Elite Education Group International Ltd. Announces First Half Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results and Operational Update

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elite Education Group International Limited (NASDAQ: EEIQ), (the "Company" or "Elite Education Group International"), a provider of comprehensive education solutions for domestic and international students interested in college and university programs in the US, Canada and the UK, today announced its unaudited first half financial results for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and an operational update.

"We are pleased to report a 32% revenue increase for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to the first half of 2021 due to a higher number of in-person attendance at the English Language Program at the regional campuses of Miami University as restrictions associated with the global Covid-19 pandemic eased somewhat compared to the year-ago period. Due to our ability to operate efficiently and keep costs down, the more normalized learning environment resulted in a 50% increase in gross profit as compared to the first half of 2021. While our operating performance was strong, non-operating expenses resulted in a net loss for the period," commented Jianbo Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

CEO Jianbo Zhang continued, "We completed two acquisitions during the first half of fiscal 2022 and recently entered into several collaborations as we continue to execute our mission to establish Elite Education Group International as a truly international service provider of higher learning. Our career training and English proficiency offer a cost-effective, practical education for our students, and combined with our pathway programs, enable advanced degrees and expanded career options."

"We plan upon implementing our international strategy by acquiring select colleges in different regions of the world, developing cross-border educational partnerships, creating international academic programming and diversifying our student base. We believe that an enriched international academic experience will help our students reach their full potential and better prepare them for fulfilling careers," CEO Jianbo Zhang concluded.

First Half 2022 Financial Results Ended March 31, 2022

Revenues were $4.1 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to $3.1 million for the same period of 2022, representing an increase of $1.0 million, or 32.3%. The increase was due to a rise in student registration at the regional campuses of Miami University ("the MU Regional Campuses") in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters as compared to the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters due to a lessened impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Gross profit was $2.7 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to $1.8 million for the same period of 2021, representing an increase of $0.9 million, or 50.0%. The increase was primarily due to the increase in revenue and the moderate 3.7% increase in cost of services in the first half of 2022 attributable to operational efficiencies as compared to the same period of 2021. Our gross margin increased to 65.9% for the first half ended March 31, 2022 from 58.1% for the same period of 2021 as more students were able to physically attend the English Language Program at the MU Regional Campuses as Covid-19 travel restrictions eased.

Operating Expenses were $6.0 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to $2.2 million for the same period of 2021, representing an increase of $3.8 million, or 172.7%. The increase was due to $5.3 million in general and administrative expenses which included costs attributable to $2.6 million of share-based compensation granted to employees and management, with the remaining amount attributable to the Company's international business expansion and the consolidation of its newly acquired businesses for the first half of 2022.

Operating loss was $3.3 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to an operating loss of $0.4 million for the same period of 2021 which was due to general and administrative expenses that offset higher revenue and gross margin for the six-months ended March 31, 2022.

Other income was $0.8 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to nil for the same period of 2021, attributable to the sale of residential properties adjacent to the MU Regional Campuses at a sales price of approximately 150% of its initial purchase price.

Income tax expense was $0.01 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to income tax recovery of $0.06 million for the same period of 2021. The increase was due to taxable income for first half of 2022 which was slightly higher than the same period of 2021.

Net loss was $2.5 million for the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to a net loss of $0.3 million for the same period of 2021, which was due to factors discussed above.

Net Loss Per Basic and Diluted Share for the first half of fiscal 2022 was $0.23 compared to a net loss of $0.04 per basic and diluted share for the same period of 2021. The average number of shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the first half of 2022 was 10,835,956 shares compared to 7,946,678 shares for basic and diluted earnings per share in the prior year period.

Financial Condition

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $12.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $3.6 million or 21.8% as compared to $16.5 million as of September 30, 2021.  As of March 31, 2022, working capital was $9.3 million (current assets minus current liabilities) and the current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) was 2.5, as compared to working capital of $11.0 million and a current ratio of 2.3 as of September 30, 2021. Stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2022 was $16.3 million, an increase of $1.4 million or 9.4% as compared to $14.9 million as of September 30, 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended March 31, 2022 was $3.2 million as compared to $2.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to the changes in net income and other working capital balances; the changes in these balances are included in the changes in assets and liabilities presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows.  

Net cash provided by investing activities was $0.2 million and net cash used in investing activities was $0.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2022 was attributable to proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $1.9 million and $0.2 million from the collection of a note receivable, which was offset by a payment of $1.9 million used for business acquisition and a payment of $0.3 million due to related party balances.

