FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (317) 706-9200

 

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        ý        No        o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).                                                                        Yes        ý        No        o

 

45,270,295

 

Number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding at September 30, 2003

 

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

Carmel, Indiana

 

Quarterly Report to Securities and Exchange Commission
September 30, 2003

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2003 and 2002 (unaudited) and December 31, 2002

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2003 (unaudited) and the year ended December 31, 2002

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Revenues (a)		$	134,382		$	117,746		$	378,213		$	331,183
Costs and Expenses (a)
Cost of educational services		69,681			64,743			210,463			193,705
Student services and administrative expenses		39,495			34,166			113,417			98,642
Total costs and expenses		109,176			98,909			323,880			292,347
Operating income		25,206			18,837			54,333			38,836
Interest income, net		551			755			1,549			2,050
Income before income taxes		25,757			19,592			55,882			40,886
Income taxes		9,916			7,491			21,514			15,625
Net income		$	15,841		$	12,101		$	34,368		$	25,261
Earnings per common share (b):
Basic		$	0.35		$	0.26		$	0.76		$	0.55
Diluted		$	0.34		$	0.26		$	0.75		$	0.54

 

(a)          Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the 2003 presentation.  See note 3.

 

(b)         Earnings per common share and the number of shares in all prior periods have been restated to reflect the two-for-one stock split declared on May 10, 2002 that became effective on June 6, 2002.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

2

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

		September 30, 2003			December 31, 2002			September 30, 2002
		(unaudited)						(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	159,749		$	123,934		$	94,496
Restricted cash		—			7,103			—
Short-term investments		37,912			25,671			32,080
Accounts receivable, net		9,943			8,973			12,780
Deferred and prepaid income tax		2,950			1,988			3,621
Prepaids and other current assets		4,409			5,597			3,884
Total current assets		214,963			173,266			146,861
Investments		6,455			—			—
Property and equipment, net		78,910			62,584			66,054
Direct marketing costs		10,470			10,609			10,432
Other assets		811			1,248			1,313
Total assets		$	311,609		$	247,707		$	224,660
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	41,297		$	18,162		$	25,893
Accrued compensation and benefits		13,925			9,196			7,647
Other accrued liabilities		16,146			12,140			8,601
Deferred revenue		110,087			102,997			89,475
Total current liabilities		181,455			142,495			131,616
Deferred income tax		2,714			6,204			6,372
Minimum pension liability		8,041			8,041			3,021
Other liabilities		2,582			1,943			1,476
Total liabilities		194,792			158,683			142,485
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding		—			—			—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 54,068,904 issued		540			540			540
Capital surplus		49,838			40,393			40,135
Retained earnings		199,956			184,409			166,263
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(4,888		)	(4,888		)	(1,837		)
Treasury stock, 8,798,609, 8,986,267 and 8,621,740 shares, at cost		(128,629		)	(131,430		)	(122,926		)
Total shareholders’ equity		116,817			89,024			82,175
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	311,609		$	247,707		$	224,660

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

3

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities:
Net income		$	15,841		$	12,101		$	34,368		$	25,261
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4,787			4,932			15,800			15,697
Provision for doubtful accounts		1,482			1,884			5,024			5,404
Deferred taxes		(1,006		)	128			(4,452		)	665
Increase/decrease in operating assets and liabilities:
Short-term investments		(7,687		)	(6,845		)	5,796			8,988
Accounts receivable		(3,103		)	(3,473		)	(5,994		)	(5,505		)
Direct marketing costs		148			486			139			88
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		1,094			3,202			32,518			14,721
Prepaids and other assets		1,188			2,793			1,625			2,005
Deferred revenue		15,060			12,091			7,090			12,323
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		27,804			27,299			91,914			79,647
Cash flows provided by (used for) investing activities:
Facility purchases		(3,766		)	(19,843		)	(21,069		)	(19,843		)
Capital expenditures, net		(5,046		)	(3,003		)	(11,057		)	(12,315		)
Purchase of held to maturity investments		(24,492		)	—			(24,492		)	—
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		(33,304		)	(22,846		)	(56,618		)	(32,158		)
Cash flows provided by (used for) financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock		—			(10,001		)	(28,726		)	(34,552		)
Exercise of stock options		9,037			227			22,142			12,395
Net cash flow provided by (used for) financing activities		9,037			(9,774		)	(6,584		)	(22,157		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		3,537			(5,321		)	28,712			25,332
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		156,212			99,817			131,037			69,164
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	159,749		$	94,496		$	159,749		$	94,496

