UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of September 2020

 

 

 

Commission File Number: 001-34824

 

 

 

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

12th Floor, Tower 1, Financial Street Chang’An Center,

Shijingshan District, Beijing 100043

People’s Republic of China

Telephone: +86 (10) 6206-8000

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F x Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes ¨ No x

 

If “Yes” marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-___

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

 

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is a press release dated September 15, 2020, announcing the Company’s unaudited financial and operating results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020.

 

Exhibits

 

99.1 Press Release, dated September 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

  Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
   
   
  By: /s/ Jin Huang
  Name: Dr. Jin Huang
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date: September 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

 

Ambow Education Announces Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results

 

BEIJING, September 15, 2020 -- Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (“Ambow” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020.

 

Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Since various measures that the Chinese government implemented to constrain the COVID-19 outbreak were gradually relaxed during the second quarter, the majority of our schools, tutoring centers and training offices reopened with operations gradually returning to normalcy. As such, our second quarter financial performance significantly improved on a quarter-over-quarter basis, highlighted by a 2,600 basis points increase in Gross Margin. We maintained healthy operating efficiency and profitability with a positive net income in the first half of 2020, demonstrating our capability to navigate the dynamic market during the unprecedented challenging times. Striving for increasing enrollment across all Ambow programs while also deploying stringent cost controls, we are confident in our ability to drive profitable growth and strengthen our leadership position in the career enhancement market in China.”

 

“Amid pandemic-related and broad-based economic challenges, we remain focused on delivering high quality educational technologies and services to address personalized learning needs in a dynamic learning environment. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the integration of technology into education was further accelerated, which has significantly boosted the demand for online-based education from both students and professionals. To enhance the learning and teaching experience in the COVID-19 environment, Ambow rolled out its next-generation online-to-offline education SaaS platform, Huanyujun Education Hub, which is equipped with our proprietary technologies including hologram live streaming, AI and IoT, all of which are built on our cloud-based infrastructure. Simultaneously drawing upon our extensive educational resources and assets spanning the globe, we believe this mobile-based platform is uniquely positioned to exploit the booming trend in the e-learning industry across a wide spectrum of educational scenarios.” concluded Dr. Huang.

 

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

 

· Net revenues for the second quarter of 2020 decreased by 8.7% to US$22.0 million from US$24.1 million in the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the recognition of deferred revenue in the period as a result of the one-month extension of spring semester 2020 at the Company’s K-12 schools, which used to concluded at the end of June, and fewer services provided at the Company’s tutoring centers and training offices as a result of social distance and counter measures to COVID-19. This was partially offset by revenue from NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC (“NewSchool”), acquired in the first quarter of 2020.

 

· Gross profit for the second quarter of 2020 decreased by 14.1% to US$8.5 million from US$9.9 million in the same period of 2019. Gross profit margin was 38.6%, compared with 41.1% for the second quarter of 2019. The decrease in gross profit and margin was mainly attributable to the decrease in net revenues.

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

 

· Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2020 slightly increased by 1.2% to US$8.5 million from US$8.4 million for the same period of 2019.

 

· Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was US$0.7 million, or US$0.02 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net income of US$1.3 million, or US$0.03 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019.

 

· As of June 30, 2020, Ambow maintained strong cash resources of US$27.2 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of US$13.9 million and short-term investments of US$13.3 million.

 

First Six Months 2020 Financial Highlights

 

· Net revenues for the first six months of 2020 decreased by 15.9% to US$34.8 million from US$41.4 million in the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily due to due to a reduction in the recognition of deferred revenue in the period as a result of an one-month extension of spring semester 2020 at the Company’s K-12 schools, which used to conclude at the end of June, and fewer services provided at the Company’s tutoring centers and training offices, as operations during the period were temporarily suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This was partially offset by revenue from NewSchool, acquired in the period.

 

· Gross profit for the first six months of 2020 decreased by 34.6% to US$10.2 million from US$15.6 million in the same period of 2019. Gross profit margin was 29.3%, compared with 37.7% for the first six months of 2019. The decrease in gross profit and margin was mainly attributable to the decrease of net revenues.

