540       445,660       442,355  

Other intangible assets amortization

    7,241       6,349       30,257       23,917  

Impairment charge for goodwill

    —         17,000       —         279,000  

Restructuring/severance and other charges

    2,469       98       12,349       31,874  

Gain on sale of assets

    —         —         (3,661     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

    (32,889     (80,570     48,182       (447,916
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

       

Retirement benefits non-service income (expense)

    117       (1,039     105       (856

Interest expense

    (8,210     (8,753     (34,998     (37,931

Interest income

    25       26       77       899  

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

    (306     500       (1,221     672  

Gain on investments

    —         353       1,442       2,091  

Income from transition services agreement

    1,411       —         3,664       —    

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    —         —         (12,505     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes

    (39,852     (89,483     4,746       (483,041

Income tax expense (benefit) for continuing operations

    6,577       (1,141     2,686       (12,351
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations

    (46,429     (88,342     2,060       (470,690
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

    —         5,197       (1,005     (9,148

(Loss) gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

    (1,997     —         212,523       —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (1,997     5,197       211,518       (9,148
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (48,426   $ (83,145   $ 213,578     $ (479,838
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders

       

Basic:

       

Continuing operations

  $ (0.36   $ (0.70   $ 0.02     $ (3.75

Discontinued operations

    (0.02     0.04       1.66       (0.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (0.38   $ (0.66   $ 1.68     $ (3.82
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted:

       

Continuing operations

  $ (0.36   $ (0.70   $ 0.02     $ (3.75

Discontinued operations

    (0.02     0.04       1.61       (0.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (0.38   $ (0.66   $ 1.63     $ (3.82
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

       

Basic

    127,686,147       125,867,093       127,337,815       125,455,487  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

    127,686,147       125,867,093       131,402,866       125,455,487  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2021     2020  
(in thousands of dollars)             

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 213,578     $ (479,838

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     1,005       9,148  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

     (212,523     —    

Gain on sale of assets

     (3,661     —    

Depreciation and amortization expense

     194,433       214,429  

Operating lease assets, amortization and impairments

     16,249       5,397  

Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

     2,705       2,636  

Gain on investments

     (1,942     (2,091

Deferred income taxes

     2,400       (14,355

Stock-based compensation expense

     12,217       11,160  

Write-off of property, plant, and equipment

     1,606       —    

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     12,505       —    

Impairment charge for goodwill

     —         279,000  

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

     1,221       (672

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions

    

Accounts receivable

     (28,928     32,369  

Inventories

     28,083       42,936  

Other assets

     (28,895     (4,860

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     18,788       (34,039

Royalties payable and author advances, net

     13,247       (18,095

Deferred revenue

     59,391       57,178  

Interest payable

     218       7,191  

Severance and other charges

     (19,185     7,183  

Accrued pension and postretirement benefits

     (2,946     3,443  

Operating lease liabilities

     (6,687     (1,996

Other liabilities

     (9,090     (9,639
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations

     263,789       106,485  

Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations

     3,880       8,763  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     267,669       115,248  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Additions to pre-publication costs

     (56,210     (60,872

Additions to property, plant, and equipment

     (39,093     (50,940

Proceeds from sale of business

     340,593       —    

Proceeds from sale of assets

     5,000       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - continuing operations

     250,290       (111,812

Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations

     (647     (459
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     249,643       (112,271
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

     —         150,000  

Payments of revolving credit facility

     —         (150,000

Payments of long-term debt

     (342,031     (19,000

Tax withholding payments related to net share settlements of restricted stock units

     —         (48

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

     410       918  

Net collections under transition services agreement

     6,240       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations

     (335,381     (18,130
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     181,931       (15,153

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     281,200       296,353  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ 463,131     $ 281,200  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Non-GAAP Reconciliations (Unaudited)

Adjusted EBITDA 1

(in thousands of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2021      2020      2021      2020  

Net (loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (46,429    $ (88,342    $ 2,060      $ (470,690

Interest expense

     8,210        8,753        34,998        37,931  

Interest income

     (25      (26      (77      (899

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     6,577        (1,247      2,686        (12,457

Depreciation expense

     10,533        12,492        44,867        49,874  

Amortization expense

     39,202        41,864        149,566        164,555  

Non-cash charges—goodwill impairment

     —          17,000        —          279,000  

Non-cash charges—stock-compensation

     3,490        2,865        12,217        11,160  

Non-cash charges— (gain) loss on derivative instruments

     306        (500      1,221        (672

Fees, expenses or charges for equity offerings, debt or acquisitions/dispositions

     29        714        895        1,080  

Gain on investments

     (500      (353      (1,942      (2,091

Gain on sale of assets

     —          —          (3,661      —    

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          —          12,505        —    

Legal settlement

     —          —          2,470        —    

Restructuring/severance and other charges

     2,469        98        12,349        31,874  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

   $ 23,862      $ (6,682    $ 270,154      $ 88,665  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow 1

(in thousands of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2021      2020      2021      2020  

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 71,092      $ 40,468      $ 263,789      $ 106,485  

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Additions to pre-publication costs

     (14,106      (9,953      (56,210      (60,872

Additions to property, plant, and equipment

     (10,421      (15,665      (39,093      (50,940
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

   $ 46,565      $ 14,850      $ 168,486      $ (5,327
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

1

All amounts have been adjusted to eliminate the impact of the HMH Books & Media business which has been removed from continuing operations and classified as discontinued operations.


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company

Calculation of Billings (Unaudited)

Billings 1

(in thousands of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
     Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2021      2020      2021      2020  

Net sales

   $ 178,805      $ 141,167      $ 1,050,802      $ 840,454  

Change in deferred revenue

     (46,709      (48,169      59,391        58,178  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Billings

   $ 132,096      $ 92,998      $ 1,110,193      $ 898,632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Billings is an operating measure utilized by the Company derived as shown above.

 

1

All amounts have been adjusted to eliminate the impact of the HMH Books & Media business which has been removed from continuing operations and classified as discontinued operations.