OREANDA-NEWS. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa and JWb), a global provider of knowledge and learning solutions that improve outcomes in research, professional practice, and education, today announced the following results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016:

Note: Results include transitional impact of shift to time-based journal subscriptions ($29 million revenue and $0.32 EPS). There is no cash impact from the change. Adjusted results exclude restructuring charges in the current and prior year periods and a deferred tax benefit in the current year period. Please see the attached financial schedules.

  % Change
$ millions FY16 FY15 Excluding FX Including FX
 
Revenue:
Q3 $436.4 $465.9 (3%) (6%)
9 Months $1,292.7 $1,380.8 (2%) (6%)
 
Adjusted EPS:
Q3 $0.67 $0.99 (26%) (32%)
9 Months $2.04 $2.45 (11%) (17%)
 
GAAP EPS:
Q3 $0.61 $0.72   (15%)
9 Months $1.90 $2.18   (13%)
 
Note: Results include transitional impact of shift to time-based journal subscriptions ($29 million revenue and $0.32 EPS). There is no cash impact from the change. Adjusted results exclude restructuring charges in the current and prior year periods and a deferred tax benefit in the current year period. Please see the attached financial schedules.

Management Commentary

“We are pleased with our solid progress this quarter,” said Mark Allin, President and CEO.  “Operationally, our journals business achieved five percent revenue growth in the quarter, buoyed by a large backfile sale and steady subscription results.  Our solutions businesses, including test preparation, corporate learning, and online program management, continued to post double-digit revenue growth rates.  The Research segment was also lifted by strong digital book sales, while Education saw solid growth in the key areas of Custom Material and WileyPLUS Course Workflow.”

Fiscal Year 2016 Outlook

Wiley is reaffirming its fiscal year 2016 outlook of flat revenue and flat adjusted earnings per share (EPS) on a constant currency basis and excluding the adverse transitional impact of shifting to time-based journal subscriptions.  As previously announced, Wiley is moving from issue-based journal subscriptions to time-based digital journal subscription agreements for calendar year 2016.  The change will shift roughly $37 million of revenue and $0.40 of EPS from FY16 to FY17, with recurring effect annually thereafter.  We previously estimated these impacts to be $35 million of revenue and $0.35 of EPS.  The shift to time-based subscriptions will not impact cash flow for the year.  Included in the FY16 EPS guidance is an incremental expense impact of more than $0.15 as compared to FY15 for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) and related systems implementations. 

Foreign Exchange (FX)

Wiley generates half of its revenue from outside the United States, and is therefore exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, particularly in relation to the euro and pound sterling.  For fiscal year 2015, the weighted average rates for sterling and the euro were 1.60 and 1.25, respectively, on a US dollar equivalent basis.  The weighted average rates for the first nine months of fiscal 2016 were 1.53 and 1.11, respectively.  Throughout this report, references are made to variances “excluding foreign exchange” or “on a constant currency basis”; such amounts exclude both currency translation effects and transactional gains and losses. 

Adjusted Results

The Company provides financial measures referred to as “adjusted” contribution to profit and EPS, which exclude restructuring charges and deferred tax benefits.  Variances to adjusted contribution to profit and EPS are on a constant currency basis unless otherwise noted.  Management believes the exclusion of such items provides additional information to facilitate the analysis of results.  These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the financial results reported in accordance with GAAP.