 

· Operating expenses for the first six months of 2020 decreased by 8.7% to US$15.7 million from US$17.2 million for the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower expenditures due to the temporary suspension of operations at schools and tutoring centers in the period as part of the national pandemic containment effort, as well as stringent expense controls to improve operating efficiency.

 

· Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was US$1.5 million, or US$0.04 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$2.2 million, or US$0.05 per basic and diluted share, for the first six months of 2019.

 

The Company's second quarter and first half 2020 financial and operating results can also be found on its Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

 

Exchange Rate Information

 

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the second quarter and first half of 2020 are based on the effective exchange rate of 7.0651 as of June 30, 2020; all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the second quarter and first half of 2019 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.8650 as of June 28, 2019; all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars as of December 31, 2019 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.9618 as of December 31, 2019. The exchange rates were according to the middle rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

 

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

 

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 15 out of the 34 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

 

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

 

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

 

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Tel: +86-10-6206-8000

 

The Piacente Group | Investor Relations

Tel: +1-212-481-2050 or +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: ambow@tpg-ir.com

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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

 

    As of June 30,     As of December 31,  
    2020     2019  
    US$     RMB     RMB  
ASSETS                  
Current assets:                        
Cash and cash equivalents     13,935       98,455       157,600  
Restricted cash     2,004       14,160       -  
Short term investments, available for sale     11,160       78,849       57,487  
Short term investments, held to maturity     2,123       15,000       31,000  
Accounts receivable, net     2,914       20,589       17,939  
Amounts due from related parties     1,030       7,274       2,318  
Prepaid and other current assets, net     21,721       153,464       133,296  
Total current assets     54,887       387,791       399,640  
Non-current assets:                        
Property and equipment, net     21,159       149,489       157,463  
Land use rights, net     246       1,737       1,759  
Intangible assets, net     8,515       60,156       56,607  
Goodwill     8,678       61,313       60,353  
Deferred tax assets, net     636       4,497       10,195  
Operating lease right-of-use asset     42,476       300,100       257,361  
Finance lease right-of-use asset     870       6,150       6,450  
Other non-current assets, net     12,419       87,743       70,971  
Total non-current assets     94,999       671,185       621,159  
                         
Total assets     149,886       1,058,976       1,020,799  
                         
LIABILITIES                        
Current liabilities:                        
Short-term borrowings     1,473       10,409       -  
Deferred revenue  *     16,328       115,358       165,111  
Accounts payable  *     1,561       11,047       14,718  
Accrued and other liabilities  *     27,428       193,780       192,957  
Income taxes payable, current  *     26,787       189,253       180,715  
Amounts due to related parties  *     525       3,706       1,971  
Operating lease liability, current  *     8,254       58,314       53,512  
Total current liabilities     82,356       581,867       608,984  
Non-current liabilities:                        
Income taxes payable, non-current  *     4,785       33,803       32,152  
Operating lease liability, non-current  *     36,954       261,087       216,067  
Total non-current liabilities     41,739       294,890       248,219  
                         
Total liabilities     124,095       876,757       857,203  
                         
EQUITY                        
Preferred shares                        
(US$ 0.003 par value;1,666,667 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2020)     -       -       -  
Class A Ordinary shares                        
(US$0.003 par value; 66,666,667 and 66,666,667 shares authorized, 38,858,199 and 38,883,199 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2020, respectively)     103       731       730  
Class C Ordinary shares                        
(US$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, 2019 and June 30, 2020, respectively)     13       90       90  
Additional paid-in capital     496,698       3,509,224       3,508,745  
Statutory reserve     667       4,712       20,185  
Accumulated deficit     (473,608 )     (3,346,090 )     (3,371,815 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income     2,115       14,941       6,341  
Total Ambow Education Holding Ltd.’s equity     25,988       183,608       164,276  
Non-controlling interests     (197 )     (1,389 )     (680 )
Total equity     25,791       182,219       163,596  
Total liabilities and equity     149,886       1,058,976       1,020,799  

 

*  All of the VIE's assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company's general assets.