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

4

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

 

		Common Stock					Capital Surplus			Retained Earnings			Comprehensive Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss)			Treasury Stock					Total
		Shares (a)		Amount															Shares (a)		Amount
Balance as of December 31, 2001		54,069		$	270		$	37,355		$	148,602					$	(1,837	)	(7,748	)	$	(106,202	)	$	78,188
Exercise of stock options							3,308			(7,925		)							885		18,218			13,601
Purchase of treasury stock																			(2,174	)	(44,451		)	(44,451		)
Issue treasury stock for employee incentive plan										(122		)							48		968			846
Issue treasury stock for board of directors plan																			3		37			37
2-for-1 stock split				270			(270		)															—
Comprehensive income:
Net income for 2002										43,854			$	43,854										43,854
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Minimum pension liability adjustment													(3,051		)	(3,051		)						(3,051		)
Other comprehensive income (loss)													(3,051		)
Comprehensive income													$	40,803
Balance as of December 31, 2002		54,069		540			40,393			184,409						(4,888		)	(8,986	)	(131,430		)	89,024
For the three months ended March 31, 2003 (unaudited):
Exercise of stock options							4,621			(11,092		)							742		17,639			11,168
Purchase of treasury stock																			(1,050	)	(27,958		)	(27,958		)
Issue treasury stock for board of directors plan																			1		9			9
Net income										8,682														8,682
Balance as of March 31, 2003		54,069		540			45,014			181,999						(4,888		)	(9,293	)	(141,740		)	80,925
For the three months ended June 30, 2003 (unaudited):
Exercise of stock options							643			(1,502		)							107		2,796			1,937
Purchase of treasury stock																			(28	)	(768		)	(768		)
Net income										9,845														9,845
Balance as of June 30, 2003		54,069		540			45,657			190,342						(4,888		)	(9,214	)	(139,712		)	91,939
For the three months ended September 30, 2003 (unaudited):
Exercise of stock options							4,181			(6,227		)							416		11,083			9,037
Net income										15,841														15,841
Balance as of September 30, 2003		54,069		$	540		$	49,838		$	199,956					$	(4,888	)	(8,798	)	$	(128,629)		$	116,817

 

(a) The number of shares in all prior periods have been restated to reflect the two-for-one stock split declared on May 10, 2002 that became effective June 6, 2002.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

5

 

ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2003

(Dollar amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated)

 

1.               Basis of Presentation

 

We prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim periods.  In the opinion of our management, the financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our financial condition and results of operations.  Certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies, normally included in a complete presentation of financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been omitted.  The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

2.               Revenue Recognition for Refunds

 

If a student withdraws from an institute, the standards of most state education authorities that regulate our institutes, the accrediting commission that accredits our institutes and our own internal policy limit a student’s obligation for tuition and fees to the institute depending on when a student withdraws during an academic quarter (“Refund Policies”).  The terms of the Refund Policies vary by state, and the limitations imposed by the Refund Policies are generally based on the portion of the academic quarter that has elapsed at the time the student withdraws.  The greater the portion of the academic quarter that has elapsed at the time the student withdraws, the greater the student’s obligation is to the institute for the tuition and fees related to that academic quarter.  We record revenues net of any refunds paid as a result of any applicable Refund Policy.