Third Quarter Summary

  • Third quarter revenue declined 3% on a constant currency basis to $436.4 million but rose 3% excluding both currency and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions ($29 million transitional impact).  Performance was driven by a $10 million journal backfile sale to a national consortium, and double-digit growth in Research Books and References (+13%), Author-Funded Access (+11%), Online Test Preparation (+69%), Online Program Management (+13%), and Custom Education Material (+20%).  The positive performance offset an unfavorable reporting comparison with prior year for Corporate Learning (three months reported vs. five months in the year-ago period due to a prior year CrossKnowledge reporting lag, -$5 million) and a double-digit revenue decline in Education books (-12%).  Nine month revenue of $1,293 million declined 2% on a constant currency basis but was essentially flat excluding currency impacts and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions.
  • Third quarter adjusted EPS declined 26% on a constant currency basis but rose 6% excluding both currency and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions ($0.32 transitional impact).  Adjusted EPS excludes a $13.7 million restructuring charge in the quarter related to the restructuring of our books businesses, the outsourcing of US distribution operations, and the implementation of other shared services efficiency initiatives.  It also excludes a deferred tax benefit (+$5.9 million) related to a future reduction in the UK income tax rate that was enacted in the quarter.  Adjusted EPS performance was driven by revenue growth, including the high-margin backfile sale and restructuring savings, partially offset by an increase in technology expense related to our ERP implementation and other systems development, as well as higher legal provisions.  Third quarter EPS on a US GAAP basis declined 15% to $0.61, including an adverse currency impact of $0.06.  Nine month adjusted EPS declined 11% on a constant currency basis to $2.04, but was up 2% excluding both currency and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions.  On a US GAAP basis, EPS for the nine months declined 13%, including an adverse currency impact of $0.14.  
  • Free Cash Flow was $18.9 million for the first nine months of the year compared to $80.0 million in the prior year period.  Lower cash from operations (-$38 million) reflected lower cash earnings and less favorable timing of cash collections.  Higher capital spending (+$22 million) reflected investment in the ERP deployment and other systems, as well as the global headquarters office transformation.
  • Credit Facility: On March 1, Wiley amended its existing revolving credit agreement, increasing its capacity to $1.1 billion and extending the term by five years to March 2021.  The proceeds of the amended facility will be used for general corporate purposes, including seasonal operating cash requirements and strategic acquisitions.  At the end of January, Wiley’s net debt to EBITDA ratio was 1:1. 
  • Share Repurchases: Wiley repurchased 347,961 shares this quarter at a cost of $15.0 million, an average of $43.11 per share.  Approximately 963,000 shares remain in the current repurchase authorization.  

RESEARCH

  • Revenue:  Third quarter revenue of $224.7 million was down 5% on a constant currency basis but rose 7% excluding the $29 million transitional impact from the shift to time-based journal subscriptions.  Steady performance in journal subscriptions (flat excluding impact of currency and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions) and double-digit growth in Licensing, Reprints, and Backfiles (+22%), Author-Funded Access (+11%), and Books and References (+13%) all contributed to revenue growth.  Results included a large journal backfile sale ($10 million) to a national consortium.  As background, a journal backfile sale provides perpetual access to a historical collection of Wiley journals.  Digital Books also had a strong quarter (+84%), primarily due to a large digital book sale ($4 million) to another government sponsor.  For the nine months, Research revenue was even compared to prior year at constant currency and excluding the impact of the shift to time-based journal subscriptions.  
  • Transition to Time-Based Subscriptions: As previously announced, Wiley is transitioning from issue-based to time-based digital journal subscription agreements for calendar year 2016 in order to simplify the contracting and administration of such agreements.  The change in subscriber agreements will shift roughly $37 million of revenue and $0.40 of EPS from FY16 to FY17, with recurring effect annually thereafter.  We previously estimated these impacts to be $35 million of revenue and $0.35 of EPS.  The shift to time-based subscriptions will not impact cash flow.
  • Calendar Year 2016 Journal Subscriptions:  At the end of January, calendar year 2016 Journal Subscriptions were up 1% on a constant currency basis, with 79% of targeted business under contract for the 2016 calendar year. 
  • Adjusted Contribution to Profit (CTP):  Third quarter adjusted CTP of $57.4 million declined 17% on a constant currency basis but rose 18% excluding currency and the CTP margin impact from shifting to time-based journal subscriptions ($25 million).  CTP growth was driven by revenue performance, including a high margin contribution from the $10 million journal backfile sale, as well as restructuring savings.  Third quarter CTP on a US GAAP basis was $52.9 million compared to $67.7 million in the prior year period. For the nine months, adjusted CTP was down 9% at constant currency but up 2% excluding currency and the shift to time-based journal subscriptions.
  • Society Business:  56 society journals were renewed during the quarter, worth approximately $27.5 million in combined annual revenue, and six were not renewed, worth $4.8 million annually.  For calendar year 2016 publishing contracts, society publishing wins vs. losses are modestly net positive.   