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(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,  
    2020     2020     2019     2020     2020     2019  
    US$     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB  
NET REVENUES                                                
Educational program and services     34,771       245,659       282,638       21,994       155,392       164,453  
Intelligent program and services     12       83       1,366       10       71       905  
Total net revenues     34,783       245,742       284,004       22,004       155,463       165,358  
COST OF REVENUES                                                
Educational program and services     (24,391 )     (172,324 )     (172,520 )     (13,431 )     (94,891 )     (94,323 )
Intelligent program and services     (206 )     (1,458 )     (4,709 )     (23 )     (160 )     (2,851 )
Total cost of revenues     (24,597 )     (173,782 )     (177,229 )     (13,454 )     (95,051 )     (97,174 )
                                                 
GROSS PROFIT     10,186       71,960       106,775       8,550       60,412       68,184  
Operating expenses:                                                
Selling and marketing     (3,426 )     (24,206 )     (25,171 )     (1,933 )     (13,657 )     (11,083 )
General and administrative     (11,924 )     (84,243 )     (92,394 )     (6,375 )     (45,042 )     (46,776 )
Research and development     (382 )     (2,698 )     (468 )     (222 )     (1,567 )     (300 )
Total operating expenses     (15,732 )     (111,147 )     (118,033 )     (8,530 )     (60,266 )     (58,159 )
                                                 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME     (5,546 )     (39,187 )     (11,258 )     20       146       10,025  
                                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)                                                
Interest income     585       4,135       1,520       304       2,145       1,132  
Foreign exchange gain, net     5       35       1       1       9       32  
Other income (loss), net     220       1,552       186       21       146       (474 )
Gain from deregistration of subsidiaries     552       3,897       1,279       552       3,897       -  
Gain on the bargain purchase     5,700       40,273       -       -       -       -  
Gain on sale of investment available for sale     149       1,056       419       75       530       140  
Total other income     7,211       50,948       3,405       953       6,727       830  
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX AND NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST     1,665       11,761       (7,853 )     973       6,873       10,855  
Income tax expense     (230 )     (1,623 )     (7,398 )     (334 )     (2,362 )     (2,257 )
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)     1,435       10,138       (15,251 )     639       4,511       8,598  
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest     (100 )     (708 )     (273 )     (42 )     (296 )     (180 )
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS     1,535       10,846       (14,978 )     681       4,807       8,778  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)     1,435       10,138       (15,251 )     639       4,511       8,598  
                                                 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX                                                
Foreign currency translation adjustments     1,179       8,328       (3,174 )     1,117       7,895       (746 )
Unrealized gains on short term investments                                                
Unrealized holding gains arising during period     133       940       700       71       499       420  
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income     95       668       452       54       381       247  
Other comprehensive income (loss)     1,217       8,600       (2,926 )     1,134       8,013       (573 )
                                                 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)     2,652       18,738       (18,177 )     1,773       12,524       8,025  
                                                 
Net income (loss) per share - basic     0.04       0.25       (0.34 )     0.02       0.11       0.20  
                                                 
Net income (loss) per share - diluted     0.04       0.25       (0.34 )     0.02       0.11       0.20  
                                                 
Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net income (loss) per share     43,577,168       43,577,168       43,469,610       43,583,418       43,583,418       43,503,109  
                                                 
Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net income (loss) per share     43,577,168       43,577,168       43,469,610       43,583,418       43,583,418       43,647,645  

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

 

 

AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

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

 