Net cash used in financing activities was $0.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $4.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2021. For the six months ended March 31, 2022, we used $2.0 million in cash for business acquisitions and $0.2 million was advanced to related parties, and for the six months ended March 31, 2021 we generated cash inflow of $4.9 million from the issuance of 893,718 common shares as a result of the completion of our initial public offering.

Business Outlook and Operational Update

In March 2020, The World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic. The pandemic resulted in and continues to cause travel restrictions, related public health orders and economic uncertainties that affect the normal operations of many businesses, including our higher education company.

For the six months ended March 31, 2022, our indicators of recruitment and enrollment for the English Language Program at the MU Regional Campuses improved as compared to those for the year-ago period as the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic lessened.

•  As of March 31, 2022, 142 students who had been admitted to the English Language Program at the MU Regional Campuses in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 terms, as compared to 121 students for the previous academic year. This represents a 17.4% increase in the number of the students enrolled in the program. In addition, 52 students were present for in-person classes at the MU Regional Campuses in the Fall 2021 term, and an additional 40 students were present beginning in January 2022 for the Spring 2022 term. It is beneficial for the Company to have its students on-campus due to the receipt of residential fees and other fees. The remainder of the students who had been admitted to the English Language Program at the MU Regional Campuses as of March 31, 2022 were taking online classes.

We have made significant steps to execute on our strategic plan to become an international service provider of higher learning by acquiring colleges around the globe and by developing cross-border educational collaborations.

• In January 2022, we acquired 80% of the equity of EduGlobal College, located in Vancouver, Canada. EduGlobal College provides English language programs for international students to help them to achieve baccalaureate and graduate programs at Canadian universities. EduGlobal College recently launched its pioneering pathway program with Algoma University, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, that establishes a seamless pathway for our students to earn transferable university credits and complete their baccalaureate degrees and graduate certificates at Algoma University's Brampton and Sault Ste. Marie campuses.
• In November 2021, we closed on the acquisition of 70% of Ameri-Can Education Group Corp. which has the right to the underlying equity of Davis College, a two-year career-training college located in Toledo, Ohio. Davis College offers career-training educational courses in business management, data science, nursing, electrical engineering, and other areas that most often lead to careers that are in high demand. To internationalize its academic programming and foster a global experience for its students, Davis College recently announced partnerships for a variety of bilateral academic activities with Holy Cross of Davao College of the Philippines, Anhui Business College located in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China, and Chongqing Technology and Business Institute, located in Chongqing, China.

As with other colleges and universities, we have adapted to the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on higher education. While we believe that in-person instruction and a campus learning and social experience is best for our students, we believe that the new hybrid system of remote and in-person learning adopted by many colleges and universities will continue to evolve. We believe that our current operations provide a diversified income stream that balances both our owned and operated colleges and our extensive recruiting activities. We also believe that our serving a niche market that meaningfully connects to students who may not ordinarily pursue higher education but that enables them to reach their aspirational goals is a positive and effective business model, and that we will be successful in providing solid returns to all of our constituents.

About Elite Education Group International Limited

Elite Education Group International Limited ("Elite Education" or the "Company"), through its subsidiaries Quest Holding International LLC and Highrim Holding International Limited, provides comprehensive education solutions for domestic and international students interested in university and college degree programs in the US, Canada and the UK. The Company recently acquired 80% of the equity of EduGlobal College, based in British Columbia, Canada, which focuses on English proficiency educational programming for students pursuing academic degrees. The Company also recently acquired the right to a controlling equity ownership position in Davis College, a career training college located in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, the Company has a recruiting relationship with the regional campuses of Miami University of Ohio ("the MU Regional Campuses"), where it maintains residential facilities, a full-service cafeteria, recreational facilities, shuttle buses and an office for the regional campuses that provides study abroad and post-study services for its students; these facilities are not owned, maintained, operated or are a part of Miami University. The Company also acts as a recruiting agent for the University of the West of Scotland (through The Education Group (London) Ltd) and Coventry University, both of which are located in the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.eei-global.net.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain of the statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the Company's ability to implement its international strategy as described. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, capital, ownership or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "assume," "should," "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "expect," "estimate," "continue," "plan," "point to," "project," "could," "intend," "target" and other similar words and expressions of the future.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Form 20-F and otherwise in our SEC reports and filings. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made.

Contacts:

Elite Education Group International Limited
+1 513-649-8350
[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Precept Investor Relations LLC

David Rudnick
+1 646-694-8538
[email protected]

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Source: Elite Education Group International Limited

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