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Revenue:  Third quarter revenue declined 1% on a constant currency basis to $103.4 million primarily due to an unfavorable reporting comparison with the prior year, when Corporate Learning (CrossKnowledge) reported five months of results.  Excluding the two additional months for Corporate Learning in the prior year period (-$5 million), Professional Development revenue grew 4%.  Online Test Preparation had a very strong quarter (+69%), with performance driven by CFA, CMA, and CPAexcel® products.  Book revenue was down 5%.  For the nine months, Professional Development revenue grew 2% due to growth in Corporate Learning (+30%) and strong double-digit growth in Online Test Preparation (+38%), offsetting a decline in Books (-5%).
  • Adjusted Contribution to Profit (CTP):  Adjusted CTP rose 47% on a constant currency basis to $18.4 million.  Excluding the two extra months for Corporate Learning in the prior year period, Professional Development adjusted CTP grew 19%.  Performance reflected efficiency gains and restructuring savings.  Third quarter CTP on a US GAAP basis was $17.0 million compared to $9.3 million in the prior year period. Nine month adjusted CTP was up 89% over prior year on a constant currency basis. 
  • CrossKnowledge/L’Or?al platform:  In February, CrossKnowledge announced the launch of MySalon-Edu.com, an online platform that focuses on salon education, in conjunction with L’Or?al group.  The e-cademy massive online open course (MOOC) was created for professional hairdressers and beauticians.

EDUCATION

  • Revenue:  Third quarter revenue rose 1% on a constant currency basis to $108.3 million, with Custom Material (+20%), Online Program Management (+13%), and WileyPLUS Course Workflow (+6%) more than offsetting a decline in Print Textbooks (-16%).  For the nine months, Education revenue declined 3% at constant currency to $291 million. 
  • Adjusted Contribution to Profit (CTP):  Third quarter adjusted CTP declined 7% on a constant currency basis to $24.3 million, reflecting continued investment in new programs for Online Program Management and lower Print Textbook revenue, partially offset by cost savings. Third quarter CTP on a US GAAP basis was $23.3 million compared to $26.7 million in the prior year period. For the nine months, Education CTP was down 16% at constant currency to $44.6 million, reflecting the Print Textbook revenue decline and investment in Online Program Management.
  • ·         Online Program Management (formerly Deltak):  Wiley added six degree programs and retired one non-revenue generating partner in the quarter.  At the end of January, Wiley had 38 partners and 222 online degree programs under contract. 

Earnings Conference Call

  • Scheduled for today, March 8, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) 
  • Access the webcast at www.wiley.com> Investor Relations> Events and Presentations, or http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-370238.html
  • U.S. callers, please dial (888) 364-3108 and enter the participant code 8846731#.
  • International callers, please dial (719) 325-2354 and enter the participant code 8846731#. 
  • An archive of the webcast will be available for a period of up to 14 days

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's operations, performance, and financial condition. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, and are subject to change based on many important factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to (i) the level of investment in new technologies and products; (ii) subscriber renewal rates for the Company's journals; (iii) the financial stability and liquidity of journal subscription agents; (iv) the consolidation of book wholesalers and retail accounts; (v) the market position and financial stability of key online retailers; (vi) the seasonal nature of the Company's educational business and the impact of the used book market; (vii) worldwide economic and political conditions; (viii) the Company's ability to protect its copyrights and other intellectual property worldwide (ix) the ability of the Company to successfully integrate acquired operations and realize expected opportunities and (x) other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in areas of research, professional practice, and education.  Through the Research segment, the Company provides digital and print scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising. The Professional Development segment provides digital and print books, online assessment and training services, and test preparation and certification.   In Education, Wiley provides education solutions including online program management services for higher education institutions and course management tools for instructors and students, as well as print and digital content.