    Attributable to Ambow Education Holding Ltd.’s Equity        
                            Retained     Accumulated              
    Class A Ordinary     Class C Ordinary     Additional           Earnings     other     Non-        
    shares     shares     paid-in     Statutory     (Accumulated     comprehensive     controlling     Total  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     capital     reserves     deficit)     income     Interest     Equity  
          RMB           RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  
Balance as of January 1, 2020     38,858,199       730       4,708,415       90       3,508,745       20,185       (3,372,409 )     6,341       (680 )     163,002  
Share-based compensation     -       -       -       -       238       -       -       -       -       238  
Issuance of ordinary shares for restricted stock award     12,500       0       -       -       (0 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Foreign currency translation adjustment     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       433       -       433  
Unrealized gain on investment, net of income taxes     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       154       -       154  
Net income/(loss)     -       -       -       -       -       -       6,039       -       (412 )     5,627  
Balance as of March 31, 2020     38,870,699       730       4,708,415       90       3,508,983       20,185       (3,366,370 )     6,928       (1,092 )     169,454  
Share-based compensation     -       -       -       -       242       -       -       -       -       242  
Issuance of ordinary shares for restricted stock award     12,500       1       -       -       (1 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Foreign currency translation adjustment     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       7,895       -       7,895  
Unrealized gain on investment, net of income taxes     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       118       -       118  
Deregistration of subsidiaries     -       -       -       -       -       (15,473 )     15,473       -       -       -  
Net income/(loss)     -       -       -       -       -       -       4,807       -       (297 )     4,510  
Balance as of June 30, 2020     38,883,199       731       4,708,415       90       3,509,224       4,712       (3,346,090 )     14,941       (1,389 )     182,219  
                                                                                 
Balance as of January 1, 2019     38,756,289       728       4,708,415       90       3,507,123       20,149       (3,271,838 )     8,305       (1,786 )     262,771  
Share-based compensation     -       -       -       -       872       -       -       -       -       872  
Issuance of ordinary shares for restricted stock award     28,646       1       -       -       (1 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Foreign currency translation adjustment     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,428 )     -       (2,428 )
Unrealized gain on investment, net of income taxes     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       75       -       75  
Net loss     -       -       -       -       -       -       (23,756 )     -       (93 )     (23,849 )
Balance as of March 31, 2019     38,784,935       729       4,708,415       90       3,507,994       20,149       (3,295,594 )     5,952       (1,879 )     237,441  
Share-based compensation     -       -       -       -       266       -       -       -       -       266  
Issuance of ordinary shares for restricted stock award     19,097       0       -       -       (0 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Foreign currency translation adjustment     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (746 )     -       (746 )
Unrealized gain on investment, net of income taxes     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       173       -       173  
Addition of noncontrolling interests resulting from new subsidiaries     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       502       502  
Net income (loss)     -       -       -       -       -       -       8,778       -       (180 )     8,598  
Balance as of June 30, 2019     38,804,032       729       4,708,415       90       3,508,260       20,149       (3,286,816 )     5,379       (1,557 )     246,234  

 

 

 

 

Confidential Draft

             

 

Discussion of Segment Operations

(All amounts in thousands)

 

    For the six months ended June 30,     For the three months ended June 30,  
    2020     2020     2019     2020     2020     2019  
    US$     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB  
NET REVENUES                                                
K-12 Schools     17,948       126,800       150,958       12,086       85,389       87,165  
CP&CE Programs     16,835       118,942       133,046       9,918       70,074       78,193  
Total net revenues     34,783       245,742       284,004       22,004       155,463       165,358  
COST OF REVENUES                                                
K-12 Schools     (10,550 )     (74,542 )     (90,093 )     (5,820 )     (41,113 )     (47,797 )
CP&CE Programs     (14,047 )     (99,240 )     (87,136 )     (7,634 )     (53,938 )     (49,377 )
Total cost of revenues     (24,597 )     (173,782 )     (177,229 )     (13,454 )     (95,051 )     (97,174 )
GROSS PROFIT                                                
K-12 Schools     7,398       52,258       60,865       6,266       44,276       39,368  
CP&CE Programs     2,788       19,702       45,910       2,284       16,136       28,816  
Total gross profit     10,186       71,960       106,775       8,550       60,412       68,184