Ambow Education Announces Second Quarter and First Half of 2024 Financial Results

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    CUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (“Ambow” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading AI-driven educational and collaboration technology company, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024.

    “We made considerable progress in the first half of the year, reaching profitability and improving our margins, setting the stage for our next wave of growth,” said Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow’s President, Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer. “By dedicating our resources to our first-to-market AI-driven hybrid education platform, HybriU, we are poised to address expansive market opportunities with a more streamlined cost structure and agile business model. Generative AI is driving massive advancements in how we learn and how instruction is delivered. We are leading this transition to hybrid education with HybriU’s all-in-one AI-led solution for education and workforce training on a global scale. Our recent $1.3 million licensing agreement for HybriU in overseas markets is a strong starting point. As we continue to make new inroads with HybriU in both U.S. and international markets, we are bringing a unified hybrid learning experience to students and educators worldwide.”

    Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Net revenues for the second quarter of 2024 decreased by 11.1% to $2.4 million from $2.7 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the permanent closure of Bay State College at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
    • Gross profit for the second quarter of 2024 increased by 8.3% to $1.3 million from $1.2 million for the same period of 2023. Gross profit margin was 54.2% for the second quarter of 2024, compared with 44.4% for the second quarter of 2023.
    • Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 decreased by 35.0% to $1.3 million from $2.0 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the permanent closure of Bay State College at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year and the associated reduction in shared center personnel costs.
    • Operating (loss) income improved to an income of $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2024 from a loss of $0.8 million for the same period of 2023.
    • Net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders improved to an income of $0.1 million for the second quarter of 2024, or $0 per basic and diluted share, from a net loss of $1.0 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2023.
    • As of June 30, 2024, Ambow maintained cash resources of $9.0 million, comprising cash and cash equivalents of $1.6 million and restricted cash of $7.4 million.

    First Six Months 2024 Financial Highlights

    • Net revenues for the first six months of 2024 decreased by 21.3% to $4.8 million from $6.1 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the permanent closure of Bay State College at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
    • Gross profit for the first six months of 2024 increased by 30.0% to $2.6 million from $2.0 million for the same period of 2023. Gross profit margin was 54.2%, compared with 32.8% for the same period of 2023.
    • Operating expenses for the first six months of 2024 decreased by 23.1% to $3.0 million from $3.9 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the permanent closure of Bay State College at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year and the associated reduction in shared center personnel costs.
    • Operating loss for the first six months of 2024 was $0.4 million, compared with an operating loss of $1.9 million for the same period of 2023.
    • Net (loss) income attributable to ordinary shareholders improved to an income of $0.2 million for the first six months of 2024, or $0 per basic and diluted share, from a net loss of $2.2 million, or $0.04 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2023.

    The Company’s financial and operating results for the second quarter and first half of 2024 can also be found on its Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, to be furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at www.sec.gov.

    Subsequent Events

    On December 20, 2024, at Ambow’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders ratified the adoption of the Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan for the purpose of granting share-based compensation awards to employees, directors, officers and consultants to incentivize their performance and align their interests.

    About Ambow

    Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading AI-driven educational and collaboration technology company with primary operations in the United States. Through its for-profit college in San Diego, California, and its innovative, patented AI-driven technology platform, HybriU, Ambow delivers high-quality, personalized, and career-oriented education services, along with a comprehensive, one-stop solution that revolutionizes how the world learns, works, and connects. For more information, visit Ambow’s website at https://www.ambow.com/.