 

3.               Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the September 30, 2003 presentation.  Previously, as disclosed in the notes to our financial statements, if a student withdrew, the tuition revenue related to the remainder of that academic quarter and the fee revenue related to the remainder of the student’s program were recorded and the amount of any refund resulting from the application of federal, state or accreditation requirements or our refund policy was recorded as an expense.  For the periods presented, we have reclassified these amounts by netting the corresponding revenue and expense related to the remaining tuition and fees with any related refund recorded for students who withdrew.  As a result, revenues and cost of educational services have each been reduced by $2,993 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, $2,763 for the three months ended September 30, 2002, $9,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and $7,699 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The reclassifications had no impact on our total consolidated results reported in any period presented.

 

4.               Direct Marketing Costs

 

We amortize our direct marketing costs on a cost-pool-by-cost-pool basis over the period that we expect to receive revenue streams associated with those assets.  We define a cost pool as the group of students that begin each academic quarter (“Class”).  The direct marketing costs that are capitalized with respect to a particular Class are amortized using a method that corresponds to the amount of tuition revenue that will be recognized in each academic quarter for that Class.  Since we recognize tuition revenue for a Class on a straight-line basis over the program length, we also recognize the amortization of the capitalized direct marketing costs with respect to that Class on a straight-line basis over the same period.  If a student withdraws, however, any remaining amount of the capitalized direct marketing costs related to that student is expensed immediately, because the realizability of the remaining capitalized direct marketing costs related to that student is impaired.

 

We review the carrying amount of the capitalized direct marketing costs on a regular basis in order to compare the recorded amounts with the estimated remaining future revenue streams associated with those assets.  If we determine that the value of the capitalized direct marketing costs recorded exceeds the remaining future revenues estimated to be generated from those assets, the excess amount is written off and recorded as an advertising expense for the related period.

 

6

 

5.               Investments

 

Investments with original maturity dates of less than 90 days are included in cash and cash equivalents and are recorded at cost, which approximates market value.

 

Investments classified as trading securities that have maturity dates in excess of 90 days at the time of purchase are recorded at their market value and are included in short-term investments.

 

Investments classified as held-to-maturity include investments that are recorded at their amortized cost.  Short-term investments have maturity dates within one year following the balance sheet date.  Non-current investments have maturity dates between one and three years following the balance sheet date.

 

The cost of securities sold is based on the first-in, first-out method.  All of our investments are in marketable debt securities.

 

		As of Sept 30, 2003									As of Dec 31, 2002									As of Sept 30, 2002
		Trading securities			Held-to- maturity			Total			Trading securities			Held-to- maturity			Total			Trading securities			Held-to- maturity			Total
Cash and cash equivalents		$	159,749		$	—		$	159,749		$	123,934		$	—		$	123,934		$	94,496		$	—		$	94,496
Short-term investments		19,910			18,002			37,912			25,671			—			25,671			32,080			—			32,080
Non-current investments		—			6,455			6,455			—			—			—			—			—			—
		$	179,659		$	24,457		$	204,116		$	149,605		$	—		$	149,605		$	126,576		$	—		$	126,576

 

6.               Earnings Per Share

 

On May 10, 2002, we declared a two-for-one split of our common stock, effected on June 6, 2002 by payment of a stock dividend to all shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2002 of one share on each one share of our common stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock on May 28, 2002.  Our earnings per share amounts for all prior periods have been restated to reflect this stock split.

 

Earnings per common share for all periods have been calculated in conformity with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.”  This data is based on historical net income and the average number of shares of our common stock outstanding during each period (as adjusted to reflect the stock split described above).

 

		Average Shares Outstanding
		(in thousands)
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003		2002		2003		2002
Basic		45,119		45,668		44,988		45,914
Diluted		46,415		46,506		46,126		46,968

 

The difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share represents the average number of shares assumed issued under our stock option plans less shares assumed to be purchased with proceeds from the exercise of those stock options.

