HMH Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

HMH reported significant growth in its Q4 and full year 2021 financial results, with net sales rising to $179 million for Q4 and $1,051 million for the full year, reflecting 26.7% and 25.0% increases, respectively. Billings surged 42.0% in Q4 to $132 million and 23.5% for the year to $1,110 million. Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 improved to $24 million compared to a loss in 2020, and free cash flow turned positive at $47 million. The company experienced a notable increase in operating cash flow, up 75.7% for the year.

Positive

• Net sales increased by 26.7% in Q4 and 25.0% for the full year.
• Billings rose by 42.0% in Q4 and 23.5% for the full year.
• Adjusted EBITDA improved to $24 million from a loss in 2020.
• Free cash flow turned positive at $47 million compared to a loss the previous year.
• Net cash provided by operating activities grew by 75.7% for the year.

Negative

• Loss from continuing operations increased to $46 million in Q4.
• Impairment charge for goodwill was $17 million in 2020 and $279 million for the full year.

BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 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, Instagram 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,
(in thousands of dollars)		2021				2020
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.

 

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SOURCE Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

FAQ

What were the net sales figures for HMH in Q4 2021?

HMH reported net sales of $179 million for Q4 2021.

How did HMH's billings perform in 2021?

Billings increased by 23.5% for the full year 2021, totaling $1,110 million.

What was HMH's adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2021?

HMH's adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2021 was $24 million.

Did HMH achieve positive free cash flow in 2021?

Yes, HMH achieved a positive free cash flow of $47 million in Q4 2021.

How much did HMH's operating cash flow increase in 2021?

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by 75.7% for the year.