    Follow us on X: @Ambow_Education
    Follow us on LinkedIn: Ambow-education-group

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Ambow and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Ambow undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Ambow believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

    For more information, please contact:

    Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
    E-mail: ir@ambow.com 

    or

    Piacente Financial Communications

    Tel: +1-212-481-2050
    E-mail: ambow@tpg-ir.com  

    AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)

    As of
    December 31,

    As of
    June 30,

    2023

    2024

    $

    $

    As Revised

    Unaudited

    ASSETS

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents

    274

    1,645

    Restricted cash

    9,781

    7,384

    Accounts receivable, net

    2,280

    2,257

    Prepaid and other current assets

    178

    144

    Total current assets

    12,513

    11,430

    Non-current assets:

    Property and equipment, net

    6

    2

    Intangible assets, net

    522

    517

    Operating lease right-of-use asset

    4,896

    3,821

    Other non-current assets

    2,629

    1,805

    Total non-current assets

    8,053

    6,145

    Total assets

    20,566

    17,575

    LIABILITIES

    Current liabilities:

    Short-term borrowings

    3,939

    2,700

    Accounts payable

    1,386

    942

    Accrued and other liabilities

    1,468

    973

    Income taxes payable

    510

    Operating lease liability, current

    2,486

    2,325

    Total current liabilities

    9,789

    6,940

    Non-current liabilities:

    Operating lease liability, non-current

    4,349

    3,991

    Total non-current liabilities

    4,349

    3,991

    Total liabilities

    14,138

    10,931

    EQUITY

    Preferred shares

    ($0.003 par value;1,666,667 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of
       December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024)

    Class A Ordinary shares

    ($0.003 par value; 66,666,667 and 66,666,667 shares authorized,
       52,419,109 and 52,419,109 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30,
       2024, respectively)

    146

    146

    Class C Ordinary shares

    ($0.003 par value; 8,333,333 and 8,333,333 shares authorized,
       4,708,415 and 4,708,415 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and June 30,
       2024, respectively)

    13

    13

    Additional paid-in capital

    517,031

    517,031

    Accumulated deficit

    (510,634)

    (510,418)

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (128)

    (128)

    Total equity

    6,428

    6,644

    Total liabilities and equity

    20,566

    17,575

    AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

    UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
    COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

    (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)

    For the six months ended
    June 30,

    For the three months ended 
    June 30,

    2023

    2024

    2023

    2024

    $

    $

    $

    $

    NET REVENUES

    Educational programs and services

    6,097

    4,773

    2,728

    2,399

    COST OF REVENUES

    Educational programs and services

    (4,082)

    (2,208)

    (1,508)

    (1,064)

    GROSS PROFIT

    2,015

    2,565

    1,220

    1,335

    Operating expenses:

    Selling and marketing

    (425)

    (550)

    (148)

    (251)

    General and administrative

    (3,449)

    (2,280)

    (1,829)

    (944)

    Research and development

    (150)

    (75)

    Total operating expenses

    (3,874)

    (2,980)

    (1,977)

    (1,270)

    OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

    (1,859)

    (415)

    (757)

    65

    OTHER (EXPENSES) INCOME

    Interest (expense) income, net

    (33)

    66

    (26)

    31

    Foreign exchange loss, net

    (9)

    (9)

    Other (expense) income, net

    (281)

    60

    (196)

    33

    Total other (expense) income

    (323)

    126

    (231)

    64

    (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME
       TAX AND NON-CONTROLLING
       INTEREST

    (2,182)

    (289)

    (988)

    129

    Income tax (expense) benefit

    (13)

    505

    (13)

    (6)

    NET (LOSS) INCOME

    (2,195)

    216

    (1,001)

    123

    -Less: Net (loss) income attributable to
       non-controlling interests

    NET (LOSS) INCOME
       ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY
       SHAREHOLDERS

    (2,195)

    216

    (1,001)

    123

    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)
       INCOME, NET OF TAX

    Other comprehensive (loss) income

    TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)
       INCOME

    (2,195)

    216

    (1,001)

    123

    Net (loss) income per share – basic and
       diluted

    (0.0395)

    0.0038

    (0.0175)

    0.0022

    Net (loss) income per ADS – basic and
       diluted

    (0.7900)

    0.0760

    (0.3500)

    0.0440

    Weighted average shares used in
       calculating basic and diluted net (loss)
       income per share

    55,525,314

    57,127,524

    57,127,524

    57,127,524

    Source: Ambow Education Holding Ltd.