 

7.               Property and Equipment

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased one of our facilities, which we previously leased under an operating lease agreement, for a total of $3.8 million.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased five of our facilities, which we previously leased under operating lease agreements, for a total of $21.1 million.  The estimated useful lives for the buildings included on the property range from 20 to 40 years.

 

7

 

8.               Stock Option Plans

 

We adopted and our stockholders approved the ITT Educational Services, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan and the 1997 ITT Educational Services, Inc. Incentive Stock Plan, and we also established the 1999 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “Plans”).  We have adopted the disclosure only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, ‘‘Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.’’ Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized in the financial statements for the Plans. We have elected, as permitted by the standard, to continue following the intrinsic value based method of accounting for stock options consistent with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, ‘‘Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.’’ Under the intrinsic method, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of our common stock at the measurement date over the exercise price.

 

If compensation costs for the Plans had been determined based on the fair value of the stock options at grant date consistent with SFAS No. 123, our compensation costs would have increased and our net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the proforma amounts indicated below:

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Net income as reported		$	15,841		$	12,101		$	34,368		$	25,261
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for stock options, net of tax		(1,389		)	(955		)	(3,880		)	(2,747		)
Proforma net income		$	14,452		$	11,146		$	30,488		$	22,514
Earnings per share:
Basic as reported		$	0.35		$	0.26		$	0.76		$	0.55
Basic proforma		$	0.32		$	0.24		$	0.68		$	0.49
Diluted as reported		$	0.34		$	0.26		$	0.75		$	0.54
Diluted proforma		$	0.31		$	0.24		$	0.66		$	0.48

 

The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2003		2002		2003		2002
Risk free interest rates		2.9	%	4.4	%	2.7	%	4.4	%
Expected lives (in years)		5		5		5		5
Volatility		57	%	56	%	57	%	56	%
Dividend yield		None		None		None		None

 

9.               Contingencies

 

We are subject to litigation in the ordinary course of our business.  When we are aware of a claim or potential claim, we assess the likelihood of any loss or exposure.  If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, we record a liability for the loss.  If the loss is not probable or the amount of the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, we disclose the claim in the notes to our financial statements if the likelihood of a potential loss is reasonably possible and the amount involved is material.

 

8

 

Among the legal actions currently pending is United States ex rel. Dan Graves and Susan Newman v. ITT Educational Services, Inc., et al.  This action is a qui tam action that was filed on November 5, 1999 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas by two former employees (“relators”) on behalf of themselves and the federal government (the “Qui Tam Action”).  The Qui Tam Action alleges, among other things, violations of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3730, by us, one of our employees and our independent auditor in connection with how we compensated our sales representatives. The relators seek various forms of recovery on behalf of themselves and the federal government, including: (a) treble the amount of unspecified damages sustained by the federal government; (b) a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the False Claims Act; (c) double back pay for Susan Newman; and (d) attorney’s fees, costs and interest.

 

A qui tam action is a civil lawsuit brought by one or more individuals (a qui tam “relator”) on behalf of the federal government for an alleged submission to the federal government of a false claim for payment.  A qui tam action is always filed under seal and remains under seal until the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) decides whether to intervene in the litigation.  Whenever a relator files a qui tam action, the DOJ typically initiates an investigation in order to determine whether to intervene in the litigation.  If the DOJ intervenes, it has primary control over the litigation.  If the DOJ declines to intervene, the relator may pursue the litigation on behalf of the federal government and, if successful, receives a portion of the federal government’s recovery.

 

On May 25, 2001, the DOJ declined to intervene in the Qui Tam Action.  On March 31, 2002, the court dismissed all of the claims against all of the defendants for failure to allege facts sufficient to support their claims and gave the relators 20 days to file an amended complaint.  The relators filed an amended complaint on April 22, 2002 against all of the defendants.  On March 31, 2003, the court issued a final judgment in the Qui Tam Action dismissing with prejudice all of the relators’ claims against us and all of the other defendants for failure to state a claim.  On April 28, 2003, the relators filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

 

In the opinion of our management, based on the information currently available to them, the ultimate outcome of the pending legal and other claims should not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 2.                           MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the same titled section contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002 for discussion of, among other matters, the following items:

 

•                  Cash receipts from financial aid programs

•                  Nature of capital additions

•                  Seasonality of revenues

•                  Components of income statement captions

•                  Marketable debt securities and market risk

•                  Federal regulations regarding:

•                  Timing of receipt of funds from the federal student financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the “Title IV Programs”)

•                  Percentage of applicable revenues that may be derived from Title IV Programs

•                  Return of Title IV Program funds for withdrawn students

•                  Default rates

•                  College Advantage Loan Program (“CALP”)

•                  Our programs in information technology, computer and electronics engineering technology and computer drafting and design

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results may differ from those estimates and judgments under different assumptions or conditions.

 

9

 

Recognition of revenues is a critical accounting policy that affects our more significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2002 (“2002 Form 10-K”).  We have revised our critical accounting policy on the recognition of revenues as it pertains to revenue recognition for refunds.  Previously, as disclosed in the notes to our financial statements, if a student withdrew, the tuition revenue related to the remainder of that academic quarter and the fee revenue related to the remainder of the student’s program were recorded and the amount of any refund resulting from the application of federal, state or accreditation requirements or our refund policy was recorded as an expense.  We now record tuition and fee revenues net of any refunds.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the September 30, 2003 presentation as a result of the revision to our critical accounting policy on the recognition of revenues.  For the periods presented in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, we have reclassified tuition and fee revenue by netting the corresponding revenue and expense related to the remaining tuition and fees with any related refund recorded for students who withdrew.  As a result, revenues and cost of educational services have each been reduced by $2,993 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, $2,763 for the three months ended September 30, 2002, $9,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and $7,699 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The reclassifications had no impact on our total consolidated results reported in any period presented.  The following is our revised critical accounting policy on the recognition of revenues, which should be read in conjunction with Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 2002 Form 10-K.

 

Recognition of Revenues.  Tuition revenues are recorded on a straight-line basis over the length of the applicable course. If a student withdraws from an institute, the standards of most state education authorities that regulate our institutes, the accrediting commission that accredits our institutes and our own internal policy limit a student’s obligation for tuition and fees to the institute depending on when a student withdraws during an academic quarter (“Refund Policies”).  The terms of the Refund Policies vary by state, and the limitations imposed by the Refund Policies are generally based on the portion of the academic quarter that has elapsed at the time the student withdraws.  The greater the portion of the academic quarter that has elapsed at the time the student withdraws, the greater the student’s obligation is to the institute for the tuition and fees related to that academic quarter.  We record revenues net of any refunds paid as a result of any applicable Refund Policy. On an individual student basis, tuition and fees earned in excess of cash received is recorded as accounts receivable, and cash received in excess of tuition earned is recorded as deferred revenue.  Textbook sales and the related cost of the textbooks are recognized at the beginning of each academic quarter with respect to students who are attending courses in which textbooks are charged separately from tuition.  For those students who are attending courses in which the cost of textbooks is included in the tuition, the cost of the textbooks is amortized on a straight-line basis over the applicable course length and the deferral of textbook costs is recorded in prepaids and other current assets.  Academic fees (which are charged only one time to students on their first day of class attendance), application fees and laboratory fees are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the average course length of 24 months.  If a student withdraws from an institute, all unrecognized revenue relating to his or her fees, net of any refunds paid as a result of any applicable Refund Policy, is recognized upon the student’s departure.  More than 95% of our revenues represent tuition charges and less than 5% of our revenues represent bookstore sales and student fees.  The amount of tuition earned depends on the cost per credit hour of the courses in the program, the number of courses in the program, how long a student remains enrolled in the program, how many program courses a student takes during each period of enrollment in the program, and the total number of students enrolled in each program.  Each of these factors is known at the time our tuition revenues are calculated and is not subject to estimation.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 2002

 

Revenues increased $16.6 million, or 14.1%, to $134.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from $117.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2002.  This increase was due primarily to tuition increases as well as the increase in the total student enrollment at July 1, 2003 compared to July 1, 2002.  The number of students attending ITT Technical Institutes at July 1, 2003 increased 6.0% to 33,443 compared to 31,557 at July 1, 2002.

 

The total number of new students beginning classes in the three months ended September 30, 2003 increased 19.1% to 12,693 compared to 10,660 in the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The total student enrollment on September 30, 2003 increased 9.9% to 37,159 compared to 33,799 on September 30, 2002.

 

Cost of educational services increased $5.0 million, or 7.6%, to $69.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from $64.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The principal causes of this increase included:

 

•                  the costs required to service the increased enrollment;

 

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•                  normal inflationary cost increases for wages, rent and other costs of services; and

•                  increased costs due to opening new institutes (three opened in September 2002, one opened in June 2003 and one opened in September 2003).

 

Cost of educational services as a percentage of revenues decreased to 51.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 55.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2002.  This decrease was primarily due to:

 

•                  continued facility and faculty utilization efficiencies;

•                  certain fixed costs at our institutes did not increase proportionately with increases in our revenues resulting from a larger number of students;

•                  new and renegotiated vendor contracts;

•                  a net reduction of occupancy costs that resulted from our purchase of eleven facilities that we had previously leased (six were purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2002 and five were purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2003); and

•                  changes in Indiana tax law which caused the classification of certain Indiana taxes to be changed from Cost of educational services to Income taxes.

 

Student services and administrative expenses increased $5.3 million, or 15.6%, to $39.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from $34.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to increased media advertising expenses (up 16.7%).  Student services and administrative expenses increased to 29.4% of revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 29.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to an increase in media advertising expenses, partially offset by:

 

•                  a reduction in bad debt expense from 1.6% of revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2002 to 1.1% of revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2003;

•                  new and renegotiated vendor contracts; and

•                  the leveraging of fixed costs over a larger number of institutes and students.

 

Operating income increased $6.4 million, or 33.8%, to $25.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from $18.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2002.  The operating margin increased to 18.8% of revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 16.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to:

 

•                  continued facility and faculty utilization efficiencies;

•                  new and renegotiated vendor contracts;

•                  a net reduction of occupancy costs resulting from our purchase of eleven facilities over the last fifteen months;

•                  a reduction in bad debt expense; and

•                  a change in the classification of certain Indiana taxes based on changes in Indiana tax law.

 

Our combined effective federal and state income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2003 was 38.5% compared to 38.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to changes in Indiana tax law.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 Compared with Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002

 

Revenues increased $47.0 million, or 14.2%, to $378.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from $331.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  This increase was due primarily to tuition increases as well as the increase in the total student enrollment at January 1, 2003 compared to January 1, 2002 and a 6.0% increase in total student enrollment at July 1, 2003 compared to July 1, 2002.  The number of students attending ITT Technical Institutes at January 1, 2003 was 32,631 compared to 30,778 at January 1, 2002.

 

The total number of new students beginning classes in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was 28,603 compared to 25,051 in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The total student enrollment on September 30, 2003 increased 9.9% to 37,159 compared to 33,799 on September 30, 2002.

 

Cost of educational services increased $16.8 million, or 8.7%, to $210.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from $193.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The principal causes of this increase included:

 

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•                  the costs required to service the increased enrollment;

•                  normal inflationary cost increases for wages, rent and other costs of services; and

•                  increased costs at new institutes (one opened in June 2002, three opened in September 2002, one opened in June 2003 and one opened in September 2003).

 

Cost of educational services as a percentage of revenues decreased to 55.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 58.5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  This decrease was primarily due to:

 

•                  continued facility and faculty utilization efficiencies;

•                  certain fixed costs at our institutes did not increase proportionately with increases in our revenues resulting from a larger number of students;

•                  new and renegotiated vendor contracts;

•                  a net reduction of occupancy costs that resulted from our purchase of eleven facilities that we had previously leased (six  were purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2002 and five were purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2003); and

•                  changes in Indiana tax law which caused the classification of certain Indiana taxes to be changed from Cost of educational services to Income taxes.

 

Student services and administrative expenses increased $14.8 million, or 15.0%, to $113.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from $98.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to increased media advertising expenses (up 17.4%).  Student services and administrative expenses increased to 30.0% of revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 29.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to the increased media advertising expenses partially offset by a reduction in bad debt expense from 1.6% of revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2002 to 1.3% of revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

 

Operating income increased $15.5 million, or 39.9%, to $54.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from $38.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The operating margin increased to 14.4% of revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 11.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to:

 

•                  continued facility and faculty utilization efficiencies;

•                  new and renegotiated vendor contracts;

•                  a net reduction of occupancy costs resulting from our purchase of eleven facilities over the last fifteen months;

•                  a reduction in bad debt expense; and

•                  a change in the classification of certain Indiana taxes based on changes in Indiana tax law.

 

Our combined effective federal and state income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was 38.5% compared to 38.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, primarily due to changes in Indiana tax law.

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Due to the seasonal pattern of enrollments and our receipt of tuition payments, comparisons of financial position and cash generated from operations should be made both to the end of the previous year and to the corresponding period during the previous year.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $91.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 compared to $79.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  This $12.3 million increase was primarily related to implementation of effective cash management strategies.  During the three months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased $24.5 million of investments that we plan to hold until maturity. The maturity dates extend beyond one year for $6.5 million of those investments.

 

In the three months ended December 31, 2002, we recorded a $5.0 million minimum liability adjustment with respect to our obligations under the ESI Pension Plan.  This adjustment resulted in a $5.0 million increase in minimum pension liability and a corresponding $3.1 million reduction in shareholders’ equity, which is net of a $1.9 million deferred tax asset, as of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002.

 

Deferred revenue, which represents the unrecognized portion of revenue received from students, increased $20.6 million to $110.1 million at September 30, 2003 from $89.5 million at September 30, 2002.  This increase was primarily due to the students’ use of the CALP and increased tuition revenue resulting from higher tuition rates and a larger number of students.

 

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Capital expenditures (excluding facility purchases) were $11.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 compared to $12.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  We expect that capital expenditures (excluding facility purchases) for the full 2003 year will be approximately $15 to $18 million.  Capital expenditures for each new institute are approximately $0.4 million, and the capital expenditures for each new curriculum at an existing institute are approximately $0.3 million.  We expect to be able to fund our planned capital expenditures for the remainder of 2003 from cash flows from operations.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased one of our facilities for $3.8 million.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we purchased five of our facilities for a total of $21.1 million.  Previously, we leased these facilities under operating lease agreements.  We may purchase additional facilities in 2003.

 

We currently lease most of our facilities under operating lease agreements. A majority of the operating leases contain renewal options that can be exercised after the initial lease term. Renewal options are generally for periods of one to five years. All operating leases will expire over the next 14 years and management expects that leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases in the normal course of business. There are no material restrictions imposed by the lease agreements, and we have not entered into any significant guarantees related to the leases.  We are required to make additional payments under the operating lease terms for taxes, insurance and other operating expenses incurred during the operating lease period.

 

Future minimum rental payments (in thousands) that were required under operating leases that had initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2002 are as follows and include the rental payments required under the operating leases related to the five facilities that we purchased in the nine months ended September 30, 2003:

 

2003		$	27,245
2004		27,379
2005		21,236
2006		17,210
2007		14,704
Later years		40,899
		$	148,673

 

Cash flows on a long-term basis are highly dependent upon the receipt of Title IV Program funds and the amount of funds spent on new institutes, curricula additions at existing institutes and possible acquisitions.

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or any other significant long-term obligations, lines of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees or standby repurchase obligations.  There are no commitments or guarantees that provide for the potential issuance of shares of our common stock.

 

On May 10, 2002, we declared a two-for-one split of our common stock, effected on June 6, 2002 by payment of a stock dividend to all shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2002 of one share on each one share of our common stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock on May 28, 2002 (“Stock Split”).  Our earnings per share amounts for all prior periods have been restated to reflect the Stock Split.

 

Our Board of Directors has authorized us to repurchase outstanding shares of our common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2003, we repurchased 1,078,000 shares of our common stock at an average cost of $26.65 per share, or $28.7 million in total.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2002, we repurchased 1,734,300 shares of our common stock at an average cost of $19.92 per share, or $34.6 million in total.  All of the repurchased shares of our common stock became treasury shares upon repurchase and most of the repurchased shares continue to be held as treasury shares.  As of September 30, 2003, our existing repurchase authorizations permit us to repurchase an additional 4,216,300 shares of our common stock.  We may elect to repurchase additional shares of our common stock from time to time in the future, depending on market conditions and other considerations.  The purpose of the stock repurchase program is to help us achieve our long-term goal of enhancing shareholder value.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.  Forward-looking statements are made based upon our management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us.  There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those anticipated by our management.

 

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following:

 

•                  business conditions and growth in the postsecondary education industry and in the general economy;

•                  changes in federal and state governmental regulations with respect to education and accreditation standards, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, including, but not limited to, the level of government funding for, and our eligibility to participate in, student financial aid programs utilized by our students;

•                  the results of the Qui Tam Action which, if adversely determined, could result in a demand for repayment of Title IV Program funds, trebled under the False Claims Act and penalties;

•                  effects of any change in our ownership resulting in a change in control, including, but not limited to, the consequences of such changes on the accreditation and federal and state regulation of the institutes;

•                  our ability to implement our growth strategies;

•                  receptivity of students and employers to our existing technology-oriented program offerings and new curricula; and

•                  loss of lender access to our students for student loans.

 

Readers are also directed to other risks and uncertainties discussed in other documents we file with the SEC.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

Item 3.                                   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.                                   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

We are responsible for establishing and maintaining a set of disclosure controls and procedures (“DCP”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed by us under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  In addition, we are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting (“IC”) that is designed to provide reasonable assurances that our records are maintained in reasonable detail to accurately and fairly reflect transactions, our transactions are properly authorized, our assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper acquisition, use or disposition, and our transactions are properly recorded and reported to permit the preparation of our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. As of the end of our third fiscal quarter of 2003, we conducted an evaluation, under the framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and the supervision (and with the participation) of our management, including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our DCP pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.  Based on that evaluation, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our DCP are effective.

 

There were no changes in our IC during our third fiscal quarter of 2003 that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our IC, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

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PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                                   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

The information set forth in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth elsewhere in this report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

We cannot assure you of the ultimate outcome of any litigation involving us.  Based on the information currently available to us, we do not believe any pending legal proceeding will result in a judgment or settlement that will have, after taking into account our existing insurance and provisions for such liabilities, a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Any litigation alleging violations of education or consumer protection laws and/or regulations, misrepresentation, fraud or deceptive practices may also subject our affected institutes to additional regulatory scrutiny.

 

Item 6.                                   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

 

(a)          Exhibits.

 

A list of exhibits required to be filed as part of this report is set forth in the Index to Exhibits, which immediately precedes the exhibits, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b)         Reports on Form 8-K.

 

On July 17, 2003, we furnished a Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003 to report, under Item 9 (in lieu of Item 12) of Form 8-K, our results of operations and financial condition for our fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003.

 

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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.

 

 

	ITT Educational Services, Inc.
Date: October 17, 2003
	By:	/s/ Kevin M. Modany
	Kevin M. Modany
	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.		Description
11		Statement re Computation of Per Share Earnings
31.1		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2		President and Chief Operating Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.3		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1		Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
32.2		President and Chief Operating Officer’s Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
32.3		Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

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